# US 7,411,598 B2 · Line head and image forming apparatus

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- Number: US 7,411,598 B2
- Document ID: US7411598B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 11/186,832
- Filed: 2005-07-22
- Published: 2006-03-30
- Granted: 2008-08-12
- Earliest claimed: 2004-09-30
- Assignees: Seiko Epson Corporation
- Inventors: Takayuki Kitazawa
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US7411598B2

## CPC

- G06K 15/1247: {using an array of light sources, e.g. a linear array}
- B41J 2/45: using light-emitting diode {[LED] or laser} arrays
- G06K: GRAPHICAL DATA READING (image or video recognition or understanding G06V); PRESENTATION OF DATA; RECORD CARRIERS; HANDLING RECORD CARRIERS
- B41J: TYPEWRITERS; SELECTIVE PRINTING MECHANISMS, i.e. MECHANISMS PRINTING OTHERWISE THAN FROM A FORME; CORRECTION OF TYPOGRAPHICAL ERRORS

## Abstract

A line head includes pixel circuits each of which has a plurality of light-emitting elements and circuit elements arranged in a line, and that make the light-emitting elements emit light selectively, based on selecting signals and data signals; selecting circuits that generate the selecting signals based on clock signals input through clock signal lines; data lines that supply data signals to the pixel circuits; and a conductive line having low impedance, arranged in the vicinity of the clock signal line.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A line head comprising:
a data line that supplies a data signal;
a plurality of light-emitting elements arranged in a line, at least one of the plurality of light-emitting elements emitting light selectively based on a selecting signal and the data signal;
a plurality of circuit elements arranged in a line along the plurality of light-emitting elements;
a clock signal line;
a plurality of shift registers, at least one of the shift registers generating the selecting signal based on a clock signal input through the clock signal line; and
a power wiring line arranged along the clock signal line.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The line head according to claim 1,
wherein the power wiring line is arranged to surround the clock signal line.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

The line head according to claim 1,
wherein the light-emitting element is an organic EL light-emitting element.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

An image forming apparatus comprising:
photoconductors;
charging units that charge the photoconductors uniformly;
exposing units that have the line heads according to claim 1, respectively, to form electrostatic latent images of a target image on the photoconductors by exposing the photoconductors;
developing units that develop the electrostatic latent images on the photoconductors as toner images;
transferring units that transfer the toner images on the photoconductors to a transfer member; and
fixing units that fix the toner images on the transfer member.

### Claim 5 (depends on 4)

The image forming apparatus according to claim 4,
wherein the image forming apparatus forms color images.

### Claim 6 (depends on 1)

The line head according to claim 1,
wherein the power wiring line is arranged to surround three sides of the clock signal line.

### Claim 7 (depends on 1)

The line head according to claim 1,
wherein the power wiring line is arranged to surround the clock signal line, except for one side of the clock signal line.

### Claim 8

A line head comprising:
a data line that supplies a data signal;
a plurality of light-emitting elements arranged in a line, at least one of the plurality of light-emitting elements emitting light selectively based on a selecting signal and the data signal;
a plurality of circuit elements arranged in a line along the plurality of light-emitting elements;
a clock signal line;
a plurality of shift registers, at least one of the shift registers generating the selecting signal based on a clock signal input through the clock signal line; and
a ground wiring line arranged along the clock signal line.

### Claim 9 (depends on 8)

The line head according to claim 8,
wherein the ground wiring line is arranged to surround the clock signal line.

### Claim 10 (depends on 8)

The line head according to claim 8,
wherein the light-emitting element is an organic EL light-emitting element.

### Claim 11 (depends on 1)

An image forming apparatus comprising:
photoconductors;
charging units that charge the photoconductors uniformly;
exposing units that have the line heads according to claim 1, respectively, to form electrostatic latent images of a target image on the photoconductors by exposing the photoconductors;
developing units that develop the electrostatic latent images on the photoconductors as toner images;
transferring units that transfer the toner images on the photoconductors to a transfer member; and
fixing units that fix the toner images on the transfer member.

### Claim 12 (depends on 11)

The image forming apparatus according to claim 11,
wherein the image forming apparatus forms color images.

### Claim 13 (depends on 8)

The line head according to claim 8,
wherein the ground wiring line is arranged to surround three sides of the clock signal line.

### Claim 14 (depends on 8)

The line head according to claim 8,
wherein the ground wiring line is arranged to surround the clock signal line, except for one side of the clock signal line.