Patent ID: 6903855
Filing Date: 2005-06-07
Classification: B41J,G02B,Y10S

Abstract:
1. A multi-beam scanning method for scanning a scanning surface with a plurality of beams which are formed into a plurality of beam spots separated from each other in a sub scanning direction, the method comprising the steps of: providing n number of semiconductor laser array units, each of the n number of semiconductor laser array units having m number of light emitting points, where n is greater than 1 and m is greater than 1; inclining the direction of each light emitting point in each semiconductor laser array unit to coincide with the sub-scanning direction; coupling light beams emitted from the light emitting points of the semiconductor laser array units; synthesizing the coupled beams with a beam synthesizing device to obtain m×n number of beams; and deflecting the m×n number of beams at substantially the same time such that the deflected beams are impinged on the scanning surface.