JP2006218728A - Connection structure and image forming device equipped with the same - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To execute data control in a simple circuit structure by transferring the data in one direction while simplifying the pulling around of a wiring provided to a PCB, when a printer head and a PCB are electrically connected. <P>SOLUTION: Various types of signals are transferred in one direction along a line direction with driving drivers 11, 21 which transfer the various types of signal in a single direction. The driving driver 11 is mounted on the surface 11a of a COF 10, while the driving driver 21 is mounted on the surface 21a of a COF 20. Thus, even when the COF10 and COF20 are connected on both sides of the printer head 1, the various types of signals can be transferred in one direction along the line direction. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2006,JPO&NCIPI

Description

  The present invention relates to a technical field of, for example, a printer head and a connection structure for electrically connecting a printed circuit board that supplies various signals to the printer head, and an image forming apparatus such as a printer having the connection structure.

  Various techniques for connecting a display panel in a flat panel display such as a liquid crystal display and a plasma display and an external circuit for driving the display panel are disclosed. For example, Patent Document 1 discloses a liquid crystal display device including a flexible substrate that electrically connects a printed circuit board and a liquid crystal panel on four sides of the liquid crystal panel. Patent Document 2 discloses a connection structure in which a plurality of signal lines are connected to each other even when the connection space between the multilayer rigid printed circuit board and the flexible printed circuit board is small. Patent Document 3 discloses a plasma display device having a structure in which parts can be easily shared even if the size of the plasma display panel changes.

  In an image forming apparatus such as a printer, a printer head and a relay board that relays various signals supplied from an external circuit such as a printer engine to the printer head are also electrically connected. For example, a printer head and a printed circuit board (hereinafter referred to as “PCB”) may be connected by a COF (Chip On Film) on which a circuit such as a driver is mounted. For example, when COF is used, since the pitch of the pins provided on the printer head is smaller than the pitch of the pins provided on the PCB, only the pins provided on one side of the printer head are provided with COF or the like. It is difficult to electrically connect the terminals. Therefore, connectors such as COF are usually connected to both sides of the printer head.

JP-A-5-173162 JP-A-9-232708 JP 2003-173150 A

  However, when driving the printer head, if one end of a general-purpose COF is connected to both sides of the printer head, there is a problem that it is difficult to route the wiring provided on the PCB connected to the other end of the COF. More specifically, COF usually has a mounting surface on which a circuit such as a driver is mounted. When a driver that transfers data in only one direction is mounted on the mounting surface, each side surface of the printer head is mounted. The data transfer direction in the COF connected to is different. In this way, when the same general-purpose COF connector is connected to both sides of the printer head, the data transfer direction is aligned in one direction by changing the wiring routing provided on the PCB. Becomes complicated. Such wiring has a problem that, for example, the PCB must be a multilayer substrate, the PCB structure becomes complicated, and the cost required for the PCB increases. In addition, when the wiring of the PCB is changed, the control of the data that is the source of the drive signal becomes complicated so that the drive signal can be sequentially supplied to the pixel units arranged in a line on the printer head. There is also.

  Therefore, the present invention has been made in view of the above problems and the like. For example, when the printer head and the PCB are electrically connected, the wiring control provided on the PCB can be easily routed and the data can be controlled. However, it is an object of the present invention to provide a connection structure capable of transferring data in one direction with a simple circuit configuration and an image forming apparatus including the connection structure.

  In order to solve the above-described problem, the connection structure according to the first aspect of the present invention is provided with one of the light emitting portions extending along the arrangement direction of the light emitting portions on the back surface of the line head including a plurality of light emitting portions arranged in a line. A plurality of first head-side connection terminals provided in a region along the edge, and a plurality of second head-side connection terminals provided in a region along the other edge, extending along the arrangement direction. A connection structure for electrically connecting a plurality of first substrate side connection terminals and a plurality of second substrate side connection terminals provided on the substrate surface of the substrate arranged in this manner, wherein the first head A plurality of first base material portions extending from the side connection terminals toward the first substrate side connection terminals, and provided at one end of the first base material portion, and exposed on the surface of the first base material portion. And electrically connected to the plurality of first head side connection terminals. First connection means including a number of first connection portions and a second connection portion provided at the other end of the first base material portion and electrically connected to the plurality of first substrate side connection terminals. And the second connection means including the first connection portion and the second connection portion via the first substrate side connection terminal. A first circuit unit that supplies a driving signal to a light emitting unit corresponding to the first base material unit among the plurality of light emitting units while transferring various signals to be supplied in one direction along the arrangement direction; A first electrical part connected in phase via a wiring part; and extending from the second head-side connection terminal toward the second substrate-side connection terminal, and the plurality of first groups along the arrangement direction A plurality of second base material portions arranged to be shifted with respect to each of the material portions, and provided at one end of the second base material portion. Third connection means including a plurality of third connection portions exposed on the back surface of the second base material portion and electrically connected to the second head side connection terminal, and the other end of the second base material portion A fourth connection means including a plurality of fourth connection portions electrically connected to the second substrate side connection terminals, and provided on the respective surfaces of the plurality of second base material portions. The third connection portion and the fourth connection portion are configured to transfer the various signals supplied through the second substrate-side connection terminals in the one direction, and the first light source among the plurality of light emitting portions. A second circuit unit that supplies a driving signal to the light emitting unit corresponding to the base material unit and a second electric unit that is phase-connected via the second wiring unit, and the various signals are arranged along the arrangement direction. The data is sequentially transferred between the first circuit unit and the second circuit unit.

  According to the connection structure according to the first aspect of the present invention, the “back surface” is, for example, a surface on the opposite side of the light emitting surface that is the light emission side surface of the light emitting unit, The terminal and the second head side connection terminal are provided on the surface opposite to the light emitting surface of the line head. The “substrate” of the present invention is, for example, a PCB that relays various signals sent from an external circuit such as a printer engine provided separately from the printer head and supplies the signal to the printer head. For example, the PCB is arranged so as to extend along the arrangement direction of a plurality of light emitting units provided in the printer head on the back side of the printer head.

  The first base material portion is, for example, a flexible plate member. In addition, the first base portion is, for example, a first electric portion provided in a state where a first electric portion described later is electrically connected to a first head side connection terminal provided in the line head. 1 The substrate portion is drawn from the line head so that the surface of the substrate portion faces outward as viewed from the line head. The first base portion extends from the first head side connection terminal provided on the line head toward the first substrate side connection terminal according to the arrangement of the substrate with respect to the line head. The 1st connection means provided in the end of the 1st substrate part means a plurality of 1st connection parts whole, for example, contains a plurality of 1st connection parts, such as a connection pad.

  The plurality of first connection portions are provided so as to be exposed on the surface of the first base material portion. For example, the first head side connection terminal and the first connection portion are crimped to connect the first head side connection. The terminal and the first connecting means are electrically connected. Here, the “surface of the first base material portion” is, for example, a mounting surface on which a driver for driving which is an example of the first circuit portion is mounted, and the first connection means and the first circuit portion are the first surface. It will be provided in the same surface among the surfaces which comprise a base material part. The plurality of first base material portions are provided, for example, in the plurality of light emitting portions along the arrangement direction, and data signals for driving the light emitting portions corresponding to the first base material portions are described later. It will be supplied to each light emitting part via one electrical part.

  The first electrical unit includes, for example, various signals including a data signal through a first circuit unit including a semiconductor element such as a driver for driving and a wiring electrically connecting the first connection unit and the second connection unit. Are supplied to the corresponding light emitting units to cause the light emitting units to emit light. For example, the first electric unit transfers various signals in one direction by a shift register included in a driving driver which is an example of the first circuit unit, and sends the signals to a second electric unit described later. Here, the “various signals” include, for example, a control signal for controlling light emission by the light emitting unit, a command signal, data, and the like, and a block of data supplied in accordance with the order of each electric unit along the arrangement direction. Consists of

  The second base material portion has, for example, the same material and structure as the first base material portion, and is arranged to be shifted with respect to each of the plurality of first base material portions along the arrangement direction. . Therefore, for example, the first base material portion and the second base material portion are arranged so as to be alternately overlapped along the arrangement direction of the plurality of light emitting units included in the line head, or partially overlapped when seen from the direction intersecting the arrangement direction. Yes.

  The 3rd connection means provided in the end of the 2nd base material part contains the 3rd connection part, such as a connection pad exposed on the back of the 2nd base material part, for example. It is electrically connected to the second head side connection terminal. Here, the “back surface of the second base material portion” is, for example, the back surface of the mounting surface on which a driver for driving which is an example of a second circuit portion described later is mounted among the surfaces constituting the second base material portion. is there. Therefore, the third connecting means and the second electric part are provided on different surfaces of the second base material part. The 4th connection means provided in the other end of the 2nd base material part is a connector which has the same composition as the 2nd connection means, for example. Here, the 2nd base material part is a flexible plate-like member provided with the 2nd electric part, for example like the 1st base material part. More specifically, the second base material portion is pulled out so that the back surface faces the outside as viewed from the line head in a state of being connected to the second head side connection terminal.

  For example, the second electrical unit transfers various signals supplied from the substrate side via the fourth connection means in one direction via the driving driver and the second wiring unit, which are examples of the second circuit unit. More specifically, for example, various signals transferred from the first electrical unit are transferred to the second electrical unit, and further transferred from the second electrical unit to the next first electrical unit that is arranged shifted in the arrangement direction. Will be. That is, the drive signals can be sequentially supplied to all the light emitting units by being sequentially transferred from the first electrical unit to the second electrical unit and further from the second electrical unit to the first electrical unit through the substrate.

  Therefore, according to the connection structure according to the first aspect of the present invention, for example, drive signals included in various signals input from one end side of the substrate are sequentially supplied to the plurality of light emitting units along the arrangement direction. If various signals are supplied to a plurality of first electric parts and a plurality of second electric parts provided at positions shifted from each other in the arrangement direction, for example, in an order corresponding to the order of these electric parts, they correspond to each other. A drive signal can be supplied from the electrical unit to the light emitting unit. More specifically, for example, when various signals are supplied to the board from an external circuit such as a printer engine, the order of each electrical unit can be changed without changing the order of data blocks each including data corresponding to each electrical unit. Data corresponding to these electrical units can be supplied to each.

  According to the connection structure according to the first aspect of the present invention, even when the first circuit portion and the second circuit portion are disposed only on the surfaces of the first base material portion and the second base material portion, for example, various signals are transmitted. The data included in the blocks corresponding to each electrical unit can be supplied to the corresponding electrical unit without changing the order of the blocks of the data to be configured. As a result, it is not necessary to convert, for example, the order of data blocks included in various signals, and various signals can be controlled easily. In addition, according to the connection structure according to the first aspect of the present invention, since the transfer directions of various signals by the first electric unit and the second electric unit are aligned in one direction, the various signals are sequentially sent to the first electric unit. Even when wiring for transmitting various signals from the second electrical part to the first electrical part is provided on the substrate, routing of these wirings is simplified. Therefore, it is only necessary to provide simple wiring on the substrate as compared with the case where multilayer wiring or the like is provided on the substrate, and the increase in the cost of the substrate caused by providing complicated wiring on the substrate can be suppressed.

  As a result, according to the connection structure according to the first aspect of the present invention, various signals including a drive signal for driving the light emitting unit can be easily controlled, and the cost required for a substrate such as a PCB can be reduced. . In addition, according to the connection structure according to the first aspect of the present invention, it is possible to provide a drive circuit for a line head which has a simple circuit and wiring configuration and can easily control various signals.

  In order to solve the above-described problem, the connection structure according to the second aspect of the present invention is provided with one of the light emitting portions extending along the arrangement direction of the light emitting portions on the back surface of the line head including a plurality of light emitting portions arranged in a line. A plurality of first head-side connection terminals provided in a region along the edge, and a plurality of second head-side connection terminals provided in a region along the other edge, extending along the arrangement direction. A connection structure for electrically connecting a plurality of first substrate side connection terminals and a plurality of second substrate side connection terminals provided on the substrate surface of the substrate arranged in this manner, wherein the first head A plurality of first base material portions extending from the side connection terminals toward the first substrate side connection terminals, and provided at one end of the first base material portion, and exposed on the surface of the first base material portion. And electrically connected to the plurality of first head side connection terminals. First connection means including a number of first connection portions and a second connection portion provided at the other end of the first base material portion and electrically connected to the plurality of first substrate side connection terminals. And the second connection means including the first connection portion and the second connection portion via the first substrate side connection terminal. A first circuit unit that supplies a driving signal to a light emitting unit corresponding to the first base material unit among the plurality of light emitting units while transferring various signals to be supplied in one direction along the arrangement direction; A first electrical part connected in phase via a wiring part; and extending from the second head-side connection terminal toward the second substrate-side connection terminal, and the plurality of first groups along the arrangement direction A plurality of second base material portions arranged to be shifted with respect to each of the material portions, and provided at one end of the second base material portion. Third connection means including a plurality of third connection portions exposed on the surface of the second base material portion and electrically connected to the second head side connection terminal, and the other end of the second base material portion A fourth connection means including a plurality of fourth connection portions electrically connected to the second substrate side connection terminals, and provided on the respective surfaces of the plurality of second base material portions. The third connection portion and the fourth connection portion are configured to transfer the various signals supplied through the second substrate-side connection terminals in the one direction, and the first light source among the plurality of light emitting portions. A second circuit unit for supplying a driving signal to the light emitting unit corresponding to the two substrate units, and a second electric unit for phase connection via the second wiring unit, the first substrate unit and the second substrate unit Are arranged such that the surface of the first base material portion and the surface of the second base material portion face the same side, and the various signals are The data is sequentially transferred between the first circuit unit and the second circuit unit along the arrangement direction.

  In the connection structure according to the second aspect of the present invention, the first electrical part and the first connection means are provided on the surface of the first base part, and the second electrical part and the first connection part are provided on the surface of the second base part. Three connection means are provided. Accordingly, the first base member and the second base member are electrically connected to the first head side connecting terminal and the second head side connecting terminal, respectively, in a state where the first electric portion and the second electric portion are electrically connected. Each of the parts is arranged so that the surface of the first base material part and the surface of the second base material part face the same side. For example, the first base material portion is arranged so that the surface of the first base material portion faces outside as viewed from the line head, and the second base material portion is lined so that the surface of the second base material portion faces inside. It is pulled out from the head. That is, the first base material portion and the second base material portion are arranged so that the surface of the first base material portion and the surface of the second base material portion face the same side when viewed from the line head. Thus, the first electric part and the second electric part provided in the first base part and the second base part drawn from the line head respectively send various signals in one direction along the arrangement direction of the light emitting parts. The first circuit unit and the second circuit unit to be transferred are included, and a drive signal is supplied to each light emitting unit from the electrical unit corresponding to the light emitting unit, as in the connection structure according to the first aspect of the invention.

  Therefore, according to the connection structure according to the second invention of the present invention, similarly to the connection structure according to the first invention, various signals including a drive signal for driving the light emitting unit can be easily controlled, and The cost required for a substrate such as a PCB can be reduced.

  In one aspect of the connection structure according to the first and second inventions of the present invention, the substrate is a substrate-side wiring portion that electrically connects the first substrate-side connection terminal and the second substrate-side connection terminal. May be provided.

  According to this aspect, the board-side wiring portion can be configured simply, and for example, the cost required for a board such as a PCB can be reduced as compared with a case where multilayer wiring is provided on the board. More specifically, each of the first circuit unit included in the first electric unit and the second circuit unit included in the second electric unit transfers various signals in one direction along the arrangement direction. A wiring portion provided so as to electrically connect the second electrical portion positioned next to the first electrical portion along the arrangement direction from the one electrical portion; and the second electrical portion along the arrangement direction The wiring part is provided so as to connect the first electrical part positioned next to the second electrical part. Since such a board side wiring part is provided so as to connect the first electric part and the second electric part located along the arrangement direction, for example, various signals supplied from one end of a board such as a PCB are received. The first electric part is sequentially transferred along the arrangement direction from the first electric part to the second electric part, or from the second electric part to the first electric part.

  In another aspect of the connection structure according to the first and second aspects of the present invention, the first base material part and the second base material part may be COF or TCP.

  According to this aspect, for example, the first electric line is arranged along the arrangement direction while electrically connecting the substrate such as the line head and the PCB without largely changing the structure of the general-purpose COF or TCP (Tape Carrier Package). Various signals can be transferred to the unit and the second electrical unit. In addition, since COF and TCP have flexibility, the positional relationship between the line head and the substrate is determined according to the space in which the line head and the substrate are arranged in a state where the line head and the PCB are connected. It can be changed freely. In addition, it cannot be overemphasized that a 1st base material part and a 2nd base material part are not limited to COF or TCP, The connection medium which has another structure may be sufficient.

  In another aspect of the connection structure according to the first and second inventions of the present invention, a driver IC for driving the line head is mounted on the first base material part and the second base material part. Also good.

  According to this aspect, the line head can be driven while transferring various signals in one direction by the driver IC. Thus, various signals can be transferred with a simple wiring structure without forming complicated wirings on the substrate.

  In order to solve the above problems, an image forming apparatus according to the present invention has a printer head unit having the connection structure according to the first or second invention of the present invention, a photoconductor, and exposure by the printer head unit. And developing means for forming a visible image by developing the electrostatic latent image formed on the photoconductor, and transfer means for transferring the formed visible image onto a recording medium.

  According to the image forming apparatus of the present invention, since the printer head unit including the connection structure according to the first or second invention of the present invention described above is provided, the cost required for the printer head unit can be significantly reduced. In addition, the configuration of various signals input to the printer head can be simplified. The “printer head unit” according to the present invention means a printer head and a unit that functions to drive the printer head. For example, the printer head, a PCB that supplies various signals to the printer head, and the like. It means a substrate including a substrate and connection means such as COF for electrically connecting them.

  Such an operation and other advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the embodiments described below.

  Hereinafter, embodiments of a connection structure according to the present invention and an image forming apparatus including the connection structure will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. In this embodiment, an example in which the connection structure according to the present invention is applied to a printer head which is an example of the “line head” of the present invention will be described in comparison with a conventional connection structure. More specifically, the connection structure according to the first invention will be described in the first embodiment, and the connection structure according to the second invention will be described in the second embodiment. Note that the printer head of the following embodiment may include an organic EL element, which is an example of a light emitting element, in the pixel portion.

(First embodiment)
First, the connection structure of this embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS. FIG. 1 is a schematic plan view of a printer head 1 to which the connection structure of the present embodiment is applied as viewed from the light emitting surface side.

  In FIG. 1, the printer head 1 includes a substrate 2 and a pixel unit 6 which is an example of a “light emitting unit” according to the present invention. A plurality of pixel portions 6 are arranged in a line along the line direction in the drawing. The planar shape of the base material 2 is a rectangular shape extending along the line direction.

  The COF 10 which is an example of the “first base material portion” of the present invention and the COF 20 which is an example of the “second base material portion” of the present invention are one edge and the other of the base material 2 extending along the line direction. Multiple connections are made to each of the edges. In addition, the COFs 10 and 20 are connected to the printer head 1 so as to be displaced from each other along the line direction.

  Each of the COFs 10 is provided with a driving driver 11 that is an example of the “first circuit unit” of the present invention. The driving driver 11 is a driver that includes a shift register that transfers various signals in a single direction. With the COF 10 connected to the printer head 1, the front side of the COF 10 in the drawing, that is, the printer head 1. It is mounted on the surface 11a which is the surface facing the same side as the side where the pixel portion 6 faces. Here, “unidirectional” in the present specification means that the transfer direction of various signals in the drive driver alone is unidirectional, and the concept is different from “unidirectional” in the present specification. More specifically, “one direction” means that the direction in which the driving driver mounted on the COF transfers various signals is one direction along the line direction. As will be described in detail later, the driving driver 11 transfers various signals along the line direction toward the right side indicated by arrows in the drawing.

  Each of the COFs 20 is provided with a driving driver 21 that is an example of the “second circuit unit” of the present invention. The driving driver 21 is mounted on the surface 21a which is the surface on the depth side in the drawing, that is, the surface facing the side opposite to the side where the pixel unit 6 of the printer head 1 faces, among the both surfaces of the COF 20. As will be described in detail later, the driving driver 21 includes a shift register that transfers various signals in the same direction as the direction in which the driving driver 11 transfers various signals along the line direction. ing. Here, the various signals transferred by the driving drivers 11 and 21 include data that is the basis of an image signal for causing each pixel unit 6 to emit light.

  FIG. 2 is a schematic plan view of the printer head 1 shown in FIG. 1 as viewed from the back side.

  In FIG. 2, the driving driver 21 is mounted on a surface 21 a that is an example of the “surface of the second base material portion” of the present invention. The COFs 10 and 20 are disposed along the edge of the back surface 12 of the printer head 1, respectively. The COFs 10 and 20 are electrically connected to the printer head 1 via a first connection part and a third connection part provided at one end of each of the COFs 10 and 20, as will be described in detail later. In FIG. 1 and FIG. 2, for convenience of explanation, the COF 10 is oddly numbered and distinguished from each other in order from the left side in the figure, and the COF 20 is evenly numbered and distinguished from each other. These odd numbers and even numbers are also indicated as subscripts attached to the COF.

  Here, a comparative example of the connection structure will be described with reference to FIGS. 9 and 10. 9 is a schematic plan view of the printer head 101 to which the connection structure 100 is applied as viewed from the light emitting surface side. FIG. 10 is a schematic plan view of the printer head 101 to which the connection structure 100 is applied as viewed from the back side. FIG. 9 is a comparison target of FIG. 1, and FIG. 10 is a comparison target of FIG.

  As shown in FIGS. 9 and 10, the connection structure 100 includes COFs 110 and 120, and connection parts (not shown) provided at both ends of these COFs. The COF 110 corresponds to the COF 10 illustrated in FIG. 1, and the COF 120 corresponds to the COF 20.

  A driving driver 111 that transfers various signals in the right direction in the figure is mounted on the surface 111a of the COF 110, and a driving driver 121 that transfers various signals in the left side in the figure is mounted on the surface 121a of the COF 120. . The driving drivers 111 and 121 include shift registers that transfer various signals in a single direction. The COFs 110 and 120 are COFs having the same configuration, and electrically connect a printer head 101 and a PCB (not shown) that supplies a drive signal to the printer head 101 to the surfaces 111a and 121a, respectively. It has a connection part. When these connection portions are connected to connection terminals provided in the region along the edge of the back surface 112 of the printer head 101, driving drivers are mounted on the front surfaces 111a and 121a on which the connection portions in the COFs 110 and 120 are provided. Since the mounting surface is determined, the transfer directions of various signals of the driving drivers 111 and 121 are reversed. That is, when the driving drivers 111 and 121 that transfer various signals only in one direction are mounted on the surfaces 111a and 121a, the driving drivers 111 and 121 mounted on the COFs 110 and 120, respectively, are only in opposite directions. Various signals cannot be transferred. Using such COFs 110 and 120, it is difficult to transfer various signals in one direction along the line direction while supplying drive signals to each pixel unit 106 from both edge sides extending along the line direction in the printer head 101. It is. In order to solve such a problem, the connection structure of this embodiment is very effective.

Again, it returns to description of the connection structure of this embodiment. FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing a connection state of the COFs 10 and 20 connected to the printer head 1. In FIG 3 shows only COF10 ₁ and COF20 ₂ in FIGS.

  In FIG. 3, a plurality of connection pads 31 which are examples of “first head side connection terminals” according to the present invention and a plurality of connection pads 41 which are examples of “second head side connection terminals” according to the present invention. Are provided on the back surface 12 of the printer head 1. The connection pad 31 is provided in a region along the edge 32 on the back surface 12, and the connection pad 41 is provided in a region along the edge 42 on the back surface 12. The edges 32 and 42 are edges extending along the line direction on the back surface 12. Each of the connection pads 31 and 41 is electrically connected to the pixel portion of the printer head 1 via a wiring (not shown) provided in the printer head 1.

  The connection structure 8 of the present embodiment includes a plurality of COFs 10, a plurality of COFs 20, a plurality of first connection portions 17 constituting "first connection means" according to the present invention, and a "second connection means" according to the present invention. A plurality of second connection portions 16, a driver 11 for driving, a wiring portion 18, a plurality of third connection portions 27 constituting a “third connection means” according to the present invention, and a “fourth connection means” according to the present invention. A plurality of fourth connecting portions 26, a driving driver 21, and a wiring portion 28 are provided.

  The first connection portion 17 is provided at one end of the COF 10 so as to be exposed on the surface 11 a of the COF 10. Here, one end is an end facing the printer head 1 side of both ends of the COF 10 arranged so as to extend from the printer head 1 to a PCB (not shown) when the COF 10 and the printer head 1 are connected. The COF 10 and the printer head 1 are electrically connected by the first connection portion 17 being crimped to the connection pad 31. Although only one COF 10 is shown in the figure, other COFs 10 provided along the edge 32 as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 are also electrically connected to the printer head 1 in the same manner.

  The second connection portion 16 is provided at the other end of the COF 10. The first connection portion 17 and the second connection portion 16 are electrically connected via a driving driver 11 and a wiring portion 18 provided on the surface 11a. Of the various signals supplied from the second connection terminal 16a, a drive signal for driving the pixel unit of the printer head 1 is sent to each of the plurality of first connection units 17 by a shift register provided in the driver 11 for driving. The pixel portion 6 is supplied through a plurality of connection pads 31 electrically connected to the first connection portion 17. The various signals supplied to the second connection portion 16a are sent again from the second connection portion 16b to a PCB (not shown) after a drive signal is supplied from the drive driver 11 to each pixel portion.

  The third connection portion 27 is provided at one end of the COF 20 so as to be exposed on the back surface 21 b of the COF 20. Here, one end is an end facing the printer head 1 side of both ends of the COF 20 arranged so as to extend from the printer head 1 to a PCB (not shown) when the COF 20 and the printer head 1 are connected. The back surface 21b is the surface of the both surfaces of the COF 20 where the driving driver 21 is not provided. The back surface 21 b faces the back surface 12 of the printer head 1 when the COF 20 and the printer head 1 are connected. The COF 20 and the printer head 1 are electrically connected by the third connection portion 27 being crimped to the connection pad 41. Although only one COF 20 is shown in the figure, other COFs 20 provided along the edge 42 as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 are also electrically connected to the printer head 1 in the same manner.

  The fourth connection portion 26 is provided at the other end of the COF 20. The third connection portion 27 and the fourth connection portion 26 are electrically connected via a driving driver 21 and a wiring portion 28 provided on the surface 21a. Of the various signals supplied from the fourth connection terminal 26 a, the data that is the source of the drive signal for driving the pixel portion of the printer head 1 is stored in the plurality of third connection portions 27 by the shift register provided in the drive driver 21. Each pixel is supplied to the pixel portion via a plurality of connection pads 41 electrically connected to the third connection portion 27. The various signals supplied to the fourth connection portion 26a are sent again from the fourth connection portion 26b to a PCB (not shown) after a drive signal is supplied from the drive driver 21 to each pixel portion.

  FIG. 4 is a schematic plan view showing a connection state in which the printer head 1 and the PCB 50 which is an example of the “board” according to the present invention are electrically connected. For convenience of explanation, the parts on both sides of the PCB 50 are shown as separate left and right parts. More specifically, a portion of the PCB 50 that is connected to the COF 10 is shown on the left side in the drawing, and a portion that is connected to the COF 20 is shown on the right side in the drawing.

  In FIG. 4, the printer head 1 and the PCB 50 are electrically connected in phase by the connection structure 8 of the present embodiment.

  The PCB 50 includes a connector 56 including a first board side connection terminal and a connector 66 including a second board side connection terminal.

  The PCB 50 is arranged so as to extend along the line direction in the figure with respect to the printer head 1 in a state where the PCB 50 and the printer head 1 are electrically connected. The connector 56 is disposed in a region along one edge 52 in the substrate surface 51 of the PCB 50 in accordance with the interval between the plurality of COFs 10 disposed along the line direction. The connector 66 is disposed in a region along the other edge 53 on the substrate surface 51 of the PCB 50. When the printer head 1 and the PCB 50 are electrically connected to each other, the first board-side connection terminal included in the connector 56 is electrically connected to the connection portion 16, and the second board-side connection terminal included in the connector 66. Is electrically connected to the connecting portion 26.

  5 is a cross-sectional view taken along line AA ′ of FIG. In FIG. 5, the printer head unit 200 is configured by electrically connecting the printer head 1 and the PCB 50 by the connection structure 8.

  The COF 10 is electrically connected to the printer head 1 and the PCB 50 in a state where the surface 11 a faces the outside as viewed from the printer head 1. More specifically, the first connection portion 17 provided at one end of the COF 10 so as to be exposed on the surface 11a is electrically connected to the connection pad 31 provided in the printer head 1, and the second connection portion 16 is provided. The connection terminal 57 included in the connector 56 is electrically connected. The connection terminal 57 corresponds to an example of a “first board side connection terminal” according to the present invention.

  The COF 20 electrically connects the printer head 1 and the PCB 50 in a state where the surface 21a faces inward as viewed from the printer head 1. That is, the back surface 21 b of the COF 20 faces outward as viewed from the printer head 1. The third connection portion 27 provided at one end of the COF 20 so as to be exposed on the back surface 21 b is electrically connected to the connection pad 41 provided on the printer head 1, and the fourth connection portion 26 is included in the connector 66. The connection terminal 58 is electrically connected. Here, the driving driver 11 can be mounted only on the front surface 11 a of the COF 10, and is not mounted on the back surface 11 b of the COF 10. Further, the driving driver 21 can be mounted only on the front surface 21a of the COF 20, and is not mounted on the back surface 21b of the COF 20. Therefore, according to the connection structure 8, even when driving drivers that transfer various signals in a single direction are used as the driving drivers 11 and 21, the driving drivers 11 and 21 are provided on the respective surfaces 11a and 21a of the COFs 10 and 20. In a state in which is mounted, various signals can be transferred in one direction along the line direction toward the front side in the figure.

  Next, the flow of various signals between the printer head 1 and the PCB 50 connected to each other by the connection structure 8 according to the present embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS. In addition, a comparative example of the connection structure and various signal flows shown in FIGS. 9 to 15 is compared with the connection structure and various signal flows according to the present embodiment. In FIG. 6, for convenience of explanation, both sides of the printer head 1 connected to the PCB 50 are divided into an upper side and a lower side in the drawing.

  FIG. 6 is a block diagram schematically showing the flow of various signals through the connection structure 8 according to the present embodiment.

In FIG. 6, various signals supplied from a host, which is an external circuit, are input to an input unit 59 provided at one end of the PCB 50. Various signals are first sent from the input unit 59 COF10 to the driving driver 11 ₁ mounted to _1. Driving driver 11 _1, while the transfer of various signals in the line direction, and transfers the driving driver 21 ₂ mounted COF20 _2. The driving driver 11 ₁ and 21 ₂ is a driver for transferring various signals only toward the right side in the drawing along the line direction. Therefore, the driving driver 21 ₂ transfers various signals transferred from the drive driver 11 ₁ to drive the driver 11 ₍₃₎ mounted on COF10 _3. The various signals transferred toward the right side in the figure as sequentially COF20 ₄ from _{COF10 3, COF10 5, COF20 6} , COF10 7, ···, it is transferred in order of COF20 _12. More specifically, various signals are transferred to the right side in the drawing along the line direction by the driving drivers 11 and 21 mounted on the COFs 10 and 20, respectively.

Here, the flow of data will be described more specifically with reference to FIG. 4 in addition to FIG. PCB50 includes an input unit 59, and a wiring L0 for electrically connecting the second connecting portion 16a having the COF10 _1. PCB50 _is a COF10 _1, 10 3, ···, and a second connecting portion 16b which is the output side of the connecting portion of _{10 11, COF20 2, 20 4} , ···, _{20 12} the input side of the connecting portion A wiring L1 is provided for electrically connecting the fourth connecting portion 26a in order from the left side in the drawing along the line direction. Additionally PCB50 _{is, COF10 3, 10 5, ···} , and a second connecting portion 16a which is the input side of the connecting portion of _{10 11, COF20 2, 20 4} , ···, 20 ₁₀ the output side of the connecting portion Wiring L2 is provided to electrically connect the fourth connection portion 26b, which is, in order from the left side in the drawing along the line direction. The wirings L0, L1, and L2 constitute an example of the “board-side wiring portion” according to the present invention. Various signals inputted to the input unit 59 is input to COF10 ₁ of the second connecting portion 16a through the L0, while being transferred in the line direction by the driving driver 11 _1, the drive signal included in the various signals COF10 ₁ Are supplied to the pixel unit 6 corresponding to. Various signals transferred by the driving driver 11 _1, the second connecting portion 16b of COF10 _1, PCB 50 is fed again via the line L1, is fed to the fourth connection portion 26a of COF20 _2. Driving driver 21 _2, while the transfer of various signals in the line direction, the driving driver 21 ₂ supplies a drive signal to the pixel portion 6 corresponding wiring L2 drive mounted on COF10 ₃ via the driver 11 Various signals are transferred to ₃ . Thereafter, similarly, various signals are transferred in the order of COFs 20 ₄ , 10 ₅ ,..., 20 ₁₂ , and accordingly, the drive signals included in the various signals are transferred to the pixel unit 6 corresponding to each driver for driving. Supplied. As shown in FIG. 6, since the wirings L0, L1, and L2 provided on the PCB 50 do not overlap with each other in the PCB 50, wirings for electrically connecting the COFs without providing the PCB 50 as a multilayer substrate are provided on the PCB 50. It is possible. Therefore, the wiring provided in the PCB 50 can be made simpler than the comparative example of the connection structure described later, and the cost required for the PCB 50 can be reduced as compared with the case where the wiring having a complicated structure is provided in the PCB.

  FIG. 7 is a block diagram showing each part constituting paths of various signals input to the PCB 50. FIG. 8 is a diagram schematically showing the data structure before and after the control circuit 80.

  In FIG. 7, various signals including control signals, commands, data, and the like are supplied from the host 70 to the PCB 50 via the control circuit 80. As shown in FIG. 8, the original data included in various signals supplied from the host 70 to the control circuit 80 is a set of data continuously sent out in accordance with the order of the arrangements of the COFs 10 and 20 shown in FIG. It is. More specifically, a block of data is sent out in accordance with the address of each driving driver 11 and 21. In FIG. 8, the arrows shown in each block constituting the original data indicate the direction in which the data should be transferred in each driving driver.

  In FIG. 7, the control circuit 80 includes a control signal generation circuit 81, a command control circuit 82, and a data control circuit 83. Control signals, commands, and data generated or controlled by the control signal generation circuit 81, the command control circuit 82, and the data control circuit 83 are input to the PCB 50 as input data. As described with reference to FIG. 6, since the data is supplied in the order along the line direction of the COFs 10 and 20, the arrangement order of the blocks in the original data is arranged in accordance with the order of the COF corresponding to each block. In this case, various signals including input data can be input to the PCB 50 without the control circuit 80 rearranging the data blocks. More specifically, as shown in FIG. 8, the data output from the control circuit 80 can be supplied as input data to the PCB 50 without converting the original data.

  Here, the case where the printer head 301 and the PCB 350 and the printer head 501 and the PCB 550 are connected by the connection structures 300 and 500 which are comparative examples of the connection structure 8 will be described with reference to FIGS. The superiority of the connection structure 8 described with reference to FIG. 8 will be described.

  FIG. 11 is a diagram schematically showing the flow of data when the connection structure 300 is used, and FIG. 12 schematically shows the structure of the original data of FIG. 11 and the input data input to the PCB. FIG. FIG. 13 is a diagram schematically showing another flow of data when the connection structure 500 is used, and FIG. 14 schematically shows the structure of the original data and the input data input to the PCB in FIG. FIG. The data flows shown in FIGS. 11 and 13 are examples of the data flow through the connection structure 100 including the COFs 110 and 120 connected to the printer head 101 described in FIG.

  In FIG. 11, the connection structure 300 is not provided on both ends of each of the COFs 310 and 320 that can mount elements such as a driving driver only on one surface, the driving drivers 311 and 321 of the same specification, and the COFs 310 and 320. The connection part shown in the figure is provided.

  The drive drivers 311 and 321 both transfer data in a single direction, but both sides of the printer head 301 and both sides of the PCB 350 are connected via the COFs 310 and 320 on which the drive drivers 311 and 321 are mounted, respectively. In this case, the data transfer direction by the drive driver 311 along the line direction in the drawing is opposite to the data transfer direction by the drive driver 321. Therefore, according to the connection structure 300, when data is transferred alternately to the COFs 310 and 320 from the left side to the right side in the drawing along the line direction, each block constituting the original data as shown in FIG. Therefore, it is necessary to replace even-numbered block data while keeping the address unchanged. More specifically, the data of the block corresponding to the driving driver 321 mounted on each COF 320 arranged on the upper side of FIG. 11 is replaced, and the transfer direction of the data included in the block corresponding to the driving driver 321 is illustrated. It is necessary to convert the data so as to go to the left side indicated by the middle arrow. In addition, as shown in FIG. 11, wirings L <b> 3 and L <b> 4 that electrically connect the odd-numbered COF 310 and the even-numbered COF 320 are provided so as to intersect in the PCB 350. Since such wirings L3 and L4 are formed in the PCB 350 as multilayer wirings, there is a problem that the wiring structure in the PCB 350 is complicated and the cost required for the PCB 350 is increased.

  In FIG. 13, a connection structure 500 is mounted on COFs 510 and 520, the mounting surfaces of these COFs, and unillustrated connection portions provided at both ends of the drivers 511 and 521 and the COFs 510 and 520 having the same specifications. It has. Driving drivers 511 and 521 that can transfer data in one direction are mounted on the mounting surfaces of the COFs 510 and 520.

  According to the connection structure 500, when the COFs 510 and 520 are connected to both sides of the printer head 501, the data transfer directions by the driving drivers 511 and 521 are reversed, and the control circuit is the original as shown in FIG. It becomes necessary to exchange the data and address of each block in the data. More specifically, it is necessary to convert the data of the block corresponding to the driving driver mounted on the even-numbered COF 520, and it is necessary to manage this in order to replace the address. Therefore, as shown in FIG. 15, the control circuit 180 needs to include a data replacement memory 184 and an address management circuit 185 in addition to the control signal generation circuit 181, the command control circuit 182, and the data control circuit 183. As described above, according to the two comparative examples shown in FIGS. 11 to 14, the wiring configuration provided in the PCB is complicated, or the configuration of the control circuit for controlling data is complicated, and the cost required for the PCB or the control circuit is increased. Increase.

  As described above, the connection structure 8 of this embodiment described with reference to FIGS. 1 to 8 is easier to control data by the control circuit than the connection structure described with reference to FIGS. In addition, the configuration of the wiring provided on the PCB is also simple. Therefore, a special effect that can reduce the cost required for the PCB and the control circuit is obtained. In addition, by changing the connection method for connecting the COF to both sides of the printer head, the data is transferred in a single direction that has been conventionally used without changing the configuration of the driving driver mounted on the COF. The drive driver and the configuration of the COF in which the driver is mounted can be used without change.

(Second Embodiment)
Next, an embodiment of a connection structure according to the second invention of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS.

  FIG. 16 is a schematic plan view of a printer head 601 to which the connection structure 600 of this embodiment is applied as viewed from the light emitting surface side.

  A plurality of the COF 610 and the COF 620 are connected to each of one edge and the other edge of the base material 602 extending along the line direction. In addition, the COFs 610 and 620 are connected to the printer head 601 so as to be shifted from each other along the line direction.

  Each of the COFs 610 is provided with a driving driver 611 that is an example of the “first circuit unit” according to the second aspect of the invention. The driver 611 for driving is mounted on the front surface in the drawing of both surfaces of the COF 610, that is, the surface 611a facing the same side as the pixel portion 606 facing the printer head 601, and the surface 611a of the present invention is “ This corresponds to an example of “the surface of the first base member”. The driver 611 for driving transfers data along the line direction toward the right side indicated by the arrow in the drawing as will be described in detail later.

  Each of the COFs 620 is provided with a driving driver 621 that is an example of a “second circuit unit” according to the second aspect of the invention. The driving driver 621 has the COF 620 pulled out to the upper side in the figure with respect to the printer head 601, and the front side in the figure of the both sides of the COF 620, that is, the same side as the side where the pixel unit 606 in the printer head 601 faces. It is mounted on the surface 621a facing the surface. As will be described in detail later, the driving driver 621 transfers various signals along the line direction in the right direction indicated by an arrow in the drawing, that is, in the same direction as the direction in which the driving driver 611 transfers data. Here, the various signals are signals for controlling various operations of the printer head 601 such as data, command signals, and control signals, and light emission of the pixel portion.

  FIG. 17 is a schematic plan view of the printer head 601 shown in FIG. 16 viewed from the back side. In FIG. 17, the COFs 610 and 620 are arranged along the edge of the back surface 612 in the printer head 601. The lower side of FIG. 17 corresponds to the upper side of FIG. Accordingly, as shown in FIG. 17, the COFs 610 and 620 are pulled out downward in the figure in a state where they are connected to regions along both edges along the line direction of the printer head 601.

  FIG. 18 is a perspective view showing a connection state of the COFs 610 and 620 connected to the printer head 601. In FIG. 18, the COF 610 and the COF 620 in FIGS. 16 and 17 are shown one by one.

  In FIG. 18, a plurality of connection pads 631 which are examples of “first head side connection terminals” according to the second invention and a plurality of connection pads 631 which are examples of “second head side connection terminals” according to the second invention. The connection pad 641 is provided on the back surface 612 of the printer head 601. The connection pad 631 is provided in a region along the edge 632 on the back surface 612, and the connection pad 641 is provided in a region along the edge 642 on the back surface 612. The edges 632 and 642 are edges extending along the line direction on the back surface 612. Each of the connection pads 631 and 641 is electrically connected to the pixel portion via a wiring (not shown) provided in the printer head 601.

  The COF 610 includes a plurality of first connection portions 617 constituting the “first connection means” according to the second invention, a plurality of second connection portions 616 constituting the “second connection means” according to the second invention, and a drive. A driver 611 and a wiring portion 618.

  The first connection portion 617 is provided at one end of the COF 610 so as to be exposed on the surface 611 a of the COF 610. The COF 610 and the printer head 601 are electrically connected by pressing the first connection portion 617 with the connection pad 631. Although only one COF 610 is shown in the figure, other COFs 610 provided along the edge 632 as shown in FIGS. 16 and 17 are also electrically connected to the printer head 601 in the same manner.

  The second connection unit 616 is provided at the other end of the COF 610. The first connection portion 617 and the second connection portion 616 are electrically connected via a driving driver 611 and a wiring portion 618 provided on the surface 611a. Of the various signals supplied from the second connection terminal 616a, a drive signal for driving the pixel portion 606 is sent to each of the plurality of first connection portions 617 by a shift register included in the driver 611 for the first connection. The pixel portion 606 is supplied through a plurality of connection pads 631 electrically connected to the portion 617. The various signals supplied to the second connection unit 616a are sent again from the second connection unit 616b to a PCB (not shown) after a drive signal is supplied from the driving driver 611 to each pixel unit.

  The third connection portion 627 is provided at one end of the COF 620 so as to be exposed on the surface 621 a of the COF 620. Here, one end is an end facing the printer head 601 side of both ends of the COF 620 disposed so as to extend from the printer head 601 to a PCB (not shown) when the COF 620 and the printer head 601 are connected. The front surface 621a is a surface of the COF 620 on the side where the driving driver 621 is provided. The front surface 621a faces the back surface 612 of the printer head 601 when the COF 620 and the printer head 601 are connected. The COF 620 and the printer head 601 are electrically connected by the third connection portion 627 being crimped to the connection pad 641. Although only one COF 620 is shown in the figure, other COFs 620 provided along the edge 642 as shown in FIGS. 16 and 17 are also electrically connected to the printer head 601 in the same manner.

  The fourth connection portion 626 is provided at the other end of the COF 620. The third connection portion 627 and the fourth connection portion 626 are electrically connected via a driving driver 621 and a wiring portion 628 provided on the surface 621a. Of the various signals supplied from the fourth connection terminal 626a, data serving as a source of the drive signal for driving the pixel portion of the printer head 601 is stored in the plurality of third connection portions 627 by a shift register included in the drive driver 621. Each pixel is supplied to the pixel portion via a plurality of connection pads 641 electrically connected to the third connection portion 627. The various signals supplied to the fourth connection portion 626a are sent again from the fourth connection portion 626b to a PCB (not shown) after a drive signal is supplied from the drive driver 621 to each pixel portion.

  FIG. 19 is a schematic cross-sectional view of a printer head unit 800 configured by electrically connecting the printer head 601 and the PCB 650 with each other by the connection structure 600.

  In FIG. 19, the COF 610 electrically connects the printer head 601 and the PCB 650 in a state where the surface 611 a is disposed so as to face outward when viewed from the printer head 601. More specifically, the first connection portion 617 provided at one end of the COF 610 so as to be exposed on the surface 611a is electrically connected to the connection pad 631 provided in the printer head 601, and the second connection portion 616 is provided. Are electrically connected to connection pads 657 included in connector 656. The connection pad 657 corresponds to an example of a “first substrate side connection terminal” according to the second aspect of the invention.

  The COF 620 electrically connects the printer head 601 and the PCB 650 in a state where the surface 621a is disposed so as to face inward as viewed from the printer head 601. A third connection portion 627 provided at one end of the COF 620 so as to be exposed on the surface 621 a is electrically connected to a connection pad 641 provided on the printer head 601. Here, the driving driver 611 can be mounted only on the front surface 611 a, and cannot be mounted on the back surface 611 b of the COF 610. Further, the driving driver 621 can be mounted only on the front surface 621a and cannot be mounted on the back surface 621b of the COF 620. Further, the fourth connection portion 626 is electrically connected to the connection portion 658 of the connector 666. Therefore, according to the connection structure 600, even when elements having the same specifications are used as the driving drivers 611 and 621, the driving drivers 611 and 621 are mounted on the surfaces 611a and 621a of the COFs 610 and 620, respectively. Data can be transferred in one direction along the line direction toward the front side.

  According to the connection structure 600 of the present embodiment, data similar to the data flow described with reference to FIGS. 6 to 8 can be transferred, and by the control circuit as in the connection structure of the first embodiment. The control of data is simple and the configuration of wiring provided on the PCB is also simple, and there is an extraordinary effect that can reduce the cost required for the PCB and the control circuit. In addition, by changing the connection method for connecting the COF to both sides of the printer head, the data is transferred in a single direction that has been conventionally used without changing the configuration of the driving driver mounted on the COF. The drive driver and the configuration of the COF in which the driver is mounted can be used without change.

  In the first embodiment and the second embodiment, COF is described as an example as the first base material portion and the second base material portion. However, as the first base material portion and the second base material portion, Other connection means such as TCP, flexible flat cable (FFC), and flexible printed circuit board (FPC) can also be used.

(Printer)
Next, the configuration of a printer which is an example of an image forming apparatus according to the present invention will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 20 is a schematic cross-sectional view schematically showing the configuration of the printer 1000. In the following embodiment, a color printer having four printer units 1500 for YMCK will be described as an example.

  In FIG. 20, the printer includes four image forming units 1001Y, 1001M, 1001C, and 1001K for YMCK. These units each have a photosensitive drum 1002 as an example of the “photosensitive member” according to the present invention and a surrounding area. A cleaner 1011, a charger 1012, a printer head unit 1500, and a developing device 1013 which is an example of a “developing unit” according to the invention are arranged in this order. Note that the printer head unit 1500 includes the connection structure according to the present invention described above.

  Next, the configuration of the printer 1000 of this embodiment will be described along with its operation.

  In FIG. 20, after the toner remaining on the surface of the photosensitive drum 1002 in the previous cycle is removed by the cleaner 1011, the surface of the photosensitive drum 1002 is charged by corona discharge or the like by the charger 1012 for the current cycle. . Subsequently, an electrostatic latent image corresponding to the data signal is formed on the surface of the photosensitive drum 1002 by exposure corresponding to the data signal by the printer head unit 1500 of the above-described embodiment. Subsequently, by using toner of a color corresponding to each unit among Y (yellow), M (magenta), C (cyan), and K (black), development is performed by the developing unit 1013, and the photosensitive drum 1002 is developed. A toner image that is a visible image by toner adhesion is formed on the surface. On the other hand, the transfer belt 1020 is rotated by rollers 1021, 1022, and the like. Then, the toner image on the photosensitive drum 1002 is transferred onto the transfer belt 1020 while being pressed from the back side by the transfer roller 1014 at the transfer position facing each photosensitive drum 1002. The transferred toner image is further transferred onto a sheet such as a copy sheet conveyed by the conveying device 1030. Then, the image-formed paper is discharged onto a discharge tray via a fixing device (not shown).

  As described above, the printer 1000 according to the present embodiment includes the printer head 1500 having the connection structure according to the present invention described above. Therefore, the cost required for the printer 1000 can be reduced. Therefore, it is very advantageous to apply the printer head 1500 as in this embodiment.

  The present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiments, and can be appropriately changed without departing from the gist or concept of the invention that can be read from the claims and the entire specification, and the connection structure accompanying such changes. Also, an image forming apparatus such as a printer provided with the same is also included in the technical scope of the present invention.

It is the schematic plan view which looked at the printer head 1 to which the connection structure of 1st Embodiment is applied from the light emission surface side. It is the schematic plan view which looked at the printer head 1 to which the connection structure of 1st Embodiment is applied from the back surface side. 2 is a perspective view showing a connection state of COFs 10 and 20 connected to the printer head 1. FIG. FIG. 3 is a schematic plan view showing a connection state in which the printer head 1 and the PCB 50 are electrically connected. FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view taken along line AA ′ in FIG. 4. It is the block diagram which showed typically the flow of the various signals through the connection structure 8 of 1st Embodiment. 3 is a block diagram showing each part constituting paths of various signals inputted to the PCB 50. FIG. 3 is a diagram schematically showing a data structure before and after a control circuit 80. FIG. It is the schematic top view which looked at the printer head 101 to which the conventional connection structure 100 was applied from the light emission surface side. It is the schematic top view which looked at the printer head to which the conventional connection structure 100 was applied from the back side. It is the figure which showed typically an example of the flow of data at the time of using the conventional connection structure 300. FIG. It is the figure which showed typically the structure of the original data of the data shown in FIG. 11, and the input data input into PCB. It is the figure which showed typically the other flow of the data at the time of using the conventional connection structure 500. FIG. It is the figure which showed typically the structure of the input data input into the original data and PCB in FIG. It is the block diagram which showed each part which comprises the conventional path | route of the various signals input into PCB550. It is the schematic plan view which looked at the printer head 601 to which the connection structure 600 of 2nd Embodiment is applied from the light emission surface side. It is the schematic plan view which looked at the printer head 601 shown in FIG. 16 from the back surface side. FIG. 6 is a perspective view showing a connection state of COFs 610 and 620 connected to a printer head 601. 5 is a schematic cross-sectional view of a printer head unit 800 configured by electrically connecting a printer head 601 and a PCB 650 with each other by a connection structure 600. FIG. 2 is a schematic cross-sectional view schematically showing the configuration of a printer 1000. FIG.

Explanation of symbols

  1,101,301,501,601 ... printer head, 8,100,300,500,600 ... connection structure 10,20,110,120,310,320,510,520,610,620 ..COF

Claims (6)

A plurality of first head side connection terminals provided in a region along one edge extending along the arrangement direction of the light emitting units on the back surface of the line head including a plurality of light emitting units arranged in a line and the other A plurality of second head side connection terminals provided in a region along the edge of the substrate, and a plurality of first substrate side connections provided on a substrate surface of the substrate arranged so as to extend along the arrangement direction. A connection structure for electrically connecting the terminals for use and the plurality of second substrate side connection terminals,
A plurality of first base members extending from the first head-side connection terminal toward the first substrate-side connection terminal;
A plurality of first connection portions provided at one end of the first base material portion, exposed to the surface of the first base material portion and electrically connected to the plurality of first head side connection terminals; Including first connecting means;
A second connecting means provided on the other end of the first base portion and including a second connecting portion electrically connected to the plurality of first substrate side connecting terminals;
Provided on each surface of the plurality of first base parts, the first connection part and the second connection part are arranged with various signals supplied via the first substrate side connection terminals. Phase transfer is performed via a first circuit unit and a first wiring unit that supply a drive signal to a light emitting unit corresponding to the first base material unit among the plurality of light emitting units while transferring in one direction along the direction. A first electrical part;
A plurality of second head-side connection terminals extending toward the second substrate-side connection terminals, and arranged in a shifted manner with respect to each of the plurality of first base material portions along the arrangement direction. A second base material part;
A second base member provided at one end of the second base material part, including a plurality of third connection parts exposed on the back surface of the second base material part and electrically connected to the second head side connection terminal; 3 connection means;
A fourth connection means provided at the other end of the second base material portion and including a plurality of fourth connection portions electrically connected to the second substrate side connection terminals;
Provided on each surface of the plurality of second base parts, the third connection part and the fourth connection part are supplied with various signals supplied via the second substrate side connection terminals. A second electrical unit that is connected in phase via a second circuit unit and a second wiring unit that supply a drive signal to a light emitting unit corresponding to the second base unit among the plurality of light emitting units while transferring in the direction; With
The connection structure, wherein the various signals are sequentially transferred between the first circuit unit and the second circuit unit along the arrangement direction. A plurality of first head side connection terminals provided in a region along one edge extending along the arrangement direction of the light emitting units on the back surface of the line head including a plurality of light emitting units arranged in a line and the other A plurality of second head side connection terminals provided in a region along the edge of the substrate, and a plurality of first substrate side connections provided on a substrate surface of the substrate arranged so as to extend along the arrangement direction. A connection structure for electrically connecting the terminals for use and the plurality of second substrate side connection terminals,
A plurality of first base members extending from the first head-side connection terminal toward the first substrate-side connection terminal;
A plurality of first connection portions provided at one end of the first base material portion, exposed to the surface of the first base material portion and electrically connected to the plurality of first head side connection terminals; Including first connecting means;
A second connecting means provided on the other end of the first base portion and including a second connecting portion electrically connected to the plurality of first substrate side connecting terminals;
Provided on each surface of the plurality of first base parts, the first connection part and the second connection part are arranged with various signals supplied via the first substrate side connection terminals. Phase transfer is performed via a first circuit unit and a first wiring unit that supply a drive signal to a light emitting unit corresponding to the first base material unit among the plurality of light emitting units while transferring in one direction along the direction. A first electrical part;
A plurality of second head-side connection terminals extending toward the second substrate-side connection terminals, and arranged in a shifted manner with respect to each of the plurality of first base material portions along the arrangement direction. A second base material part;
A second base member provided at one end of the second base material part and exposed to the surface of the second base material part and including a plurality of third connection parts electrically connected to the second head side connection terminals; 3 connection means;
A fourth connection means provided at the other end of the second base material portion and including a plurality of fourth connection portions electrically connected to the second substrate side connection terminals;
Provided on each surface of the plurality of second base parts, the third connection part and the fourth connection part are supplied with various signals supplied via the second substrate side connection terminals. A second electrical unit that is connected in phase via a second circuit unit and a second wiring unit that supply a drive signal to a light emitting unit corresponding to the second base unit among the plurality of light emitting units while transferring in the direction; With
Each of the first base material portion and the second base material portion is arranged so that the surface of the first base material portion and the surface of the second base material portion face the same side,
The connection structure, wherein the various signals are sequentially transferred between the first circuit unit and the second circuit unit along the arrangement direction. The connection structure according to claim 1, wherein the substrate includes a substrate-side wiring portion that electrically connects the first substrate-side connection terminal and the second substrate-side connection terminal. The connection structure according to claim 1, wherein the first base material portion and the second base material portion are COF or TCP. The connection structure according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein a driver IC that drives the line head is mounted on the first base material portion and the second base material portion. . A printer head unit comprising the connection structure according to any one of claims 1 to 4,
A photoreceptor,
Developing means for forming a visible image by developing an electrostatic latent image formed on the photoreceptor by exposure by the printer head unit;
An image forming apparatus comprising: transfer means for transferring the formed visible image onto a recording medium.

Images