Light scanning unit and electrophotographic image forming apparatus using the same

Disclosed are a light scanning unit and an electrophotographic image forming apparatus including the light scanning unit. The light scanning unit may include a light source emitting a light beam, a beam deflector that deflects and scans the light beam emitted from the light source in a main scanning direction, a scanning optical system forming an image of a first portion of the light beam that is deflected and scanned by the beam deflector on a scanning surface and a beam detection sensor receiving a second portion of the light beam that is deflected and scanned by the beam deflector for generating a synchronization signal. The beam detection sensor may include a light receiving surface for receiving the second portion of the light beam, and at least two output terminals that are arranged outside an area of the light receiving surface within which the incident second portion of the light beam is confined.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED PATENT APPLICATION

This application claims the benefit of Korean Patent Application No. 10-2009-0069965, filed on Jul. 30, 2009, in the Korean Intellectual Property Office, the disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present disclosure relates generally to a light scanning unit and an electrophotographic image forming apparatus including the same, and, more particularly, to a light scanning unit of improved structure for detecting the horizontal synchronization signal and an electrophotographic image forming apparatus including the same.

BACKGROUND OF RELATED ART

A light scanning unit scans light emitted from a light source over an area, and is in wide usage, for example, in electrophotographic image forming apparatuses and in scan display devices.

In an image forming apparatus, the scanned light is utilized in the image formation, and thus determining the starting and ending positions of the light scanning is important for the proper formation of the image. A light scanning unit thus generally includes a synchronization signal detection unit for adjusting the horizontal synchronization of the image.

For example, in an electrophotographic image forming apparatus, the light scanning unit scans a light beam onto select portions of a uniformly charged surface of a photosensitive drum to thereby form an electrostatic latent image as the resulting potential difference, which is later developed using a developing agent such as, for example, toner, into a visible image. So developed visible image is then transferred onto a printing medium. If the scanning position of the light beam between scanning lines on the photosensitive drum of the above described image forming apparatus were to shift or vary, corresponding shifting in the image lines results; and, particularly when forming a color image, misalignments between the overlapping of the individual color images may occur, in turn resulting in blurred color image that may appear out of focus. The synchronization signal detection unit of the light scanning unit detects a portion of the scanned light beam in order to determine the proper scanning position of the scanned light beam. It is thus desirable to reduce the noise in the synchronization signal detection unit, particularly when forming a high resolution image.

SUMMARY OF DISCLOSURE

Aspects of the disclosure provides a light scanning unit having a light detection sensor with an improved refraction/diffusion noise characteristics and an electrophotographic image forming apparatus including such light scanning unit.

According to an aspect of the present disclosure, there may be provided a light scanning unit that may include a light source configured to emit a light beam, a beam deflector, a scanning optical system and a beam detection sensor. The beam deflector may be configured to deflect and to scan the light beam emitted from the light source along a main scanning direction. The scanning optical system may be configured to receive a first portion of the light beam that is deflected and scanned by the beam deflector and to form an image on a scanning surface with the receive first portion of the light beam. The beam detection sensor may be configured to receive a second portion of the light beam that is deflected and scanned by the beam deflector to generate a synchronization signal based on the received second portion of the light beam. The beam detection sensor may include a light receiving surface upon which the second portion of the light beam is incident and at least two output terminals that are arranged outside a scanning path of the second portion of the light beam on the light receiving surface.

The at least two output terminals may be spaced apart from each other by a predetermined distance on the light receiving surface. The scanning path of the second portion of the light beam may be between the at least two output terminals.

The at least two output terminals may be point-symmetrically arranged around the center of the light receiving surface.

The at least two output terminals may be spaced apart from each other in a direction perpendicular to the main scanning direction by a distance that is greater than a diameter of a beam spot of the second portion of the light beam that is formed on the light receiving surface.

The distance between the at least two output terminals may be at least 3.0 mm.

A rectangular opening portion having a lengthwise direction that is perpendicular to the scanning path of the second portion of the light beam may be formed in the light receiving surface of the beam detection sensor. The rectangular opening portion may be disposed between the at least two output terminals.

The beam detection sensor may be a pin photodiode. The at least two output terminals may be a cathode terminal and an anode terminal, respectively.

The light scanning unit may further comprise at least one of a beam detection lens and a beam detection mirror. The beam detection lens may be disposed between the beam deflector and the beam detection sensor, and may be configured to focus the second portion of the light beam on the light receiving surface of the beam detection sensor. The beam detection mirror may be arranged and configured to change the direction of the optical path of the second portion of the light beam toward the beam detection sensor.

According to another aspect of the present disclosure, an electrophotographic image forming apparatus may be provided to include a photosensitive body, a light scanning unit and a developing unit. The light scanning unit may be configured to scan light onto a scanning surface of the photosensitive body to form thereon an electrostatic latent image. The developing unit may be configured to supply toner to the electrostatic latent image formed on the photosensitive body to develop the electrostatic latent image into a visible toner image. The light scanning unit may comprise a light source configured to emit a light beam, a beam deflector, a scanning optical system and a beam detection sensor. The beam deflector may be configured to deflect and to scan the light beam emitted from the light source along a main scanning direction. The scanning optical system may be configured to receive a first portion of the light beam that is deflected and scanned by the beam deflector, and may be configured to form an image on a scanning surface with the receive first portion of the light beam. The beam detection sensor may be configured to receive a second portion of the light beam that is deflected and scanned by the beam deflector to generate a synchronization signal based on the received second portion of the light beam. The beam detection sensor may include a light receiving surface upon which the second portion of the light beam is incident and at least two output terminals that are arranged outside a scanning path of the second portion of the light beam on the light receiving surface.

The at least two output terminals may be spaced apart from each other by a predetermined distance on the light receiving surface. The scanning path of the second portion of the light beam may be between the at least two output terminals.

The at least two output terminals may be point-symmetrically arranged around a center of the light receiving surface.

The at least two output terminals may be spaced apart from each other in a direction perpendicular to the main scanning direction by a distance that is greater than a diameter of a beam spot of the second portion of the light beam that is formed on the light receiving surface.

The distance between the at least two output terminals may be at least 3.0 mm.

A rectangular opening portion having a lengthwise direction that is perpendicular to the scanning path of the second portion of the light beam may be formed in the light receiving surface of the beam detection sensor. The rectangular opening portion may be disposed between the at least two output terminals.

The beam detection sensor may be a pin photodiode. The at least two output terminals may be a cathode terminal and an anode terminal, respectively.

The electrophotographic image forming apparatus may further comprise at least one of a beam detection lens and a beam detection mirror. The beam detection lens may be disposed between the beam deflector and the beam detection sensor, and may be configured to focus the second portion of the light beam on the light receiving surface of the beam detection sensor. The beam detection mirror may be arranged and configured to change the direction of the optical path of the second portion of the light beam toward the beam detection sensor.

According to yet another aspect of the present disclosure, a light sensor may be provided for detecting whether a light beam produced by a light source and being scanned along a scanning direction across an object surface to be scanned with the light beam is at a position of interest in the scanning direction. The light sensor may comprise a sensor surface and two electrical terminals. Light produced by the light source may be incident upon the sensor surface that may include a light incident surface area within which the light incident upon the sensor surface is confined. The two electrical terminals may be arranged on the sensor surface outside the light incident surface area.

The light sensor may further comprise an opening formed on the sensor surface. The opening may have its length that extends perpendicular to the scanning direction, and the length may divide the sensor surface into first and second sides. The two electrical terminals may be arranged one on each of the first and second sides of the sensor surface.

The light incident surface area may be larger than a diameter of a beam spot formed by the light incident upon the sensor surface.

The two electrical terminals may be spaced apart from each other with respect to a direction perpendicular to the scanning direction by a distance greater than a diameter of a beam spot formed by the light incident upon the sensor surface.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF SEVERAL EMBODIMENTS

Aspects of the present disclosure will now be described more fully with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which several embodiments of the present disclosure are illustrated. In the accompanying drawings, like reference numerals refer to like elements throughout, repetitive descriptions of which may be omitted. It should be also noted that in the drawings, the dimensions of the features are not intended to be to true scale and may be exaggerated for the sake of allowing greater understanding. While several embodiments are described with particular details in order to allow a full and comprehensive understanding of the aspects of the present disclosure, and to fully enable those skilled in the art to practice the same, it should be understood, however, that many modifications and variations are possible to the embodiments shown and described herein, and that the full scope of the present disclosure should not be construed as being limited by those embodiments described herein.

FIG. 1is a perspective view illustrating an optical arrangement of a light scanning unit100according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.FIG. 2is a schematic view of a light path in the light scanning unit100illustrated inFIG. 1in the sub-scanning direction. InFIG. 1, the Y-axis corresponds to the main scanning direction, which is parallel to a scanning line formed on a scanning surface of a photosensitive drum190.

Referring toFIGS. 1 and 2, the light scanning unit100according to an embodiment may include a light source110emitting a light beam L, a beam deflector130deflecting and scanning the light beam L emitted from the light source110in the main scanning direction (Y-direction) onto the photosensitive drum190, a scanning lens170that forms an image of the main light beam L2that is deflected and scanned by the beam deflector130on the scanning surface of the photosensitive drum190and a beam detection sensor160that receives a portion of the light beam L deflected and scanned by the beam deflector130, that is, the light beam L1, to generates a horizontal synchronization signal.

The light source110may be a laser diode. As illustrated inFIG. 1, the beam deflector130may include a polygon mirror135having a plurality of reflective surfaces135aand a motor137rotating the polygon mirror135. As the beam deflector130rotates, for example, in the clockwise direction as shown, the light beam L emitted from the light source110is deflected and scanned across the photosensitive drum190in the main scanning direction.

A first optical element121and a second optical element125may be disposed on a light path between the light source110and the beam deflector130. The first optical element121may be, for example, a collimating lens that collimates the light beam L emitted from the light source110. The second optical element125may focus the light beam L that has passed through the first optical element121, with respect to the sub-scanning direction (X-direction) such that the cross section of the light beam L that is incident on the beam deflector130has a line shape. The sub-scanning direction (X-direction) is perpendicular to the main scanning direction (Y-direction), and may be parallel to the rotational axis of the beam deflector130. The second optical element125may comprise at least one cylindrical lens. The positions of the first and second optical elements121and125may be exchanged. In addition, while depicted as a single optical element, any of the first and second optical elements121and125may alternatively comprise two or more optical elements.

The scanning lens170is an imaging optical element or elements that forms the main light beam L2of the light beam L deflected and scanned by the beam deflector130into an image on the scanning surface of the photosensitive drum190, and is disposed between the beam deflector130and the photosensitive drum190. For example, the scanning lens170may be an fθ lens that focuses the main light beam L2and corrects the same so as to scan the main light beam L2onto the scanning surface of the photosensitive drum190at a uniform speed. While the scanning lens170illustrated inFIG. 2as a single lens, in alternative embodiments, the scanning lens170may comprise two or more lenses. According to an embodiment, a reflection mirror180(omitted inFIG. 2) for adjusting the light path of the main light beam L2may be further interposed between the scanning lens170and the photosensitive drum190.

A beam detection mirror140may be disposed at a location in the light path of the light beam L1that correspond to the starting point of a scanning line. The light beam L2passes through the scanning lens170and proceeds to the photosensitive drum190. InFIGS. 1 and 2, the beam detection mirror140is disposed between the beam deflector130and the scanning lens170such that the light beam L1reflected by the beam detection mirror140is not incident on the scanning lens170. However, according to alternative embodiments, the beam detection mirror140may be disposed between the scanning lens170and the photosensitive drum190such that the light beam L1having passed through the scanning lens170may be incident on, and may be reflected by, the beam detection mirror140.

The beam detection sensor160detects the light beam L1that is reflected by the beam detection mirror140and that has passed through a beam detection lens150, thereby generating a horizontal synchronization signal. For example, the beam detection sensor160may be a pin photodiode. The pin photodiode may include an intrinsic semiconductor layer interposed between a P-region and an N-region, for example. The beam detection sensor160may include first and second output terminals166and167as illustrated inFIG. 3A, wherein the first and second output terminals166and167may respectively be an anode and a cathode. According to an embodiment, the pin photodiode including the two terminals166and167may be used as the beam detection sensor160. However, other types of beam sensor can alternatively be used. For example, an avalanche photodiode, a hybrid type photodiode, or a phototransistor may alternatively be used as the beam detection sensor160.

The horizontal synchronization signal generated by the beam detection sensor160may be converted into a digital signal, and may be output through an electronic circuit (not shown) so as to be used in controlling driving of the light scanning unit100and/or the photosensitive drum190.

The beam detection lens150may be disposed between the beam detection mirror140and the beam detection sensor160. The beam detection lens150may be a focusing lens that focuses the light beam L1reflected by the beam detection mirror140onto the beam detection sensor160.

FIG. 3Ais a plan view illustrating the beam detection sensor160according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.FIG. 3Bis a side view illustrating the beam detection sensor160ofFIG. 3A.FIG. 4is a schematic view illustrating an arrangement of a scanning light path of the light beam L1and the output terminals166and167of the beam detection sensor160ofFIG. 3A.

Referring toFIGS. 3A and 3B, the beam detection sensor160may include a light receiving surface163, onto which a light beam is incident, and the first and second output terminals166and167, which output a horizontal synchronization signal that is generated by photoelectrically converting the light beam incident on the light receiving surface163. The beam detection sensor160may be packaged using a mold161, for example. A rectangular slit-shaped opening portion165may be formed in the light receiving surface163. The beam detection sensor160may be arranged such that the lengthwise direction of the opening portion165is perpendicular to the main scanning direction. The opening portion165may restrict incident light beams in order to improve precision of the generated horizontal synchronization signal. The first and second output terminals166and167may be point-symmetrically arranged with respect to the center of the opening portion165. The first and second output terminals166and167may be spaced apart from each other by a distance D with respect to the lengthwise direction of the opening portion165so as to remove noise that may be generated in the first and second output terminals166and167, and as will be further described later in greater detail. Terminal pins168and169may be provided for the first and second output terminals166and167, respectively, for electrical connections to the output terminals.

Referring toFIG. 4, the light beam L1incident on the beam detection sensor160may be scanned across the light receiving surface163. The scanning direction S of the light beam L1corresponds to the main scanning direction. The scanning area on the light receiving surface163is where the beam spots of the light beam L1may be formed. In consideration of the possible variations in the location of the beam spots of the light beam L1, according to an embodiment of the present disclosure, the scanning area has the dimension along a direction perpendicular to the main scanning direction of at least the size of the beam spot diameter. According to an embodiment of the present disclosure, the first and second output terminals166and167may be disposed outside the scanning area so that the light beam L1is not directly incident on an area where the first and second output terminals166and167are arranged. Accordingly, the distance D between the first and second output terminals166and167with respect to the lengthwise direction of the opening portion165needs to be greater than at least the diameter of the beam spots of the light beam that are formed on the light receiving surface163. For example, the diameter of beam spots of a light beam formed on the light receiving surface163may typically be 3 mm or less, and thus according to an embodiment the distance D between the first and second output terminals166and167with respect to the lengthwise direction may be at least 3 mm.

A comparative example of a beam detection sensor is illustrated inFIG. 5. Referring toFIG. 5, the beam detection sensor260may include a light receiving surface263, onto which a light beam is incident, and the first and second output terminals266and267that output the horizontal synchronization signal that is generated by photoelectrically converting the light beam incident on the light receiving surface263. The beam detection sensor260may be packaged using a mold261. The first and second output terminals266and267may be arranged symmetrically about an opening portion265with respect to a lengthwise direction of the opening portion265. It was observed that an abnormal horizontal synchronization signal may result with the beam detection sensor260of the comparative example. That is, the first and second output terminals266and267are arranged on an optical path of the light beam L1in the scanning direction S where spots of the light beam L1are formed in the beam detection sensor260, and thus the light beam L1may be refracted or diffused by the first and second output terminals266and267. The refraction or diffusion of the light beam L1by the first and second output terminals266and267acts as noise that results in an abnormality or inaccuracy in the horizontal synchronization signal, and consequently may also result in the inaccuracy in the converted digital signal. Such abnormal horizontal synchronization signal may cause a shift in one or more lines of the image, may generate a shadow over the image, or may even shift the entire image.

With the light scanning unit100of the configuration according to an embodiment of the present disclosure described above, however, the first and second output terminals166and167of the beam detection sensor160are disposed outside the scanning area of the light receiving surface163, thus reducing the likelihood of an abnormal horizontal signal that may otherwise be generated due to the refraction or diffusion of the light beam L1by the first and second output terminals166and167. Furthermore, as the noise due to the above refraction/diffusion of the light beam L1is sufficiently reduced, a testing for the presence of, and/or the measures to remove, such noise may become unnecessary, thus making it possible to realize a light scanning unit of a simpler construct and/or configuration.

The beam detection mirror140, the beam detection lens150, and the beam detection sensor160described above may constitute a synchronization detection optical system of the light scanning unit100. According to an embodiment, in order to detect whether the light beam is positioned at the starting point where the main scanning of a scanning line of the light beam is to start, the beam detection mirror140is disposed at one end of the scanning line, that is, at the starting end of the scanning line. However, alternative arrangements are possible. For example, in a synchronization detection optical system according to another embodiment, in order to detect whether the light beam positioned at the end point of a scanning line of the light beam, a beam detection mirror (i.e., of a synchronization detection optical system) may be disposed at the other end of the scanning line. According to yet another alternative embodiment, a synchronization detection optical system may be disposed at each of the starting and ending ends of the scanning line, in order to detect whether the light beam is at the starting point of a scanning line and whether it is at the finishing point of the scanning line.

FIG. 6is a structural diagram of an electrophotographic image forming apparatus including a light scanning unit according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

Referring toFIG. 6, the electrophotographic image forming apparatus according to an embodiment may include a light scanning unit310, a photosensitive drum320, a developing unit330, a charging roller340, a transfer belt350, a first transfer roll351, a second transfer roller352and a fixing unit360.

As shown inFIG. 6, in order to form a color image, the light scanning unit310, the photosensitive drum320, the charging roller340and the developing unit330may be provided for each color developer being utilized for the color image formation. The light scanning unit100previously described may be used as the light scanning unit310provided for each color. For example, as shown inFIG. 6, four light scanning units310may scan light beams onto respective ones of the four of the photosensitive drums320.

A photosensitive drum320is an example of a photosensitive body, and may include a layer of photosensitive material of a predetermined thickness coated on a circumferential surface of a cylinder metal pipe. Although not illustrated inFIG. 6, a photosensitive belt may be used as the photosensitive body. A circumferential outer surface of the photosensitive drum320corresponds to a scanning surface. The charging roller340is an example of a charging device, and may rotate in contact with the photosensitive drums320to charge the surface of the photosensitive drum320to a uniform potential. To that end, a charging bias may be applied to the charging roller340. Alternatively, a corona charger (not shown) may be used instead of the charging roller340. Each of the light scanning units310scans a light beam, which is modulated according to image information, in the main scanning direction to form an electrostatic latent image on the scanning surface of the photosensitive drums320that had been uniformly charged as previously described. As the scanning surface moves along a sub-scanning direction due to the rotation of the photosensitive drum320, scanning of the light beam onto the scanning surface along the main scanning direction by the light scanning unit310is synchronized with the horizontal synchronization signal, thereby forming a two-dimensional electrostatic latent image on the scanning surface of the photosensitive drum320.

Electrostatic latent images corresponding to the image information of black (K), magenta (M), yellow (Y), and cyan (C) are formed respectively on the four photosensitive drums320. The four developing units330respectively supply the black (K), magenta (M), yellow (Y) and cyan (C) toners to the four photosensitive drums320to form the toner images of black (K), magenta (M), yellow (Y) and cyan (C) colors, respectively. The transfer belt350travels in contact with the four photosensitive drums320so that the individual toner images of black (K), magenta (M), yellow (Y) and cyan (C) colors are transferred onto the transfer belt350overlapping one another to form in combination a full color image by a first transfer bias applied to the four transfer rollers351. Then, the full color toner image is transferred from the transfer belt350onto a recording medium P by a second transfer bias applied to the second transfer roller352. The toner image transferred to the recording medium P is fixed thereto with heat and/or pressure supplied by the fixing unit360, thereby completing the image forming process.

In the light scanning unit and the electrophotographic image forming apparatus according to the above-described embodiments of the present disclosure, the output terminals of the beam detection sensor are disposed outside the scanning path of the light beam incident on a light receiving surface of the beam detection sensor so as to reduce noise in the synchronization signal that may result from refraction or diffusion of the light beam. With the sufficient reduction in such noise, the testing for, and the removal of, such noise may become unnecessary, and thus may be omitted to realize a light scanning unit if a simpler configuration.

While the present disclosure has been particularly shown and described with reference to several embodiments thereof, it will be understood by those of ordinary skill in the art that various changes in form and details may be made to those embodiments described herein without departing from the spirit and scope of the present disclosure as defined by the following claims and their equivalents.