Multi-beam scanning device, multi-beam scanning method, light source device, and image forming apparatus
US6596985B2 · kind B2 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Feb 21, 2001 |
| Grant date | Jul 22, 2003 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Jan 6, 2022 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC G)Physics
- CPC primaryG02B26/123
- WIPO fieldOptics
- WIPO sectorInstruments
Abstract
In a multi-beam scanning device and method of the present invention, a semiconductor laser array having a plurality of light emitting parts emitting multiple laser beams is provided. A rotary deflector deflects the laser beams emitted by the light emitting parts of the semiconductor laser array. The deflected laser beams from the rotary deflector is focused onto a scanned surface to form a plurality of beam spots that are separated on the scanned surface in a sub-scanning direction, the scanned surface being scanned simultaneously with the plurality of beam spots in a main scanning direction by a rotation of the rotary deflector. The laser array is configured such that the light emitting parts are arrayed along a line that is at an inclination angle &phgr; to the sub-scanning direction, the inclination angle &phgr; measured in degrees and meeting the conditions 0≦&phgr;<90, and that a scanning line pitch P, an array pitch &rgr; of the light emitting parts of the laser array and a parameter K defined by the equationK=0.82&lgr;/&ohgr;z,where &lgr; is a wavelength of the emitted laser beams and &ohgr;z is a target beam spot diameter in the sub-scanning direction, satisfy the follow…
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.