Rohm Co., Ltd.

Toshihiko Takakura

Hisayoshi Fujimoto

Norihiro Imamura

Hiroaki Onishi

Hideaki Hoki

Hideo Taniguchi

Masatoshi Nakanishi

Kunio Motoyama

Toshiyuki Fujita

Mitsuhiko Fukuda

Hiroaki Ohnishi

Minori Torama

Minori Koshio

Haruhiko Yamashita

Yasuzo Matsuo

An optical printhead includes a light source, a light guide, and a light collecting sheet. The light guide includes a light incident surface facing the light source and a flat light emitting surface extending in a primary scanning direction. The light collecting sheet faces the light emitting surface of the light guide and allows the passage of light emitted from the light emitting surface. The collecting sheet includes a prism layer formed with a plurality of ridges extending parallel to each other, and a base layer laminated on the prism layer. Diffused light rays emitted from the light emitting surface of the light guide pass through the light collecting sheet to become parallel rays.

Optical printhead and image forming apparatus

The present invention relates to a liquid crystal shutter (). The liquid crystal shutter () includes a first and a second transparent substrates (), () arranged to face each other; a light shielding film () formed on a surface () of the second transparent substrate (), which faces the first transparent substrate (), for restricting incidence of light travelling from the first transparent substrate () to the second transparent substrate (); and transparent electrodes () laminated over the light shielding film (). The transparent electrodes () are laminated over the light shielding film () via a single insulating layer (). Each of the transparent electrodes (), the light shielding film () and the insulating layer () is made of an inorganic substance.

Liquid crystal shutter and printhead

A wall-mounting image processing apparatus (A) includes a machine housing () mounted on a substantially vertical wall surface (H), and an image reading/writing head (X) disposed in the machine housing. The image reading/writing head (X) includes a substrate () having one surface (A) on which a plurality of light receiving elements () are arranged in a row. Part of said one surface (A) forms an excess surface () projecting laterally from a head case (), and the printing elements () are arranged on the excess surface ().

Wall-mounting image processing apparatus

The image processing apparatus (B) includes an integrated image-reading/writing head (A), platen rollers (P, P) for a document and a recording paper, and data processor () performing data processing necessary for copying an image on the document. The integrated image-reading/writing head (A), a plurality of light receiving elements () and a plurality of printing elements () are mounted on the same surface of a substrate (). If the document (D) and the recording paper (K) are fed in the same direction, when the image on the document is copied, the pixel data outputted for the printing are arranged in the order of first to n-th. If the document (D) and the recording paper (K) are fed in opposite directions to each other, the pixel data outputted for the printing are arranged in the order of n-th to first.

Image processing apparatus having an image reading unit and a printing unit on one side of a substrate

The integrated image reading/writing head (X) includes a substrate () having a surface () provided with a reading circuit including a plurality of light receiving elements (), a plurality of printing elements () and a writing circuit for controlling the printing elements (). The substrate () is fitted with a connector () for electrical wiring. The connector () is electrically connected with each of the reading circuit, the printing elements and the writing circuit.

Integrated image reading/writing head, and image processing apparatus incorporating the same

An integrated image-reading/writing head A comprises an oblong rectangular substrate () having a first longitudinal edge portion (), a second longitudinal edge portion () and a surface () mounted with an array of light receiving elements () and an array of drive IC's (). The surface () of the substrate () is fitted with an oblong case () enclosing therein the light receiving elements () and the drive IC's (). The first longitudinal edge portion () of the substrate () is extended out of the case by a predetermined width. The surface () of the substrate () is further mounted with a light source () enclosed within the case (). A plurality of heating elements () are mounted on a region of the surface () of the substrate () extended out of the case ().

Integrated image-reading/writing head and image processing apparatus incorporating the same

The present invention relates to a print head ( ) including an illuminator ( ) for emitting light in a line extending in a primary scanning direction, a liquid crystal shutter ( ) for selecting whether or not light traveling from the illuminator ( ) is allowed to pass, and a light emitting portion ( ) for emitting light traveling from the liquid crystal shutter ( ) toward a photosensitive recording medium ( ). The liquid crystal shutter ( ) includes a plurality of individual shutter portions aligned in the primary scanning direction, for example. Preferably, each of the shutter portions is capable of individually selecting whether or not the light traveling from the illuminator ( ) is allowed to pass.

Printhead with liquid crystal shutter

A liquid crystal display device includes a first and a second substrates ( ) disposed in parallel to each other, a liquid crystal layer ( ) disposed between the two substrates ( ) and filled with liquid crystal, and a reflective electrode ( ) having a reflective surface ( ) on which light rays coming from the outside through the first substrate ( ) and the liquid crystal layer ( ) are reflected towards the first substrate ( ). The reflective surface ( ) of the reflective electrode ( ) is undulated. The reflective surface ( ) of the reflective electrode ( ) is provided with an alignment film ( B) for twisting liquid crystal molecules contained in the liquid crystal layer ( ). The height of the undulation on the reflective surface ( ) of the reflective electrode ( ) is smaller than at least the thickness of the alignment film ( B) at a concave portion of the undulated reflective surface ( ).

Liquid crystal display device and process for making the same

A lens array unit includes first and second lens arrays cooperative with each other. The first lens array is provided with a plurality of first convex lenses and a first transparent holder formed integral with the first lenses. Each of the first lenses has first and second lens surfaces. The second lens array is provided with a plurality of second convex lenses and a second transparent holder formed integral with the second lenses Each of the second lenses has third and fourth lens surfaces. The second lens array is attached to the first lens array so that the third lens surfaces face the second lens surfaces. The lens array unit further includes a light shield mounted on the first lens array. The light shield is formed with a plurality of through-holes each facing the relevant one of the first lens surfaces.

Lens array unit and method of forming image

A lens array unit (U ) comprises a first and a second lens arrays ( ). The first and the second lens arrays ( ) include respectively a plurality of lenses ( ), each serving as a convex lens, for formation of a non-inverted, non-magnified image. In each of the lens arrays, the lenses ( ) and supports ( ) which hold the lenses are formed integrally of a translucent resin. Therefore, manufacture of the lens array is easy.

Lens array unit, method of manufacturing lens array unit, and optical device using the lens array unit

An image reading apparatus is provided which includes a cold-cathode tube for irradiating a linearly extending image reading section, and a plurality of light receiving elements for receiving light reflected at the image reading section. The cold-cathode tube is provided with a first end portion, a second end portion, and an intermediate portion arranged between the first end portion and the second end portion. At least one of the first and the second end portions extends in a direction differing from another direction in which the intermediate portion extends. The image reading apparatus is also provided with a suitable number of shield members for preventing relatively weak image signals supplied by the light reading elements from being adversely influenced by electrical noises.

Image reading apparatus

An image scanner is provided which includes a housing, a document supporting panel fixed to the housing, a movable carriage arranged under the document supporting panel, a light source supported by the carriage for illuminating a document placed on the document supporting panel. The image scanner also includes first reflecting means supported by the carriage and second reflecting means mounted on the housing. Further, the image scanner includes third reflecting means mounted on the housing, a focusing lens supported by the carriage and a line sensor supported by the carriage.

Image scanner

An image read/write head (A) includes: a substrate ( ) having a first widthwise side portion ( ), a second widthwise side portion ( ), and an upper surface carrying a row of light-receiving elements ( ) longitudinally of the substrate; an elongate case ( ) mounted to the upper surface of the substrate ( ) to enclose the light-receiving elements ( ); a transparent cover ( ) mounted to an upper surface of the case ( ) for contact with a document to be fed; a light source ( ) disposed in the case for illuminating the document; a lens ( ) disposed in the case for causing an image of the document (D) illuminated by the light source ( ) to be formed on the light-receiving elements ( ); and a row of printing elements ( ) carried by the an upper surface of the substrate at an excess portion which is provided by extending the first side portion ( ) beyond a lower edge of the case ( ) by a predetermined amount. The transparent cover ( ) is inclined such that the cover ( ) becomes progressively farther from the substrate as it extends toward the first side portion ( ) of the substrate ( ).

Image read/write head, and image processing apparatus incorporating the same

A lens array is provided with a plurality of lenses and a holder formed integral with the lenses. Each of the lenses includes a non-flat first lens surface and a flat second lens surface. The holder includes a first surface adjacent to the first lens surface and a second surface adjacent to the second lens surface. The second surface is formed with a plurality of recesses in each of which a light shielding layer is provided.

Lens array and lens array assembly

An image reading apparatus is provided which includes a cold-cathode tube as a light source for illuminating a document sheet, an inverter for providing the light source with driving power. A connection cable is used for electrically connecting the light source to the inverter. The image reading apparatus also includes three kinds of rows of light receiving elements arranged in the primary scanning direction for detecting the light reflected on the document sheet. A lens array is provided for focusing the reflected light at the respective rows of light receiving elements. The light receiving elements are mounted on a printed circuit board. The light source, the inverter, the lens array and the printed circuit board are supported by a single case of the image reading apparatus.

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Kyoto, Japan

Toshihiko Takakura