Patent · US Active

Multi-beam optical scanning device and image forming apparatus

US7253937B2 · kind B2 · utility

32Cited by
3References
18Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateOct 5, 2006
Grant dateAug 7, 2007
Priority date
Expiry dateOct 5, 2026

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC G)Physics
  • CPC primaryG02B26/125
  • WIPO fieldOptics
  • WIPO sectorInstruments

Abstract

A multi-beam scanning device is disclosed that is able to realize a stable and small beam spot and realize stable scanning line intervals between plural light beams. The multi-beam optical scanning device includes a first optical system which has a first lens for coupling the light beams from the light sources, and a second lens which is an anamorphic element having power at least in a sub scanning direction and for guiding the light beams from the first lens to the deflection unit; and a second optical system. At least the second lens includes a diffracting surface having power. Magnifications of the whole optical system in a main scanning direction (βm0) and in a sub scanning direction (βs0), and a magnification of the second optical system (βs2) in a sub scanning direction satisfy |βm0|>|βs0|, and |βs0|>|βs2|, and the power of the diffracting surface of the first lens in the main scanning direction (P1m), that in the sub scanning direction (P1s), and the power of the diffracting surface of the second lens in the sub scanning direction (P2s) satisfy |P2s|>|P1m| and |P2s|>|P1s|.

Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.