Patent ID: 7286259
Filing Date: 2007-10-23
Classification: B41J,G06K,H04N

Abstract:
1. A method for driving a self-scanning light-emitting element array including a self-scanning transfer element array having such a structure that a plurality of three-terminal transfer elements each having a control electrode for controlling a threshold voltage or current are arranged in a linear manner, the control electrodes of the transfer elements neighbored to each other are connected via electrical means having unidirectional characteristic to a voltage or current, two clock pulse lines for applying two-phase clock pulses alternately to one of two terminals except the control electrode of each transfer element are provided, one phase clock pulse of the two-phase clock pulses causes the threshold voltage or current of the transfer elements in the vicinity of a turned-on transfer element to vary via the electrical means, and the other phase clock pulse of the two-phase clock pulses causes the light-emitting element neighbored to the turned-on transfer element to turn on; and a light-emitting element array having such a structure that a plurality of three-terminal light-emitting elements each having a control electrode for controlling a threshold voltage or current are arranged in a linear manner, the control electrodes of the light-emitting element are correspondingly connected to the control electrodes of the transfer elements, and a write signal line for applying a write signal to one of two terminals except the control electrode of each of the light-emitting elements to be illuminated is provided; the method comprising the steps of: turning on one transfer element, and illuminating one light-emitting element corresponding to the turned-on transfer element; or turning on adjacent two transfer elements simultaneously, and illuminating adjacent two light-emitting elements corresponding to the turned-on adjacent two transfer element.