JP3230450B2 - Printer head, method of driving printer head, optical printer, and method of driving optical printer - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION The present inventors have proposed to use an optical printer using a fluorescent display tube as a light source in order to form an image on a recording medium such as a photosensitive film in a color video printer or the like. I have. The present invention relates to such an optical printer, a printer head used in the optical printer, and a method of driving these optical printers. In particular, the present invention relates to a printer head having two sets of light-emitting lines in which light-emitting dots are arranged in a staggered manner, and forming an image by overlapping and exposing dot-shaped light from both lines onto a recording medium. Things.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art FIG. 7 shows an optical printer proposed by the present applicant. This optical printer 1 performs writing on a color film 3 as a recording medium with light of three primary colors obtained from a fluorescent light emitting tube 2 as a printer head as a light source and color filters R, G, B that can be switched. This is to form a full-color image. For example, this optical printer 1
Is driven by a digital color image signal obtained from a video device or the like, and can be used as a color video printer that prints an image on a color film 3 in full color.

An optical printer 1 has a head 4 as shown in FIG. The head 4 moves along a sub-scanning direction indicated by an arrow A with respect to the color film 3 as a recording medium set at a predetermined position. The head 4 includes a fluorescent light emitting tube 2 which is a printer head, and three color filters R, G, and B which can be switched with respect to the fluorescent light emitting tube 2,
It has a single optical system including a lens 6 and reflecting mirrors 7 provided at positions corresponding to the light emitting section of the fluorescent light emitting tube 2.

The head 4 of the optical printer 1 reciprocates in the sub-scanning direction A with respect to the color film 3 by moving means. The moving means includes a guiding means (not shown) for guiding the head 4 so as to be movable in the sub-scanning direction, a pair of pulleys 9, 9 around which a belt 8 is wound, and a drive motor 10 for rotating one of the pulleys 9, 9. Have. Drive motor 1
When the drive belt 8 is driven to circulate the drive belt 8, the head 4 fixed to the drive belt 8 can be moved along the sub-scanning direction A by being guided by the guide means.

[0005] The head 4 is provided with a fluorescent light emitting tube 2 as a light source. The fluorescent light-emitting tube 2 has a substantially rectangular parallelepiped envelope 13 formed by sealing a box-shaped container portion 12 to a translucent rectangular substrate 11. The inside of the envelope 13 is evacuated to a high vacuum state. The container section 12 is provided with a shielding film for blocking invasion of external light.

On the inner surface of the substrate 11, a large number of light emitting dots 14 are formed in a line at predetermined intervals along the longitudinal direction of the substrate 11. Light emitting dot 14 in the example of FIG.
Is composed of a light-transmitting dot-shaped anode conductor provided in a row on the substrate 11 and a phosphor layer adhered to each anode conductor. The arrangement direction of the light emitting dots 14 is parallel to the main scanning direction orthogonal to the sub-scanning direction A which is the moving direction of the head. Below the light emitting dots 14, a linear cathode 15 as an electron source is provided along the main scanning direction.

[0007] The anode conductor of each light emitting dot 14 is independently drawn out of the envelope, and can be statically driven by independently applying a drive signal. The phosphor layer of each light emitting dot 14 is made of ZnO: Zn phosphor. Since the emission spectrum of the ZnO: Zn phosphor has a very wide range, three primary colors of red, green and blue can be extracted by the color filters R, G and B. The dot-like light emitted from the light emitting dots 14 passes through the anode conductor and the substrate 11 and is irradiated to the outside of the substrate 11.

The head 4 has color filters R,
G and B are provided. Color filters R, G, B
Is disposed near the outer surface of the substrate 11 of the fluorescent light emitting tube 2 and is movable in the sub-scanning direction. If the positions of the color filters R, G, and B are switched, the emission dot 1
The type of the color filters R, G, and B through which the light emitted from 4 passes can be arbitrarily set.

The mechanism described above is housed in a casing (not shown). A color film 3 as a recording medium is accommodated in the housing. A plurality of color films 3 are held at predetermined positions, and when writing with light is completed, the color films 3 are sandwiched between spread rollers 16 and discharged out of the housing.

A procedure for forming a full-color image on the color film 3 using the optical printer 1 will be described. The fluorescent tube 2 is driven based on each image signal of an image separated into three primary colors, and the head 4 is moved in the sub-scanning direction in synchronization with the driving. At this time, a color filter (R, G, or B) of a primary color corresponding to the drive signal is set in the light emitting dot 14 of the fluorescent light emitting tube 2 of the head 4. Perform the above operation for each of the three primary colors,
Three images separated into three primary colors are written on the photosensitive surface of one color film 3 in an overlapping manner. That is, a full color image is formed on the color film 3 by performing three scans while switching the types of the color filters R, G, and B.

In the printer head of the optical printer described above, a plurality of light emitting dots are arranged in a line at a predetermined interval. As a printer head of an optical printer,
In addition, a fluorescent display tube 20 of a duplex drive type as shown in FIG. 8 can be used. In this fluorescent display tube 20, a plurality of light emitting dots 21 having phosphors are arranged in a staggered manner, and odd-numbered light emitting dots 21a and even-numbered light emitting dots 21 are arranged.
b, and the odd-numbered light emitting dots 21 adjacent to each other
a and two even-numbered light emitting dots 21 b are connected to a common driver 22. And this fluorescent display tube 20
Include the odd-numbered light emitting dots 21a and the even-numbered light emitting dots 21
A selection electrode 23 for selecting any one of b is provided. The selection electrode 23 is connected to the odd-numbered light emitting dots 21a.
And a center shield 24 disposed between the light emitting dots 21b and the even-numbered light emitting dots 21b, and two selective shields 25 and 26 disposed outside the odd-numbered light emitting dots 21a and the even-numbered light emitting dots 21b, respectively.

The operation of the duplex drive type fluorescent display tube 20 will be described. The odd-numbered light emitting dots 21a and the even-numbered light emitting dots 21b are alternately selected by the selection electrodes 23, and the driver 2 is synchronized with this operation.
2 gives a drive signal to the light emitting dot 21. Fluorescent display tube 2
Since the head 4 moves in the sub-scanning direction in synchronization with the operation 0, the dot-shaped light from the odd-numbered light-emitting dots 21a and the dot-shaped light from the even-numbered light-emitting dots 21b travel along the main scanning direction. They can be arranged on the same straight line on the color film 3 without gaps. By performing scanning a plurality of times while switching the types of the color filters R, G, and B, a full-color image is formed on the color film 3.

R, G, B generally used in optical printers
Are different in film sensitivity, filter transmittance, and light source luminance. FIG. 9 shows an example of an emission spectrum of a phosphor (ZnO: Zn phosphor) included in a fluorescent tube of the optical printer and sensitivity characteristics of the color film emulsion for each color. As can be seen from this figure, the light emitted by the phosphor of the fluorescent arc tube has a large G component, and this color film has high G and B sensitivities.

FIG. 10 shows the spectral transmittance of the color filters R, G, and B of the optical printer 1. In FIG. 9, the intensity or sensitivity of the R light is relatively small with respect to G and B, but the transmittance of the R light is increased in the spectral transmittance of the color filters R, G and B shown in FIG.

FIG. 11 is obtained from FIGS. 9 and 10, and shows the relationship between the wavelength and the effective color in the optical printer 1. FIG. As described above, despite the fact that the transmittance of the R filter is increased, the emission spectrum of the light source and the sensitivity characteristics of the emulsion of the color film are greatly affected.
(Green) is the strongest, B (blue) is the next strongest, and R (red) is the weakest.

Accordingly, the amount of exposure when the same power supply is used for the same time period is approximately 1: 4: 2 between RGB. Conventionally, by controlling the anode voltage of the fluorescent display tube when each of RGB emits light, the white balance is adjusted by adjusting the luminance of each color to 4: 1: 2, and the scanning speed and the number of scans are changed. This changed the exposure time and adjusted the white balance.

[0017]

As described above, since the relationship between the wavelength and the effective coloring is not constant for each of the R, G, and B colors, a conventional optical printer or printer head requires one exposure time. If constant, R, G,
The white balance was adjusted by changing the anode voltage of the fluorescent display tube at the time of emission of each color B. In order to perform such control using the anode voltage, a circuit for changing the voltage of the power supply of the fluorescent display tube to an arbitrary value is required, and there has been a problem that the power supply circuit becomes complicated.

In the method of adjusting the white balance by changing the exposure time for each color by changing the number of scans, the sequence of device control becomes complicated. In addition, since the number of R scans is increased, the time required for forming an image (print time) is increased.

In the method of adjusting the white balance by changing the exposure time for each color by changing the scanning speed in accordance with the sensitivity of the film for each color, the mechanical mechanism of the device for making the exposure speed variable. Due to the cause, there is a problem that a dot-like seam of light becomes conspicuous as a line-like pattern and image quality is deteriorated.

The present invention has been made in view of the above-mentioned problems of the conventional optical printer, and has a high image quality, a short printing speed, and a simple structure and control of the apparatus. It is an object of the present invention to provide a printer and a method for driving the printer.

[0021]

According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a printer head in which a plurality of light-emitting dots are arranged in a staggered manner to form two rows of odd-numbered light-emitting dots and even-numbered light-emitting dots. 2 of the side emission dot and the even side emission dot
A first light emitting line connected for each dot, a first driver for providing a display signal for every two adjacent odd number light emitting dots and even number light emitting dots connected in the first light emitting line; A first selection electrode for selecting one of the odd-numbered light-emitting dots and the even-numbered light-emitting dots in the light-emitting line, and two rows of odd-numbered light-emitting dots and even-numbered light-emitting dots in which a plurality of light-emitting dots are arranged in a staggered manner. And two adjacent odd-numbered light emitting dots and even-numbered light emitting dots
A second light emitting line connected for each dot, a second driver for providing a display signal for every two adjacent odd-numbered light emitting dots and even-numbered light emitting dots connected in the second light emitting line; An image memory for storing image data for driving the light-emitting dots, in a printer head having a second selection electrode for selecting one of the odd-numbered light-emitting dots and the even-numbered light-emitting dots in the light-emitting lines; A circuit for halving the image data stored in the image memory, a control unit for reading the image data from the image memory and applying the image data to the first light emitting line and the second light emitting line, and reading the image data from the image memory. An address for giving an offset corresponding to a distance between the first light emitting line and the second light emitting line to a read address of the image memory. Characterized in that a selector.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, there is provided a printer head comprising:
2. The printer head according to claim 1, wherein an image memory for storing image data, a correction memory for storing image correction data, and the image data in the image memory being stored in the first memory.
And a control unit for supplying the correction data of the correction memory to the second light emitting line in synchronization with the second light emitting line.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, there is provided an optical printer, comprising: a recording medium on which an image is formed by light irradiation; a printer head for selectively irradiating the recording medium with dot light;
An optical printer comprising: a moving unit that relatively moves the printer head and the recording medium; and a control unit that drives the moving unit and the printer head in synchronization with each other. The odd-numbered light-emitting dots and the even-numbered light-emitting dots
A first light-emitting line that forms a row and is connected every two adjacent odd-numbered light-emitting dots and even-numbered light-emitting dots;
A first driver for providing a display signal for each adjacent odd-numbered light-emitting dot and even-numbered light-emitting dot connected in the first light-emitting line; and one of the odd-numbered light-emitting dot and the even-numbered light-emitting dot in the first light-emitting line The first to choose one
, And a plurality of light emitting dots are arranged in a staggered manner to form two rows of odd side light emitting dots and even side light emitting dots.
A second light-emitting line connected for every two adjacent odd-numbered light-emitting dots and even-numbered light-emitting dots, and a display signal for each adjacent odd-numbered light-emitting dot and even-numbered light-emitting dot connected in the second light-emitting line And a second selection electrode for selecting one of the odd-numbered light emitting dots and the even-numbered light emitting dots in the second light emitting line.

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, there is provided a method of driving a printer head, wherein a plurality of light emitting dots are arranged in a staggered manner to form two rows of odd side light emitting dots and even number side light emitting dots, and adjacent odd number side light emitting dots. And a first light emitting line connected every two dots of the even-numbered light emitting dots, and a display signal for giving a display signal for every two adjacent odd numbered light emitting dots and even numbered light emitting dots connected in the first light emitting line. One driver, a first selection electrode for selecting one of the odd-numbered light-emitting dots and the even-numbered light-emitting dots in the first light-emitting line, and an odd-numbered light-emitting dot in which a plurality of light-emitting dots are arranged in a staggered manner. Two rows of even-numbered light-emitting dots are formed, and a second light-emitting line connected for every two adjacent odd-numbered light-emitting dots and even-numbered light-emitting dots is connected to the second light-emitting line. A second driver for providing a display signal for every two dots of odd-numbered light-emitting dots and even-numbered light-emitting dots, and a second driver for selecting one of the odd-numbered light-emitting dots and the even-numbered light-emitting dots in the second light-emitting line. A selection electrode, an image memory for storing image data for driving the light emitting dots, a control unit for reading image data from the image memory and applying the read image data to the first light emitting line and the second light emitting line, When reading image data from a memory, a printing medium having an address selector for giving an offset corresponding to an interval between the first light emitting line and the second light emitting line to a read address of the image memory is used for a recording medium. In a method of driving a printer head for forming an image, the same image is previously printed on the first light emitting line and the second light emitting line. Superimposed on the same position of the recording medium, characterized in that two exposures.

According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, there is provided a method of driving a printer head for forming an image on a recording medium using the printer head according to the first aspect. A half-value image data is given to each of the line and the second light-emitting line, and exposure is performed at the same position on the recording medium.

According to a sixth aspect of the present invention, in the method of driving a printer head, a plurality of light-emitting dots are arranged in a staggered pattern to form two rows of odd-numbered light-emitting dots and even-numbered light-emitting dots. And a first light emitting line connected every two dots of the even-numbered light emitting dots, and a display signal for giving a display signal for every two adjacent odd numbered light emitting dots and even numbered light emitting dots connected in the first light emitting line. One driver, a first selection electrode for selecting one of the odd-numbered light-emitting dots and the even-numbered light-emitting dots in the first light-emitting line, and an odd-numbered light-emitting dot in which a plurality of light-emitting dots are arranged in a staggered manner. Two rows of even-numbered light-emitting dots are formed, and a second light-emitting line connected for every two adjacent odd-numbered light-emitting dots and even-numbered light-emitting dots is connected to the second light-emitting line. A second driver for providing a display signal for every two dots of odd-numbered light-emitting dots and even-numbered light-emitting dots, and a second driver for selecting one of the odd-numbered light-emitting dots and the even-numbered light-emitting dots in the second light-emitting line. A selection electrode, an image memory for storing image data for driving the light emitting dots, a control unit for reading image data from the image memory and applying the read image data to the first light emitting line and the second light emitting line, When reading image data from a memory, a printing medium having an address selector for giving an offset corresponding to an interval between the first light emitting line and the second light emitting line to a read address of the image memory is used for a recording medium. In a method of driving a printer head for forming an image, an image data is provided on one of the first light emitting line and the second light emitting line. And the other of the first light emitting line and the second light emitting line is provided with the other of the upper bit or lower bit of the image data, and is exposed at the same position on the recording medium. It is characterized by doing.

According to a seventh aspect of the present invention, there is provided a method of driving a printer head for forming an image on a recording medium using the printer head according to the second aspect. The image data is given to a line, the correction data is given to the second light emitting line, and exposure is performed in the same position on the recording medium.

According to another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a method of driving an optical printer for forming an image on a recording medium by using the optical printer according to the present invention. Image data for composing the same image is stored in the first light emitting line and the second light emitting line.
, The moving means is driven in synchronization with the driving of the printer head, and the same image is exposed twice at the same position on the recording medium.

[0029]

[0030]

[0031]

[0032]

1 to 6 show an embodiment of the present invention.
This will be described with reference to FIG. The optical printer of this example has a configuration that is partially common to the optical printer 1 described in the section of the related art and illustrated in FIG. To simplify the description, description of common components will be omitted. This example is different from the conventional example in the configuration of the printer head and the configuration of control means for controlling the driving of each unit.

The printer head 30, which is the light source of this embodiment, is a fluorescent light emitting tube. As shown in FIG. 1, the printer head 30 has two sets of light emitting lines in which a large number of light emitting dots 32 are arranged in a zigzag pattern on the inner surface of an insulating and light transmitting substrate 31. These are referred to as a first light emitting line 31 and a second light emitting line 34.

In each of the light emitting lines 33 and 34, a plurality of light emitting dots 32 arranged in a zigzag form two rows of a row of odd-numbered light emitting dots 32a and a row of even-numbered light emitting dots 32b. . Then, the adjacent odd-numbered light emitting dots 32a
And even two light emitting dots 32b are connected to the first and second drivers 35 and 36, respectively.
In each of the light-emitting lines 33 and 34, each row of the odd-numbered and even-numbered light-emitting dots 32 is parallel to the main scanning direction of the optical printer. The distance in the main scanning direction between the adjacent odd-numbered and even-numbered light-emitting dots 32 is minute with respect to the size of the light-emitting dot 32, and the distance between the odd-numbered and even-numbered light-emitting dots 32 is small.
Irradiating the dot-shaped light from the same on the same row parallel to the main scanning direction, one line with substantially no gap is formed.

The two light emitting lines 33 and 34 are formed in the same pattern, are parallel to each other, and have the same position in the main scanning direction. Therefore, the second light emitting line 34 can irradiate a line parallel to the main scanning direction on a line formed on the color film 3 by the first light emitting line 33 and parallel to the main scanning direction.

Each light emitting dot 32 is composed of a translucent anode conductor provided on the upper surface of a translucent and insulating substrate 31, and a phosphor adhered on the anode conductor. As the phosphor, ZnO: Zn or the like whose emission spectrum includes a wide range from blue to red can be used.

As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, first and second
The first and second selection electrodes 37 and 38 are provided on both of the light emitting lines 33 and 34, respectively. Both select electrodes 3
7, 38 have the same structure. The selection electrodes 37 and 38
The odd-numbered light emitting dots 32a and the even-numbered light emitting dots 3
2b, and two selection shields 40, 4 arranged outside the odd-numbered light emitting dots 32a and the even-numbered light emitting dots 32b, respectively.
Consists of one. The selection electrode 37 of each light emitting line 33, 34,
38 corresponding shield members are connected in common.

The selection electrode is driven as shown in FIG. Center shield 3 for each light emitting line 33, 34
9 is always given a + signal, and each light emitting line 3
When a + signal is given to one of the two selection shields 40 and 41, the selection shield 4
Light emitting dot 32 between 0, 41 and center shield 39
Columns are selected.

As shown in FIG. 2, the odd-numbered light emitting dots 32
Control electrodes 42, 43, and 44 are provided between a and the even-numbered light-emitting dots 32b and on the substrate 31 outside each of the odd-numbered light-emitting dots 32a and the even-numbered light-emitting dots 32b. An insulating layer 45 is formed outside the control electrodes 42, 43, 44. A filament cathode 4 is provided between the two selective shields 40.41 and the center shield 39.
6, 47 are stretched.

On the outer surface of the substrate 31 of the envelope, a filter is provided along the first and second light emitting lines 33 and 34, which can be switched to one of three colors of RGB. Zn which is a phosphor of the light emitting dots 32 of the light emitting lines 33 and 34
O: Zn has a broad spectrum and the emission line 3
The color of the dot light that can be extracted from 3, 34 can be changed to R (red), G (green), or B (blue) by switching the filter.

The control means 60 in this embodiment controls the light emission of the printer head 30 and controls the drive motor 10 of the moving mechanism of the head 4 in synchronization with this. Such a control procedure can be stored in a microcomputer and executed. Hereinafter, the configuration and function of the control means, which is a main part of the present example, will be described with reference to FIG. External I /
The image data input from F50 is transmitted to the control unit CP
It is stored in the image memory 52 via U51. VFPH controller 54 which is a control unit of print head 30
Supplies a control signal to each selection electrode 37, 38 of the first and second light emitting lines 33, 34. In synchronization with this, the image data stored in the image memory 52 is read out, and the first
And the drivers 35, 3 of the second light emitting lines 33, 34
6 given. When reading image data,
The address selector 55 gives an offset to the read address of the image memory by the distance between the first light emitting line 33 and the second light emitting line 36 in the sub-scanning direction. In synchronization with the driving of the print head 30, the CPU 5
Reference numeral 1 drives the drive motor 10 via the motor driver 56 to move the head 4 in the sub-scanning direction. The above-described exposure operation is performed by switching the filter for each of the RGB image data.

According to this embodiment, the light emission of the first light emitting line and the second light emitting line enables two exposures for one line in the main scanning direction of the image to be formed on the film. Therefore, if the conventional scanning speed is maintained, a double exposure amount can be obtained.

In addition, it is also possible to divide the image data into higher-order bits and lower-order bits and to input the data separately to the first light emitting line side and the second light emitting line side. For example, when the image data is 8 bits, the gradation control is divided by dividing the image data into upper 4 bits and lower 4 bits and inputting them to the first light emitting line side and the second light emitting line side, respectively. can do. In this case, it is not necessary to provide an 8-bit driver for each light emitting line, and a low-cost 4-bit driver may be used. When the image data is 16 bits, the image data can be divided into upper 8 bits and lower 8 bits and input to the first light emitting line side and the second light emitting line side, respectively. In that case, each light emitting line only needs to be provided with an 8-bit driver which is cheaper than a 16-bit driver.

FIG. 4 shows the circuit configuration of FIG. 3 in which the value of the image data input to the image memory 52 is halved,
2 shows a circuit configuration for supplying the light emitting line side and the second light emitting line side, respectively. By reducing the image data value to a half value, it becomes possible to perform exposure with half the amount of light of the conventional art.

FIG. 5 shows another example of the circuit configuration of the control means. In this control means 70, the external I / F 5
Image data input from 0 is stored in the image memory 74 via the VFPH controller 71. The image data in the image memory 74 is synchronized with the control signal of the driver output from the VFPH controller 71.
And the driver 35 of the first light emitting line 33
Is input to The correction memory 72 stores correction data for correcting image data. And the second
The correction data is input from the correction memory 72 to the driver 36 of the light emitting line 34 in synchronization with the control signal of the driver. That is, the first light-emitting line 33 is used as a main light-emitting source for displaying image data, and the second light-emitting line 34 is used as an auxiliary light-emitting source that emits light as needed.
Driven by 73. Therefore, there is no need to process the image data or perform an operation for correction by the CPU 73.

Items to be corrected by the correction data stored in the correction memory 72 include, for example, temperature correction, density correction, and saturation enhancement. The temperature correction corrects that the sensitivity of the film changes with temperature. The density correction is called γ correction for obtaining a white balance of an image, and is performed based on a relationship between luminance and gradation determined for each color. Saturation emphasis is to change luminance at a certain gradation in order to display each single color of R, G, and B vividly. For example, when only red is displayed, the saturation of red is increased to enhance the vividness of the displayed red.

FIG. 6 shows another configuration example of the printer head of the present invention. The printer head 80 of this example is different from the printer head 30 shown in FIG. 2 in the configuration of the selection electrodes. The other parts are the same as those in the example of FIG. 2, and the same reference numerals as those in FIG. Printer head 80 of this example
Are provided with selection electrodes 81 and 82, respectively.
The selection electrodes 81 and 82 include one selection shield 83 which is a common electrode between the selection electrodes 81 and 82, and a selection shield 84 and a center shield 8 provided for each selection electrode.
5 is provided. The center shields 85, 85 of the selection electrodes 81, 82 are arranged between the odd-numbered light emitting dots 32a and the even-numbered light emitting dots 32b, and are commonly connected to each other. The selection shields 84, 84 of the selection electrodes 81, 82 are arranged on the opposite side of the center shield 83 with respect to the selection shields 85, 85 and are commonly connected to each other.

The selection electrode is driven as shown in FIG. A positive signal is always given to the center shields 85, 85 commonly connected to the light emitting lines 33, 34. A + or-rectangular signal is applied to the commonly-selected selection shields 84, 84 of the light emitting lines 33, 34. A rectangular signal having a phase opposite to that of the signal supplied to the selection shield 84 is supplied to the selection shield 83.
When a positive signal is applied to the selection shield 84 and a negative signal is applied to the selection shield 83, the first light emitting line 33
And the even-numbered light-emitting dots 32b of the second light-emitting line 34 are selected. Selection shield 8
When a minus signal is given to 4 and a plus signal is given to the selection shield 83, the even-numbered light-emitting dots 32b of the first light-emitting line 33 and the odd-numbered light-emitting dots 32a of the second light-emitting line 34 are selected. You.

In the embodiment described above, the recording medium is a color film. However, any recording medium that can record an image or the like by light can be recorded by the optical printer or the printer head of this embodiment. Of course. For example, the present invention is also applicable to an image forming apparatus that is provided rotatably around its own central axis and includes a photosensitive drum or the like on which an image is formed on a peripheral surface irradiated with light from an optical printer or a print head. The invention can be applied.

[0050]

According to the present invention, in a fluorescent display tube having two sets of duplex light emitting lines, the same image data is exposed twice by the first light emitting line and the second light emitting line. Is obtained.

(1) The amount of light is doubled. Therefore, it is possible to increase the scanning speed (exposure time), which is effective in improving the image quality. (2) If the half value of the image data is shared between the first light emitting line and the second light emitting line, the exposure can be performed at the half value of the conventional light amount, so that the anode voltage can be reduced. (3) By dividing the image data into upper and lower parts and supplying the divided data to the first light emitting line and the second light emitting line, it is possible to widen the gradation control. (4) Since the amount of exposure is doubled, the number of exposures is reduced to half (for example, R2, G1) even in an optical printer or the like which has conventionally been subjected to multiple exposure (for example, R4, G2, B2) due to insufficient light quantity.
Times, B1 times), and the printing speed can be reduced.

According to the present invention, in a fluorescent display tube having two sets of duplex light emitting lines, image data is input to the first light emitting line, correction data is input to the second light emitting line, and light is emitted. Thus, high-quality printing can always be performed without processing image data.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating a configuration of a printer head that is a dual-duplex fluorescent display tube according to an example of an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2A is a cross-sectional view illustrating a configuration of a printer head according to an embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 2B is a drive timing diagram of a selection shield thereof.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram of a control unit of the optical printer according to the embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 4 is a block diagram showing a circuit configuration for halving the value of image data in the circuit configuration shown in FIG. 3;

FIG. 5 is a block diagram of a control unit of the optical printer according to another example of the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view illustrating a configuration of a printer head according to another example of the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 7 is a diagram illustrating a configuration example of an optical printer proposed by the present inventors.

FIG. 8 is a diagram illustrating a configuration of a printer head that is a duplex fluorescent display tube that can be used in an optical printer proposed by the present inventors.

FIG. 9 is a diagram illustrating an example of an emission spectrum of a phosphor (ZnO: Zn phosphor) included in a fluorescent tube of a conventional optical printer and sensitivity characteristics of a color film emulsion for each color.

FIG. 10 is a diagram illustrating a spectral transmittance of a color filter of a conventional optical printer.

FIG. 11 is a diagram showing a relationship between wavelength and effective color development in a conventional optical printer.

[Explanation of symbols]

 Reference Signs List 3 Color film as recording medium 8 Belt constituting moving means 9 Pulley constituting moving means 10 Drive motor constituting moving means 30, 80 Printer head 32 Light emitting dot 32a Odd side light emitting dot 32b Even side light emitting dot 33 First Light emitting line, 34 second light emitting line, 35 first driver, 36 second driver, 37 first selection electrode, 38 second selection electrode 39, 85 center shield 40, 41, 83, 84 selection shield 51, 73 CPU 52, 74 as a control unit Image memory 54, 71 VFPH controller 55 as a control unit Address selector 60, 70 Control means 72 Correction memory

──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continued on the front page (58) Field surveyed (Int. Cl. ⁷ , DB name) B41J 2/44 B41J 2/00 B41J 2/255 H04N 1/036

Claims (8)

(57) [Claims] 1. A plurality of light emitting dots are arranged in a staggered manner to form two rows of odd-numbered light emitting dots and even-numbered light emitting dots.
A first light emitting line connected every two adjacent odd-numbered light emitting dots and even-numbered light emitting dots, and every two adjacent odd-numbered light emitting dots and even-numbered light emitting dots connected in the first light emitting line A first driver for supplying a display signal to the first light-emitting line, a first selection electrode for selecting one of the odd-numbered light-emitting dots and the even-numbered light-emitting dots in the first light-emitting line, and a plurality of light-emitting dots arranged in a staggered manner. A second light-emitting line connected to every two adjacent odd-numbered light-emitting dots and even-numbered light-emitting dots, thereby forming a connection in the second light-emitting line. A second driver for providing a display signal for every two adjacent odd-numbered light-emitting dots and even-numbered light-emitting dots, and an odd-numbered light-emitting dot and an even-numbered light-emitting line in a second light-emitting line. In the printer head and a second selection electrode for selecting one of the dots, the image menu for storing image data for driving the luminous dots
Mori and, times that the image data stored in the image memory in half
Path and image data in the image memory to read out the first
A control unit for providing an optical line and the second light emitting line; and a first unit for reading image data from the image memory.
Corresponding to the distance between the light emitting line and the second light emitting line.
Giving an offset to the read address of the image memory
Printer having an address selector
Tahead. 2. An image memory for storing image data,
A correction memory for storing image correction data;
When the image data of the moly is given to the first light emitting line,
First, in synchronization with this, the correction data in the correction memory is previously stored.
A control unit for providing the second light-emitting line.
The printer head as described. 3. A recording medium on which an image is formed by light irradiation.
And selectively irradiating the recording medium with dot-shaped light
Printer head, the printer head and the recording medium
Moving means for relatively moving, the moving means and the
The printer heads comprising a control means for driving in synchronism
In an optical printer, the printer head is configured such that a plurality of light emitting dots are arranged in a staggered manner and the odd side light emitting dots are arranged.
And two rows of light-emitting dots on the odd-numbered side
Connected every two dots of light emitting dot and even-numbered light emitting dot
And the adjacent odd-numbered light source connected in the first light-emitting line.
A display signal is given for each light dot and each light emitting dot on the even side.
1 driver and the odd-numbered light-emitting dots and the even-numbered light-emitting dots in the first light-emitting line.
A first selection electrode for selecting one of the light dots; and a plurality of light-emitting dots arranged in a staggered manner to form an odd-numbered light-emitting dot.
And two rows of light-emitting dots on the odd-numbered side
Connected every two dots of light emitting dot and even-numbered light emitting dot
The second light emitting line and, odd onset adjacent connected in the second light emitting line
A display signal is given for each light dot and each light emitting dot on the even side.
Driver 2 and the odd-numbered light-emitting dots and even-numbered light-emitting dots in the second light-emitting line.
Has a second selection electrode for selecting one of the light dots
An optical printer, comprising: 4. A plurality of light emitting dots are arranged in a staggered manner.
Forming two rows of odd-numbered light emitting dots and even-numbered light emitting dots,
Two dots of adjacent odd-numbered light-emitting dots and even-numbered light-emitting dots
A first light-emitting line connected to each of the first light-emitting lines, and an adjacent odd-numbered light source connected in the first light-emitting line.
Display signal for every two dots of light dot and even-side light emitting dot
And a first driver for providing odd-numbered light-emitting dots and even-numbered light-emitting dots in the first light-emitting line.
A first selection electrode for selecting one of the light dots; and a plurality of light-emitting dots arranged in a staggered manner to form an odd-numbered light-emitting dot.
And two rows of light-emitting dots on the odd-numbered side
Connected every two dots of light emitting dot and even-numbered light emitting dot
The second light emitting line and, odd onset adjacent connected in the second light emitting line
Display signal for every two dots of light dot and even-side light emitting dot
A second driver that supplies the odd-numbered light-emitting dots and the even-numbered light-emitting dots in the second light-emitting line.
A second selection electrode for selecting one of the light dots, and an image memory for storing image data for driving the light emitting dots.
Mori and said image data is read out of the image memory first origination
A control unit for providing an optical line and the second light emitting line; and a first unit for reading image data from the image memory.
Corresponding to the distance between the light emitting line and the second light emitting line.
Giving an offset to the read address of the image memory
Using a printer head with an address selector
How to drive a printer head to form an image on a recording medium
In the method, the first light emitting line and the second light emitting line have the same
Expose the image twice at the same position on the recording medium.
And a method for driving a printer head. 5. The printer head according to claim 1,
Of a printer head for forming an image on a recording medium by using
In the driving method, each of the first light emitting line and the second light emitting line is
And the half-value image data is provided at the same position on the recording medium.
Drive of printer head characterized by overlapping exposure
Method. 6. A plurality of light emitting dots are arranged in a staggered pattern.
Forming two rows of odd-numbered light emitting dots and even-numbered light emitting dots,
Two dots of adjacent odd-numbered light-emitting dots and even-numbered light-emitting dots
A first light-emitting line connected to each
The adjacent odd-numbered light-emitting dots connected at
First to give a display signal for every two of the number-side light emitting dots
Driver and the odd-numbered light emitting driver in the first light emitting line.
And one of the light emitting dots on the even-numbered side.
The selection electrode and the plurality of light emitting dots are arranged in a staggered
Two rows of number-side emission dots and even-numbered emission dots are formed,
Two dots of odd-numbered light emission dots and even-numbered light emission dots
A second light-emitting line connected to each
Adjacent odd-numbered light-emitting dots and even numbers
A second method of providing a display signal for every two side emission dots
A driver and an odd-numbered light emitting dot on the second light emitting line.
And a second selection for selecting either one of the
Selective electrodes and image data for driving the light emitting dots are stored.
And an image memory for reading image data from the image memory.
Out to the first light emitting line and the second light emitting line
And a control unit for reading image data from the image memory.
The second light emitting line and the first light emitting line when issuing
Reading an offset corresponding to the interval of
Printer with an address selector for assigning addresses
Printer for forming an image on a recording medium using a head
In the method for driving a head, one of the first light emitting line and the second light emitting line
Giving either the upper bit or the lower bit of the image data,
The other of the first light emitting line and the second light emitting line
Give the other of the upper bit or lower bit of the image data,
Characterized in that the recording medium is exposed at the same position on the recording medium.
The method of driving the printer head. 7. The printer head according to claim 2,
Of a printer head for forming an image on a recording medium by using
In the driving method, image data is given to the first light emitting line,
Correction data is given to the light emitting line, and the same
Printer head,
Drive method. 8. An optical printer according to claim 3, wherein :
For driving optical printer for forming image on recording medium
In the printer head, the same image is formed.
Image data for the first light emitting line and the second light emitting line.
To the optical line to synchronize the moving means with the drive of the printer head.
The same image at the same position on the recording medium and expose it twice
A method for driving an optical printer.