JPS5846012B2 - Image recording method and device - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to a method and apparatus for recording (copying) color image signals onto a photosensitive recording medium.

The technical idea of the present invention will be described below with respect to the case where a color copy is formed using a fiber optics cathode ray tube (hereinafter simply referred to as FOCRT) containing a phosphor as a light emitting object, but this invention is limited to such a case. I would like to add in advance that this is not something that should be interpreted as such.

A conventional method and apparatus for forming an image on a photosensitive surface, such as that disclosed in Japanese Patent Publication No. 49-47562, displays a randomly scanned image or part of a figure on a display window of a display device.

Next, the human input signal applied to this display device is added to the image transmission signal whose voltage changes periodically at a constant speed, and the remaining part of the figure is sequentially displayed in the display window by moving in one direction at a constant speed. .

The recording medium provided in front of the display window moves in synchronization with the movement of the figure on the display window, thereby recording the figure on the recording medium.

However, in such conventional technology, the figures displayed on the display device are not displayed as a function of hue, brightness, and saturation, so figures that are the same except for hue, brightness, and saturation are displayed on the photosensitive surface by being distinguished. It is not possible.

Other conventional facsimile methods and apparatus (such as U.S. Pat. No. 38110, invented by Peter Unger et al.
There is a system number 07.

In this system, a hard copy from a computer terminal using a refresh type CRT is formed by moving photosensitive paper in the scanning direction of the CRT.

However, this system cannot form color images, and furthermore cannot form images using electrophotographic techniques.

As other devices, for example, forming a color image of a color signal on a color film is, of course, well known.

For example, U.S. Pat. No. 3,685,899 records specially formed field sequential video color onto standard black and white film as a black and white separation master using a continuous film motion electron beam recorder at 50 or 60 fields per second.

A standard color film is then made from this separation master by exposing each frame of the color film to a color filter with a separation master in the order of red, green and blue.

However, this system is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 3,716,664, U.S. Pat.
This is field sequential color as disclosed in No. 260.

Of course, in field sequential color, each field represents a single color signal of the color signal, and the fields change sequentially so that they can be recorded in real time on a black and white separation master.

Therefore, a special lens system, a color disk, or a three-electron gun continuous film movement recorder must be used, making the system large and expensive.

According to a preferred embodiment of the invention, any image that can be converted into blue, green and red color signals can be copied.

In addition, for the sake of simplicity, in this specification, the term "system" is used.
The term is used to collectively refer to the image recording method and apparatus of the present invention.

The system of the present invention has one electron gun and three faceplates.
Since only one CRT with two phosphor strips can be used, the construction is extremely simple.

Basically, the system uses a FOCRT with three light emitter stripes on the faceplate.

Additionally, circuitry is used to switch the color components of the image being copied at precise times.

To explain the operation, the gate generator starts at the same time as the CRT deflection sweep, and the blue signal component is converted to CR by the blue gate signal.
Performs Z-axis modulation of T.

During this period, the CRT's electron beam sweeps only the blue phosphor stripes.

When this CRT beam travels to point V3 of the phosphor strip, the blue gate signal is turned off and the green gate is enabled.

There, the green phosphor stripes are similarly swept and then red.

As the beam sweeps the phosphor strip, the photosensitive surface, such as film paper or plastic, also moves vertically in synchronization with this sweep and is exposed.

By synchronizing the moving speed of the image and the moving speed of the photosensitive surface, it is possible to periodically expose the same photosensitive surface with light of different colors.

Additionally, the system can be made compatible with black and white systems by electronically or physically combining all color component inputs and adding them to the system simultaneously.

Alternatively, if the photosensitive surface used has a wide spectral sensitivity (see the spectral characteristic curves of various photosensitive surfaces), the image separated into the three primary color components can be directly transferred to the black and white photosensitive surface without making any additional system changes. Can be copied.

Therefore, one of the objects of the present invention is to provide a novel image recording method and apparatus that can record color images with a simple configuration.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a method and apparatus for recording images represented by different hues, brightnesses and saturations on a photosensitive recording medium.

The above-mentioned and other objects, advantages, and advantages of the present invention will be more fully understood from the following detailed description, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings illustrating preferred embodiments of the present invention.

However, as mentioned above, these embodiments are intended to illustrate the principle of the present invention and how it can be applied to actual products by those skilled in the art, and are not intended to limit the present invention. It is easy to understand that various changes and modifications can be made depending on the situation.

The present invention will be described in detail below with reference to the drawings.

FIGS. 1A-1C show side, top, and front views, respectively, of a CRT used in a preferred embodiment of the present invention.

10 shows the entire evacuated tube, inside which is the writing electron gun including the cathode 12, the control grid 14, and the focus/acceleration anode assembly 16.

This electron gun produces a high-speed, narrow beam of electrons that is modulated by the Z-axis.

The electron beam emitted from the cathode 12 impacts a light emitting surface such as a phosphor 18 provided on the inner surface of the face plate 20.

This writing electron beam is deflected by a deflection signal applied to the deflection yoke 22.

This deflection yoke 22 is slidably and rotatably attached to the neck portion of the CRT tube 10 for electron beam control and for purposes to be described later.

In addition, instead of this deflection yoke 22, the focal point in the tube 10 /
The electron beam of the CRT may be deflected in the conventional manner by applying a deflection signal to a pair of vertical deflection plates and horizontal deflection plates arranged at a predetermined distance between the accelerating anode structure 16 and the phosphor 18. .

For more information regarding these preferred embodiment deflection devices, please refer to the publication "Circuit Concepts" by Tektronix, Inc., the assignee of this patent.

Although not shown in the drawings, a desired operating voltage is supplied to each part of the CRT from a power supply circuit, as in a normal CRT.

According to the present invention, the face plate 2 is made using the prior art.
A phosphor 18 is applied to the surface 23 of 0.

In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the faceplate 20 includes fiber optics and an output beam having a radiant energy distribution of wavelengths within the human visual response range (typically 400 nm).
0 to 6,500 angstroms), and is preempted by a plurality (n) of phosphor stripes selected from the phosphor group defined in the standard chromaticity diagram.

In the illustrated embodiment, phosphor strips 28, 26, and 24 emit red, green, and blue light, respectively.

These phosphor strips are R as 22R, 22G and 22B.
Three primary color phosphors available from CA may also be used.

It should be noted that the order in which the phosphor strips 24 to 28 are arranged, that is, which color phosphor strips are placed next to each phosphor strip, is a completely arbitrary matter. I would like to add.

Furthermore, the emission wavelength range of each phosphor strip is not necessarily limited to the human visual range; for example, even in the ultraviolet or infrared range, they can form a visible image on the photosensitive surface. There's no problem as long as you do that.

Before explaining the present invention, the waveform shown in FIG. 2 will be explained.

Using these waveform diagrams, we will explain how the three primary color phosphors are used to obtain a range of colors, or hues.

In the figure, a waveform 35 indicates a red waveform corresponding to, for example, a red part of an image that is converted into an electrical signal, and a waveform 37.3
9 shows waveforms corresponding to the green and blue parts of the image, respectively.

As shown in the figure, the signal can only take on a binary level. Only when the signal is at a high level, wave energy that changes and propagates periodically is emitted from the corresponding phosphor strip among the three primary color phosphor strips mentioned above. Assume.

When the waveforms 35, 37, and 39 are applied electrically, a composite image is obtained which is represented by energy propagating as waves, and a color copy image is produced on the photosensitive surface.

The composite image 41 has a plurality of colors including yellow, cyan, green, magenta, red, blue, and black in order from left to right.

That is, by combining the three primary colors of red, green, and blue, you get white, and by adding red and green, you get yellow, and so on, you can create up to black using the three primary colors.

Although this example only shows the primary colors red, green, and blue and the complementary colors yellow, cyan, and magenta, it should be noted that any color that exists on the chromaticity diagram established by the International Commission on Illumination can also be created by adding and mixing these colors. I would like to add.

Furthermore, saturation (or chroma) corresponds to color purity, and the distance from the reference white point on the chromaticity diagram to the color in question is expressed as a percentage of the distance from the reference white point on the diagram to the maximum point of that color. Defined by

Although not shown in FIG. 2, since each primary color waveform corresponds to a single color, it is assumed that when each primary color waveform is at a high level, the purity or saturation of the primary color and complementary color is 100%.

Therefore, for example, to obtain green color with 50% saturation, waveform 37
It is good to keep the amplitude of

A third characteristic of the energy emitted by the fluorescent material is brightness.

Brightness can be defined as the total amount of visible light energy from the side rings to darkness.

This characteristic, commonly referred to as luminous flux, or brightness, depends on variables such as the type of phosphor used.

The brightness of various fluorescent substances is well known as described in the above-mentioned literature and other documents, and therefore will not be described here.

The above-mentioned process of adding the three primary colors to display and reproduce the original image in color from an electrical signal representing the image is used as a means and method for displaying a color image on a CFtT screen such as a television monitor or display device. Generally used in the field of television (the addition of primary color signals in television does not necessarily involve converting each signal in unit quantities as described above, but in general, green is 9%, red is 30%, blue is 1).
1% Q luminance component Y (luminance), ■ component in phase with the subcarrier of green (-28%), Chiken (60%), child care (-32%), and green (-52%), Chiken (31%) ) + blue (41%) subcarrier and Q component having a 90 degree phase difference).

However, while a plurality of electron guns are generally used in the television field, the present invention uses phosphors 24, 26, and 28.
By using only a single electron gun display device is required.

Furthermore, although a few CRTs using a single electron gun configuration exist in the television field, such CFtTs each have a
It has a large number of phosphor regions including phosphors separated into 3
It is not a single phosphor region containing separate phosphors.

Next, with reference to FIG. 3, the description of a preferred embodiment of the apparatus for forming an image on a photosensitive surface according to the present invention will continue.

It will be seen that CRTlo is responsive to a Z-axis electrical signal applied via amplifier 50.

That is, this Z-axis electrical signal modulates the electron beam of the CRT which is controlled by a pair of electrical signals applied to the deflection yoke 22 via means 52,54.

Further, as explained in connection with FIG. 1, in order for a CRT to operate normally, it is a matter of course that a power supply device is required to apply an appropriate operating voltage to each electrode of the CRT.

One of a pair of electrical signals used to control the CRT's electron beam modulated by the Z-axis signal is obtained from means 52 including a sweep oscillator and an amplifier, which signal directs the CRT's electron beam in the vertical direction indicated by arrow 56. is a sawtooth current waveform that moves across the faceplate.

The other electrical signal of the pair is obtained from means 54 for moving the electron beam across the faceplate in the horizontal direction indicated by arrow 58.

The latter signal is also a sawtooth current waveform, but in contrast to the other signal is produced by means 54 including a sweep generator and an amplifier at a much faster rate.

Means 52 and 54 may be, for example, a triggered Miller integrator and a conventional two-stage complementary current amplifier for amplifying its output and moving the CRT's electron beam across the faceplate.

Although not shown, means 52,54 are preferably operational amplifiers of conventional design that utilize a feedback signal obtained by sensing the current flowing through deflection yoke 22.

The amplifier 50 whose output signal is a Z-axis electrical signal is, for example, a CR
It may be a conventional pseudo-differential amplifier that drives a cascode amplifier that controls the voltage between the cathode of the CRT and the control grid to control the amount of electron beam at T.

In addition to the means 52 there are means 60 for generating a sawtooth voltage waveform.

The use of this means 60 will become clearer from the following explanation.
Means 62, such as a synchronizer, is gated so that it operates or is operated in direct synchronization with an image display or image generator capable of forming a duplicate image on the photosensitive surface as an electrical signal.

Means 66 is a comparator which operates in response to the sawtooth voltage waveform generated by means 60 and the second sawtooth waveform.

The comparator compares the pair of electrical signals to generate a gate signal that is used to trigger a second waveform of the pair of electrical signals.

This second sawtooth voltage waveform is further generated by means 68 triggered by image copy control means 70, such as a copy switch.

This second sawtooth voltage waveform or electrical signal produced by means 68 is applied to and operatively coupled to photosensitive surface drive means 69 for synchronously moving the photosensitive surface.

Means 69 may be a controllable drive means such as an electric motor for moving the photosensitive surface in contact with the face plate of the CRT in the direction of arrow 116.

Since the drive mechanism that moves the photosensitive surface is well known, we will omit its explanation (if you need detailed information about such a device, please refer to Tektronix Instruction Manual 07).
0-1686-01).

There is means 72, such as a switch, for receiving the Z-axis electrical signal from amplifier 50 and applying it to the Z-axis of the CRT.

Means 72, which may be an analog electronic switch of conventional design, is operated by the comparison output of a pair of sawtooth voltage waveforms to apply a Z-axis signal to the CRT for a selected period of time.

The operation of the above-mentioned device will be explained as follows.

FIG. 4 shows a time chart of several waveforms that occur when a simple image, such as a rask scan, random scan or cumulative display, is copied by the present system.

For example, suppose a converted rask scan image is copied onto a photosensitive surface as represented by an electrical signal such as that shown by waveform 74A.

Waveforms 74 each include a synchronization signal portion 76 and an image portion 78.

The waveform 74 is then generated by extraneous means or applied to the device 62 consisting of the display means 64 as well as to the amplifier 50 indicated by the dashed line 81.

Synchronizer 62 then generates a trigger or gate pulse to drive means 52.60.

For example, if the waveform 74 is an electrical signal representing an image to be copied using the television system, the synchronization signal 76 is approximately 64 microseconds (63.5 microseconds for the conventional NTSCg system).
This is a horizontal sync pulse that occurs every time.

Further, although not shown, a second synchronization signal for field synchronization is also generated every 256.5 horizontal synchronization pulses.

Thus, means 60 coupled to be triggered by synchronization signal 76 generates waveform 80.

Similarly, means 52 generates a sawtooth current waveform in response to the field synchronization signal to sweep the CRT's electron beam in the direction of arrow 56.

Triggered by the copy control means 70, the means 68 outputs the waveform 8.
Generates 2.

A waveform 80 and a waveform 82 having a much gentler slope than this waveform 80 are firstly compared by the means 66 to generate the waveform 84, and secondly, the photosensitive surface on which the image is to be copied is
Used for driving, ie, synchronizing moving mechanisms.

This waveform 84 is then applied to gate means 54 which generates a sawtooth current waveform 86 to move the electron beam across the faceplate in the direction of arrow 58.

At the same time that trigger or gating means 54 is triggered by waveform 84 to generate waveform 86, means 72 is enabled only during the period indicated by gating waveform 88 under the control of waveform 84.

As a result, only the portion of waveform 74 that coincides in time with the occurrence of waveform 88 of waveform 74 is applied to the Z-axis of the CRT.

That is, in the example of FIG. 4, waveform 90A is applied to the Z-axis of the CRT.

As can be seen from the figure, an image is drawn on the face plate of the CRT and the photosensitive surface in contact with the face plate is wound up, so that an image is formed on the photosensitive surface by synchronized movement of the light energy key and the photosensitive surface.

However, according to the present invention, since the image drawn on the CRT faceplate and the photosensitive surface in contact with the faceplate are rolled up and moved in synchronization, the copied image is given as an energy key expressed by the difference in characteristics of the reproduced image. .

Therefore, since images are formed using hue, brightness, and saturation, even if the reproduced images are the same except for color information, they can be identified and a color copy can be obtained.

The invention includes means 64 and amplifier 50 as shown in FIG.
A plurality of means 92°94, such as electrical switches, between
．． By adding 96, this can be achieved very economically and effectively.

Each of the switch means 92 to 96 outputs the image signal oscillation or display means 64 from the primary color signal component of the copied image, for example, in the waveform 74A.
, 74B.

It receives signals corresponding to blue, green and red, such as 74C.

The signal waveform 74A of the present invention is the main component of the image, and is not a composite signal component as in the prior art, and is not a composite signal component as in the prior art.
That is, the timing waveform is formed by means 98, such as a gate generator, controlled by the comparison signal waveform 84 described above.

These gates, or timing waveforms, are indicated at 100, 102, and 104, and occur at timings corresponding to the three colored phosphor stripes sequentially placed on the faceplate of the CRT, as described above.

In the embodiment of FIG. 3 having the phosphor strips shown in FIG. 1, waveform 104 and the red signal component are applied to means 92, which is a red signal component switch, and waveform 102 and the green signal component are applied to means 92, which is a green signal component switch. In addition to means 94, the waveform 100 and the blue signal component are applied to means 96, which is a blue primary color signal component switch.

Therefore, the means 98 can be considered to be switching means for generating a sampling signal and for combining the three primary color signal components and the sampling signal to generate an electrical signal.

This timing waveform 100 is applied only during the sweep period of waveform 86.
, 102° and 104 occur, and it can be seen from FIG. I understand.

That is, each copy image is formed by spatially and temporally combining m image portions generated by the three primary color phosphors.

Alternatively, the outputs of the image signal generating means 64 may be synthesized (106).
By combining the output signals of the means 92, 94, and 96 with each other, the apparatus can be made compatible with conventional black and white copying apparatus.

This is because by combining in this manner, an electrical signal of the conventional circuit is obtained which applies the output of the image signal generating means 64 as a single signal to the amplifier 50 via the broken line 81.

In the embodiment of FIG.
2.94.96 is a circuit that selects an analog input signal under control of a digital input signal, and is a selector of integrated or discrete configuration.

Since each of these means is well known to those skilled in the art, explanation thereof will be omitted as it is deemed unnecessary.

Next, FIG. 5 will be explained.

FIG. 5 shows a plurality of electrical signals 35, 37, 39 representing the primary color signal components of an image displayed on a display device 110, such as a television monitor.

These electrical signals form a plurality of color bars on display 110, from top to bottom: white, yellow, cyan, green, magenta, red, blue, and black.

The operation of the apparatus of the present invention will be described in detail based on this color bar, but since the color bar and the monitor themselves are well known to those skilled in the art, their explanation will be omitted.

According to the invention, the color signal components 35, 37, 39 are
2.94.96 (see also Figures 3 and 4).

For example, under sample time. Gate generator 98 is triggered by waveform 84 at .

The gate generator 98 then generates a timing or waveform 100,
102, 104, and then waveform 86 is generated and C
Deflect the RT electron beam.

During the generation period of waveform 86 and during the duration (To-Tt) of waveform 100 (the gate signal for the blue signal component), only the blue phosphor 24 of faceplate 20 is energized as indicated by vertical line portion 114. , i.e. produces red light.

At the same time, the photosensitive surface moves in the direction of arrow 116 while contacting the entire surface of the face plate.

Next, at sampling time T1, the waveform 100 ends, so even if there is a blue signal, the phosphor 24 stops emitting light and changes to the waveform 102 (gate signal for the green signal).
occurs, and the green phosphor 26 emits green light during the period ('r, T2).

The photosensitive paper selectively exposed to red light is further exposed to the shaded area 118.
becomes selectively sensitive to green light.

At time T2, gating waveform 102 ends, gating waveform 104 gates the red image signal, and phosphor 28 emits red light at horizontal line portion 120.

When the photosensitive paper passes through this horizontal line portion 120, the photosensitive paper is exposed to blue light.

It will be clearly seen that as the paper is moved the distance determined by window 112, the paper is exposed repeatedly to form the desired copy or image.

Here, since the scanning of the window 112 by the CRT's electron beam is much faster than the moving speed of the photosensitive paper, the phosphor surface appears to be constantly emitting light.Furthermore, this device is used in general television equipment. In order to do this, the gate signal is generated in the horizontal scanning period, i.e. the standard NTS (525 horizontal scanning lines).
It should be noted that in Equation 3, 525 gate signals for each primary color are generated every 10 seconds.

Furthermore, the moving speed of the recording medium (paper) and the moving speed of the image on the CRT window are the same.

According to the present invention, color images can be recorded with a simple configuration by providing a CRT in which at least first and second phosphor strips are arranged in parallel on a face plate.

As the photosensitive recording medium moves across each color phosphor, the same point on the recording medium can be exposed to light from different phosphors.

If the resolution is improved and phosphor strips corresponding to the three primary colors are provided, full-color image recording can be performed.

Additionally, the CFtT used in the present invention is different from conventional color CRTs that use three electron beams and a shadow mask.
Since a shadow mask is not required and a single electron beam is sufficient, the structure is simple and inexpensive.

Furthermore, since no shadow mask is used, there is no reduction in brightness due to this, and there are various advantages such as no need for troublesome convergence adjustment.

Although only the preferred embodiments have been described above, it will be obvious to those skilled in the art that various modifications and changes can be made without departing from the gist of the invention.

For example, in the above embodiment, a vertically long part of the image is displayed on the face plate, but a horizontally long part of the image can also be displayed.

It is therefore intended that the appended claims cover all modifications and changes that fall within the scope of the invention.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

1A to 1C are side, top and front views of a CRT used in a preferred embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 2 is a primary color signal waveform and an image obtained by combining these waveforms, and FIG. 3 is a Simplified block diagram of an apparatus in a preferred embodiment of the present invention Part 4
Figure 3 shows a time chart of multiple waveforms that occur when a simple image is copied using the device shown in Figure 3. Figure 5 shows the primary color signal components of an image displayed on a display device such as a television monitor. Shows the signal waveform. In the figure, 10 is the entire evacuated tube 12 is the cathode 1
4 is a control grid, 16 is a focal point/acceleration anode structure, 1
8 is a fluorescent body, 20 is a face plate, 22 is a deflection yoke, 23 is a face plate surface, 50 is an amplifier,
52 and 54 are means including a vertical and horizontal sweep signal generation circuit and an amplifier circuit, respectively; 56 and 58 are arrows representing vertical and horizontal directions, respectively; 60 and 68 are high-speed and low-speed sawtooth wave generation circuits for timing, respectively; and 62 is a synchronization circuit. , 64 is an image signal generator, 66 is a comparator, 69 is a photosensitive surface driving means, 70 is a copy control means, 72 is an analog electronic switch, 92 to 96 are electronic switches, 98 is a gate signal generator, 106 is an electronic switch 92 to Means 116 for combining the outputs of 96 indicates the direction of movement of the photosensitive paper.

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. When recording a color image on a photosensitive recording medium in accordance with an image signal including at least a first and a second color code, a) a color image corresponding to the first and second color code is recorded. a cathode ray tube having first and second phosphor strips arranged in parallel on a face plate; b) connecting the first phosphor strip to the first chromatic signal component of the first portion of the image corresponding to the image signal; the second phosphor strip in the second portion of the image;
C) Repeat the operation of b) above while moving the image in a direction across the first and second phosphor stripes, and d) Synchronize with the movement of the image. An image recording method characterized in that exposure is performed while moving the photosensitive recording medium. 2. A device for recording a color image on a photosensitive recording medium in accordance with an image signal including at least first and second chrominance components, the first and second phosphors corresponding to the first and second chrominance components. a cathode ray tube having stripes disposed in parallel on a face plate; means for scanning the first and second phosphor strips with an electron beam in accordance with a portion of an image corresponding to the image signal; means for selecting the corresponding color signal component and supplying it to the cathode ray tube as a Z-axis signal during scanning one of the first and second phosphor strips; and means for moving the photosensitive recording medium while contacting the face plate in synchronization with the movement of the image.