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EP0451770A2 Expired / Lapsed EP ⏱️ 0.0 years remaining

Image forming apparatus

Assignee: Konica Minolta Inc
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Filing: 1991-04-09
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Granted: —
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Expires: 2011-04-09
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Abstract

Abstract The invention provides an apparatus for forming an image (100) in which there is provided a photoreceptor (1) includes an imaging surface for forming an electrostatic latent image thereon in response to an exposure light. The photoreceptor has a light decay characteristic so that the potential of the imaging surface is not decayed in an initial period of exposure and the potential of the imaging surface is sharply decayed in a middle period of exposure. A laser beam generator (31) is used for scanning and exposing the imaging surface with a laser beam to write the latent image on the imaging surface. A generator drive circuit includes a signal generator for generating a reference wave signal and is adapted to receive an image density signal, to modulate the image density signal on the basis of the reference wave signal and to drive the laser beam generator in accordance with the modulated image density signal.

Inventors

  • 👤 Satoshi Konica Corporation Haneda
  • 👤 Masakazu Konica Corporation Fukuchi

Bibliographic Details

Application Number —
Jurisdiction EP
Data Source google_patents
Last Synchronized 2026-11-09 10:39
CPC Classifications
H; H04; H04N; H04N1/00; H04N1/40; H04N1/40025; H04N1/4005; H04N1/40037; H04N1/405; H04N1/4055; H04N1/4056

Claims Analysis

Total Claims: 10
Claim 1
Independent Claim 150 words
An apparatus for forming an image, comprising: a photoreceptor including an imaging surface for forming an electrostatic latent image thereon in response to an exposure light, said photoreceptor having a light decay characteristic so that the potential of said imaging surface is not decayed in an initial period of exposure and the potential of said imaging surface is sharply decayed in a middle period of exposure; image writing means including a laser beam generator and a generator drive circuit, for scanning and exposing said imaging surface with a laser beam to write said latent image on said imaging surface; and said generator drive circuit including a signal generator for generating a reference wave signal, adapted to receive an image density signal, to modulate said image density signal on the basis of said reference wave signal and to drive said laser beam generator in accordance with said modulated image density signal.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim 20 words
The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said signal generator is capable of changing the amplitude of said reference wave signal.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim 39 words
The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said signal generator sets the amplitude of said reference wave signal so that the maximum and minimum values of said image density signal are positioned inside the amplitude of said reference wave signal.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim 36 words
The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising exposure means for exposing uniformly overall said imaging surface, wherein said exposure means conducts said uniform exposure substantially simultaneously with the scanning and exposure of said image writing means.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim 33 words
The apparatus of claim 2 or claim 3, wherein said signal generator makes said amplitude of said reference wave signal large for a high contrast image and small for a low contrast image.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim 61 words
The apparatus of claim 2 or 3, wherein said generator drive circuit includes a circuit for generating a high frequency wave signal, and wherein said generator drive circuit modulates the amplitude of said high frequency wave signal on the basis of said modulated image density signal and drives said laser beam generator in accordance with said modulated high frequency wave signal.
Claim 7
Independent Claim 23 words
The apparatus of any one of claims 2 to 4, wherein said generator drive circuit modulates the intensity of said image density signal.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim 19 words
The apparatus of claim 4, wherein said exposure means uniformly exposes an image forming part of said imaging surface.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim 17 words
The apparatus of claim 4, wherein said exposure means is adapted to change the exposure light amount.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim 19 words
The apparatus of claim 4, wherein said generator drive circuit modulates the pulse width of said image density signal.

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