Patent ID: 6917374
Filing Date: 2005-07-12
Classification: H04N

Abstract:
1. An image forming apparatus comprising: a photo conductor; and an exposure device scanning a surface of the photo conductor by light beams emitted by a plurality of light-emitting elements so as to simultaneously form a plurality of electrostatic latent images at a plurality of positions on the photo conductor, a pitch of the light beams in a sub scanning direction being smaller than a beam diameter defined by a value of an intensity of the light beam at which an intensity level of each light beam is 1/e wherein the exposure device comprises: pattern detection processing means for producing a code of a plurality of levels from image data used for performing the latent image formation in accordance with a pattern detection matrix; pulse width setting means for setting a pulse with output from the pattern detection processing means with reference to pulse width data which designates a pulse width of each light beam previously set in response to the code of the plurality of levels; and a driver which drives each of the light-emitting elements with the pulse width set by the pulse width setting means.