JPH0352143A - Reproducing device for charge image information - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To easily obtain a reproducing device having high reproduction efficiency without using a polarizer and a detector by providing a reading head composed of an optical modulation member operating in a light scattering mode. CONSTITUTION:A laser luminous flux from a laser beam source LSl is supplied to a charge image recording medium RM through a beam deflector PDEF and a lens L4. Since the electric field of a charge image recorded in the medium RM is impressed on the optical modulation material layer part PMLd of the reading head RHd, the member PMLd scatters laser beam passing through an electric field in accordance with the strength of the field impressed on the part PMLd. Thus, the laser luminous flux from the head RHd goes to a state where the intensity of light changes in correspondence with the charge pattern of the charge image recorded in the medium RM. Thus, a picture signal corresponding to the charge pattern of the charge image recorded in the medium RM can be obtained from a photoelectric converter PD where the laser luminous flux is given through the head RHd and a lens L5.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION (Industrial Field of Application) The present invention relates to a device for reproducing charge image information.6 (Prior Art) A video signal obtained by imaging a subject is... Because it is easy to perform AI collection, trimming, and other image imitation signal processing, as well as easy to record, reproduce, and erase, it is used in many fields other than broadcasting, such as.
Attempts are now being made to use it in many fields such as printing, electronic publishing, and measurement. There has been a strong demand for the emergence of a device that can perform this at a higher resolution than the previous one. By the way, in conventional imaging devices that have been commonly used, an optical image of a subject is formed on a photoelectric conversion section of an image sensor using an imaging lens, and the optical image of the subject is converted into an electrical signal by the image sensor. However, in order to obtain high-quality, high-resolution reproduced images, an imaging device that can generate video signals corresponding to the reproduced images is required. In an imaging device using an image pickup tube, there is a limit to miniaturization of the electron beam diameter in the image pickup tube, and high resolution cannot be expected by miniaturizing the electron beam diameter, and the target capacity of the image pickup tube corresponds to the target area. In addition, for example, in the case of a video imaging device, the frequency band of the video signal increases from several tens of MHz to several hundred MHz as the resolution increases. For reasons such as problems with S/N because it exceeds MHz,
It is difficult to generate a sharp video signal that reproduces high-quality, high-resolution playback images. In this way, conventional imaging devices have been unable to generate good video signals that can reproduce high-quality, high-resolution images due to the presence of an image sensor that is essential to their configuration. There is a desire for an imaging device that can reproduce high-quality, high-resolution playback images and generate clear video signals. , we are trying to introduce equipment that uses video signals that have the advantage of being able to record and reproduce high-resolution 2G images using reversible recording members, as well as easily record, reproduce, and erase images.For example, printing In many fields such as electronic publishing, measurement, etc., there has been a strong demand for an imaging device that can record a single image with higher resolution than conventional imaging devices. In order to solve the above-mentioned problems, the applicant company first forms an image of optical image information corresponding to an optical image of a subject onto a reversible charge image recording medium using an imaging lens, and generates a charge image. Information that is targeted for recording and reproduction can be recorded on a recording medium as a charge image so that it can be reproduced, or, for example, information that is targeted for recording can be recorded and reproduced as a charge image with high resolution on a charge image recording medium. We are proposing various devices that can do this. Fourth
The figure is a block diagram showing an example of the configuration of a recording system that records information to be recorded and reproduced as a charge image using a charge image recording medium.
is the imaging lens, and vb is the power supply. WH is a writing head having a laminated structure of an electrode Et and a photoconductive layer member PCL, and RM is a charge image recording medium having a laminated structure of a charge retention layer member IL and an electrode E. Note that the charge image recording medium RM illustrated in FIG. 4 has a structure in which the charge retention layer member IL and the electrode E are simply laminated. tlt image recording medium R
M may have a structure in which the charge retention layer member IL and the electrode E are laminated on the substrate. The electrodes Et and E described above can be constructed using, for example, a metal thin film, a Nesa film, etc., and the photoconductive layer member PCL can be constructed from a thin film made of a suitable photoconductive material. Further, the charge retention layer member IL is constructed using a dielectric material having a high insulation resistance value, and for example, one constructed using a suitable polymeric material film is used. In the recording system shown in FIG. 4, the negative electrode of a voltage gvb is connected to the transparent electrode iEt in the write head WH, and the positive electrode of a power source vb is connected to the electrode E of the charge image recording medium RM. It is connected. In the recording system shown in FIG.
, the electrical resistance value of the light guiding layer member PCL changes in accordance with the optical image of the subject 0 imaged thereon. As described above, since the electric current iivb is connected between the transparent electrode Et in the write head WH and the electrode E in the charge image recording medium RM, the electric resistance of the photoconductive layer member PCL is reduced as described above. The voltage between the photoconductive layer member PCL of the write head WH and the charge retention layer member IL of the charge image recording medium RM changes in accordance with the optical image of the object O imaged thereon, such that the voltage between the photoconductive layer member PCL of the write head WH and the charge retention layer member IL of the charge image recording medium RM It changes according to the optical image of O. The charge image formed on the charge retention layer member IL of the heavy image recording medium RM by the discharge generated between the photoconductive layer member PCL of the writing head WH and the charge retention layer member IL of the charge image recording medium RM is The image corresponds to the optical image of the subject O that has been captured.

Reading charge image information from a charge image recording medium RM on which a charge image corresponding to information to be recorded is recorded using the recording system described with reference to FIG. This can be done by applying electronic information reading means or optical information reading means. When reading charge image information from the charge image recording medium RM described above is performed by applying, for example, an optical information reading means, a light modulating material whose light state changes depending on the applied electric field strength is used. Reading of charge image information is carried out as illustrated in FIG. FIG. 5 shows a configuration example of an optical charge image information reproducing apparatus RA in which reading of charge image information from a charge image recording medium RM is performed by applying an optical information reading means. BP is charge image recording medium RM
, E is an electrode of the charge image recording medium, IL is a charge retention layer member of the charge image recording medium RM, and the charge image recording medium II is
A dielectric mirror DML in the reading head RH, which has a function of optically reading charge image information, is located at a position facing the surface of the charge retaining member IL of the iI medium RM.

The read head RH illustrated in FIG. A dielectric mirror DMLli is provided on one surface of the light modulating material layer (such as a layer of lithium phosphate or a layer of twisted nematic liquid crystal), and a transparent electrode Etr is provided on the other surface. In the fifth garden, the surface of the charge retention layer member IL in the charge image recording medium RM is brought close to the surface of the dielectric mirror DML of the read head RH described above, and the electric field of the charge image on the charge retention layer member IL is applied to the read head RH. Light modulating material layer member PML
Also, when light is made incident on the other surface of the light modulating material layer member PML from the transparent m-pole Etr of the reading head RH, the light passes through the light modulating material layer member PML and passes through the dielectric mirror. After being reflected by DML, the reflected light passes through the light modulating material layer member PML again and enters the transparent electrode Etr.
It emits from. As described above, the angle of the polarization plane of the light emitted from the transparent electrode Etr and the angle of the polarization plane of the incident light change corresponding to the amount of charge in the charge image described above. Therefore, for example, the light beam emitted from the laser light source LS is passed through the polarizer PL to be converted into a linearly polarized light beam, and then is made to enter the optical deflector PDEF. And the optical deflector PD
In EF, the light beam incident on it is emitted in a state in which it is deflected in two orthogonal directions, like a raster drawn on a display in television equipment. The light beam emitted from the optical deflection iPDEF in the above state is made into parallel light by the collimator lens Ll which converts the incident light into parallel light and outputs it, and the parallel light beam enters the beam splitter BS. The light flux incident on the beam splitter BS is condensed by a lens L2 and is incident on the above-mentioned reading head RH. The surface of the charge retention layer member IL in the charge image recording medium RM, which stores recorded information in the form of a charge image, faces the dielectric mirror DML side of the above-mentioned read head RH. Light modulating material layer member P in the element
An electric field due to the charge image recorded on the surface of the charge retention layer member IL in the charge image recording medium RM is applied to the ML via the dielectric mirror DML described above, so that the transparent electrode Etr side in the read head RH is When light enters from the transparent electrode Etr, the incident light passes through the light modulating material layer member PML, is reflected by the dielectric mirror DML, passes through the light modulating material layer member PML again, and is emitted from the surface of the transparent electrode Etr. However, the angle of the plane of polarization of the light emitted from the reading head described above differs from the angle of the plane of polarization of the incident light in correspondence with the amount of charge of the charge image in the charge image recording medium RM. It has become something that exists. As described above, the light emitted from the read head RH is transmitted to the charge image recording medium R in which the light incident on the read head RH stores recorded information in the form of a charge image.
The amount of rotation of the plane of polarization changes according to the amount of charge of the charge image in M, and the light is made into parallel light by the collimator lens LL mentioned above.

Therefore, when the above-mentioned output light from the reading head RH passes through the lens L2 and the beam splitter BS and then enters the condenser lens L3, the light flux condensed by the condenser lens L3 is always the same. Focus the light on the position. The light condensed by the condensing lens L3 described above is passed through a wavelength plate WP for setting an optical bias and an analyzer AL for converting the amount of rotation of the polarization plane into a change in brightness. When the photoelectric converter PD is placed at the position of the condensing point of the condensing lens L3, the photoelectric converter PD detects the charge amount of each part of the two-dimensional charge image on the charge image recording medium RM. You can obtain a video signal whose amplitude changes according to the . As described above, the video signal output from the photoelectric converter PD corresponds to the charge amount distribution in a two-dimensional charge image with high definition on the charge image recording medium RM.

(Problems to be Solved by the Invention) When the charge image information is read out from the charge image recording medium RM by the optical charge image information reproduction device RA as described above, the constituent members of the read head RH As the light modulating material layer member, a single crystal of lithium niobate or a twisted nematic liquid crystal cell is used. However, when a single crystal of lithium niobate is used as the light modulating material layer member, the charge image It is difficult to read with high sensitivity, and when a highly sensitive sheathed nematic liquid crystal cell is used as a light modulating material layer member, the thickness of the glass plate essential for the structure of the liquid crystal cell is 300 mm. Unless a material of micron or larger is used, it is not possible to obtain the mechanical strength to maintain a uniform distance between the two glass plates. Since the distance to the twisted nematic liquid layer used as the light modulating material layer member increases, the electric field caused by the charge image on the charge retention layer member IL of the charge image recording medium RM improves the twisted nematic liquid layer. It may happen that the twisted nematic liquid crystal layer is not large enough to operate, resulting in poor operation in the read head. Furthermore, as in the above-mentioned reading head RH, if the light modulating material layer member used as a structural member of the read head RH is one that changes the polarization angle of light depending on the electric field applied thereto. , it is necessary to use a polarizer or analyzer, and the efficiency is low. (Means for Solving the Problems) The present invention is an apparatus for reproducing charge image information recorded on a charge image recording medium in which information to be read out is recorded as charge image information, which and a light modulating material layer member capable of operating in a scattering mode f! In the light modulating material layer member of the read head having the T-layer configuration, i! A means for applying an electric field based on the charge image information recorded on the charge image recording medium, and applying electromagnetic radiation for reading to the above-mentioned reading head, so that the charge image information recorded on the charge image recording medium is transmitted from the read head to the charge image recording medium. A device for reproducing charge information is provided. (Function) The surface of the light modulating material layer member in a read head having a lamination of at least an electrode and a light modulating material layer member capable of operating in a scattering mode (e.g. PLZT porcelain with a scattering effect) is exposed to a recorded charge image. An electric field based on the charge image information of the recorded charge image recording medium is applied to the light modulating material layer member in the read head by bringing it close to the recording surface of the recording medium. A readout electromagnetic radiation is applied to the read head, and the read head emits 1it magnetic radiation whose intensity changes in accordance with the charge image information recorded on the charge image recording medium. (Example) Hereinafter, specific contents of the charge image information reproducing apparatus of the present invention will be explained in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. 1 to 3 are block diagrams of an embodiment of an apparatus for reproducing charge image information according to the present invention, in which a reading head designated by the drawing symbol RHd in FIG. The read head indicated by the symbol RHdm is a read head having a structure in which at least an electrode and a transparent light modulating material layer member that operates in the scattering mode are laminated, and the read head that is designated by the symbol RHdm is a read head that has a laminated structure. As the modulating material layer member, for example, PL
A thin film of ZTm device is used. The read head RHd used in the charge image information reproducing device shown in the first figure has a laminated structure of an electrode Ed and a vine light modulating material layer member PMLd that operates in a scattering mode using a thin film of PLZT ceramic. However, the light modulating material layer member PMLd used in this reading head RHd is constructed using PLZT porcelain, which does not exhibit a good memory function, and the The read head RHdm used in the charge image information reproduction device has a heating layer and an electrode Ed.
The light modulating material layer used in this read head RHdm has a laminated structure of a light modulating material layer member P M L d m that can operate in a scattering mode and is constructed using a thin film of PLZT porcelain. The member PMLdm is constructed using PLZT porcelain which has good memory function. It is well known that the quality of the memory function described above can be easily determined by changing the composition of PLZT. Further, the reading heads RHd and RHdm used in the optical charge image information reproducing apparatus of the present invention shown in FIGS. 1 to 3 are different from each other.
m) and the charge image recording medium RM in series to transmit readout light to convert the charge image information recorded on the charge image recording medium RM into optical information. As for the read head, the optical charge image information reproducing device of the present invention has a read head R H d (R H
d m), the reading head RH used in the conventional device already described with reference to FIG. ．． When the dielectric mirror DML in the ili1 pickup head RH is brought close to the charge retention layer member of the charge image recording medium RM and the readout light is made incident on the readout head RH from the electrode Etr side, it makes one round trip within the readout head RH. The charge image information recorded on the charge image recording medium RM may be converted into optical information using the readout light emitted from the read head RH. Further, in each of FIGS. 1 to 3, RM is a charge image recording medium having a laminated structure of a charge retention layer member IL and an electrode E. The charge retention layer member IL is constructed using a VT electric material having a high insulation resistance value, and for example, one constructed using a suitable polymeric material film is used. In the following description, the charge image recording medium RM shown in each of FIGS. Something is broken. In addition. The charge image recording medium RM illustrated in each episode has a structure in which the charge retention layer member IL and the electrode E are simply laminated, but the charge image recording medium RM is a charge retention layer member I
It is also possible to have a structure in which L and electrode E are laminated on a substrate. Charge image recording medium RM shown in FIGS. 1 to 3
is a recorded recording medium in which information targeted for recording is recorded as a charge image by the recording means already described with reference to FIG. 4, for example. The method is not limited to the example shown in FIG. 4; for example, laser light or other electromagnetic radiation whose intensity is modulated by the information signal to be recorded may be deflected in a predetermined manner before being made to enter the write head WH. (.The charge image generated on the photoconductive layer member PCL in the write head WH may be recorded on the charge image recording medium RM). In the charge image information reproduction device shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the LSI 2 is a light source (for example, a laser light source, a xenon lamp, or
...in the following description, it is assumed to be a laser light source), and PDEF is an optical deflector. L4 and L5 are lenses, P
D is a photoelectric converter, HEC is a heating ffiwX in FIGS. 2 and 3, LSd is a light source, L6 and L7 are lenses, and S is a screen. First, in the optical charge image information reproducing device of the present invention shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, a laser beam @LSfl
The laser beam (readout light) emitted from the optical deflector PD
Injected into EF. The optical deflector PDEF deflects the laser beam incident thereon according to a predetermined deflection mode. The laser beam, which has been deflected in a predetermined manner by the optical deflector PDEF, passes through the electric charge wAE in the charge image recording medium RM and the charge retention layer member IL, and then passes through the read head RHd (Fig. 1) or the read head. R H
d m (Figure 2) and enters the lens L5.
The lens L5 focuses the laser beam incident thereon onto the photoelectric converter PD. As mentioned above, the charge image recording medium RM through which the laser beam is transmitted and the reading head R H d (Fig. 1) or the reading head R H d m (Fig. 2) are used to hold charges in the charge image recording medium RM. The surface of the layer member IL and the read head RHd (FIG. 1) {or the read head RHdm (
Light modulating material layer member PMLd in Fig. 2} (Fig. 1)
{or the surface of the light modulating material layer member PMLdm} are arranged so that they are in close proximity to each other, and the electric field of the charge image recorded on the charge image recording medium RM is transmitted to the reading head RHd (see FIG. 1). ) or read head R H d m
Since the voltage is applied to the light modulating material layer member PML d (FIG. 1) {or the light modulating material layer member PMLdm} in (FIG. 2), the above-mentioned read head RHd (FIG. 1)
or the light modulating material layer member PMLd (FIG. 1) in the read head RHdm (FIG. 2) {or the light modulating material layer member P
MLdm} scatters the laser light passing through it depending on the strength of the electric field applied to it. Thereby, the read head RHd (Fig. 1) or the read head RHd
The laser beam emitted from m (FIG. 2) has a light intensity varying in accordance with the charge pattern of the charge image recorded on the charge image recording medium RM. Therefore, as described above, the photoelectron passes through the reading head RHd (Fig. 1) or the reading head RHdm (Fig. 2) and enters the lens L5, and is given a laser beam that is focused by the lens L5. The converter PD outputs an image signal (video signal) corresponding to the charge pattern of the charge image recorded on the charge image recording medium RM. Note that as the photoelectric converter PD shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, an appropriate one can be used such as a phototransistor, a one-dimensional image sensor, a two-dimensional image sensor, etc. What kind of structure or mode is used as the photoelectric converter Pp is determined depending on the mode of optical deflection in the optical deflector PDEF, and the mode of main scanning and sub-scanning of the photoelectric converter PD. In the embodiment shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the read head RHd (FIG. 1) or the read head RH d m
(Figure 2) The laser beam emitted from the photoelectric converter 11P
The reading head RHd (Fig. 1) or the reading head RHdm
(Fig. 2) is processed by an optical signal processing device and used as an optical signal, or the reading head RHd (Fig. 1) or the reading head RH
The laser beam emitted from d m (Figure 2) can also be projected and displayed on a screen using a projection lens system. In addition, in the embodiment shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the laser beam emitted from the laser beam KLSQ is transferred to the optical deflector PD.
The EF deflects the light in a predetermined manner to obtain time-series image information on the time axis, but in practice, the light emitted from the light source is reading head RHd (Fig. 1) as a large-area light beam.
Alternatively, two-dimensional optical signals can be obtained as simultaneous signals by simultaneously irradiating the entire surface of the reading head RHdm (FIG. 2). Next, in the optical charge image information reproducing apparatus of the present invention shown in FIG.
Irradiate the entire surface of the The readout light is applied to the charge image recording medium R.
After passing through the photoelectrode E of M and the charge retention layer member IL, the light passes through the reading head RHm and enters the lens L7. The lens L7 projects the readout light incident thereon onto the screen S to display a reproduced image on the screen S. That is, as described above, the charge image recording medium RM and the reading head RHdm through which the reading light is transmitted are connected to the surface of the charge retention layer member IL in the charge image recording medium RM and the light modulating material layer member P in the reading head RHdm. The electric field of the charge image recorded on the charge image recording medium RM is arranged so that the surfaces of the light modulating material layer member P in the reading head RHdm
M L dm is applied to the light modulating material layer member P M L in the read head RHdm described above.
m scatters the reading light passing through it depending on the strength of the electric field applied to it. As a result, the reading light emitted from the reading head RHdm has a light intensity varying in accordance with the charge pattern of the charge image recorded on the charge image recording medium RM. Therefore, as described above, the light transmitted through the reading head R H d m and incident on the lens L7 is projected onto the screen S by the lens L7 as a reproduced image. As already mentioned, the read head RHd in FIG.
The read head RHdm in the figures and FIG. 3 is a read head having a structure in which at least electrodes and a light modulating material layer member capable of operating in a scattering mode are laminated, and the read head RHdm shown in FIG. The read head RHd. used in the device. That is, by using a thin film of PLZT porcelain as a light modulating material layer member PMLd that operates in a scattering mode,
The read head RHd formed by laminating the light modulating material layer member PMLd and the electrode Ed does not require a special erasing operation because the light modulating material layer member PMLd is constructed using PLZT porcelain which does not exhibit a good memory function. Although it is possible to perform playback operations for moving images without any problems, the reading head RHdm used in the charge image information playback apparatus shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, ie. A read head RHdm is constructed by using a thin film of PLZT porcelain as a light modulating material layer member PMLdm capable of operating in a scattering mode and laminating it with an electrode Edm.
Since m is constructed using PLZT porcelain which exhibits a good memory function, it can be effectively used when reproducing the same information over the same period of time, such as when reproducing still images. However, the read head R H d m used in the charge image information reproduction apparatus shown in FIGS. Due to the fact that the data is used in the system, an erasing operation is required when changing the information content to be read. Therefore, in the reading head R H d m used in the charge image information reproducing apparatus shown in FIGS. Then, the light modulating material layer member PML
The PLZT porcelain that makes up the dm is heated to above the cue point temperature so that previously recorded information can be erased. (Effects of the Invention) As is clear from the above detailed explanation, the charge information reproducing device of the present invention records information to be read out on a charge image recording medium in which the information to be read is recorded as charge image information. The charge image information reproducing device is a charge image information reproducing device that records information on a charge image recording medium in a light modulating material layer member in a read head having a laminated structure of at least an electrode and a vine light modulating material layer member that operates in a scattering mode. a means for applying an electric field based on the charge image information recorded in the image recording medium; and a means for applying electromagnetic radiation for reading to the above-mentioned read head to show a change in intensity according to the charge image information recorded from the read head on the charge image recording medium. means for obtaining electromagnetic radiation,
Since the charge image information reproducing device of the present invention uses a reading head constructed using a light modulating material layer member that can operate in a light scattering mode, it does not require a polarizer or detector that was required in conventional devices. It is not necessary to use photons, and it is possible to easily construct a reproducing device with high reproducing efficiency.In addition, with a read head having memory, the electric field of the charge image on the recorded charge image recording medium is reduced to the read head. After being given, f
Since reproduction is performed even when the electric field from the charge image on the charge image recording medium is no longer applied to the reading head, information such as still images can be reproduced satisfactorily.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

1 to 3 are block diagrams of an embodiment of the charge image information reproducing apparatus of the present invention, FIG. 4 is a block diagram of the recording system, and FIG.
The figure is a block diagram of a conventional charge image information reproduction device.

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. A reproducing device for charge image information recorded on a charge image recording medium in which information to be read out is recorded as charge image information, the light modulating material capable of operating at least in an electrode and scattering mode. means for applying an electric field based on charge image information recorded on a charge image recording medium to a light modulating material layer member in a read head having a structure in which layer members are laminated; and means for applying electromagnetic radiation for reading to the read head. and means for obtaining electromagnetic radiation from a read head that shows a change in intensity in accordance with the charge image information recorded on the charge image recording medium. Claim 1 using PLZT porcelain having
charge information reproducing device