Aligner, exposure method and printer
First Claim
1. An exposure apparatus comprising:
- an integer number (m) of light-emitting element groups that emit light for exposure of a photosensitive sheet;
a power control circuit portion operatively connected for controlling power to be supplied to said light-emitting element groups;
a time control circuit portion operatively connected for controlling duration of exposure by said light-emitting element groups;
a gradation control circuit portion operatively connected to establish a gradation level for gradation expression using one of said power control circuit portion and said time control circuit portion;
said gradation control circuit portion having a main gradation level control portion for receiving a gradation information signal capable of specifying at least an integer number (n) of distinct gradation levels, said gradation control circuit portion further including integer number (m) of gradation level setting portions operatively connected to said main gradation level control portion, each gradation level setting portion for establishing a gradation level of a corresponding light emitting element group, each gradation level setting portion selectively configurable to establish an integer number (l) of different gradation levels to its corresponding light emitting element group, where the integer number (l) is equal to or greater than an integer obtained by dividing the integer number (n) by the integer number (m);
wherein said main gradation level control portion sets a desired total gradation level of integer number (i) by;
setting a gradation level of integer number (j) into integer number (m-k) of said gradation level setting portions, wherein the integer number (j) is obtained by dividing the integer number (i) by the integer number (m), and integer number (k) is a remainder obtained by the same division, andsetting a gradation level of integer number (j+1), into integer number (k) of said gradation level setting portions.
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Accused Products
Abstract
In an exposure apparatus for exposing a photosensitive medium using light-emitting elements, correction to account for environmental conditions at the time of exposure that change is performed by dynamically changing the value of current or voltage to be supplied to the LEDs. Thereby, control of exposure duration can be performed solely for expression of multi-gradation levels, so that a very high resolution is not required for the control of exposure duration. Therefore, it is possible to realize a low-price exposure apparatus capable of printing multi-gradation images. For exposure to a single color using a plurality of LEDs, the gradation level to be expressed by the individual LEDs is cyclically changed, so that the construction of gradation level control for each LED can be simplified. Further, since the LEDs can be used at substantially equal duties, the individual variation of LEDs does not evidently show. It is also possible to prevent an inconvenient incident where a particular LED deteriorates.
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Citations
11 Claims
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1. An exposure apparatus comprising:
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an integer number (m) of light-emitting element groups that emit light for exposure of a photosensitive sheet; a power control circuit portion operatively connected for controlling power to be supplied to said light-emitting element groups; a time control circuit portion operatively connected for controlling duration of exposure by said light-emitting element groups; a gradation control circuit portion operatively connected to establish a gradation level for gradation expression using one of said power control circuit portion and said time control circuit portion; said gradation control circuit portion having a main gradation level control portion for receiving a gradation information signal capable of specifying at least an integer number (n) of distinct gradation levels, said gradation control circuit portion further including integer number (m) of gradation level setting portions operatively connected to said main gradation level control portion, each gradation level setting portion for establishing a gradation level of a corresponding light emitting element group, each gradation level setting portion selectively configurable to establish an integer number (l) of different gradation levels to its corresponding light emitting element group, where the integer number (l) is equal to or greater than an integer obtained by dividing the integer number (n) by the integer number (m); wherein said main gradation level control portion sets a desired total gradation level of integer number (i) by; setting a gradation level of integer number (j) into integer number (m-k) of said gradation level setting portions, wherein the integer number (j) is obtained by dividing the integer number (i) by the integer number (m), and integer number (k) is a remainder obtained by the same division, and setting a gradation level of integer number (j+1), into integer number (k) of said gradation level setting portions. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)
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8. A method for forming an image by exposure of a photosensitive sheet using light-emitting elements, comprising:
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(a) a step of providing integer number (m) light-emitting element groups each connected for control by a respective gradation level setting circuit; (b) a step of setting a duration of exposure of each light-emitting element group on the basis of information regarding a desired gradation level of an image defined by integer number (i), including; (b1) setting a duration of exposure corresponding to a gradation level of integer number (j) into integer number (m-k) of said gradation level setting circuits, wherein the integer number (j) is obtained by dividing of the integer number (i) by the integer number (m), and the integer number (k) is a remainder obtained by the same division, and (b2) setting a duration of exposure corresponding to a gradation level of integer number (j+1) into integer number (k) of said gradation level setting circuits (c) a step of performing exposure by supplying each light-emitting element group with a current or voltage for the duration of exposure set into its corresponding gradation level setting circuit in the previous step. - View Dependent Claims (9, 10, 11)
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Specification