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US 9,995,915 B2Granted
Prism block for suppressing decrease of amount of light by medium, optical unit, and scanner optical system
AssigneeKonica Minolta, Inc.
InventorSatoko Ohzawa
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A prism block is provided at least one notch to propagate in the light flux in air, on an optical path from entrance of a light flux via a first portion of the prism block to exit of the light flux via a second portion of the prism block. The notch is configured such that the light flux exiting from inside of the prism block via a first interface of the notch between the prism block and the air re-enters the prism block via a second interface between the air and the prism block, the second interface facing the first interface.
Claims14
A prism block comprising:
- an entrance surface configured to receive a light flux into the prism block;
- a final exit surface configured to allow for exit of the light flux from the prism block, the light flux reflecting in the prism block at least once between the entrance surface and the exit surface;
- and
- a notch including a first notch surface and a second notch surface, the first notch surface and the second notch surface defining an air gap therebetween, the first notch surface including a first interface and the second notch surface including a second interface facing the first interface;
- wherein the notch is configured to propagate the light flux across the air gap on an optical path between the first interface and the second interface, wherein the light flux exits from inside the prism block at the first interface and the light flux re-enters the prism block at the second interface.
2 more elements
An optical unit comprising:
- an optical element;
- and
- a prism block comprising:
- an entrance surface configured to receive a light flux into the prism block;
- a final exit surface configured to allow for exit of the light flux from the prism block, the light flux reflecting in the prism block at least once between the entrance surface and the exit surface;
- and
- a notch including a first notch surface and a second notch surface, the first notch surface and the second notch surface defining an air gap therebetween, the first notch surface including a first interface and the second notch surface including a second interface facing the first interface;
- wherein the notch is configured to propagate the light flux across the air gap on an optical path between the first interface and the second interface, wherein the light flux exits from inside the prism block at the first interface and the light flux re-enters the prism block at the second interface.
5 more elements
A scanner optical system comprising:
- a light source configured to emit a light flux to a document to be scanned;
- and
- a prism block comprising:
- an entrance surface configured to receive a light flux into the prism block;
- a final exit surface configured to allow for exit of the light flux from the prism block, the light flux reflecting in the prism block at least once between the entrance surface and the exit surface;
- and
- a notch including a first notch surface and a second notch surface, the first notch surface and the second notch surface defining an air gap therebetween, the first notch surface including a first interface and the second notch surface including a second interface facing the first interface;
- wherein the notch is configured to propagate the light flux across the air gap on an optical path between the first interface and the second interface, wherein the light flux exits from inside the prism block at the first interface and the light flux re-enters the prism block at the second interface.
5 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.