Patent ID: 7705293
Filing Date: 2010-04-27
Classification: B41J

Abstract:
1. A sensor comprising: a first light-emitting element configured to emit light onto a measuring surface that is parallel to an XY plane of an XYZ three-dimensional coordinate system, wherein a light-emitting axis of the first light-emitting element includes a segment of the light-emitting axis that extends from the first light-emitting element to the measuring surface, and wherein at least the segment of the light-emitting axis does not pass through a light-refracting optical element; and a plurality of light-receiving elements configured to receive reflected light from the measuring surface, wherein the plurality of light-receiving elements are disposed such that a light-receiving axis of a first one of the plurality of light-receiving elements is positioned in a first plane that is parallel to a YZ plane of the XYZ three-dimensional coordinate system and a light-receiving axis of a second one of the plurality of light-receiving elements is positioned in a second plane that is parallel to the YZ plane, the second plane displaced from the first plane in an X direction of the XYZ three-dimensional coordinate system, and wherein the light-receiving axis of each of the plurality of light-receiving elements is positioned having a plurality of Y values in the XYZ three-dimensional coordinate system along the length of the light-receiving axis.