Patent ID: 8134585
Filing Date: 2012-03-13
Classification: B41J

Abstract:
1. A light-emitting element head comprising: a plurality of light-emitting element array chips that are divided into a plurality of groups and assigned an identification signal number, and that each are provided with light-emitting elements arranged in an array; a signal generation unit that generates a light-emission control signal for controlling blinking of the light-emitting elements, and an identification signal including identification signal number information for identifying which of the light-emitting element array chips in each of the groups the light-emission control signal is for; signal lines through which the light-emission control signal and the identification signal are transmitted, wherein only one of the signal lines through which the light-emission control signal is transmitted is respectively connected to each of the groups; and identification signal discrimination units that are connected to the signal lines and that are provided in the respective light-emitting element array chips, each of the identification signal discrimination units discriminating the identification signal number information included in the identification signal, and transmitting the light-emission control signal to the light-emitting elements of the light-emitting element array chip that corresponds to the assigned identification signal number that matches the identification signal number information.