JP2005319691A - Writing system and recorder - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a dust-proof writing system capable of improving usability whereby a description can be added or corrected by handwriting. <P>SOLUTION: This writing system comprises a sheet medium 101 of which the optical characteristic is reversibly changed by an action of an electric field, and a writing device 100 as a recorder that generates the electric field for writing visible information on the sheet medium 101. The writing device 100 comprises a writing device body 1 having a line type head 2 that forms an electrostatic image by selectively projecting a corona ion stream on the surface of the sheet medium 101 and writes the information by virtue of the electric field of the electrostatic image without contacting the sheet medium 101, and a pen 3 that includes a head electrode 11 for generating the electric field and writes the information by contacting the sheet medium 101. The pen 3 can be detachably attached to the writing device body 1. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2006,JPO&NCIPI

Description

  The present invention relates to a writing system and a recording apparatus including a sheet medium whose optical characteristics are reversibly changed by the action of an electric field, and a writing apparatus that writes information on the sheet medium.

  Conventionally, as a writing device which is a recording device, for example, there is one described in Patent Document 1. FIG. 11 shows a configuration diagram of a conventional writing apparatus described in Patent Document 1. In FIG. In FIG. 11, a circuit board 103 and a common electrode 105 each having a plurality of pixel electrodes are provided on the outer circumferences of the erasing drums 102 and 104, respectively, while a plurality of pixel electrodes are provided on the outer circumferences of the writing drums 106 and 108, respectively. A circuit board 107 including a common electrode 109 is provided.

In the writing apparatus configured as described above, when the sheet medium 101 whose optical characteristics are reversibly changed by the action of an electric field is conveyed in the direction of the arrow A in the drawing, first, the common electrode 105 on the erasing drum 104 is moved. The sheet medium 101 is erased by setting an electric field from the common electrode 105 toward the pixel electrode by applying a negative voltage to each pixel electrode of the circuit board 103 on the erasing drum 102 by setting it to 0 volt. Subsequently, the common electrode 109 on the writing drum 108 is set to 0 volt, and a positive voltage corresponding to information is applied to each pixel electrode of the circuit board 107 on the writing drum 106 to thereby apply a positive voltage. By forming an electric field from the first electrode toward the common electrode 109, desired information is displayed on the sheet medium 101.
JP 2000-127478 A

  In the configuration of the conventional writing apparatus, the information is easier to see than when the information is displayed on the display, and the paper (resource) is not wasted compared to when the information is printed on the paper. However, since the content of the sheet medium 101 written by the writing device cannot be corrected by handwriting, this point is a great disadvantage compared to the case where paper is used as an information display medium.

  Further, when information is written on the sheet medium 101, the erasing drums 102 and 104 and the writing drums 106 and 108 come into contact with the sheet medium 101, so that dust adheres to the sheet medium 101 as the sheet medium 101 is reused. Inevitably, the dust adheres to the pixel electrodes of the circuit boards 103 and 107 of the erasing drum 102 and the writing drum 106, which causes problems such as blurring and causes failure of the pixel electrodes.

  SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention solves the above-described conventional problems, and an object thereof is to provide a writing system and a recording apparatus that are more resistant to dust and improve the convenience by enabling handwriting correction.

In order to solve the above-mentioned conventional problems, the writing system of the present invention forms an electrostatic image by selectively irradiating the corona ion stream onto the surface of the sheet medium, and information on the sheet medium is generated by the electric field of the electrostatic image. A writing apparatus main body having a line-type head for writing, and a pen that is detachable from the writing main body, has a head electrode that generates an electric field, and writes information in contact with the sheet medium The configuration is as follows.

  As described above, according to the writing system of the present invention, when writing text data created by a personal computer or the like or information stored in a memory card, the sheet medium is contactlessly provided by a writing apparatus body having a line-type head. In addition, the information on the written sheet medium can be corrected by touching with a pen.

  In addition, information written with a line-type head or sheet media that has been modified with a pen can be reused. When reused, corona ion flow is irradiated even if dust adheres to the sheet media. Since the line-type head is non-contact, the line-type head is not easily affected by the line-type head. Therefore, information can be reliably written without causing print fading and the line-type head does not break down.

  Furthermore, since the information can be retouched and corrected by bringing a pen having a head electrode that generates an electric field into contact, the tip of the pen coincides with the retouched portion, and parallax does not occur. Further, when the pen is not used, it is housed in the writing device main body, and can be taken out from the writing device main body when necessary, so that convenience is improved.

  According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a writing system comprising: a sheet medium whose optical characteristics are reversibly changed by the action of an electric field; and a writing apparatus that generates an electric field for writing visible information on the sheet medium. The apparatus includes a line-type head that forms an electrostatic image by selectively irradiating the surface of the sheet medium with a corona ion flow, and writes information in a non-contact manner on the sheet medium by an electric field of the electrostatic image. A writing apparatus main body and a pen that has a head electrode that generates an electric field and writes information by contacting the sheet medium. The pen is detachable from the writing apparatus main body. The line type head writes information on the sheet medium in a non-contact manner, so that the electronic device is surely applied to the sheet medium to which dust adheres as it is reused. It is possible to carry out the writing of the information, such as chromatography data. In addition, it is possible to make corrections without causing parallax with the pen, and it can be stored in the storage unit of the writing apparatus main body when not in use, so that convenience can be improved.

  The second invention of the present application is characterized in that the pen head electrode is covered with an insulator, and it is safe even if the pen head electrode is brought into contact with the human body.

  A third invention of the present application is characterized in that the pen is provided with means for changing the direction of the electric field generated from the head electrode, and the setting is made by means for changing the direction of the electric field generated from the head electrode. An electric field in a corresponding direction acts, and desired information can be written on or erased from the sheet medium.

  The fourth invention of the present application is characterized in that the pen is provided with means for changing the range of the electric field generated from the head electrode. By changing the range of the electric field generated from the head electrode, the sheet medium is thickened. Different information can be written.

  The fifth invention of the present application is characterized in that the pen is provided with means for changing the strength of the electric field generated from the head electrode, and information having different densities according to the strength of the electric field is written on the sheet medium. Can do.

The sixth invention of the present application is characterized in that the head electrode of the pen or the insulator covering the head electrode is substantially spherical, and information can be written on the sheet medium without affecting the tilt of the pen.

  The seventh invention of the present application is characterized in that the thickness of the insulator covering the pen head electrode and the thickness of the insulator covering the pen housing are smaller than the thickness of the insulator covering the head electrode. Even if the pen is left untouched on the sheet medium, an electric field that is strong enough to write the desired information on the sheet medium does not act on the part where a voltage other than the head electrode is applied. The sheet medium is not affected.

  The eighth invention of the present application is characterized in that the pen is shielded except for the head electrode, and a voltage other than the head electrode is applied even if the pen is left on the sheet medium at random. Since the electric field is shielded in the conductor portion, unintentional writing is not performed on the sheet medium.

  The ninth invention of the present application is characterized in that the pen is supplied with power from a battery mounted on the writing device main body, and since the battery is not mounted on the pen, Since it is thin and light, it can be operated comfortably.

  According to a tenth aspect of the present invention, there is provided a recording apparatus for generating an electric field for writing visible information on a sheet medium whose optical characteristics are reversibly changed by the action of the electric field. A line-type head that forms an electrostatic image by selectively irradiating, and writes information to the sheet medium in a non-contact manner by an electric field of the electrostatic image, and a head electrode that generates an electric field, It is composed of a pen for writing information by making contact with the sheet medium, and the line-type head writes information without contact with the sheet medium. In addition, information such as electronic data can be reliably written. It is also possible to make corrections without causing parallax with the pen.

  Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

(Embodiment 1)
FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a writing system according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention. In FIG. 1, a writing system includes a sheet medium 101 whose optical characteristics are reversibly changed by the action of an electric field, and a writing apparatus 100 that is a recording apparatus that generates an electric field for writing visible information on the sheet medium 101. Consists of

  The writing device 100 includes a writing device main body 1 and a pen 3 having a head electrode 11. The writing apparatus main body 1 includes a line-type head 2 that selectively irradiates the surface of the sheet medium 101 with a corona ion flow, and a reference electrode 8, and is provided with a storage unit 4 in which the pen 3 is attached and detached.

  A write operation of the write system configured as described above will be described with reference to FIGS. FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view of the line type head 2 of the writing apparatus main body according to the first embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 3 is a configuration diagram of the pen according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

  As shown in FIG. 2, reference numeral 5 denotes an ion source that generates corona ions, and generates a corona ion by applying a high voltage (not shown) to the corona wire 6.

Reference numerals 7a and 7b denote control electrodes, which are an upper electrode and a lower electrode for controlling corona ions generated from the corona wire 6. The upper electrode 7a and the lower electrode 7b of the control electrode are arranged at a predetermined interval and formed so that corona ions can pass through a hole provided in the center. By arranging a plurality of these control electrodes, a line-type head is formed. Constitute.

  Reference numeral 9 is a control power supply, and 10 is a bias power supply.

  If the control power supply 9 is set so that the upper electrode 7a is-and the lower electrode 7b is + (a switch is connected to the L side in the figure), the direction of the electric field is from top to bottom, so corona ions (in this case-) Passes through a hole provided in the center of the upper electrode 7a and the lower electrode 7b.

  When the control power source 9 is set so that the upper electrode 7a becomes + and the lower electrode 7b becomes-(a switch is connected to the R side in the figure), the electric field direction changes from top to bottom, so corona ions (in this case-) Cannot pass through the hole provided in the center of the upper electrode 7a and the lower electrode 7b.

  Based on this principle, an electrostatic image is formed on the sheet medium 101 by corona ions corresponding to the information, so that an electric field as shown in B in the figure acts on the electrostatic image and the reference electrode 8. The desired information can be written on the sheet medium 101. When erasing the information written on the sheet medium 101, applying a potential having the opposite polarity to the writing operation to the corona wire 6 so as to allow the corona ions to pass through, the scanning has a polarity opposite to that at the time of writing. Corona ions are placed on the sheet medium 101 and information is erased.

  Next, referring to FIG. 3, the operation when the information on the sheet medium 101 written by the line head 2 is corrected by handwriting will be described. In FIG. 3, the pen 3 includes a head electrode 11, an insulator 12 covering the head electrode 11, and battery means 13 for applying an electric field to the head electrode.

  When the pen 3 configured as described above is taken out from the storage unit 4 of the writing apparatus main body 1 and brought into contact with the sheet medium 101, a voltage is applied to the head electrode 11 (the mechanism for switching on by contact is omitted). An electric field such as C in the figure acts on the reference electrode 14, and desired information can be written on the sheet medium 101.

  According to such a configuration, the writing apparatus main body 1 including the line-type head 2 that selectively irradiates the surface of the sheet medium 101 with the corona ion flow is detachable from the writing apparatus main body 1 and can generate an electric field. With the configuration including the pen 3 having the head electrode 11 capable of being written, information such as electronic data can be written on the sheet medium 101 in a non-contact manner, and the information on the written sheet medium 101 can be added to the information. On the other hand, it is possible to make corrections by touching with a pen, and thus information such as electronic data can be reliably written to the sheet medium 101 to which dust adheres as it is reused. In addition, it is possible to make corrections without causing parallax, and it can be stored in the storage unit 4 of the writing apparatus main body 1 when not in use. It can also be improved.

  Further, since the head electrode 11 of the pen 3 is covered with the insulator 12, it is safe to bring the head electrode 11 of the pen 3 into contact with the human body.

  Examples of the sheet medium 101 described here include an electrophoretic sheet using microcapsules, a twist ball type sheet reported by Gyricon (trademark) by Xerox Corporation, and a liquid crystal having a memory property. A sheet medium having a memory property of an electric field driving method can be used.

  In the present embodiment, a system in which corona ions are uniformly generated and selected by a control electrode as a line-type head for writing information in a non-contact manner is shown. However, a metal electrode to which a high voltage is applied is heated. Thus, a method of selectively generating ions may be employed.

  Further, in the present embodiment, when erasing information written on the sheet medium 101, a scanning method is applied in which a potential having a polarity opposite to that of the writing operation is applied to the corona wire 6 so that corona ions can pass. As shown, a line type head for writing and a line type head for erasing may be provided to perform erasing and writing in a series of operations. In this case, the line type head for erasing may be a simple electrode or a system that generates corona ions.

(Embodiment 2)
FIG. 4 is a configuration diagram showing the configuration of the pen 3 that can be attached to and detached from the writing apparatus main body according to Embodiment 2 of the present invention. 4, the same components as those in FIG. 3 are denoted by the same reference numerals, and description thereof is omitted.

  In the present embodiment, there is provided polarity selection means 15 that changes the direction of the electric field generated from the head electrode 11 by changing the polarity of the voltage applied to the head electrode 11.

  In the pen 3 configured as described above, the polarity of the voltage applied to the head electrode 11 can be changed by the setting of the polarity selection means 15, so that when the contact is made on the sheet medium 101, the polarity of the polarity is applied to the head electrode 11. As a result, an electric field is applied to the reference electrode 14 in a direction corresponding to the setting of the polarity selection means 15 as shown in D in the figure, and desired information is written on the sheet medium 101. Alternatively, it can be erased.

  According to such a configuration, by providing the polarity selecting means 15 in the pen 3, writing and erasing can be performed on the sheet medium 101 using the pen 3, so that convenience is improved.

(Embodiment 3)
FIG. 5 is a configuration diagram showing the configuration of the pen 3 that can be attached to and detached from the writing apparatus main body according to Embodiment 3 of the present invention. In FIG. 5, the same components as those in FIG.

  In the present embodiment, a head electrode 11a having a small area and a head electrode 11b having a large area that change the range of the electric field generated from the head electrode are provided.

  In the pen 3 configured as described above, when the head electrode 11a having a small area is present at the pen tip as shown in FIG. The range of electric field acts, and information on the desired thickness can be written on the sheet medium 101. As shown in (B), when the head electrode 11b having a large area is at the tip of the pen, when it comes in contact with the sheet medium 101, an electric field in the range shown in F in the figure acts on the reference electrode 14, Information thicker than (A) can be written on the sheet medium 101.

  In this embodiment, the head electrodes 11a and 11b having different sizes are provided in order to change the range of the electric field. However, the head electrode is used as one, and the reference is controlled by controlling the range of shielding the head electrode. It is good also as a structure which changes the range of the electric field with an electrode.

  According to such a configuration, the width of writing can be changed with respect to the sheet medium 101 using the pen 3, and convenience is improved.

(Embodiment 4)
FIG. 6 is a configuration diagram showing the configuration of the pen 3 that can be attached to and detached from the writing apparatus main body according to Embodiment 4 of the present invention. In FIG. 6, the same components as those in FIG.

  In the present embodiment, voltage value changing means 16 for changing the voltage value applied to the head electrode 11 is provided.

  In the pen 3 configured as described above, the voltage value applied to the head electrode 11 can be changed according to the setting of the voltage value changing means 16, so that when the contact is made on the sheet medium 101, an expected voltage is applied to the head electrode 11. As a result, an electric field having an intensity corresponding to the setting of the voltage value changing means 16 acts between the reference electrode 14 and the reference electrode 14 as shown in FIG. Can write.

  According to such a configuration, by providing the voltage value changing means 16 in the pen 3, it is possible to change the density of writing with respect to the sheet medium 101 using the pen 3, so that convenience is improved.

(Embodiment 5)
FIG. 7 is a configuration diagram showing the configuration of the pen 3 that can be attached to and detached from the writing apparatus main body according to Embodiment 5 of the present invention. In FIG. 7, the same components as those in FIG.

  In the present embodiment, the shape of the head electrode 17 is spherical.

  In the pen 3 configured as described above, the pen 3 is brought into contact with the sheet medium 101 at a substantially right angle as shown in (A), or the pen 3 is brought into contact with the sheet medium 101 as shown in (B). Even if the contact 3 is tilted, an electric field having substantially the same strength acts between the pen 3 and the reference electrode 14 as shown by G and H in the figure, and the sheet is not affected by the tilt of the pen 3. Information can be written to the medium 101.

  According to such a configuration, even if the inclination of the pen 3 is appropriately changed when writing, the intended thickness and darkness can be maintained, so that convenience is improved.

(Embodiment 6)
FIG. 8 is a configuration diagram showing the configuration of the pen 3 that can be attached to and detached from the writing apparatus main body according to Embodiment 6 of the present invention. 8, the same components as those in FIGS. 3 and 7 are denoted by the same reference numerals, and the description thereof is omitted.

  In the present embodiment, the shape of the head electrode 17 is spherical. The insulator 12 is formed in a spherical shape so as to cover the head electrode 17. When the thickness of the insulator 12 that covers the head electrode 17 to which the voltage is applied is L3 and the thickness of the insulator 12 that is the casing of the pen 3 is L1 and L2, respectively, the thickness of the insulator 12 that covers the head electrode 17 is L3. Is thinner than L1 and L2.

  When the pen 3 configured as described above is taken out from the writing apparatus main body 1 and brought into contact with the sheet medium 101, a voltage is applied to the head electrode 17, and desired information can be written on the sheet medium 101. Even if the sheet medium 101 is left untouched on the sheet medium 101, an electric field that is strong enough to write desired information on the sheet medium 101 does not act on a portion to which a voltage other than the head electrode 17 is applied. 101 is not affected.

According to such a configuration, the pen 3 that applies a voltage to the head electrode 17 can be used in a random manner.
Since the information on the sheet medium 101 does not change even if left on 01, the convenience is improved.

(Embodiment 7)
FIG. 9 is a configuration diagram showing the configuration of the pen 3 that can be attached to and detached from the writing apparatus main body according to Embodiment 7 of the present invention. 9, the same components as those in FIGS. 3 and 7 are denoted by the same reference numerals, and the description thereof is omitted.

  In the present embodiment, the shield means 18 is provided so as to surround a conductor portion to which a voltage other than the head electrode 17 is applied.

  When the pen 3 configured as described above is taken out from the writing apparatus main body 1 and brought into contact with the sheet medium 101, a voltage is applied to the head electrode 17, and desired information can be written on the sheet medium 101. Even if it is left untouched on the sheet medium 101, the electric field is shielded in the conductor portion to which a voltage other than the head electrode 17 is applied, so that unintended writing to the sheet medium 101 is not performed.

  According to such a configuration, the information on the sheet medium 101 does not change even if the sheet electrode 101 is left on the sheet medium 101 without any voltage applied to the head electrode 17, so that convenience is improved.

(Embodiment 8)
FIG. 10 is a configuration diagram showing the configuration of the writing apparatus main body and the detachable pen 3 according to the eighth embodiment of the present invention. 10, the same components as those in FIG. 1 are denoted by the same reference numerals, and description thereof is omitted.

  In the present embodiment, a battery means 19 for supplying a voltage to be applied to the pen 3 is provided in the writing device 1 main body.

  When the pen 3 configured as described above is taken out from the writing apparatus main body 1 and brought into contact with the sheet medium 101, a voltage is applied to the head electrode 11 and desired information can be written on the sheet medium 101. Since the battery means is not mounted on the pen 3, the casing of the pen 3 can be made thin and light so that it can be operated comfortably.

  According to this configuration, since the pen 3 is easy to operate, convenience is improved.

  The writing device according to the present invention writes the text data created on a personal computer or the like on the sheet medium in a non-contact manner, so that the writing can be performed reliably, and further, correction can be made in a non-contact manner using a pen. Since the operation can be performed comfortably without generating parallax, it is useful as a writing system and a recording apparatus for writing information on a sheet medium whose optical characteristics reversibly change due to the action of an electric field.

The perspective view of the writing system in Embodiment 1 of this invention. Sectional view of line type head of writing apparatus main body according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention Configuration diagram of a pen in Embodiment 1 of the present invention The block diagram which shows the structure of the pen which can be attached or detached to the writing apparatus main body in Embodiment 2 of this invention. The block diagram which shows the structure of the pen which can be attached or detached to the writing apparatus main body in Embodiment 3 of this invention. The block diagram which shows the structure of the pen which can be attached or detached to the writing apparatus main body in Embodiment 4 of this invention. The block diagram which shows the structure of the pen which can be attached or detached to the writing device main body in Embodiment 5 of this invention. The block diagram which shows the structure of the pen which can be attached or detached to the writing device main body in Embodiment 6 of this invention. The block diagram which shows the structure of the pen which can be attached or detached to the writing apparatus main body in Embodiment 7 of this invention. The block diagram which shows the structure of the writing apparatus main body in Embodiment 8 of this invention, and the pen which can be attached or detached to it. Configuration diagram of a conventional writing device

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Writing device main body 2 Line type head 3 Pen 4 Storage part 5 Ion source 6 Corona wire 7a Upper electrode 7b Lower electrode 8 Reference electrode 9 Control power supply 10 Bias power supply 11 Head electrode 12 Insulator 13 Battery means 14 Reference electrode 15 Polarity selection means 16 Voltage value changing means 17 Head electrode 18 Shielding means 19 Battery means 100 Writing device 101 Sheet medium

Claims (10)

In a writing system comprising a sheet medium whose optical characteristics are reversibly changed by the action of an electric field and a writing apparatus that generates an electric field for writing visible information on the sheet medium, the writing apparatus is configured to generate a corona ion flow. A writing apparatus body including a line-type head that forms an electrostatic image by selectively irradiating the surface of the sheet medium, and writes information to the sheet medium in a non-contact manner by an electric field of the electrostatic image; 2. A writing system comprising: a head electrode for generating an electric field; and a pen for writing information in contact with the sheet medium, wherein the pen is detachable from the writing device body. The writing system according to claim 1, wherein the head electrode of the pen is covered with an insulator. 3. The writing system according to claim 1, wherein the pen includes means for changing a direction of an electric field generated from the head electrode. 4. The writing system according to claim 1, wherein the pen includes means for changing a range of an electric field generated from the head electrode. 5. The writing system according to claim 1, wherein the pen includes means for changing an intensity of an electric field generated from the head electrode. The writing system according to claim 2, wherein the head electrode of the pen or the insulator covering the head electrode is substantially spherical. The thickness of the insulator covering the head electrode of the pen and the thickness of the insulator covering the casing of the pen are smaller in thickness of the insulator covering the head electrode. 7. The writing system according to any one of items 2 to 6. The writing system according to claim 1, wherein the pen is shielded except for the head electrode. The writing system according to any one of claims 1 to 8, wherein the pen is supplied with power from a battery mounted on the writing device main body. In a recording apparatus that generates an electric field for writing visible information on a sheet medium whose optical characteristics reversibly change due to the action of the electric field, the recording apparatus selectively irradiates the surface of the sheet medium with a corona ion flow. An electrostatic image is formed, and a line-type head for writing information in a non-contact manner on the sheet medium by an electric field of the electrostatic image, and a head electrode for generating an electric field, are brought into contact with the sheet medium. And a pen for writing information.

Images