Apparatus and method for printing using a light emissive array

• US 20040179088A1
• Filed: 03/10/2003
• Published: 09/16/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 03/10/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Eastman Kodak Company
• Original Assignee: Eastman Kodak Company
• Inventors: Wong, Victor C., Jones, Robert S., Williams, Donald R., Abhyankar, Vishwas G., Breslawski, Robert, Bayley, Robert B., Narayan, Badhri, Reisch, Robert V.
• Granted Patent: US 7,042,483 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 347/238
• CPC Class Codes: B41J 11/003 Paper-size detection, i.e. automatic detection of the length and/or width of copy material
• CPC Class Codes: B41J 2/45 using light-emitting diode [LED] or laser arrays
• CPC Class Codes: G03B 27/72 Controlling or varying light intensity, spectral composition, or exposure time in photographic printing apparatus
• CPC Class Codes: G03B 33/06 by additive-colour projection apparatus
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/40031 for a plurality of reproducing elements simultaneously
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/50 Picture reproducers for halftone screening H04N1/52

Abstract

An apparatus and method for printing images from a digital image source onto a photosensitive medium (22) using one or more two-dimensional light-emissive arrays (51) such as OLED arrays. Each image pixel has a corresponding light-emitting element which is assigned a variable intensity based on data for that pixel. Imaging optics (58) direct the light from each light-emitting element onto the photosensitive medium (22) so that a monochromatic or multicolor image can be formed with a single exposure.

Claims

1. An apparatus for printing an image from digital data onto a photosensitive medium, the apparatus comprising:

(a) a control logic processor for accepting an image data input stream and providing image pixel data for a two-dimensional image;

(b) a light emissive array for forming a two-dimensional exposure image according to said image pixel data, said light emissive array comprising a plurality of individual light-emitting elements arranged in multiple rows and columns, wherein each said light-emitting element corresponds to a pixel in said image pixel data, the intensity of each said light emitting element varying according to the digital data value for each said pixel; and

(c) imaging optics for directing said two-dimensional exposure image onto the photosensitive medium.

2. An apparatus for printing an image from digital data according to claim 1 further comprising a sensor in communication with said control logic processor for sensing a dimension of the photosensitive medium.

3. An apparatus for printing an image from digital data according to claim 2 wherein said sensor senses an electromagnetic signal.

4. An apparatus for printing an image from digital data according to claim 2 wherein said sensor senses an optical encoding.

5. An apparatus for printing an image from digital data according to claim 2 wherein said sensor senses a magnetic encoding.

6. An apparatus for printing an image from digital data according to claim 1 wherein said light emissive array comprises organic light-emitting diodes.

7. An apparatus for printing an image from digital data according to claim 1 wherein said light emissive array comprises inorganic light-emitting diodes.

8. An apparatus for printing an image from digital data according to claim 1 wherein said exposure image comprises a plurality of individual images to be exposed on the photosensitive medium.

9. An apparatus for printing an image from digital data according to claim 1 wherein said photosensitive medium is a film.

10. An apparatus for printing an image from digital data according to claim 1 wherein said photosensitive medium comprises paper.

11. An apparatus for printing an image from digital data according to claim 1 further comprising an actuator to offset the position of said light-emissive array relative to the position of said photosensitive medium for dithering.

12. An apparatus for printing an image from digital data according to claim 11 wherein said actuator is a piezoelectric actuator.

13. An apparatus for printing an image from digital data according to claim 1 wherein said light emissive array is a monochromatic device.

14. An apparatus for printing an image from digital data according to claim 1 wherein said light emissive array is a color device.

15. An apparatus for printing an image from digital data according to claim 1 wherein said control logic processor provides color correction.

16. An apparatus for printing an image from digital data according to claim 1 wherein said control logic processor provides aperture correction.

17. An apparatus for printing an image from digital data according to claim 1 wherein said control logic processor provides tone scale correction.

18. An apparatus for printing an image from digital data according to claim 1 wherein said control logic processor provides uniformity correction.

19. An apparatus for printing an image from digital data according to claim 1 wherein said control logic processor provides file format conversion for said image data stream.

20. An apparatus for printing a plurality of images from digital image pixel data onto a photosensitive medium, the apparatus comprising:

(a) a control logic processor for accepting an image data input stream and providing image pixel data for at least one two-dimensional image;

(b) a first light emissive array for forming a first exposure image according to the digital image pixel data;

(c) a second light emissive array for forming a second exposure image according to the digital image pixel data;

wherein said first and said second light emissive arrays each comprise a plurality of individual light-emitting elements arranged in multiple rows and columns, wherein each said light-emitting element corresponds to a pixel in the digital image pixel data, the intensity of each said light emitting element varying according to the digital data value for each said pixel;

(d) first imaging optics for directing said first exposure image onto the photosensitive medium; and

(e) second imaging optics for directing said second exposure image onto the photosensitive medium.

21. An apparatus for printing a plurality of images from digital data according to claim 20 further comprising a sensor in communication with said control logic processor for sensing a dimension of the photosensitive medium.

22. An apparatus for printing a plurality of images from digital data according to claim 21 wherein said sensor senses an electromagnetic signal.

23. An apparatus for printing a plurality of images from digital data according to claim 21 wherein said sensor senses an optical encoding.

24. An apparatus for printing a plurality of images from digital data according to claim 21 wherein said sensor senses a magnetic encoding.

25. An apparatus for printing a plurality of images from digital data according to claim 20 wherein said first light emissive array comprises organic light-emitting diodes.

26. An apparatus for printing a plurality of images from digital data according to claim 20 wherein said first light emissive array comprises inorganic light-emitting diodes.

27. An apparatus for printing a plurality of images from digital data according to claim 20 wherein said photosensitive medium is a film.

28. An apparatus for printing a plurality of images from digital data according to claim 20 wherein said photosensitive medium comprises paper.

29. An apparatus for printing a plurality of images from digital data according to claim 20 further comprising an actuator to offset the position of said first light-emissive array relative to the position of said photosensitive medium for dithering.

30. An apparatus for printing a plurality of images from digital data according to claim 29 wherein said actuator is a piezoelectric actuator.

31. An apparatus for printing an image from digital data according to claim 20 wherein said first light emissive array and said second light emissive array are monochromatic devices.

32. An apparatus for printing an image from digital data according to claim 20 wherein said first light emissive array and said second light emissive array are color devices.

33. An apparatus for printing an image from digital data according to claim 20 wherein said control logic processor provides color correction.

34. An apparatus for printing an image from digital data according to claim 20 wherein said control logic processor provides aperture correction.

35. An apparatus for printing an image from digital data according to claim 20 wherein said control logic processor provides tone scale correction.

36. An apparatus for printing an image from digital data according to claim 20 wherein said control logic processor provides uniformity correction.

37. An apparatus for printing an image from digital data according to claim 20 wherein said control logic processor provides file format conversion.

38. An apparatus for printing an image from digital image pixel data onto a photosensitive medium, the apparatus comprising:

(a) a control logic processor for accepting an image data input stream and providing image pixel data for at least one two-dimensional image;

(b) a first light emissive array for forming a first portion of an exposure image according to the digital data;

(c) a second light emissive array for forming a second portion of said exposure image according to the digital data;

wherein said first and said second light emissive arrays each comprise a plurality of individual light-emitting elements arranged in multiple rows and columns, wherein each said light-emitting element corresponds to a pixel in the digital data, the intensity of each said light emitting element varying according to the digital data value for each said pixel;

(d) combining means for combining said first and second portions of said exposure image to form a complete exposure image; and

(e) imaging optics for directing said complete exposure image onto the photosensitive medium.

39. An apparatus for printing an image from digital data according to claim 38 further comprising a sensor in communication with said control logic processor for sensing a dimension of the photosensitive medium.

40. An apparatus for printing an image from digital data according to claim 39 wherein said sensor senses an electromagnetic signal.

41. An apparatus for printing an image from digital data according to claim 39 wherein said sensor senses an optical encoding.

42. An apparatus for printing an image from digital data according to claim 39 wherein said sensor senses a magnetic encoding.

43. An apparatus for printing an image from digital data according to claim 38 wherein said first light emissive array comprises organic light-emitting diodes.

44. An apparatus for printing an image from digital data according to claim 38 wherein said first light emissive array comprises inorganic light-emitting diodes.

45. An apparatus for printing an image from digital data according to claim 38 wherein said photosensitive medium is a film.

46. An apparatus for printing an image from digital data according to claim 38 wherein said photosensitive medium comprises paper.

47. An apparatus for printing an image from digital data according to claim 38 further comprising an actuator to offset the position of said first light-emissive array relative to the position of said photosensitive medium for dithering.

48. An apparatus for printing an image from digital data according to claim 47 wherein said actuator is a piezoelectric actuator.

49. An apparatus for printing an image from digital data according to claim 38 wherein said first light emissive array and said second light emissive array are monochromatic devices.

50. An apparatus for printing an image from digital data according to claim 38 wherein said first light emissive array and said second light emissive array are color devices.

51. An apparatus for printing an image from digital data according to claim 38 wherein said control logic processor provides color correction.

52. An apparatus for printing an image from digital data according to claim 38 wherein said control logic processor provides aperture correction.

53. An apparatus for printing an image from digital data according to claim 38 wherein said control logic processor provides tone scale correction.

54. An apparatus for printing an image from digital data according to claim 38 wherein said control logic processor provides uniformity correction.

55. An apparatus for printing an image from digital data according to claim 38 wherein said control logic processor provides file format conversion

56. An apparatus for printing an image from digital data according to claim 38 wherein said combining means substantially overlaps said first portion of said exposure image with said second portion of said exposure image, such that pixels associated with said first light emissive array are thereby interleaved with pixels associated with said second light emissive array.

57. An apparatus for printing capable of simultaneously exposing multiple images from digital data onto a first and a second segment of a photosensitive medium, the apparatus comprising:

(a) a media supply adapted to supply said first and second segments of photosensitive media, said first segment of photosensitive media having a first width dimension, and said second segment of photosensitive media having a second width dimension;

(b) a control logic processor for accepting an image data input stream and providing image pixel data for the multiple images;

(c) a first light emissive array and a second light emissive array for forming, according to said image pixel data, first and second two-dimensional exposure images respectively, each said light emissive array comprising a plurality of individual light-emitting elements, wherein each said light-emitting element corresponds to a pixel in the digital data, the intensity of each said light emitting element varying according to the digital data value for each said pixel;

(d) a first imaging optics assembly and a second imaging optics assembly for directing said first and second two-dimensional exposure images respectively onto said first and second segments of photosensitive media; and

(e) transport means for indexing said first and said second segments of photosensitive media for simultaneous exposure from said first and said second light emissive arrays and for moving said first and said second segments of photosensitive media to a next indexed area.

58. An apparatus for printing according to claim 57 wherein said media supply accepts multiple media rolls.

59. An apparatus for printing according to claim 57 further comprising a sensor in communication with a control logic processor for sensing a dimension of said first segment of photosensitive medium.

60. An apparatus for printing according to claim 59 wherein said sensor senses an electromagnetic signal.

61. An apparatus for printing according to claim 59 wherein said sensor senses an optical encoding.

62. An apparatus for printing according to claim 59 wherein said sensor senses a magnetic encoding.

63. An apparatus for printing according to claim 57 wherein said first light emissive array comprises organic light-emitting diodes.

64. An apparatus for printing according to claim 57 wherein said first light emissive array comprises inorganic light-emitting diodes.

65. An apparatus for printing according to claim 57 wherein said photosensitive medium is a film.

66. An apparatus for printing according to claim 57 wherein said photosensitive medium comprises paper.

67. An apparatus for printing according to claim 57 further comprising an actuator to offset the position of said first light-emissive array relative to the position of said photosensitive medium for dithering.

68. An apparatus for printing according to claim 67 wherein said actuator is a piezoelectric actuator.

69. An apparatus for printing according to claim 57 further comprising an image processing subsystem for processing the digital image pixel data and directing the processed digital image pixel data to said first and second light emissive arrays.

70. An apparatus for printing according to claim 69 wherein said image processing subsystem provides color correction.

71. An apparatus for printing according to claim 69 wherein said image processing subsystem provides aperture correction.

72. An apparatus for printing according to claim 69 wherein said image processing subsystem provides tone scale correction.

73. An apparatus for printing according to claim 69 wherein said image processing subsystem provides uniformity correction.

74. An apparatus for printing according to claim 69 wherein said image processing subsystem provides file format conversion for said image data input stream.

75. An apparatus for printing according to claim 57 wherein said first emissive array is a monochromatic device.

76. An apparatus for printing according to claim 57 wherein said first emissive array is a color device.

77. An apparatus for printing according to claim 57 wherein said first and second light emissive arrays are juxtaposed with respect to each other along the direction of motion of said media transport.

78. An apparatus for printing according to claim 57 wherein said first and second light emissive arrays are displaced in a matrix configuration.

79. A method of printing, according to a predetermined format, at least one two-dimensional image from digital image pixel data using a light-emissive array, comprising a plurality of light-emitting elements arranged in multiple rows and columns, onto a photosensitive medium, the method comprising:

(a) correlating, to at least one two-dimensional image, a grouping of light-emitting elements on said light-emissive array, according to the predetermined format;

(b) forming at least one two-dimensional exposure image on said light emissive array by driving said grouping of light-emitting elements based on said digital image pixel data; and

(c) directing said at least one two-dimensional exposure image onto the photosensitive medium for forming an image thereon.

80. A method of printing two-dimensional images according to claim 79 wherein the step of correlating said grouping of light emitting elements comprises the step of obtaining a dimension of said photosensitive medium.

81. A method of printing two-dimensional images according to claim 80 wherein the step of obtaining a dimension comprises the step of accepting an operator entry.

82. A method of printing two-dimensional images according to claim 80 wherein the step of obtaining a dimension comprises the step of reading a mechanical sensor.

83. A method of printing two-dimensional images according to claim 80 wherein the step of obtaining a dimension comprises the step of reading an optical sensor.

84. A method of printing two-dimensional images according to claim 80 wherein the step of obtaining a dimension comprises the step of reading a magnetic strip.

85. A method of printing two-dimensional images according to claim 80 wherein the step of obtaining a dimension comprises the step of reading an electromagnetic signal.

86. A method of printing two-dimensional images according to claim 79 wherein the step of forming at least one two-dimensional exposure image comprises the step of activating an organic light-emitting diode array.

87. A method of printing two-dimensional images according to claim 79 wherein the step of forming at least one two-dimensional exposure image comprises the step of activating an inorganic light-emitting diode array.

88. A method of printing two-dimensional images according to claim 79 further comprising the step of transporting the photosensitive medium into position for receiving said exposure image.

89. A method of printing two-dimensional images according to claim 79 further comprising the step of driving an actuator coupled to said light emissive array to provide image dithering.

90. A method of simultaneously printing, onto a photosensitive medium, a plurality of two-dimensional images from digital image pixel data using a plurality of light-emissive arrays, each said light-emissive array comprising a plurality of light-emitting elements arranged in multiple rows and columns, the method comprising:

(a) selecting, from a set of available formats, a selected format;

(b) indexing the photosensitive medium to a position for simultaneous exposure;

(c) correlating a grouping of emissive elements on each of said plurality of light-emissive arrays with one of said two-dimensional images according to said selected format;

(d) simultaneously forming a two-dimensional exposure image on each of said plurality of light emissive arrays by driving each said grouping of emissive elements based on the digital image pixel data; and

(e) directing each said two-dimensional exposure image from each of said plurality of light emissive arrays onto the photosensitive medium at said position.

91. A method of simultaneously printing a plurality of two-dimensional images according to claim 90 wherein the step of selecting comprises the step of obtaining a dimension of the photosensitive medium.

92. A method of simultaneously printing a plurality of two-dimensional images according to claim 91 wherein the step of obtaining a dimension comprises the step of accepting an operator entry.

93. A method of simultaneously printing a plurality of two-dimensional images according to claim 91 wherein the step of obtaining a dimension comprises the step of reading a mechanical sensor.

94. A method of simultaneously printing a plurality of two-dimensional images according to claim 91 wherein the step of obtaining a dimension comprises the step of reading an optical sensor.

95. A method of simultaneously printing a plurality of two-dimensional images according to claim 91 wherein the step of obtaining a dimension comprises the step of reading a magnetic strip.

96. A method of simultaneously printing a plurality of two-dimensional images according to claim 91 wherein the step of obtaining a dimension comprises the step of reading an electromagnetic signal.

97. A method of simultaneously printing a plurality of two-dimensional images according to claim 90 wherein the step of forming a two-dimensional exposure image comprises the step of activating an organic light-emitting diode array.

98. A method of simultaneously printing a plurality of two-dimensional images according to claim 90 wherein the step of forming a two-dimensional exposure image comprises the step of activating an inorganic light-emitting diode array.

99. A method of simultaneously printing a plurality of two-dimensional images according to claim 90 further comprising the step of driving an actuator coupled to at least one of said plurality of light emissive arrays to provide image dithering.

100. A method of simultaneously printing a plurality of two-dimensional images according to claim 90 further comprising the step of providing the photosensitive medium in roll form.

101. A method of simultaneously printing a plurality of two-dimensional images according to claim 90 wherein said plurality of light-emissive arrays are disposed in juxtaposition with each other along the direction of motion of said media transport.

102. A method of simultaneously printing a plurality of two-dimensional images according to claim 90 wherein said plurality of light-emissive arrays are displaced in a matrix configuration.

103. A method of printing a two-dimensional image from digital image pixel data onto a photosensitive medium comprising:

(a) forming a first portion of an exposure image on a first light emissive array;

(b) forming a second portion of said exposure image on a second light emissive array;

(c) combining said first and second portions of said exposure image to form a composite exposure image; and

(d) directing said composite exposure image onto the photosensitive medium.

104. A method of printing a two-dimensional image according to claim 103 wherein the step of combining comprises the step of directing light from said first and said second light emissive array towards a dichroic combiner.

105. A method of printing a two-dimensional image according to claim 103 further comprising:

(a) obtaining a dimension of the photosensitive medium; and

(b) selecting a print format from a set of available print formats, based on said dimension.

106. A method of printing two-dimensional images according to claim 105 wherein the step of obtaining a dimension comprises the step of accepting an operator entry.

107. A method of printing two-dimensional images according to claim 105 wherein the step of obtaining a dimension comprises the step of reading a mechanical sensor.

108. A method of printing two-dimensional images according to claim 105 wherein the step of obtaining a dimension comprises the step of reading an optical sensor.

109. A method of printing two-dimensional images according to claim 105 wherein the step of obtaining a dimension comprises the step of reading a magnetic strip.

110. A method of printing two-dimensional images according to claim 105 wherein the step of obtaining a dimension comprises the step of reading an electromagnetic signal.

111. A method of printing two-dimensional images according to claim 103 wherein the step of forming said first portion of an exposure image comprises the step of activating an organic light-emitting diode array.

112. A method of printing two-dimensional images according to claim 103 wherein the step of forming said first portion of an exposure image comprises the step of activating an inorganic light-emitting diode array.

113. A method of printing two-dimensional images according to claim 103 further comprising the step of driving a first actuator coupled to said first light emissive array and of driving a second actuator coupled to said second light emissive array to provide image dithering.

114. A method of printing two-dimensional images according to claim 103 wherein the step of combining said first and second portions comprises stitching said first and second portions.

115. A method of printing two-dimensional images according to claim 103 wherein the step of combining said first and second portions comprises interleaving pixels from said first portion with pixels from said second portion.