JP2004181930A - Printer device - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a printer device which can perform an exposure by a proper exposure amount. <P>SOLUTION: A temperature is detected by a temperature sensor which is provided in a vicinity of a recording head. When the detection result is higher than a normal temperature (S60), a proper recording head is calculated from a relationship between the responding speed of a liquid crystal shutter and an LED light volume, and the moving speed of the recording head is controlled (S62). Also, when the detection result by the temperature sensor is lower than the normal temperature (S64), the proper exposure amount is calculated from the relationship between the responding speed of the liquid crystal shutter and the LED light volume, and the light-emitting amount of the LED is controlled (S66). That is, when the detection result for which the temperature in the vicinity of the recording head has been detected by the temperature sensor is higher than the normal temperature, the moving speed of the recording head 70 is raised, and when the detection result is lower than the normal temperature, the light emitting amount of the LED is raised. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2004,JPO&NCIPI

Description

[0001]
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a printer apparatus, and more particularly to a printer apparatus that is provided in a digital camera and prints an image taken by the digital camera on a photosensitive material such as photographic paper.
[0002]
[Prior art]
Examples of the printer device include a printer device that records an image on a heat-sensitive material using a thermal recording head, a printer device that records an image on a photosensitive material by light exposure using a recording head that emits light, and the like. Is adopted.
[0003]
As a thermal printer, for example, a technique described in Patent Document 1 has been proposed. In the technique described in Patent Document 1, the temperature of the thermal head is detected by a thermistor, the temperature of the thermal head is controlled based on the detected temperature, and an image is recorded on the photosensitive material by scanning the thermal head. In addition, by controlling the temperature of the thermal head based on temperature detection by the thermistor, the photosensitive material can be scanned at an appropriate temperature.
[0004]
For example, a technique disclosed in Patent Document 2 has been proposed as a light exposure type printer apparatus. In the technique described in Patent Document 2, light emitted from an LED is irradiated onto a photosensitive recording medium via a liquid crystal shutter, and exposure / non-exposure is controlled by the liquid crystal shutter to record an image.
[0005]
In the technique described in Patent Document 3, a recording unit that forms an image on a recording medium, a cassette that stores the recording medium, a paper feeding unit that takes out the recording medium one by one from the cassette, and the recording medium are conveyed. There is proposed a printer apparatus that includes a transporting unit configured to displace the relative position of the recording unit and the transporting unit and the recording medium in the transporting direction of the recording medium during a printing operation. In this printer apparatus, scanning is performed by the displacement of the relative position of the recording means and the conveying means and the recording medium, and an image is recorded on the recording medium.
[0006]
On the other hand, as a printer device for printing an image photographed by a digital camera on a photosensitive material such as photographic paper, Patent Document 4 proposes an electronic camera with a printer.
[0007]
[Patent Document 1]
Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 5-268436 (page 3, FIG. 1)
[Patent Document 2]
JP 2000-280527 A (first page, FIG. 1)
[Patent Document 3]
JP 2001-63176 A (first page, FIG. 1)
[Patent Document 4]
JP 11-215456 A (page 4, FIG. 1)
[0008]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
However, with a thermal recording head, even if the temperature can be detected, it is difficult to control the head temperature and control the head moving speed to improve the printing speed in consideration of the remaining heat and the balance with the medium such as the photosensitive material.
[0009]
Further, as in the technique described in Patent Document 2, in a light exposure type recording head that controls exposure / non-exposure using a liquid crystal shutter, the response speed of the liquid crystal shutter changes depending on the ambient temperature, There is a problem that an appropriate exposure amount cannot be obtained.
[0010]
An object of the present invention is to provide a printer apparatus that can perform exposure with an appropriate exposure amount in consideration of the above facts.
[0011]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
In order to achieve the above object, an invention according to claim 1 is provided between a light source for irradiating light to a photosensitive material, and between the light source and the photosensitive material, and based on image data representing an image, A recording head having a shutter for controlling irradiation; a moving means for relatively moving the recording head and the photosensitive material; a detecting means for detecting a temperature of the shutter; and a detection result of the detecting means. And control means for controlling at least one of the amount of light emitted from the light source and the amount of movement by the moving means.
[0012]
According to a second aspect of the present invention, there is provided a light source that irradiates light to the photosensitive material, and a shutter that is provided between the light source and the photosensitive material and controls light irradiation to the photosensitive material based on image data representing an image. And a moving means for relatively moving the recording head and the photosensitive material, a detecting means for detecting a temperature around the recording head, and the light source based on a detection result of the detecting means. And a control means for controlling at least one of the amount of light emitted and the amount of movement by the moving means.
[0013]
According to invention of Claim 1 and Claim 2, the light irradiated from a light source is irradiated to a photosensitive material through a shutter. At this time, exposure according to the image can be performed by controlling the shutter according to the image data representing the image, and an image can be formed on the photosensitive material.
[0014]
The moving means relatively moves the recording head and the photosensitive material. That is, an image can be scanned and exposed on the photosensitive material by movement by the moving means. For example, the moving unit may move the recording head relative to the photosensitive material, or may move the photosensitive material relative to the moving head.
[0015]
For example, by controlling the light source to emit a predetermined amount of light necessary for exposure, controlling the shutter according to image data representing the image, and controlling the relative movement amount of the recording head and the photosensitive material The image can be exposed on the photosensitive material with an appropriate exposure amount.
[0016]
By the way, as described above, the shutter response speed changes depending on the ambient temperature, and an appropriate exposure amount cannot be obtained.
[0017]
Therefore, according to the first aspect of the present invention, the temperature of the shutter is detected by the detection means, and the amount of light emitted from the light source and the relative movement between the recording head and the photosensitive material by the movement means based on the detection result. According to the second aspect of the invention, the temperature around the recording head is detected by the detection unit, and the amount of light emitted from the light source is determined based on the detection result of the detection unit. At least one of the relative movement amounts of the recording head and the photosensitive material by the moving means is controlled by the control means. That is, according to the first and second aspects of the present invention, the change in exposure amount due to the response speed of the shutter, which changes with temperature, is determined by at least the amount of light emitted from the light source and the relative movement between the recording head and the photosensitive material. Since it can correct | amend by one side, it can expose with an appropriate exposure amount by this.
[0018]
For example, as in the third aspect of the invention, when the detection result of the detection means is smaller than a predetermined range (for example, when the temperature is lower than normal temperature), the response speed of the shutter is slow and the light quantity is insufficient. Therefore, by controlling so that the amount of light emitted from the light source is increased, appropriate exposure can be performed without reducing the exposure speed (the moving speed of the moving means). Further, when the detection result of the detection means is larger than a predetermined range (for example, higher than normal temperature), the shutter response speed is fast and the amount of light increases. Therefore, the exposure speed is controlled by controlling the movement speed of the movement means fast. Speed can be improved and appropriate exposure can be performed.
[0019]
The control by the control means is necessary for the exposure using the detection result by the detection means from the relationship between the response speed of the shutter according to the temperature and the amount of light emitted from the light source, as in the invention described in claim 4. Since the amount of movement of the moving unit with a sufficient amount of light and the amount of light necessary for exposure can be calculated, based on the above relationship, at least one of the amount of light emitted from the light source and the amount of movement by the moving unit is controlled. Also good.
[0020]
Further, in the invention described in claim 1, as in the invention described in claim 5, the detecting means may directly detect the temperature of the shutter, or as in the invention described in claim 6. The shutter temperature may be indirectly detected. When the temperature of the shutter is indirectly detected, the temperature around the shutter may be detected as in the invention described in claim 7, or as in the invention described in claim 8. The temperature of the recording head may be detected, and further, the temperature inside the printer apparatus may be detected as in the ninth aspect of the invention.
[0021]
The printer device of the present invention may be an invention applied to a camera. In other words, it includes a solid-state imaging device, an electronic photographing unit that forms an image of a subject on the solid-state imaging device and obtains image data, and records an image on a photosensitive material based on the image data obtained by the electronic photographing unit. A camera that includes the printer device according to any one of claims 1 to 9 may be used.
[0022]
Furthermore, in the camera provided with the printer device of the present invention, a photographic film in which the photosensitive material is discharged upon exposure light exposure and developed by developing a developing solution during discharge can be applied.
[0023]
According to a tenth aspect of the present invention, a light source that irradiates light to the irradiation target, and a light source that is provided between the light source and the irradiation target, and controls the light irradiation to the irradiation target based on image data representing an image. A recording head having a shutter, a detection unit that detects at least one of a temperature of the shutter and a temperature around the recording head, and the irradiation target is irradiated based on a detection result of the detection unit And a control means for controlling the amount of light.
[0024]
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
Hereinafter, an example of an embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. In the present embodiment, the present invention is applied to a printer device built in a camera.
[0025]
FIG. 1 shows an external view of a camera 10 according to an embodiment of the present invention.
[0026]
A camera 10 according to the present embodiment shown in FIG. 1 includes a solid-state image sensor, and forms an image of a subject on the solid-state image sensor to obtain image data, and image data obtained in the electronic image sensor. And an exposure unit that irradiates the exposure surface of the film sheet to be irradiated with light.
[0027]
As shown in FIG. 1, the camera 10 includes a main body cover 14 and a front cover 16 that forms the appearance of the camera together with the main body cover 14.
[0028]
A lens barrel 18 is provided at the center of the entire surface of the camera 10, and a lens barrier 18 a is also provided at the tip of the lens barrel 18. A release switch 12 is disposed on the right side of the entire surface of the camera 10 (left side in FIG. 1). A flash device 20 having a protector 22 disposed on the entire surface is provided on the upper left side of the release switch 12. On the left side of the flash device 20, the flash light receiving window 24 that guides the flash light to the flash light receiving sensor that detects the amount of flash light reflected and returned by the subject when the flash is emitted, and the built-in AE sensor emit light. An AE light receiving window 26 for guiding is provided.
[0029]
Further, a discharge port 28 for discharging the developed film sheet to the outside of the camera 10 is provided at the upper part of the camera 10. Further, on the upper part of the camera 10, in order from the left side of FIG. 1, a display unit 30 for displaying the remaining number of unexposed film sheets and the like, a power switch 32, a perspective shooting changeover switch 34, and a brightness correction switch 36. Is provided.
[0030]
Also, at the bottom of the camera 10, a USB terminal 38 connected to a USB (Universal Serial Bus) cable for sending image data recorded in a RAM (to be described later) of the camera 10 to the outside, and recorded in the RAM. When the image data is transmitted to the outside using a mobile phone, a mobile phone terminal 40 used for connection with the mobile phone is provided.
[0031]
In FIG. 2, the external view of the rear surface of the camera 10 is shown.
[0032]
A rear cover 44 pivotally supported by the main body cover 14 is provided on the rear surface of the main body cover 14 of the camera 10 so as to be rotatable by a shaft 42. In FIG. The camera 10 is shown in a closed state by a locking mechanism with 14.
[0033]
The main body cover 14 near the back cover 44 (on the right side in FIG. 2) is provided with a release button 46 for releasing locking with a locking mechanism (not shown). The release of the locking between the back cover 44 and the locking mechanism is performed by pressing the release button 46 downward. Although not shown, the main body is provided with a loading chamber in which a film pack in which film sheets for instant photographs are laminated is loaded, and the back cover 44 shown in FIG. Open and done.
[0034]
Further, the back cover 44 is provided with an image display screen 48, and the image display screen 48 is used as an electronic viewfinder. Also, below the image display screen 48, a print mode selection switch 50 for selecting whether to print immediately after shooting or to perform printing by operating a print switch 54 described later, a shooting mode for shooting and a stored image are displayed. A mode selection switch 52 for selecting a mode such as a playback mode to be performed, a print switch 54 for printing out an image selected in the playback mode, and an image switching for switching the display of the image display screen 48 and selecting a playback image. A reproduction image selection switch 56 and a data addition switch 58 that are operated when adding a date, a message, or the like to the reproduction image selected by the image switching / reproduction image selection switch 56 are provided.
[0035]
3 and 4 show a printer device 60 according to an embodiment of the present invention provided in the camera 10.
[0036]
As shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, the printer device 60 includes a recording head 70. As shown in FIG. 3, the recording head 70 is guided by a pair of guide rods 72 and 74 and is configured to be movable in the direction of arrow A in FIG. The guide rod 72 is threaded, and the guide rod support portion 70a of the recording head 70 is fitted in the groove of the screw. A gear 72 a is provided at one end of the guide rod 72 and is configured to mesh with a gear 76 a provided on the rotation shaft of the head moving motor 76. That is, the guide rod 72 is rotated by the rotation of the head moving motor 76, and the recording head 70 is moved in the arrow direction of FIG. The moving means of the present invention corresponds to guide rods 72, 74 guide rod support portions 70a, gears 72a, 76a, and head moving motor 76 for moving the recording head 70.
[0037]
As shown in FIG. 5, the recording head 70 includes an LED 80 as a light source, a light guide member 82, a liquid crystal shutter 84, and a lens array 86. The LEDs 80 are provided on both sides of the light guide member 82 (both ends of the recording head 70 in the direction orthogonal to the moving direction of the recording head 70), and each color is R (red), G (green), and B (blue). Each LED is provided to emit light, and the light is irradiated toward the light guide member 82. A light shielding member 82a is provided on the opposite side of the light guide member 82 from the exposure surface so that light emitted from the LED 80 is emitted only to the exposure surface side. Further, a liquid crystal shutter 84 and a lens array 86 are sequentially provided on the exposure surface side of the light guide member 82, and the light emitted from the light guide member 82 passes through the liquid crystal shutter 84 and the lens array 86 to form the film sheet F. It comes to be irradiated.
[0038]
Instead of the light source LED 80, the light guide member 82, and the light shielding member 82a, an organic electroluminescent element (so-called organic electroluminescence (EL)) using a fluorescent organic substance in the light emitting layer may be used. . That is, the recording head 70 may have a configuration in which an organic EL, a liquid crystal shutter 84, and a lens array are stacked.
[0039]
As shown in FIG. 4, a film pack 88 on which a film sheet F is laminated is accommodated on the exposure surface side of the recording head 70. As shown in FIG. 4, the film pack 88 is curved and contains the film sheet F. When exposure by the recording head 70 is completed, the film pack 88 is discharged one by one in the direction of arrow B in FIG. The pair of rollers 90 and 92 are discharged from the camera body by the rotation. The film sheet F is a type of photographic film in which a photograph developed by developing a developing solution during discharge from the camera 10 appears.
[0040]
Further, as shown in FIG. 3, the recording head 70 is provided with an FPC (flexible printed circuit board) 94 for electrical wiring with the camera body, and the FPC 94 makes electrical connection with the camera body. . The FPC 94 is further provided with a temperature sensor 96 for detecting the ambient temperature around the recording head 70, and the temperature sensor 96 detects the temperature around the recording head 70.
[0041]
FIG. 6 is an internal configuration diagram of the camera 10 according to the present embodiment.
[0042]
As shown in FIG. 6, the camera 10 is provided with a system controller 100 as control means of the present invention for controlling the entire camera 10, and a CCD that forms an image of an object through the imaging lens 102 in accordance with an instruction from the system controller 100. (Charge Coupled Device) A CCD driver 106 that outputs an image signal representing a subject image from the CCD image sensor 104 by driving the image sensor 104, an amplifier 108 that amplifies the output image signal, and is amplified by the amplifier 108 An A / D conversion circuit 110 for converting the image signal thus converted into image data is provided.
[0043]
The camera 10 also receives an image data processing circuit 112 that processes the image data sent from the A / D conversion circuit 110 according to an instruction from the system controller 100, and converts the image data processed by the image data processing circuit 112 into an analog signal. A D / A conversion circuit 114 for conversion, an amplifier 116 for amplifying the analog signal converted by the D / A conversion circuit 114, and an LCD driver 118 for displaying an image on the image display screen 48 based on the analog signal output from the amplifier 116. Is also provided.
[0044]
Further, the camera 10 stores various adjustment data to be referred to by the system controller 100 when the camera 10 is started up, and a recording instruction from the system controller 100 when the release switch 12 is pressed. A RAM 122 for storing image data obtained from the data processing circuit 112 is also provided. In addition, data representing a date, a message, and the like set in the RAM 122 by an operation to the data addition switch 58 and sent through the I / O port controller 124 is also operated to the data addition switch 58. Is stored in association with predetermined image data selected at the time. The I / O port controller 124 also monitors input by other switch operations.
[0045]
In addition, the camera 10 is provided with an LED drive circuit 126 that causes the LEDs 80 of R, G, and B colors to emit light according to instructions from the system controller 100. In addition, the line memory 128 that stores the data stored in the RAM 122 for each color of R, G, and B, and the data sent from the line memory 128 according to the instruction of the system controller 100, the exposure light is actually applied to the film sheet F. An LCD driver 130 for controlling the liquid crystal shutter 84 to be irradiated is also provided. That is, the recording head 70 controls the exposure / non-exposure portion by controlling the liquid crystal shutter 84 based on the data sent from the line memory 128 by causing the R, G, and G LEDs 80 to emit light, and according to the image. The film sheet F is irradiated with the light. Further, the recording head 70 is scanned and exposed to the exposure surface by being moved in the direction of arrow A in FIG. 3 by driving the head moving motor 76 under the control of the motor driver 132.
[0046]
Further, by driving the film sheet developing motor 136 under the control of the motor driver 134, a cloak claw (not shown) is operated and the pair of rollers 90 and 92 are driven to discharge the exposed film sheet F from the film pack 88. The pair of rollers 90 and 92 are rotated to discharge the camera 10 to the outside.
[0047]
Further, the temperature around the recording head 70 is detected by the temperature sensor 96 and output to the system controller 100. The system controller 100 changes the exposure amount due to the response speed change of the liquid crystal shutter 84 according to the temperature. And the motor driver 132 is instructed to move the recording head 70. Alternatively, it instructs the LED driver 126 to change the calculated exposure amount. The relationship between the response speed of the liquid crystal shutter 84 corresponding to the temperature and the exposure amount is stored in the ROM 120 in advance, and the system controller 100 reads the relationship between the response speed and the exposure amount from the ROM 120 to obtain an appropriate exposure amount. The movement amount of the recording head 70 or the light emission amount of the LED 80 is calculated. The temperature sensor 96 corresponds to the detection means of the present invention.
[0048]
Next, the operation of the camera 10 configured as described above will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG.
[0049]
FIG. 7 is a flowchart showing a 'power-on' program that is activated when the power switch 32 shown in FIG. 1 is turned on. Note that the autofocus function, the automatic exposure function, etc. will be omitted.
[0050]
In step S10, when the power switch 32 is turned on, the system is reset and the lens barrier 18a is released.
[0051]
In step S12, it is determined whether or not the currently selected mode is a shooting mode. If the determination is affirmative, the process proceeds to step S14, and the photographing mode is activated.
[0052]
Here, the photographing mode will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG.
[0053]
In step S20, when the photographing mode is activated, an image represented by the image data output from the CCD image sensor 104 is displayed on the image display screen 48.
[0054]
Subsequently, in step S22, it is determined whether or not the current mode is a shooting mode. If the determination is negative, the process exits this subroutine and returns to step S12 of the “power on” program.
[0055]
If the determination in step S22 is affirmative, the process proceeds to step S24, and it is determined whether or not the image switching / reproduction image selection switch 56 shown in FIG. 2 is turned on. If the determination is affirmative, the process proceeds to step S26, and the image display from the CCD image sensor 104 and the system information display such as the number of images that can be taken are displayed on the one not currently displayed. Is switched to step S28.
[0056]
On the other hand, if the determination in step S24 is negative, the process proceeds to step S28 and it is determined whether or not the release switch 12 shown in FIG. 1 is turned on. If the determination is affirmative, the process proceeds to step S30, and image data representing the image currently captured by the CCD image sensor 104 is stored in the RAM 122, and the process proceeds to step S32.
[0057]
If the determination in step S28 is negative, that is, if the release switch 12 is not turned on, the process returns to step S22 again and the above-described processing is repeated.
[0058]
In step S32, it is determined whether or not a print mode for performing printing immediately after shooting is set in advance by operating the print mode selection switch 50 shown in FIG. If the determination is negative, the process exits this subroutine and returns to step S34 of the “power on” program.
[0059]
If the determination in step S32 is affirmative, the process proceeds to step S34, and a printing process described later is performed.
[0060]
Returning to step S12 of the “power on” program shown in FIG.
[0061]
If the determination in step S12 is negative, that is, if it is determined that the mode is not the shooting mode, the process proceeds to step S16 and the reproduction mode is activated.
[0062]
Here, the playback mode will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG.
[0063]
In step S40, it is determined whether or not the current mode is a playback mode. If the determination is negative, the process returns to step S12 of the “power on” program.
[0064]
If the determination in step S40 is affirmative, the process proceeds to step S42, and the image stored at the currently designated address is displayed by the pointer representing the address on the RAM 122 of the already stored image data. The reproduction is displayed on the display screen 48, and the process proceeds to step S44.
[0065]
In step S44, it is determined whether or not a reproduction image is selected by the image switching / reproduction image selection switch 56. If the determination is affirmative, the process proceeds to step S46, the pointer is incremented so that another stored image is reproduced and displayed, and the process returns to step S42.
[0066]
On the other hand, if the determination in step S44 is negative, the process proceeds to step S48 to determine whether the print switch 54 shown in FIG. 2 is turned on. If the determination is negative, the process returns to step S40. If the determination is affirmative, the process proceeds to step S50 to perform a printing process to be described later. Return to step S12 of the program.
[0067]
Next, the printing process described above will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG.
[0068]
In the printing process, first, in step S60, it is determined whether or not the detection result of the temperature sensor 96 is higher than normal temperature (for example, 20 ° C. to 25 ° C.). If the determination is affirmative, the process proceeds to step S62, and an appropriate recording head movement amount is calculated from the response speed of the liquid crystal shutter 84 and the exposure amount (LED light amount) according to a predetermined temperature, and step S68. Migrate to
[0069]
If the determination in step S60 is negative, the process proceeds to step S64 to determine whether or not the detection result of the temperature sensor 84 is lower than normal temperature. If the determination is negative, the process proceeds to step S68, and if the determination is affirmative, the process proceeds to step S66. In step S66, an appropriate light amount is calculated from the response speed of the liquid crystal shutter corresponding to a predetermined temperature and the LED light amount.
[0070]
In step S68, LED exposure and recording head movement are started and a printing operation is performed. That is, the LED 80 emits light, and the recording sheet 70 is moved in the direction of arrow A in FIG. When the exposure ends, the film sheet F is discharged to the outside of the camera 10. In the printing operation, the light emission amount of the LED 80 is controlled to emit light with a predetermined light amount except when the temperature is low, and is controlled based on the calculation result calculated in step S66 when the temperature is low. The movement amount of the recording head 70 is controlled by a predetermined movement amount except when the temperature is high, and the movement of the recording head 70 is controlled based on the calculation result calculated in step S62 when the temperature is high.
[0071]
In step S70, it is determined whether or not the printing is finished, and the printing process is finished after waiting until the printing is finished.
[0072]
In the present embodiment, exposure of the film sheet F by each color LED 80 is performed by sequentially emitting R, G, and B at each position of the recording head 70 and moving the recording head 70 sequentially. The recording head 70 may be scanned and exposed for R, G, and B, respectively.
[0073]
Incidentally, as shown in FIG. 11, the response speed of the liquid crystal shutter 84 varies depending on the temperature change, and the operation time changes to the area required for exposure (the opening area of the liquid crystal shutter 84), and is required for exposure. The time required to reach the required area is t ″ time (t <t ″) relative to t time required at room temperature at low temperatures, and t ′ time (t> t ′) at high temperatures. Time is needed. That is, the response speed of the liquid crystal shutter 84 decreases at low temperatures, and the response speed of the liquid crystal shutter 84 increases at high temperatures. Accordingly, the amount of light, which is an integral value of time in the opening area and time characteristics of the liquid crystal shutter, varies with temperature. Therefore, as shown in FIG. 12, considering the case where the liquid crystal shutter 84 opens at a predetermined timing for each color of R, G, and B, the interval between exposures of each color can be made longer at higher temperatures. Accordingly, at a high temperature, the moving speed of the recording head 70 can be increased by the length of the interval.
[0074]
Therefore, in the present embodiment, as described in the above-described printing process, the temperature in the vicinity of the recording head (liquid crystal shutter 84) 70 is detected by the temperature sensor 96, and if the detection result is higher than room temperature, the temperature The amount of movement of the recording head 70 is calculated from the relationship between the response speed of the liquid crystal shutter corresponding to the amount of light and the amount of LED light, and an appropriate amount of exposure is obtained by increasing the movement speed of the recording head 70. Accordingly, exposure can be performed with an appropriate exposure amount, and printing processing can be performed at high speed at high temperatures. When the temperature is lower than room temperature, an appropriate exposure amount is obtained by calculating an appropriate light amount from the relationship between the response speed of the liquid crystal shutter according to the temperature and the LED light amount, and increasing the light emission amount by the LED 80. ing. Thus, exposure can be performed with an appropriate amount of light without reducing the printing speed.
[0075]
In the above embodiment, an appropriate light amount is obtained by increasing the moving speed of the recording head 70 at a high temperature and increasing the light emission amount of the LED 80 at a low temperature. However, the present invention is not limited to this. For example, only the moving speed of the recording head 70 may be controlled to change between low temperature and high temperature, or only the amount of light emitted from the LED 80 may be controlled to change between low temperature and high temperature.
[0076]
That is, when only the moving speed of the recording head 70 is controlled, the interval T between the colors is constant (a predetermined time required between the colors), compared to the normal temperature (see FIG. 13A). As shown in FIG. 13 (B), the moving speed at high temperature is increased to shorten the exposure time (exposure time t1: t0> t1 at high temperature), and as shown in FIG. By reducing the speed and increasing the exposure time (exposure time t2 at low temperature: t0 <t2), an appropriate exposure amount can be obtained. In this case, the printing process can be performed at a high speed at a high temperature, and the LED 80 only needs to emit light with a stable and constant light quantity I0, so that the life of the LED 80 can be extended.
[0077]
When only the light emission amount of the LED 80 is controlled, as shown in FIG. 13D, the light emission amount of the LED 80 at a high temperature is decreased (light amount I1: I0> I1 at a high temperature), and FIG. As shown in FIG. 5B, an appropriate exposure amount can be obtained by increasing the amount of light emitted from the LED 80 at a low temperature (light amount at a low temperature I2: I0 <I2). In this case, the photographing time can be made constant regardless of the temperature.
[0078]
In addition, since the exposure time by the liquid crystal shutter 84 for each color is different between the moving speed control and the light amount control in this way, when sequentially exposing a plurality of colors for one pixel, the exposure time by the liquid crystal shutter 84 for different colors is set. Setting means for setting may be provided so that the movement of the recording head 70 and the control of the light emission amount of the LED 80 may be selectively performed.
[0079]
In the above embodiment, the present invention is applied to the printer device built in the camera 10. However, the present invention is not limited to this. For example, the present invention may be applied to a printer device such as a facsimile or a copy. Good.
[0080]
In the above embodiment, the temperature sensor 96 is provided in the FPC 94 in the vicinity of the recording head 70 so as to indirectly detect the temperature of the liquid crystal shutter 84. However, the present invention is not limited to this. As long as the temperature of the liquid crystal shutter 84 can be detected, it may be disposed anywhere, may be disposed at a position where the temperature of the liquid crystal shutter 84 is indirectly detected, or a position where the temperature of the liquid crystal shutter 84 is directly detected. You may arrange in. For example, as shown in FIG. 14, the temperature sensor 96 is disposed on the recording head 70 and detects the temperature around the liquid crystal shutter 84 such as the temperature of the recording head 70 and the temperature around the recording head. The temperature may be detected indirectly, or the temperature of the liquid crystal shutter 84 may be detected indirectly by being provided inside the main body of the printer device 60 as shown in FIG. Further, as shown in FIG. 16, the temperature of the liquid crystal shutter 84 may be directly detected. In FIG. 16, in order to directly detect the temperature of the liquid crystal shutter 84, the temperature sensor 96 includes a sensor unit 96 a and a flexible cable 96 b made of a material having high thermal conductivity. And directly detected by the sensor unit 96a. As a result, the temperature of the liquid crystal shutter 84 can be directly detected. Further, the temperature sensor 96 may be provided directly at the position of the side surface of the liquid crystal shutter 84 (the surface on which the LED 80 shown in FIG. 16 is disposed) to directly detect the temperature of the liquid crystal shutter 84. In addition, by setting the normal temperature value in the above-described steps S60 and S62 according to each arrangement position of the temperature sensor, it is possible to perform exposure with an appropriate exposure amount as in the above embodiment. .
[0081]
In the above-described embodiment, the present invention has been described by taking as an example a configuration using a liquid crystal shutter as the shutter. However, the present invention is not limited to this configuration, and any known or later-developed shutter can be applied as the shutter. In addition, the present invention can be configured to control exposure / non-exposure of an irradiation target by selectively performing light irradiation using, for example, an organic EL element integrated with a reflection mirror. .
[0082]
【The invention's effect】
As described above, according to the present invention, the temperature around the recording head is detected, and based on the detection result, the amount of light irradiated from the light source and the recording head and the light irradiation target (for example, photosensitive material) are determined. By controlling at least one of the movement of the moving means that moves relatively, it is possible to control the amount of light irradiated to the irradiation target, so that it is possible to perform exposure with an appropriate exposure amount. .
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing an external appearance of a camera according to an embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing an appearance of a rear surface of the camera according to the embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing a printer device built in the camera according to the embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional perspective view showing a printer device built in the camera according to the embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 5 is a schematic diagram illustrating a configuration of a recording head.
FIG. 6 is a block diagram showing an internal configuration of a camera according to the embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 7 is a flowchart showing a flow of operation of the camera according to the embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 8 is a flowchart illustrating a shooting mode subroutine.
FIG. 9 is a flowchart showing a playback mode subroutine;
FIG. 10 is a flowchart illustrating a subroutine of print processing.
FIG. 11 is a graph showing temperature characteristics of a liquid crystal shutter.
FIG. 12 is a timing chart showing the operation timing of the liquid crystal shutter.
FIG. 13 is a timing chart showing the operation timing of the liquid crystal shutter when only the recording head moving speed is controlled and when only the LED light amount is controlled.
FIG. 14 is a diagram illustrating an example in which a temperature sensor is arranged on a recording head.
FIG. 15 is a diagram illustrating another arrangement example of the temperature sensor.
FIG. 16 is a diagram illustrating an example of a temperature sensor that directly detects the temperature of the liquid crystal shutter.
[Explanation of symbols]
10 Camera
70 Recording head
72, 74 Guide rod
72a Gear
76 Head movement motor
76a Gear
80 LED
84 Liquid crystal shutter
96 Temperature sensor
100 system controller
126 LED driver
130 LCD driver
132 Motor driver
F film sheet

Claims (14)

A recording head comprising: a light source that irradiates light to the photosensitive material; and a shutter that is provided between the light source and the photosensitive material and controls light irradiation to the photosensitive material based on image data representing an image;
Moving means for relatively moving the recording head and the photosensitive material;
Detecting means for detecting the temperature of the shutter;
Control means for controlling at least one of the amount of light emitted from the light source and the amount of movement by the moving means based on the detection result of the detecting means;
A printer device comprising: A recording head comprising: a light source that irradiates light to the photosensitive material; and a shutter that is provided between the light source and the photosensitive material and controls light irradiation to the photosensitive material based on image data representing an image;
Moving means for relatively moving the recording head and the photosensitive material;
Detecting means for detecting the temperature around the recording head;
Control means for controlling at least one of the amount of light emitted from the light source and the amount of movement by the moving means based on the detection result of the detecting means;
A printer device comprising: The control means controls the amount of light emitted from the light source when the detection result of the detection means is smaller than a predetermined range, and by the moving means when the detection result of the detection means is larger than a predetermined range. The printer apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the movement amount is controlled. The control unit controls at least one of the light amount and the movement amount based on a relationship between a response speed of the shutter according to temperature and a light amount irradiated from the light source. 4. The printer device according to any one of items 3. The printer device according to claim 1, wherein the detection unit directly detects the temperature of the shutter. The printer device according to claim 1, wherein the detection unit indirectly detects a temperature of the shutter. The printer device according to claim 6, wherein the detection unit detects a temperature around the shutter. The printer apparatus according to claim 6, wherein the detection unit detects a temperature of the recording head. The printer apparatus according to claim 6, wherein the detection unit detects a temperature inside the printer apparatus. A recording head comprising: a light source that irradiates light to the irradiation target; and a shutter that is provided between the light source and the irradiation target and controls light irradiation on the irradiation target based on image data representing an image;
Detecting means for detecting at least one of a temperature of the shutter and a temperature around the recording head;
Control means for controlling the amount of light applied to the irradiation object based on the detection result of the detection means;
A printer device comprising: The printer device according to claim 10, wherein the detection unit directly detects the temperature of the shutter. The printer device according to claim 10, wherein the detection unit indirectly detects a temperature of the shutter. The printer device according to claim 12, wherein the detection unit detects a temperature around the shutter. The printer apparatus according to claim 10, wherein the shutter is a liquid crystal shutter.

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