Abstract: The system includes an illumination system, a scanner, a non-linear optical element, and a pumping light source. The illumination system emits imaging beam and the scanner scans the beam incident from the illumination system. The non-linear optical element is made of a material having a Kerr effect or the like and forms a lens automatically aligned while following a path of the imaging beam scanned from the scanner. The pumping light source actives the non-linear optical element to cause a non-linear refractive index change of the non-linear optical element.

Abstract: Obtained are an imaging optical system having a simple structure in which imaging position deviation due to deformation caused by a weight of an off-axial optical element is reduced and an image reading apparatus using the same. According to an imaging optical system for image reading, image information on an original surface is imaged on a sensor, and is read by the sensor. The imaging optical system includes reflection-type off-axial optical elements, each of which has an outer shape whose lengths in directions orthogonal to each other are different from each other and whose thickness is smaller than a length of the outer shape in a short-direction thereof and is made of a resin material. The plurality of off-axial optical elements are disposed such that mirror surfaces thereof are opposed to each other and constructed to satisfy a conditional expression.

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.

Abstract: An optical apparatus comprises a first image bearing member; a second image bearing member; a first reflection member for reflecting a deflection-scanned first laser beam toward the first image bearing member; a second reflection member for reflecting a deflection-scanned second laser beam toward the second image bearing member; and a curving support member for curving, in a reflection direction, a reflection surface of the first reflection member, which reflects the first laser beam. The curving support member includes a support portion which supports a surface on the side of a direction in which the first reflection member curves, a contact portion of the support portion with respect to the first reflection member is of a shape having a curvature.