Patent ID: 7542064
Filing Date: 2009-06-02
Classification: G03G,G06K

Abstract:
1. An image forming apparatus comprising: an image forming unit configured to form an image based upon a laser beam emitted from a semiconductor laser in accordance with an image signal; a driving unit configured to drive a current through the semiconductor laser; a determination unit configured to determine whether a M×N pixel pattern included in the image formed by said image forming unit has a pattern representing an intersection of plural lines or a pattern representing a part of the intersection; and a control unit configured to control said driving unit to change over a current value of the current that flows through the semiconductor laser in a period of a pixel to be controlled in the pattern, when the laser beam of the pixel to be controlled is emitted, in a case where it is determined by said determination unit that the image has the pattern, wherein said control unit controls to change over the current value of the current from a first current value to a second current value which is less than the first current value in the period of the pixel, such that an amount of the laser beam emitted from the semiconductor laser is changed over in the period of one pixel.