Patent ID: 6822666
Filing Date: 2004-11-23
Classification: G02B,H04N

Abstract:
A multibeam scanning optical apparatus comprising:a light source having a plurality of light beam emitting sections; a light deflector for deflecting a plurality of light beams emitted respectively from the plurality of light beam emitting sections of said light source; a scanning optical system for focusing the plurality of light beams deflected by said light deflector on a surface to be scanned; and a photodetector for controlling a timing of a start of scanning of the plurality of light beams by detecting at least one of the plurality of light beams deflected by said light deflector as at least one detection light beam, wherein the timing of the start of scanning is controlled to align the centers of scanning areas of the plurality of light beams with each other on the surface to be scanned while allowing starting points of scanning of the plurality of light beams to differ from each other when the plurality of light beams have respective wavelengths that are different from each other.