Light beam driving apparatus.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Field of the Invention

This invention relates to a light quantity control device adapted for use in a beam recording apparatus or the like.

Related Background Art

In a known image recording apparatus, such as a laser beam printer, a semiconductor laser which emits a laser beam is used as a practical light source.

The semiconductor laser has an unique light quantity characteristic (I-l characteristic) between a laser driving current "I" and a emitted light quantity "l" as shown in Fig. 13. In Fig 13, the vertical axis denotes the light quantity "l", and the horizontal axis denotes the laser driving current "I". The semiconductor laser does not emit the laser beam until the laser driving current "I" reaches a threshold value "I_th", but emits the laser beam when the laser driving current "I" exceeds the threshold value "I_th" (such region is referred to generically as the "LED emitting region"). In the laser beam emitting region, the light quantity "l" has a certain slope "α" relative to the laser driving current "I".

In the known image recording apparatus, the laser is set to a non-emitting state (i.e., the laser output is set to zero) at first before initiating the printing of each page. The laser driving current "I_T" is determined in such a way that a desirable prescribed light quantity "l_T" can be obtained by monitoring the laser output and by controlling the laser driving current. The image recording apparatus holds the prescribed light quantity "l_T" constant by performing constant-­current driving of the laser driving current "I_T" corresponding to the prescribed light quantity "l_T."

However the I-l characteristic of the semiconductor laser, which has an initial form "A" as shown in Fig. 13, may vary to a form "B" or "C" due to variation in the chip temperature. Accordingly, in the laser beam printer, a constant-current driving circuit executes light quantity control (APC or auto power control) by clearing the laser output before initiating the printing of each page so as always to perform each printing operation with the desirable prescribed light quantity "l_T".

A method for deciding the current value of the constant-current driving circuit is proposed in U.S. Patent No. 4,890,288, which method controls the current value by utilizing an IC (D/A converter) for converting a digital value into an analog value.

However, the conventional light quantity control device, which can control the light quantity characteristic to the driving current of the semiconductor laser by utilizing the D/A convertor, suffers from the problem that the bit number of the D/A converter increases in the case where a precise light quantity control is required. That is, the conventional control device takes a lot of time to complete the light quantity control because of the large number of up-counting steps for controlling the drive current increase in the case where the counting operation is initiated from a clear state.

Summary of the Invention

Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to provide a light quantity control device that can overcome the problems described above.

Another object of the present invention is to provide an improved light quantity control device.

Still another object of the present invention is to provide a light quantity control device for enabling recording of high quality.

It is still another object of the present invention to provide a light quantity control device capable of efficient light quantity control.

Still another object of the present invention is to provide a light quantity control device capable of precise and accurate light quantity control.

Still another object of the present invention is to provide a light quantity control device capable of light quantity control with a simple structure.

Still another object of the present invention is to provide a light quantity control device capable of highly reliable light quantity control.

Still another object of the present invention is to provide a light quantity control device capable of preventing deterioration of an image.

It is still another object of the present invention is to provide a light quantity control device capable of light quantity control with high speed.

Still another object of the present invention is to provide a light quantity control device capable of stabilized light quantity control.

In accordance with a preferred embodiment, the light quantity control device of the present invention includes a beam generator. A monitor monitors the quantity of light of a beam generated by the beam generator. A controller then controls the light quantity of the beam generated by the beam generator in response to the output of the monitor. The controller includes a digital value output circuit and a light quantity control circuit. The digital value output circuit outputs a digital value representing a quantity of light of the beam. The light quantity control circuit controls the quantity of light in response to receiving the digital value. The digital value output circuit varies the timing of output of the digital value in accordance with the output of the monitor.

In accordance with another aspect of the present invention, the light quantity control device includes a beam generator. A monitor monitors the quantity of light of a beam generated by the beam generator. A controller then controls the light quantity of the beam generated by the beam generator in response to the output of the monitor. The controller includes a counter circuit and a discrimination circuit. The counter circuit counts a digital count value representing a quantity of light of the beam. The discrimination circuit discriminates whether the output of the monitor reaches a predetermined level. The counter circuit varies the digital count value at first speed when the discrimination circuit discriminates that the output of the monitor is lower than the predetermined level, and varies the digital count value at second speed when the discrimination circuit discriminates that the output of the monitor reaches the predetermined level.

In accordance with still another aspect of the invention, the light quantity control device includes a beam generator. A monitor monitors the quantity of light of a beam generated by the beam generator. A controller then controls the light quantity of the beam generated by the beam generator in accordance with the output of the monitor. The controller includes a digital value output circuit. The digital value output circuit outputs a digital value representing a quantity of light of the beam. In a first mode, the digital value output circuit varies the changing speed of the digital value, and in a second mode, the digital value output circuit varies the amount of change of the digital value.

Other objects, features, and advantages of the invention will become apparent from the following detailed description of the preferred embodiments of the present invention and the accompanying drawings.

Brief Description of the Drawings

<ul id="ul0001" list-style="none"><li>Fig. 1 is a block diagram showing an arrangement of a light quantity control device according to a embodiment of the present invention;</li><li>Fig. 2A is a chart for explaining output data from the laser light quantity comparator/controller shown in Fig. 1;</li><li>Fig. 2B is a chart showing the relation between the count value shown in Fig. A and the laser current;</li><li>Fig. 3 is a chart showing the relation between the monitor voltage output from the light quantity monitor circuit shown in Fig. 1 and the laser light quantity;</li><li>Fig. 4 is a chart for explaining a low-speed light quantity feedback control sequence of the light quantity control device;</li><li>Fig. 5 is a chart for explaining a high-speed light quantity feedback control sequence of the light quantity control device;</li><li>Fig. 6 is a flow chart for explaining an example of light quantity control procedure in the light quantity control device;</li><li>Fig. 7 is a illustration for explaining a light quantity adjusting timing of the light quantity control device;</li><li>Fig. 8 is a chart showing the relation between the monitor voltage of an initial APC processing and the count value;</li><li>Fig. 9 and Fig. 10 are charts showing the relation between the monitor voltage of an APC processing after the initial APC processing and the count value;</li><li>Fig. 11 is a chart showing an APC processing of the light quantity control device according to a second embodiment of the present invention;</li><li>Fig. 12 is a chart showing an APC processing of a light quantity control device according to a third embodiment of the present invention; and</li><li>Fig. 13 is a chart showing a light quantity characteristic of a light source to which the light quantity control device is applied.</li></ul>

Detailed Description of the Preferred Embodiments

Three preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail herein with reference to the accompanying drawings.

Embodiment 1

Fig. 1 is a block diagram showing an arrangement of a light quantity control device according to the first embodiment of the present invention. The device shown in Fig. 1 includes an external controller 1, such as a personal computer, for controlling a recording apparatus 3, such as a laser beam printer, by a standard interface (external interface) 4. Well known examples of the standard interface include RS232C, the Centronics interface, and GPIB (general purpose interface bus). The device also includes a controller 2 for converting data transmitted by the standard interface 4 into data for a internal interface 5 provided for the laser beam printer's exclusive use, and for controlling the recording apparatus 3 directly by means of the internal interface 5. The controller 2 may be mounted on an internal part of the recording apparatus 3 or the external controller 1, such as a personal computer, or disposed at an external part of the recording apparatus 3. A central processing unit (CPU) 6 is provided for performing the entire control of the recording apparatus, such as timing control of a motor mounted on the internal part of the recording apparatus 3 and temperature control of a fixing heater, which accompany information recording processing. A laser light quantity comparator/controller 7 composed of a one-chip microcomputer incorporating first and second analog-to-digital (A/D) converters is also provided. The CPU 6 and the laser light quantity comparator/controller 7 can be structured as a single CPU if the single CPU has a processing capacity which is able to control the control processing conditions properly. The A/D converters may be incorporated into the single CPU or disposed at an external part of the single CPU.

The device also includes a constant-current control circuit 8, which has a digital-to-analog (D/A) converter 8a connected to outputs Do-Dn of the laser light quantity comparator/controller 7, for converting the outputs Do-Dn (the outputs Do-Dn is used as a count control value) into an analog signal. In the case where the laser light quantity comparator/controller 7 is structured with a microcomputer incorporating a D/A converter, the internal data bus of the microcomputer can constitute the outputs Do-Dn. A constant-current circuit 9 controlled by the constant-current control circuit 8 and receiving a laser current Il through a switching circuit 10 is provided. A photodiode 12 is provided for receiving a laser beam emitted from a semiconductor laser 11 used as a light source. A light quantity monitor circuit 13 is provided for monitoring a detection signal supplied from the photodiode 12, and for outputting a light quantity monitor voltage V_M to the first A/D converter of the laser light quantity comparator/controller 7. A light quantity setting circuit 14 structured with a register is provided for outputting an output voltage Vo to the second A/D converter of the laser light quantity comparator/controller 7. The laser light quantity comparator/controller 7 makes and holds a comparison reference value internally by processing the output voltage Vo output from the light quantity setting circuit 14 internally. An OR gate 15 is provided for performing OR logic (gate) operation between a video signal VIDEO output through the internal interface 5 and a laser turning-on signal LON which overrides the data input and unconditionally turns on the semiconductor laser 11 to execute the light quantity control of the laser.

An operation of the light quantity control device in Fig. 1 will be described below.

When the photodiode 12 detects the light quantity of the laser beam emitted from the laser 11, the D/A converter 8a converts the count control value (outputs Do-Dn) output from the laser light quantity comparator/controller 7 into an analog signal based on the detected light quantity.

In these circumstances, the time required for each change of the count control value is controlled changeably by an output from a timing control means (the laser light quantity comparator/controller 7 operates as the timing control means in this case) based on the light quantity detected by the photodiode 12. Accordingly, it is possible to change the time for completing the light quantity control in dependence on the light quantity.

The timing control means executes a low-speed change processing for changing the count control value, which is output to the D/A converter 8a, after the lapse of a period, used for stabilizing the light quantity of the light beam detected by the photodiode 12, and enables the constant-current control circuit 8 to execute a constant-current control by giving priority to the stabilization of the light quantity.

The timing control means further executes a high-speed change processing for changing the count control value, which is output to the D/A converter 8a, before the lapse of the stabilization period for the light quantity of the light beam detected by the photodiode 12, and enables the constant-current control circuit 8 to execute a constant-current control by giving priority to the shortening of the time necessary for light quantity control. The timing control means executes the low-speed change processing in the range of a reference light quantity value detected by the photodiode 12, and enables the control of the light quantity while maintaining the stability of the light quantity corresponding to image writing. The D/A converter 8a converts a count control value, which is obtained at the time an initial light quantity adjustment processing of the laser 11 is completed, sequentially, and outputs the converted count control value as an initial count control value for the next control to the constant-current control circuit 8. Therefore, it is possible to decrease the number of steps used for reaching a light quantity in a stable state, and to reach this light quantity in a short time.

An explanation of data output from the laser light quantity comparator/controller 7 will be described below with reference to Fig. 2A and Fig. 2B. Fig. 2A is an illustration for explaining data structures of outputs D₀-D_n output from the laser light quantity comparator/controller 7 shown in Fig. 1. Fig. 2A shows the relation between an up-counting of the count value X_D and a down-counting of the count value X_D. As illustrated in Fig. 2A, the count value X_D input to the D/A converter 8a of the constant-current control circuit 8 is represented by an n+1 bit binary number (D_n x 2ⁿ + D_n-1 x 2^n-1 + ----- + D₃ x 2³ + D2 x 2² + D₁ x 2 + D₀) having the output D_n as the most significant bit (MSB). In Fig. 2A, "0" indicates a low (L) or false level, while "1" indicates a high (H) or true level.

Fig. 2B is a chart showing the relation between the count value X_D shown in Fig. 2A and the laser current Il, wherein the vertical axis denotes the laser current Il, and the horizontal axis denotes the count value X_D. As shown in Fig. 2B, it is assumed that the laser current Il increases proportionally with the increase of the count value X_D.

Fig. 3 is a chart showing the relation between the monitor voltage V_M output from the light quantity monitor circuit 13 shown in Fig. 1 and the laser light quantity l, where the vertical axis denotes the monitor voltage V_M, and the horizontal axis denotes the laser light quantity l.

As shown in Fig. 3, the laser beam emitted from the semiconductor laser 11 is photoelectrically converted by the photodiode 12 in a laser unit 18, and is processed by the light quantity monitor circuit 13 to obtain the monitor voltage V_M corresponding to the laser light quantity l for feedback to the laser light quantity comparator/controller 7.

Explanations of a low-speed light quantity feedback control and a high-speed light quantity feedback control will be given below with reference to Fig. 4 and Fig. 5.

Low-speed Light Quantity Feedback Control

Fig. 4 is a chart for explaining the low-speed light quantity feedback control sequence of the light quantity control device. In Fig. 4, the same reference numerals are used to denote the corresponding elements explained in Fig. 2A, Fig. 2B, and Fig. 3.

In response to the up-counting of the count value X_D input to the D/A converter 8a, the laser current Il increases, thereby increasing the monitor voltage V_M. As shown in Fig. 4, in response to the up-counting of the count value X, a certain time lag occurs until the monitor voltage V_M is stabilized. The time lag depends on a time constant or a response of the circuit.

Accordingly, in the case where the low-speed light quantity feedback control is executed, the count value X_D is counted up at the lapse of time T2, after being held for a response time T1 (T2 &gt; T1).

According to the above-described structure, the light quantity can be stabilized although the stabilization of the light quantity control may take time.

For this reason, the present embodiment employs the low-speed or high-speed light quantity feedback control based on a difference between a predetermined voltage V_A and a difference voltage of the monitor voltage V_M and a prescribed light quantity voltage V_T provided for the laser 11. Thereby the light quantity control can be completed, at time T3, at high speed while not affecting the stabilization of the light quantity.

High-speed Light Quantity Feedback Control

Fig. 5 is a chart for explaining the high-speed light quantity feedback control sequence of the light quantity control device. In Fig. 5, the same reference numerals are used to denote the corresponding elements explained in Fig. 2A, Fig. 2B, and Fig. 3. As shown in Fig. 5, in response to the up-counting of the count value X_D input to the D/A converter 8a, the control decides whether the count value X_D is counted up to its proper value or not at the lapse of time T2, rather than the count value X_D being held for response time T1 (T2 &lt; T1), which is used for stabilizing the monitor voltage V_M. Thereby the up-­counting processing of the count value X_D is executed at high speed, and the light quantity control can be completed, at time T4, at high speed.

A light quantity control operation of the light quantity control device will be described below with reference to Fig. 6.

Fig. 6 is a flow chart for explaining an example of the light quantity control procedure in the light quantity control device. In Fig. 6, numerals (1)-(13) denote each step.

When a power source of the apparatus is turned on, the flow starts, and all information of the printer is cleared.

In step (1), a closed count value X_D1 of the last automatic light quantity control is cleared (i.e., X_D1=0). In these circumstances, the laser light quantity comparator/controller 7 stands by to wait for transmission (TRUE state) of an auto light quantity control start signal (APCST) sent from the CPU6 in step (2). When the auto light quantity control start signal (APCST) is transmitted, the laser light quantity comparator/controller 7 sets the count value X_D equal to the closed count value X_D1 of the last automatic light quantity control in step (3). The count value X_D is used as a input signal to the D/A converter 8a of constant-current circuit 8. In the case where the first automatic light quantity control is performed after turning on the power source, the count value X_D is set at "0" because the closed count value X_D1 is set at "0" in step (1). The auto light quantity control start signal (APCST) is output during an interval of each recording sheet P1-P3 in the case of consecutive printings shown in Fig. 7. The first auto light quantity control start signal (APCST) is output from the CPU6 just before the image writing to a recording sheet. In step (4), the laser light quantity comparator/controller 7 shifts the laser turning-on signal LON to a true level, to open the gate of the switching circuit 10, thereby supplying the semiconductor laser 11 with a laser current Il. As explained above, the constant-current control circuit 8 having the D/A convertor 8a is controlled by the up-­counting or the down-counting of the digital value taken from the outputs D₀-D_n from the laser light quantity comparator/controller 7, thereby varying the laser current Il in the laser 11 by an analog value corresponding to the up-counting or the down-counting, through the constant-current circuit 9. In step (5), the laser light quantity comparator/controller 7 checks whether a condition | V_M - V_T | ≦ Va (|V_M - V_T| shows a difference between the prescribed light quantity voltage V_T corresponding to the prescribed light quantity l_T and the monitor voltage V_M) is satisfied or not. If it is not, the above explained high-speed light quantity feedback control is executed in step (6). In steps (7), the count value is counted down, i.e., a formula X_D = X_D-1 is executed, if a condition V_M - V_T ≧ 0 is satisfied, but the count value is counted up, i.e., a formula X_D = X_D+1 is executed, if a condition V_M - V_T ≦ 0 is satisfied. Then the flow returns to step (5). In step (7), the step of the count value is not limited to "one"; rather the step of the count value can be set changeably, e.g., "2" or "3" or "n." It is also possible to change the number of steps for up-counting or down-counting in dependence on the monitor voltage V_M.

Meanwhile, when in step (5) the answer is yes, the low-­speed light quantity feedback control is executed in step (8). In step (9), the laser light quantity comparator/controller 7 checks whether a condition | V_M - V_T | ≦ V_B is satisfied or not. If it is not, the flow advances to step (10). In step (10), if a condition V_M - V_T ≧ 0 is satisfied, the count value is counted down, i.e., a formula X_D = X_D-1 is executed, but if a condition V_M - V_T &lt; 0 is satisfied, the count value is counted up, i.e., a formula X_D = X_D+1 is executed. Then the flow returns to step (9). Meanwhile, if the answer in step (9) is yes, the present count value X_D is held in an internal memory of the CPU6 as a closed count value X_D1 in step (11).

In step (12), laser light quantity comparator/controller 7 shifts the laser turning-on signal LON to a false level. Consequently, image recording can be performed by the video signal VIDEO sent from the controller 2. In step (13), the auto light quantity control is completed. Then the flow returns to step (2).

An explanation of a difference between an auto light quantity control performed at a time when the power source is turned on and an auto light quantity control performed at the next time will be described below with reference to Fig. 8-Fig. 10.

Fig. 8 is a chart showing the relation between the monitor voltage V_M of an initial APC processing and the count value X_D, wherein the horizontal axis denotes a time, the upper vertical axis denotes the monitor voltage V_M, and the lower vertical axis denotes the count value X_D.

As shown in Fig. 8, the count value X_D output from the laser light quantity comparator/controller 7 to the D/A converter 8a is increased sequentially from "0," and the semiconductor laser 11 starts to emit the laser beam when the count value X_D exceeds a count value corresponding to the threshold value I_th of the semiconductor laser 11, whereby the monitor voltage V_M is output. When the monitor voltage V_M is beyond a predetermined voltage (V_A), that is, when the monitor voltage V_M is within a region A, the count value X_D output from the laser light quantity comparator/controller 7 to the D/A converter 8a is counted up at high speed. When the monitor voltage V_M is within the predetermined voltage (V_A), i.e., a region B, by the up-counting of the count value X_D, the low-speed light quantity feedback control is executed. The APC processing is completed when the monitor voltage V_M reaches the prescribed light quantity voltage V_T.

Fig. 9 and Fig. 10 are charts showing the relation between the monitor voltage V_M of an APC processing after the initial APC processing and the count value X_D, wherein the horizontal axis denotes time, the upper vertical axis denotes the monitor voltage V_M, and the lower vertical axis denotes the count value X_D.

An explanation of the APC processing will be described below with reference to Fig. 6.

In the case where the count value X_D of the last automatic light quantity control is not set at "0," the closed count value X_D1 should not be set at "0" in step (3). To put it concretely, the automatic light quantity control (APC) processing is started from a time when the auto light quantity control start signal (APCST) is shifted to a true level. In step (3), a count value set to the D/A converter 8a in the last automatic light quantity control, that is, the closed count value X_D1, is set as the count value X_D. In step (5), the monitor voltage V_M should be a closed voltage of the last automatic light quantity control corresponding to the count value X_D at a time when the laser turning-on signal is shifted to a true level as shown in Fig. 9 or Fig. 10.

In step (5), the laser light quantity comparator/controller 7 checks the monitor voltage V_M. If the condition | V_M - V_T | ≦ V_A is not satisfied, the flow advances to step (6), (7), and the high-speed light quantity feedback control is executed as described above.

Meanwhile, the condition | V_M - V_T| ≦ V_A is often satisfied because the closed count value X_D1 of the last automatic light quantity control is adopted. If the condition | V_M - V_T | ≦ V_A is satisfied, the low-speed light quantity feedback control is executed in step (8).

In step (9), the laser light quantity comparator/controller 7 checks whether the condition | V_M - V_T | ≦ V_A is satisfied or not.

If it is not, the flow advances to step (10). In step (10), the up-counting (see Fig. 9) or the down-­counting (see Fig. 10) of the count value X_D is executed, and thereby an appropriate count value X_D is set by a fewer number of steps.

According to the above-described structure, a control time for reaching the prescribed light quantity voltage V_T, i.e., a time from the initiation of the APC processing to the completion of the APC processing, can be shortened sharply.

In the above-described embodiment, the up-counting or the down-counting of the count value X_D is performed under the condition that a time for changing the count value is constant. However, in the case where a response of the circuit to the change operation of the count value X_D or a sampling time of the CPU6 is slow, the count value X_D should be held every predetermined number of up-counting or down-counting as shown in Fig. 9 or Fig. 10. Thereby the count value X_D can be counted up or counted down in a state that the monitor voltage V_M is stabilized.

Embodiment 2

Fig. 11 is a chart showing an APC processing of the light quantity control device according to a second embodiment of the present invention. In Fig. 11, the same reference numerals are used to denote the corresponding elements shown in Fig. 10.

As shown in Fig. 11, when the power source of the apparatus is turned on, the count value X_D received by the D/A converter 8a starts from "0," i.e., a count value X_D(0). When the count value X_D coincides with a count value X_D(th), the laser current I_l exceeds a threshold value current I_th of the semiconductor laser 11, so that the semiconductor laser 11 starts to emit the laser beam.

In the case where a response of the circuit to the change operation of the count value X_D or a sampling time of the CPU6 is slow, a predetermined number of up-­counting steps are executed to obtain a count value X_D(A), and the count value X_D(A) is held until the monitor voltage V_M corresponding to the count value X_D(A) is stabilized. After the stabilization of the monitor voltage V_M, the up-counting of the count value X_D is restarted to execute a predetermined number of up-­counting steps for obtaining a count value X_D(B). After the predetermined number of up-counting steps are executed, the count value X_D(B) is held for stabilizing the monitor voltage V_M. When the stabilized monitor voltage V_M corresponding to the count value X_D(B) is within a predetermined range, that is, when the condition | V_M - V_T | ≦ V_A is satisfied, the above-­described low-speed light quantity control is executed, thereby the light quantity is controlled to comply with the prescribed light quantity voltage V_T.

In the above-described embodiment, the light quantity control is carried out by using a count value having a constant step. However, it is possible to shorten the time of the light quantity control by combining such processing where the step for counting is large in the initial control, and the step gets smaller when the light quantity exceeds a predetermined level as shown in U.S. Patent No. 4,890,288 (see Fig. 15).

Embodiment 3

Fig. 12 is a chart for showing an APC processing of the light quantity control device according to a third embodiment of the present invention. In Fig. 12, the same reference numerals are used to denote the corresponding elements shown in Fig. 10.

As shown in Fig. 12, predetermined voltages VA, VB, VC are provided as critical voltages. The high-speed count is increased by 3 counts at a time when the monitor voltage V_M is lower than the predetermined voltage VC. The high-speed count is increased by 2 counts at a time when the monitor voltage V_M exceeds the predetermined voltage VC. Then, the high-speed count is increased by 1 count at a time when the monitor voltage V_M exceeds the predetermined voltage VB. The high-speed count, i.e., the high-speed light quantity feedback control, should be changed over to the low-­speed light quantity feedback control when the monitor voltage V_M exceeds the predetermined voltage VA.

According to the above-described structure, a time of the light quantity control can be shortened sharply.

As mentioned above, according to the present invention, high-speed and high-precision light quantity control can be provided.

Although particular embodiments of the present invention are herein disclosed for purposes of explanation, various modifications thereof, after study of this specification, will be apparent to those skilled in the art to which the invention pertains.

In this application, the word "light" will be understood not to be limited to the visible radiation spectrum but to encompass the infra-red region and any other such region of the electromagnetic spectrum as may from time to time be useful in a beam recording apparatus or the like; the wavelength of emission of a beam producing device is readily selectable by the skilled man.