Image forming method and apparatus and optical head
AssigneeOki Data Corporation
InventorMasao Yaji
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
An image forming apparatus illuminates a pixel formation member with optical energy according to image data specifying a value for each pixel in the image. Some of the optical energy emitted to form a pixel is distributed over surrounding pixels; similarly, a pixel may receive peripheral optical energy that was emitted to form surrounding pixels. The amount of peripheral optical energy thus received is calculated, and the amount of optical energy emitted to form the pixel is adjusted to compensate for the peripheral optical energy, so that the total optical energy received by the pixel has the intended value. Image irregularities are thereby avoided, even if the image formation apparatus employs multiple light-emitting elements with different energy emission distributions.
Claims22
An image forming apparatus for forming pixels by illuminating a pixel formation member with optical energy emitted by a light emitting unit according to image data, the image forming apparatus comprising:
- a calculation unit for calculating peripheral optical energy received by a pixel of interest on the pixel formation member, the peripheral optical energy being emitted to form pixels surrounding the pixel of interest;
- and
- a compensation unit for adjusting the optical energy emitted to form the pixel of interest according to said peripheral optical energy.
An image formation method, comprising:
- illuminating a pixel formation member with optical energy emitted according to image data to form pixels;
- calculating peripheral optical energy received by a pixel of interest on the pixel formation member, the peripheral optical energy being emitted to form pixels surrounding the pixel of interest;
- and
- adjusting the optical energy emitted to form the pixel of interest according to said peripheral optical energy.
An optical head comprising:
- a light emitting unit for emitting optical energy according to image data to form pixels;
- a memory storing optical energy distribution data describing a spatial distribution of the optical energy emitted to form a pixel of interest and spatial distributions of optical energy emitted to form a plurality of pixels surrounding the pixel of interest;
- and
- a calculation unit for adjusting the optical energy emitted to form the pixel of interest according to the optical energy distribution data.
An image forming apparatus for forming pixels by illuminating a pixel formation member with optical energy emitted by an LED array light source according to image data, the image forming apparatus comprising:
- a calculation unit for calculating peripheral optical energy received by a pixel of interest on the pixel formation member, the peripheral optical energy being emitted to form pixels surrounding the pixel of interest;
- and
- a compensation unit for adjusting the optical energy emitted to form the pixel of interest according to said peripheral optical energy.
An optical head comprising:
- an LED array light source for emitting optical energy according to image data to form pixels;
- a memory storing optical energy distribution data describing a spatial distribution of the optical energy emitted to form a pixel of interest and spatial distributions of optical energy emitted to form a plurality of pixels surrounding the pixel of interest;
- and
- a calculation unit for adjusting the optical energy emitted to form the pixel of interest according to the optical energy distribution data.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.