Patent ID: 7705872
Filing Date: 2010-04-27
Classification: B41J,G02B

Abstract:
1. An optical writing device that scans a plurality of scan target surfaces with a plurality of light beams, the optical writing device comprising: a plurality of light sources that emits light beams of different wavelengths; an optical element that focuses the light beams into focused light beams to have one optic axis in a sub scanning direction; a deflector that deflects the focused light beams to obtain deflected light beams; a first beam separation unit that passes therethrough or reflects a light beam depending on a direction from which the light beam is received, wherein the first beam separation unit passes the deflected light beams as passing beams; and a second beam separation unit that passes therethrough or reflects a light beam depending upon a wavelength of the light beam, wherein the second beam separation unit separates the passing beams into a first passing beam that passes through the second beam separation unit and a first reflecting beam that is reflected from the second beam separation unit, wherein the first reflecting beam is directed toward the first beam separation unit where the first reflecting beam is reflected as a reflecting beam, a first one of the scan target surfaces is scanned with the reflecting beam, and a second one of the scan target surfaces is scanned with the first passing beam.