Array-type exposing device and flat type display incorporating light modulator and driving method thereof

• US 6,195,196 B1
• Filed: 10/29/1999
• Issued: 02/27/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 03/13/1998
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Fujifilm Corporation (Fujifilm Holdings Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Fuji Photo Film Co Limited (Fujifilm Holdings Corporation)
• Inventors: Kimura, Koichi, Sawano, Mitsuru
• Primary Examiner(s): Ben, Loha
• Application Number:
  US09/429,923
• Time in Patent Office: 487 Days
• Field of Search: 359/290, 359/291, 359/292, 359/295, 359/619, 359/254, 359/230, 359/231, 359/245, 362/31, 362/32, 349/64, 349/65, 385/146
• US Class Current: 359/295
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 26/001 based on interference in an adjustable optical cavity interference filters G02B5/28; devices or arrangements using multiple reflections in spectrometry or monochromators G01J3/26
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 26/08 for controlling the direction of light in light guides G02B6/35
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 2300/08 Active matrix structure, i.e. with use of active elements, inclusive of non-linear two terminal elements, in the pixels together with light emitting or modulating elements
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 3/2011 by amplitude modulation
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 3/3466 based on interferometric effect

Abstract

An array-type exposing device, for exposing an image forming body incorporated in an image forming apparatus, includes a flat light source for emitting a UV rays and a light modulator unit disposed above the flat light source so as to be associated with at least one unit area derived by dividing each of pixels on the image, the light modulator unit modulating the UV ray by electromechanical operation to expose the image forming body.

Claims

1. An array-type exposing device for exposing an image forming body incorporated in an image forming apparatus, comprising:

a flat light source for emitting a UV ray; and

a light modulator unit disposed above the flat light source so as to be associated with at least one unit area derived by dividing each of pixels on the image, the light modulator unit modulating the UV ray by electro-mechanical operation to expose the image forming body.

2. The array-type exposing device as set forth in claim 1, wherein the light modulator unit includes:

a first electrode disposed above the flat light source;

a second electrode disposed opposite to the first electrode such that at least a gap is interposed;

a flexible thin film, which is transparent with respect to UV rays, interposed between the first and second electrodes and to be elastically deflected by Coulomb force generated when an electric field is applied therebetween.

3. The array-type exposing device as set forth in claim 2, wherein the first electrode includes a plurality of band-like electrodes arranged in parallel with each other,

the second electrode includes a plurality of band-like electrodes arranged in parallel with each other so as to be perpendicular to the first electrode, and

at least one of intersections of the first and second electrodes is associated with one pixel of said pixels of the image.

4. The array-type exposing device as set forth in claim 2, wherein the light modulator unit includes at least one active device associated with one pixel of the image, in which the first electrode is connected to a drain electrode thereof, the second electrode is connected to a common electrode, an image signal line corresponding to each column of the image connected to a source electrode thereof and an image signal line corresponding to each row of the image is connected to a gate electrode thereof.

5. The array-type exposing device as set forth in claim 2, wherein the light modulator unit includes at least one active device associated with one pixel of said pixels of the image, in which the first electrode is connected to a source electrode thereof, the second electrode is connected to a common electrode, an image signal line corresponding to each column of the image connected to a drain electrode thereof and an image signal line corresponding to each row of the image is connected to a gate electrode thereof.

6. The array-type exposing device as set forth in claim 2, wherein the flat light source includes a UV lamp and a light guide plate for guiding the UV ray emitted from the UV lamp, and

the flexible thin film allows the guided UV ray to transmit when the flexible thin film is deflected and approached to the light guide plate sufficiently by the application of the electric field.

7. The array-type exposing device as set forth in claim 6, wherein the flexible thin film includes a light diffusion layer.

8. The array-type exposing device as set forth in claim 2, wherein the electric field is applied to deflect the flexible thin film so that an optical interference effect of a multilayer film is generated so the UV ray can be modulated.

9. The array-type exposing device as set forth in claim 8, wherein the light modulator unit includes a film member disposed opposite to the flexible thin film,

both of the flexible thin film and the film member have a reflectivity with respect to UV rays, and

the electric field is applied to change an optical length between the flexible thin film and the film member so the UV ray can be modulated.

10. The array-type exposing device as set forth in claim 8, wherein a spacer having a high relative dielectric constant is disposed between the first and the second electrodes.

11. The array-type exposing device as set forth in claim 2, wherein the light modulator unit includes a transparent substrate provided on an emission face thereof, the transparent substrate having a black mask provided at that portion corresponding to a boundary of adjacent pixels.

12. The array-type exposing device as set forth in claim 11, wherein the transparent substrate is a fiber plate.

13. The array-type exposing device as set forth in claim 11, wherein the transparent substrate includes a distributed refractive index lens.

14. The array-type exposing device as set forth in claim 2, wherein the light modulator unit has a sealed structure, and a rare gas is enclosed therein.

15. The array-type exposing device as set forth in claim 2, wherein the deflected amount of the flexible thin film is controlled continuously.

16. The array-type exposing device as set forth in claim 2, wherein the light modulator unit includes:

an opening formed on an emission face thereof, the opening having an area smaller than the unit area; and

a light converging member for converging the UV ray emitted from the flat light source to the opening.

17. The array-type exposing device as set forth in claim 16, wherein the flexible thin film includes a shading member for shading the UV ray at a focal point of the light converging member when the electric field is applied.

18. The array-type exposing device as set forth in claim 16, wherein the flexible thin film includes an opening for allowing the UV ray to pass through at a focal point of the light converging member when the electric field is applied.

19. The array-type exposing device as set forth in claim 18, wherein the opening is a through hole and any other portion of the flexible thin film is an opaque body.

20. The array-type exposing device as set forth in claim 18, wherein a shading member for shading only a component on an optical axis of the UV ray passing through the opening is arranged at one of an incident face side and the emission face side of the light modulator unit.

21. The array-type exposing device as set forth in claim 16, wherein a collimator member is disposed between the opening and the light converging member, the collimator member for collimating the UV ray such that the UV ray has an area substantially equal to that of the opening.

22. The array-type exposing device as set forth in claim 16, wherein a fiber plate is disposed between the opening and the light converging member.

23. The array-type exposing device as set forth in claim 1, wherein the light modulator unit includes:

a first electrode disposed above the flat light source;

a second electrode disposed opposite to the first electrode such that at least a gap is interposed;

a shading member, which is opaque with respect to UV rays, interposed between the first and second electrodes and to be moved to release the shading by Coulomb force generated when an electric field is applied therebetween.

24. The array-type exposing device as set forth in claim 23, wherein the shading member is moved in a direction substantially similar to an optical axis of the UV ray when the electric field is applied.

25. The array-type exposing device as set forth in claim 23, wherein the shading member is moved in a direction substantially perpendicular to an optical axis of the UV ray when the electric field is applied.

26. The array-type exposing device as set forth in claim 23, wherein the movement amount of the shading member is controlled continuously.

27. The array-type exposing device as set forth in claim 23, wherein the light modulator unit includes:

an opening formed on an emission face thereof, the opening having an area smaller than the unit area; and

a light converging member for converging the UV ray emitted from the flat light source to the opening.

28. The array-type exposing device as set forth in claim 1, wherein the flat light source includes a low-pressure mercury lamp for emitting a UV ray having 254 nm of a central wave length and a light guide plate for guiding the UV ray.

29. The array-type exposing device as set forth in claim 1, wherein the flat light source includes a low-pressure mercury lamp inside of which a fluorescent material emitting a 300-400 nm of UV ray is applied and a light guide plate for guiding the UV ray.

30. The array-type exposing device as set forth in claim 1, wherein the UV ray emitted from the flat light source is collimated.

31. The array-type exposing device as set forth in claim 1, wherein the flat light source includes a UV lamp, a reflection plate provided around the UV lamp and a light guide plate for guiding the UV ray, and

the reflection plate reflects the UV ray such that the incident UV ray is guided in the light guide plate with an angle higher than a total reflection angle.

32. The array-type exposing device as set forth in claim 1, wherein the flat light source is a device emitting the UV ray.

33. The array-type exposing device as set forth in claim 1, wherein the flat light source is a flat light source unit including a UV lamp and a light guide plate for guiding the UV ray, and

the flat light source unit is separately provided from the light modulator unit.

34. The array-type exposing device as set forth in claim 1, wherein the flat light source is a flat light source unit including a UV lamp and a light guide plate for guiding the UV ray, and

the first electrode is disposed on the light guide plate.

35. The array-type exposing device as set forth in claim 1, wherein when one pixel of said pixels is divided into plural unit areas, the light modulator units provided in the respective unit areas are connected to a common electrode for allowing operations of the respective light modulator units to be the same with regard to each of the pixels.

36. The array-type exposing device as set forth in claim 35, wherein when one pixel of said pixels is divided into plural unit areas, the light modulator units provided in the respective unit areas are arranged into a simple matrix structure and controlled by simple matrix driving, and

wherein a predetermined voltage is applied to the respective light modulator units to select performing one of the light modulation and maintaining a previous state thereof.

37. The array-type exposing device as set forth in claim 36, wherein the light modulator units have a hysteresis characteristic, and

wherein a reset operation for setting back an electro-mechanical operation is performed before a state selecting operation.

38. The array-type exposing device as set forth in claim 35, wherein when one pixel of said pixels is divided into plural unit areas, the light modulator units provided in the respective unit areas are arranged into an active matrix structure and controlled by active matrix driving, and

wherein a predetermined voltage is applied to the respective light modulator units to select performing one of the light modulation and maintaining a previous state thereof.

39. The array-type exposing device as set forth in claim 38, wherein the light modulator units have a hysteresis characteristic, and

wherein a reset operation for setting back an electro-mechanical operation is performed before a state selecting operation.

40. The array-type exposing device as set forth in claim 1, wherein when one pixel of said pixels is divided into plural unit areas, the light modulator units provided in the respective unit areas are connected to different electrodes for allowing operations of the respective light modulator units to be different from each other with regard to each of the pixels.

41. The array-type exposing device as set forth in claim 40, wherein when one pixel of said pixels is divided into plural unit areas, the light modulator units provided in the respective unit areas are arranged into a simple matrix structure together with active devices and controlled by simple matrix driving, and

wherein a predetermined voltage is applied to the respective light modulator units to select performing one of the light modulation and maintaining a previous state thereof.

42. The array-type exposing device as set forth in claim 41, wherein the light modulator units have a hysteresis characteristic, and

wherein a reset operation for setting back an electro-mechanical operation is performed before a state selecting operation.

43. The array-type exposing device as set forth in claim 40, wherein when one pixel of said pixels is divided into plural unit areas, the light modulator units provided in the respective unit areas are arranged into an active matrix structure together with active devices and controlled by active matrix driving, and

wherein a predetermined voltage is applied to the respective light modulator units to select performing one of the light modulation and maintaining a previous state thereof.

44. The array-type exposing device as set forth in claim 43, wherein the light modulator units have a hysteresis characteristic, and

wherein a reset operation for setting back an electro-mechanical operation is performed before a state selecting operation.

45. The array-type exposing device as set forth in claim 1, wherein one pixel is divided into plural unit areas having different areas from each other.

46. A flat-type display comprising:

a flat light source for emitting a UV ray;

a light modulator unit disposed above the flat light source so as to be associated with at least one unit area derived by dividing each of pixels on the image, the light modulator unit modulating the UV ray by electro-mechanical operation to expose the image forming body; and

a fluorescent member unit disposed opposite to the light modulator unit, the fluorescent member unit including a fluorescent member excited by the UV ray emitted from the light modulator unit.

47. The flat-type display as set forth in claim 46, wherein the light modulator unit includes:

a first electrode disposed above the flat light source;

a second electrode disposed opposite to the first electrode such that at least a gap is interposed;

a flexible thin film, which is transparent with respect to UV rays, interposed between the first and second electrodes and to be elastically deflected by Coulomb force generated when an electric field is applied therebetween.

48. The flat-type display as set forth in claim 47, wherein the first electrode includes a plurality of band-like electrodes arranged in parallel with each other,

the second electrode includes a plurality of band-like electrodes arranged in parallel with each other so as to be perpendicular to the first electrode, and

at least one of intersections of the first and second electrodes is associated with one pixel of the image.

49. The flat-type display as set forth in claim 47, wherein the light modulator unit includes at least one active device associated with one pixel of the image, in which the first electrode is connected to a drain electrode thereof, the second electrode is connected to a common electrode, an image signal line corresponding to each column of the image connected to a source electrode thereof and an image signal line corresponding to each row of the image is connected to a gate electrode thereof.

50. The flat-type display as set forth in claim 47, wherein the light modulator unit includes at least one active device associated with one pixel of said pixels of the image, in which the first electrode is connected to a source electrode thereof, the second electrode is connected to a common electrode, an image signal line corresponding to each column of the image connected to a drain electrode thereof and an image signal line corresponding to each row of the image is connected to a gate electrode thereof.

51. The flat-type display as set forth in claim 47, wherein the flat light source includes a UV lamp and a light guide plate for guiding the UV ray emitted from the UV lamp, and

the flexible thin film allows the guided UV ray to transmit when the flexible thin film is deflected and approached to the light guide plate sufficiently by the application of the electric field.

52. The flat-type display as set forth in claim 51, wherein the flexible thin film includes a light diffusion layer.

53. The flat-type display as set forth in claim 47, wherein the electric field is applied to deflect the flexible thin film so that an optical interference effect of a multilayer film is generated so the UV ray can be modulated.

54. The flat-type display as set forth in claim 53, wherein the light modulator unit includes a film member disposed opposite to the flexible thin film,

both of the flexible thin film and the film member have a reflectivity with respect to UV rays, and

the electric field is applied to change an optical length between the flexible thin film and the film member so the UV ray can be modulated.

55. The flat-type display as set forth in claim 53, wherein a spacer having a high relative dielectric constant is disposed between the first and the second electrodes.

56. The flat-type display as set forth in claim 47, wherein the fluorescent member unit includes a black mask provided at a portion corresponding to a boundary of adjacent pixels.

57. The flat-type display as set forth in claim 47, wherein a fluorescent member includes a film member provided on a face thereof facing the light modulator unit, the film member being transparent with respect to UV rays and opaque with respect to visible rays.

58. The flat-type display as set forth in claim 47, wherein a fluorescent member includes a film member provided on a face thereof emitting the excited rays, the film member being transparent with respect to visible rays and opaque with respect to UV rays.

59. The flat-type display as set forth in claim 47, wherein the light modulator unit has a sealed structure, and a rare gas is enclosed therein.

60. The flat-type display as set forth in claim 47, wherein the deflected amount of the flexible thin film is controlled continuously.

61. The flat-type display as set forth in claim 47, wherein the light modulator unit includes:

an opening formed on an emission face thereof, the opening having an area smaller than the unit area; and

a light converging member for converging the UV ray emitted from the flat light source to the opening.

62. The flat-type display as set forth in claim 61, wherein the flexible thin film includes a shading member for shading the UV ray at a focal point of the light converging member when the electric field is applied.

63. The flat-type display as set forth in claim 61, wherein the flexible thin film includes an opening for allowing the UV ray to pass through at a focal point of the light converging member when the electric field is applied.

64. The flat-type display as set forth in claim 63, wherein a shading member for shading only a component on the optical axis of the UV ray passing through the opening is arranged at one of an incident face side and the emission face side of the light modulator unit.

65. The flat-type display as set forth in claim 61, wherein the opening is a through hole and any other portion of the flexible thin film is an opaque body.

66. The flat-type display as set forth in claim 61, wherein a collimator member is disposed between the opening and the light converging member, the collimator member for collimating the UV ray such that the UV ray has an area substantially equal to that of the opening.

67. The flat-type display as set forth in claim 61, wherein a fiber plate is disposed between the opening and the light converging member.

68. The flat-type display as set forth in claim 46, wherein the light modulator unit includes:

a first electrode disposed above the flat light source;

a second electrode disposed opposite to the first electrode such that at least a gap is interposed;

a shading member, which is opaque with respect to UV rays, interposed between the first and second electrodes and to be moved to release the shading by Coulomb force generated when an electric field is applied therebetween.

69. The flat-type display as set forth in claim 68, wherein the shading member is moved in a direction substantially similar to an optical axis of the UV ray when the electric field is applied.

70. The flat-type display as set forth in claim 68, wherein the shading member is moved in a direction substantially perpendicular to an optical axis of the UV ray when the electric field is applied.

71. The flat-type display as set forth in claim 68, wherein the movement amount of the shading member is controlled continuously.

72. The flat-type display as set forth in claim 68, wherein the light modulator unit includes:

an opening formed on an emission face thereof, the opening having an area smaller than the unit area; and

a light converging member for converging the UV ray emitted from the flat light source to the opening.

73. The flat-type display as set forth in claim 46, wherein the flat light source includes a low-pressure mercury lamp for emitting a UV ray having 254 nm of a central wave length and a light guide plate for guiding the UV ray.

74. The flat-type display as set forth in claim 46, wherein the flat light source includes a low-pressure mercury lamp inside of which a fluorescent material emitting a 300-400 nm of UV ray is applied and a light guide plate for guiding the UV ray.

75. The flat-type display as set forth in claim 46, wherein the UV ray emitted from the flat light source is collimated.

76. The flat-type display as set forth in claim 46, wherein the flat light source includes a UV lamp, a reflection plate provided around the UV lamp and a light guide plate for guiding the UV ray, and

the reflection plate reflects the UV ray such that the incident UV ray is guided in the light guide plate with an angle higher than a total reflection angle.

77. The flat-type display as set forth in claim 46, wherein the flat light source is a device emitting the UV ray.

78. The flat-type display as set forth in claim 46, wherein the flat light source is a flat light source unit including a UV lamp and a light guide plate for guiding the UV ray, and

the flat light source unit is separately provided from the light modulator unit.

79. The flat-type display as set forth in claim 46, wherein the flat light source is a flat light source unit including a UV lamp and a light guide plate for guiding the UV ray, and

the first electrode is disposed on the light guide plate.

80. The flat-type display as set forth in claim 46, wherein when one pixel of said pixels is divided into plural unit areas, the light modulator units provided in the respective unit areas are connected to a common electrode for allowing operations of the respective light modulator units to be the same with regard to each of the pixels.

81. The flat-type display as set forth in claim 80, wherein when one pixel of said pixels is divided into plural unit areas, the light modulator units provided in the respective unit areas are arranged into a simple matrix structure and controlled by simple matrix driving, and

wherein a predetermined voltage is applied to the respective light modulator units to select performing one of the light modulation and maintaining a previous state thereof.

82. The flat-type display as set forth in claim 81, wherein the light modulator units have a hysteresis characteristic, and

wherein a reset operation for setting back an electro-mechanical operation is performed before a state selecting operation.

83. The flat-type display as set forth in claim 80, wherein when one pixel of said pixels is divided into plural unit areas, the light modulator units provided in the respective unit areas are arranged into a simple matrix structure together with active devices and controlled by simple matrix driving, and

wherein a predetermined voltage is applied to the respective light modulator units to select performing one of the light modulation and maintaining a previous state thereof.

84. The flat-type display as set forth in claim 46, wherein when one pixel of said pixels is divided into plural unit areas, the light modulator units provided in the respective unit areas are connected to different electrodes for allowing operations of the respective light modulator units to be different from each other with regard to each of the pixels.

85. The flat-type display as set forth in claim 84, wherein when one pixel of said pixels is divided into plural unit areas, the light modulator units provided in the respective unit areas are arranged into an active matrix structure and controlled by active matrix driving, and

wherein a predetermined voltage is applied to the respective light modulator units to select performing one of the light modulation and maintaining a previous state thereof.

86. The flat-type display as set forth in claim 85, wherein the light modulator units have a hysteresis characteristic, and

wherein a reset operation for setting back an electro-mechanical operation is performed before a state selecting operation.

87. The flat-type display as set forth in claim 86, wherein the light modulator units have a hysteresis characteristic, and

wherein a reset operation for setting back an electro-mechanical operation is performed before a state selecting operation.

88. The flat-type display as set forth in claim 84, wherein when one pixel of said pixels is divided into plural unit areas, the light modulator units provided in the respective unit areas are arranged into an active matrix structure together with active devices and controlled by active matrix driving, and

wherein a predetermined voltage is applied to the respective light modulator units to select performing one of the light modulation and maintaining a previous state thereof.

89. The flat-type display as set forth in claim 88, wherein the light modulator units have a hysteresis characteristic, and

wherein a reset operation for setting back an electro-mechanical operation is performed before a state selecting operation.

90. The flat-type display as set forth in claim 46, wherein one pixel of said pixel is divided into plural unit areas having different areas from each other.