WO2007113908A1

WO2007113908A1 - Recording medium and image forming method

Info

Publication number: WO2007113908A1
Application number: PCT/JP2006/307230
Authority: WO
Inventors: Hisanobu Matsuzoe
Original assignee: Fukuoka Technoken Kogyo, Co., Ltd.
Priority date: 2006-04-05
Filing date: 2006-04-05
Publication date: 2007-10-11
Also published as: JPWO2007113908A1; JP3936727B1

Abstract

A recording medium in which grounding or voltage application can be carried out selectively on the side of a first substrate to which charges are imparted and a second substrate opposing the first substrate, an image can be formed exactly at a desired position of the first substrate by imparting charges of electron or ion, high product yield and excellent handleability and reliability are attained while exhibiting excellent productivity through simple production process, high light transmittance and visibility are ensured and a high quality image can be formed by shrinking the pixel. The recording medium comprises a first substrate (2) to which charges are imparted, a second substrate (3) arranged oppositely to the first substrate (2), a display layer (4) formed between the first substrate (2) and the second substrate (3), charged particles (5) filled in the display layer (4), a first drive electrode (6) formed at a part of a region in one pixel on the side of the display layer (4) of the first substrate (2), a second drive electrode (8) formed on the second substrate (3) while being divided in units of display prime color, and a color filter (7) of display prime color arranged in correspondence with the second drive electrode (8).

Description

Specification

Recording medium and image forming method

Technical field

[0001] The present invention relates to an electrostatic development type recording medium in which image or character information is displayed by being charged with electrons or ions, and selectively applying a charge to the recording medium. The present invention relates to an image forming method to be formed.

Background art

In recent years, recording media such as electronic paper and flexible displays that can be rewritten and have excellent portability have been developed. At present, a twisting ball system that divides a minute ball into two colors (for example, black and white) and rotates the ball depending on the electrical characteristics of each color to display any one color, for example, two colors in a minute ball (for example, There are recording media such as electrophoretic, liquid crystal, and powder transfer systems that mix fine black and white powders and display only one color that floats due to the difference in electrical characteristics of the fine powders of each color. In addition, it is assumed that the image forming method is different from those of these recording media, and the electrostatic developing type recording medium that selectively charges the surface of the electrostatic latent image carrier (recording medium) and thereby forms an image. Has also been proposed.

In recent years, recording media such as electronic paper have been required to be highly visible and capable of full-color display. As a conventional technology of electronic paper capable of full-color display, for example, (Patent Document 1) describes a pair of recording media. A flat plate, a first electrode and a second electrode formed between the flat plates, a plurality of separation walls formed between the flat plates and partitioning the flat plate into a plurality of regions, and a region partitioned by the separation walls. An image display medium provided with a display dispersion medium in which electrophoretic particles of a plurality of enclosed unit dyes are dispersed is disclosed.

In recent years, an ion irradiation type print head has been developed as a print head for forming an electrostatic latent image on an electrostatic development type recording medium (Patent Document 2). (Patent Document 3) discloses a specific shape of an ion irradiation type print head compatible with a horizontal printer and an image forming apparatus provided with the shape.

These print heads must be heated without being discharged when applied to the discharge electrodes. This is a device that controls the generation of ions by controlling the presence or absence of heating by controlling the presence or absence of heating to the discharge electrode in the state where the voltage (discharge control voltage) is generated by the discharge (calo heat discharge method). There is no need to control the voltage applied to the discharge electrode. As a result, it is possible to control the occurrence of discharge with a low withstand voltage driver IC such as 5V drive that is used to control heating with a heating resistor, etc., and the most excellent control method from the viewpoint of discharge control. It can be said that it is a formula. In addition, since the discharge control voltage is directly applied to the discharge electrode, a large amount of ions can be generated by heating, so the electrostatic development type recording medium can be selectively charged to write images without contact. To do this, it is the best print head you can think of now.

Patent Document 1: Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication No. 2004-94137

Patent Document 2: Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2003-326756

Patent Document 3: Japanese Patent Application 2004-69350

Disclosure of the invention

Problems to be solved by the invention

However, the conventional techniques described above have the following problems.

(1) In order to realize full color display, the image display medium disclosed in (Patent Document 1) forms a plurality of separation walls in a flat plate so as to be divided into a plurality of regions, and each region is different for each unit dye. Since the electrophoretic particles in which the electrophoretic particles of the color are dispersed are encapsulated, when manufacturing an image display medium, a process of forming a separation wall on a flat plate, an area defined by the separation wall A process for filling and encapsulating the display dispersion medium in which the electrophoretic particles are dispersed in each unit dye is necessary, and the manufacturing process is complicated, the productivity is low, and the product yield decreases.

(2) In addition, since the separation wall serving as a light shielding part is formed in the flat plate, the light transmittance is lowered, the display screen is darkened and the visibility is lowered, and no electrophoretic particles are present on the separation wall. Therefore, there is a problem that it is difficult to obtain a high-quality image because it is difficult to miniaturize pixels because image display and character display cannot be performed on the separation wall.

(3) Further, the first electrode or the second electrode must be formed as a matrix pixel electrode corresponding to each pixel of the recording medium, and in order to drive these, it corresponds to each pixel electrode. However, since it is necessary to dispose a thin film transistor, there is a problem that productivity as a recording medium and low cost are lacking.

(4) The heating and discharging type print heads of (Patent Document 2) and (Patent Document 3) are easy to control the discharge, and are optimal for non-contact writing on electrostatic development type recording media. In order to improve the resolution, the discharge electrodes must be mounted at a high density, and there are restrictions on the technology for forming the discharge electrodes and the heating elements for the shape and arrangement of the discharge electrodes and the heating elements. And there was a limit of image quality.

(5) In addition, since writing is performed while relatively moving the heat-discharge type print head and the recording medium, in order to improve the image quality and color, the position of the heat-discharge type print head and the recording medium must be adjusted. High precision is required for the control of the timing of ion irradiation and the like, high image quality and colorization are difficult, and this has been a problem in the spread of electrostatic development recording media. In view of the above, there has been a strong demand for the development of a recording medium, an image forming apparatus, and an image forming method capable of forming a high-resolution, high-quality powerful image without being restricted by manufacturing technology.

[0005] The present invention solves the above-described conventional problems and meets the above-mentioned demand, and can selectively perform grounding or voltage application on the second substrate side facing the first substrate to which electric charge is applied. In addition, images can be formed by reliably applying electron or ion charges to the desired position on the first substrate, and the manufacturing process is simple, with excellent productivity and high product yield. Another object of the present invention is to provide a recording medium that is excellent in reliability, has high light transmittance, high visibility, miniaturizes pixels, and can form a high-quality image.

Further, the present invention selectively generates a discharge between the heat-discharge type print head and the recording medium, and reliably discharges the discharged electrons and ions to a desired position on the first substrate. It is an object of the present invention to provide an image forming method capable of providing a high-resolution and high-quality image with easy control.

Means for solving the problem

[0006] In order to solve the above conventional problems, a recording medium and an image forming method of the present invention have the following configurations.

The recording medium according to claim 1 of the present invention includes a first substrate to which a charge is applied, and the first substrate. A second substrate opposed to the plate, a display layer formed between the first substrate and the second substrate, charged particles sealed in the display layer, and the first substrate A first drive electrode formed in a part of a region in one pixel on the display layer side; a second drive electrode formed on the second substrate by being divided into display primary color units; and the second drive electrode The display primary color filter or the color reflection plate arranged corresponding to the above-described configuration has the following effects.

(1) When charged particles are positively charged, charged particles collect on the first drive electrode when a negative voltage is applied to the first drive electrode. Since the first drive electrode is formed in a part of the area within one pixel, the observer looking at the first substrate side sees the transmitted light from the color filter or the color reflector or the combined light of the reflected light. It can be observed without being shielded by charged particles. Next, when a negative charge (electrons or ions) is selectively applied to an arbitrary portion of the first substrate and a positive voltage is applied to the second drive electrode corresponding to the portion, the first drive electrode and the first drive electrode Due to the effect of the electric field formed between the two drive electrodes, an electric charge is applied to any part of the first substrate other than the first drive electrode and is negatively charged. As a result, the partial force of the charged particles on the first drive electrode moves to and adheres to the negatively charged first substrate by the Coulomb force, and the charged particles are transmitted through the color filter or the color reflector force. Since a part is shielded, an image can be formed according to the shielded light. Even if the voltage application is stopped in this state, the displayed image is maintained because the charged particles remain on the first substrate and the first drive electrode due to electrostatic adsorption and intermolecular force. Thus, an image can be formed by reliably applying an electron or ion charge to a desired position on the first substrate, and it is easy to color and is excellent in handleability and reliability.

(2) Since the display layer only encloses the charged particles, there is no need to form a separation wall or encapsulate the electrophoretic particles for each unit color in the area partitioned by the separation wall. However, it is simple and excellent in productivity and high product yield. In addition, pixels cannot be formed, and depending on the material, the display layer has a separation wall that serves as a light-shielding part, so that the light transmittance is high and the visibility is high, and the pixels can be miniaturized. High quality images can be formed.

(3) Since a color image can be formed with a simple configuration, productivity is high and there are no consumables. Excellent resource saving.

[0007] Here, as the first substrate and the second substrate, those made of a transparent synthetic resin such as polyethylene terephthalate, polycarbonate, polyether sulfone, or the like and made of glass or the like are used. In particular, the case where the first substrate and the second substrate are made of a transparent synthetic resin is preferable because a flexible recording medium can be obtained.

[0008] As the first drive electrode and the second drive electrode, ITO, indium zinc oxide (InZnO), conjugated conductive polyaline, polyethylene dioxythiophene and polystyrene sulfonic acid are used. A transparent electrode made of conductive polymer (PEDOTZPSS) or the like made of is used. In the case of a recording medium in which a color reflector is disposed between the display layer and the second drive electrode, an opaque metal electrode such as copper can be used as the second drive electrode.

The second drive electrode is divided into display primary color units and formed on the second substrate. However, if the display primary colors are two or more colors, a combination of colors can be appropriately selected. Coloring can be achieved by dividing one pixel into a plurality of sub-pixels according to the number of display primary colors and repeatedly arranging each display primary color in a striped pattern. It is preferable that the configuration can be simplified by forming the second drive electrodes in strips so as to correspond to the display primary colors arranged in a striped pattern and forming them in row units or column units of display pixels. The second drive electrode can also be formed as a matrix pixel electrode corresponding to each pixel of the recording medium.

In addition, when the display primary colors of the color filter and the color reflector include at least the three primary colors (Y, M, C) in the additive color mixing method or the three primary colors (Y, M, C) in the subtractive color mixing method, full color display can be performed. You may include other colors, such as black, as needed.

[0009] In correspondence with the second drive electrode, a color filter having the three primary colors (Y, M, C) in the subtractive color mixing method is arranged with the color filter having the three primary colors (R, G, B) in the additive color mixing method. Color display can be performed.

The color filter only needs to be able to transmit light and perform color display. Therefore, the color filter may be disposed on the upper surface of the display layer not on the back surface of the display layer, or may be disposed on the transparent second drive electrode formed of ITO or the like. May be placed on the bottom.

In addition, the color reflector may be disposed on the lower surface of the second drive electrode formed of a transparent electrode such as ITO. However, if the second drive electrode is formed of copper or the like and is opaque, , That Place on the top surface.

[0010] The charged particles are particles that are positively or negatively charged and move by an electric field, and are colored particles such as white and black that have excellent concealability to shield transmitted light and reflected light.

As the display layer, a material in which charged particles are encapsulated with an insulating fluid such as fatty acid hydrocarbon, isoparaffin, silicon oil, air between the first substrate and the second substrate arranged opposite to each other is used.

[0011] This recording medium can be used as a display medium such as a signboard that displays an advertisement or the like fixed to an image forming apparatus, in addition to being carried as a medium instead of paper.

[0012] The invention according to claim 2 of the present invention is the recording medium according to claim 1, wherein the charged particles are any one of monochromatic electrophoretic particles and monochromatic electropowder fluid. It has a composition that is a seed.

With this configuration, in addition to the operation obtained in claim 1, the following operation can be obtained. (1) Productivity is excellent because a color image can be obtained simply by encapsulating monochromatic electrophoretic particles or electropowder fluid in a display medium.

Here, as the electrophoretic particles of the charged particles, monochromatic (white, black, gray, etc.) particles such as white particles such as titanium oxide fine particles and alumina fine particles, and black particles such as toner particles may be used. it can. As the electropowder fluid, monochromatic (white, black, gray, etc.) particles made by Priziston can be used. In either case, a material having excellent concealability for shielding transmitted light and reflected light is used.

[0014] The recording medium according to claim 3 of the present invention includes a first substrate to which an electric charge is applied, a second substrate disposed opposite to the first substrate, the first substrate, and the second substrate. A display layer formed between the display substrate, the charged particles sealed in the display layer, and a third drive arranged in parallel with a space on the display layer side of the first substrate or the second substrate. An electrode, a fourth drive electrode insulated from the third drive electrode and divided into display primary color units and formed on the second substrate, and the display disposed corresponding to the fourth drive electrode And a primary color filter or a color reflection plate. With this configuration, the following effects can be obtained.

(1) When a positive voltage is applied to one of the adjacent third drive electrodes and a negative voltage is applied to the other, the charged particles in the display layer are applied with a voltage in the direction opposite to the charged polarity. Since the electrode moves horizontally, the display layer looks transparent when viewed from the first substrate side. Therefore, the observer viewed from the first substrate can observe the transmitted light of the color filter or the color reflector force or the combined light of the reflected light without being shielded by the charged particles. Next, after the third drive electrode is set to a negative equipotential, a negative charge (electron or ion) is selectively applied to any part of the first substrate, and the fourth drive electrode corresponding to the part is applied. When a positive voltage is applied to the first electrode, an electric field is formed between the third drive electrode and the fourth drive electrode, and an electric charge is applied to any part other than the upper part of the third drive electrode on the first substrate. Negatively charged. As a result, the charged particle force positively charged in the direction of the negatively charged first substrate moves by the S-Coulomb force, and the charged particles block a part of the transmitted light or reflected light from the color filter or color reflector. Therefore, an image can be formed according to the shielded light. Even if the application of voltage is stopped in this state, the image is maintained because the charged particles are fixed by electrostatic adsorption or the like.

(3) Since a color image can be formed with a simple configuration, the productivity is excellent, and there are no consumables and resource saving is excellent.

[0015] Here, the first substrate and the second substrate are the same as those described in claim 1, and the description thereof is omitted. Further, the third drive electrode and the fourth drive electrode are the same as the first drive electrode and the second drive electrode described in claim 1, and thus the description thereof is omitted. Since the color filter and the color reflector are the same as those described in claim 1, their descriptions are omitted.

[0016] The charged particles may be either positively or negatively charged single color (white, black, gray, etc.) enclosed in a transparent resin microcapsule with a transparent insulating liquid dispersion medium. Charged particles having a fine particle force can be used. The charged particles use an electrophoretic phenomenon in which charged particles dispersed in a dispersion medium in a microcapsule move by an electric field.

The charged particles may be so-called twist balls such as a spherical shape or a cylindrical shape, and a rotating element that is partially colored in a single color (white, black, gray, etc.) and transparent in the rest can be used. The rotating element is embedded in a transparent insulating sheet of the display layer, and is supported in an insulating fluid such as silicon oil in a cavity formed slightly larger than the diameter of the rotating element, and is charged. The rotating element is rotated by the electric field. When observing from the first substrate side, it appears as a single color when the colored surface is on the first substrate side or the second substrate side, and appears transparent when the colored surface is in the horizontal direction.

[0017] The invention according to claim 4 of the present invention is the recording medium according to claim 3, wherein the charged particles are arranged in the display layer, partially colored in a single color, and the remainder transparent. The rotating element has a configuration in which one of the monochromatic charged particles encapsulated with a transparent dispersion medium in the microcapsules arranged in the display layer is one type of displacement force.

With this configuration, in addition to the operation obtained in claim 3, the following operation can be obtained. (1) Rotating element in which charged particles are arranged in the display layer, partially colored in a single color, and the rest are transparent, monochromatic charged particles enclosed in a microcapsule arranged in the display layer together with a transparent dispersion medium Therefore, the rotating element arranged in the display layer and the charged particles of the microcapsule are rotated at the position where the charged particles are arranged by applying the voltage to the third drive electrode or applying the charge to the first substrate. By moving or moving, light passing through the display layer can be transmitted or shielded to form a color image.

[0018] The recording medium according to claim 5 of the present invention includes a first substrate to which an electric charge is applied, a second substrate disposed opposite to the first substrate, the first substrate, and the second substrate. A gap between the display layer formed between the display layer, the charged particles encapsulated in the display layer and colored at least partially in the display primary color, and the display layer side of the first substrate or the second substrate. A third drive electrode that is arranged in parallel with each other, and a fourth drive electrode that is insulated from the third drive electrode and divided into display primary color units and formed on the second substrate. Talk!

With this configuration, the following effects can be obtained. (1) When a positive voltage is applied to one of the adjacent third drive electrodes and a negative voltage is applied to the other, the charged particles in the display layer are applied with a voltage in the direction opposite to the charged polarity. Since it moves horizontally to the electrode, the color of the horizontally moving charged particles can be observed from the first substrate side. Next, after the third drive electrode is set to a negative equipotential, a negative charge (electrons or ions) is selectively applied to an arbitrary position of the first substrate, and the fourth drive electrode corresponding to the position is applied to the fourth drive electrode. When a positive voltage is applied, an electric field is formed between the third drive electrode and the fourth drive electrode, and an electric charge is applied to any location other than the top of the third drive electrode on the first substrate. Negatively charged. As a result, the charged particles positively charged in the direction of the negatively charged first substrate move by the Coulomb force, and an image can be formed according to the display primary color of the charged particles. Even if the application of voltage is stopped in this state, the image is maintained because the charged particles and the rotating element are fixed by electrostatic adsorption or the like.

(2) There is no need to form a separation wall in the display layer or to enclose electrophoretic particles for each unit color in the area partitioned by the separation wall, and the manufacturing process is simple and excellent in productivity and high. Product yield is obtained. In addition, a pixel cannot be formed, and depending on the material, the display layer has a separation wall that serves as a light-shielding part. The light transmittance is high and the visibility is high, so that the pixel can be miniaturized. High quality images can be formed.

[0019] Here, the first substrate and the second substrate are the same as those described in claim 1, and the description thereof is omitted. Further, the third drive electrode and the fourth drive electrode are the same as the first drive electrode and the second drive electrode described in claim 1, and thus the description thereof is omitted.

[0020] As the charged particles, charged particles having fine particle force of a display primary color charged either positively or negatively enclosed in a transparent resin microcapsule together with a dispersion medium of a transparent insulating liquid may be used. it can. This utilizes an electrophoretic phenomenon in which charged particles dispersed in a dispersion medium in a microcapsule move by an electric field.

In addition, the charged particles are so-called twist balls such as a spherical shape or a cylindrical shape, and some of them are colored in display primary colors (red, green, blue, etc.) and the rest are colored in a single color such as white. A rotating element with the remaining transparent can be used. Rotating element is transparent insulation of the display layer The rotating element that is charged is supported by an insulating fluid such as silicon oil in the cavity that is embedded in the conductive sheet and formed slightly larger than the diameter of the rotating element, and is rotated by the electric field. When observing from the first substrate side, the display primary color can be seen if the surface colored in the display primary color is on the first substrate side, and the other single color can be seen or transparent if the colored surface is in the horizontal direction.

[0021] The invention according to claim 6 of the present invention is the recording medium according to claim 5, wherein the charged particles are arranged in the display layer and partially rotated in the display primary color. The device has a configuration in which one of the display primary color charged particles encapsulated in a microcapsule arranged in the display layer together with a transparent dispersion medium is one type of displacement force.

With this configuration, in addition to the operation obtained in claim 5, the following operation can be obtained. (1) Charge of display primary color in which charged particles are arranged in the display layer, partially colored in the display primary color, and the rest are transparent, and the microcapsules arranged in the display layer are encapsulated with a transparent dispersion medium Since any one of the forces is one of the particles, the rotating element arranged in the display layer and the charged particles in the microcapsule are arranged at the position where the voltage is applied to the third drive electrode and the charge is applied to the first substrate. By rotating or moving, a color image can be formed so that the observer can see the primary color of the charged particles.

[0022] An image forming apparatus for forming an image on a recording medium according to any one of claims 1 to 6, comprising: a discharge electrode having an electron emission portion; and a heating means for selectively heating the discharge electrode. A potential difference setting unit configured to form an electric field by setting a potential difference corresponding to a discharge control voltage between the heat discharge type print head provided and the second drive electrode or the fourth drive electrode of the recording medium. And by controlling the temperature of the discharge electrode with the heating means, the potential difference is set between the discharge electrode and the second drive electrode or the fourth drive electrode. The discharge is controlled to be generated, and the discharge electrode force discharged electrons and ions are moved to the first substrate of the recording medium to form an image.

With this configuration, the image forming apparatus can obtain the following operations.

(1) The potential difference setting unit can prepare for the discharge in a state where an electric field is formed by setting a potential difference corresponding to the discharge control voltage between the discharge electrode and the second drive electrode or the fourth drive electrode. In addition, it is possible to generate a discharge between the discharge electrode and the second drive electrode or the fourth drive electrode by selectively heating the discharge electrode by a heating means that does not need to directly control the discharge control voltage that becomes a high voltage. It is possible to form an image by moving electrons and ions, which have also discharged the discharge electrode force by an electric field, to the recording medium side and applying a charge to the first substrate of the recording medium.

(2) By having a potential difference setting unit that forms an electric field by setting a potential difference corresponding to the discharge control voltage between the discharge electrode and the second drive electrode, etc., the potential control unit controls discharge to the second drive electrode, etc. Since part of the voltage can be selectively applied, the voltage applied directly to the discharge electrode of the heat-discharge-type printing head can be reduced, and discharge can be generated efficiently, resulting in excellent energy savings. .

(3) The voltage value applied to each of the discharge electrode and the second drive electrode, etc. is arbitrarily set by the potential difference setting unit so that the potential difference between the discharge electrode and the second drive electrode becomes equal to the discharge control voltage. Therefore, the voltage value applied to the second drive electrode can be optimally adjusted according to the type of the recording medium, and the versatility is excellent.

[0023] By having the configuration as described above, a discharge is selectively generated between the discharge electrode of the heat discharge type print head and the drive electrode of the second substrate of the recording medium, and is discharged from the discharge electrode. It is possible to provide an image forming apparatus with high quality and excellent handling properties and reliability that can form an image by reliably irradiating electrons and ions to a desired position on the first substrate to give an electric charge.

[0024] Here, the discharge control voltage means that no discharge occurs between the discharge electrode of the heat-discharge type print head and the second drive electrode or the like only by the potential difference, but the discharge electrode is heated by heating the discharge electrode. This refers to the voltage range where this occurs. The discharge here means that electrons are emitted from the discharge electrode. The emitted electrons ionize oxygen and nitrogen in the atmosphere and make them reach the first substrate of the recording medium.

An electric field is formed by setting a potential difference corresponding to the discharge control voltage between the discharge electrode and the second drive electrode in the potential difference setting unit, and the discharge electrode is heated by heating the discharge electrode by the heating means. Since the generation can be controlled, electrons can be easily emitted selectively from the vicinity of any heating position (electron emission site) of the discharge electrode by selecting the heating location by the heating means. A discharge can be generated.

[0025] The discharge electrode of the heat discharge type print head is formed, for example, in a comb shape by connecting one end of a plurality of electron emission sites with a common electrode, or by connecting both ends of a plurality of electron emission sites with a common electrode. Guests can may be formed in a ladder-type or the like and can be force ^s are formed on a single flat plate-shaped such as a rectangular or square shape (I Retsue if ,, JP 2003- 326756 Patent, WO2005 / 056 297 see) .

By providing a common electrode in the vicinity of the electron emission site, such as a comb-type or ladder-type, the cooling area of the discharge electrode and the responsiveness to heating stop are improved by increasing the heat radiation area of the discharge electrode and increasing the heat capacity. In addition, since a stable voltage can always be applied by reducing the resistance value, the stability of discharge can be further improved. Note that the discharge electrode formed in a flat plate shape is a common electrode except for the electron emission site.

In particular, when the width of the common electrode is wider than the width of the electron emission site, the cooling effect of the discharge electrode, which is temporarily heated to 100 to 300 ° C, is improved, and heat can be prevented from being burned. In addition, the discharge can be stopped in response to the heating off quickly, the discharge time interval can be shortened and the presence / absence of the discharge can be switched in a short time, and the recording speed can be increased. In addition, the resistance value of the common electrode can be reduced, and the potential difference generated between the electron emission sites connected by the common electrode can be suppressed as much as possible. Therefore, the amount of electron emission at each electron emission site is reduced. Fluctuations and excellent discharge stability.

[0026] The discharge electrode is formed by depositing a metal such as gold, silver, copper, or aluminum on the substrate by vapor deposition, sputtering, printing, plating, or the like, and then etching as necessary to pattern the electron emission portion or the common electrode. In some cases, after forming at least a part of the metal such as stainless steel, copper, aluminum, etc., by thinning by etching or cutting, etc., and then patterning the discharge electrode by etching or laser cage if necessary. Preferably used. In addition, the discharge electrode may be formed using a conductive material such as carbon.

When the discharge electrode is formed on the substrate, the material of the substrate may be any material as long as it can form the discharge electrode on the surface and has heat resistance to withstand the heating by the heating means. Further, when heating is performed from the back side of the substrate by the heating means, those having a heat transfer property capable of transferring the heat generated by the heating means to the discharge electrode are preferably used. Specifically, A synthetic resin such as glass, polyimide, aramid, or polyetherimide is preferably used.

When the discharge electrodes are formed in a comb shape, the shape of each electron emission portion can be formed in a substantially rectangular shape, a trapezoidal shape, a semicircular shape, a bullet shape, or a combination thereof.

. In addition, the peripheral length around the edge of the electron emission part can be increased by further dividing a part of the electron emission part with a slit or the like or by forming an uneven part on the peripheral part (for example, W02

005Z056297). Since the discharge electrode has a large amount of electron emission from the periphery of the edge, it is possible to increase the amount of emitted ions and the intensity of emitted light by increasing the amount of electron emission of the discharge electrode force by increasing the circumference around the edge. In addition, the discharge control voltage and heating temperature can be set low, and energy saving and discharge generation efficiency are excellent. In addition, since the discharge control voltage can be set low, the discharge electrode has excellent long life.

Instead of dividing the end portion of the discharge electrode or forming the uneven portion on the peripheral edge portion, a discharge hole portion may be formed in the vicinity of the electron emission site (heating position). As a result, electrons can be emitted from the peripheral edge of the discharge hole, and the same effect as dividing the end of the discharge electrode can be obtained. The shape of the discharge hole portion can be formed in various shapes such as a substantially circular shape, a substantially elliptical shape, a polygonal shape such as a quadrangle and a hexagon, and a star shape. Further, the number and size of the discharge hole portions per one electron emission site (near the heating position) can be appropriately selected and combined. Note that the concave and convex portions and the discharge holes of the discharge electrode can be formed by the above-described etching or laser processing.

[0028] Further, a conductive material layer may be formed on at least the surface of the common electrode among the discharge electrodes.

As a result, the resistance value of the common electrode can be further reduced, the potential difference generated between the electron emission portions can be reliably reduced, and the discharge stability is excellent. The conductive material layer can be easily formed by screen printing of silver paste or silver plating as long as it has better conductivity than the discharge electrode. By increasing the thickness of the conductive material layer, the resistance value of the common electrode can be reduced, and the discharge stability can be improved.

The thickness of the discharge electrode is preferably 0.1 ~: LOO / zm when it is formed with a force depending on the material. When the thickness of the discharge electrode becomes less than 0 .: Lm, the discharge electrode tends to be affected by wear, and the life of the discharge electrode tends to be shortened. As the thickness exceeds 100 μm, the heat capacity increases and the on-off of heating is reduced. There is a tendency that the responsiveness tends to decrease, both of which are not preferable. Discharge By making the thickness of the electrode 100 m or less, it is possible to quickly recover from the heated state and to increase the printing speed.

[0029] As a heating means for heating the discharge electrode, a laser beam irradiating unit, an infrared irradiating unit, etc., a method of irradiating laser beam, infrared ray or the like is preferably used. As a method for irradiating laser light, the same laser scanner unit as in the conventional electrophotographic method can be used, and the laser irradiation unit is combined with a polygon mirror or a galvanometer mirror to scan only the laser light with respect to the discharge electrode. For example, a laser irradiation unit that scans the laser irradiation portion with respect to the discharge electrode is preferably used. In addition, laser light or infrared light may be condensed with an optical fiber or a condensing lens and irradiated to the discharge electrode. In particular, when an optical fiber array in which a large number of optical fibers are arranged with high density and high accuracy is used, a plurality of electron emission sites can be simultaneously irradiated with laser light and infrared rays at high speed. Recording is possible and productivity is excellent.

Further, as a heating means, the same structure as a thermal print head used in a conventional thermal facsimile can be used in close contact with the discharge electrode protective layer. Specifically, the heat generation of the heating resistor is controlled by a driver IC that is electrically connected to the heating resistor.

[0030] The potential difference setting unit is not particularly limited as long as it can set a potential difference corresponding to the discharge control voltage between the discharge electrode of the heat discharge type print head and the second drive electrode or the fourth drive electrode of the recording medium. A material that selectively grounds or applies a voltage to the second drive electrode or the fourth drive electrode of the recording medium is preferably used. In other words, the potential difference setting unit may apply all the voltage corresponding to the discharge control voltage only to the discharge electrode, and selectively ground the second drive electrode or the fourth drive electrode of the recording medium! Then, apply a part of the voltage corresponding to the discharge control voltage to the discharge electrode and selectively apply the remaining voltage to the second drive electrode or the fourth drive electrode of the recording medium.

In addition, the potential difference setting unit of the image forming apparatus is selected as a head side voltage application unit that applies a voltage to the discharge electrode and a second drive electrode or a fourth drive electrode of the recording medium based on the image information! It is preferable to have a configuration including a medium-side voltage control unit that performs general grounding or voltage application! With this configuration, the following effects can be obtained.

(1) The potential difference setting unit includes a head-side voltage application unit that applies a voltage to the discharge electrode and a medium-side voltage control unit that selectively performs grounding or voltage application to the counter electrode based on image information. Since the discharge control voltage can be distributed and applied to the discharge electrode and the second drive electrode or the fourth drive electrode, it can be applied to the second drive electrode or the fourth drive electrode according to the type and characteristics of the recording medium. The voltage to be discharged can be adjusted, and the burden on the discharge electrode side can be reduced to efficiently generate discharge.

[0032] Here, the head-side voltage application unit may apply a preset voltage to the entire discharge electrode, and does not need to apply a high voltage. The medium side voltage control unit selectively grounds or applies voltage to the second drive electrode or the fourth drive electrode of the recording medium, but the second drive electrode or the fourth drive electrode is arranged at a high density to provide high quality. Image can be obtained, and a driver IC that supports low withstand voltage can be used.

[0033] An image forming method according to claim 7 of the present invention is an image forming method for forming an image on a recording medium according to any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein the temperature of the discharge electrode is controlled. Thus, the discharge control voltage is set between the discharge electrode of the heating and discharge type print head that emits electrons from the discharge electrode and performs printing in the presence or absence of discharge and the second drive electrode or the fourth drive electrode of the recording medium. It has a configuration including a potential difference setting step for forming an electric field by setting a corresponding potential difference, and a discharge electrode heating step for selectively heating the discharge electrode based on image information.

With this configuration, the following effects can be obtained.

(1) In the potential difference setting step, a potential difference corresponding to the discharge control voltage is set between the discharge electrode and the second drive electrode or the fourth drive electrode of the recording medium to form an electric field, thereby preparing for discharge. In the discharge voltage heating process, discharge can be generated simply by selectively heating the discharge electrode based on the image information, so there is no need to control high voltage and the generation of discharge can be easily controlled. Thus, an image can be formed on the recording medium.

(2) The potential difference between the discharge electrode and the second drive electrode or the fourth drive electrode is made equal to the discharge control voltage by the potential difference setting step, so that each of the discharge electrode, the second drive electrode, and the fourth drive electrode is set. Since the voltage value to be applied can be set arbitrarily, the type and identification of the recording medium, etc. The voltage applied to the 2nd drive electrode or 4th drive electrode can be adjusted optimally according to the above, and the versatility is excellent.

[0034] In the potential difference setting step, a potential difference corresponding to the discharge control voltage is set between the discharge electrode of the heat discharge type print head and the second drive electrode or the fourth drive electrode of the recording medium. In the discharge electrode heating process, the discharge electrode of the heating / discharge type print head is selectively heated to control the occurrence of discharge, so printing is performed as a subsequent process of the potential difference setting process. Alternatively, the potential difference setting step and the discharge electrode heating step may be performed at the same time.

[0035] The invention according to claim 8 of the present invention is the image forming method according to claim 7, wherein the potential difference setting step includes a head-side voltage applying unit electrically connected to the discharge electrode. Based on the image information, a head side voltage applying step for applying a voltage to the discharge electrode and a medium side voltage controller electrically connected to the second drive electrode or the fourth drive electrode. And a medium side voltage control step for selectively grounding or applying a voltage to the fourth drive electrode or the fourth drive electrode.

With this configuration, in addition to the operation obtained in the seventh aspect, the following operation can be obtained.

(1) The potential difference setting process includes a head-side voltage application process in which a voltage is applied to the discharge electrode by a head-side voltage application unit electrically connected to the discharge electrode, and the second drive electrode or the fourth drive electrode. Medium-side voltage control step of grounding or applying a voltage to the second drive electrode or the fourth drive electrode by the medium-side voltage control unit connected to the discharge electrode in the head-side voltage application step. By applying a voltage to the whole and grounding or applying a voltage to the second drive electrode or the fourth drive electrode based on the image information in the medium side voltage control step, the discharge electrode and the second drive electrode Alternatively, a potential difference corresponding to the discharge control voltage can be selectively generated between the fourth drive electrode and the fourth drive electrode to prepare for the discharge.

(2) Since the medium-side voltage control process is selectively performed based on image information, it can be performed in synchronization with the discharge electrode heating process, so that it is possible to prevent discharge due to malfunction and control reliability. As well as high image quality.

Here, for the head side voltage application step, the voltage applied to the discharge electrode side by the head side voltage application unit is set to be equal to or slightly lower than the discharge control voltage. The Then, in the medium side voltage control step, the second drive electrode or the fourth drive electrode is grounded by the medium side voltage control unit, or a relatively low voltage that compensates for the shortage of the discharge control voltage is controlled. Applied to 2nd drive electrode or 4th drive electrode. As a result, a potential difference corresponding to the discharge control voltage can be set selectively, and by controlling the heating of the discharge electrode, the first substrate of the recording medium can be reliably irradiated with electrons and ions to impart a charge. Is possible. In addition, since the head-side voltage application unit controls the voltage application across the discharge electrode, the presence / absence of voltage application can be easily controlled even when the voltage applied to the discharge electrode is a high voltage.

In addition, when a part of the discharge control voltage is applied to the second drive electrode or the fourth drive electrode by the medium side voltage control unit, it is unnecessary by selectively performing the medium side voltage control process based on the image information. Excellent voltage and energy saving.

In the heat-discharge type print head, discharge is not generated only by setting a potential difference corresponding to the discharge control voltage between the discharge electrode and the second drive electrode or the fourth drive electrode. As a process, a discharge electrode heating process may be performed, and a medium side voltage control process and a discharge electrode heating process may be performed simultaneously.

The invention according to claim 9 of the present invention is the image forming method according to claim 8, wherein the selection unit force of the second drive electrode or the fourth drive electrode in the medium side voltage control step is described above. It has a configuration that is one of the pixel unit, row unit, and column unit of the display pixels of the recording medium! /

With this configuration, in addition to the operation obtained in the eighth aspect, the following operation can be obtained. (1) When the selection unit of the second drive electrode or the fourth drive electrode in the medium-side voltage control step is the pixel unit of the display pixel of the recording medium, the resolution of the heat discharge type print head is higher than the resolution of the recording medium. Even in a rough case, it is possible to generate a discharge by discharging electrons from the discharge electrode of the heating discharge type print head facing the selected second drive electrode or the fourth drive electrode, and the ions generated by the electrons and the discharge are generated. The desired position on the first substrate of the recording medium can be accurately irradiated, and an image can be formed by applying electric charge, resulting in excellent image quality.

(2) The selection unit of the second drive electrode or the fourth drive electrode in the medium side voltage control step is When the display pixels of the recording medium are in units of rows or columns, recording is performed by arranging the discharge electrodes of the heat-discharge type print head in the column direction or the row direction so as to be orthogonal to the second drive electrode or the fourth drive electrode. An image can be formed by reliably irradiating electrons and ions at the position where the two on the first substrate of the medium intersect (overlap), and the image has high quality. In addition, the second drive electrode or the fourth drive electrode can be easily selected, and control of grounding or voltage application can be easily performed, resulting in excellent handling.

[0038] Here, the selection of the second drive electrode or the fourth drive electrode may be performed simultaneously on the entire surface of the recording medium! It may be divided into such blocks and the vicinity of the portion facing the heat-discharge type print head may be partially selected. The invention's effect

[0039] As described above, according to the recording medium and the image forming method of the present invention, the following advantageous effects can be obtained.

According to the invention of claim 1,

(1) Since the display layer only encloses monochromatic charged particles, there is no need to form a separation wall or encapsulate electrophoretic particles for each unit color in the area partitioned by the separation wall. It is possible to provide a recording medium with a simple process, excellent productivity and high product yield.

(2) Pixels cannot be formed, and depending on the material, the display layer has a separation wall that serves as a light-shielding part. And a recording medium capable of forming a high-quality full-color image can be provided.

(3) Since a color image can be formed with a simple configuration, it is excellent in productivity, and since there are no consumables, a recording medium excellent in resource saving can be provided.

[0040] According to the invention of claim 2, in addition to the effect of claim 1,

(1) Since a color image can be obtained simply by enclosing monochromatic electrophoretic particles or electropowder fluid in a display medium, a recording medium having excellent productivity can be provided.

[0041] According to the invention of claim 3,

(1) Since the display layer only includes microcapsules or rotating elements in which charged particles are sealed, electrophoretic particles for each unit color are formed in the area formed by the separation wall or partitioned by the separation wall. It is possible to provide a recording medium that does not require a process for encapsulating a child, has a simple manufacturing process, is excellent in productivity, and provides a high product yield.

[0042] According to the invention of claim 4, in addition to the effect of claim 3,

(1) By applying a voltage to the third drive electrode or applying a charge to the first substrate, the rotating elements arranged in the display layer and the charged particles of the microcapsules rotate or move at the arranged positions. As a result, a color image can be formed by transmitting or blocking light passing through the display layer, and the configuration is simple and the productivity is excellent.

[0043] According to the invention of claim 5,

(1) Since the display layer only has microcapsules or rotating elements in which charged particles are enclosed, electrophoretic particles are encapsulated for each unit color in the area formed by the separation wall or partitioned by the separation wall. Therefore, it is possible to provide a recording medium in which the manufacturing process is simple, the manufacturing process is simple, the productivity is high, and the product yield is high.

[0044] According to the invention of claim 6, in addition to the effect of claim 5,

(1) By applying a voltage to the third drive electrode or applying a charge to the first substrate, the rotating elements arranged in the display layer and the charged particles of the microcapsules rotate or move at the arranged positions. As a result, a color image can be formed by making the display primary color of the charged particles visible to the observer, and the configuration is simple and the productivity is excellent.

[0045] According to the invention of claim 7, (1) Since a discharge voltage heating process is provided! /, Therefore, discharge can be generated simply by selectively heating the discharge electrode based on image information, and high voltage control is not required and easy. In addition, it is possible to provide an image forming method excellent in handleability capable of controlling the occurrence of discharge and forming an image on a recording medium.

(2) The potential difference between the discharge electrode and the second drive electrode or the fourth drive electrode is made equal to the discharge control voltage by the potential difference setting step, so that each of the discharge electrode, the second drive electrode, and the fourth drive electrode is set. The voltage value to be applied can be set arbitrarily, and the voltage value to be applied to the second drive electrode or the fourth drive electrode can be optimally adjusted according to the type or specification of the recording medium, making it highly versatile. An image forming method can be provided.

[0046] According to the invention of claim 8, in addition to the effect of claim 7,

(1) Since the potential difference setting process includes a head-side voltage application process and a medium-side voltage control process, the voltage is applied to the entire discharge electrode in the head-side voltage application process, and the image is transmitted through the medium-side voltage control process. Based on the information, by applying grounding or voltage application to the second drive electrode or the fourth drive electrode, it is equivalent to the discharge control voltage selectively between the discharge electrode and the second drive electrode or the fourth drive electrode. Therefore, it is possible to provide an image forming method capable of generating a potential difference and preparing for discharge, easily controlling the voltage, and having excellent handleability.

(2) The medium-side voltage control process can be performed in synchronization with the discharge electrode heating process, and it is possible to prevent discharge from occurring due to malfunctions and to provide excellent control reliability and image quality with high image quality. A method can be provided.

[0047] According to the invention of claim 9, in addition to the effect of claim 8,

(1) Images and images can be formed by accurately irradiating the desired position on the first substrate of the recording medium with electrons and ions generated from the discharge electrodes of the heat-discharge-type print head and applying charges. An image forming method having excellent properties can be provided.

Brief Description of Drawings

FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram of a main part of a recording medium showing a state before image formation of the recording medium in Embodiment 1.

FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram of a main part of a recording medium and an image forming apparatus showing a state of the recording medium during image formation in Embodiment 1. FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram of a main part of a recording medium showing a state of the recording medium before image formation in Embodiment 2.

FIG. 4 is a schematic diagram of a main part of a recording medium and an image forming apparatus showing a state of the recording medium during image formation in Embodiment 2.

FIG. 5 is a schematic diagram of a main part of a recording medium showing a state of the recording medium before image formation in Embodiment 3.

FIG. 6 is a schematic diagram of a main part of a recording medium and an image forming apparatus showing a state at the time of image formation of the recording medium in Embodiment 3.

Explanation of symbols

1, 31, 51 Recording media

2 First board

3 Second board

4, 32 display layers

5, 34, 53 Charged particles

6 First drive electrode

7, 7a, 7b, 7c Color filter

8, 8a, 8b, 8c Second drive electrode

9, 37 Insulation layer

10, 39 Drive electrode controller

11 Image forming device

12 Heating discharge type print head

13 Heat sink

14 Board

15 Heating part

16 electrodes

16a Heating resistor

17 Heat-generating part insulation film

18 Discharge electrode 19 Electron emitter

20, 40 Potential difference setting section

21, 41 Head side voltage application section

22, 42 Medium side voltage controller

33, 52 Micro Capsenore

35, 35a, 35b, 35c 4th drive electrode

36, 36a, 36b, 36c color reflector

38a, 38b Third drive electrode

54 White scattering layer

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION

Hereinafter, the best mode for carrying out the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. (Embodiment 1)

FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram of a main part of a recording medium showing the state of the recording medium in the first embodiment before image formation. FIG. 2 shows the state of the recording medium in the first embodiment during image formation. It is a principal part schematic diagram of a formation apparatus.

In the figure, 1 is a recording medium according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention, 2 is a first substrate formed in a film shape made of a transparent synthetic resin such as polyethylene terephthalate, polycarbonate, or polyether sulfone, and 3 is polyethylene. A second substrate 4 is formed between the first substrate 2 and the second substrate 3 and is formed in a film shape made of a transparent synthetic resin such as terephthalate, polycarbonate, or polyethersulfone, and is disposed opposite to the first substrate 2. The display layer 5 is filled with an insulating fluid such as isoparaffin, silicon oil, air, etc. 5 is a white oxide titanium fine particle, alumina fine particle, black toner particle, etc. enclosed in the display layer 4 together with the insulating fluid. Charged monochromatic charged electrophoretic particles or charged particles made of monochromatic electro-powder fluid, 6 is a transparent first drive electrode formed of ITO or the like on the display layer 4 side of the first substrate 2 In order to improve visibility, it is formed into a fine line that occupies a part of the area within one pixel. 7 is a color filter in which the three primary colors (R, G, B), which are display primary color units in the additive color mixing method, are arranged on the second substrate 3 in a striped pattern, 7a is a red (R) color filter, 7b Is a green (G) power color filter, and 7c is a blue (B) color filter. 8 is divided into display primary color units. This is a transparent second drive electrode that is divided and laminated with each of the color filters 7 and formed of ITO or the like, and the second drive electrodes 8a, 8b, 8c are laminated on the color filters 7a, 7b, 7c, respectively. . 9 is a transparent insulating layer laminated on the second substrate 3 and the second drive electrode 8, and 10 is a drive electrode controller for applying a voltage to the first drive electrode 6. The first drive electrode 6 is connected to the switches SI and S2 of the drive electrode control unit 10, and the switches SI and S2 are voltage application means V, V, GND

H L

The connection is switched. In the present embodiment, there are three potential force selections: V for applying repulsive force to charged particle 5, V for applying attractive force, and ground level (grounding).

H L

Is selected.

In FIG. 2, 11 is an image forming apparatus according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention, 12 is a heating / discharging print head of image forming apparatus 11, and 13 is a heating / discharging print head formed of a material such as aluminum. 12 heat sinks, 14 is made of ceramic, etc., and a heat generating part 15 and a discharge electrode 18 which will be described later are laminated on the heat dissipating plate 13 and 15 is a heat discharge type print head 12 formed on the substrate 14. The heating part, 16 is an electrode of the heating part 15 arranged in parallel at a predetermined pitch, 16a is a heating resistor of the heating part 15 formed by being electrically connected to the electrode 16, and 17 is covered with the substrate 14. The heat generating part insulating film, 18 is a discharge electrode formed in a substantially rectangular flat plate shape, 19 is an electron emitting part of the discharge electrode 18 from which electrons are emitted by heating by the heat generating resistor 16a, and 20 is a discharge. A second drive electrode 8 of the recording medium 1 disposed opposite to the electrode 18 and the discharge heating type print head 12; A potential difference setting unit that forms an electric field by setting a potential difference corresponding to the discharge control voltage during the period, 21 is a head side voltage application unit of the potential difference setting unit 20 that applies a voltage to the discharge electrode 18, and 22 is based on image information This is a medium side voltage control unit for selectively grounding or applying a voltage to the second drive electrode 8. The second drive electrode 8 is connected to the switches S3 to S5 of the medium side voltage control unit 22, and the switches S3 to S5 are connected to the voltage applying means V, V, GND.

H L

The connection is switched. In the present embodiment, three potential forces are selected: V for applying repulsive force to charged particles, V for applying attractive force, and ground level (grounding).

H L

It is carried out.

It is to be noted that the heating means of the heat-discharge type print head 12 controls the heat generation of the heat generating resistor 16a of the heat generating part 15 by a driver IC (not shown) electrically connected to the heat generating part 15.

The heating / discharge type print head 12 includes a discharge electrode 18 and a second drive electrode 8 in the potential difference setting unit 10. Since the electric field is formed by setting a potential difference corresponding to the discharge control voltage during this period and the generation of discharge can be controlled by heating with the heating means, it is easy to select any heating location by heating means. Electrons can be selectively emitted from the electron-emitting portion 19 of this, and it is not necessary to limit the discharge electrode 18 to a specific shape, and the shape flexibility is excellent. In the present embodiment, the discharge electrode 18 having a plurality of electron emission portions 19 is formed in a single rectangular plate, but for example, one end of the plurality of electron emission portions 19 is connected by a common electrode to form a comb shape. Forming or connecting both ends of a plurality of electron emitting portions 9 with a common electrode to form a ladder type or the like. (See)

Further, instead of using the heat generating portion 15 having the heating resistor 16a as the heating means, a heating method that radiates laser light or a method that irradiates infrared rays may be used as a heating means that is heated away from the discharge electrode 18. Oh ,.

An image forming method will be described based on the operations of the recording medium and the image forming apparatus according to Embodiment 1 configured as described above. The charged particles 5 of the recording medium 1 will be described by taking as an example a case where black charged swimming particles are positively charged.

In Fig. 1, switch SI and S2 of drive electrode controller 10 are switched to V, and potential difference is set

Shi

When the switches S3 to S5 of the unit 20 are set to GND, the first drive electrode 6 exerts an attractive force on the charged particles 5, and the charged particles 5 are not affected by the potential difference setting unit 20 on the first drive electrode 6. get together. Since the first drive electrode 6 is a part of the area in one pixel and does not occupy the area, the observer who also viewed the first substrate 2 side force shields the combined light of the transmitted light from the color filter 7 on the charged particles 5 Observable without being observed.

Next, in FIG. 2, a voltage is applied to the discharge electrode 18 of the heat-discharge type print head 12 by the head-side voltage application unit 21 in the head-side voltage application step of the potential difference setting step. Subsequently, in the medium side voltage control step of the potential difference setting step, the medium side voltage control unit 22 selects the color unit of the display primary color (green (G) is selected in FIG. 2) and is connected to the second drive electrode 8b. Switch S4 is switched to V, and the potential difference between discharge electrode 18 and second drive electrode 8b

H

Set to correspond to the discharge control voltage.

Next, in the discharge electrode heating step, the selected color (G) corresponds to the pixel to be displayed. The heating resistor 16a located at the position where the heat is generated generates heat and the discharge electrode 18 is selectively heated. In the discharge electrode 18, electrons are not emitted from the electron emission portion 19 that is not heated by the heating resistor 16 a, and no discharge is generated. As a result, electrons are emitted from the electron emission portion 19 of the discharge electrode 18 heated by the heating resistor 16a. At this time, since the voltage is applied only to the second drive electrode 8b corresponding to the selected color (G) of one pixel, the electrons and ions generated by the discharge are selected. It is possible to reliably irradiate the position of the sub-pixel corresponding to the above, and to charge the first substrate 2. When the application of voltage to the recording medium 1 is stopped, a part of the charged particles 5 on the first drive electrode 6 moves and adheres to the charged first substrate 2 by the Coulomb force, and the first substrate 2 Since the charged particles 5 adhering to the light shield a part of the transmitted light from the color filter 7, an image corresponding to the shielded light can be formed. Since the charged particles 5 remain on the first substrate 2 and the first drive electrode 6 due to electrostatic adsorption, intermolecular force, etc., the displayed image is maintained.

[0054] According to the recording medium in the first embodiment configured as described above, the following operations are obtained.

(1) By laminating the display layer 4 in which the charged particles 5 are encapsulated and the color filter 7 in which a plurality of display primary colors are arranged in a striped pattern, a color image can be displayed easily and the handling is excellent. High product yield can be obtained.

(2) Since the second drive electrode 8 is arranged and divided for each display primary color of the color filter 7, the electron emission of the discharge electrode 18 corresponding to the second drive electrode 8 selected based on the image information Electrons can be selectively emitted from the part 19 and an image can be formed by the action of electric charge by irradiating the electrons and ions accompanying the discharge to the desired position of the first substrate 2, thereby ensuring color misregistration. Therefore, a high-quality color image can be obtained.

(3) Since color images can be formed with a simple configuration, it is excellent in productivity, and because there are no consumables, it is excellent in resource saving.

In the present embodiment, instead of the force color filter described in the case where the color filter 7 is laminated on the second drive electrode 8 that is divided and arranged for each display primary color, a predetermined wavelength is used. A color reflector that reflects light may be laminated. As a result, a recording medium capable of displaying a color image using reflected light can be obtained. The color filter 7 only needs to be able to transmit light and perform color display. Therefore, the color filter 7 may be replaced with the second drive electrode 8. Further, the insulating layer 9 may be disposed on the display layer 4 side.

Further, although the case where the charged particles 5 are charged electrophoretic particles has been described, an electronic powder fluid may be used, and not only black particles but also white particles can be used.

In addition, according to the image forming apparatus in the first embodiment configured as described above, the following operation can be obtained.

(1) The potential difference setting unit 20 sets a potential difference corresponding to the discharge control voltage between the discharge electrode 18 and the second drive electrode 8 to prepare for the discharge in a state where an electric field is formed, and the discharge becomes a high voltage. It is not necessary to directly control the control voltage, and by selectively heating the discharge electrode 18 from the heating resistor 16a of the heat generating part 15, a discharge can be generated between the discharge electrode 18 and the second drive electrode 8. An image can be formed by moving electrons and ions emitted from the electron emission portion 19 of the discharge electrode 18 to the recording medium 1 side by an electric field and applying charges to the first substrate 2 of the recording medium 1.

(2) The head-side voltage application unit 21 in which the potential difference setting unit 20 applies a voltage to the discharge electrode 18, and the medium-side voltage control in which the second drive electrode 8 is selectively grounded and voltage is applied based on the image information. Since the medium-side voltage control unit 22 selectively applies a voltage to the second drive electrode 8, it corresponds to the discharge control voltage between the discharge electrode 18 and the second drive electrode 8. The potential difference can be set.

(3) Since there is a potential difference setting unit 20 that sets an electric potential difference corresponding to the discharge control voltage between the discharge electrode 18 and the second drive electrode 8 to form an electric field, the second drive electrode 8 When the portion is selectively applied, the voltage directly applied to the discharge electrode 18 of the heat-discharge type print head 12 can be reduced, and discharge can be generated efficiently.

(4) By arbitrarily setting the voltage value applied to each of the discharge electrode 18 and the second drive electrode 8 by the potential difference setting unit 20, the second drive electrode 8 mm can be selected according to the type and characteristics of the recording medium 1. The voltage value to be applied can be optimally adjusted, and the versatility is excellent.

In addition, according to the image forming method in Embodiment 1 of the present invention, the following operation is obtained. (1) In the potential difference setting step, a potential difference corresponding to the discharge control voltage is set between the discharge electrode 18 and the second drive electrode 8 to form an electric field. Since the discharge can be generated simply by selectively heating the discharge electrode 18 based on the information, it is not necessary to control the high voltage, and it is possible to easily control the generation of the discharge and apply the charge to the recording medium. An image can be formed.

(2) The potential difference setting step includes a head side voltage application step in which a voltage is applied to the discharge electrode 18 by the head side voltage application unit 21 electrically connected to the discharge electrode 18, and a second drive electrode 8 is electrically connected. Medium-side voltage control step of applying a voltage to the second drive electrode 8 by the connected medium-side voltage control unit 22, so that the voltage is applied to the entire discharge electrode 18 in the head-side voltage application step. In the medium side voltage control process, a voltage is selectively applied between the discharge electrode 18 and the second drive electrode 8 by applying a voltage to the second drive electrode 8 based on the image information. A potential difference corresponding to the control voltage can be generated to prepare for the discharge.

(3) Since the medium-side voltage control process is selectively performed based on image information, it can be performed in synchronization with the discharge electrode heating process. As well as high image quality.

(4) Since the selection unit of the second drive electrode 8 in the medium-side voltage control step is a row unit or a column unit of the display pixels of the recording medium 1, the discharge electrode 18 of the heating discharge type print head 12 is connected to the second drive electrode. By arranging them in the column direction or the row direction so as to be orthogonal to 8, it is ensured that electrons and ions are only in the position where the electron emission portion 19 and the second drive electrode 8 selectively heated by the exothermic antibody 16 a overlap. The image can be formed by irradiating with an electric charge and excellent in image quality.

(Embodiment 2)

FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram of a main part of the recording medium showing the state of the recording medium in the second embodiment before image formation. FIG. 4 shows the state of the recording medium in the second embodiment at the time of image formation. It is a principal part schematic diagram of a formation apparatus. Components similar to those in the first embodiment are denoted by the same reference numerals and description thereof is omitted.

In FIG. 3, 31 is a recording medium in Embodiment 2 of the present invention, 32 is a display layer formed between the first substrate 2 and the second substrate 3, and 33 is a third drive electrode 38a, 38b described later. Avoid Transparent resin microcapsules arranged in the display layer 32, 34 is composed of positively or negatively charged monochromatic charged particles such as white or black enclosed in a micropower cell 33 with a transparent insulating fluid. Charged particles. In the drawing, the display layer 32 is formed with a thickness approximately equal to the outer diameter of the microcapsule 33. In the drawing, the first substrate 2 and the second substrate 3 so that the state of the charged particles 34 in the microcapsule 33 is changed. It is shown with a large gap. Further, in the present embodiment, the force for explaining the case where positively charged white particles are used as the charged particles 34. For convenience of illustration, the white charged particles 34 move to the black portion in the microcapsule 33. Suppose.

35 is a fourth drive electrode formed in striped strips on the second substrate 3 with ITO, copper, etc., and 36 is a striped pattern of the three primary colors (R, G, B) that are the display primary color units. The color reflector is laminated on the fourth drive electrode 35, the red (R) color reflector 36a is laminated on the fourth drive electrode 35a, and the green (G) color reflector 36b on the fourth drive electrode 35b. And a blue (B) color reflector 36c is laminated on the fourth drive electrode 35c. 37 is a transparent insulating layer laminated on the second substrate 3 and the color reflector 36, and 38a and 38b are made of ITO or the like, and a transparent second insulating layer 37 arranged in parallel with a gap on the display layer 32 side. Three drive electrodes, which are formed in fine lines that occupy a part of the area within one pixel in order to achieve high resolution. Reference numeral 39 denotes a drive electrode controller that applies a voltage to the third drive electrodes 38a and 38b. The third drive electrodes 38a, 38b are connected to the switches SI, S2 of the drive electrode control unit 39, and the switches SI, S2 switch the connection of the voltage applying means V, V, GND. In this embodiment

H L

In this case, the repulsive force V is applied to the charged particles 34, the attractive force V is applied,

H L

Select from three potential levels (ground level)!

In FIG. 4, reference numeral 40 denotes a potential difference setting unit that sets an electric potential difference corresponding to the discharge control voltage between the discharge electrode 18 and the fourth drive electrode 35 of the recording medium 31, and 41 denotes a voltage across the discharge electrode 18. The head-side voltage application unit 42 of the potential difference setting unit 40 for applying voltage, and a medium-side voltage control unit 42 for selectively grounding or applying voltage to the fourth drive electrode 35 based on image information. The fourth drive electrode 35 is connected to the switches S3 to S5 of the medium side voltage control unit 42, and the switches S3 to S5 switch the connection of the voltage applying means V, V, and GND. This implementation

H L

In the form, V that exerts repulsive force on charged particles 34, V that exerts attractive force, In addition, select three types of potential force at the ground level (ground)!

An image forming method will be described based on the operation of the recording medium in the second embodiment configured as described above.

In Fig. 3, switch S1 of drive electrode control unit 39 is switched to V and S2 is switched to V.

H L

When the switches S3 to S5 of the difference setting unit 40 are set to GND, the third driving electrode 38a applies a repulsive force to the charged particles 34, and the adjacent third driving electrode 38b applies an attractive force to the charged particles 34. Since the charged particles 34 in 33 move horizontally in the direction of the third drive electrode 38b, the microcapsules appear to be transparent when the force on the first substrate 2 side is also seen. Therefore, the observer viewed from the first substrate 2 can observe the combined light of the reflected light from the color reflector 36 without being shielded by the charged particles 34.

Next, in FIG. 4, a voltage is applied to the discharge electrode 18 of the heat-discharge type print head 12 by the head-side voltage application unit 41 in the head-side voltage application step of the potential difference setting step. Subsequently, the switch S1 connected to the third drive electrode 38a is switched to V, and the switch S2 and

Shi

After setting the same potential as the connected third drive electrode 38b, in the medium side voltage control step of the potential difference setting step, the medium side voltage control unit 42 selects the color unit of the display primary color (in FIG. 4, green (G Switch) S4 connected to the 4th drive electrode 35b is switched to V

H

In addition, the potential difference between the discharge electrode 18 and the fourth drive electrode 35b is set so as to correspond to the discharge control voltage.

Next, in the discharge electrode heating step, the heating resistor 16a located at a position corresponding to the pixel to display the selected color (G) is caused to generate heat and the discharge electrode 18 is selectively heated. In the discharge electrode 18, electrons are not emitted from the electron emission portion 19 that is not heated by the heating resistor 16 a, and no discharge is generated. As a result, electrons are emitted from the electron emission portion 19 of the discharge electrode 18 heated by the heating resistor 16a. At this time, since the voltage is applied only to the fourth drive electrode 35b corresponding to the selected color (G) in one pixel, the electrons and ions generated by the discharge are selected in the selected color (G). Therefore, it is possible to reliably irradiate the position of the sub-pixel corresponding to the above, and to charge the first substrate 2. When the application of the voltage to the recording medium 1 is stopped, the charged particles 34 of the microcapsule 33 at the position of the sub-pixel corresponding to the color (G) are caused by the Coulomb force in the direction of the first substrate 2 to which the charge is applied. Move and charge Since the particles 34 shield a part of the reflected light from the color reflector 36b, an image corresponding to the shielded light can be formed. Since the charged particles 34 are retained by electrostatic adsorption or intermolecular force, the displayed image is maintained.

[0061] According to the recording medium of the second embodiment configured as described above, the following operations are obtained.

(1) By laminating the display layer 32 in which the charged particles 34 are enclosed in the arranged microcapsules 33 and the color reflector 36 in which a plurality of display primary colors are arranged in a striped pattern, a color image can be easily obtained. It can be displayed and has excellent handleability and high product yield.

(2) Since the fourth drive electrode 35 is arranged so as to be divided for each display primary color of the color reflector 36, the discharge electrode 18 corresponding to the fourth drive electrode 35 selected based on the image information is provided. Electrons can be selectively emitted from the electron emission portion 19 and an image can be formed by irradiating a desired position on the first substrate 2 with an electron ion associated with the discharge by the action of charges. A high-quality color image can be obtained by reliably preventing displacement.

Further, according to the image forming apparatus and the image forming method in Embodiment 2 configured as described above, the same operation as described in Embodiment 1 can be obtained.

[0063] In the present embodiment, a force pole method may be used instead of the force microcapsule method described for the microphone-type capsule method in which the microcapsules 33 are arranged on the display layer 32. . In this case, a transparent insulating sheet is used as the display layer 32, and charged particles having a spherical or cylindrical rotating element force are embedded therein. The rotating element is supported in an insulating fluid such as silicon oil in the cavity formed slightly larger than the diameter of the rotating element so that the rotating element is rotated by an electric field. Thus, when observing from the first substrate 2 side, if the colored surface of the rotating element is on the first substrate 2 side or the second substrate 3 side, a part of the reflected light or transmitted light is shielded, and the colored surface is horizontal. In this case, almost all of the reflected light and transmitted light can be transmitted. As a result, an image can be formed while blocking a part of the reflected light or transmitted light.

The third drive electrodes 38a and 38b are formed on the second substrate 3 so as to be orthogonal to the fourth drive electrode 35. As described above, when the image is formed, it is sufficient that a voltage is applied to the third drive electrodes 38a and 38b so that the charged particles 34 can be aligned in the horizontal direction. 38a and 38b may be formed. In this case, the same effect can be obtained.

[Embodiment 3]

FIG. 5 is a schematic diagram of a main part of the recording medium showing the state of the recording medium in the third embodiment before image formation. FIG. 6 shows the state of the recording medium in the third embodiment at the time of image formation. It is a principal part schematic diagram of a formation apparatus. Note that the same components as those in the first embodiment or the second embodiment are denoted by the same reference numerals and description thereof is omitted.

In the figure, 51 is a recording medium according to Embodiment 3 of the present invention, 52 is a transparent resin microcapsule arranged in the display layer 32 so as to avoid the third drive electrodes 38a and 38b, and 53 is a microcapsule 52. Charged particles with positive or negatively charged display primary colors such as Y, M, and C enclosed with a transparent insulating fluid inside are laminated on the second substrate 3 and the fourth drive electrode 35. It is a white scattering layer that reflects white light.

In the present embodiment, in the microcapsule 52, the three primary colors (Y, M, C), which are display primary color units, are arranged in a striped pattern above the fourth drive electrode 35 via the white scattering layer 54. The fourth driving electrode 35a has a micro-power cell with yellow (Y) charged particles, and the fourth driving electrode 35b has a micro-power cell with magenta (M) charged particles, the fourth driving electrode. On the top of 35c, microcapsules with cyan (C) charged particles are laid down.

In the present embodiment, the case where the charged particles of the three primary colors of the microcapsule 52 are positively charged will be described.

An image forming method will be described based on the operation of the recording medium according to Embodiment 3 configured as described above.

In Fig. 5, switch S1 of drive electrode control unit 39 is switched to V, S2 is switched to V, and the potential

H L

When the switches S3 to S5 of the difference setting unit 40 are set to GND, the third driving electrode 38a applies a repulsive force to the charged particles 34, and the adjacent third driving electrode 38b applies an attractive force to the charged particles 34. Since the charged particles 53 in 52 move horizontally in the direction of the third drive electrode 38b, the microcapsules appear to be transparent when the force on the first substrate 2 side is also seen. Therefore, the first An observer viewed from the substrate 2 can observe the white light reflected from the white scattering layer 54 without being shielded by the charged particles 53.

Next, in FIG. 6, after the head-side voltage application process described in the second embodiment, the medium-side voltage control unit 42 performs display primary color unit processing over the medium-side voltage control process in the potential difference setting process. (Magenta (M) is selected in FIG. 6), the switch S4 connected to the fourth drive electrode 35b is switched to V, and the potential difference between the discharge electrode 18 and the fourth drive electrode 35b is released.

H

Set to correspond to the electric control voltage.

Next, in the discharge electrode heating step, the heat generating resistor 16a located at a position corresponding to the pixel to display the selected color (M) is heated to selectively heat the discharge electrode 18. As a result, electrons are emitted from the electron emission portion 19 of the discharge electrode 18 heated by the heating resistor 16a. At this time, since the voltage is applied only to the fourth drive electrode 35b corresponding to the selected color (M) of one pixel, the electrons and ions generated by the discharge are selected ( The position of the sub-pixel corresponding to M) can be reliably irradiated, and a charge can be imparted to the first substrate 2. When the voltage application to the recording medium 1 is stopped, the charged particles 53 of the microcapsule 52 at the position of the sub-pixel corresponding to the color (M) cause the Coulomb force in the direction of the first substrate 2 to which the charge is applied. Since the magenta (M) charged particles 53 are observed, an image corresponding to the charge applied to the first substrate 2 can be formed. The charged particles 53 are retained by electrostatic adsorption or intermolecular force, so that the displayed image is maintained. According to the recording medium in the third embodiment configured as described above, the following operations are obtained.

(1) Since the microcapsule 52 in which the display primary color charged particles 53 are encapsulated is arranged in the display layer 32 in a striped pattern corresponding to the fourth drive electrode 35, a color image is easily displayed. It has excellent handleability and high product yield.

(2) Since the fourth drive electrode 35 is provided so as to be divided for each display primary color of the charged particles 53, the electron emission of the discharge electrode 18 corresponding to the fourth drive electrode 35 selected based on the image information Electrons can be selectively emitted from the part 19 and an image can be formed by the action of electric charge by irradiating the electrons and ions accompanying the discharge to the desired position of the first substrate 2, thereby ensuring color misregistration. Therefore, a high-quality color image can be obtained. (3) Since color images can be formed with a simple configuration, it is excellent in productivity, and because there are no consumables, it is excellent in resource saving.

In addition, according to the image forming apparatus and the image forming method in Embodiment 3 configured as described above, the same operation as described in Embodiment 1 can be obtained.

Note that although the present embodiment has been described with reference to a microcapsule type recording medium, a twisting ball type rotating element in which one side is colored with a display primary color can also be used. In this case, the same effect can be obtained.

Industrial applicability

[0069] The present invention relates to an electrostatic development type recording medium in which an image or character information is displayed by being charged by electrons or ions, and by selectively applying a charge to the recording medium, the image is recorded on the recording medium. For image forming methods for forming characters and characters, selective grounding or voltage application can be performed on the second substrate side facing the first substrate to which electric charges are applied, and the first substrate can be reliably placed at a desired position. An image can be formed by applying charges of electrons and ions, and the manufacturing process is simple and excellent in productivity, and a high product yield is obtained, handling and reliability are excellent, and light transmittance is high. It is possible to provide a recording medium that can increase visibility, miniaturize pixels, and form a high-quality image. In addition, a discharge is selectively generated between the heat-discharge type print head and the recording medium. Released from To provide an image forming method that can reliably irradiate a desired position on a first substrate with ions or ions to impart charges, and can be easily controlled to form a high-resolution and high-quality image. Is possible.

Claims

The scope of the claims

[1] A first substrate to which an electric charge is applied, a second substrate disposed opposite to the first substrate, a display layer formed between the first substrate and the second substrate, and the display layer The charged particles enclosed in the first substrate, the first driving electrode formed in a part of the region in one pixel on the display layer side of the first substrate, and the second primary color divided into display primary color units. A recording medium comprising: a second drive electrode formed on a substrate; and the display primary color filter or color reflector disposed in correspondence with the second drive electrode.

2. The recording medium according to claim 1, wherein the charged particles are any one of monochromatic charged electrophoretic particles and monochromatic electronic powder fluid.

[3] A first substrate to which an electric charge is applied, a second substrate disposed opposite to the first substrate, a display layer formed between the first substrate and the second substrate, and the display layer The charged particles sealed in, the third drive electrode arranged in parallel with the display layer side of the first substrate or the second substrate, and the color of the display primary color insulated from the third drive electrode A fourth driving electrode divided into units and formed on the second substrate; and a color filter or a color reflector of the display primary color disposed corresponding to the fourth driving electrode. A recording medium characterized by this.

[4] A monochromatic color in which the charged particles are arranged in the display layer, partially colored in a single color and the rest are transparent, and a microcapsule arranged in the display layer is enclosed with a transparent dispersion medium. The recording medium according to claim 3, wherein the recording medium is any one of the charged particles.

[5] A first substrate to which an electric charge is applied, a second substrate disposed opposite to the first substrate, a display layer formed between the first substrate and the second substrate, and the display layer Charged particles encapsulated in at least a part of which are colored display primary color, a third drive electrode arranged in parallel with a gap on the display layer side of the first substrate or the second substrate, And a fourth drive electrode formed on the second substrate by being insulated from the third drive electrode and divided into display primary color units.

[6] The charged particles are encapsulated in a rotating element arranged in the display layer and partially colored in the display primary color, and a microcapsule arranged in the display layer together with a transparent dispersion medium. 6. The recording medium according to claim 5, wherein the recording medium is one of the display primary color charged particles.

[7] An image forming method for forming an image on a recording medium according to any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein electrons are discharged from the discharge electrode by controlling the temperature of the discharge electrode. Potential difference setting step of setting an electric potential difference corresponding to a discharge control voltage between the discharge electrode of the heat discharge type print head that performs printing with or without and the second drive electrode or the fourth drive electrode of the recording medium to form an electric field And a discharge electrode heating step of selectively heating the discharge electrode based on image information. An image forming method comprising:

[8] The potential difference setting step includes a head side voltage application step in which a voltage is applied to the discharge electrode by a head side voltage application unit electrically connected to the discharge electrode, and the second drive electrode or the fourth drive electrode. A medium-side voltage control step of selectively grounding or applying a voltage to the second drive electrode or the fourth drive electrode based on the image information by a medium-side voltage control unit electrically connected to the drive electrode; The image forming method according to claim 7, wherein the image forming method includes:!

[9] The selection unit of the second drive electrode or the fourth drive electrode in the medium-side voltage control step is any one of a pixel unit, a row unit, and a column unit of a display pixel of the recording medium. The image forming method according to claim 8, wherein: