JP2830729B2 - Image display method - 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 display method,
In particular, the present invention relates to an image display method for displaying color image information converted into an electric signal as a visible image that can be visually recognized.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, as an image display device for displaying data such as a computer, a facsimile, a scanner, etc., a CRT, a liquid crystal display, a plasma display, an LED, etc.
2. Description of the Related Art Devices such as display devices that have no moving parts and operate only by electrical means are known.

In addition, a belt-shaped photoconductor or dielectric is used as an image carrier, and a printing material such as toner is selectively adhered to the surface of the photoconductor or dielectric according to the above data. An image display device for displaying the image is proposed and partially put into practical use.

Further, there has been proposed an image display apparatus which uses a pixel constituting member including a printing material having a magnetic property and displays the image by selectively inverting or moving the printing material in accordance with the above data.

[0005] However, an apparatus that operates only by electrical means without a mechanically movable part is expensive in applications such as large-screen image display or temporary still image display.
Maintenance is troublesome, and its installation takes time.

On the other hand, in an image display device using a belt-shaped photoreceptor or a dielectric or an image display device using a pixel constituting member including a printing material having magnetic properties, a relatively large screen image display or a still image display is performed. Although it is easy, there is a problem that color display cannot be performed or a display surface is dark.

[0007] In addition, the use of a photoreceptor poses technical problems such as light resistance during display and characteristic deterioration associated therewith, manufacturing cost when the screen is enlarged, and uniform characteristics.

Accordingly, as a method of displaying a color image, a fine stripe or mosaic color pattern such as red, green and blue is provided on an image carrier on which an image is formed, and these color patterns are displayed. JP-A-59-2295 discloses a method for displaying a color image by appropriately covering the toner.
No. 78 discloses this.

[0009]

However, according to the method described in the above-mentioned Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 59-229578,
A fixed needle electrode is opposed to each color pattern to which a voltage is applied on the image carrier, and the image carrier is accurately transferred to form an electrostatic image and adhere toner. In addition, high-precision alignment between each color pattern on the image carrier and the fixed needle electrode is required.

[0010] Also, in the production of each color pattern provided on the image carrier, it is difficult and expensive to align the electrode and the color pattern or to route each color from the common electrode to each pattern when there are three or more colors. Met. (1) A technique proposed and improved to solve such a problem has been disclosed. For example, a technique described in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. Sho 61-290479 is one of them. However, this is different from the technology disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. A conductive layer is provided on an image carrier to form an electrostatic layer by light.
It is intended to display a color image even when two or more corresponding light sources are combined using at least two or more kinds of narrow band light transmitting filters.

However, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 61-2904 describes the above.
As can be seen from the description of Japanese Patent Publication No. 79, the process becomes very complicated and expensive members are used, which cannot be put to practical use.

In addition, there has been proposed a technique of forming a color image by selectively adhering toner corresponding to a pattern on a dielectric image carrier having a simple stripe pattern of each color without an electrode. is there.

[0013] However, similarly to the above-mentioned problem, since high-precision toner adhesion accuracy is required for each color pattern, especially when a belt-shaped image carrier is used, it is necessary to maintain the transport accuracy. With difficulty. Further, since the toner is adhered to the surface having the color pattern, the durability in terms of color reproducibility remains questionable.

The present invention has been made in view of the above-mentioned conventional circumstances, and accordingly, an object of the present invention is to provide a novel image display method capable of solving the above-mentioned problems inherent in the prior art. Is to do.

[0015]

In order to achieve the above object, an image display method according to the present invention comprises the steps of: forming a regular repeating pattern of at least two light-transmitting colors having non-light-transmitting portions on the surface; Using the translucent image carrier formed in,
A non-translucent printing material is selectively adhered to the surface of the translucent image carrier in accordance with the repetitive pattern, and the translucent image carrier to which the non-transmissive printing material is adhered is illuminated by a backlight. Thus, a color image is displayed.

[0016]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Preferred embodiments of the present invention will be specifically described below with reference to the drawings.

FIGS. 1 and 2 are partial plan views showing the structure of a translucent image carrier used in the present invention and 2-2 'in FIG.
FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view taken along a line and viewed in a direction of an arrow, and shows a pattern formed on a surface of a glass substrate 11 serving as a base material of the translucent image carrier 10 in FIGS. The light-transmitting fine red R, green G, and blue B are regularly and repeatedly arranged, and a black non-light-transmitting portion (black matrix) 12 is formed between these colors. . The regular repetition shown here is a mosaic pattern arrangement.

FIG. 2 is a diagram showing a cross-sectional structure of the translucent image carrier.

Referring to FIG. 2, thin layers of red R, green G, and blue B are regularly and repeatedly arranged on a glass substrate 11 serving as a base material of a translucent image carrier. Has a black matrix 12 interposed therebetween. An overcoat layer 13 is formed on the thin layer of each color and the black matrix 12. Further, the glass substrate 1
On the surface opposite to the surface on which the repetitive pattern is formed, a dielectric layer 14 as an electrostatic recording layer is formed.

There are various methods for producing a repetitive color pattern on the glass substrate 11, and an organic filter using an organic material as a coloring layer, an inorganic filter using an inorganic material, and a combined filter using a combination thereof are roughly classified. There are known ways to do this.

As a production method using an organic filter, there are a dyeing method, a dispersion method, a printing method, an electrodeposition method and the like, and a multilayer interference film method is known for an inorganic filter.

The size of each of the red R, green G, and blue B is, for example, 80 to 200 μm.
An example of μm × 150 μm is shown. The interval between the colors is about 30 to 50 μm.

As the dielectric layer 14, a translucent resin layer made of PET (polyethylene terephthalate), polyethylene, polystyrene, polyester, or the like having a thickness of 20 to 30 μm is used.

Next, an image display method using the translucent image carrier having such a configuration will be described.

[0025]

Embodiment 1 FIGS. 3A, 3B and 4 are schematic views for explaining a first embodiment of the image display method according to the present invention.

Referring to FIG. 3A, FIG. 3B and FIG.
The dielectric layer 1 of the translucent image carrier 10 is
The surface 40 is provided with a charge 40 selectively in accordance with the image data in accordance with the position and size of each color pattern provided on the surface, and a non-surface is provided on the surface of the dielectric layer 14 to which the charge 40 is provided. Black toner 41 which is a translucent printing material
To adhere.

Here, as an example of a method for selectively applying charges to the dielectric layer 14, an example using a contact type electrostatic head 15 has been shown (FIG. 3A). The black toner 41 is a toner having a main resin of about 7 to 12 μm of polyester, polystyrene, and styrene-acryl copolymer used in an ordinary electrophotographic process.

In FIG. 3B, the toner 41 is attached to a position corresponding to a position other than the reverse green G pattern position. Adhesion of the toner 41 to impart charge to the dielectric layer surface, bias charges the toner 41 to impart a charge polarity opposite polarity to the dielectric layer plane, it is further applied to the surface location and the toner transfer body 18 by applying a charge ( Bias power supply 2 in FIG.
By forming an electric field according to 2), the toner 41 is formed only on the surface of the dielectric layer to which the electric charge is applied according to the image data.
Will adhere.

The light-transmissive image carrier 10 to which the toner 41 has been attached in this manner is then irradiated with a backlight from the side having the surface having each color pattern. The backlight includes various types of incandescent lamps, LEDs, ELs, fluorescent lamps, flat fluorescent lamps, and the like.

FIG. 4 shows an example in which the cold cathode lamp 23 of the fluorescent lamps is used.

Here, a structure in which light sources are arranged at both ends of the translucent image carrier 10 and the transparent acrylic plate is used as the light guide 24 is shown. The surroundings of the light guide 24 and the fluorescent lamp 23 as a light source are covered with a reflector 25 so that light does not leak. For more effective and uniform illumination, the light guide 2
It is also a method that is effective to execute a diffusion process or to provide a Fresnel prism, a multilayer thin plate, and the like in the fourth embodiment.

The hacklight is irradiated from the side of the translucent image carrier 10 having the respective color patterns on the surface side as shown in FIG. 4 by bringing the backlight surface and the color pattern surface closer together. When the light that has passed through the color pattern is viewed from the side opposite to the backlight, the light that passes through the color pattern, which corresponds to the portion that is blocked by the toner, is made as invisible as possible, and clear color reproduction can be achieved. This is because it can be done.

In this way, the light-transmitting image carrier 10 illuminated by the backlight can see only the light that has passed through the green pattern when viewed from the side opposite to the backlight. Green will be displayed.

After the display is completed, the toner 41 adhering to the dielectric layer 14 of the translucent image carrier 10 is removed by an elastic blade 36 such as urethane as shown in FIG.

Further, the charge remaining on the dielectric layer 14 is removed by the charge removing section 37. Thereby, the translucent image carrier 1
0 becomes usable again.

Further, the removing step as shown in FIG. 5 does not need to be performed immediately after the image display, but may be performed immediately before starting the next step for displaying another image.

This is because, in the present image display method, there is no particular problem in the process even if the image is displayed or left for a long time with the toner adhered to the translucent image carrier.

[0038]

Embodiment 2 Next, a second embodiment according to the present invention will be described.

FIG. 6 is a schematic sectional view showing a sectional structure of a translucent image carrier used in the second embodiment according to the present invention.

Referring to FIG. 6, a dielectric layer 14 made of PET or the like is used.
A red, green, and blue pattern is superposed on the surface of the weather-resistant translucent image carrier 10 as shown in the figure to form a regular repeating pattern and a non-translucent black matrix having a three-color superimposed portion. A portion 12 'is formed. Again, the overcoat layer 13 is provided on each color pattern. In this case, as the color pattern manufacturing method, various methods are known as in the first embodiment, but a printing method is suitable for using the resin film as the light-transmitting image carrier base material.

Since the substrate is a resin-made translucent image carrier, the substrate itself can be used as an electrostatic recording layer.

The arrangement of each color pattern is of a triangle type as shown in FIG. This is the first
In the mosaic type shown in the embodiment of the present invention, the black matrix part is a vertical line, and when the image is viewed, the line is conspicuous, whereas the triangle type is a pattern in which the black vertical line is not connected. is there.

The translucent image carrier 10 having such a configuration is fixed in a plate shape by a peripheral frame, and a non-contact type electric head 27 is formed on a surface having no color pattern as shown in FIG. And selectively apply charges 40 to the surface in accordance with the arrangement and size of the color pattern according to the image data.

Here, the electric charge 40 is given to a position other than the red pattern position.

Next, using a colored toner, which is a non-translucent printing material charged to the same polarity as the charge 40 selectively applied to the surface of the translucent image bearing member 10, is basically not charged. A colored toner is adhered to the surface. FIG. 9 shows this state.

In this case, similarly to the first embodiment, by forming an electric field between the toner carrier 18 and the translucent image carrier 10, the transfer and adhesion of the faithful and clear toner corresponding to the image data are performed. Is realized.

Here, as the color toner, a gray toner having no translucency is used. This is because it is also possible to make the toner less noticeable at the time of fusing or infiltration into the portion due to flaws or deterioration due to repeated use of the resin image carrier.

By irradiating the translucent image carrier 10 on which the toner has been selectively adhered in this manner by EL from the surface opposite to the toner adhering surface side as shown in FIG. Will be displayed. EL
Is a device that emits light by applying a high electric field to a dielectric layer in which a powder phosphor is dispersed.

This is because the toner adheres only to the portion corresponding to the red pattern position, so that the backlight light passes through the green and blue patterns, respectively, resulting in a cyan color due to a mixture of the two colors. is there.

Here, the reason why the EL as the backlight is irradiated from the surface opposite to the toner adhering surface is also for the same reason as explained in the first embodiment.

After the display or before the next different image forming process, the toner 41 adhered on the translucent image carrier is removed from the image carrier 10 by using a cleaning elastic blade 36 or a brush as shown in FIG. Removed.

Further, static elimination of the toner adhering surface of the translucent image carrier 10 is also performed.

In the cleaning performed before the next different image forming process, not only the removal of the adhered toner and the removal of the toner after removing the toner on the toner-adhered surface, but also the cleaning or static elimination of the backlight irradiation surface side is performed. This is effective for the next clear image formation and display.

Although the first and second embodiments have been described above, the translucent image carrier 1 used in the present invention is described.
The arrangement of each color of the regular repeating color pattern of 0 is not limited to these, and it is needless to say that the arrangement shown in the stripe type of FIG. 11 or the four-pixel arrangement type of FIG. It is not limited to.

[0055]

Embodiment 3 Next, a third embodiment according to the present invention will be described.

As the translucent image carrier used in the third embodiment, the same one as used in the first embodiment is used.

Next, a developing device as shown in FIG. 13 is used to adhere the toner 41 to the translucent image carrier 10 in accordance with the image data corresponding to the arrangement and size of each color pattern.

This is not a process of selectively applying a charge to the surface of a light-transmitting image carrier and attaching a charged toner corresponding to the charge state as described in the first or second embodiment. Is selectively formed on the toner carrier 18, and the toner 41 on the toner carrier 18 is simultaneously transferred to the image carrier 10 at a position facing the image carrier 10.
It is to move to the side.

The selective formation of the toner layer on the developing toner carrier 18 can be achieved by changing the voltage applied to the developing blade 32 so that the electric field between the developing blade 32 and the toner carrier 18 changes and passes through the gap. The toner is formed by changing the charge amount and the supply amount of the toner.

Therefore, the moving relationship between the translucent image carrier 10 and the toner carrier 18 is one-to-one. In addition to the method using the developing blade voltage control shown here, a number of fine width electrodes are provided on a fixed sleeve with a built-in rotating mag roll, and a selective toner layer is provided by controlling the power supply applied to each electrode. And transported.

The translucent image carrier 10 to which the toner has been attached in this manner is illuminated by a backlight using a fluorescent lamp as in the first embodiment, and an image is displayed. Then, after the display or before the next different image formation, the toner 41 is removed from the surface of the translucent image carrier 10.

In any of the above embodiments, the toner removed by the removal of the adhered toner after the display or before the formation of the next different image can be used again as a non-translucent seal material for adhesion.

As the backlight, examples of the fluorescent lamp and the EL are shown, but the present invention is not particularly limited to this, and an incandescent lamp, an LED or the like may be used as described above.

In each of the embodiments, the three color patterns of red, green, and blue are used. However, the color pattern may be another desired color, or may be any two colors. 4
A multicolor pattern such as five colors may be used.

However, there is an advantage that a full-color image can be expressed by using the above three colors.

Although the black toner and the gray toner have been described as examples of the non-translucent printing material, other color toners may be used in the case of other color patterns.

Further, the toner is shown as a non-translucent stamp material, which is not only a powder toner but also a liquid toner,
High viscosity toner may be used.

The toner conveying method is not limited to the one-component developing method, but may be a two-component developing method. Further, the toner may be conductive, insulating, magnetic, non-magnetic, or in any combination.

[0069]

As described above, according to the present invention, the following effects can be obtained.

1. The provision of a non-translucent portion, a so-called black matrix portion, in the regularly repeated color pattern eliminates the need to improve the accuracy of the non-translucent printing material attachment position size. Transfer accuracy can be reduced.

2. Even in the production of a regularly repeated color pattern on the translucent image carrier base material, the presence of the non-translucent portion can reduce the positional accuracy of each color pattern.

3. It is not necessary to provide an electrode for the color pattern, and not only can the cost be reduced, but also the screen size can be increased and maintenance and replacement can be easily performed.

4.1 A simple process of simply selectively attaching a non-translucent printing material of one color and a full-color image display can be easily realized only by simple backlight irradiation.

5. Although the overcoat layer is provided on the surface having the color pattern, the flatness of the surface also has a problem in mechanical durability.
By performing the process on the reverse side without removing, the image carrier is excellent in durability and color reproducibility.

6. Since the side having the non-light-transmitting portion and the side having the color pattern is illuminated with the backlight, faithful color reproduction is realized.

7. By removing the attached toner after the display or before the next different image formation, the translucent image carrier and the toner can be used any number of times, and the running cost can be greatly reduced.

8. Since the color pattern has a non-light-transmitting portion, color reproduction and sharpness are superior in image quality as compared with a color pattern having no light-transmitting portion. There is no concern about insufficient luminance when displaying an image, since it is sufficient to cope with an increase in luminance within about 5% of the backlight light source, and there is no problem.

9. By using a plate-shaped translucent image carrier, the belt-shaped image carrier, which has been proposed and put into practical use, has been very difficult to maintain its transport accuracy, and it is difficult to achieve high-precision transport. Support shaft by rotation,
Dirt due to contact with the drive shaft, rubbing, etc., cracks are easily generated and the translucency is drastically reduced, replacement is troublesome, manufacturing cost is high, equipment tends to be large,
Many problems such as high-quality images and stable image formation can be easily realized.

10. Due to the plate-shaped image carrier, it is easy to match the toner attachment position and size with the color pattern, and when combined with the reduction in accuracy due to the presence of non-light-transmitting parts, image display using a higher density color pattern is realized it can.

11. It can be easily realized from a small screen to a large screen.
Can be used everywhere indoors.

Once the toner is applied, the image can be displayed for a long period of time without performing the image forming process again and without particularly performing the maintenance of the apparatus.

As described above, the image display method according to the present invention, which has many advantages, has great effects and characteristics.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a plan view showing an example of a translucent image carrier (mosaic type) used in a first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view of the translucent image carrier taken along a line 2-2 ′ in FIG. 1 and viewed in a direction of an arrow.

FIGS. 3A and 3B are diagrams for explaining a first embodiment according to the present invention, wherein FIG. 3A illustrates a case where an electrostatic head is used for a dielectric layer of a translucent image carrier. FIG. 4 is an explanatory view showing a step of applying a charge, and FIG. 4B is a cross-sectional view of a developing device for explaining a step of attaching a toner to the charge applied to a dielectric layer surface.

FIG. 4 is a view for explaining the first embodiment of the present invention, and is a cross-sectional view of a step of irradiating a backlight to the translucent image carrier.

FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view illustrating a step of removing toner adhered on the dielectric layer after the display is completed in the first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a sectional view showing a translucent image carrier used in a second embodiment according to the present invention.

FIG. 7 is a plan view of a translucent image carrier (triangle type) used in a second embodiment according to the present invention.

FIG. 8 is a cross-sectional view for explaining a step of forming an electrostatic latent image in a second embodiment according to the present invention.

FIG. 9 is a cross-sectional view for explaining a step of attaching a colored toner to a surface to which no charge is applied in the second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 10 is a cross-sectional view for explaining a process of displaying a cyan image by irradiating a translucent image carrier as a backlight using EL in a second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 11 is a plan view showing another embodiment (stripe type) of a translucent image carrier.

FIG. 12 is a plan view showing still another embodiment (pixel arrangement type) of a translucent image carrier.

FIG. 13 is a cross-sectional view for explaining a third embodiment according to the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 ... Translucent image carrier 11 ... Glass substrate 12, 12 '... Black matrix 13 ... Overcoat layer 14 ... Dielectric layer (PET) 15 ... Electrostatic head 16 ... Electrostatic head controller 17 ... Image data 18 ... Toner conveyance Body 19 Brush 21 Cleaner 22 Bias power supply 23 Fluorescent lamp (cold cathode) 24 Light guide 25 Reflector 27 Electrostatic head 28 Corona power supply 29 Shield power supply 30 Control power supply 31 Image Data 32: developing blade 33: developing blade voltage controller 34: image data 35: toner carrier power supply 36: cleaning elastic blade 40: electric charge 41: toner

Claims (3)

(57) [Claims] 1. A repetitive pattern using a light-transmissive image carrier having on its surface at least two light-transmissive finely- regulated and repetitive patterns having a non-light-transmitting portion of a black matrix. In response to the above, a non-translucent printing material is selectively adhered to an electrostatic recording layer formed on the surface of the translucent image carrier, and the translucent image carrier having the non-translucent printing material adhered thereto. An image display method, wherein a color image is displayed by irradiating with a backlight. 2. The image display method according to claim 1 , wherein the light-transmissive image carrier has a plate shape. 3. An image display method according to any one of claim 1 to 2, further characterized by recycling the non-translucent stamp material.