Patent ID: 6507427
Filing Date: 2003-01-14
Classification: G02B

Abstract:
A scanning optical device comprising:a light source; an optical deflector having a deflection surface for deflecting a light beam emitted from said light source in a main-scanning direction; a first optical system of optical elements for causing the light beam emitted from said light source to strike the deflection surface of said optical deflector; and a second optical system of an optical element for focusing the light beam deflected by said optical deflector on a surface to be scanned; said optical elements of said first optical system including a first optical element for transforming the light beam emitted from said light source into a substantially collimated light beam, and a second optical element, said second optical element being movable along an optical axis to regulate an imaging position of the light beam on the surface to be scanned in the main-scanning direction, wherein said first optical system shares at least part of the optical element of said second optical system, and said second optical element and the shared optical element of said second optical system are adapted for causing a substantially collimated light beam to strike the deflection surface of said optical deflector in the main-scanning direction.