Abstract: A multi-beam scanning device is provided with a light source that emits a plurality of light beams, a polygonal mirror that deflects the light beams emitted by the light source to scan, and an optical system that converges the deflected light beams on a plurality of objects to be scanned. The optical system includes an optical path turning system that turns optical paths of the deflected light beams, respectively. The optical path turning system is constructed such that optical path lengths of the optical path of the deflected light beams are the same, and one of the optical paths directed to an object located farthest from the polygonal mirror consists of two linear paths and one turning portion at which a beam is deflected.

Abstract: A multi-beam scanning device is provided with a light source that emits a plurality of light beams, a polygonal mirror that deflects the light beams emitted by the light source to scan, and an optical system that converges the deflected light beams on a plurality of objects to be scanned. The optical system includes an optical path turning system that turns optical paths of the deflected light beams, respectively. The optical path turning system is constructed such that optical path lengths of the optical path of the deflected light beams are the same, and one of the optical paths directed to an object located farthest from the polygonal mirror consists of two linear paths and one turning portion at which a beam is deflected.

Abstract: A multi-beam scanning device is provided with a light source that emits a plurality of light beams, a polygonal mirror that deflects the light beams emitted by the light source to scan, and an optical system that converges the deflected light beams on a plurality of objects to be scanned. The optical system includes an optical path turning system that turns optical paths of the deflected light beams, respectively. The optical path turning system is constructed such that optical path lengths of the optical path of the deflected light beams are the same, and one of the optical paths directed to an object located farthest from the polygonal mirror consists of two linear paths and one turning portion at which a beam is deflected.

Abstract: A laser beam emitting unit includes a laser diode, a collimating lens upon which a laser beam emitted by the laser diode is incident, a base plate to which the laser diode is fixed, a lens holder which holds the collimating lens, and a holder support plate via which the lens holder is fixed to the base plate. The holder support plate includes a flat portion which faces the base plate with a gap between the flat portion and the base plate, and at least two leg portions which extend from the flat portion to the base plate in a direction substantially perpendicular to the flat portion. Each of the at least two leg portions includes a claw portion which is deformed to be fixed to the base plate, wherein the gap is maintained between the flat portion and the base plate.

Abstract: A multi-beam scanning optical system is provided with a light source unit, polygonal mirror, and an f&thgr; lens. The f&thgr; lens includes a first lens that converges the beams mainly in the main scanning direction, and a second lens that converges the beams mainly in the auxiliary scanning direction. The first and second lenses are made of different materials. Further, one of the first and second lenses is formed integrally with the other using a mold such that the first and second lenses constitute a composite lens unit.

Abstract: A multi-beam scanning optical system is provided with a light source unit, polygonal mirror, and an f&thgr; lens. The f&thgr; lens includes first, second and third lenses. The beams emitted by the light source unit are incident on the first, second and third lenses in this order. The first lens consists of two lens elements, the first lens element converges the plurality of beams in an auxiliary scanning direction. The second lens element converges the plurality of beams in a main scanning direction. A plurality of convex surfaces, which correspond to the plurality of beams and converge the plurality of beams in the auxiliary scanning direction, respectively, are formed on one of surfaces of the first and second lens elements. Further, a diffraction lens structure for compensating for lateral chromatic aberration caused by a refraction lens structure of the f&thgr; lens system is formed on each of the plurality of convex surfaces.

Abstract: A laser beam emitting unit includes a laser diode, a collimating lens upon which a laser beam emitted by the laser diode is incident, a base plate to which the laser diode is fixed, a lens holder which holds the collimating lens, and a holder support plate via which the lens holder is fixed to the base plate. The holder support plate includes a flat portion which faces the base plate with a gap between the flat portion and the base plate, and at least two leg portions which extend from the flat portion to the base plate in a direction substantially perpendicular to the flat portion. Each of the at least two leg portions includes a claw portion which is deformed to be fixed to the base plate, wherein the gap is maintained between the flat portion and the base plate.

Abstract: A light intensity controlling device has a beam splitter which splits light fluxes emitted from a plurality of independently controlled semiconductor lasers, guided by optical fibers, into monitor light fluxes and main light fluxes. A gain adjusting circuit corrects the changes of output of light receiving elements depending on the polarization states of the light fluxes incident into the beam splitter. The changes result from the polarization characteristics of the optical fibers and/or the beam splitter. Alternatively, a filter is provided at one of the light receiving elements to compensate for the changes, thus providing a corrected output signal. Laser control circuits control the light emitting intensity of each semiconductor laser based on corrected output signals. The light receiving elements are set at an angle to the incoming light as so to avoid directing reflected light back toward an imaging system or the lasers.

Abstract: A camera including a transparent window member having a window portion set in a opening (window) in a back cover of the camera and a peripheral flange surrounding the window portion to be adhered to an inner surface of the back cover. The camera also includes a light intercepting member which bridges the inner surface of the back cover and the peripheral flange adhered to the inner surface of the back cover. The light intercepting member has an opening larger than the opening of the back cover.

Abstract: An apparatus for correcting a blurred image has a blurred image correcting lens which constitutes at least part of a photographing lens of a camera. The correcting lens is supported to move in a direction substantially perpendicular to an optical axis of the photographing lens. A driver for driving the correcting lens and an angular acceleration sensor which detects the angular acceleration applied to the camera, to send a drive signal to the driver, to cancel an undesirable movement of the optical axis of the photgraphing lens are provided. The angular acceleration sensor includes a rotatable sensor arm having a rotational shaft in the center of the length of the sensor arm, permanent magnets provided at the opposite ends of the sensor arm, a magnetic sensor which is opposed to one of the permanent magnets, and a coil which is opposed to the other permanent magnet and which has a winding intersecting the magnetic flux of the other permanent magnet.