A multi-beam scanning method for scanning a scanning surface with a plurality
of
beams which are formed into a plurality of beam spots separated from each other
in a sub scanning direction includes providing n number of semiconductor laser
array units, each of the n number of semiconductor laser array units having m number
of light emitting points, where n is not equal to 1 and m is not equal to 1, coupling
light beams emitted from the light emitting points of the semiconductor laser arrays,
synthesizing the coupled beams with a beam synthesizing device to obtain mn
number of beams and deflecting the mn number of beams at substantially the
same time such that the deflected beams are impinged on the scanning surface.
