JP2005014565A - Printer - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a printer wherein the capacity of a table storage part is reduced. <P>SOLUTION: A light quantity as a minimum light quantity among the light quantities of respective shutters of a liquid-crystal shutter array is set at 1 so that recording can be performed on a first table by using the ratio of the light quantity of each shutter. For example, the quantity of light emitted from a light emitting element is adjusted so that the ratio can be 1.5 or less. First image data, which are acquired by an image acquisition part of the printer, are recorded on a second table, and second image data are recorded on the second table so as to be referred to depending on the ratio. The first table is referred to depending on the first image data; the light quantity corresponding to each shutter element number is referred to; and after that, the second table is referred to depending on both the image data and the light quantity thereof. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2005,JPO&NCIPI

Description

[0001]
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention has a medium loading chamber in which a recording medium in which a latent image is formed by exposure and the latent image is visualized by development is loaded, according to image data on the recording medium loaded in the medium loading chamber. The present invention relates to a printer that forms a latent image on a recording medium by performing exposure and develops the latent image to record an image on the recording medium.
[0002]
[Prior art]
Some printers include a line head that records an image on a recording medium. In a printer equipped with this line head, the line head is driven in the sub-scanning direction intersecting with the main scanning direction to record the entire image.
[0003]
Among such line heads, there is a type of recording a flash according to image data by irradiating a photosensitive material with each light emitted from a light emitting element array in which a plurality of light emitting elements are arranged.
[0004]
The line head for recording a latent image by irradiating light to the photosensitive material includes a light emitting element array and a liquid crystal shutter array and a lens array paired with each light emitting element of the light emitting element array. As described above, in the case of a line head including a light emitting element array, a liquid crystal shutter array, and a lens array, an image is recorded on a recording medium after correcting the variation for each light emitting element with a correction table. Since data corresponding to the number of elements in the light emitting element array is stored in the correction table, the capacity of the memory in which the correction table is recorded increases.
[0005]
Therefore, a technique for converting light emitted from the light emitting elements into linear light using a light guide is disclosed in order to suppress variations in each element of the light emitting element array (see, for example, Patent Document 1).
[0006]
FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating a control configuration inside a conventional printer.
[0007]
As shown in FIG. 1, this printer is comprehensively controlled by the microcomputer 1A, controls the shutter speed of the liquid crystal shutter 3A according to the image data in the recording medium 2A, and records a latent image on the recording medium by exposure. Is done. This latent image is recorded in response to the operation of a print switch in the switches 4A.
[0008]
This printer is provided with a rewritable nonvolatile FLASH memory 5A, and a lookup table (LUT is recorded in the FLASH memory 5A. The print switches in the switches shown in FIG. When operated, the microcomputer reads the image data in the recording medium, converts the read image data into the second image data by a lookup table, and adjusts the shutter speed of the liquid crystal shutter 3A. A RAM 6A is also provided.
[0009]
FIG. 2 shows the structure of the lookup table.
[0010]
2A shows the configuration of the optical head, and FIG. 2B shows the characteristics of the amount of light emitted from the liquid crystal shutter through the light guide when the light emitted from the light emitting element is emitted. Shows a look-up table in which the characteristics of the light quantity are recorded. FIG. 2A shows a diagram in which the condensing lens array is omitted.
[0011]
Even if the light guide 3A is used in place of the light emitting element array as shown in FIG. 2A, the light amount swells due to the transmission characteristics of the light guide as shown in FIG. 2B. The amount of light having this undulation is recorded in the look-up table for each shutter element, and the amount of light for the photosensitive material is corrected according to the gradation data.
[0012]
Then, as shown in FIG. 2C, the same capacity (368.64 Kbytes for 480 × 256 × 3 colors) as when the light emitting element array is used is required.
[0013]
Even if an attempt is made to suppress variations in light emitting elements by using the light guide 3A in this way, since the transmission characteristics of the light guide 3A vary, the table recording unit in which the look-up table is recorded here has a capacity of FLASHMEMORY. It cannot be reduced.
[0014]
[Patent Document 1]
JP 2000-280527 A
[0015]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
In view of the above circumstances, an object of the present invention is to provide a printer in which the capacity of a table storage unit is reduced.
[0016]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
The printer of the present invention that achieves the above object has a medium loading chamber in which a recording medium in which a latent image is formed by exposure and the latent image is visualized by development is loaded, and the recording loaded in the medium loading chamber. In a printer for forming a latent image on the recording medium by performing exposure according to image data on the medium and recording the image on the recording medium by developing the latent image,
An image data acquisition unit for acquiring image data from the outside;
A data conversion unit that converts the first image data acquired by the image data acquisition unit into second image data for exposure to the recording medium;
A light guide that guides light emitted from the light emitting element, extends in a predetermined main scanning direction along the recording medium, and is arranged in the main scanning direction in which the light guide extends, and is guided by the light guide. An image exposure unit comprising a plurality of shutters that illuminate the recording medium as light spots arranged in the main scanning direction and that open and close according to the second image data;
A drive unit that integrally moves the light guide and the plurality of shutters in a clothing scanning direction that intersects the main scanning direction;
The data conversion unit is configured to determine each position of the light guide in the main scanning direction in which the light guide extends, and the amount of light emitted from the light emitting element and output through the light guide and the plurality of shutters. Both the associated first table, each data value of the first image data before conversion, each light quantity recorded in the first table, and the data value of the second image data after conversion A table storage unit for storing both of the second tables associated with each other,
In converting the first image data acquired by the image data acquisition unit into second image data, the data conversion unit refers to the first table for each of the plurality of shutters. The light quantity at that position is obtained from the position in the main scanning direction, and the light quantity obtained from both the data value of the first image data with reference to the second table and the light quantity obtained with reference to the first table is used. The second image data is obtained.
[0017]
According to the printer of the present invention, the data conversion unit refers to the first table according to the first image data acquired by the data acquisition unit, and corresponds to each position in the main scanning direction. The second image data is referred to according to both the amount of light and the first image data, and conversion from the first image data to the second image data is performed.
[0018]
Then, it is sufficient that the table storage unit has the number of data corresponding to the number of shutters for the first table and the number of gradations corresponding to the first image data for the second table.
[0019]
Conventionally, a table storage unit having a huge capacity (480 × 256 bytes) obtained by multiplying the number of shutters (for example, 480) and the number of gradations (for example, 256) is required. The first table is divided into the second table, and the first table only needs to have a capacity capable of writing the amount of light corresponding to the number of shutters (for example, b480 bytes). The second table corresponds to the first image data. It is sufficient that the capacity is equal to the number (256 × 50 bytes) obtained by multiplying the number of chairpersons (for example, 256 bytes) and the number of exposures divided (for example, b 50). In this way, a capacity of 480 bytes + 256 × 50 bytes, = 13.056 Kbytes is sufficient as compared with 480 × 256 bytes = 122.880 Kbytes so far, and the capacity of the table storage unit is reduced.
[0020]
In the first table, it is preferable that the ratio of the amount of light having a minimum light amount and a maximum light amount of 1.5 or more is associated with each position.
[0021]
For example, if the first image data has 8 bits, that is, 256 gradations, the resolution is 1/256. If the light quantity is set to 1 with the minimum light quantity as a reference and the ratio is set to 2, for example, the resolution is 2 · 256, which is substantially reduced to 7 bits.
[0022]
Therefore, here, a number of 1.5 is set so that the substantial reduction in resolution is 7.5 bits. If it is within this 1.5, the reduction in resolution is suppressed to 7.5 bits.
[0023]
Furthermore, even if the ratio of 1 to 1.5 is recorded every 0.01, the number of data is 50 at most, and the number of data is greatly reduced compared with the past.
[0024]
The light-emitting element is a single-color light-emitting element that emits light of any color of red, green, and blue.
It is preferable that the data conversion unit converts the first image data for each color into second image data for each color with reference to the first table and the second table for each color.
[0025]
Then, in the case of generating a color image, the first table and the second table are required for red, green, and blue, respectively, but the memory capacity is still greatly reduced as compared with the past.
[0026]
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the printer according to the embodiment of the present invention as viewed obliquely from the front.
[0027]
This printer is used in combination with a mobile phone or the like. The printer receives image data transmitted from the mobile phone and records an image on an instunt film. This instant film corresponds to the recording medium referred to in the present invention.
[0028]
Some recent mobile phones are capable of infrared communication conforming to IrDA (Infrared DATA Association). Using this infrared communication, you can send your information to other information devices. If it is a telephone, the image data can be transmitted to this printer.
[0029]
The printer according to the present invention, for example, when image data representing an image taken with a camera-equipped cellular phone or image data transmitted to a cellular phone by e-mail or the like is transmitted to the printer using infrared communication. An image is recorded on an instant film sheet based on the image data, and the recorded image can be re-recorded on another recording medium by operating a print switch.
[0030]
The configuration of the printer of this embodiment will be described with reference to FIG.
[0031]
The printer 1 is portable and has a small and lightweight structure that can record an image by holding both the cellular phone and the printer. An instant film pack is loaded in the casing 1a of the printer 1, and an image is recorded on each of a plurality of stacked instant film sheets in the instant film pack.
[0032]
A housing 1a of the printer 1 includes a power switch (hereinafter referred to as a power switch) 11, a print switch (hereinafter referred to as a print SW) 12, a print data correction switch (hereinafter referred to as a print data correction) that instructs turning on and off the power of the printer 1. SW) 13 is provided. An LCD panel 14 is provided at the center, and the remaining number of instant film sheets and the contents of the print data correction SW 13 are displayed on the LCD panel 14. In addition, the light receiving element 15 that receives the image data transmitted by the above-described infrared communication is disposed at a position where the mobile phone can easily face the printer, in this case, at the end of the housing 1a. Although not shown in FIG. 1, the printer 1 also has a USB port.
[0033]
The print data correction SW 13 is a switch for adjusting the darkness or darkness (Dark or Light) of the image. When the print data correction SW 13 is in the Normal state, the image based on the transmitted image data is directly on the instant film sheet. Is recorded on the instant film sheet when it is switched to the DARK side, and the entire tone of the image based on the image data is recorded on the instant film sheet. Is recorded on the instant film sheet. When the print data correction SW 13 is operated and then the print SW 12 is operated, a plurality of photographs having the same composition but different tastes are obtained.
[0034]
When the print SW is operated, image data is offset by an image processing unit described later, and the density of the entire image is adjusted.
[0035]
In FIG. 4, after a latent image is recorded on the instant film sheet by an optical head, which will be described later, the latent image on the instant film 1001 is visualized and the instant film is discharged from the discharge port of the printer. FIG.
[0036]
In this printer, when image data is transmitted from the outside by infrared communication or USB communication and the printer acquires the image data, a latent image based on the acquired image data is recorded on an instant film by exposure. As shown in FIG. 4, when the instant film 1001 on which the latent image is recorded is discharged, the image is visualized and discharged to the outside of the printer 1. Thereafter, when the print SW 12 is operated, the same image as that image is re-recorded on another instant film, and the instant film 1001 is discharged as shown in FIG.
[0037]
FIG. 5 is a perspective view of the lower surface of the printer 1 as viewed obliquely from the rear.
[0038]
A film door 101a for loading the film pack 100 is provided on the lower surface side of the printer 1. The film door 101a is opened, and the film pack 100 is loaded into the film loading chamber 100a as shown in FIG. The This film loading chamber corresponds to the medium loading chamber referred to in the present invention.
[0039]
A battery loading chamber 10a in which a battery 10 serving as a power source for the printer 1 is loaded is also adjacent to the film loading chamber 100a. The battery loading chamber 10a is also provided with a door, the door is opened, and the battery 1b is loaded.
[0040]
Two spring members 1011a and 1012a are provided on the film door side 10a, and the instant film sheet laminated in the film pack 100 by these spring members 1011a and 1012a is on the surface side of the printer 1 on the opposite side of FIG. To be pushed. With such a configuration, the instant film sheet 1001 at the top of the instant film sheets in the instant film pack 100 is pushed up to a position close to the discharge port 11a, and the instant film sheet 1001 is pushed up to that position. A large number of focused light spots are recorded by exposure.
[0041]
Further, when a new film pack 100 is loaded, a light shielding sheet is disposed in a portion close to the discharge port 11a. Therefore, when the film door 101a is closed, the light shielding sheet is discharged to the outside of the printer and placed on the top. A certain film sheet 1001 is disposed at the exposure position.
[0042]
The internal configuration of such a printer 1 will be described.
[0043]
FIG. 6 is a view of the inside of the printer with the cover on the front side of the printer 1 removed.
[0044]
As shown in FIG. 6, the optical head unit 16 is disposed at a position facing the uppermost film sheet 1001 among the instant film sheets stacked in the instant film pack 100 loaded in the printer. ing.
[0045]
A rack member 161 is provided at the end of the optical head portion 16, and the rack member 161 is elastically screwed into a screw of a lead screw 161a supported by the housing 1a. A guide bar 1611a is provided on the side of the optical head portion 16 opposite to the side on which the rack member 161 is provided, and the end of the optical head 16 is engaged with the guide bar 1611a. While the optical head 16 is guided in parallel by the guide rod 1611a, the optical head 16 is moved by screwing of the lead screw 161a and the rack member 161.
[0046]
As shown in FIG. 6, a flat cable 170 is connected to the optical head 16, and a control signal corresponding to image data is supplied from the print control unit described later via the flat cable 170. This control signal controls the shutter speed of each shutter of a liquid crystal shutter array, which will be described later, in the optical head 16, and controls the shutter speed of each shutter according to the temperature detected by the temperature sensor 180A attached to the optical head. It is something to control. The shutter speed of each liquid crystal shutter is controlled according to the image data, light corresponding to each of RGB is irradiated onto the instant film, and a latent image consisting of 480 light spots (dots) is recorded in the width direction of the instant film. Is done. In the following description, this width direction, that is, the direction in which the shutters are arranged one-dimensionally is referred to as a main scanning direction. Therefore, each shutter is electronically scanned in the main scanning direction, and 480 light spots for one line are recorded on the instant film sheet 1001. When a light spot consisting of 480 dots is recorded in the main scanning direction of the instant film 1001 by electronic scanning of the optical head 16, the motor 162a is driven based on a control signal from a print control unit described later, and the lead screw 161a is predetermined. Then, light spots of 480 dots are sequentially recorded by the optical head 16 in the direction intersecting with the main scanning direction. In the following description, the direction intersecting with the main scanning direction is referred to as the sub-scanning direction. In this sub-scanning direction, 640 lines of light spots are recorded over the entire instant film, with one light spot of 480 dots recorded in one main scan of the optical head as one line.
[0047]
The optical head 16 hits the image exposure portion, and the lead screw 161a for driving the optical head, the motor 162a, and the head key 161 fixed to the end of the optical head correspond to the line head driving portion referred to in the present invention.
[0048]
When a latent image representing an image is recorded by the collection of light spots, the developing film 17 sandwiches the instant film sheet 1001 to develop the developer in the instant film on the entire instant film sheet 1001 to visualize the latent image. Send it out of the printer. This instant film sheet 1001 is a self-development processing type photosensitive material, and when the instant film 1001 is sandwiched between the developing rollers 17, the developer filled in the instant film is uniformly spread over the entire instant film sheet, The latent image is visualized. In this way, light spots arranged in the main scanning direction intersecting with the sub-scanning direction while moving in the predetermined sub-scanning direction by the optical head are irradiated in accordance with the image data to cause the latent film on the instant film. An image is recorded. The developing motor 17 and the developing roller 17b correspond to the developing unit referred to in the present invention.
[0049]
Here, the configuration of the optical head 16 will be described with reference to FIG.
[0050]
FIG. 7 is a schematic diagram showing the configuration of the optical head.
[0051]
FIG. 5 shows the arrangement order of the light emitting elements 163R, 163G, and 163B arranged at the end of the light guide 164, and the traveling directions of the R, G, and B light irradiated as light spots on the instant film. Is schematically indicated by an arrow.
[0052]
As shown in FIG. 5, this optical head 16 includes R, G, and B light emitting elements 163R, 163G, and 163B, a light guide 164, the above-described liquid crystal shutter array 165, and a Selfoc lens. (Registered trademark) 166.
[0053]
As shown in FIG. 5, the light emitting elements 163R, 163G, and 163B of the three primary colors are disposed at the end portions of the light guide 164, and light emitted from these light emitting elements is sequentially sent to the instant film by the light guide 164. Guided to the 1001 side. The path of the light guided to the instant film sheet 1001 side is changed by the light guide 164, and the instant film sheet 1001 is irradiated in the order of red, green, and blue. Each time the red, green, and blue light is sequentially irradiated, each light passes through each shutter of the liquid crystal shutter array 165, passes through the Selfoc lens (registered trademark) 166, and reaches the same point on the instant film 1001. Reach up to. Light whose red, green, and blue light amounts are adjusted by the respective shutters of the liquid crystal shutter array 165 is converged to one point on the instant film 1001 by the SELFOC lens (registered trademark), and the focused light spot is the instant film. A large number are recorded on 1001. Here, by controlling the shutter speed of each shutter according to the image data using the liquid crystal shutter array 165 having 480 elements, 480 light spots having gradation corresponding to the image data are recorded on the instant film 1001. This is recorded for 640 lines also in the sub-scanning direction, and a light spot of 480 × 640 is recorded as a latent image on the instant film. This latent image is a latent image representing a color image in which light of three colors R, G, and B is recorded at the same light spot by the lens 166. An image exposure unit includes the optical head including the light guide 164, the liquid crystal shutter array 165, and the SELFOC lens (registered trademark) 166, the motor 162a, the lead screw 161a, and the head key fixed to the end of the optical head. Is configured.
[0054]
FIG. 8 is a block diagram showing the configuration of a controller that drives the optical head 16 and the motor 162a.
[0055]
As shown in FIG. 8, power is directly supplied to the CPU 180 from the battery 1b so that the printer 1 can be controlled even when the power of the printer 1 is turned off. In addition, power is directly supplied from the battery 1b to the power supply unit 181 and the deployment motor driver 17a. However, the power supply unit 181 and the deployment motor driver 17a do not operate unless instructed by the CPU 180, so that power is not consumed. The power supply to the image processing unit 182, the motor 1621 a, the print processing unit 183, the volatile memory RAM 184, the nonvolatile memory FLASHMEMORY 185, and the external IF 1821 in the image processing unit 182 is controlled by the CPU 180. Unless there is, power is not supplied to each part. In FIG. 8, a supply line for supplying power from the battery is indicated by a bold line. In FIG. 8, control lines and detection lines are also shown by dotted lines.
[0056]
With such a configuration, power can be supplied only to a necessary place by the CPU 180 and the power supply unit 181 and the life of the battery 1b can be extended. As described above, when the battery 1b is loaded in the battery loading chamber 10a of the printer 1, the printer 1 is used for a long time with the battery 1b.
[0057]
Further, various switches 10 shown in FIG. 1 are connected to the CPU 180, and each part of FIG. 8 is controlled in accordance with operations of these various switches 10. Among these various switches, when image data is sent from the outside by infrared communication or USB communication after the power SW 11 is turned on, the operation of the printer 1 is controlled by the CPU 180 and the image is recorded on the instant film. Done. When the print SW 12 is subsequently operated, the operation of the printer 1 is controlled by the CPU 180, and the same image is re-recorded on another recording medium. Further, the CPU 180 is supplied with detection signals from a temperature sensor 180A that detects the temperature of the optical head, an origin sensor 180B that detects the recording start position of the optical head, and a termination sensor 180C that detects the termination position of the optical head. Yes. The CPU 180 causes the print control unit 183 to control the shutter speed of each shutter in the optical head 17 in accordance with the detection signal from the temperature sensor 180A, and the movement start position and the end point when the optical head 17 is moved in the sub-scanning direction. The position is detected by the origin sensor and the end sensor, respectively, and the print control unit 183 controls the motor.
[0058]
Here, what operation the CPU 180 causes each unit to perform when image data is transmitted from the outside after the power SW 11 is turned on will be described.
[0059]
When image data is sent from the outside to the printer 1 by infrared communication, the image processing unit 182 having the external I / F 1821 outputs a signal indicating reception to the CPU 180 when the infrared ray is received by the light receiving element 15. . Upon receiving this signal, the CPU causes the image processing unit 182 to receive the image data, and stores the image data in the RAM 184 via the bus. The CPU 180, the image processing unit 182 and the RAM 184 correspond to the image acquisition unit referred to in the present invention.
[0060]
When the image acquisition unit acquires image data from the outside, the CPU 180 causes the image processing unit 182 to read the image data stored in the RAM 184, and causes the image processing unit 182 to generate print data. The print data refers to data that has been subjected to appropriate processing by the image processing unit and can control the shutter speed of each shutter of the optical head 17, and is acquired by the image acquisition unit. Different from image data. In the following description, in order to distinguish both data, the image data acquired by the image acquisition unit and stored in the RAM for the print data is referred to as pre-print data. This pre-print data corresponds to the first image data according to the present invention, and the print data corresponds to the second image data according to the present invention.
[0061]
When the CPU 180 generates the print data in the image processing unit 182, the CPU 180 causes the image processing unit 182 to transfer the print data, and causes the print control unit 183 to control the shutter speed of each shutter. Then, according to the print data, the opening time of each shutter arranged in the main scanning direction, that is, the shutter speed is controlled, and the light amounts of R, G, and B colors passing through each shutter are adjusted, and each shutter position is adjusted. Is recorded on the recording medium. Further, the print control unit 183 controls the motor driver 1621a, and the motor 162a scans the optical head 16 in the sub-scanning direction, and the shutter speed of each shutter is set to the print control unit 183 according to the print data each time the scan is performed. The amount of light at each light spot in the sub-scanning direction is adjusted. In this way, the light quantity of all the light spots is adjusted, and a latent image representing an image made up of a collection of these light spots is recorded on the instant film. The print processing unit 183, the optical head 17, the motor 162a, and the motor driver 1621a constitute an image exposure unit.
[0062]
After the latent image is recorded on the instant film by the image exposure unit, the CPU 180 turns off the output of the power supply unit and drives the developing motor 17 by the developing motor driver 17a.
[0063]
When the developing roller 17b is rotated by the developing motor 17 and sent out of the printer while sandwiching the instant film, the developing solution is developed on the entire instant film, the latent image is visualized, and the instant film is moved outside the printer. Let it drain.
[0064]
The above is the processing that the CPU 180 causes each unit to perform when image data is sent by infrared communication or USB communication after the power source SW11 is turned on.
[0065]
Next, processing that the CPU 180 causes each unit when the print SW 12 is operated will be described.
[0066]
When the print SW 12 is operated, an image based on the image data stored in the RAM 184 is recorded as a latent image on the instant film, and a series of development processes are performed.
[0067]
Here, the configuration of the lookup table will be described with reference to FIG.
[0068]
FIGS. 9 (a) to 9 (d) show diagrams corresponding to FIGS. 2 (a) to 2 (c), respectively, in order to clarify the difference from the prior art. In this embodiment, there are two tables, a first table and a second table, so that one lookup table shown in FIG. 2C is compared with 2 shown in FIGS. 9C and 9D. One lookup table corresponds.
[0069]
As shown in FIG. 9, in the first table, the ratio of the light quantity in which the ratio between the minimum light quantity and the maximum light quantity is within 1.5 is associated with each of the 480 shutters of the liquid crystal shutter array. . The position referred to in the present invention corresponds to the position of each shutter arranged in the main scanning direction, and corresponds to the element number here.
[0070]
The number of data in the first table is 480 corresponding to the number of shutters of the liquid crystal shutter, and three first tables for 480 bytes are prepared for each of red, green, and blue. Therefore, the number of data is 480 bytes × 3, which is 1.44 Kbytes. The data of 1.44 Kbytes is recorded as a table and recorded in the table storage unit FLASHMEMORY.
[0071]
Further, as shown in FIG. 9D, since the number of data in the second table is the number of gradation data, which is an 8-bit gradation here, 50 pieces of printer data are recorded for each of 256 patterns. Yes. Three second tables are also prepared corresponding to R, G, and B. Therefore, the number of data is 38.4 Kbytes.
[0072]
Even if the number of data in the first table and the second table is added, 39.84 Kbytes far smaller than 368.64 Kbytes shown in FIG. Therefore, since the number of data is reduced, it is possible to record in FLASHMEMORY having a smaller capacity than before.
[0073]
Here, how to refer to the first table and the second table will be described with reference to FIGS. 9C and 9D.
[0074]
First, it is assumed that the gradation of the pre-print data acquired by the image acquisition unit is 3, for example. Although the print data of each element is created according to the gradation data 3, the second table is not directly referred to here. Here, for example, when the shutter speed of the shutter element number 6 is to be controlled according to the pre-print data 3, the light quantity of the element number 6 in the first table is referred to, and then the light quantity and the pre-print data are referred to. The print data recorded in the referenced part (hatched part) is referred to. If this is referred to for each shutter arranged at each position in the main scanning direction in which the light guide extends, the amount of light passing through each shutter can be adjusted adaptively.
[0075]
Although the printer of this embodiment records a color image, it may be a black and white image.
[0076]
【The invention's effect】
As described above, according to the printer of the present invention, it is possible to provide a printer in which the capacity of the table storage unit is reduced.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a control configuration of a conventional printer.
FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating a configuration of a lookup table.
FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the printer according to the embodiment of the present invention as viewed obliquely from above.
FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating a state when an instant film loaded in the printer is discharged to the outside of the printer.
FIG. 5 is a perspective view of the back surface of the printer according to the embodiment of the present invention as viewed obliquely from above.
FIG. 6 is a view of the inside of the printer as viewed from the front and upper side with the front cover of the printer of FIG. 1 removed.
7 is a schematic diagram showing a configuration of the optical head shown in FIG. 5. FIG.
FIG. 8 is a configuration block diagram showing a control configuration inside the printer.
FIG. 9 is a diagram illustrating a configuration of a first table and a second table.
[Explanation of symbols]
1 Printer
1a case
10a Battery loading chamber
1b battery
100a Film loading chamber
101a film door
1011a 1012a Spring member
100 instant film pack
1001 Instant film sheet
10 Various switches
11 Power SW
12 Print SW
13 Print data correction SW
14 LCD panel
15 Light receiver
16 Optical head
161 Rack member
161a Lead screw
1611a guide rod
162a motor
1621a Motor driver
163R 163G 163B Light emitting element
164 Light Guide
165 LCD shutter array
166 Selfoc Lens (registered trademark)
17 Deployment motor
17a Deployment motor driver
17b Roller
180 CPU
180A temperature sensor
180B start sensor
180C end sensor
181 Power supply
182 Image processing unit
1821 External I / F
183 Print processing department
184 RAM
185 FLASHMEMORY

Claims (3)

There is a medium loading chamber in which a recording medium in which a latent image is formed by exposure and the latent image is visualized by development is loaded, and exposure according to image data is performed on the recording medium loaded in the medium loading chamber. A printer that forms a latent image on the recording medium and develops the latent image to record an image on the recording medium.
An image data acquisition unit for acquiring image data from the outside;
A data converter that converts the first image data acquired by the image data acquisition unit into second image data for exposure to the recording medium;
A light-emitting element, a light guide that guides light emitted from the light-emitting element, extends in a predetermined main operation direction along the recording medium, and is arranged in a main scanning direction in which the light guide extends, and is guided by the light guide An image exposure unit comprising a plurality of shutters that open and close according to the second image data, and irradiate the recording medium as light spots arranged in the main scanning direction.
A drive unit that integrally moves the light guide and the plurality of shutters in a clothing scanning direction that intersects the main scanning direction;
The data converter includes each position of the light guide in the main scanning direction in which the light guide extends, and the amount of light emitted from the light emitting element and output via the light guide and the plurality of shutters. Both the associated first table and each data value of the first image data before conversion, each light amount recorded in the first table, and the data value of the second image data after conversion A table storage unit for storing both of the second tables associated with each other,
The data conversion unit refers to the first table for each of the plurality of shutters when converting the first image data acquired by the image data acquisition unit into second image data. The amount of light at the position is obtained from the position in the main scanning direction, and the data value of the first image data with reference to the second table and the amount of light obtained with reference to the first table A printer for obtaining second image data. 2. The printer according to claim 1, wherein the first table is associated with a ratio of a light quantity in which a ratio of a minimum light quantity to a maximum light quantity is within 1.5 for each of the positions. . The light-emitting element is composed of a single-color light-emitting element that emits red, green, or blue color light,
The data conversion unit converts the first image data for each color into second image data for each color with reference to the first table and the second table for each color. The printer according to claim 1.

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