Abstract: Optical delay line system that includes a retro-reflection mirror which is displaced along a circular path while being maintained in angular alignment with launch and return sources of light subject the components of the system to minimum levels of unbalanced linear acceleration. A retroreflector is pivotally mounted on a rotating element such that the optical axis of the retroreflector's motion is mobile such that its angle or position changes relative to a fixed observer. There is no linear stopping and starting of the retroreflector and all acceleration of the retroreflector is rotational acceleration with small angles so the required forces in the optical delay line are greatly reduced. Both large displacement and high repetition rates are achieved. The system can be configured so that optical fibers serve as launch and return optics. Alternatively, free space beam paths deliver light to the optical delay and return the reflected light from the retroreflector.

Abstract: An optical scanning device including a light beam emission unit configured to emit a light beam, a main scanning line deflection unit configured to deflect the light beam in a main scanning direction to emit a scanning beam, a scanning lens configured to focus the scanning beam in the main scanning direction and a sub-scanning direction, a reflective optical element configured to deflect the scanning beam, a tilt adjustment unit configured to change a position of the reflective optical element to adjust a tilt of a scanning line of the scanning beam irradiating a target to be irradiated, and a curve adjustment unit configured to bend the reflective optical element to adjust a curve in the scanning line of the scanning beam irradiating the target to be irradiated.

Abstract: A projector includes a projecting module for projecting a projecting image on a screen panel, an image sensor for capturing an image of an object which is located outside of the projecting module and faces toward the lens module, a light director, and a controlling unit. The projecting module has a lens module and a light source for emitting light transmitting through the lens module. The light director is movable between a first position where the light director is located outside of a light path associated with the lens module, and a second position where the light director is configured for directing light of the object through the lens module to be incident on the image sensor. The controlling unit controls the light director to move between the first and second positions.

Abstract: An optical scanning device includes: a light source; an optical deflecting unit that deflects a light beam emitted from the light source to scan on a scanning surface in main-scanning direction; and a scanning optical system that includes a first scanning lens and a second scanning lens that converge the light beam that is deflected onto the scanning surface. Distance between an exit surface of the first scanning lens and an incident surface of the second scanning lens is shorter than distance between a deflection facet of the optical deflecting unit and an incident surface of the first scanning lens, an exit surface of the second scanning lens is nearer to the deflection facet than a midpoint between the deflection facet and the scanning surface, and an image-surface-side principal point of the scanning optical system in sub-scanning direction is nearer to the scanning surface than the midpoint.

Abstract: An optical scanner includes a frame, a light source, an optical member, and a spacer. The light source emits a light beam. The optical member is mounted on the frame to guide the light beam to a scanning target. The spacer maintains the optical member at a predetermined position with respect to the frame. The spacer is formed of a photocurable resin that is cured in response to a predetermined light having a wavelength within a prescribed range.

Abstract: A swing member device comprises a swingable part supported by a supporting part to be swingable around a torsional axis on a supporting base in at least one intrinsic oscillation mode: the swing member device having a temperature-raising unit for raising the temperature of ambient atmosphere in the region of swing motion of the swingable part, the temperature-raising unit raising the temperature of the ambient atmosphere to enable decrease of an influence of an unsteady dragging force caused by the ambient atmosphere.

Abstract: In an optical scanning apparatus, an aperture is provided between a semiconductor laser in a light source unit and an oscillating mirror, and between a cylindrical lens and the oscillating mirror. When a light beam from the semiconductor laser comes into an reflection surface of the oscillating mirror, the optical scanning apparatus is configured to limit a beam width of the light beam to a width appropriate to the reflection surface, and then to ensure an irradiation position of the light beam in a main-scanning direction to come into the reflection surface of the oscillating mirror, by causing the light beam to pass through an opening of the aperture.

Abstract: An electron beam apparatus such as a sheet beam based testing apparatus has an electron-optical system for irradiating an object under testing with a primary electron beam from an electron beam source, and projecting an image of a secondary electron beam emitted by the irradiation of the primary electron beam, and a detector for detecting the secondary electron beam image projected by the electron-optical system; specifically, the electron beam apparatus comprises beam generating means 2004 for irradiating an electron beam having a particular width, a primary electron-optical system 2001 for leading the beam to reach the surface of a substrate 2006 under testing, a secondary electron-optical system 2002 for trapping secondary electrons generated from the substrate 2006 and introducing them into an image processing system 2015, a stage 2003 for transportably holding the substrate 2006 with a continuous degree of freedom equal to at least one, a testing chamber for the substrate 2006, a substrate transport mech

Abstract: A method and apparatus is provided for scanning an object, featuring scanning an incident beam in a substantially curved scan pattern; and moving an object at a predetermined rate along an axis substantially orthogonal to a plane of the curved scan pattern so that a two dimensional image can be formed by successive passes of a circularly scanned spot. In particular, a laser beam scans around an objective lens at a fixed radius RL with a fixed input angle ?d. When scanned in this manner, the laser beam before the objective lens forms a “cone” of directions (so herein it is referred to as a “conical scan”). Scanning in this fashion produces the curved scan pattern at the object (substrate). By moving the object (substrate) at the predetermined rate along the axis orthogonal to the plane of the curved scan pattern, the two dimensional image can be formed by successive passes of the circularly scanned spot.

Abstract: In a bi-directionally scanning electrophotographic (EP) device, methods and apparatus include storing alignment information. In one aspect, pre-characterization parameters of the EP device are stored in memory, such as NVRAM, resistant to the removal of power. In another, actual parameters of the EP device are learned during calibration and stored in the same memory. A controller has local or remote access to the memory and makes comparisons of the pre-characterized and learned parameters to implement corrections. Especially, scan alignment corrections are implemented to alter future scanning of scan lines of latent images on a photoconductor whereby the scan lines are formed in alternating directions. Certain contemplated parameters include, but are not limited to, a scan detect to print distance from a sensor to the start of imaging, temperature, pressure, a scanning mechanism drive signal parameter, such as pulse width, or sensor delay information.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus include improving print quality of a bi-directionally scanning electrophotographic (EP) device, such as a laser printer or copy machine, according to temperature. A moving galvanometer or oscillator reflects a laser beam to create forward and reverse scan lines of a latent image. During use, the actual ambient temperature is obtained and used make corrections to improve print quality, such as by producing the latent image with a signal altered from an image data input signal to help ensure proper alignment of the forward and reverse scan lines.

Abstract: A method and apparatus to permit digital capture of images from both transmissive and reflective media. A laser or other source of excitation radiation is coupled to a mounting surface to be in optical communication with a reading window when installed on a scanner. A rear casing is coupled to the monitoring surface to engage a housing of a scanner, the housing defining the reading window.

Abstract: An optical device includes: a movable plate disposed in an area over which externally incident light is spread, the movable plate having a light reflecting surface that reflects the light; and an axis member that swingably supports the movable plate around a predetermined axis, wherein each portion in the light spread area but other than the movable plate is formed of a surface having a normal vector along which the light is reflected and directed outside a predetermined area.

Abstract: A disclosed optical scanner apparatus can include a member having spaced apart proximal and distal portions. An optical scanning device can be configured to direct optical radiation, which is moveably coupled to the proximal portion of the member and can be configured to rotate in a plane of movement to a first position to direct the optical radiation along a first path and can be configured to rotate in the plane of movement to a second position to direct the optical radiation along a second path. A MicroElectroMechanical Systems (MEMS) actuator can be coupled to the optical scanning device, where the MEMS actuator can be configured to move in a first direction to move the optical scanning device to the first position and can be configured to move in a second direction to move the optical scanning device to the second position.

Abstract: A disclosed optical scanner includes a light source, a deflector that deflects a light beam emitted by the light source, a scanning imaging element that images and scans the deflected light beam as a light spot on an imaging surface, and an optical box that contains at least the deflector and the scanning imaging element and that is substantially sealed from outside. The deflector is substantially sealed so as to be substantially insulated from the scanning imaging element in the optical box. Among outer walls of the optical box insulating a space inside the optical box from the outside, at least an outer wall positioned above the deflector includes an upside-down U-shaped cross-sectional shape portion.

Abstract: This invention relates to a method of optical correction of field position distortions created by galvano motor scanning heads.

Abstract: In a method for driving a micro mirror such as MEMS mirror and a display apparatus using the method, there are provided a mirror driving unit for driving the micro mirror which operates in a resonant mode and a nonresonant mode, a driving-condition setting unit for setting a mirror driving condition, a switching unit for switching on/off a mirror driving signal in the nonresonant mode, and a look-up table for indicating the relationship of a mirror response with respect to the driving condition already known in advance. The switching unit controls the transmission of the nonresonant-mode mirror driving signal while grasping the mirror response state with respect to the mirror driving signal, thereby finely increasing and decreasing a driving torque for the micro mirror. This fine increase and decrease allows the micro mirror to be fluctuated stably, and a further enhancement in the fluctuation rate.

Abstract: A fast variable angle of incidence illumination configuration for a machine vision inspection system, including: a light source that directs a beam along a first optical path portion; a beam steering arrangement that receives the beam and steers it along a second optical path portion; and a beam deflecting arrangement including a plurality of surface portions arranged at respective angles of incidence to receive the beam and deflect it along a third optical path portion to a field of view. The beam steering arrangement includes different surfaces that provide either narrow or wide divergence of the beam toward the deflecting arrangement. The illumination configuration allows for fast adjustment of not only the illumination angle of incidence but also the range of angles (narrow or wide) about the nominal angle. The illumination configuration is particularly suitable for use with light provided by a high-intensity remote light source.

Abstract: An actuator is disclosed that has a contacting part smaller than a processing limit of a lithography technique, and is able to reduce a contacting area or a contacting length of the contacting part during operation, reduce a sticking force induced by contact, and decrease a driving voltage of the actuator. The actuator includes an operating part and a contacting part in contact with the operating part. The contacting part is formed by overlapping a first pattern on an end of a second pattern. The first pattern has a solid structure and the size of an upper portion of the solid structure of the first pattern on the second pattern is less than a processing resolving power or resolution.

Abstract: In an optical beam scanning apparatus and an image forming apparatus equipped with the optical beam scanning apparatus of the present invention, plural optical members that irradiate scanning lines by laser beams (beams) emitted from plural light sources individually onto corresponding photoconductive drums are disposed within an optical unit housing and a housing cover, a fixing mechanism configured to fix part of a parallel plate provided within the optical unit housing and the housing cover is provided, and a twist angle adjusting mechanism configured to adjust an angle of twist of the parallel plate by rotating, in a specific direction, the parallel plate having the part thereof being fixed with the fixing mechanism is provided. According to the optical beam scanning apparatus and the image forming apparatus equipped with the optical beam scanning apparatus of the present invention, it is possible to adjust the curve and the inclination of the scanning line with ease and at high accuracy.

Abstract: A light refracting element formed in parallel plate shape is attached to a support shaft of a mirror holder, a semiconductor laser and a PSD are disposed at positions between which the light refracting element is sandwiched. The light refracting element is rotated by rotation of the mirror holder, and whereby a laser beam irradiation position is changed on a light acceptance surface of PSD. The laser beam irradiation position on a light acceptance surface corresponds to the mirror rotation position, so that the mirror rotation position and a laser beam scanning position in a target area can be detected based on an output from the PSD.

Abstract: A light source apparatus includes a circuit board on which a light source unit including a vertical-cavity surface-emitting light source and a package that houses the vertical-cavity surface-emitting light source is mounted, an optical element holder that holds a plurality of optical elements including at least a coupling lens, and an intermediate holder that is arranged between the circuit board and the optical element holder. The intermediate holder is joined to the circuit board to cover an area of the circuit board on which the light source unit is mounted to thereby make contact with the package such that the vertical-cavity surface-emitting light source is positioned and fixed and joined to the optical element holder to thereby position the optical elements to the vertical-cavity surface-emitting light source.

Abstract: A laser scanning optical system converts a plurality of beams emitted from the laser diode (LD) into parallel light using a collimator lens, shapes the parallel light using an aperture, and executes exposure of a plurality of lines simultaneously on a photoreceptor drum. To cause a necessary emitting point interval d determined uniquely from the magnification of the optical system to coincide with an emitting point interval of the LD used, the LD is rotated by an angle ? against the main optical axis plane thereof. In this case, a converting device that converts the aspect ratio of a profile of the light beam emitted from the LD is provided. A conversion characteristic of the converting device is adjusted such that the characteristic is matched with a condition within a predetermined region following a characteristic of the optical system.

Abstract: An adaptive scanning optical microscope has a scanner lens assembly for acquiring images from different parts of an object plane and for forming a preferably curved image field having at least some aberration which varies as a function of the part of the object plane from which the image is acquired. A steering mirror selects the field of view and steers light from the object and along a light path from the object plane to a final image plane. An adaptive optics element receives the steered light from the object and compensates for the field position dependent optical aberrations and additional optics are along at least part of the light path for conditioning and focusing the light as it moves from the steering mirror, past the adaptive optics element and to the final image plane.

Abstract: Data concerning misalignment of beams is measured and held in an optical scanning apparatus before the optical scanning apparatus is incorporated in an image forming apparatus. The optical scanning apparatus includes a light source for emitting multiple beams, an optical lens for converting the multiple beams to parallel lights and a rotating polygon mirror for rotary-deflecting the multiple beams. Furthermore, the measurement apparatus measures main scanning direction misalignment among the multiple beams on a photosensitive member provided for the image forming apparatus, which has been determined by detecting the multiple beams from the rotating polygon mirror (and an f? lens). The optical scanning apparatus includes a holding unit for holding the data concerning misalignment. The image forming apparatus in which the optical scanning apparatus is incorporated corrects the misalignment with the use of the data concerning misalignment inputted directly or indirectly from the holding unit.

Abstract: The present invention provides a scanner comprising: a base member; a scanning beam reflective member having a first tilt axis and a second tilt axis orthogonal to the first tilt axis; a mounting assembly for mounting the scanning beam reflective member on the base member for tilting of thereof along the first and second tilt axes; an actuator for tilting the scanning beam reflective member along the first and second tilt axes to provide a tilt orientation; a magnet assembly which generates one or more magnetic fields which are responsive and correlated to the tilt orientation; and a magnetic field sensor assembly for sensing the magnetic fields generated by the magnet assembly to thereby indicate the tilt orientation. The mounting assembly may comprise a suspension assembly having a tilt imparting assembly for imparting tilt to the reflective member, and a reflective member holder assembly for holding the reflective member.

Abstract: An optical MEMS retro-reflective apparatus with modulation capability having a retro-reflecting structure including a pair of reflective surfaces; and a MEMS device for moving at least one of the reflective surfaces of said pair of reflective surfaces relative to another one of the reflective surfaces of said pair of reflective surfaces a distance which causes the pair of reflective surfaces to switch between a reflective mode of operation and a transmissive mode of operation. A substrate and a moveable grating structure may be substituted for the reflective surfaces.

Abstract: A line-imaging lens condenses a light beam from a light-source unit in one direction to form a line image. An optical deflecting unit deflects the light beam passing through the line-imaging lens. An imaging optical unit images the light beam deflected by the optical deflecting unit in a spot shape on a scanning surface to be scanned. An adjusting unit adjusts a position of irradiation of the light beam from the light-source unit on the optical deflecting unit.

Abstract: The invention relates to a control method for producing ground markings (M), with a reference beam generator (4) for determining a reference plane, a reception of the reference beams by means of an optical detector (3), wherein the position of an application unit (2) for the marking substance can be derived relative to the reference plane by using the received reference beams, a derivation of the orientation relative to the reference plane, and a control of an application of the marking substance to produce ground markings (M) according to the orientation. According to the method, the intensity in the solid angle covered by the reference beam is varied in time during the production of the marking.

Abstract: It is an object to realize smooth switching between free scanning and high speed scanning in a light scanning apparatus and a light scanning microscope. To attain the object, a light scanning apparatus includes at least three mirror scanners disposed at predetermined positions of a light path for light scanning, and a light path switching unit switching the light path between a light path in which a highest-speed mirror scanner among the mirror scanners is valid and a light path in which the highest-speed mirror scanner is invalid. Therefore, the switching between a free scanning mode and a high speed scanning mode is performed by the driving of the light switching unit and involves no movement of galvanometer scanners. In addition, since the resonant galvanometer scanner is invalid during the free scanning mode, it is possible to make the resonant galvanometer scanner on standby.

Abstract: MEMS devices such as interferometric modulators are described having movable layers that are mechanically isolated. The movable layers are electrically attractable such that they can be selectively moved between a top and bottom electrode through application of a voltage. In interferometric modulators, the movable layers are reflective such that an optically resonant cavity is formed between the layer and a partially reflective layer, thereby providing a display pixel that can be turned on or off depending on the distance between the reflective layers in the resonant cavity.

Abstract: An optical beam scanning apparatus of the present invention includes a body housing; a light source that emits one or more light fluxes; a pre-deflection optical system; an optical beam deflecting device; a sensor that detects a portion of the light flux deflected by the optical beam deflecting device; a holder base fixed to the body housing by a screw; a rotating holder attached to the holder base and provided with a shaft; a sensor substrate fixed to the rotating holder by a screw, the sensor being fixed to the sensor substrate; a rotation adjusting mechanism that rotationally adjusts the rotating holder around the shaft with respect to the holder base; and a fixing mechanism that fixes the rotating holder to the holder base. With this configuration, it is possible to properly adjust deviation of a recording position while making precise rotational adjustment of a horizontal synchronization sensor.

Abstract: An optical scanning device includes a polygon mirror, a beam detector, a correcting unit, and a controller. The polygon mirror deflects and scans a light beam in a main scanning direction on a surface of an image carrier. The beam detector detects a beam position of the deflected light beam in a sub-scanning direction. The correcting unit calculates a correction amount of out-of-color registration based on the beam position, and corrects out-of-color registration in the sub-scanning direction based on the correction amount. The controller controls, during correction of out-of-color registration, a deflection speed of the deflector to be less than a deflection speed for writing a latent image on the surface of the image carrier.

Abstract: A deflection device includes a tabular object for transmitting or reflecting an electromagnetic wave, a drive unit for driving the tabular object so as to rotate or perform a translation motion, and an electromagnetic wave irradiation unit for irradiating the tabular object with an electromagnetic wave so that an irradiation area extending in a direction intersecting a direction of the rotation or translation motion of the tabular object is formed.

Abstract: A reflection mirror unit for a document on a platen includes first and second reflection mirrors, a base frame formed of a plate member and having a sliding portion adapted to slidably engage a guide rail located in a sub-scanning direction for the document on the platen, and a mirror support frame formed of a plate member. The mirror support frame includes a mirror mounting portion for supporting the first and second reflection mirrors opposite to each other with a predetermined angle. First and second coupling portions are formed on the base frame and the mirror support frame to couple together.

Abstract: A wide angle display system, comprising a scanner having at least one reflective surface and an axis of rotation, a dome having a reflective inner surface, the inner surface having an axis of revolution which is coincident with the axis of rotation of the scanner, at least one linear arrangement of light sources producing beams of light. The reflective surface of the scanner reflects the beams of light towards the reflective inner surface of the dome which in turn collimates the beams of light and reflects them towards an observer positioned within the wide angle display system.

Abstract: A light deflecting device is a light deflecting device for deflecting an incident light beam and has: a coarse motion light deflecting device which has an optical system having at least two conjugate points on an optical axis and deflects the light beam which has passed through one conjugate point and has entered the optical system as an output light beam which passes through the other conjugate point and has a deflection angle with respect to the optical axis while changing its transmitting direction; and a fine motion light deflecting device which is arranged in the optical system, applies a deflection to the incident light beam, and changes the deflection angle of the output light beam to a second deflection angle different from the deflection angle for a predetermined time.

Abstract: A laser scanning microscope comprises: an objective lens for observing a specimen; a focal plane scan lens placed on the opposite side of the objective lens from the specimen and which generates an intermediate image; a mirror placed near to the position of the intermediate image of the focal plane scan lens; a scan unit scanning the mirror in the optical axis direction; and a pupil projection optical system which projects the pupil of the objective lens onto the pupil of the focal plane scan lens and of which the pupil projection magnification ratio is variable.

Abstract: An optical scanner that performs scanning by deflecting plural light beams using a single deflector. The optical scanner includes plural pre-scanning optical systems configured to emit the plural light beams and each including a light source. A first of the pre-scanning optical systems emits a first of the light beams to be deflected by the deflecting unit. A second of the pre-scanning optical systems emits a second of the light beams and is disposed in the position different from a position of the first pre-scanning optical system in a rotational axis direction of the deflector.

Abstract: For spectrally filtering at least one input beam, a first reflective element is configured to tilt to multiple tilt orientations that each corresponds to a different angle of propagation of at least one input beam. One or more optical elements are configured to change at least some of the relative angles of propagation of the input beam for different tilt orientations of the first reflective element. A spectrally dispersive element is configured to receive the input beam at a location at which the central ray of the input beam is incident at different points on the spectrally dispersive element for each of the tilt orientations, and configured to disperse spectral components of the input beam at different respective angles in a spectral plane. The first reflective element is configured to tilt to select at least one and fewer than all of the dispersed spectral components to be directed to a selected output path.

Abstract: An observation field of view of a microscope can be moved without moving or changing an objective lens and without varying position or state of a sample. A microscope optical system has a mirror that changes the direction of the optical path by reflection. The mirror is located in the optical path between an objective lens of the microscope and an image to be observed. The mirror can be tilted to change the position of a reflecting surface of the mirror. Accordingly, the observation field of view is moved by tilting the mirror without changing a positional relation between the objective lens of the microscope and the sample.

Abstract: An aperture has an aperture opening that transmits a predetermined portion of a light beam. A phase optical element changes a phase of a portion of a light beam. A scanning lens focuses the light beam into a beam spot on a scanning surface. The phase optical element has a function of increasing light intensity of a side-lobe of the scanning beam near the scanning surface. The aperture opening is set to satisfy 0.03?(SR?SA)/SR?0.20, where SR and SA are areas of a rectangle circumscribing the aperture opening and the aperture opening, respectively. The function of the phase optical element and the aperture expand a depth allowance of the beam spot.

Abstract: An optical scanning device includes a laser light source that emits a laser beam; a light deflector that deflects the laser beam; a scan-imaging optical system that focuses the laser beam deflected from the light deflector on a scanning surface to optically scan the scanning surface; a diffractive optical element receives the laser beam and diffracts a portion of the laser beam as a diffracted light; and a detecting unit that detects the diffracted light. The laser light source is a surface-emitting laser light source. Moreover, the diffractive optical element is made of plastic material having a linear expansion coefficient within a temperature variation range of the optical scanning device nearly equal to a rate of wavelength change of an emission wavelength of the laser light source within the temperature variation range.

Abstract: The present invention provides an image display apparatus including a spatial light modulating element formed with a plurality of light modulating elements for each modulating light from a light source and arranged in a row or a plurality of rows, a projection optical system for forming a first image on a basis of the light modulated by the spatial light modulating element, light deflecting means for forming a second image by reflecting the first image formed by the projection optical system so as to scan the first image in a direction orthogonal to a longitudinal direction of the first image, which is a longer direction of the first image, a magnifying and projecting system for magnifying the second image and projecting the second image on a screen, and detecting means for detecting intensity of the light modulated by the spatial light modulating element and reflected by the light deflecting means via the projection optical system, the detecting means being disposed at a position that the light reflected fro

Abstract: A light scanning device which exposes a photoconductor of an image forming apparatus, includes: a light emitting unit which emits a light; a mirror which reflects a light emitted by the light emitting unit in a direction toward the photoconductor; an obtaining unit which obtains data on a speed of an image formation; and a mirror support unit which has at least one contact member provided so that it can be brought into contact with or be detached from the mirror, and which changes at least one of a position and a number of contact members contacting the mirror on the basis of data obtained by the obtaining unit.

Abstract: An optical beam scanning device of the present invention has a light source, a deflection reflecting surface for deflecting to scan light from the light source on a recording medium, and a diaphragm device which is provided between the light source and the deflection reflecting surface, and the diaphragm has an opening section formed by a nonplanar light shielding section. The light shielding section makes light shielding quantity of the light from the light source in a vertical scanning direction different in positions in a horizontal scanning direction and in a light advancing direction.

Abstract: A solar module patterning apparatus comprises a laser oscillator, a homogenizer and a scanner. The laser oscillator generates a laser beam having a predetermined wavelength. The homogenizer homogenizes an intensity distribution of the generated laser beam provided from the laser oscillator. The scanner scans the laser beam to a solar module. The laser beam is output from the homogenizer and passed through a mask with a predetermined pattern.

Abstract: A displaying optical system is disclosed, which is capable of reducing a speckle noise. The displaying optical system comprises a light source emitting coherent light, a scanning device scanning the light, a first optical system causing the light from the scanning device to form an intermediate image, a second optical system causing the light from the intermediate image to form an image on a real display surface, and an optical element arranged between the first and second optical systems. The optical element widens the divergence angle of the light emerged from the optical element toward the second optical system more than the incident angle of the light on the optical element from the first optical system.

Abstract: A scan unit according to the present invention is a scan unit including: a reflecting portion for reflecting laser light; and an enclosure portion having a movable object enclosed within a hollow, characterized in that the movable object moves in accordance with an angular velocity of the scan unit, thereby changing a reflecting state of the reflecting portion with respect to the laser light. In one embodiment, the movable object moves in accordance with the angular velocity of the scan unit to cover at least a part of the reflecting portion. In one embodiment, the movable object moves in accordance with the angular velocity of the scan unit to deform the reflecting portion.

Abstract: A coupling lens collimates an optical beam emitted from a laser light source. An aperture shields a peripheral light flux area of the collimated optical beam. A phase adjusting element partially changes a phase of wavefront of the optical beam. An auxiliary aperture is formed on an outer side of a normalized aperture size in at least one of a main scanning direction and a sub-scanning direction. The phase adjusting element is formed in a parallel plate, and changes at least a phase of wavefront of a peripheral portion of the optical beam to compensate decreases of the beam spot size and the depth allowance caused by the auxiliary aperture.