Patent ID: 8593701
Filing Date: 2013-11-26
Classification: G02B,H04N

Abstract:
1. An optical scanning device comprising: a plurality of light source units modulated by image information for respective colors; a coupling unit that couples a light beam emitted from each of the plurality of light source units; a light collecting unit that collects the plurality of light beams coupled; a deflecting unit that includes a rotatably supported movable mirror and collectively scans the light beams emitted from the light source units; and a plurality of imaging units that images the light beams scanned by the deflecting unit on image carriers for the respective colors, wherein the optical scanning device is configured to form a plurality of images for the respective colors and used in an image forming apparatus in which the image carriers for the respective colors are arranged within a same plane, the deflecting unit is disposed so that the movable mirror faces the plane where the image carriers are arranged, the plurality of light source units are disposed so that main light fluxes of the light beams emitted from the plurality of light source units form predetermined angles with each other in a plane parallel to the plane where the image carriers are arranged, the optical scanning device further comprises an incidence mirror that is interposed between a reflecting surface of the movable mirror and at least a portion of at least one of the image carriers and bends at least a portion of the light beams emitted from the plurality of light source units to direct said portion of the light beams towards the reflecting surface of the movable mirror and away from the image carriers; and a separation mirror that separates the plurality of light beams scanned by the movable mirror into two opposite directions with respect to a cross-section including a surface normal of the movable mirror and perpendicular to a rotation axis of the movable mirror, and the light collecting unit collects the light beams so that output optical axes of the light beams corresponding to the light source units intersect at a surface of the movable mirror of the deflecting unit, for scanning the image carriers for the respective colors with the light beams.