Patent ID: 8085456
Filing Date: 2011-12-27
Classification: G02B,H04N

Abstract:
1. A scanning optical system which includes: a plurality of light source means; and a polygon mirror which deflects and scans a plurality of light beams which are respectively emitted from the plurality of light source means and which are obliquely incident on a sub-scanning cross section with respect to a line normal to a deflecting facet of the polygon mirror, wherein the plurality of light beams deflected and scanned by the deflecting facet of the polygon mirror are imaged on a plurality of different scanned surfaces, wherein a plurality of optical elements are respectively provided for the plurality of light source means, and are constructed in a united form to form a compound imaging element, said compound imaging element being disposed in the optical paths between the plurality of light source means and the polygon mirror, wherein the plurality of optical elements respectively guide the plurality of light beams emitted from the plurality of light source means onto the deflecting facet of the polygon mirror, wherein in the sub-scanning cross section, optical axes of two optical elements among the plurality of optical elements are non-parallel and are provided from different directions with respect to a line normal to the deflecting facet of the polygon mirror, wherein the plurality of optical elements constituting the compound imaging element respectively form linear images of the light beams, along a main scanning direction, on the deflecting facet of the polygon mirror, and wherein the compound imaging element includes a first compound optical element formed by the optical elements which make the plurality of light beams incident on a first deflecting facet among deflecting facets of the polygon mirror, and includes a second compound optical element formed by the optical elements which make the plurality of light beams incident on a second deflecting facet among the deflecting facets of the polygon mirror.