Abstract: A scanning optical apparatus includes a light source, a deflecting element for deflecting a beam of light emitted from the light source, an optical device for causing the beam of light emitted from the light source to be imaged into a linear shape long in the main scanning direction on the deflecting surface of the deflecting element. The optical device is comprised of a first optical element and a second optical element, and a third optical element for causing the beam of light deflected by the deflecting element to be imaged into a spot-like shape on a surface to be scanned. The third optical element includes a single lens, the opposite lens surfaces of which both include a toric surface of an aspherical surface shape in the main scanning plane, the curvatures of the opposite lens surfaces in the sub scanning plane being continuously varied from the on-axis toward the off-axis in the effective portion of the lens.

Abstract: An optical scanning device has a light source, a unit configured to deflect a light beam from the light source; and a system including at least two scanning lenses and configured to guide the light beam deflected to a surface to be scanned. One of the scanning lenses closest to the deflecting unit has a positive refractive power in a main scanning direction and zero or approximately zero refractive power in a sub scanning direction, and another one of the scanning lenses closest to the surface has a negative refractive power in the main scanning direction, a positive refractive power in the sub scanning direction, and an incidence surface in the sub-scanning direction which is convex toward the deflecting unit.

Abstract: A light scanning unit includes: a light source generating and irradiating at least one beam corresponding to an image signal; a beam deflector deflecting and scanning the beam irradiated by the light source; and an f-? lens forming an image from the beam deflected by the beam deflector onto a surface to be scanned, the f-? lens being provided as one lens and satisfies the following equation (2): - 0.2 < SAG ? ? 1 + SAG ? ? 2 d 2 < 0.2 ( 2 ) where SAG 1 is Z value of an incident surface of the f-? lens, which faces the beam deflector, SAG 2 is Z value of the exit surface of the f-? lens, which faces the surface to be scanned, based on an XYZ coordinate system in which a main scanning plane is a Y-Z plane and a sub-scanning plane is an X-Z plane, and d2 is a center thickness of the f-? lens.

Abstract: An optical writing device includes a dichroic mirror and a deflection beam splitter. The dichroic mirror causes a light beam to pass therethrough or reflect depending on the wavelengths of the light beam. The deflection beam splitter causes a light beam to pass therethrough or reflect depending on a direction from which the light beam is received.

Abstract: Apparatus for laser-marking on tape includes a laser arranged to emit a modulated beam of laser-radiation. Projection-optics are arranged to focus a beam to a spot on the tape. The tape is driven under the focal spot for scanning the beam in the length direction of the tape. The projection-optics are rotated reciprocally to scan the focal spot over the tape in a direction transverse to the length direction of the tape.

Abstract: A line head includes multiple light emitting element groups each including multiple light emitting elements. In each light emitting element group, the multiple light emitting elements are disposed in a two-dimensional arrangement so that a distance Gx is greater than a distance Gy. The light emitting element groups are arranged so that pitches Px are greater than pitches Py.

Abstract: An optical scanning device includes a light source having light emitting points for emitting light beams, a coupling optical element that couples the light beams, a deflecting unit that deflects and scans the light beams, and a scanning optical system that focus the light beams to form an image. The optical scanning device satisfies the following condition: F tan(?/2)+A<D/0.7 where A is the maximum distance between the light emitting points and an optical axis of the coupling optical element, ? is a divergence angle (full-width half-maximum) of the light beams, F is a focal length of. the coupling optical element, and D is an effective radius of the coupling optical element.

Abstract: Disclosed are a print head and an image forming apparatus employing the same. The print head, which irradiates light to multiple locations of a photosensitive medium to form pixels of electrostatic latent image, includes an array of light sources corresponding to the pixels, a distributed Bragg reflector disposed adjacent the surface of the light source array from which the light source array output light, and a light focusing unit which focuses the light that have passed through the distributed Bragg reflector onto the locations of photosensitive medium.

Abstract: Provided is a recording apparatus capable of performing recording on a recording medium having a lenticular lens.

Abstract: An optical unit array comprises a plurality of optical units (2) in each of which a plurality of light source modules (1) are arranged and a first comb-teeth member (41) and a second comb-teeth member (42) which are provided for holding the optical units (2), and respective first pins (213) and second pins (214) of a plurality of optical units (2) are held by the first comb-teeth member (41) and the second comb-teeth member (42). In the optical unit array (4), positions of a plurality of optical units (2) relative to one another can be determined with high accuracy by bringing the first pins (213) and the second pins (214) into contact with grooves (411) and grooves (421), respectively. The outgoing positions and directions of light beams emitted from the light source modules (1) are also determined with high accuracy in each optical unit (2).

Abstract: At least one exemplary embodiment is directed to an optical scanning apparatus which includes a Vertical Cavity Surface Emitting Laser including a plurality of light-emitting portions that are spaced from each other in at least a sub-scanning direction, a first optical system including a light-condensing element that converts each of light beams from the laser into a light beam in another state; a deflector that reflects and deflects the light beams from the first optical system, and a second optical system that focuses the light beams deflected by the deflecting member on a surface to be scanned, where the second optical system includes at least an imaging optical element having an optical surface with a non-arc shape in a sub-scanning cross section.

Abstract: It is an object of the present invention to realize a multi-beam optical scanning device which is suitable for high speed and high recording density by almost completely offsetting and correcting a deviation of focusing positions in a main scanning direction of plural spots in an entire surface to be scanned without deteriorating focusing properties at all.

Abstract: An optical scanning apparatus which does not require a complex shaped lens and which is capable of eliminating the bow of a beam light even when the shapes of a plurality of correcting lenses are unified by setting a shape of a sub-scanning cross-section of a scanning lens as a spherical surface when an incident angle condition to incident beam light is an angle of 2° or less against a cross-section which is at right angles to a rotational axis of a polygonal mirror. The curvature of an incident surface and an outputting surface of the scanning lens in the sub scanning direction is monotonically changed according to the position in the main scanning direction with respect to the distance from the predetermined center position in the main scanning direction.

Abstract: Light beams emitted from a light source, which is a semiconductor laser, are changed to weak diverging rays by a coupling lens, pass through an aperture, and are changed to parallel beams in a main scanning direction and light beams, which focus near a polygon mirror, in a sub-scanning direction by an anamorphic lens forming a first optical system. Further, the light beams are deflected by the polygon mirror and focused on an image surface through a dust-proof glass by a deflector side scanning lens and an image surface side scanning lens. The light source and the coupling lens are fixed to an identical member made of aluminum. Here, all lenses are made of resin, and diffractive surfaces are provided on a light source side surface of the coupling lens and an image surface side surface of the anamorphic lens.

Abstract: An exposure head includes: a lens array in which lenses are disposed in a first direction; and a light-emitting element substrate on which light-emitting elements that emit light to be focused by the lenses are disposed. Length L1 of the lenses in the first direction and length L2 of the lenses in a second direction orthogonal to the first direction have a relation represented by an expression 1<L2/L1.

Abstract: Provided are a print head and an image forming apparatus. The print head, which selectively irradiates light to each pixel of an image on a photoconductor, the print head includes an illumination unit, which emits light, a liquid crystal layer, which transmits or intercepts the light incident from the illumination unit on a unit pixel basis according to an applied voltage, and a microlens array formed of liquid crystal polymer, which either focuses or does not focus the light passed through the liquid crystal layer onto the photoconductor.

Abstract: The present invention provides a color image forming apparatus forming an image by using a plurality of image carriers, wherein at least one lens having identical optical characteristics and forming individual scanning optical systems which scan the individual image carriers with beams is formed by use of a plurality of cavities. When dividing the cavities into a plurality of groups in response to variations in the optical characteristics caused by cavity difference of the lenses formed with the plurality of cavities so that the relative differences in an optical parameters are within an allowable range, at least one lens of each scanning optical system is selected from the cavities of one of the plurality of groups.

Abstract: A laser scanning optical apparatus wherein a plural number of beams are deflected by one polygon mirror and are scanned on respective corresponding photosensitive drums via a scanning optical system. The scanning optical system has a first scanning lens which transmits all the beams, exclusive second scanning lenses which transmit exclusively the respective beams and plane mirrors for reflecting the beams. The second scanning lenses are located such that at least one of the second scanning lenses is at a distance from the corresponding photosensitive drum on which the beam transmitted by the at least one of the second scanning lenses is scanned and that another second scanning lens is at another distance from the corresponding photosensitive drum on which the beams transmitted by the another second scanning lens is scanned.

Abstract: According to the present invention, highly accurate adjustment of the angles and positions of optical elements constituting an optical scanning unit can be easily performed. For a cylindrical lens that makes the light beam for exposing a photoreceptor converge on the surface of the photoreceptor, a frame is provided for holding the cylindrical lens therein. The frame is supported by two support portions for a chassis of the optical scanning unit such that the longitudinal direction of the cylindrical lens becomes parallel to the scanning direction of the photoreceptor. The optical scanning unit is configured such that the angle of the cylindrical lens in the longitudinal direction is adjustable in the sub-scanning direction of the photoreceptor at the support portion on the front side (operational side) of these support portions.

Abstract: A photosensitive member is movable in a first direction. A line head is provided with a plurality of organic-EL photo emitters, arrayed in a second direction perpendicular to the first direction to form a plurality of photo emitter arrays arranged in the first direction. A plurality of imaging lenses are arrayed in the second direction to form at least one lens array, so that an array of pixels defined on the photosensitive member are subjected to multiple exposure to light emitted from the photo emitter arrays in accordance with the movement of the photosensitive member, thereby forming an electrostatic latent image on the photosensitive member. At least one chromatic-aberration correcting lens is adapted to correct chromatic aberration of the imaging lenses relative to the first direction, and disposed between the photo emitter arrays and the lens array.

Abstract: A color image forming apparatus forms color images on a recording medium by superposing images one after another. The color image forming apparatus includes at least one image bearing member and a plurality of scanning units. At least the one image bearing member bears a latent image thereon. The plurality of scanning units includes a first scanning unit and a second scanning unit. Each scanning unit scans a light beam over at least the one image bearing member to form the latent image thereon. The first scanning unit and the second scanning unit share at least one lens having an optical axis and a shape substantially symmetrical with respect to the optical axis. At least the one lens is disposed in a reverse orientation rotated 180 degrees from a normal orientation about the optical axis.

Abstract: An exposure apparatus adopting an organic light-emitting diode (OLED) array as a light-emitting source is provided. The apparatus illuminates light beams emitted from a printing head disposed along the lengthwise direction of a photosensitive body to form an electrostatic latent image that corresponds to an image. The printing head has the OLED array in which a plurality of light-emitting sources are formed and a beam expander that focuses light beams such that exposure spots that correspond to a plurality of light beams emitted from the plurality of light-emitting sources are focused onto the photosensitive body to not overlap one another.

Abstract: At least one exemplary embodiment is directed to an optical scanning apparatus which includes a Vertical Cavity Surface Emitting Laser including a plurality of light-emitting portions that are spaced from each other in at least a sub-scanning direction, a first optical system including a light-condensing element that converts each of light beams from the laser into a light beam in another state; a deflector that reflects and deflects the light beams from the first optical system, and a second optical system that focuses the light beams deflected by the deflecting member on a surface to be scanned, where the second optical system includes at least an imaging optical element having an optical surface with a non-arc shape in a sub-scanning cross section.

Abstract: An optical writing apparatus includes a deflecting part having a deflection plane for deflecting a plurality of light beams, a synchronization detection mirror for reflecting the plurality of light beams from the deflecting part, a synchronization detection part for detecting the timing for deflecting the plural light beams reflected from the synchronization detection mirror, and a housing for housing the deflecting part and the synchronization detection part. The synchronization detection part includes a lens for converging the plural light beams reflected from the synchronization detection mirrors, a light detection plate for detecting the plural light beams converged by the lens, and a holding member for holding the lens and the light detection plate.

Abstract: An electrophotographic imaging system and method employs an array of diffusive light sources, a first lens disposed to receive light emitted from two or more of the light sources of the array, an aperture plate disposed to receive light from the first lens, and a second lens disposed to receive the light after passing through the plurality of apertures and to focus the light onto an image plane.

Abstract: A line head, includes: a plurality of light emitting elements that are grouped into light emitting element groups, and an array that includes a plurality of imaging optical systems provided with respect to each light emitting element group which focus light beams emitted from the light emitting element groups toward a latent image-forming surface being conveyed in a second direction normal to or substantially normal to a first direction, wherein the plurality of imaging optical systems face positions on the latent image-forming surface mutually different in the second direction, and the respective imaging optical systems are constructed in accordance with differences in facing positions on the latent image-forming surface in the second direction.

Abstract: An optical scanning device deflects, by a common optical deflecting part, a plurality of groups of light beams emitted from a plurality of light sources and directs, by a scanning and imaging optical system, the groups of deflected light beams to respective scan surfaces so as to optically scan the scan surfaces. Each of the groups of light beams deflected by the optical deflecting part passes through at least two scanning lenses while being directed to a corresponding one of the scan surfaces. A first scanning lens arranged nearest to the optical deflecting part among the scanning lenses transmits the groups of light beams directed to the respective scan surfaces and satisfies Pm>0.gtoreq.Ps, where Pm is a power in a main scanning direction and Ps is a power in a sub-scanning direction.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a photosensitive member and a scanning lens. The photosensitive member bears a latent image thereon and defines a main scanning direction. The scanning lens transmits a light beam scanningly deflected in the main scanning direction for exposing the photosensitive member to the light beam to form the latent image thereon. The scanning lens includes a lens body and a rib. The lens body is formed of resin and extends substantially in the main scanning direction. The lens body defines a sub-scanning direction perpendicular to the main scanning direction. The lens body has opposite surfaces that are both substantially perpendicular to the sub-scanning direction. The rib is formed integrally with the lens body and protrudes in the sub-scanning direction from either one of the opposite surfaces. The rib extends over a predetermined range in the main scanning direction.

Abstract: An optical scanner includes a light source, an optical coupler, an optical line image unit, a deflector, and an optical scanning unit. The optical scanning unit includes scanning lenses that guide the beams to a surface to be scanned. A surface on the deflector side of the scanning lens closest to a deflection reflecting surface has a negative power in a vertical scanning direction, and is a special toric surface in which a radius of curvature in a vertical scanning changes from an optical axis of the lens surface toward a periphery of the horizontal scanning direction. An F number of the beams toward the surface to be scanned of the scanning lens in the vertical scanning direction is larger in a peripheral part than in a central part in an effective scanning width.

Abstract: Light beams emitted from a plurality of light source devices are deflected by a shared light deflector. The light beams are respectively concentrated on different scanning subjects using a first scanning lens and second scanning lenses and are used to perform a scan. All light beams make an angle in a sub-scanning direction to a normal line of a reflecting surface of the light deflector. An incidence surface of the first scanning lens is a surface of which a curvature in the sub-scanning direction changes depending on a main scanning direction. The incidence surface of the first scanning lens is also an optical surface of which a negative refracting power becomes stronger toward a periphery of the surface in the main scanning direction.

Abstract: An optical scanning system includes a deflecting device to scanningly deflect a light beam from a light source in a main scan direction, and an imaging optical system for imaging, upon a surface to be scanned, the light beam deflected by a deflecting surface of the deflecting device. First and second differences in wavefront aberration are respectively produced as a result of reflection by the deflecting surface and as a result of transmission through the imaging optical system. At least one optical surface inside the imaging optical system is non-arcuate in a main scan section, so as to assure that the first and second phase differences are made opposite to each other.

Abstract: An imaging device (10) for a printing form (12), in particular in a printing unit (82) of a printing press (84), having at least one light source (14) and an imaging optics (18) for projecting the at least one light source (14) onto the printing form (12), at least one optical element (20), in particular a lens, of the imaging optics (18), being movable by way of an actuator element (48), and the imaging optics (18) including one sensor (24) for measuring the actual position of the optical element (20), the sensor having one coil (26) and at least one sensor target (28). The sensor (24) is assigned to a control element (66) for adjusting the position of the optical element (20) via the actuator element (48), so that a highly precise, dynamic positioning of the optical element (20) can be achieved.

Abstract: An optical mount (1) for optical component (2) which has a edge contour (4) relative to extending radially optical axis (A), includes a rigid optical support (3) having an axially oriented stop edge (5), which is suitable for an axial contact with the optical component (2), and at least one flexible spring element which is arranged radially outside the stop edge (5), extends axially on the component side and is curved radially inward. The radial spring element passes at an axial distance from the stop edge into a circumferentially closed jacket sleeve an inner contour (8) of which extends farther radially than the edge contour (4) of the optical component (2).

Abstract: An exposure device for an electrophotographic apparatus including one or more laser light sources which expose an image carrier in accordance with a print information signal supplied from an external information processing apparatus, a resolution switching lens, and a switching unit to switch over a low resolution and a high resolution by inserting and extracting the resolution switching lens into and from a laser optical path. Preferably, a light emission time of each of the laser light sources with respect to the print information signal is changeable.

Abstract: A line head includes multiple light emitting element groups each including multiple light emitting elements. In each light emitting element group, the multiple light emitting elements are disposed in a two-dimensional arrangement so that a distance Gx is greater than a distance Gy. The light emitting element groups are arranged so that pitches Px are greater than pitches Py.

Abstract: A laser emitter including: a first lens barrel portion for holding a first laser element; a second lens barrel portion for holding a second laser element whose optical axis is slanted with respect to an optical axis of the first lens barrel portion, the second lens barrel portion being provided as one unit with the first lens barrel portion; a first lens supporting portion provided at the tip of the first lens barrel portion to support a first collimator lens; and a second lens supporting portion provided at the tip of the second lens barrel portion to support a second collimator lens, in which the first and second lens supporting portions are capable of supporting the collimator lenses with an adjustment range stretching in an optical axis direction, and the first and second collimator lenses are fixed and supported at positions adjusted within the adjustment range.

Abstract: An imaging device (10) for a printing form (12), has at least one first and one second laser diode bar (14, 16), the laser diodes (18) on the laser diode bars (14, 16) being disposed in lines. The device includes a first and a second micro-optics (21, 22) for generating aberration-corrected intermediate image spots of the laser diodes (18) and a macro-optical imaging optics (23) for generating image spots (24) on the printing form (12). The first and the second micro-optics (21, 22) are positioned in such a way in the emission regions of the first and second laser diode bar (14, 16) that the image spots (24) of the laser diodes (18) of the first and second laser diode bar (14, 16) lie at disjoint positions on the printing form (12), substantially along a spanning polyline (30). Also, a method is provided for arranging optical components in an imaging device (10) for a printing form (12).

Abstract: A light scanning device includes an optical element that images, on an image holding body, a light beam emitted from a light source. The light scanning device further includes a holding member that holds the optical element, and scanning line curve correcting mechanism for correcting the optical element in a sub scanning direction to correct a scanning line formed by the light beam in the sub scanning direction. The light scanning device further includes a scanning line inclination correcting mechanism for entirely tilting the optical element to correct an inclination of the scanning line. At least one part of the scanning line curve correcting mechanism, and at least one part of the scanning line inclination correcting mechanism are provided integrally with the holding member.

Abstract: An optical scanner includes a light source, an optical coupler, an optical line image unit, a deflector, and an optical scanning unit. The optical scanning unit includes scanning lenses that guide the beams to a surface to be scanned. A surface on the deflector side of the scanning lens closest to a deflection reflecting surface has a negative power in a vertical scanning direction, and is a special toric surface in which a radius of curvature in a vertical scanning changes from an optical axis of the lens surface toward a periphery of the horizontal scanning direction. An F number of the beams toward the surface to be scanned of the scanning lens in the vertical scanning direction is larger in a peripheral part than in a central part in an effective scanning width.

Abstract: A light beam scanner irradiates surfaces of respective of different image carriers with respective of plural light beams having been subjected to constant angular velocity deflection by a deflecting member and constant velocity deflection by a transformation member. Any one of the plural light beams except a light beam incident on the deflecting member at a widest incident angle corresponds with an image formed of a color material which is lowest in lightness.

Abstract: Light source and light beam scanning units with reduced deviation of beam positions over time and ambient conditions, in use for image forming apparatuses. In the light source unit for emanating light beams, including a plurality of LEDs and coupling lenses each corresponding to the LEDs, there are provided lens holders having two supporting faces aligned approximately parallel to the optical axes of the coupling lenses, elastic members for abutting the coupling lenses by pressing the side portions thereof onto the supporting faces, light source support members for holding LEDs corresponding to the coupling lenses, and bolts for fixing the light source support members. Following the proper adjustment of the position of the lens holder in the vertical direction with respect to the optical axes of the coupling lenses, the light source support members is fixed onto lens holder by bolts.

Abstract: A laser scanning unit includes a light source for emitting a plurality of laser beams, a rotating polygon mirror for deflecting the plurality of laser beams in a predetermined direction, an f? lens for transmitting the deflected laser beams to be scanned onto the surfaces of a plurality of photosensitive drums, and a beam splitter disposed at a rear end of the f? lens for splitting the laser beams. The laser scanning unit may be used for a tandem image forming apparatus.

Abstract: In one embodiment disclosed, an optical engine includes a light modulator coupled to illumination optics and imaging optics. The light modulator may be located at about an object plane. The imaging optics may include a scanner and a spatial filter located at about a transform (or pupil) plane. The scanner coupled with the light modulator may be configured to generate a continuous two-dimensional swath pattern for applications such as wafer processing, printed-circuit board (PCB) patterning/printing, and/or liquid crystal display (LCD) screen printing/patterning systems. Also, a method is disclosed that uses a high-speed one-dimensional light includes controlling a scanner in an optical engine system. The system may be used to provide a two-dimensional swath pattern. The system may use a continuous wave (CW) or other high repetition rate laser source and may provide a printing speed of greater than one Gpixel per second.

Abstract: The invention aims at provision of an optical scanner in which an optics required for equalizing an optical magnification in a scanning range is produced with high accuracy, so that intervals among a plurality of scanning lines on a to-be-scanned surface are even in the scanning range. The scanning optics includes a refraction surface and a reflection surface whose sub-scanning-direction curvature radii vary continuously. The reflection surface is disposed on the to-be-scanned surface side of the refraction surface. The curvature radius of the reflection surface varies symmetrically with respect to the optical axis, and the curvature radius of the refraction surface varies asymmetrically with respect to the optical axis.

Abstract: A blue laser light source is a semiconductor laser having a sapphire substrate that is transparent to a wavelength of a blue laser beam emitted from an active layer. A condenser lens converges the blue laser beam at a focal point where a modulator is placed. A slit plate limits the light flux on the exit side of the condenser lens. A slit of the slit plate is located at a depth position (Z) on an optical axis of the condenser lens, and the depth position satisfies the following conditions: Z?Z0 (Z0<0) and Pp(Z0)=P1, wherein Z is assumed to have a positive value on a forward side of the blue laser beam from the focal point, Pp(Z) is a value obtained by dividing a width of the blue laser beam in the parallel direction to the active surface at the depth position Z by a width of the extraneous light in the parallel direction at said depth position, and P1 is a convergent value of Pp(Z) at the infinity (Z??).

Abstract: An electro-optical device includes an electro-optical panel which has a plurality of electro-optical elements whose light-emitting characteristics or transmissive characteristics are changed by electrical energy applied; a converging lens array which has a plurality of distributed index lenses, each transmitting light traveling in the electro-optical panel to form an erect image with respect to an image on the electro-optical panel, the images formed by the plurality of distributed index lenses constituting a continuous image; and a transmissive spacer unit which is provided between the electro-optical panel and the converging lens array so as to be bonded to them. The spacer unit includes a laminated structure of a plurality of transmissive spacer members.

Abstract: An optical scanner has a deflector, a coupling lens, a cylindrical lens, a plate through which light to and from the deflector pass, and an optical system which condenses the light deflected on a surface to be scanned. Bundles of light beams incident on the deflector have an angle between the bundles in a rotating plane of the deflector, and expressions 0.6<(?1max??)/(?2+?)<1.4, and 0.6<(?1min??)/(?2+?)<1.4, are satisfied, where ?1max and ?1min are maximum and minimum average angles of incidence on the deflecting surface, ?2 is a half-view angle, and ? is an angle of inclination of the plate in the rotating plane with respect to a main scanning direction.

Abstract: A beam scanning apparatus having a collimating lens in which a beam emitted from a light source is transformed into at least one of a convergent beam and a parallel beam with respect to an optical axis and outputted towards a slit. The collimating lens being one sheet of a spherical surface lens satisfying the relationship: - 0.3 < R2 R1 < - 0.1 0.05 < d f < 0.5 in which, R1 denotes a curvature radius of a first surface of the collimating lens opposing the light source, R2 denotes a curvature radius of a second surface of the collimating lens opposing the slit, d denotes a center thickness of the collimating lens, and f denotes a focal length from the collimating lens to the light source. By virtue of the structure of the beam scanning apparatus using the collimating lens, deteriorating printing quality due to temperature change is prevented and cost can be saved.

Abstract: A multi-beam scanning device is disclosed that is able to realize a stable and small beam spot and realize stable scanning line intervals between plural light beams. The multi-beam optical scanning device includes a first optical system which has a first lens for coupling the light beams from the light sources, and a second lens which is an anamorphic element having power at least in a sub scanning direction and for guiding the light beams from the first lens to the deflection unit; and a second optical system. At least the second lens includes a diffracting surface having power.

Abstract: An optical scanner includes a light source that emits a light beam, a deflection unit that deflects the light beam, an optical unit that introduces the light beam to a target surface, a housing unit that stores these components, and a member that contacts the light source and/or the optical unit. The light source and/or the optical unit changes in attitude due to a temperature change while the optical scanner is operating. The member extends or contracts according to the temperature change so as to reduce the change of the attitude.