Multi-beam exposure unit

• US 5,751,462 A
• Filed: 01/09/1997
• Issued: 05/12/1998
• Est. Priority Date: 01/11/1996
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba (Toshiba Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba (Toshiba Corporation)
• Inventors: Yamaguchi, Masao, Shiraishi, Takashi, Fukutome, Yasuyuki
• Primary Examiner(s): Phan, James
• Application Number:
  US08/780,905
• Time in Patent Office: 488 Days
• Field of Search: 359/204-207, 359/212-219, 347/232-233, 347/242-244, 399/177-179, 399/218, 399/220, 399/221
• US Class Current: 359/204.1
• CPC Class Codes: B41J 2/473 using multiple light beams, wavelengths or colours
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 26/123 Multibeam scanners, e.g. using multiple light sources or beam splitters
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 27/1013 for colour or multispectral image sensors, e.g. splitting an image into monochromatic image components on respective sensors spectral imaging systems G01J
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 27/143 using macroscopically faceted or segmented reflective surfaces
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 27/144 using partially transparent surfaces without spectral selectivity G02B27/147 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 27/145 having sequential partially reflecting surfaces
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/506 Reproducing the colour component signals picture-sequentially, e.g. with reproducing heads spaced apart from one another in the subscanning direction

Abstract

This invention has as its object to provide an image forming apparatus which can provide a color image free from any color misregistration with low cost, and a light scanning unit suitable for the apparatus. The apparatus includes a finite lens and a cylinder lens for giving predetermined characteristics to light beams emitted by a plurality of light sources, a laser synthesis mirror unit for synthesizing laser beams passing through the lenses, a deflection unit for deflecting the synthesized light beams, first and second image-forming lenses for adjusting the aberration characteristics, at the imaging position, of the deflected light beam, one or three mirrors for outputting the light beam passing through the image-forming lenses at predetermined positions, and can provide a color image free from any color misregistration.

Claims

1. An optical exposure unit comprising:

light sources which are arranged in correspondence with numbers indicated by N₁ to N_M (M is an integer not less than

     3) and emit light beams;

first lens means for converting the light beams emitted by each of the light sources into one of convergent light and collimated light, said first lens means including one of a finite lens and collimate lens in number corresponding to a sum of N₁ to N_M ;

second lens means given lens power associated with a first direction to converge the light beams output from each of said first lens means in only the first direction, M sets of said second lens means being provided;

M-1 synthesizing reflection mirrors for reflecting M-1 groups of beams from M-1 sets of said second lens means to be substantially overlaid as M groups of beams from M sets of said second lens means in the first direction;

deflection means for deflecting the light beams output from said second lens means and said reflection mirrors in a second direction perpendicular to the first direction, the deflection means including a reflection surface formed to be rotatable about a rotation axis extending in a direction parallel to the first direction as a center of rotation; and

imaging means, including at least one lens, for imaging each of the light beams deflected at an equal speed by said deflection means at a predetermined position, and

wherein M beam groups are incident on the reflection surface of said deflection means so that an interval between adjacent beam groups in the first direction monotonously increases from one end, and a beam group on one end with a smallest interval to an adjacent beam group in the first direction is incident to cross the beams deflected by said deflection means.

2. An optical exposure unit comprising:

light sources which are arranged in correspondence with numbers indicated by N₁ to N_M (M is an integer not less than

     3) and emit light beams;

first lens means for converting the light beams emitted by each of the light sources into one of convergent light and collimated light, said first lens means including one of a finite lens and collimate lens in number corresponding to a sum of N₁ to N_M ;

second lens means given lens power associated with a first direction to converge the light beams output from each of said first lens means in only the first direction, M sets of said second lens means being provided;

deflection means for deflecting the light beams output from said second lens means in a second direction perpendicular to the first direction, said deflection means including a reflection surface which is formed to be rotatable about a rotation axis extending in a direction parallel to the first direction as a center of rotation; and

imaging means, including at least one lens having a smooth surface through which all of the light beams for forming an image pass, for imaging each of the light beams deflected at an equal speed by said deflection means at a predetermined position, and

wherein M beam groups are incident on the reflection surface of said deflection means such that an interval between adjacent beam groups monotonously increases from one end, and a beam group on one end with a smallest interval to an adjacent beam group is incident to cross the beams deflected by said deflection means.