Patent ID: 7136086
Filing Date: 2006-11-14
Classification: B41J,H04N

Abstract:
1. An optical print head comprising: a light-emitting device having m groups of n light-emitting sections so as to permit time-division driving, each group of n light-emitting sections comprising a light emitting section from each group of m mutually adjacent light-emitting sections, wherein the light-emitting section from each group of m mutually adjacent group light-emitting sections has the same relative position within each group of m mutually adjacent light-emitting sections, the light-emitting device being arrayed in one row on a substrate; a driving IC, having n device driving output terminals, for feeding drive currents via the device driving output terminals to first electrodes of the light-emitting sections, each device driving output terminal being connected to a different group of m mutually adjacent light-emitting sections, the driving IC being arrayed in one row on the substrate; and a selecting IC, having x x m group selection terminals of which x are provided for each group of n light-emitting sections, for feeding supply potentials via the group selection terminals to second electrodes of the n light-emitting sections, each group selection terminal being connected to a different group of n light-emitting sections, the selecting IC being arrayed in one row on the substrate, wherein the driving IC and the selecting IC are arranged in a pair with the light-emitting device placed in between, and wherein time-division driving is achieved through driving at m divided times as a result of the driving IC feeding the drive currents to the light-emitting device in such a way that n light-emitting sections belonging to one group at a time receive respective drive currents via n device driving output terminals according to n data signals corresponding to those light-emitting sections and the selecting IC feeding the supply potentials to the light-emitting device in such a way that n light-emitting sections belonging to one group at a time receive n supply potential potentials via x group selection terminals.