JPH08201930A - Exposing device - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE: To make optical distance short and to perform exposure without performing scanning with polarized light. CONSTITUTION: This device is basically constituted of a two-dimensional RGB- LED array 12 in which many red, green and blue LED elements are arranged in a two-dimensional plane state, a color liquid crystal display 14 whose transmissivity is changed by an electric signal, a Selfoc (R) lens array 16 in which Selfoc (R) lenses are two-dimensionally and densely arranged, and a housing 18 having a dustproof structure. A picture is written on the display 14, the array 12 is turned on, and the picture is exposed on a photosensitive material 20 through the array 16. The planar arrangement and the short optical distance makes an entire device compact; and also the polarized light scanning by means of mechanical driving is not performed, so that irregularity by means of vibration and trouble on a driving part hardly occur.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an exposure apparatus, and more particularly,
The present invention relates to an exposure device that forms an image on a photosensitive material.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art There are various conventional exposure apparatuses for forming an image on a photosensitive material. The most commonly used laser scanning exposure apparatus will be described with reference to the drawings.

As shown in FIG. 12, a laser beam light source unit 110 for modulating an image signal to emit a laser beam is provided in a housing 102 constituting a laser scanning exposure apparatus 100, and an optical path of the laser beam. And a laser beam correction unit 120 including a plurality of lenses for optical correction, and a scanning unit 1 for deflecting and scanning the laser beam.
40, and an image recording unit 150 that receives a laser beam and records image information.

The laser beam light source unit 110 includes a semiconductor laser 112 that emits a laser beam. The laser beam correction unit 120 includes a collimator lens 122 for converting the emitted laser beam into a parallel light flux, a reflecting mirror 124 for deflecting the optical path of the laser beam, and a cylindrical lens 126 for correcting the trouble of the reflecting mirror 124. , 12
8 and the fθ lens 13 for correcting the image height of the laser beam
2 The scanning unit 140 includes a polygon mirror 142 for scanning the laser beam on the image recording unit 18, and a motor 144 for rotatably driving the polygon mirror 142 while pivotally supporting the polygon mirror 142. The image recording section 150 is composed of a cylindrical holding member 154 to which the film 152 coated with the photosensitive material is detachably attached, and a motor 156 as a rotation drive source for rotating the holding member 154. There is.

According to the laser scanning exposure apparatus 100 configured as described above, the laser beam light source section 110 is provided.
The image signal is modulated by the bias of the semiconductor laser 112.
Emits a laser beam. The laser beam is collimated by a collimator lens 122 into a bundle of parallel rays and then reflected by a reflecting mirror 12.
The surface of the polygon mirror 142 is reflected by the cylindrical lens 126, the surface tilt is corrected by the cylindrical lens 126, and the light enters the side surface of the polygon mirror 142. The laser beam deflected and scanned by the side surface of the polygon mirror 142 is again corrected for surface tilt by the cylindrical lens 128, and then the image height is corrected by the fθ lens 132 to form an image on the film 152. As a result, image information is recorded on the film 152.

As described above, in this type of exposure apparatus, a laser beam is emitted to perform deflection scanning and optical correction to record image information on a photosensitive material.

As prior arts relating to the present invention, Japanese Patent Laid-Open Nos. 62-134624 and 6-4 are known.
There is a technique described in Japanese Patent No. 3551.

[0008]

However, the laser scanning exposure apparatus of this type requires a plurality of lenses for optical correction and the like, and the optical distance becomes long, so that the whole exposure apparatus becomes large. It was

Further, since the laser beam is spot-scanned by the semiconductor laser, there is a problem that a high output semiconductor laser is required to increase the exposure speed.

Further, since the deflection scanning is mechanically performed by using a motor, there is a problem that the life is shortened due to unevenness on the film due to vibration and mechanical trouble of the driving portion.

The present invention has been made to solve the above problems, and an object of the present invention is to provide an exposure apparatus having a short optical distance and capable of performing exposure without performing deflection scanning.

[0012]

According to a first aspect of the present invention, a two-dimensional flat transparent medium for displaying an image in response to an applied electric signal and three colors of red, green and blue are used at the same time or An exposure light source unit that sequentially emits light to expose an image displayed on the transparent medium, and an image displayed on the transparent medium, which is arranged in a two-dimensional plane on the opposite side of the exposure light source unit with the transparent medium interposed therebetween. And an image forming unit for forming an image on the photosensitive material.

The invention according to claim 2 is characterized in that the exposure light source means according to claim 1 is a two-dimensional LED array in which a large number of red, green and blue LED elements are arranged in a two-dimensional plane. To do.

The invention described in claim 3 is characterized in that the image forming means described in claim 1 or 2 is a SELFOC lens array in which a large number of SELFOC lenses are densely arranged.

The invention described in claim 4 is characterized in that the transparent medium described in any one of claims 1 to 3 is a liquid crystal display.

[0016]

According to the exposure apparatus of the first aspect, an image is displayed according to the electric signal applied to the transparent medium. To expose the image displayed on the transparent medium by the exposure light source means, three colors of red, green and blue are emitted simultaneously or sequentially. The image displayed on the transparent medium is imaged on the photosensitive material by the image forming means. As a result, image information is recorded on the photosensitive material.

As described above, since image information can be recorded on the photosensitive material without performing deflection scanning, it is possible to reduce troubles in the mechanical driving portion.

According to the exposure apparatus of the second aspect, the exposure light source means of the first aspect is a two-dimensional LED array in which a large number of red, green and blue LED elements are arranged in a two-dimensional plane. Since the exposure light source means can be configured in a plane, the exposure device can be downsized.

According to the exposure apparatus of the third aspect, the light condensing means of the first or second aspect is a SELFOC lens array, which requires optical correction as compared with the method using laser scanning. Instead, since the optical distance can be shortened, the size of the exposure device can be reduced. Further, compared to the method using a large single lens, the focal length can be shortened because there is no problem such as distortion in the peripheral portion of the image, and the device can be similarly made small.

According to the exposure apparatus of claim 4, the transparent medium according to any one of claims 1 to 3 is a liquid crystal display, and the light source means, the transparent medium and the condensing means constituting the exposure apparatus are all flat. Therefore, the size of the exposure apparatus can be optimized.

[0021]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS A first embodiment of an exposure apparatus according to the present invention will be described below with reference to a digital exposure apparatus with reference to the drawings.

As shown in FIG. 2, the digital exposure apparatus 10 includes an optical section 70 for exposing the photosensitive material 20 and an optical section 7.
0 and a control unit 50 for controlling so-called paper feeding of the photosensitive material 20.
It consists of and.

As shown in FIG. 1, a large number of red (hereinafter, referred to as R), green (hereinafter, referred to as G), and blue (hereinafter, referred to as G) are provided in the dust-proof housing 18 of the optical section 70.
Say. 2D RGB-LED array (hereinafter referred to as DA) 12 in which the LED elements of 1) are arranged in a two-dimensional plane 12,
A color liquid crystal display (hereinafter referred to as LCD) 14 and a SELFOC lens (1/4 pitch rod lens) whose transmittance changes according to an electric signal are densely arranged in a two-dimensional plane, and a SELFOC lens array (hereinafter referred to as SLA). ) 16 are sequentially arranged from the opposite side of the photosensitive material 20. The distance l ₁ and L between the LCD 14 and the SLA 16
The distance l ₂ between the CD 16 and the photosensitive material 20 is the same (see FIG. 2).

In the LED element of the DA 12, the number of elements is determined in consideration of the sensitivity of the light-sensitive material 20 while the intervals between the LED elements of each single color are evenly arranged so that the uneven illuminance does not occur. . For example, the brightness of B-LED> R-LED
Brightness> G-LED brightness, the number of B-LED elements 12C is smaller than the number of R-LED elements 12A and G is larger than the number of R-LED elements 12A, as shown in FIG.
Arranged so that the number of LEDs 12B is large. Further, as shown in FIG. 4 (A), the DA 12 is a COB type array in which the DA 12 itself is used as a substrate, and the substrate is provided with a reflecting mirror 38 to make the light emitted from the LED elements into substantially parallel rays.

The LCD 14 is a TFT type liquid crystal panel in which liquid crystal is driven by a thin film transistor switch matrix in which thin films are integrally formed on a transparent substrate surface in order to increase the size of a display screen. In addition, the LCD 14 includes the photosensitive material 20 and L.
There are 1024 gradations to cancel the non-linearity of the CD 14, and the resolution is 400 dpi. The display area of the LCD 14 is A6 size (140 mm × 105 mm) and printing of a post card size is possible, but the display area may be further increased (for example, A4 size).

As shown in FIG. 5, the lens mounting area of the SLA 16 is set to be larger than the display area of the LCD 14, and L in the figure is set to 5 mm or more. In addition, SLA16
2% to 3% of the pitch unevenness of the SELFOC lens (unevenness caused by the pitch cycle of the SELFOC lens) and the unevenness of the entire SLA 16 (irregular unevenness with a cycle of several mm or more)
The image quality on the photosensitive material 20 is prevented from being deteriorated due to the uneven light amount. The visual resolution of SLA16 is 20 lp / mm (line pair / mm)
The maximum allowable incident angle θ from the LCD 14 (see FIG. 2) is ± 20 °.

As shown in FIG. 2, the control unit 50 controls the DA
DA driver 62 for lighting 12 LED elements, and LC
An LCD driver 64 for outputting an image signal to D14, a motor 68 as a power source for feeding the photosensitive material 20 via a roller (not shown) (so-called paper feeding), and a motor driver 66 for driving the motor 68 are included. DA driver 62,
The LCD driver 64 and the motor driver 66 are connected to the I / O interface 58. The I / O interface 58 is connected to the CPU 52 via the bus 74. The bus 74 includes a RAM 54, a ROM 56,
It is connected to an input unit 70 including a numeric keypad and the like, and a display unit 72 for displaying the operation status of the digital exposure apparatus 10.

Next, the operation of this embodiment will be described with reference to FIG. First, in step 200, the photosensitive material 20 is conveyed to the exposure surface and stopped. LC in the next step 202
The R image is written in D14, and in step 204,
Only the R-LED element 12A is turned on. Next step 2
At 06, it is determined whether R exposure has been performed for a predetermined time.
When the determination is negative, the process returns to step 206 to continue the R exposure. On the other hand, when the determination is affirmative, R for the predetermined time
Since the exposure is completed, in the next step 208, R
-Turn off the LED element 12A. An internal clock composed of the CPU 52 can be used to determine the elapse of the predetermined time.

At the next step 210, the LCD 14 displays G
Write an image, and in step 212, G-LED
Only the element 12B is turned on. Next, in step 214, it is determined whether or not G exposure has been performed for a predetermined time. When the determination is negative, the process returns to step 214 to continue the G exposure. On the other hand, when the determination is affirmative, since the G exposure for the predetermined time is completed, the G-LED element 12B is turned off in the next step 216.

At the next step 218, B is displayed on the LCD 14.
Write an image, in step 220, B-LED
Only the element 12C is turned on. Next, in step 222, it is determined whether or not B exposure has been performed for a predetermined time. When a negative determination is made, the process returns to step 222 to continue the B exposure. On the other hand, when the determination is affirmative, since the B exposure for the predetermined time is completed, the B-LED element 12C is turned off in the next step 224.

At the next step 226, the photosensitive material 20 is conveyed from the exposed surface, and the processing operation of this embodiment is completed. Then, the photosensitive material 20 is conveyed to the developing process by the motor 68.

By controlling the input electric signal to the LCD 14 in advance by the CPU 52,
Both negative and positive can be used. Further, since the sensitive material 20 uses LEDs of three colors of RGB as described above, a photosensitive material for visible light is used, and a material which hardly mixes colors according to the wavelength of the LED element is used.

As described above, according to the digital exposure apparatus of the present embodiment, the DA 12, LCD 14, and SLA 16 are arranged in a plane and the optical distance can be shortened, so that the entire digital exposure apparatus can be made compact. Become. The size of the housing 18 in the present embodiment in the cross-sectional direction is 10
It is within 0 mm (see FIG. 2), and the plane area is also within twice the photosensitive material 20 (1.4 times the length) (see FIG. 1).

Further, since it becomes possible to print (digitally expose) image data converted into an electric signal, it is possible to expand the use of conventional photographs. Therefore, even in a so-called minilab, it is possible to realize a hybrid lab capable of performing both analog (film) exposure and digital (electrical signalized image data) exposure by taking advantage of the compactness.

Furthermore, since deflection scanning by mechanical drive is not performed, unevenness due to vibration and troubles in the drive portion are unlikely to occur.

Incidentally, the incident allowable angle of the LCD 14 and the SELFOC lens is generally within ± 20 °. Since the DA 12 of this embodiment is a COB type and the light is substantially collimated by the reflecting plate, the substrate 12 as shown in FIG.
It is possible to improve the light utilization rate as compared with the lamp type LED element in which the LED elements are solidified with resin one by one on the thinner substrate 40 and integrated with the lens. Also, the lamp type L
Since one LED element occupies a large area in the ED element, the interval between the LED elements cannot be set to 2 mm pitch or less. On the other hand, the COB type DA12 enables high-density mounting to reduce uneven illuminance and reduce the required exposure light amount. Obtainable.

The pitch p between the pixels of the LCD 14 of this embodiment (hereinafter referred to as the pixel pitch) p is about 140 μm. Originally, in order to obtain a resolution of 400 dpi, a pixel pitch of about 70 μm or less (25.4 mm ÷ 400 dpi) is required. Further, since LCD generally requires vertical and horizontal matrix wirings, non-transmissive areas are formed in a grid pattern, and a grid pattern is formed on the photosensitive material 20 to deteriorate the image quality. As shown in FIG. 6A, the LCD 14 of this embodiment can perform so-called pixel shift. Since the resolution is doubled by shifting the pixels, the image pitch p can be set to about 140 μm, and the pixels move, so that the grid pattern can be erased. On the other hand, if the aperture ratio is increased in the pixel shift, the pixel overlaps with the adjacent pixel and the image quality is deteriorated on the photosensitive material. In the LCD 14 of the present embodiment, so as not to overlap the adjacent pixel,
The aperture ratio of one pixel is set to 25%. The aperture ratio is (aperture area S of one pixel) / (regional area A of one pixel).
(See FIG. 6B).

Further, the lens mounting area of the SLA 16 is LC
Since it is set larger than D14, the illuminance of light passing through the peripheral portion of the LCD 14 can be made equal to the illuminance of light passing through the central portion.

In this embodiment, D is used as the exposure light source means.
Although A12 is used, an EL panel, a PDP (plasma display panel), a fluorescent lamp or the like may be used as the exposure light source means.

A lens or a multilayer interference film is arranged between the DA 12 and the LCD 14, or a reflector is arranged on the inner surface of the housing 18 between the DA 12 and the LCD 14 to improve the light utilization efficiency of the DA 12. It is also possible.

By adjusting the DA driver 62, the brightness distribution of the LED elements can be made uniform. In this case, even if the light amount unevenness of the SLA 16 is somewhat large, the adjustment can be performed.

Further, as shown in FIG. 8, the exposure light source means includes a white light source 23 such as a halogen lamp or a metal halide lamp, a reflector 22 for reflecting the light of the white light source 23, and an infrared / ultraviolet cut filter 24. , RGB filter switching device 26 including a motor and RGB filters
And the electromagnetic shutter 28 and the condenser lens 30 for making the light substantially parallel. With such a configuration, first, an image is written on the LCD 14. next,
The RGB filter switching device 26 arranges a filter of a predetermined color on the optical path, opens the electromagnetic shutter 28 and exposes it for a predetermined time, and then closes the electromagnetic shutter 28.
The above three colors are performed. Even using a white light source like this,
An image on the LCD 14 can be formed on the sensitive material 20. The reflector 23 may have a parabolic surface. Therefore, the invention of claim 1 includes the following technical aspects.

The exposure apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the exposure light source means comprises a white light source which emits white light and red, green and blue filters.

Next, a second embodiment of the exposure apparatus according to the present invention will be described. The second embodiment relates to a digital exposure apparatus capable of shortening the exposure time. The same components as those in the first embodiment are designated by the same reference numerals in the second embodiment, and the description thereof will be omitted.

As shown in FIG. 9, the digital exposure device 8
The optical unit of 0 includes an R exposure device 80A and a G exposure device 80B.
And a B exposure device 80C. The R exposure device 80A is an R-LED instead of the DA 12 of the first embodiment.
A two-dimensional R-LED array (hereinafter, referred to as RDA) 42 in which only elements are uniformly arranged is provided. Similarly to the R exposure device 80A, the G exposure device 80B and the B exposure device 80C each include only a two-dimensional G-LED array (hereinafter, referred to as GDA) 44 or B-LED devices in which only the G-LED devices are uniformly arranged. A two-dimensional B-LED array (hereinafter, referred to as BDA) 46 arranged uniformly is provided. Further, in the R exposure device 80A, the G exposure device 80B, and the B exposure device 80C, the RDA is set in advance so that the exposure times are the same.
The number of each LED element of 42, GDA44, and ADA46 is adjusted.

Next, the operation of this embodiment will be described with reference to FIG. In this embodiment, it is assumed that there are three images a, b and c to be printed on the photosensitive material 20, and a full color print of each image is obtained.

First, in step 1, for image a, R
A to perform R exposure by the exposure device 80A _RPerform processing. sand
That is, the photosensitive material 20 is conveyed to the exposure surface of the R exposure device 80A,
Write the R image of image a on the LCD 14 of the R exposure device 80A
And turn on the R-LED element, and the predetermined exposure time elapses.
After that, the R-LED element is turned off. During this period, G exposure
In the device 80B and the B exposure device 80C,
Do not perform exposure processing such as writing or lighting of LED elements.
Yes.

[0048] In the next step 2, performs A _G processing for G exposure by G exposure apparatus 80B for the image a. That is,
From the exposure surface of the R exposure device 80A to the G exposure device 8
It is transported to the exposure surface of 0B and LCD 14 of G exposure device 80B.
The G image of the image a is written in, the G-LED element is turned on, and after a predetermined exposure time has elapsed, the G-LED element is turned off.
On the other hand, while the A _G process is being performed, the _R process of performing R exposure on the image b by the R exposure device 80A is being performed. The B _R processing, writes the R image of the image b in LCD14 of R exposure apparatus 80A, and turns on the R-LED element, after a predetermined exposure time, is to turn off the R-LED element. During this period, the B exposure device 80C does not perform the exposure process.

[0049] In the next step 3 performs A _B processing for B exposure for the image a by B exposure apparatus 80C. That is,
From the exposure surface of the G exposure device 80B to the B exposure device 8
It is transported to the exposure surface of 0C and the LCD 14 of the B exposure device 80C
The B image of the image a is written in, the B-LED element is turned on, and after a predetermined exposure time has elapsed, the B-LED element is turned off.
This completes the full-color exposure process for image a. C _R processing for R exposure is performed by R exposure apparatus 80A between, for B _G processing and image c of G exposed by G exposure apparatus 80B for the image b that the A _B processing is performed. B _G processing is performed by LC of G exposure device 80B.
Writing G image of the image b in D14, turns on the G-LED element, after a predetermined exposure time, which turns off the G-LED elements, C _R process, the R exposure apparatus 80A LC
The R image of the image c is written in D14, the R-LED element is turned on, and the R-LED element is turned off after a predetermined exposure time has elapsed.

[0050] In the next step 4, performing a B _B processing for B exposure for image b by B exposure apparatus 80C. The B _B process carries the photosensitive material 20 from the exposed surface of the G exposure apparatus 80B on the exposed surface of the B exposure apparatus 80C, LC and B exposure apparatus 80C
The B image of the image b is written in D14, the B-LED element is turned on, and after a predetermined exposure time has elapsed, the B-LED element is turned off. This completes the full-color exposure process for image b. While the B _B processing is performed, C _G processing for G exposure for the image c by G exposure apparatus 80B is performed. In this C _G process, the G image of the image C is written on the LCD 14 of the G exposure device 80B, and G
-Turn on the LED element, and after a predetermined exposure time, G-LE
The D element is turned off. Incidentally, while the B _B processing is performed, the exposure processing in the R exposure apparatus 80A is not performed.

[0051] In the next step 5, performs the C _B processing for B exposure for image c by B exposure apparatus 80C. In this C _B process, the photosensitive material 20 is conveyed from the exposure surface of the G exposure device 80B to the exposure surface of the B exposure device 80C, and the LC of the C exposure device 80C is transferred.
The B image of the image c is written in D14, the B-LED element is turned on, and after a predetermined exposure time has elapsed, the B-LED element is turned off. As a result, the full-color exposure process for the image c ends, and the exposure process of this embodiment ends. Note that while the C _B process is being performed, the R exposure device 80A and the G exposure device 80B do not perform the exposure process.

In this embodiment, the three images of the images a, b and c have been described. However, if the images to be printed are the images d, e ..., The image d in step 4 shown in FIG. G to D _R processing which R exposed by connexion R exposure apparatus 80A, the G exposure apparatus 80B for the image d in step 5
R exposure apparatus 80A for D _G processing and image e of exposure
It may be sequentially exposure and E _R process ... for R exposure by.

As described above, in this embodiment, the exposure is divided into three stages of R, G, and B to perform continuous exposure, and the apparent exposure time for one image to be printed is about 1 / th of that in the first embodiment. Therefore, when there are a large number of images to be printed, such as in a photo lab, the exposure time can be shortened.

RDA42, GDA44, BDA4
Each of 6 is a single color, and it is easy to increase the amount of light by arranging the LED elements more densely and to reduce the unevenness of the light distribution at the same time, which is further advantageous for high-speed exposure.

Next, a third embodiment of the exposure apparatus according to the present invention will be described. The third embodiment relates to a digital exposure device capable of enlarging an image written on an LCD. The same components as those in the first embodiment are designated by the same reference numerals in the third embodiment, and the description thereof will be omitted.

As shown in FIGS. 11A and 11B, the digital exposure apparatus 90 of the present embodiment has a horizontal direction (see FIG. 11).
It is slidable in the direction of arrow A shown in (A) or in the direction opposite to the direction of arrow A, and is at a direction of an angle θ formed between the horizontal direction and the diagonal extension line of the effective display surface of each LCD 14 (FIG. 11).
Four exposure units 92 that are slidable in the arrow B direction or the direction opposite to the arrow B direction shown in (B), and slide in the A direction and the B direction or the opposite directions in cooperation with each exposure unit 92, And four image forming lenses 34 for forming an image on the photosensitive material 20 by enlarging the image. Each exposure unit 92 includes a DA 12, an LCD 14, and a dust-proof structure housing 32 that covers them (FIG. 11).
(A)).

Next, the operation of the third embodiment will be described. First, four LCDs 1 with four imaging lenses 34
The four exposure units 92 and the imaging lens 34 are moved in the arrow A direction or the opposite direction and the arrow B direction or the opposite direction so that the projected images of 4 come into contact with each other and have a predetermined enlargement ratio. Next, the same image is written on each LCD 14, each DA 12 is turned on for a predetermined time to form an image on the photosensitive material 20, and then each DA 12 is turned off.

The vertical width of the projection area of one exposure unit 92 is W _Y , the horizontal width and vertical width of the effective display surface of the LCD 14 are D _X and D _Y , and the horizontal and vertical center-to-center distances of the LCD 14 are P respectively. _{When X} and P _Y are set, the enlargement factor M is expressed by the equation (1).

M = P _X / D _X = P _Y / D _Y = W _Y / D _Y (1) In this case, the lateral and vertical external dimensions of the housing 32 are respectively D _{If X1} and D _Y1 are set, the minimum enlargement ratio M _min is D
Represented by smaller one of _X1 / D _X or D _Y1 / D _Y.

The angle θ indicating the B direction is expressed by the equation (2). θ = tan ⁻¹ (D _Y / D _X ) ... (2) Since the SLA 16 is used in the first embodiment, an image that can be printed on the photosensitive material 20 is written on the LCD 14. Although it has the same size as the captured image, according to the third embodiment, since the image forming lens 34 is used, the image can be enlarged.

L having a low resolution (small number of pixels)
Even if a CD is used, the number of pixels is quadrupled, so that the resolution can be improved. As a result, it is possible to realize a digital exposure apparatus that can obtain high-quality prints.

Although the image forming lens 34 of this embodiment is used for enlarging, it is also possible to reduce the size.

[0063]

As described above, according to the first aspect of the present invention, image information can be recorded on the photosensitive material without performing deflection scanning, so that the trouble of the mechanical driving portion can be reduced. The effect that can be obtained can be obtained.

According to the second aspect of the invention, since the exposure light source light source means can be constructed in a plane, it is possible to obtain the effect that the exposure apparatus can be downsized.

According to the invention of claim 3, since the optical distance can be shortened, it is possible to obtain the effect that the exposure apparatus can be downsized.

Further, according to the invention of claim 4, since the light source means, the transparent medium and the condensing means which constitute the exposure apparatus are all planar, the exposure apparatus can be made to have an optimum size. The effect can be obtained.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing an optical unit of a digital exposure apparatus according to a first embodiment.

FIG. 2 is a diagram showing a cross section of an optical unit of the digital exposure apparatus of the first embodiment and a block diagram of a control unit.

FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating an arrangement of the number of LED elements.

FIG. 4A is a COB type two-dimensional RGB-LED.
Sectional view showing the section of the array, (B) is a lamp type
It is sectional drawing which shows the cross section of a three-dimensional RGB-LED array.

FIG. 5 is a diagram showing a size relationship between a two-dimensional RGB-LED array and a Selfoc lens array.

FIG. 6A is a conceptual diagram illustrating the concept of pixel shifting;
(B) is a conceptual diagram explaining an aperture ratio.

FIG. 7 is a flowchart showing the operation of the first embodiment.

FIG. 8 is a cross-sectional view of an optical unit of a digital exposure apparatus when a white light source is used.

FIG. 9 is a sectional view showing a section of an optical portion of a digital exposure apparatus according to a second embodiment.

FIG. 10 is a diagram illustrating an exposure process of the digital exposure apparatus according to the second embodiment.

FIG. 11A is a sectional view showing a section of an optical portion of the digital exposure apparatus of the third embodiment, and FIG. 11B is a front view seen from the side of the imaging lens.

FIG. 12 is a perspective view showing a configuration of a conventional laser scanning exposure apparatus.

[Explanation of symbols]

 10 Digital exposure device (exposure device) 12 Two-dimensional RGB-LED array (exposure light source means) 14 Liquid crystal display 16 Selfoc lens array 20 Sensitive material (photosensitive material) 42 Two-dimensional R-LED array (exposure light source means) 44 Two-dimensional G-LED array (exposure light source means) 46 Two-dimensional B-LED array (exposure light source means) 34 Imaging lens (imaging means)

Claims (4)

[Claims] 1. A two-dimensional planar transparent medium for displaying an image in response to an applied electric signal, and three or three colors of red, green and blue are simultaneously or sequentially emitted,
An exposure light source means for exposing the image displayed on the transparent medium, and a two-dimensional flat surface arranged on the opposite side of the exposure light source means with the transparent medium interposed therebetween, and the image displayed on the transparent medium on the photosensitive material. An exposure apparatus comprising: an image forming unit for forming an image. 2. The exposure light source means is a two-dimensional L in which a large number of red, green and blue LED elements are arranged in a two-dimensional plane.
The exposure apparatus according to claim 1, which is an ED array. 3. The exposure apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the image forming unit is a SELFOC lens array in which a large number of SELFOC lenses are densely arranged. 4. The exposure apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the transparent medium is a liquid crystal display.