JP3352531B2 - Optical sensor, information recording device, and information recording / reproducing method - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an optical sensor capable of recording optical information on an information recording medium in the form of visible information or electrostatic information. More specifically, the present invention relates to an optical sensor by mixing pigments having different spectral characteristics. The present invention relates to an optical sensor that exhibits panchromatic spectral sensitivity in an optical region, and to an information recording device and an information recording / reproducing method including the optical sensor and an information recording medium.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art An optical sensor comprising a photoconductive layer having an electrode on the front surface and an information recording medium comprising a charge holding layer having an electrode on the rear surface facing the optical sensor are arranged on the optical axis. Then, exposure is performed while applying a voltage between both electrode layers, according to the incident optical image, a method of recording an electrostatic charge on the charge holding layer, and developing the electrostatic charge by toner development or potential reading, For example, it is described in JP-A-1-290366 and JP-A-1-289975.
Further, the charge holding layer in the above method is a thermoplastic resin layer, heating after recording the electrostatic charge on the surface of the thermoplastic resin layer,
A method for visualizing electrostatic charges recorded by forming a frost image on the surface of a thermoplastic resin layer is described in, for example, JP-A-3-192288. Further, the present applicant and the like, the information recording layer in the information recording medium as a polymer-dispersed liquid crystal layer, and exposed at the time of voltage application as described above,
An information recording / reproducing method in which information is recorded by orienting a liquid crystal layer by an electric field formed by an optical sensor and reproducing information information as visible information by transmitted light or reflected light when reproducing the information recording is described in Japanese Patent Application No. 4-3394. No., Japanese Patent Application No. 4-
No. 24722 and Japanese Patent Application No. 5-266646. This information recording / reproducing method can visualize recorded information without using a deflection plate. In such an information recording method, a sufficiently satisfactory panchromatic spectral characteristic in a visible light region is required, and an optical sensor which can be used in a wider wavelength region is required.

[0003]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to a sensor used for forming information on an information recording medium having a liquid crystal phase and a resin phase as an information recording layer, and has a panchromatic spectral characteristic in a visible light region. It is an object to provide an optical sensor, an information recording device, and an information recording / reproducing method having the same.

[0004]

According to the present invention, there is provided an optical sensor having a photoconductive layer on an electrode and used for forming information on an information recording medium. When a voltage is applied in the state where information is exposed between the electrodes with the recording medium, or when information is exposed while the voltage is applied, information is recorded on the information recording medium with an intensity that is amplified to be higher than the current caused by the information exposure. In addition, the optical sensor has a function of exhibiting relaxation-type conductivity when a voltage is continuously applied even after the information exposure is completed, and has an action of continuing to record information on an information recording medium. An optical sensor in which a layer contains two or more compounds having different spectral sensitivities in a visible light region as charge generating substances. In an optical sensor having a photoconductive layer on an electrode and used for forming information on an information recording medium, the optical sensor faces an information recording medium in which an information recording layer capable of forming information by an electric field or a charge amount is laminated on the electrode. When a voltage is applied between the electrodes of the optical sensor and the information recording medium while the information is exposed, or when the information is exposed while the voltage is applied, the information recording medium is used. The electric field or the amount of charge applied to the information recording medium is amplified, the conductivity is maintained when the voltage is continuously applied even after the information exposure is completed, and the electric field or the amount of charge is continuously applied to the information recording medium. Wherein the photoconductive layer contains, as a charge-generating substance, two or more compounds having different spectral sensitivities in a visible light region. In the above-described optical sensor, the photoconductive layer is a single layer including at least a photoconductive substance, a charge transporting substance, and a binder resin. When voltage is applied, 1
0 during ⁵ -10 of the electric field strength of ⁶ V / cm is applied, which is the optical sensor passing current density at an unexposed portion is ^{10 -4 ~10 -7 A / cm 2} .

[0005] In the above-mentioned optical sensor, the photoconductive layer is formed by laminating a charge generation layer and a charge transport layer.

In an information recording apparatus for recording optical information on an information recording medium by information exposure, the above-mentioned optical sensor and an information recording medium having an information recording layer formed on electrodes are provided facing each other on an optical axis with a gap provided. Is an information recording apparatus in which a voltage can be applied between an electrode of an optical sensor and an electrode of an information recording medium.

In the above information recording device, the information recording layer comprises a liquid crystal phase and a resin phase. The information recording layer is made of a thermoplastic resin, and after a charge corresponding to the information exposure is applied to the information recording layer surface, the information recording layer is heated, and a frost image according to the information exposure is formed on the information recording layer surface. Information recording device. The information recording layer is formed of a charge holding layer, and the charge corresponding to the information exposure is applied to the information recording layer surface, and the charge corresponding to the information exposure is formed on the information recording layer surface, or the information recording layer surface The information recording device described above, wherein the electric charge formed in the recording medium is developed by toner. The above-mentioned information recording device, wherein the information recording layer has a memory property. When an electric field strength of 10 ⁵ to 10 ⁶ V / cm is applied to the optical sensor, the passing current density in the unexposed portion is 10 ⁻⁴ to 10 ⁻⁷ A / c.
m ² , and the specific resistance of the information recording medium is 10 ¹⁰ to 10 ¹³ Ω
Cm.

In an information recording apparatus in which a photoconductive layer, a dielectric layer, an information recording layer, and an upper electrode are sequentially laminated on a lower electrode,
The optical sensor unit including the lower electrode and the photoconductive layer is an information recording device including the above-described optical sensor and connected so that a voltage can be applied between the lower electrode and the upper electrode. The information recording device according to the above aspect, wherein the information recording layer of the information recording medium includes a liquid crystal phase and a resin phase.

In an information recording / reproducing method for recording optical information on an information recording medium by exposing information, the optical sensor and the information recording medium having an information recording layer formed on electrodes are used. One of the electrodes was a transparent electrode, and the optical sensor and the information recording medium were arranged on the optical axis with a gap therebetween, and a voltage was applied or a voltage was applied in a state where information was exposed between the two electrodes. This is an information recording / reproducing method in which information is recorded on an information recording medium by exposing the information in a state, and optical information recorded on the information recording medium as visible information by transmitted light or reflected light is reproduced. In an information recording method of recording optical information on an information recording medium by information exposure, an information recording medium in which an information recording layer made of a thermoplastic resin is formed on the optical sensor and the electrode is used, and the electric charge is exposed by the exposure of the optical information. This is an information recording / reproducing method of heating after being applied on the information recording layer, forming a frost image according to the information exposure, and reproducing optical information recorded on the information recording medium as visible information by transmitted light or reflected light. . In an information recording method of recording optical information on an information recording medium by information exposure, an information recording medium in which an information recording layer including a charge holding layer is formed on the optical sensor and the electrode is used. This is an information recording / reproducing method in which recorded optical information is read / reproduced by a potential sensor after being provided on the information recording layer.

[0010] In an information recording / reproducing method for recording optical information on an information recording medium by information exposure, an information recording medium having an information recording layer comprising a charge holding layer formed on the optical sensor and the electrode is used. This is an information recording / reproducing method in which, after a charge is applied to an information recording layer by exposure, recorded optical information is developed with toner, and optical information is reproduced as visible information by transmitted light or reflected light. In an information recording method for recording optical information on an information recording medium by information exposure, the information recording medium has a photoconductive layer, a dielectric layer, an information recording layer, and an upper electrode sequentially stacked on a lower electrode, and the lower electrode and the optical An optical sensor portion made of a conductive layer is made of the above-mentioned optical sensor, at least one of the lower electrode and the upper electrode is a transparent electrode, and a voltage is applied in a state where information is exposed between the lower electrode and the upper electrode. Alternatively, this is an information recording / reproducing method in which information is recorded on an information recording medium by exposure of optical information while applying a voltage, and optical information recorded on the information recording medium as visible information by transmitted light or reflected light is reproduced.

Hereinafter, the present invention will be described in detail. The optical sensor in the information recording device of the present invention has a photoconductive layer laminated on an electrode, and the photoconductive layer includes a single layer type and a laminated type in which a charge generation layer and a charge transport layer are laminated. .
The photoconductive layer generally has a function of generating photo-induced charge carriers (electrons and holes) in an irradiated portion when irradiated with light, and the carriers can move the layer width. In the optical sensor of the present invention, the electric field or the amount of charge applied to the information recording medium at the time of light irradiation on the optical sensor is amplified with time as the light irradiation is performed, and when the voltage is continuously applied even after the light irradiation is completed, the It has the effect of gradually increasing the conductivity, gradually decreasing the increased conductivity, and continuing to apply an electric field or electric charge to the information recording medium. The light-induced current amplification action in the optical sensor of the present invention will be described. As an optical sensor for measuring an amplification effect, in a photosensor in which an ITO electrode is provided on transparent glass and a photoconductive layer is stacked on the electrode, a 0.16 cm ² gold electrode is stacked on the photoconductive layer. A constant DC voltage is applied between the two electrodes with the ITO electrode as a positive electrode, and 0.5 seconds after the start of the voltage application, light is irradiated from the substrate side for 0.033 seconds, and the current value of the optical sensor during the measurement time is measured. Is measured from the start of light irradiation (t = 0). Irradiation light is selected from a xenon lamp (L2274, manufactured by Hamamatsu Photonics) and a green filter (manufactured by Nippon Vacuum Optical Co., Ltd.) to select and irradiate green light. Measured with 2
It shall be 0 looks. FIG. 5 shows the filter characteristics. When light is irradiated at this light intensity, 4.2 × 10 ¹¹ photons / cm ² seconds enter the photoconductive layer in consideration of the light transmittance of the transparent substrate, the ITO film, and the spectral characteristics of the filter. When all the incident photons are converted into optical carriers, a photocurrent of 1.35 × 10 ⁻⁶ A / cm ² per unit area is theoretically generated. Here, when measured by the measuring device, the theoretical photocurrent is compared with the photoinduced current actually generated by the optical sensor (the photoinduced current value actually generated by the optical sensor / theoretical photocurrent value). ) Is defined as the quantum efficiency of the optical sensor. The light-induced current is the current value of the light-irradiated part minus the base current value, which is the current flowing in the part not irradiated with light. This means that a current flows, which is different from a so-called photocurrent. The photo-induced current amplification action in the photo-sensor of the present invention is defined as such a behavior of the photo-induced current.

An optical sensor having a photo-induced current amplifying action and an optical sensor without a photo-induced current amplifying action (hereinafter referred to as a comparative sensor) according to the present invention will be described with reference to the measurement results obtained by the measuring apparatus. . First, the measurement results of the comparative sensor are shown in FIG. In FIG.
The (m) line indicates the theoretical value (1.35 × 10 ⁶ A / c).
m ² ), light irradiation is performed for 0.033 seconds at a reference line,
This shows a state in which voltage application is continued after light irradiation. The line (n) is an actual measurement line of an optical sensor having no photoinduced current amplifying action, and the increase in photocurrent during light irradiation is small, and the value is also a theoretical value (1.
35 × 10 ⁶ A / cm ² ), and the quantum efficiency in this comparative sensor is almost constant at 0.4. FIG. 7 shows changes in quantum efficiency during light irradiation. On the other hand, in the optical sensor of the present invention, as shown in FIG. 8, for example, the light-induced current increases during light irradiation, as shown in FIG. In seconds, the quantum efficiency exceeds 1,
It can be seen that the quantum efficiency continues to increase thereafter.

Further, in the comparative sensor, the photocurrent abruptly attenuates at the same time as the end of the light irradiation. Therefore, even if a voltage is continuously applied after the light irradiation, a current effective as optical information cannot be obtained. On the other hand, in the optical sensor of the present invention, the light-induced current continues to flow by continuing the voltage application even after the light irradiation, and subsequently, the light-induced current can be taken out and the optical information can be continuously obtained. be able to. Although the detailed reason is unknown, in the optical sensor of the present invention, all of the photoinduced charge carriers generated by the irradiation of the information light move in the layer width direction of the photoconductive layer in the voltage applied state. Instead, some of the photo-induced charge carriers are trapped in trap sites existing in the photoconductive layer or at the interface between the electrode and the photoconductive layer. In the applied state, in addition to the photocurrent generated by the exposure, the injection current from the electrode induced by the trapped charges flows, and the apparent photoinduced current amount is considered to be amplified with time. When the exposure is terminated while maintaining the voltage applied, the photocarriers generated by the exposure are immediately attenuated and disappear, but the decay of the trapped charge is slow, so that the induced charge is induced by the trapped charge. It is presumed that a sufficient amount of injection current flows from the electrode while attenuating. This photo-induced current is an effect of current amplification triggered by light in the optical sensor of the present invention, and a current larger than a photocurrent caused by incident light expected from a normal photoconductor flows. Optical information can be provided effectively to

The photosensor of the present invention is preferably semiconductive as a whole, and preferably has a specific resistance in darkness of 10 ⁹ Ω · cm to 10 ¹³ Ω · cm based on the density of flowing current. In particular, when the specific resistance is in the range of 10 ¹⁰ to 10 ¹¹ Ω · cm, the amplification effect is remarkable. An optical sensor having a specific resistance of more than 10 ¹³ Ω · cm does not exhibit an amplifying effect as in the optical sensor of the present invention in an electric field intensity range of 10 ⁵ to 10 ⁶ V / cm. In the case of an optical sensor having a specific resistance of less than 10 ⁹ Ω · cm, a very large amount of current flows, and noise due to the current is likely to occur, which is not preferable. On the other hand, a photosensitive element used for general electrophotography has a dark resistivity of 10 ¹⁴ to 10 ¹⁴ .
10 ¹⁶ Omega · and are used ones cm, the light sensor of the present invention in an electrophotographic can not achieve its purpose, also the light generally dark resistivity for electrophotography has a large photoconductive layer Sensors cannot be used for the purposes of the present invention. Also, the specific resistance ρ (Ωcm) of the optical sensor
Ρ = (E · d / J ·) between the thickness d of the photosensor, the electrode area S, and the applied electric field strength E (V / cm) between the current density J and the current density J (A / cm ² ). Since the relational expression of S) × (S / d) = E / J holds, it can be obtained from the applied electric field intensity and the current density. In each embodiment of the present invention,
Expressed by current density.

Further, when the information recording layer of the information recording medium is a polymer dispersion type liquid crystal, it is necessary to set the sensitivity of the optical sensor in the operating voltage range of the liquid crystal.
That is, the contrast voltage, which is the difference between the potential (bright potential) applied to the information recording medium in the exposed part and the potential (dark potential) applied to the information recording medium in the unexposed part, is the operating voltage of the liquid crystal in the information recording medium. It is necessary to take a certain size in the area. Therefore, for example, the dark potential applied to the liquid crystal layer in the unexposed portion of the optical sensor needs to be set to about the operation start potential of the liquid crystal. Therefore, the resistivity of the information recording medium is 10 ¹⁰ to 10 ¹³ Ω ·
cm, and a conductivity is required to generate a base current of 10 ^-4 to 10 ^-7 A / cm ^{2 when} an electric field of 10 ⁵ to 10 ⁶ V / cm is applied to the optical sensor. The range is preferably 10 ^-5 to 10 ^-6 A / cm ² . In an optical sensor having a base current of less than 10 ^-7 A / cm ² , the liquid crystal layer is not aligned even in the exposed state, and in an optical sensor having a base current of 10 ^-4 A / cm ² or more, the voltage is simultaneously applied even in the unexposed state. A large amount of current flows, the liquid crystal is oriented, and even when exposed, no difference in transmittance is obtained between the unexposed portion and the unexposed portion. In addition, since the operating voltage and the range vary depending on the liquid crystal, it is necessary to consider the voltage distribution in the information recording medium when setting the applied voltage and the voltage application time.

A description will be given of a single-layer optical sensor in which the photoconductive layer of the optical sensor according to the present invention is composed of a single layer. FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view for explaining a single-layer optical sensor, in which 13 is an electrode, 14 is a photoconductive layer, and 15 is a substrate. The photoconductive layer 14 is formed from an inorganic photoconductive substance or an organic photoconductive substance. Examples of the inorganic photoconductive material include Se, Se—Te, ZnO, TiO ² , Si, and CdS.
A plurality of these are combined and deposited on the electrode to a thickness of 1 to 30 μm, preferably 3 to 20 μm by vapor deposition, sputtering, CVD or the like. Further, inorganic photoconductive substance as fine particles, as a binder resin, for example, silicone resin, polycarbonate resin, vinyl formal resin, vinyl acetal resin, vinyl butyral resin, styrene resin, styrene-butadiene copolymer resin, epoxy resin, acrylic resin Resin, saturated or unsaturated polyester resin, methacrylic resin, vinyl chloride resin, vinyl acetate resin, vinyl chloride-vinyl acetate copolymer resin, and the like.Each of the binder resins may be used alone or in combination. it can. In this case, the photoconductive fine particles may be dispersed in a proportion of 0.1 to 10 parts by weight, preferably 1 to 5 parts by weight, based on 1 part by weight of the resin.

The organic photoconductive substance includes a polymer photoconductive substance and a dispersion of a low molecular weight photoconductive substance in an insulating binder. Examples of the polymer photoconductive substance include polyvinyl carbazole (PVK), and poly-N-ethylenically unsaturated group substitution containing an ethylenically unsaturated group such as an allyl group or an acryloxyalkyl group instead of a vinyl group in PVK. There are also carbazoles, poly-N-ethylenically unsaturated group-substituted phenothiazines such as poly-N-acrylphenothiazine, poly-N- (β-acryloxy) phenothiazine, polyvinylpyrene and the like. Examples of the low-molecular-weight photoconductive substance include oxadiazoles substituted with an alkylaminophenyl group and the like, triphenylmethane derivatives, hydrazone derivatives, butadiene derivatives, stilbene derivatives, and the like. Can be used in combination.

Further, the charge-generating substance and the charge-transporting substance used in the photosensor with the photoconductive layer are 1: 1 to 1: 1.
0, preferably 1: 2 to 1: 5. For 1 part by weight of these organic photoconductive substances,
0.1 to 10 parts by weight of the electrically insulating resin, preferably 0.1
It may be dispersed in about 1 part by weight to form a film-forming organic photoconductive layer. The film thickness of these organic photoconductive layers after drying is 1 to 50 μm, preferably 3 to 20 μm, on the electrode. By setting the film thickness in this range, the optical sensor shows good sensitivity and image quality.

Next, the laminated optical sensor will be described. FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view for explaining the stacked optical sensor. FIG. 13 is an electrode, 14 ′ is a charge generation layer, 14 ″ is a charge transport layer, and 15 is a substrate. As shown in the figure, the stacked optical sensor is formed by sequentially stacking a charge generation layer and a charge transport layer on an electrode. The charge generation layer 14 'includes a charge generation substance and a binder. Examples of the charge-generating substance include pyrylium-based dyes, thiapyrylium-based dyes, azurenium-based dyes, cyanine-based dyes, chaotin-based dyes such as azurenium-based dyes, squarylium salt-based dyes, phthalocyanine-based pigments, perylene-based pigments, and pyranthrone-based dyes as described below. Dyes and pigments such as polycyclic quinone pigments such as pigments, indigo pigments, quinacridone pigments, pyrrole pigments, and azo pigments can be used.

Further, in the photosensor of the present invention, by using a plurality of charge-generating substances in combination in the photoconductive layer, the sensitivity characteristics in the visible light region can be improved. Recording characteristics can be improved. Further, by selecting a charge generating substance to be used in combination, it is possible to obtain an optical sensor having a sensitivity at 350 to 900 nm including near ultraviolet and near infrared regions near the visible light region, Can be expanded. When the photoconductive layer is formed from a single layer, a plurality of charge generating substances can be used in combination in a single photoconductive layer, and when the photoconductive layer has a laminated structure. , A plurality of charge generating substances can be used in combination in the charge generating layer.

[0021]

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[0022]

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[0023]

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The azo pigments that can be used include many azo pigments. Particularly preferred azo pigments have a chemical structure determined by the central skeleton A and the coupler portion Cp.

[0025]

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As a specific example of A, the following can be mentioned.

[0027]

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[0028]

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[0029]

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[0030]

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As a specific example of Cp,

[0032]

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[0033]

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[0034]

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And the like. An azo dye suitable as a charge generating substance can be obtained by appropriately combining the central skeleton A and the coupler Cp.

As the binder resin, for example, silicone resin, polycarbonate resin, vinyl formal resin, vinyl acetal resin, vinyl butyral resin, styrene resin, styrene-butadiene copolymer resin, epoxy resin, acrylic resin, saturated or unsaturated polyester resin And a methacrylic resin, a vinyl chloride resin, a vinyl acetate resin, a vinyl chloride-vinyl acetate copolymer resin, and the like, and a binder resin can be used alone or in combination of two or more. The mixing ratio of the charge generating agent and the binder resin is such that the binder is used in an amount of 0.1 to 10 parts by weight, preferably 0.1 part by weight, per 1 part by weight of the charge generating agent.
It is desirable to use it in a ratio of 2 to 1 part by weight. The charge generation layer has a thickness of 0.01 to 1 μm, preferably 0.1 to 0.5 μm after drying, and good sensitivity and image quality are exhibited by such a thickness.

The charge transport layer 14 ″ is composed of a charge transport material and a binder. The charge transporting substance is a substance having a good property of transporting the charge generated in the charge generation layer, such as oxadiazole, oxazole, triazole, thiazole, triphenylmethane, styryl, pyrazoline, and hydrazone. System, aromatic amine system, carbazole system, polyvinyl carbazole system, stilbene system, enamine system, azine system, biphenylamine system, triphenylamine system, butadiene system, polyaromatic compound system, stilbene duplex, etc. It is necessary to use a material with good characteristics.

As the binder resin, those similar to the binder resin in the charge generation layer described above, and further, a polyarylate resin and a phenoxy resin can be used, and a styrene resin, a styrene-butadiene copolymer resin, and a polycarbonate resin are preferable. . The binder is used in an amount of 0.1 to 10 parts by weight, preferably 0.1 to 1 part by weight, based on 1 part by weight of the charge transporting substance. The thickness of the charge transport layer after drying is 1 to 50 μm, and preferably 3 to 20 μm. With such a thickness, good sensitivity and image quality can be obtained.
Further, the above-described charge transporting substances that can be formed into a film by an evaporation method can be formed alone without using a binder resin.

The electrodes 13, it is necessary to have a transparency if opaque information recording medium to be described later, transparent if the information recording medium has a transparency may be either opaque, 10 ⁶ Omega · cm, a material that stably provides a specific resistance of not more than 1 cm, such as gold, platinum, zinc, titanium, copper, iron, and a thin film conductive film of tin, tin oxide, indium oxide, zinc oxide,
A metal oxide conductive film such as titanium oxide, tungsten oxide, or vanadium oxide, an organic conductive film such as a quaternary ammonium salt, or the like can be used alone or as a composite material of two or more types. Of these, oxide conductors are preferred, and indium-tin composite oxide (ITO) is particularly preferred. The electrode 13 is formed by evaporation, sputtering, CVD, coating, plating, dipping,
It is formed by a method such as electric field polymerization. Further, the film thickness needs to be changed depending on the electric characteristics of the material constituting the electrode and the applied voltage at the time of information recording. For example, an ITO film has a thickness of about 10 to 300 nm, Alternatively, it is formed according to an arbitrary pattern. Further, two or more kinds of materials can be stacked and used.

The substrate 15 needs to have transparency if the information recording medium described later is opaque. If the information recording medium has transparency, it may be transparent or opaque. It has a shape of a tape, a sheet, a disk, or the like, and strongly supports the optical sensor. If the optical sensor itself has a supporting property, it is not necessary to provide it. However, the material and thickness are not particularly limited as long as the optical sensor has a certain strength capable of supporting the optical sensor. For example, a flexible plastic film, or a plastic sheet or card of glass, polyethylene, polypropylene, polyethylene terephthalate, polymethyl methacrylate, polymethyl acrylate, polyester, polycarbonate, or the like is used. In addition, if the electrode 13 is transparent, a layer having an antireflection effect is laminated on the other surface of the substrate on which the electrode 13 is provided, or a layer having an antireflection effect is formed, if necessary. It is preferable to provide an anti-reflection property by adjusting the transparent substrate or by combining the two.

In the photoconductive layer, an electron accepting substance, a sensitizing dye,
An antioxidant, an ultraviolet absorber, a light stabilizer and the like may be added. The electron-accepting substance and the sensitizing dye have effects such as adjustment of base current, stabilization of base current, and sensitization. Examples of the electron-accepting substance include compounds listed as nitro-substituted benzenes, amino-substituted benzenes, halogen-substituted benzenes, substituted naphthalenes, benzoquinones, nitro-substituted fluorenones, chloranyls, and charge-transporting substances. Triphenylmethane dye as the sensitizing dye,
Pyrylium salt dyes, xanthene dyes, leuco dyes and the like.

The antioxidants include phenolic antioxidants, sulfur antioxidants and phosphorus antioxidants, and the ultraviolet absorbers include salicylic acid ultraviolet absorbers, benzophenone ultraviolet absorbers and benzotriazole ultraviolet absorbers. Examples of the absorber and the cyanoacrylate-based ultraviolet absorber, and examples of the light stabilizer include an ultraviolet stabilizer and a hindered amine-based light stabilizer. The electron-accepting substance and the sensitizing dye each contained 0.001 to 1 part by weight of the photoconductive substance.
10 to 10 parts by weight, preferably 0.01 to 1 part by weight. When the amount is less than 0.001 part by weight, no action is exhibited. When the amount is more than 10 parts by weight, the image quality is adversely affected. The antioxidant, the ultraviolet absorber, and the light stabilizer may be used alone or in combination of two or more.
It is added at a ratio of 0.001 to 10 parts by weight, preferably 0.01 to 1 part by weight based on parts by weight. If the amount is less than 0.001 part by weight, the effect of adding these substances cannot be obtained. If the amount is more than 10 parts by weight, the image quality is adversely affected. In the case of a stacked optical sensor, it can be added to the charge generation layer and the charge transport layer at the same ratio.
Preferably, these substances are added to the charge generation layer.

Further, a photo-induced current amplification layer may be provided between the electrode of the optical sensor and the photoconductive layer. The photo-induced current amplification layer is provided between the electrode 13 and the photoconductive layer 14 or the charge generation layer 14 ', and the detailed reason is unknown,
The voltage applied to the information recording medium is substantially controlled by controlling the action of amplifying the current generated by the light induction in the optical sensor and controlling the charge carrier injection property from the electrode 13 to the photoconductive layer 14 or the charge generation layer 14 ′. The action of adjusting and from the electrode 13 to the photoconductive layer 14 or the charge generation layer 14 ′
It has the function of making the charge carrier injectability into the recording medium uniform and reducing the noise and unevenness of information recorded on the information recording medium. For the photo-induced current amplification layer, those similar to the binder resin in the charge generation layer described above can be used. For example, silicone resin, polycarbonate resin, vinyl formal resin, vinyl acetal resin, vinyl butyral resin, styrene resin, styrene resin Butadiene copolymer resin, epoxy resin, acrylic resin, saturated or unsaturated polyester resin, methacrylic resin, vinyl chloride resin,
Examples thereof include a vinyl acetate resin and a vinyl chloride-vinyl acetate copolymer resin, and a binder resin can be used alone or in combination of a plurality of binder resins. further,
Soluble polyamide, phenolic resin, polyurethane, polyurea, casein, polypeptide, polyvinyl alcohol, polyvinylpyrrolidone, maleic anhydride polymer, quaternary ammonium salt-containing polymer, cellulose compound, etc. can be used. Can be used alone or in combination. Particularly, a vinyl formal resin, a vinyl acetal resin, and a vinyl butyral resin are preferable.

The thickness of the photo-induced current amplification layer is 0.005 to
The thickness is 5 μm, preferably 0.05 to 0.5 μm, and can be applied by a method such as dip coating, roll coating, and spin coating. 0.0
When the thickness is less than 05 μm, the effect of reducing image noise is lost, and when the thickness is more than 5 μm, injection of charge carriers from the electrode to the charge generation layer is hindered. In addition, various electron-accepting substances, photoconductive substances, inorganic salts, and organic salts are added to the photo-induced current amplification layer as necessary, and the additives may be used alone or in combination of two or more. Can be.

As the electron accepting substance, for example, 1,3
-Substituted benzenes represented by dinitrobenzene, substituted naphthalenes, p-benzoquinone, 2,5-dichloro-
substituted and unsubstituted benzoquinones represented by p-benzoquinone, 2,3-dichloro-5,6-dicyano-p-benzoquinone, substituted and unsubstituted naphthoquinones, substituted and unsubstituted anthraquinones, 2,4,7- Substituted fluorenones represented by trinitrofluorenone, 2,4,5,7-tetranitrofluorenone, chloranil represented by p-chloranyl, o-chloranil, 7,
Substituted quinodimethanes represented by 7,8,8-tetracyanoquinodimethane can be mentioned.

As the photoconductive substance, the above-mentioned inorganic and organic photoconductive substances in a single-layer system and the charge-generating substances in a multilayer system can be used. For example, the inorganic photoconductive substances include Se and Se. -Te, ZnO, Ti
Examples thereof include O ₂ , Si, Si doped with sulfur, oxygen, and the like, CdS, and the like. These may be used as fine particles alone or in combination with a plurality of binder resins. Among the organic photoconductive materials, examples of the polymer photoconductive material include polyvinyl carbazole (PVK) and poly-N containing an ethylenically unsaturated group such as an allyl group or an acryloxyalkyl group instead of a vinyl group in PVK. -Ethylenically unsaturated group-substituted carbazoles, and poly-N-ethylenically unsaturated group-substituted phenothiazines such as poly-N-acrylphenothiazine and poly-N- (β-acryloxy) phenothiazine, and polyvinylpyrene. . Among the organic photoconductive substances, examples of the low molecular weight photoconductive substance include oxadiazoles substituted with an alkylaminophenyl group, a triphenylmethane derivative, a hydrazone derivative, a butadiene derivative, and a stilbene derivative.

Examples of the charge-generating substance include chaotic dyes such as pyrylium dyes, thiapyrylium dyes, azurenium dyes, cyanine dyes, azurenium dyes, and the like.
Single or multiple dyes and pigments such as squarylium salt dyes, phthalocyanine pigments, perylene pigments, polycyclic quinone pigments such as pyranthrone pigments, indigo pigments, quinatoridone pigments, pyrrole pigments, azo pigments, etc. Can be used in combination.

The inorganic salts and the organic salts include lithium,
Sodium, potassium, magnesium, calcium, metal ions such as aluminum, quaternary ammonium ions, perchlorates having a cationic species such as an organic ion, borofluoride and thiocyanate, nitrate, carboxylate,
Sulfonates, halides and the like. These additives are used in an amount of 0.00 parts by weight based on 1 part by weight of the binder resin.
1 to 10 parts by weight, preferably 0.05 to 5 parts by weight, each additive can be used alone or in combination of a plurality of additives, particularly, a combination of substituted benzoquinones and azo pigments It is preferable to use a combination of an electron-accepting compound and an organic photoconductive pigment as described above, since a large amplification action can be obtained.

The information recording medium 2 will be described. First,
Examples of the information recording medium in the present invention include a case where the information recording layer is a polymer-dispersed liquid crystal. The polymer-dispersed liquid crystal has a structure in which resin particles are dispersed in a liquid crystal phase. As a liquid crystal material, a smectic liquid crystal, a nematic liquid crystal, a cholesteric liquid crystal, or a mixture thereof can be used. As the liquid crystal, it is preferable to use a smectic liquid crystal from the viewpoint of so-called memory property that retains the orientation and retains information permanently.
As a smectic liquid crystal, a liquid crystal material exhibiting a smectic A phase such as a cyanobiphenyl-based, cyanota-phenyl-based, phenylester-based, and fluorine-based liquid crystal material having a long terminal carbon group is used as a ferroelectric liquid crystal. Liquid crystal material exhibiting a smectic C phase or a liquid crystal material exhibiting smectic H, G, E, F or the like.

The material for forming the resin particles is, for example, an ultraviolet-curable resin which is compatible with the liquid crystal material in the form of a monomer or an oligomer, or a solvent which is common to the liquid crystal material in the form of a monomer or an oligomer. The one having compatibility with is preferably used. Examples of such an ultraviolet-curable resin include acrylic acid esters and methacrylic acid esters. In addition, a solvent-soluble thermosetting resin having compatibility with a liquid crystal material and a common solvent, such as an acrylic resin, a methacrylic resin, a polyester resin, a polystyrene resin, and a copolymer based on these, an epoxy resin, a silicone resin Etc. may be used. The content ratio of the liquid crystal material and the resin is such that the content of the liquid crystal is 10% by weight to 90% by weight, preferably 40% by weight to 8% by weight.
The amount is preferably 0% by weight, and if it is less than 10% by weight, the light transmittance is low even if the liquid crystal phase is oriented by information recording, and if it exceeds 90% by weight, phenomena such as bleeding of the liquid crystal may occur. This causes image unevenness, which is not preferable. Since the thickness of the information recording layer affects the resolution, the thickness after drying is 0.1
The thickness is preferably from 10 μm to 10 μm, and more preferably from 3 μm to 8 μm, and the operating voltage can be reduced while maintaining high resolution. If the film thickness is too thin, the contrast of the information recording section is low, and if it is too thick, the operating voltage is undesirably high.

As shown in FIG. 3, this information recording medium is opposed to the above-mentioned optical sensor via an insulating resin film spacer 19 such as polyimide.
3, 13 'are connected via a voltage source V to form a first information recording device. The electrodes 13, 13 'in this device are:
Any one or both may be transparent. Next, the second information recording device will be described. FIG. 4 is a sectional view showing a second information recording apparatus according to the present invention. In FIG. 4, reference numeral 20 denotes a dielectric layer, and the same reference numerals as those in FIG. 2 denote the same contents. The second information recording device is a device in which the optical sensor and the information recording medium in the first information recording device are opposed to each other with a dielectric layer 20 interposed therebetween, and are directly laminated.
The second information recording device is particularly suitable when the photoconductive layer in the optical sensor is formed by coating using a solvent,
When the information recording layer is formed directly on the photoconductive layer by application, liquid crystal in the information recording layer is eluted due to their interaction, and image unevenness due to elution of the photoconductive material by the solvent for forming the information recording layer is reduced. The optical sensor and the information recording medium can be integrated. In forming the dielectric layer 20, it is necessary that the dielectric layer 20 has no solubility in any of the photoconductive layer forming material and the information recording layer forming material, and it is necessary that the dielectric layer 20 does not have conductivity. In the case of having conductivity, insulation is required because space charges are diffused and resolution is deteriorated. Further, since the dielectric layer lowers the distribution voltage applied to the liquid crystal layer or deteriorates the resolution, it is preferable that the film thickness is thinner, and it is preferable that the film thickness be 2 μm or less. In addition to the occurrence of image noise due to the interaction, there is a problem of penetration due to defects such as pinholes during the layer coating. Since the permeability due to defects such as pinholes varies depending on the solid content ratio of the material to be laminated and the type of solvent and the viscosity, the film thickness of the material to be laminated is appropriately set, but it is preferable that the film thickness be at least 10 μm or less. , Preferably 0.1 to 3 μm. Further, in consideration of the distribution of voltage applied to each layer, a material having a high dielectric constant as well as a thin film is preferable.

As a material for forming the dielectric layer, inorganic materials such as SiO ₂ , TiO ₂ , CeO ₂ , Al ₂ O ₃ , G
eO ₂ , Si ₃ N ₄ , AlN, TiN, MgF ₂ , Zn
S, a combination of silicon dioxide and titanium dioxide, a combination of zinc sulfide and magnesium fluoride, a combination of aluminum oxide and germanium, and the like may be used to form a layer by vapor deposition, sputtering, CVD, or the like. Alternatively, a water-soluble resin having low compatibility with an organic solvent, for example, an aqueous solution of polyvinyl alcohol, aqueous polyurethane, water glass, or the like may be used, and the layers may be laminated by a spin coating method, a blade coating method, a roll coating method, or the like. Further, a fluororesin which can be applied may be used. In this case, the fluororesin may be dissolved in a fluorinated solvent and applied by a spin coating method, or may be laminated by a blade coating method, a roll coating method or the like. As the fluororesin which can be applied, for example, a fluororesin disclosed in JP-A-4-24722 and the like, and an organic material such as polyparaxylylene which is formed into a film in a vacuum system can be preferably used.

Next, an information recording method in the first and second information recording devices of the present invention will be described. FIG.
FIG. 3 is a diagram for explaining an information recording method in the first information recording device of the present invention. The same applies to the second information recording device. In the figure, 11 is an information recording layer, 13 is an electrode of an optical sensor, 13 'is an electrode of an information recording medium, 14 is a photoconductive layer, 21 is a light source, 22 is a shutter having a driving mechanism, 23 is a pulse generator serving as a power supply, 24 indicates a dark box. When information light is incident from the light source 21 while applying an appropriate voltage between the electrodes 13 and 13 ′ by the pulse generator 23, the photoconductive layer 1 in the portion where the light is incident is formed.
The photocarriers generated in step 4 move to the interface on the information recording layer 11 side by the electric field formed by the two electrodes, redistribution of the voltage is performed, the liquid crystal layer in the information recording layer 11 is oriented, and the pattern of the information light is changed. Is recorded in accordance with.

According to the information recording method of the present invention, it is possible to perform analog recording on the surface and to obtain recording at the liquid crystal level, so that high-resolution recording is achieved, and the exposure pattern is visualized by the orientation of the liquid crystal phase. Is held. As a form of the information recording apparatus, there are a method using a camera and a recording method using a laser. As a method using a camera, an information recording medium is used instead of a photographic film used in a normal camera, and a recording member is used. An optical shutter can be used, and an electric shutter can also be used. It is a good thing. In addition, the optical information is separated into R, G, and B light components by a prism and a color filter, extracted as parallel light, and one frame is formed by three information recording media for each of R, G, and B, or By recording R, G, and B images on different portions of one information recording medium to form one frame, color photographing can be performed. As a recording method using a laser, as a light source, an argon laser (514.488 nm), a helium-neon laser (633 nm), a semiconductor laser (780 nm,
810 nm, etc.), and scans laser exposure corresponding to image signals, character signals, code signals, and line drawing signals. Analog recording such as images,
Digital recording such as characters, codes, and line drawings is performed by modulating the laser light intensity.
This is performed by F control. In the case where a halftone dot is formed in an image, a dot generator ON-OF is applied to the laser beam.
It is formed by F control.

As shown in FIG. 11, the exposure information recorded on the information recording medium is separated from the information recording medium in the case of the first information recording apparatus, and is left unchanged in the case of the first information recording apparatus. When information is reproduced by the transmitted light, the light A is transmitted because the liquid crystal is oriented in the direction of the electric field in the information recording portion, whereas the light B is scattered in the portion where the information is not recorded, and the information recording portion is not scattered. Contrast can be obtained. Further, reading may be performed by reflected light via a light reflecting layer. FIG.
In the first information recording apparatus, for example, this laminated body is mounted in place of the film of an imaging camera (RB67 manufactured by Mamiya), and a DC voltage of 700 V is applied between both electrodes of the optical sensor and the information recording medium. Is applied for 0.04 seconds, and at the same time, the gray scale is projected and exposed from the optical sensor side for 1/30 second, so that the information recording layer of the information recording medium has a recording unit including a light transmitting portion corresponding to the gray scale. It is formed and can record information. Next, the information recorded on the information recording medium is read by a film scanner using an information output device constructed as shown in FIG. 12, and the information is read by a sublimation transfer printer (SP-55 manufactured by Victor Company of Japan, Limited).
By outputting information by using (00), it is possible to obtain a good printed matter corresponding to the gray scale.

The information recorded by the orientation of the liquid crystal is visible information that can be visually read, but it can also be read by enlarging it with a projector, so that laser scanning,
Alternatively, information can be read with high accuracy using a CCD. Note that scattered light can be prevented by using a schlieren optical system as needed. As described above, as an information recording medium, the recording by information exposure is visualized by the orientation of liquid crystal. By selecting a combination of liquid crystal and resin, the information is oriented once, and the visualized information is not erased. Properties can be imparted. Further, when heated to a high temperature near the isotropic phase transition, the memory property can be erased, so that it can be used for information recording again.

As an information recording medium in an information recording apparatus, for example, JP-A-3-7942, JP-A-5-1077
No. 75, JP-A-5-107776, JP-A-5-107
777, JP-A-4-70842 and the like may use an electrostatic information recording medium having a charge holding layer as an information recording layer. In this case, information is stored in the information recording medium by electrostatic charge. Therefore, the electrostatic charge can be developed by toner, or the electrostatic charge can be reproduced by potential reading as described in, for example, JP-A-1-290366. Also, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No.
No. 6347, etc., an information recording medium having a thermoplastic resin layer as an information recording layer may be used. In this case, after accumulating information on the surface in the form of electrostatic charge as described above, By heating the thermoplastic resin layer, information can be accumulated as a frost layer, and the information can be reproduced as visible information.

[0058]

An optical sensor used for recording optical information on an information recording medium according to the present invention has a photoconductive layer laminated on an electrode, is semiconductive, and has been exposed to information with the information recording medium. When a voltage is applied in this state, or when information is exposed while a voltage is applied, the electric field or the amount of electric charge applied to the information recording medium is amplified. And the action of continuously applying an electric field or a charge amount to the information recording medium. In addition, the photosensor of the present invention includes two or more types of charge-generating substances having different spectral sensitivities in the photoconductive layer of the optical sensor, so that the spectral sensitivity characteristics of the respective charge-generating substances are matched. The sensitivity is shown by the light sensor. As a result, when information is recorded on the information recording medium using the optical sensor of the present invention, panchromatic information recording becomes possible.

[0059]

【Example】

Example 1 (Preparation of stacked optical sensor) Thickness 1.1 m sufficiently washed
surface resistance of 8 m on a glass substrate by sputtering
An ITO film having a thickness of 0 Ω / port and a thickness of 100 nm was formed to obtain an electrode. The electrode was cleaned with a scrubber cleaner (trade name: Plate Cleaner Model 602 Ultratech) for 2 seconds of pure water injection, 20 seconds of scrubber cleaning, 15 seconds of pure water rinsing, 25 seconds of water removal by high-speed rotation, and 55 seconds of infrared drying. The washing process was performed twice. On this electrode, the following structure as a charge generating substance

[0060]

Embedded image

2 parts by weight of a fluorenone azo pigment having the following chemical structure

[0062]

Embedded image

Is mixed with 98 parts by weight of 1,4-dioxane and 98 parts by weight of cyclohexanone, and 1 part by weight of a disazo pigment having the above formula and 1 part by weight of a polyester resin (Vylon 200, manufactured by Toyobo Co., Ltd.) as a binder resin. Mix well with a shaker to obtain a coating solution,
The solution was applied with a spinner at 1400 rpm for 0.4 second, air-dried, and then dried at 100 ° C. for 1 hour to form a charge generation layer having a thickness of 0.3 μm. Next, on the charge generation layer, a charge transporting substance having the following structure

[0064]

Embedded image

25 parts by weight of para-dimethylstilbene having a polystyrene resin (HRM manufactured by Denki Kagaku Kogyo KK)
-3) 5 parts by weight and 68 parts by weight of dichloromethane, 1,1,1
102 parts by weight of 2-trichloroethane were uniformly dissolved to form a coating solution, and the solution was applied with a spinner at 400 rpm for 0.4 seconds, until a film was formed on the surface of the coating film and the surface of the coating film did not adhere. The present invention having a photoconductive layer having a thickness of 20 μm, comprising a charge generation layer and a charge transport layer, wherein the charge transport layer is laminated by drying at 80 ° C. for 2 hours after standing in a windless state for leveling drying. Was fabricated. The electrical characteristics of the optical sensor were evaluated using a measurement circuit shown in FIG. As corresponding to the information recording medium as shown in FIG. 13, connected to the condenser C1 and R _1, a C _1, R ₁ respectively 1000M, 1
It was set to 50 pF. In this measurement circuit, a voltage of 600 V was applied so that the optical sensor side became a positive electrode, and at the same time, the spectrum of FIG.
After irradiating the light with the light for 0.17 seconds, the light irradiation was stopped, and thereafter, the voltage application was continued for 0.1 seconds including the light irradiation time. Was calculated potential accumulated in the C ₁ than the current flowing through the R ₁ to cancel the voltage applied from the time of light irradiation. The result is shown in FIG. 14 as a bright part. The horizontal axis is time, and the vertical axis is C ₁
Is the voltage applied to. FIG. 14 shows the result of the same measurement using the same apparatus without irradiating light, as a dark area.

Of the two curves in FIG. 6, the upper line represents the change in potential applied to the liquid crystal medium in the bright part.
The lower line indicates the change in the potential applied to the liquid crystal medium in the dark part, and the potential difference between the bright part and the dark part at the point when 0.04 seconds have elapsed since the start of the measurement was defined as the contrast potential. FIG. 15 shows the result of measuring the spectral sensitivity of the optical sensor. This is a method in which the xenon lamp light source is spectrally separated by an interference filter in the above-described measurement method to obtain a contrast potential at each wavelength. The curve shown in FIG. 15 corresponds to the curve shown in FIG.
And 17 are superimposed, and the spectral sensitivity is 35
It became an optical sensor ranging from 0 to 900 nm.

Comparative Example 1 An optical sensor was manufactured in the same manner as in Example 1 except that no disazo pigment was used, and the result of measurement of spectral sensitivity characteristics is shown in FIG. Comparative Example 2 Example 1 except that no fluorenone azo pigment was included.
FIG. 17 shows the results obtained by manufacturing an optical sensor and measuring the spectral sensitivity characteristics in the same manner as described above.

Example 2 A conductive layer was formed on a glass substrate having a thickness of 1.1 mm as a conductive layer.
An ITO film having a thickness of 00 nm was formed by sputtering, and after obtaining electrodes, the surface was cleaned. On this electrode, 40 parts by weight of a polyfunctional monomer (dipentaerythrol hexaacrylate, manufactured by Toagosei Chemical Industry Co., Ltd., M-400) and a photo-curing initiator (2-hydroxy-2-methyl-1-phenylpropane-1) 2 parts by weight, liquid crystal 50 parts by weight (90% of smectic liquid crystal (Merck, S-6), 10% of nematic liquid crystal (Merck, E31LV)); Surfactant (Florard FC-43, manufactured by Sumitomo 3M Limited)
0) A coating solution obtained by uniformly dissolving 3 parts by weight in 96 parts by weight of xylene was coated using a blade coater provided with 50 μm intervals, dried at 47 ° C. for 3 minutes, and then dried at 47 ° C. Dry under reduced pressure for 2 minutes, and immediately
The coating film is cured by irradiating ³ J / cm ² of ultraviolet light,
An information recording medium having an information recording layer with a thickness of 6 μm was obtained.
After extracting the liquid crystal from the information recording layer surface using hot methanol and drying the liquid crystal, a scanning electron microscope (S-8 manufactured by Hitachi, Ltd.)
00), the surface of the layer was covered with a 0.6 μm UV-curable resin, and the inside of the layer contained resin particles having a particle size of 0.1 μm in a liquid crystal phase forming a continuous layer. The phase had a packed structure.

As shown in FIG. 3, an optical sensor similar to that manufactured in Example 1 and the information recording medium adjusted as described above were filled with a 10 μm-thick polyimide film spacer to form a gap in the air layer. Provided and laminated so as to face each other. In the information recording apparatus shown in FIG. 10, this laminated body was mounted in place of the film of the imaging camera (RB67 manufactured by Mamiya), and a DC voltage of 700 V was applied between both electrodes of the optical sensor and the information recording medium for 0.04 seconds. Simultaneously with the application, a projection exposure was performed from the optical sensor side at a gray scale exposure amount of 0.2 to 200 lux for 1/30 second. After the exposure, the information recording medium was taken out. When the information recording medium was observed with the transmitted light, a recording portion including a light transmitting portion corresponding to a gray scale was observed in the information recording layer. Next, the information recorded on the information recording medium was reproduced by an information output device configured as shown in FIG. In the figure, 41 is an information recording medium scanner, 42 is a personal computer, and 43 is a printer. The information recorded on the information recording medium was read by a scanner using a CCD line sensor, and the information was output using a sublimation transfer printer (SP-5500, manufactured by Victor Company of Japan). A high-resolution printed matter having properties was obtained.

When a color image was similarly recorded after being separated into three colors of R, G and B by a prism and a color filter, the recorded image was good. Output.

[0071]

According to the present invention, the optical sensor and the information recording medium are disposed to face each other, and the information is exposed while applying a voltage, so that the liquid crystal in the information recording medium is aligned, the light is made transparent according to the information exposure, and the unexposed portion is formed. Performs information recording by contrast with, the electric field or the amount of charge applied to the information recording medium is amplified with light irradiation, the conductivity is maintained when voltage is continuously applied even after the light irradiation is finished, and the electric field or In an optical sensor used for forming information on an information recording medium having an action of continuously applying an amount of charge to the information recording medium, the photoconductive layer serves as a charge generating substance in an area from visible light to a longer wavelength side than visible light. By incorporating at least two types of compounds having different spectral characteristics in the same layer or laminating layers containing charge generating substances having different spectral characteristics in the present invention, It is possible to impart panchromatic spectral characteristics to the optical sensor for use in information recording on a light information recording medium, it is possible to improve the information recording characteristics of the information recording medium.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view illustrating an optical sensor according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view illustrating another optical sensor according to the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a sectional view illustrating a first information recording apparatus of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view illustrating a second information recording device of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a diagram showing a spectral characteristic of a green filter used in a measurement system used for explaining a photocurrent amplifying action of the optical sensor of the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a diagram showing a measurement result of a photocurrent amplifying action of a comparative sensor.

FIG. 7 is a diagram showing a change in quantum efficiency during light irradiation of a comparative sensor.

FIG. 8 is a diagram showing a measurement result of a photocurrent amplifying action in the optical sensor of the present invention.

FIG. 9 is a diagram showing a change in quantum efficiency during light irradiation of the optical sensor of the present invention.

FIG. 10 is a diagram for explaining the information recording method of the present invention.

FIG. 11 is a diagram for explaining a method of reproducing recorded information in the information recording device of the present invention.

FIG. 12 is a diagram for explaining another method of reproducing recorded information in the information recording device system of the present invention.

FIG. 13 is a diagram illustrating a current measuring device.

FIG. 14 is a diagram showing a current measurement result of the optical sensor of the present invention.

FIG. 15 is a diagram illustrating spectral sensitivity according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 16 is a diagram illustrating spectral sensitivity of a comparative example.

FIG. 17 is a diagram illustrating spectral sensitivity of a comparative example.

[Explanation of symbols]

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Optical sensor, 2 ... Information recording medium, 11 ... Information recording layer, 13, 13 '... Electrode, 14' ... Charge generation layer, 14 "
... Charge transport layer, 15 ... Substrate, 19 ... Spacer, 20 ...
Dielectric layer, 21 light source, 22 shutter with driving mechanism, 23 pulse generator (power supply), 24 dark box, 30 gold electrode, 31 light source, 32 shutter, 3
3 shutter drive mechanism 34 pulse generator 35 oscilloscope 41 film scanner 42 personal computer 43 printer

Claims (18)

(57) [Claims] 1. An optical sensor having a photoconductive layer on an electrode and used for forming information on an information recording medium, which is semiconductive and has information between an electrode of the optical sensor and an electrode of the information recording medium. When a voltage is applied in an exposed state, or when information is exposed in a state in which a voltage is applied, information can be recorded on an information recording medium with an intensity that is amplified to a level higher than a current caused by the information exposure. In the optical sensor, which has a function of continuing to record information on the information recording medium when the voltage is continuously applied after the completion of the application of the voltage, the photoconductive layer serves as a charge-generating substance. An optical sensor comprising two or more compounds having different spectral sensitivities in visible light. 2. An optical sensor having a photoconductive layer on an electrode and used for forming information on an information recording medium, wherein an information recording layer capable of forming information by an electric field or a charge amount is laminated on the electrode. It is used facing the recording medium,
When a voltage is applied between the electrodes of the optical sensor and the information recording medium while the information is exposed, or when the information is exposed while the voltage is applied, the electric field or charge applied to the information recording medium is semiconductive. In the optical sensor, the amount is amplified, and the conductivity is maintained when a voltage is continuously applied even after the information exposure is completed, and has an action of continuously applying an electric field or a charge amount to the information recording medium. An optical sensor, wherein the photoconductive layer contains, as a charge-generating substance, two or more compounds having different spectral sensitivities in visible light. 3. The photoconductive layer comprises at least a photoconductive substance,
The optical sensor according to claim 1, wherein the optical sensor is a single layer including a charge transporting substance and a binder resin. 4. The optical sensor according to claim 1, wherein the photoconductive layer is formed by laminating a charge generation layer and a charge transport layer. 5. When a voltage is applied, 10 times is applied to the optical sensor.
^{5. The method according} to claim 1, wherein a passing current density in an unexposed portion is 10 ^-4 to 10 ^-7 A / cm ² when an electric field strength of ⁵ to 10 ⁶ V / cm is applied. The light sensor according to the item. 6. An information recording device for recording optical information on an information recording medium by information exposure, wherein the information recording medium has an information recording layer formed on an optical sensor and an electrode according to claim 1. An information recording device, comprising: an optical sensor; and an optical recording medium, which are opposed to each other on the optical axis with a gap therebetween, so that a voltage can be applied between an electrode of the optical sensor and an electrode of the information recording medium. 7. The information recording device according to claim 6, wherein the information recording layer comprises a liquid crystal phase and a resin phase. 8. After the information recording layer is made of a thermoplastic resin and a charge corresponding to the information exposure is applied to the surface of the information recording layer,
7. The information recording apparatus according to claim 6, wherein a frost image is formed on the surface of the information recording layer by heating and according to the information exposure. 9. An information recording layer comprising a charge holding layer, wherein charge corresponding to information exposure is applied to the surface of the information recording layer, and charge corresponding to information exposure is formed on the surface of the information recording layer. 7. The information recording apparatus according to claim 6, wherein the charge formed on the surface of the information recording layer is developed with toner. 10. The information recording apparatus according to claim 6, wherein the information recording layer has a memory property. 11. The method according to claim 1, wherein the optical sensor has a voltage of 10 ⁵ to 10 ⁶ V / cm.
When the electric field intensity of
0 ^-4 is ~10 ^-7 A / cm ^2, the information of any one of claims 6 to 10 the resistivity of the information recording medium is characterized in that it is a ^{10 10 ~10 13 Ω} · cm Recording device. 12. A photoconductive layer, a dielectric layer,
In an information recording device in which an information recording layer and an upper electrode are sequentially stacked, an optical sensor unit including a lower electrode and a photoconductive layer includes the optical sensor according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein the lower electrode and the upper electrode An information recording device, wherein a voltage is applied between the electrode and an electrode. 13. The information recording layer of the information recording medium,
2. A liquid crystal display comprising a liquid crystal phase and a resin phase.
2. The information recording device according to item 2. 14. An information recording / reproducing method for recording optical information on an information recording medium by information exposure, wherein the information recording layer is formed on the optical sensor and the electrode according to claim 1. Using a medium, at least one of the electrodes of the optical sensor or the information recording medium is made a transparent electrode, and the optical sensor and the information recording medium are arranged facing each other on the optical axis with a gap provided, and information exposure is performed between the two electrodes. Information is recorded on the information recording medium by applying a voltage in a state where the voltage is applied, or by exposing the information while applying the voltage, and reproducing the optical information recorded on the information recording medium as visible information by transmitted light or reflected light. An information recording / reproducing method, characterized in that: 15. An information recording method for recording optical information on an information recording medium by information exposure.
An optical sensor according to any one of the above and an information recording medium in which an information recording layer made of a thermoplastic resin is formed on an electrode, and heated after an electric charge is applied to the information recording layer by exposure to optical information. An information recording / reproducing method comprising: forming a frost image in accordance with information exposure; and reproducing optical information recorded on an information recording medium as visible information by transmitted light or reflected light. 16. An information recording method for recording optical information on an information recording medium by information exposure.
After using the optical sensor according to any one of the above and an information recording medium in which an information recording layer comprising a charge holding layer is formed on an electrode, recording is performed after charges are applied to the information recording layer by exposure to optical information. An information recording / reproducing method, wherein read / reproduced optical information is read and reproduced by a potential sensor. 17. An information recording / reproducing method for recording optical information on an information recording medium by information exposure, wherein the information recording layer comprises a charge holding layer on an optical sensor and an electrode according to claim 1. Using an information recording medium formed with the above, after applying an electric charge on the information recording layer by exposing the optical information, the recorded optical information is developed with toner, and the optical information is reproduced as visible information by transmitted light or reflected light. An information recording / reproducing method, which is performed. 18. An information recording method for recording optical information on an information recording medium by information exposure, wherein the information recording medium has a photoconductive layer, a dielectric layer, an information recording layer, and an upper electrode laminated in this order on a lower electrode. An optical sensor unit comprising a lower electrode and a photoconductive layer, comprising the optical sensor according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein at least one of the lower electrode and the upper electrode is a transparent electrode; A voltage is applied in a state where information is exposed to the upper electrode, or information is recorded on the information recording medium by exposing optical information while applying a voltage, and is transmitted to the information recording medium as visible information by transmitted light or reflected light. An information recording / reproducing method characterized by reproducing recorded optical information.