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US 5,970,034 AGranted
Multiple-beam optical recording apparatus
AssigneeRicoh Company, Ltd.
InventorsNobuo Sakuma, Magane Aoki
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A multiple-optical scanner includes an optical source that produces a plurality of optical beams such that the plurality of optical beams cross each other substantially at a location of a rotary polygonal mirror when viewed in a direction of a rotational axis of the rotary polygonal mirror.
Claims32
An optical recording apparatus, comprising:
- a rotary optical deflector carrying a mirror facet, said rotary optical deflector being rotatable about a rotational axis;
- an optical source for producing a plurality of optical beams simultaneously, such that said plurality of optical beams are separated from each other in a direction parallel to said rotational axis and such that said plurality of optical beams intersect with each other substantially at a cross point when viewed in a direction parallel to said rotational axis;
- said cross point being located in the vicinity of said rotational axis of said rotary optical deflector, said rotary optical deflector thereby producing a plurality of scanning optical beams corresponding respectively to said plurality of optical beams incident thereto as a result of deflection at said mirror facet;
- an optical recording surface;
- and
- an optical system disposed between said rotary optical deflector and said optical recording surface, for focusing said plurality of scanning optical beams on said optical recording surface;
- and
- said optical recording apparatus further comprises an optical directing device for directing said plurality of scanning optical beams to scanning points on a same optical path such that a deviation in a pitch of said scanning optical beams on said optical recording surface is minimized;
- and
- wherein said scanning points have substantially the same coordinate in a horizontal scanning direction on said optical recording surface through said optical system.
7 more elements
A multiple-beam optical scanner for scanning a surface by means of a plurality of optical beams, comprising:
- a rotary optical deflector carrying a mirror facet, said rotary optical deflector being rotatable about a rotational axis;
- and
- an optical source for producing a plurality of optical beams simultaneously, such that said plurality of optical beams are separated from each other in a direction parallel to said rotational axis and such that said plurality of optical beams intersect with each other substantially at a cross point when viewed in a direction parallel to said rotational axis;
- said cross point being located in the vicinity of said rotational axis of said rotary optical deflector, said rotary optical deflector thereby producing a plurality of scanning optical beams corresponding respectively to said plurality of optical beams incident thereto as a result of deflection at said mirror facet;
- said plurality of scanning optical beams thereby causing a scanning over a scanning surface after deflection by said rotary optical deflector;
- said optical recording apparatus further comprises an optical directing device for directing said plurality of scanning optical beams to scanning points on a same optical path such that a deviation in a pitch of said scanning optical beams on said scanning surface is minimized;
- and
- wherein said scanning points have substantially the same coordinate in a horizontal scanning direction on said scanning surface.
5 more elements
An optical recording apparatus, comprising:
- a rotary optical deflector carrying a mirror facet, said rotary optical deflector being rotatable about a rotational axis;
- an optical source for producing a plurality of optical beams simultaneously, such that said plurality of optical beams are separated from each other in a direction parallel to said rotational axis and such that said plurality of optical beams intersect with each other substantially at a cross point when viewed in a direction parallel to said rotational axis;
- said cross point being located in the vicinity of said rotational axis of said rotary optical deflector, said rotary optical deflector thereby producing a plurality of scanning optical beams corresponding respectively to said plurality of optical beams incident thereto as a result of deflection at said mirror facet;
- an optical recording surface;
- and
- an optical system disposed between said rotary optical deflector and said optical recording surface, for focusing said plurality of scanning optical beams on said optical recording surface;
- said optical source is arranged for directing said plurality of scanning optical beams to scanning points on a same optical path such that a deviation in a pitch of said scanning optical beams on said optical recording surface is minimized;
- and
- wherein said scanning points have substantially the same coordinate in a horizontal scanning direction on said optical recording surface through said optical system.
6 more elements
A multiple-beam optical scanner for scanning a surface by means of a plurality of optical beams, comprising:
- a rotary optical deflector carrying a mirror facet, said rotary optical deflector being rotatable about a rotational axis;
- and
- an optical source for producing a plurality of optical beams simultaneously, such that said plurality of optical beams are separated from each other in a direction parallel to said rotational axis and such that said plurality of optical beams intersect with each other substantially at a cross point when viewed in a direction parallel to said rotational axis;
- said cross point being located in the vicinity of said rotational axis of said rotary optical deflector, said rotary optical deflector thereby producing a plurality of scanning optical beams corresponding respectively to said plurality of optical beams incident thereto as a result of deflection at said mirror facet;
- said plurality of scanning optical beams thereby causing a scanning over a scanning surface after deflection by said rotary optical deflector;
- said optical source is arranged for directing said plurality of scanning optical beams to scanning points on a same optical path such that a deviation in a pitch of said scanning optical beams on said scanning surface is minimized;
- and
- wherein said scanning points have substantially the same coordinate in a horizontal scanning direction on said scanning surface.
5 more elements
An optical recording apparatus, comprising:
- a rotary optical deflector means having a mirror facet, for rotating about a rotational axis, and for producing a plurality of scanning optical beams;
- an optical source means for producing a plurality of optical beams simultaneously, such that said plurality of optical beams are separated from each other in a direction parallel to said rotational axis and such that said plurality of optical beams intersect with each other substantially at a cross point when viewed in a direction parallel to said rotational axis;
- said cross point being located in the vicinity of said rotational axis of said rotary optical deflector means, said rotary optical deflector means thereby producing a plurality of scanning optical beams corresponding respectively to said plurality of optical beams incident thereto as a result of deflection at said mirror facet;
- an optical recording surface;
- and
- an optical system disposed between said rotary optical deflector means and said optical recording surface, for focusing said plurality of scanning optical beams on said optical recording surface;
- said optical recording apparatus further comprises an optical directing means for directing said plurality of scanning optical beams to scanning points on a same optical path such that a deviation in a pitch of said scanning optical beams on said optical recording surface is minimized;
- and
- wherein said scanning points have substantially the same coordinate in a horizontal scanning direction on said optical recording surface through said optical system.
6 more elements
An optical recording apparatus, comprising:
- a rotary optical deflector means having a mirror facet, for rotating about a rotational axis, and for producing a plurality of scanning optical beams;
- an optical source means for producing a plurality of optical beams simultaneously, such that said plurality of optical beams are separated from each other in a direction parallel to said rotational axis and such that said plurality of optical beams intersect with each other substantially at a cross point when viewed in a direction parallel to said rotational axis;
- said cross point being located in the vicinity of said rotational axis of said rotary optical deflector means, said rotary optical deflector means thereby producing a plurality of scanning optical beams corresponding respectively to said plurality of optical beams incident thereto as a result of deflection at said mirror facet;
- an optical recording surface;
- and
- an optical system disposed between said rotary optical deflector means and said optical recording surface, for focusing said plurality of scanning optical beams on said optical recording surface;
- said optical source means is arranged for directing said plurality of scanning optical beams to scanning points on a same optical path such that a deviation in a pitch of said scanning optical beams on said optical recording surface is minimized;
- and
- wherein said scanning points have substantially the same coordinate in a horizontal scanning direction on said optical recording surface through said optical system.
6 more elements
A multiple-beam optical scanner for scanning a surface by means of a plurality of optical beams, comprising:
- a rotary optical deflector means having a mirror facet, for rotating about a rotational axis, and for producing a plurality of scanning optical beams;
- and
- an optical source means for producing a plurality of optical beams simultaneously, such that said plurality of optical beams are separated from each other in a direction parallel to said rotational axis and such that said plurality of optical beams intersect with each other substantially at a cross point when viewed in a direction parallel to said rotational axis;
- said cross point being located in the vicinity of said rotational axis of said rotary optical deflector means, said rotary optical deflector means thereby producing said plurality of scanning optical beams corresponding respectively to said plurality of optical beams incident thereto as a result of deflection at said mirror facet;
- said plurality of scanning optical beams thereby causing a scanning over a scanning surface after deflection by said rotary optical deflector means;
- said optical recording apparatus further comprises an optical directing means for directing said plurality of scanning optical beams to scanning points on a same optical path such that a deviation in a pitch of said scanning optical beams on said scanning surface is minimized;
- and
- wherein said scanning points have substantially the same coordinate in a horizontal scanning direction on said scanning surface.
5 more elements
A multiple-beam optical scanner for scanning a surface by means of a plurality of optical beams, comprising:
- a rotary optical deflector means having a mirror facet, for rotating about a rotational axis, and for producing a plurality of scanning optical beams;
- and
- an optical source means for producing a plurality of optical beams simultaneously, such that said plurality of optical beams are separated from each other in a direction parallel to said rotational axis and such that said plurality of optical beams intersect with each other substantially at a cross point when viewed in a direction parallel to said rotational axis;
- said cross point being located in the vicinity of said rotational axis of said rotary optical deflector means, said rotary optical deflector means thereby producing said plurality of scanning optical beams corresponding respectively to said plurality of optical beams incident thereto as a result of deflection at said mirror facet;
- said plurality of scanning optical beams thereby causing a scanning over a scanning surface after deflection by said rotary optical deflector means;
- said optical source means is arranged for directing said plurality of scanning optical beams to scanning points on a same optical path such that a deviation in a pitch of said scanning optical beams on said scanning surface is minimized;
- and
- wherein said scanning points have substantially the same coordinate in a horizontal scanning direction on said scanning surface.
5 more elements
An optical recording method, comprising:
- rotating a rotary optical deflector having a mirror facet about a rotational axis, and producing a plurality of scanning optical beams;
- and
- producing, via an optical source, a plurality of optical beams simultaneously, such that said plurality of optical beams are separated from each other in a direction parallel to said rotational axis and such that said plurality of optical beams intersect with each other substantially at a cross point when viewed in a direction parallel to said rotational axis;
- locating said cross point in the vicinity of said rotational axis of said rotary optical deflector, and producing via said rotary optical deflector, said plurality of scanning optical beams corresponding respectively to said plurality of optical beams incident thereto as a result of deflection at said mirror facet;
- focusing said plurality of scanning optical beams on an optical recording surface via an optical system disposed between said rotary optical deflector and said optical recording surface;
- directing, via an optical directing device, said plurality of scanning optical beams to scanning points on a same optical path such that a deviation in a pitch of said scanning optical beams on said optical recording surface is minimized;
- and
- providing said scanning points to have substantially the same coordinate in a horizontal scanning direction on said optical recording surface through said optical system.
5 more elements
An optical recording method, comprising:
- rotating a rotary optical deflector having a mirror facet about a rotational axis, and producing a plurality of scanning optical beams;
- and
- producing, via an optical source, a plurality of optical beams simultaneously, such that said plurality of optical beams are separated from each other in a direction parallel to said rotational axis and such that said plurality of optical beams intersect with each other substantially at a cross point when viewed in a direction parallel to said rotational axis;
- locating said cross point in the vicinity of said rotational axis of said rotary optical deflector, and producing via said rotary optical deflector, said plurality of scanning optical beams corresponding respectively to said plurality of optical beams incident thereto as a result of deflection at said mirror facet;
- focusing said plurality of scanning optical beams on an optical recording surface via an optical system disposed between said rotary optical deflector and said optical recording surface;
- arranging said optical source for directing said plurality of scanning optical beams to scanning points on a same optical path such that a deviation in a pitch of said scanning optical beams on said optical recording surface is minimized;
- and
- providing said scanning points to have substantially the same coordinate in a horizontal scanning direction on said optical recording surface through said optical system.
5 more elements
A method for scanning a surface by means of a plurality of optical beams via a multiple-beam optical scanner, comprising:
- rotating a rotary optical deflector having a mirror facet about a rotational axis, and producing a plurality of scanning optical beams;
- and
- producing, via an optical source, a plurality of optical beams simultaneously, such that said plurality of optical beams are separated from each other in a direction parallel to said rotational axis and such that said plurality of optical beams intersect with each other substantially at a cross point when viewed in a direction parallel to said rotational axis;
- locating said cross point in the vicinity of said rotational axis of said rotary optical deflector, and producing via said rotary optical deflector, said plurality of scanning optical beams corresponding respectively to said plurality of optical beams incident thereto as a result of deflection at said mirror facet;
- causing a scanning over a scanning surface via said plurality of scanning optical beams being deflected by said rotary optical deflector;
- directing, via an optical directing device, said plurality of scanning optical beams to scanning points on a same optical path such that a deviation in a pitch of said scanning optical beams on said scanning surface is minimized;
- and
- providing said scanning points to have substantially the same coordinate in a horizontal scanning direction on said scanning surface.
5 more elements
A method for scanning a surface by means of a plurality of optical beams via a multiple-beam optical scanner, comprising:
- rotating a rotary optical deflector having a mirror facet about a rotational axis, and producing a plurality of scanning optical beams;
- and
- producing, via an optical source, a plurality of optical beams simultaneously, such that said plurality of optical beams are separated from each other in a direction parallel to said rotational axis and such that said plurality of optical beams intersect with each other substantially at a cross point when viewed in a direction parallel to said rotational axis;
- locating said cross point in the vicinity of said rotational axis of said rotary optical deflector, and producing via said rotary optical deflector, said plurality of scanning optical beams corresponding respectively to said plurality of optical beams incident thereto as a result of deflection at said mirror facet;
- causing a scanning over a scanning surface via said plurality of scanning optical beams being deflected by said rotary optical deflector;
- arranging said optical source for directing said plurality of scanning optical beams to scanning points on a same optical path such that a deviation in a pitch of said scanning optical beams on said scanning surface is minimized;
- and
- providing said scanning points to have substantially the same coordinate in a horizontal scanning direction on said scanning surface.
5 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.