One-dimensional scanner having staggered and overlapping electrodes

Claim 1

A one-dimensional scanner for use in an image producing device comprising: an upper electrode having a plurality of upper electrode elements arranged at a predetermined pitch and at a predetermined spacing from each other in a one-dimensional scanning direction; a lower electrode having a plurality of lower electrode elements arranged at a predetermined pitch and at a predetermined spacing from each other in said one-dimensional scanning direction in an opposed, spaced and staggered relation to said plurality of upper electrode elements so that each lower electrode element is positioned across two adjacent upper electrode elements thereby defining a first picture element region between said each lower electrode element and one of said two adjacent upper electrode elements and a second picture element region between said each lower electrode element and the other of said two adjacent upper electrode elements; a layer of electric-radiant-energy-converting material disposed between said upper electrode and said lower electrode; and one-dimensional scanning means adapted to select respective pairs of upper and lower electrode elements overlapping each other sequentially in said one-dimensional scanning direction, thereby selecting picture element regions one after another in said scanning direction, thereby effecting one-dimensional scanning; time serial electrical signals being applied to each pair of selected upper and lower electrodes whereby an image is reproduced on a recording medium by radiant energy.