JP2003094730A - Printer - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a high resolution printer. SOLUTION: The printer comprises a print head provided with transmission thin film transistor liquid crystal units 2, 13 and 36 where liquid crystals of pixel are formed linearly. Recording media 1, 11 and 32 being printed depending on image data are irradiated with light passed through the thin film transistor liquid crystal units 2, 13 and 36 in the print head.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a printer device, and more particularly to a printer device using a liquid crystal device.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In recent years, various printer devices have been developed. In a printer such as a photosensitive type or an electrophotographic type, a light emitting diode (hereinafter, LE) corresponding to each dot is used.
There is one using an LED print head using a (D).

In a printer device using an LED print head, the print head moves in a fixed direction with respect to photosensitive paper, plain paper, or the like, or the photosensitive paper moves in a fixed direction with respect to the print head. The LED print heads are LEs arranged in a line in a direction orthogonal to the moving direction relative to photosensitive paper, plain paper, etc. (hereinafter referred to as recording medium).
It has a plurality of linear LEDs in which Ds are arranged.
The LED print head moves relative to the recording medium, and the dots of light corresponding to the image to be printed are applied to the recording medium, whereby the light of the print image is projected onto the recording medium. Some recording media use so-called Polaroid (registered trademark) paper, which is a light-receiving photographic printing paper.

[0004]

However, since the LED print head uses LEDs that form dots of each light, there is a limit to the printing resolution, and there is a demand for a printer device capable of high-definition printing. It was

[0005]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION Therefore, an object of the present invention is to provide a printer device using a liquid crystal device, which enables higher-definition printing.

A printer device of the present invention includes a print head having a transmissive thin film transistor liquid crystal device in which pixels are formed in a line shape, and light transmitted through the thin film transistor liquid crystal device of the print head is printed according to image data. Irradiate the desired recording medium.

The printer device of the present invention includes a print head having a reflective thin film transistor liquid crystal device in which pixels are formed in a line, and the light reflected by the thin film transistor liquid crystal device of the print head is printed according to image data. Irradiate the desired recording medium.

According to such a configuration, it is possible to realize a printer device which enables higher-definition printing.

In the printer of the present invention, it is desirable that the recording medium is a photosensitive recording medium.

According to this structure, it is compact,
It is possible to provide a printer device that enables higher-definition printing.

Further, in the printer device of the present invention, it is preferable that the thin film transistor liquid crystal device is composed of a plurality of pixels, and a color filter corresponding to the pixels is formed.

With this arrangement, color printing can be performed.

Further, in the printer device of the present invention, it is desirable that the thin film transistor liquid crystal device is formed in two or more lines.

With this structure, it is possible to reduce the number of times the recording medium is conveyed or the print head moves.

In the printer of the present invention, the thin film transistor liquid crystal device is preferably a liquid crystal device using single crystal silicon or high temperature polysilicon.

With such a structure, it is possible to perform higher-definition printing.

Further, it is preferable that the printer device of the present invention includes a color filter provided corresponding to a pixel of the thin film transistor liquid crystal device, and makes white light from the white light source enter the thin film transistor liquid crystal device as a predetermined color light.

Further, it is desirable that the printer device of the present invention comprises a white light source and a rotating color filter for separating the white light from the white light source into predetermined color light.

Further, in the printer device of the present invention, it is preferable that the thin film transistor liquid crystal device has a pixel array arranged in a line and has color light emitting elements arranged in a line corresponding to the pixel array.

With such a configuration, color printing can be performed without using a color filter.

[0021]

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

First, the first embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 1 is a diagram for explaining the configuration of a printer device according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

In FIG. 1, reference numeral 1 is a recording medium such as photosensitive paper or plain paper. Reference numeral 2 is a liquid crystal device as a switching element for controlling light transmission, and 3 is a color filter. 4 is a white light source device. 5 is a recording medium 1
Is a transport roller for transporting. 6 is a print head. The print head includes at least the liquid crystal device 2.

The liquid crystal device 2 is a line-shaped transmissive liquid crystal device in which pixels of the liquid crystal device corresponding to light dots are formed in a line in a direction orthogonal to the transport direction of the recording medium 1 indicated by an arrow. . The liquid crystal device 2 is a thin film transistor (hereinafter referred to as TFT) liquid crystal device.

The light source device 4 and the color filter 3 have an elongated shape extending in a direction orthogonal to the conveying direction of the recording medium 1 shown by an arrow. The color filter 3 is a light source device 4
One of the three primary colors is transmitted from the light from the light source, and is controlled to be positioned between the light source device 4 and the liquid crystal device 2 in correspondence with printing of each color.

In the above-mentioned structure, first of the white light from the light source 4, light of a color that has passed through one of the color filters 3 (for example, one of the three primary colors (RGB) is red) Is projected on a liquid crystal device (hereinafter, also referred to as LCD) 2. That is, the white light from the white light source 4 enters the LCD as a predetermined color light. The projected light passes through the LCD 2 and is applied to the recording medium 1. ON / OFF of each pixel of the liquid crystal of the LCD 2 is controlled according to the image data to be printed. The transport roller 5 is a transport control circuit (not shown).
The recording medium 1 is conveyed in a predetermined direction by rotating while nipping the recording medium 1 based on the drive signal from the. Image data is given to the LCD 2 in accordance with the transport position of the recording medium 1, so that an image image of one color of the image to be printed is formed on the recording medium 1.

Although the recording medium 1 is moved by the carrying roller 5 here, the recording medium 1 is fixed and the LCD
The light from 2 may be moved. For example, light from the LCD 2 may be scanned over the entire surface of the recording medium 1 using a movable mirror, or L
The CD 2 itself may be moved so as to scan the entire surface of the recording medium 1.

Such an operation is performed in the other two colors (for example,
The color image can be formed on the recording medium 1 by performing the processes for green and blue.

The image forming system may be either a photosensitive system or an electrophotographic system. That is, in the case of a photosensitive printer device using a light receiving photographic printing paper such as polaroid paper which is a film used for an instant camera or the like, the recording medium 1 is irradiated with light of a desired color by the above-described operation, Color printing is possible. Further, in the case of the electrophotographic system, processing such as toner application and fixing is performed for each color, and color printing is possible.

Further, in the case of photosensitive type color printing, FIG.
Also, by using a plurality of lines of color filters and a liquid crystal device as shown in FIG.
The number of times the CD is moved can be reduced. 2 and 3
FIG. 9 is a diagram for explaining another configuration example of the color filter and the liquid crystal device.

FIG. 2 is a diagram showing the arrangement of color filters for pixels of the color filter 3. 2, in the color filter 3, the pixel filters are arranged in two rows (two rows L1 and L2) in a direction orthogonal to the transport direction of the recording medium 1.
That is, it is a line-shaped color filter formed in two lines. One unit 6 is formed by four pixel filters, and at least three of the four units correspond to the three primary colors (RGB). Multiple R's are provided in the L1 column.
A pair of (red) and G (green) filters are provided, and a plurality of B (blue) filters are provided in the row L2 so as to be repeated in the row direction. A plurality of such units 6 are continuously formed in a direction orthogonal to the transport direction of the recording medium 1.

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing an arrangement of pixels of the liquid crystal device 2. In FIG. 3, the liquid crystal device 2 has two rows of pixels (L1 and L2) in a direction orthogonal to the transport direction of the recording medium 1.
2), that is, a line-shaped liquid crystal device formed in two lines. The four pixels a, b, c, d form one unit 7, and at least three of the four correspond to the three primary colors (RGB). L of each unit
In column 1, a plurality of pixels a and b are provided so as to repeat in the L1 direction so as to correspond to R and G of the color filter 3, respectively. A plurality of c pixels are provided in the L2 column of each unit so as to repeat in the L2 direction so as to correspond to B of the color filter 3.
Such a plurality of units 7 are continuously formed in a direction orthogonal to the transport direction of the recording medium 1.

The pixels and the color filters of each unit 6 and unit 7 are arranged so as to correspond to each other in this way, and a signal corresponding to each pixel is set to L based on the image data.
By supplying to the CD 2, color printing can be performed by one-time conveyance of the recording medium or movement (scan) of the print head. That is, since the light passing through L1 and L2 strikes the recording medium 1 at the same time by one exposure, the recording medium 1 can be conveyed or the print head can be moved only once.

Further, in the case of a monochrome image, even if the print head and the liquid crystal device as shown in FIGS. 2 and 3 are not used, the liquid crystal device of one line is used and the recording medium is conveyed once. Alternatively, an image can be printed by moving the print head.

Furthermore, a light source as shown in FIG. 4 may be used. That is, although the white light source 4 and the color filter 3 are used as the color light source in FIG. 1, three color LEDs as shown in FIG. 4 may be arranged in a line.

FIG. 4 is a view for explaining the structure of a light source in which LEDs of three colors are arranged in a line. In FIG. 4, LE
The D light source 8 is provided with LEDs, which are three-color light emitting elements of red (R), green (G), and blue (B), arranged in a line for each color. In other words, so-called bar-shaped LEDs of three colors are used as the light source. Reference numeral 9 is an individual LED element.

When the LED light source 8 is fixed by using a liquid crystal device having a line-shaped pixel row formed in one line, when printing one line in the direction perpendicular to the transport direction of the recording medium 1. , LED light source 8 red, green, blue 3 color LED
However, the lights may be sequentially turned on according to the image data. That is, when printing red image data, the red LED light sources arranged in a line corresponding to the pixel row are turned on (green and blue LEDs are turned off), and one line In the liquid crystal device, ON / OFF of pixels is controlled according to red image data. Next, the green LED light source is turned on (the red and blue LEDs are turned off), and one line-shaped liquid crystal device is controlled to turn on or off the pixels according to the green image data. Then, the blue LED light source is turned on (the red and green LEDs are off), and one line-shaped liquid crystal device is controlled to turn on or off the pixels according to the blue image data. When the irradiation of light for the three colors is completed, the recording medium 1 is moved by one line by the conveying means, and the images for the three colors are similarly irradiated. By repeating such an operation, a two-dimensional image can be formed on the recording medium.

As another method, when a line-shaped liquid crystal device formed into three lines is used and both the liquid crystal device and the LED light source 8 of FIG. 4 are fixed, three lines at a time You may make it irradiate with light. Ie LED
The lights of the three rows of red, green and blue of the light source 8 are made to correspond to the pixels of three rows of red, green and blue of the liquid crystal device 2. Then, a means for blocking the light of each color is provided so as not to be affected by the light of other colors, and the light of three lines at a time (three lines perpendicular to the transport direction of the recording medium 1) is recorded. Irradiate 1. And
When the irradiation for three lines is completed, the recording medium 1 is moved by one line by the conveying means, and the three lines are similarly irradiated.
In this way, by moving the recording medium 1 line by line and repeating simultaneous irradiation for three lines, a color image can be printed on the recording medium 1.

Even if the size of each LED is larger than the size of each pixel of the liquid crystal device, the dot of light is reduced by transmitting each pixel of the liquid crystal device. Therefore,
High-definition printing is possible without using a color filter.

As described above, according to the present embodiment, since the TFT liquid crystal device is used as the switching element for controlling the transmission of light, it is possible to realize a printer device capable of higher-definition printing. .

Next, a second embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS.

The second embodiment relates to a printer device having a print head using a reflective liquid crystal device.
FIG. 5 is a diagram for explaining the configuration of a printer device having a print head using a reflective liquid crystal device. FIG. 6 is a diagram for explaining a configuration example of the color filter. In FIG. 5, 11 is a recording medium. 12 is
It is a conveyance roller. A liquid crystal device 13 is a reflective liquid crystal display device. 14 is a white light source. 15 is
It is a mirror as a light guide plate. Reference numeral 16 is a color filter.

The liquid crystal device 13 has a recording medium 11 indicated by an arrow.
Is a line-shaped reflective type transmissive liquid crystal device in which pixels of the liquid crystal device corresponding to the dots of light are formed in a line in a direction orthogonal to the transport direction of. The liquid crystal device 13 is, for example, L
COS (Liquid Cristal display)
y On Silicon). This liquid crystal device 13
Similarly to the first embodiment, the liquid crystal device is a thin film transistor (hereinafter referred to as TFT).

Further, the color filter 16 provided between the light source device 14 and the mirror 15 is such that when the light source 14 irradiates the mirror 15 with a dot of light of each color, the filter of the corresponding color (red (R ), Green (G), and blue (B)), the movement in the direction indicated by arrow X is controlled. As shown in FIG. 6, as the color filter 16, a rotary filter 21 whose rotation around the rotation axis RA is controlled in the direction of the arrow Y by a motor (not shown) according to the color of the emitted light. May be used. Rotating color filter 2
1 separates the white light from the white light source into predetermined color lights.

That is, the color filter 16 transmits one of the three primary colors out of the light from the light source device 14, and corresponds to the printing of each color.
It is controlled so as to be located between the mirror 15 and the mirror 15. In addition,
The position where the color filter 16 is provided may be between the mirror 15 and the LCD 13 as shown by 16a, or may be between the LCD 13 and the recording medium 11 as shown by 16b.

In the above structure, first, the light from the light source 14 passes through one of the color filters 16 (for example, one of the three primary colors (RGB) is red),
It is reflected by the mirror 15 and projected on the LCD 13. The projected light is reflected by the LCD 13 and applied to the recording medium 1. Depending on the image data to be printed, the LCD 13
ON / OFF of each pixel of the liquid crystal is controlled. The conveyance roller 12 conveys the recording medium 11 in a predetermined direction by rotating while nipping the recording medium 11 based on a drive signal from a conveyance control circuit (not shown). Depending on the transport position of the recording medium 11, the image data is L
When applied to the CD 13, an image image for one color of the image to be printed is formed on the recording medium 11. When LCOS is used as the liquid crystal device, it is not necessary to form wiring between pixels, and thus high-definition printing is possible.

Although the recording medium 11 is moved by the carrying roller 12 here, the recording medium 11 may be fixed and the light from the LCD 13 may be moved, as in the first embodiment. For example, using a movable mirror LC
The light from D13 may scan over the recording medium 11 over the entire surface, or the LCD 13 itself may move so as to scan over the recording medium 11 over the entire surface.

Such an operation is performed in the other two colors (for example,
A color image can be formed on the recording medium 11 by performing the processes for green and blue.

As the light source device, as described in the first embodiment, the LED light source 8 as shown in FIG. 4 may be used instead of the light source 14 and the color filter 16 in FIG. . For the operation when the LED light source 8 is used, the recording medium conveyance and the light irradiation method described in the first embodiment can be used.

In the above description, an example of color printing has been described, but in the case of monochrome (monochrome) printing, a color filter is not required, and a printer device can be realized by using a one-line LCD. it can.

Again, the image forming method may be either a photosensitive method or an electrophotographic method. That is, in the case of a photosensitive printer device using a light-receiving photographic printing paper such as polaroid paper which is a film used for an instant camera or the like, the recording medium 11 is irradiated with light of a desired color by the above-described operation, Color printing is possible. Further, in the case of the electrophotographic system, processing such as toner application and fixing is performed for each color, and color printing is possible.

Next, a third embodiment of the present invention will be described.

The printer device according to the third embodiment is
The present invention is applied to a small printer device such as a so-called mobile printer device. According to FIG. 7 and FIG.
A third embodiment will be described.

FIG. 7 is a side view showing the structure of the printer device. FIG. 8 is a plan view of some components of the printer device shown in FIG. In these drawings, reference numeral 31 is a housing of the printer device.
Reference numeral 32 is a recording medium such as polaroid paper which is a film used for an instant camera or the like. Reference numeral 33 is a roller for conveying the recording medium 32. 34 is a light source,
Reference numeral 35 is a color filter, and 36 is a TFT liquid crystal device. A print head 36a includes a light source 34, a color filter 35, and a TFT liquid crystal device 36 here. Reference numeral 37 is a print head control unit, which is based on the image signal A supplied via a memory card or a communication signal line, and is connected to the light source device 3 via a plurality of signal lines 38.
4, supplying various signals to the color filter 35 and the TFT liquid crystal device 36.

The LCD 36 is a line-shaped transmissive liquid crystal device in which the pixels of the liquid crystal device corresponding to the dots of light are formed in a line in the direction orthogonal to the transport direction of the recording medium 32 shown by the arrow.

Color filter 35 and TFT liquid crystal device 3
6 uses the plurality of line-shaped liquid crystal devices described in FIGS. 2 and 3 in the first embodiment.

Reference numeral 40 is a conveyance control section. Transport control unit 4
0 outputs a drive signal C for driving and controlling the transport mechanism including the transport roller 33 based on a control signal from the print head controller 37 via the signal line 39. Therefore, since the drive signal C synchronizes the recording medium 32 with the exposure operation based on the image signal A, an image image to be printed is formed on the recording medium 32.

In the printer device thus constructed, the recording medium 32 is the LCD 3 of the printer head 36a.
The light that has passed through 6 is irradiated and exposed, and is discharged to the outside of the housing of the printer by the rotation of the roller 33. When discharged, the recording medium 32 such as polaroid paper is subjected to pressure by a pressing roller (not shown), and the developing solution in the recording medium 32 leaks out to be developed.

Although the recording medium 32 is moved by the carrying roller 33 in the above description, the recording medium 32 may be fixed and the light from the LCD 36 may be moved. For example, the light from the LCD 36 may be scanned over the entire surface of the recording medium 32 by using a movable mirror, or the LCD 36 itself may be scanned over the entire surface of the recording medium 32. You may move.

In the above description, an example of color printing has been described, but in the case of monochrome (monochrome) printing, a color filter is not required and a printer device can be realized by using a 1-line LCD. it can.

Further, as described in the first embodiment, the LED light source 8 as shown in FIG. 4 may be used instead of the light source 34 and the color filter 35 in FIG.
For the operation when the LED light source 8 is used, the recording medium conveyance and the light irradiation method described in the first embodiment can be used.

The print head 36a has been described as being similar to that of the first embodiment, but the reflection type L as described with reference to FIGS. 5 and 6 in the second embodiment.
You may comprise using CD.

In this way, according to the present embodiment,
Since the TFT liquid crystal device is used as a switching element for controlling the transmission of light, a compact and high-definition printer device can be realized. Therefore, it can be applied to a so-called mobile printer or the like.

In the above-described three embodiments, the TFT liquid crystal device may be a liquid crystal device using single crystal silicon, polysilicon, or amorphous silicon. Among these, a TFT liquid crystal device using single crystal silicon can produce the finest liquid crystal device, and is therefore desirable for a high resolution printer device. Among the liquid crystal devices using polysilicon, the TFT liquid crystal device using high temperature polysilicon is
Since a high-definition liquid crystal device can be manufactured, it is desirable for a high-resolution printer device.

The present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiments, and various changes and modifications can be made without departing from the spirit of the present invention.

[0066]

As described above, according to the present invention,
It is possible to realize a printer device capable of higher-definition printing.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a diagram for explaining a configuration of a printer device according to a first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a diagram for explaining another configuration example of the color filter according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a diagram for explaining another configuration example of the liquid crystal device according to the first embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 4 is a diagram for explaining a configuration of an LED light source when a light source in which LEDs of three colors are arranged in a line is used as a light source of the printer device according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a diagram for explaining a configuration of a printer device according to a second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a diagram for explaining another configuration of the color filter according to the second embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 7 is a diagram showing a configuration of a printer device according to a third embodiment of the present invention as seen from a side surface.

FIG. 8 is a plan view of some components of the printer device shown in FIG.

[Explanation of symbols]

1, 11, 32 ... Recording medium 2, 13, 36 ... Liquid crystal device 3, 16, 35 ... Color filter 4, 14, 34 ... Light source device 5, 12, 33 ... Transport rollers 6, 36a ... Print head 8 ... LED light source 15 ... Mirror 31 ... Housing of printer device 37 ... Print head controller 40 ... Transport control unit

Claims (9)

[Claims] 1. A recording medium including a print head having a transmissive thin film transistor liquid crystal device in which pixels are formed in a line, wherein light transmitted through the thin film transistor liquid crystal device of the print head is to be printed according to image data. A printer device characterized by irradiating to a printer. 2. A recording medium including a print head having a reflective thin film transistor liquid crystal device in which pixels are formed in a line shape, and light reflected by the thin film transistor liquid crystal device of the print head is to be printed according to image data. A printer device characterized by irradiating to a printer. 3. The printer device according to claim 1, wherein the recording medium is a photosensitive recording medium. 4. The printer device according to claim 3, wherein the thin film transistor liquid crystal device includes a plurality of pixels, and a color filter corresponding to the pixels is formed. 5. The printer device according to claim 1, wherein the thin film transistor liquid crystal device is formed in two or more lines. 6. The printer device according to claim 1, wherein the thin film transistor liquid crystal device is a liquid crystal device using either single crystal silicon or high temperature polysilicon. 7. The thin film transistor liquid crystal device according to claim 1, further comprising a color filter provided corresponding to a pixel, wherein white light from a white light source is incident on the thin film transistor liquid crystal device as a predetermined color light. The printer device according to claim 6. 8. A printer device according to claim 1, further comprising a white light source and a rotating color filter for separating white light from the white light source into predetermined color light. 9. The liquid crystal device according to claim 1, wherein the thin film transistor liquid crystal device has pixel columns arranged in a line shape, and includes color light emitting elements arranged in a line shape corresponding to the pixel rows. 6. The printer device according to any one of 6.