Patent ID: 8253769
Filing Date: 2012-08-28
Classification: B41J,H01S

Abstract:
1. An optical write apparatus comprising: a semiconductor laser drive apparatus that modulates a semiconductor laser according to a modulation signal and induces the semiconductor laser to emit light, the drive apparatus including a control unit that is configured to supply a fixed bias current during a light emission off time, and configured to start supplying a predetermined current that is less than a light emission threshold current before a light emission time; said control unit having, a bias current source and a threshold current source supplying said predetermined current that is less than the light emission threshold current, a threshold-current-source switch, said threshold current source and said threshold-current-source switch together connected in parallel with the bias current source; a write unit that is configured to realize optical writing on an image sustaining element by scanning a laser beam that is emitted from the semiconductor laser driven by the semiconductor laser drive apparatus using a polygon mirror; a temperature detection unit that is configured to detect a temperature of at least one of the semiconductor laser and a location in the vicinity of the semiconductor laser; and an initialization unit that is configured to perform initialization of the semiconductor laser drive apparatus based on the temperature detected by the temperature detection unit, after power to the semiconductor laser is turned on and before a first semiconductor power control operation of the semiconductor laser drive apparatus, by detecting a threshold current and a light emission current of the semiconductor laser, where the light emission current is fixed until a next initialization.