A laser marking system comprises at least one controller to control an array of optical devices, between a laser source and a scan head. The array applies a selected pattern of portions of the received spatial profile of the laser beam to the substrate to achieve a second intensity different from the first intensity of laser beam at a rate of power deposition relative to a rate of thermal diffusion in the substrate for a predetermined time interval to thermally heat locations of the substrate with the selected pattern of the portions. The second intensity effectuates carbonization of materials of the substrate to create a mark without ablation.

A drawing method according to an embodiment of the present disclosure includes, when performing drawing on a thermal recording medium that includes a light-transmitting member above a recording layer, obtaining information regarding the light-transmitting member, predicting an optical axis deviation of a laser beam in the recording layer from the information regarding the light-transmitting member, and calculating a correction amount from a result of the prediction of the optical axis deviation.

According to an embodiment, a print head includes one or more light emitting element arrays, a light emission control circuit, and one or more drive circuit arrays. The light emitting element arrays include a plurality of light emitting elements arrayed continuously along a main scanning direction. The light emission control circuit outputs drive signals of different phases in units of a light emitting element group configured by a predetermined number of continuous light emitting elements included in the light emitting elements. The drive circuit arrays include a plurality of drive circuits, the drive circuits cause the light emitting elements to emit light individually based on the drive signals.

According to an embodiment, a print head includes one or more light emitting element arrays, a light emission control circuit, and one or more drive circuit arrays. The light emitting element arrays include a plurality of light emitting elements arrayed continuously along a main scanning direction. The light emission control circuit outputs drive signals of different phases in units of a light emitting element group configured by a predetermined number of continuous light emitting elements included in the light emitting elements. The drive circuit arrays include a plurality of drive circuits, the drive circuits cause the light emitting elements to emit light individually based on the drive signals.

An example laser assembly for a laser printer may include a plurality of lasers to emit respective photons; a prism to redirect the respective laser beams emitted from the plurality of lasers toward a collimator lens of the laser printer to generate a photon beam; and one or more processors to: determine a timing schedule for individually activating the plurality of lasers based on a resolution setting of the laser printer, and when printing at a resolution corresponding to the resolution setting, control activation of each of the plurality of lasers to emit the respective photons according to the timing schedule to form the photon beam.

An image recording apparatus includes a light source, a switching drive circuit configured to control an electric current for causing the light source to emit a light beam, a moving part configured to move one of a recording target on which an image is to be recorded by the light beam and a light emitting position at which the light beam is emitted relative to another one of the recording target and the light emitting position, and a controller configured to control a light emission timing of the light source and a relative moving speed of the moving part based on image information. The drive circuit includes a switching circuit configured to turn on and off a switching element. The controller is configured to change a switching frequency of the switching element according to at least one of the light emission timing and the relative moving speed.

An image recording apparatus includes a light source, a switching drive circuit configured to control an electric current for causing the light source to emit a light beam, a moving part configured to move one of a recording target on which an image is to be recorded by the light beam and a light emitting position at which the light beam is emitted relative to another one of the recording target and the light emitting position, and a controller configured to control a light emission timing of the light source and a relative moving speed of the moving part based on image information. The drive circuit includes a switching circuit configured to turn on and off a switching element. The controller is configured to change a switching frequency of the switching element according to at least one of the light emission timing and the relative moving speed.

An image forming apparatus includes a unit configured to perform image forming operation, a unit board in the unit, a wiring configured to be connected to the unit board, and a control board configured to be connected to the unit board with the wiring and control the unit. The unit board includes a connector to which the wiring is to be connected. A length of the connector in a longitudinal direction of the connector is longer than a length of the unit board in a widthwise direction of the unit board, and the longitudinal direction of the connector intersects the widthwise direction of the unit board.

An image forming apparatus includes a unit configured to perform image forming operation, a unit board in the unit, a wiring configured to be connected to the unit board, and a control board configured to be connected to the unit board with the wiring and control the unit. The unit board includes a connector to which the wiring is to be connected. A length of the connector in a longitudinal direction of the connector is longer than a length of the unit board in a widthwise direction of the unit board, and the longitudinal direction of the connector intersects the widthwise direction of the unit board.

There is provided an optical print head including: a substrate on which a plurality of light emitting elements is mounted on one surface, and a plurality of electronic components including a driver IC that drives the plurality of light emitting elements is mounted on the other surface opposite to the one surface; and a lens array including a plurality of lenses that respectively condenses light emitted from the plurality of light emitting elements to a photosensitive drum. The substrate includes a plurality of connecting pieces obtained by cutting a connecting portion with another substrate in a longitudinal direction of the substrate, and at least one of the connecting pieces is provided at a position corresponding to a region of the substrate where the driver IC is to be mounted in the longitudinal direction of the substrate.