Abstract: A multi-beam scanning device including a multi-beam light source including plural laser diode arrays emitting plural laser beams and at least one coupling lens; a deflector configured to deflect the plural laser beams; an optical system configured to guide the deflected plural laser beams to an image forming surface; a body configured to contain the multi-beam light source, deflector and scanning optical system; and an adjustment member located between the body and the multi-beam light source and configured to adjust the beam pitch of the plural laser beams in the sub-scanning direction. An image forming apparatus including an image bearing member, the above-mentioned scanning device and an image forming device.

Abstract: A multi-beam scanner includes light sources, a deflector deflecting the beams emitted from the light sources at an equiangular velocity, a scanning image-forming optical system guiding the deflected beams to a surface so as to be formed into light spots on the scanned surface, a light receiving device receiving the beams deflected toward optical write-in starting portions on the scanned surface as synchronizing beams, and a synchronizing beam optical system guiding the beams deflected toward the optical write-in starting portions on the scanned surface to the light receiving device. The scanning image-forming optical system includes two or more scanning positive lenses, with a region having a positive power in a main scanning direction on an optical write-in starting side, and each deflected beam received by the light receiving device passes through one or more but not all of the scanning positive lenses to be guided to the light receiving device.

Abstract: System and method for operating four resonant torsional hinged mirrors such as torsional hinged MEMS devices at the same oscillating frequency suitable for use in a color printer requiring four serially arranged line printers.

Abstract: An image forming device, characterized in that the shape of the optical path of a third laser beam from a third semiconductor laser (19M) to a third photo-sensitive member drum (IM) is approximately the same as that of the optical path of a first laser beam from a first semiconductor laser (19C) to a first photo-sensitive member drum (1C), a second virtual line connecting the rotating center of the third photo-sensitive member drum (IM) to the rotating center of a fourth photo-sensitive member drum (IK) is tilted relative to a first virtual line connecting the rotating center of the first photo-sensitive member drum (1C) to the rotating center of the second photo-sensitive member drum (IY), and an angle formed by the rotating axis (x2) of a second rotating polygon mirror (20b) and the second virtual line (12) is equal to an angle formed by the rotating axis (x1) of a first rotating polygon mirror (20a) and the first virtual line (11).

Abstract: Disclosed is an optical scanning apparatus for repeatedly optically scanning a plurality of surfaces to be scanned, including: a plurality of light sources; an optical deflector for deflecting and reflecting a plurality of light beams emitted from the plurality of light sources; and at least one scanning optical system for guiding the plurality of light beams which are deflected and reflected by the optical deflector to the different surfaces to be scanned. In the optical scanning apparatus, the plurality of light beams incident on the optical deflector are incident on a deflection surface of the optical deflector at different angles to a normal of the deflection surface, the scanning optical system is commonly used for the plurality of light beams, and the scanning optical system includes a first optical element that satisfies 0?|?1s|<0.001 where ?1s represents optical power of the scanning optical system within a sub scanning section.

Abstract: A light source which is a surface emitting laser including a plurality of apertures that correspond to light emitting regions arranged in a two-dimensional array and limit the regions, and a scanning optical system satisfies conditions of Dm·|?m|<?m and Ds·|?s|<?s, where Dm is a width of each of the apertures in a main scanning direction, Ds is a width of the each aperture in a sub-scanning direction, ?m is a magnification of both of a coupling optical system and the scanning optical system in the main scanning direction, ?s is a magnification of both of the coupling optical system and the scanning optical system in the sub-scanning direction, ?m is a size of an optical spot in the main scanning direction formed on a scan target surface, and ?s is the size of the optical spot in the sub-scanning direction formed on the scan target surface.

Abstract: The present invention provides a scanning apparatus, which scans a plurality of diffracted beams, obtained by diffracting and modulating light emitted from a single light source, on a scanning object, such as the drum of a printer or sheet.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus which includes image forming units of a plurality of colors, each having an image carrier and a light beam scanning portion for polarizing irradiated laser beam by a polygon mirror and forming an electrostatic latent image on the image carrier, and forms a color image by superposing images formed by the image forming unit, includes a first control portion which controls the velocity of rotation of one polygon mirror in one image forming unit, a second control portion which controls rotation of another polygon mirror by velocity control or phase control in another image forming unit, and a control signal generation portion which, when the rotation velocity of another polygon mirror reaches a target velocity by velocity control of the second control portion, generates a rotation reference signal based on the driving information of one polygon mirror driven by velocity control of the first control portion, or detection information of the laser beam polarized by one polygon mirror, wher

Abstract: A scanning optical apparatus having stable optical performance even if the characteristic of a vertical cavity surface emitting laser is fluctuated due to increase in drive current, and an image forming apparatus using the same are provided. The scanning optical apparatus comprises a converting optical system for converting a beam from the light source means having plural emission points into a beam of another state, deflecting means, and an imaging optical system for directing the deflected beam onto a scanning surface, and either pair of conditions is satisfied, 3?Fnos<Fnom?15 and d?s/dT<d?m/dT, or 3?Fnom<Fnos?15 and d?m/dT<d?s/dT, where Fnom and Fnos represent F numbers of the light source means side of the converting optical system in main and sub-scanning directions, ?m and ?s half value angles of far field pattern in the main and sub-scanning directions, and d?m/dT and d?s/dT the fluctuations of ?m and ?s due to temperature change.

Abstract: In an image-forming device, a plurality of laser beams is irradiated onto the reflecting surface of a polygon mirror so as to be obliquely incident thereon. A plurality of mixture preventing elements is provided for preventing a laser beam from mixing in optical paths for another light beams.

Abstract: Scanning assemblies, printing devices, and related methods are described. In one embodiment, pole pieces are configured to be coupled with an input voltage source that can produce phase-shifted input voltages, the pole pieces defining at least first and second phases. A rotor is operably associated with the pole pieces for rotation. The pole pieces and the rotor are configured as an induction drive system in which a rotational force for rotating the rotor is produced through interaction of rotor-induced eddy currents from each of the first and second phases with respective magnetic fluxes of the other of the first and second phases.

Abstract: An optical scan apparatus includes an optical deflection unit (4), an image formation optical system (3), and curved surface mirrors (7a to 7d). Light fluxes from the image formation optical system (3) come onto the deflection surface (4a) of die optical deflection unit (4) in an oblique direction. Light fluxes from the optical deflection unit (4) come onto the curved surface mirrors (7a to 7d) in an oblique direction. When a boundary is a plane (6) including a normal at the center of the deflection surface (4a) and parallel to the main scan direction, the curved surface mirrors (7a to 7d) are arranged in the same space divided by the boundary and the scan speeds of fluxes scanning the surfaces to be scanned (8a to 8d) are almost identical. Thus, it is possible to obtain identical drive frequencies of the light sources (1a to 1d), thereby simplifying the circuit.

Abstract: An illumination system includes a plurality of solid state light emitters and a scanner operative to sequentially receive light from the plurality of solid state light emitters and to provide a time-multiplexed light output. The solid state light emitters are each operated in pulse mode to increase their brightness relative to the light output of similar emitters operating in continuous mode. The time multiplexed light output is a generally continuous output having a brightness that is greater than the brightness of the output of similar emitters operating in continuous mode. The time multiplexed light output is useful in photolithography and machine vision applications.

Abstract: Even number of reflection mirrors reflecting a light beam in the sub-scanning direction is disposed on an optical path from a deflecting reflection surface of an optical deflector to a corresponding surface to be scanned, for a light beam that is incident on the deflecting reflection surface from one side of a line normal to the deflecting reflection surface in the sub-scanning direction. Odd number of reflection mirrors reflecting the light beam in the sub-scanning direction is disposed on the optical path, for a light beam that is incident on the deflecting reflection surface from other side of the line normal to the deflecting reflection surface in the sub-scanning direction.

Abstract: This invention is to obtain a multi-beam scanning apparatus which always executes synchronization detection at the same timing to prevent any jitter, and an image forming apparatus using the apparatus. In a multi-beam scanning apparatus which guides a plurality of light beams emitted from a light source to an optical deflector, guides the plurality of light beams deflected by the optical deflector onto a target scanning surface through a scanning lens system, and guides some of the plurality of light beams deflected by the optical deflector to a synchronization detecting unit to execute synchronization using a sync signal obtained by the synchronization detecting unit, the synchronization detecting unit includes a BD slit which determines the synchronization detecting timing, and the BD slit has a smooth member.

Abstract: System and method for generating lines of data on a photosensitive medium for use with a display or a printing apparatus. The lines of data are generated by two or more modulated and parallel laser light beams onto a resonant pivoting torsional hinged mirror. The pivoting mirror sweeps the two modulated light beams back and forth across the photosensitive medium to provide bi-directional printing. Relative motion between the photosensitive medium and the plane of the sweeping light beam is provided by moving the photosensitive medium when used with a printing apparatus or by also orthogonally moving the sweeping plane of the light beams when used with a display device.

Abstract: An optical scanning apparatus includes a light source that emits a light beam, optical systems through which the light beam travels including one that forms a line image, a polygon mirror that rotates and deflects the light beam with a deflective reflection surface, and a scanning optical system that converges the light beam to scan a target surface with a light beam spot. The optical system closer to the light source than the polygon mirror is configured so as to correct a change in an image-forming position of the light beam spot caused by deformation of the deflective reflection surface originating from the rotation of the polygon mirror.

Abstract: A tandem color laser printer 1 is provided with a photosensitive drum unit 15, a developing unit 14, and a scanning unit 13 for each color. The developing units 14, each including a main developer unit 25 and a toner hopper 24, and the scanning units 13, which irradiate laser beam, are alternately stacked vertically to overlap with each other in the vertical direction. This arrangement eliminates space required when arranging the developing units 14 and scanning units 13 side by side, thereby reducing the footprint of the color laser printer 1.

Abstract: A transmission optical system comprises a concave surface mirror whose reflection surface is directed toward a deflection mirror surface and a transmission lens which is disposed between the concave surface mirror and the deflection mirror surface. A light beam deflected by a deflecting element at a first deflection angle is guided to the concave surface mirror via the transmission lens, and the light beam returned by the concave surface mirror is guided to the deflecting element via the transmission lens. In consequence, the deflecting element reflects the light beam twice, and the light beam is emitted toward a scanning lens at a second deflection angle which is larger than the first deflection angle.

Abstract: A scanning unit for use in an image-forming device includes, for example, four light sources that emit light beams corresponding to yellow, magenta, cyan and black images. The light beams are scanned over the corresponding photosensitive drum with the use of a single polygon mirror and four optical reflection systems each including reflection mirrors. The curved orientation of the scan lines on the photosensitive drum can be equalized for all four light beams by regulating the number of reflection mirrors, that is, by setting the number of reflection mirrors to an even number or an odd number.

Abstract: A laser scanning unit includes a light source unit generating a plurality of laser beams, at least one horizontal polarizer arranged on an optical axis of a part of the laser beams, at least one vertical polarizer arranged on an optical axis of a remainder of the laser beams, a polygon mirror deflecting, within a range of a predetermined angle, a horizontally-polarized beam and a vertically-polarized beam respectively generated by the horizontal and the vertical polarizers, and an optical filter passing a horizontally-polarized beam of the plurality of polarized beams deflected by the polygon mirror, and reflecting a vertically-polarized beam at a predetermined angle.

Abstract: An optical scanning apparatus including a light source, a first optical mechanism, a light deflective reflection mechanism, a scanning optical mechanism, a second optical mechanism, and an aperture element. The light source emits a plurality of laser beams. The first optical mechanism includes an optical element fixed to an integrated member that fixes the light source, and converts the laser beams into converging laser beams. The light deflective reflection mechanism reflects and deflects the laser beams. The scanning optical mechanism leads the laser beams to an image recording surface. The second optical mechanism is arranged between the first optical mechanism and the light deflective reflection mechanism and has a negative power in at least a main scanning direction. The aperture element is arranged between the light source and the light deflective reflection mechanism. An optical scanning method and an image forming apparatus having the optical scanning apparatus are also described.

Abstract: There is provided a multi-beam laser scanning device able to efficiently suppress and prevent density fluctuation and achieve higher image quality. The multi-beam laser scanning device comprises a light emitting source generating a plurality of laser beams, a rotating deflector that has a plurality of deflecting surfaces. On a scanning surface, an interval between a scanning line X generated by deflection of a first deflecting surface of the deflector and a scanning line Y generated by deflection of a second deflecting surface of the deflector and adjacent to the scanning ling X satisfies at least one of the following two equations: ?P?<0.8·Ps ?P?<0.6·Ws where ?P? represents the difference between a maximum interval and a minimum interval between the scanning line X and the scanning line Y, Ps represents an object value of two neighboring scanning lines, and Ws represents the size of a light spot in the sub-scan direction.

Abstract: An optical scanning apparatus includes a rotatable polygonal mirror for deflecting first and second laser beams, which are incident on the polygonal mirror at diff(rent positions with respect to a rotational direction of the polygonal mirror; a first optical member for transmitting the first laser beam; a second optical member for transmitting the second laser beam; a laser beam blocking member, disposed between the first optical member and the second optical member, for blocking the first laser beam reflected by the first optical member to prevent the first laser beam reflected by the first optical member from being incident on the second optical member.

Abstract: In this optical scanning device, a plurality of scanning optical systems are arranged in a main scanning direction. Each of the scanning optical systems includes a deflecting unit performing an optical scanning by oscillation. Scanning frequencies of the deflecting units are substantially equal to one another. Each of the deflecting units is provided with means for varying the scanning frequency. The scanning frequency of each of the deflecting units is set midway between a maximum value and a minimum value of a resonance frequency intrinsic to the deflecting unit.

Abstract: An optical scanning system including a resonant oscillating device having a first magnetic field and a mirrored surface. The system includes first and second light sources for directing first and second beams of light to the mirrored surface of the resonant oscillating device to provide first and second reflected scan beams. The second reflected scan beam is offset a first distance from the first reflected scan beam. A second magnetic field is included for interacting with the first magnetic field to provide torque to the resonant oscillating device for scanning the first and second reflected scan beams across a surface to provide first and second scan lines on the surface substantially simultaneously as the resonant oscillating device oscillates under the influence of the first and second magnetic fields. The optical scanning system is effective to increase scan efficiency of the resonant oscillating device over that of a system using a single light source.

Abstract: An optical scanning device of the present invention includes a plurality of light source units each including two semiconductor lasers and two coupling lenses respectively associated with the lasers. A single rotatable deflector is implemented as two polygonal mirrors coaxially stacked on each other and different in angular phase from each other. The deflector deflects laser beams issuing from the light source units for thereby scanning a plurality of photoconductive drums via conventional optical devices. A synchronization sensor is shared by the laser beams, but can easily output synchronizing signals clearly separate from each other.

Abstract: An optical scanning device directs a light beam emitted from a light source to a mirror of a mechanical deflector through a first optical system, deflects the light beam in a main scanning direction by causing the light beam to be reflected by a mirror surface of the mirror, the angle of the mirror surface changing due to rotation of the mirror, and directs the deflected light beam through a second optical system to a surface to be scanned moving in a sub-scanning direction, the light source, first optical system and mechanical deflector being contained in a housing. The mechanical deflector is held in the housing through a holding member, and, also, material of the housing is different in heat conductivity from the holding member.

Abstract: Provided are an optical scanning apparatus, which keeps an oblique incident angle to be small with respect to a polygon mirror in a sub-scanning section to provide preferable optical performance with a compact and simple construction, and an image forming apparatus using the optical scanning apparatus. The optical scanning apparatus includes a plurality of light source means, an incident system turn back mirror that reflects light beams emitted from the plurality of light source means, a light deflector that deflects the plurality of light beams using the same deflecting surface, and an imaging optical system that guides the light beams deflected by the light deflector respectively onto a plurality of surfaces to be scanned. At the time of light-scanning of the plurality of surfaces to be scanned, the incident system turn back mirror is disposed in an effective scanning range in a main scanning section when it is projected in the main scanning section.

Abstract: By a first image forming optical system (42a to 42d), a plurality of light beams from light sources (41a to 41d) form linear images on a common deflecting surface (46) of an optical deflector (44). Light beams reflected off the optical deflector (44) are reflected by a plurality of curved surface mirrors (45a to 45d) and are allowed to scan over photosensitive members (4a to 4d), respectively. The plurality of curved surface mirrors (45a to 45d) are disposed on the same side with respect to a plane that includes a normal line at a center of the deflecting surface (46) and is parallel to a main scanning direction. Further, curved surfaces of the plurality of curved surface mirrors (45a to 45d) vary in shape. Thus, a tandem type color image forming apparatus that achieves low cost and has excellent optical performance and an optical scanning device that is used favorably in the color image forming apparatus can be provided.

Abstract: A multi-beam optical scanning apparatus includes a semiconductor laser array slanted relative to a sub-scanning direction and emitting a plurality of optical beams; a coupling lens converting a shape of each optical beam emitted from the semiconductor laser array; and an aperture with an opening having a size of Am×As, arranged after the coupling lens in a direction in which the optical beam progresses, where Am is a dimension of the opening in a main scanning direction and As is a dimension of the opening in the sub-scanning direction. When a length in the main scanning direction of a contour line defined by 1/e2 strength of a maximum strength of an optical beam at the position of the aperture is Lm, and a length in the sub-scanning direction of the contour line defined by 1/e2 strength of the maximum strength of the optical beam at the position of the aperture is Ls, the following conditional expressions are satisfied: Am<Lm, and??(1) Ls/Lm×0.3<As/Am<Ls/Lm×1.7.

Abstract: A multi-beam image recording device is capable of recording high-quality high-resolution images without positional errors by exposing test patterns for measuring positional errors of beam spots of each laser beam in main and subsidiary scanning directions, calculating the positional errors of beam spots using a correcting device, controlling the quantity of exposure according to the result of calculation, and thus correcting the positional errors in main and subsidiary scanning directions.

Abstract: A light scanning unit of the present invention can reduce the degree of variation in the quantity of light on a photosensitive body by a scanning position and can reduce a difference in density of an image which occurs at image formation.

Abstract: A light-heat conversion in a light-stimulated writing method and associated apparatus include an image recording body having an element, which absorbs an (electromagnetic wave) provided in a surface of a recording body, or in a recording layer formed on an uppermost layer of the recording body having a material exhibiting a thermal changeable character of wettabilty, or in a substrate or an intermediate layer of the recording body. After a liquid is disposed on the recording body by a liquid forming device, light-stimulated writing is carried out, resulting on an enhanced efficiency of light-heat conversion by a light absorbing element.

Abstract: A scanning optical system is configured to include a light source, an anamorphic optical element, a polygonal mirror, and an imaging optical system. The imaging optical system has a scanning lens including a first lens provided on a polygonal mirror side and a second lens provided on a surface side, and a compensation lens provided on the surface side with respect to the scanning lens, the compensation lens compensating for curvature of field. The scanning lens includes at least one convex surface that has a toric surface having a stronger power in the auxiliary scanning direction than in the main scanning direction. One surface of the compensation lens has an anamorphic aspherical surface, which is a surface whose radius of curvature in the auxiliary scanning direction at a point spaced from the optical axis thereof is determined independently from a cross-sectional shape thereof along the main scanning direction.

Abstract: A multi-beam scanner includes light sources, a deflector deflecting the beams emitted from the light sources at an equiangular velocity, a scanning image-forming optical system guiding the deflected beams to a surface so as to be formed into light spots on the scanned surface, a light receiving device receiving the beams deflected toward optical write-in starting portions on the scanned surface as synchronizing beams, and a synchronizing beam optical system guiding the beams deflected toward the optical write-in starting portions on the scanned surface to the light receiving device. The scanning image-forming optical system includes two or more scanning positive lenses, with a region having a positive power in a main scanning direction on an optical write-in starting side, and each deflected beam received by the light receiving device passes through one or more but not all of the scanning positive lenses to be guided to the light receiving device.

Abstract: A method and device for managing and controlling a scanning system that incorporates multiple oscillating scanners is provided by the present invention. In accordance with the preferred embodiment, a resonant frequency is determined for each of the scanners. A drive signal for driving the oscillating scanners is generated based upon the determined resonant frequencies. An amplitude adjustment circuit determines the difference between the drive signal frequency and the resonant frequency of each oscillating scanner and adjusts the amplitude of the drive signal provided to that particular oscillating scanner such that scan amplitude of each oscillating scanner is approximately equal. The offset from the resonant frequency is also used to calculate a phase adjustment for the drive signal to insure that the oscillating scanners are operating in tandem.

Abstract: A multi-beam scanning optical system is provided with light sources that emit a plurality of laser beams having different wavelengths, respectively, a single deflector which deflects the plurality of laser beams simultaneously, an imaging optical system that converges the plurality of laser beams deflected by the single deflector on the surface to be scanned, and a beam detector that receives the plurality of laser beams directed to outside of the predetermined imaging area via at least one of lens elements included in the imaging optical system, a synchronizing signal being generated upon detection of each of the plurality of light beams by the beam detector. It should be noted that an optical characteristic of the imaging optical system is configured such that the laser beams directed to the predetermined imaging area are aligned in a scanning direction, while the beams directed to the beam detector are shifted in the scanning direction.

Abstract: An optical scanner includes at least a pair of optical scanning systems and a light deflector used in common between the optical scanning systems, each optical scanning system having a scan lens for guiding the beam deflected from the light deflector onto the associated scanned plane. One of the optical scanning systems has a first reference reflecting position on the light deflector, and the other optical scanning system has a second reference reflecting position on the light deflector. The first and second reference reflecting positions are asymmetric with respect to the reference plane of the optical scanner. The scan lenses of said pair of optical scanning systems are arranged to be symmetric with respect to a line passing through the rotational center of the light deflector and extending in parallel to the scanned planes.

Abstract: A multi-beam light scanning optical system includes n (n?2) light source means having m (m?2) light emitting points; beam synthesizing means for synthesizing n×m light beams emitted by the light source means; deflecting means for deflecting n×m light beams from the beam synthesizing means; an imaging optical system for imaging the n×m light beams from the deflecting means on a surface to be scanned, wherein the surface to be scanned is scanned in a main scan direction with n×m light beams by a deflection scanning operation of the deflecting means; an aperture stop provided between the beam synthesizing means and the deflecting means, wherein principal rays of the n×m light beams are intersected at a position of the aperture stop, and the light beams which are adjacent to each other in a sub-scan direction on the surface to be scanned are the beams emitted from different ones of the light source means.

Abstract: An optical scanning device for scanning a plurality of light beams on scanned surfaces, such as photosensitive drums, includes a light source, a front optical system, a deflector (e.g., a rotating polygon mirror) that scans the light beams in a main scanning direction, and a rear optical system for directing the light beams toward the scanned surfaces so that two of the light beams are parallel in a sub-scanning direction that is orthogonal to the main scanning direction and two of the light beams diverge in the sub-scanning direction in the rear optical system. The front optical system includes collimating and converging optical systems. The rear optical system includes cylindrical lens parts that are oppositely inclined relative to the optical axis in a plane that includes the sub-scanning direction so as to correct curvatures of the scanning lines.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus has functions of tilt adjustments to a mirror for reflecting a laser beam and outputting an image after registration of a plurality of images.

Abstract: A pattern writing apparatus for writing a pattern on a photosensitive material comprises a head provided with a DMD having a micromirror group which spatially modulates reflected light. Light from the micromirrors of the DMD are directed to irradiation regions (61) on the substrate, respectively. The irradiation regions (61) are moved over the substrate with movement of the substrate relative to the head. The DMD is provided within the head so that the direction of arrangement of the irradiation regions (61) is tilted relative to the main scanning direction, and a center-to-center distance (L1) along the sub-scanning direction between two adjacent irradiation regions (61) arranged in the main scanning direction is made equal to a pitch (P1) of writing cells (620) on the substrate with respect to the sub-scanning direction. ON/OFF control of light irradiation of each irradiation region is performed each time the irradiation regions 61 move a distance equal to twice a pitch (P2).

Abstract: A multi-beam scanning method for scanning a scanning surface with a plurality of beams which are formed into a plurality of beam spots separated from each other in a sub scanning direction includes providing n number of semiconductor laser array units, each of the n number of semiconductor laser array units having m number of light emitting points, where n is not equal to 1 and m is not equal to 1, coupling light beams emitted from the light emitting points of the semiconductor laser arrays, synthesizing the coupled beams with a beam synthesizing device to obtain m×n number of beams and deflecting the m×n number of beams at substantially the same time such that the deflected beams are impinged on the scanning surface.

Abstract: A synchronizing circuit and a timing adjusting circuit set a position of an exposure area by beam scanning as an additional value of a first setting value set in dot unit corresponding to the scanning of a pixel clock period and a second setting value set in tap unit corresponding to the scanning of a period smaller than the pixel clock period. A CPU controls the synchronizing circuit and the timing adjusting circuit so that the exposed position becomes an objective position. The CPU changes the second setting value to a first predetermined value by increasing the first setting value by one dot, in the case that the additional value is increased to reach a first threshold.

Abstract: In bi-directional imaging, such as bi-directional printing, a galvanometric oscillator scans a light beam through a scan path across an imaging window. A controller enables transmission of video data to a modulator when the light beam is positioned for imaging on the imaging window. Video data is transmitted to the modulator when the light beam is traveling in a forward direction or a reverse direction across the imaging window, whereby a modulated light beam is capable of producing an image when traveling in the forward or reverse directions.

Abstract: An optical scanning lens used in a multi-beam scanning optical apparatus including a first mechanism reforming the light beams into line images, a deflecting mechanism reforming the light beams into multiple scanning beams, and a second mechanism reforming the multiple scanning beams into scanning light spots running on a recording surface. The optical scanning lens has a refractive index profile and is included in the second optical mechanism, and satisfies a formula (m?1)×PLs×V/WLs?2.3×10?6, where m is a number of light emission points, PLs is a pitch of the multiple beams, V represents the refractive index profile, W [mm] represents an effective recording width of the recording surface, and WLs represents an effective range of the optical scanning lens in the sub-scanning direction corresponding to the effective recording width W. An optical scanning apparatus or image forming apparatus may use the optical scanning apparatus.

Abstract: An optical scanning device for scanning plural surfaces including a plurality of laser light units each configured to emit a laser beam, a deflecting device configured to deflect the laser beams from the plurality laser light units to sweep a plurality of predetermined planes, respectively, and a scanning image forming optical unit configured to project the laser beams deflected by the deflecting device on the plural surfaces, respectively, to scan the plural surfaces with the laser beams. The scanning image forming optical unit includes a plurality of optical detecting devices configured to detect the laser beams and a first plurality of reflecting devices positioned to reflect at least two laser beams of the laser beams toward one of the plurality of optical detecting devices.

Abstract: In a disclosed image forming device, the directions of light sources at installation and the numbers of returning mirror are set such that a plurality of optical beams emitted from multi-beam lasers in which light-emitting sections are two-dimensionally arranged have the same directions for the two dimensional axes on each of corresponding photosensitive bodies. Each of a main scanning direction and a sub-scanning direction on the photosensitive bodies has the same direction as each direction of the main scanning axis (for example, the X axis) and the sub scanning axis (for example, the Y axis) of each optical beams.

Abstract: A multi-beam scanning device includes a light source for emitting a plurality of laser beams, a polygon mirror for deflecting the laser beams so that the laser beams scan across an object surface in a main scanning direction, an f? lens disposed between the polygon mirror and the object surface, and a cylindrical lens that converges each laser beam in a vicinity of the polygon mirror in the auxiliary direction. A mirror is disposed between the light source and the cylindrical lens which deflects the laser beams in the auxiliary scanning direction. The mirror is rotatably supported by a mirror holder such that the traveling direction of the laser beams deflected by the mirror can be adjusted.