title: Method for Estimating the Charge Density Distribution on a Dielectric Surface.
abstract: High-quality color output from digital photocopiers and laser printers is in strong demand, motivating attempts to achieve fine dot reproducibility and stability. The resolution of a digital photocopier depends on the charge density distribution on the organic photoconductor surface; however, directly measuring the charge density distribution is impossible. In this study, we propose a new electron optical instrument that can rapidly measure the electrostatic latent image on an organic photoconductor surface, which is a dielectric surface, as well as a novel method to quantitatively estimate the charge density distribution on a dielectric surface by combining experimental data obtained from the apparatus via a computer simulation. In the computer simulation, an improved three-dimensional boundary charge density method (BCM) is used for electric field analysis in the vicinity of the dielectric material with a charge density distribution. This method enables us to estimate the profile and quantity of the charge density distribution on a dielectric surface with a resolution of the order of microns. Furthermore, the surface potential on the dielectric surface can be immediately calculated using the obtained charge density. This method enables the relation between the charge pattern on the organic photoconductor surface and toner particle behavior to be studied; an understanding regarding the same may lead to the development of a new generation of higher resolution photocopiers.
authors.affiliation: 1Faculty of Science and Technology,Meijo University,Tempaku-ku,Nagoya 468-8502,Japan.
authors.forename: Takuya
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Nakashima
authors.affiliation: 2RICOH Co., Ltd.,810,Shimo-imaizumi,Ebina-shi,Kanagawa 243-0460,Japan.
authors.forename: Hiroyuki
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Suhara
authors.affiliation: 1Faculty of Science and Technology,Meijo University,Tempaku-ku,Nagoya 468-8502,Japan.
authors.forename: Hidekazu
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Murata
authors.affiliation: 1Faculty of Science and Technology,Meijo University,Tempaku-ku,Nagoya 468-8502,Japan.
authors.forename: Hiroshi
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Shimoyama
keywords: Electrostatic latent image; boundary charge method; charge density distribution; organic photoconductor; scanning electron microscopy