There are many features expected by printer users, which include high resolution, low price, compact size, color, high
speed printing and so on. Laser printers generally utilize a polygon mirror as a reflector in their optical configurations,
but the usual size of the polygon mirror prevents laser scanning unit from being made much smaller. We have been
conducting research on techniques which can contribute to reducing the optical unit size. Although oscillating mirror
made with MEMS technology enables the system to be compact, it requires a sophisticated optical design having an
increased number of constraints due to the change in angular velocity which varies depending on the orientation of the
mirror, while the polygon mirror allows the scanning with constant speed. Using a small MEMS mirror is one of the
critical issues concerning the reduction of cost. We have successfully resolved all the challenges listed above by using
high-precision free-form optical surfaces and an optical layout making efficient use of 3D space. Our techniques can
make the unit size much smaller and reduce the price. The optical path is designed to have a ray passing through a lens
twice. We report both theoretical and experimental results for this system.
The new formula that was used to develop the free-form-surface is more advantageous in regard to spot size and linearity than usual aspherical and troidal lens systems. However, the free form surface is much more complicated, compared to the usual optical system. Now, we would like to express the advantage of the free-form-surface design. We had to improve the nano CADCAM and compensation systems for the fabrication of injection molded plastic optics. In the future we plant to design a new optical system, now that the development of the one-piece f-theta lens has been completed. We describe the free-form optics now.
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