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Multibeam Laser Diodes Achieve High-Speed Printing
SLD265RP/SLD264EP
High-speed printing can be said to be one of the main strengths of
laser printers.
With even higher speed printing being desired now that laser printers
support color as well, Sony has now released multibeam laser
diode products that can print multiple scanning lines at the same
time.
The SLD265RP emits two laser beams from a single semiconductor
device (dual-beam laser diode), and the SLD264EP is a laser diode
that achieves quad-beam laser diode operation. |
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SLD265RP/
SLD264EP |
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* Multibeam laser diodes
(Dual- and quad-beam laser diodes)
* Multiple inter-beam pitch specifications
(14 and 100 µm pitches)
* Matching laser characteristics and
minimal inter-beam interference |
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Multibeam Laser Diodes |
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Laser printers illuminate a laser beam on
a photosensitive material in the scan direction,
and develop toner on the printing
paper. Until now, the printing speed has
been determined by the rotational speed
of a polygonal mirror that distributes the
laser beam in the scan direction. However,
there are limits to how fast the polygonal
mirror can be rotated, and as more and
more printers support color, the need for
not only black, but RGB printing arises as
well. Thus it has become necessary to
develop other technologies to achieve even
higher printing speeds.
To respond to this need, Sony has released
multibeam laser diodes that print multiple
scan lines at the same time. By switching to dual-beam or quad-beam devices, the
printing speed can be increased up to 2
times or 4 times previous speeds. |
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Diversity in Inter-Beam Pitch
Specifications |
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Multibeam laser diodes emit multiple
laser beams from a single semiconductor
device. The inter-beam pitch will differ
for each printer manufacturer’s optical design.
The SLD265RP achieves the
ultra-narrow pitch of 14 µm.
Sony’s unique process technologies made
it possible to create this 14 µm beam pitch,
and Sony’s lineup provides multibeam
laser diodes with beam pitches from 14 to
100 µm. |
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Matching Laser Characteristics |
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The largest difference between these devices
and the two-wavelength laser diodes
used in optical disc drives is that the dual
or quad beams are driven at the same time.
The multiple laser diodes must have the
same characteristics and inter-beam interference
must be held to a minimum to prevent
nonuniformity in printing.
Sony is able to suppress relative differences
between the beams with their stable
wafer process technology, and products
have been designed taking thermal and
electrical interference into account to
minimize inter-beam interference. |
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•••• Mr.TAKASE••••
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The number of multibeam laser
products released has accelerated
rapidly since 2000. Sony has led
other companies in this area, and
has cleared many technological
hurdles along the way. As a result,
Sony has captured a large share
of this market based on its own
technologies. I hope to continue
to create products that respond to
new market needs without becoming
excessively proud of these
technologies created by pioneers. |
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See
all articles with figures and tables.  |
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Vol.38 |
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