Patent ID: 7884842
Filing Date: 2011-02-08
Classification: B41J,G02B,H04N

Abstract:
1. A multi-beam optical scanning apparatus comprising: light source means including a plurality of radiation points disposed spaced from each other in a main scanning direction and in a sub-scanning direction; a rotational polygon minor for deflecting a plurality of light beams radiated from the plurality of radiation points toward a surface to be scanned, which is scanned with the plurality of light beams; and an imaging optical system for imaging the plurality of light beams deflected for scanning by a deflecting facet of the rotational polygon minor on the surface to be scanned, wherein the respective light emission amounts of the plurality of light beams emitted from the plurality of radiation points of the light source means are controlled by auto-power-control; and wherein letting a first radiation point be a radiation point for radiating the light beam which reaches a farthest location from a center of the deflecting facet of the rotational polygon mirror in a main scanning section among the plurality of light beams emitted from the plurality of radiation points and letting a second radiation point be a radiation point for radiating another light beam when controlled by the auto-power-control, the deflecting facet of the rotational polygon minor has a width in the main scanning section in which a light beam reaching the farthest location from a center of the deflecting facet is eclipsed by an edge portion of the deflecting facet if a light beam from the first radiation point which radiates a light beam reaching the farthest location from the center of the deflecting facet is emitted prior to a light beam from the second radiation point when controlled by the auto-power-control, and further control is performed such that the light beam from the second radiation point is radiated prior to the light beam from the first radiation point when controlled by the auto-power-control.