Abstract: A scanning system uses a multi-beam brush having a widely separated beams, a modulator that controls intensity of pixels in scan beams, an optical system that minimizes scan line bow at the expense of non-uniform scanning beam velocity, and a timing generator that generates a pixel clock signal having a variable period that compensates for the non-uniformity of pixel velocity. The wide separation of scan beams permits the modulator to turn beams on or off with a direction of brightening or darkening in the cross-section of the beams being opposite to the scanning direction. A novel arrangement of the beams in the brush permits a uniform indexing step size to uniformly expose an image region.

Abstract: A multibeam scanning optical system includes a light source unit having a light source and a plurality of beam converting elements having a first optical system for converting a beam emitted from the light source into a divergent beam or a convergent beam, beam combining element for combining a plurality of divergent beams or convergent beams emerging from the light source unit, and causing them to emerge substantially in the same direction, a second optical system for causing the plurality of divergent beams or convergent beams combined by the beam combining element to be imaged as a linear image long in the main scanning direction, deflector having a deflecting surface at or near the imaging position of the second optical system, and for reflecting and deflecting the plurality of incident divergent beams or convergent beams in the main scanning direction, and a third optical system for causing the plurality of divergent beams or convergent beams reflected and deflected by the deflector to be imaged on a sur

Abstract: A scanning optical apparatus includes incident optical system for causing at least one light beam emitted from a light source to be incident on a deflection device and image formation optical system including at least one refractive optical element and at least one diffraction optical element for imaging said at least one light beam reflected and deflected by the deflection device on a surface to be scanned. The diffraction optical element has at least one of an incident surface having a convex shape in a sub-scanning cross-section facing the deflection device and an exit surface having a convex shape in the sub-scanning cross-section facing the surface to be scanned.

Abstract: An optical printer device which includes an exposure device which makes relative movements, in a predetermined direction, with respect to a photosensitive body. The optical printer also has a plurality of first, second and third light-emitting elements which emit lights of a first, second and third colors. These light-emitting elements are mounted on a first, second and third mounting substrates, independent of one another, which correspond to the first, second and third colors.

Abstract: This invention relates to a focal position adjusting apparatus having a lens which converges an electromagnetic wave to a focal position; first electrodes fixed to the lens; second electrodes being opposed arranged so as to be spaced apart from each of the electrodes in the optical axis direction of the lens; a power supply which supplies variable voltage which applies voltage to the first electrodes and the second electrodes and a biasing unit which biases the lens in a direction using an attractive force caused by static electricity between each of the first and second electrodes and the opposed electrodes caused by the application of a voltage.

Abstract: An optical printer records a color image by exposing color instant photo film extending two-dimensionally in a main scan direction and a sub scan direction. The optical printer includes a printing head, which includes a white color light-emitting element and a color separation filter unit. The color separation filter unit is disposed in a light path of white-color light from the light-emitting element, for color separation of the white-color light. The color separation filter unit has a tubular shape, has a central axis extending substantially parallel with the main scan direction, and is rotatable about the central axis. The white-color light travels through an entrance position along the light path into the color separation filter unit, out of which the light travels through an exit position along the light path.

Abstract: A reflection case is attached to respective LEDs of an exposure head. An inner wall of the reflection case is formed with a first low-reflection area (reflectance is 0.1), a high-reflection area (reflectance is 0.9), and a second low-reflection area (reflectance is 0.1). These reflection areas are formed in an optical-axis direction from a side of the LED. The reflection case is disposed such that a middle point between the LED and a photosensitive surface of an instant film is positioned within the high-reflection area. The light emitted from the LED is reflected on the inner wall of the reflection case to be applied to the photosensitive surface of the instant film without dispersion. Owing to this, the effective exposure head may be produced.

Abstract: A sub-scanning interval adjusting apparatus for a multi-beam scanning unit adjusts an interval between at least two laser lines that are formed on a photoreceptor drum without causing starting points of image formation to vary. In the multi-beam scanning unit simultaneously emitting at least two laser beams by using at least two laser sources, the sub-scanning interval adjusting apparatus includes a transparent member varying in thickness depending on its height, in a direction where the laser beams pass through, the transparent member having an inclined lower side with respect to a scanning direction of the laser beams, and a movable member having an inclined side corresponding to the inclined lower side of the transparent member, thereby adjusting an interval between the laser beams by moving the movable member in the scanning direction and thus varying the height of the transparent member with respect to the laser sources.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a method and apparatus for exposing photosensitive material to form high quality continuous tone and/or color images thereon. The preferred apparatus includes an imaging head comprised of a plurality of red light sources, a plurality of green light sources, and a plurality of blue light sources. The light produced by said green light sources is passed through a first filter having a narrow spectral transmission characteristic in the green spectral range. Similarly, the light produced by said blue light sources is passed through a second filter having a narrow spectral transmission characteristic in the blue spectral range.

Abstract: A light-scanning optical system having a function of correcting surface tilt comprises a light source 11; a first optical means 1; a light-deflecting means 14 for reflecting and deflecting a luminous flux by its deflecting/reflecting surface 15 so as to scan a surface to be scanned 18; a first lens 16 having a positive refracting power in each of the main scanning and sub-scanning directions, in which each of both sides is made of a toric surface; and a second lens 17 having a small negative refracting power, in which each of both sides is made of an aspheric surface. A semiconductor laser having a wavelength of 500 nm or shorter is used as the light source. The first and second lenses 16, 17 may be made of plastic. Thus, in a simple configuration, the light-scanning optical system can reduce its size and cost, while being able to respond to higher image density.

Abstract: A compound optical unit includes a housing mounted on an optical pickup apparatus, the housing has a semiconductor laser device, a light receiving device, and a compound optical device, fixed to the housing. The semiconductor laser device includes a laser diode for emitting shorter wavelength laser beams for a DVD and another laser diode for emitting longer wavelength laser beams for a CD. The compound optical device includes an incidence surface and an emission surface for receiving and emitting, respectively, the light beams emitted by the semiconductor laser device, a diffraction lattice provided on the emission surface for diffracting light beams reflected and returned from an optical disk, and a reflective surface for reflecting the light beams diffracted by the diffraction lattice toward the light receiving device. The reflective surface is provided with a correction element for focusing the light beams of different wavelengths on one light receiving position of the light receiving device.

Abstract: An image-recording device for a printing form (29), including an array of light sources (12) and a downstream microoptics (14), which generates a virtual intermediate image (18) of the light sources (12), which is distinguished by the microoptics (14) having a downstream optical system (10) of a convex mirror (26) and of a concave mirror (24) having a common center of curvature, a combination of the Offner type, which produces a real image (28) of the virtual intermediate images (18). By employing a monolithic structure (40) of the optical system (10) of a convex mirror (26) and of a concave mirror (24), a more compact, space-saving design is able to achieved. The image-recording device according to the present invention may be utilized to special advantage for a printing form (29) in a plate-exposure unit or in a print unit of a printing press.

Abstract: A device determines the positional deviation of n points (P) from their reference positions using a source of electromagnetic radiation (1), imaging optics (2, 4, 9), and a photosensitive detector (10), which converts the positional information into information on intensity. Simultaneous or concurrent in time n signals are produced by the detector (10), each of the n signals being uniquely assigned to one of the reflection points (P). The generated signals can be used to control an autofocusing device or to control the intensity of light sources in devices for imaging printing forms.

Abstract: A multi-beam exposer unit 1 has ∑ i = 1 M ⁢ ( Ni - 1 ) half mirror 11 for synthesizing ∑ i = 1 M ⁢ Ni light to M groups of light beams, M sets of optical members 12, having positive power with a large absolute value as compared with a case of a main scanning direction, for further converging the beam in a sub-scanning direction, a synthesizing reflection mirror 13 for reflecting M groups of beams to be substantially overlaid on each other in a first direction, a polygon mirror unit 5 for deflecting M groups of beams, and a dust prevention glass 14 inclined to a direction opposite to a direction where the half mirror is inclined, thereby reducing influence of coma aberration exerted on M groups of beams by the half mirror.

Abstract: A color laser printer producing a color image using a single laser scanning unit includes a lighting unit including first and second laser diodes emitting beams of one polarization, a polarization prism transmitting or reflecting incident beams depending on a direction of polarization, and third and fourth laser diodes disposed in a different direction from the first and second laser diodes with respect to the polarization prism, a rotary polygon mirror that reflects the beam emitted along the same path from the lighting unit, an f-&thgr; lens that focuses the beam reflected by the rotary polygon mirror, first and second polarization beam splitters, each of which transmits or reflects the beam passing through the f-&thgr; lens depending on the direction of the polarization, and first through fourth photoconductive units on which the beams reflected and transmitted through the first and second polarization beam splitters are incident.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for an improved multimode multi-track optical recording system are disclosed. A monolithic array of individually addressable multimode laser diode stripes is imaged onto a recording media, where the individual diode stripe images form a plurality of tracks. Introduction of astigmatism between each multimode laser diode and the recording medium causes the diode stripe images to be relatively sharply focussed on their short axes, but less focussed on their elongated axes. This blurring of the diode stripe images on their elongated axes at the surface of the recording media overcomes near-field non-uniformity in the power distribution of the multimode diode, increasing the reliability and overall performance of the recording system.

Abstract: The optical scanning device includes a deflector 22 for deflecting plural laser beams in batch, first and second f&thgr; lenses 24, 25 for converting the laser beams from the deflector 22 into uniform speed linear motion, reflection mirrors 23a to 23g for reflecting the laser beams from the first and second f&thgr; lenses 24, 25, photoreceptor drums 2a, 2b, 2c, 2d on which latent images are formed by laser beams, and third f&thgr; lenses 26a to 26d for focusing the laser beams reflected by the reflection mirrors 23a to 23g and guiding onto the photoreceptor drums 2a, 2b, 2c, 2d. The laser beam 9a reflected by the reflection mirror 23 remotest from the deflector 23 is the laser beam for forming a yellow image.

Abstract: Several optical heads are mounted on a common carriage adapted to scan a photosensitive printing plate. Each head is equipped with a laser source, a modulator and projection optics and can project a segment containing a plurality of pixels. The optical track of beams in each head is folded several times in such a way as to reduce the width of the head as well as its height. When the carriage moves from one edge of the plate to the other edge a swath of pixels is projected. Each head includes means to adjust the width, location, orientation and intensity of the segment it generates. Each head is accurately positioned on the carriage so that at least two abutting swaths are projected during each sweep of the carriage to produce a wider swath.

Abstract: A light beam scanning apparatus controls a scan position for a light beam with a first light volume so that output from a sensor is adjusted to a target value. Further, the light beam scanning apparatus controls a scan position for the light beam with a second light volume so that output from the sensor is adjusted to the target value.

Abstract: An optical recording apparatus includes a light-transmitting diffraction grating at a front focus of an imaging lens and a multi-channel acousto-optic modulator provided at a back focus of the lens. An angle formed between a plane formed by diffracted beams emerging from the lens and a revolution surface of a rotating polygonal mirror is set to be equal to an angle at which the beam diffracted by the multi-channel acousto-optic modulator emerges to be incident on the mirror. The diffracted beams are incident on the imaging lens to satisfy a predetermined condition.

Abstract: An image processing apparatus (10) for forming images on a thermal print media includes: a) a rotatable drum (300); b) a motor for rotating the drum (300); c) at least one movable printhead (500) external to the drum (300); d) thermal print media (32) removably mounted on the drum (300), the printhead (500) being positioned to move over the thermal print media (32) on the drum (300); e) an imaging assembly (400); f) at least one connection means, preferably fiber optic cables (404), for connecting the imaging assembly (400) to the printhead (500); g) at least one conduit tube (510) for conducting the connection means (404) between the imaging assembly and the printhead (500), one end of the conduit tube (510) being affixed to the printhead (500), an opposite end of the conduit tube being connected to the imaging assembly (400); and h) an air moving device, preferably a cooler (710) or blower (730, 740), connecting directly or indirectly to the conduit tube (510) at the opposite end of the conduit tube.

Abstract: An apparatus for printing images including an illumination optics (75) that provides uniform area light is disclosed. A polarizing beamsplitter (80) receives the uniform area light and redirects a first polarization state of the light to a first reflective LCD modulator (90) which modulates the first polarized light on a site by site basis and reflects the first modulator light through the polarizing beamsplitter (80). A parallel plate tilted at a first angle spatially displaces the first modulated light along a first line normal to the polarizing beamsplitter (80). A print lens assembly (110) images the first modulated light to a first position on a media plane to print a first image. The parallel plate is moved to a second position (250) and a new image is printed.

Abstract: An optical unit includes an optical element for propagating incident light toward a predetermined direction, a barrel for supporting the optical element, and an attenuating device including a plurality of grooved portions, for attenuating, through multiple reflection, at least a portion of light emitted from the optical element toward a direction different from the predetermined direction. The attenuating device includes two recesses each having a horn-like section shape, the two recesses being bent in directions away from each other.

Abstract: An apparatus for printing images including an illumination optics (75) that provides uniform area light is disclosed. A polarizing beamsplitter (80) receives the uniform area light and redirects a first polarization state of the light to a first reflective LCD modulator (90) which modulates the first polarized light on a site by site basis and reflects the first modulator light through the polarizing beamsplitter (80). A parallel plate tilted at a first angle spatially displaces the first modulated light along a first line normal to the polarizing beamsplitter (80). A print lens assembly (110) images the first modulated light to a first position on a media plane to print a first image. The parallel plate is moved to a second position (250) and a new image is printed.

Abstract: An image recording apparatus has light emitting elements arranged in a main scanning direction and an imaging optical system which images light from the light emitting elements on a recording medium. An image is recorded on the recording medium by imaging light from the light emitting elements through the imaging optical system while moving the recording medium in a sub-scanning direction. The imaging optical system is formed of a first optical system consisting of biaxial optical elements, each having a refractive index profile in the main scanning direction and a refractive index in the sub-scanning direction, arranged in the main scanning direction, and a second optical system consisting of an optical element disposed on the light incident side of the first optical system and having a refractive power to light components propagated in the sub-scanning direction but no refractive power to light components propagated in the main scanning direction.

Abstract: A printer includes an LED light source for emitting illuminating light. An LCD panel displays an image, and emits printing light upon being illuminated with the illuminating light. An exposing optical system focuses the printing light on a photosensitive surface of an instant photo film unit. A movable mirror is disposed so that a movable panel lying on its rear constitutes one portion of a printer outer surface. The movable panel is movable between first and second positions, and protrudes from the printer outer surface when set in the first position, for the movable mirror to form a printing light path from the exposing optical system to the instant photo film unit. The movable panel is flush with the printer outer surface when set in the second position, for the movable mirror to prevent forming of the printing light path.

Abstract: Apparatus and method are disclosed for controlling the spatial beam position of laser beams, e.g., in a laser exposure device, using a position detector for determining the current (actual), beam position and a control element for determining the control quantity based on the difference between the actual and the desired beam position. An actuator that moves an optical element, which in turn guides the laser beam, is provided for changing the beam position. The actuator includes a controllable heating element that is connected to a position-determining actuator element, for moving the actuator element and, thus, the optical element, through thermal expansion due to heating of the actuator element.

Abstract: An exposure unit includes a luminescent device array including a pair of electrodes and an organic compound layer disposed between the electrodes, and a microlens array arranged corresponding to the luminescent device array. The exposure unit is used in an image forming apparatus using an electrophotographic system.

Abstract: A laser beam irradiating apparatus comprising, a plurality of lasers, member for synthesizing a plurality of laser beams emitted respectively from the plurality of lasers into a single laser beam on a stage, and member for moving the synthesized laser beam on the stage while keeping a specific shape thereof. A semiconductor film can be crystallized or an impurity element doped therein can be activated by irradiating a laser beam to the semiconductor film from the laser beam irradiating apparatus arranged as above. Consequently, it is possible to provide a laser beam irradiating apparatus capable of achieving uniform annealing efficiently by employing an optical system simpler than a conventional one and using laser beams having attenuated regions. Also, it is possible to provide a method of irradiating a laser beam using the laser beam irradiating apparatus, and to provide a method of manufacturing a semiconductor device including the laser beam irradiating method in the fabrication sequence thereof.

Abstract: A printer (100) able to print in a plurality of output formats depending on width of media (160) loaded in the printer (100) is disclosed. The printer (100) provides high resolution and grayscale imaging capability for monochromatic applications. Illumination optics (11) receive a source light beam, from one or more LEDs, uniformize and polarize the beam and direct the beam through a polarization beamsplitter (50). The polarization beamsplitter (50) directs one polarization state of light to one or more LCD spatial light modulators (52), which modulate the polarization of the polarized beam to provide output exposure energy suitable for image marking on media (160). An optional sensor (234) allows printer (100) to automatically detect the width of a given type of media (160) in order to select from a set of compatible output format. Multiple segments of media (160) at the image plane (150) simultaneously.

Abstract: An optical apparatus uses an array of light-emitting elements (LEDs or ELs) and a focusing optical system. Light emitted from the light-emitting elements of the array is directed to the focusing optical system within narrowed solid angles, thereby raising overall light utilization efficiency, with the help of recesses, each shaped as an inverted conical frustum, centered at respective light-emitting elements, to collect light from the light-emitting elements and deliver it to the focusing system within narrower solid angles, as both direct light and indirect light reflected from the slanting side walls of the recesses. The side walls of the recesses can have a reflecting film to further enhance overall light utilization efficiency. Lenses can be formed integrally with the array, to further help focus the light delivered to the focusing optical system.

Abstract: An optical system for joining a first article having a composition and a second article having a composition at an interfacial surface between the first article and the second article, the optical system comprising: a radiation source for providing a radiant energy beam for joining the first article and the second article at the interfacial surface; and a first optical device for controlling a depth of focus of the radiant energy beam, the depth of focus corresponding to a depth of a joint between the first article and the second article at the interfacial surface, said first optical device controlling the depth of focus as a function of the composition of the first article and the composition of the second article.

Abstract: An optical head 1 of an image recording apparatus 10 is provided with a light-source water-cooling jacket 41 for cooling a light source 11 and a device water-cooling jacket 42 for cooling the Grating Light Valve 12 and a light-shield water-cooling jacket 43. The optical head 10 is also provided with a mirror 31 for reflecting a light form the light source 11 in a non-recording status and mirrors 32, 33 for reflecting non-signal light beams from the light valve 12, and the lights from these mirrors are directed to the light-shield water-cooling jacket 43. Further, a refrigerant from a chiller unit goes through the light-source water-cooling jacket 41, the device water-cooling jacket 42 and the light-shield water-cooling jacket 43 in this order. With this constitution, it is possible to efficiently cool all the heat sources and in the optical head.

Abstract: Provided is an optical scanning apparatus in which images are formed precisely on the target surface to be scanned with a plurality of beams and low manufacturing cost is realizes. The optical scanning apparatus comprises four light sources, each of which emits a beam, a collimator lens and a polygon mirror. Provided between the polygon mirror and the target surface, cylindrical mirrors to form images with beams on the respective target surfaces. The optical path, from the polygon mirror to the target surface, of the beams emitted from the light sources away from the optical axis of the collimator lens is shorter than the corresponding optical path of the beams emitted from the light sources close to the optical axis. Thus, even though the collimator lens has the curvature of field, all of the image spots formed with the beams are located just on the target surface.

Abstract: In a scanning optical system provided with a plurality of scanning optical devices, each scanning optical device including a light source to emit a light beam, a collimator lens into which the light beam emitted from the light source enters, a deflector to deflect the light beam passing through the collimator lens in a main scanning direction, an image forming lens to focus the light beam coming from the deflector onto a scanned surface, and a base plate on which the light source, the collimator lens, the deflector and the image forming lens are fixed, the plurality of scanning optical devices are piled up in a sub-scanning direction perpendicular to the main scanning direction in such a manner that each base plate is substantially parallel to other base plates; and the scanning optical system is further provide with a plurality of link members to connect two neighboring base plates independently of other base plates.

Abstract: A system for image-scanning a pixel-mask pattern onto a subject, such as a subject in digital photolithography, is provided. The system includes a pixel panel for generating a pixel pattern formed of pixel elements. A lens system positioned between the panel and the subject simultaneously directs the pixel elements to the subject. A mirror positioned between the panel and the subject enables the system to direct the pixel elements to a portion of the subject at any one time. A computing system may be used to generate the pixel elements and provide the pixel elements to the panel in a predetermined sequence.

Abstract: A two level image writer (10) for forming an image from digital data onto a photosensitive medium comprising an illumination system on a first level for providing incident light beams. The illumination system comprising a first source (20) for emitting a first polarized light beam having a first color; a second source (22) for emitting a second polarized light beam having a second color; and a third source (26) for emitting a third polarized light beam having a third color. A fold mirrors directs each beam to a second level and three polarizing beamsplitters (73, 75, 77) on the second level receive the polarized beams from the fold mirrors. Each polarizing beamsplitter isolates polarization states of each of the first, second, and third polarized light beam.

Abstract: An optical printer head capable of providing a distinct image free of color shade and color fading. Dot-like lights different in luminous color emitted from a plurality of fluorescent luminous tubes acting as light sources are guided to a common equi-magnification image formation element through a dichroic optical element while being kept from being aligned or coincident with each other, to thereby carry out image formation on a record medium while being arranged in predetermined positional relationship thereon. Also, optical members may be incorporated in the optical printer head, so that optical path lengths of the dot-like lights different in luminous color may be rendered substantially equal to each other.

Abstract: A multi-beam exposer unit 1 includes ∑ i = 1 M ⁢ ( Ni - 1 ) half mirror 11 for synthesizing ∑ i = 1 M ⁢ Ni light to M groups of light beams, M sets of optical members 12, having positive power with a large absolute value as compared with a case of a main scanning direction, for further converging the beam in a sub-scanning direction, a synthesizing reflection mirror 13 for reflecting M groups of beams to be substantially overlaid on each other in a first direction, a polygon mirror unit 5 for deflecting M groups of beams, and a dust prevention glass 14 inclined to a direction opposite to a direction where the half mirror is inclined, thereby reducing influence of coma aberration exerted on M groups of beams by the half mirror.

Abstract: A multibeam scanner including a light source for emitting a plurality of light beams, a deflector for deflecting the plurality of light beams emitted from the light source, and a scanning optical system for guiding the plurality of light beams deflected by the deflector to a scan surface. A first light shielding member for determining one end of the diameter of at least one of the plurality of light beams and a second light-shielding member for determining the other end of the diameter of the at least one of the plurality of light beams are disposed apart from each other in a direction in which the light beams propagate and between the light source and the deflector. The first light-shielding member and the second light-shielding member are used to limit the diameter of the at least one of the plurality of light beams.

Abstract: A multi-beam scanning optical system includes a light source, a collimating lens, a cylindrical lens, a polygon mirror, and an f&thgr; lens system. The f&thgr; lens system is made up of a first f&thgr; lens whose entrance surface and exit surface have rotational symmetries, and a second f&thgr; lens whose entrance surface has a rotational symmetry and exit surface has a rotational asymmetry. In the first f&thgr; lens, the entrance surface is a spherical surface, and the exit surface thereof is an aspherical surface. The entrance surface of the second f&thgr; lens is an aspherical surface, and the exit surface thereof is a toroidal surface with aspheric contour in a cross section taken along the main scanning direction. The second f&thgr; lens is physically shaped so as to satisfy the inequity 0.9<(Le×cos &thgr;)/Lc<1.1.

Abstract: The present invention provides an exposure device in which availability of the emitted light is high, optical crosstalk is reduced, and an image can be formed at high resolution. Concave microlenses are formed on one surface of the exposure device facing a photosensitive material, and organic EL elements are formed on the other surface. The organic EL elements are disposed at some of portions at which anode lines and cathode lines intersect each other. A diameter D of an aperture of the microlens is n times an array pitch p of each organic EL element, n lines of the cathode lines are formed, and the organic EL elements arranged on one cathode line are shifted from those on another cathode line in a main-scanning direction by the array pitch p. Accordingly, exposure spots, which are exposed by the organic EL elements incorporated in the n lines of the cathode lines, are offset without overlapping one another, and the entire photosensitive material can be exposed.

Abstract: A positional relationship of a plurality of beam spots for a multi-beam imaging apparatus is detected. The imaging apparatus including a light source, a beam splitter that divides a received beam into a plurality of beams, a deflecting system that deflects the beams to scan, and an imaging optical system that forms a plurality of scanning beam spots on a surface. According to the method, a phase filter is provided between the light source and the beam splitter. The filter is configured to divide a cross section of the beam into a plurality of areas, light fluxes passed through adjoining two areas having an optical path difference of half a wavelength. Dark lines are formed, in each beam spot, due to the phase difference of the adjoining two areas. By detecting the dark lines of respective beam spots, a positional relationship between the plurality of beam spots can be determined.

Abstract: An exposure device has a plurality of light emitting units for emitting laser beams based on image signals. These laser beams emitted from the respective light emitting units are combined through respective galvanomirrors and half mirrors and conducted through a cylindrical lens to a polygon mirror. The respective combined beams reflected on the polygon mirror are illuminated onto an exposure light position on the surface of a photosensitive drum through two f&thgr; lenses and a mirror. At this time, through the rotation of the polygon mirror, the respective laser beams are deflected in a main scanning direction and, through the rotation of the photosensitive drum, they are deflected in a sub-scanning direction to allow the surface of the photosensitive drum to be scanned with the exposure beams.

Abstract: A light-scanning optical system and light-scanning apparatus are capable of presenting an image at high speed and with high quality so as to equalize spot sizes throughout an entire surface to be scanned and nullify curving of scanning line, and an image-forming apparatus is also capable. The light-scanning optical system has a first optical system 2 for converting a beam emitted from light source 1 into a nearly parallel beam, a second optical system 4 for focusing the converted beam into a linear beam along the main scanning direction on a deflection facet of a deflecting device 5, and a third optical system 9 for focusing the beam deflected by the deflecting device, on the surface to be scanned 8.

Abstract: An optical write-in head for obtaining a clear image even in printing at a relatively high recording density without generating strip-like irregularities in most cases. The optical write-in head applies light carrying image information to a photosensitive substance. The optical write-in head includes an array light source having a plurality of dot light sources, each of which selectively emits the light corresponding to the image information, and a lens array facing the array light source. The lens array has a plurality of lens elements which corresponds to the plurality of dot light sources respectively. An angular aperture &thgr; of each of the lens elements is set in a range of about 14° to 18°.

Abstract: A light emitting device includes a lens member having a light inputting surface and a light outputting surface for converging light incident on the light inputting surface and outputting the converged light from the light outputting surface, and an organic EL device provided on the light inputting surface of the lens member.

Abstract: An illumination system for illuminating a particular surface, to be illuminated, with light from a light source, includes a first optical component having an optical power with respect to a predetermined plane, and a second optical component having an optical power with respect to the predetermined plane, wherein the particular surface is illuminated through Koehler illumination with respect to a plane orthogonal to the predetermined plane and is illuminated approximately through critical illumination with respect to the predetermined plane, wherein the first and second optical components are adapted to provide an afocal system, and wherein the condition for the afocal system is disconnected when a relative position between the first and second optical components is changed, whereby an illumination range with respect to the predetermined plane, upon the particular surface, is changed.

Abstract: A technique for marking pixels on workpieces by routing a scanned beam to different marking stations to mark individual pixels on the workpieces. A diffractive scan lens focuses the beam. A mark is formed on a workpiece by producing the mark and curing the mark. Angular position of a scanning mirror in a raster scanner is determined by moving a beam, reflected from the scanner, across rulings on an optical element during scanning. A print head for printing spots on a surface of a workpiece has a walled, internally pressurized chamber and structure for causing an inked web to conform to a contour of the chamber wall and to be pulled along the chamber wall. A print head has a compliant-walled, internally pressurized chamber. A print head has a chamber having a low-coefficient of friction coating. Two workpieces may be marked at two marking stations by two-directional scanning.

Abstract: An optical recording and data processing system for exposing an image on to a flexible, light sensitive medium, which includes a medium holder having an inner cylindrical wall portion against which is held said medium, and a light source having an approximately rectangular emitting aperture, with a short aperture axis and a long aperture axis, operative to emit a beam of light having a rectangular cross section with a long axis corresponding to the long aperture axis and a short axis corresponding to the short aperture axis. An optical modulator is aligned with the light source so as to intercept light from the beam of light and produce a spatial modulation pattern across the long axis of the beam of light. A pattern shifter for shifting the spatial modulation pattern across the length of the long axis at a constant rate is provided as is a pattern rotator for rotating the spatial modulation pattern at a rate equal to the rate of shifting of the spatial modulation pattern.