Light-emitting device, optical measurement device, and image forming device

Abstract

To suppress heat deformation of a member with heat generated by a light-emitting part.SOLUTION: A light-emitting device 10 includes: a substrate 20 including an upper surface 22 oriented on an upper side and a lower surface 24 oriented on an opposite side to the upper surface 22; a light-emitting part 70 disposed on a side of the upper surface 22 relative to the substrate 20, generating heat with light emission and having rigidity that is lower than that of the substrate 20; and a heating part 30 disposed on a side of the lower surface 24 relative to the substrate 20 and heating the substrate 20 from the side of the lower surface 24.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a light-emitting device, an optical measurement device, and an image forming device.

Background Art

[0002] Patent Document 1 describes a light-emitting device including a base material mounted on a wiring board, a light-emitting element array provided on the base material, and a first conductive pattern connected to the light-emitting element array and provided on the surface of the base material along the side surface of the light-emitting element array, the first conductive pattern having a facing region that is a region facing the light-emitting element array and an extension region extending beyond the facing region, and a plurality of through members connected to the facing region and the extension region and penetrating to the back side of the base material.

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0003]

Patent Document 1

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0004] An object of the present invention is to suppress thermal deformation of members due to heat generation of a light-emitting portion.

Means for Solving the Problems

[0005] The light-emitting device according to the first aspect includes a member having a surface facing one direction and another surface facing the opposite side of the surface, a light-emitting portion disposed on the surface side with respect to the member, generating heat upon light emission, and having lower rigidity than the member, and a heating portion disposed on the other surface side with respect to the member, heating the member from the other surface side.

[0006] The light-emitting device according to the second aspect is the light-emitting device according to the first aspect, further comprising a detection unit that detects the temperature of the member, and a control unit that controls the heating unit based on the detection result of the detection unit.

[0007] The light-emitting device according to the third aspect is the light-emitting device according to the second aspect, wherein the detection unit detects the temperature on the other surface side.

[0008] The light-emitting device according to the fourth aspect is the light-emitting device according to the third aspect, wherein the detection unit further detects the temperature on the surface side.

[0009] The light-emitting device according to the fifth aspect is the light-emitting device according to any one of the first to fourth aspects, wherein a position in the intersecting direction intersecting the one direction of the heating unit overlaps with the light-emitting unit.

[0010] The light-emitting device according to the sixth aspect is the light-emitting device according to any one of the first to fifth aspects, wherein the light-emitting unit is attached to the surface.

[0011] The light-emitting device according to the seventh aspect is the light-emitting device according to the sixth aspect, wherein the light-emitting unit is separated from the surface and is attached to the surface via a connecting portion.

[0012] The light-emitting device according to the eighth aspect is the light-emitting device according to the seventh aspect, wherein a plurality of the connecting portions are arranged at intervals from each other in one light-emitting unit, and a gap is formed between the light-emitting unit and the surface.

[0013] The light-emitting device according to the ninth aspect is the light-emitting device according to the seventh or eighth aspect, wherein a position in the intersecting direction intersecting the one direction of the heating unit overlaps with the connecting portion.

[0014] The light-emitting device according to the tenth aspect is the light-emitting device according to any one of the first to ninth aspects, wherein a plurality of the heating units are arranged at intervals from each other along the intersecting direction intersecting the one direction.

[0015] The light-emitting device according to the 11th aspect is the light-emitting device according to any one of the 1st to 10th aspects, wherein the member and the light-emitting part extend in an intersecting direction intersecting the one direction.

[0016] The light-emitting device according to the 12th aspect is the light-emitting device according to the 11th aspect, wherein a plurality of the light-emitting parts are arranged in a staggered manner along the intersecting direction, and one end of the light-emitting part in the intersecting direction overlaps with the other end of an adjacent other light-emitting part in the intersecting direction in position.

[0017] The light-emitting device according to the 13th aspect is the light-emitting device according to any one of the 1st to 12th aspects, further comprising other components arranged at a relative position defined with respect to the light-emitting part, and at least one of the light-emitting part or the other components is attached to the member.

[0018] The optical measurement device according to the 14th aspect includes the light-emitting device according to the 13th aspect, wherein the other component is a light-receiving part that receives light emitted from the light-emitting part and reflected from an object spaced apart in the one direction, and a shape specifying part that specifies a three-dimensional shape of the object based on the light received by the light-receiving part.

[0019] The image forming apparatus according to the 15th aspect includes an image holding body, and an optical device that forms an electrostatic latent image by forming an image of light on the charged image holding body, wherein the heating part is the light-emitting device according to any one of the 1st to 12th aspects attached to the member, and a developing device that develops the electrostatic latent image of the image holding body to form an image.

Advantages of the Invention

[0020] According to the light-emitting device described in the 1st aspect, compared with a configuration in which the heating part is disposed only between the member and the light-emitting part, thermal deformation of the member due to heat generation of the light-emitting part can be suppressed.

[0021] According to the light-emitting device described in the second aspect, compared with the configuration in which the heating unit is controlled based on the light emission amount of the light-emitting unit, thermal deformation of the members due to heat generation of the light-emitting unit can be suppressed.

[0022] According to the light-emitting device described in the third aspect, the heating unit can be controlled by the control unit based on the temperature detection result on the other surface side.

[0023] According to the light-emitting device described in the fourth aspect, the heating unit can be controlled by the control unit based on the temperature detection results on each of the surface side and the other surface side.

[0024] According to the light-emitting device described in the fifth aspect, compared with the configuration in which the entire heating unit is displaced with respect to the light-emitting unit in the crossing direction, thermal deformation of the members due to heat generation of the light-emitting unit can be suppressed.

[0025] According to the light-emitting device described in the sixth aspect, compared with the configuration in which the light-emitting unit is not attached to the surface, while promoting heat dissipation of the light-emitting unit, deformation of the light-emitting unit due to thermal deformation of the members can be suppressed.

[0026] According to the light-emitting device described in the seventh aspect, compared with the configuration in which the entire surface of the light-emitting unit is directly attached to the member, thermal deformation of the members due to heat generation of the light-emitting unit can be suppressed.

[0027] According to the light-emitting device described in the eighth aspect, compared with the configuration in which the connecting portion is arranged in the entire space between the light-emitting unit and the surface, thermal deformation of the members due to heat generation of the light-emitting unit can be suppressed.

[0028] According to the light-emitting device described in the ninth aspect, compared with the configuration in which the entire heating unit is displaced with respect to the connecting portion in the crossing direction, thermal deformation of the members due to heat generation of the light-emitting unit can be suppressed.

[0029] According to the light-emitting device described in the tenth aspect, compared with the configuration including the heating unit overlapping the entire light-emitting unit in the crossing direction, the light-emitting device can be made lighter.

[0030] According to the light-emitting device described in the 11th aspect, it is possible to suppress the thermal deformation of a member extending in the crossing direction so as to warp as the light-emitting part generates heat.

[0031] According to the light-emitting device described in the 12th aspect, in a configuration where the light-emitting parts are arranged in a staggered pattern, it is possible to suppress the thermal deformation of the member due to the heat generation of the light-emitting part as compared with a configuration in which the heating part is arranged only between the member and the light-emitting part.

[0032] According to the light-emitting device described in the 13th aspect, in a configuration where a member is related to the relative positions of the light-emitting part and other components, it is possible to suppress the change in the relative positions of the light-emitting part and other components due to the thermal deformation of the member.

[0033] According to the optical measurement device described in the 14th aspect, in a configuration including a light-receiving part and a shape specifying part, it is possible to improve the accuracy of specifying the shape of an object by the shape specifying part.

[0034] According to the image forming apparatus described in the 15th aspect, as compared with a configuration in which a heating means for heating a member is not attached to the member, it is possible to suppress an image forming defect due to heat generation of the light-emitting part while suppressing the influence on the developing device and the image holding body caused by heating the member.

Brief Description of the Drawings

[0035]

Figure 1

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Embodiments for Carrying Out the Invention

[0036] 〔First Embodiment〕 The light-emitting device 10 according to the first embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. 1 to 3.

[0037] In the following description, as shown in FIG. 1, the light-emitting device 10 is described with the light-emitting direction of the light-emitting device 10 being the upward direction in the device vertical direction, and the two directions orthogonal to the device vertical direction and orthogonal to each other are described as the device depth direction and the device width direction, respectively. Also, in the drawings, the device vertical direction (vertical direction), the device width direction (horizontal direction), and the device depth direction (horizontal direction) are described as the H direction, the W direction, and the D direction, respectively. Further, when it is necessary to distinguish between one side and the other side of each of the device vertical direction, the device width direction, and the device depth direction, when viewing the light-emitting device 10 from above in a plan view, the upper side is the -D side, the lower side is the +D side, the right side is the +W side, the left side is the -W side, the back side is the -H side, and the front side is the +H side.

[0038] The light-emitting device 10 according to the first embodiment is a device that emits light toward the +H side. In other words, the light-emitting device 10 is a device that irradiates light toward the +H side. As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the light-emitting device 10 includes a base material 20, a light-emitting portion 70, and a heating portion 30. The light-emitting device 10 further includes a detection portion 40 and a control portion 50 (not shown). The control portion 50 controls the operations of each portion. Details of the control portion 50 will be described later.

[0039] The base material 20 is a rectangular plate having an upper surface 22 along the D-W plane and facing the +H side and a lower surface 24 facing the -H side. The upper surface 22 is an example of a surface. The lower surface 24 is an example of another surface. The base material 20 is an example of a member. The base material 20 is, for example, a metal block such as stainless steel and has higher rigidity than the light-emitting portion 70 described later.

[0040] Note that the base material 20 in this embodiment is not limited to being formed of a metal block as long as it has higher rigidity than the light-emitting portion 70. For example, the base material 20 may be formed of sheet metal or may be formed of a resin material.

[0041] (Light-emitting portion) The light emitting unit 70 has a function of emitting light toward the +H side. The light emitting unit 70 in the present embodiment is a surface emitting semiconductor laser (VCSEL: Vertical Cavity Surface Emitting Laser) element mounted on a wiring board and is attached to the upper surface 22 of the base material 20 (see FIG. 2). That is, the light emitting unit 70 is disposed on the upper surface 22 side with respect to the base material 20. As shown in FIG. 1, the light emitting unit 70 has a rectangular shape smaller than the base material 20 when viewed from the vertical direction of the device. Further, the light emitting unit 70 has lower rigidity than the base material 20. Specifically, the base material 20 has higher bending rigidity in the H direction and higher tensile and compressive rigidity in the W direction and the D direction than the light emitting unit 70. By being attached to the base material 20, the light emitting unit 70 has increased rigidity in each of the above directions as compared with the case of being a single item. The operation of the light emitting unit 70 is controlled by the control unit 50. Further, the light emitting unit 70 generates heat when emitting light. The heat generated with the light emission of the light emitting unit 70 is dissipated by being conducted to the upper surface 22 of the base material 20. In other words, the light emitting unit 70 is prevented from overheating by dissipating heat through the base material 20. Further in other words, the light emitting unit 70 heats the upper surface 22 of the base material 20 when emitting light.

[0042] (Heating unit) The heating unit 30 is a thin-plate electric heater that is attached to the lower surface 24 of the base material 20 and has the function of heating the lower surface 24 by energization. That is, the heating unit 30 has the function of heating the base material 20 from the lower surface 24 side. Further, the heating unit 30 is disposed on the lower surface 24 side with respect to the base material 20. The heating unit 30 forms a rectangular shape that is smaller than the base material 20 and larger than the light-emitting unit 70 when viewed in the vertical direction of the device, and is arranged such that the light-emitting unit 70 is located inside the heating unit 30. That is, the position of the heating unit 30 in the horizontal direction overlaps with the light-emitting unit 70. Specifically, the position of the heating unit 30 in the width direction of the device overlaps with the light-emitting unit 70. Further, the position of the heating unit 30 in the width direction of the device overlaps with a part of the light-emitting unit 70. Also, the position of the heating unit 30 in the depth direction of the device overlaps with the light-emitting unit 70. Further, the position of the heating unit 30 in the depth direction of the device overlaps with a part of the light-emitting unit 70. The operation of the heating unit 30 is controlled by the control unit 50.

[0043] (Detection unit) The detection unit 40 has the function of detecting the temperature of the base material 20. As shown in FIG. 2, the detection unit 40 includes an upper detection unit 42 and a lower detection unit 44. The upper detection unit 42 is a temperature sensor attached to the upper surface 22 of the base material 20 and has the function of detecting the temperature of the upper surface 22 of the base material 20. That is, the detection unit 40 detects the temperature on the upper surface 22 side of the base material 20. The lower detection unit 44 is a temperature sensor attached to the lower surface 24 of the base material 20 and has the function of detecting the temperature of the lower surface 24 of the base material 20. That is, the detection unit 40 detects the temperature on the lower surface 24 side of the base material 20.

[0044] FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing the hardware configuration of the light-emitting device 10. In the light-emitting device 10, the light-emitting unit 70, the heating unit 30, the detection unit 40, and the control unit 50 are connected to be mutually communicable via a bus.

[0045] (Control unit) As shown in FIG. 3, the control unit 50 includes a CPU (Central Processing Unit), a ROM (Read Only Memory) 52, a RAM (Random Access Memory) 53, and a storage 54. The CPU 51 is a central processing unit that executes various programs and controls each part. That is, the CPU 51 reads a program from the ROM 52 or the storage 54 and executes the program using the RAM 53 as a working area. The CPU 51 performs control of each of the above configurations and various arithmetic processes according to the program recorded in the ROM 52 or the storage 54. In the present embodiment, the ROM 52 or the storage 54 stores a temperature difference control program for operating the heating unit 30 so that the temperature difference between the temperature on the upper surface 22 side and the temperature on the lower surface 24 side detected by the detection unit 40 becomes small. According to this program, the control unit 50 has a function of controlling the heating unit 30 based on the detection result of the detection unit 40. FIG. 15 shows, as an example, a graph showing the relationship between the time (elapsed time) and the temperature at each part when the temperature of the heating unit 30 is controlled with respect to the temperature of the light emitting unit 70 by executing the temperature difference control program. Note that, in the present embodiment, the heating unit 30 is operated so that the temperature difference between the temperature on the upper surface 22 side and the temperature on the lower surface 24 side becomes small. However, the present invention is not limited to this configuration. For example, in another embodiment, the ROM 52 or the storage 54 stores a temperature control program for operating the heating unit 30 so that the temperature of the base material 20 becomes a predetermined target temperature. According to this program, the control unit 50 may control the heating unit 30 so that the temperature of the base material 20 becomes a predetermined target temperature. FIG. 16 shows, as an example, a graph showing the relationship between the time (elapsed time) and the temperature at each part when the temperature of the heating unit 30 is controlled with respect to the temperature of the light emitting unit 70 by executing the temperature control program.

[0046] The ROM 52 stores various programs and various data. The RAM 53 temporarily stores programs or data as a working area. The storage 54 is composed of an HDD (Hard Disk Drive) or an SSD (Solid State Drive), and stores various programs including an operating system and various data.

[0047] <Function and Effect> Next, the function and effect of the optical device 10 of the first embodiment will be described. In this description, when describing a comparative form with respect to the first embodiment, when using components similar to those of the light-emitting device 10, the reference numerals and names of those components will be used as they are for the description.

[0048] First, a light-emitting device in which the light-emitting unit 70 is disposed on the upper surface 22 side with respect to the base material 20 will be described. In this light-emitting device, when the light-emitting unit 70 emits light, the portion on the upper surface 22 side of the base material 20 is heated and thermally expanded due to the heat generated by the light emission of the light-emitting unit 70. On the other hand, the portion on the lower surface 24 side that is farther from the light-emitting unit 70 than the portion on the upper surface 22 side of the base material 20 is less likely to be heated by the light-emitting unit 70 and is less likely to thermally expand than the portion on the upper surface 22 side. Therefore, in the light-emitting device in which the light-emitting unit 70 is disposed on the upper surface 22 side with respect to the base material 20, when the light-emitting unit 70 emits light, the base material 20 is thermally deformed due to the heat generated by the light emission of the light-emitting unit 70.

[0049] On the other hand, the light-emitting device 10 of the present embodiment includes the heating unit 30 disposed on the lower surface 24 side with respect to the base material 20, so that the heating unit 30 can heat the portion on the lower surface 24 side of the base material 20. Thereby, the light-emitting device 10 can heat and thermally expand the portion on the upper surface 22 side and the portion on the lower surface 24 side of the base material 20 by the light-emitting unit 70 and the heating unit 30, respectively. Therefore, the light-emitting device 10 can suppress the thermal deformation of the base material 20 accompanying the heat generation of the light-emitting unit 70. In particular, the light-emitting device 10 can suppress the thermal deformation of the base material 20 accompanying the heat generation of the light-emitting unit 70 as compared with a configuration in which the heating unit 30 is disposed only between the base material 20 and the light-emitting unit 70.

[0050] Further, the light-emitting device 10 of the present embodiment further includes a detection unit 40 that detects the temperature of the base material 20, and a control unit 50 that controls the heating unit 30 based on the detection result of the detection unit 40. Thereby, compared with the configuration in which the heating unit 30 is controlled based on the light emission amount of the light-emitting unit 70, the light-emitting device 10 of the present embodiment can adjust the heating amount by the heating unit 30 based on the detection result of the detection unit 40. Therefore, the light-emitting device 10 of the present embodiment can suppress the thermal deformation of the base material 20 due to the heat generation of the light-emitting unit 70 as compared with the configuration in which the heating unit 30 is controlled based on the light emission amount of the light-emitting unit 70.

[0051] Further, the light-emitting device 10 of the present embodiment has a lower detection unit 44 in which the detection unit 40 detects the temperature of the lower surface 24 of the base material 20. Therefore, the light-emitting device 10 of the present embodiment can control the heating unit 30 with the control unit 50 based on the temperature detection result on the lower surface 24 side of the base material 20.

[0052] Further, the light-emitting device 10 of the present embodiment further has an upper detection unit 42 in which the detection unit 40 detects the temperature of the upper surface 22 of the base material 20. Therefore, the light-emitting device 10 of the present embodiment can control the heating unit 30 with the control unit 50 based on the temperature detection results on the upper surface 22 side and the lower surface 24 side of the base material 20, respectively.

[0053] Further, in the light-emitting device 10 of the present embodiment, the position of the heating unit 30 in the horizontal direction overlaps with the light-emitting unit 70. Thereby, the light-emitting device 10 can heat the lower surface 24 of the base material 20 with the heating unit 30 so as to be symmetric in the vertical direction of the device with respect to the heating range on the upper surface 22 side of the base material 20 due to the light emission of the light-emitting unit 70. Therefore, the light-emitting device 10 of the present embodiment can suppress the thermal deformation of the base material 20 due to the heat generation of the light-emitting unit 70 as compared with the configuration in which the entire heating unit 30 is displaced with respect to the light-emitting unit 70 in the horizontal direction.

[0054] In addition, in the light-emitting device 10 of the present embodiment, the light-emitting unit 70 is attached to the upper surface 22 of the base material 20. Therefore, compared with a configuration in which the light-emitting unit 70 is disposed at a defined position spaced above the base material 20 and separated from the base material 20, the heat generated along with the light emission of the light-emitting unit 70 can be conducted to the base material 20. That is, the light-emitting device 10 of the present embodiment can promote heat dissipation of the light-emitting unit 70 as compared with a configuration in which the light-emitting unit 70 is not attached to the upper surface 22 of the base material 20. Further, in a configuration in which the light-emitting unit 70 is attached to the upper surface 22 of the base material 20, when the upper surface 22 of the base material 20 is heated by heat generation accompanying the light emission of the light-emitting unit 70 and undergoes thermal deformation, the light-emitting unit 70 may be deformed so as to follow the thermally deformed upper surface 22 of the base material 20. On the other hand, the light-emitting device 10 of the present embodiment further includes a heating unit 30 in a configuration in which the light-emitting unit 70 is attached to the upper surface 22 of the base material 20. Therefore, in the configuration including the light-emitting unit 70 and the heating unit 30, the light-emitting device 10 of the present embodiment can suppress deformation of the light-emitting unit 70 accompanying thermal deformation of the base material 20 while promoting heat dissipation of the light-emitting unit 70 as compared with a configuration in which the light-emitting unit 70 is not attached to the upper surface 22 of the base material 20.

[0055] 〔Second Embodiment〕 Next, an exposure device 110 and an image forming device 100 according to a second embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. 4 to 9.

[0056] In the following description, when the image forming device 100 is viewed from the front from the side where the user (not shown) stands, the device vertical direction (vertical direction), the device width direction (horizontal direction), and the device depth direction (horizontal direction) are described as the H direction, the W direction, and the D direction, respectively. Further, when it is necessary to distinguish between one side and the other side in each of the device vertical direction, the device width direction, and the device depth direction, when the image forming device 100 is viewed from the front, the upper side is the +H side, the lower side is the -H side, the right side is the +W side, the left side is the -W side, the back side is the -D side, and the front side is the +D side.

[0057] <Image Forming Device> The image forming apparatus 100 according to the second embodiment is an electrophotographic image forming apparatus that forms and fixes a toner image on a sheet member P as an example of a recording medium. As shown in FIG. 4, the image forming apparatus 100 includes a housing 100a, a storage unit 210, a conveyance unit 290, a forming unit 220, a fixing unit 280, and a control unit 150 (not shown). The storage unit 210 stores the sheet member P. The conveyance unit 290 conveys the sheet member P stored in the storage unit 210 toward the forming unit 220. The housing 100a houses each unit of the image forming apparatus 100. The control unit 150 controls the operations of each unit of the image forming apparatus 100. Details of the control unit 150 will be described later.

[0058] The forming unit 220 includes photosensitive unit 230Y, 230M, 230C, and 230K, and a transfer unit 270. Note that the subscript "Y" of the reference numeral indicates yellow, "M" indicates magenta, "C" indicates cyan, and "K" indicates black.

[0059] The photosensitive units 230Y~K (230Y, 230M, 230C, 230K) are arranged inside the housing 100a in a state of being lined up when viewed from the front of the image forming apparatus 100. The photosensitive units 230Y, 230M, 230C, and 230K have the same configuration except for the toner to be used. For this reason, the reference numeral representing the configuration of the photosensitive unit is assigned to the photosensitive unit 230K, and the reference numerals for the photosensitive units 230Y, 230M, and 230C are omitted.

[0060] The photoreceptor units 230Y - K are composed of a photoreceptor drum 232, a developing device 234, an exposure device 110, and a charging device 236. The photoreceptor drum 232 is an example of an image holding member on which an electrostatic latent image is formed on its outer peripheral surface. It is rotatably provided with the axial direction being the direction of viewing the image forming apparatus 100 from the front, and is rotated clockwise as viewed from the front of the image forming apparatus 100 by a motor (not shown). The charging device 236 charges the outer peripheral surface of the photoreceptor drum 232 to a predetermined potential. The exposure device 110 is arranged on the +H side with respect to the exposure device 110, and irradiates light onto the photoreceptor drum 232 charged by the charging device 236 to form an electrostatic latent image. The exposure device 110 is an example of a light emitting device. The developing device 234 develops the electrostatic latent image formed on the photoreceptor drum 232 using a developer containing toner to form a toner image. Note that the details of the exposure device 110 will be described later.

[0061] The transfer unit 270 is composed of an intermediate transfer belt 271, a plurality of primary transfer rollers 272, a driving roller 273, a secondary transfer roller 274, and a counter roller 275. The intermediate transfer belt 271 is an endless belt supported on its inner peripheral surface by the primary transfer roller 272, the driving roller 273, and the secondary transfer roller 274, and is rotated counterclockwise as viewed from the front of the image forming apparatus 100 by the driving roller 273. The transfer unit 270 transfers the toner image formed by the photoreceptor units 230Y - K to the sheet member P conveyed by the conveying unit 290 via the intermediate transfer belt 271, and conveys the sheet member P with the transferred toner image to the fixing unit 280.

[0062] The fixing unit 280 fixes the toner image transferred to the sheet member P to the sheet member P and discharges the sheet member P with the fixed toner image out of the apparatus.

[0063] (Exposure Device) Next, the exposure device 110 will be described.

[0064] As shown in FIGS. 5 to 8, the exposure apparatus 110 includes a substrate 120, a plurality of light emitting units 170, and a heating unit 130. In the present embodiment, the exposure apparatus 110 includes three light emitting units 170. The exposure apparatus 110 further includes a detection unit 140, a spacer 160, and a cover unit 112. As shown in FIG. 9, the exposure apparatus 110 is communicably connected to a control unit 150 via a bus. In other words, the exposure apparatus 110 includes the control unit 150.

[0065] As shown in FIGS. 5 to 7, the substrate 120 is a rectangular parallelepiped block material having the depth direction of the apparatus as its longitudinal direction. The substrate 120 has an upper surface 122 along the D-W plane and facing the +H side, and a lower surface 124 facing the -H side. The upper surface 122 is an example of a surface. The lower surface 124 is an example of another surface. The substrate 120 is an example of a member. The substrate 120 is formed of a metal such as stainless steel, for example, and has higher rigidity than the light emitting unit 170 described later.

[0066] Note that the substrate 120 in the present embodiment is not limited to being formed of a metal block as long as it has higher rigidity than the light emitting unit 170. For example, the substrate 120 may be formed of sheet metal or a resin material.

[0067] (Light Emitting Unit) Each of the three light emitting units 170 has a function of emitting light toward the +H side. As shown in FIG. 7, the three light emitting units 170 each extend in the longitudinal direction (depth direction of the apparatus) of the substrate 120, and are attached to the upper surface 122 of the substrate 120 in a staggered pattern along the longitudinal direction (depth direction of the apparatus) of the substrate 120 via the spacer 160 described later. That is, the three light emitting units 170 are arranged in a state of being separated from the upper surface 122. The three light emitting units 170 are the light emitting units 170a, 170b, and 170c from the +D side. In the present embodiment, the light emitting unit 170a and the light emitting unit 170c are arranged on the -W side with respect to the light emitting unit 170b.

[0068] Each of the three light emitting units 170 has at least one end on at least one side in the depth direction of the device overlapping with at least the other end on the other side in the depth direction of another light emitting unit 170 adjacent to the light emitting unit 170 in the depth direction of the device. Specifically, as shown in FIG. 7, the light emitting unit 170a is arranged such that a part of it overlaps with the light emitting unit 170b when viewed from the device width direction. Specifically, the end on the -D side of the light emitting unit 170a overlaps with the end on the +D side of the light emitting unit 170b in the depth direction of the device. Also, the light emitting unit 170c is arranged such that a part of it overlaps with the light emitting unit 170b when viewed from the device width direction. Specifically, the end on the +D side of the light emitting unit 170c overlaps with the end on the -D side of the light emitting unit 170b in the depth direction of the device.

[0069] The light emitting units 170a, 170b, and 170c each have the same configuration. Therefore, the reference numerals representing the configuration of the light emitting unit 170 are assigned to the light emitting unit 170a, and are omitted for the light emitting unit 170b and the light emitting unit 170c.

[0070] As shown in FIGS. 5 and 6, the light emitting unit 170a includes a base material 172, a light emitting substrate 174, a lens unit 176, and a lens holding unit 178.

[0071] The base material 172 is a rectangular parallelepiped block material with the depth direction of the device as the longitudinal direction. The base material 172 is formed of a metal such as stainless steel, for example.

[0072] As shown in FIGS. 5 to 7, the base material 172 has recesses 172a in which the upper detection unit 142 of the detection unit 140 described later is arranged. The recess 172a is a depression that is concave with respect to the upper surface of the base material 172, and a plurality of them are formed at intervals along the longitudinal direction (depth direction of the device) of the base material 120. In the present embodiment, four recesses 172a are formed for one base material 172.

[0073] The light-emitting substrate 174 has a function of emitting light toward the +H side. The light-emitting substrate 174 includes a thin-plate-shaped substrate 174a extending in the depth direction of the apparatus that spreads along the upper surface of the base material 172, and a light source 174b disposed along the depth direction of the apparatus on the upper surface of the substrate 174a. The light source 174b in the present embodiment is a light-emitting element array having a semiconductor substrate and a plurality of light-emitting elements such as light-emitting diodes, light-emitting thyristors, or laser elements formed along the depth direction of the apparatus on the semiconductor substrate. Note that the light source 174b is not limited to a light-emitting element array and may be a single light-emitting element.

[0074] The lens unit 176 is a lens array extending in the depth direction of the apparatus, which is disposed on the +H side with respect to the light source 174b of the light-emitting substrate 174. The lens unit 176 has a rectangular shape when viewed from the depth direction of the apparatus, and has a function of allowing the light emitted from the light source 174b to enter the -H side surface and exit from the +H side surface toward the surface of the photosensitive drum 232. The lens unit 176 is disposed at a relative position defined with respect to the light source 174b.

[0075] The lens holding unit 178 is disposed on the upper surface of the light-emitting substrate 174 and has a function of holding the lens unit 176 while sandwiching it in the apparatus width direction.

[0076] The light-emitting unit 170a has lower rigidity than the base material 120. Specifically, the base material 120 has higher bending rigidity in the vertical direction and width direction of the apparatus than the light-emitting unit 170a, and higher tensile and compressive rigidity in the width direction and depth direction of the apparatus. By attaching the light-emitting unit 170a to the base material 120, the rigidity in each of the above directions is increased as compared with the case of the single unit.

[0077] The light-emitting unit 170 is controlled by the control unit 150 in terms of its operation. Also, the light-emitting unit 170 generates heat when emitting light. The heat generated along with the light emission of the light-emitting unit 170 is conducted to the upper surface 122 of the base material 120 via the spacer 160, and is dissipated by radiating toward the upper surface 122 via the gap 114 described later. In other words, the light-emitting unit 170 is prevented from overheating by dissipating heat through the base material 120. To put it more specifically, the light-emitting unit 170 heats the upper surface 122 of the base material 120 when emitting light.

[0078] (Spacer) As shown in FIGS. 5 and 6, the spacer 160 is attached to the upper surface 122 of the base material 120 so as to support the light-emitting unit 170 from below, and is a disk with the vertical direction of the device as the axial direction. In other words, the spacer 160 is arranged so as to be sandwiched in the vertical direction of the device between the base material 120 and the light-emitting unit 170. The spacer 160 is an example of a connection part. The diameter of the spacer 160 is shorter than the length of the base material 120 in the device width direction. As shown in FIG. 6, a plurality of spacers 160 are arranged at intervals along the longitudinal direction (device depth direction) of the light-emitting unit 170. In the present embodiment, three spacers 160 are arranged for one light-emitting unit 170. Thereby, a gap 114 is formed between the light-emitting unit 170 and the base material 120. Specifically, since the spacer 160 is arranged between the base material 120 and the light-emitting unit 170, a gap 114 is formed between the lower surface of the base material 172 of the light-emitting unit 170 and the upper surface 122 of the base material 120.

[0079] In the present embodiment, the three spacers 160 arranged for one light-emitting unit 170 are arranged so as to support both end portions of the base material 120 of the light-emitting unit 170 in the device depth direction and the central portion of the base material 120 in the device depth direction.

[0080] (Heating unit) The heating unit 130 is a thin-plate electric heater that is attached to the lower surface 124 of the base material 120 and has the function of heating the lower surface 124 by energization. That is, the heating unit 130 has the function of heating the base material 120 from the lower surface 124 side. Further, the heating unit 130 is disposed on the lower surface 124 side with respect to the base material 120. As shown in FIG. 8, the heating unit 130 has an H-shaped surface that stands in the device width direction when viewed from the device vertical direction, and a plurality of them are arranged side by side at intervals along the longitudinal direction (device depth direction) of the lower surface 124. In the present embodiment, four heating units 130 are arranged. The four heating units 130 are the heating units 130a, 130b, 130c, and 130d from the +D side. The operations of the four heating units 130 are controlled by the control unit 50.

[0081] The four heating units 130a to 130d (130a, 130b, 130c, 130d) are respectively arranged so as to overlap a part of the three light emitting units 170 when viewed from the device vertical direction. In other words, the heating unit 130 is arranged so that the position in the device depth direction overlaps a part of the light emitting unit 170. Specifically, a part of the heating unit 130a is arranged so as to overlap the +D side end of the light emitting unit 170a when viewed from the device vertical direction. Also, a part of the heating unit 130b is arranged so as to overlap the -D side end of the light emitting unit 170a when viewed from the device vertical direction. Also, a part of the heating unit 130b is arranged so as to overlap the +D side end of the light emitting unit 170b when viewed from the device vertical direction. Also, a part of the heating unit 130c is arranged so as to overlap the -D side end of the light emitting unit 170b when viewed from the device vertical direction. Also, a part of the heating unit 130c is arranged so as to overlap the +D side end of the light emitting unit 170c when viewed from the device vertical direction. Also, a part of the heating unit 130d is arranged so as to overlap the -D side end of the light emitting unit 170c when viewed from the device vertical direction.

[0082] Further, the heating units 130 are positioned such that their positions in the depth direction of the apparatus overlap with the spacers 160. Specifically, the heating units 130a to 130d are each arranged so as to overlap with a part of the spacers 160 in the depth direction of the apparatus. More specifically, the heating unit 130a is arranged so as to overlap with the spacer 160 disposed at the +D side end of the light emitting unit 170a in the depth direction of the apparatus. Also, the heating unit 130b is arranged so as to overlap with the spacer 160 disposed at the -D side end of the light emitting unit 170a in the depth direction of the apparatus. Also, the heating unit 130b is arranged so as to overlap with the spacer 160 disposed at the +D side end of the light emitting unit 170b in the depth direction of the apparatus. Also, the heating unit 130c is arranged so as to overlap with the spacer 160 disposed at the -D side end of the light emitting unit 170b in the depth direction of the apparatus. Also, the heating unit 130c is arranged so as to overlap with the spacer 160 disposed at the +D side end of the light emitting unit 170c in the depth direction of the apparatus. Also, the heating unit 130c is arranged so as to overlap with the spacer 160 disposed at the -D side end of the light emitting unit 170c in the depth direction of the apparatus.

[0083] (Detection unit) As shown in FIG. 5, the detection unit 140 includes an upper detection unit 142 and a lower detection unit 144.

[0084] The upper detection unit 142 is a temperature sensor disposed in each of a plurality of recesses 172a formed in the base material 172 of the light emitting unit 170, and has a function of detecting the temperature of the light emitting unit 170. That is, the upper detection unit 142 of the detection unit 140 detects the temperature on the upper surface 122 side of the base material 120. In the present embodiment, as shown in FIG. 7, the upper detection unit 142 is disposed in each of the recesses 172a formed in four numbers for each of the three light emitting units 170.

[0085] The lower detection unit 144 is a temperature sensor disposed on the lower surface 124 of the substrate 120, and has a function of detecting the temperature of the lower surface 124 of the substrate 120. That is, the lower detection unit 144 of the detection unit 140 detects the temperature on the lower surface 124 side of the substrate 120. In the present embodiment, as shown in FIG. 8, six lower detection units 144 are disposed on the lower surface 124 of the substrate 120. Specifically, the six lower detection units 144 are arranged in a staggered pattern extending in the depth direction of the apparatus as viewed from the vertical direction of the apparatus, and are arranged in three pairs (two in each pair) so as to overlap with three light emitting units 170 arranged in a staggered pattern extending in the depth direction of the apparatus.

[0086] FIG. 9 is a block diagram showing the hardware configuration of the exposure apparatus 110. In the exposure apparatus 110, the light emitting unit 170, the heating unit 130, the detection unit 140, and the control unit 150 are connected to each other via a bus so as to be communicable with each other. Although the light emitting unit 170 has a plurality of light emitting units 170a to 170b, in FIG. 9, for simplicity of the drawing, they are shown as one light emitting unit 170. Similarly, for the heating unit 130 (heating units 130a to 130d), the upper detection unit 142, and the lower detection unit 144, in FIG. 9, for simplicity of the drawing, they are shown as one unit each.

[0087] (Control Unit) As shown in FIG. 9, the control unit 150 includes a CPU (Central Processing Unit), a ROM (Read Only Memory) 152, a RAM (Random Access Memory) 153, and a storage 154. The CPU 151 is a central processing unit that executes various programs and controls each part. That is, the CPU 151 reads a program from the ROM 152 or the storage 154 and executes the program using the RAM 153 as a work area. The CPU 151 performs control of each of the above configurations and various arithmetic processes according to the program recorded in the ROM 152 or the storage 154. In the present embodiment, the ROM 152 or the storage 154 stores a temperature distribution calculation program that calculates the temperature distribution inside the base material 120 from the detection results of the temperature on the upper surface 22 side and the lower surface 24 side of the base material 120 by the detection unit 140. Further, the ROM 152 or the storage 154 stores a temperature difference control program that operates the heating unit 130 so that the temperature difference inside the base material 120 becomes small based on the calculation result of the temperature distribution calculation program. Thereby, the difference in the thermal expansion amount between the light emitting unit 170 and the base material 120, mainly the variation in the joint position in the longitudinal direction, is suppressed. In another embodiment, the ROM 152 or the storage 154 stores a temperature control program that operates the heating unit 130 so that the internal temperature of the base material 120 becomes a predetermined target temperature based on the calculation result of the temperature distribution calculation program. With these programs, the control unit 150 may have a function of controlling the heating unit 130 based on the detection result of the detection unit 140. In this case, the thermal expansion of the base material 120, mainly the variation in the joint position in the short direction, is suppressed.

[0088] The ROM 152 stores various programs and various data. The RAM 153 temporarily stores a program or data as a work area. The storage 154 is composed of an HDD (Hard Disk Drive) or an SSD (Solid State Drive) and stores various programs including an operating system and various data.

[0089] (Others) As shown in FIG. 5, the cover portion 112 has a U-shaped cross section when viewed from the depth direction of the apparatus, and is a panel-shaped cover body that covers the base material 120 from below and sandwiches the base material 120 in the apparatus width direction. As shown in FIG. 6, the cover portion 112 extends in the depth direction of the apparatus. Further, as shown in FIG. 5, the cover portion 112 is attached to the base material 120 such that the bottom of the U-shape is separated from the heating portion 130 in the up-down direction of the apparatus. The cover portion 112 forms a duct through which air sucked from the outside of the housing 100a by a fan (not shown) flows in a space surrounded between the cover portion 112 and the lower surface 124 of the base material 120. Above the upper surface 122, the cover portion 112 covers each light emitting portion 170 from the W direction. Further, a gap is formed as a heat insulating layer between the cover portion 112 and each light emitting portion 170. Therefore, compared with the configuration in which the cover portion 112 is located only below the upper surface 122, the heat emitted from the light emitting portion 170 is suppressed from being radiated in the W direction. The heat from the light emitting portion 170 is mainly radiated to the air flowing through the above-described duct via the base material 120.

[0090] The exposure device 110 is disposed on the +H side with respect to the exposure device 110, and irradiates light onto the photosensitive drum 232 charged by the charging device 236 to form an electrostatic latent image.

[0091] <Function and Effect> Next, the functions and effects of the exposure device 110 and the image forming apparatus 100 of the second embodiment will be described. In this description, when describing a comparative form with respect to the second embodiment, when using components similar to the exposure device 110 and the image forming apparatus 100, the reference numerals and names of those components will be used as they are for the description.

[0092] The exposure device 110 includes a heating portion 130 disposed on the lower surface 124 side with respect to the base material 120. Therefore, the exposure device 110 of the second embodiment can achieve the same effects as those of the first embodiment including the heating portion 30.

[0093] The exposure apparatus 110 further includes a detection unit 140 and a control unit 150. Therefore, the exposure apparatus 110 of the second embodiment can achieve the same effects as those of the first embodiment including the detection unit 40 and the control unit 50.

[0094] Further, the exposure apparatus 110 further includes a lower detection unit 144 that detects the temperature on the lower surface 124 side of the substrate 120. Therefore, the exposure apparatus 110 of the second embodiment can achieve the same effects as those of the first embodiment including the lower detection unit 44.

[0095] Further, the exposure apparatus 110 further includes an upper detection unit 142 that detects the temperature on the upper surface 122 side of the substrate 120. Therefore, the exposure apparatus 110 of the second embodiment can achieve the same effects as those of the first embodiment including the upper detection unit 42.

[0096] Further, in the exposure apparatus 110, the position of the heating unit 130 in the depth direction of the apparatus overlaps with the light emitting unit 170. Therefore, the exposure apparatus 110 of the second embodiment can achieve the same effects as those of the first embodiment in which the position of the heating unit 30 in the depth direction of the apparatus overlaps with the light emitting unit 70.

[0097] Further, the light emitting unit 170 of the exposure apparatus 110 is attached to the upper surface 122 of the substrate 120. Therefore, the exposure apparatus 110 of the second embodiment can achieve the same effects as those of the first embodiment in which the light emitting unit 70 is attached to the upper surface 22 of the substrate 20.

[0098] Further, the light emitting unit 170 of the exposure apparatus 110 is separated from the upper surface 122 of the substrate 120 and is attached to the upper surface 122 via a spacer 160. The exposure apparatus 110 of the present embodiment is compared with an exposure apparatus 310 as a first comparative form shown below.

[0099] The exposure apparatus 310 of the first comparative form does not include a configuration corresponding to the spacer 160 in the present embodiment, and the light-emitting unit 170 is directly attached so as to contact the entire lower surface of the base material 172 with the upper surface 122 of the base material 120 without passing through the spacer 160. Except for the above points, the exposure apparatus 310 of the first comparative form has the same configuration as the exposure apparatus 110 of the present embodiment.

[0100] Since the heat transfer area between the light-emitting unit 170 and the base material 120 of the exposure apparatus 310 of the first comparative form is larger than that of the exposure apparatus 110 of the present embodiment, compared with the exposure apparatus 110 of the present embodiment, the portion on the upper surface 122 side of the base material 120 is likely to thermally expand due to the heat generation of the light-emitting unit 170. That is, the exposure apparatus 310 of the first comparative form is more likely to cause thermal deformation of the base material 120 than the exposure apparatus 110 of the present embodiment.

[0101] On the other hand, in the exposure apparatus 110 of the present embodiment, since the light-emitting unit 170 is attached to the upper surface 122 via the spacer 160, the heat transfer area between the light-emitting unit 170 and the base material 120 is smaller than that of the first comparative form. Therefore, in the exposure apparatus 110 of the present embodiment, the portion on the upper surface 122 side of the base material 120 is less likely to thermally expand due to the heat generation of the light-emitting unit 170 compared with the first comparative form. Further, in the exposure apparatus 110 of the present embodiment, the heat of the base material 120 having a higher temperature than the light-emitting unit 170 is less likely to be dissipated to the light-emitting unit 170 compared with the first comparative form. Therefore, the exposure apparatus 110 of the present embodiment can suppress the thermal deformation of the base material 120 due to the heat generation of the light-emitting unit 170 compared with the configuration in which the entire lower surface of the light-emitting unit 170 is directly attached to the base material 120.

[0102] Further, in the exposure apparatus 110, three spacers 160 are arranged at intervals from each other in one light-emitting unit 170. Also, a gap 114 is formed between the light-emitting unit 170 and the upper surface 122 of the substrate 120. Therefore, in the exposure apparatus 110, the heat transfer area between the light-emitting unit 170 and the substrate 120 is smaller than in a configuration where a connection portion is arranged throughout the space between the light-emitting unit 170 and the upper surface 122. Thus, in the exposure apparatus 110 of the present embodiment, the portion on the upper surface 122 side of the substrate 120 is less likely to thermally expand due to the heat generation of the light-emitting unit 170 compared to a configuration where a connection portion is arranged throughout the space between the light-emitting unit 170 and the upper surface 122. Also, in the exposure apparatus 110 of the embodiment, the heat of the substrate 120, which is at a higher temperature than the light-emitting unit 170, is less likely to be radiated to the light-emitting unit 170 compared to a configuration where a connection portion is arranged throughout the space between the light-emitting unit 170 and the upper surface 122. Therefore, the exposure apparatus 110 of the present embodiment can suppress the thermal deformation of the substrate 120 due to the heat generation of the light-emitting unit 170 compared to a configuration where a connection portion is arranged throughout the space between the light-emitting unit 170 and the upper surface 122.

[0103] Also, in the exposure apparatus 110, the heating unit 130 overlaps the spacer 160 in the depth direction of the apparatus. Thereby, the exposure apparatus 110 can heat the lower surface 124 of the substrate 120 with the heating unit 130 so as to correspond to the heating range on the upper surface 122 side of the substrate 120 via the spacer 160 accompanying the light emission of the light-emitting unit 170. Thus, the exposure apparatus 110 of the present embodiment can suppress the thermal deformation of the substrate 120 due to the heat generation of the light-emitting unit 170 compared to a configuration where the entire heating unit 130 is displaced from the spacer 160 in the horizontal direction.

[0104] Also, in the exposure apparatus 110, four heating units 130 are arranged at intervals from each other along the depth direction of the apparatus. Thus, the exposure apparatus 110 of the present embodiment can reduce the weight of the exposure apparatus 110 compared to a configuration including a heating unit that overlaps the entire light-emitting unit 170 in the depth direction of the apparatus.

[0105] Further, in the exposure apparatus 110, the base material 120 and the light emitting unit 170 extend in the depth direction of the apparatus. Therefore, the exposure apparatus 110 of the present embodiment includes the heating unit 130, so that it is possible to suppress the thermal deformation of the base material 120 extending in the depth direction of the apparatus due to the heat generation of the light emitting unit 170 and warping.

[0106] Further, in the exposure apparatus 110, the three light emitting units 170 are arranged in a staggered pattern along the depth direction of the apparatus. Therefore, in the exposure apparatus 110 of the present embodiment, in the configuration where the three light emitting units 170 are arranged in a staggered pattern along the depth direction of the apparatus, compared with the configuration in which the heating unit is arranged only between the base material 120 and the light emitting unit 170, it is possible to suppress the thermal deformation of the base material 120 due to the heat generation of the light emitting unit 170.

[0107] Further, the image forming apparatus 100 includes the exposure apparatus 110 in which the heating unit 130 is attached to the base material 120. The image forming apparatus 100 of the present embodiment is compared with an image forming apparatus 300 as a second comparative form shown below.

[0108] The image forming apparatus 300 of the second comparative form has a configuration in which the base material 120 is heated by using a hot air blower disposed outside the photoreceptor unit 230 instead of the heating unit 130 of the present embodiment. The hot air blower heats the base material 120 by blowing hot air. Further, the exposure apparatus included in the image forming apparatus 300 of the second comparative form does not have a configuration corresponding to the heating unit 130 of the present embodiment. That is, in the exposure apparatus included in the image forming apparatus 300 of the second comparative form, the heating means for heating the base material 120 is not attached to the base material 120. Except for the above points, the image forming apparatus 300 of the second comparative form has the same configuration as the image forming apparatus 100 of the present embodiment.

[0109] In the image forming apparatus 300 of the second comparative form, the hot air blower is disposed outside the photoreceptor unit 230, and heats the base material 120 with hot air. Therefore, in the image forming apparatus 300 of the second comparative form, the hot air blower heats the developing device 234 and the photoreceptor drum 232 of the photoreceptor unit 230 in addition to the base material 120 of the exposure device 110. For this reason, in the image forming apparatus 300 of the second comparative form, since the hot air blower heats the developing device 234 and the photoreceptor drum 232, there is a risk of adversely affecting the toner image formed on the photoreceptor drum 232 by the developing device 234 due to heat.

[0110] On the other hand, in the exposure device 110 of the embodiment, since the heating unit 130 is attached to the base material 120, compared with the exposure device of the second comparative form, the influence of heating the base material 120 on the developing device 234 and the photoreceptor drum 232 is small. Further, the exposure device 110 of the embodiment can suppress the thermal deformation of the base material 120 due to the heat generation of the light emitting unit 170 compared with the exposure device 310 of the first comparative form. Therefore, the image forming apparatus 100 including the exposure device 110 of the embodiment can suppress image formation defects due to the heat generation of the light emitting unit 170 compared with the image forming apparatus including the exposure device 310 of the first comparative form. Therefore, the image forming apparatus 300 of the embodiment can suppress the influence of heating the base material 120 on the developing device 234 and the photoreceptor drum 232, and can suppress image formation defects due to the heat generation of the light emitting unit 170 compared with the configuration including the exposure device of the second comparative form.

[0111] 〔Third Embodiment〕 Next, the light emitting device 410 and the optical measurement device 400 according to the third embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. 10 to 12.

[0112] In the following description, the direction in which the optical measurement device 400 faces an object (not shown) to be measured is defined as the front side in the depth direction of the device. Two directions that are perpendicular to the depth direction of the device and perpendicular to each other are described as the vertical direction of the device and the width direction of the device, respectively. Also, in the figures, the vertical direction of the device (vertical direction), the width direction of the device (horizontal direction), and the depth direction of the device (horizontal direction) are described as the H direction, the W direction, and the D direction, respectively. When it is necessary to distinguish between one side and the other side of each of the vertical direction of the device, the width direction of the device, and the depth direction of the device, when viewing the optical measurement device 400 from the front side, the upper side is the -H side, the lower side is the +H side, the right side is the -W side, the left side is the +W side, the back side is the -D side, and the front side is the +D side.

[0113] <Optical measurement device> The optical measurement device 400 according to the third embodiment is a measurement device that irradiates light onto an object (not shown) that is separated from the optical measurement device 400 on the +D side and receives the light reflected from the object to specify the three-dimensional shape of the object (not shown). As shown in FIG. 11, the optical measurement device 400 includes a housing 400a, a support portion 400b, a light emitting device 410, and a control portion 450 (not shown).

[0114] The housing 400a houses each part of the optical measurement device 400. The housing 400a has two transparent plates 400c and 400d. The transparent plates 400c and 400d are provided in a part of the housing 400a that is located on the +D side with respect to the light emitting portion 470 and the light receiving portion 480 of the light emitting device 410 described later. The transparent plate 400c transmits the light irradiated from the light emitting portion 470 to the +D side to the outside of the housing 400a. The transparent plate 400d transmits the light irradiated and reflected by a user (not shown) who is separated from the light emitting portion 470 on the +D side toward the light receiving portion 480. The transparent plates 400c and 400d are formed of a transparent material such as glass or acrylic.

[0115] The support part 400b is attached to the housing 400a and supports the light emitting device 410 so that the light emitting device 410 does not come into contact with the housing 400a. In the present embodiment, the support part 400b supports both end parts in the device width direction of a base material 420 of the light emitting device 410 described later. The control part 450 controls the operations of each part of the optical measurement device 400. Details of the control part 450 will be described later.

[0116] (Light emitting device) The light emitting device 410 is a device that emits light toward a user (not shown) who is away from the optical measurement device 400 on the +D side. In other words, the light emitting device 410 is a device that irradiates light toward the +D side. Further, the light emitting device 410 further has a function of receiving light that has been irradiated and reflected by a user (not shown). The light emitting device 410 includes a base material 420, a light emitting part 470, and a heating part 430. Further, the light emitting device 410 further includes a detection part 440 and a light receiving part 480. Further, the light emitting device 410 further includes a diffusion part 412 and a lens part 414. Further, as shown in FIG. 12, the light emitting device 410 is communicably connected to the control part 450 via a bus. In other words, the light emitting device 410 includes the control part 450.

[0117] As shown in FIG. 10, the base material 420 is a rectangular plate having a front surface 422 along the H-W plane and facing the +D side and a back surface 424 facing the -D side. The front surface 422 is an example of a surface. The back surface 424 is an example of another surface. The base material 420 is an example of a member. The base material 420 is a metal block made of, for example, stainless steel and has higher rigidity than the light emitting part 470 described later. The base material 420 is supported by the support part 400b of the housing 400a so as not to come into contact with the housing 400a.

[0118] Note that the base material 420 in the present embodiment is not limited to being formed of a metal block as long as it has higher rigidity than the light emitting part 470. For example, the base material 420 may be formed of sheet metal or may be formed of a resin material.

[0119] (Light emitting part) The light-emitting unit 470 has a function of emitting light toward the +D side. The light-emitting unit 470 in the present embodiment is a surface-emitting semiconductor laser (VCSEL: Vertical Cavity Surface Emitting Laser) element mounted on a wiring board and attached to the surface 422 of the base material 420 (see FIG. 11). That is, the light-emitting unit 470 is disposed on the surface 422 side with respect to the base material 420. As shown in FIG. 10, the light-emitting unit 470 has a rectangular shape smaller than the base material 420 when viewed from the depth direction of the device. Further, the light-emitting unit 470 has lower rigidity than the base material 420. Specifically, the base material 420 has higher bending rigidity in the D direction and higher tensile and compressive rigidities in the H direction and the D direction than the light-emitting unit 470. By being attached to the base material 420, the light-emitting unit 470 has increased rigidity in each of the above directions compared to when it is a single product. The operation of the light-emitting unit 470 is controlled by the control unit 450. Further, the light-emitting unit 470 generates heat when emitting light. The heat generated when the light-emitting unit 470 emits light is dissipated by being conducted to the surface 422 of the base material 420. In other words, the light-emitting unit 470 is prevented from overheating by dissipating heat through the base material 420. Further in other words, the light-emitting unit 470 heats the surface 422 of the base material 420 when emitting light.

[0120] (Heating unit) The heating unit 430 is attached to the back surface 424 of the base material 420 and is a thin-plate electric heater having a function of heating the back surface 424. That is, the heating unit 430 has a function of heating the base material 420 from the back surface 424 side. Also, the heating unit 430 is disposed on the lower surface 24 side with respect to the base material 420. The heating unit 430 forms a rectangular shape that is smaller than the base material 420 and larger than the light-emitting unit 470 when viewed from the depth direction of the apparatus, and is arranged such that the light-emitting unit 470 is located inside the heating unit 430. Specifically, the position of the heating unit 430 in the width direction of the apparatus overlaps with the light-emitting unit 470. Further, the position of the heating unit 430 in the width direction of the apparatus overlaps with a part of the light-emitting unit 470. Also, the position of the heating unit 430 in the vertical direction of the apparatus overlaps with the light-emitting unit 470. Further, the position of the heating unit 430 in the vertical direction of the apparatus overlaps with a part of the light-emitting unit 470. The operation of the heating unit 430 is controlled by the control unit 450.

[0121] (Detection unit) The detection unit 440 has a function of detecting the temperature of the base material 420. As shown in FIG. 11, the detection unit 440 includes a front-side detection unit 442 and a back-side detection unit 444. The front-side detection unit 442 is a temperature sensor attached to the front surface 422 of the base material 420 and has a function of detecting the temperature of the front surface 422 of the base material 420. That is, the detection unit 440 detects the temperature on the front surface 422 side of the base material 420. The back-side detection unit 444 is a temperature sensor attached to the back surface 424 of the base material 420 and has a function of detecting the temperature of the back surface 424 of the base material 420. That is, the detection unit 440 detects the temperature on the back surface 424 side of the base material 420.

[0122] (Light-receiving unit) The light-receiving unit 480 is a three-dimensional sensor that has a function of receiving light emitted from the light-emitting unit 470 and reflected by a user (not shown) who is away from the optical measurement device 400 on the +D side. The light-receiving unit 480 is disposed on the surface 422 side with respect to the base material 420, and is disposed at a predetermined position that is shifted to the -W side with respect to the light-emitting unit 470. That is, the light-receiving unit 480 is disposed at a defined relative position with respect to the light-emitting unit 470. The light-receiving unit 480 is an example of other components.

[0123] FIG. 12 is a block diagram showing the hardware configuration of the light-emitting device 410. The light-emitting device 410 includes a light-receiving unit 480, a light-emitting unit 470, a heating unit 430, a detection unit 440, and a control unit 450 that are connected to each other via a bus so as to be communicable with each other.

[0124] (Control Unit) As shown in FIG. 12, the control unit 450 includes a CPU (Central Processing Unit), a ROM (Read Only Memory) 452, a RAM (Random Access Memory) 453, and a storage 454. The CPU 451 is a central processing unit that executes various programs and controls each part. That is, the CPU 451 reads a program from the ROM 452 or the storage 454 and executes the program using the RAM 453 as a working area. The CPU 451 performs control of each of the above components and various arithmetic processes according to the program recorded in the ROM 452 or the storage 454. In the present embodiment, the ROM 452 or the storage 454 stores a temperature distribution calculation program that calculates the temperature distribution inside the base material 420 from the detection results of the temperature on the upper surface 422 side and the lower surface 424 side of the base material 420 by the detection unit 440. Further, the ROM 452 or the storage 454 stores a temperature difference control program that operates the heating unit 430 so that the temperature difference inside the base material 420 becomes small based on the calculation result of the temperature distribution calculation program. In another embodiment, the ROM 452 or the storage 454 stores a temperature control program that operates the heating unit 430 so that the internal temperature of the base material 420 becomes a predetermined target temperature based on the calculation result of the temperature distribution calculation program. By these programs, the control unit 450 has a function of controlling the heating unit 430 based on the detection result of the detection unit 440. Further, the ROM 452 or the storage 454 stores a shape identification program that identifies the three-dimensional shape of a user (not shown) irradiated with light from the light emitting unit 470 based on the light received by the light receiving unit 480. The CPU 451 functions as a shape identification unit 451a that identifies the three-dimensional shape of a user (not shown) irradiated with light from the light emitting unit 470 based on the light received by the light receiving unit 480 by the shape identification program. In other words, the optical measurement device 400 includes the shape identification unit 451a.

[0125] The ROM 452 stores various programs and various data. The RAM 453 temporarily stores programs or data as a working area. The storage 454 is composed of an HDD (Hard Disk Drive) or an SSD (Solid State Drive), and stores various programs including an operating system and various data.

[0126] (Others) The diffusion part 412 is an optical member provided so as to cover the light emitting part 470 on the surface 422 of the base material 420 from the +D side. The diffusion part 412 diffuses the light irradiated from the light emitting part 470 to the +D side, and has a function of expanding the irradiation surface by making the divergence angle of the light emitted from the diffusion part 412 toward the +D side larger than the divergence angle of the light irradiated from the light emitting part 470 to the +D side. The diffusion part 412 is arranged at a defined relative position with respect to the light emitting part 470. The diffusion part 412 is an example of other components.

[0127] The lens part 414 is an optical member provided so as to cover the light receiving part 480 on the surface 422 of the base material 420 from the +D side. The lens part 414 has a function of condensing the light transmitted through the transmissive plate 400d from the outside of the housing 400a onto the light receiving part 480. The lens part 414 is arranged at a defined relative position with respect to the light receiving part 480. Also, the lens part 414 is arranged at a defined relative position with respect to the light emitting part 470. The lens part 414 is an example of other components.

[0128] <Actions and Effects> Next, the actions and effects of the light emitting device 410 and the optical measurement device 400 of the third embodiment will be described. In this description, when describing a comparative form with respect to the third embodiment, when using components and the like similar to the light emitting device 410 and the optical measurement device 400, the reference numerals and names of those components and the like will be used as they are for the description.

[0129] The light-emitting device 410 includes a heating unit 430 disposed on the back surface 424 side with respect to the base material 420. Therefore, the light-emitting device 410 of the third embodiment can achieve the same effects as those of the first embodiment including the heating unit 30.

[0130] Further, the light-emitting device 410 further includes a detection unit 440 and a control unit 450. Therefore, the light-emitting device 410 of the third embodiment can achieve the same effects as those of the first embodiment including the detection unit 40 and the control unit 50.

[0131] Also, the light-emitting device 410 further has a back-side detection unit 444 that detects the temperature on the back surface 424 side of the base material 420. Therefore, the light-emitting device 410 of the third embodiment can achieve the same effects as those of the first embodiment including the lower-side detection unit 44.

[0132] Also, the light-emitting device 410 further has a front-side detection unit 442 that detects the temperature on the front surface 422 side of the base material 420. Therefore, the light-emitting device 410 of the third embodiment can achieve the same effects as those of the first embodiment including the upper-side detection unit 42.

[0133] Also, in the light-emitting device 410, the positions of the heating unit 430 in the device width direction and the device vertical direction overlap with the light-emitting unit 470. Therefore, the light-emitting device 410 of the third embodiment can achieve the same effects as those of the first embodiment in which the position of the heating unit 30 in the horizontal direction overlaps with the light-emitting unit 70.

[0134] Also, in the light-emitting device 410, the light-emitting unit 470 is attached to the front surface 422 of the base material 420. Therefore, the light-emitting device 410 of the third embodiment can achieve the same effects as those of the first embodiment in which the light-emitting unit 70 is attached to the upper surface 22 of the base material 20.

[0135] In addition, the light-emitting device 410 further includes a light-receiving unit 480 disposed at a defined relative position with respect to the light-emitting unit 470. In a configuration where the light-emitting unit 470 is attached to the base material 420, when the base material 420 is deformed, the relative position between the light-emitting unit 470 and the light-receiving unit 480 changes. And since the light-emitting device 410 includes the heating unit 430, the thermal deformation of the base material 420 due to the heat generation of the light-emitting unit 470 is suppressed, so that the change in the relative position between the light-emitting unit 470 and the light-receiving unit 480 due to the thermal deformation of the base material 420 is suppressed. Therefore, the light-emitting device 410 of the third embodiment can suppress the change in the relative position between the light-emitting unit 430 and the light-receiving unit 480 due to the thermal deformation of the base material 420 in a configuration where the base material 420 is related to the relative positions of the light-emitting unit 470 and the light-receiving unit 480.

[0136] In addition, the light-emitting device 410 further includes a shape specifying unit 411a that specifies the three-dimensional shape of an object (not shown) irradiated with light from the light-emitting unit 470 based on the light received by the light-receiving unit 480. Therefore, the light-emitting device 410 of the third embodiment can improve the accuracy of specifying the object shape by the shape specifying unit 411a in a configuration including the light-receiving unit 480 and the shape specifying unit 411a.

[0137] As described above, specific embodiments have been described in detail, but the present invention is not limited to the above embodiments, and various modifications, changes, and improvements are possible within the scope of the technical idea of the present invention.

[0138] For example, it is assumed that the light-emitting devices 10, 410 and the exposure device 110 each include the detection units 40, 440, 140 and the control units 50, 450, 150. However, the light-emitting device according to the present invention may not include the detection unit and the control unit, and may have a configuration that controls the operation of the heating unit based on the light emission amount of the light-emitting unit.

[0139] Also, it is assumed that the heating units 30, 130, 430 are respectively positioned such that the positions in the direction intersecting the light emission direction of the light-emitting units 70, 170, 470 overlap with the light-emitting units 70, 170, 470. However, the heating unit according to the present invention may be displaced with respect to the light-emitting unit in the position in the direction intersecting the light emission direction of the light-emitting unit.

[0140] Also, it was assumed that the light-emitting units 70, 170, and 470 are respectively attached to the upper surfaces 22 and 122 of the base materials 20 and 120 and the surface 422 of the base material 420. However, as long as the light-emitting unit according to the present invention is arranged on the light-emitting direction side of the light-emitting unit with respect to the member, it may be supported by a support other than the member and arranged at a position separated from the member. Further, the light-emitting device according to the present invention may not have a connection portion that supports a light-emitting unit arranged at a position separated from the member and is attached to the member.

[0141] Also, it was assumed that three spacers 160 of the second embodiment are arranged at intervals from each other in one light-emitting unit 170. However, the number of connection portions according to the present invention is not limited to three, and may be one, two, or four or more. Further, the connection portion according to the present invention may be arranged in the entire space between the light-emitting unit and the upper surface of the member. That is, a gap may not be formed between the light-emitting unit according to the present invention and the upper surface of the member.

[0142] Also, it was assumed that the position of the heating unit 130 in the second embodiment in the direction intersecting the light-emitting direction of the light-emitting unit 170 overlaps with a part of the spacer 160. However, the position of the heating unit according to the present invention in the direction intersecting the light-emitting direction of the light-emitting unit may overlap with the entire connection portion, or may be displaced with respect to the entire connection portion.

[0143] Also, it was assumed that four heating units 130 in the second embodiment are arranged at intervals from each other along the depth direction of the apparatus, which is the longitudinal direction of the exposure apparatus 110. However, the number of heating units according to the present invention is not limited to four, and may be one, two, three, or five or more.

[0144] Also, in the second embodiment, the light-emitting device including the light-emitting unit 170 has been described as the exposure apparatus 110. However, the present invention may be applied to an optical apparatus other than the exposure apparatus 110, or may be applied to a reading apparatus (for example, a Contact Image Sensor).

[0145] Further, the optical measurement device 400 of the third embodiment is provided with a light emitting device 410 in which both the light emitting unit 470 and the light receiving unit 480 are attached to the base material 420. However, in the present invention, if either one of the light emitting unit or other components arranged at a defined relative position with respect to the light emitting unit is attached to a member, the other of the light emitting unit or other components does not necessarily have to be attached to the member. For example, as shown in FIG. 13, the optical measurement device according to the present invention may be an optical measurement device 500 in which a light emitting device 510 including a light emitting unit 570 attached to a base material 520 is supported by a support 500f provided on another base material 500e to which a light receiving unit 580 is attached. Further, the optical measurement device according to the present invention may be an optical measurement device 600 including a light emitting device 610 including a light emitting unit 670 attached to a base material 620 and a light receiving unit 680 attached to another base material 600e, as shown in FIG. 14.

[0146] In the foregoing embodiments, the case where the present invention is applied to an optical measurement device or an image forming device has been shown. However, it may be applied to optical transmission by combining a light emitting device, an optical transmission path, and a light receiving means, or may be applied to biological detection or the like in which light emitted from a light emitting device enters inside a detection object.

Explanation of Reference Numerals

[0147] 10 Light emitting device 20 Base material (an example of a member) 22 Upper surface (an example of a surface) 24 Lower surface (an example of another surface) 30 Heating unit 40 Detection unit 50 Control unit 70 Light emitting unit 100 Image forming device 110 Exposure device (an example of a light emitting device) 120 Base material (an example of a member) 122 Upper surface (an example of a surface) 124 Lower surface (an example of another surface) 130 Heating unit 140 Detection unit 150 Control unit 160 Spacer (an example of a connection part) 170 Light-emitting part 400 Optical measurement device 410 Light-emitting device 420 Base material (an example of a member) 422 Surface (an example of a surface) 424 Back surface (an example of another surface) 430 Heating part 440 Detection part 450 Control unit 451a Shape specifying part 470 Light-emitting part 480 Light-receiving part (an example of another component)

Claims

1. A member having a surface facing one direction and another surface facing the side opposite to the said surface, A light-emitting part disposed on the said surface side with respect to the said member, generating heat upon light emission and having a lower rigidity than the said member, A heating part disposed on the said other surface side with respect to the said member, heating the said member from the said other surface side, A light-emitting device comprising the above.

2. A detection part for detecting the temperature of the said member, A control part for controlling the said heating part based on the detection result of the said detection part, The light-emitting device according to Claim 1, further comprising the above.

3. The light-emitting device according to Claim 2, wherein the said detection part detects the temperature of the said other surface side with respect to the said member.

4. The light-emitting device according to Claim 3, wherein the said detection part further detects the temperature of the said surface side with respect to the said member.

5. The light-emitting device according to any one of Claims 1 to 4, wherein the position of the said heating part in the intersecting direction intersecting the said one direction overlaps with the said light-emitting part.

6. The light-emitting device according to any one of Claims 1 to 5, wherein the said light-emitting part is attached to the said surface.

7. The light-emitting device according to Claim 6, wherein the said light-emitting part is separated from the said surface and is attached to the said surface via a connection part.

8. A plurality of the said connection parts are arranged at intervals from each other in one light-emitting part, A gap is formed between the said light-emitting part and the said surface. The light-emitting device according to Claim 7.

9. The light-emitting device according to Claim 7 or Claim 8, wherein the position of the said heating part in the intersecting direction intersecting the said one direction overlaps with the said connection part.

10. The light-emitting device according to any one of claims 1 to 9, wherein a plurality of the heating units are arranged at intervals along an intersection direction intersecting the one direction.

11. The light-emitting device according to any one of claims 1 to 10, wherein the member and the light-emitting unit extend in an intersection direction intersecting the one direction.

12. A plurality of the light-emitting units are arranged in a staggered pattern along the intersection direction, The light-emitting device according to claim 11, wherein one end portion of the light-emitting unit in the intersection direction overlaps with the other end portion of another adjacent light-emitting unit in the intersection direction in the intersection direction.

13. The light-emitting device further includes other components arranged at a defined relative position with respect to the light-emitting unit, The light-emitting device according to any one of claims 1 to 12, wherein at least one of the light-emitting unit or the other component is attached to the member.

14. The light-emitting device according to claim 13, wherein the other component is a light-receiving unit that receives light emitted from the light-emitting unit and reflected by an object spaced apart in the one direction, A shape specifying unit that specifies a three-dimensional shape of the object based on the light received by the light-receiving unit, and an optical measurement device including the same.

15. An image holding member, An optical device that forms an electrostatic latent image by imaging light on a charged image holding member, wherein the heating unit is attached to the member, the optical device according to any one of claims 1 to 12, A developing device that develops the electrostatic latent image of the image holding member to form an image, and an image forming device including the same.

Images