Patent ID: 7822083

Claim:
A laser light intensity control device, comprising: a semiconductor laser configured to scan a photoconductor by emitting laser beams and form an electrostatic latent image; a temperature detection circuit configured to detect a temperature of the semiconductor laser; a light intensity detection circuit configured to detect a light intensity of the laser beams emitted from the semiconductor laser; a first drive circuit configured to supply the semiconductor laser with a first current that drives the semiconductor laser; a second drive circuit configured to supply the semiconductor laser with a second current that is superimposed on the first current; and a control circuit configured to control the first drive circuit and the second drive circuit, the control circuit including: a current setting unit configured to set the first current and the second current based on the light intensity of the laser beams detected by the light intensity detection circuit; a fluctuation range determining unit configured to determine an allowable fluctuation range of the temperature of the semiconductor laser detected by the temperature detection circuit; and a temperature fluctuation determining unit configured to determine whether fluctuation of the temperature of the semiconductor laser is beyond the allowable fluctuation range upon formation of the electrostatic latent image after the first current and the second current are set by the current setting unit; wherein, if the temperature fluctuation determining unit determines that fluctuation of the temperature of the semiconductor laser is beyond the allowable fluctuation range, the current setting unit resets the first current and the second current.