Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 16
Claim 1
Independent Claim
162 words
A scanning optical apparatus, comprising: a laser beam source for emitting a laser beam; a scanning deflector for deflecting said laser beam and scanning said laser beam in a principal scanning plane; a scanning lens for imaging said deflected laser beam on a scanning surface to form a spot thereon; an imaging lens for forming said laser beam from said laser beam source into a line spread function image in an auxiliary scanning plane that is perpendicular to said principal scanning plane at a location before the location that said laser beam is made incident to said scanning deflector; a static deflector located on said line spread function image, adapted to guide said laser beam from said light source to said scanning deflector and guide said reflected beam from said scanning deflector to said scanning lens; and means for integrally holding at least said laser beam source, said imaging lens and said static deflector as a unit separate from other optical elements.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
162 words
A scanning optical apparatus, comprising: a laser beam source for emitting a laser beam; a scanning deflector for deflecting said laser beam and scanning said laser beam in a principal scanning plane; a scanning lens for imaging said deflected laser beam on a scanning surface to form a spot thereon; an imaging lens for forming said laser beam from said laser beam source into a line spread function image in an auxiliary scanning plane that is perpendicular to said principal scanning plane at a location before the location that said laser beam is made incident to said scanning deflector; a static deflector located on said line spread function image, adapted to guide said laser beam from said light source to said scanning deflector and guide said reflected beam from said scanning deflector to said scanning lens; and means for integrally holding at least said laser beam source, said imaging lens and said static deflector as a unit separate from other optical elements.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
17 words
A scanning optical system according to claim 1, wherein said other optical elements includes said scanning lens.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
34 words
A scanning optical system according to claim 1, wherein said laser beam made incident to said scanning deflector from said static deflector is made incident thereto along the optical axis of said scanning lens.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
66 words
A scanning optical system according to claim 1, wherein said static deflector is disposed in such a manner to be coincident with an imaging portion of said laser beam by said imaging lens, said static deflector having a slit mirror disposed along a direction where said laser beam is scanned and adapted to reflect a laser beam from said laser beam source towards said scanning deflector.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
34 words
A scanning optical system according to claim 4, wherein said laser beam made incident to said scanning deflector from said static deflector is made incident thereto along the optical axis of said scanning lens.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
16 words
A scanning optical system according to claim 1, wherein said imaging lens comprises a cylindrical lens.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
34 words
A scanning optical system according to claim 6, wherein said laser beam made incident to said scanning deflector from said static deflector is made incident thereto along the optical axis of said scanning lens.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
16 words
A scanning optical system according to claim 1, wherein said scanning deflector comprises a polygon mirror.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
34 words
A scanning optical system according to claim 8, wherein said laser beam made incident to said scanning deflector from said static deflector is made incident thereto along the optical axis of said scanning lens.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
19 words
A scanning optical apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising means for adjusting the position of said holding means.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
42 words
A scanning optical apparatus according to claim 10, wherein said adjusting means comprises a pivot mechanism for pivoting said holding means about a pivot axis that is generally vertical to an optical axis of said scanning lens in said auxiliary scanning plane.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
32 words
A scanning optical apparatus according to claim 10, wherein said adjusting means comprises a slide mechanism for sliding said holding means in a direction of the optical axis of said scanning lens.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
41 words
A scanning optical apparatus according to claim 10, wherein said adjusting means comprises a slide mechanism for sliding said holding means in a direction that is generally perpendicular to the optical axis of said scanning lens in a principal scanning plane.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
36 words
A scanning optical apparatus according to claim 10, wherein said adjusting means comprises a pivot mechanism for pivoting said holding means about a pivot axis that is parallel with the optical axis of said scanning lens.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
42 words
A scanning optical apparatus according to claim 10, wherein said adjusting means comprises a pivot mechanism for pivoting said holding means about a pivot axis that is generally vertical to the optical axis of said scanning lens in said principal scanning plane.