Tokyo Electric Co.

Osamu Kobuse

Kei Hara

An exposure method for use in an image forming apparatus for having each of edge emission type electroluminescent (EL) devices emit light a plurality of times to form one pixel of an image. The gradient of the image outline relative to the horizontal scanning direction is checked to see if it falls in one of two ranges: between 0.degree. and 45.degree., or between 45.degree. and 90.degree.. If the gradient falls between 0.degree. and 45.degree., the edge emission type EL devices are made to emit light selectively according to the proportion of image-filled regions in the pixels intersected by the outline. If the gradient falls between 45.degree. and 90.degree., either the light intensity of the edge emission type EL devices is established according to the proportion of image-filled regions in the pixels intersected by the outline, or the number of the pulses which exceed a threshold voltage and which are fed to the edge emission type EL devices is gradually reduced according to reductions of image-filled regions in the pixels intersected by the outline.

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Shizuoka, Japan

Osamu Kobuse