An optical scanning device includes a light source, a deflector, a random number generator, a selection part, a random number assignment part and an exposure control part. The light source includes a plurality of light emitting parts arranged in a predetermined direction at fixed intervals in a sub-scanning direction. The random number assignment part is configured to assign a random number sequence to each light emitting part constituting a set of target light emitting parts as an index for specifying a timing at which a light emitting time of the set of target light emitting parts is set to a correction value different from a reference value and to update the assignment of the random number sequence at a random number update period. The random number update period coincides with a scanning period of each light emitting part constituting the set of target light emitting parts.

An image forming apparatus has a light scanning apparatus which is capable of aligning a lens with a plurality of light-emitting devices and forming a high-quality image while suppressing generation of moiré. In a first image formation mode, light-emitting devices outputting light beams exposing both ends of the photosensitive member in a rotational direction and at least a part of light-emitting devices exposing an area between exposure positions of the light-emitting devices outputting the light beams exposing the both ends are used to form an electrostatic latent image on the photosensitive member. In a second image formation mode, the light-emitting devices outputting the light beams exposing both ends are not used, and at least a part of light-emitting devices exposing an area between exposure positions of the light-emitting devices outputting the light beams exposing both ends are used to form the electrostatic latent image on the photosensitive member.

An optical scanning device is provided with a housing, a plurality of laser light sources, and a substrate. The laser light sources are attached to a side wall of the housing in a state wherein three terminals are protruding outward. The substrate is disposed to face an outer surface of the side wall of the housing. The laser light sources include: a first laser light source having a predetermined angle with respect to the substrate; and a second laser light source having a symmetrical angle to the angle of the first laser light source with respect to the substrate. In the first laser light source, only one of the three terminals is bent in the direction to be separated from other two terminals, and the second laser light source is disposed by inverting 180° a laser light source having a configuration same as that of the first laser light source.

A method for capturing an image of an object includes guiding a scanning beam along a scanning trajectory over the object using a scanner, with the scanning movement being periodic in a direction. The scanning movement is sampled at a first sampling frequency for detecting and capturing a current position of the scanner as position values and radiation from the object is captured as captured sampling values at a second sampling frequency. Current values of the amplitude and the phase of the scanning movement are calculated. A current amplitude, phase and/or frequency and future changes in the amplitude, phase and/or frequency over time are calculated. An image grid is set, with grid elements being assigned the sampling values based on times at which the scanning beam crosses or will cross at least one boundary of the grid elements.

An optical scanning device includes a light source, a deflector, a random number generator, a selection part, a random number assignment part and an exposure control part. The light source includes a plurality of light emitting parts arranged in a predetermined direction at fixed intervals in a sub-scanning direction. The random number assignment part is configured to assign a random number sequence to each light emitting part constituting a set of target light emitting parts as an index for specifying a timing at which a light emitting time of the set of target light emitting parts is set to a correction value different from a reference value and to update the assignment of the random number sequence at a random number update period. The random number update period coincides with a scanning period of each light emitting part constituting the set of target light emitting parts.

The present disclosure provides a light scanning unit and an electronic image forming apparatus including the light scanning unit. The light scanning unit includes a light source, a first optical unit, an optical deflector, and a second optical unit. The light source includes at least two light-emitting points; the at least two light-emitting points are distributed along a straight line; and an angle between an extension direction of a distribution line thereof and a main scanning direction or a secondary scanning direction of the light scanning unit includes an acute angle, where the main scanning direction is perpendicular to the secondary scanning direction. The first optical unit is configured to collimate at least two light beams emitted from the light source along the main scanning direction and to focus the at least two light beams emitted from the light source along the secondary scanning direction.

An image forming apparatus for forming an image on a recording material includes a photosensitive member; an optical scanning unit including a light source, an optical box, and a cover; and a fan. The fan is provided so that air from the fan directly impinges on the cover of the optical scanning unit. As seen in a direction perpendicular to a rotational axis of the rotatable polygonal mirror, a rib extending from a top plate of the cover toward an optical box side is provided at a portion of the cover in the neighborhood of a light beam emitting port of the optical scanning unit. The cover is provided with an extended portion extended from the rib in a light beam emitting direction.

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.

An image forming apparatus for forming an image on a recording material includes a photosensitive member; an optical scanning unit including a light source, an optical box, and a cover; and a fan. The fan is provided so that air from the fan directly impinges on the cover of the optical scanning unit. As seen in a direction perpendicular to a rotational axis of the rotatable polygonal mirror, a rib extending from a top plate of the cover toward an optical box side is provided at a portion of the cover in the neighborhood of a light beam emitting port of the optical scanning unit. The cover is provided with an extended portion extended from the rib in a light beam emitting direction.

A first mirror and a second mirror are disposed on a mounting surface of a housing in an exposure device of an image forming apparatus. A back surface of the first mirror is supported by ribs and the first mirror is pressed against the ribs by elastically pressing a reflecting surface thereof by a spring member. A reflecting surface of the second mirror is supported by ribs and the second mirror is pressed against the ribs by elastically pressing a back surface thereof by a spring member.