Patent ID: 6340983
Filing Date: 2002-01-22
Classification: B41J,G02B,H04N

Abstract:
An image recording apparatus which records an image by scanning a plurality of optical beams across an image carrier, the image recording apparatus comprising:a storing unit which holds image data to be recorded, as a plurality of sets of line data; a receiving unit which receives resolution data that indicates a resolution of the image data to be recorded; a reading unit which reads sets of line data from the storing unit, the sets of line data being determined according to the received resolution data; a plurality of light emitters which respectively emit optical beams, each optical beam being modulated with a different set of line data read by the reading unit; a main-direction scanning unit which simultaneously scans the optical beams in a main scanning direction, the optical beams being separated from each other on a surface of the image carrier in a sub-scanning direction that is perpendicular to the main scanning direction; a diameter changing unit which changes, in accordance with the resolution data, a diameter of a spot formed by each optical beam on the surface of the image carrier, without changing a distance between the optical beams; and a pitch changing unit which changes, in accordance with the resolution data, a pitch between main-scanning lines on the image carrier in the sub-scanning direction, each main-scanning line being a path of an optical beam that is scanned on the image carrier in the main scanning direction by the main-direction scanning unit.