Light source driving device, optical scanning device, and image forming apparatus

An optical scanning device that scans a surface with a plurality of light beams, along a plurality of scanning lines in a main scanning direction, the optical scanning device comprising:

• a light source including a plurality of light emitting sections arranged at different positions with regard to at least a direction corresponding to the scanning lines and each of which operates based on a drive signal;
• a light source driving device that produces the drive signals to drive the light emitting sections in the light source, wherein the light source driving device includes
• a write signal generating circuit that generates write signals based on the image information, number of the write signals being equal to number of the light emitting sections;
• a drive signal generating circuit that generates from the write signals a plurality of drive signals corresponding to the light emitting sections, based on at least one of
• a) a relationship between an arrangement of the light emitting sections and an arrangement of the light spots, and
• b) a relationship between the surface and the main scanning direction;
• and
• a drive circuit that outputs the drive signals to the light emitting sections in the optical scanning device to drive the light emitting sections;
• and
• an optical system that enables the light beams emitted from the light source to be converged on the surface, and that moves a plurality of light spots on the surface, along the scanning lines in the main scanning direction.

An image forming apparatus comprising:

• at least one image carrier;
• and
• at least one optical scanning device that scans a surface of the image carrier with a plurality of light beams, along a plurality of scanning lines in a main scanning direction, wherein the optical scanning device includes
• a light source including a plurality of light emitting sections arranged at different positions with regard to at least a direction corresponding to the scanning lines and each of which operates based on a drive signal;
• a light source driving device that produces the drive signals to drive the light emitting sections in the light source, wherein the light source driving device includes
• a write signal generating circuit that generates write signals based on the image information, number of the write signals being equal to number of the light emitting sections;
• a drive signal generating circuit that generates from the write signals a plurality of drive signals corresponding to the light emitting sections, based on at least one of
• a) a relationship between an arrangement of the light emitting sections and an arrangement of the light spots, and
• b) a relationship between the surface and the main scanning direction;
• and
• a drive circuit that outputs the drive signals to the light emitting sections in the optical scanning device to drive the light emitting sections;
• and
• an optical system that enables the light beams emitted from the light source to be converged on the surface, and that moves a plurality of light spots on the surface, along the scanning lines in the main scanning direction.