Abstract: Disclosed is a method for measuring light quantities emitted from an array of light shutter elements aligned in a main scan direction. The method measures the light quantities by scanning and sensing a recording paper on which an image is formed by the light shutter elements. The scan direction is orthogonal to a direction in the image corresponding to the main scan direction of the array.

Abstract: A light shutter device which has a plurality of light transmitting portions (light shutter elements) on a planar PLZT substrate. By applying voltages between a common electrode and individual electrodes to apply electric fields to the light shutter elements, the light shutter elements transmit and shut light individually. Suppose each of the individual electrodes faces the common electrode at a distance L and has a dimension W in a direction perpendicular to the direction of electric field, W/L>2. Suppose each of the individual electrodes has a dimension D in the direction of electric field, preferably D/L>0.5. Further, the individual electrodes are so placed that the distance between a side of one light shutter element which extends in a direction perpendicular to the direction of electric field and each of the individual electrodes which drive the other light shutter elements is not less than 5L.

Abstract: In a light shutter device in which multiple light shutter elements are located on a substrate made of PLZT, and the ON/OFF control of light is carried out by having an electrical field operate on each light shutter element from a pair of electrodes, the cross-talk phenomenon occurs among adjacent elements on the PLZT substrate, i.e., the elements 13c, 13e and 13g. In order to effectively prevent such cross-talk, driving is carried out such that an electrical field does not operate on such elements simultaneously as a practical matter. In other words, the one line cycle is divided into periods (a) and (b), and the element 13e is turned ON during the period (a) while the other elements 13c and 13g are turned ON during the period (b). Through this operation, a light shutter device in which each element has a stable amount of pass-through light may be obtained.

Abstract: A light shutter device which has a plurality of light transmitting portions (light shutter elements) on a planar PLZT substrate. By applying voltages between a common electrode and individual electrodes to apply electric fields to the light shutter elements, the light shutter elements transmit and shut light individually. Suppose each of the individual electrodes faces the common electrode at a distance L and has a dimension W in a direction perpendicular to the direction of electric field, W/L>2. Suppose each of the individual electrodes has a dimension D in the direction of electric field, preferably D/L> 0.5. Further, the individual electrodes are so placed that the distance between a side of one light shutter element which extends in a direction perpendicular to the direction of electric field and each of the individual electrodes which drive the other light shutter elements is not less than 5L.

Abstract: A method for measuring the quantity of light emitted from an optical write head which drives an array of light shutter elements extending in a main scanning direction individually in accordance with image data. In order to measure the quantity of light outputted from each of the light shutter elements, a photosensor is moved in the main scanning direction at a constant speed while the light shutter elements are driven in such a way that adjacent elements are not driven at a time. While light shutter elements which are in odd numbers in the array are driven, the photosensor is moved forward to measure the quantities of light outputted therefrom, and while light shutter elements which are in even numbers in the array are driven, the photosensor is moved backward to measure the quantities of light outputted therefrom.

Abstract: A liquid crystal panel displays an image, while a lens projects, as a virtual image, an image displayed by the liquid crystal panel. A control system controls either the liquid crystal panel or the lens so as to periodically effect a changing of the position of the virtual image, each changing occurring over a predetermined time period. The control can be accomplished by changing the position of the liquid crystal panel or of the lens along an optical axis at a speed of less than 0.1 mm/sec so as to avoid burdening the eye of the observer. The motion can be at a uniform speed through most of the range of the motion, while permitting a slowing down to a stop at each end of the range and then an acceleration to the uniform speed in the opposite direction. A rest period (i.e., a full stop for a period of time) can be provided at one or both ends of the motion range, either for each cycle of motion or after the occurrence of a plurality of such cycles.

Abstract: Disclosed is an optical writing device having an array of a plurality of writing light shutter elements for an image forming purpose. The optical writing device also has at least one first monitoring light shutter element and at least one second monitoring light shutter element. During recording period, the first second monitoring light shutter element is frequently driven, and the second monitoring light shutter element is infrequently driven. After the recording period, the first and second monitoring light shutter elements are driven with varying voltage, and light amounts from the first and second monitoring light shutter elements are sensed by a sensor. Based on the output from the sensor, optimal drive voltage for the next recording period is set.

Abstract: An optical shutter device wherein a light emitted from a light source is allowed to be incident to a polarization shutter chip through a fiber array and then the light is caused to pass through the chip by turning on a voltage to be applied to electrodes connected to transmittable portions corresponding to pixels, so that a receptor surface is lighted through an imaging lens array. Light which is incident to the polarization shutter chip at an angle .theta..sub.0 is reflected from electrode vertical surfaces, and then the light outgoes from the transmittable portions in the form of leakage light. However, the aperture angle of a lens unit of the imaging lens array is set smaller than the incident angle .theta..sub.0, and thus the light (which were incident) at the angle .theta..sub.0 (leakage light) is not focused on the receptor surface by the lens unit.

Abstract: An optical shutter element drive mechanism for driving optical shutter elements that are electrically equivalent to condensers by charging and discharging the elements by a power source and switching elements. The optical shutter element drive mechanism includes a resistor through which a current for charging the optical shutter elements flows when the optical shutter elements are charged and through which a current for discharging the optical shutter elements flows when the optical shutter elements are discharged.

Abstract: An optical writing device by which an image with desired tone can be obtained. The optical writing device includes a write head and a modulation unit. A time for scanning of one picture element is divided into some periods by the modulation unit. The modulation unit judges whether the picture element will be in an imaged region or in a blank region and whether the picture element must be provided with a supplementary exposure value. The picture element will be provided with an accumulated exposure value corresponding to a desired level of tone by being provided with the supplementary exposure value by order of the modulation unit.

Abstract: A light signal generating device wherein a line of light shutter elements made of PLZT are turned on and off individually in accordance with a driving signal corresponding to image data, and each turned-on light shutter element generates a light signal. The light shutter elements are impressed with a specified voltage by order of a composite signal made by combining a modulation signal modulated in accordance with the image data and a micro duration pulse signal.

Abstract: A differential pressure detection equipment typically represented by a water level measuring apparatus provided for a nuclear power plant includes a condenser having a steam flow-in port connected to a steam phase side pressure detector through a connection pipe, a reference water column side instrument pipe connected to a bottom portion of the condenser, a variable water column side instrument pipe connected to a liquid phase side pressure detector and a pressure difference detector connected to both the instrument pipes for detecting a pressure difference between a reference water head pressure of the reference water column side instrument pipe and a variable water head pressure of the variable water column side instrument pipe. The connection pipe has an upward inclination .theta. from the steam phase side pressure detector to the condenser so as to satisfy an equation of 0<tan .theta.<D/L, in which D is an inner diameter of the connection pipe and L is an axial length of the connection pipe.

Abstract: A red image light signal emitting array, a green image light signal emitting array and a blue image light signal emitting array are driven by separate drivers in accordance with one-line image data at a time. The light signals emitted from the arrays are processed by a light signal combining lens and then are incident to a scanning mirror. The scanning mirror vibrates within a specified range of scan angles at a specified frequency, and while the scanning mirror reciprocates once, one frame of two-dimensional image is formed on a projection surface. The scan angle of the scanning mirror is detected by a detector, and the detector sends a detection signal to a timing signal generating circuit. The timing signal generating circuit is stored with values specified for the respective drivers, and when the detector detects that the scan angle becomes one of the values, the timing signal generating circuit sends a timing signal to the corresponding driver.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a light shutter array which has shutter elements made of an electro-optical material. The quantity of light transmitted by each shutter element in the array is measured, and a limit is set relative to the smallest measured value such that the transmitted light quantity distribution of the light shutter array would be regarded substantially even if all shutter elements transmitted light within the limit. To achieve such a substantially even distribution, shutter elements which transmit light over the limit are subjected to trimming. Since trimmed regions on a shutter element do not transmit light, the quantity of light transmitted through a trimmed shutter element is lowered in proportion to the area of the trimmed region. Alternatively, individual electrodes and/or portions of a common electrode corresponding to the shutter elements which transmit light over the limit are trimmed.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus which comprises a light shutter disposed between a source of light and an image carrier, which is electrostatically charged to a predetermined polarity, and capable of exhibiting a light transmissivity which varies according to a voltage applied to the light shutter. A first voltage of a predetermined direction is applied to the light shutter according to image information during a first period in which a first area of the image carrier passes across the light shutter, to form the electrostatic latent image on the image carrier. This electrostatic latent image is subsequently developed into a toner image. In order to substantially recover the light shutter from a light-induced fatigue, i.e., internal polarization of an electro-optical material forming the light shutter, a second voltage of a direction counter to the predetermined direction is applied to the light shutter during a second period in which a second area of the image carrier passes across the light shutter.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus for producing completed copies includes a main body. An image forming device is provided in the main body for forming images on paper to produce the completed copies. A tray is also provided in the main body for receiving and stacking the completed copies produced by the image forming device. A sheet transport path transports the completed copies from the image forming device to the tray. In addition, a support mechanism movably supports the tray from a first position inside of said main body where the completed copies are received and stacked thereon to a second position outside of the main body where the completed copies can be manually removed therefrom.

Abstract: A recording apparatus has both a copier function and a fax printing function. The recording apparatus is provided with a photoconductive member, an original table on which an original is placed, and a scanner for scanning the original placed on the original table to project an image of the original onto the photoconductive member so that an electrostatic latent image may be formed on the photoconductive member. An optical print head is provided for forming an electrostatic latent image on the photoconductive member based on an electric signal. Accordingly, the recording apparatus has two modes, a copy mode in which an electrostatic latent image is formed by an operation of the scanner and a print mode in which an electrostatic latent image is formed by an operation of the optical print head. A plurality of sensors are provided for detecting the operation of the scanner, which is controlled by a controller in each of the copy mode and the print mode.

Abstract: A method and device for driving an electro-optical light shutter array including a plurality of shutter elements each having an electro-optical effect to polarize an incident light by setting up an electric field. The device includes a plurality of individual electrodes provided on the respective shutter elements and a common electrode provided on the respective shutter elements electrically in common. A square pulse is applied to the arbitrary individual electrode while a triangular pulse is applied to the common electrode to set up an electric field of which an intensity continuously varies within one driving period. Moreover, an alternating electric field may be set up in the electro-optical light shutter array in a recovery period. In this case, a first light amount when the positive electric field is set up and a second light amount when the negative electric field is set up are detected.

Abstract: A recording apparatus including a memory for storing recording information input from an external device, and an optical printing head for recording the information read from the memory onto recording paper. A writing device writes the information into the memory in the order of input, and stops the writing operation when the information as stored in the memory reaches its capacity. A reading device reads the recording information from the memory in the order opposite to the order in which the information is written, and transmits the information to the printing head for recording. The writing operation is resumed after this information is recorded on the recording paper.

Abstract: A light printer with a light shutter having an array of electro-optical elements is disclosed. The light printer provides with a detection circuit for monitoring temperature and/or time dependent variations regarding the electro-optical elements of the light shutter and a driving voltage control circuit for controlling an optimum driving voltage of the light shutter according to results detected by the detection circuit.