JP2539949B2 - Image recording device - Google Patents

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an image recording apparatus for recording an image.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art FIG. 2 shows a prior art 1 which is a conventional method in which the ink applied to an ink film is melted by the energy of a semiconductor laser and is transferred to an image receiving paper, as disclosed in JP-A-59-143657. In the figure, 101 is a semiconductor laser,
Reference numeral 2 is a rotary polygon mirror for scanning the light beam emitted by the semiconductor laser 101, 103 is an ink film, 104 is an image receiving paper, and the object to be irradiated in this case is the ink film 103.

Next, the operation will be described. The light beam emitted by the semiconductor laser 101 is intensity-modulated by the image data, reflected and deflected by the rotary polygon mirror 102, and scanned (main scanning) on the ink film 103 in the arrow X direction. At the same time, the ink film 103 and the image receiving paper 104 are transported in the direction of arrow Y, which is substantially perpendicular to the main scanning direction, and the sub scanning is performed. Thus, the ink film 10
The light beam radiated to 3 melts the ink in the radiated portion according to its intensity and transfers it to the image receiving paper 104. Therefore, by repeatedly performing the main scanning and the sub-scanning described above, the transfer of the ink onto the image receiving paper 104 is performed two-dimensionally, and the desired two
A three-dimensional image is formed.

FIG. 21 is a diagram showing a conventional image recording apparatus disclosed in, for example, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 63-17625 as Prior Art 2, in which ink is ejected from an ejection orifice by thermal energy. This is an image recording apparatus that records on a recording medium. In the figure, 200 is an ink supply unit, 201 is an inlet, 202 is a liquid chamber, 203
Reference numerals 204 and 204 denote heat acting portions, 205 and 206 discharge orifices, 207 and 208 flow passages, 209 pressure change generation means, 210 and 211 heat energy generation means, 21
Reference numeral 2 is a control unit, and 104 is a recording medium.

Next, the operation will be described. When the recording signal s is input to the control unit 212, the thermal energy generating means 210
And 211 and the selected thermal energy generating means 2
Heat generation of 10 and 211 is caused, and the heat acting portion 203
And 204, thermal volume change occurs in the ink due to thermal energy, and the ink is ejected from ejection orifices 205 and 206 provided in the thermal action portions 203 and 204, respectively, and the ink adheres to the recording medium 104, thereby forming an image. Record. The means 209 for causing a pressure change in the ink in the liquid chamber 202 causes a pressure change in the ink in the liquid chamber 202 in synchronization with the recording operation. Ink is introduced into the liquid chamber 202 from the ink supply unit 200 through the inflow port 201.

Further, FIG. 35 is a schematic diagram showing a conventional image recording apparatus disclosed in, for example, Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 61-52060 as prior art 3, and in FIGS. 35 (a) and 35 (b), reference numeral 104 indicates The image receiving paper is wound such that the front end of the image receiving paper is pressed and held by the paper holder 602 against the drum 603. The paper holder 602 is normally attached to the drum 6 by a spring member (not shown).
It is urged toward the approximate center of 03. Reference numeral 609 denotes a rotatable pressing roller, which is constantly urged in the substantially central direction of the drum 603 by a spring member (not shown). Reference numeral 604 denotes a color film, on which cyan (C), yellow (Y), and magenta (M) inks are sequentially applied, as shown in FIG. Reference numeral 605 denotes a thermal head composed of a plurality of heating elements 606 (not shown) arranged in a straight line.
Reference numeral 8 denotes the image receiving paper 104 when the image receiving paper 104 is inserted or ejected.
Is an image receiving paper guide member for guiding.

Next, the operation will be described. Image receiving paper 104
The drum 603, whose front end is held by the paper holder 602, rotates in the direction of arrow A and stops at the recording start position. Next, the ink coated surface of the color film 604 is the image receiving paper 104.
The color film 604 and the image receiving paper 104 are sandwiched by the thermal head 605 so as to come into contact with, and are pressed against the drum 603. After the pressure contact, the drum 603 rotates in the direction of arrow A, and at the same time, the heating element 60 of the thermal head 605 responds to the recording signal.
6 heats up, the ink applied to the color film 604 is melted or sublimated by this heat, and transferred and recorded on the image receiving paper 104. When the recording of the first color (cyan) is completed, the thermal head 605 is separated from the drum 603, during which the drum 603 rotates in the direction of arrow A and stops at the same start position as the recording start position of the first color. The film 604 is wound in the direction of arrow B until the second color (yellow) reaches the recording position (the winding mechanism is not shown). The thermal head 605 is again provided with the color film 604 and the image receiving paper 1.
No. 04 is nipped and pressed, and when the drum 603 is rotated and the heating element 606 generates heat in response to a signal, the second color ink is melted or sublimated so that the second color ink is melted or sublimated.
Will be transcribed and recorded. Similarly, the third color (magenta) is transferred and recorded.

When the recording is completed, the thermal head 605 is separated from the drum 603 and rotated in the direction of arrow A to a position where the substantially rear end of the image receiving paper 104 is pressed by the pressing roller 609,
The drum 603 is rotated in the direction of the rear arrow C, the rear end of the image receiving paper 104 is guided between the image receiving paper guide members 607 and 608, the image receiving paper 104 after recording is discharged, and the paper holder 602 is released (the release mechanism is The image receiving paper 104 can be taken out by (not shown).

[0009]

The conventional image recording apparatus is configured as described above, and in the system of the prior art 1,
Since the heat of fusion of the ink is entirely dependent on the energy of the semiconductor laser light, several hundred mW is required to increase the recording speed.
High-power semiconductor laser of the class is required.

Such a high-power semiconductor laser is generally a multimode light whose transverse mode is not single, and has a problem that recording dots are not stable.

Further, since it is difficult to manufacture a semiconductor laser having a high output and coherence, it is very expensive and has a short life.

Further, although recording is possible by using a melted ink, when using a heat-sensitive paper having a large light reflection, most of the incident light is reflected on the paper surface, and the recording is performed. There is a problem that it is almost impossible, and also in the thermal transfer recording of color, it is impossible to record each color under the same recording condition because the absorption property of laser light differs depending on the ink.

Furthermore, in the image recording apparatus of the system of the prior art 1, there is a problem that the ink sheet coated with the ink is thrown away.

Further, the image recording apparatus in the system of the prior art 2 is well known as a so-called valve jet type, and has an advantage that it can record on plain paper, but has a heat acting portion, a flow passage, or heat energy. Since it is necessary to provide a generating unit corresponding to each pixel, there are problems in manufacturing such as a problem that the dot density is fixed and there are many manufacturing processes.

Further, in the apparatus of the prior art 3, when performing color image recording, it is necessary to perform recording for three surfaces in order to sequentially record the first color to the third color.
Further, since the thermal head is used, the resolution of the recorded image is determined by the size of the heating element.

The present invention has been made to solve the above-mentioned problems, and an object of the present invention is to obtain an image recording apparatus capable of image recording without the need for a very expensive, high-power and coherent semiconductor laser. To aim.

It is another object of the present invention to provide an image recording apparatus using a laser beam capable of recording on a thermal paper or recording under the same recording condition for each color in color thermal transfer recording. In addition, the recording time is shortened by recording three color inks almost simultaneously using a laser, and resolution-free recording is also possible without being restricted by the dot size like the heating resistor of the thermal head. The purpose is to obtain a recording device.

[0018]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION An image recording apparatus according to the present invention is an apparatus for recording an image by using a laser beam, wherein a printing signal generating section for outputting a recording image signal and an object to be irradiated. A laser light source for irradiating a light beam to the laser light source, and a laser light source for driving the laser light source based on a recording image signal output from the printing signal generator to modulate the intensity of the light beam emitted from the laser light source. A drive unit, and a deflection scanning unit that deflects and scans the light beam onto an irradiation target,
A support that transmits laser light, a first electrode that is formed on the support and has a window that transmits laser light, a resistor formed on the first electrode, and a resistor formed on the resistor. A photothermal conversion unit that has the formed second electrode and an abrasion resistant layer formed on the second electrode, and that converts the laser light into heat;
Preheating means formed by resistors and electrodes for raising the photothermal conversion means to near the recording temperature threshold of the thermal recording medium, temperature detecting means for detecting the temperature of the photothermal converting means, and output of the temperature detecting means On the basis of,
A temperature control unit for controlling the temperature of the light-heat conversion unit is provided, and heat-sensitive recording and thermal transfer recording are performed.

The image recording apparatus according to the present invention is an apparatus for recording an image by using a laser beam, and a printing signal generating section for outputting a recording image signal and a light beam for irradiating an irradiation object. A laser light source for driving, and a laser light source driving device for driving the laser light source based on a recording image signal output from the printing signal generating unit to perform intensity modulation of a light beam emitted from the laser light source, Deflection scanning means for deflecting and scanning a light beam on an object to be irradiated, a support that transmits laser light, and electrodes formed by arranging linearly and different polarities on the support alternately. A photo-heat exchange means for exchanging the laser light for heat, which has a resistor formed on the electrode and an abrasion resistant layer formed on the resistor, and the photo-heat conversion means for a thermal recording medium. Raised to near the recording temperature threshold Preheating means formed of a resistor and an electrode, temperature detecting means for detecting the temperature of the photothermal converting means, and temperature control for performing temperature control of the photothermal converting means based on the output of the temperature detecting means. And a means for performing thermal recording and thermal transfer recording.

Furthermore, the image recording apparatus according to the present invention is an image recording apparatus for recording an image by using a laser beam, and a printing signal generating section for outputting a recording image signal and a printing signal generating section from the printing signal generating section. A plurality of light source units that emit light according to the output signals, a light source driving unit that drives the plurality of light source units independently, and a plurality of light beams emitted from the plurality of light source units are reflected and deflected by a reflection deflection mirror. A means for scanning, a means for converting the light beam into heat energy, a means for bending an ink-coated color film in accordance with the number of the plurality of light beams to press it against the image receiving paper, and the color A means for carrying the film and the image receiving paper to perform sub-scanning is provided.

Further, in the image recording apparatus according to the present invention, the print signal generating section includes a video memory for storing an image signal input from the outside, and a color conversion means for performing color conversion of the input image signal. A plurality of pulse width modulation means for comparing the color conversion output from the color conversion means and the gradation data to determine the optical pulse widths from the plurality of light source parts, and a plurality of pulse width modulation means respectively. And a plurality of delay means for delaying the output signal. Further, a delay output memory is provided for each delay output output from the plurality of delay units, and the writing and reading operations of the delay output to the delay output memory are switched between the delay memories. Further, the read clock is changed during the read operation of the delay output from the delay output memory.

[0022]

Since the image recording apparatus of the present invention is configured as described above, the power of the laser light source required for heating the thermal recording medium is small, and image recording can be performed without using a high output laser. Moreover, the surface of the photothermal conversion device can be protected, which contributes to the extension of the life of the device.

Since the image recording apparatus of the present invention is configured as described above, the power of the laser light source required for heating the thermal recording medium can be small, and the recording shape of the dots can be controlled without using a high output laser. Thus, image recording can be performed and the surface of the photothermal conversion device can be protected, which contributes to prolonging its life.

Further, since the image recording apparatus of the present invention is configured as described above, each light beam of the plurality of light beams takes charge of image recording of a single color, and recording is performed under the same recording condition for each color. Since it is possible and one color image is recorded, one color recording image is obtained by sequentially forming the next monochrome image on the preceding monochrome image. Therefore, it is possible to record multiple colors at the same time apparently.

Further, the image recording apparatus according to the present invention is
With the configuration as described above, the resolution can be made different from the normal one, and the size of the recorded image can be arbitrarily changed.

[0026]

FIG. 1 shows an image recording apparatus according to a first embodiment of the present invention. In the figure, reference numerals 101 to 104 are the same as those in the conventional example of FIG. Omit it. Reference numeral 1 is an image-printing signal generation unit, 2 is a semiconductor laser driving device that modulates the intensity of a light beam emitted from a semiconductor laser 101 according to a recording image signal output from the printing signal generation unit 1, and several hundreds are provided. After converting the light beam emitted from the mW class semiconductor laser 101 into parallel light,
An optical system for collecting light (hereinafter referred to as a first optical system),
Reference numeral 4 is a light beam shaper using a solid-state laser, and generally, a ruby laser, a YAG (Yttrium Aluminum Garnet) laser, etc. are well known. Especially, when a YAG laser is used, it emits light near 810 nm. An optical beam shaper that emits coherent light of 1.06 μm using a semiconductor laser as an excitation source can be obtained. Reference numeral 5 is an optical system (hereinafter referred to as a second optical system) for converging scanning, which is composed of, for example, an f.theta. Lens, 6a and 6b are ink film rollers A, B and 7 for feeding and winding the ink film 103, and receiving images. It is a platen roller for carrying the paper 104.

The operation will be described below. The image signal S from the outside is input to the print signal generator 1, is subjected to predetermined processing (time axis conversion, etc.), and then is input to the semiconductor laser driving device 2. The semiconductor laser driving device 2 intensity-modulates the semiconductor laser 101 in accordance with the recording image signal from the printing signal generator 1. The light beam of the non-coherent light emitted from the semiconductor laser 101 enters the first optical system 3 and becomes a condensed beam, which then enters the light beam shaper 4. The non-coherent light incident on the light beam shaper 4 is converted into collimated light. The coherent light is reflected and deflected by the rotary polygon mirror 102, passes through the second optical system 5, and is then scanned (main scanning) on the ink film 103 in the arrow X direction. At the same time, the ink film 103 and the image receiving paper 104 are conveyed by the ink film rollers 6a and 6b and the platen roller 7 in the arrow Y direction substantially perpendicular to the main scanning direction, and the sub scanning is performed.

The light beam thus radiated on the ink film 103 melts the ink on the irradiated portion according to its intensity and transfers it to the image receiving paper 104. Therefore, by repeatedly performing the main scanning and the sub scanning, the image receiving paper 104
The ink is transferred onto the two-dimensional surface to form a desired two-dimensional image.

Next, the relationship between the wavelength λ ₁ of the output light of the semiconductor laser 101 and the wavelength λ ₂ of the output light of the beam shaper 4 will be described. Laser light is used for information storage devices, transmission devices, processing devices, and the like. The information storage device requires that λ ₁ > λ ₂ for higher recording density. Further, the information transmission means requires a wavelength (around 1.5 μm) that minimizes the transmission loss of the fiber of the transmission medium. Further, the processing equipment requires that λ ₁ <λ ₂ from the viewpoint of heat absorption efficiency. Since the present invention is considered to be a modified example of a processing apparatus that uses the heat of laser light, the relationship between wavelengths λ ₁ and λ ₂ is λ
₁ <λ ₂ .

In the above embodiment, the heat-melting type ink film 103 is used as an object to be irradiated.
In addition to the wicks type thermal transfer medium using the pigment in this case, a sublimation type thermal transfer medium using a sublimable dye may be used. It may be composed of a photosensitive drum on which an electrostatic latent image is formed by irradiation with laser light, and is not necessarily limited to the heat-melting type ink film 103.

In addition, the present invention can be applied to a method other than the method of intensity-modulating the laser light of the semiconductor laser 101 as in the above embodiment, for example, a method of recording with the laser light kept constant. That is, the beam shaper 4 can be used without giving control to the input laser light.

FIG. 3 shows an image recording apparatus according to the second embodiment of the present invention, in which 400 is a light-heat converting means. This has, for example, the shape shown in Fig. 4 (a) and
The cross section is shown in. In FIG. 4B, a glass substrate 407 has a convex surface on the side where the thermal paper 500 contacts, and a carbon layer 408 and a wear resistant layer 409 are laminated on the convex surface portion of the glass substrate 407. The thermal paper 500 is pressed and nipped by the photothermal conversion means 400 and the platen roller 7. The optical system 3 and the beam shaper 4 of the first embodiment are not provided here.

The operation will be described below. The light beam whose intensity is modulated according to the recorded image signal is a rotating polygon mirror 102.
After being reflected and deflected by the light focusing system 5, it becomes a focused light beam by the light focusing system 5, enters the photothermal conversion means 400, and is scanned (main scanning) in the arrow X direction. In this photothermal conversion means 400, the laser light incident through the glass substrate 407 is absorbed by the carbon layer 408 to generate heat. The generated heat is transferred to the thermal paper 500 through the abrasion resistant layer 409 to form recording dots, and recording is performed in the main scanning direction. At the same time, the thermal paper 500 is conveyed in accordance with the rotation of the platen roller 7 in the arrow Y direction substantially perpendicular to the main scanning direction, and the sub scanning is performed.

The light beam thus entering the photothermal conversion means 400 is converted into heat by the photothermal conversion means 400 according to its intensity, and the heat causes the recording operation on the thermal paper 500. Therefore, by repeatedly performing the main scanning and the sub-scanning, recording on the thermal paper 500 is two-dimensionally performed, and a desired two-dimensional image is formed.

Next, the photothermal conversion means 400 will be described. In this embodiment, the photothermal conversion means 400 in which the carbon layer is formed on the glass support is used, but in this case, heat generation more than the incident energy by the laser light does not occur. In order to generate more heat than the incident energy of the laser light, for example, the prior application by the applicant of the present application (Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 63-47333, Japanese Patent Application No. 63-88527, and patent filed on Dec. 27, 1988). Request "photothermal converter"
It is preferable to use the photothermal conversion means shown in (1), etc., in which the amount of heat generated is amplified by making laser light incident. This is because super-linear power or heat is generated in response to a linear change in light intensity, and at this time, good recording dots can be formed even when the emission power of the semiconductor laser 101 is small. . Also, the optical system 3 and the beam shaper 4 of the first embodiment may be used.

In the above embodiment, the semiconductor laser 101 is used.
Although the method of modulating the intensity of the laser light has been described, it can be applied to a method of changing the pulse width or the number of pulses while keeping the intensity of the laser light constant.

Further, in addition to the thermal paper, as another thermal recording system, for example, a wax type thermal transfer medium using pigments, an ink film coated with a sublimable thermal transfer medium using sublimable pigments, and an image receiving paper are used as a photothermal conversion means. It is also possible to press and sandwich between 400 and the platen roller 7 to perform color image recording. In the color image recording, when the photothermal conversion means 400 is not used, the light absorption characteristics at the wavelength of the semiconductor laser light in Y (yellow), M (magenta), and C (cyan) (around λ≈800 nm) are different. In addition, although it is almost impossible to record each color under the same recording condition, it is possible to give the same recording condition for each color by using the photothermal conversion means 400, and it is possible to perform good color image recording. it can.

By the way, in the second embodiment, since the photothermal conversion material made of carbon or the like is irradiated with the laser beam and all the heat generation energy depends on the laser beam, a high output laser beam is required. On the other hand, the inventor of the present application has already developed an image recording apparatus including a photothermal conversion unit having a resistor whose resistance value becomes smaller depending on the temperature or the amount of light sandwiched between the electrodes.

Explaining in detail with reference to the drawing, FIG. 5 is a sectional view showing an outline of the construction of the photothermal conversion device section. 10 in the figure
Is a laser beam, and 8 is a glass support, which is rod-shaped to have a laser beam condensing function. Reference numeral 9 is a thin film resistor formed on the glass support 8, and 103a and 103b are first and second electrodes connected to a power source (not shown). 5
Reference numeral 0 is a thermal recording medium.

Next, the operation will be described. A laser beam 10 having a predetermined beam diameter whose light intensity is modulated in accordance with an image signal generated by a laser beam generator (not shown) passes through the glass support 8 and irradiates the thin film resistor 9. The resistance value of the irradiation portion decreases in a spot shape due to the temperature raising effect or the photoconductive effect according to the laser beam 10, and the first and second electrodes 1
Joule heat is generated by the voltage applied by 03a and 103b, and this heat is transmitted to the thermal recording medium 50 to perform thermal recording.

As described above, when this technique is used, there is an advantage that all of the heat generation energy does not have to depend on the laser light and a high output laser is not used, but there are the following problems. That is, the conventional photothermal conversion device of an image recording device using laser light is configured as described above, but the first and second electrodes 103a and 103b are mainly formed of a good thermal conductor such as a metal thin film. , Large amount of heat is dissipated to the outside. Therefore, as a result, the amount of heat transferred onto the thermal recording medium 50 is reduced.

FIG. 6 is a diagram showing a state in which the laser light 10 is focused on the thin film resistor 2 of the conventional photothermal conversion device by the glass support 8 and irradiated with a predetermined beam diameter 110. When the beam diameter 110 is smaller than the width of the thin film resistor 9 as shown in FIG.
The resistance value in the vicinity of the electrodes 103a and 103b does not decrease, and the heating effect by the voltage V applied by the first and second electrodes 103a and 103b cannot be expected. Therefore, in order to obtain the heat generation effect by the voltage V in such an irradiation state, there is a problem that it is necessary to control the size of the beam diameter and control the scanning for accurately irradiating the beam.

In view of this, the third embodiment of the present invention has a first electrode for transmitting laser light on a support, and at least one of the effect of raising the temperature of the irradiated object and the photoconductive effect which can be realized by the laser light. Provided is a structure in which a thin film resistor, a second electrode having a good thermal conductivity, and an abrasion resistant layer are laminated in the above order. Figure 7
7 is a block diagram showing an outline of a photothermal conversion device according to a third embodiment of the present invention, in which 8 is a glass support that transmits laser light, and 30a is a glass support. 8 is a transparent electrode that transmits the laser light formed on
A first electrode connected to a power source (not shown), 9 is a thin film resistor formed on the first electrode 30a, and 30b is an electrode of a good heat conductor formed on the thin film resistor 9, Connected second electrode, 40 is second electrode 30b
It is a wear resistant layer formed on the top.

Next, the operation will be described. A laser beam 10 having a predetermined beam diameter, which is generated by a laser beam generating means (not shown) and is spatially, temporally, or modulated in terms of light intensity, is incident from the surface 20 side of the glass support 8 and the glass support 8 and the first The thin film resistor 9 is irradiated through the electrode 30a. The resistance value of the irradiation portion is reduced in a spot shape due to the temperature raising effect or the photoconductive effect according to the irradiated laser beam 10. At this time, the voltage V is applied to the thin film resistor 9 by the first and second electrodes 30a and 30b, and if the combined resistance value including the periphery of the irradiation part is r, then the power of P = V ² / r Generates Joule heat in the form of a spot that is proportional to. This heat is concentrated in the approximate center of the irradiation beam in a form that reflects the spot shape, and is transferred to the second electrode 30b having a higher thermal conductivity than the first electrode 30a. Further, this heat is conducted in the direction of the arrow indicated by A in the figure, and the heat is conducted to the abrasion resistant layer 40. The conducted heat is transferred to the thermal recording medium 50 to perform thermal recording. As described above, in this embodiment, the first electrode, the thin film resistor, the second electrode, and the wear resistant layer are laminated in this order, and the heat conducted to the electrodes has an electrode shape that contributes to recording. The problem of heat radiation to the outside via the electrodes can be solved.

Further, since the photothermal conversion operation is performed as described above, a recording dot on which the irradiation spot shape is projected can be obtained. By performing this operation continuously or intermittently in the main scanning direction and the sub-scanning direction, a dot shape corresponding to image information is executed to obtain a desired hard copy image.

Next, the thin film resistor 9 will be described in detail. First, with respect to temperature, the temperature sensitive negative resistor (C
There is a mixture of metal oxides such as r, Mn, Fe, Co, Ni, Cu, and Al) and is called a thermistor.
This material exponentially changes its resistance value, and exhibits a resistance value change of one order of magnitude with a temperature change of several tens of degrees. That is, if heat generation of several tens of degrees is obtained by the laser light, the resistance value of the irradiated portion changes according to the spot shape of the laser light, and P = V ² / r (r is Heat corresponding to the electric power of the combined resistance value after irradiation is generated.

Next, the photo-sensitive resistor will be described. The resistor has a substance whose resistance value changes according to the amount of light, and is called a photoconductive substance (a substance such as Cds, CdSe, PbS, PbSe). When the voltage V is applied to the photoconductor and the light having the illuminance L is irradiated, the photocurrent I is

[0048]

(1) I = α · V ^β · L ^γ

It is shown by. Where β-1, 0.5 <γ <
1.0 and α are constants. If there is a resistance of R,

[0050]

[Formula 2] P = R · I ² ≈R · α ² · V ^{2 β} · L ^{2 γ}

Heat is generated according to the electric power of. In this equation, 1 <γ <2, which indicates that super linear power or heat is generated with respect to a linear light intensity change L. As a result, it can be seen that the electric power changes drastically with a slight change in the amount of light, and the efficiency of photothermal conversion can be improved.

By the way, the substances described so far are relatively expensive, and single use is economically problematic.
Therefore, by mixing at least one of the particulate matter of the temperature-sensitive resistance pair and the light-sensitive resistance pair mainly with inexpensive carbon,
Alternatively, it may be locally doped to form a thin film resistor pair. In this case, carbon itself is commonly used as the material of the resistor, and an arbitrary resistance value can be realized. The thin film resistors used here are factors such as long-term stability (those that do not deteriorate due to oxidation), heat resistance life, ease of manufacture, cost, operating speed, sensitivity to laser light, combined resistance value, and those that are safe for the human body. The optimum shape, composition, or substance may be selected in consideration of the above.

Next, the support will be described. In the above embodiment, the case where the flat plate glass in which the heat generating side of the support is convex is used has been described, but other shapes may be used, for example, a lens-like shape having a condensing ability of laser light is provided. The support may be formed into a shape, and the material of the support is not limited to glass, but may be a material such as a transparent plastic that is highly heat resistant as a material that transmits laser light.

Next, the electrodes will be described. First, the first electrode 30a is a transparent electrode that transmits laser light, and a Nesa film (a thin film of tin oxide or the like) can be raised. Second
The electrode 30b of No. 1 has a first structure for efficiently transmitting heat generated in the thin film resistor 9 in the direction of the arrow indicated by A in the figure.
The electrode is a thin film of a conductor that has better heat than the electrode, and an example thereof is a metal vapor deposition film.

Next, the abrasion resistant layer will be described. When performing thermal recording with the photothermal conversion device of the present invention, the heat generating portion is directly contacted with thermal paper or an ink film (thermal melting type, thermal sublimation type) which is a thermal recording medium and is abraded due to friction. As a wear resistant layer, a thermally stable and highly hard thin film is formed on the second electrode with a good heat conductor. For example, DLC (Diamond Like Carb
on) Membranes can be recommended. This DLC film is amorphous having both a diamond structure and a graphite structure,
Hardness, self-lubricating property, water repellency (adsorption resistance), high thermal conductivity, heat stable substance, and non-pollution characteristics,
It is ideal as a protective film.

Next, a fourth embodiment of the present invention will be described. FIG. 8 is a perspective view of a thermal recording device using a photothermal conversion device according to a fourth embodiment of the present invention. The components are the same as those in the third embodiment, and the same components are designated by the same reference numerals and the description thereof will be omitted. The feature is that the heat generating portion is in contact with the thermal recording medium and has a convex shape so that a predetermined pressure is applied by a platen or the like (not shown), and the convex center portion (the arrow portion B in the figure) is formed at a predetermined speed. One line can be recorded by scanning.

Further, the glass support 8 has a convex lens-shaped cross section having a laser focusing ability. The photothermal conversion device of this embodiment can be used as a thermal head, and can be applied to a heat-sensitive recording system, a sublimation dye heat transfer system, a wax-type heat transfer system, or another heat-sensitive recording system.

Further, in the above-described third embodiment of the present invention, recording is performed by reflecting the shape of the irradiation spot of the laser beam, but in the fourth embodiment of the present invention, the first electrode is transparent. By using a metal electrode provided with a window instead of the electrode, the recording shape of dots can be controlled. That is, FIG. 9 is a configuration diagram showing an outline of a photothermal conversion device which is a fifth embodiment of the present invention. In the figure, 8 is a glass support through which laser light passes, and 30 a is formed on the glass support 8. A first electrode connected to a power source (not shown), and 9 is a first electrode 30
Reference numeral 30b denotes a thin film resistor formed on a, and reference numeral 30b denotes a highly conductive electrode formed on the thin film resistor 20, which is a second electrode connected to a power source (not shown).

Next, the operation will be described. Spot-like Joule heat is generated by the laser light 10 incident from the surface 200 side of the glass support 8. This heat is concentrated in a shape that reflects the spot shape at the approximate center of the irradiation beam and is transferred to the second electrode 30b having a higher thermal conductivity than the first electrode 30a. Further, this heat is conducted to the wear resistant layer 40. That is,
Heat is conducted in the direction of the arrow indicated by A in the figure. The conducted heat is conducted to the thermal recording medium 50 to perform thermal recording.

Since the photothermal conversion operation as described above is performed, a recording dot is obtained by projecting the irradiation spot shape of the window of the first electrode 30a. This operation is continuously or intermittently executed in the main scanning direction and the scanning direction to form a dot shape according to the image information to obtain a desired hard copy image.

The first electrode of the fourth embodiment will be described. The first electrode 30a is an electrode having a structure provided with a window that allows laser light to pass therethrough, and examples thereof include a metal mesh structure and a slit structure. The second electrode 30b is a thin film having a structure or property having a higher thermal conductivity than the first electrode in order to efficiently transfer the heat generated in the thin film resistor 9 to the arrow indicated by A in the figure. An example is a metal vapor deposition film.

As described above, according to the fourth embodiment,
In addition to the effect of the third embodiment, there is an effect that the dot shape can be controlled so as not to reflect the shape of the irradiation beam of laser light.

Next, a sixth embodiment will be described. FIG.
As shown in FIG. 0, in this embodiment, the laminated structure composed of the thin film resistor 9, the second electrode 30b, and the abrasion resistant layer 40 of the third embodiment is divided by an insulating film to form upper and lower thin film resistors. And a second electrode is formed, and the first electrode is used as a common electrode. More specifically, 30a is a common electrode formed on the glass support 8 and formed of a transmissive material that transmits laser light and connected to a power source (not shown).
Reference numerals 90a and 90b denote upper and lower thin film resistors formed on the common electrode 30a with the insulator 60 interposed therebetween, and 31a and 31b have first and second thin film resistors 90a and 90b provided with the insulator 60 interposed therebetween. Upper and lower signal electrodes formed of a good thermal conductor and connected to a power source (not shown), 40
Is an abrasion resistant layer formed on the first and second signal electrodes 4a and 4b. The photoelectric conversion unit 400 is configured by the following components. Reference numeral 50 is a thermal recording medium.

Next, the operation of the above configuration will be described.
A laser beam 10 having a predetermined beam diameter generated by a laser beam generating means (not shown) enters from the surface 70 side of the glass support 8, passes through the glass support 8 and the common electrode 30a, and the upper and lower thin film resistors. Irradiate 90a and 90b.

With the irradiation of the laser beam 10 as described above, the beam diameter 110 of the laser beam 10 is divided into two regions A and B by the insulator 60 as shown in FIG. The resistance values of A and B decrease in spots due to the temperature raising effect or the photoconductive effect. At this time, the upper and lower signal electrodes 31a, 31
the voltages VA and VB modulated according to the image by b
Are upper and lower thin film resistors 90a and 90b, respectively.
, And the combined resistance value including the periphery of the irradiation portion is r, PA = (VA) ² / r and PB = (V
B) Generates spot-like Joule heat proportional to the electric power of ² / r. This heat is concentrated in a shape that reflects the spot shape at the approximate center of the irradiation beam, and the common electrode 3
It is transmitted to each of the signal electrodes 31a and 31b having a thermal conductivity higher than 0a. Further, this heat is conducted to the wear resistant layer 40. The conducted heat is transmitted to the thermal recording medium 50 to perform thermal recording.

In this way, two spots of different heat generation are generated for one spot irradiation, and two recording dots are obtained at the same time.

As described above, in the fifth embodiment, the two thin film resistance pairs 9 separated by the common electrode 30a and the insulator 60 are used.
0a, 90b, two signal electrodes 31a, 31b, and a wear resistant layer 40 are laminated in this order, and the heat transferred to the electrodes has an electrode shape that contributes to recording. The problem of can be solved.

Since the photothermal conversion operation as described above is performed, a recording dot on which the irradiation spot shape is projected can be obtained. By performing this operation continuously or intermittently in the main scanning direction and the sub scanning direction, dot formation according to image information is performed to obtain a desired hard copy image. The thin film resistor 90a,
The description of the properties, materials, shapes and the like of 90b, the temperature, the photo-sensitive resistor, the support, and the abrasion resistant layer is the same as in the fourth embodiment.

FIG. 12 is a perspective view of a thermal recording device using a photothermal conversion device according to a seventh embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 13 is an enlarged side view of the main part thereof, and its constituent elements are shown in FIG. The sixth embodiment is similar to the sixth embodiment, and the corresponding parts are designated by the same reference numerals and the description thereof will be omitted. In the seventh embodiment, the structure of the sixth embodiment is applied to the fourth structure, and the difference from the fourth and sixth embodiments is that The recording medium 50 is in close contact with the recording medium 50, and is formed into a convex shape so that a predetermined pressure is applied by a platen (not shown) or the like. It is possible to record.

Next, a method of modulating the voltage according to the image will be described. As a modulation method for changing the amplitude of the applied voltage, there are amplitude modulation or pulse width modulation, pulse width modulation for changing the application time width while keeping the applied voltage constant, or pulse number modulation for changing the temporal application density of pulses. With any of these methods, thermal recording can be performed according to the image. That is, thermal recording of a desired image is performed by changing the amount of electric power given within a predetermined time.

Next, the insulator 60 will be described. The insulator 60 is provided on the common electrode 30a, and the upper and lower thin film resistors 90a and 90b and the upper and lower signal electrodes 31.
a and 31b are electrically separated from each other and have a low electric conductivity. Further, if the insulator 60 is a good conductor of heat, it is possible to prevent recording of white stripes between lines. This function depends on the physical arrangement of each substance
It is also possible to realize equivalent functions.

FIG. 14 is a diagram showing a photothermal conversion device of an image recording apparatus according to an eighth embodiment of the present invention, in which the structure of the embodiment shown in FIG. 6 is applied to the fifth above.
In the figure, numeral 8 is a window provided with a window 30c for transmitting laser light, which is formed on a glass support for transmitting laser light, and is a common electrode 90 connected to a power source (not shown).
a and 90b are upper and lower thin film resistors formed on the common electrode 30a with an insulator 60 therebetween, 31a and 31b.
b is formed on the first and second thin film resistors 90a and 90b with an insulator 60 therebetween, and is an upper and lower signal electrode made of a good thermal conductor connected to a power source (not shown), and 40 is a first and a second signal electrode. 2 is an abrasion resistant layer formed on the second signal electrodes 4a and 4b.

Next, the operation will be described. Spot-like Joule heat is generated on the thin film resistors 90a and 90b by the laser light 10 incident from the surface 200 side of the glass support 8. This heat is concentrated in the approximate center of the irradiation beam in a form that reflects the spot shape, and is transferred to the signal electrodes 31a and 31b having a higher thermal conductivity than the common electrode 30a. Further, this heat is conducted to the wear resistant layer 40. That is,
Heat is conducted in the direction of the arrow indicated by A in the figure. The conducted heat is conducted to the thermal recording medium 50 to perform thermal recording.

Since the photothermal conversion operation as described above is carried out, it is possible to obtain a recording dot in which the irradiation spot shape of the window of the common electrode 30a is projected. By performing this operation continuously or intermittently in the main scanning direction and the sub scanning direction, dot formation according to image information is performed to obtain a desired hard copy image.

The common electrode 30a and the signal electrode 31
The description of a and 31b is based on the description of the first electrode 30a and the second electrode 30b of the fifth embodiment.

In each of the sixth to eighth embodiments, only the case where there are two thin film resistors and two signal electrodes has been described, but the number may be more than that, and the thin film resistors and As many recording dots as the number of signal electrodes can be obtained at the same time.

FIG. 15 is a block diagram showing the outline of the photothermal conversion device according to the ninth embodiment of the present invention. In this embodiment,
Electrodes with different polarities are arranged in a straight line between the resistor and the support, and the contact area between the resistor and the electrode is reduced to reduce heat radiation to the outside. It was made to become. In the figure, 32a and 32b are connected to a voltage source (not shown), and zigzag-shaped electrodes A are alternately arranged on the glass support 8 so as to have different polarities.
B and 9 are resistors formed on the electrodes 32a and 32b, and 40
Is a wear resistant layer formed on the resistor 9.

Next, the operation will be described. A laser beam 10 having a predetermined beam diameter generated by a laser beam generating means (not shown) and modulated spatially, temporally or in terms of light intensity passes through the glass support 8 and passes between the electrodes 32a and 32b, Irradiate the resistor 9. The resistance value of the irradiation portion decreases in a spot shape due to the temperature raising effect or the photoconductive effect according to the irradiated laser light. At this time, the electrodes 32a, 32
When the voltage V is applied to the resistor 9 at b and the combined resistance value including the periphery of the irradiation portion is r, spot-like Joule heat proportional to the power P = V ² / r is generated. This heat is concentrated in the approximate center of the irradiation beam and is conducted from the resistor 9 to the abrasion resistant layer 40. The conducted heat is transmitted to a thermal recording medium (not shown in the drawing, which is pressed against the P surface) to perform thermal recording.

As described above, the light-heat exchange operation is performed, so that the recording dots on which the spot irradiation shape is projected can be obtained. This operation is repeated continuously or intermittently in the main scanning direction and the sub-scanning direction, whereby dots are formed according to image information, and a desired hard copy image can be obtained.

Here, the resolution will be described. The resolution of the photothermal conversion device of the ninth embodiment is determined by the diameter of the laser light beam and the distance between electrodes of different polarities which are alternately arranged. FIG. 16 is a view of the state where the laser light having two beam diameters I and II is applied to the photothermal conversion device of this embodiment, as seen from the glass support side. In the figure, 110 is the I beam diameter, and 120 is the II beam diameter. I beam diameter 11
When 0 is illuminated as shown, electrodes 32a, 32b
Heat is generated at the part sandwiched between a and b, and a recording dot is formed. If the II beam diameter is 120, the electrode 32
Heat is generated at the part between a, 32b
Recording dots are formed. Therefore, the recording dots are formed by at least a spot larger than the electrode interval, and the size of the recording dots can be made variable by controlling the size of the spots.

Further, in this embodiment, since the electrodes are formed in a zigzag shape, the contact area between the electrodes and the resistor is reduced as compared with the prior art, and heat dissipation to the outside can be suppressed.

Next, a tenth embodiment of the present invention will be described. In this embodiment, instead of the support using the flat glass of the ninth embodiment, as shown in FIG. 17, the support has a linear shape with a convex central part, and the heat generating part is a thermal recording medium. They are in close contact with each other and a predetermined pressure is applied by a platen (not shown) or the like.

By scanning the convex center portion (the arrow portion X in the figure) at a predetermined speed, recording of one line becomes possible. Further, the support may have a shape having a laser condensing ability, and the material thereof is not limited to glass, and may be a material such as transparent plastic that is a material that transmits laser light and exhibits high heat resistance.

FIG. 18 shows an image recording apparatus according to an eleventh embodiment of the present invention. In this embodiment, the first electrode 30a, the second electrode 30b, or the second electrode 30b in the third to tenth embodiments described above is used. Common electrode 30a, upper and lower electrodes 31
a, 31b, or electrodes A (30a) having different polarities,
By using the power supply 11 for the electrode B (30b) and applying a predetermined voltage V even when there is no laser light irradiation, P = V
² / R (R is a combined resistance value between the electrodes) is used to generate heat, and a schematic diagram in the case of a preheat means for a photothermal conversion device or a thermal recording medium is shown.
In the photothermal conversion means 400, the resistor 9 made of a carbon layer is used.
Electric power is supplied by the electrode A (30a) and the electrode B (30b) connected to, and Joule heat is generated. The thermal paper 500 is preheated by this Joule heat, and the laser light incident through the glass substrate 8 is further applied to the resistor 9
Are absorbed by and generate heat. As shown in FIG. 19, the generated heat passes through the abrasion resistant layer 40 and the thermal paper 500.
To form a recording dot, which allows recording in the main scanning direction. Along with that, thermal paper 500
Are conveyed in accordance with the rotation of the platen roller 7 in the arrow Y direction substantially perpendicular to the main scanning direction, and are sub-scanned.

As described above, the light beam incident on the photothermal conversion means 400 is converted into heat by its intensity, and the recording operation on the thermal paper 500 is performed by this heat. Therefore, by repeatedly performing the main scanning and the sub-scanning, recording on the thermal paper 500 is performed two-dimensionally, and a desired two-dimensional image is formed.

In the above case, the thermal paper 500 is preheated, and good recording dots can be formed even when the emission power of the semiconductor laser 101 is small, which contributes to high efficiency.

In the experiment, it was possible to shorten the recording time by about one digit by adding the preheating function of about 30 ° C. to the room temperature.

Furthermore, by adding a temperature sensor 21 and a temperature control circuit 22 as shown in the twelfth embodiment of the present invention in FIG. 20, it is possible to monitor the temperature of the resistor 9 and externally control the preheat temperature. . The temperature sensor 21 is, for example, a thermocouple or a thermistor, and can take out the temperature value of the resistor 9 as a voltage value (temperature output). The temperature control circuit 22 compares this temperature output with a voltage value corresponding to the set temperature, and outputs the ON-OFF signal of the power supply 11 to the comparison value, thereby keeping the preheat temperature constant. Can be kept at

Next, a thirteenth embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. This embodiment is characterized in that the heat energy generating means is commonly provided for each discharge orifice. This will be described in detail with reference to FIG. 22. In the figure, 1 is a printing signal generating means relating to an image, 10 is a semiconductor laser having an excellent light-converging property, and 2 is a recording image signal outputted from the printing signal generating means 1. The semiconductor laser driving means 3 for modulating the intensity of the light beam emitted from the semiconductor laser 101 is a collimating optical system for converting the laser light emitted from the semiconductor laser 101 into collimated light, which is the same as in the first embodiment. The first optical system is like that, 102 is an optical deflecting means such as a rotary polygon mirror, and 5 is an optical system for converging and scanning (hereinafter, referred to as a light converging means, for example, an f.theta. Lens). 10)
Is a light beam, 16a is a glass substrate, 16b is a photothermal conversion portion formed of, for example, a carbon layer, 17 is a discharge orifice, 18 is a partition wall, 209 is mechanical pressure change generating means such as a piezoelectric element, and 19 is mechanical. Mechanical pressure change generating means drive circuit (hereinafter referred to as pressure generating circuit) for driving the pressure change generating means 209, 111 is an ejection head, 200 is an ink supply unit, 201 is an inlet, 104 is a recording medium ( Receiving paper).

FIG. 23 is an explanatory view of the image recording apparatus in the thirteenth embodiment. In FIG. 23, the discharge orifice 17 and the partition wall 18 also shown in FIG. 22 are 17-1 to 17-17 as shown in FIG. -N discharge orifice, and 18-
It is composed of partition walls 1 to 18-N. The direction of volume change and pressure diffusion of the ink is regulated by the adjacent partition walls. Reference numerals 112a and 112b are photodetectors A and B, respectively.

The ejection head 111 is the glass substrate 16
a, photothermal conversion portion 16b, discharge orifice 17, partition wall 1
8, a mechanical pressure change generating means 209, and an inflow port 201.

The operation of the present invention will be described below.
The image signal s from the outside is input to the print signal generating means 1, subjected to predetermined processing (time axis conversion, etc.), and then input to the semiconductor laser driving means 2. The semiconductor laser driving means 2 intensity-modulates the semiconductor laser 101 according to the recording image signal from the printing signal generating means 1. The intensity-modulated light beam is converted into collimated light by the collimating optical system 3, and is deflected and scanned (main scanning) by the light deflector 102. After that, the light focusing means 5 forms a light beam 10 with a focusing operation, and this light beam 10 is a glass substrate 16a of the ejection head 111 as shown in FIG.
After passing through, the light is converted onto the photothermal conversion portion 16b. The irradiated light beam 10 is converted into heat energy by the photothermal conversion portion 16b, and the heat energy causes a thermal volume change in the ink. With the change in volume, partition walls x (18-x) and x + 1 (18-) adjacent to each other among partition walls 1 (18-1) to N (18-N) specifically shown in FIG.
(X + 1)), the ejection pressure is generated in the ink of a certain limited volume, the ink is ejected from the ejection orifice w (17-w), and the recording medium 104 arranged at a predetermined distance. By adhering to, the recording is performed in the main scanning direction in the direction of arrow q. At the same time, the recording medium 104 is conveyed in the p direction, which is substantially perpendicular to the main scanning direction, and the sub scanning is performed. By repeating this main scanning and sub-scanning, recording on the recording medium 104 is two-dimensionally performed, and a desired two-dimensional image is formed.

A considerable amount of the ink ejected from the ink supply unit 200 flows into the ejection orifice w (17-w) through the inflow port 201, and the surface tension of the holes on the ejection orifice and the ink is reduced. It is compensated in a balanced state.

Next, the photodetectors A (112a) and B (112)
The drive timings of the output from b), the mechanical pressure change generating means 209 driven by the pressure generating circuit 19 and the semiconductor laser 101 driven by the semiconductor laser driving means 2 will be described with reference to FIG.

The light beam 10 is deflected and scanned by the light deflecting means 102 by one line in the direction of arrow q in FIG. 22 for one line, and the photodetector A (112a) and the photodetector B (11).
The light is received by 2b). Each photodetector A (1
12a) and B (112b).
The effective scanning period t and the invalid scanning period Δt as shown in (3) are detected. The valid scanning period t and the invalid scanning period Δt detected at this time are constant values when the deflection scanning is performed at a constant speed. For this effective scanning period t, the mechanical pressure change generating means 209 is driven at a known t / n. By this driving, the ink surface vibrates at a cycle of t / n during the effective scanning period t, and at the same time, the semiconductor laser 1
01 is pulse-driven to discharge orifice w (17-w)
In the above, the ejection operation is performed due to the thermal volume change of the ink, and the recording operation is performed. Further, during the invalid scanning period Δt, the ink undergoes a periodic volume change due to the oscillating pressure, and the ejection orifices 1 (17-1) to n (17-
Ink is filled in n). These oscillating motions are given in synchronization with the detection signals from the photodetectors A (112a) and B (112b). However, this oscillating action does not necessarily have to be given in a form that coincides with the rise (or fall) of the detection pulse from the photodetector A (112a), and there is a delay with respect to the rise (or fall) of the detection pulse. It suffices that the amount is set and given so as to obtain the optimum discharge condition.

Next, the partition walls 1 (18-1) to N (18-N)
I will describe. Partition 1 (18-1) to N (18-N)
Is formed of a member having mechanical strength, and is inevitably formed when the discharge orifices 1 (17-1) to n (17-n) are formed. That is, the discharge orifice 1 (17-
1) to n (17-n) are formed at the same time when they are formed by etching, and have appropriate mechanical strength. The partition walls 1 (18-1) to (18-N) regulate the directions of pressure diffusion and volume change when the ink thermally changes in volume due to the irradiation of the light beam 10. As a result, the ink is properly ejected toward the recording medium 104.

In the above embodiment, the semiconductor laser 101 is used.
Although the light beam 10 is used as the generation source, any other light source having a good focusing property such as a gas laser or a solid laser can be used without any problem.

Also, an example using a carbon layer formed on the glass substrate 16a as the photothermal conversion portion 16b has been shown.
As another example, a glass substrate 16 may be provided with a metal oxide layer or the like.
The substance formed on a may be used, and any substance may be used as long as it has characteristics such as excellent thermal resistance and chemical resistance.

As for the substrate, not only glass but also other transparent substrates such as plastic having excellent heat resistance may be used.

Further, although the example in which the piezoelectric element is used as the mechanical pressure change generating means 209 has been described, for example, one that can electromagnetically convert an electric signal into a mechanical change may be used and the mechanical element is not necessarily limited to the piezoelectric element.

Further, the discharge orifices 1 (17-1) to n
As the substrate for forming (17-n), any material may be used as long as the orifice can be easily formed, mechanical strength is maintained, and physical and chemical resistance such as oxidation resistance and chemical resistance is excellent.

Further, the ink may be made of any material that is excellent in physical and chemical stability such as appropriate viscosity and weather resistance.

Further, each discharge orifice 1 (17-1)-
An example of irradiating the light beam 10 for every n (17-n) has been described, but it is not always necessary.
The discharge orifice 1 (1
A plurality of 7-1) to n (17-n) may participate in ink ejection. However, the driving cycle in this case is set to t / α · n (0 ≦ α ≦ 1). Therefore, the dot density can be arbitrarily set by setting an arbitrary α.

Further, the photodetectors A (112a) and B (11
2b) is not necessarily limited to two and may always consist of a larger number or a single photodetector.
In that case, the same effect can be obtained by creating timing by providing a signal processing means such as a memory. Further, the operation is not limited to the mere timing detecting means, but the light beam 1
The output monitor of 0 may be combined and the output of the semiconductor laser 101 may be controlled by the output.

Further, with respect to the recording medium 104, the image recording operation can be realized even with a general flat or curved object, and the recording medium 104 is not necessarily limited to the plane paper.

Regarding the conveying operation of the recording medium 104, the ejection head 111 relative to the recording medium 104 is used.
The changing operation of may be performed.

Next, a fourteenth embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. In this embodiment,
In the embodiment of the present invention, three sets of respective functions are provided so that a color image can be recorded. Specifically, in the following notation, y is a yellow color image, m is a magenta color image, and c is a cyan color image. It is related to each component in each basic color.

FIG. 27 is a diagram showing an image recording apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention. In the figure, 1y, 1m, 1c
Is a print signal generating means y, m, c, 101 related to an image.
y, 101m, 101c are semiconductor lasers y, m, c, 2y, 2m, 2c having excellent focusing properties, and the respective print signal generating means y (1y), m (1m), c (1c) output the laser signals. The semiconductor laser y (101
y), m (101m), and c (101c), the semiconductor laser driving means y for modulating the intensity of each beam emitted,
m, c, 3y, 3m, 3c are semiconductor lasers y (101
The collimating optical systems y, m, c and 102 for converting the laser beams emitted from y), m (101m) and c (101c) into collimated beams, respectively, are optical deflecting means such as a rotary polygon mirror, and 5 is, for example, An optical system (hereinafter referred to as a light converging unit) for converging scanning, which includes an f / θ lens and the like, 10
y, 10m, 10c are light beams y, m, c, 16a is a glass substrate, 16b is a photothermal conversion part formed of, for example, a carbon layer, 17y, 17m, 17c are discharge orifices y, m, c, 18y, 18m, 18c is a partition wall y, m,
c, 209y, 209m and 209c are mechanical pressure change generating means y, m, c, 19y and 1 such as a piezoelectric element.
9m and 19c are mechanical pressure change generating means y (209
y), m (209m), and c (209c), mechanical pressure change generating means driving circuits y, m, and c, respectively.
(Hereinafter referred to as pressure generating circuits y, m, c), 111 is an ejection head, 200y, 200m, 200c are ink supply parts y, m, c, 201y, 201m, 201c are inlets y, m, c, 104. Is a recording medium.

FIG. 28 is an explanatory view of an image recording apparatus in the fourteenth embodiment of the present invention. In the figure, the photothermal conversion section 16b also shown in FIG. 27 has the photothermal conversion section y (y, m, c). 16 by), m (16 bm), c (1
6 bc). Discharge orifice y (17
y), m (17m), c (17c) and partition y (18
y), m (18m) and c (18c) are formed as shown in FIG. 29, and (17y-1) to (17y-n),
(17m-1) to (17m-n), (17c-1) to
(17c-n) discharge orifices y1 to yn, m1 to m
n, c1 to cn, and (18y-1) to (18y-
N), (18m-1) to (18m-N), (18c-
1) to (18c-N) partition walls y1 to yN, m1 to mN,
It is composed of c1 to cN. The direction of volume change and pressure diffusion of the ink is regulated by the adjacent partition walls. Further, 112a and 112b are photodetectors A.
And B. The ejection head 111 has ejection heads y (111y), m (111) for y, m, and c, respectively.
m) and c (111c).

The ejection head 111 is the glass substrate 16
a, photothermal conversion part y (16by), m (16bm), c
(16 bc), discharge orifice y (17y), m (17
m), c (17c), partition walls y (18y), m (18
m), c (18c), mechanical pressure change generating means y (20
9y), m (209m), c (209c), inlet y
(201y), m (201m), c (201c), and photodetectors A (112a) and B (112b).

The recording of yellow y will be described below as an explanation of the basic operation of the present invention. The image signal Sy from the outside is input to the print signal generating means y (1y), subjected to predetermined processing (time axis conversion, etc.), and then input to the semiconductor laser driving means y (2y). The semiconductor laser driving means y (2y) intensity-modulates the semiconductor laser y (101y) according to the recording image signal from the printing signal generating means y (1y). The intensity-modulated light beam is converted into collimated light by the collimating optical system 3y, and the light deflector 1
Deflection scanning (main scanning) is performed by 02. Then, the light beam y (10
y), and the light beam y (10y) passes through the glass substrate 16a of the ejection head 101 and then is irradiated onto the photothermal conversion section y (6by) as shown in FIG. The irradiated light beam y (5y) is converted into the photothermal conversion part y (6b).
It is converted into thermal energy by y), and the thermal energy causes a thermal volume change in the ink. The partition walls y1 (18y-1) to y specifically shown in FIG.
Partition walls yx (18) that are adjacent to each other among N (18y−N)
The ejection pressure is generated in a limited volume of ink limited by y−x) to y (x + 1) (18y− (x + 1)), and thus the ejection orifice yw (17y−).
Ink is ejected from w) and adheres to the recording medium 104 arranged at a predetermined distance, whereby recording is performed in the main scanning direction in the arrow X direction. At the same time, the recording medium 104 is conveyed in the Y direction, which is substantially perpendicular to the main scanning direction, and the sub scanning is performed. By repeatedly performing the main scanning and the sub scanning, recording on the recording medium 104 is two-dimensionally performed,
A desired two-dimensional image is formed.

A considerable amount of ink is ejected from the ink supply section y (200y) to the inflow port y (201).
y) and flows toward the discharge orifice yw (17y-w), and the holes on the discharge orifice and the surface tension of the ink are compensated in a balanced state.

Next, the photodetectors A (112a) and B (11)
Driving the output from 2b), the mechanical pressure change generating means y (209y) driven by the pressure generating circuit y (9y), and the semiconductor laser y (101y) driven by the semiconductor laser driving means y (2y). Dimming is the above 22
Similar to that shown in the thirteenth embodiment of the figure, the light beam y (10y) is deflected and scanned by the light deflecting means 102 for one line in the direction of arrow q in FIG. The light is received by the devices A (112a) and B (112b). Each photodetector A (112a), B
An effective scanning period t and an invalid scanning period Δt as shown in FIG. 31 are detected by the output signal from (112b). The effective scanning period t and the invalid scanning period Δt detected at this time
Is a constant value when the deflection scanning is performed at a constant speed. The mechanical pressure change generating means y (209y) is driven at a cycle of t / n for the effective scanning period t. By this driving, the ink surface is driven at a cycle of t / n during the effective scanning period t, and the semiconductor laser y is also driven.
(101y) is pulse-driven to discharge orifice yw
At (17y-w), a thermal volume change of the ink occurs, so that the ejection operation is performed and the recording operation is performed. Also, during the invalid scanning period Δt, the ink undergoes a periodic volume change due to the oscillating pressure, and the ejection orifice y1 (17y
The ink is replenished to the ejection orifice yw (17y-w) that has ejected the ink among -1) to yn (17y-n). These oscillating motions are caused by the photodetector A (112a),
It is given in a form synchronized with the detection signal from B (112b). However, this oscillating action does not necessarily have to be given in a form that coincides with the rise (or fall) of the detection pulse from the photodetector A (112a), and there is a delay with respect to the rise (or fall) of the detection pulse. It suffices that the amount is set and given so as to obtain the optimum discharge condition.

Partition walls y1 (18y-1) to yN (18y-
N) will be described. Partition wall y1 (18y-1) to yN
(18y-N) is formed of a member having mechanical strength, and discharge orifices y1 (17y-1) to yn.
It is inevitable when forming (17y-n). That is, the discharge orifices y1 (17y-1) to yn (17y) are formed on the substrate made of a member having high mechanical rigidity.
-N) is formed at the same time when it is formed by etching, for example, and retains an appropriate mechanical strength.

The partition walls y1 (18y-1) to yN (18
y-N) regulates the direction of pressure diffusion and volume change when thermal volume change occurs in the ink due to irradiation with the light beam y (10y). As a result, the ink is properly ejected toward the recording medium 104.

The above basic recording operation is similarly performed for each color of magenta m and cyan c, so that a color image is recorded.

Next, the printing signal issuing means y (1y), m (1
m) and c (1c) will be described in more detail with reference to FIGS.
This will be performed with reference to FIG. In FIG. 32, 301 is a video memory and 302 is an R read sequentially from the video memory 301.
(Red), G (green), B (blue) signals to Y
(Yellow), M (magenta), and C (cyan) color conversion means 150y, 150m, and 150c are delay circuits DLy, DLm, and DLc. Color conversion means 30
Each of the Y, M, and C signals output from 2 is a delay circuit DLy.
(150y), DLm (150m), DLc (150
c), and the delay amounts of τy, τm, and τc are given respectively. Delay circuit DLy (150y), D
The outputs from Lm (150 m) and DLc (150 c) are semiconductor laser driving means y (2 y), m (2 m),
c (2c), the semiconductor laser y (101y),
Drive m (101m) and c (101c).

In the figure, an image signal consisting of R, G and B is taken into the video memory 301. One pixel of R, G, B data is read from the video memory 301 and input to the color conversion unit 302. Each Y, M,
C data has delay circuits DLy (150y) and DLm (15y).
0 m) and DLc (150c) to give an appropriate delay, which is reflected in the ink ejection operation. Letting τy, τm, and τc be the delay amounts at this time, τy is the delay amount from the output of the Y signal to the recording start of y, and τm is the delay from the output of the M signal to the recording start of m. .Tau.c is a delay amount from the output of the C signal to the start of recording of c. These delay amounts (time) are
The amount (time) is proportional to the recording start position of y, m, and c, that is, the physical distance. One of these three delay amounts can be zero.

An embodiment in which the size of the image to be recorded next is arbitrarily changed is represented by delay circuits DLy (150y) and DLm (15).
0m), delay circuit DLy of DLc (150c)
(150y) will be described. The delay circuit DLm
For (150 m) and DLc (150 c), the same operation as described below is performed. Delay circuit DLy (150y)
Is composed of a plurality of memories. The memory here is Figure 3
As shown in 3 (b), the image signal Y is written in the memory by the write clock WR, and the delay data Yτ is read by the read clock f. An example in which two such memories are used is shown in FIG. It is (a). These two memories I (150a) and II (150b)
Alternately repeats the write operation and the read operation. The read clock for this read operation is f = m · f _{0 with} respect to the read clock f ₀ for normal I-line scanning.
And At this time, memories I (50a) and II (50b)
While the image data for the I line accumulated in 1 is read at the clock f for recording, the image data for the next line is written in the memory II (150b). Next line is Memory II
The image data stored in (150b) is read at the clock f and recorded, and during that time, the image data for the next line is written in the memory I (150a). By repeating these operations, it is possible to print at L = (1 / m) L ₀ for the one-line scan L ₀ shown in FIG. 34. The carry amount of the recording medium 104 at this time is the normal carry amount. Of 1
By setting / m, it is possible to obtain a recorded image which is 1 / m times in the main scanning direction and 1 / m times in the sub-scanning direction with respect to a normal recording image. If you want to change the size of the image,
Although the read clock of the memory is changed in the above-mentioned method, the deflection speed of the light deflecting means 102 may be changed.

In the above embodiment, the semiconductor laser 101 is used.
Although the light beam 10 is used as the generation source, any other light source having a good focusing property such as a gas laser or a solid laser can be used without any problem.

Further, although the example in which the carbon layer formed on the glass substrate 16a is used as the photothermal conversion portion y (16by) has been shown, as another example, a metal oxide layer formed on the glass substrate 16a. May be used, and any substance having excellent properties such as thermal resistance and chemical resistance may be used.

As for the substrate, not only glass but also other transparent substrates such as plastic having excellent heat resistance may be used.

Further, the mechanical pressure change generating means y (209
Although an example using a piezoelectric element has been described as y), for example, an element that can electromagnetically convert an electrical signal into a mechanical change may be used, and the element is not necessarily limited to the piezoelectric element.

The discharge orifices 1 (17-1) to n
As the substrate for forming (17-n), any material may be used as long as the orifice can be easily formed, mechanical strength is maintained, and physical and chemical resistance such as oxidation resistance and chemical resistance is excellent. Further, the forming method is also the etching method in the above embodiment, but it may be formed by, for example, laser processing and is not necessarily limited to etching.

The ink may be made of any substance that is excellent in physical and chemical stability such as appropriate viscosity and weather resistance.

Further, each discharge orifice y1 (17y-
1) to yn (17y-n) for each light beam y (10
Although the example of irradiating y) has been described, it is not always necessary.
A plurality of y-n) may participate in ink ejection.
However, the driving cycle in this case is t / α · n (0 ≦
It is set to α ≦ 1). Therefore, the dot density can be arbitrarily set by setting an arbitrary α.

The photodetectors A (112a) and B (11)
2b) is not necessarily limited to two, and may be composed of a larger number or a single photodetector.
In that case, the same effect can be obtained by creating timing by providing a signal processing means such as a memory. Further, the operation is not limited to the mere timing detection means, but the light beam y
A configuration may also be adopted in which the output monitor of (10y) is combined and the output of the semiconductor laser 101y is controlled by the output. In this case, the output control of m and c can also be performed by providing a photodetector for m and c.

Further, the recording medium 104 can realize an image recording operation even on a general flat or curved object, and is not necessarily limited to a flat paper.

Regarding the transport operation of the recording medium 104, the ejection head 111 relative to the recording medium 104 is used.
A strange moving work of may be made.

In the above embodiment, the three colors of yellow y, magenta m, and cyan c have been described as the basic colors of the color image, but it goes without saying that black K may be added to the four colors. Yes.

FIG. 36 shows an image recording apparatus according to the fifteenth embodiment of the present invention. Here, the case where three light beams are used will be described. In the figure, 1 is a print signal generator,
Reference numerals 2a, 2b, and 2c are first, second, and third light source sections (hereinafter referred to as Y light source, M light source, and C light source) having a semiconductor laser built therein, and 25a, 25b, and 25c are print signal generating sections. The first, second, and third drivers (hereinafter, referred to as Y driver, M driver, and C driver) that drive the Y light source 2a, the M light source 2b, and the C light source 2c in accordance with the print signal output from 1 A reflection deflector such as a polygon mirror for reflecting and deflecting the light emitted from each of the light source 2a, the M light source 2b, and the C light source 2c, and 604 is yellow (Y), magenta (M), and cyan as shown in FIG. (C)
Color film formed by sequentially applying inks of 704
a, 704b are bending pins A, B, 705a, 705b, 705c for bending the color film 604, pressure contact bodies Y, M, C, 706a, 706b, 706c are pressure contact bodies 705a, M705b, pressure contact body C705c. The rollers A, B, C, and 104 that receive the pressure contact pressure are image receiving papers, and are sandwiched between the pressure contact body Y705a to pressure contact body C705c and the roller A706a to roller C706c.
Is conveyed in the direction. 6a and 6b are color films 604
Are film rollers A and B for feeding and winding.

The operation of this embodiment will be described below.
The print signal generator 1 outputs yellow (hereinafter Y
, Magenta (hereinafter M), cyan (hereinafter C)
The print signal corresponding to each color is output. The Y, M, and C print signals are input to the Y driver 25a, the M driver 25b, and the C driver 25c, and the modulation signals for the respective colors are output to output the Y light source 2a, the M light source 2b,
The C light source 2c is driven according to each modulation signal. Here, the Y light source 2a, the M light source 2b, and the C light source 2c are, for example, examples of prior applications by the applicant (Japanese Patent Application No. 1-203663, Japanese Patent Application No. 1-23).
No. 03664, Japanese Patent Application No. 1-203666, etc.), which is a light source having a function of shifting the focused spot position according to the deflection angle of the light beam.
The light beams emitted from the b and C light sources 2c are reflected and deflected by the reflection deflector 10.
After being incident on the pressure contact member 705a to the pressure contact member C705c by 2, the Y, M and C ink portions on the color film 604 are reflected and deflected so as to scan. Pressure contact body Y70 in this case
5a to C705c are examples of prior applications (Japanese Patent Application Nos. 63-47333 and 63-8852) filed by the applicant of the present application.
No. 7, patent application “photothermal conversion device” filed on Dec. 27, 1988) is a pressure contact body having a function of converting the light beam into heat in a super-linear manner. Heat is generated at the irradiation site, and the generated heat is conducted to the color film 604, whereby the ink applied on the color film 604 is transferred or recorded on the image receiving paper 104 by melting or sublimation.

The operation at the time of printing will be described in detail below with reference to FIGS. 38, 39 and 40. 38, 39, and 40 show the situation in which the color film 604 and the image receiving paper 104 are conveyed. The color film 604 includes a film roller A6a, a pressure contact body Y705, a bending pin A704a, a pressure contact body M705b, a bending pin B704b, and a pressure contact body C705.
c, the film roller B6b is sequentially conveyed along the path. First, Y on the color film 604 is the image receiving paper 104.
When the transfer start position of 1 is reached, the irradiation of the light beam Y modulated by the Y driver 25a is started. As a result, a Y recorded image is formed on the image receiving paper 104. Further, when the color film 604 is conveyed along with the recording of Y and M on the color film 604 reaches the transfer start position of the image receiving paper 104, the irradiation of the light beam M modulated by the M driver 25b is started and already recorded. An M recorded image is formed so as to be superimposed on the Y recorded image. Furthermore, the color film 604 is Y
When C on the color film 604 reaches the transfer start position of the image receiving paper 104 by being conveyed with the recording of M overlapping with Y and Y, the irradiation of the light beam C modulated by the C driver 25c is started and already recorded. A recorded image of C is formed so as to be superimposed on the recorded images of Y and M. As described above, Y, M,
When the recording of C is completed and the recording of C is completed, the image receiving paper 1
The color image recording operation on 04 is completed.

Next, a more detailed description of the print signal generator 1 will be given with reference to FIGS. 41, 42 and 43. In FIG. 41, 21
0 is a video memory, 211 is a color conversion that converts the R (red), G (green), and B (blue) signals sequentially read from the video memory 210 into Y (yellow), M (magenta), and C (cyan) signals. Circuits, 212a, 212b,
Reference numeral 212c denotes a gradation data section 21 that holds gradation data.
Pulse width modulators 1, 2 and 3 (hereinafter, PWM 1, P
WM2, PWM3), 214a, 214b, 21
Reference numeral 4c denotes delay circuits 1, 2 and 3 (hereinafter referred to as DL1, DL2 and DL3) for delaying the respective pulse width modulation signals output from PWM1 (212a) to PWM3 (212c), and 215 in FIG. 42 is a comparator. is there.

In FIG. 41, the image signals of R, G and B are taken into the video memory 210. R, G, B data for each pixel is read from the video memory 210 and input to the color conversion circuit 211. The input R, G, B data for one pixel is color-converted into Y, M, C data by the color conversion circuit 211. The Y, M and C data are input to PWM1 (212a) to PWM3 (212c).

The pulse width modulation for Y data will be described below. The Y data includes the gradation data from the gradation data unit 213 including a ROM and the comparator 215.
To the pulse width modulation signal. Here, the gradation density OD is OD≈T × P ×, where P is a constant optical power value, T is the basic pulse width for heat generation control, and N is the total number of basic pulse widths T per pixel, as shown in FIG.
f (n) where 0 ≦ n ≦ N. Therefore, it suffices to generate a pulse width modulation signal that obtains the density corresponding to the Y data, and this can be expressed using n as a variable.

By performing the above operation on M and C, it is possible to record Y, M and C at desired OD.

As described above, the Y, M, and C data (hereinafter, P
(Referred to as WM-Y, PWM-M, and PWM-C), Y, M, C
Is printed. The delay amount at this time is τ ₁ , respectively
If τ ₂ and τ ₃ , then τ ₁ is the delay amount from the generation of PWM-Y to the start of printing Y, and τ ₂ is PWM-
Is the delay amount from the generation of M to the start of printing M,
τ ₃ is the delay amount from the generation of PWM-C to the start of printing C. These delay amounts (time) are Y, M, and C.
Amount (time) that is proportional to the print start position, that is, the physical distance
Becomes One of these three delay amounts can be zero.

Next, an embodiment in which the size of the image to be recorded is arbitrarily changed will be described. The delay circuit DL1 is composed of a plurality of memories. Each memory writes Y data to the memory by the write clock WR as shown in FIG. 44 (b),
The delay data Yτ is read by the read clock f, and an example in which two such memories are used is shown in FIG. 44 (a).

These two memories I216a and II2
16b alternately repeats the write operation and the read operation. The read clock for this read operation is set to f = m · f ₀ with respect to the read clock f ₀ for normal 1-line scanning. At this time, while the Y data for one line accumulated in the memory I216a is read by the clock f and recorded, the Y data for the next line is written in the memory II216b. For the next line, the Y data accumulated in the memory II 216b is read by the clock f and recorded, while the Y data for the next line is written in the memory I216a. By repeating these operations, it is possible to print with L = (1 / m) L ₀ for the scanning L _{0 of} one line shown in FIG.
By setting the sub-scanning amount at this time to 1 / m, it is possible to obtain a recording image which is 1 / m times in the main scanning direction and 1 / m times in the sub-scanning direction with respect to the recorded image of the through image. Note that when the size of the image is arbitrarily changed, the read clock of the memory is changed in the above example, but the rotation speed of the reflection deflection mirror 102 may be changed.

In the above example, three light beams are used, but the pressure contact body Y705a to the pressure contact body C705 are used.
The number of light beams may be increased according to the number of c, and the number of light beams is not necessarily limited to three. For example, in printing applications, recording is often performed using four inks of Y, M, C, and K (black), and four beams may be used. Further, although the order of the colors recorded on the image receiving paper 104 is Y, M, and C, the order may be C, M, and Y. Also, the colors to be recorded are not limited to different colors, but may be the same kind (monochrome). In this case,
It is possible to perform printing at high speed by dividing one screen into a plurality of areas and performing the printing by sharing each area with each beam. In this case, the ink sheet does not necessarily need to be bent.

Further, the print signal generating section 1 is not limited to the above configuration, and may have another configuration that realizes an equivalent function.

Furthermore, in the above embodiment, a plurality of light sources are used as optical means for converting the light beam of the light source into a desired light beam.
Although the one having the function of changing the focused spot position according to the deflection angle of the light beam is shown, the beam of the semiconductor laser may be converted into a single-mode high-quality beam. It can be realized by providing a solid-state laser in the path of the emitted light. In addition, the beam size of the light beam may be changed, and this can be realized by changing the focus by moving the condenser lens, for example.

Further, since the image recording is carried out by using a plurality of light beams, the time required for obtaining one recorded image can be shortened, and the means for rotating the image receiving paper is not required, and the recording can be started. The setting for aligning the positions is performed only once, and since the recording is performed with the light beam, a high resolution of the recorded image can be obtained, and the size of the recorded image can be easily determined arbitrarily.

As described above, the image recording apparatus according to the present invention is an apparatus for recording an image by using a laser beam, and a printing signal generating section for outputting a recording image signal, A laser light source for irradiating an object to be irradiated with a light beam and an intensity modulation of the light beam emitted from the laser light source by driving the laser light source based on a recording image signal output from the printing signal generation unit. A laser light source driving device for performing, a deflection scanning means for deflecting and scanning the light beam on an object to be irradiated, a support for transmitting laser light, and a window for transmitting laser light formed on the support. A first electrode, a resistor formed on the first electrode, a second electrode formed on the resistor, and an abrasion resistant layer formed on the second electrode. And a photothermal conversion means for converting the laser light into heat, and the photothermal conversion Based on the output of the temperature detecting means for detecting the temperature of the preheat means formed by the resistor and the electrode for raising the step to near the recording temperature threshold of the thermal recording medium, the temperature of the photothermal converting means, and the output of the temperature detecting means. Since the temperature control means for controlling the temperature of the photothermal conversion means is provided to perform the thermal recording and the thermal transfer recording, the power of the laser light source required for heating the thermal recording medium is small, and a high output laser is used. There is an effect that image recording can be carried out without using it, moreover, the surface of the photothermal conversion device can be protected and a long life can be obtained. Further, according to the image recording apparatus of the present invention, it is an apparatus for recording an image by using a laser beam, and a printing signal generating section for outputting a recording image signal and an irradiation object are irradiated with a light beam. A laser light source, a laser light source driving device for driving the laser light source based on a recording image signal output from the printing signal generating unit to perform intensity modulation of a light beam emitted from the laser light source, and the light source. Deflection scanning means for deflecting and scanning the beam on the object to be irradiated, a support that transmits laser light, electrodes that are arranged on the support in a straight line and with different polarities alternately, A light-heat exchange means for exchanging the laser light for heat, which has a resistor formed on the electrode and an abrasion resistant layer formed on the resistor, and the light-heat converting means for recording on a thermal recording medium. Increase to near the temperature threshold, A preheating means formed by an antibody and an electrode, a temperature detecting means for detecting the temperature of the light-heat converting means, and a temperature control means for controlling the temperature of the light-heat converting means based on the output of the temperature detecting means. Since it is equipped with thermal recording and thermal transfer recording, the power of the laser light source required for heating the thermal recording medium can be small, and the image recording can be performed by controlling the dot recording shape without using a high output laser. In addition, the surface of the photothermal conversion device can be protected, and a long life can be obtained. Further, the image recording apparatus according to the present invention is an image recording apparatus for recording an image by using a laser beam, wherein a printing signal generating section for outputting a recording image signal and an output signal from the printing signal generating section A plurality of light source units that emit light, a light source driving unit that independently drives the plurality of light source units, and a plurality of light beams emitted from the plurality of light source units are reflected and deflected by a reflection deflection mirror to perform main scanning. Means for converting the light beam into heat energy, means for bending an ink-coated color film in accordance with the number of the plurality of light beams to press the image receiving paper, and the color film and the image receiving member. Since a means for carrying the paper and performing sub-scanning is provided, each light beam of the plurality of light beams takes charge of image recording of a single color, and the same recording condition is applied to each color. Recording is possible, and one color recording image can be obtained by sequentially forming the next single color image together with the previous single color image together with the recording of one single color image. It is possible,
There is an effect that image recording can be performed at high speed. Further, in the image recording apparatus according to the present invention, the printing signal generating section includes a video memory for storing an image signal input from the outside, a color conversion unit for performing color conversion of the input image signal, and the color conversion. A plurality of pulse width modulation means for comparing the color conversion output from the means and the gradation data to determine the optical pulse widths from the plurality of light source parts, and the respective output signals from the plurality of pulse width modulation means. A plurality of delay means for delaying, and further, a delay output memory is provided for each of the delay outputs output from the plurality of delay means, and the writing and reading operations of the delay output to the delay output memory are performed. Since the delay clock is switched between each delay memory and the read clock is changed during the read operation of the delay output from the delay output memory, the resolution is different from that of the normal one. Rashimeru it can, as it can arbitrarily change the size of the recorded image is the effect obtained.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a diagram showing an image recording apparatus according to a first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a diagram showing a conventional image recording apparatus.

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing an image recording apparatus according to a second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a diagram showing a photothermal conversion means of an image recording apparatus according to a second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a diagram showing a photothermal conversion device of a conventional image recording device using laser light.

FIG. 6 is a diagram showing a heat generating portion of a photothermal conversion device of a conventional image recording device.

FIG. 7 is a diagram showing a photothermal conversion means of an image recording apparatus according to a third embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 8 is a diagram showing a photothermal conversion means of an image recording apparatus according to a fourth embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 9 is a diagram showing a photothermal conversion means of an image recording apparatus according to a fifth embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 10 is a diagram showing a photothermal conversion means of an image recording apparatus according to a sixth embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 11 is an enlarged view of a main part of the image recording apparatus according to the sixth embodiment of the present invention in a state where laser light is irradiated using the photothermal conversion means.

FIG. 12 is a diagram showing a photothermal conversion means of an image recording apparatus according to a seventh embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 13 is an enlarged view of a main part of a photothermal conversion means of an image recording apparatus according to a seventh embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 14 is a diagram showing a photothermal conversion means of an image recording apparatus according to an eighth embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 15 is a view showing a photothermal conversion means of an image recording apparatus according to a ninth embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 16 is a view showing an irradiation state when I and II beam diameters are incident on the photothermal conversion means of the image recording apparatus according to the ninth embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 17 is a diagram showing a photothermal conversion means of an image recording apparatus according to a tenth embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 18 is a diagram showing a photothermal conversion means of an image recording apparatus according to an eleventh embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 19 is a diagram schematically showing an image recording device according to an eleventh embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 20 is a diagram schematically showing an image recording device according to a twelfth embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 21 is a configuration diagram of a conventional image recording device.

FIG. 22 is a configuration diagram of an image recording apparatus according to a thirteenth embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 23 is an explanatory diagram of an image recording device according to a thirteenth embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 24 is a diagram showing a discharge orifice of an image recording apparatus according to a thirteenth embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 25 is a view showing a state where a photothermal conversion section of an image recording apparatus according to a thirteenth embodiment of the present invention is irradiated with laser light.

FIG. 26 is a diagram showing the relationship between the detection signal from the photodetector and the drive pulse of the image recording apparatus according to the thirteenth embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 27 is a configuration diagram of an image recording device according to a fourteenth embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 28 is an explanatory diagram of an image recording device according to a fourteenth embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 29 is a diagram showing a discharge orifice of an image recording apparatus according to a fourteenth embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 30 is a view showing a state where a photothermal conversion section of an image recording apparatus according to a fourteenth embodiment of the present invention is irradiated with laser light.

FIG. 31 is a diagram showing the relationship between the detection signal from the photodetector and the drive pulse of the image recording apparatus according to the fourteenth embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 32 is a diagram showing a print signal generating means of an image recording apparatus according to a fourteenth embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 33 is a diagram for explaining the configuration of the delay circuit of the print signal generating means of the image recording apparatus according to the fourteenth embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 34 is a diagram showing a relationship between scanning lengths L and L ₀ during operation of the image recording apparatus according to the 14th embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 35 is a diagram showing an operation of a conventional image recording device.

FIG. 36 is a block diagram of an image recording device according to a fifteenth embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 37 is a diagram showing a color film used in an image recording apparatus according to a fifteenth embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 38 is a view for explaining the operation of the image recording device according to the fifteenth embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 39 is a view for explaining the operation of the image recording apparatus according to the fifteenth embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 40 is a view for explaining the operation of the image recording apparatus according to the fifteenth embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 41 is a view showing a print signal generating means of the image recording apparatus according to the fifteenth embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 42 is a diagram for explaining the configuration of the pulse width modulation section of the printing signal generating means of the image recording apparatus according to the fifteenth embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 43 is a view for explaining the operation of the pulse width modulation section of the printing signal generating means of the image recording apparatus according to the fifteenth embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 44 is a diagram for explaining the configuration of the delay circuit of the printing signal generating means of the image recording apparatus according to the fifteenth embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 45 is a diagram showing a relationship between scanning lengths L and L ₀ during operation of the image recording apparatus according to the fifteenth embodiment of the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Print signal generating unit 2 Laser light source driving device 3 First optical system 4 Beam shaper 5 Second optical system 6 Film roller 7 Platen roller 8 Glass support 9 Thin film resistor 11 Power supply 17 Discharge orifice 18 Partition wall 20 Common Electrode 21 Temperature sensor 22 Temperature control circuit 25 Driver 30a First electrode 30b Second electrode 30c Window 31a Upper electrode 31b Lower electrode 32a Electrode A 32b Electrode B 40 Wear resistant layer 50 Thermal recording medium 60 Insulating film 90a Upper thin film resistance Body 90b Lower side thin film resistor 101 Semiconductor laser 102 Deflection scanning means 103 Ink film 104 Image receiving paper 110 Beam diameter 111 Ejection head 112a Photodetector A 112b Photodetector B 150a Memory 150b Memory 150y Delay circuit 150m Delay circuit 150c Delay circuit 302 colors Switch means 211 color conversion unit 212 pulse-width modulator 214 delay circuit 216 memory 201 inlet 209 mechanical pressure generating means 400 photothermal exchange means 604 color film 704 bent pin 705 press-contact member 706 roller

Continuation of the front page (31) Priority claim number Japanese patent application No. 2-11562 (32) Priority date 2 (1990) January 19 (33) Priority claiming country Japan (JP) (31) Priority claim number Japanese Patent Application No. 2-114807 (32) Priority Day No. 2 (1990) April 28 (33) Priority claiming country Japan (JP) (31) Priority claim number Japanese Patent Application No. 2-114808 (32) Priority Day No. 2 (1990) April 28 (33) Priority claiming country Japan (JP) (31) Priority claim number Japanese Patent Application No. 2-132152 (32) Priority Date No. 2 (1990) May 21 (33) Priority Claiming country Japan (JP) (31) Priority claim number Japanese Patent Application No. 2-165233 (32) Priority date Hei 2 (1990) June 21 (33) Priority claiming country Japan (JP) (72) Inventor Someya Jun 1 Baba Institute, Nagaokakyo City, Kyoto Prefecture Mitsubishi Electric Corporation, Electronic Products Development Laboratory (72) Inventor Akihisa Miyata 1 Baba Institute, Nagaokakyo City, Kyoto Prefecture (72) Invention, Electronic Products Development Laboratory Person Suzuki Eiku 8-1, 1-1 Tsukaguchihonmachi, Amagasaki-shi, Hyogo Ryoden Co., Ltd. Materials Research Laboratories (72) Inventor Tsuji Matsuura 8-1-1 Tsukaguchi Honcho, Amagasaki City, Hyogo Prefecture Mitsubishi Electric Corporation Materials Research Laboratories (72) Inventor Yuichi Sakai 8-1-1 Tsukaguchihonmachi, Amagasaki City, Hyogo Prefecture No. 1 MITSUBISHI ELECTRIC CORPORATION Material Research Laboratory (56) Reference JP-A-50-40139 (JP, A) JP-A-60-56568 (JP, A) JP-A-61-112665 (JP, A) 57-127262 (JP, U)

Claims (9)

(57) [Claims] 1. An apparatus for recording an image by using a laser beam, comprising: a print signal generating section for outputting a recorded image signal; a laser light source for irradiating an object to be irradiated with a light beam; A laser light source driving device that drives the laser light source based on a recording image signal output from the printing signal generating unit to perform intensity modulation of the light beam emitted from the laser light source, and the light beam on the irradiation target. Deflection scanning means for deflecting and scanning, a support that transmits laser light, a first electrode having a window that transmits laser light formed on the support, and a resistor formed on the first electrode. A photothermal conversion means for converting the laser light into heat, which has a body, a second electrode formed on the resistor, and an abrasion resistant layer formed on the second electrode; Light-to-heat conversion means up to near the recording temperature threshold of the thermal recording medium Preheating means formed by a resistor and an electrode to be raised, temperature detecting means for detecting the temperature of the photothermal converting means, and temperature for performing temperature control of the photothermal converting means on the basis of the output of the temperature detecting means. An image recording apparatus comprising a control means and performing thermal recording and thermal transfer recording. 2. An apparatus for recording an image using laser light, comprising: a print signal generating section for outputting a recorded image signal; a laser light source for irradiating a light beam to an object to be irradiated; A laser light source driving device that drives the laser light source based on a recording image signal output from the printing signal generating unit to perform intensity modulation of the light beam emitted from the laser light source, and the light beam on the irradiation target. Deflection scanning means for performing deflection scanning, a support that transmits laser light, electrodes on which linearly different polarities are alternately arranged on the support, and a resistor formed on the electrode A body and an abrasion resistant layer formed on the resistor, and a photothermal exchange means for exchanging the laser light for heat, and the photothermal conversion means for raising the temperature to near the recording temperature threshold of the thermal recording medium, Shaped by resistor and electrode The preheat means, the temperature detecting means for detecting the temperature of the photothermal converting means, and the temperature controlling means for controlling the temperature of the photothermal converting means on the basis of the output of the temperature detecting means. An image recording device for recording. 3. The image recording apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the resistor includes a temperature-sensitive negative resistance substance whose resistance value changes in response to heat generated by absorption of laser light. Image recording device. 4. The image recording apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the resistor constituting the photothermal conversion means is divided into a plurality of regions by an insulator, and electrodes are provided corresponding to the regions of the plurality of resistors. An image recording device characterized by. 5. An image recording apparatus for recording an image using a laser beam, wherein a print signal generating section for outputting a record image signal and a plurality of light sources emitting light according to output signals from the print signal generating section. Section, a light source driving section for independently driving the plurality of light source sections, a means for performing a main scan by reflecting and deflecting a plurality of light beams emitted from the plurality of light source sections by a reflection deflecting mirror, A means for converting a light beam into heat energy, a means for bending an ink-coated color film in accordance with the number of the plurality of light beams and pressing it to the image receiving paper, and carrying the color film and the image receiving paper. An image recording apparatus comprising means for performing sub-scanning. 6. The image recording apparatus according to claim 5, wherein when the plurality of light beams are reflected and deflected by the reflection deflection mirror, the individual light beams of the plurality of light beams are of the same type or different types. An image recording apparatus for recording colors. 7. The image recording apparatus according to claim 5, wherein the print signal generation section stores a video memory for storing an image signal input from the outside, and a color conversion means for performing color conversion of the input image signal. A plurality of pulse width modulation means for comparing the color conversion output from the color conversion means with the gradation data to determine the optical pulse widths from the plurality of light source parts; and a plurality of pulse width modulation means from the plurality of pulse width modulation means. An image recording apparatus comprising: a plurality of delay means for delaying each output signal. 8. The image recording apparatus according to claim 7, wherein a delay output memory is provided for each delay output output from the plurality of delay units, and the delay output writing and reading operations to and from the delay output memory are performed. An image recording device characterized by switching between delay memories. 9. The image recording apparatus according to claim 8, wherein a read clock is changed during a read operation of the delay output from the delay output memory.