Optical sensor and image forming apparatus

摘要

In an optical sensor, a light emission system emits an irradiated light of a linear polarization in a first polarization direction toward a surface of a target object having a sheet shape from an incident direction which is inclined with respect to a normal direction of the surface. A first light detection system includes a first light detector arranged on a first light path of a specular reflected light, which is emitted from the light emission system and is specularly reflected from the target object. A second light detection system includes a second light detector arranged on a second light path of a diffuse reflected light which is diffusely reflected from an incident plane on the target object. The second light detector receives second light passed by an optical element which passes a linear polarization component of a second polarization direction perpendicular to the first polarization direction.

主权项

1. An optical sensor, comprising:
a light emission system configured to emit an irradiated light of a linear polarization in a first polarization direction toward a surface of a target object having a sheet shape from an incident direction which is inclined with respect to a normal direction of the surface; a first light detection system configured to include a first light detector arranged on a first light path of a specular reflected light, which is emitted from the light emission system and is specularly reflected from the target object; a second light detection system configured to include a second light detector arranged on a second light path of a diffuse reflected light which is diffusely reflected from an incident plane on the target object, the second light detector receiving second light passed by an optical element which passes a linear polarization component of a second polarization direction perpendicular to the first polarization direction; a third light detection system configured to include at least one third light detector arranged on a third light path of a diffuse reflected light which is diffusely reflected from the incident plane on the target object without passing the optical element, wherein the second light detection system and the third light detection system are arranged on paths different from the first light path of the specular reflected light which is emitted from the light emission system and is specularly reflected from the target object.