Patent ID: 8045910

Claim:
A fixing unit for fixing a toner image on a recording medium, comprising: a light source configured to generate light having a plurality of wavelengths; a heating member configured to receive the light generated by the light source, and to apply heat to the toner image, the heating member comprising a plurality of dielectric layers that contains one or more nano-rods; and a pressurizing member arranged to opposingly face the heating member so as to form a fixing nip with the heating member, wherein the plurality of dielectric layers comprises at least a first dielectric layer and a second dielectric layer, wherein the first dielectric layer has a first dielectric constant that allows a first light absorption rate of the one or more nano-rods contained in the first dielectric layer to be substantially at a maximum in response to a first light component having a first peak wavelength, wherein the second dielectric layer has a second dielectric constant different from the first dielectric constant, the second dielectric constant allows a second light absorption rate of the one or more nano-rods contained in the second dielectric layer to be substantially at a maximum in response to a second light component having a second peak wavelength different from the first peak wavelength, and wherein each of the first and second peak wavelengths is within a range of the plurality of wavelengths of the light generated by the light source.