Scanning optical apparatus and image forming apparatus

A scanning optical apparatus comprising:

• a plurality of light sources arranged to take up positions in a matrix having i rows and j columns (where i and j are natural numbers), wherein
• the plurality of light sources is arranged so that each row contains at least two light sources and each column contains only one light source,
• a light source pair is formed from two light sources from adjacent rows so that the two light sources scan a same scan line,
• the rows are inclined with respect to reference lines that correspond to scan lines so that a first light source and a second light source of the light source pair scan the same scan line,
• a distance between the first light source and the second light source of the light source pair is at least twice a distance between two adjacent light sources in the rows.

A scanning optical apparatus comprising:

• a plurality of light sources arranged to take up positions in a matrix having i rows and j columns (where i and j are natural numbers), wherein
• the plurality of light sources is arranged so that each row and each column contains at least two light sources, and only one light source is contained in any two adjacent rows of a same column,
• a light source pair is formed from two light sources located in adjacent rows and differing columns so that the two light sources of the light source pair scan a same scan line,
• the rows are inclined with respect to reference lines that correspond to scan lines so that a first light source and a second light source of the light source pair scan the same scan line, and
• a distance between the first light source and the second light source of the source pair is at least twice a distance between two adjacent light sources in the rows.

An image forming apparatus comprising:

• a scanning optical apparatus for scanning a same scan line using a light source pair that includes at least two light sources, the scanning optical apparatus including a first group of light sources which include a first light source of the light source pair and are lined up on a first line, and a second group of light sources which include a second light source of the light source pair and are lined up on a second line, wherein the first line and the second line are inclined with respect to reference lines corresponding to scan lines so that the first light source and the second light source of the light source pair scan a same scan line, and a distance between the first light source and the second light source of the light source pair is a least twice a distance between two adjacent light sources on the first line;
• an image carrier on which the latent image is formed by a light beam outputted from the plurality of light sources included in the scanning optical apparatus;
• a developer apparatus which develops the latent image to form a developed image;
• a transfer apparatus which transfers the developed image to a recording medium;
• and
• a fixing apparatus which fixes the developed image to the recording medium.

An image forming apparatus comprising:

• a scanning optical apparatus including a plurality of light sources arranged to take up positions in a matrix having i rows and j columns (where i and j are natural numbers), wherein the plurality of light sources is arranged so that each row contains at least two light sources and each column contains only one light source, a light source pair is formed from two light sources from adjacent rows so that the two light sources scan a same scan line, the rows are inclined with respect to reference lines that correspond to scan lines so that a first light source and a second light source of the light source pair scan the same scan line, a distance between the first light source and the second light source of the light source pair is at least twice a distance between two adjacent light sources in the rows;
• an image carrier on which the latent image is formed by a light beam outputted from the plurality of light sources included in the scanning optical apparatus;
• a developer apparatus which develops the latent image to form a developed image;
• a transfer apparatus which transfers the developed image to a recording medium;
• and
• a fixing apparatus which fixes the developed image to the recording medium.

An image forming apparatus comprising:

• a scanning optical apparatus including a plurality of light sources arranged to take up positions in a matrix having i rows and j columns (where i and j are natural numbers), wherein the plurality of light sources is arranged so that each row and each column contains at least two light sources, and only one light source is contained in any two adjacent rows of a same column, a light source pair is formed from two light sources located in adjacent rows and differing columns so that the two light sources of the light source pair scan a same scan line, the rows are inclined with respect to reference lines that correspond to scan lines so that a first light source and a second light source of the light source pair scan the same scan line, and a distance between the first light source and the second light source of the source pair is at least twice a distance between two adjacent light sources in the rows;
• an image carrier on which the latent image is formed by a light beam outputted from the plurality of light sources included in the scanning optical apparatus;
• a developer apparatus which develops the latent image to form a developed image;
• a transfer apparatus which transfers the developed image to a recording medium;
• and
• a fixing apparatus which fixes the developed image to the recording medium.