US4675699A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Image-recording apparatus
Assignee: Canon Inc
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Filing: 1986-01-15
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Granted: 1987-06-23
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Expires: 2006-01-15
Abstract
Abstract An image-recording apparatus which comprises: (a) an image-recording medium comprising a pair of substrates and a thermo-optical liquid crystal provided between the pair of the substrates, (b) a heating means for uniformly heating the liquid crystal up to obtain an isotropic phase, (c) a means for applying an electrical field to the liquid crystal, and (d) a writing means for conducting writing by locally heating the image-recording medium.
Inventors
- 👤 Fumitaka Kan
- 👤 Naoji Hayakawa
- 👤 Toshiaki Majima
- 👤 Masanori Takenouchi
- 👤 Mitsuru Yamamoto
- 👤 Hidetoshi Suzuki
- 👤 Ichiro Nomura
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-29 21:19
CPC Classifications
G; G02; G02F; G02F1/00; G02F1/01; G02F1/13; G02F1/132; G02F1/133; G02F1/1333; G02F1/1334; G06; G06K; G06K1/00; G06K1/12; G06K1/126; G06K19/00; G06K19/02; G06K19/06; G06K19/06009; G06K2019/06215; G06K2019/06281
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 32
Claim 1
Independent Claim
73 words
An image-recording apparatus comprising: a. an image-recording medium comprising a pair of substrates and a thermo-optically transformable liquid crystal provided between the pair of substrates, b. a heating means for uniformly heating the liquid crystal to obtain an isotropic phase, c. a means for applying an electrical field to the liquid crystal, and d. a means for locally heating the image-recording medium by bringing a heating element into contact with the image-recording medium.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
73 words
An image-recording apparatus comprising: a. an image-recording medium comprising a pair of substrates and a thermo-optically transformable liquid crystal provided between the pair of substrates, b. a heating means for uniformly heating the liquid crystal to obtain an isotropic phase, c. a means for applying an electrical field to the liquid crystal, and d. a means for locally heating the image-recording medium by bringing a heating element into contact with the image-recording medium.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
15 words
An image-recording apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the heating element is a thermal head.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
21 words
An image-recording apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the means for applying the electrical field is provided with a corona charger.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
45 words
An image-recording apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the liquid crystal is a liquid crystal capable of undergoing phase transition from an isotropic phase successively to a nematic phase and then to a smectic phase by cooling after being heated to obtain the isotropic phase.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
16 words
An image-recording apparatus according to claim 4, wherein the smectic phase is a smectic A phase.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
16 words
An image-recording apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the liquid crystal contains a dichroic coloring matter.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
83 words
An image-recording apparatus comprising: a. an image-recording medium comprising a film of porous material, a pair of substrates having the film therebetween, and a thermo-optically transformable liquid crystal filled in the pores in the film, b. a heating means for uniformly heating the liquid crystal to obtain an isotropic phase, c. a means for applying an electrical field to the liquid crystal, and d. a means for locally heating the image-recording medium by bringing a heating element into contact with the image-recording medium.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
83 words
An image-recording apparatus comprising: a. an image-recording medium comprising a film of porous material, a pair of substrates having the film therebetween, and a thermo-optically transformable liquid crystal filled in the pores in the film, b. a heating means for uniformly heating the liquid crystal to obtain an isotropic phase, c. a means for applying an electrical field to the liquid crystal, and d. a means for locally heating the image-recording medium by bringing a heating element into contact with the image-recording medium.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
15 words
An image-recording apparatus according to claim 7, wherein the heating element is a thermal head.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
21 words
An image-recording apparatus according to claim 7, wherein the means for applying an electric field is provided with a corona charger.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
45 words
An image-recording apparatus according to claim 7, wherein the liquid crystal is a liquid crystal capable of undergoing phase transition from an isotropic phase successively to a nematic phase and then to a smectic phase by cooling after being heated to obtain the isotropic phase.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
16 words
An image-recording apparatus according to claim 10, wherein the smectic phase is a smectic A phase.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
19 words
An image-recording apparatus according to claim 7, wherein the porous material has an average pore diameter of 0.01-1 μm.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
18 words
An image-recording apparatus according to claim 7, wherein the porous material has a porosity of 50-75% by volume.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
16 words
An image-recording apparatus according to claim 7, wherein the porous material is a polymeric porous material.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
17 words
An image-recording apparatus according to claim 14, wherein the porous polymeric material is a polyfluoroethylene porous material.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
19 words
An image-recording apparatus according to claim 15, wherein the polyfluoroethylene porous material has a porosity of 50-75% by volume.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
17 words
An image-recording apparatus according to claim 14, wherein the polymeric porous material is a polychloroacrylnitrile porous material.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
19 words
An image-recording apparatus according to claim 17, wherein the polychloroacrylonitrile porous material has a porosity of 50-60% by volume.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
16 words
An image-recording apparatus according to claim 7, wherein the porous material is a ceramic sintered material.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
21 words
An image-recording apparatus according to claim 7, wherein at least one of the pair of the substrates is a flexible substrate.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
15 words
An image-recording apparatus according to claim 20, wherein the flexible substrate is a plastic film.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
16 words
An image-recording apparatus according to claim 21, wherein the plastic film is a polyethylene terephthalate film.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
26 words
An image-recording apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the means for applying an electrical field does not contact the image-recording medium when applying the electrical field.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
26 words
An image-recording apparatus according to claim 7, wherein the means for applying an electrical field does not contact the image-recording medium when applying the electrical field.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
70 words
An image-recording apparatus comprising: (a) an image-recording medium comprising a pair of substrates and a thermo-optically transformable liquid crystal provided between the pair of substrates, (b) a means for uniformly heating the liquid crystal to obtain an isotropic phase, (c) a means for applying an electrical field to the liquid crystal without contacting the image recording medium, and (d) a means for conducting writing by locally heating the image-recording medium.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
70 words
An image-recording apparatus comprising: (a) an image-recording medium comprising a pair of substrates and a thermo-optically transformable liquid crystal provided between the pair of substrates, (b) a means for uniformly heating the liquid crystal to obtain an isotropic phase, (c) a means for applying an electrical field to the liquid crystal without contacting the image recording medium, and (d) a means for conducting writing by locally heating the image-recording medium.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
21 words
An image-recording apparatus according to claim 25, wherein the means for applying an electrical field is provided with a corona charger.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
83 words
An image-recording apparatus comprising: (a) an image-recording medium comprising a thin film of a porous material, a pair of substrates holding the thin film therebetween, and a thermo-optically transformable liquid crystal filled in the pores of the thin film, (b) a means for uniformly heating the liquid crystal to obtain an isotropic phase, (c) a means for applying an electrical field to the liquid crystal without contacting the image-recording medium, and (d) a means for conducting writing by locally heating the image-recording medium.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
83 words
An image-recording apparatus comprising: (a) an image-recording medium comprising a thin film of a porous material, a pair of substrates holding the thin film therebetween, and a thermo-optically transformable liquid crystal filled in the pores of the thin film, (b) a means for uniformly heating the liquid crystal to obtain an isotropic phase, (c) a means for applying an electrical field to the liquid crystal without contacting the image-recording medium, and (d) a means for conducting writing by locally heating the image-recording medium.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
21 words
An image-recording apparatus according to claim 27, wherein the means for applying an electrical field is provided with a corona charger.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1990-06-22 | 1990-12-22 | 1991-06-23 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1994-06-22 | 1994-12-22 | 1995-06-23 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1998-06-22 | 1998-12-22 | 1999-06-23 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |