Laser Beam Intensity Control for Thermally Reversible Recording
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional non-contact laser recording methods for thermally reversible recording media suffer from excessive energy application at overlap and folding points, leading to damage and deterioration, making it difficult to achieve uniform high-density image recording and erasing.
Innovation Solution
The method involves controlling light irradiation intensity to ensure that the center portion of the laser beam has a lower intensity than the peripheral areas, and strategically avoiding recording at overlap portions to prevent excessive energy application, using a CO2 laser for efficient heat distribution, and adjusting the light intensity distribution to maintain image quality without reducing size.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If a laser beam is used to record images on thermally reversible recording medium from a distance, then non-contact recording is achieved and flexibility requirements are relaxed, but excessive energy is applied at overlap and folding points causing damage to the recording medium
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by making the laser beam intensity non-uniform, with lower intensity at the center and higher intensity at the periphery. This inverted intensity distribution prevents excessive energy concentration at overlap and folding points while maintaining effective recording at straight line portions, thus resolving the contradiction between non-contact recording capability and harmful energy application.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses partial action by strategically avoiding overlap portions during recording. The beam scanning path is designed to skip or reduce exposure at overlap and folding points, applying laser energy only where needed for effective recording without causing damage, thereby preventing the harmful effects of excessive energy application.
2Device complexity
If constant scanning speed and constant irradiation power are used, then simple control is maintained, but excessive energy is given to overlap portions and folding points
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the parameter of laser beam intensity distribution from uniform to non-uniform (inverted Gaussian). By inverting the intensity profile so that the center has lower intensity and periphery has higher intensity, the system maintains simple constant scanning speed control while preventing excessive energy application at overlap and folding points through the modified intensity parameter.
3Manufacturing precision
If high-pressure is applied to evenly press the heat source against the recording medium, then uniform image recording and erasing is achieved, but the recording medium with RF-ID tag suffers from degraded flexibility and thickness
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the mechanical contact-based heating system with a non-contact laser heating system. This substitution eliminates the need for physical pressure application to the recording medium, thereby preserving the flexibility and thickness characteristics of media with RF-ID tags while still achieving uniform image recording through controlled laser beam intensity distribution.
4Productivity
If the laser beam center intensity is high, then efficient energy concentration is achieved, but damage occurs at the center of recorded lines and overlap portions
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies inversion by reversing the conventional laser beam intensity profile. Instead of high center intensity and low peripheral intensity (Gaussian distribution), the system uses low center intensity and high peripheral intensity (inverted Gaussian distribution). This inversion prevents damage at center portions and overlap areas while maintaining recording efficiency through the enhanced peripheral energy concentration.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
This approach prevents damage to the recording medium, enables uniform high-density image recording and erasing across all image lines, and improves the durability and visibility of recorded characters by optimizing energy distribution and heat dissipation.
Implementation Method 1
A thermally reversible recording medium is irradiated with a laser beam using the laser marker, the recording medium absorbs light, the light is converted into heat
Implementation Method 2
a phase change is generated on the recording medium by effect of heat, thereby an image can be recorded and erased
Implementation Method 3
recording and erasing each image on a thermally reversible recording medium from some distance away from the thermally reversible recording medium by irradiating and heating the thermally reversible recording medium with a laser beam
Data Source
AI summary
The present invention provides an image processing method which includes at least any one of an image recording step and an image erasing step, wherein a light irradiation intensity I1 at a center position of the laser beam irradiated in the image recording step and a light irradiation intensity I2 on an 80% light energy bordering surface to the total light energy of the irradiated laser beam satisfy the expression, 0.40≦I1/I2≦2.00, and in the image recording step, at an overlap portion where a first image line among a plurality of image lines constituting an image is overlapped with a second image line, any one of the first image line and the second image line is not to be recorded.