JP2005204192A - Led light source device for photograph processor - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To stabilize the operating temperature of a light emitting diode used for the light source of a photograph processor while suppressing device costs as far as possible and to shorten the time until stabilizing the operating temperature. <P>SOLUTION: In the LED light source device for the photograph processor comprising a light emitting diode disposed as a light source in a casing 30 and a cooler CL for cooling the light emitting diode by ventilating air taken in from the outside of the casing 30, the LED light source device for the photograph processor comprises a heater HT for heating the light emitting diode, an external temperature detection sensor 40 for detecting the temperature of air taken in from the outside of the casing 30, a light source temperature detection sensor 39 for detecting the temperature of the light emitting diode or the temperature near the light emitting diode, and a temperature controller which reduces the quantity of air ventilated by the cooler CL as the temperature detected by the external temperature detection sensor 40 is low, on the basis of detection information of the external temperature detection sensor 40 and the light source temperature detection sensor 39 when the temperature detected by the light source temperature detection sensor 39 is higher than a target temperature. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2005,JPO&NCIPI

Description

  The present invention relates to an LED light source device for a photographic processor provided with a light emitting diode arranged as a light source in a housing and a cooling device for cooling the light emitting diode by ventilation of air taken from outside the housing.

Such an LED light source device for a photographic processor is used as a light source for reading an image of a photographic film or a light source for exposure formation of an image on a photographic photosensitive material.
Conventionally, a halogen lamp has been generally used as such a light source. However, with the recent development of blue light-emitting diodes and higher luminance, Patent Document 1 and Patent Document 2 listed below are used. As described above, it is considered to use a light-emitting diode as a light source for a photographic processor to extend the life of the light source and reduce power consumption.

When a light emitting diode is used as a light source for a photographic processor, there is a problem that the light emitting diode fluctuates in light emission wavelength and light output due to fluctuations in operating temperature.
In order to cope with such a problem, in Patent Document 1 below, it is considered to control the temperature of the light emitting diode using a Peltier element.
Further, in Patent Document 2 below, since the power consumption becomes large when a Peltier element is used, it is considered that the fluctuation of the operating temperature of the light-emitting diode is simply suppressed by ON / OFF control of the cooling fan. .
Thus, using a cooling fan instead of an expensive Peltier element contributes to a reduction in apparatus cost.
JP 2002-101274 A JP 2002-237927 A

However, the above-described ON / OFF control by the cooling fan does not necessarily provide sufficient stability of the operating temperature of the light emitting diode, and it takes a long time from the start of temperature control until the target temperature is stabilized. It was.
The present invention has been made in view of such circumstances, and its purpose is to stabilize the operating temperature of the light emitting diode used for the light source while suppressing the apparatus cost as much as possible. This is to shorten the time until stabilization.

  A first invention of the present application is an LED light source for a photographic processor provided with a light emitting diode arranged as a light source in a housing and a cooling device for cooling the light emitting diode by ventilation of air taken from outside the housing. In the apparatus, a heating device for heating the light emitting diode, an outside air temperature detection sensor for detecting a temperature of air taken in from outside the casing, and a light source temperature detection sensor for detecting the temperature of the light emitting diode or a temperature near it And when the detection temperature of the light source temperature detection sensor is higher than a target temperature based on the detection information of the outside air temperature detection sensor and the light source temperature detection sensor, the detection temperature of the detection temperature of the outside air temperature detection sensor is lower There is provided a temperature control device for reducing the amount of ventilation by the cooling device.

That is, in order to stabilize the operating temperature of the light-emitting diode, when a simple cooling mechanism by ventilation is used as the cooling-side device, the temperature of air used for ventilation is a factor that varies the operating temperature.
For example, the operating temperature of the light emitting diode is set to be higher than room temperature, and at the start of temperature control, the temperature of the light emitting diode is gradually increased by the heating device, and cold outside air is blown when the target temperature is reached. Then, the temperature of the light emitting diode suddenly drops, and thereafter, the temperature of the light emitting diode largely fluctuates with the target temperature as the center, and it becomes difficult to stabilize.
Therefore, the outside air temperature detection sensor is provided to detect the temperature of air taken into the housing, and the amount of ventilation is controlled based on the detected information, thereby suppressing the light emitting diode from being excessively cooled. .

According to a second invention of the present application, in addition to the configuration of the first invention, the temperature control device detects the outside air temperature detection sensor when the temperature detected by the light source temperature detection sensor is lower than a target temperature. The higher the temperature detection temperature, the lower the heating amount by the heating device.
In other words, even when ventilation by the cooling device is stopped when the heating device is heating the light-emitting diode, the outside air temperature affects the ambient temperature of the light-emitting diode. The outside air temperature detection sensor provided for the cooling action is also used during the heating action to perform the heating control by the heating device.

  According to a third invention of the present application, in addition to the configuration of the first or second invention, the temperature control device sets a temperature control upper limit temperature and a temperature control lower limit temperature across the target temperature. When the temperature detected by the light source temperature detection sensor is between the target temperature and the temperature control upper limit temperature, the air flow rate by the cooling device is gradually increased in accordance with the increase in the temperature detected by the light source temperature detection sensor. And when the temperature detected by the light source temperature detection sensor is between the temperature control lower limit temperature and the target temperature, the heating amount by the heating device is increased according to the increase in the temperature detected by the light source temperature detection sensor. It is configured to gradually decrease.

  That is, a rapid change in the operating temperature of the light-emitting diode is suppressed by gradually changing the heating amount by the heating device and the ventilation amount by the cooling device around the target temperature.

According to the first aspect of the invention, the temperature of the air taken into the housing is detected by the outside air temperature detection sensor, and the amount of ventilation is controlled based on the detection information, thereby excessively cooling the light emitting diode. Therefore, it is possible to stabilize the operating temperature of the light emitting diode used for the light source while keeping the operating cost as low as possible by adopting an inexpensive device configuration of cooling by ventilation. It has become possible to shorten the time.
According to the second aspect of the invention, the outside air temperature detection sensor, which is originally provided for the cooling action, is also used during the heating action to perform the heating control by the heating device, thereby further increasing the light emitting diode. The operating temperature of can be stabilized.
In addition, according to the third aspect of the invention, since the heating amount by the heating device and the air flow rate by the cooling device are gradually changed around the target temperature, rapid fluctuations in the operating temperature of the light emitting diode are suppressed. The operating temperature of the light emitting diode can be stabilized more quickly.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Embodiments in the case where an LED light source device for a photographic processor according to the present invention is provided in a photographic print system will be described below with reference to the drawings.
As shown in FIG. 2, the photographic print system DP includes a film reader FS for reading a frame image of a developed photographic film 1 (hereinafter simply referred to as “film 1”), and reading by the film reader FS. It comprises an exposure / development apparatus EP for producing a photographic print based on the data.
An LED light source device for a photographic processor to which the present invention is applied is used as a light source for reading of a film reading device FS.

[Schematic configuration of film reader FS]
As schematically shown in FIG. 2, the film reader FS includes an LED light source device 10 that is an LED light source device for a photographic processor to which the present invention is applied, and a temperature control device provided as a part of the LED light source device 10. 11, a light source control device 12 that is also provided as a part of the LED light source device 10, a CCD line sensor unit 13 that photoelectrically converts the frame image of the film 1, and an image of the film 1 is formed on the CCD line sensor unit 13. Through a predetermined reading position, a lens 14 for turning the light, a mirror 15 for bending the optical path by 90 degrees, a signal processing circuit 16 for amplifying and A / D converting the output signal of the CCD line sensor unit 13, and the like. And a film carrier 17 for transporting the film 1. A light diffusion box 18 is provided between the LED light source devices 10 and 17 and the film transport position.

The CCD line sensor unit 13 includes three lines of CCD line sensors in which about 5000 CCD elements are arranged in the width direction of the photographic film 1, and the light receiving surface of each CCD line sensor has red, green, and blue colors, respectively. The color filter is formed, and the frame image of the film 1 is color-separated and detected.
In the film reader FS, when the film 1 is set on the film carrier 17, the conveyance of the film 1 is started, the frame images are sequentially read, and the exposure / development device EP is obtained as digital image data for each of red, green, and blue. Is output.

[Configuration of LED Light Source Device 10]
As shown in FIG. 1, the LED light source device 10 includes two chip support substrates 32 made of metal in which a large number of light emitting diode chips 31 as light sources are arranged in a housing 30 that forms a substantially closed space, A substantially L-shaped heat sink 33 for supporting the chip support substrate 32, two first lenses 34 provided corresponding to each of the two chip support substrates 32, a wavelength selective reflection mirror 35, and two chip supports A second lens 36 provided in common to the substrate 32, an intake fan unit 37 disposed on one side of the housing 30, and an exhaust fan unit 38 disposed on the opposite side of the housing 30 from the intake fan unit 37. And two light source temperature detection sensors 39 arranged in contact with the sides of the two chip support substrates 32, and the vicinity of the intake fan unit 37. And outside air temperature detection sensor 40 disposed in the body 30 outer surface is provided, a heater 41 as a heating device HT near chip supporting substrate 32 mounting position is embedded in the heat sink 33.

The intake fan unit 37 and the exhaust fan unit 38 are provided as a cooling device CL for cooling the light emitting diode chip on the chip support substrate 32.
The light source temperature detection sensor 39 is a sensor for detecting the temperature of the light emitting diode as a light source or a temperature near the light emitting diode, and the outside air temperature detection sensor 40 detects the temperature of the air taken in from the outside of the housing 30. All of which are constituted by a thermistor or a thermocouple.

  The two chip support substrates 32 are mounted with light emitting diode chips of different emission colors, the upper chip support substrate 32a is mounted with blue and green light emitting diode chips, and the lower chip support substrate 32b is mounted. It is equipped with a red LED chip. Accordingly, the wavelength selective reflection mirror 35 is configured to reflect light in the red region and transmit light on the shorter wavelength side.

  The temperature control device 11 controls the intake fan unit 37, the exhaust fan unit 38, and the heater 41 based on the detection information of the light source temperature detection sensor 39 and the outside air temperature detection sensor 40, and detects the light source temperature detection sensor. Control is performed so that the output is stabilized near the target temperature (“Tt”).

Next, a control mode of temperature control by the temperature control device 11 will be described.
The temperature control device 11 detects the detection temperature of the outside air temperature detection sensor 40 when the detection temperature of the light source temperature detection sensor 39 is higher than the target temperature based on the detection information of the outside air temperature detection sensor 40 and the light source temperature detection sensor 39. The lower the temperature, the lower the air flow rate by the cooling device CL. When the detected temperature of the light source temperature detection sensor 39 is lower than the target temperature, the higher the detected temperature of the detected temperature of the outside air temperature detection sensor 40, the higher the heating amount by the heating device HT. Control to lower.

The above control mode will be described with reference to specific examples shown in FIGS. 3 (a) and 3 (b).
FIGS. 3A and 3B illustrate a case where the detection information of the outside air temperature detection sensor 40 is detected in two stages of “high” and “low” with the set boundary temperature as a boundary.
In FIG. 3A, the detection temperature of the light source temperature detection sensor 39 is obtained by taking the detection temperature of the light source temperature detection sensor 39 on the horizontal axis and the energization current to the heater 41 (corresponding to “heating amount”) on the vertical axis. The setting value of the drive current of the heater 41 with respect to information is shown.
The detection temperature of the light source temperature detection sensor 39 may take an average value of the detection values of the two light source temperature detection sensors 39, and from the target temperature (“Tt”) of the detection values of the two light source temperature detection sensors 39. The one with a larger deviation may be used.

In FIG. 3A, the setting of the heating amount when the outside air temperature is “high” is indicated by a solid line a, and the setting of the heating amount when the outside air temperature is “low” is indicated by a thin one-dot chain line d. Show.
In each of the lines a and d, a temperature adjustment lower limit temperature (“Tl”) lower than the target temperature (“Tt”) is set, and the detected temperature of the light source temperature detection sensor 39 is the temperature adjustment lower limit temperature (“Tl”). ”) And the target temperature (“ Tt ”), the heating amount by the heating device HT is gradually reduced according to the increase in the temperature detected by the light source temperature detection sensor 39 (more specifically, a straight line). The heating amount is kept at a constant value on the lower temperature side than the temperature regulation lower limit temperature (“Tl”).
As a result, the current capacity of the heater 41 is sufficient if the current capacity of the horizontal portion of the alternate long and short dash line d is secured.

On the other hand, in FIG. 3B, the horizontal axis represents the detected temperature of the light source temperature detection sensor 39, and the vertical axis represents the voltage applied to the fans of the intake fan unit 37 and the exhaust fan unit 38 (ie, corresponding to “amount of ventilation”). The drive voltage setting values for the intake fan unit 37 and the exhaust fan unit 38 corresponding to the detection information of the light source temperature detection sensor 39 are shown.
Handling of the detection temperature of the light source temperature detection sensor 39 is the same as that in FIG.
In FIG. 3B, the setting of the air flow rate when the outside air temperature is “low” is indicated by a solid line p, and the setting of the air flow rate when the outside air temperature is “high” is indicated by a thin one-dot chain line s. Show.

In each line of p and s, a temperature control upper limit temperature (“Tu”) higher than the target temperature (“Tt”) is set, and the detected temperature of the light source temperature detection sensor 39 is the target temperature (“Tt”). And the temperature control upper limit temperature (“Tu”), the air flow rate by the cooling device CL is gradually increased according to the increase in the detection temperature of the light source temperature detection sensor 39 (more specifically, a straight line). The air flow rate is maintained at a constant value on the higher temperature side than the temperature control upper limit temperature (“Tu”).
As a result, the air blowing capacity of the intake fan unit 37 and the exhaust fan unit 38 is sufficient if the air flow rate in the horizontal portion of the one-dot chain line s is secured.
By performing the control as described above, as shown in FIG. 3C showing an outline of a change in the detected temperature of the light source temperature detection sensor 39 after the temperature control by the temperature control device 11 is started, FIG. ) In which the temperature stabilizes in a relatively short time, and the light emission wavelength and light output of the light-emitting diode are necessary and sufficient, both when the outside air temperature indicated by the one-dot chain line u is high and when the outside air temperature indicated by the solid line v is low. It stabilizes at.

[Overall configuration of exposure / development apparatus EP]
As shown in FIG. 2, the exposure / development apparatus EP is configured separately from the film reading apparatus FS, and an exposure head 21 for forming an exposure image on the photographic paper 2 and exposure formation are formed inside the housing. An exposure control device 22 for controlling the exposure head 21 based on image data of the image to be developed, a development processing device 23 for developing the photographic paper 2 exposed by the exposure head 21, and a print drawn from the photographic paper magazine 8. A photographic paper transport system PT that transports the paper 2 to the development processing device 23 is provided, and a sorter for temporarily storing the photographic paper 2 developed by the development processing device 23 for each order outside the housing. A discharge conveyor 26 for conveying to (not shown) is provided, and a main controller 27 for controlling these parts is provided in the housing.

The main control device 27 is used for simulating and displaying a print image and a monitor 27a for an operator to observe the simulated image displayed on the monitor 27a and to input an exposure condition correction amount. The console 27b is connected to an external input / output device 27c such as an MO drive device or a CD-R drive device. By providing the external input / output device 27c, in addition to the image data of the film 1 input from the film reading device FS, a photographic print can be produced by image data recorded on various recording media such as CD-R media. In addition, the image data read by the film reader FS can be recorded and stored in those recording media.
The photographic paper transport system PT includes a plurality of transport rollers 5 configured in various transport formats, and a long print drawn from the photographic paper magazine 8 is in the middle of the transport path of the photographic paper transport system PT. A cutter 6 for cutting the paper 2 to a set print size and a sorting device 7 for sorting the transport row of the photographic paper 2 are provided.

[Overall operation of exposure / development apparatus EP]
Next, the overall operation of the exposure / development apparatus EP will be schematically described.
When the frame image of the film 1 is read by the film reader FS and the image data is input to the main controller 27, the main controller 27 obtains the photographic print based on the image data. The image that will be obtained is obtained by a simulation operation and displayed on the monitor 27a.
The operator observes the simulated image displayed on the monitor 27a, and appropriately inputs the exposure condition correction from the console 27b.
When there is a correction input from the console 27b, the main control device 27 corrects the exposure condition based on the instruction, generates exposure image data, and sends the image data to the exposure control device 22.
The exposure control device 22 drives the exposure head 21 based on the received exposure image data in conjunction with the conveyance drive of the photographic paper 2, and sets the exposure position as a latent image on the photographic paper 2 being conveyed. An image is formed by exposure.
The photographic paper 2 subjected to the exposure processing by the exposure head 21 is subjected to development processing and drying processing by the development processing device 23 and then discharged onto the discharge conveyor 26.

[Another embodiment]
Hereinafter, other embodiments of the present invention will be listed.
(1) In the above embodiment, the cooling device CL includes the intake fan unit 37 and the exhaust fan unit 38. However, the cooling device CL may include only one of them.
(2) In the above embodiment, as the control mode of the temperature control device 11, as shown in FIGS. 3A and 3B, only the heating device HT is used on the lower temperature side than the target temperature (“Tt”). The heating amount and the ventilation amount are set so that only the cooling device CL is operated on the high temperature side, but the setting mode of the heating amount and the ventilation amount can be variously changed. For example, an area where the heating device HT and the cooling device CL operate together may be set near the target temperature (“Tt”).

(3) In the above embodiment, the case where the detection information of the outside air temperature detection sensor 40 is identified in two stages of “high” and “low” is described as an example. It can be changed as appropriate.
(4) In the above embodiment, the case where the LED light source device for a photographic processor is provided as the light source device of the film reading device FS is exemplified. For example, it is used as a light source device of an exposure apparatus of a PLZT light shutter system. It can also be used as a light source device for exposure of a photographic photosensitive material.

The schematic block diagram of the LED light source device concerning embodiment of this invention 1 is a block configuration diagram of a photo print system according to an embodiment of the present invention. The figure explaining the control aspect of the temperature concerning embodiment of this invention

Explanation of symbols

CL cooling device HT heating device 11 temperature control device 30 housing 39 light source temperature detection sensor 40 outside air temperature detection sensor

Claims (3)

An LED light source device for a photographic processor provided with a light emitting diode disposed as a light source in a housing and a cooling device for cooling the light emitting diode by ventilation of air taken from outside the housing,
A heating device for heating the light emitting diode;
An outside air temperature detection sensor for detecting the temperature of air taken in from outside the housing;
A light source temperature detection sensor for detecting a temperature of the light emitting diode or a temperature near the temperature, and
Based on detection information of the outside air temperature detection sensor and the light source temperature detection sensor, when the detection temperature of the light source temperature detection sensor is higher than a target temperature, the lower the detection temperature of the detection temperature of the outside air temperature detection sensor, the lower the cooling. An LED light source device for a photographic processor, provided with a temperature control device that reduces an air flow rate by the device.   When the temperature detected by the light source temperature detection sensor is lower than a target temperature, the temperature control device is configured to decrease the amount of heating by the heating device as the detection temperature of the detection temperature of the outside air temperature detection sensor is higher. The LED light source device for a photographic processor according to claim 1. The temperature control device sets a temperature control upper limit temperature and a temperature control lower limit temperature across the target temperature,
When the temperature detected by the light source temperature detection sensor is between the target temperature and the temperature control upper limit temperature, the air flow rate by the cooling device is gradually increased according to the increase in the temperature detected by the light source temperature detection sensor. When the temperature detected by the light source temperature detection sensor is between the temperature adjustment lower limit temperature and the target temperature, the heating amount by the heating device is gradually increased according to the increase in the temperature detected by the light source temperature detection sensor. The LED light source device for a photographic processor according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the LED light source device is configured to be lowered to a low level.

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