IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS, OPTICAL WRITING SYSTEM, AND APC CONTROL METHOD FOR OPTICAL WRITING SYSTEM

摘要

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To shorten the startup time for the quantities of light of all semiconductor lasers. SOLUTION: An optical writing means for simultaneously performing optical writing of a plurality of lines by simultaneously driving a plurality of the semiconductor lasers has one photodetector for detecting part of the laser beams emitted from individual laser light sources of the plurality of the semiconductor lasers and a means for causing the individual semiconductor lasers to undergo a transition to the desired quantities of light by successively lighting the individual laser light sources as a fore stage of shifting to the line APC (Automatic Power Control) means, and lights any one among the plurality of the semiconductor lasers. The optical writing means has a means for ending the lighting when a synchronous detection signal is detected by the lighted laser light source and has a means for ending the lighting and has a means for successively changing the remaining semiconductor lasers to the desired quantities of light by the lighting and the synchronizing signal when any one among the remaining semiconductor lasers is lighted and the synchronizing signal is detected by the lighted laser light source. The operation is shifted to the line APC operation when the operation causing all of the semiconductor lasers to undergo the transition to the desired quantities of light is completed. COPYRIGHT: (C)2004,JPO