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US 6,897,432 B2Granted
Imaging apparatus having discontinuous lens reference surfaces and method of assembling the imaging apparatus
AssigneeHewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P.
InventorsGregg S. Schmidtke, Matthias A. Lester, Kelly J. Reasoner
Life of this patent
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Abstract
An improved lens focusing and referencing arrangement for an imaging system of the type which may include a photosensor array. The imaging system housing may include reference surfaces configured such that they contact the lens only near the ends thereof in order to minimize the effect of any irregularities in the reference surfaces.
Claims17
An imaging apparatus comprising:
- an imaging apparatus housing, said imaging apparatus housing comprising at least one first reference surface and at least one second reference surface, said first and second reference surfaces being rigidly affixed to said housing:
- wherein, said at least one first reference surf ace is coplanar with said at least one second reference surface;
- wherein, said at least one first reference surface is discontinuous with said at least one second reference surface;
- at least one lens assembly in contact with both said at least one first and at least one second reference surfaces;
- a photosensor assembly;
- wherein, said housing further includes at least one photosensor assembly reference surface;
- and
- wherein, at least a portion of said photosensor assembly is in contact with said at least one photosensor assembly reference surface.
5 more elements
A method of assembling all imaging apparatus, said method comprising:
- providing an imaging apparatus housing comprising at least one first reference surface and at least one second reference surface, said first and second reference surfaces being rigidly affixed to said housing;
- providing at least one lens;
- wherein, said at least one first reference surface is coplanar with said at least one second reference surface;
- wherein, said at least one first reference surface is discontinuous with said at least one second reference surface;
- using said at least one first reference surface and said at least one second reference surface to align said lens with said imaging apparatus housing by contacting said lens with said at least one first reference surface and said at least one second reference surface;
- providing at least one photosensor assembly;
- providing said housing with at least one photosensor assembly reference surface;
- and
- aligning said at least one photosensor assembly with said housing by contacting at least a portion of said photosensor assembly with said photosensor assembly reference surface.
6 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.