Patent ID: 9703231
Date: 2017-07-11
CPC Classifications: G03G,H04N

Claim:
1. An image formation optical scanner configured to perform scanning with a light beam and perform irradiation on a photoreceptor for image formation, the optical scanner comprising: a light source configured to emit a first light beam based on image data and a second light beam based on a forced emission command; a rotating polygon mirror including a plurality of mirror surfaces from which the first light beam and the second light beam output from the light source are reflected; a drive unit that rotationally drives the rotating polygon mirror; a beam detection unit that detects the second light beam reflected from the rotating polygon mirror; and a control unit that receives the image data, provides the forced emission command, and controls the light source according to the forced emission command and the received image data, the control unit having modes for controlling the drive unit to adjust a rotational speed of the rotating polygon mirror based on detection of the second light beam by the beam detection unit, the modes including a high definition mode and a light source life mitigation mode, wherein when in the high definition mode, the control unit controls the light source to emit the first light beam and the second light beam repeatedly, and when in the light source life mitigation mode, the control unit controls the light source to emit the second light beam repeatedly and not emit the first light beam.