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:
Mar. 19, 2013
Filed:
Mar. 03, 2010
Susumu Mikajiri, Tokyo, JP;
Susumu Mikajiri, Tokyo, JP;
Ricoh Company, Ltd., Tokyo, JP;
Abstract
An optical scanning device includes a light source, an optical system, and a housing. The light source projects a light beam. The housing includes a holder and encloses the optical system. The optical system includes a liquid crystal element held by the housing via the holder, to modulate a phase of the light beam projected from the light source against a scanned surface. The liquid crystal element includes a plurality of substantially transparent substrates, a liquid crystal layer, and a sealing member. One of the plurality of the transparent substrates has a size larger than any other transparent substrates and is positioned in the holder. The liquid crystal layer is sandwiched between the plurality of substantially transparent substrates. The sealing member seals the liquid crystal layer between the plurality of substantially transparent substrates.