Line light source, line printer head, and image forming apparatus including the line printer head

A line printer head arranged to face a photoreceptor of an image forming apparatus, the line printer head being configured to direct a plurality of light beams onto, and along a line across a main scanning direction of, the photoreceptor to form thereon an electrostatic latent image, the line printer head comprising:

• a bottom electrode;
• a light emitting layer formed above the bottom electrode;
• a plurality of transparent top electrodes arranged above the light emitting layer, the plurality of transparent top electrodes each defining a light emitting area;
• and
• a light waveguide unit formed above the plurality of transparent top electrodes, the light waveguide unit having a plurality of openings, the light waveguide unit being configured to guide light emitted from the light emitting layer to be emitted from the line light source through one or more of the plurality of openings.

An image forming apparatus, comprising:

• a photoreceptor;
• a line printer head that is disposed to face the photoreceptor, the line printer being configured to form an electrostatic latent image on the photoreceptor by irradiating light along a line in a main scanning direction, wherein the light printer head comprises a bottom electrode;
• a light emitting layer formed above the bottom electrode;
• a plurality of transparent top electrodes arranged above the light emitting layer and a light waveguide unit formed above the plurality of transparent top electrodes, each of the plurality of transparent top electrodes defining a light emitting area, the light waveguide unit having a plurality of openings, the light waveguide unit being configured to guide light emitted from the light emitting layer to be emitted through one or more of the plurality of openings;
• and
• a developing unit supplying toner to the electrostatic latent image formed on the photoreceptor to develop the electrostatic latent image.