The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Nov. 07, 2000
Filed:
Dec. 11, 1998
William J Nowak, Webster, NY (US);
James J Appel, Rochester, NY (US);
Edward C Bock, Macedon, NY (US);
Xerox Corporation, Stamford, CT (US);
Abstract
Raster output scanners having piezoelectric-activated lens movers comprised of a mounting base, an electrically operated piezoelectric element connected to the mounting base, a flexible linkage having a lens mount, and a lens attached to the lens mount. The flexible linkage includes flexible arms that can flex in the predominate direction of motion of the piezoelectric element, but that are substantially rigid in another direction. The flexible linkage is mounted such that the flexible arms bias the lens toward the piezoelectric element. Expansion and contraction of the piezoelectric element, combined with the bias of the flexible arms cause the lens mount and its attached lens to follow the expansion and contraction of the piezoelectric element. The rigidity of the flexible arms hold the lens in the proper focal plane. Beneficially, the piezoelectric element is driven so as to compensate for scan line position errors.