Method and apparatus for optical scanning capable of performing a high speed and high pixel density scanning
US6833940B2 · kind B2 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Oct 24, 2002 |
| Grant date | Dec 21, 2004 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Oct 24, 2022 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC G)Physics
- CPC primaryG02B26/12
- WIPO fieldOptics
- WIPO sectorInstruments
Abstract
An optical scanning apparatus using an underfilled or overfilled optical system includes a number M of light sources, first, second, and third optical scanning lens systems, and a rotary polygon mirror. The number M of light sources emit a laser light beam. The first optical scanning lens system performs a coupling process to the laser light beam. The second optical scanning lens system collects light of the laser light beam in an approximately linear state extended in a main scanning direction. The rotary polygon mirror has a number N of deflective reflection surfaces for deflecting the laser light beam. The third optical scanning lens system gathers the laser light beam from the rotary polygon mirror to form a beam spot on an imaging surface. In this optical scanning apparatus, the predetermined number M satisfies a condition:3×Rp/Rmax≧M≧Rp/Rmax, wherein Rp and Rmax are defined as:Rp≡(Dpi/25.4)×(260×Ppm)/N, and Rmax≡(5.4×106)×√{N16/(A4×t)}, respectively.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.