JP4433682B2 - Image forming system - Google Patents

Description

[0001]
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
  The present invention provides an image display medium that displays images, characters, etc. and can be rewritten repeatedly.Involved in the body,A new image or text superimposed on the original image or textofPostscriptEtc.Image formationsystemAbout.
[0002]
[Prior art]
As a sheet-like image display medium that can be rewritten repeatedly, Twisting Ball Display (two-color coating particle rotation display), electric movement, magnetic movement, thermal rewritable medium, liquid crystal having memory properties, and the like have been proposed.
[0003]
For example, an image or a character is input on an image display medium such as an LCD or an EL panel by a method using a resistive film or a transparent electrode matrix, a method using ultrasonic vibration, etc., and the input image or character is It can be displayed. At this time, a proposal has been made that a display image can be stored by using a memory-type display medium (for example, see Patent Document 1).
[0004]
On the other hand, when such an image display medium is used, a proposal has been made to additionally write a new image over the original image. For example, in a display system using a liquid crystal display medium, in addition to a first data writing device for writing a first image on the liquid crystal display medium and a data reading device for reading first data held on the liquid crystal display medium. A proposal has been made to additionally write to a liquid crystal display medium by providing a second data writing apparatus that writes second data based on the first data read by the data reading apparatus to the liquid crystal display medium (for example, Patent Literatures). 2).
[0005]
By the way, as a display medium for displaying an image or the like, there is a so-called electronic paper or the like that is displayed using colored particles, can be rewritten and can be used repeatedly, and has a memory property. Proposed.
[0006]
As a display medium using colored particles, for example, a white liquid is sealed between two sheets facing each other, and magnetic black particles are dispersed in the white liquid. For example, white particles and black particles charged in polarity are sandwiched.
[0007]
Since such a display medium has a memory property, a written image is held even when the display medium is detached from the writing device. That is, it is possible to remove the written image from the writing device while holding the written image.
[0008]
Proposals have been made to form an image on such a display medium using a writing means having excellent portability and handleability such as a pen shape (see, for example, Patent Document 3).
[0009]
By using such a writing means, it is possible to add a new image or character on the display medium removed from the writing device in a state where the image is formed, overlaid on the original image or character. .
[0010]
[Patent Document 1]
JP-A-1-92826
[Patent Document 2]
JP 2002-42071 A
[Patent Document 3]
JP 2002-14380 A
[0011]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
However, the conventional additional recording method has a problem that when the added image is deleted, the original image is deleted. Further, since the additional recording can be performed only with the same color as the original image, the additional recording portion is not conspicuous, and the original image and the additional recording image cannot be distinguished.
[0012]
  The present invention has been made in view of the above facts,Displayed on image display mediumErase and rewrite additional images without losing the original imageIt can be performedImage formationsystemThe purpose is to propose.
[0013]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
  Image of the present invention for achieving the above objectForming systemIsimageDisplay surfaceAnd a back surface of the light transmissive substrate facing the image display surfaceA substrate,Colored charged particles charged either positively or negatively, and can be migrated between the light-transmitting substrate and the back substrateEnclosed,After moving to the light-transmitting substrate, a plurality of colored charged particles adhering to the light-transmitting substrate and magnetized colored magnetic particles that can migrate between the light-transmitting substrate and the back substrate A plurality of colored magnetic particles encapsulated and moved to the light-transmitting substrate and then attached to the light-transmitting substrate;IncludingPaintingImage display mediumAn image forming system for forming a display image on the image display device, wherein a magnetic field for attaching the colored magnetic particles to the light transmissive substrate in accordance with the first image information is opposed to the light transmissive substrate of the image display medium. A magnet member to be formed, and an electrode arranged on the rear substrate side of the image display medium, an electric field for attaching the colored charged particles to the light transmissive substrate according to second image information different from the first image information; Electric field forming means formed between the electrodes facing the light transmissive substrate.
[0014]
  According to this invention,The image display medium includes a pair of a light transmissive substrate and a rear substrate.BetweenColored magnetic particles and colored charged particlesEnclosedHas been. Also,The colored magnetic particles are moved by magnetic force, and the colored charged particles areMoving.
[0015]
  This, ExampleFor example,Colored magnetismIn the image formed by the particles,ColoredImages can be added by particlesAt the same time, images are formed with colored charged particles.WhenFormed by colored magnetic particlesThe original image is not damaged.
[0016]
  According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the first aspect of the present invention, the colored magnetic particles are separated from the light-transmitting substrate by a magnet facing the back substrate of the image display medium, and the display image by the colored magnetic particles is displayed. The coloring by an electric field formed by applying a voltage between a first erasing means for erasing the image and an electrode disposed on the back substrate side of the image display medium and an electrode opposed to the light transmissive substrate. Second erasing means for erasing a display image of the colored charged particles by separating charged particles from the light-transmitting substrate..
[0017]
  According to a third aspect of the present invention, in the first or second aspect of the present invention, the magnet member is relatively moved along the surface of the light transmissive substrate based on the first image information, and the coloring is performed. The display image corresponding to the first image information is formed by magnetic particles..
[0018]
  According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, in the first or second aspect of the present invention, the electric field forming means is configured such that the electrode facing the light transmissive substrate has the light transmissive substrate based on the second image information. A display image corresponding to the second image information is formed by the colored charged particles..
[0029]
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.
[First Embodiment]
FIG. 1 shows a schematic configuration of an image display medium 10 applied to the first embodiment. The image display medium 10 has substrates 12 and 14 arranged in pairs. At least one of the substrates 12 and 14 is light transmissive. In the present embodiment, as an example, the substrate 12 on the upper side in FIG. 1 has light transmissive properties. 12 is a transparent display substrate (transparent display substrate 12), and the substrate 14 is a back substrate (back substrate 14).
[0030]
In the image display medium 10, a transparent display substrate 12 and a back substrate 14 are held at a predetermined interval, and a colored liquid 16 is sealed between the transparent display substrate 12 and the back substrate 14. In the present embodiment, as an example, the colored liquid 16 colored white is used, and the white liquid 16 will be described below.
[0031]
Thus, in the image display medium 10, the transparent display substrate 12 is white when no image is displayed.
[0032]
The image display medium 10 thus configured has a sheet shape as shown in FIG. 2 by setting the distance between the transparent display substrate 12 enclosing the white liquid 16 and the back substrate 14 to about 100 μm. Is formed. The interval between the transparent display substrate 12 and the back substrate 14 is not limited to this. Further, the outer shape of the image display medium 10 is not limited to the rectangular sheet shape, and any shape can be applied.
[0033]
By the way, the non-magnetic electrode 18 using nonmagnetic materials, such as IOT and copper, is formed in the back substrate 14 used for the image display medium 10 over substantially the entire surface on the transparent display substrate 12 side.
[0034]
On the other hand, in the image display medium 10, a large number of magnetic particles 20 and charged particles 22 are dispersed and enclosed in the white liquid 16 as the first and second colored particles.
[0035]
The magnetic particles 20 are moved by a magnetic force. Thereby, for example, by arranging the magnet on the transparent display substrate 12 side, the magnetic particles 20 in the white liquid 16 move to the transparent display substrate 12 side, and by arranging the magnet on the back substrate 14 side, the back substrate It moves to the 14 side.
[0036]
Further, the charged particles 22 form an electric field between the transparent display substrate 12 and the back substrate 14, so that the charged particles 22 are directed to the transparent display substrate 12 side or the back substrate 14 side according to the polarity of the charged charge and the direction of the electric field. It is supposed to move.
[0037]
In the first embodiment, the positively charged charged particles 22 are used as an example, whereby a negative electrode is disposed on the transparent display substrate 12 side and a positive electrode is disposed on the back substrate 14 side. As a result, the charged particles 22 move to the transparent display substrate 12 side, and conversely, the positive electrodes are arranged on the transparent display substrate 12 side, and the minus electrodes are arranged on the back substrate 14 side. Move to the substrate 14 side.
[0038]
In the image display medium 10, the size (outer diameter) of each of the magnetic particles 20 and the charged particles 22 is about 3 μm as an example. As a result, in the image display medium 10, the magnetic particles are removed by removing the magnetic field or electric field. 20 and charged particles 22 are held in a state of being attached to the transparent display substrate 12 or the back substrate 14.
[0039]
On the other hand, in the image display medium 10, the magnetic particles 20 and the charged particles 22 are colored in different colors, and each color is also different from the color of the white liquid 16. In the first embodiment, as an example, the magnetic particles 20 are colored black (hereinafter referred to as “black magnetic particles 20”), and the charged particles 22 are colored red (hereinafter “red charged particles”). 22 ”).
[0040]
As a result, the black magnetic particles 20 and the red charged particles 22 adhere to the transparent display substrate 12 so that the color can be recognized on the transparent display substrate 12 (above the transparent display substrate 12). Therefore, in the image display medium 10, the black magnetic particles 20 and the red charged particles 22 are attached to the transparent display substrate 12 so as to form characters and images, whereby a black image and a red image are formed on the white base. Are formed, and display images and characters of the respective colors are held.
[0041]
2 and 3 show an image forming apparatus 24 applied to the first embodiment as an example of an image forming apparatus that forms an image on the image display medium 10. The image forming apparatus 24 includes a casing 26 formed in a substantially rectangular box shape.
[0042]
In the casing 26, an insertion port 28 is formed on one surface, and a discharge port 30 (see FIG. 3, not shown in FIG. 2) is formed on the surface opposite to the insertion port 28. The insertion port 28 and the discharge port 30 are formed in a slit shape through which the sheet-like image display medium 10 can pass.
[0043]
As shown in FIG. 2, the casing 26 is provided with, for example, an insertion base 32 on the insertion port 28 side and a discharge tray 34 on the discharge port 30 side, and the image display medium 10 is on the transparent display substrate 12 side. In the state where the surface is directed upward and placed on the insertion table 32, it is pushed into the insertion port 28.
[0044]
As shown in FIG. 3, a plurality of roller pairs 36 are provided in the casing 26 between the insertion port 28 and the discharge port 30, and these roller pairs 36 are rotationally driven at a predetermined rotational speed. It is like that. In this embodiment, as an example, three pairs of roller pairs 36A, 36B, and 36C are provided, and collectively referred to as the roller pair 36.
[0045]
As a result, a linear transport path for guiding and transporting the image display medium 10 is formed in the image forming apparatus 24 between the insertion port 28 and the discharge port 30, and the image display medium 10 inserted from the insertion port 28 is Then, it is drawn into the casing 26 by being sandwiched between the roller pair 36A, and is transported through the casing 26 at a constant speed, and is then sandwiched by the roller pair 36C and sent out from the discharge port 30 onto the discharge tray 34. Note that the conveyance path of the image display medium 10 is not limited to a straight line, and may be arbitrarily curved as long as the image display medium 10 can be appropriately conveyed.
[0046]
On the other hand, in the casing 26 of the image forming apparatus 24, an erasing head 38 and an erasing electrode 40 are arranged as first and second erasing means between the pair of rollers 36A and 36B on the insertion port 28 side.
[0047]
The erasing head 38 is disposed below the conveyance path of the image display medium 10, and the magnet 38 </ b> A is directed to the conveyance path of the image display medium 10.
[0048]
  The erasing electrode 40 is formed by an electrode 40A and an electrode 40B, and the electrodes 40A and 40B are arranged in pairs up and down across the conveyance path of the image display medium 10. Further, as shown in FIG. 4B, the image forming apparatus 24 has a predetermined voltage.DC powerAn erasing power source 42 is provided, and the positive side of the erasing power source 42 is connected to the electrode 40A disposed on the upper side of the conveyance path of the image display medium 10, and the negative side is conveyed of the image display medium 10. It is connected to the electrode 40B disposed on the lower side of the path, so that an electric field for moving the red charged particles 22 downward (on the electrode 40B side) is generated between the pair of electrodes 40A and 40B. Yes. The erasing head 38 and the erasing electrode 40 are arranged so as to face the entire region in the width direction, which is a direction orthogonal to the transport direction of the image display medium 10.
[0049]
As shown in FIG. 4A, the image display medium 10 conveyed in the image forming apparatus 24 is floating in the white liquid 16 or attached to the transparent display substrate 12 when passing over the erasing head 38. The black magnetic particles 20 are moved to the back substrate 14 side and held on the back substrate 14 side.
[0050]
  4B, the image display medium 10 is floating in the white liquid 16 or attached to the transparent display substrate 12 when passing between the electrodes 40A and 40B of the erasing electrode 40. The red charged particles 22 moving to the back substrate 14 side move to the back substrate14Held on the side. 4A to 4C, the moving direction of the image display medium 10 (relative) is indicated by an arrow.MoveDirection).
[0051]
Thereby, in the image display medium 10, the black magnetic particles 20 and the red charged particles 22 are separated from the transparent display substrate 12, and the images, characters, and the like displayed on the transparent display substrate 12 are surely erased ( (Not shown).
[0052]
On the other hand, as shown in FIG. 3, the image forming apparatus 24 is provided with a magnetic recording head 44 as an image forming unit between a pair of rollers 36B and 36C on the discharge port 30 side. The magnetic recording head 44 moves along the width direction of the image display medium 10 in synchronization with the conveyance of the image display medium 10 by a main scanning moving means (not shown). It is to be noted that the main scanning moving means can adopt any conventionally known configuration, and detailed description thereof is omitted in the present embodiment.
[0053]
  Further, the image forming apparatus 24 is connected to an image processing apparatus (not shown) such as a personal computer. The image forming apparatus 10 receives images, characters, symbols, and the like recorded on the image display medium 10 from the image processing apparatus ( In the following, a digital signal (image data) corresponding to “image” is input, and the magnetic recording head 44 is moved in the main scanning direction while conveying the image display medium 10 at a constant speed. At this time, the magnetic recording head 44 is moved according to the image data.on/ Turn off (magnetization / demagnetization).
[0054]
  As a result, as shown in FIG. 4C, the black magnetic particles 20 are moved and held on the transparent display substrate 12 side at the magnetization position of the magnetic recording head 44 to form pixels.
[0055]
An image corresponding to image data is formed on the image display medium 10 by the pixels formed by the black magnetic particles 20, and this image is held.
[0056]
On the other hand, in the image display medium 10, when an image is formed by the image forming device 24, the red charged particles 22 are held in a state of being attached to the back substrate 14.
[0057]
Thereby, in the image display medium 10, it is possible to additionally write an image using the red charged particles 22 so as to overlap the image formed by the black magnetic particles 20 formed by the image forming device 24.
[0058]
FIG. 5 shows a schematic configuration of a write-once device 46 applied to the first embodiment as the write-once device at this time.
[0059]
The additional recording device 46 includes a power supply box 48 and a writing pen 50. Further, the write-once device 46 can be provided with an eraser 52. The writing pen 50 is provided with a writing electrode 50 </ b> A at the tip, and the writing electrode 50 </ b> A is connected to the power supply box 48. Further, the eraser 52 is provided with an erasing electrode 52A at the tip, and the erasing electrode 52A is connected to the power supply box 48. The writing electrode 50A of the writing pen 50 and the erasing electrode 52B of the eraser 52 have a protective film formed on the surface, and scratches or the like are caused when they contact the surface of the transparent display substrate 12 of the image display medium 10. Is preventing.
[0060]
The image display medium 10 is provided with a terminal portion 18A connected to the non-magnetic electrode 18 (not shown in FIG. 5, see FIG. 1) at the peripheral portion. When the additional recording device 46 is used, this terminal 18A is provided. Is connected to the power supply box 48.
[0061]
On the other hand, as shown in FIG. 6, the write-once device 46 is provided with a power source 56 that outputs DC power of a predetermined voltage together with the changeover switch 54 in the power source box 48.
[0062]
In the write-once device 46, by operating the changeover switch 54 of the power supply box 48 to the writing position (shown by a solid line in FIG. 6), the nonmagnetic electrode 18 and the nonmagnetic electrode 18 are placed on the plus side. A voltage of the power source 56 is applied between the writing electrodes 50 </ b> A of the writing pen 50.
[0063]
Further, in the write-once device 46, the non-magnetic electrode of the image display medium 10 is set so that the erase electrode 52A of the eraser 52 is on the plus side by operating the changeover switch 54 to the erase position (indicated by a two-dot chain line in FIG. 6). A voltage of the power source 56 is applied between the erasing electrode 52A of the eraser 52 and the eraser 52.
[0064]
Here, writing (additional writing) to the image display medium 10 using the additional recording device 46 and erasing of the additionally recorded image will be described.
[0065]
When an image is written on the image display medium 10 by the additional recording device 46, the changeover switch 54 is operated to the writing position. In this state, by bringing the tip of the writing pen 50 into contact with or approaching the surface of the transparent display substrate 12 of the image display medium 10, an electric field is generated between the writing electrode 50A of the writing pen 50 and the nonmagnetic electrode 18, This electric field causes the red charged particles 22 in the white liquid 16 to move toward the write electrode 50 </ b> A on the transparent display substrate 12.
[0066]
As a result, as shown in FIG. 7A, red pixels by the red charged particles 22 are formed on the transparent display substrate 12. A desired image can be additionally recorded on the image display medium 10 by forming the pixel at a desired position on the transparent display substrate 12 using the writing pen 50.
[0067]
At this time, the black magnetic particles 20 are used in the original image formed on the image display medium 10 by the image forming apparatus 10, and the writing pen 50 may move the black magnetic particles 20. Absent.
[0068]
Thereby, when a desired image is additionally recorded on the image display medium 10, the original image is not damaged. Further, since the image display medium 10 uses the black magnetic particles 20 and the red charged particles 22, the original image and the added image can be clearly distinguished.
[0069]
On the other hand, the write-once device 46 is provided with an eraser 52. By operating the changeover switch 54 to the erase position, a power source 56 is provided between the nonmagnetic electrode 18 of the image display medium 10 and the erase electrode 52A of the eraser 52. Voltage is applied.
[0070]
As shown in FIG. 7B, the erase electrode 52A of the eraser 52 is brought into contact with or close to the surface of the transparent display substrate 12, so that the non-magnetic electrode 18 of the transparent display substrate 12 and the back substrate 14 is An electric field is generated so as to move the red charged particles 22 toward the back substrate 14.
[0071]
Therefore, if there is a pixel written by the writing pen 50 and formed by the red charged particles 22 at a position facing the erase electrode 52A of the eraser 52, this image is erased from the image display medium 10.
[0072]
At this time, even if the black magnetic particles 20 that form the original image are present at a position facing the erase electrode 52A of the eraser 52, the black magnetic particles 20 are not moved, so that the original image is damaged. Therefore, part or all of the added image can be surely erased.
[0073]
On the other hand, the image formed on the image display medium 10 by the image forming apparatus 24 uses the black magnetic particles 20. From here, as shown in FIG. 7C, an eraser 60 provided with a magnet 58 is used, and this eraser 60 is brought close to the back substrate 14 of the image display medium 10.
[0074]
As a result, a magnetic field for moving the black magnetic particles 20 toward the back substrate 14 is generated between the transparent display substrate 12 and the back substrate 14 in the image display medium 10. From here, by using the eraser 60, a part or all of the original image formed on the image display medium 10 can be erased.
[0075]
At this time, since the red charged particles 22 are not moved by the magnetic field generated by the eraser 60, it is possible to delete the original image while leaving the added image.
[0076]
In the first embodiment, the image forming device 24 is used to form an image of the black magnetic particles 20 on the image display medium 10, and the additional recording device 46 is used to display the additional recording image of the red charged particles 22 as an image. Although described as being formed on the medium 10, an image of the black magnetic particles 20 may be additionally recorded on the image display medium 10 on which an image of the red charged particles 22 is formed.
[0077]
At this time, for example, instead of the magnetic recording head 44 of the image forming apparatus 24, as shown in FIGS. 8 and 9, an image forming apparatus 64 using a recording head 62 as image forming means can be applied. Note that the configuration of the image forming apparatus 24 can be applied to the basic configuration of the image forming apparatus 64.
[0078]
The recording head 62 used in the image forming apparatus 64 is provided with write electrodes 66 at predetermined intervals along the width direction of the image display medium 10. Note that each of the write electrodes 66 provided in the recording head 62 can have a size corresponding to one pixel of an image formed on the image display medium 10, for example.
[0079]
The image forming apparatus 64 is provided with a common electrode 68 facing the recording head 62. The common electrode 68 is formed in a band plate shape, and is arranged so that its longitudinal direction is along the width direction of the image display medium 10, and faces all the write electrodes 66 provided in the recording head 62. The image display medium 10 conveyed through the image forming apparatus 64 passes between the recording head 62 and the common electrode 68.
[0080]
As shown in FIG. 9, the image forming apparatus 64 is provided with a write power supply 70, and the write power supply 70 can apply a predetermined voltage between each of the write electrodes 66 and the common electrode 68. Yes.
[0081]
As a result, the image forming apparatus 64 applies (on / off) a voltage to each write electrode 66 of the recording head 62 based on the image data while conveying the image display medium 10 at a predetermined speed. 10, an image of the red charged particles 22 can be formed.
[0082]
For example, as shown in FIG. 10, the image display medium 10 on which an image is formed by the image forming apparatus 64 can be additionally written using a writing pen 74 provided with a magnet 72 at the tip.
[0083]
That is, by bringing the magnet 72 of the writing pen 74 close to the image display medium 10, a magnetic field is generated at a position facing the tip (magnet 72) of the writing pen 74. This magnetic field causes the black magnetic particles 20 to move toward the transparent display substrate 12 to form black pixels.
[0084]
Thereby, it is possible to add an image to the image display medium 10 with the black magnetic particles 20 using the writing pen 74.
[0085]
Further, when erasing the image added by the writing pen 74, as shown in FIG. 7C, the eraser 60 can be used, thereby deteriorating the original image formed on the image display medium 10. The added image can be erased accurately.
[0086]
Further, for example, as shown in FIG. 7B, the image display medium 10 on which the image is formed by the image forming device 64 uses the eraser 52 of the additional recording device 46, so that the original image is not damaged. You can also erase the image.
[0087]
In the first embodiment, an image is formed using the white liquid 16, the black magnetic particles 20, and the red charged particles 22. However, the color combinations of the colored liquid 16, the magnetic particles 20, and the charged particles 22 are the same. Any combination can be used as long as the colors are different from each other. Further, if it is not necessary to distinguish the original image and the postscript image, the magnetic particles 20 and the charged particles 22 may be the same color.
[0088]
In the first embodiment, as an example, the image forming apparatuses 24 and 64 are provided with an erasing head (erasing head 38 and erasing electrode 40) and an image forming head (magnetic recording head 44 and recording head 62) separately. As described above, the image can be erased and written with one head.
[Second Embodiment]
Next, a second embodiment will be described. FIG. 11 shows a schematic configuration of an image display medium 80 applied to the second embodiment. Note that, in the second embodiment described below, the same components as those in the first embodiment described above are denoted by the same reference numerals and description thereof is omitted.
[0089]
In this image display medium 80, the transparent display substrate 12 and the rear substrate 14 arranged in pairs are held at a predetermined interval (for example, about 200 μm), and a predetermined gap 82 is formed between the transparent display substrate 12 and the rear substrate 14. Has been. The back substrate 14 is provided with a nonmagnetic electrode 18 on the surface on the transparent display substrate 12 side. An arbitrary gas can be enclosed in the gap 82. Further, it may be one in which a transparent liquid is enclosed instead of gas.
[0090]
  In the image display medium 80, a large number of magnetic particles and charged particles serving as first and second colored particles are enclosed in the gap 82. In the second embodiment, as an example, red magnetic particles 84 colored red are used as magnetic particles. Further, as the charged particles, white charged particles 86 that are white and negatively charged (minus charge) and black charged particles 88 that are black and charged positively (plus charge) are used. The magnetic particles (red magnetic particles 81) and charged particles (white charged particles 86,BlackAs an example, the charged particles 88) having a size (outer diameter) of about 10 μm are used.
[0091]
In addition, since the white charged particles 86 and the black charged particles 88 are minute and extremely lightweight, the attractive force between them is slightly smaller than the attractive force generated between the transparent display substrate 12 and the back substrate 14. They are easily separated and moved by an electric field or the like. The colors of the magnetic particles and the charged particles are not limited to this, and any combination can be used.
[0092]
The red magnetic particles 84, the white charged particles 86, and the black charged particles 88 are attached to either the transparent display substrate 12 or the back substrate 14.
[0093]
Thereby, in the image display medium 80, the white charged particles 86 adhere to the entire surface of the transparent display substrate 12, and the image is erased. In addition, the white charged particles 86 are replaced, and the red magnetic particles are applied to the transparent display substrate 12. An image is formed by forming pixels by attaching the particles 84 to the black charged particles 88.
[0094]
FIG. 12 shows a schematic configuration of an image forming apparatus 90 as an example of an image forming apparatus that forms an image on the image hot water magnetic medium 80.
[0095]
In this image forming apparatus 90, an erasing electrode 92 is provided together with an erasing head 38 between a pair of rollers 36A and 36B, and a recording head 62 and a common electrode 68 are arranged between the pair of rollers 36B and 36C of the image display medium 80. They are arranged in pairs above and below the conveyance path.
[0096]
As shown in FIG. 12 and FIG. 13A, the erasing electrode 92 has strip plate-like electrodes 92A and 92B whose longitudinal direction is along the transport width direction of the image display medium 80, and the transport path of the image display medium 80. It is provided in pairs on the top and bottom.
[0097]
Further, as shown in FIG. 13A, the image forming apparatus 90 is provided with an erasing power source 42. The positive side of the erasing power source 42 is connected to the electrode 92A on the upper side of the conveyance path, and the negative side is It is connected to the electrode 92B on the upper side of the transport path.
[0098]
Thus, after the image display medium 80 passes over the erasing head 38 and then passes between the electrodes 92A and 92B, the white charged particles 86 move to the transparent display substrate 12 side, and the black charged particles 88 are red. It moves to the back substrate 14 side and is held together with the magnetic particles 84, and the entire surface of the transparent display substrate 12 becomes white as an image erased state.
[0099]
On the other hand, as shown in FIG. 13B, in the image forming apparatus 90, when the image display medium 80 passes between the recording head 62 and the common electrode 68, it corresponds to the image data formed on the image display medium 80. Thus, a voltage output from the write power supply 70 is applied between the write electrode 66 and the common electrode 68 of the recording head 62.
[0100]
In the image display medium 80, the white charged particles 86 at the corresponding position move to the rear substrate 14 side, and the black charged particles 88 move to the rear display substrate 12 side, and pixels corresponding to the image formed on the image display medium 80 are added. Form.
[0101]
As described above, the image forming apparatus 90 can form a predetermined image on the image display medium 80 using the black charged particles 88.
[0102]
On the other hand, in addition to the white charged particles 86 and the black charged particles 88, the image display medium 80 is provided with red magnetic particles 84. An image formed by the black charged particles 88 is formed using the red magnetic particles 84. Overwriting can be performed to form a desired image.
[0103]
As shown in FIG. 14A, when performing additional writing on the image display medium 80, a writing pen 74 provided with a magnet 72 at the tip can be used. In the image display medium 80, when the magnet 72 at the tip of the writing pen 74 is brought into contact with or close to the surface of the transparent display substrate 12, the red magnetic particles 84 are transparently displayed by the magnetic field (magnetic force) formed by the magnet 72. Move to the substrate 12 side.
[0104]
As a result, red pixels are formed on the transparent display substrate 12 at a position facing the tip of the writing pen 74. Therefore, a write-once image can be formed using the red magnetic particles 84 so as to overlap the original image formed on the image display medium 80 by the black charged particles 88.
[0105]
  As shown in FIG. 14B, in the image display medium 80, the eraser 60 provided with the magnet 58 can be used when erasing the added image. At this time, the eraser 60magnet58 is moved closer to a predetermined position of the image display medium 80 from the back substrate 14 side.
[0106]
Thereby, the red colored particles 84 move toward the back substrate 14 by the magnetic force of the magnet 58 of the eraser 60, and the white charged particles 86 enter after the red magnetic particles 84.
[0107]
That is, as shown in FIG. 14A, when the red magnetic particles 84 adhere to the transparent display substrate 12, the white charged particles 86 are held in the vicinity of the transparent display substrate without moving to the back substrate 14 side. Is done. Therefore, as shown in FIG. 14B, when the red magnetic particles 84 are separated from the transparent display substrate 12, the white charged particles 86 enter the traces of the red magnetic particles 84 and adhere to the transparent display substrate 12. .
[0108]
Therefore, the added image can be erased without damaging the original image formed on the image display medium 80.
[0109]
In the second embodiment, the original image formed on the image display medium 80 by the white magnetic particles 86 and the black charged particles 88 is overwritten using the red magnetic particles 84. However, the present invention is not limited to this. Instead, a configuration may be adopted in which an image is formed using the red magnetic particles 84 on the white base formed using the white charged particles 86 and the black magnetic particles 88 are added to the image.
[0110]
In this case, the image forming apparatus may be formed by using the magnetic recording head 44 instead of the recording head 62 and the common electrode 68 of the image forming apparatus 90, and the black image is superimposed on the image formed by using the red magnetic particles 84. When additional recording is performed using the charged particles 88, the configuration of the additional recording device 46 or the like may be applied.
[0111]
In the first and second embodiments described above, the image display media 10 and 80 in which the nonmagnetic electrode 18 is provided on the entire surface of the back substrate 12 have been described as an example. However, it is not limited to this.
[0112]
For example, as shown in FIG. 15, for example, microelectrodes 94 of one pixel size are closely arranged in a matrix on the back substrate 14, and a voltage is applied to each of these microelectrodes 94 according to image data. A possible image display medium 96 may be applied. In this case, a planar electrode is provided so as to cover the entire surface of the transparent display substrate 12 so as to face the microelectrode 94, and a predetermined voltage is applied between the planar electrode and each microelectrode 94 according to image data. By applying, an image can be formed.
[0113]
The image display medium may be a medium obtained by removing the nonmagnetic electrode 18 from the back substrate 14. That is, it is possible to enclose colored magnetic particles and colored charged particles between the transparent display substrate 12 and the back substrate 14 without using a nonmagnetic electrode.
[0114]
With respect to such an image display medium, a planar electrode is used when an image is additionally recorded using colored charged particles, and the back side of the image display medium is placed on the planar electrode so that the writing pen 50 and the like are planar electrodes. A predetermined voltage may be applied between the two.
[0115]
Furthermore, in the present embodiment, magnetic particles having a driving force as a magnetic force (magnetic field) and charged particles having a driving force as a voltage (electric field) are used, but the combination of the first and second colored particles is used for this. The present invention is not limited to this, and a combination of colored particles that move by an arbitrary driving force can be applied as long as the driving force is different.
[0116]
【The invention's effect】
  As described above,In the lightIsBy providing colored magnetic particles and colored charged particles on the image display medium,Formed by either colored magnetic particles or colored charged particlesOriginalDisplay imageWithout damagingBy the other of colored magnetic particles or colored charged particlesAdding new imagesI can writeAn excellent effect is obtained.
[0117]
  In addition, the present inventionThen, only the other display image can be erased without damaging the display image formed by one of the colored magnetic particles or the colored charged particles..
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a schematic configuration diagram of an image display medium applied to a first embodiment.
FIG. 2 is a schematic perspective view illustrating an example of an image forming apparatus that forms an image on the image display medium according to the first embodiment.
3 is a schematic configuration diagram of the image forming apparatus shown in FIG. 2. FIG.
FIGS. 4A to 4C are schematic views showing movement of black magnetic particles and red charged particles of an image display medium in an image forming apparatus, and FIG. 4A is an image of an image formed by black magnetic particles. Erasing is shown, (B) shows erasing of an image by red charged particles, and (C) shows image formation using black magnetic particles.
FIG. 5 is a schematic perspective view showing an image display medium and a write-once device applied to the first embodiment.
FIG. 6 is a schematic configuration diagram of an additional recording device.
FIGS. 7A to 7C are schematic views of an image display medium showing image addition and deletion; FIG. 7A shows image addition; FIG. 7B shows deletion of an additional image; C) shows erasure of the original image.
FIG. 8 is a schematic perspective view of a main part showing another example of the image forming apparatus according to the first embodiment.
9 is a schematic diagram showing image formation on an image forming medium using the image forming apparatus shown in FIG.
10 is a schematic diagram showing additional writing on an image display medium on which an image is formed by the image forming apparatus shown in FIG.
FIG. 11 is a schematic configuration diagram of an image display medium applied to a second embodiment.
FIG. 12 is a schematic configuration diagram illustrating an example of an image forming apparatus that forms an image on the image display medium according to the first embodiment.
FIGS. 13A and 13B are schematic diagrams showing movement of red magnetic particles, white charged particles, and black charged particles of an image display medium in an image forming apparatus, and FIG. 13A is formed by black charged particles. (B) shows image formation using red magnetic particles.
FIGS. 14A and 14B are schematic views of an image display medium showing image addition and deletion, FIG. 14A shows image addition, and FIG. 14B shows deletion of an additional image. .
FIG. 15 is a schematic perspective view of a main part showing another example of an image display medium applied to the present invention.
[Explanation of symbols]
10, 80, 96 Image display medium
12 Transparent display substrate (light transmissive substrate, pair of substrates)
14 Back substrate (a pair of substrates)
16 White liquid
18 Non-magnetic electrode
20 Black magnetic particles (first or second colored particles, magnetic particles)
22 Red charged particles (first or second colored particles, charged particles)
24, 64, 90 Image forming apparatus
38 Erase head (first or second eraser)
40 Erase electrode (first or second eraser)
44 Magnetic recording head (image forming means)
46 Additional recording device
50, 74 Writing pen (writing means)
52, 60 Eraser (Eraser)
84 Red magnetic particles (first or second colored particles, magnetic particles)
86 White charged particles (first or second colored particles, charged particles)
88 Black charged particles (first or second colored particles, charged particles)
84 Microelectrode (non-magnetic electrode)

Claims (4)

A light transmissive substrate having an image display surface ;
A back substrate facing the image display surface of the light transmissive substrate;
Colored charged particles charged either positively or negatively, encapsulated in a movable manner between the light-transmitting substrate and the back substrate, and attached to the light-transmitting substrate after moving to the light-transmitting substrate A plurality of colored charged particles,
Magnetized colored magnetic particles, which are encapsulated in a movable manner between the light-transmitting substrate and the back substrate, and move to the light-transmitting substrate and then adhere to the light-transmitting substrate. Particles,
The An image forming system for forming a display image including images display medium,
A magnet member that forms a magnetic field that opposes the light transmissive substrate of the image display medium and attaches the colored magnetic particles to the light transmissive substrate according to first image information;
An electric field for attaching the colored charged particles to the light transmissive substrate in accordance with second image information different from the first image information is applied to the electrode disposed on the back substrate side of the image display medium and the light transmissive substrate. An electric field forming means formed between the opposed electrodes;
Including an image forming system. First erasing means for erasing a display image by the colored magnetic particles by separating the colored magnetic particles from the light-transmitting substrate by a magnet facing the back substrate of the image display medium;
The colored charged particles are separated from the light transmissive substrate by an electric field formed by applying a voltage between an electrode disposed on the back substrate side of the image display medium and an electrode opposed to the light transmissive substrate. Second erasing means for erasing the display image by the colored charged particles,
The image forming system according to claim 1 comprising a. The magnet member is relatively moved along the surface of the light-transmitting substrate based on the first image information, and forms the display image corresponding to the first image information by the colored magnetic particles. The image forming system according to claim 1 . The electric field forming means is configured such that an electrode facing the light transmissive substrate is relatively moved along the surface of the light transmissive substrate based on the second image information, and the colored charged particles cause the second charged electrode to move. The image forming system according to claim 1, wherein a display image corresponding to image information is formed .

Images