Circular optical reflection apparatus

Abstract

A circular optical reflection apparatus to be used in an optical image capturing device for receiving light ray from a light source and reflecting the light ray at least twice inside the apparatus then projecting the light ray to a lens set for forming an image on an image forming device. The apparatus includes a cylindrical optical member which has its outside surface coating with a reflective material and has an axial cutaway section to serve as a light inlet and a light outlet. Light ray enters through the light inlet into the cylindrical optical member and reflects inside at least twice then emits out through the light outlet. It may obtain an optical path needed for image forming with less number of reflection mirrors. It is smaller size and may be produced and assembled with less time and cost. It can also eliminate accumulated reflection angle tolerance that might otherwise happen to the conventional ones that use reflection mirrors.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . A circular optical reflection apparatus for receiving light ray from a light source, reflecting the light ray at least twice and projecting the light ray to a selected direction, comprising; 
 a cylindrical reflection member having a circumambient surface thereof coating with a reflective material,    an axial light inlet for receiving the light ray into the cylindrical reflection member for the light ray to reflect at least twice inside the cylindrical reflection member, and an axial light outlet for the reflecting light ray to exit from the cylindrical reflection member.    
     
     
         2 . The circular optical reflection apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the circular reflection member is located in an optical image capturing means.  
     
     
         3 . The circular optical reflection apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the cylindrical reflection member is a transparent solid member and the reflective material is coated on the outside circumference surface of the cylindrical reflection member.  
     
     
         4 . The circular optical reflection apparatus of  claim 3 , wherein the cylindrical reflection member is made of glass.  
     
     
         5 . The circular optical reflection apparatus of  claim 3 , wherein the cylindrical reflection member is made of acrylic.  
     
     
         6 . The circular optical reflection apparatus of  claim 3 , wherein the cylindrical reflection member has an axial L-shaped indent cutaway section, with two adjacent sides, one side becomes the light inlet, another side becomes the light outlet.  
     
     
         7 . The circular optical reflection apparatus of  claim 6 , wherein the two adjacent sides are substantially normal to each other.  
     
     
         8 . The circular optical reflection apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the light outlet is a curved surface.  
     
     
         9 . The circular optical reflection apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the cylindrical optical reflection member is hollow, the reflective material is coated on inside circumference surface of the hollow member.  
     
     
         10 . The circular optical reflection apparatus of  claim 9 , wherein the cylindrical reflection member has an axial cutaway section to serve as the light inlet and light outlet.  
     
     
         11 . A circular optical reflection apparatus located in an optical image capturing means which includes a light source, a lens and an image forming means, the light source emitting a light ray into the circular optical reflection apparatus for reflecting at least once and projecting the light ray to the lens for producing an image on the image forming means, 
 wherein the circular optical reflection apparatus includes a cylindrical reflection to member having a circumambient surface coating with a reflective material and an axial cutaway section for receiving the light ray which being reflected at least once inside the cylindrical reflection member before emitting out of the cylindrical reflection member through the cutaway section.    
     
     
         12 . The circular optical reflection apparatus of  claim 11 , wherein the optical image capturing means is a scanner.  
     
     
         13 . The circular optical reflection apparatus of  claim 11 , wherein the optical image capturing means is a copier.  
     
     
         14 . The circular optical reflection apparatus of  claim 11 , wherein the cylindrical reflection member is a transparent solid member and the reflective material is coated on the outside circumference surface of the cylindrical reflection member.  
     
     
         15 . The circular optical reflection apparatus of  claim 14 , wherein the cylindrical reflection member is made of glass.  
     
     
         16 . The circular optical reflection apparatus of  claim 14 , wherein the cylindrical reflection member is made of acrylic.  
     
     
         17 . The circular optical reflection apparatus of  claim 14 , wherein the cylindrical reflection member has an axial L-shaped indent cutaway section, with two adjacent sides, one side becomes the light inlet, another side becomes the light outlet.  
     
     
         18 . The circular optical reflection apparatus of  claim 17 , wherein the two adjacent sides are substantially normal to each other.  
     
     
         19 . The circular optical reflection apparatus of  claim 14 , wherein the light outlet is a curved surface.  
     
     
         20 . The circular optical reflection apparatus of  claim 11 , wherein the cylindrical optical reflection member is hollow, the reflective material is coated on inside circumference surface of the hollow member.