Patent ID: 6166842
Filing Date: 2000-12-26
Classification: G02B,Y10S

Abstract:
An apparatus comprising:a light source for outputting light;a first lens system arranged to receive the light output from the light source and to transmit a light flux therefrom;an optical deflector arranged to receive the light flux from the first lens system and to deflect the light flux from a surface therefrom;a second lens system arranged to receive the light flux deflected from the optical deflector and to condense the deflected luminous flux into an optical beam spot on a surface to be scanned so as to form images having image heights, the luminous flux condensed by the second lens system into the optical beam spot including an optical beam waist, the second lens system including a scanning and image forming element including at least one surface including a plurality of portions each having a non-arc shape in a sub-scanning direction such that at least two of the non-arc shapes are different from each other, anda first image forming lens and a second image forming lens; whereinthe second image forming lens includes a first surface and a second surface, the at least one surface of the scanning and image forming element is located at the second surface of the second image forming lens located farther from the optical deflector than the first surface of the second image forming lens.