Abstract
Low cost, portability, high-speed print is required to mobile printer. In this paper, we focus on optical printing system capable of low power consumption and high-speed printing and consider applying low-cost TN liquid crystal shutter to print-head. We investigate TN liquid crystal shutter’s optical properties requirements and optimum structure suitable for a print head of mobile printer. Reducing the cell gap is effective to improve optical response of TN liquid crystal shutter. Voltage application time for stabilizing optical response of TN liquid crystal shutter can be approximated by a negative power function of applied voltage. Electrode masks and light shielding masks are made in gold film at the same time. The thickness of the gold film is required more than 0.28 micrometer. Those are suitable as structural economic of TN liquid crystal shutter. Results of experiments with the prototype print head shows that printed quality is equivalent to the conventional print head, and it can be printed in 10 seconds.
