Patent ID: 7491961

Claim:
A scanning exposure apparatus, comprising: a panel light source for sequentially emitting linear light beams; and an exposure control means for controlling the emission of light by the panel light source, wherein: the panel light source comprises: at least one planar light transmissive electrode; a plurality of linear electrodes, which are arranged in a first direction; and an EL layer, provided between the light transmissive electrode and the linear electrodes; the exposure control means causes electric current to flow through the linear electrodes in a sequential manner, thereby causing electric current to flow in the EL layer provided between the light transmissive planar electrode and the linear electrodes, to cause sequential emission of the linear light beams; and scanning exposure is performed in the first direction, which is perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of the linear light beams, wherein the linear electrodes are formed by thin films having a sheet resistance ra, widths wa, and which are arranged at a pitch P; the at least one light transmissive electrode is formed by a plurality of rectangular thin films having a sheet resistance rc, which are arranged in the first direction at substantially equidistant gaps having a width wi; and the width wc of the light transmissive electrode satisfies the equation: wc≧n·P−wi, wherein n is the maximum integer that satisfies the equation: n < w ⁢ ⁢ a · r ⁢ ⁢ c r ⁢ ⁢ a · P .