JP2002311356A - Scanning optical device and photographic processing device equipped therewith - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To form a high-quality image with easy control even in the case of using photographic paper having different photosensitive characteristics. SOLUTION: Laser beams emitted from laser beam sources 101 to 103 successively pass through AOMs 111 to 113 and AOMs 121 to 123 and are diffracted. The laser beams 201 to 203 emitted from the laser beam sources 101 to 103 are attenuated with diffraction efficiency decided based on the photosensitive characteristics of the photographic paper 2 in the AOMs 111 to 113. Then, the laser beams 201 to 203, emitted from the AOMs 111 to 113 and attenuated to desired intensity are made incident on the AOMs 121 to 123 and modulated based on image data.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

[0001] 1. Field of the Invention [0002] The present invention relates to a scanning optical apparatus that performs image scanning processing using laser light.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art A scanning optical device for forming a color image includes three laser light sources for emitting laser beams having wavelengths corresponding to blue (B), green (G), and red (R), respectively. Is a diffraction grating type acousto-optic modulator (hereinafter referred to as “AOM”).
(Referred to as "acoustooptic modulator"), at least three lenses that focus the diffracted light of the order modulated based on the image signal by the light modulator, and at least three lenses that pass through these lenses. Some include a polygon mirror (scanning optical element) that performs a scanning process on a photosensitive medium such as photographic paper or a photosensitive drum using light.

[0003] Laser lights emitted from three laser light sources are respectively incident on the AOM, and diffracted lights of a plurality of orders are generated. The multiple-order diffracted light includes a first-order diffracted light modulated based on the image signal and a non-modulated 0th-order diffracted light. Each diffracted light is emitted in a direction having a predetermined angle with respect to the emission direction of the laser light, and only the first-order diffracted light used for the scanning process is printed via a lens, a polygon mirror, and the like. It is guided on a photosensitive medium such as paper.

[0004]

A photosensitive medium such as photographic paper usually has different photosensitive characteristics when irradiated with a laser beam depending on the kind and manufacturer. Therefore, the intensity range of the laser beam corresponding to the range in which the sensitivity of one photosensitive medium changes linearly (hereinafter referred to as “sensitivity changeable range”) may be different from the sensitivity changeable range of another photosensitive medium. is there.

However, in the above-described scanning optical device, since the difference in the range in which the sensitivity can be changed for each photosensitive medium is not taken into consideration, the following problem occurs. That is, in order to secure sufficient sensitivity resolution for a photosensitive medium having a relatively narrow range in which the sensitivity can be changed, the intensity of the laser beam is changed by a predetermined number within the range in which the sensitivity of the photosensitive medium can be changed by changing the input signal to the AOM. (The minimum number required to obtain a sufficient sensitivity resolution by using the sensitivity changeable range of the photosensitive medium almost completely: for example, 409
In the case where the control can be performed in six steps (= 12 bits), in order to control the laser beam intensity over almost the entire sensitivity changeable range of a photosensitive medium having a relatively wide changeable sensitivity range, It becomes necessary to change the input signal to the AOM at a stage (the number of bits) larger than the predetermined number, which makes the control of the AOM complicated.

On the other hand, by changing the input signal to the AOM, the intensity of the laser beam for a photosensitive medium having a relatively wide range in which the sensitivity can be changed is controlled to the minimum number of steps necessary to obtain a sufficient sensitivity resolution. In this case, it is impossible to control the intensity of the laser beam to a smaller stage for a photosensitive medium having a relatively narrow range in which the sensitivity can be changed. Accordingly, the sensitivity resolution of a photosensitive medium having a relatively narrow range in which the sensitivity can be changed is reduced, and it is difficult to linearly express a density change when photographic paper is used as the photosensitive medium. Deteriorates.

Accordingly, a main object of the present invention is to provide a scanning device capable of forming a high-quality image irrespective of the range in which the sensitivity of a photosensitive medium can be changed and capable of easily controlling a light modulation element. An optical device is provided.

[0008]

According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a scanning optical apparatus, comprising: a light source; a light modulation element for modulating light emitted from the light source; A scanning optical element for scanning light emitted from the optical modulator in a predetermined direction, and a filter for reducing the intensity of light incident on the light modulation element or the intensity of light emitted from the light modulation element. I have.

According to the first aspect, since the intensity of light incident on the light modulating element or the intensity of light emitted from the light modulating element is reduced by the filter, a photosensitive medium having a relatively narrow range in which the sensitivity can be changed is used. Control of the light modulation element when the filter is used is the same as control when a photosensitive medium with a relatively wide range of sensitivity change is used without a filter, while providing sufficient sensitivity resolution for any photosensitive medium. Can be secured. That is, if a filter having an optical attenuation rate corresponding to the range in which the sensitivity of the photosensitive medium to be used is used is used, the number of steps of the input signal to the light modulation element according to the range in which the sensitivity of the photosensitive medium to be used can be changed. It is no longer necessary to change the number of light modulation elements, so that the control of the light modulation element can be simplified, and the light modulation element is used while the number of steps of the input signal supplied to the light modulation element is suppressed to a relatively small number. It is possible to form a high-quality image with a sufficient sensitivity resolution regardless of the range in which the sensitivity of the photosensitive medium can be changed.

Further, the scanning optical device according to the present invention is characterized in that the filter reduces the intensity of light incident on the light modulation element. According to the second aspect, since the light whose intensity has been reduced by the filter enters the light modulation element, the accuracy of the light intensity emitted from the light modulation element can be improved. Therefore, a higher quality image can be formed.

Further, in the scanning optical device according to the present invention, the filter is a light modulation element. According to the third aspect, since the light modulation element is used as the filter, even if the photosensitive medium to be used is changed, by controlling the light modulation element, the intensity according to the sensitivity changeable range of the used photosensitive medium is controlled. Light can be emitted from the filter. As a result, it is not necessary to replace the filter for each photosensitive medium having a different sensitivity changeable range, and the scanning process can be performed efficiently.

Further, the scanning optical device according to a fourth aspect is characterized in that a plurality of the light sources are provided. According to the fourth aspect, it is possible to form a high-quality color image while simplifying the control of the light modulation element.

A fifth aspect of the present invention is a photographic processing apparatus provided with the above-described scanning optical device. According to claim 5,
Exposure processing can be appropriately performed in the exposure unit provided with the scanning optical device. As a result, a high-quality print can be output.

[0014]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS A preferred embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating a schematic configuration of a photographic processing apparatus including a scanning optical device according to the present embodiment.

First, a schematic configuration of a photographic processing apparatus provided with a scanning optical device according to the present embodiment will be described with reference to FIG. In the photographic processing apparatus 1 shown in FIG. 1, a long printing paper 2 pulled out from a paper magazine 11 is cut along a width direction by a cutter 12 so as to have a predetermined length. A desired character is printed in the printing unit 13 on the surface (back surface) of the cut photographic paper 2 on which the photosensitive emulsion layer is not formed.

An exposure unit 14 is arranged downstream of the printing unit 13. The exposure unit 14 performs an exposure process based on digital image data on the photographic paper 2 as a photosensitive material. The exposure unit 14 appropriately processes a laser beam emitted from a laser light source and scans the photographic paper 2 with a scanning light. Is provided. The details of the scanning optical device 15 will be described later. Also, the scanning optical device 1
At a position opposed to 5, two pairs of transport rollers 16 for transporting the photographic paper 2 are arranged along the transport path. Therefore, by controlling the transport timing of the photographic paper 2 by the transport roller pair 16 and the exposure timing of the scanning optical device 15 based on a digital image signal relating to a latent image to be formed on the photographic paper 2, A latent image of a desired image can be formed by line exposure of the photosensitive emulsion surface.

On the downstream side of the exposure unit 14, photographic paper 2
A guide transport mechanism 18 for bending the transport direction by 90 ° is disposed. The guide transport mechanism 18 is a pair of flat upper and lower paper guides 19a and 19b that are bent 90 ° so as to be gently curved, and an opening (not shown) provided in the lower paper guide 19b. 3) arranged so as to partially project from
Drive rollers 21, 22, and 23, and three pressure rollers that partially protrude from an opening (not shown) provided in the paper upper guide 19 a and are disposed so as to pressure-contact each of the drive rollers 21, 22, and 23. 25, 26, 27
And

Downstream of the guide transport mechanism 18, a paper sorting section 30 is disposed. The paper sorting unit 30 is used to sort the photographic paper 2 that has been conveyed in one line so far into two or more lines, and to allow the photographic paper 2 to be conveyed in parallel downstream from this.

On the downstream side of the paper sorting section 30, there is provided a sending-out transport section 31 for sending out the photographic paper 2 discharged therefrom to the processing liquid section 32. Treatment liquid part 3
In 2, the exposed photographic paper 2 is subjected to processing such as development, bleaching, and stabilization. Thereby, the latent image on the photographic paper 2 formed by the exposure is made visible.

Next, a detailed structure of the scanning optical device according to the present embodiment will be described with reference to FIG. FIG.
FIG. 2 is a schematic plan view of the inside of a scanning optical device included in the photographic processing device shown in FIG. 1.

The scanning optical device 15 is for exposing and scanning the photosensitive emulsion layer of the photographic paper 2 using laser beams of three different wavelengths. The scanning optical device 15 includes a housing 200
Inside, three laser light sources 101 to 103 respectively corresponding to three colors of blue (B), green (G) and red (R), and two acousto-optic modulators (AO) corresponding to the respective laser light sources.
M) 111-113, 121-123 and AOM121
To three reflecting mirrors 131 to 133 corresponding to the respective laser beams (first-order diffracted light) emitted from the mirrors 123 to 133, and three expander lenses 141 to 143 and cylindrical lenses 151 to 153 corresponding to the reflecting mirrors 131 to 133, respectively. And the cylindrical lenses 151-
The three dichroic mirrors 161 to 163 corresponding to the respective laser beams passing through 153, the polygon mirror 170 having a hexagonal cross section for scanning the laser beam combined by the dichroic mirrors 161 to 163, and the polygon mirror 170 Fθ lens 180 through which the reflected laser light passes.

The laser light sources 101 to 103 are blue (B),
Laser light 201 to 20 in green (G) and red (R) wavelength regions
3 including a semiconductor laser and / or a solid-state laser capable of emitting the respective laser beams 3 and arranged in the same plane. These three laser beams 201 and 2
03 are laser light sources 101 to 10 so as to be parallel to each other.
3 is emitted. By performing exposure processing on the printing paper 2 by combining the laser beams 201 to 203, latent images of color images having various colors can be formed on the printing paper 2.

AOMs 111 to 113 are optical modulators used as filters in the present embodiment. The AOMs 111 to 113 change the intensity of each of the laser beams 201 to 203 in a range where the density of the photographic paper 2 can be changed (the density of the photographic paper changes linearly). (For example, the intensity may be substantially the same as the maximum value of the laser light intensity range corresponding to the laser light intensity range) (for example, the intensity may be almost the same as the intensity of the laser light 201 to 203, or about そ の of the intensity). ) Of the diffraction light of multiple orders (0 order, 1 order)
Etc.).

AOMs 121 to 123 are
113 is a diffraction grating type optical modulator similar to AOM
Any one of the diffracted lights emitted from 111 to 113 is converted into a zero-order diffracted light (not shown) not modulated based on the image signal, and first-order diffracted lights 201a to 203a modulated based on the image signal. And emitted in different directions.

AOM111-113 and AOM121
To 123 are connected to a controller (not shown). The intensity of the diffracted light emitted from the AOMs 111 to 113 and the intensity of the diffracted light emitted from the AOMs 121 to 123 can be controlled based on a signal from the controller. The controller controls the intensity of the diffracted light emitted from the AOMs 111 to 113 according to the type of the photographic paper 2 used, and controls the intensity of the diffracted light emitted from the AOMs 121 to 123 according to the image data to be formed on the photographic paper 2. Control the intensity. Therefore, the intensity of the diffracted light emitted from the AOMs 111 to 113 is kept substantially constant during the scanning process, but the intensity of the diffracted light emitted from the AOMs 121 to 123 varies according to the image data during the scanning process. I do. In addition, in FIG.
The illustration of the 0th-order diffracted light emitted from the 123 is omitted, and the first-order diffracted lights 201a to 203a emitted from the AOMs 121 to 123 are drawn as being emitted in almost the same direction as the laser lights 201 to 203. ing.

The reflection mirrors 131 to 133 are connected to the AOM 12
1st-order diffracted light 201a generated by 1 to 123
To 203a are the expander lenses 141 to 143.
It is for changing in the direction toward. The expander lenses 141 to 143 are for expanding the diameter (beam diameter) of each of the first-order diffracted lights 201a to 203a generated by the AOMs 121 to 123. Further, the cylindrical lenses 151 to 153 are for reducing only the diameter of each of the first-order diffracted lights 201a to 203a in the main scanning direction.

The dichroic mirrors 161 to 163 are
Each has a function of reflecting only laser light of a wavelength corresponding to a specific color and transmitting laser light of another wavelength. Here, the dichroic mirror 161 reflects only laser light having a wavelength corresponding to blue, the dichroic mirror 162 reflects only laser light having a wavelength corresponding to green, and the dichroic mirror 163 only reflects laser light having a wavelength corresponding to red. Is reflected. The dichroic mirrors 161 to 163 reflect the first-order diffracted lights 201a to 201a having wavelengths corresponding to blue, green, and red reflected by the dichroic mirrors 161 to 163, respectively.
03a is arranged at such a position and angle as to be combined with one laser beam, and the combined one laser beam (combined laser beam) goes to the polygon mirror 170.

The polygon mirror 170 has a reflection mirror disposed on each side of a regular hexagonal prism, and can rotate at a constant speed around the axis of the regular hexagonal prism. Therefore, dichroic mirrors 161-1
The combined laser light combined by 63 is reflected by a reflecting mirror arranged on one side surface of a regular hexagonal prism, and is scanned with the rotation of the polygon mirror 170. The fθ lens 180 disposed between the polygon mirror 170 and the photographic paper 2 is a polygon mirror 1
After reducing only the diameter in the sub-scanning direction of the combined laser light reflected at 70, an image is formed on the printing paper 2.

Next, the operation of the scanning optical device according to this embodiment will be described with reference to FIG.

The laser beams 201 to 20 in the blue, green, and red wavelength regions emitted from the laser light sources 101 to 103, respectively.
3 enters the AOMs 111 to 113. AOM111
To 113 attenuate the intensity of the incident laser beams 201 to 203 and emit a plurality of orders of diffracted light having substantially the same intensity as the maximum value of the density changeable range of the photographic paper 2 (the photographic paper 2). Depending on the two types, the intensity of the diffracted light may not be attenuated). The diffracted light of any order emitted from the AOMs 111 to 113 is
A plurality of 0th-order diffracted light that is incident on 123 and is not modulated based on the image signal and is not used in the exposure processing, and a plurality of first-order diffracted lights 201a to 203a that are modulated based on the image signal and used in the exposure processing The diffracted light of the order is further distributed and emitted.

Here, AOMs 111 to 113 and AO
The operation of M121 to M123 will be described in detail with reference to FIGS. FIG. 3 is a graph showing the diffraction characteristics of the AOM. FIG. 4 is a graph showing the photosensitive characteristics of photographic paper.

AOM111-113 and AOM121
To 123 have diffraction characteristics as shown in FIG. As shown in FIG. 3, AOMs 111 to 113, 1
The diffraction efficiency of the diffracted light of any order generated at 21 to 123 increases as the input voltage to the AOM increases.
Therefore, AOM111-113 and AOM121
To 123 can output diffracted light in which the intensity of the incident laser light 201 to 203 has been attenuated to a predetermined value based on an input voltage (electric signal) supplied from a controller (not shown).

In the present embodiment, AOMs 111 to 1
The diffraction efficiency at 13 is based on the range in which the density of the photographic paper 2 used for the exposure process can be changed. Specifically, the intensity of the emitted diffracted light is substantially equal to the maximum value of the range in which the density of the photographic paper 2 can be changed. It is determined to be the same, and the corresponding input voltage is supplied from the controller to the AOMs 111 to 113. As described above, the AOMs 111 to 113 function as filters having an intensity attenuation rate corresponding to the range in which the density of the photographic paper 2 can be changed.

AOMs 121 to 123 are photographic paper 2
Is supplied with an input voltage corresponding to the image data to be formed, thereby diffracted light having a constant intensity emitted from the AOMs 111 to 113 emits a first-order diffracted light 201a modulated in accordance with the image data. have. Here, the input voltage signal supplied from the controller to the AOMs 121 to 123 is a 12-bit signal,
The diffraction efficiencies of the AOMs 121 to 123 can be controlled in 4096 steps.

The photographic paper 2 irradiated with the laser beam 201a may have different photosensitive characteristics depending on the type, as shown in FIGS. 4 (a) and 4 (b). That is,
In the case of FIG. 4A, the density of the image formed on the photographic paper 2 is substantially proportional to the intensity of the laser light in the range of the laser light intensity from 0 to X. The possible range is a relatively wide range from 0 to X. On the other hand, in the case of FIG. 4B, the density of the image formed on the printing paper 2 is substantially proportional to the laser light intensity only when the laser light intensity is in the range of 0 to Y (Y <X). Yes, if the intensity of the laser beam exceeds Y, the concentration will be saturated and will not change.
The range in which the density of the photographic paper 2 can be changed is from 0 to Y.

As described above, in the present embodiment,
The AOMs 111 to 113 are controlled by a controller to reduce the intensity of the laser beams 201 to 203 emitted from the laser light sources 101 to 103 to the maximum value of the density changeable range of the photographic paper 2 to be used. That is, the AOMs 111 to 113 use the laser beams 201 to 201 for the photographic paper 2 having the photosensitive characteristics as shown in FIG.
The intensity of 203 is reduced to X, and the photographic paper 2 having the photosensitive characteristics as shown in FIG.
The strength of No. 203 is reduced to Y.

Therefore, the AOMs 121 to 123 are set to 0 for the photographic paper 2 having the photosensitive characteristics as shown in FIG.
4096 using only the density changeable range from X to X
The density of the printing paper 2 can be changed in stages. on the other hand,
4A, the AOMs 121 to 123 control the density of the photographic paper 2 in 4096 steps using only the density changeable range from 0 to Y. Can be. That is, according to the present embodiment, even if the photographic paper 2 having a different density changeable range is used, the photographic paper 2 which is always used is controlled by controlling the attenuation rate of the light intensity in the AOMs 111 to 113 in accordance with that. The density of the image formed on the photographic paper 2 can be controlled from 0% to 100% using only the density changeable range.

At this time, FIG. 4 (a) and FIG.
In the case of using any of the photographic papers 2 in (b), the AOM 1
The input voltages to 21 to 123 may be controlled in 4096 steps.
The same density resolution (that is, the amount of change in density when the input voltage to the AOMs 121 to 123 is changed by one step) can be obtained without changing the number of control steps 21 to 123. Therefore, according to the scanning optical device 15 of the present embodiment, it is possible to form a high-quality image on the photographic paper 2 with a sufficient density resolution while simplifying the control of the AOMs 121 to 123.

The first-order diffracted lights 201a to 201a modulated and outputted based on the image data in the AOMs 121 to 123, respectively.
203a enters the reflection mirrors 131 to 133. The first-order diffracted lights 201a to 203a reflected by the reflecting mirrors 131 to 133 and whose directions are changed are incident on the expander lenses 141 to 143. Then, in the expander lenses 141 to 133, the first-order diffracted lights 201a to 203a whose diameters are enlarged enter the cylindrical lenses 151 to 153, and only the diameter in the main scanning direction is reduced. 16
3 is incident.

The first-order diffracted light 201a is reflected by the dichroic mirror 161 and passes through the dichroic mirrors 162 and 163. Also, the first-order diffracted light 202a
Is reflected by the dichroic mirror 162, passes through the dichroic mirror 163, and the first-order diffracted light 203a is
The light is reflected by the dichroic mirror 163. Thus, the first-order diffracted lights 201a to 203a of the three BGR colors are
The laser light is combined into one laser beam on the surface of the dichroic mirror 163 on the polygon mirror 170 side.

The combined laser light incident on the polygon mirror 170 is reflected by a reflection mirror attached to the side surface of the polygon mirror 170, and is reduced on only the diameter in the sub-scanning direction by the fθ lens 180. Scanning is performed along the main scanning direction. In this way, the exposure process of the color image on the photographic paper 2 by the scanning optical device 15 is completed.

As described above, in the scanning optical device 15 of the present embodiment, when the photographic paper 2 to be used is changed to one having a different density changeable range, the AOM 111 to AOM 111 to
By performing a simple process of changing the input voltage to 113, it is possible to form a high-quality image with a sufficient density resolution. Therefore, the photo processing device 1 can output a high quality color print. In the scanning optical device 15 of the present embodiment, AO
The laser light whose intensity has been reduced in M111 to M113 is A
Since the light enters the OMs 121 to 123, the AOM
The accuracy of the intensity of the laser beam emitted from 121 to 123 can be improved. Therefore, a higher quality image can be formed.

In the scanning optical device 15 according to the present embodiment, AOMs 111 to 1 which are light modulating elements are used as filters.
Even if the photographic paper 2 used is changed because of the use of the photographic paper 13, the light having the intensity according to the density changeable range of the photographic paper 2 used is emitted from the AOMs 111 to 113 by controlling the AOMs 111 to 113. It is possible to do. As a result, it is not necessary to replace the filter for each photographic paper 2 having a different density changeable range, and the scanning process can be performed efficiently.

As described above, a preferred embodiment of the present invention has been described. However, the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment.
Various design changes can be made. For example, in the above-described embodiment, a filter using AOM is described. However, the filter is not limited to this, and an ND filter (neutral density filter) or the like that can reduce the intensity of laser light is used. If,
Any filter may be used.

In the above-described embodiment, the laser light emitted from the laser light source is AOM as a filter,
Although the description has been given of the case where the light modulating element passes in the order of AOM, the present invention is not limited to this, and the laser light emitted from the laser light source passes in the order of AOM as the light modulating element and AOM as the filter. There may be. That is, the light emitted from the light source may pass through any of the filter and the light modulation element first. Note that, in the above-described embodiment, for one laser beam,
Although two AOMs having the same diffraction characteristics are used,
Two AOMs having different diffraction characteristics may be used.

In the above embodiment, the acousto-optic modulator (AOM) is used as the light modulation element.
A light modulator that can generate a plurality of diffracted lights from light emitted from a laser light source and modulate at least one order of diffracted light based on an image signal by using another light modulator Is also good.

In the above-described embodiment, the laser light emitted from the laser light source is divided into two types of the 0th-order diffracted light and the 1st-order diffracted light in the AOM. However, the present invention is not limited to this. AOM that sorts out more than kinds of diffracted light
May be used. Also in this case, only the diffracted light used for the exposure processing is guided onto the printing paper by the respective polygon mirrors.

Further, in the above-described embodiment, the scanning optical apparatus for exposing a color image using laser beams having three different wavelengths has been described.
A scanning optical device that exposes a black-and-white image using two laser beams may be used. Further, in the above-described embodiment, the scanning optical device provided in the photographic processing device is described. However, the scanning optical device of the present invention is not limited to the photographic processing device, and the image scanning process using laser light is performed. A laser printer or any other device can be applied as long as the device performs the operation.

[0049]

As described above, according to the first aspect, it is not necessary to change the number of steps of the input signal to the light modulation element in accordance with the range in which the sensitivity of the photosensitive medium to be used can be changed. Control can be simplified, and the number of steps of the input signal supplied to the light modulation element is suppressed to a relatively small number, regardless of the sensitivity changeable range of the photosensitive medium used. It is possible to form a high-quality image with a sufficient sensitivity resolution.

According to the second aspect, the light whose intensity has been reduced by the filter enters the light modulation element.
The accuracy of the intensity of the light emitted from the light modulation element can be improved. Therefore, a higher quality image can be formed.

According to the third aspect, since the light modulation element is used as the filter, even if the photosensitive medium to be used is changed, by controlling the light modulation element, the sensitivity can be changed according to the sensitivity changeable range of the used photosensitive medium. It is possible to emit light having the reduced intensity from the filter. As a result, it is not necessary to replace the filter for each photosensitive medium having a different sensitivity changeable range, and the scanning process can be performed efficiently.

According to the fourth aspect, it is possible to form a high-quality color image while simplifying the control of the light modulation element.

According to the fifth aspect, the exposure processing can be appropriately performed in the exposure unit provided with the scanning optical device. As a result, a high-quality print can be output.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a schematic configuration of a photographic processing apparatus provided with a scanning optical device according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a schematic plan view of a scanning optical device included in the photographic processing apparatus shown in FIG.

FIG. 3 is a graph showing a diffraction characteristic of an AOM included in the scanning optical device shown in FIG.

FIG. 4 is a graph showing the photosensitive characteristics of photographic paper.

[Explanation of symbols]

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Photograph processing apparatus 2 Printing paper 14 Exposure unit 15 Scanning optical apparatus 101,102,103 Laser light source (light source) 111,112,113 Acousto-optic modulator (AOM)
(Filter) 121, 122, 123 Acousto-optic modulator (AOM)
(Light Modulating Element) 131, 132, 133 Reflecting Mirror 141, 142, 143 Expander Lens 151, 152, 153 Cylindrical Lens 161, 162, 163 Dichroic Mirror 170 Polygon Mirror (Scanning Optical Element) 180 fθ Lens 200 Housing 201, 202, 203 laser light 201a, 202a, 203a first-order diffracted light

Claims (5)

[Claims] A light source; a light modulation element for modulating light emitted from the light source; a scanning optical element for scanning light emitted from the light modulation element in a predetermined direction; A scanning optical device, comprising: a filter for reducing the intensity of light incident on the element or the intensity of light emitted from the light modulation element. 2. The scanning optical device according to claim 1, wherein the filter reduces the intensity of light incident on the light modulation element. 3. The scanning optical device according to claim 1, wherein the filter is a light modulation element. 4. The scanning optical device according to claim 1, wherein a plurality of said light sources are provided. 5. A photographic processing apparatus comprising the scanning optical device according to claim 1.