インクジェット技術の進化の方向性 ∼機能集中型による可能性の伸張と機能分担型による限界への挑戦∼

抄録

Ink jet technology has a wider market on account of its upgraded functions and improved performance with regard to the simple marking process. However, this trend has leveled out in the personal market, and the activity in this market has fizzled out. In this situation, two obvious directions for progress in ink jet technology exist. One is the extension of ink jet technology applications to those involving the simple marking process, and the other means challenges against performance limitation derived from imaging process achieved only by the interaction between ink and media. Differences exist between the technical approaches used for each of the above paths of technological progress. Progress in elemental technology has been noticeable in terms of the extension of the technology to other applications, and significant breakthroughs have been achieved in system integration or peripheral technology concerning the overcoming of the performance limitation.I have presented below the current status of progress in ink jet technology and the prospects corresponding to the two possible directions of progress in this technology.