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US 8,077,368 B2Granted
Optical scanning apparatus and image forming apparatus
AssigneeRicoh Company, Ltd.
InventorNaoki Miyatake
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Synchronization detecting units detect synchronization signals by receiving the light beam deflected to one side of a light source on one side of an optical deflector and receiving the light beam deflected to an opposite side of an optical axis of a scanning optical system from the light source on the other side of the optical deflector. Photodetectors that detect the synchronization signals are arranged on the opposite side of an optical axis of a scanning optical system from the light sources and on a side closer to the scanning optical system that detects the synchronization signals by receiving the light beam deflected to the light source.
Claims10
An optical scanning apparatus comprising:
- a plurality of light sources each of which emits a light beam to scan a corresponding one of a plurality of scan target surfaces;
- an optical deflector having a plurality of deflecting-reflecting surfaces, the light beams from the light sources being reflected by different deflecting-reflecting surfaces;
- a plurality of scanning optical systems each of which focuses a corresponding one of the light beams onto a corresponding one of the scan target surfaces, the light sources being arranged on same side of optical axes of all the scanning optical systems;
- and
- a plurality of synchronization detecting units, each of which detects a synchronization signal regarding one of a start point and an end point of scanning with one of the light beams on one of the scan target surfaces, wherein
- one of the synchronization detecting units detects the synchronization signal by receiving a light beam that is deflected by the optical deflector toward a side, which is the same as the side on which a corresponding one of the light sources is arranged, of a corresponding one of optical axes of a corresponding one of the optical scanning systems,
- another of the synchronization detecting units detects the synchronization signal by receiving a light beam that is deflected by the optical deflector toward a side, which is opposite to the side on which a corresponding one of the light sources is arranged, of a corresponding one of the optical axes of a corresponding one of the scanning optical systems, and
- each of the synchronization detecting units includes a photodetector that detects the synchronization signal, each photodetector being arranged on a side, which is opposite to the side on which the light sources are arranged, of a corresponding one of the optical axes of a corresponding one of the scanning optical systems.
5 more elements
An image forming apparatus comprising an optical scanning apparatus, the optical scanning apparatus including:
- a plurality of light sources each of which emits a light beam to scan a corresponding one of a plurality of scan target surfaces;
- an optical deflector having a plurality of deflecting-reflecting surfaces, the light beams from the light sources being reflected by different deflecting-reflecting surfaces;
- a plurality of scanning optical systems each of which focuses a corresponding one of the light beams onto a corresponding one of the scan target surfaces, the light sources being arranged on same side of optical axes of all the scanning optical systems;
- and
- a plurality of synchronization detecting units, each of which detects a synchronization signal regarding one of a start point and an end point of scanning with one of the light beams on one of the scan target surfaces, wherein
- one of the synchronization detecting units detects the synchronization signal by receiving a light beam that is deflected by the optical deflector toward a side, which is the same as the side on which a corresponding one of the light sources is arranged, of a corresponding one of the optical axes of a corresponding one of the optical scanning systems,
- another of the synchronization detecting units detects the synchronization signal by receiving a light beam that is deflected by the optical deflector toward a side, which is opposite to the side on which a corresponding one of the light sources is arranged, of a corresponding one of the optical axes of a corresponding one of the scanning optical systems, and
- each of the synchronization detecting units includes a photodetector that detects the synchronization signal, each photodetector being arranged on a side, which is opposite to the side on which the light sources are arranged, of a corresponding one of the optical axes of a corresponding one of the scanning optical systems.
5 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.