Scanning optical apparatus

Claim 2

The apparatus according to claim 1, characterized in that said marks are formed of an electrically conductive material.

Claim 3

The apparatus according to claim 1, characterized in that said marks have a selected reflectance characteristic, whereby said marks have a reflectance different from that of the region other than said-mark section, in relation to the wavelength of the beam.

Claim 4

The apparatus according to claim 1, characterized in that said marks are provided at positions corresponding to a scanning pitch of the beam, and arranged in stripes, in a staggered manner or in a substantially staggered manner, with predetermined pitches in a scanning direction of the beam and a direction perpendicular to the scanning direction.

Claim 5

The apparatus according to claim 1, characterized in that said mark is a continuous stripe extending in a direction perpendicular to the scanning direction of the beam on said photoconductor at a predetermined angle, with the width in the scanning direction varying at a predetermined rate.

Claim 6

The apparatus according to claim 1, characterized in that said marks are formed over the entire region of the photoconductive surface (1a) of said photoconductor along the beam scanning direction, the light quantity of the beam irradiated on said photoconductive surface increases at a time of forming picture points, and the photoelectric conversion means (7) is arranged in a position facing the entire region of the photoconductive surface (1a).

Claim 7

The apparatus according to claim 1, characterized in that the beam emitted from said beam generating means is irradiated on the surface of said photoconductor (1) substantially perpendicularly, by means of said optical means (4, 5, 6) and said driving means (9) for driving said optical means.

Claim 8

A scanning optical apparatus comprising: a plurality of beam generating means (2, 2′) for generating beams, a photoconductor (1) having a portion irradiated and sensitized by the beams generated by said beam generating means, optical means (4, 5, 6) for scanning the beams in one direction on a photoconductive surface (1a) of said photoconductor, driving means (9) for driving said optical means, and means for moving said photoconductor in a direction perpendicular to the direction of scan, characterized by further comprising: beam compounding means (3, 26) for compounding the beams into a single beam; scanning means (4, 5, 6) for scanning the compounded beam in two-dimensional directions on a to-be-scanned surface of said photoconductor; a mark section (1b) having a plurality of marks (12) with a reflectance characteristic and a transmission characteristic different from those of the photoconductive surface of said photoconductor, said mark being provided at predetermined portions on the photoconductive surface; at least two photoelectric conversion means (7) for detecting a light quantity of the beam irradiated on the surface of said mark section and converting the detected light quantity into corresponding electric signals; means (14) for generating an error signal indicating a position error from an optical irradiation position of the beam, on the basis of the electric signals corresponding to said mark section; and control means (8), connected to said driving means and said photoelectric conversion means, for correcting the scanning position of the beam on the basis of the error signal, and suitably controlling an output beam from said corresponding beam generating means.

Claim 9

The apparatus according to claim 8, characterized in that said beam generating means (2, 2′) are constituted such that the light quantity of the beams emitted from light sources has a non-linear relationship with the value of the driving current for the light sources.

Claim 10

A scanning optical apparatus comprising: beam generating means (2) for generating a beam (2); a photoconductor (1) having a portion sensitized by irradiation of the beam; scanning means (4, 5, 6) for scanning the beam in one direction on a to-be-scanned surface of said photoconductor; and means for moving a support member for supporting said photoconductor in a direction substantially perpendicular to the scanning direction, characterized by further comprising: means (29) for measuring the speed of movement of said photoconductor; a reference scale (28) situated in parallel to the scanning direction, at a predetermined distance from said photoconductor; means (26) for guiding and irradiating the beam generated by said beam generating means onto said reference scale; a plurality of marks (12) arranged regularly on the surface of said reference scale and having a reflectance characteristic different from that of the surface of said reference scale; photoelectric conversion means (7) for measuring a light quantity of the beam incident on said reference scale and converting the measured light quantity into an electric signal; means (14) for generating an error signal indicating the position error of the beam on the basis of the electric signal corresponding to said reference scale; and control means (8), connected to the means (14) and said photoelectric conversion means, for suitably correcting the scanning position of the beam on the basis of the error signal.

Claim 11

A scanning optical apparatus comprising beam generating means (2) for generating a beam (2); a photoconductor (1) having a portion sensitized by irradiation of the beam; scanning means (4, 5, 6) for scanning the beam in one direction on a photoconductive surface (1a) of said photoconductor; and means for moving a support member for supporting said photoconductor in a direction substantially perpendicular to the scanning direction, characterized by further comprising: speed variation detecting means (29) for measuring a speed of movement of said photoconductor, and detecting a variation in speed of movement of said photoconductor; a reference scale (28) situated in parallel to the scanning direction, at a predetermined distance from said photoconductor, and having on its surface a plurality of marks (12) with a reflectance characteristic and a transmission characteristic different from those of said surface material of said photoconductor; means (26) for guiding and irradiating the beam generated by said beam generating means onto said reference scale; scanning position varying means (30) for varying a scanning position of the beam on said reference scale by moving said reference scale on the basis of a signal from said speed variation detecting means; photoelectric conversion means (7) for measuring a light quantity of the beam incident on said reference scale and converting the measured light quantity into an electric signal; means (14) for generating an error signal indicating the position error of the beam on the basis of the electric signal corresponding to said reference scale; and control means (8), connected to said means (14) for generating an error signal and said photoelectric conversion means, for suitably correcting the scanning position of the beam on the basis of the error signal.

Claim 12

A scanning optical apparatus comprising: beam generating means (2) for generating a beam; a photoconductor (1) having a portion sensitized by irradiation of the beam; a support member (1) for supporting said photoconductor; optical means (4, 5, 6) for scanning the beam in one direction on a photoconductive surface (1a) of said photoconductor; means for moving said photoconductor in a direction substantially perpendicular to the scanning direction; driving means (9) for driving the optical means; and means (34) for applying a uniform surface charge to the surface of the support member, characterized by further comprising: means (7) for measuring the charge on a to-be-scanned surface irradiated by the beam, and converting the measured value of the charge into an electric signal; means (14) for generating an error signal indicating the position error of the beam on the basis of the electric signal; and control means (8) for suitably correcting the scanning position of the beam on the basis of the error signal.

Claim 13

The apparatus according to claim 12, characterized in that said support member (10) is formed of a predetermined metallic material capable of being electrified, and a plurality of concaves and convexes or recesses (35) of a predetermined pattern are arranged on the surface of said support member (10).