Scanning Unit Anamorphic Lens Beam Shaping
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional image forming apparatuses face challenges in increasing image density and output speed while maintaining low noise and power consumption, particularly with the use of polygon scanners and light sources like VCSELs, where beam quality and power efficiency are compromised.
Innovation Solution
A scanning unit utilizing a two-dimensional array of surface emitting lasers with a specific optical system configuration, including a coupling lens, aperture plate, and anamorphic lens, that achieves a larger lateral magnification in the main scanning direction than in the sub-scanning direction, and uses linearly polarized light with a polarizing direction angle optimized for improved light utilization efficiency.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If the polygon scanner is rotated at high speed to increase output speed, then productivity is improved, but noise increases and power consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The invention divides a single high-speed scanning beam into multiple parallel beams by using a light source with multiple light emitting points arranged in two dimensions. Each light emitting point generates a separate beam that contributes to the overall scanning process, allowing the system to achieve high productivity without requiring a single polygon scanner to rotate at excessively high speeds that would generate noise.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention transitions from a one-dimensional scanning approach (single beam scanned by rotating polygon mirror) to a two-dimensional array of light emitting points. This dimensional change allows multiple beams to be generated simultaneously in different directions, enabling parallel scanning operations that increase productivity without proportionally increasing the rotational speed requirements of individual scanning components.
2Productivity
If the polygon scanner is rotated at high speed to increase output speed, then productivity is improved, but durability of the polygon scanner drops
Solution Approach 1:
The scanning function is segmented across multiple light emitting points in the two-dimensional array. Instead of relying on a single polygon scanner rotating at very high speeds, the system distributes the scanning task across multiple beams generated by different light emitting points, reducing the mechanical stress and wear on individual scanning components and thereby improving durability.
Solution Approach 2:
By arranging light emitting points in two dimensions, the system creates multiple scanning beams that operate in parallel. This reduces the burden on any single scanning mechanism, allowing the system to maintain high productivity while reducing the operational stress on individual components, thus improving overall system durability.
3Productivity
If multiple beams are produced from a light flux to increase image density, then productivity is improved, but beam quality is degraded
Solution Approach 1:
The invention uses a two-dimensional array of light emitting points where each point generates a beam with specific local characteristics. By carefully controlling the emission properties of each light emitting point and their spatial arrangement, the system maintains good beam quality for each individual beam while achieving high image density through the collective action of multiple beams. This local quality control prevents beam quality degradation that would occur with conventional multiple beam methods.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
This configuration enhances image resolution, reduces light loss, and increases writing density, enabling high-quality image output at higher speeds with improved beam shaping and light utilization efficiency.
Implementation Method 1
a light source having a plurality of surface emitting lasers
Implementation Method 2
a deflector that deflects light fluxes output by the light source
Implementation Method 3
an optical system that includes a first optical system that leads the light fluxes output by the light source to the deflector and a second optical system that leads the light fluxes deflected by the deflector to the scanning target surface
Data Source
AI summary
A scanning optical system leads the light fluxes deflected by the polygon mirror to a photosensitive drum. An absolute value of a lateral magnification in a main scanning direction is larger than an absolute value of a lateral magnification in a sub-scanning direction. Moreover, a beam diameter in the sub-scanning direction on a surface of the photosensitive drum is equal to or smaller than a beam diameter in the main scanning direction and larger than a scan line interval.