Abstract: An image forming apparatus is provided. The image forming apparatus includes: a photosensitive member on which an electrostatic latent image is to be formed; a first body which rotatably supports the photosensitive member; an exposing unit which exposes the photosensitive member; a second body which supports the exposing unit movably between an exposing position in which the exposing unit exposes the photosensitive member and a retracting position in which the exposing unit is retracted from the photosensitive member; a first grounding unit which, when the exposing unit is positioned at the exposing position, causes the exposing unit to be electrically connected to the first body; and a second grounding unit which, when the exposing unit is positioned at the retracting position, causes the exposing unit to be electrically connected to the first body via the second body.

Abstract: An exposure head includes a light emitting element and a imaging optical system having a first region and a second region and contrived such that a slope of a long dimension of a spot diagram formed by light emitted from the light emitting element that passes through the first region is different from a slope of a long dimension of a spot diagram formed by light emitted from the light emitting element that passes through the second region.

Abstract: A disclosed optical scanning device scans an object scanning surface with a light beam projected from a light source and traveling through an optical system. The optical scanning device includes a liquid crystal element configured to modulate a phase. The liquid crystal element is driven by electric signals and provided on a light path between the light source and the object scanning surface. The liquid crystal element generates different power components in a main scanning direction and a sub scanning direction under temperature variations.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a light source to emit a laser beam; a resonant scanning mirror, including a reflection surface to reflect the laser beam emitted from the light source, to scan the reflected laser beam by oscillating the reflection surface; at least one detector to detect the reflected laser beam during the scanning of the reflected laser beam, and generate a synchronizing signal each time the reflected laser beam is detected; and at least one light selection unit to restrict a path over which the reflected laser beam is incident on the at least one detector to a predetermined path.

Abstract: A line head includes a positive lens system having two lenses, image-side and object-side lens arrays, a light emitter array on an object side of the positive lens system, and an aperture plate that forms an aperture diaphragm. Where the row number of lenses arrayed in a second direction is ‘m’, a gap between effective regions of two image-side lenses adjacent to each other in a first direction is ‘?’, an image-side angle of aperture is ‘?i’, a width of light-emitting elements images in the first direction is ‘Wi’, a focal length of the image-side lens is ‘f2’ and a distance from an image-side principal plane of the image-side lens to an image surface is ‘Si’, the following conditions are satisfied: f2?(mWi??)/(2?i), Wi?2Si?i/(m?1)+?/(m?1).

Abstract: A optical scanning apparatus includes a surface emitting type laser diode, a collimator lens which converts the emitted laser beam into an substantially parallel laser beam, a stop member which shapes the substantially parallel laser beam into a desired shape, a polygon mirror which deflects and scans the shaped laser beam, an electro-optical crystal member which is provided in the optical path between the stop member and the polygon mirror, and deflects the shaped laser beam by an applied voltage, a light amount sensor which detects the amount of laser beam deflected by the electro-optical crystal member, and a light amount control unit which controls the amount of laser beam emitted from the laser diode while repeatedly comparing the detected light amount obtained from the light amount sensor with a light amount corresponding to a reference voltage for control light amount.

Abstract: An exposing device includes a light-emitting element array including plural light-emitting elements disposed in a first direction and a second direction orthogonal to or substantially orthogonal to the first direction, a lens array including plural lenses that focus lights from the light-emitting elements, a supporting member that supports the light-emitting element array and the lens array, and an exposure-position adjusting mechanism including a rotation adjusting unit that rotates the supporting member around or substantially around an axis in the first direction.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a plurality of image carriers and an optical writing device including light sources that emit light beams of different wavelengths, a deflector that deflects the light beams emitted from the light sources and synthesized on an identical axis in a sub-scanning direction, a first beam separator, a second beam separator, a first imaging device, and a second imaging device. The first beam separator and the second beam separator are located between the first imaging device and the second imaging device and transmit or reflect the light beams according to travel directions or wavelengths thereof. One of the targets is scanned with the light beam transmitted through the second beam separator. Another target is scanned with the light beam reflected by the second and first beam separators. The first and second imaging devices narrow the beams in the main scanning direction and the sub-scanning direction, respectively.

Abstract: In an optical scanning device employing a multi-beam scanning method, a surface emitting laser light source includes laser emission sources; a parallel-plate-like quarter wavelength plate is arranged between the surface emitting laser light source and a first optical system; a light-intensity detecting unit separates light intensity of the laser beams of which form is converted by the first optical system and detects separated laser beams; and a light-intensity adjusting unit adjusts emission intensity of the laser emission sources individually based on a detection result by the light-intensity detecting unit. The quarter wavelength plate is arranged so that an optical axis thereof is tilted ±45 degrees with respect to the main-scanning direction around an optical axis of the first optical system.

Abstract: Apparatus for marking a bitmap image on tape includes a source of a modulatable laser-beam. The beam is directed to an oscillating mirror on a carriage translatable across the width direction of the tape. The oscillating mirror directs the beam to a focusing lens mounted on the carriage. The focusing lens is arranged to focus the beam to a focal-spot on the tape. As the carriage is translated, the focal-spot is swept reciprocally in a wave-like path across the tape. Modulation of the beam is arranged such that pixels of a plurality of rows of the bitmap image are printed in one traverse of the carriage. The tape is advanced incrementally and repeated traverses of the carriage are made to complete printing of the bitmap image.

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: An optical scanning device includes a lens having a negative optical power at least in a sub-scanning direction and a lens having a positive optical power at least in the sub-scanning direction between a light source and a deflecting unit. The optical scanning device further includes a coupling lens and an adjusting lens whose positions can be adjusted in an optical axis direction and then bonded with ultraviolet curing resin. Therefore, the magnification of an optical system can be adjusted and consequently a desired scan-line interval can be obtained.

Abstract: The exposure apparatus is provided with: an optical member; and a holding member that holds the optical member. Both end portions of the optical member are held by the holding member with a first adhering unit that is cured by light irradiation for first duration and a second adhering unit that is cured by light irradiation for second duration which is longer than the first duration.

Abstract: In an optical scanning device of opposite scanning type, two target surfaces for scanning are scanned in opposite main scanning directions by using a single optical deflector. End portions of a scanning lens arranged in a scanning optical system are configured not to have refractive power in the main scanning direction. A synchronization light beam passes through the end portions of the scanning lens and falls on a light receiving element via a synchronizing optical system. The synchronizing optical system includes a first synchronizing lens, a synchronizing fold mirror, and a second synchronizing lens. The synchronizing fold mirror and the light receiving element are arranged to be in a conjugate relation with the second synchronizing lens.

Abstract: An optical scanner includes a light source modulated based on image data, an optical deflection and scanning part deflecting a light beam emitted from the light source, and a scanning and imaging optical system condensing the deflected light beam toward a scanning surface so as to form a light spot optically scanning the scanning surface. The effective scanning region of the scanning surface is divided into a plurality of regions according to a scanning line curving characteristic. Suitable image data for optically scanning the divided regions are selected from image data of a plurality of image lines every time the light spot optically scans the effective scanning region, so that the image data of each of the image lines is written with scanning line curving being corrected.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus has a calibration mode in which a calibration image is formed on a print medium to correct image forming conditions. The image forming apparatus detects print medium information to determine, on the basis of the print medium information, whether the print medium is a sheet recommended as a print medium for use in the calibration mode. The image forming apparatus sets calibration conditions corresponding to the determined recommended sheet. The image forming apparatus corrects the image forming conditions on the basis of the set calibration conditions.

Abstract: A disclosed optical path switching device includes a polarization bistable VCSEL that emits a beam having a rising polarization plane, a laser light source configured to emit a beam having a polarization plane orthogonal to the rising polarization plane, and an optical path switching unit configured to switch an optical path of the beam emitted from the polarization bistable VCSEL by switching the angle of the rising polarization plane of the beam emitted from the polarization bistable VCSEL. The beam emitted from the polarization bistable VCSEL is incident on an entrance window of the optical path switching unit, and the beam emitted from the laser light source is incident on an exit window of the polarization bistable VCSEL.

Abstract: An optical scanning device, that outputs a light beam through an emission window in an optical housing to scan a surface, may include a shutter member that closes or opens the emission window. The shutter member may include a first opening, that may allow the light beam passed through the emission window to pass the first opening, and a second opening, that may be at a position corresponding to an insertion operation of a cleaning member for cleaning the emission window. The shutter member may include a first opening, that may be on a front surface of the shutter member to allow the light beam passed through the emission window to pass the first opening, and a second opening, that may be on a side surface of the shutter member to allow a cleaning member to be inserted through the second opening for cleaning the emission window.

Abstract: An f-? lens is joined to a mount through a light curable bond, forms an incident deflected beam onto a photosensitive body, and includes a lens part which has an incident side on which the deflected beam is incident, and an exiting side which is disposed near the photosensitive body and on which the entered deflected beam is exited, an joining part which has a joining side which is extended from the incident face and is joined to the mount, and an emitting side which is extended from the exiting face and disposed to face the joining side, and which a light beam for curing the light curable bond is scanned, and an emitting part which is formed on the emitting side in a non-planar shape and provided to decrease loss of light quantity of the light beam scanned on the emitting face, so that the f-? lens provides an improved joining force in a joining process by a light cure joining type.

Abstract: An exposure head includes: a light-emitting element; an image formation optical system that forms an image of light from the light-emitting element; multiple reference elements disposed relative to the light-emitting element; and a control unit that controls the light emission of the light-emitting element and extinguishes the reference elements during a latent image formation operation. The control unit finds the degree of decay of the light-emitting element based on the light amounts of the light-emitting element and the multiple reference elements at a time when the latent image formation operation is not being carried out, and controls the light amount of the light-emitting element during the latent image formation operation based on the degree of decay.

Abstract: Micro-symbols or scenes formed on the optical surfaces of laser diode arrays, MEMS arrays, and optical fiber image tunnel arrays, and the like, allow these devices to function as laser pulse image switches, producing streams of laser pulses, each an image of the micro-symbols or scenes.

Abstract: An optical scanning device includes two scanning units which are disposed opposed to each other with a scanning deflector arranged therebetween, wherein one scanning unit has first and second imaging optical elements while the other scanning unit has third and fourth imaging optical elements, wherein the one scanning unit includes a light blocking member for intercepting unwanted light reflected at an optical surface of the fourth imaging optical element, wherein the third imaging optical element is provided at a light path between the fourth imaging optical element and the first light blocking member, and wherein the third imaging optical element has a positive refracting power in the sub-scan section through which unwanted light reflected at the optical surface of the fourth imaging optical element passes.

Abstract: A printer having an exposure head including an exposure head housing have side walls. The printer also includes a plurality of reflectors disposed in the exposure head housing, the plurality of reflectors including a plurality of elliptical reflectors and a plurality of planar reflectors. A lamp is disposed in the exposure head housing so as to be at least partially surrounded by the plurality of reflectors so that radiation emitted by the lamp during an operation of the printer is directed by the reflectors onto a printed image plane printable with photocurable ink.

Abstract: A print head includes a plurality of light emitting elements grouped into a plurality of light emitting element groups and disposed by the light emitting group, a lens array having optical systems corresponding respectively to the light emitting element groups, each of the optical systems imaging a light beam emitted from the light emitting element group on a scan target surface, and a light shielding member provided with light guide holes corresponding respectively to the light emitting element groups, each of the light guide holes guiding the light beam emitted from the light emitting element group, wherein each of the light emitting element groups is provided with an aperture section disposed at a front focal position of the optical system and a center axis one of substantially identical and identical to an optical axis of the optical system.

Abstract: An image-forming device has cylindrical image-carrying members, and an optical scanning unit. The cylindrical image-carrying members are in a main casing for rotating about respective rotational axes which are parallel to one another and juxtaposed in a single direction. The optical scanning unit is in the main casing and has laser generators, a rotatable polygon mirror, mirrors, and lenses. The laser generators have a one-to-one relationship to the image-carrying members to emit laser beams. The rotatable polygon mirror deflects the respective laser beams to scan the respective image-carrying members. The mirrors have a one-to-one relationship to the image-carrying members to guide the respective laser beams along respective optical paths to the respective image-carrying members. The lenses have a one-to-one relationship to the plurality of image-carrying members provided in the respective optical paths and between the respective mirrors and the respective image-carrying members.

Abstract: A device for projection of an operations panel includes a printer portion, a media feedpath extending through the printer portion having a media input and a media output, an image projector forming an image on one of the media input or an image receiving surface, the image projector defining an operations panel for making operation selections.

Abstract: A system for printing and interacting with documents comprising: (a) a computer system configured for: receiving a print request; allocating a unique document identifier to the document in response to receiving the print request; and associating the document identifier with a description of the document; (b) a printer for printing the document containing human-readable content together with a coding pattern on a surface; and (c) an optically imaging pen for sensing a portion of the coding pattern during handwritten input on the document and for generating a signal indicative of the unique document identifier and a position of the pen relative to the document.

Abstract: There is provided a light beam scanning apparatus which deflects a light beam from a light source by using a deflector and scans the surface of a photosensitive member with a focused light beam. The light beam scanning apparatus includes a first electro-optical element placed on the optical axis of the light beam between the light source and the deflector. The first electro-optical element includes an electro-optical crystal and transparent electrodes respectively provided on surfaces of the electro-optical crystal which oppose each other in the optical axis direction.

Abstract: Light sources emit light beams onto deflecting surfaces of a deflecting unit through incident optical systems. The deflecting unit deflects the light beams in a uniform direction to form images onto different surfaces to be scanned through imaging optical systems. An optical path length, or a distance from a deflection point of the deflecting unit to a surface to be scanned, of an imaging optical system to form an image onto a surface to be scanned closest to the deflecting unit is different from that of an imaging optical system to form an image onto a surface to be scanned farthest from the deflecting unit. Also, the following condition is satisfied: 0.85<K1/K2<0.98 where K1 is a K? coefficient of an imaging optical system with a short optical path length, and K2 is that of an imaging optical system with a long optical path length.

Abstract: A line head, includes: a substrate which is provided with a plurality of luminous element groups which respectively include a plurality of luminous elements in a first direction which emit light beams; a lens array which includes a plurality of imaging lenses which are provided corresponding to the plurality of luminous element groups; and a light shielding member which is disposed between the substrate and the lens array and includes a plurality of light guiding holes which correspond to the plurality of luminous element groups, wherein the lens array is away from the light shielding member, an inner diameter of each of the plurality of light guiding holes in the first direction is a first light guiding hole diameter, and a bore diameter of each of the plurality of imaging lenses in the first direction is a first lens diameter, and the first light guiding hole diameter is smaller than the first lens diameter.

Abstract: An exposure head, includes: a first imaging optical system and a second imaging optical system which are arranged in a first direction; a light emitting element which emits light to be imaged by the first imaging optical system; and a light emitting element which emits light to be imaged by the second imaging optical system, wherein an inter-optical-system distance in the first direction between the first imaging optical system and the second imaging optical system satisfies the following expression: m1·L1+m2·L2>2P1?(m1·dp1+m2·dp2) where m1 represents an absolute value of the optical magnification of the first imaging optical system, L1 represents a width in the first direction of the light emitting element to be imaged by the first imaging optical system, dp1 represents a pitch between the light emitting element in the first direction in the light emitting element to be imaged by the first imaging optical system, m2 represents an absolute value of the optical magnification of the second imaging optical

Abstract: The image forming apparatus is provided with: plural image carriers; and plural exposure apparatuses that are arranged corresponding to the plural image carriers respectively. The exposure apparatus has a light emitting element member that exposes the image carrier and is arranged on a substrate. A predetermined exposure apparatus among the plural exposure apparatuses includes a heating unit that heats the substrate, and other exposure apparatus other than the predetermined exposure apparatus does not include the heating unit.

Abstract: This invention relates to an optical mechanism comprising: an optical beam generating mechanism to generate an optical beam; and a unitary, transparent waveguide for guiding the optical beam to an optically writable surface wherein optical elements for guiding the optical beam are coated onto the waveguide to create a relatively compact optical system, a relatively low exit numerical aperture for the exit pupil, and for bending and re-directing the optical beam.

Abstract: A laser beam emitted from each semiconductor laser 27 is guided by a step index type multi-mode optical fiber, a graded index type multi-mode optical fiber deformable and movable with movement of a recording head, and a step index type multi-mode optical fiber, to be emitted from a light emitter toward an imaging optical system.

Abstract: A printing system includes a multiple-beam generator array configured to generate multiple beams. A collimator lens is positioned to receive the multiple beams, and an aperture stop is located where the multiple beams are spatially coincident with each other. A scanning optical system is positioned to receive the beams from the aperture stop, and a recording medium receives the beams from the scanning optical system. A filter is located where the multiple beams are spatially coincident with each other, whereby each of the multiple beams may be filtered by the supplied filter.

Abstract: A composite semiconductor device is formed of a semiconductor wafer having a plurality of device-forming areas in which semiconductor elements are formed and dicing areas defined between the device-forming areas, and is formed by dicing the semiconductor wafer at the dicing areas. The composite semiconductor device includes a semiconductor substrate, and a plurality of wiring layers layered on the semiconductor substrate. The wiring layers include at least conductive films. Connecting portions are formed to connect the wiring layers with each other in a layering direction of the wiring layers. Each of the connecting portions is disposed on the device-forming area side with respect to a dicing position defined in the dicing area.

Abstract: A surface-emitting laser element for emitting light in a direction perpendicular to a substrate, including a substrate with a normal direction of a principal plane inclining toward one direction of <111> with respect to one direction of <100> and a mesa structure formed on the substrate and having a narrowed structure with an oxide produced by oxidizing a part of a layer to be oxidized selectively, containing aluminum and surrounding an electric current passage area, wherein a cross-section of mesa structure being parallel to the substrate is parallel to a substrate surface and orthogonal to both one direction of <100> and one direction of <111> and a length in a first direction passing through a center of the electric current passage area is more than a length in a second direction parallel to a substrate surface and orthogonal to the first direction.

Abstract: A beam detecting unit detects at least one of a position of an optical beam in a sub scanning direction and a position of the optical beam in a main scanning direction. A color-misalignment correcting unit changes an optical-beam irradiating position on a photosensitive element based on a result of detection by the beam detecting unit. The beam detecting unit is arranged between an optical element that is closest to a corresponding photosensitive element and the corresponding photosensitive element.

Abstract: A lithographic scanning apparatus includes a light projection device for seamlessly and uniformly projecting a scanning light onto a light exposing area. The light projecting device further includes an array of micromirrors having a predefined distribution pattern of reflectance variations for reflecting an incident light onto the light exposing area to seamlessly and uniformly scanning a reflecting light over the light exposing area. In one of a lithographic scanning apparatus, the micromirrors of the micromirror array are coated with a reflective coating of different reflectance to provide the predefined distribution pattern of reflectance variations. In another lithographic scanning apparatus, the micromirrors of the micromirror array are coated with stripes of reduced reflectance whereby each micromirror may have predefined total reflectance to provide the predefined distribution pattern of reflectance variations.

Abstract: A line head module includes a line head in which a plurality of organic EL elements is arranged, a lens array made by arranging lens elements that form an image of light from the line head. A first chamber formed on the side of the lens array of the line head is sealed.

Abstract: The present invention can be adapted to improve optical efficiency even when a light source is disposed without restricting a polarization direction or an orthogonal direction with respect to an optical axis of a light beam from the light source. A multi-beam optical scanning device of the present invention includes a single optical deflecting device, a pre-deflection optical system that allows light beams from a plurality of light sources to enter the optical deflecting device, and a post-deflection optical system that focuses each reflecting light beam from the optical deflecting device on a scanned surface of each light beam. The pre-deflection optical system includes a polarizing beam splitter that synthesizes optical paths of two light beams, and the first half-wave retardation plate and a second half-wave retardation plate that change a polarization direction with respect to each light beam on two incident surfaces of the polarizing beam splitter.

Abstract: An optical beam scanning device of the present invention has a light source, a deflection reflecting surface for deflecting to scan light from the light source on a recording medium, and a diaphragm device which is provided between the light source and the deflection reflecting surface, and the diaphragm has an opening section formed by a nonplanar light shielding section. The light shielding section makes light shielding quantity of the light from the light source in a vertical scanning direction different in positions in a horizontal scanning direction and in a light advancing direction.

Abstract: An optical system has an image direction modulator and a laser induced thermal imaging (LITI) apparatus includes the optical system. The optical system includes a laser source for producing laser beams, and the image direction modulator has a first mode in which an image direction of the laser beams is modulated relative to a first direction and a second mode in which the image direction of the laser beams is modulated relative to a second direction.

Abstract: A projection optical system has first to fourth lens groups (51) to (54) provided in this order from a SLM, a mirror (32) having an opening is provided between the first lens group (51) and the second lens group (52), and an aperture plate (132) is provided between the third lens group (53) and the fourth lens group (54). Zeroth order light which is signal light from the SLM passes through each opening of the mirror (32) and the aperture plate (132) to be guided to a recording medium, and a part of first order diffracted light is reflected by the mirror (32) to be guided outside and received by an external light-block water-cooling jacket. The rest of the first order diffracted light is blocked by the aperture plate (132), and heat generated by light blocking is removed by a cooling mechanism connected to the aperture plate (132).

Abstract: An improved laser display apparatus is disclosed, which comprises a LED device array in which a plurality of laser diode devices are arranged in a straight shape for thereby scanning a laser diode in accordance with an image signal inputted, with the laser diode devices being designed to generate laser light; a collimation lens which is provided at one side of the LED device array for collimating each laser light scanned from the laser diode devices in parallel in one direction; a condensing unit which is provided at one side of the collimation lens for collimating each laser light, which is collimated in one direction by the collimation lens, through one imaginary focus; and a scanning unit which reflects laser light which transmits through the condensing unit.

Abstract: An optical scanner is capable of effectively correcting a difference with respect to the sub-scanning direction between the positions of optical spots for scanning photoconductor drums of a tandem type color image forming apparatus. The optical scanner includes an optical axis adjusting part. The optical axis adjusting part uses a deflecting mirror or a wedge-shaped prism to deflect the optical axis of an optical beam with respect to the sub-scanning direction. As a result, it is possible to accurately correct a resist difference among individual image forming stations and form a high-quality color image without any color displacement.

Abstract: A light scanning device for performing laser beam scanning, which includes a polygon scanner configured to deflect a laser beam; an optical device configured to guide the deflected laser beam; a case in which the polygon scanner and the optical device are arranged; a transparent covering member which is provided on the case to cover an opening and which transmits the laser beam to perform laser beam scanning; and a cleaner which is detachably attached to the light scanning device and which includes an elastic cleaning member on one side of a body of the cleaner for cleaning a surface of the transparent covering member, wherein the body of the cleaner has a recessed portion on the one side thereof.

Abstract: A light scanning apparatus that scans a scanned face with a light beam includes an adjusting unit that adjusts the position of a light spot of the light beam formed on the scanned face, and a compensating unit that compensates the light intensity of the light beam at the scanned face due to change caused by the adjustment of the position of the light spot. Accordingly, the light scanning apparatus can reduce or eliminate the deviation in exposure between scan lines of the multi-beam scan method and the deviation in exposure between photosensitive bodies of the tandem type image forming apparatus.

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. The optical scanning unit comprises: a first mirror that reflects the light beams emitted from Y, C and M laser diodes; a second mirror that reflects the light beam emitted from a K laser diode and the light beams reflected by the first mirror; a cylindrical lens that acts on the light beams reflected by the second mirror; and a third mirror that reflects the light beams emitted from the cylindrical lens toward a polygon mirror. The second mirror is provided with an adjusting mechanism that can adjust the light beams in the main scanning direction, and the third mirror is provided with an adjusting mechanism that can adjust the light beams in the sub-scanning direction.

Abstract: An exposure device includes a transmissive member and a shutter. The transmissive member allows passage therethrough of a light beam directed toward a scanning object. The shutter is mounted so as to be pivotable around a pivot shaft between a closed position and an open position. The shutter has a first member and a second member. In the closed position, the first member shields the transmissive member, and, in the open position, unshields the transmissive member so as to allow the light beam to pass through the transmissive member. In the closed position, the second member is positioned above the first member so as to extend at least beyond peripheral ends, including a free end, of the first member.