JP2545286B2 - Printing device using liquid crystal shutter matrix panel - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION [Industrial field of application] The present invention digitizes image information carried on a photographic film or an original, accumulates it in an electronic computer or the like, and converts it into image information output from the electronic computer. Based on the above, the present invention relates to an image printing apparatus for outputting the image, and more specifically, a liquid crystal shutter matrix panel is used, and an illuminating means for illuminating the liquid crystal shutter matrix panel from the back side and the liquid crystal shutter matrix panel are sandwiched between the illuminating means. Provided is a light-sensitive material arranged to face the lighting means, and a moving means for relatively moving the liquid crystal shutter matrix panel and the light-sensitive material in the vertical and horizontal directions. Based on this, drive the shutter of the liquid crystal shutter matrix panel,
The present invention relates to an image printing device adapted to form an image formed by the liquid crystal shutter matrix panel on the photosensitive material.

[Prior Art] Conventionally, a DPE device has been used as a device for printing an image carried on a photographic film. The printing by this DPE device can obtain a sufficient definition even with a gradation image, and a reproduced image that is faithful to the original image can be obtained, but for example, unnecessary images in the background are erased or blur is corrected. There is an inconvenience that it is not easy to process and print the original image, as in the case where the original image is distorted, characters are added, line drawing is performed, or animation is performed.

On the other hand, with the recent development of computer technology,
Various means have been developed for printing images from digital image information. The image carried on the film or on the manuscript is read by a photoelectric method, and is taken into a computer as digital information, or by using the computer,
This can be effectively used when so-called computer graphics, which obtains desired digital image information by the simulation software and outputs the image to an output device such as a printer device or a display device, involves processing of information.

Printing devices using such a computer include a thermal printer that thermally reproduces image information on an output sheet using a thermal head, an inkjet printer that ejects ink onto the output sheet to reproduce the image information, and the like. Are known. However, such thermal printers and ink jet printers are relatively simple in configuration, can be downsized, and can be manufactured at low cost, but on the other hand, when reproducing gradation images or printing high-definition images. Has the disadvantage of not having a device with sufficient performance.

Further, as another example of a printing device using a computer, a laser printer or a CRT printer is known which reproduces an image by an electrophotographic technique using a cathode ray tube such as a laser beam or a CRT. Since these printer devices use a laser beam or a CRT, the size of the device is inevitably large and the price is also high. Even if a high-definition photosensitive material is used, the pixel density is 10 lines / mm.
However, in order to obtain a higher-definition image, the structure is more complicated, and there is the inconvenience that the desired performance cannot be obtained unless a large-scale device is used.

[Problems to be Solved by the Invention] As described above, the conventional image printing apparatus is
Devices such as E devices that are easy for amateurs and general individuals to use have inconvenience in image processing, and image output devices such as microcomputers do not have sufficient performance to print gradation images with high precision. At present, only a large-sized and expensive printing device for business use is provided as an inexpensive printing device or a printer device capable of obtaining a high-definition image.

Therefore, it is an object of the present invention to provide a printing apparatus which can print a high-definition image with a simple structure and which can be easily used by a general individual at a low price.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a printing apparatus that enables a multi-imaging process for forming continuous images on a photosensitive material.

[Means for Solving the Problems] The present invention has been made to solve the above problems, and includes a liquid crystal shutter matrix panel, an illuminating unit that illuminates the liquid crystal shutter matrix panel from the back surface, and the liquid crystal. A photosensitive material which is arranged so as to face the illuminating means with a shutter matrix panel interposed therebetween; a moving means which relatively controls the liquid crystal shutter matrix panel and the photosensitive material to move in the vertical and horizontal directions; and the liquid crystal shutter matrix A driving means for driving a shutter of the panel, an image data generating means for generating image data, and an image forming means for forming an image formed by the liquid crystal shutter matrix panel on the photosensitive material, The liquid crystal shutter matrix panel and the photosensitive material are moved by the moving means. The pair is moved, the liquid crystal shutter matrix panel is sequentially positioned at a predetermined position on the photosensitive material, and based on the image data from the image data generating means, the driving means drives the shutter of the liquid crystal shutter matrix panel, An image formed by the liquid crystal shutter matrix panel is formed into an image on the photosensitive material by the image forming means, and a multi-imaging process is performed to form a continuous image on the photosensitive material.

[Operation] The image printing apparatus according to the present invention is configured as described above, and operates as follows. That is, the liquid crystal shutter matrix panel is illuminated by the illuminating means, the shutter of the liquid crystal shutter matrix panel is driven by the signal from the image data generating means to form an image by the liquid crystal shutter matrix panel, and this image is exposed by the image forming means. Since the image is formed on the material, the structure is relatively simple and the cost can be reduced. The exposure of the photosensitive material can be carried out at a time with the surface of the liquid crystal shutter matrix panel as a unit, and the exposure speed, that is, the printing speed can be increased.

Further, a multi-imaging process is possible in which the liquid crystal shutter matrix panel and the photosensitive material are moved relative to each other, the liquid crystal shutter matrix panel is sequentially positioned at a predetermined position on the photosensitive material, and a continuous image is formed on the photosensitive material. . Furthermore, by using coherent light as the illumination means, compared with the conventional printer using a CRT, the loss of light is small and the light utilization efficiency is good, so the exposure speed (print speed) can be increased. Yes, a bright LCD shutter matrix panel can be used. Moreover, it is possible to use a light-sensitive material having good light-sensitive properties, and it is possible to obtain a high-definition image.

[Embodiment] Next, an image printing apparatus using the liquid crystal shutter matrix panel according to the present invention will be described in detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings.

FIG. 1 is a configuration diagram of a printing device using a liquid crystal shutter matrix panel according to an embodiment of the present invention.

In FIG. 1, the image printing apparatus 10 includes a liquid crystal shutter matrix panel 26, an illuminating means 22 for illuminating the liquid crystal shutter matrix panel 26 from the back side, and a relay lens 24 for making the illumination light from the illuminating means 22 parallel light.
And an image recording section 29 including an image forming optical system 28 for forming an image formed by the liquid crystal shutter matrix panel 26 on the photosensitive material 30.

The liquid crystal shutter matrix panel 26 is a pulse generator.
It is illuminated from the back by an illumination means 22 whose lighting is controlled by 14, and an image recording unit 29 drives a shutter of a liquid crystal shutter matrix panel 26 from an image data generator 31 including a data processing device such as a microcomputer. Image data as digital image data is supplied via the liquid crystal drive circuit 12. An image formed on the liquid crystal shutter matrix panel 26 by this image data is formed on the photosensitive material 30 by the image forming optical system 28.

Photosensitive material 30 is X-axis pulse motor 34, Y-axis pulse motor
It is placed on a moving means 32 which is controlled to move in the vertical and horizontal directions (X-axis and Y-axis directions) by 36, and is positioned at a recording position corresponding to the image recording section 29.

The controller 33, under the control of the image data generator 31, has a pulse generator 14 for driving the illuminating means 22 and a moving means.
The operation control of the X-axis pulse motor 34 and the Y-axis pulse motor 36 that drive-control the 32 is performed.

The image printing apparatus using the liquid crystal shutter matrix panel according to the present invention is basically configured as described above, and its operation will be described in detail below.

First, image recording will be described. An operation start instruction is given from the image data generating device 31 to the controller 33. Based on this instruction, the controller 33 drives the X-axis pulse motor 34 and the Y-axis pulse motor 36, drives the moving means 32, and sets the photosensitive material 30 placed on the moving means 32 to a predetermined position corresponding to the image recording section 29. Position in position. Here, the moving means 32 includes an X-axis pulse motor 34 and a Y-axis pulse motor 36.
With this, it is possible to use an XY table having a known structure in which a screw screw (not shown) is driven to move in the X-axis direction and the Y-axis direction.

At the same time, the controller 33 drives the pulse generator 14,
Illuminating means 22 is turned on, liquid crystal shutter matrix panel
Control 26 to illuminate from the back. As the illumination means 22, for example, a light source such as a xenon flash, a tungsten lamp, a halogen lamp, a metal halide or a fluorescent lamp can be used. In addition to the liquid crystal shutter matrix panel 26, a mechanical shutter may be provided depending on the type of lamp.

The illumination light generated from the illuminating means 22 is collimated by a relay lens 24 to irradiate the liquid crystal shutter matrix panel 26 in order to improve the light utilization efficiency, but this relay lens reduces the light utilization efficiency. It can be omitted if is not a problem.

When the control of these preparation steps is completed, the image data generator 31 supplies the image data to the liquid crystal drive circuit 12. Image data is in binary data (digital data) format,
The X drive electrode and the Y drive electrode of the liquid crystal shutter matrix panel 26 are controlled to be turned on or off, and the liquid crystal cell at the intersection of the X drive electrode and the Y drive electrode is controlled to transmit or block the illumination light from the back surface. It is data for doing.

The structure of the liquid crystal shutter matrix panel 26 is a well-known simple matrix or a matrix type such as an active matrix such as TFT or MIM, which will be briefly described below. LCD shutter matrix panel 26
As shown in the side sectional view in FIG. 2, each has a large number of transparent horizontal electrodes 54 and vertical electrodes 56 arranged on the inner surfaces of the upper glass 50 and the lower glass 52, which are opposed to each other. On the surfaces of the horizontal electrodes 54 and the vertical electrodes 56, for example, alignment films 58 and 60 for arranging nematic liquid crystal molecules in one direction are formed.

The horizontal electrodes 54 and the vertical electrodes 56 are arranged in directions orthogonal to each other, as shown in the plan view of FIG.

The alignment films 58 and 60 are arranged so as to face each other with a gap therebetween with the sealing material 62 arranged in the peripheral portion interposed therebetween, and, for example, a twisted nematic liquid crystal 64 is enclosed in the gap.

Due to the alignment films 58 and 60, the alignment directions of the molecules of the liquid crystal 64 are relatively shifted by 90 degrees between the surfaces of the horizontal electrodes 54 and the vertical electrodes 56. A polarizing plate 66 whose polarization axis is aligned with the alignment direction of liquid crystal molecules on the surface of the horizontal electrode 54 is disposed outside the upper glass 50, while a metal mask 68 and a filter are disposed outside the lower glass 52.
A polarizing plate 72 is arranged via 70. The polarization axis of the polarizing plate 72 is aligned with the polarization axis of the polarizing plate 66.

The above structure is supported by the printed circuit board 74, and the lateral electrodes 54,
A drive voltage is applied between the vertical electrodes 56 via a conductive rubber connector 76.

As is well known, the operation of the liquid crystal shutter matrix panel 26 configured as described above is performed by the horizontal electrodes 54 and the vertical electrodes.
When the drive voltage is not applied between 56, the light emitted to the liquid crystal shutter matrix panel 26 does not pass, and when the drive voltage is applied, the light emitted to the liquid crystal shutter matrix panel 26 passes. By changing the drive voltage value, the transmittance of the liquid crystal shutter matrix panel 26 can be controlled, and a gradation image can be printed.

In the present invention, binary image data is used as image data, movement control of the photosensitive material 30 is performed as described later, and multi-imaging processing is performed so as to express a gradation image as a set of binary images in continuous pixels. . This method enables high-definition image printing.

When the image data as described above is supplied from the image data generator 31 to the liquid crystal drive circuit 12 and the shutter of the liquid crystal shutter matrix panel 26 is driven, an image is formed by the liquid crystal shutter matrix panel 26. This image, that is, the light transmitted through the liquid crystal shutter matrix panel 26 is imaged on the photosensitive material 30 by the imaging optical system 28.

The imaging optical system 28 is a reduction optical system,
30 is divided into several areas, and the photosensitive material is moved by the moving means 32.
It is possible to perform a multi-imaging process in which the movement of 30 is controlled and an image is printed in a continuously divided area.
The image forming optical system may be a magnifying optical system depending on the purpose of the image to be printed.

As the photosensitive material 30, silver salt sensitive material, instant sensitive material, IS
Although various materials such as O100 sensitive material can be used, in the printing apparatus having the above-described structure, even if the material is a high-sensitivity photosensitive material, the characteristics of the photosensitive material are sufficiently extracted to obtain a high-definition image. It is possible.

As is clear from the above description, the image data generator
The image data supplied from the image recording unit 29 to the image recording unit 29 is obtained by converting a gradation image (multi-valued image) into binary image data, and the binary image data is used to generate a multi-valued image on the photosensitive material 30. Next, a method of forming an image will be described.

FIGS. 4a and 4b are explanatory views showing the concept of expressing a multi-valued image by binary image data.

As shown in FIG. 4a, when an image is viewed in a certain area, for example, a multi-valued image having 0th gradation 0A to 9th gradation 9A is formed by connecting several gradation parts continuously. Has been done. Therefore, this area is divided into smaller areas as shown in FIG.
The matrix is divided into 3 × 3 matrixes, each of which is represented by a binary value of 1 or 0, and the 0th gradation from 0A to the 9th floor is represented by the number of 1s (the number of hatched portions in the figure). It is intended to express 10 gradations consisting of key 9A. A gradation image can be printed by continuously exposing the minute area while moving the photosensitive material 30 sequentially.

Further, this minute area can be recorded continuously so that the boundary lines are in contact with each other, or in some cases, the boundary lines may be slightly overlapped, and this control is performed by the control of the moving means 32. It can be easily implemented.

Here, the image data generating device 31 is, for example, a computer for image processing, and is read from various media carrying images by a known image reading device, or software for simulation directly by a computer for image processing. The desired image information is generated using software, processed by the image processing computer, and then the image recording unit 29
Can be reproduced on the photosensitive material 30.

Although the present invention has been described above with reference to the preferred embodiments, the present invention is not limited to these embodiments, and various improvements and design changes can be made without departing from the scope of the present invention. Of course.

For example, a small liquid crystal panel for a viewfinder can be used as the liquid crystal shutter matrix panel 26, and a color liquid crystal panel can be used as the liquid crystal shutter matrix panel 26, or a color rotating filter or the like can be used to print a color image. It is possible to stack three colors.

Further, it is possible to use an optical fiber bundle as the image forming optical system 28 to guide the image on the liquid crystal shutter matrix panel to the photosensitive material 30, or to provide a plurality of image forming optical systems 28 to increase the speed. It is also possible to achieve

According to the present invention, the liquid crystal shutter matrix panel is illuminated by the illuminating means, and the shutter of the liquid crystal shutter matrix panel is driven by the signal from the image data generating means to form an image by the liquid crystal shutter matrix panel. Since this image is formed on the photosensitive material by the image forming means, the structure is relatively simple and the cost can be reduced. The exposure of the photosensitive material can be carried out at a time with the surface of the liquid crystal shutter matrix panel as a unit, and the exposure speed, that is, the printing speed can be increased.

Further, a multi-imaging process is possible in which the liquid crystal shutter matrix panel and the photosensitive material are moved relative to each other, the liquid crystal shutter matrix panel is sequentially positioned at a predetermined position on the photosensitive material, and a continuous image is formed on the photosensitive material. Furthermore, by using coherent light as the illumination means, compared to the conventional printer using a CRT, the loss of light is small and the light utilization efficiency is good,
There is an advantage that the exposure speed (print speed) can be increased.
In addition, a bright liquid crystal shutter matrix panel can be used, and a photosensitive material with good photosensitivity can be used.
High-definition images can be obtained.

In the present invention, the image data generating means is an electronic computer such as a microcomputer, and the processing of the original image such as erasing the background image, line drawing processing, blur correction, etc. is digitally processed by the image data generating means. Therefore, a high-definition image can be obtained with a simple configuration.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a configuration diagram of an image printing apparatus using a liquid crystal shutter matrix panel according to the present invention, FIG. 2 is a side sectional view of a liquid crystal shutter matrix panel, and FIG. 3 is a liquid crystal shutter matrix. 4A and 4B are plan views showing the electrode structure of the panel, and FIGS. 4A and 4B are explanatory views showing the concept of expressing a multi-valued image by binary image data. 10 …… Image printing device 22 …… Illumination means 26 …… Liquid crystal shutter matrix panel 28 …… Imaging optical system, 29 …… Image recording unit 30 …… Photosensitive material, 31 …… Image data generator 32 …… Moving means

Claims (1)

(57) [Claims] 1. A liquid crystal shutter matrix panel, an illuminating means for illuminating the liquid crystal shutter matrix panel from the back side, a photosensitive material which is arranged to face the illuminating means with the liquid crystal shutter matrix panel interposed therebetween, and the liquid crystal shutter. Moving means for controlling relative movement of the matrix panel and the photosensitive material in the vertical and horizontal directions; driving means for driving the shutter of the liquid crystal shutter matrix panel; image data generating means for generating image data; An image forming means for forming an image formed by a shutter matrix panel on the photosensitive material, the moving means relatively moves the liquid crystal shutter matrix panel and the photosensitive material, and a liquid crystal shutter matrix panel Position on the photosensitive material in sequence. Placed, based on the image data from the image data generating means,
The drive means drives the shutter of the liquid crystal shutter matrix panel, and the image formed by the liquid crystal shutter matrix panel is imaged on the photosensitive material by the image forming means to be continuously formed on the photosensitive material. Image printing apparatus using a liquid crystal shutter matrix panel, which is characterized by performing a multi-imaging process for forming a formed image.