Optical scanning apparatus and recording apparatus using the same

An optical scanning apparatus, comprising:

• light source means for emitting an optical beam;
• optical converging means for subjecting said optical beam to a power in one direction;
• deflecting means for deflecting said optical beam for scanning;
• and
• an optical imaging system for imaging the deflected optical beam to form a spot on a surface to be scanned,
• the apparatus further comprising:
• two light transmitting flat plates disposed in an optical path between said optical converging means and said deflecting means;
• and
• variable supporting means for rotatably supporting said two light transmitting flat plates in a plane in which said optical converging means has a power.

An optical scanning apparatus receiving a collimated optical beam for scanning an optical spot on a scanned surface comprising:

• a first optical member for converging said collimated optical beam in one direction thereof to form a spot on said scanned surface;
• scanning means for deflecting said optical beam to scan said spot on said scanned surface;
• a plurality of second optical members for changing the distance between an axis of an incident light ray and an axis of an exiting light ray depending upon incident angles of the optical beam to the respective second optical members, said axes being held in parallel with each other;
• and
• variable supporting means for holding said second optical members in a path of the collimated beam and adjusting attitudes of said second optical members so that the position of the final exiting light ray and an optical length between a first incidence and a final exit of the optical beam can be varied to make variable a diameter of the spot formed on the scanned surface.

A recording apparatus for recording information onto a recording surface by scanning the recording surface with an optical beam, said recording apparatus comprising:

• deflecting means for deflecting said optical beam to scan a spot on the recording surface;
• signal generating means for generating a spot diameter changing signal;
• a plurality of light transmitting flat plates disposed on a path of said optical beam;
• and
• variable supporting means for variably supporting said light transmitting flat plates, said variable supporting means receiving said spot diameter changing signal and changing an inclination angle of said light transmitting flat plates relative to said optical beam for changing a diameter of the spot of light corresponding to said spot diameter changing signal.