Importance

Loading Importance Indicators...

Abstract

An optical multiple-scanning device has a number of scanning laser light beams that scan along a scan path, are separated along the scan path by a predetermined pitch P, and produce an illumination spot of diameter D along the scan path. A synchronizing signal generating circuit for the optical multiple-scanning device includes a single photodiode and a signal processing circuit. The single photodiode has a width W along the scan path and generates a signal with maximums IMAX and minimums IMIN. If the condition W.ltoreq.P-D/4 is met, or if IMIN is less than or equal to 80% of IMAX, the signal processing circuit accurately generates a square-wave synchronizing signal such that successive rectangular pulses of the synchronizing signal cyclically indicate that successive scanning laser beams have reached a predetermined position along the scan path.

Loading the Abstract Image...

First Claim