Abstract: An optical scanning device includes n-odd (n?2) light sources disposed at different positions at least in a sub-scanning direction, a pixel forming part in which one pixel is depicted by light beams emitted from m-odd (n?m?2) light sources of the n-odd light sources and a distance of adjacent light sources for emitting the light beams in the sub-scanning direction is less than 5 ?m, and a light source driving control part configured to control an emitting state of the light sources for depicting the one pixel and conduct an emission driving control for moving a gravity center of the one pixel in the sub-scanning direction.

Abstract: An optical scanning device of the invention includes: n-odd (n?2) light sources disposed at different positions at least in a sub scanning direction; a light source driving control part configured to control a light emitting state of the light source; and a sub-scanning pixel position detecting part configured to depict one pixel with m-odd (n?m?2) light sources of the n-odd (n?2) light sources and to detect a deviation in position of the one pixel in a sub scanning direction, wherein the light source driving control part is configured to correct the deviation in position of the one pixel in the sub scanning direction at a resolution equal to or higher than a density of the pixel, depicted with the m-odd light sources, by controlling the light emitting state of the m-odd light sources on the basis of a result of detection with the sub-scanning pixel position detecting part.

Abstract: A transition detection circuit detects a transition of a state of a pixel clock, and outputs a detection signal according to a timing of the detected state transition. A control signal generation circuit generates a control signal according to the detection signal and phase data indicating a transition timing of the pixel clock. A pixel clock control circuit causes the state of the pixel clock to transit according to the control signal.

Abstract: A pixel clock and pulse-modulation-signal generating device includes a high-frequency-clock generating unit that generates a high-frequency clock; a modulation-data generating unit that generates, based on pixel control data that specifies a pixel length and image data, phase data that indicates a transition timing of a pixel clock and modulation data that indicates a desired bit pattern that corresponds to the image data; a pixel-clock generating unit that generates a pixel clock based on the high-frequency clock, the phase data, and a horizontal synchronization signal; and a serial-modulation-signal generating unit that inputs the modulation data, and outputs a pulse modulation signal in a serial pulse string based on the high-frequency clock.

Abstract: A pixel clock and pulse-modulation-signal generating device includes a high-frequency-clock generating unit that generates a high-frequency clock; a modulation-data generating unit that generates, based on pixel control data that specifies a pixel length and image data, phase data that indicates a transition timing of a pixel clock and modulation data that indicates a desired bit pattern that corresponds to the image data; a pixel-clock generating unit that generates a pixel clock based on the high-frequency clock, the phase data, and a horizontal synchronization signal; and a serial-modulation-signal generating unit that inputs the modulation data, and outputs a pulse modulation signal in a serial pulse string based on the high-frequency clock.

Abstract: In a pixel clock creation method and device, a high frequency clock is created. A scanning time needed to scan a predetermined scanning length is detected in accuracy of half a period of the high frequency clock to output a detection value indicating the detected scanning time. The detection value and a predetermined target value are compared to output a comparison result. A phase data is created based on the comparison result. A pixel clock whose phase is controlled based on both the high frequency clock and the phase data is created.

Abstract: A pixel clock generating apparatus comprises a data offset circuit and a pixel generator. The data offset circuit defines multiple data blocks, each data block consisting of a predetermined number of successive clocks, and produces phase data for each data block. The phase data represents an amount and a direction of phase shift to be carried out for a certain clock in each data block. The pixel generator receives the phase data from the data offset circuit and generates a phase-shifted pixel clock a predetermined number of times in each data block based on the phase data.

Abstract: A transition detection circuit detects a transition of a state of a pixel clock, and outputs a detection signal according to a timing of the detected state transition. A control signal generation circuit generates a control signal according to the detection signal and phase data indicating a transition timing of the pixel clock. A pixel clock control circuit causes the state of the pixel clock to transit according to the control signal.

Abstract: A pixel clock generating apparatus includes a data offset circuit and a pixel generator. The data offset circuit defines multiple data blocks, each data block consisting of a predetermined number of successive clocks, and produces phase data for each data block. The phase data represents an amount and a direction of phase shift to be carried out for a certain clock in each data block. The pixel generator receives the phase data from the data offset circuit and generates a phase-shifted pixel clock a predetermined number of times in each data block based on the phase data.

Abstract: An optical scan device having an optical deflector reflecting a light beam from a light beam source so as to deflect the light beam and having a surface to be scanned on which information is written such that the light beam deflected by the deflector scans the surface is disclosed. Optical detectors are arranged at least in two locations, a start side of writing and an end side of writing, which locations are outside an effective writing area. A measuring part measures a scan time required by the light beam deflected by the optical deflector to scan a range between the optical detectors. A correcting part corrects each dot position of image data in the effective writing area to an arbitrary position based on a variation amount of the measured scan time.

Abstract: A disclosed optical scanner includes a light source unit and a control unit configured to control the light source unit. Light emitted from the light source unit is scanned to expose a scan object surface and form an image on the scan object surface. The light source unit includes plural light sources arranged at a density equal to N (N being an integer of two or more) times higher than a density of pixels on the scan object surface. The control unit controls the light source unit such that one pixel is formed by at least two of the light sources.

Abstract: In a pixel clock creation method and device, a high frequency clock is created. A scanning time needed to scan a predetermined scanning length is detected in accuracy of half a period of the high frequency clock to output a detection value indicating the detected scanning time. The detection value and a predetermined target value are compared to output a comparison result. A phase data is created based on the comparison result. A pixel clock whose phase is controlled based on both the high frequency clock and the phase data is created.

Abstract: An optical scanner includes a light source unit configured to emit light; an optical system configured to cause the light emitted from the light source unit to scan an object so as to form an image on the object; and a control unit configured to control the light source unit. The light source unit includes a plurality of light emitting units arranged in a sub scanning direction, and the control unit controls the light source unit to emit light at different positions on the object by using either n (n: positive integer) light emitting units or n+1 light emitting units selected from among the plurality of light emitting units, according to a positional shift amount of the image in the sub scanning direction.

Abstract: An oscillation frequency control part includes a voltage-to-current converting circuit converting an input voltage to a current having a value corresponding to the input voltage, and outputting a current in proportion to the current obtained from the voltage-to-current converting circuit. An oscillating circuit part includes a ring oscillator, wherein a current in proportion to the output current of the oscillation frequency control part flows through the ring oscillator so that the oscillation frequency in the ring oscillator is controlled by the output current of the oscillation frequency control part. The voltage-to-current converting circuit has linear voltage-to-current conversion characteristics in a predetermined range of the input voltage including a ground potential.

Abstract: An oscillation frequency control part includes a voltage-to-current converting circuit converting an input voltage to a current having a value corresponding to the input voltage, and outputting a current in proportion to the current obtained from the voltage-to-current converting circuit. An oscillating circuit part includes a ring oscillator, wherein a current in proportion to the output current of the oscillation frequency control part flows through the ring oscillator so that the oscillation frequency in the ring oscillator is controlled by the output current of the oscillation frequency control part. The voltage-to-current converting circuit has linear voltage-to-current conversion characteristics in a predetermined range of the input voltage including a ground potential.

Abstract: An apparatus for generating a pulse modulated signal having pulses corresponding to binary values of pixels of image data includes a modulation-data generating unit configured to generate modulation data in response to pixel control data and the image data, the modulation data including a predetermined number of bits for a pixel of the image data, wherein consecutive bits having bit positions responsive to the pixel control data in a line of the predetermined number of bits have a value responsive to a binary value of the pixel, and a modulated-signal generating unit configured to generate a pulse modulated signal in response to the modulation data.

Abstract: An optical scanning apparatus is disclosed that includes a light source unit having plural main light sources that are two-dimensionally arranged in the main scanning direction and the sub scanning direction, and plural sub light sources that are arranged between rows of the main light sources aligned in the main scanning direction. The optical scanning apparatus also includes an optical system configured to scan light emitted from the light source unit on a scanning object to form an image on the scanning object, and a control apparatus configured to adjust a main scanning direction image position by controlling two of the main light sources that are juxtaposed to each other with respect to the main scanning direction and adjust a sub scanning direction image position by controlling a main light source and a sub light source that are adjacent to each other.

Abstract: The present invention discloses a clock signal generation circuit for generating one or more clock signals for performing a scanning operation by scanning a light beam from a light source to a scan target. The clock signal generation circuit includes a determination circuit for determining authenticity of start information in accordance with at least one of the length of the start information and the timing at which the start information is input, and a generation circuit for generating the clock signals in synchronization with the start information when the determination circuit determines that the start information is authentic.

Abstract: An output device is disclosed that includes an impedance matching section including an impedance adjustment section, and a dummy circuit section having the same configuration as the impedance adjustment section and adapted to calculate an adjustment value for matching an output impedance to a characteristic impedance of the transmission line. The impedance matching section sets the adjustment value to an impedance adjustment section, thereby matching the output impedance to the characteristic impedance. The output device further includes a switching transistor configured to be turned on/off so as to switch the output between an H level and an L level, and a constant current driver configured to add a constant current to the output.

Abstract: A circuit for generating a pixel clock for use in scanning a laser beam includes a high-frequency-clock generating circuit which generates a high-frequency clock having a higher frequency than the pixel clock, and a control circuit which generates the pixel clock while shifting a phase of the pixel clock by a shift step proportional to a clock cycle of the high-frequency clock in response to phase data indicative of timing and amounts of phase shifts.