Light emitting device, exposing device, and image forming apparatus

An exposing device comprising:

• a light emitting device including:
• a plurality of resistance elements having different resistance values;
• a plurality of light emitting elements including anode terminals to which a reference potential is applied, and cathode terminals connected to first ends of the plurality of resistance elements in common;
• a turn-on instructor configured to sequentially output turn-on instruction signals to the plurality of light emitting elements to sequentially turn ON the plurality of light emitting elements;
• a turn-on potential applier configured to apply a turn-on potential for turning ON the plurality of light emitting elements;
• and
• a switching circuit configured to switch connection states between second ends of the plurality of resistance elements and the turn-on potential applier;
• and
• a light exposure amount controller configured to control a light exposure amount for an image carrier by controlling an ON period and an emitted light intensity of the plurality of light emitting elements when forming an electrostatic latent image by exposing the image carrier to light from the light emitting device.

An image forming apparatus comprising:

• an exposing device including:
• a light emitting device including:
• a plurality of resistance elements having different resistance values;
• a plurality of light emitting elements including anode terminals to which a reference potential is applied, and cathode terminals connected to first ends of the plurality of resistance elements in common;
• a turn-on instructor configured to sequentially output turn-on instruction signals to the plurality of light emitting elements to sequentially turn ON the plurality of light emitting elements;
• a turn-on potential applier configured to apply a turn-on potential for turning ON the plurality of light emitting elements;
• and
• a switching circuit configured to switch connection states between second ends of the plurality of resistance elements and the turn-on potential applier;
• and
• a light exposure amount controller configured to control a light exposure amount for an image carrier by controlling an ON period and an emitted light intensity of the plurality of light emitting elements when forming an electrostatic latent image by exposing the image carrier to light from the light emitting device;
• a developing device configured to develop the electrostatic latent image on the image carrier that has been exposed to the light by the exposing device;
• and
• a transferrer configured to transfer, onto a recording medium, an image on the image carrier that has been developed by the developing device.