Patent ID: 7903136

Claim:
A scanning optical apparatus for simultaneously scanning a plurality of scan lines, each same scan line being scanned using a light source pair that includes at least two light sources, the scanning optical apparatus comprising: a first group of light sources which include a first light source of the light source pair and are lined up on a first line along an X direction; and a second group of light sources which include a second light source of the light source pair and are lined up on a second line along the X direction, a Y coordinate of the second group of light sources in a Y direction perpendicular to the X direction is different from a Y coordinate of the first group of light sources in the Y direction, wherein the first group of light sources and the second group of light sources are implemented on one substrate, and the first line and the second line are inclined with respect to the plurality of scan lines such that the first light source and the second light source of the light source pair scan a same scan line of the plurality of scan lines, and an X coordinate of a light source, which is different from the first light source, of the first group of light sources in the X direction is located between a coordinate of the first light source in the X direction and an X coordinate of the second light source in the X direction, and a distance between the first light source and the second light source of the light source pair is at least twice a distance between two adjacent light sources on the first line.