Optical scanning apparatus, image forming apparatus, and methods of performing optical scanning using optical scanning apparatus and image forming apparatus
First Claim
1. An optical scanning apparatus comprising:
- a laser unit having a laser source and an optical element configured to emit a substantially parallel beam of light;
an incident optical system arranged to direct the light beam emerging from the laser unit to strike an optical deflector while maintaining a width of the light beam wider than a width of a deflecting surface of the optical deflector in a main scanning direction; and
an imaging optical system for forming the light beam deflected by the optical deflector into an image on a scanned surface, wherein said laser unit is adapted to be moved in the main scanning direction without changing a direction of an optical axis of said incident optical system so as to make an illuminance distribution of scanning lines on the scanned surface become substantially symmetrical about a scanning central axis.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
An optical scanning apparatus includes a laser unit formed by integrating a semiconductor laser and collimator lens, an incident optical system for making a light beam emerging from the laser unit strike an optical deflector while keeping the light beam wider than the width of a deflecting surface of the optical deflector in the main scanning direction, and an imaging optical system for forming the light beam reflected/deflected by the optical deflector into an image on a scanned surface. The laser unit is shifted by a shift adjusting means in a predetermined direction with respect to the optical axis of the incident optical system so as to make an illuminance distribution of scanning lines on the scanned surface become substantially symmetrical about the scanning central axis.
-
Citations
42 Claims
-
1. An optical scanning apparatus comprising:
-
a laser unit having a laser source and an optical element configured to emit a substantially parallel beam of light;
an incident optical system arranged to direct the light beam emerging from the laser unit to strike an optical deflector while maintaining a width of the light beam wider than a width of a deflecting surface of the optical deflector in a main scanning direction; and
an imaging optical system for forming the light beam deflected by the optical deflector into an image on a scanned surface, wherein said laser unit is adapted to be moved in the main scanning direction without changing a direction of an optical axis of said incident optical system so as to make an illuminance distribution of scanning lines on the scanned surface become substantially symmetrical about a scanning central axis. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
-
-
15. An optical scanning apparatus comprising:
-
a laser unit in which a light source and collimator lens are integrated;
an incident optical system for making a light beam emerging from said laser unit strike an optical deflector while keeping the light beam wider than a width of a deflecting surface of the optical deflector in a main scanning direction; and
an imaging optical system for forming the light beam reflected/deflected by the optical deflector into an image on a scanned surface, wherein said laser unit is adapted to be shifted by shift adjusting means in a predetermined direction with respect to the optical axis of said incident optical system so as to make an illuminance distribution of scanning lines on the scanned surface become substantially symmetrical about a scanning central axis. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27)
-
-
28. A method for performing optical scanning using an optical scanning apparatus including a laser unit in which a light source and collimator lens are integrated, an incident optical system for making a light beam emerging from the laser unit strike an optical deflector while keeping the light beam wider than a width of a deflecting surface of the optical deflector in a main scanning direction, and an imaging optical system for forming the light beam reflected/deflected by the optical deflector into an image on a scanned surface, comprising the step of:
shifting the laser unit in a predetermined direction with respect to the optical axis of the incident optical system so as to make an illuminance distribution of scanning lines on the scanned surface become substantially symmetrical about a scanning central axis. - View Dependent Claims (29, 30)
-
31. A method for performing optical scanning using an optical scanning apparatus including a laser unit having a laser source and an optical element configured to emit a substantially parallel beam of light, an incident optical system arranged to direct the light beam emerging from the laser unit to strike an optical deflector while maintaining a width of the light beam wider than a width of a deflecting surface of the optical deflector in a main scanning direction, and an imaging optical system for forming the light beam deflected by the optical deflector into an image on a scanned surface, the method comprising the step of:
moving the laser unit in the main scanning direction without changing a direction of an optical axis of the incident optical system so as to make an illuminance distribution of scanning lines on the scanned surfae become substantially symmetrical about a scanning central axis. - View Dependent Claims (32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42)
Specification