JPS6337767A - Processing method for light beam and device using the same - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To simplify the constitution of a device by providing an optical couping means which obtains a composite light output at one light output terminal of a bundle formed by arranging equally and bundling three optical fibers which have light input terminals for light beams of the three primary colors. CONSTITUTION:Light outputs of blue, green and red from optical modulators 2B, 2G and 2R are guided in the bundled optical fibers 23 from end parts 23B, 23G and 23R and guided out to the side of a lens 11 from the other end part 23A by an optical connector 22. The optical fibers 23 are bundled in equal arrangement, so light beams of the respective colors from optical modulators 2B, 2G and 2R become a composite color beam of the respective colors when outputted from the other end part 23A. Further, the bending and length of the optical fibers 23 are set optionally, so they are arranged and structured optionally without restricting the position nor fitting direction of the input light connector of the lens 11. Consequently, neither a mechanism for an optical axis adjustment nor the adjustment is necessary and the device constitution is simplified.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION - Industrial Application Fields The present invention relates to a light beam processing method and apparatus for aligning and combining light beams of three primary colors of a color image in a color image processing system, etc. Regarding.

Background of the Invention - Photographic color printers, for example, are known as color image processing systems. Color the image - light beams of three primary colors (
There is a scanner printer that prints on color paper by modulating a recording light beam with a color signal read as a color signal for each pixel by a laser beam (for example, a laser beam) or a color signal processed by a computer.

This scanner printer has a configuration shown in FIG. 3, for example. Laser light source 1B with +7, green, and red colored lights, respectively
, IC, and IR are optically modulated.
, 2c, 2R, and these optical modulators 28.2G
, 2R, modulation signals for each color from the computer 3 are applied from D/A converters 48.4G and 4R to perform beam intensity modulation. The computer 3 stores the color signal read from the original color image or the color signal from the television in the memory 5, performs image processing such as gradation processing, contour enhancement processing, etc. on the color signal, and outputs it as a modulation signal.

The optical axes of the light beams of each color modulated by the optical modulators 2B, 2G, and 2R are changed by reflection by the mirrors e, , sc, and SR, respectively, and the light beam reflected by the mirror 6R passes through the dichroic mirror 7. The optical axis is adjusted to the mirror 8 side, and the dichroic mirror 9 combines the beam with the reflected beam from the mirror 6G. The light beams combined by these mirrors have their optical axes adjusted by a mirror IO, and are further focused through a lens 11 and placed on a drum 12.
The color paper (recording paper) 13 wound around is irradiated with light. The drum 12 is rotated at a constant speed in the direction of arrow 0 (main scanning) and reciprocated in the direction of arrow X (sub-scanning), thereby printing an image onto the color paper 13. For main scanning and sub-scanning, in addition to the color paper transport method using a drum, a beam changing method using a polygon (rotating polygon mirror) and a galvano mirror may be used, or a combination of a polygon mirror, a galvano mirror, and photosensitive material transport may be used. There are also different operating methods. Also, instead of color paper, it may be printed on color film or used as a color display.

Problems to be Solved by the Invention - In a light beam processing method or apparatus, such as a conventional scanner printer, in which light beams of three primary colors are combined by aligning their axes, each color is Optical axis adjustment of the light beams is performed by mirrors BB, 6G, SR, 7, 10 and dichroic mirrors 8.9, and for this purpose each mirror is provided with an optical axis adjustment mechanism. Furthermore, in order to eliminate fluctuations and distortions in the mounting positions and angles between the respective mirrors, the device base and the means for fixing the mirrors thereon are made of a rigid structure.

Due to the above-mentioned circumstances, the conventional configuration requires a highly accurate optical axis adjustment mechanism, a rigid base, and a means for fixing the mirrors to each mirror, which is expensive and increases the size of the device in terms of space. was there. Furthermore, optical axis adjustment requires integrated adjustment between each mirror. For example, changing the optical axis at one location requires readjusting the optical axes of many mirrors, making alignment difficult. There was a problem that required time and effort.

The purpose of 1.11 is to provide a light beam processing power υ and a device thereof that can simplify the device configuration by eliminating the need for a mechanism and adjustment for adjusting the optical axis.

L stage for solving one problem - To achieve the above-mentioned object, the present invention provides a color 111
3 (In the light beam processing power method, which combines likely color beams by aligning their optical axes, the three primary color light beams are taken in from arbitrary directions through optical fibers and combined to form one light beam. The beam is extracted from an optical fiber in any direction.

Further, the present invention is provided with an optical coupling means for bundling three optical fibers each having a light input end for three primary color light beams in an evenly arranged arrangement to obtain a combined light output at one light output end.

One Embodiment - FIG. 1 is a block diagram of an apparatus showing one embodiment of the present invention, in which the present invention is applied to a scanner printer. The difference between this figure and FIG. 3 is that the optical modulators 2B, 2G, and 2R have optical fiber connectors 21s and 21 as their optical output ends.
G, 21R are provided, and these connectors 21e, 21
G, a handle optical fiber /<-23 is provided, which has three branched ends, one end of which is coupled to 21R, and the other end of which is bent all at once and coupled to one optical connector 22, and the optical connector 22 The optical output of the lens 11 is introduced into the lens 11 side. This handle optical fiber 23 is connected to optical modulators 28.2G and 2R, for example, as shown in the east line state in FIG.
End portions 23e, 23c, which are respectively coupled to the connectors of
The optical fibers 23R are connected to the optical connector 22 by connecting them to the optical connector 22 so that the end portions 23A are evenly arranged and bundled.

In such a configuration, the optical variable 21″JA2B, 2G
, 2R are introduced from the ends 23s, 23G, and 23R of the bundle optical fiber 23, and are led out from the other end 23A to the lens 11 side by the optical connector 22. Here, since the bundle optical fibers 23 are evenly arranged to form east lines, the light of each color from the optical modulators 2B, 2c, and 2R becomes a color beam in which each color is combined when output from the other end 23A. Equivalent to the beam processing a residue that uses conventional mirrors and dichroic mirrors for optical axis adjustment and synthesis! can have aill. Moreover, since the handle optical fiber 23 can be bent and has almost any length,
The position and attachment direction of the input optical connector of the lens 11 to which the optical connector 22 is coupled with respect to the position and attachment direction of the optical modulators 2s, 2c, and 2R can be arbitrarily arranged and structured without any restriction.

In other words, according to this embodiment, optical axis adjustment in a conventional mirror and synthesis using a dichroic mirror are realized by a handle optical fiber and its connectors at both ends. A stand and means for fixing the mirror to the stand are not required, and optical axis adjustment only requires accurate coupling of the connector and the bundle optical fiber.

Furthermore, by eliminating the need for mirrors, other means can be arranged arbitrarily, making the design easier, and making it possible to reduce the size and cost of the device.

In addition, in the embodiment, instead of combining the bundled optical fibers using the east line, a processing method may be used in which the optical fibers of the three primary colors are combined sequentially using a well-known optical coupler (for example, Japanese Patent Application Laid-open No. 81-126509). It is also possible to bundle a plurality of these into one by attaching them to each other.Also, in the embodiment, the light output through the lens 11 is printed using a drum method, but it is possible to use a beam deflection method or a photosensitive material transport method. Combination printing is also effective in the present invention.

Effects of the Invention - As is clear from the above description, the present invention takes in three primary color light beams through optical fibers, combines them, and takes them out from the optical fiber as one light beam, thereby aligning the optical axes of the light beams. In order to perform synthesis, there is no need for a mechanism or adjustment for adjusting the optical axis, and a tube with a neck-mounted configuration? It is possible to achieve li. In addition, the optical coupling means is a bundled optical fiber in which three optical fibers, each having an optical input end of the light beam, are bundled in equal arrangement to obtain a combined output at a unidirectional light output end. This eliminates the need for a relatively expensive optical coupler.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

FIG. 1 is a diagram showing the configuration of an apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing an embodiment of the handle optical fiber shown in FIG. 1, and FIG. 3 is a diagram showing the configuration of a conventional scanner printer. 1B, IG, IR... Laser light source, 2B, 2G, 2R... Optical modulator, 12... Drum, 13... Color paper, 21a, 21c, 21R... Optical connector, 22.
...Optical connector, 23...Handle optical fiber.

Claims (1)

[Scope of Claims] 1) A light beam processing method in which light beams of three primary colors of a color image are combined by aligning their optical axes, in which the light beams of the three primary colors are respectively taken in from arbitrary directions by optical fibers and combined. A method for processing a light beam, characterized in that the light beam is extracted as a single light beam from an optical fiber in any direction. 2) In a light beam processing device that aligns and synthesizes light beams of the three primary colors of a color image, three optical fibers each having an optical input end for the three primary color light beams are bundled with each other in equal arrangement. A color image processing device characterized by comprising a light coupling means for obtaining a combined light output at one light output end.