Abstract: A cascade scanning optical system which includes a first laser scanning optical system for emitting a first laser beam to scan a surface of a member to generate a first scanning line, and a second laser scanning optical system for emitting a second laser beam to scan the surface to generate a second scanning line, wherein the first and second laser scanning optical systems are arranged so as to combine the first scanning line with the second scanning line at a point of contact therebetween in a main scanning direction to form a single scanning line, and wherein each of the first and second laser scanning optical systems is designed as a non-telecentric system through which the incident angle of a corresponding one of the first and second laser beams relative to the surface varies in accordance with a variation in the position of a scanning spot of the corresponding one of the first and second laser beams on the surface in the main scanning direction, and further wherein an incident angle of each of the first

Abstract: An optical scanning apparatus can record image information in a plurality of resolutions by changing the pitch (scanning interval) of light beams in a direction orthogonal to the scanning direction. In the apparatus, a plurality of light beams emitted from a light-source unit having a plurality of light-emitting portions are guided to a deflector via an optical system, and are deflected and reflected by the deflector. The light beams are then guided to a surface to be scanned via an imaging unit, so that the surface is simutaneously scanned by the plurality of light beams. At that time, an angle .theta. between a first line connecting imaged positions of the plurality of light beams on the surface and a second line obtained by the scanning line of the light beams in the scanning direction on the surface, can be changed by an angle adjusting unit.

Abstract: An electrophotographic apparatus having an image carrying and an optical scanning unit, wherein an optical scanning unit support means is provided, the optical scanning unit support means serving to turn the optical scanning unit in a horizontal direction, so that an error in positioning the image carrying body with respect to the optical scanning unit can be corrected by the turning operation.

Abstract: A laser printer produces a raster image of plural scan lines of image pixels, each raster scan line separated from an adjacent raster scan line by a pitch distance p. The printer includes a movable photoreceptor and n laser sources, where n.ltoreq.2. The laser sources produce n optical beams, separated by a distance of (n+1)p in a direction of movement of the photoreceptor. A scanner scans the n optical beams in parallel paths across the photoreceptor as they are modulated in accordance with pixel data provided from an image buffer. Control circuitry modulates the n optical beams, respectively, with pixel values from one set of n raster scan lines. The n raster scan lines of the set are separated from each other by a distance of (n+1)p. At the completion of each scan, the photoreceptor is moved by a distance (n.times.p). The n optical beams are again modulated with pixel values from another set of n raster scan lines that are respectively, (n+1)p distant from the n raster scan lines of the first set.

Abstract: A system for performing interlace scanning with plural light beams. The system includes a data source for supplying sequential lines of image data and a memory device for sequentially storing a plurality of the lines of image data, where the memory device has an input port for receiving the lines of image data from the data source. The memory device also has plural output ports where each of the plural output ports corresponds with one of the plural light beams. The system further includes addressing circuitry for addressing the memory device, where the addressing circuitry provides plural sets of slowscan output address signals corresponding to the plural output ports for providing an address value. The address value of each of the slowscan output address signals are offset from other of the address values by an offset amount provided by the addressing circuitry to enable interlacing of the plural light beams.

Abstract: A multi-beam generating element generates an even number of multiple beams having a uniform light intensity. The multi-beam generating element has a grating constructed by repeatedly arranging basic phase patterns, wherein the basic patterns are composed of at least two kinds of rectangular patterns having non-uniform widths and different phase heights. The basic phase patterns are fabricated by superposing rectangular patterns having non-uniform widths and single phase heights to form a multi-layer arrangement. In an optical printing apparatus having the grating, the multiple beams coming out of a multi-beam generating element are applied to a multi-channel acousto-optical element, a Dove prism rotating the angle of the aligned direction of the multiple beams having light intensities which have been modulated, and then the beams are scanned with a rotating polygonal mirror.

Abstract: A plurality of image arrays are sandwiched between a first and a second substrates. The common electrodes of the image arrays are connected to the first substrate; the individual electrodes of the image arrays are connected to the second substrate by flip chip connection. The image arrays are installed in holes of a spacer made by etching a metal plate. Plural lenses are installed in a lens plate made by etching a metal plate; the lens plate is secured to support members for positioning the lenses with respect to the image arrays. The image arrays include a plurality of light elements which may be either light emitter or light receiver elements.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus and method use interlace scanning of plural light beams by deflecting the plural beams with a rotating polygon onto a recording medium. Corrections are made to the scan envelope to compensate for errors due to perceived imperfections in the spot profile or aberrations in the optical and mechanical systems used to scan the spot. The corrections are performed by adjusting intensity of gaussian components of the envelope according to a look up table.

Abstract: The present invention is a method and apparatus for improving the depth of focus in a raster output scanner (ROS), and more particularly to a system for maximizing the line separation depth of focus of a multispot ROS while maintaining the system common depth of focus. In a preferred design for a ROS-based system, the system common depth of focus (system common DOF) is maximized, where the system common DOF is characterized as the depth-of-focus over which all performance parameters are met. More specifically, the performance parameters are intended to include the following five factors: (1) scan and cross-scan spot size; (2) wobble; (3) differential bow; (4) line separation; and (5) scan linearity. Maximizing the system common DOF means to maximize the depth-of-focus while at all times meeting or exceeding the performance requirements for the five listed parameters. The optical system design achieves a desirable system common DOF while maintaining a line separation of 127 .mu.m (1/200 inch).

Abstract: An exposure device in which a row of LED's is provided in the form of parallelograms having unequal sides, in which each of the corner points of one short side of a light-emitting surface is always in line, as considered in a direction perpendicular to the row, with one of the corner points of the other short side of an adjacent light-emitting element.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is a light source unit for emitting multiple beams, which can be reduced in size. The light source unit (10) is formed by a base block (5) and ten stays (3). Ten locating pins (6) are provided on each side of the base block (5) at a second space (d) in a direction Y' and a third space (l) in a direction X'. Eight holes (7) are provided in each stay (3) at a first space (D), while holes (8) for locating pins (6) are provided on both ends thereof. A semiconductor laser is arranged in each hole (7). Each of the locating pins (6) is inserted into one individual one of the pin holes (8) and the ten stays (3) are then fixed to the base block (5) by through bolts (17). Thus, eight times ten semiconductor lasers are arranged on a two-dimensional plane of X'-Y' coordinates.

Abstract: A multi-beam scan optical system for writing image information. The system includes a laser array having a plurality of laser diodes, a collimate lens for collimating a plurality of laser beams output from the laser diodes, and an optical member for focusing the collimated laser beams. An aperture is disposed at a position where optical axes of the plurality of laser beams cross an optical axis of the optical member. The system includes a relationship between a distance r.sub.1 of separation of the laser diodes, a divergence angle .theta., of each of the laser beams, a wavelength .lambda. of each of the laser beams, and an interlace scanning period i, wherein these values satisfy the relation: ##EQU1## where K is a number in a range from 1.0 to 1.8. The value .alpha. depends on the diameter of the aperture as viewed in a subsidiary scan direction and satisfies the relation:d.sub.2 =(4.alpha./.pi.)(.lambda.f.sub.2 /D)where .pi. is a circular constant, f.sub.

Abstract: A raster output scanner is disclosed which utilizes a spot separation error correction system prior to its rotating polygon mirror. The spot separation error correction system of this invention is a zoom system which comprises two axially adjustable lenses. By moving the two lenses in a pre-determined relationship with each other, the magnification on the rotating polygon can be modified and as a result the spot separation on the photoreceptor can be substantially corrected.

Abstract: This invention modifies printing information from a laser scanner to improve the appearance of printed matter. This improvement takes into account the image data of a target pixel to be printed and the image data of adjacent pixels located before and after the target pixel, the pulse position of the target pixel. An operator can select whether to shift the radiation timing of a laser beam to the left or the right within one pixel, and whether to squeeze the laser beam to reduce its beam size or broaden it to increase its beam size.

Abstract: An image recording apparatus for recording an image by application of light beam to a photosensitive member includes a photosensitive member; a light source for emitting first and second beams, one of the first and second beams bearing image information; and a scanner for scanning the photosensitive member with the first and second beams with a time interval so that they are overlapped on the photosensitive material.