Liquid crystal cells – elements and systems – Particular structure – Particular illumination
Reexamination Certificate
2001-10-11
2003-11-04
Niebling, John F. (Department: 2812)
Liquid crystal cells, elements and systems
Particular structure
Particular illumination
C349S062000, C349S096000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06642975
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a transfer apparatus which displays an image recorded in digital form by a digital still camera (DSC), a video camera, a personal computer or the like through a transmission type image display means formed by a liquid crystal display (LCD), and transfers the displayed image onto a photosensitive recording medium, such as an instant photographic film, which develops color by light, resulting in forming an image.
2. Description of the Related Art
Conventionally known examples of a method for transferring (or printing) or recording a digital-recorded image to or on a photosensitive recording medium include an ink jet system using a dot-type printing head, a laser recording system, and a thermal recording system.
A printing system such as the ink jet system has various problems. For example, printing takes more time, ink is likely to cause clogging, and precision printing results in the printed sheet paper being moistened by ink. The laser recording system involves an expensive optical component such as a lens, resulting in high cost performance. Further, the laser recording system and the thermal recording system require considerable power consumption, and are not suited to be carried about.
Thus, generally speaking, the transfer apparatus used in these systems and, in particular, the ones used in the ink jet system have a problem in that the more precise the device, the more complicated the driving mechanism and the control mechanism, and the larger and the more expensive the device, printing taking more time.
In this regard, JP 10-309829 A and JP 11-242298 A disclose transfer apparatus of the type in which a display image is formed on a photosensitive recording medium such as an instant film, using a liquid crystal device, thereby achieving simplification in structure and a low cost.
The electronic printer disclosed in JP 98-309829 A is capable of copying the display screen of a liquid crystal display on a photosensitive medium to produce a hard copy of a quality equal to that of a photograph. However, in this electronic printer, an optical component such as a rod lens array is arranged between a display screen of the liquid crystal display and a photosensitive medium, so that a predetermined distance (total conjugate length) is required between them. In the example shown, a distance of 15.1 mm is required. Further, an optical component is generally expensive.
In the transfer apparatus disclosed in JP 11-242298 A, there is no need to use an expensive optical component such as a lens and/or to secure an appropriate focal length. Thus, as compared with a conventional transfer apparatus, a further reduction can be achieved in terms of size, weight, power consumption, and cost. As shown in
FIG. 8
, a photosensitive film
400
is closely attached to the display surface of a transmission type liquid crystal display (hereinafter referred to as LCD)
300
, and a light source (back light
100
) provided on the opposite side of the photosensitive film
400
with respect to the LCD
300
is turned on. That is, a fluorescent lamp
101
is switched on to turn on the back light, so that the image displayed on the LCD
300
is transferred to the photosensitive film
400
.
Further, as shown in
FIG. 8
, the above-mentioned document discloses another embodiment, according to which a lattice
200
is provided between the back light
100
and the LCD
300
, so that diffusion or light from the back light
100
is restrained. That is, the light is approximated to parallel rays. Further, by providing a spacer
201
having a rectangular hollow portion between the lattice
200
and the LCD
300
, it is possible to prevent the image of the frame of the lattice
200
(the shadow due to the frame) from being taken by the photosensitive film
400
, thus improving clarity of the image formed on the photosensitive film
400
to a satisfactory degree from the practical point of view without providing an optical component or maintaining a predesired focal length.
Further, as shown in
FIG. 7
, the above documentation discloses an example of a transfer apparatus in which thickness of the LCD
300
, i.e., the total thicknesses of the following components: a polarizing plate
301
on the display surface side, a glass substrate
302
, a liquid crystal layer
303
, a glass substrate
304
, and a polarizing plate
305
on the back light
100
side is 2.8 mm and in which the image on the screen of the LCD
300
with a dot size of 0.5 mm is transferred to the photosensitive film
400
. To prevent diffusion of light from the LCD
300
, a 5 mm lattice is provided with a thickness of 10 mm, and a 20 mm spacer
201
is arranged between the lattice
200
and the LCD
300
. Further, the LCD
300
and the photosensitive film
400
are closely attached together to effect image transfer without involving blurring (unclarity) of the image.
In this casing, an image displayed with an original dot size of 0.5 mm is transferred with an enlarge dot size of up to 0.67 mm, which is enlarged by approximately 0.09 mm at one side, However, the image obtained is satisfactory on practical.
As described above, in the transfer apparatus disclosed in JP 11-242298 A, image transfer is effected, with the liquid crystal display (LCD) and the photosensitive film being closely attached together, to prevent blurring (unclarity) of the image and to obtain an image satisfactory from the practical point of view. It is to be noted, however, that exposure of the photosensitive film in this arrangement involves the following problems.
First, as shown in
FIG. 8
, on the outermost surface of the LCD
300
, the film-shaped polarizing plate
301
is arranged, closely attaching to the photosensitive film
400
. As a result, when the photosensitive film
400
is moved to perform a post-processing, the photosensitive film
400
and the polarizing plate
301
are mutually rubbed thereby flawing the film-shaped polarizing plate
301
, and the flaw on the polarizing plate
301
is transferred to the photosensitive film
400
. Further, this flaw causes scattering of light, resulting in deterioration of the image quality.
It might be possible for the polarizing plate and the photosensitive film to be closely attached together during exposure and slightly spaced in addition to each other when the photosensitive film is moved. For this purpose, however, it would be necessary to provide, apart from the photosensitive film moving mechanism, a mechanism for effecting close attachment and detachment of the photosensitive film, which is contradictory to the requirement for reduction in cost and size.
Further, generally, a photosensitive film, e.g., an instant film easiest to use, is accommodated in a lightproof casing until it is loaded in a transfer apparatus. Because this lightproof casing is equipped with an opening frame somewhat larger than the film, following procedure is required; that the photosensitive film can be brought into close contact with the polarizing plate.
First, prior to exposure, a signal sheet of photosensitive film is extracted singly from the lightproof casing, and brought into close contact with the polarizing plate surface on the surface of the LCD. In this state, exposure is performed, and, therefore, the photosensitive film is separated from the polarizing plate surface, and moved for a next processing (In the casing of an instant film, a processing liquid tube provided in the film sheet is pushed and broken).
Such a procedure must be repeated for each photosensitive film. In particular, separating the closely attaching photosensitive film to the polarizing plate surface therefrom does not meet the requirements of automation (or mechanization).
Recently, a screen of LCDs have progressed in terms of fine definition, and LCDs with more number of pixels and a smaller dot size are being commercialized. For example, as LCDs using low-temperature polysilicon type TFTS, UXGA (10.4 inches: 1200×1600 pixels), XGA (6.3 and 4 inches; 1024×768 pixels) are
Chino Naoyoshi
Tanaka Yasunori
Fuji Photo Film Co. , Ltd.
Lindsay Jr. Walter L.
Niebling John F.
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