Abstract: An optical scanning device includes an oscillating mirror part, a torsion bar part, a piezoelectric element (driving part), a housing, and an optical element part. The oscillating mirror part includes a reflective surface capable of reflecting light from a first light source and a mass adjustment part formed on an opposite surface of the oscillating mirror part to the reflective surface and configured to be capable of reducing a mass thereof by exposure to laser light. The torsion bar part supports the oscillating mirror part. The piezoelectric element is configured to torsionally oscillate the oscillating mirror part about the torsion bar part. The housing accommodates the oscillating mirror part, the torsion bar part, and the piezoelectric element. The optical element part is configured to reflect or transmit the laser light from a second light source disposed outside of the housing to expose the mass adjustment part to the laser light.

Abstract: A light scanning apparatus, including: a light source; a deflector configured to deflect the light beam from the light source to scan a photosensitive member; an optical member configured to guide the light beam; a housing including a housing engaging portion and a supporting portion configured to support the optical member; a leaf spring including a pressing portion and a leaf spring engaging portion; and an abutment portion, wherein, in a process in which the housing engaging portion and the leaf spring engaging portion are moved from a second state in which the leaf spring engaging portion is not engaged with the housing engaging portion to a first state in which the leaf spring engaging portion is engaged with the housing engaging portion, the pressing portion is moved from the abutment portion to the optical member.

Abstract: An exposure unit includes a lens group having a plurality of lenses arrayed in a first direction and an element array which is arranged to face the lens group and includes a plurality of organic EL elements arrayed in parallel with the first direction on a substrate, a drive circuit including a plurality of TFT circuits for controlling luminance per unit time of the organic EL element is arranged on the substrate, and the TFT circuit controls the luminance of the organic EL element based on a signal created by an area gray scale method.

Abstract: Included is an image bearing member; an exposure unit configured to form electrostatic latent images by scanning light on the image bearing member and to change the amount of light along the scanning direction of the light; a forming unit configured to form a toner patch on the basis of the electrostatic latent image formed by a plurality of different light amounts, to adjust the light amount of the exposure unit; a detection unit configured to detect the toner patch; and a control unit configured to adjust the light amount of the exposure unit along the scanning direction of the light depending on the detection result by the detection unit. The control unit changes the light amount of the exposure unit along the scanning direction of the light over a portion of regions rather than all regions in the scanning direction when forming the toner patch.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an exposing section, a pulse generating section, a frequency storing section, an emission control section, a smoothing section, and a driving-current generating section. The pulse generating section generates a periodic pulse signal indicating light amount of light beam emitted by a light source of the exposing section. The frequency storing section stores in advance a plurality of frequencies of the pulse signal. The emission control section selects, in the rendering of each main scanning line, any one of the plurality of frequencies and instructs the pulse generating section to generate the pulse signal having the selected frequency. The smoothing section smoothes the pulse signal generated by the pulse generating section according to the instruction of the emission control section and generates analog signal. The driving-current generating section generates driving current for the light source of the exposing section on the basis of the analog signal.

Abstract: A rotational polygon mirror includes a plurality of reflection surfaces that rotate with respect to a rotation axis, wherein each of the reflection surfaces has a convex shape and a cross-sectional profile perpendicular to the rotation axis having at least two inflection points.

Abstract: A light-emitting element having a light-emitting section and a light-receiving section provided on a substrate. The light-emitting section includes: an organic compound in which light is emitted; a translucent reflecting portion that transmits the emitted light which has spectral radiance changeable with changes in ambient temperature; and a transparent portion that radiates first part of the light coming through the translucent reflecting portion to outside and total-reflects second part that is light incident to a boundary surface therebetween at angles larger than a critical angle. Wherein, the light-receiving section is capable of receiving the light total-reflected at the boundary surface, the received light having a quantity of light changeable with changes in wavelength of the light passing through the translucent reflecting portion. The light-receiving section further outputs a signal which has an amplitude level in correlation to the quantity of light.

Abstract: A cover member to be attached to a housing including a bottom portion and a side wall, the cover member including: a closing surface configured to close an opening surrounded by the side wall; at least three protruding portions protruding from the closing surface so as to be located on an inside of the housing; and a protection portion configured to protect a circuit board fixed to the side wall, the protection portion having: a first opposed portion opposed to the circuit board and provided to stand on the closing surface; a second opposed portion opposed to the circuit board and protruding with respect to the first opposed portion away from the circuit board; and a connecting portion configured to connect the first opposed portion and the second opposed portion, wherein a length of the at least three protruding portions is larger than a length of the first opposed portion.

Abstract: In APC, if light power control with different target light powers is continuously executed, the amplitude of an output signal from a light-receiving element after the light power control is changed is generated, and a long time is required for completion of the light power control after the change. To address the problem, light power control with the same target light power is continuously executed on at least two light-emitting points in APC.

Abstract: The optical writing device includes: a light source including a plurality of light-emitting element assemblies; a line information storage for storing pixel information constituting an image; a light source driver for driving the light-emitting elements; an error information acquire for acquiring inclination error information and arrangement error information; a correction value generator for generating correction value information for correcting the inclination of the main scanning line; a correction value holder for holding the generated correction value information; and a driven pixel adjuster for adjusting positions in the sub-scanning direction, wherein the correction value generator generates the correction value information such that a position of the image to be shifted to correct the error of the arrangement of the light-emitting element assemblies is different from that to correct the inclination of the main scanning line.

Abstract: An exposure apparatus according to one aspect of this invention includes a plurality of laser light sources (LDs) each configured to output a laser beam of a light power corresponding to a supplied current. The exposure apparatus exposes the surface of a photosensitive drum with a plurality of laser beams. When determining the incident states of the laser beams on the light-receiving surface of a PD, a CPU controls at least one LD as a control target. The CPU causes the control target LD by a current of a predetermined magnitude to emit light and output a laser beam. Based on a light power detection value from the PD for a laser beam output from the control target LD, the CPU determines the incident state of the laser beam on the light-receiving surface of the PD.

Abstract: An exposure device includes a board on which a light source for emitting a light beam is mounted and on which a circuit is disposed, a housing that contains an optical system for guiding the light beam, a positioning member that positions the light source relative to the housing in an optical axis direction by contacting a reference portion disposed around the light source, and a deformable portion disposed in a region of the board that is different from a region on which the circuit is disposed. The deformable portion urges the reference portion toward the positioning member by being elastically deformed when the board is attached to the housing.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus that is capable of simplifying controls for light sources. A polygon mirror with four reflective surfaces deflects light beams emitted from first and second light sources. A housing in which the light sources and the polygon mirror are arranged is configured so that optical paths of the light beams toward the polygon mirror are parallel to a virtual plane containing a rotating axis of the polygon mirror, and so that the light beams are incident on adjoining reflective surfaces of the polygon mirror. First and second driver ICs drive the first and second light sources in one of operation modes. A control unit outputs the same operation mode signal to the first and second driver ICs at the same timing so that the first and second light sources operate in the same operation mode.

Abstract: A light irradiating device causes a light source to emit light with normal emitted light quantity sufficient for adhering toner on a photosensitive member, on an image portion of the photosensitive member, and causes the light source to emit light with minute emitted light quantity sufficient for preventing toner from being adhered on the photosensitive member, which is smaller than normal emitted light quantity. The light irradiating device includes a determining unit to determine a reference value input to the light irradiating device. Minute emitted light quantity is set based on the reference value input to the light irradiating device. The determining unit determines the reference value to be input to the light irradiating device based on information of relationship between a predetermined reference value and the light quantity in the position of the photosensitive member when causing the light source to emit light, based on the predetermined reference value.

Abstract: The calculation unit calculates the time interval between the time at detecting the light beam reflected by the reflective surface of the rotatory polyhedron incident on the BD sensor by the light beam detecting unit and the time at detecting the light beam reflected by the reflective surface incident on the optical sensor in the light source by the return light beam detecting unit. The scan adjusting unit adjusts the luminescence time of the light source for scanning the light beam on the surface to be scanned based on the time interval calculated by the calculation unit.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus including: a photoreceptor; a charger configured to charge a photoreceptor surface; an optical scanning device configured to expose the photoreceptor surface to form an electrostatic latent image thereon; a developing device configured to develop the electrostatic latent image to form a toner image thereon; a transfer member configured to transfer the toner image to a sheet; a fixing device configured to fix the toner image thereon; and a control unit configured to carry out exposure amount control for formation of an image having a pattern with a spatial frequency from 0.1 c/mm to 3.0 c/mm so that after the exposure, there will be an electric potential difference V1 between an edge portion and a non-edge portion of the pattern and so that there will be an electric potential difference V2 larger than V1 between an edge-surrounding portion and the other portions of a non-image area.

Abstract: A printing apparatus includes: a print head; an image carrier; a print controller which controls the print head to execute printing on a recording medium for printing via the image carrier, based on print data; a judgement unit which judges whether a lubricant is to be provided on a surface of the image carrier or not, based on a coverage rate by the print data, wherein the coverage rate is the total number of dots to be printed for an area divided by the total number of dots of the area; and a lubricant controller which controls provision of the lubricant on the surface when the judgement unit judges that the surface is to be provided with the lubricant.

Abstract: The calculation unit calculates the time interval between the time at detecting the light beam reflected by the reflective surface of the rotatory polyhedron incident on the BD sensor by the light beam detecting unit and the time at detecting the light beam reflected by the reflective surface incident on the optical sensor in the light source by the return light beam detecting unit. The scan adjusting unit adjusts the luminescence time of the light source for scanning the light beam on the surface to be scanned based on the time interval calculated by the calculation unit.

Abstract: A color image forming apparatus has a plurality of photosensitive members, a light emitting element emitting light, a laser driving unit causing the light emitting element to emit light of a light amount at a first emission level for visualizing the toner image onto a first area where the toner image is to be visualized on the charged photosensitive member and to emit light of a light amount at a second emission level for weak emission onto a second area where the toner is not to be adhered to the charged photosensitive member. In addition, an acquiring unit acquires information associated with a remaining lifetime of each of the photosensitive members, a first drive current adjusting unit adjusts the first drive current, and a second drive current adjusting unit adjusts the second drive current, with the second drive current adjusting unit changing a magnitude of the second drive current in accordance with the information associated with the remaining lifetime of each of the photosensitive members.

Abstract: An image forming section includes a bearing member configured to bear an image, and a light-emitting-element array having a plurality of light emitting elements arranged linearly in an arrangement direction. The image forming section is configured to form an image on the bearing member by using the plurality of light emitting elements to form the image on a sheet. A reader is configured to read an image formed on a sheet. A memory stores instructions, the instructions, when executed by a processor, causing the processor to perform: a pattern reading process of controlling the reader to read a sheet on which a pattern image is formed, the pattern image being an image for detecting positional deviation of the light-emitting-element array; and a deviation calculating process of calculating an amount of positional deviation of the light-emitting-element array based on a reading result by the pattern reading process.

Abstract: A polygonal rotating mirror, a light scanning unit employing the polygonal rotating mirror, and an electrophotographic image forming apparatus are shown. The polygonal rotating mirror is employed in the light scanning unit for scanning a light beam and includes a plurality of reflective surfaces enclosing outer side surfaces thereof. One of the plurality of reflective surfaces is a reference surface, a region of the reference surface where a light beam for a synchronization signal is to be incident is formed as a non-reflective region, and regions of the remaining reflective surfaces of the plurality of reflective surfaces where a light beam for a synchronization signal is to be incident, are formed as reflective regions.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an image carrier that rotates; and an exposure unit that includes multiple light emitters, a holding unit, and first contact portions, the multiple light emitters being arranged along a rotation axis direction of the image carrier, the holding unit holding the multiple light emitters, the first contact portions being positioned on the holding unit so as to sandwich the multiple light emitters therebetween, the exposure unit exposing the image carrier to light. While the image carrier is being mounted on an apparatus body, the exposure unit is moved away from the image carrier in an optical axis direction of the exposure unit as a result of the first contact portions coming into contact with the image carrier, and the exposure unit and the image carrier are positioned as a result of the first contact portions coming into contact with the image carrier.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus comprises a first exposure unit, a first image carrier, a second exposure unit, a second image carrier and an exposure signal generation unit. The first exposure unit/The second exposure unit includes a given number of light-emitting elements which are linearly arranged, and changes a light emission amount of each light-emitting element in response to an image signal corresponding to a first color/a second color which can hardly be recognized in the change of the straight line state; and the exposure signal generation unit excludes a correction during exposure for reducing the influence of the change of the straight line state of each light-emitting element at the time when the second exposure unit emits the light.

Abstract: A light scanning unit, a method of detecting a failure of a synchronization signal, and an electrophotographic image forming apparatus using the light scanning unit are provided. The light scanning unit includes a synchronization sensor which receives a portion of a light beam that is emitted from a light source and then deflected and scanned from a light deflector, to detect a horizontal synchronization signal. A width of a light-receiving surface of the synchronization sensor in a main scanning direction varies along a sub scanning direction. The light scanning unit having the above-described structure determines a high quality or a failure of a synchronization signal by using a width of a horizontal synchronization signal detected in a test operation.

Abstract: There is provided an image forming apparatus including: an image forming section including a photosensitive body, and an LED array configured to expose the photosensitive body; and a controller configured to: make a judgment of a dew-condensation state of the LED array, and change a power supply state of the LED array based on the dew-condensation state.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an image forming unit which transfers an image obtained through exposure and development to paper, and a control unit which changes a rotation speed of a polygon mirror at an intermediate area on a carrier to change a reduction/magnification ratio of an image. The control unit changes the rotation speed in a stepwise manner in such a way as to allow a stable rotation of the polygon mirror in each step, and controls the image forming unit to form a corrected patch image in parallel with the stepwise change of the rotation speed. The corrected patch image is obtained through correction in accordance with the stepwise change of the rotation speed to be the same as the patch image formed when the rotation speed is not changed.

Abstract: An optical scanning apparatus includes a light source; and a rotational polygon mirror having N reflecting surfaces, the rotational polygon mirror being configured to reflect a light flux emitted from the light source so that a scanning surface is scanned along a main-scanning direction with reflected from the rotational polygon mirror. A width of the light flux incident on the rotational polygon mirror in a direction corresponding to the main-scanning direction is smaller than a width of each reflecting surface of the rotational polygon mirror in the direction corresponding to the main-scanning direction.

Abstract: Provided is an image forming apparatus including a light scanning apparatus that emits a light flux to photosensitive surfaces of a plurality of photosensitive bodies arranged so that longitudinal directions are the same direction and that optically scans the plurality of photosensitive surfaces in the longitudinal direction, wherein a diameter of at least one of the plurality of photosensitive bodies is different from diameters of the other photosensitive bodies in a cross section perpendicular to the longitudinal direction, and in the cross section perpendicular to the longitudinal direction, a sign of ?1 and a sign of ?2 are different, wherein ?1 denotes an incident angle of a light flux incident on a first photosensitive body with a smallest diameter among the plurality of photosensitive bodies, and ?2 denotes an incident angle of a light flux incident on a second photosensitive body with a largest diameter, and a condition |?1|>|?2|>0 is satisfied.

Abstract: According to one embodiment, there is provided an imaging element array including an imaging element group in which a plurality of imaging elements are aligned, each of the imaging elements including an integrally molded input portion, an output portion, and a reflective portion, collecting light input to the input portion, reflecting the light by the reflective portion near a position where light flux is downsized, and outputting the reflected light from the output portion to form an image at an image point, and an inhibiting portion which is formed around the reflected portion in the imaging element group to inhibit light other than the light reflected by the reflective portion from traveling to the output portion.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus including: a photoreceptor; a charger configured to charge a photoreceptor surface; an optical scanning device configured to expose the photoreceptor surface to form an electrostatic latent image thereon; a developing device configured to develop the electrostatic latent image to form a toner image thereon; a transfer member configured to transfer the toner image to a sheet; a fixing device configured to fix the toner image thereon; and a control unit configured to carry out exposure amount control for formation of an image having a pattern with a spatial frequency from 0.1 c/mm to 3.0 c/mm so that after the exposure, there will be an electric potential difference V1 between an edge portion and a non-edge portion of the pattern and so that there will be an electric potential difference V2 larger than V1 between an edge-surrounding portion and the other portions of a non-image area.

Abstract: An exposure portion scans, in an axial direction, light which is emitted from a light source based on image data of a document sheet, and applies the light to surfaces of image carriers, to form an electrostatic latent image on each image carrier. The cleaning member is disposed so as to contact with each image carrier and removes residual toner on each image carrier, to perform cleaning. The driving mechanism causes each image carrier to shuttle in the axial direction with a predetermined amplitude while the image carrier is driven to rotate. The detecting member detects positional information representing a position, in the axial direction, obtained when each image carrier shuttles. The control portion controls, based on a result of detection by the detecting member, a time when scanning on each of the image carriers by the exposure portion is to be started.

Abstract: A light source driver includes a controller which outputs an undershoot current in synchronization with lighting complete timing in lighting information, wherein the controller is configured to output the undershoot current such that a voltage in a light source when the output of the undershoot current is complete is equal to a voltage in the light source before being turned on.

Abstract: Methods, algorithms, processes, circuits, and/or structures for laser patterning suitable for customized RFID designs are disclosed. In one embodiment, a method of laser patterning of an identification device can include the steps of: (i) depositing a patternable resist formulation on a substrate having configurable elements and/or materials thereon; (ii) irradiating the resist formulation with a laser tool sufficiently to change the solubility characteristics of the resist in a developer; and (iii) developing exposed areas of the resist using the developer. Embodiments of the present invention can advantageously provide a relatively low cost and high throughput approach for customized RFID devices.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes: first and second photosensitive members; first and second light sources; a rotatable polygonal mirror; a first signal output means; and a second signal output means. The first light source emits the light at timing on the basis of the first signal and the second light source emits the light at timing on the basis of the second signal so that latent images are formed on the first and second photosensitive members, respectively, and then are developed with developers to form developer images on the first and second photosensitive members, respectively, and then an image is formed by superposing the developer images. Before output of a second signal from the second signal output portion is started, the first light source emits the light on the basis of a first signal to start formation of the latent image on the first photosensitive member.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus, including: an image bearing member; a charging device; an exposure device configured to expose intermittently for each unit area of the image bearing member charged by the charging device to form a latent image; a developing device configured to develop the latent image with developer; a signal output portion configured to output a first electric signal when the exposure device exposes a print area of the image bearing member, and output a second electric signal, which instructs the exposure device to shorten an exposure time per unit area more than an exposure time of the first electric signal, when the exposure device exposes a non-print area of the image bearing member; and a count portion, to which the first and the second electric signals are input from the signal output portion, configured to measure only the first electric signal without measuring the second electric signal.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus is provided, which includes a housing having a cover swingable around a rotational shaft, and first and second LED heads attached to the cover, a position of the first LED head relative to a first axis line around which a first photoconductive body is rotatable being more shifted toward the rotational shaft in a first direction than a position of the second LED head relative to a second axis line around which a second photoconductive body is rotatable, the first direction being a direction along which the first and second photoconductive bodies are arranged, the first and second axis lines being parallel to a second direction perpendicular to the first direction.

Abstract: Provided is an optical scanning apparatus, including: an optical deflector having a polygon mirror reflecting a light flux emitted from a light source to carry out scanning, a drive unit rotating the polygon mirror about a rotation shaft, and a board supporting the drive unit; an optical box to which the board is fixed; two holes provided in the optical box, through which two screws fixing the board are inserted, respectively; two bearing surfaces provided on the optical box at positions around the two holes, respectively, the two bearing surfaces supporting the board; and an abutment portion provided on the optical box and abutting against a portion that is prevented from being pressed by the two screws in the board which is sandwiched between the two screws and the two bearing surfaces so as to be fixed to the optical box.

Abstract: A scanning optical apparatus includes: a deflection unit configured to deflect a light flux from a light source in a main scanning direction; an incident optical system configured to introduce the light flux from the light source to the deflection unit; a condensing optical system configured to condense the light flux from the deflection unit onto a scanned surface; and a reflection member arranged in a light path of the light flux deflected in the main scanning direction by the deflection unit and configured to reflect a part of the deflected light flux. The reflection member has a reflection surface configured to reflect the deflected light flux, a first end surface formed in the main scanning direction, and a second end surface formed in a sub-scanning direction perpendicular to the main scanning direction, and the second end surface has a higher degree of corrosion resistance than the first end surface.

Abstract: An optical print head, including: a light emitting substrate which includes a light emitting element on a base; a rod lens array which focuses light emitted from the light emitting element onto an image carrier, the rod lens array having a larger linear expansion coefficient than the base of the light emitting substrate; and expansion suppressing members which are attached to both lateral surfaces of the rod lens array in a direction that is perpendicular to an optical axis direction and is a shorter direction, each of the expansion suppressing members having a smaller linear expansion coefficient than the rod lens array.

Abstract: A light-emitting chip includes plural light-emitting thyristors having a first anode terminal, a first cathode terminal, and a first gate terminal, plural setting thyristors having a second anode terminal, a second cathode terminal, and a second gate terminal and setting the absolute value of a threshold voltage of each light-emitting thyristor to be smaller than that in an OFF state, plural transmission thyristors having a third anode terminal, a third cathode terminal, and a third gate terminal and setting the absolute value of a threshold voltage of each setting thyristor to be smaller than that in an OFF state, plural first connecting resistors connecting the first gate terminals and the second gate terminals, plural second connecting resistors connecting the second gate terminals and the third gate terminals, and plural third connecting resistors connecting the first gate terminals to a power supply line supplied with a source potential.

Abstract: An optical scanning apparatus for optically scanning at least one scanning target surface, the optical scanning apparatus including: a light source; a light-flux dividing unit disposed on a main optical path of a main light flux emitted from the light source, and the light-flux dividing unit configured to spatially divide the main light flux; an optical deflector disposed on a divided optical path of the divided light flux, and the optical deflector configured to deflect the divided optical path; an optical path opening/closing switch unit disposed on the divided optical path between the light-flux dividing unit and the optical deflector, and the optical path opening/closing switch unit configured to interrupt or pass at least one of the divided optical path; and a controller configured to control operation of interrupting or passing the at least one of the divided optical path by the optical path opening/closing switch unit.

Abstract: An optical scanning device includes a light source, a scanning portion that includes plural reflection surfaces, makes light beams incident to the reflection surface such that optical axis directions of the light beams emitted from the light emitting parts are tilted with respect to a direction perpendicular to the reflection surface, and scans the light beams in the main scanning direction through rotation, an optical system that includes an optical member made of a resin, is disposed between the scanning portion and the surface to be scanned, and makes the plural light beams incident to the surface to be scanned such that optical axes of the plural light beams are parallel to each other, and a correction portion that is provided in the optical system, and corrects positional deviation of scanning lines of the light beams in the sub-scanning direction on the surface to be scanned.

Abstract: A light source drive circuit for driving a light source is disclosed including a drive current generating unit generating a drive current, the drive current including a predetermined current for obtaining a predetermined light amount from the light source, a first auxiliary current input to the light source prior to input of the predetermined current, and a second auxiliary current added to the predetermined current in synchronization thereto; and a signal generating unit generating a first signal and a second signal, the first signal causing the first auxiliary current to be input for a first period and the second signal causing the second auxiliary current to be applied to the predetermined current for a second period. The first period is shorter than a period from a rise of the predetermined current to when a light amount from the light source reaches the predetermined light amount with the predetermined current.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a plurality of photosensitive media, a light source unit which comprises a plurality of light sources, a polygon mirror which deflects a plurality of beams output from the plurality of light sources into the plurality of photosensitive media using a plurality of reflective surfaces, a beam detector which receives beams reflected from the polygon mirror during a rotating process of the polygon mirror, and outputs a beam detection signal, and a horizontal sync signal generator which receives the beam detection signal and counts beam reflecting times during which the beams are reflected from the plurality of reflective surfaces, and compares the plurality of counted beam reflecting times with the compensation values calculated for the reflective surfaces, respectively, generates a horizontal sync signal for a corresponding reflective surface, and provides the horizontal sync signal to the light source unit.

Abstract: A light source drive circuit which drives a light source is disclosed, including a drive current generating unit which generates a drive current, the driving current including a predetermined current for obtaining a predetermined light amount from the light source; and first and second overshoot currents which are applied to the predetermined current in synchronization thereto; and a control unit which sets, to the drive current generating unit, a value of the first overshoot current to a fixed value, and a value of the second overshoot current in accordance with a light amount output from the light source.

Abstract: A light scanning unit and an electro-photographic image forming apparatus employing the same are provided.

Abstract: An optical writing device forms an electrostatic latent image on a photosensitive element by a connected light source controlled by a light source control circuit that includes: a pixel data output unit; a pixel data correcting unit that corrects a skew between main scanning line of electrostatic latent image and photosensitive element and a local deviation of the electrostatic latent image on the main scanning line, and outputs pixel data; a pattern generating unit that outputs pixel data for forming a predetermined pattern in an electrostatic latent image; a first light source control unit for causing a first light source, that needs correction of the local deviation, to emit light; a second light source control unit for causing a second light source, that does not need correction of the local deviation, to emit light; and a switch that switches between a first transmission status and a second transmission status.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus for performing laser exposure is provided. The image forming apparatus includes a driving circuit for supplying drive current to a laser light source in accordance with an image pulse signal; a pulse width expansion portion for expanding a pulse width of the image pulse signal supplied to the driving circuit; and an adjustment control portion for setting, based on state data indicating a state related to light emission start characteristics of the laser light source, a value of the bias current supplied as a part of the drive current to the laser light source and an amount of expansion of the pulse width in such a manner that laser light emission occurs in a period of time having a length equal to a length of a pulse width of each pulse in the image pulse signal.

Abstract: In the present invention, a detection timing of a density correction pattern is determined by correcting a timing that is determined in advance as a detection timing of the density correction pattern, based on a ratio between a conveying speed of a recording medium to which a developed image is transferred and a conveying speed of a conveying belt for conveying the image and based on a detection result of the positional deviation correction pattern.

Abstract: An optical scanning apparatus scanning a light in a specific direction comprises a light source configured to irradiate a light; a diaphragm plate configured to comprise an opening section through which the light from the light source passes; and a holder configured to hold the diaphragm plate. The holder holds the diaphragm plate in a state of curving the diaphragm plate. The diaphragm plate in a curved state elastically deforms and comes into close contact with the holder through elastic deformation force.