US3698006A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
High speed printer of multiple copies for output information
Assignee: Energy Conversion Devices Inc
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Filing: 1969-05-29
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Granted: 1972-10-10
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Expires: 1989-05-29
Abstract
Abstract A method and apparatus for high speed printout of multiple copies wherein a film or layer of memory semiconductor material is scanned by energy beam means to permanently store therein the information to be reproduced. The film is capable of having discrete portions thereof reversibly altered between a high resistance blocking condition and a low resistance conducting condition, the film normally being in one condition. The film of semiconductor material forms an information storage surface on a rotating drum, and energy pulses are synchronized with and applied to selected portions of the semiconductor material on the drum surface for altering the film at said select portions thereof from said one normal condition to the other condition to store the information in the material forming the film. Computer means are provided to convert bits of data input information into energy pulses and to synchronize these pulses wit predeterminable topographic sites on the semiconductor film surface where the pulses impinge and alter the condition of the surface to permanently store the information. The retrieval of the stored information is non-destructive to the stored information and high speed print-out of multiple copies is possible without further need of the computer means.
Inventors
- 👤 Stanford R Ovshinsky
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-26 16:07
CPC Classifications
G; G06; G06K; G06K15/00; G06K15/02; G06K15/14; G03; G03G; G03G15/00; G03G15/04; G03G15/04036; G03G15/04045; G03G15/04072; G03G15/22; G03G15/32; G03G15/326; G06K15/12; G06K15/1204; G06K15/1219; Y; Y10; Y10S; Y10S101/00; Y10S101/37
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 4
Claim 1
Independent Claim
271 words
In combination with a computer or the like which generates output signals representing information on data and the manner it is to be printed out, a system for printing out such information comprising a layer of memory material capable, when given amounts of energy are applied thereto, of having discrete portions thereof reversibly structurally altered between a first stable structural condition and a stable condition of different structure, each of said structural conditions persisting indefinitely even after all sources of energy have been removed therefrom, said layer of memory material normally being in one of said conditions; energy beam producing means for sequentially scanning said layer of memory material for applying energy thereto at desired portions thereof to alter said layer in said desired portions between said first and second stable conditions; memory means for storing said output signals; control and translating means responsive to said stored output signals of said computer or the like for developing groups of energizing pulses and for energizing said energy beam producing means in accordance with a group of said pulses during each scanning sweep thereof to produce a pattern of altered conditions in said layer of memory material corresponding to the information to be printed out; means for applying to said layer of memory material imprint producing means which selectively adheres to a greater extent on the portions of said layer of memory material in one of said stable condition than the other stable condition; and means responsive to said imprint producing means on the selected portions of said layer of memory material for producing a corresponding imprint on a surface to be printed.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
271 words
In combination with a computer or the like which generates output signals representing information on data and the manner it is to be printed out, a system for printing out such information comprising a layer of memory material capable, when given amounts of energy are applied thereto, of having discrete portions thereof reversibly structurally altered between a first stable structural condition and a stable condition of different structure, each of said structural conditions persisting indefinitely even after all sources of energy have been removed therefrom, said layer of memory material normally being in one of said conditions; energy beam producing means for sequentially scanning said layer of memory material for applying energy thereto at desired portions thereof to alter said layer in said desired portions between said first and second stable conditions; memory means for storing said output signals; control and translating means responsive to said stored output signals of said computer or the like for developing groups of energizing pulses and for energizing said energy beam producing means in accordance with a group of said pulses during each scanning sweep thereof to produce a pattern of altered conditions in said layer of memory material corresponding to the information to be printed out; means for applying to said layer of memory material imprint producing means which selectively adheres to a greater extent on the portions of said layer of memory material in one of said stable condition than the other stable condition; and means responsive to said imprint producing means on the selected portions of said layer of memory material for producing a corresponding imprint on a surface to be printed.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
152 words
The combination of claim 1 wherein said layer of memory material is on a rotatable drum and said energy beam producing means scans the drum surface axially thereof said energy beam producing means, said means for applying imprint producing means and said means responsive to said imprint producing means are located at different circumferentially spaced points at the drum periphery so an information storage and printout operation can be performed in one revolution of the drum, and there is provided a second energy applying means for selectively applying energy to said layer of memory material which resets said portions of said layer of memory material to the nOrmal stable condition thereof, to permit the application of a new pattern of high and low stable portions on said layer of memory material, said second energy applying means being inoperable when multiple copies are to be printed out by successive revolutions of the drum.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
155 words
The combination of claim 1 wherein said energy beam producing means selectively produces a momentary application of energy where the control and translating means indicates that the discrete portion of said layer of memory material in the normal stable condition thereof scanned by said energy beam is to be set to the other stable condition, and said layer of memory material being alterable to said other stable condition by said momentary application of energy provided by said energy beam producing means, and there is provided second energy applying means for selectively applying energy to said layer of memory material which resets said portions of said layer of memory material to said normal stable condition, to permit the application of a new pattern of high and low stable portions on said layer of memory material said second energy applying means being inoperable when multiple copies are to be printed out by successive revolutions of the drum.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1975-10-10 | 1976-04-10 | 1976-10-10 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1979-10-10 | 1980-04-10 | 1980-10-10 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1983-10-10 | 1984-04-10 | 1984-10-10 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |