JPH11115245A - Electro-optical signal conversion device - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a low cost electro-optical signal conversion device by facilitation the assembling and rearrangement. SOLUTION: An electro-optical signal conversion device forms an image by converting an electric signal to an optical signal. The electro-optical signal conversion device comprises a case body 5 having a window section, a light emitting device 6 attached to the inner section of the case body 5, an optical system 7 for converting the light emitted from the light emitting device 6 to a parallel light passing through the window section toward the outside of the case body 5 and an optical shutter 8 that executes passing or blocking of the parallel light emitted toward the outside of the case body 5 in accordance with the electric signal. The optical shutter 8 is assembled to be attached from the outside of the case body 5.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a structure of an electro-optical signal conversion device for forming an image by converting an electric signal into an optical signal.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Video printers that print digitally processed images displayed on a display on a sheet have become widespread. The printing method of the video printer includes a thermal method, an ink jet method, a laser beam scanning method, a liquid crystal shutter method, and the like. Above all, the liquid crystal shutter system has attracted attention because it is suitable for small size and light weight. A conventional example of a liquid crystal shutter video printer is disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2-287527.

Next, the conventional example will be described with reference to FIG. In FIG. 9, a film pack F containing a large number of self-processing films F is housed inside a casing 101.
A film loading section 102 for accommodating P is formed, and a film pack FP loaded in the film loading section 102 is adjacent to an opening 103 of the film loading section 102.
And a pair of rim drive rollers 104a and 104b for nipping and pulling out a predetermined film F from the above and a pair of ironing rollers 105a and 105 for developing the film F after exposure recording.
b is provided. In this case, an exposure recording unit 107 for forming an image on the film F is disposed between the pair of rim drive rollers 104a and 104b and the pair of ironing rollers 105a and 105b. The exposure recording unit 107 includes a light source 108 such as a halogen lamp.
09, a color filter composed of three colors of R, G and B arranged in parallel with the sub-scanning direction of the image or a liquid crystal light valve 1
The film F is configured to be exposed through the lens array 10 and the gradient index lens array 111.

On both upper and lower portions of the liquid crystal light valve 110, polarizing plates whose deflection directions are arranged in parallel are provided. On the other hand, a first glass substrate is disposed inside the polarizing plate, and the color of the first glass substrate is coated with a thin film of three colors of R, G, and B on one surface of the first glass substrate by a vacuum deposition method. On the other surface, a plurality of pixel electrodes are formed on the other surface of which transparent electrodes are linearly arranged along the color filters or, in other words, along the sub-scanning direction B. Liquid crystal such as twisted-namatic liquid crystal is sealed between the pixel electrode and the second glass substrate. In this case, a common electrode, which is a transparent electrode, is formed on the interface between the second glass substrate and the liquid crystal on the second glass substrate side by a vacuum deposition method. The other side of the second glass substrate is provided with the polarizing plate, and the light passing through the polarizing plate is configured to expose the film F through the above-described gradient index lens array 111. .

As described above, since the liquid crystal light valve 110 is conventionally incorporated in the casing 101, the liquid crystal light valve 110 is provided with a large number of conductive members for connecting a large number of pixel electrodes to the control means. It is very difficult to incorporate the light valve 110 inside the casing 101, and high accuracy is required, which greatly affects image quality. The time required for the rearrangement has become extremely long, and these have increased the unit price.

[0006]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is an object of the present invention to provide an inexpensive electro-optical signal converter by facilitating assembly and rearrangement.

[0007]

According to the present invention, there is provided an electro-optical signal converter for forming an image by converting an electric signal into an optical signal, the apparatus comprising a window. A case body, a light-emitting element mounted inside the case body, an optical system that converts light emitted by the light-emitting element into parallel light emitted toward the outside of the case body through the window, and the case. An optical shutter attached to a window of the body, wherein the optical system blocks and transmits parallel light emitted toward the outside of the case body in accordance with an electrical signal, and the optical shutter is attached from outside the case body. It is characterized by having.

Further, a protection member for covering the optical shutter is attached outside the optical shutter.

Further, a flexible conductive member for supplying an electric signal for driving the shutter is connected to the optical shutter.

Further, the optical shutter and the flexible conductive member are fixed to the case body by attaching the protection member to the case body.

The case body has an opening, and a substrate is mounted inside the case body so as to cover the opening, and the light emitting element is provided on the substrate exposed at the opening of the case body. Is provided with a connector for supplying electric power.

Further, the flexible conductive member is connected to the connector.

[0013] Further, the light emitting element is electrically connected to the connector.

[0014]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Embodiments of the present invention will be described below based on embodiments with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing an outline of the configuration and operation of a video printer employing an electro-optical signal converter according to the present invention as a print head.
FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing a state in which the electro-optical signal converter, which is a print head of the video printer shown in FIG. 1, performs a printing operation and finishes printing. FIG.
It is sectional drawing which shows the state of the -A line cross section. FIG. 4 is a detailed cross-sectional view showing a state where an E portion in FIG. 3 is enlarged. FIG.
(A) is a cover 5b of the electro-optical signal converter in FIG.
(B) is an enlarged plan view showing a state in which F is removed, and FIG.
It is sectional drawing which shows the state of the -F line cross section. FIG. 6 is a bottom view showing the state of the lower surface of FIG. FIG. 7 is an explanatory diagram showing an assembling procedure of the electro-optical signal converter in FIG. 5B. FIG. 8 is a sectional view showing a state of a section taken along line DD of FIG.

Referring to FIG. 1, the outline of the configuration and operation of a video printer employing the electro-optical signal converter according to the present invention as a print head will be described.
Has a photosensitive sheet tray 2
Is attached, and the electro-optical signal conversion device 4 faces the photosensitive surface of the photosensitive sheet 2e loaded on the photosensitive sheet tray 2.
Are attached so as to be able to reciprocate in the directions of arrows B and C. In the state shown in FIG. 1, the electro-optical signal converter 4 moves the photosensitive sheet 2e from the home position in the direction of arrow B.
3 shows a state in which the vehicle slightly traveled while performing print exposure.

Referring to FIG. 2, the outline of the operation of the above-described video printer will be further described. The electro-optical signal conversion device 4 travels from the state shown in FIG. Then, when the print exposure is completed, it returns in the direction of arrow C and returns to the home position. The photosensitive sheet 2e on which the print exposure is completed and the latent image of the image is formed is developed and discharged from the photosensitive sheet discharge port 2b provided on the entire surface.

Referring to FIGS. 3 and 4, an outline of the configuration of the above-described video printer will be described.
In the above, the photosensitive sheet tray 2 is mounted on the housing 1 so as to be able to be taken out and put in a drawer shape, and the photosensitive sheet tray 2 is loaded with a photosensitive sheet pack 2d in which a plurality of sheets are stored with their photosensitive surfaces facing upward. I have. The photosensitive sheet tray 2 has a handle 2a for pulling it out of the housing 1.
And a photosensitive sheet discharge port 2b for discharging the printed photosensitive sheet 2e are formed. The photosensitive sheet 2e on which a latent image of an image is formed by print exposure is developed.
A photosensitive sheet discharge roller 2c for feeding out from the photosensitive sheet discharge port 2b is provided. An optical print unit 3 is fixed in the housing 1. The optical print unit 3 includes a control circuit 3a for controlling a video printer, an electro-optical signal converter 4 for converting an electric signal into an optical signal and radiating the same to form an image on the photosensitive sheet 2e, and an electro-optical signal. A scanning motor (not shown) for reciprocatingly scanning the conversion device 4 along the surface of the photosensitive sheet 2e, and a pulley 3 meshed with the scanning motor and driven to rotate.
b and the electro-optical signal converter 4
A scanning wire 3c is provided for converting the rotational movement of the pulley 3b into a linear movement and reciprocatingly scanning the electro-optical signal converter 4 along the surface of the photosensitive sheet 2e.

Referring to FIG. 4, the electro-optical signal converter 4 comprises:
A case body 5 formed so that light inside does not leak to the outside, and a light emitting element 6 which is a substantially point-like light source for emitting light for sensitizing the photosensitive sheet 2e is provided inside the case body 5. An optical system 7 for converting the light emitted by the light emitting element 6 into a straight parallel light having a small width and radiating the light toward the photosensitive sheet 2e; and a linear arrangement along the parallel light radiated from the optical system 7. An optical shutter 8 having a plurality of shutter elements arranged to form pixels on the photosensitive sheet 2e by blocking transmission in accordance with an electric signal for each unit area is provided. At present, liquid crystal is generally used as an optical shutter.

The optical system 7 has a spherical concave mirror 7a for converting light emitted from the substantially point-shaped light emitting element 6 into substantially linear parallel light, and light converted to substantially linear parallel light by the spherical concave mirror 7a. Lens 7b for refracting the light so as to focus on the photosensitive surface of the photosensitive sheet 2e, and converting the substantially horizontal light passing through the toroid lens 7b into a substantially vertical direction to convert the light into a substantially vertical photosensitive sheet 2e. And a plane mirror 7c that radiates toward.

In FIG. 5, a case body 5 is formed by a case body 5a and a lid body 5b so as to prevent the light inside from leaking to the outside, and a window 5a is formed on the lower surface of the case body 5a.
1 and an opening 5a2 shown in FIG.
An assembly in which a light emitting element mounting board 6a, a light emitting element 6 which is a substantially point light source that emits light for sensitizing a photosensitive sheet 2e, and a light emitting element holder 6b are fixed inside the case body 5. Is incorporated. Further, a spherical concave mirror 7a for converting light emitted from the substantially point-shaped light emitting element 6 into a substantially linear parallel light, and a light converted to a substantially linear parallel light by the spherical concave mirror 7a is used as a photosensitive sheet 2e.
A toroid lens 7b for refracting the light so as to be focused on the photosensitive surface, and converting the substantially horizontal light passing through the toroid lens 7b into a substantially vertical direction and radiating the light toward a photosensitive sheet 2e mounted below. A flat mirror 7c is installed. Further, a substrate 11 and an optical sensor 12 are incorporated. As shown in FIG.
a is fixed, and the connector 11a is connected to the light emitting element 6 and the optical sensor 12 by a conductive member. The optical shutter 8 includes a flexible conductive member 10.
Is fixed on the lower surface of the case body 5a.
a1 is arranged in a straight line along the parallel light radiated from the optical system 7 so as to cover a1 and a shutter element for forming a pixel on the photosensitive sheet 2e by blocking transmission according to an electric signal for each unit area. A plurality of optical shutters 8 are arranged, and a protective member 9 is attached so as to overlap the optical shutters 8.

In FIG. 6, a window is formed in the protective member 9, and a transparent plate 9a is fixed to the window. By attaching the protection member 9 to the case main body 5a, the protection member 9 holds the optical shutter 8 and the flexible conductive member 10. In addition, an opening 5a2 is formed in the case body 5a, and the opening 5a2 is closed by a substrate 11 attached inside so as to prevent internal light from leaking to the outside.
A part of the flexible conductive member 10 is detachably connected to the connector 11a fixed to the substrate 11.

In FIG. 7, the optical shutter 8 is aligned with the window 5a1 formed in the case main body 5a, and the optical shutter 8 is further covered with the protective member 9, and the protective member mounting screw 13 shown in FIG. Attach to 5a. As described above, since the optical shutter 8 is attached from the outside of the case body 5, the assembling becomes easy, and at the same time, a high accuracy is required and the image quality is greatly affected. The time required for changing a certain optical shutter 8 can be shortened.

Next, the operation of the video printer configured as described above will be described with reference to FIG. 3. First, the video printer is connected to a video device for generating a video signal, and the power of the video printer is turned on. The photosensitive sheet tray 2 attached to the housing 1 is pulled out by putting a hand on the portion 2a, and the photosensitive sheet pack 2d in which a plurality of photosensitive sheets 2e are packed in the photosensitive sheet tray 2.
And then mounted on the housing 1. When a print command is issued in this state, the light emitting element 6 emits light, and the light emitting element 6
Is converted by the spherical concave mirror 7a into substantially linear parallel light, and the light converted by the spherical concave mirror 7a into substantially linear parallel light is reflected by the toroid lens 7b onto the photosensitive sheet 2e. The light is refracted so as to be focused on the photosensitive surface. Toroid lens 7
The light in the substantially horizontal direction that has passed through b is converted into a substantially vertical direction by being reflected by the plane mirror 7c, and is irradiated on the photosensitive surface of the photosensitive sheet 2e. It is blocked.

When a video signal is sent from a video device to a video printer, the control circuit 3a controls the scanning motor 3b.
Is rotated to move the electro-optical signal converter 4 at the home position at a constant speed in the direction of arrow B in FIG. 1 via the scanning wire 3c. In addition, the control circuit 3a
Outputs an optical shutter drive signal according to the video signal,
Thus, the optical shutters 8 arranged linearly in a direction orthogonal to the direction of movement of the electro-optical signal converter 4
The plurality of shutter elements are driven to selectively transmit light. First, a latent image of the first pixel row is formed, and the photosensitive sheet 2e is moved with the movement of the electro-optical signal converter 4.
The latent image of the second and third pixel rows is sequentially formed on the photosensitive surface, and when the electro-optical signal converter 4 reaches the end point shown in FIG. 8, the latent image of the image is completed. The electro-optical signal converter 4 that has reached the end point returns to the home position (FIG. 3). Photosensitive sheet 2 on which latent image of image is formed
e is sent out from the photosensitive sheet discharge port 2b while being developed by the photosensitive sheet discharge roller 2c.

[0025]

Since the present invention is configured as described above, it has the following effects.

An electro-optical signal converter for forming an image by converting an electric signal to an optical signal, a case body having a window, a light emitting element mounted inside the case body, and the light emitting element An optical system that converts light emitted by the optical system into parallel light emitted toward the outside of the case through the window, and the optical system attached to the window of the case and emits the light toward the outside of the case. An optical shutter for transmitting and blocking the parallel light to be transmitted according to an electric signal, and the optical shutter is attached from outside the case body. The time required for the replacement of the optical shutter 8, which may be required to be replaced because it greatly affects the quality, can be shortened.

Since a protective member for covering the optical shutter is attached outside the optical shutter, damage to the optical shutter can be prevented.

A flexible conductive member for supplying an electric signal for driving the shutter is connected to the optical shutter, and the optical shutter and the flexible shutter are attached by attaching the protective member to the case body. Since the conductive member is fixed to the case body, assembly is easy.

The case body has an opening, and a substrate is mounted inside the case body so as to cover the opening, and the substrate exposed at the opening of the case body has power applied to the light emitting element. A connector for supplying the flexible conductive member is connected to the connector,
Since the light emitting element is electrically connected to the connector, it is easy to assemble, and an electro-optical signal conversion device in which light inside does not leak outside can be obtained.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing an outline of the configuration and operation of a video printer employing an electro-optical signal converter according to the present invention as a print head.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing a state in which an electro-optical signal converter as a print head of the video printer shown in FIG. 1 performs a printing operation and finishes printing.

FIG. 3 is a sectional view showing a state of a section taken along line AA of FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a detailed cross-sectional view showing a state where a portion E in FIG. 3 is enlarged.

5 (a) is an enlarged plan view showing a state in which a lid 5b of the electro-optical signal conversion device in FIG. 3 is removed. (B) is a sectional view showing a state of a section taken along line FF.

FIG. 6 is a bottom view showing the state of the lower surface of FIG. 5;

FIG. 7 is an explanatory diagram showing an assembling procedure of the electro-optical signal converter in FIG. 5 (b).

8 is a sectional view showing a state of a section taken along line DD of FIG. 2;

FIG. 9 is a cross-sectional view showing a cross section of a conventional example.

[Explanation of symbols]

 Reference Signs List 1 housing 2 photosensitive sheet tray 2a handle 2b photosensitive sheet discharge port 2c photosensitive sheet discharge roller 2d photosensitive sheet pack 2e sheet 3 optical print unit 3a control circuit 3b scanning motor 3c scanning wire 4 electro-optical signal converter 5 case body 6 light emitting element 7 Optical system 7a Spherical concave mirror 7b Toroid lens 7c Plane mirror 8 Optical shutter 9 Protective member 10 Flexible conductive member 11 Substrate 11a Connector 12 Optical sensor 13 Protective member mounting screw

Claims (7)

[Claims] 1. An electro-optical signal converter for forming an image by converting an electric signal into an optical signal, comprising: a case body having a window; a light emitting element mounted inside the case body; An optical system that converts light emitted by the light-emitting element into parallel light emitted toward the outside of the case through the window; and the optical system attached to the window of the case and facing the outside of the case. An optical shutter for blocking parallel light emitted from the case according to an electric signal, wherein the optical shutter is attached from outside the case body. 2. The electro-optical signal converter according to claim 1, wherein a protection member for covering the optical shutter is attached outside the optical shutter. 3. The electro-optical signal converter according to claim 1, wherein a flexible conductive member for supplying an electric signal for driving the shutter is connected to the optical shutter. 4. The electric light according to claim 2, wherein the optical shutter and the flexible conductive member are fixed to the case body by attaching the protection member to the case body. Signal converter. 5. The case body has an opening, a substrate is mounted inside the case body so as to cover the opening, and the light emitting element is provided on the substrate exposed at the opening of the case body. 2. The electro-optical signal converter according to claim 1, further comprising a connector for supplying electric power to the device. 6. The electro-optical signal conversion device according to claim 3, wherein the flexible conductive member is connected to the connector. 7. The electro-optical signal converter according to claim 5, wherein the light emitting element is electrically connected to the connector.