Surface-Emitting Laser Array With Non-Uniform Spacing

The patent applies local quality by differentiating the spacing between light emitting parts based on their position and heat generation characteristics. Specifically, the spacing is set to be larger in regions where heat interference is more significant (e.g., between adjacent light emitting parts in the same column) and smaller in regions where heat interference is less critical. This non-uniform spacing arrangement optimizes the balance between optical writing density and heat management, ensuring high reliability while maintaining high density image formation capability.

The patent extracts the heat management function from the overall system design by implementing passive thermal isolation through optimized spacing arrangements. Instead of adding active cooling systems, the design takes out the heat interference problem by strategically increasing spacing between light emitting parts that generate significant heat, allowing heat to dissipate naturally. This approach maintains high-speed image formation capability while avoiding the complexity of additional cooling infrastructure.

The patent applies asymmetry by implementing non-uniform spacing between light emitting parts in the two-dimensional array. Rather than using equal spacing throughout, the design employs asymmetric spacing patterns where certain adjacent pairs have larger gaps (particularly in directions where heat accumulation is more problematic) while other pairs maintain smaller spacing. This asymmetric arrangement allows maximum utilization of the two-dimensional formation for high particle count while effectively managing heat interference between adjacent elements.