| US 7,582,888 B2 | ||
| Reflection type optical sensor and method for detecting surface roughness | ||
| Kazuhisa Shinno, Tokyo (Japan); and Fumio Ogawa, Tokyo (Japan) | ||
| Assigned to Stanley Electric Co., Ltd., Tokyo (Japan) | ||
| Filed on Jan. 15, 2007, as Appl. No. 11/623,117. | ||
| Claims priority of application No. 2006-006350 (JP), filed on Jan. 13, 2006. | ||
| Prior Publication US 2007/0164240 A1, Jul. 19, 2007 | ||
| Int. Cl. G01N 21/86 (2006.01); B41J 3/407 (2006.01); G01B 11/30 (2006.01) | ||
| U.S. Cl. 250—559.4 [250/559.01; 347/106; 356/600] | 11 Claims |
| 1. A reflection type optical sensor, comprising:
a light emitting unit having an optical axis;
two light receiving units each having an optical axis and configured to sense light received from the light emitting unit;
and
a 1ight receiving guide located adjacent each of the light receiving units, each of the light receiving guides having an optical
light emitting axis, wherein the optical light emitting axes of the light receiving guides are spaced apart from each other
along their length by a first distance, and the optical axes of the light receiving units are spaced apart from each other
along their length by a second distance, wherein the first distance is less than the second distance such that the optical
light emitting axes of the light receiving guides are closer together than are the optical axes of the light receiving units,
wherein
the light emitting unit and the two light receiving units are configured such that each of the optical axes of the light receiving
units intersects the optical axis of the light emitting unit at a substantially identical predetermined angle, thereby detecting
reflected light.
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