Printer and display system

Claim 2

Apparatus comprising, in combination: means for forming light images; means for directing said light images along at least two optical paths; transducer means intercepting the image in one of said optical paths for transforming said image into a corresponding heat image capable of being transferred to a heat sensitive record material; said transducer means comprised of: an optically transparent substrate; a plurality of electrodes adapted to receive an electrical potential therebetween positioned on said optically transparent substrate, in a pattern which outlines a desired composite character; a layer of photoconductive material covering said electrodes such that a light image of a selected character impinging on the photoconductive material in the electrode outlined pattern causes a change in resistance of the photoconductive material on which the light impinges thereby causing an increased temperature of said photoconductive material in the areas on which light impinges; and viewing means positioned to intercept the image in another of said optical paths.

Claim 3

The apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said means for directing is comprised of: a beam splitter positioned to intercept the light images from said means for forming light images and for directing said light images along two optical paths.

Claim 4

The apparatus according to claim 1 and further comprising: means for activating said transducer means only when a heat image is to be transferred to a heat sensitive material.

Claim 5

Apparatus comprising, in combination: means for forming light images; means for directing said light images along at least two optiCal paths; transducer means intercepting the image in one of said optical paths for transforming said image into a corresponding heat image capable of being transferred to a heat sensitive record material; said transducer means comprised of: an optically transparent substrate; an electrode having a plurality of openings positioned on said substrate; a layer of photoconductive material positioned over said electrode and in said openings; a second electrode positioned on said layer of photoconductive material, said optically transparent electrode and said second electrode adapted to receive an electrical potential therebetween such that light impinging on said photoconductive material changes the resistance between said optically transparent electrode and said second electrode which in turn changes the current flow through said photoconductive material and the temperature of said photoconductive material; and viewing means positioned to intercept the image in another of said optical paths.

Claim 6

Apparatus comprising, in combination: means for forming light images; means for directing said light images along at least two optiCal paths; transducer means intercepting the image in one of said optical paths for transforming said image into a corresponding heat image capable of being transferred to a heat sensitive record material; said transducer means comprised of: an optically transparent substrate; an electrode having a plurality of openings positioned on said substrate; a layer of photoconductive material positioned over said electrode and in said openings; a second electrode positioned on said layer of photoconductive material, said optically transparent electrode and said second electrode adapted to receive an electrical potential therebetween such that light impinging on said photoconductive material changes the resistance between said optically transparent electrode and said second electrode which in turn changes the current flow through said photoconductive material and the temperature of said photoconductive material; and viewing means positioned to intercept the image in another of said optical paths.

Claim 7

An optical display and printer system comprising in combination: a plurality of light sources arranged in a matrix; means for causing selected ones of said light sources to emit light; means for directing the image formed by said light sources along two optical paths; an optical-to-thermal transducer positioned to intercept the image in one of said optical paths, for transforming said optical image into a corresponding heat image which image is adapted to be transferred to a heat sensitive material, said optical-to-thermal transducer comprised of: an optically transparent substrate; a plurality of electrodes adapted to receive an electrical potential therebetween positioned on said optically transparent substrate, in a pattern which outlines a desired composite character; a layer of photoconductive material over and between said electrodes such that a light image of a selected character impinging on the photoconductive material in the electrode outlined pattern causes a change in resistance of the photoconductive material on which the light impinges thereby causing an increased temperature of said photoconductive material in the areas on which light impinges; and a viewing screen positioned to intercept the image in the second of said optical paths.

Claim 8

An optical display and printer system comprising in combination: a plurality of light sources arranged in a matrix; means for causing selected ones of said light sources to emit light; means for directing the image formed by said light sources along two optical paths; an optical-to-thermal transducer positioned to intercept the image in one of said optical paths, for transforming said optical image into a corresponding heat image which image is adapted to be transferred to a heat sensitive material, said optical-to-thermal transducer comprised of: an optically transparent substrate; a plurality of electrodes adapted to receive an electrical potential therebetween positioned on said optically transparent substrate, in a pattern which outlines a desired composite character; a layer of photoconductive material over and between said electrodes such that a light image of a selected character impinging on the photoconductive material in the electrode outlined pattern causes a change in resistance of the photoconductive material on which the light impinges thereby causing an increased temperature of said photoconductive material in the areas on which light impinges; and a viewing screen positioned to intercept the image in the second of said optical paths.

Claim 9

The optical display and printer system according to claim 5 wherein said optical-to-thermal transducer is comprised of: an optically transparent substrate; an optically transparent electrode positioned on said substrate; a layer of photoconductive material positioned over said transparent electrode; and a second electrode positioned on said layer of photoconductive material, said optically transparent electrode and said second electrode adapted to receive an electrical potential therebetween such that light impinging on said photoconductive material changes the resistance between said optically transparent electrode and said second electrode which in turn changes the current flow through said photoconductive material and the temperature of said photoconductive material.

Claim 10

The optical display and printer system according to claim 5 and further comprising: means for activating said optical-to-thermal transducer only when a heat image is to be transferred to said heat sensitive material.

Claim 11

An optical display and printer system comprising in combination: a light source; character image forming means positioned to intercept the light from said light source, said character image forming means comprised of: a light polarizer for receiving the light from said light source and for polarizing the light; a liquid crystal cell positioned to intercept the polarized light; means for changing the polarization characteristics of said liquid crystal cell in selected areas so as to change the angle of the polarized light in the selected areas; an analyzer for passing light having a selected polarization angle; an optical-to-thermal transducer positioned to intercept the image in one of said optical paths, for transforming said optical image into a corresponding heat image which image is adapted to be transferred to a heat sensitive material; and a viewing screen positioned to intercept the image in the second of said optical paths.

Claim 12

An optical display and printer system comprising in combination: a light source; character image forming means positioned to intercept the light from said light source, said character image forming means comprised of: a light polarizer for receiving the light from said light source and for polarizing the light; a liquid crystal cell positioned to intercept the polarized light; means for changing the polarization characteristics of said liquid crystal cell in selected areas so as to change the angle of the polarized light in the selected areas; an analyzer for passing light having a selected polarization angle; an optical-to-thermal transducer positioned to intercept the image in one of said optical paths, for transforming said optical image into a corresponding heat image which image is adapted to be transferred to a heat sensitive material; and a viewing screen positioned to intercept the image in the second of said optical paths.

Claim 13

The system according to claim 8 wherein said liquid crystal cell is further comprised of: at least one pair of electrodes, one of which electrodes of the pair is configured to represent a character, positioned on opposite sides of said liquid crystal cell, said electrodes connected in circuit to said means for changing the polarization characteristics of said liquid crystal cell.

Claim 14

The system according to claim 9 wherein said means for changing the polarization characteristics of said liquid crystal cell is comprised of: a voltage source the level of which is sufficient to change the polarization angle of said liquid crystal cell by a desired amount; and select means for applying the voltage from said voltage source to said at least one pair of electrodes.

Claim 15

The system according to claim 9 and further comprising: a lens interposed between said analyzer and said viewing screen for focusing the light passed by said analyzer onto said viewing screen.

Claim 16

The system according to claim 9 wherein said means for directing the image from said character image forming means along two optical paths is a beam splitter positioned to intercept the image from said character generator.

Claim 17

An optical display and printer system comprising in-combination: a light source; character image forming means positioned to intercept the light from said light source; means for directing the image from said character image forming means along two optical paths; an optical-to-thermal transducer positioned to intercept the image in one of said optical paths, for transforming said optical image into a corresponding heat image which image is adapted to be transferred to a heat sensitive material, said optical-to-thermal transducer comprised of: an optically transparent substrate; a plurality of electrodes adapted to receive an electrical potential therebetween positioned on said optically transparent substrate, in a pattern which outlines a desired composite character; and a layer of photoconductive material covering said electrodes such that a light image of a selected character impinging on the photoconductive material in the electrode outlined pattern causes a change in resistance of the photoconductive material on which the light impinges thereby causing an increased temperature of said photoconductive material in the areas on which light impinges; and a viewing screen positioned to intercept the image in the second of said optical paths.

Claim 18

An optical display and printer system comprising in-combination: a light source; character image forming means positioned to intercept the light from said light source; means for directing the image from said character image forming means along two optical paths; an optical-to-thermal transducer positioned to intercept the image in one of said optical paths, for transforming said optical image into a corresponding heat image which image is adapted to be transferred to a heat sensitive material, said optical-to-thermal transducer comprised of: an optically transparent substrate; a plurality of electrodes adapted to receive an electrical potential therebetween positioned on said optically transparent substrate, in a pattern which outlines a desired composite character; and a layer of photoconductive material covering said electrodes such that a light image of a selected character impinging on the photoconductive material in the electrode outlined pattern causes a change in resistance of the photoconductive material on which the light impinges thereby causing an increased temperature of said photoconductive material in the areas on which light impinges; and a viewing screen positioned to intercept the image in the second of said optical paths.

Claim 19

The optical display and printer system according to claim 13 and further comprising: means for activating said optical-to-thermal transducer only when a heat image is to be transferred to said heat sensitive material.

Claim 20

An optical display and printer system comprising in combination: a light source; character image forming means positioned to intercept the light from said light source; means for directing the image from said character image forming means along two optical paths; an optical-to-thermal transducer positioned to intercept the image in one of said optical paths, for transforming said optical image into a corresponding heat image which image is adapted to be transferred to a heat sensitive material, said optical-to-thermal transducer comprised of: an optically transparent substrate; an electrode having a plurality of openings positioned on said substrate; a layer of photoconductive material positioned over said electrode and in said openings; a second electrode positioned on said layer of photoconductive material, said optically transparent electrode and said second elecTrode adapted to receive an electrical potential therebetween such that light impinging on said photoconductive material changes the resistance between said optically transparent electrode and said second electrode which in turn changes the current flow through said photoconductive material and the temperature of said photoconductive material; and a viewing screen positioned to intercept the image in the second of said optical paths.

Claim 21

An optical display and printer system comprising in combination: a light source; character image forming means positioned to intercept the light from said light source; means for directing the image from said character image forming means along two optical paths; an optical-to-thermal transducer positioned to intercept the image in one of said optical paths, for transforming said optical image into a corresponding heat image which image is adapted to be transferred to a heat sensitive material, said optical-to-thermal transducer comprised of: an optically transparent substrate; an electrode having a plurality of openings positioned on said substrate; a layer of photoconductive material positioned over said electrode and in said openings; a second electrode positioned on said layer of photoconductive material, said optically transparent electrode and said second elecTrode adapted to receive an electrical potential therebetween such that light impinging on said photoconductive material changes the resistance between said optically transparent electrode and said second electrode which in turn changes the current flow through said photoconductive material and the temperature of said photoconductive material; and a viewing screen positioned to intercept the image in the second of said optical paths.