Patent ID: 7436422

Claim:
An optical unit array, comprising: a plurality of optical units each having a plurality of optical device elements arranged along a first direction, for emitting a light beam having directivity; a holding part for holding said plurality of optical units to be arranged in a second direction substantially perpendicular to said first direction; and at least one plane with which said plurality of optical units are in contact, wherein each of said plurality of optical units comprises: a directioning plate having a flat arrangement surface parallel to said first direction and said second direction, on which said plurality of optical device elements are arranged, being in contact with said at least one plane; a unit base having a reference surface parallel to said arrangement surface and a first protruding portion and a second protruding portion which are disposed away from each other at a predetermined spacing in said first direction, protruding in a direction perpendicular to said reference surface, and an aligning plate located between said reference surface and a surface opposite to said arrangement surface of said directioning plate, having two openings into which said first protruding portion and said second protruding portion are inserted, said plurality of optical device elements being attached to said aligning plate through said directioning plate, said aligning plate being used for determining positions of said plurality of optical device elements in said first direction and said second direction relative to said first protruding portion and said second protruding portion by fitting said first protruding portion and said second protruding portion into said two openings, and each of said plurality of optical device elements comprises a directioning surface used for determining an outgoing direction of a light beam by coming into contact with said arrangement surface.