Patent ID: 6825863
Filing Date: 2004-11-30
Classification: G02B,G06K

Abstract:
An image forming apparatus, comprising:a photosensitive member; an exposure device including a plurality of laser emitting elements, each of which irradiates a laser beam onto the photosensitive member to form an electrostatic latent image on the photosensitive member; a developing device that supplies a developing agent to the electrostatic latent image to form a visible image; and a controller that controls the irradiation of the plurality of laser emitting elements, the controller comprising: means for determining which one of the plurality of laser emitting elements is closest to reaching its end of an operating life; means for restricting the irradiation of the determined laser emitting element closest to reaching its end of operating life, wherein the restricting means reduces current applied to the determined laser emitting element closest to reaching its end of operating life.