Abstract: An image recording apparatus includes a light source, a switching drive circuit configured to control an electric current for causing the light source to emit a light beam, a moving part configured to move one of a recording target on which an image is to be recorded by the light beam and a light emitting position at which the light beam is emitted relative to another one of the recording target and the light emitting position, and a controller configured to control a light emission timing of the light source and a relative moving speed of the moving part based on image information. The drive circuit includes a switching circuit configured to turn on and off a switching element. The controller is configured to change a switching frequency of the switching element according to at least one of the light emission timing and the relative moving speed.

Abstract: An image recording apparatus includes a light source, a switching drive circuit configured to control an electric current for causing the light source to emit a light beam, a moving part configured to move one of a recording target on which an image is to be recorded by the light beam and a light emitting position at which the light beam is emitted relative to another one of the recording target and the light emitting position, and a controller configured to control a light emission timing of the light source and a relative moving speed of the moving part based on image information. The drive circuit includes a switching circuit configured to turn on and off a switching element. The controller is configured to change a switching frequency of the switching element according to at least one of the light emission timing and the relative moving speed.

Abstract: A semiconductor laser driving apparatus for driving a semiconductor laser serving as a light source for optical scanning, the semiconductor laser driving apparatus includes: first and second switching elements that are each capable of switching energization of the semiconductor laser ON/OFF; a first pulse generation unit that intermittently outputs first driving pulses to the first switching element in a first time slot; and a second pulse generation unit that outputs a second driving pulse to the second switching element in a second time slot different from the first time slot.

Abstract: A range finder which irradiates a subject by emission of a light source, and receives reflected light from the subject so as to measure a distance to the subject, the range finder includes a plurality of light-source-driving circuits supplying a driving current to the light source when a light-emitting signal that controls the emission of the light source is input, wherein the light-emitting signal is output to one of the light-source-driving circuits, and each of the light-source-driving circuits has a different response speed to the light-emitting signal.

Abstract: A light irradiation apparatus includes an irradiation unit including a light source to emit light to a process-target object, a light source driving circuit to drive the light source, a light source controller to control the light source driving circuit to change a light output level of the light source, and a light spot controller to control energy or energy density of a beam spot of the light on the process-target object depending on an operation mode, and a transition mode that one operation mode is being changed to another mode. The light spot controller sets the energy or energy density during the transition mode lower compared to either of the energy or energy density during the one operation mode before the transition mode and the energy or energy density during the another mode after the transition mode.

Abstract: A light irradiation apparatus includes an irradiation unit including a light source to emit light to a process-target object, a light source driving circuit to drive the light source, a light source controller to control the light source driving circuit to change a light output level of the light source, and a light spot controller to control energy or energy density of a beam spot of the light on the process-target object depending on an operation mode, and a transition mode that one operation mode is being changed to another mode. The light spot controller sets the energy or energy density during the transition mode lower compared to either of the energy or energy density during the one operation mode before the transition mode and the energy or energy density during the another mode after the transition mode.

Abstract: An optical scanner is provided including a light source configured to emit light, a light source driving device configured to drive the light source, a light deflector having at least one rotating reflection plane and configured to deflect the light emitted from the light source to a scanning area, and a light detector configured to output a signal to control a timing at which scanning of the scanning area by the light deflected by the light deflector starts, where the light detector and the scanning area are sequentially scanned in a single scanning by one reflection plane of the light deflector, and the light source driving device drives the light source using a first driving method when the light scans the light detector, and drives the light source using a second driving method that is different from the first driving method when the light scans the scanning area.

Abstract: A light irradiation apparatus includes an irradiation unit including a light source to emit light to a process-target object, a light source driving circuit to drive the light source, a light source controller to control the light source driving circuit to change a light output level of the light source, and a light spot controller to control energy or energy density of a beam spot of the light on the process-target object depending on an operation mode, and a transition mode that one operation mode is being changed to another mode. The light spot controller sets the energy or energy density during the transition mode lower compared to either of the energy or energy density during the one operation mode before the transition mode and the energy or energy density during the another mode after the transition mode.

Abstract: A semiconductor laser driving apparatus for driving a semiconductor laser serving as a light source for optical scanning, the semiconductor laser driving apparatus includes: first and second switching elements that are each capable of switching energization of the semiconductor laser ON/OFF; a first pulse generation unit that intermittently outputs first driving pulses to the first switching element in a first time slot; and a second pulse generation unit that outputs a second driving pulse to the second switching element in a second time slot different from the first time slot.

Abstract: An optical scanner is provided including a light source configured to emit light, a light source driving device configured to drive the light source, a light deflector having at least one rotating reflection plane and configured to deflect the light emitted from the light source to a scanning area, and a light detector configured to output a signal to control a timing at which scanning of the scanning area by the light deflected by the light deflector starts, where the light detector and the scanning area are sequentially scanned in a single scanning by one reflection plane of the light deflector, and the light source driving device drives the light source using a first driving method when the light scans the light detector, and drives the light source using a second driving method that is different from the first driving method when the light scans the scanning area.

Abstract: A range finder which irradiates a subject by emission of a light source, and receives reflected light from the subject so as to measure a distance to the subject, the range finder includes a plurality of light-source-driving circuits supplying a driving current to the light source when a light-emitting signal that controls the emission of the light source is input, wherein the light-emitting signal is output to one of the light-source-driving circuits, and each of the light-source-driving circuits has a different response speed to the light-emitting signal.