Embodiments described herein relate generally to a print head, an image forming apparatus, a light emitting device, and associated methods.
There is known a printer, a copier and a multi-functional peripheral (MFP) using an electrophotographic process. As an exposure module (exposure unit) of each of these devices, there are known two methods called as a laser optical system (LSU: laser scan unit) and a print head (solid head). In the laser optical system, a photoconductive drum is exposed through a laser beam that carries out scanning with a polygon mirror. In the print head, a photoconductive drum is exposed through light output by a plurality of light emitting elements (emitters) such as an LED (Light Emitting Diode).
The laser optical system undesirably consumes much energy at the time of forming an image and the sound during operation is very noisy as it is necessary to rotate the polygon mirror at a high speed. As a mechanism for scanning the laser light is necessary, there is a tendency to be a large unit shape.
On the other hand, the print head can be constituted by a small-size exposure unit. The function of the small-size exposure unit is realized by using a lens, referred to as a rod lens array, for forming a non inverted image with the light emitted from the light emitting element (emitter). As there is no movable section, the small-size exposure unit is a silent exposure unit.
A print head using an organic Light Emitting Diode other than the LED is also developed. In a case of using the organic Light Emitting Diode, it is possible to collectively form the organic Light Emitting Diode on a substrate with a mask and the light emitting element (emitter) can be arranged with higher accuracy than a case of arranging the LED chips. Thus, if the organic Light Emitting Diode is used as the light emitting element (emitter), there is an advantage that an image can be formed with high accuracy.
For example, there is known an example in which a plurality of the light emitting elements (emitters) composed of the organic Light Emitting Diodes is formed on a glass substrate. If a current only for ensuring a light emission amount necessary for image formation with the foregoing structure flows, degradation is aggravated, and total light-emitting time and the light emission amount are reduced. If the light emission amount is reduced, appropriate image density cannot be obtained.
In accordance with an embodiment, a print head comprises a transparent substrate, a drive circuit, a first light emitting element (emitter), a second light emitting element (emitter) and a lens. The drive circuit supplies a current. The first light emitting element (emitter) which is an element on the transparent substrate outputs first light with a predetermined wavelength through supply of the current. The second light emitting element (emitter) which is an element on the transparent substrate outputs second light with the predetermined wavelength through the supply of the current. The lens converges third light generated by overlapping the first light and the second light.
In accordance with another embodiment, a printing method involves supplying a current; outputting a first light with a predetermined wavelength through supply of the current; outputting a second light with the predetermined wavelength through the supply of the current; and converging a third light generated by overlapping the first light and the second light.
Hereinafter, the embodiment is described with reference to the accompanying drawings.
As shown in
The photoconductive drum 111 is uniformly charged by a charger and the potential thereof decreases through being exposed through light from the light emitting element group 130. In other words, by controlling emission and non-emission of the light emitting element group 130, it is possible to form an electrostatic latent image on the photoconductive drum 111.
As shown in
In
The transparent substrate 11 is equipped with an IC (Integrated Circuit) 15. The IC 15 is equipped with a D/A (digital to analog) conversion, circuit 150, a selector 153 and an address counter 154. The D/A conversion circuit 150, the selector 153 and the address counter 154 supply a signal for controlling luminous intensity and on/off of each light emitting element to the DRV circuit 140. The transparent substrate 11 is equipped with a connector 16. The connector 16 electrically connects the print head 1 with the printer, the copier or the multi-functional peripheral.
For example, a substrate for sealing each light emitting element and the DRV circuit 140 to prevent them from contacting with open air is mounted in the transparent substrate 11.
The light emitting element group 130 includes the laminated first light emitting element 131 and second light emitting element 132. The first light emitting element 131 and the second light emitting element 132 are connected in series. In
A plurality of the light emitting element groups 130 is formed on the transparent substrate 11. For example, one light emitting element group 130 includes the first light emitting element 131 and the second light emitting element 132. The first light emitting element 131 and the second light emitting element 132 contact with an electrode (+) 133a and an electrode (−) 133c insulated by an insulating layer 133b and are sandwiched there between. An electrode 133d is sandwiched between the first light emitting element 131 and the second light emitting element 132.
The first light emitting element 131 contacts with the electrode (+) 133a on the transparent substrate 11 and the electrode 133d and is sandwiched there between. The first light emitting element 131 includes a first hole transport layer 131a, a first luminescent layer 131b and a first electron transport layer 131c. For example, the first luminescent layer 131b is a Light Emitting Diode (LED).
The second light emitting element 132 contacts with the electrode 133d and the electrode (−) 133c and is sandwiched there between. The second light emitting element 132 includes a second hole transport layer 132a, a second luminescent layer 132b and a second electron transport layer 132c. For example, the second luminescent layer 132b is the Light Emitting Diode.
A wavelength (predetermined wavelength) of the first light output by the first light emitting element 131 is substantially identical to that of the second light output by the second light emitting element 132 (peak intensity of the first light and that of the second light are substantially identical). The wavelength contained in a range of an error of the wavelength caused by an individual difference between the first light emitting element 131 and the second light emitting element 132 is substantially identical. In other words, the first light and the second light are substantially identical color (for example, red), and the print head 1 overlaps the same color to ensure the amount of the light necessary for image formation. Further, the first light emitting element 131 and the second light emitting element 132 is formed by the same material so as to output the light with the substantially identical wavelength.
The side of the second luminescent layer 132b opposite to the transparent substrate 11 reflects the second light emitted by the second luminescent layer 132b. For example, the second electron transport layer 132c has a structure (reflection characteristic) for reflecting the second light from the second luminescent layer 132b. Alternatively, the electrode (−) 133c has a structure (reflection characteristic) for reflecting the second light from the second luminescent layer 132b.
The second hole transport layer 132a, the electrode 133d, the first electron transport layer 131c and the first hole transport layer 131a have permeability for the first light emitted from the first luminescent layer 131b and the second light emitted from the second luminescent layer 132b. With such a configuration, the first light and the second light are output towards the transparent substrate 11. In other words, the second light is output towards the first light, and the third light generated by overlapping the first light and the second light is output towards the transparent substrate 11.
In this way, the first light emitting element 131 and the second light emitting element 132 emit the first light and the second light with the substantially identical wavelength. The second electron transport layer 132c or the electrode (−) 133c at a side opposite to the transparent substrate 11 has a structure to reflect the first light and the second light emitted by the first light emitting element 131 and the second light emitting element 132. In this way, the first light and the second light can be overlapped in one direction to be output as the third light. Compared with a case of outputting the light from one light emitting element, through using the third light, more amount of the light can be obtained.
The first light emitting element 131 and the second light emitting element 132 shown in
As shown in
By arranging the insulating layer 134d between the first the light emitting element 131 and the second light emitting element 132, the independent first light emitting element 131 and second light emitting element 132 are laminated.
As the first light from the first light emitting element 131 and the second light from the second light emitting element 132 are output to the transparent substrate 11 side, the insulating layer 134d has transparency for the first and the second light.
The side of the second luminescent layer 132b opposite to the transparent substrate 11 reflects the second light emitted by the second luminescent layer 132b. For example, the second electron transport layer 132c has a structure (reflection characteristic) for reflecting the second light from the second luminescent layer 132b. Alternatively, the electrode (−) 134g has a structure (reflection characteristic) for reflecting the second light from the second luminescent layer 132b.
The second hole transport layer 132a, the electrode (+) 134e, the insulating layer 134d, the electrode (−) 134c, the first electron transport layer 131c and the first hole transport layer 131a have permeability for the first light emitted from the first luminescent layer 131b and the second light emitted from the second luminescent layer 132b. With such a configuration, the first light and the second light are output towards the transparent substrate 11. In other words, the third light generated by overlapping the first light and the second light is output towards the transparent substrate 11.
In this way, the first light emitting element 131 and the second light emitting element 132 emit the first light and the second light with the substantially identical wavelength. The second electron transport layer 132c or the electrode (−) 134g at a side opposite to the transparent substrate 11 has a structure for reflecting the first light and the second light emitted by the first light emitting element 131 and the second light emitting element 132. In this way, the first light and the second light can be overlapped in one direction to be output as the third light. Compared with a case of outputting the light from one light emitting element, through using the third light, more amount of the light can be obtained.
The first light emitting element 131 is arranged separated from the second light emitting element 132, and thus, the first light emitting element 131 and the second light emitting element 132 can be independently driven.
A selection signal S1 is supplied to a gate of a thin-film transistor for switching 141 and becomes an “L” level at the time the luminous intensity of the first light emitting element 131 and the second light emitting element 132 connected with the DRV circuit 140 changes. If the selection signal S1 is the “L” level, a voltage of a condenser 142 changes according to a voltage of a light emission level signal S2 supplied to a gate of a thin-film transistor for driving 143.
If the selection signal S1 becomes an “H” level, the voltage of the condenser 142 is maintained. Even if the voltage of the light emission level signal S2 changes, the voltage of the condenser 142 does not change.
A drive current I corresponding to the voltage maintained by the condenser 142 flows to the first light emitting element 131 and the second light emitting element 132 connected with the DRV circuit 140.
Through the selection signal S1, a predetermined light emitting element group 130 is selected from a plurality of the light emitting element groups 130 contained in the light emitting element row 13, and through the light emission level signal S2, the luminous intensity thereof is determined and the luminous intensity can be maintained.
Next, an example in which the first light emitting element 131 and the second light emitting element 132 are connected with one DRV circuit 140 is described.
The output of the D/A conversion circuit 150 is connected with the light emission level signal S2 of the DRV circuit 140 described above. The input of the D/A conversion circuit 150 is image data D input to the print head.
The output of the selector 153 is connected with the selection signal S1 of the DRV circuit 140. The input of the selector 153 is the output of the address counter 154. The DRV circuit 140 is selected according to the output value of the address counter 154.
The address counter 154 counts a clock C input to the print head 1. The address counter 154 resets the count with a horizontal synchronization signal S input to the print head 1.
Through inputting the horizontal synchronization signal S to the print head 1 and inputting the image data D in synchronization with the clock C, the light emitting element group 130 can emit the light with the luminous intensity corresponding to the image data in order.
The difference between the circuit configuration of the head circuit block B2 shown in
The difference between the circuit configuration of a head circuit block B3 shown in
Through inputting the image data D in synchronization with the horizontal synchronization signal S and the clock C to two systems of the print head 1 at the same time, the luminous intensity of the first light emitting element 131 and the second light emitting element 132 can be controlled separately.
As stated above, in the print head 1, the first light emitting element 131 and the second light emitting element 132 are overlapped. Through outputting the first light from the first light emitting element 131 and the second light from the second light emitting element 132 overlapped with the first light emitting element 131 in one direction and overlapping the first light and the second light to obtain the third light, the light stronger than that from one light emitting element can be emitted.
In a case of outputting the light with the substantially identical wavelength from the first light emitting element 131 and the second light emitting element 132, the current flowing to each one light emitting element is reduced, and the lifetime of the light emitting element can be lengthened.
Further, in the present embodiment, an example in which two light emitting elements are laminated is described; however, the number of the light emitting elements is not limited to 2, and 3 or more light emitting elements may be laminated.
Further, in the present embodiment, the electrode (+) and the hole transport layer are arranged at the transparent substrate 11 side and the electron transport layer and the electrode (−) are arranged at the opposite side thereof by sandwiching the luminescent layer there between; however, it is not limited to the arrangement. The electrode (−) and the electron transport layer may be arranged at the transparent substrate 11 side, and the hole transport layer and the electrode (+) may be arranged at the opposite side thereof by sandwiching the luminescent layer there between.
An image forming apparatus 100 is equipped with an image forming section 102 and a scanner section 105. A mechanism of the image forming section 102 is described. The image forming section 102 is equipped with an electrostatic charger 112, a developing device 113, a transfer charger 114, a peeling charger 115 and a cleaner 116 around the photoconductive drum 111. The electrostatic charger 112 uniformly charges the photoconductive drum 111. The developing device 113 develops a latent image created on the basis of the image data from the scanner section 105 on the charged photoconductive drum 111. The transfer charger 114 transfers the image developed on the photoconductive drum 111 onto a sheet P. The cleaner 116 cleans the developing agent remaining on the photoconductive drum 111.
The electrostatic charger 112, the developing device 113, the transfer charger 114, the peeling charger 115 and the cleaner 116 are sequentially arranged in accordance with the rotational direction indicated by an arrow A of the photoconductive drum 111. The image forming section 102 is equipped with the print head 1 arranged to face the photoconductive drum 111.
The image forming section 102 is equipped with a conveyance belt 120 and a sheet discharge conveyance guide 121. The conveyance belt 120 and the sheet discharge conveyance guide 121 sequentially convey the sheet P on which a toner image is transferred to the downstream side of the sheet conveyance direction from the peeling charger 115. Further, the image forming section 102 is equipped with a fixing apparatus 122 and a paper discharge roller 123. The fixing apparatus 122 sequentially fixes the sheet P at the downstream side of the sheet conveyance direction from the sheet discharge conveyance guide 121, and the paper discharge roller 123 discharges the sheet P.
Next, a process operation of the image formation is described.
The electrostatic latent image formed on the photoconductive drum 111 through the light (the third light) from the print head 1 (the first light emitting element 131 and the second light emitting element 132) is developed with the toner (developing agent) supplied from the developing device 113. The photoconductive drum 111 on which the toner image is formed transfers the electrostatic latent image onto the sheet P through the transfer charger 114.
The residual toner on the surface of the photoconductive drum 111 terminating the transfer onto the sheet is removed by the cleaner 116, and then the photoconductive drum 111 returns to an initial state to be a standby state for the next image formation.
By repeating the above process operation, the image forming operation is continuously executed.
In addition, the print head 1 of the present embodiment is not limited to the print head in the electrophotographic process, and it can also be used as an exposure module of a film.
Further, in the present embodiment, a case of applying the transparent substrate 11 and the like to the print head 1 and a case of applying the print head 1 to the image forming apparatus are described; however, the present embodiment is not limited to those. For example, it is also applicable to apply the transparent substrate 11 to various kinds of displays (display devices) to be displays constituted by the transparent substrate 11. Such a display can guarantee the light emission amount and suppress degradation of the light emitting element.
While certain embodiments have been described, these embodiments have been presented by way of example only, and are not intended to limit the scope of the invention. Indeed, the novel embodiments described herein may be embodied in a variety of other forms; furthermore, various omissions, substitutions and changes in the form of the embodiments described herein may be made without departing from the spirit of the invention. The accompanying claims and their equivalents are intended to cover such forms or modifications as would fall within the scope and spirit of the invention.
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