Ricoh Company, Ltd.

Tetsuro Saitoh

Masahiro Ito

Koji Masuda

Kazuyuki Shimada

Hirokatsu Suzuki

Tomoya Ohsugi

Katsuyuki Kitao

Yasuhiro Osawa

An imaging module includes a spatial light modulator that spatially modulates an incident light flux to emit a modulated light flux, an imaging element that obtains the modulated light flux by the spatial light modulator as image information, and an adjuster that adjusts a space between an imaging surface of the imaging element and the spatial light modulator, wherein the adjuster operates to reduce the space between the imaging surface and the spatial light modulator in response to a temperature rise.

Imaging module and imaging apparatus

An image forming apparatus includes a light emitting array composed of a plurality of light emitting elements that emits light fluxes. An imaging element array may be provided so as to perform imaging with the light fluxes on a prescribed plane. A three dimensional exposure intensity distribution of the light flux is obtained per each light emitting element. A prescribed attribute is obtained from each of the exposure intensity distributions. A plurality of comparison values for the entire exposure valid region may be obtained from different units which consist of two or more successive attributes. Prescribed light emitting quantities enabling all of the comparison values to fall within a prescribed range may be determined and set to respective light emitting elements.

Density unevenness suppressing image forming apparatus and method

An optical apparatus uses an array of light-emitting elements (LEDs or ELs) and a focusing optical system. Light emitted from the light-emitting elements of the array is directed to the focusing optical system within narrowed solid angles, thereby raising overall light utilization efficiency, with the help of recesses, each shaped as an inverted conical frustum, centered at respective light-emitting elements, to collect light from the light-emitting elements and deliver it to the focusing system within narrower solid angles, as both direct light and indirect light reflected from the slanting side walls of the recesses. The side walls of the recesses can have a reflecting film to further enhance overall light utilization efficiency. Lenses can be formed integrally with the array, to further help focus the light delivered to the focusing optical system.

Optical apparatus and method of manufacturing optical apparatus

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Miyagi, Japan

Tetsuro Saitoh