IP Library Patent Application 11376194
Patent Application
App. No. 11/376,194

Image forming apparatus

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Patent No.
US None
App. No.
11/376,194
Abstract

An image forming apparatus has a plurality of exposure apparatuses that perform exposure using light emitted from a plurality of organic electroluminescence elements as exposure light, wherein light-emitting intensity of the plurality of organic electroluminescence elements is different among the plurality of exposure apparatuses, such as, for example, between a first exposure apparatus and a second exposure apparatus.

Claims (13)

1 . An image forming apparatus, comprising:

a plurality of exposure apparatuses configured to exposure a surface of a photo conductor; and

a plurality of organic electroluminescence elements configured to emit light to the surface of the photo conductor as exposure light, light-emitting intensity of the plurality of organic electroluminescence elements being different among the plurality of exposure apparatuses.

2 . The image forming apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the light-emitting intensity of the plurality of organic electroluminescence elements is higher for an exposure apparatus that performs exposure in an earlier stage.

3 . The image forming apparatus according to claim 1 , comprising four exposure apparatuses that form electrostatic latent images in yellow, magenta, cyan and black respectively, wherein the light-emitting intensity of the plurality of organic electroluminescence elements for the exposure apparatus that forms the black electrostatic latent image is different from the light-emitting intensity of the plurality of organic electroluminescence elements for the exposure apparatuses that form the electrostatic latent images in yellow, magenta and cyan.

4 . The image forming apparatus according to claim 3 , wherein the light-emitting intensity of the plurality of organic electroluminescence elements for the exposure apparatus that forms the black electrostatic latent image is higher than the light-emitting intensity of the plurality of organic electroluminescence elements for the exposure apparatuses that form the electrostatic latent images in yellow, magenta and cyan.

5 . The image forming apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the light-emitting intensity is different among the exposure apparatuses by control of drive currents that drive the plurality of organic electroluminescence elements.

6 . An image forming apparatus having a plurality of exposure apparatuses that perform exposure using light emitted from a plurality of organic electroluminescence elements as exposure light, wherein light-emitting zones of the plurality of organic electroluminescence elements are different in at least one of area and shape among the plurality of exposure apparatuses.

7 . The image forming apparatus according to claim 6 , wherein a total area of the light-emitting zones of the plurality of organic electroluminescence elements is identical among the exposure apparatuses.

8 . The image forming apparatus according to claim 6 , wherein the area of the light-emitting zones of the plurality of organic electroluminescence elements is larger for an exposure apparatus that performs exposure in an earlier stage.

9 . The image forming apparatus according to claim 6 , comprising four exposure apparatuses that form electrostatic latent images in yellow, magenta, cyan and black respectively, wherein the shape of the light-emitting zones of the plurality of organic electroluminescence elements for the exposure apparatus that forms the black electrostatic latent image is different from the shape of the light-emitting zones of the plurality of organic electroluminescence elements for the exposure apparatuses that form the electrostatic latent images in yellow, magenta and cyan.

10 . The image forming apparatus according to claim 6 , comprising the four exposure apparatuses that form electrostatic latent images in yellow, magenta, cyan and black respectively, wherein the area of the light-emitting zones of the plurality of organic electroluminescence elements for the exposure apparatus that forms the black electrostatic latent image is different from the area of the light-emitting zones of the plurality of organic electroluminescence elements for the exposure apparatuses that form the electrostatic latent images in yellow, magenta and cyan.

11 . The image forming apparatus according to claim 10 , wherein the area of the light-emitting zones of the plurality of organic electroluminescence elements for the exposure apparatus that forms the black electrostatic latent image is larger than the area of the light-emitting zones of the plurality of organic electroluminescence elements for the exposure apparatuses that form the electrostatic latent images in yellow, magenta and cyan.

Assignments (2)
CHANGE OF NAME Recorded Nov 20, 2008
From: MATSUSHITA ELECTRIC INDUSTRIAL CO., LTD.
To: PANASONIC CORPORATION
Reel/Frame 021897/0534 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Apr 25, 2006
From: YATSUNAMI, RYUICHI; TOYOMURA, YUUJI
To: MATSUSHITA ELECTRIC INDUSTRIAL CO., LTD.
Reel/Frame 017518/0537 →