JP2006126857A - Scanning optical device - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To obtain a scanning optical device with which an influence of the variation in a spot diameter in a subscanning direction or the like due to the height of an image is suppressed to minimum. <P>SOLUTION: The scanning optical device comprises: a first optical element which transforms a luminous flux emitted from a light source means into a convergent luminous flux; a second optical element which focuses the luminous flux on the deflection face of a deflection element in a linear form longitudinal in a main scanning direction; a third optical element which focuses the luminous flux deflected with the deflection element in a spot form on a plane to be scanned. Further, the third optical element of the scanning optical device is composed of a single lens and both faces of the single lens are composed of an aspherical toric face in the main scanning plane. The condition 0.2≤1-Sk/ft≤0.5 is satisfied, where ft stands for the focal length of the third optical element in the main scanning plane and Sk stands for the distance between the third optical element and the plane to be scanned, and the variation in the spot diameter in the subscanning direction at respective heights of image is suppressed within 10 μm. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2006,JPO&NCIPI

Description

  The present invention relates to a scanning optical apparatus, and in particular, after a light beam modulated and emitted from a light source means is deflected and reflected by an optical deflector composed of a rotating polygon mirror or the like, it passes through an imaging optical system (fθ lens) having fθ characteristics. The present invention relates to a scanning optical apparatus suitable for an apparatus such as a laser beam printer (LBP) having an electrophotographic process or a digital copying machine, which scans a surface to be scanned to record image information.

  Conventionally, in a scanning optical device such as a laser beam printer, a light beam modulated and emitted from a light source means according to an image signal is periodically deflected by, for example, an optical deflector composed of a rotating polygon mirror (polygon mirror) to obtain an fθ characteristic. Are focused in a spot shape on the surface of a photosensitive recording medium (photosensitive drum) by an image forming optical system, and image recording is performed by optically scanning the surface.

  FIG. 13 is a schematic view of a main part of a conventional scanning optical apparatus.

  In the figure, a divergent light beam emitted from the light source means 11 is made into a substantially parallel light beam by a collimator lens 12 and is limited to a cylindrical lens 14 having a predetermined refractive power only in the sub-scanning direction by restricting the light beam (light quantity) by a diaphragm 13. Incident. Out of the parallel light beam incident on the cylindrical lens 14, the light beam exits in the state of the parallel light beam as it is in the main scanning section. In the sub-scan section, the light beam is converged and formed as a substantially linear image on the deflecting surface (reflecting surface) 15a of the optical deflector 15 composed of a rotating polygon mirror (polygon mirror).

  Then, the light beam deflected and reflected by the deflecting surface 15a of the optical deflector 15 is guided to the surface of the photosensitive drum 18 as the surface to be scanned through the imaging optical system (fθ lens) 16 having the fθ characteristic, and the light. By rotating the deflector 15 in the direction of arrow A, the surface of the photosensitive drum 18 is optically scanned to record image information.

  In order to perform highly accurate image information recording with this type of scanning optical apparatus, the field curvature is well corrected over the entire surface to be scanned and the spot diameter is uniform, and the angle of incident light is proportional to the image height. It is necessary to have distortion (fθ characteristics) that is relevant. Various scanning optical devices or their correction optical systems (fθ lenses) satisfying such optical characteristics have been proposed.

  On the other hand, with the downsizing and cost reduction of laser beam printers and digital copying machines, the same is required for scanning optical devices.

In order to satisfy these demands, various types of scanning optical devices having a single fθ lens have been proposed (Patent Documents 1 to 4).
Japanese Examined Patent Publication No. 61-48684 JP 63-157122 A JP-A-4-104213 Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 4-50908

  Of these, Patent Documents 1 and 2 use a concave single lens on the optical deflector side as the fθ lens to focus the parallel light beam from the collimator lens on the surface of the recording medium. In Patent Document 3, a light beam converted into convergent light by a collimator lens using a single lens having a concave surface on the optical deflector side and a toroidal surface on the image surface side as an fθ lens is incident on the fθ lens. In Patent Document 4, a single lens in which a high-order aspheric surface is introduced as a lens surface is used as an fθ lens, and a light beam converted into convergent light by a collimator lens is incident on the fθ lens.

  However, in the conventional scanning optical apparatus shown above, in Patent Document 1, the curvature of field in the sub-scanning direction remains and a parallel light beam is imaged on the surface to be scanned, so that from the fθ lens to the surface to be scanned. Is a long focal length f, and it is difficult to construct a compact scanning optical device.

  In Patent Document 2, since the fθ lens is thick, it is difficult to manufacture by molding, resulting in an increase in cost.

  In Patent Document 3, there is a problem that distortion remains, and a jitter of a polygon surface period occurs due to an attachment error of a polygon mirror which is an optical deflector.

  In Patent Document 4, although a high-order aspherical fθ lens is used to correct aberrations, the spot diameter in the sub-scanning direction depends on the image height due to non-uniform magnification in the sub-scanning direction between the optical deflector and the surface to be scanned. Tended to change.

  In the present invention, when the convergent light from the collimator lens is imaged on the surface to be scanned by the fθ lens via the optical deflector, the lens shape of the fθ lens is appropriately configured so that the sub-scanning direction depending on the image height is achieved. It is an object of the present invention to provide a scanning optical device that prevents a change in the spot diameter and the like and that is compact and suitable for high-definition printing.

According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a scanning optical system in which a light beam emitted from a light source means is converted into convergent light, and the light beam is connected in a linear shape in the main scanning direction on the deflection surface of the deflection element. In a scanning optical apparatus comprising: a second optical element that forms an image; and a third optical element that forms a light beam deflected by the deflecting element in a spot shape on a surface to be scanned, the third optical element Is composed of a single lens, both lens surfaces of the single lens are composed of aspherical toric surfaces in the main scanning plane, and the focal length in the main scanning plane of the third optical element is ft. When the distance from the optical element to the scanning surface is Sk, 0.2 ≦ 1-Sk / ft ≦ 0.5
And the change in the spot diameter in the sub-scanning direction at each image height is suppressed to within 10 μm.

  According to the present invention, as described above, when the convergent light from the collimator lens is imaged on the surface to be scanned by the fθ lens via the optical deflector, the image height is set by appropriately setting the shape of the fθ lens. The influence of the change in the spot diameter in the sub-scanning direction due to the above can be suppressed to be small, and thereby a scanning optical device suitable for compact and high-definition printing can be achieved.

  FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view of the main part in the main scanning direction of Embodiment 1 of the present invention, and FIG.

  In the figure, reference numeral 1 denotes light source means, which is made of, for example, a semiconductor laser.

  Reference numeral 2 denotes a collimator lens as a first optical element, which converts a light beam (light beam) emitted from the light source means 1 into convergent light. Reference numeral 3 denotes an aperture stop, which adjusts the diameter of a passing light beam.

  A cylindrical lens 4 as a second optical element has a predetermined refractive power only in the sub-scanning direction, and deflects the light beam that has passed through the aperture stop 3 in the sub-scan section, which will be described later. 5a is formed as a substantially line image.

  Reference numeral 5 denotes an optical deflector composed of, for example, a polygon mirror (rotating polygonal mirror) as a deflecting element, which is rotated at a constant speed in the direction of arrow A in the figure by driving means (not shown) such as a motor.

  Reference numeral 6 denotes an fθ lens (imaging optical system) composed of a single lens having fθ characteristics as a third optical element. As will be described later, the fθ lens 6 includes a lens surface Ra on the optical deflector 5 side and a lens surface Rb on the scanned surface side, both of which are aspherical toric surfaces in the main scanning surface. A light beam based on the deflected and reflected image information is imaged on the surface of the photosensitive drum 8 as a surface to be scanned, and the surface tilt of the deflecting surface of the optical deflector 5 is corrected.

  In this embodiment, the curvature in the sub-scanning surface (the surface that includes the optical axis and is orthogonal to the main scanning surface) of at least one of the lens surfaces Ra and Rb of the fθ lens 6 is continuous in the effective portion of the lens. Further, the axis of symmetry of the fθ lens 6 in the main scanning direction is inclined with respect to the normal line of the surface to be scanned (photosensitive drum surface) 8 in the main scanning plane.

  In this embodiment, the fθ lens 6 may be manufactured by plastic molding or by glass molding (glass molding).

  In this embodiment, the light beam emitted from the semiconductor laser 1 is converted into convergent light by the collimator lens 2, and the light beam (light amount) is limited by the aperture stop 3 and is incident on the cylindrical lens 4. Out of the light beam incident on the cylindrical lens 4, the light beam exits as it is in the main scanning section. In the sub-scan section, the light beam is focused and formed on the deflecting surface 5a of the optical deflector 5 as a substantially line image (a line image that is long in the main scanning direction). The light beam deflected and reflected by the deflecting surface 5a of the optical deflector 5 is guided onto the surface of the photosensitive drum 8 through the fθ lens 6, and the photosensitive drum is rotated by rotating the optical deflector 5 in the direction of arrow A. Optical scanning is performed in the direction of arrow B on the eight surfaces. Thus, image recording is performed.

Next, means for correcting distortion (fθ characteristics) and curvature of field in the present embodiment will be described. Since the light beam incident on the fθ lens 6 from the collimator lens 2 via the optical deflector 5 is convergent light, the paraxial radius of curvature in the main scanning plane of the fθ lens 6 is required in order to satisfy the fθ characteristic of this apparatus. As R1 and R2 in order from the optical deflector 5 side,
0 <R ₁ <R ₂ (1)
To satisfy the following conditions.

That is, the lens surface Ra of the fθ lens 6 on the optical deflector 5 side has a convex meniscus shape near the optical axis, and both the lens surface Ra and the lens surface Rb on the scanned surface side have an aspherical shape. Since the aspherical shape has the same spot diameter in the sub-scanning direction depending on the image height, the maximum effective diameter in the main scanning plane is Y _max , and the aspheric amount from the paraxial lens surface R at the _maximum effective diameter Y _max is S, respectively. ₁ and S ₂ (R ₁ ² −Y _max ² ) ^1/2 −R ₁ <S ₁ <0 (2)
S ₂ <(R ₂ ² −Y _max ² ) ^1/2 −R ₂ ... (3)
The lens shape is determined so as to satisfy the following conditions.

In general, the spot diameter ρ _S in the sub-scan direction is
ρ _S = cλF _S
F _S : FNo in the sub-scanning direction
λ: wavelength used
c: By expressing as a constant, in order to make the spot diameters in the sub-scanning direction depending on the image height, variations in the F-number (FNo) in the sub-scanning direction due to the image height, that is, variations in the main plane position in the sub-scanning direction are suppressed. Because it is necessary.

  If the above conditional expression (1) is not satisfied, it is difficult to satisfactorily correct field curvature, distortion, etc., which is not good. Further, if any one of conditional expressions (2) and (3) is deviated, it becomes difficult to make the spot diameter uniform in the sub-scanning direction.

  In this embodiment, by setting the lens shape of the fθ lens 6 so as to satisfy the conditional expressions (1), (2), and (3) as described above, the curvature of field, distortion, and the like are kept good. However, the uniformity of the spot diameter in the sub-scanning direction is improved.

  Next, means for reducing jitter generated by the optical deflector (polygon mirror) will be described with reference to FIGS.

  In general, a polygon mirror is used even when deflecting a light beam to the same deflection angle as shown in FIG. 3 due to a fitting error with a motor rotation shaft or variations in the distance from the rotation center to the polygon surface (deflection surface). The deflection point changes back and forth. At this time, when the light beam deflected by the polygon surface 5a of the polygon mirror 5 and incident on the fθ lens 6 is parallel light, the light beam is imaged at the same point on the photosensitive drum surface as the image surface.

  However, when the light beam from the collimator lens is convergent light, the light beam does not form an image at the same point on the surface of the photosensitive drum, causing a polygon surface period jitter and degrading the image.

Here, as shown in FIG. 4, the jitter amount J at this time is when the deviation amount of the two light beams after deflection is h and the lateral magnification in the main scanning direction is m.
J = mh
Further, as shown in FIG. 5, the lateral magnification m is the focal length of the fθ lens 6 in the main scanning direction (within the main scanning surface) ft, and the surface to be scanned (photosensitive drum surface) 8 from the fθ lens 6. When the distance to is Sk, m = 1−Sk / ft
It becomes. Therefore, the jitter amount J is J = (1-Sk / ft) h
Can be expressed as

  As shown in FIG. 3, the deviation amount h of the two light beams is an amount determined by using the incident angle θi of the light beam on the polygon surface, the emission angle θe of the light beam from the polygon surface, and the eccentric amount d of the polygon surface as parameters. Yes,

However, since the possible values for each parameter are limited, the amount of deviation h is in the range of approximately 0.02 to 0.04.

In general, when an interval between two dots of an image is shifted by more than half of one dot, jitter becomes noticeable visually. For example, in the case of a scanning optical device for a printer having a resolution of 600 dpi, the jitter amount J is J = 25.4 / 600/2 = 0.02 mm.
Since jitter becomes conspicuous visually at the above, the lateral magnification m in the main scanning direction is set to J = mh for high-quality image formation.
0.02 ≧ m × 0.04
m ≦ 0.50.5
It is necessary to keep it below.

However, if the lateral magnification m in the main scanning direction is too small, the distance Sk between the fθ lens 6 and the surface to be scanned 8 becomes long, which is contrary to downsizing of the apparatus. Therefore, in order to make both compatible, the lateral magnification m in the main scanning direction is set to 0.2 ≦ m ≦ 0.5.
That is,
0.2 ≦ 1-Sk / ft ≦ 0.5 (4)
By arranging the power of the fθ lens 6 and the collimator lens 2 so as to satisfy the following condition, a compact scanning optical device in which jitter due to an attachment error of the polygon mirror (optical deflector) 5 is reduced can be obtained.

  If the upper limit value of the conditional expression (4) is exceeded, the jitter becomes visually noticeable, which is not good. On the other hand, if the lower limit is exceeded, the distance between the fθ lens 6 and the surface to be scanned 8 becomes longer and the entire apparatus becomes larger, which is not good.

  In this embodiment, the lens shape of the fθ lens 6 is an aspherical shape that can be expressed by a function up to the 10th order in the main scanning direction, and the sub-scanning direction is constituted by a spherical surface that continuously changes in the image height direction. The lens shape is, for example, the intersection of the fθ lens 6 and the optical axis as the origin, the optical axis direction is the X axis, the axis orthogonal to the optical axis in the main scanning plane is the Y axis, and the optical axis is orthogonal to the sub scanning plane. When the axis is the Z axis, the bus direction corresponding to the main scanning direction is

(Where R is the radius of curvature, and K, B ₄ , B ₆ , B ₈ , and B ₁₀ are aspherical coefficients), and the sub-scanning direction (with respect to the main scanning direction including the optical axis). The direction of the corresponding line is

Where r is the radius of curvature, D _{2 to} D ₁₀ are aspheric coefficients,
r ′ = r (1 + D ₂ Y ² + D ₄ Y ⁴ + D ₆ Y ⁶ + D ⁸ Y ⁸ + D ₁₀ Y ¹⁰ )
It can be expressed by the following formula.

  FIG. 7 shows the optical arrangement and the aspherical coefficient of the fθ lens 6 in this embodiment. In FIG. 7, B4 to B10 represent aspheric coefficients in the main scanning plane, and D2E to D10E and D2S to D10S represent aspheric coefficients in the sub scanning plane.

  Here, the aspheric coefficients D2E to D10E are coefficients that specify the shape of one direction (one of the main scanning directions) across the optical axis of the lens surface, and the aspheric coefficients D2S to D10S are across the optical axis of the lens surface. A coefficient for specifying the shape in the other direction (the other in the main scanning direction).

  As shown in FIG. 7, the aspherical coefficients D2E to D10E and the aspherical coefficients D2S to D10S are different, and the curvature in the sub-scanning surface is within the effective diameter of the lens surface from the axis to the axis, and the optical axis is the center. It turns out that it changes asymmetrically.

The same applies to Example 2 shown in FIG. FIG. 9 is an explanatory view showing the aspherical shape of the fθ lens 6, where the solid line indicates the aspherical amount S from the paraxial radius of curvature, and the broken line indicates the value of (R ² −Y _max ² ) ^1/2 −R. Is.

In this embodiment, the paraxial radius of curvature R, the amount of aspheric surface S of the fθ lens 6 and the values of (R ² −Y _max ² ) ^1/2 −R are R ₁ = 65.22.
R ₂ = 150.03
S ₁ = −9.44
S ₂ = −7.97
(R ₁ ² −Y _max ² ) ^1/2 −R ₁ = −14.50 (R ₂ ² −Y _max ² ) ^1/2 −R ₂ = −6.00
These values satisfy the conditional expressions (1) to (3) described above.

  FIG. 11 is an aberration diagram showing field curvature, distortion, and the like in this example. From the figure, it can be seen that each aberration is corrected to a level where there is no practical problem. Also, the change in spot diameter in the sub-scanning direction due to the image height can be suppressed to within 10 μm.

Next, jitter caused by an attachment error of the polygon mirror (optical deflector). In this embodiment, the focal length ft in the main scanning direction of the fθ lens 6 is 213.7 mm, and the surface to be scanned (photosensitive member) is moved from the fθ lens 6. Drum surface) The distance Sk to 8 is 111.5 mm, and the lateral magnification m in the main scanning direction is m = 1−Sk / ft.
= 1-111.5 / 213.7
= 0.478
Thus, the conditional expression (4) is satisfied, thereby reducing the jitter due to the mounting error of the polygon mirror 5.

Also, shift amount h of the two light beams in this embodiment the incident angle θ _i = -90 ° of the light beam to the polygon plane 5a, the exit angle of the light beam θ _e = 45 °, and a 15μm eccentricity d of the polygon surface 5a When

Therefore, the jitter amount J is J = mh = 0.0186 mm
Thus, it can be suppressed to a level where jitter is not noticeable visually.

  As described above, in this embodiment, by appropriately setting the lens shape and optical arrangement of the fθ lens, the convergent light from the collimator lens is imaged on the surface to be scanned by the single fθ lens via the optical deflector. In this case, the field curvature, distortion, and the like are corrected satisfactorily, and problems such as jitter due to an attachment error of the optical deflector and changes in the spot diameter in the sub-scanning direction due to the image height are solved.

  FIG. 6 is a sectional view (main scanning sectional view) of the main part in the main scanning direction of the optical system according to the second embodiment of the present invention. In the figure, the same elements as those shown in FIG.

  This embodiment differs from the first embodiment described above in that the fθ lens 26 is configured by reducing the center thickness of the fθ lens in the optical axis direction. Other configurations and optical functions are substantially the same as those of the first embodiment. It is.

FIG. 8 shows the optical arrangement and the aspherical coefficient of the fθ lens 26 in the second embodiment. FIG. 10 is an explanatory view showing the amount of aspherical surface of the fθ lens 26. The solid line shows the amount of aspherical surface S from the paraxial radius of curvature, and the broken line shows the value of (R ² −Ymax ² ) ^1/2 −R. It is.

In this embodiment, the paraxial radius of curvature R of the fθ lens 26, the aspherical amount S from the paraxial radius of curvature R, and the values of (R ² −Y _max ² ) ^1/2 −R are R ₁ = 45. 16 R ₂ = 68.96
S ₁ = −20.24 S ₂ = −14.61
(R ₁ ² −Y _max ² ) ^1/2 −R ₁ = −26.23 (R ₂ ² −Y _max ² ) ^1/2 −R ₂ = −14.27
These values satisfy the conditional expressions (1) to (3) as in the first embodiment.

  FIG. 12 is an aberration diagram showing field curvature, distortion, and the like in this example. From the figure, it can be seen that each aberration is corrected to a level where there is no practical problem. Also, the change in spot diameter in the sub-scanning direction due to the image height can be suppressed to within 10 μm.

In this embodiment, when the focal length ft of the fθ lens 26 in the main scanning direction is 226.0 mm and the distance Sk from the fθ lens 26 to the surface to be scanned (photosensitive drum surface) 8 is 111.5 mm, The lateral magnification m in the scanning direction is m = 1−Sk / ft.
= 1-111.5 / 226.0
= 0.493
This value satisfies the conditional expression (4) in the same manner as in the first embodiment, thereby suppressing the jitter due to the mounting error of the optical deflector (polygon mirror) 5 to a visually inconspicuous level. Yes.

  As described above, in this embodiment, by appropriately setting the lens shape and optical arrangement of the fθ lens 26 as described above, the field curvature, distortion, etc. can be corrected satisfactorily as in the first embodiment, and It solves problems such as jitter due to deflector mounting errors and changes in spot diameter in the sub-scanning direction due to image height.

  In this embodiment, the thickness of the center of the fθ lens in the optical axis direction is reduced, so that the molding tact time of the fθ lens can be shortened, thereby realizing a lower cost scanning optical device. ing.

Sectional drawing of the principal part of the main scanning direction of Example 1 of this invention Expansive explanatory drawing of the fθ lens shown in FIG. 1 is an enlarged explanatory view of a part of the optical deflector shown in FIG. Explanatory drawing which shows the correlation of 2 light beam shift | offset | difference and jitter amount in Example 1 of this invention. Explanatory drawing which shows the positional relationship from the optical deflector to a to-be-scanned surface in Example 1 of this invention. Sectional drawing of the principal part of the main scanning direction of Example 2 of this invention Explanatory drawing which shows the aspherical coefficient of the optical arrangement and fθ lens in Example 1 of the present invention Explanatory drawing which shows the optical arrangement | positioning in Example 2 of this invention, and the aspherical surface coefficient of f (theta) lens. Explanatory drawing which shows the aspherical shape of ftheta lens in Example 1 of this invention Explanatory drawing which shows the aspherical shape of f (theta) lens in Example 2 of this invention. Aberration diagram showing field curvature and distortion in Example 1 of the present invention Aberration diagram showing field curvature and distortion in Example 2 of the present invention Schematic diagram of the main part of an optical system of a conventional scanning optical device

Explanation of symbols

1 Light source means
2 First optical element (collimator lens)
3 Aperture
4 Second optical element (cylindrical lens)
5 Deflection element (optical deflector)
6, 26 Third optical element (fθ lens)
8 Scanned surface (photosensitive drum)

Claims (1)

A first optical element that converts the light beam emitted from the light source means into convergent light, a second optical element that forms an image of the light beam on the deflection surface of the deflecting element in the shape of a long line in the main scanning direction, and the deflection And a third optical element that forms a beam of light deflected by the element in a spot shape on the surface to be scanned. The third optical element comprises a single lens, The lens surfaces are both aspherical toric surfaces in the main scanning plane, the focal length of the third optical element in the main scanning plane is ft, and the distance from the third optical element to the scanned surface is When Sk, 0.2 ≦ 1-Sk / ft ≦ 0.5
And a change in the spot diameter in the sub-scanning direction at each image height is suppressed to within 10 μm.