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: A multi-beam scanning apparatus includes a light source having first and second light source sections that hold a pair of semi-conductor laser diodes and coupling lenses that couple four beams irradiated from the pair of semi-conductor laser diodes with a base member. A light beam deviating device may be provided so as to deviate the four beams. A scan imaging device is also provided so as to scan a scan receiving surface with beam spots of the beams deviated by the light beam deviating device. A beam pitch-detecting device is also provided so as to detect a beam pitch of the respective beams formed on the scan-receiving surface. A beam pitch correcting device is provided in order to correct the beam pitch by causing relative deviation of a light axis among the respective beams on a sub scanning direction cross sectional plane.

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: 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: A scanning optical system deflects a light flux emitted by a light source by an optical deflector, and focuses the light flux on a surface to be scanned through a scanning lens. The scanning optical system includes a kink producing unit that produces a kink in the scanning lens.

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: An optical scanning characteristic control method is applied to an optical scanning system in which a beam is deflected, and the deflected beam is converged and directed toward a scanning surface, so that optical scanning of the scanning surface is performed by an optical spot formed thereon by the deflected beam. The method comprising the steps of a) disposing a beam deflection control device on the light path of the beam before it is incident on the scanning surface; and b) controlling a beam deflection amount of the beam deflecting device provide to an incident beam so as to control a scanning characteristic of the optical scanning.

Abstract: An optical-element holding device includes an elastic member that presses an optical element with an elastic force in a direction orthogonal to an optical axis of the optical element and orthogonal to a longitudinal direction of the optical element, and a support member that forms a pair with the elastic member and supports the optical element against a pressing force of the elastic member. At least three pairs of the elastic member and the support member are provided.

Abstract: An optical scanning characteristic control method is applied to an optical scanning system in which a beam is deflected, and the deflected beam is converged and directed toward a scanning surface, so that optical scanning of the scanning surface is performed by an optical spot formed thereon by the deflected beam. The method comprising the steps of a) disposing a beam deflection control device on the light path of the beam before it is incident on the scanning surface; and b) controlling a beam deflection amount of the beam deflecting device provide to an incident beam so as to control a scanning characteristic of the optical scanning.

Abstract: An optical scanning device includes: a light source; a deflector deflecting light beam from the light source; a coupling lens carrying out coupling of the light beam from the light source; a first optical system leading the light beam from the coupling lens to the deflector; a scanning optical system leading the light beam deflected by the deflector to a to-be-scanned surface; and a phase-modulatable liquid crystal device disposed on a light path lying from the light source through the to-be-scanned surface and driven by an electric signal, wherein: the first optical system at least comprises an optical device having: a surface having power positive in a sub-scanning direction; and a surface having power positive in a main scanning direction.

Abstract: An optical scanning apparatus includes M number of light sources that includes M number of semiconductor lasers and M number of coupling lenses, where M is a positive integer, a deflecting scanning unit that deflects laser beams from the light sources to a surface to be scanned, and a transmission-type prism that deflects optical path of the laser beam from at least one of the light sources by an infinitesimal amount of angle. The prism is disposed between the light sources and the deflecting scanning unit, has an incident surface and an output surface nonparallel to each other, and can rotate around an axis of rotation substantially parallel to the optical path of the laser beam.

Abstract: A light-source unit includes two LD arrays, each comprising four light-emitting points, a corresponding two coupling lenses coupling laser beams emitted from the two LD arrays, and a holding member integrally holding these LD arrays and coupling lenses rotatably approximately about optical axes on the laser beams are provided. Further, a scanning optical system is provided for deflecting the laser beams emitted from the light-source unit and imaging them onto the to-be-scanned surface.

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: 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 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 X 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.

Abstract: In a multi-beam light source device of the invention, a light source unit holds light sources and coupling lenses, the coupling lenses coupling light beams emitted by the light sources. A base member holds the light source unit such that the light beams from the light source unit held by the base member are rotatable in a direction perpendicular to a main scanning direction of an optical scanning device. An angle adjustment mechanism is provided for adjusting a mounting angle of the light source unit relative to the base member, so that respective pitches of beam spots, formed on a scanned surface by the light beams, in the direction perpendicular to the main scanning direction are variable in accordance with the mounting angle adjustment.

Abstract: An optical scanning characteristic control method is applied to an optical scanning system in which a beam is deflected, and the deflected beam is converged and directed toward a scanning surface, so that optical scanning of the scanning surface is performed by an optical spot formed thereon by the deflected beam. The method comprising the steps of a) disposing a beam deflection control device on the light path of the beam before it is incident on the scanning surface; and b) controlling a beam deflection amount of the beam deflecting device provide to an incident beam so as to control a scanning characteristic of the optical scanning.

Abstract: A multi-beam scanning apparatus includes a light source having first and second light source sections that hold a pair of semi-conductor laser diodes and coupling lenses that couple four beams irradiated from the pair of semi-conductor laser diodes with a base member. A light beam deviating device may be provided so as to deviate the four beams. A scan imaging device is also provided so as to scan a scan receiving surface with beam spots of the beams deviated by the light beam deviating device. A beam pitch-detecting device is also provided so as to detect a beam pitch of the respective beams formed on the scan-receiving surface. A beam pitch correcting device is provided in order to correct the beam pitch by causing relative deviation of a light axis among the respective beams on a sub scanning direction cross sectional plane.

Abstract: A light-source unit includes two LD arrays, each comprising four light-emitting points, a corresponding two coupling lenses coupling laser beams emitted from the two LD arrays, and a holding member integrally holding these LD arrays and coupling lenses rotatably approximately about optical axes on the laser beams are provided. Further, a scanning optical system is provided for deflecting the laser beams emitted from the light-source unit and imaging them onto the to-be-scanned surface.

Abstract: In a multi-beam light source device of the invention, a light source unit holds light sources and coupling lenses, the coupling lenses coupling light beams emitted by the light sources. A base member holds the light source unit such that the light beams from the light source unit held by the base member are rotatable in a direction perpendicular to a main scanning direction of an optical scanning device. An angle adjustment mechanism is provided for adjusting a mounting angle of the light source unit relative to the base member, so that respective pitches of beam spots, formed on a scanned surface by the light beams, in the direction perpendicular to the main scanning direction are variable in accordance with the mounting angle adjustment.