Multi-beam light source unit

DETAILED DESCRIPTION The preferred embodiments of the present invention overcome the problems described above by providing a multi-beam light source unit having excellent stability in beam spot position and beam spot interval despite the passage of time and a simple construction without requiring that beam splitters be provided in a plurality of stages even when two or more general-purpose semiconductor lasers are used and beams are synthesized by beam splitters, and achieving an easy and accurate adjustment of beam spot intervals (setting of scanning line intervals in a sub-scanning direction).
Further, the preferred embodiments of the present invention provide a multi-beam light source unit which can change a scanning line interval in the sub-scanning direction to another interval easily and reliably to provide for accurate and reliable beam spot positions and intervals and to allow for easy and accurate selection of recording density.
Furthermore, the preferred embodiments of the present invention provide a multi-beam light source unit in which the number of beams is significantly increased as compared to prior art devices while minimizing light emitting output and eliminating a loss of light volume, and while maintaining a constant pitch of beam spots.
According to a specific preferred embodiment of the present invention, there is provided a multi-beam light source unit including a light source section having a plurality of semiconductor lasers, a plurality of collimating lenses for collimating light beams output from the semiconductor lasers, and a supporting member for integrally supporting the plurality of semiconductor lasers and the plurality of collimating lenses arranged in a main scanning direction.
The light source section preferably is arranged to have a relationship expressed by D/d.
noteq.
1 in which D is a distance between adjacent ones of the semiconductor lasers and d is a distance between adjacent ones of the collimating lenses.
The light source section is supported so that a rotational or angular orientation of the light source section can be changed easily and accurately