JPH11161204A - Image forming device - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a media board by which recording and reproducing is possible for image drawing. SOLUTION: A moving element 7 reciprocating inside a cylinder 6 between a first position close to a translucent film 5 and a second position apart from it is provided with a visual contrast to the translucent film 5, and the first position side end part is set to be an S pole while the second position side end part is set to be an N pole. On the basis of a magnetic flux size by the moving element 7 detected by means of a recording/reproducing element 8, it is detected which side among the first and second position is occupied by the moving element 7, and the detected result is stored in a storage device 3. On the basis of the stored picture element information, the recording/reproducing element 8 is polarized so as to apply magnetic repulsion/ attraction force to the moving element 7. An N pole tip of a magnetic pen 4 is brought into contact with the translucent film 5 so as to control the position of the moving element 7, and an image based on visual contrast between an image forming part, in which the color of the moving element 7 in the first position can be visually observed via a translucent film 4, and an image forming part, in which the translucent film 5 can be visually observed when the moving element 7 is in the second position, is formed.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention belongs to the technical field of image formation, and more particularly to an image which can be used as a media board for forming an image by manual drawing or a display panel for displaying an image in accordance with an image information signal. The present invention relates to a forming apparatus.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art As a conventionally used media board, an image is formed (drawn) using a pen using a paint such as magic ink, and a drawn image (drawn) is formed. When the image is no longer required, a sheet made of a synthetic resin that can be easily wiped and erased by an eraser is used.

[0003] However, such a conventional media board has a drawback that once the formed image (drawn image) is erased, the same drawn image cannot be formed unless drawing is performed again with the pen.

Therefore, when it is desired to record (store) a drawn image that has already been drawn even when a new drawing is performed, the sheet is formed to be long, and when a new drawing is performed, the already drawn image is drawn. A method is used in which a part is moved by scrolling to make an undrawn part appear, drawing is performed on the undrawn part, and when it is necessary to see the drawn image by the previous drawing, a desired drawn part is made to appear again by scrolling. I have.

[0005] However, since the length of the sheet is limited, it is practically difficult to leave many pages of drawn images on the sheet by physical scrolling. Also, if a sheet that is too long is used, it may not be possible to determine where the previously formed drawn image is located on the sheet, and there is a disadvantage that it takes a considerable amount of time to rewind the sheet.

Another problem with the conventional media boat described above is that a pen using paint is used for drawing, and it is necessary to purchase a new pen every time the pen runs out of paint. Is mentioned.

A method of optically reading an image drawn by a conventional media boat as described above and copying the image onto paper or the like is also used, but in this case, it is possible to record the drawn image. Cannot form the same image again on the media board.

On the other hand, display panels for displaying images in accordance with image information signals are widely used. With such a display panel, the same image can be displayed and erased many times according to the stored image information.
Some display panels allow drawing with a touch pen.

[0009] However, the conventional display panel as described above has a drawback that power is always required to hold a displayed or drawn image.

Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to provide an image forming apparatus which can be used as a media board capable of storing and reproducing a drawing in view of the above-mentioned problems of the prior art.

Another object of the present invention is to provide an image forming apparatus which can be used as a display panel which does not require electric power to hold an image.

[0012]

According to the present invention, in order to achieve the above object, it is possible to store a display section having a large number of pixel forming sections and an image displayed on the display section. A storage unit, wherein each of the pixel forming units includes a translucent film, a first position disposed behind the translucent film and close to the translucent film, and a second position separated from the translucent film. And a movable member capable of reciprocating with respect to a position, wherein at least an end face of the movable member on the first position side is a color having a visual contrast with respect to the color of the translucent film. The moving element has an end on the first position side having a first magnetic polarity and an end on the second position side having a second magnetic polarity, and each of the pixel forming portions further includes: The magnetic flux generated by the mover can be detected and Has a recording and reproducing device which can exert a magnetic repulsion force and magnetic attraction force with respect,
Based on the magnitude of the magnetic flux detected by the recording / reproducing element, it is detected whether the movable element is at the first position or the second position, and stored as pixel information in the storage unit, and stored in the storage unit. An image forming apparatus, wherein a magnetic repulsive force or a magnetic attractive force is applied to the movable element by magnetizing a pre-recording / reproducing element based on the pixel information thus obtained. You.

In one embodiment of the present invention, the movable element is made of a ferromagnetic substance, and the color of the end face of the movable element on the first position side uses the color of the ferromagnetic substance as it is.

In one embodiment of the present invention, there is provided a guide means for guiding reciprocal movement of the movable element between the first position and the second position.

In one embodiment of the present invention, the guide means is a cylinder that accommodates the movable element and extends in the direction of the reciprocating movement.

In one embodiment of the present invention, the translucent film is shared by a plurality of pixel forming portions.

In one embodiment of the present invention, the tip of a magnetic pen having a tip having the first magnetic polarity or the second magnetic polarity is brought into contact with or close to the translucent film side of the display unit. Controlling the position of the movable element in the first position. The pixel forming portion and the movable element in which the color of the end face of the movable element at the first position on the first position side is visually recognized through the translucent film are connected to the second element. An image is formed based on a visual contrast with the pixel forming portion where the translucent film is visually recognized when in the position.

[0018]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 is a schematic view showing an embodiment of the image forming apparatus of the present invention. This embodiment is applied to a media board capable of storing and reproducing a drawing.

As shown in FIG. 1, the media board 1 includes a display panel 2 as a display unit and a storage device 3 as a storage unit. The display panel 2 has a white translucent dielectric film 5 on the outside (observation side), and the normal direction of the dielectric film 5 is horizontal. Inside the dielectric film 5, a large number of cylinders 6 which are partitioned in a vertical and horizontal matrix and arranged in a grid are arranged adjacently. Each tube 6 extends in a direction (horizontal direction) orthogonal to the dielectric film 5. A recording / reproducing element 8 for recording (memorizing), erasing, and reproducing a drawing is arranged further inside the many cylinders 6 so as to correspond to each of the cylinders 6.

The dielectric film 5 may be divided for each cylinder 6. A portion of the dielectric film 5 corresponding to each cylinder 6 and each cylinder 6
And a recording / reproducing element 8 to form a pixel forming section.

A moving element 7 made of a black ferromagnetic material is accommodated in each cylinder 6. The moving element 7 also constitutes a pixel forming section. The mover 7 has a first
A second position close to the recording / reproducing element 8 at a distance from the dielectric film 5
It is movable in the horizontal direction while being guided by the cylinder 6 between the positions. FIG. 1 shows the movable element 7 at the first position and the movable element 7 at the second position. The mover 7 is a permanent magnet having an S-pole at the end on the dielectric film 5 side and an N-pole at the end on the recording / reproducing element 8 side. Pole-N pole direction) is maintained.

The recording / reproducing element 8 is a magnetic head, and can generate a magnetic field such that the electromagnet attracts or repels the moving element 7. The recording / reproducing element 8 can electromagnetically detect the magnitude of the magnetic field generated by the moving element 7 at the position of the recording / reproducing element 8. The magnitude of the magnetic field from each moving element detected in this way is binarized using an appropriate threshold, and is used as position information of the moving element 7 (whether it is at the first position or at the second position). It is stored in the storage device 3.

Although not shown, the storage device 3 has a built-in means for generating a magnetic field in the recording / reproducing element 8 and for driving the operation of detecting the position of the moving element by the recording / reproducing element 8. I have.

The magnetic pen 4 which is manually operated has a permanent magnet having an N pole at the tip. When the magnetic pen 4 approaches or comes into contact with the surface of the dielectric film 5, the magnetic field causes the moving element 7 to move the dielectric film 5
It is sucked toward. This suction force acts regardless of whether the movable element 7 is in the first position or the second position, the movable element 7 in the first position remains in the first position, and the movable element 7 in the second position is in the second position. Translate to one position.

Hereinafter, the operation of the image forming apparatus according to the present embodiment will be described.

First, when the display panel 2 is set to a blank state (a state where no image is drawn), all the recording / reproducing elements 8
A magnetic field for attracting the corresponding moving element 7 is generated (ie,
The recording / reproducing element 8 is so arranged that the end facing the moving element 7 has an S pole.
Magnetized). The magnitude of the moving element attracting magnetic field is such that the attracting force acts regardless of whether the moving element 7 is at the first position or the second position, and causes the moving element 7 at the second position to remain at the second position, The moving member 7 at the first position can be moved in parallel to the second position.

In this blank state, all the black moving elements 7
Are separated from the translucent dielectric film 5, so that in all the pixel formation portions, the white color of the dielectric film 5 is visually recognized, and the black color of the moving element 7 is hardly visually recognized.

Next, when drawing on the display panel 2, the pen 4
Is used to manually trace the surface of the dielectric film 5 in a desired pattern (characters, pictures, etc.). As a result, in the pixel forming portion where the pen 4 is in contact or close proximity, the moving element 7 is brought closer to the dielectric film 5 by the magnetic field 9 generated by the pen 4 as shown in FIG. The suction force of the pen 4 can move the moving element 7 at the second position in parallel to the first position.

In this drawing state, in the pixel forming portion corresponding to the desired pattern, since the black moving element 7 is close to the semi-transparent dielectric film 5, the black color of the moving element 7 is visually recognized through the white dielectric film 5. Is done. On the other hand, in the pixel forming portion not traced by the pen 4, the black moving element 7 is still separated from the translucent dielectric film 5.
The white color of the dielectric film 5 is visually recognized, and the black color of the movable element 7 is hardly visually recognized. Thus, on the surface of the display panel 2, a desired pattern is drawn in black on a white background.

When storing the drawn image, as shown in FIG. 3, each recording / reproducing element 8 determines the magnitude of the magnetic field 9 formed by the moving element 7 of the corresponding pixel forming section. It is detected whether the movable element 7 is at the first position or the second position. This is because the magnitude of the magnetic field electromagnetically detected by the recording / reproducing element 8 differs between the case where the movable element 7 is at the first position and the case where the movable element 7 is at the second position. Then, binarization is performed using an appropriate threshold value, and it is determined whether the movable element 7 is at the first position or the second position and stored.

When the stored information is reproduced (drawn on the display panel 2), the display panel 2 in a blank state is
In the pixel forming portion corresponding to the stored drawn image pattern, a magnetic field that repels the moving element 7 is generated by the recording / reproducing element 8 (that is, the recording / reproducing is performed so that the end facing the moving element 7 becomes an N pole). The element 8 is magnetized). The magnitude of the repulsive magnetic field of the mover is such that the repulsive force acts regardless of whether the mover 7 is at the first position or the second position, and the mover 7 at the second position is moved to the first position.
It can be translated to a position.
Alternatively, a magnetic field that repels the moving element 7 is generated by the recording / reproducing element 8 in the pixel forming portion corresponding to the drawn image pattern without leaving the display plate 2 in a blank state, and does not correspond to the drawn image pattern. In the pixel forming portion (which should be the background), a magnetic field for attracting the moving element 7 is generated by the recording / reproducing element 8 (that is, the recording / reproducing element 8 is attached so that the end facing the moving element 7 has an S pole). (Magnetized).

In this reproduction (drawing image display) state, a drawing image equivalent to the drawn image is displayed on the display plate 2.

In the present embodiment, power is required only during the storage operation and the reproduction operation, and in the drawing state and the reproduced image display state, light emission from the inside of the media board 1 is not required, and the drawn image is drawn only by natural light. And no special power is required.

The image forming apparatus of the above embodiment can be used as a display panel of a portable computer. The display panel has not only an image display function but also a function of forming a drawn image using a pen and inputting the drawn image.

In the above embodiment, the same effect can be obtained even if the N pole and the S pole are reversed. Further, in the above embodiment, the movable element 7 is set to the second state in all the pixel forming portions in a blank state (a state in which no pattern is drawn).
It is positioned at a position, and is drawn in a black pattern on a white background. However, conversely, assuming that the pattern is not drawn, the moving element 7 can be positioned at the first position in all the pixel forming sections, and the moving element 7 can be drawn with a white pattern on a black background. In this case, it will be easily understood that the magnetic characteristics and the magnetic control of the mover 7, the magnetic pen 4, and the recording / reproducing element 8 may be changed as appropriate.

In the above embodiment, a black member is used as the movable member 7 and a white member is used as the translucent dielectric film 5. The combination of the movable member 7 and the translucent dielectric film 5 is as follows. When the moving element 7 is viewed through the dielectric film 5, it is sufficient that the moving element 7 can be visually distinguished between the first position and the second position. Further, such a visual distinction (contrast) may be based on a difference in shading, as in the above-described embodiment, or may be based on a difference in color.

Further, in the above embodiment, the color of the movable element 7 itself is used for forming the contrast. However, from the viewpoint of contrast, the color of the end face of the movable element 7 on the dielectric film 5 side is important. An end face plate having various color characteristics may be provided. In this case, the color of the ferromagnetic material itself does not matter.

In the above embodiments, the dielectric film is used as the translucent film, but the translucent film of the present invention is not limited to this.

[0040]

As described above, according to the present invention,
There is provided an image forming apparatus which can be used as a media board capable of storing and reproducing a drawing, and which can be used as a low power consumption display panel which does not require power to hold an image.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a schematic view illustrating an embodiment of an image forming apparatus of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram illustrating drawing in an embodiment of the image forming apparatus of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram illustrating storage and reproduction of a drawn image in an embodiment of the image forming apparatus of the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Media board 2 Display board 3 Storage device 4 Magnetic pen 5 Translucent dielectric film 6 Cylinder 7 Moving element 8 Recording / reproducing element 9 Magnetic field

Claims (6)

[Claims] A display unit having a plurality of pixel forming units; and a storage unit capable of storing an image displayed on the display unit. Each of the pixel forming units includes a translucent film and A movable element disposed behind the translucent film and capable of reciprocating between a first position close to the translucent film and a second position separated from the translucent film; At least an end face of the movable element on the first position side has a color having a visual contrast with the color of the translucent film, and the movable element has an end on the first position side which is a first magnetic element. The second polarity
The end on the position side has a second magnetic polarity, and each of the pixel forming portions can further detect a magnetic flux generated by the movable element, and has a magnetic repulsive force and a magnetic repulsive force against the movable element. A recording / reproducing element capable of exerting a magnetic attraction force, and determining whether the movable element is in the first position or the second position based on the magnitude of magnetic flux detected by the recording / reproducing element. Detected and stored in the storage unit as pixel information, and based on the pixel information stored in the storage unit, magnetize the pre-recording / reproducing element to generate a magnetic repulsion force or a magnetic attraction force on the moving element. An image forming apparatus characterized by being operated. 2. The moving element according to claim 1, wherein the color of the end face of the moving element on the first position side uses the color of the ferromagnetic substance as it is. An image forming apparatus according to claim 1. 3. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a guide unit that guides a reciprocating movement of the movable element between the first position and the second position. . 4. An image forming apparatus according to claim 3, wherein said guide means is a cylinder which accommodates said movable element and extends in the direction of said reciprocating movement. 5. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the translucent film is shared by a plurality of pixel forming units. 6. The method according to claim 6, wherein the tip is the first magnetic polarity or the second
The position of the movable element is controlled by contacting or approaching the tip of a magnetic pen having a magnetic polarity of the display section with the translucent film side of the display unit, and the first position of the movable element at the first position is controlled. The visual contrast between the pixel forming portion where the color of the end face on the position side is visually recognized through the translucent film and the pixel forming portion where the translucent film is visually recognized when the movable element is at the second position. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein an image based on the image is formed.