Optical scanning apparatus and color image forming apparatus

1. An optical scanning apparatus comprising:

a plurality of light source units;

a deflecting unit having a plurality of deflecting surfaces, the deflecting surfaces configured to deflect and scan light beams emitted from the light source units;

a plurality of incident optical systems configured to direct the light beams emitted from the light source units to the different deflecting surfaces of the deflecting unit, the incident optical systems provided so as to correspond to the light source units;

a plurality of imaging optical systems configured to image the light beams on a plurality of surfaces to be scanned, the imaging optical systems arranged in optical paths of the light beams deflected and scanned by the different deflecting surfaces of the deflecting unit; and

at least one synchronous detection optical system configured to determine a writing timing at which the light beam forms image on the surface to be scanned;

wherein, in a main scanning cross-section, the imaging optical systems are arranged to oppose each other with the deflecting unit therebetween; and

wherein the synchronous detection optical system includes a synchronous detection element configured to detect the light beam deflected and scanned by the deflecting surface of the deflecting unit, at least one optical path changing unit arranged in an optical path between the deflecting unit and the synchronous detection element, the optical path changing unit configured to change an optical path of said light beam deflected and scanned by the deflecting surface of the deflecting unit and direct said light beam to the synchronous detection element, and at least one synchronous detection optical element arranged in an optical path between the optical path changing unit and the synchronous detection element, the synchronous detection optical element having a refractive power at least in a main scanning direction,

wherein the synchronous detection element is attached to a substrate of the light source unit arranged to oppose the light source unit that emits the light beam used for synchronous detection, with the deflecting unit therebetween, in the main scanning cross-section, and

wherein the synchronous detection optical element and the synchronous detection element are arranged to oppose each other with respect to a straight line L 0 in the main scanning cross-section, the straight line L 0 going through a deflection axis of the deflecting unit and being perpendicular to an optical axis La, Lb of at least one of the imaging optical systems.

2. The optical scanning apparatus according to claim 1 ,

wherein each of the imaging optical systems includes an imaging optical element, and

wherein the light beam directed to the synchronous detection element does not pass through any of the imaging optical elements.

3. The optical scanning apparatus according to claim 2 ,

wherein more than one imaging optical element is provided,

wherein the optical scanning apparatus satisfies the following condition:

0.6 ×Lg≦fb≦ 1.2× Lg,

where Lg (mm) is the physical distance between the light source unit that emits the light beam used for synchronous detection and an exterior of the imaging optical element that is optically closest to the deflecting unit, and fb (mm) is the focal length of the synchronous detection optical element in a main scanning direction.

4. The optical scanning apparatus according to claim 1 ,

wherein each of the imaging optical systems includes an imaging optical element,

wherein the light beam directed to the synchronous detection element passes through at least one of the imaging optical elements, and

wherein the optical path changing unit is arranged in an optical path between the imaging optical element and the synchronous detection optical element.

5. The optical scanning apparatus according to claim 4 ,

wherein more than one the imaging optical element is provided,

wherein the optical scanning apparatus satisfies the following condition:

0.6 ×Lg≦fg≦ 8.0 ×Lg

where Lg (mm) is the physical distance between the light source unit that emits the light beam used for synchronous detection and an exterior of the imaging optical element that is optically closest to the deflecting unit, and fg is the combined focal length in a main scanning direction of the synchronous detection optical element and all the imaging optical elements through which the synchronous detection light beam has passed.

6. A color image forming apparatus comprising:

an optical scanning apparatus according to claim 1 ; and

a plurality of image bearing members on which images of different colors are formed, the image bearing members being arranged at positions corresponding to the surfaces to be scanned of the optical scanning apparatus according to claim 1 .

7. The color image forming apparatus according to claim 6 , further comprising a printer controller configured to convert color signals input from an external device into image data of different colors, and input the image data to the optical scanning apparatus.