Laser beam modulation for printers using metamaterials
AssigneeXerox Corporation
InventorAillil I. Halsema
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A modulator in an imaging apparatus includes a metamaterial shell surrounding an opaque core. The metamaterial is tunable, so that the metamaterial acts as a waveguide for light at a given wavelength. This property of the metamaterial is used to modulate the light beam in an imaging apparatus. The light beam can be guided around the opaque core under a first voltage condition, or the light beam can be blocked by the opaque core under a second voltage condition.
Claims20
A modulator for controlling the path of an associated light beam, comprising:
- a housing having an entry aperture and an exit aperture, the entry aperture and the exit aperture defining a beam path;
- and
- a filter in the beam path;
- the filter comprising an opaque core and a metamaterial shell surrounding the opaque core;
- wherein the metamaterial assists the associated light beam in travelling from the entry aperture to the exit aperture under a first voltage condition;
- and
- wherein the opaque core prevents the associated light beam from travelling from the entry aperture through the exit aperture under a second voltage condition.
A method for printing using an imaging apparatus, the method comprising:
- directing a light beam through a filter towards an imaging member, wherein the filter comprises an opaque core and a metamaterial shell surrounding the opaque core;
- and
- applying a modulating voltage to the filter;
- wherein the metamaterial guides the light beam to the imaging member when the modulating voltage is applied;
- and
- wherein the opaque core prevents the light beam from reaching the imaging member when the modulating voltage is not applied.
An imaging apparatus, comprising:
- a light source for producing a light beam;
- an imaging member;
- and
- a modulator between the light source and the imaging member;
- wherein the modulator comprises:
- a housing having an entry aperture and an exit aperture, the entry aperture and the exit aperture defining a beam path for the light beam;
- and
- a filter in the beam path;
- the filter comprising an opaque core and a metamaterial layer surrounding the opaque core;
- wherein the metamaterial assists the light beam in travelling through the modulator to the imaging member under a first voltage condition;
- and
- wherein the opaque core prevents the light beam from contacting the imaging member under a second voltage condition.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.