JP2007001229A - Light quantity regulating method - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a light quantity regulating method which can highly precisely regulate the light quantity of light which is emitted from a light emitting element even in the case of a printer equipped with a shutter functional element of which the responding speed is sensitive depending on a temperature. <P>SOLUTION: In a first step, two light quantities when a liquid crystal shutter array 165 is respectively driven by two driving signals which indicate two shutter seconds are measured, and a regulation target light quantity is determined based on a light quantity increased amount which is a ratio of these two light quantities. In addition, in a second step, a supply electric current to light emitting elements 163R, 163G and 163B is regulated in such a manner that the regulation target light quantity which has been determined in the first step may be detected. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2007,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention includes a light emitting element that emits light in response to a current supply, a shutter function element that allows light to pass during shutter seconds according to image information, and a light guide element that guides light emitted from the light emitting element to the shutter function element. And adjusting the current value of the current supplied to the light emitting element in a printer that irradiates the photosensitive material with light that has passed through the shutter functional element and records an image on the photosensitive material. The present invention relates to a light amount adjustment method for adjusting the amount of light to be emitted.

  When exposing a photosensitive material with light emitted from a light emitting element, which is a semiconductor light source, it is necessary to adjust the amount of light emitted from the light emitting element so that the amount of light corresponding to the spectral sensitivity of the photosensitive material is obtained. is there. For example, a technique for adjusting the amount of light emitted from the light emitting element in consideration of the light emitting characteristics of the light emitting element and the sensitivity characteristics of the photosensitive material has been proposed (see Patent Document 1).

  However, this Patent Document 1 only describes a method in which a photosensitive material is directly exposed with light emitted from a light emitting element, and a shutter function element or other optical device is provided on the way from the light emitting element to the photosensitive material. No mention is made of the parts.

Therefore, in order to solve this problem, a light amount adjustment method has been proposed in which suitable adjustment can be performed even when there is a shutter function element or other optical component between the light emitting element and the photosensitive material (Patent Document 2). reference).
Japanese Patent Publication No. 4-46472 JP 2005-103914 A

  In printers that record light onto a photosensitive material by irradiating the photosensitive material with light that has passed through the shutter functional element, a shutter functional element using liquid crystal is often used as the shutter functional element. Here, since the response speed of the liquid crystal changes depending on the temperature, it is necessary to adjust the amount of light emitted from the light emitting element in consideration of the influence of the temperature in the shutter function element using the liquid crystal. Conventionally, in adjusting the amount of light emitted from a light emitting element, it is possible to respond by strictly managing the environmental temperature. However, as represented by a shutter function element using liquid crystal, in a printer having a shutter function element whose response speed is sensitive to temperature, in order to adjust the amount of light emitted from the light emitting element with high accuracy, It is necessary to consider the temperature characteristics of the shutter function element. Therefore, the conventional technology that responds by strictly managing the environmental temperature has a problem that it lacks the point of adjusting the amount of light emitted from the light emitting element with high accuracy.

  In view of the above circumstances, the present invention provides a light amount adjustment method capable of accurately adjusting the amount of light emitted from a light emitting element even in the case of a printer having a shutter function element whose response speed is sensitive to temperature. The purpose is to provide.

The light amount adjustment method of the present invention that achieves the above object includes a light emitting element that emits light in response to a current supply, a shutter function element that allows light to pass during a shutter time corresponding to image information, and light emitted from the light emitting element. A light guide element that leads to the shutter function element, and irradiates the photosensitive material with light that has passed through the shutter function element to record an image on the photosensitive material, and sets a current value of a current supplied to the light emitting element in the printer. In the light amount adjustment method for adjusting the light amount of light emitted from the light emitting element by adjusting,
In the printer, an optical sensor is disposed at a position where the photosensitive material is disposed, and the shutter function element is driven by a plurality of drive signals representing a plurality of shutter seconds in a state where the light emitting element emits light. A first step of measuring a plurality of light amounts at the time and determining an adjustment target light amount based on the plurality of light amounts;
And a second step of adjusting the supply current to the light emitting element so that the shutter functional element is opened and the light sensor detects the adjustment target light quantity.

  In a printer having a shutter function element whose response speed is sensitive to temperature, as represented by a shutter function element using liquid crystal, the shutter function element is used to adjust the amount of light emitted from the light emitting element with high accuracy. It is necessary to consider the temperature characteristics.

  In the light intensity adjustment method of the present invention, in the first step, a plurality of light quantities are measured when the shutter function element is driven by each of a plurality of drive signals representing a plurality of shutter seconds, and adjustment is performed based on the plurality of light quantities. Determine the target light intensity. For this reason, in this first step, for example, as shown in an embodiment described later, the light amount of the shutter function element at two different opening times is measured, and the light amount increase amount (which is a certain temperature) represented by the ratio of the light amounts. It is possible to determine the temperature of the shutter function element from the relationship between the temperature measured in advance and the amount of increase in the amount of light, and to determine the adjustment target light amount corresponding to that temperature.

  Further, in the second step, the supply current to the light emitting element is adjusted so that the adjustment target light amount determined in the first step is detected. For this reason, in the present invention, the amount of light emitted from the light emitting element can be adjusted in consideration of the temperature characteristics of the shutter function element. Therefore, even in the case of a printer having a shutter function element whose response speed is sensitive to temperature, the amount of light emitted from the light emitting element can be adjusted with high accuracy.

Here, the printer includes a plurality of light emitting elements that emit different colored lights as the light emitting elements,
It is preferable that the supply current of each of the plurality of light emitting elements is adjusted by performing the first step and the second step for each of the plurality of light emitting elements.

  As described above, when each of the plurality of light emitting elements is subjected to the first step and the second step and the temperature characteristics of the shutter functional elements are taken into consideration, the supply current to each of the plurality of light emitting elements is adjusted. Even in the case of a printer having a shutter function element with a sensitive response speed, a clear color image can be obtained on the photosensitive material.

The plurality of shutter function elements are one-dimensionally arranged in a predetermined arrangement direction,
The printer is mounted with the light emitting element, the light guide element, and the plurality of shutter function elements to turn on the light emitting elements and open and close each of the plurality of shutter function elements according to image information. It is also a preferable aspect that an exposure head that two-dimensionally exposes the photosensitive material by moving relative to the photosensitive material in a direction orthogonal to the arrangement direction is also provided.

  In a compact printer having such an exposure head and adjusting the supply current to each of the plurality of light emitting elements in consideration of the temperature characteristics of the shutter function element, the shutter function element whose response speed is sensitive to temperature. A clear color image can be obtained on the photosensitive material.

  Note that the shutter function elements arranged one-dimensionally may be arranged one-dimensionally in one row, or may be arranged one-dimensionally in a plurality of rows.

  According to the light amount adjustment method of the present invention, the amount of light emitted from the light emitting element can be adjusted with high accuracy even in the case of a printer having a shutter function element whose response speed is sensitive to temperature.

  FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a printer to which an embodiment of a light amount adjustment method of the present invention is applied, viewed obliquely from the front.

  The printer 1 is used in combination with a mobile phone or the like. The printer 1 receives image data transmitted from the mobile phone and records an image on an instant film sheet. This instant film sheet corresponds to the photosensitive material referred to in the present invention.

  Some mobile phones can perform infrared communication conforming to IrDA (Infrared Data Association). Using this infrared communication, you can send your information to other information devices. If there is, the image data can be transmitted to the printer 1.

  For example, when image data representing an image taken by a camera-equipped cellular phone or image data transmitted to the cellular phone by e-mail or the like is transmitted to the printer 1 using infrared communication, the printer 1 An image is recorded on an instant film sheet based on the image data. Hereinafter, the configuration of the printer 1 will be described with reference to FIG.

  The printer 1 is portable and has a small and lightweight structure that allows the user to hold both the mobile phone and the printer 1 to record an image. An instant film sheet pack is loaded in the housing 1a of the printer 1, and an image is recorded on each of a plurality of stacked instant film sheets in the instant film sheet pack.

  A power switch (hereinafter referred to as a power switch) 11, a print switch (hereinafter referred to as a print SW) 12, and a print data correction switch (hereinafter referred to as a power switch) are provided on the upper surface of the casing 1 a of the printer 1. 13 (referred to as print data correction SW). An LCD panel 14 is provided at the center, and the remaining number of instant film sheets and the contents of the print data correction SW 13 are displayed on the LCD panel 14. In addition, a light receiving element 15 that receives image data transmitted by the above-described infrared communication is provided at an end of the housing 1a, which is a position where the mobile phone can easily face the printer 1. Although not shown in FIG. 1, the printer 1 is also provided with a communication port for USB communication.

  The print SW 12 is operated when the same image as the recorded image is re-recorded after the image recording on the instant film sheet is completed. The print data correction SW 13 is recorded on the instant film sheet. When the print data correction SW 13 is switched to the Darken side, an image in which the overall tone of the image based on the image data becomes slightly darker is an instant film. When the image is recorded on the sheet and switched to the Lightten side, an image in which the entire tone becomes slightly brighter is recorded on the instant film sheet. When the print SW 12 is operated after the print data correction SW 13 is operated, photographs having the same composition but different tastes are obtained.

  FIG. 2 shows a state in which a latent image is recorded on the instant film sheet by an exposure head, which will be described later. It is a figure which shows a state when being discharged | emitted.

  In the printer 1, when image data transmitted from the outside by infrared communication or USB communication is acquired by the printer 1, a latent image based on the acquired image data is recorded on an instant film sheet by exposure. As shown in FIG. 2, the instant film sheet 1001 on which the latent image is recorded is discharged outside the printer 1 while being visualized. Thereafter, when the print SW 12 is operated, the same image as that image is re-recorded on another instant film sheet, and the instant film sheet 1001 is discharged as shown in FIG.

  FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the printer 1 as viewed from the rear and obliquely rearward.

  A film door 101a for loading the film pack 100 is provided on the back side of the printer 1. The film door 101a is opened, and the film pack 100 is loaded into the film loading chamber 100a.

  A battery loading chamber 10a in which a battery 1b serving as a power source for the printer 1 is loaded is also adjacent to the film loading chamber 100a. The battery loading chamber 10a is also provided with a door, the door is opened, and the battery 1b is loaded.

  Two spring members 1011a and 1012a are provided inside the film door 101a so that the instant film sheets stacked in the film pack 100 are pushed to the upper surface side of the printer 1 by these spring members 1011a and 1012a. It has become. With this configuration, among the instant film sheets 1001 in the film pack 100, the instant film sheet 1001 on the uppermost side of the printer 1 is pushed up to a position close to the discharge port 11a, and the instant pushed up to that position. A number of focused light spots are recorded on the film sheet 1001 by exposure. The internal configuration of the printer 1 will be described with reference to FIG.

  FIG. 4 is a view of the inside of the printer with the cover on the top side of the printer removed.

  As shown in FIG. 4, the exposure head 16 is disposed at a position facing the uppermost film sheet 1001 among the instant film sheets 1001 stacked in the film pack 100 loaded in the printer 1. Has been.

  A rack member 161 is provided at the end of the exposure head 16, and the rack member 161 is screwed into a screw of a lead screw 161a supported by the housing 1a. A guide bar 1611a is provided on the opposite side of the exposure head 16 from the side where the rack member 161 is provided, and the end of the exposure head 16 is engaged with the guide bar 1611a. While the exposure head 16 is guided by the guide rod 1611a, the exposure head 16 is moved by screwing of the lead screw 161a and the rack member 161.

  As shown in FIG. 4, a flat cable 170 is connected to the exposure head 16, and a control signal corresponding to image data is supplied from a print control unit (not shown) via the flat cable 170. This control signal controls the shutter speed of each shutter of a liquid crystal shutter array, which will be described later, in the exposure head 16. The shutter speed of each liquid crystal shutter is controlled in accordance with the image data, and light corresponding to each of RGB is irradiated onto the instant film sheet 1001 and consists of 480 light spots (dots) in the width direction of the instant film sheet 1001. A latent image is recorded. In the following description, this width direction, that is, the direction in which the shutters are arranged one-dimensionally is referred to as a main scanning direction. Therefore, each shutter is electronically scanned in the main scanning direction, and 480 light spots for one line are recorded on the instant film sheet 1001. When a light spot consisting of 480 dots is recorded in the main scanning direction of the instant film sheet 1001 by electronic scanning of the exposure head 16, the stepping motor 162a is driven based on the control signal from the print control unit to set the lead screw 161a to a predetermined value. This time, light spots of 480 dots are sequentially recorded two-dimensionally by the exposure head 16 in a direction orthogonal to the main scanning direction. In the following description, the direction intersecting with the main scanning direction is referred to as the sub-scanning direction. In this sub-scanning direction, 640 lines of light spots are recorded over the entire instant film sheet, with 480 dots recorded in one main scan of the exposure head as one line.

  When a latent image representing an image is recorded by the collection of the light spots, the developing roller 17a is rotated by receiving a driving force from the developing motor 17, and the instant film sheet 1001 is sandwiched by the developing roller 17a so as to be within the instant film sheet 1001. The developer is spread on the entire instant film sheet 1001 and discharged to the outside of the printer 1 while developing the latent image. The instant film sheet 1001 is a self-development processing type photosensitive material, and when the instant film sheet 1001 is sandwiched between the developing rollers 17a, the developer filled in the instant film sheet 1001 is uniformly spread on the entire instant film sheet 1001. The latent image on the instant film sheet 1001 is visualized. In this way, the exposure film 16 irradiates the instant film sheet 1001 with light spots arranged in the main scanning direction intersecting with the sub scanning direction while moving in the predetermined sub scanning direction according to the image data. A latent image is recorded on the sheet 1001. Here, the configuration of the exposure head 16 will be described with reference to FIG.

  FIG. 5 is a perspective view schematically showing the configuration of the exposure head, and FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view schematically showing the configuration of the exposure head.

  As shown in FIGS. 5 and 6, the exposure head 16 used in the printer 1 passes through the light emitting elements 163R, 163G, and 163B that emit light in response to current supply and the shutter time corresponding to the image information. A liquid crystal shutter array 165, a light guide plate 164 that guides light emitted from the light emitting elements 163R, 163G, and 163B to the liquid crystal shutter array 165, and a SELFOC lens (registered trademark). 166). Further, here, in order to adjust the amount of light emitted from the light emitting elements 163R, 163G, and 163B of the printer 1, the optical sensor 203 is disposed at the position where the instant film sheet 1001 is disposed. The liquid crystal shutter array 165 corresponds to an example of a plurality of shutter function elements arranged one-dimensionally in a predetermined arrangement direction according to the present invention. In addition, here, the light guide plate 164 is used as the light guide element, but it is also possible to use a microlens or the like. The light emitting elements 163R, 163G, and 163B are disposed at the end of the light guide plate 164. As shown in FIG. Then, the light passes through each shutter of the liquid crystal shutter array 165, passes through the SELFOC lens (registered trademark) 166 ahead of the shutter, and is irradiated to the optical sensor 203 as light A. Here, in the printer 1 having the liquid crystal shutter array 165 whose response speed is sensitive depending on the temperature, in order to adjust the amount of light emitted from the light emitting elements 163R, 163G, and 163B with high accuracy, the temperature characteristics of the liquid crystal shutter array 165 are used. Need to be considered.

  FIG. 7 is a graph showing the relationship between the opening time for each temperature and the integrated light amount of the liquid crystal shutter array.

  FIG. 7 shows a graph A showing the relationship between the opening time at 5 ° C. of the liquid crystal shutter array 165 and the integrated light amount, a graph B showing the relationship between the opening time at 25 ° C. and the integrated light amount, and an opening time at 40 ° C. A graph C showing the relationship between the amounts of light is shown. Thus, the relationship between the opening time and the integrated light quantity, which is the temperature characteristic of the liquid crystal shutter array 165, varies depending on the temperature. Here, the slopes of graphs A, B, and C represent temperatures of 5 ° C, 25 ° C, and 40 ° C. Therefore, the temperatures (5 ° C., 25 ° C., 40 ° C.) of the liquid crystal shutter array 165 can be obtained from the slopes of these graphs A, B, C. Specifically, the integrated light amount of the liquid crystal shutter array 165 at two different opening times is measured, and a temperature (here, 25 ° C.) is obtained based on a ratio of the light amounts (for example, a gradient with respect to a temperature of 25 ° C.) An adjustment target light amount corresponding to this temperature is determined. Further, the supply current to the light emitting elements 163R, 163G, and 163B is adjusted so that the determined adjustment target light amount is detected. By doing so, the amount of light emitted from the light emitting elements 163R, 163G, and 163B of the printer 1 including the liquid crystal shutter array 165 whose response speed is sensitive to temperature can be adjusted with high accuracy. Note that the gradient of the integrated light amount in the liquid crystal shutter array 165 is constant regardless of the incident light amount.

  FIG. 8 is a diagram for explaining that the inclination of the integrated light amount in the liquid crystal shutter array is constant regardless of the incident light amount.

  FIG. 8 shows a waveform A when the liquid crystal shutter array 165 is opened and an integrated light quantity B when the incident light quantity is 1.

  The light amount transmittance when the liquid crystal shutter array 165 is opened is assumed to be f (t). Since the amount of incident light is always constant, if the constant is I, the integrated amount of light is expressed by the following equation.

When the ratio of the integrated light quantity between the two points of time t ₁ and t ₂ is obtained, the following expression is obtained and the incident light quantity component is canceled. Therefore, the light quantity ratio is constant regardless of the incident light quantity.

  FIG. 9 is a diagram showing a flow of a light amount adjustment method for adjusting the light amount of light emitted from the light emitting elements in the printer including the liquid crystal shutter array shown in FIG.

  First, in step S11, the optical sensor 203 is disposed. Next, in step S12, the light emitting elements 163R, 163G, and 163B are caused to emit light. Further, in step S13, the liquid crystal shutter array 165 is driven by each of two drive signals representing two shutter speeds, and two light amounts are measured by the optical sensor 203 in step S14. Specifically, the light amounts I1 and I2 of the liquid crystal shutter array 165 at two opening times t1 and t2 (t1 <t2) are measured.

  In step S15, an adjustment target light amount is determined based on the two light amounts. Specifically, first, the light amount increase amount A (= ratio of light amounts I1 and I2 (I1 / I2)) is obtained, and the temperature of the liquid crystal shutter array 165 is obtained from the relationship between the temperature measured in advance and the light amount increase amount. .

  FIG. 10 is a diagram illustrating the relationship between the temperature measured in advance and the light amount increase amount.

  In FIG. 10, the horizontal axis indicates the temperature, and the vertical axis indicates the amount of light increase. As shown in FIG. 10, when the temperature is low, the opening operation speed of the liquid crystal shutter array 165 is slow, so the amount of light increase is set large. When the temperature is high, the opening operation speed of the liquid crystal shutter array 165 is fast, so the light amount increases. The amount is set small. Here, the temperature of the liquid crystal shutter array 165 corresponding to the light amount increase amount A is obtained. Next, the target light amount is determined from the relationship between the obtained temperature and the target light amount.

  FIG. 11 is a diagram illustrating the relationship between the temperature and the target light amount.

  In FIG. 11, the horizontal axis indicates the temperature, and the vertical axis indicates the amount of light increase. As shown in FIG. 11, when the temperature is low, the opening operation speed of the liquid crystal shutter array 165 is slow. Therefore, the actual light amount is small, and therefore the target light amount is determined to be small. On the other hand, when the temperature is high, the opening operation speed of the liquid crystal shutter array 165 is fast, so that the actual light amount is large and therefore the target light amount is determined to be large. By doing in this way, the target light quantity in normal temperature (25 degreeC) can be determined correctly. The above-described steps S11 to S15 correspond to the first step in the present invention. The description will be continued with reference to FIG. 9 again.

  In step S21, the liquid crystal shutter array 165 is opened and driven. Next, in step S22, the supply current to the light emitting elements 163R, 163G, and 163B is adjusted so that the adjustment target light amount is detected by the optical sensor 203. These steps S21 and S22 correspond to the second step in the present invention.

  In the first step, the light amount adjustment method of the present embodiment measures two light amounts when the liquid crystal shutter array 165 is driven by two drive signals each representing two shutter seconds, and the ratio of these two light amounts is measured. The adjustment target light amount is determined based on the light amount increase amount A. That is, in this first step, the light amounts I1 and I2 of the liquid crystal shutter array 165 at two different opening times t1 and t2 are measured, and the temperature is obtained based on the light amount increase amount A which is the ratio of the light amounts I1 and I2. Then, an adjustment target light amount corresponding to the temperature is determined. Further, in the second step, the supply current to the light emitting elements 163R, 163G, and 163B is adjusted so that the adjustment target light amount determined in the first step is detected. Therefore, the amount of light emitted from the light emitting elements 163R, 163G, and 163B can be adjusted in consideration of the temperature characteristics of the liquid crystal shutter array 165. Therefore, in the printer 1 including the liquid crystal shutter array 165 whose response speed is sensitive to temperature, the amount of light emitted from the light emitting elements 163R, 163G, and 163B can be adjusted with high accuracy.

  As described above, the light emitting elements 163R, 163G, and 163B are subjected to the first step and the second step, respectively, and the light emitting elements 163R, 163G, and 163B are considered in consideration of the temperature characteristics of the liquid crystal shutter array 165. In order to adjust the supply current to the printer 1, a clear color image can be obtained on the instant film sheet 1001 in the printer 1 including the liquid crystal shutter array 165 whose response speed is sensitive to temperature.

  Further, since the exposure head 16 described above is provided and the supply current to each of the light emitting elements 163R, 163G, and 163B is adjusted in consideration of the temperature characteristics of the liquid crystal shutter array 165, the response speed is sensitive to the temperature. A compact printer 1 having a liquid crystal shutter array 165 is realized. In such a printer 1, a clear color image can be obtained on an instant film sheet 1001.

  Further, according to this light quantity adjustment method, it is possible to eliminate an adjustment error factor due to temperature, as compared with the conventional technique of ensuring adjustment accuracy by environmental temperature management. Furthermore, in the conventional technology for ensuring the adjustment accuracy by the environmental temperature management, it is necessary to leave the assembly module (assembly) including the shutter function element for several hours to adjust to the temperature environment before the adjustment. In the light quantity adjustment method, since the influence on the temperature of the shutter function element can be accurately grasped without going through such a process, the process time can be shortened and the equipment and room for temperature management are also provided. This is unnecessary, and therefore the cost can be reduced.

  In this embodiment, the printer that exposes the photosensitive material two-dimensionally while moving the exposure head has been described as an example. However, the present invention is not limited to this. It may be a printer that two-dimensionally exposes the photosensitive material while moving the material in a direction orthogonal to the shutter arrangement direction.

It is the perspective view which looked at the printer with which one Embodiment of the light quantity adjustment method of this invention was applied from diagonally forward. FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating a state when an instant film sheet loaded in the printer is discharged to the outside of the printer. It is the perspective view which looked at the back of the printer shown in FIG. 1 from diagonally upward. FIG. 2 is a view of the printer shown in FIG. 1 with the top cover removed and the inside of the printer viewed from diagonally upward. It is a perspective view which shows the structure of an exposure head typically. It is sectional drawing which shows the structure of an exposure head typically. It is a graph which shows the relationship between the opening time according to temperature, and integrated light quantity of a liquid-crystal shutter array. It is a figure for demonstrating that the inclination of the integrated light quantity in a liquid-crystal shutter array is constant irrespective of incident light quantity. It is a figure which shows the flow of the light quantity adjustment method which adjusts the light quantity of the light emitted from a light emitting element in the printer provided with the liquid-crystal shutter array shown in FIG. It is a figure which shows the relationship between the temperature measured beforehand and the light quantity increase amount. It is a figure which shows the relationship between temperature and a target light quantity.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Printer 1a Case 1b Battery 10a Battery loading chamber 11 Power supply SW
12 Print SW
13 Print data correction SW
DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 14 LCD panel 15 Light-receiving part 16 Exposure head 17 Unfolding motor 17a Unfolding roller 100 Film pack 100a Film loading chamber 101a Film door 161 Rack member 161a Lead screw 162a Stepping motor 163R, 163G, 163B Light emitting element 164 Light guide plate 165 Liquid crystal shutter array 166 Fock lens (registered trademark)
203 Optical sensor 1001 Instant film sheet 1011a, 1012a Spring member 1611a Guide rod

Claims (3)

A light emitting element that emits light in response to a current supply, a shutter function element that transmits light for a shutter time corresponding to image information, and a light guide element that guides light emitted from the light emitting element to the shutter function element, The amount of light emitted from the light emitting element by adjusting the current value of the current supplied to the light emitting element in a printer that records the image on the photosensitive material by irradiating the photosensitive material with light that has passed through the shutter function element. In the light intensity adjustment method for adjusting
In the printer, an optical sensor is arranged at a position where a photosensitive material is arranged, and the shutter function element is driven by each of a plurality of driving signals representing a plurality of shutter seconds in a state where the light emitting element emits light. A first step of measuring a plurality of light amounts at the time and determining an adjustment target light amount based on the plurality of light amounts;
And a second step of adjusting a supply current to the light emitting element so that the shutter function element is opened and the adjustment target light quantity is detected by the optical sensor. The printer includes a plurality of light emitting elements that emit different colored lights as the light emitting elements,
2. The light amount adjusting method according to claim 1, wherein a supply current of each of the plurality of light emitting elements is adjusted by performing the first step and the second step for each of the plurality of light emitting elements. The plurality of shutter function elements are one-dimensionally arranged in a predetermined arrangement direction,
While the printer is mounted with the light emitting element, the light guide element, and the plurality of shutter function elements, the light emitting element is turned on, and each of the plurality of shutter function elements is opened and closed for a time according to image information. 3. The light amount adjustment according to claim 2, further comprising an exposure head for two-dimensionally exposing the photosensitive material by moving relative to the photosensitive material in a direction orthogonal to the arrangement direction. Method.

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