Light-emitting device signal control wiring reduction
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing light-emitting devices in electrophotographic image forming apparatuses, such as printers and copy machines, face challenges in efficiently controlling and managing a large number of light-emitting elements, leading to increased complexity and size due to the need for numerous wiring lines and thick wires to handle light-up signals, transfer signals, and selection signals.
Innovation Solution
A light-emitting device configuration that includes plural light-emitting chips with a signal generating part to selectively transmit designation signals, using combinations of selection signals to uniquely control each light-emitting element, reducing the number of wiring lines and simplifying the circuit board layout by designating each chip with a combination of two to Q selection signals taken from P selection signals, where P>Q.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If a large number of light-emitting elements are controlled individually with separate wiring lines for light-up signals and selection signals, then each element can be precisely controlled, but the number of wiring lines increases significantly and the circuit board area expands
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines multiple selection signals (first selection signal and second selection signal) into a unified control mechanism that selectively activates specific light-emitting chips. By merging the control functions and using a systematic signal distribution approach, the patent reduces the total number of wiring lines required while maintaining precise control over individual light-emitting elements.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent divides the light-emitting device into multiple light-emitting chips, each controlled by a unique combination of selection signals. This segmentation allows the control system to address individual chips using coded signal combinations rather than dedicated wiring for each element, thereby reducing overall wiring complexity and circuit board area.
2Reliability
If thick wires are used to handle light-up signals and selection signals to numerous light-emitting elements, then signal transmission reliability is improved, but the device size and wiring complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges multiple control functions into a coordinated signal system where first and second selection signals work together to control specific light-emitting chips. This consolidation reduces the number of separate wiring paths needed while maintaining reliable signal transmission through a more efficient signal distribution architecture.
3Adaptability or versatility
If individual control wiring is provided for each light-emitting element, then control flexibility is maximized, but the number of wiring lines and device complexity increase significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the control system into multiple selectable groups using first and second selection signals. Each light-emitting chip is assigned a unique combination of these signals, enabling flexible individual control while reducing wiring complexity. This segmentation approach maintains adaptability by allowing selective activation of any specific chip through its unique signal code.
Solution Approach 2:
The selection signal system serves multiple functions simultaneously: it identifies specific light-emitting chips, activates them for light emission, and enables flexible control patterns. This multi-functional approach replaces what would otherwise require separate dedicated wiring for each control function, thereby reducing overall device complexity while maintaining control flexibility.
Data Source
AI summary
A light-emitting device includes: plural light-emitting chips each having plural light-emitting elements, and each being designated, as a control target for lighting up or not lighting up, by two to Q designation signals (Q is an integer of two or more); and a selection signal generating part that selectively transmits P selection signals (P is an integer of three or more where P>Q) as the designation signals to designate each of the plural light-emitting elements as the control target, the designation signals for each of the plural light-emitting chips including a combination of two to Q selection signals taken from the P selection signals.