An optical scanning device includes a controller, and a scanning unit connected with the controller via a signal line. The scanning unit includes a semiconductor laser having light emitting elements, an optical system configured to convert light emitted by each light emitting element into a beam, a deflector configured to deflect the beam received through the optical system, and a shift register including a plurality of output terminals each configured to output a light emission signal for controlling light emission from a corresponding one of the light emitting elements, and an input terminal configured to receive a shift signal from the controller via the signal line. The shift register is configured to, each time receiving the shift signal via the input terminal, shift a specific output terminal to output the light emission signal from one output terminal to another in sequence among the plurality of output terminals.

In a light scanning device, a substrate equipped with a polygonal mirror is disposed astride an interior section and an exposed section of a housing. The substrate is provided with a separator that comes into contact with a front face thereof. The separator separates the substrate into a first region disposed in the interior section and a second region disposed in the exposed section. The polygonal mirror is provided in the second region of the substrate.

A reading module has a light source, an optical system having a mirror array and an aperture stop portion, a sensor in which a plurality of image regions where the image light is converted into an electrical signal are arranged; a housing; and a light-shielding wall shielding stray light striking the image regions. In the mirror array, a plurality of reflective mirrors whose reflection surfaces are aspherical concave surfaces are coupled together in an array in the main scanning direction. The optical system is fixed to on the case housing at one point in the main scanning direction, and the light shielding walls are arranged at a positions displaced deviated by a predetermined amount from boundaries between the image regions in the direction opposite to the fixed side of the optical system.

An optical scanning device includes light sources, a deflector deflecting light beams emitted from the light sources, a first lens transmitting the light beams deflected by the defector, and second lenses guiding the light beams transmitted from the first lens to respective surfaces to be scanned. The second lenses are arranged so that a first incident position of a first light beam emitted by a first light source and entering one of the second lenses is closer to the respective surface to be scanned along an optical axis of the first lens than a second incident position of a second light beam emitted by a second light source and entering another of the second lenses, and an incident angle of the second light beam with respect to the optical axis along a deflection direction by the deflector is greater than the incident angle of the first light beam.

In an optical scanning device, an optical deflector includes a base plate, a rotor having an axis of rotation orthogonal to the base plate, and a polygon mirror fixed to the rotor. The polygon mirror has a plurality of reflecting surfaces tilted at a predetermined angle with respect to the axis of rotation. Protrusions protruding from a bottom surface of a frame have bearing surfaces at respective distal ends thereof; and the bearing surfaces are in contact with the base plate. The bottom surface includes a first region on which a first protrusion is disposed, and a second region on which a second protrusion is disposed, and a distance between the first region and a scanning plane containing optical axes in cross sections taken along a sub scanning direction of a scanning lens is different from a distance between the second region and the scanning plane.

An information reading may include an imaging element; a transparent placing member on which the information recording medium is placed; a first illuminator configured to irradiate a back side of the information recording medium placed on the placing member, with light; a second illuminator configured to irradiate a top side of the information recording medium placed on the placing member, with light; a first optical system configured to read information recorded on the back side of the information recording medium placed on the placing member; a second optical system configured to read information recorded on the top side of the information recording medium placed on the placing member; and an image-forming optical system configured to cause light passing through the first optical system to form an image onto the imaging element and cause light passing through the second optical system to form an image on the imaging element.

An image reading device includes an image reader that scans a document so as to read an image of the document. The image reader includes a scanning body in which at least plural mirrors, a condenser lens, and an image sensor are disposed. In the scanning body, concerning positional relationships among the plural mirrors as viewed from a main scanning direction, the plural mirrors are disposed on two sides with respect to an imaginary line extending along an optical axis of reflected light from the document. The mirrors on a corresponding one of the two sides are disposed such that a reflecting position of a mirror on a downstream side in a traveling direction of the reflected light is positioned closer to the document and also to the imaginary line than that of a mirror on an upstream side in the traveling direction of the reflected light.

A device and a method for deflecting a beam of light. The device is developed together with: an adjustable deflection device; a closed-loop control unit, which is designed to generate an actuating signal by which the deflection device is controlled in a periodic movement for scanning a solid angle region with the aid of a beam of light deflected by the deflection device; and a detector device, which is designed to detect an impingement or a missing impingement of the scanning beam of light on the detector device, and to generate a measuring signal based thereon; the closed-loop control unit furthermore being designed to adapt the actuating signal based on at least the measuring signal.

An image reading apparatus includes a reader, a conveying path, a conveyer, a conveyer driving unit, a conveyer housing, a lighting unit, a cooler, and a frame. The reader reads an image on a sheet at a predetermined reading position. The conveying path guides the sheet having the image to the reading position and guides the sheet read by the reader in an ejecting direction. The conveyer conveys the sheet along the conveying path. The conveyer driving unit drives the conveyer. The conveyer housing supports the conveying path, the conveyer, and the conveyer driving unit. The lighting unit is fixed to an interior of the reader and illuminates the sheet conveyed by the conveyer to the reading position. The cooler cools the lighting unit. The frame separately fixes the reader and the conveyer housing. The cooler is fixed to the conveyer housing.

An optical scanning device includes light sources, a deflector deflecting light beams emitted from the light sources, a first lens transmitting the light beams deflected by the defector, and second lenses guiding the light beams transmitted from the first lens to respective surfaces to be scanned. The second lenses are arranged so that a first incident position of a first light beam emitted by a first light source and entering one of the second lenses is closer to the respective surface to be scanned along an optical axis of the first lens than a second incident position of a second light beam emitted by a second light source and entering another of the second lenses, and an incident angle of the second light beam with respect to the optical axis along a deflection direction by the deflector is greater than the incident angle of the first light beam.