Abstract: A thermal recording system for recording an image on a thermo-sensitive recording medium using a laser beam under a preheated condition of the thermo-sensitive recording medium. In the thermal recording system, a preheating device preheats the thermo-sensitive recording medium which has leuco dyes, a developer and light-absorbing dyes all provided on a support, and which develops color in a continuous tone at a density corresponding to the energy of the applied heat, to a predetermined temperature less than a color-developing temperature. A heating-beam generating device allows a laser beam to scan the thermo-sensitive recording medium so as to heat the thermo-sensitive recording medium to a predetermined color-developing temperature. Thus, the heating-beam generating device can control the laser beam in a sufficient control range, thereby making it possible to record an image on the thermo-sensitive recording medium with high accuracy.

Abstract: A light modulation element which has a light guide body 11 for guiding light from a light source and a flexible thin film 12 having a phosphor 13 being provided facing the light guide body 11. The distance between the flexible thin film 12 and the light guide body 11 is changed by the electromechanical operation and light emission of the phosphor 13 excited by the guided light is controlled.

Abstract: There are provided a solution applying portion 104 disposed opposite to the outer surface of the recording rotational drum 34 such that sliding on the outer surface of the drum is permitted and arranged to apply cleaning solution to the outer surface of the drum; and a scraping portion 108 disposed at a position more forward than the solution applying portion 104 in a direction in which the drum is rotated such that sliding on the outer surface of the drum is permitted and arranged to scrape the applied cleaning solution off the outer surface of the drum so that dust X is removed from the surface of the drum.

Abstract: The exposure head includes at least one light source of a broad area type, an optical waveguide gradually broadening in a broad area direction of the light source toward a traveling direction of light emitted from the light source, a member collimating the light traveling in a perpendicular direction to the broad area direction, the light being emitted from the optical waveguide and a light modulating device including a plurality of modulation units arrayed in the broad area direction. The image recording apparatus includes the above exposure head an optical system for focusing on a predetermined position the light emitted from the exposure head and a scanner for allowing the exposure head and a photosensitive material to move relatively, while regulating the photosensitive material at the predetermined position.

Abstract: In a measuring method utilizing the phenomenon of attenuation in total internal reflection in which a light beam is caused to enter a dielectric block provided with a film layer to be brought into contact with a sample so that total internal reflection conditions are satisfied at the interface of the dielectric block and the film layer and various angles of incidence of the light beam to the interface of the dielectric block and the film layer can be obtained, and the intensity of the light beam reflected in total internal reflection at the interface is detected, the light beam is caused to intermittently impinge upon the dielectric block.

Abstract: A micro reactor has a plurality of passages, and a joining path to which these plurality of passages are joined, and the wall surface at least in the vicinity of the reaction portion in the joining path is structured by the thin wall portion for the laser irradiation.

Abstract: An optical disk (2) includes a plurality of layers in a three-dimensional direction (i.e., “thickness direction” or “depth direction”) thereof. A plurality of recording surfaces are respectively formed on the layers, the recording surfaces each has data recording tracks (16) extending along a peripheral direction of the optical disk (2). Sample servo marks (11) each has at least two mark portions (11a, 11b). The two mark portions (11a, 11b) are arranged in a zig-zag manner to be shifted in the thickness direction of the optical disk (2) such that the two mark portions (11a, 11b) interpose one of the data recording tracks (16).

Abstract: The gradation reproduction method is capable of smooth gradation depiction without making graininess of an image conspicuous when gradation levels for reproducing the image are reproduced by dot patterns, and the gradation-reproduced image is depicted by the gradation reproduction method. A plurality of gradation levels including at least a gradation level having an area coverage modulation ratio of approximately 50% are reproduced by periodically arranging dots changing a size thereof in response to the gradation level in an approximately constant interval. And, a gradation level having the area coverage modulation ratio of 10% or less is reproduced by dots having a micro density lower than a micro density of dots for reproducing a solid portion.

Abstract: An image transfer apparatus is arranged in a manner that an image bearing sheet on which an image is formed and a sheet on which an image is to be transferred are laminated, and the two sheets thus laminated are passed between a pair of heat rollers from an insertion table thereby to transfer the image formed on the image bearing sheet on the sheet on which the image is to be transferred. The image bearing sheet is placed on the insertion table, then the sheet on which an image is to be transferred is laminated on the image bearing sheet, and the two sheets thus laminated are inserted between the pair of heat rollers.

Abstract: A writable and erasable flexible medium 2 as display is stored in a cylindrical magazine type case 3 as a scroll so that the flexible medium can be rewound. Write and read can be executed by means of a CPU, write head, scanner, etc., contained in the case 3, and additional write, erasion, etc., with a write pen 5 can also be performed as desired.

Abstract: An image recording apparatus in which ink transfer from a donor sheet to an image-receiving sheet is carried out. The donor sheet has a size larger than the image-receiving sheet. The apparatus includes a rotating drum around which the image-receiving sheet and the donor sheet may be wound and laminated, and a squeeze roller. The squeeze roller has a middle portion with a fixed radius and a smaller radius portion at one or both ends. Outside an area for the image-receiving sheet, the drum has a first protruding mound portion with which the donor sheet is in surface-contact when the sheets are wound around the drum. A boundary of the smaller radius portion and the middle portion is positioned at an image-receiving sheet side of the first mound portion when the sheets are pressed against the drum.

Abstract: An inexpensive and highly productive exposure device for directly scanning and exposing a photosensitive material sensitive to at least a UV region, based on digital data. As a motor controller moves an exposure head at a fixed speed in Y direction, image data is read one line of image data, each GLV element of a light modulator array is switched on/off by the read image data, and laser light from a high power light source of the exposure head is switched on/off. A UV-sensitive object to be exposed is exposed in X direction in a number of pixel units that substantially corresponds to the number of the GLV elements. The image data is scanned and exposed by one line in Y direction (main-scan). The motor controller moves a flat stage by one step in X direction (sub-scan). The object to be exposed is imagewise-exposed by repeating such scans.

Abstract: An image recording apparatus in which ink transfer from a donor sheet to an image-receiving sheet is carried out. The donor sheet has a size larger than the image-receiving sheet. The apparatus includes a rotating drum around which the image-receiving sheet and the donor sheet may be wound and laminated, and a squeeze roller. The squeeze roller has a middle portion with a fixed radius and a smaller radius portion at one or both ends. Outside an area for the image-receiving sheet, the drum has a first protruding mound portion with which the donor sheet is in surface-contact when the sheets are wound around the drum. A boundary of the smaller radius portion and the middle portion is positioned at an image-receiving sheet side of the first mound portion when the sheets are pressed against the drum.

Abstract: First, an image receiving sheet is put on an insertion table of an image transfer device, next, the paper is overlapped on the image receiving sheet, then, a flexible hygroscopic carrier sheet is further overlapped on them and they are inserted between the pair of heat rollers in that state.

Abstract: To provide an image recording method and apparatus that can record and display an image of free pattern without forming the complex wirings in an electrochromic material, and to reduce the manufacturing costs of the image recording apparatus employing the EC material.

Abstract: In a contact type recording head which moves relatively with respect to the recording material while its one portion is coming into contact with the recording material, and directly prints an image onto the recording material or indirectly prints an image onto the recording material through the recording material, the microscopic irregularity is provided on a material contact portion S of the heating element 45 which comes into contact with the recording material. It is preferable that the microscopic irregularity is formed in a streak-like manner in the direction of the relative movement with the recording material, and the average roughness Ra of the microscopic irregularity in the perpendicular direction to the relative movement direction is 0.03-0.5 &mgr;m.

Abstract: A printer selectively ejects ink droplets or jets out ink mists depending upon input data of an image to be recorded. The printer has a drive signal generating section and a recording head. The drive signal generating section generates two drive signals, first one for causing the recording head to eject ink droplets to record edge portions of a solid tone level of gradation in the image and the second one for causing the recording head to jet out ink mists to record portions in the image other than the edge portions. The first signal has lower frequency than the second signal.

Abstract: The optical modulator includes an optical waveguide for receiving light entered from a first end surface thereof and for emitting the light from a second end surface opposing to the first end surface, a flexible light transmitting member disposed so as to face with a boundary surface of the optical waveguide and has a gap between the flexible light transmitting member and the boundary surface of the optical waveguide and a modulation device for bringing the flexible light transmitting member into contact with the boundary surface of the optical waveguide. The other optical modulator includes the above optical waveguide, a modulation member having a light interference film, disposed such that a surface of the light interference film faces the first end surface on a light emission side of the optical waveguide and a driving device for changing an angle of the modulation member with respect to the light emitted from the optical waveguide.

Abstract: A method of color conversion includes preserving a 0% density for a particular color in the pre-conversion state to maintain a 0% density after conversion is provided via a translation table. Density gradation methods include a gradient value structure such that the highlight and shadow regions of the density are more finely represented in comparison to non-highlight and non-shadow regions. A further density correction method includes supplying an amount of energy to a non-image area when printing using a first color, wherein the amount of energy will not produce a dot in the non-image area upon application of a second color. A printer may employ one or more of the above methods in the form of a translation table or a density correction patch.

Abstract: An image printing method, wherein one pixel is formed from a plurality of dots arranged in a primary scanning direction, in which printing elements are arranged, and in a secondary scanning direction perpendicular to the primary scanning direction; wherein the tone of one pixel is expressed by changing the overall printing area in accordance with whether or not the dots are printed; and wherein a multicolor image is printed by combination of one yellow pixel, one magenta pixel, one cyan pixel, and one black pixel, the method comprising the step of: setting to a nonintegral multiple a dimensional ratio among one yellow pixel, one magenta pixel, one cyan pixel, and one black pixel in the secondary scanning direction.