Optical scanning system

An optical scanning system for scanning a plurality of light beams on one or more scanned surfaces, the optical scanning system comprising:

• a light source for emitting the plurality of light beams;
• a front optical system for receiving said plurality of light beams from the light source along an optical axis that extends within the optical scanning system;
• a deflector for receiving said plurality of light beams from the front optical system and for deflecting said plurality of light beams in a first direction so that said plurality of light beams scan in said first direction;
• a rear optical system for receiving said plurality of light beams from said deflector and for directing said plurality of light beams toward the one or more scanned surfaces so that said plurality of light beams are separated farther in a second direction that is orthogonal to said first direction within said rear optical system than at said deflector;
• wherein
• the plurality of light beams are deflected by the deflector and enter said rear optical system at angles to one another in said second direction so that the separations of the plurality of light beams in said second direction progressively increase as they pass through said rear optical system;
• and
• said front optical system includes a lens group that is adjacent said deflector and that is of negative refractive power at least in said second direction.