Electrosensitive recording method

Claim 1

A recording method comprising the steps of selectively applying electric current or discharge to an electrosensitive member comprising a substrate; an electrically conductive, light colored intermediate layer disposed on said substrate, the color of said intermediate layer being convertible to a darker color in response to the application of said electrical current or discharge thereto; and a white surface layer disposed directly on said intermediate layer, said white surface layer being no greater than approximately 10 microns thick; said electric current or discharge destroying said white surface layer to selectively expose said intermediate layer in accordance with an image to be recorded, said image resulting from the color contrast between the exposed and nonexposed portions of the intermediate layer, said electric current being selectively applied to said recording member by a stylus having a small contact area with said white layer, said electric current passing through said intermediate layer to a counter electrode in contact with said white layer, the contact area of said counter electrode with said white layer being substantially greater than the said contact area of said stylus with said white layer so that the white layer is not destroyed as current passes back to said counter electrode from said intermediate layer through said white layer.