JPH0854646A - Recording and erasing device - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To provide a recording and erasing device provided with a high sensitive photosensor used for information formation to an information recording medium, an information recording part consisting of the photosensor and an information erase part capable of erasing information recorded on the information recording medium by the information recording part. CONSTITUTION:This device is constituted of the information recording part provided with the photosensor 7 laminating a transparent first substrate 1, a first transparent electrode 2 and a photoconductive layer 3, being semiconductive and provided with an optical induced current amplifier action, the information recording medium 8 constituted of laminating a polymer diffusion type liquid crystal 6 and a second transparent electrode 5, a voltage applying means 15 applying a voltage to the first transparent electrode 2 and the second transparent electrode 5 and an image forming means 10 image forming a subject on the photosensor 7 and heating erase parts 12-14 erasing the information recorded on the information recording medium 8 by heating the information recording medium 8 to a prescribed temp.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to information recording comprising an optical sensor capable of recording optical information on an information recording medium in the form of visible information or electrostatic information and the information recording medium.
In particular, the present invention relates to a recording / erasing apparatus for recording information and erasing the recorded information in the information recording including an optical sensor having a semi-conductive photoconductive layer in which the information recording performance on the information recording medium is remarkably amplified.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art An optical sensor consisting of a photoconductive layer having an electrode provided on the front surface and an information recording medium consisting of a charge holding layer having an electrode provided on the rear surface of the photosensor are arranged on the optical axis. Then, exposure is performed while applying voltage between both conductive layers, electrostatic charge is recorded on the charge holding layer according to the incident optical image, and the electrostatic charge is reproduced by toner development or potential reading. For example, it is described in JP-A-1-290366 and JP-A-1-289975.
Further, the charge retention layer in the above method is a thermoplastic resin layer, electrostatic charges are recorded on the surface of the thermoplastic resin layer and then heated to form a frost image on the surface of the thermoplastic resin layer, thereby recording the electrostatic charge. A method for visualizing the image is described in, for example, Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 3-192288.

Further, the present applicants have used the polymer-dispersed liquid crystal layer as the information recording layer in the above-mentioned information recording medium, and like the above, it is exposed when a voltage is applied, and the liquid crystal layer is aligned by an electric field formed by an optical sensor. The information recording / reproducing method is described in Japanese Patent Application No. 4-3
394, Japanese Patent Application No. 4-24722, Japanese Patent Application No. 5-266
Filed as No. 646. This information recording / reproducing method can visualize recorded information without using a polarizing plate.

Information is recorded on the information recording medium,
Further, as a method or apparatus for erasing recorded information,
For example, JP-A-4-275520 and JP-A-4-27
No. 4211. FIG. 15 is a diagram showing a conventional method or apparatus for erasing information recorded on an information recording medium and recording the information on the information recording medium. FIG.
In FIG. 5, 101 is a drum, 102 is a drum shaft, 1
03 is a recording medium, 104 is a heater, 105 is a cooler, 1
06 is an electric field erasing part (electrode), 107 is a switch, 108
Is a power source, 109 is a charge remover, and 110 is a recording head (thermal head, heating element).

According to the prior art shown in FIG. 15, in the above structure, the erasing operation before recording on the recording medium 103 is performed by the heater 104 prior to erasing.
03, and an erasing process of erasing an image by applying an electric field to the recording medium 103 by the electric field erasing unit 106. That is, the heater 104 is turned on to perform the heating operation, the switch 107 is closed to apply the electric field from the power source 108 to the electrode 106, and the drum 10
When 1 is rotated once, the recording medium 103 is heated by the heater 104.
After the entire opaque state is obtained by the erasing assisting process by, the electric field erasing unit 106 makes the opaque state and the image is erased. Further, the cooler 105 and the charge remover 109 are operated as necessary. The recording operation is performed by the recording medium 1
The recording head 110 (thermal head) arranged above the recording surface of the recording head No. 03 according to the electromagnetic wave information.
By controlling the applied energy of the heating resistor of the drum 101
By rotating the drum in the direction of arrow A,
The electromagnetic wave information is recorded on the recording medium 103 mounted on the recording medium 103.

[0006]

In such an information recording method, an information recording method with higher sensitivity and higher resolution has been demanded, and at the same time, an efficient and reliable method of erasing recorded information has been demanded. The present invention relates to an optical sensor having improved sensitivity used for forming information on an information recording medium, an information recording section including the optical sensor, and erasing information recorded on the information recording medium by the information recording section. It is an object of the present invention to provide a recording / erasing apparatus including an information erasing section capable of performing the above.

[0007]

According to a first aspect of the present invention, a transparent first substrate, a first transparent electrode, and a photoconductive layer are laminated, and the light is semiconductive and has a photoinduced current amplification effect. A sensor, an information recording medium formed by stacking polymer dispersed liquid crystal and a second transparent electrode, voltage applying means for applying a voltage to the first transparent electrode and the second transparent electrode, and the light. An information recording unit including an image forming unit that forms a subject image on the sensor, and a heating erasing unit that erases information recorded on the information recording medium by heating the information recording medium to a predetermined temperature, and erasing the information.
A recording / erasing device composed of The recording and erasing apparatus according to the first invention, which is a second invention, wherein the information recording section is arranged behind the heating and erasing section in the transfer path of the information recording medium. According to a third aspect of the present invention, a transparent first substrate, a first transparent electrode, and a photoconductive layer are laminated, a semiconductive photosensor having a photoinduced current amplification effect, and a polymer dispersed liquid crystal. Second
An information recording medium formed by laminating transparent electrodes of
Recorded on the information recording medium, and an information recording unit including a voltage applying unit that applies a voltage to the transparent electrode and the second transparent electrode, and an image forming unit that forms a subject image on the optical sensor. The electric field erasing section includes a heating unit that heats the information recording medium to a predetermined temperature before erasing the information, and an erasing unit that erases an image by applying an electric field to the information recording medium. Record erasing device. The recording and erasing apparatus according to any one of the first to third inventions, wherein the heating and erasing portion is heated by using a heating element. The recording and erasing apparatus according to any one of the first to third inventions, wherein the heating and erasing portion is heated by using a high frequency. The recording / erasing apparatus according to any one of the first to third inventions, wherein the heating / erasing section is heated by using a laser beam. The recording and erasing apparatus according to the fourth aspect of the invention, wherein the heating element of the heating and erasing section is a roller shape. The recording and erasing apparatus according to the fourth aspect of the invention, wherein the heating element of the heating and erasing portion is a planar shape. The recording and erasing apparatus according to the fourth aspect of the invention, wherein the heating element of the heating and erasing section is a line-shaped heater. A recording and erasing apparatus according to the fourth invention, wherein the heating element of the heating and erasing section is a head-like structure. The information erasing apparatus according to any one of the first to third aspects of the invention, wherein the information recording medium is a film shape. First
The recording / erasing apparatus according to any one of the first to third inventions, characterized in that the information recording medium according to the second invention is card-shaped. The recording and erasing apparatus according to any one of the first to third inventions, which is a twelfth invention, wherein the information recording medium has a disk shape.

[0008]

According to the recording / erasing apparatus of the first aspect of the invention, in the information recording section, the optical sensor is formed by laminating the transparent first substrate, the first transparent electrode and the photoconductive layer, and is semiconductive. Yes, it has a photo-induced current amplification effect. The information recording medium is formed by stacking a polymer dispersed liquid crystal and a second transparent electrode. Therefore, the first transparent electrode and the second transparent electrode are applied by the voltage applying means.
When a voltage is applied to the transparent electrode of the image sensor and a subject image is formed on the photosensor by the image forming means, the subject image is converted into a photoinduced current by the photosensor and recorded as a light scattering image on the information recording medium. It This information record has high sensitivity and high resolution. In the heat erasing section, the information recorded on the information recording medium is erased by heating the information recording medium to a predetermined temperature. According to the recording / erasing apparatus of the second invention,
By arranging the information recording section behind the heat erasing section in the transfer path of the information recording medium, the information recorded in the information recording medium can be efficiently and surely erased before the information recording section. Information can be recorded on the information recording medium. Therefore, it is possible to perform high-quality information recording without unnecessary information such as an afterimage. According to the recording / erasing device of the third aspect of the invention, the photosensor is formed by laminating the transparent first substrate, the first transparent electrode, and the photoconductive layer, is semiconductive, and has a photoinduced current amplification effect. . The information recording medium is formed by stacking a polymer dispersed liquid crystal and a second transparent electrode. Therefore, when a voltage is applied to the first transparent electrode and the second transparent electrode by the voltage applying means and a subject image is formed on the photosensor by the image forming means, the subject image is photoinduced by the photosensor. It is converted into an electric current and recorded as a light scattering image on the information recording medium. This information record has high sensitivity and high resolution. Further, in the electric field erasing section, the information recording medium is heated to a predetermined temperature before the information recorded on the information recording medium is erased by the heating means, and an electric field is applied to the information recording medium by the erasing means to form an image. Erase.

[0009]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS The recording / erasing apparatus of the present invention will be described below with reference to the preferred embodiments. FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing the configuration of a recording / erasing apparatus of the present invention having a heating / erasing unit. FIG.
In the figure, 16 is a recording film which is a winding body. Regarding the layer structure of the recording film 16, 1 is the first
Substrate, 2 is a first transparent electrode, 3 is a photoconductive layer, and 7
The optical sensor of No. 1 is composed of these, the numeral 5 is a second transparent electrode, the numeral 6 is a polymer dispersed liquid crystal, and the information recording medium of No. 8 is composed of these. Further, 15 is a voltage applying means, which is connected to the first transparent electrode and the second transparent electrode via a switch, and applies a voltage between both electrodes during recording. 9 is a subject, 10 is a lens for forming an image of the subject 9,
Reference numeral 11 is a shutter. Reference numeral 12 is a first roller, which is a heating roller having a heater inside. Reference numeral 13 denotes a second roller, which is configured to sandwich the recording film 16 together with the first roller and to be rotatable. A heater power source 14 supplies electric power to the first roller.

The operation of the configuration shown in FIG. 1 will be described. The recording film 16 of the winding body is supplied from the supply side (upper side in the drawing) and intermittently transferred to the winding side (lower side in the drawing). As shown in the drawing, the recording film 16 is sandwiched by the first roller and the second roller upstream of the transfer path, and the recording film 16 is transferred by the rotation of these rollers and transferred by a predetermined distance. After that, the rotation of these rollers stops and the recording film 16 also stops. During this transfer, a torque for rotating the recording film 16 in the winding direction acts on the winding side, and the recording film 16 corresponding to the transferred distance is wound.

As described above, the first roller 12 has a heat generator (not shown) inside. As the heating device, a heating resistor such as a nichrome wire, ceramic, or a semiconductor, an induction heating device, or the like can be used. Electric power is supplied from the heater power source 14 to the heat generator, and the first roller 12 is heated to raise the surface temperature. This surface temperature is controlled so as to reach a predetermined temperature. That is, a first temperature sensor (not shown)
The surface temperature of the roller 12 is detected, and a temperature controller (not shown) adjusts the electric power supplied from the heater power source 14 based on the output signal. Further, the temperature control device stops the supply of electric power in the state where the transfer is stopped, or controls the preheating state in which the supply of electric power is reduced. The heat erasing section in the present invention comprises a first roller 12, a second roller 13, a heater power supply 14, a temperature sensor, a temperature control device and the like.

The recording film 16 is heated to a predetermined temperature while being conveyed while being sandwiched between the first roller 12 and the second roller 13 as described above. The recording film 16 used in the present invention has a characteristic that recorded information is erased when heated to a predetermined temperature. The polymer-dispersed liquid crystal 6 is used for the information recording layer of the information recording medium 8. The polymer-dispersed liquid crystal 6 has a structure in which a resin is dispersed in a liquid crystal layer, and before information is recorded, the crystal direction of the liquid crystal is random and scatters light to record information. The crystal directions of the liquid crystal are partially aligned (aligned) and light is transmitted. Information is recorded on the polymer dispersed liquid crystal 6 as a pattern that partially scatters light and partially transmits light.
To erase, the polymer-dispersed liquid crystal 6 is heated to a predetermined temperature to eliminate the aligned liquid crystal portion that transmits light.
The whole thing is to make the light scattering state.

The recording film 16 from which the recording has been erased is transported a predetermined distance and stopped. Then, information is newly recorded on the surface from which the recording has been erased. When the shutter 11 is opened, the subject 9 is imaged by the lens 10 on the photoconductive layer 3. The photoconductive layer 3 has photoconductivity, and the electroconductivity is exhibited according to the light amount of each part of the formed image. That is, the light image is converted into a conductive image. Voltage is applied between the first transparent electrode 2 and the second transparent electrode 5 by the voltage applying means 15. When a predetermined voltage is applied for a predetermined time in the above-mentioned state, A current flows according to the conductivity of the conductive layer. This is called a photoinduced current, and one of the features is that the photoconductive layer of the present invention has a remarkable effect of amplifying the photoinduced current. The photo-induced current causes the polymer-dispersed liquid crystal to be oriented and changes from a light scatterer to a light transmitter. When a predetermined voltage is applied for a predetermined time and then the application of the voltage is stopped, the alignment state is maintained by the memory function of the polymer-dispersed liquid crystal 6. That is, the formed image is recorded as a difference in the light scattering state of the polymer dispersed liquid crystal.

Next, another embodiment will be described. Figure 2
FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing the configuration of a recording / erasing apparatus of the present invention having an electric field erasing section. 1 are designated by the same reference numerals (the same reference numerals are used for the same portions in the drawings related to the present invention). In FIG. 2, the erase mechanism differs from that in FIG. 1 in that 17 electric field generators and 18 voltage sources are provided. Further, the recording film 16 does not have the optical sensor 7, and the information recording medium itself of 8 is composed of the second substrate of 4, the second transparent electrode of 5, and the polymer dispersed liquid crystal of 6. Is. The optical sensor 7 is installed facing the information recording medium 8 with a gap. The configurations of the optical sensor 7 and the information recording medium 8 are not particularly related to the erasing mechanism, and the erasing mechanism of FIG. 2 can be used in the configuration of FIG. 1 and the erasing mechanism of FIG. 1 can be used in the configuration of FIG. .

In FIG. 2, when the electric field generator 17 is not used, the operation is similar to that in FIG. The electric field generator 17 is an electrode having a bar-shaped structure, and is connected to one terminal of the voltage source 18. The other terminal of the voltage source 18 is connected to the second transparent electrode 5. Therefore, the voltage generated by the voltage source 18 generates an electric field almost perpendicular to the surface of the polymer dispersed liquid crystal 6 which is the information recording layer between the electric field generator 17 and the transparent electrode 5. The electric field erasing unit in the present invention includes an electric field generator 17, a voltage source 18, a first roller 12, a second roller 13, a heater power supply 14, a temperature sensor, a temperature control device, and the like.

The recording film 16 is transported by the first roller 12 and the second roller 13 as in the case of FIG.
It is heated to a predetermined temperature. At this time, the recording film 16 is in a light scattering state. In this state, when it is further transferred and reaches below the electric field generator 17, the recording film 16
The polymer dispersed liquid crystal 6 is aligned by an electric field. At this time, the recording film 16 changes to a light transmitting state. When it is further transferred and leaves under the electric field generator 17 and goes out of the electric field,
The polymer-dispersed liquid crystal 6 becomes a random arrangement again and becomes in a light scattering state. As described above, according to the electric field erasing unit of FIG. 2, the process of aligning the polymer dispersed liquid crystal 6 is included, and the erasing ability is extremely high and the afterimage disappears. Further, the recording film 16 is transported a predetermined distance and then stops. By the time information is recorded on the recording film 16 next time, the temperature of the recording film 16 is lowered and the recording is ready.

By the way, in the above, the recording film 1
The temperature of 6 is a temperature at which recorded information is erased when the recording film 16 leaves under the electric field generator 17 and goes out of the electric field, and has a memory function when the information is recorded. It is a necessary condition to be lowered. If this temperature condition is changed, the recording film 16
It is possible to keep the transparent state by making the entire surface transparent. That is, by setting the conditions such that the temperature of the recording film 16 is lowered to a temperature having a memory function while the recording film 18 reaches below the electric field generator 17 and enters the electric field, Can be kept transparent. The recording film 16 which holds the transparent state in this way can be used in a case where information is recorded by applying a predetermined heat pattern with a thermal head or the like so that a portion to which heat is applied is in a transparent state.

FIG. 3 is a view showing a modification of the erasing mechanism in the recording / erasing apparatus of the present invention. In FIG. 3 (A),
Reference numeral 19 is a planar heating element provided in contact with the recording film 16 so that the recording film 16 can be transported. As the planar heating element 19, a planar heating element having a heating resistor such as a nichrome wire, an aluminum thin film or the like patterned in a planar shape, a transparent heating element coating such as an ITO coating, a coating containing a conductive substance such as carbon, etc. Can be used. In FIG. 3A, after the recording film 16 is heated to the erasing temperature or higher, it is necessary to lower the temperature to the recording temperature for recording. Therefore, it is preferable that the sheet heating element 19 is configured to stand by at a position away from the recording film 16 after being heated, or to have a small heat capacity so as to improve the response to heat. . Further, it is effective that a cooling means such as a blower fan can be used together. The position of the sheet heating element 19 is the recording film 1 on which information is recorded.
6 positions can be matched. Therefore, it can also be used for heating when recording on the recording film 16 having a recording temperature higher than room temperature.

FIG. 3B shows the heating element shown in FIG. 1 in the form of a line. In the planar heating element of FIG. 3 (A), the above-mentioned measures are required for cooling after heating, but the heating efficiency is greatly improved by making the heating element a line and scanning the surface to be heated. , A special mechanism for cooling can be omitted. Line-shaped heating element 29
As the above, a heating resistance wire such as a nichrome wire or a thermal head used when printing on a heating color paper can be used. When using these, recording film 16
Use by contacting with. In order to improve the heating efficiency, it is preferable that the linear heating element 29 is not a thin linear shape but a rod-shaped heat transfer section shape having a certain area. In the case of non-contact, a line-shaped light emitting device such as a line-shaped tungsten lamp, a halogen lamp, or a xenon lamp that contains a large amount of infrared rays as a line-shaped heating element and an elliptical reflecting mirror are combined to form one A halogen lamp or the like may be arranged near the focal point, and the heated portion of the recording film 16 may be arranged near the other focal point of the ellipse for use. Of course, instead of using a line-shaped light emitting device, a line-shaped heating area may be obtained by using a reflecting mirror or a lens system.

FIG. 3C shows the heating element shown in FIG. 1 in the shape of a head. By making the heating element a head shape, the area of the heating element is reduced, the problem of heat (cooling) is improved, and the cost advantage is obtained. However, due to the head shape, in order to heat the entire recording medium, it is necessary to scan the head in the direction perpendicular (right angle) to the medium feeding direction, and at that time, by intermittently feeding the recording medium. Therefore, sufficient heating can be performed by the head-shaped heating element. As the head-shaped heating element 30, the one used in the above-mentioned line-shaped heating element can be used by making the shape of the head into a head shape. FIG. 3D shows the first transparent electrode 2 in the recording film 16 having the layer structure shown in FIG.
9 is a diagram showing a configuration in which the terminal of the voltage source 18 is directly connected to the second transparent electrode 5 and FIG. In this case, the electric field generator 17 can be omitted.

FIG. 4 is a diagram showing a modified example of the heating erasing section or the heating means, which shows a structure using dielectric heating, electromagnetic waves or heat rays. In FIG. 4, 20 is a high frequency power source, 21 is a high frequency oscillator, and 22 is an electromagnetic shielding container. FIG. 4 (A)
In the recording film 16 having the layer structure shown in FIG. 1, the output terminal of the high frequency power source 20 is directly connected to the first transparent electrode 2 and the second transparent electrode 5, and the recording film 16 made of a dielectric material is used. Dielectric heating. In addition, FIG. 4 (B)
In the above, the recording film 16 is installed in the electromagnetic shielding container 22, or the recording film 16 is allowed to pass through the electromagnetic shielding container 22 in the transfer path (provided with a slightly opened entrance / exit in the electromagnetic shielding container 22). The microwave oscillated from the high-frequency oscillator 21 provided in the electromagnetic shielding container 22 is radiated to the recording film 16 made of a dielectric material to dielectrically heat it.

Further, FIG. 4C shows a heating erasing section for instantaneously radiating heat rays and heating by a xenon lamp (strobe) for instantaneous light emission. Although the recording film 16 is irradiated with visible light as well as heat rays, the heating effect of the heat rays with respect to the recording effect of the visible light lasts for a time due to the heat capacity of the recording film 16, so that an erasing effect appears. In order to suppress the recording action of visible light, the filter 32 that blocks visible light and transmits heat rays (infrared light) is attached to the strobe light emitting head 3.
It is more preferable to provide it between No. 1 and the recording film 16 (this point is common to the above-mentioned linear heating element and other cases). Instead of the strobe, a light source containing a lot of heat rays such as a halogen lamp or an infrared lamp can be used.

FIG. 16 is a diagram showing another modification of the erasing mechanism in the recording / erasing apparatus of the present invention. FIG. 16 (A)
Is obtained by heating the heating element shown in FIG. 1 with laser light. The laser spot light passes through an optical system such as a lens and a mirror, and an appropriate spot shape,
It is guided onto the information recording medium by the intensity and the optical path. By irradiating the information recording medium with a strong laser spot light, a sufficient erasing temperature is generated in the information recording medium in a short time. However, in order to heat the entire recording medium by using the spot shape, it is necessary to scan the laser beam in the direction perpendicular (right angle) to the medium feeding direction, and at that time, the recording medium should be intermittently fed. Thereby, sufficient heating by the laser light heating element becomes possible. The laser device is not limited as long as it can obtain the necessary output,
Although a gas laser device can be used, a compact device configuration can be obtained by using a semiconductor laser device that emits infrared rays.

FIG. 16B shows that the heating by the laser spot light in FIG. 16A is changed into a linear laser light by an optical system. The linear laser light passes through optical systems such as lenses and mirrors,
It is guided onto the information recording medium by the intensity and the optical path. By making the laser beam linear, it is not necessary to scan the laser beam or intermittently feed the information recording medium as in (A). However, since the intensity of the laser is reduced and sufficient heating may not be possible by making the laser linear, it is necessary to use a sufficiently strong laser light source as the light source. FIG. 16C shows a plurality of infrared-emitting semiconductor laser elements arranged in a line.
The light emission intensity distribution of the semiconductor laser element varies depending on the configuration of the lens combined with the semiconductor chip, but normally, the light emission intensity is large in the central angle direction of the optical axis and becomes smaller as the angle fluctuates in the peripheral direction. In such a case, the required emission intensity and distribution can be obtained on the recording film 16 by optimizing the arrangement of the semiconductor laser elements, that is, the distance from the recording film 16 and the arrangement interval of the semiconductor laser elements. .

FIG. 17 is a diagram showing a modification of the information recording medium in the recording / erasing apparatus of the present invention. In FIG. 17A, the medium is a card-shaped medium 38, the information recording medium is directly driven by a roller, and the erasing device is a planar heating element 37 as in FIG. 3A. The driving method is basically the same as that of the film. Card-shaped medium 3
The difference is that 8 is adapted to reciprocate by means of rollers. Similarly, in FIG. 17B, the medium is the card-shaped medium 38, and the card-shaped medium 38 is the moving stage 3.
It is set to 9. The moving stage 39 moves along with the card-shaped medium 38 on the linear guide 40 which is a moving mechanism. Both are heating elements 37
Is not limited to the planar heating element, and the above-mentioned various methods can be used.

FIG. 18 is a diagram showing another modification of the information recording medium in the recording / erasing apparatus of the present invention. In FIG. 18, the medium is a disc-shaped medium 42, and the disc-shaped medium 42 is adapted to rotate with the central portion 40 as a rotation axis. In this figure, a planar heating element is shown as the heating element 37, but other various methods described above can be used. FIG. 5 is a diagram showing a method of reading information recorded on an information recording medium by the recording / erasing apparatus of the present invention. In FIG. 5, reference numeral 23 denotes a white light source, a light source such as a He-Ne laser, a semiconductor laser, and 2
Reference numeral 4 is a photoelectric conversion device such as an image sensor, a linear sensor, a photo sensor, or a photodiode. The reading light incident on the information recording medium 8 containing the polymer-dispersed liquid crystal 6 by the light source 23 is scattered or transmitted depending on the alignment state of the polymer-dispersed liquid crystal 6. That is, the read light incident on the polymer-dispersed liquid crystal 6 is subject to modulation according to the intensity distribution of the light when it is written in the sensor including the photoconductive layer 3, and thus the recorded information is recorded. Reading is performed. The modulated readout light is converted into an electric signal by the photoelectric conversion device 24, and optical information corresponding to the recorded image is taken out as an electric signal. This electric signal is output to a printer, a CRT or the like as needed.

FIG. 6 is a diagram showing a method for reproducing and displaying information recorded on an information recording medium by the recording / erasing apparatus of the present invention. In FIG. 6, 25 is a screen. A white light source such as a halogen lamp or a xenon (Xe) lamp is used as the light source 23. Light emitted from the light source 23 is incident on the information recording medium 8 and the read information is displayed on the screen 25.
It is projected on the surface of and reproduced and displayed. If necessary (for example, when the light source cannot be regarded as a point light source), a lens (not shown) collects the light that has passed through the information recording medium 8 and forms an image on the surface of the screen 25. Although the embodiments have been shown above in the form of recording films, it goes without saying that the same thing can be done even if the substrate is other than a film, such as a glass substrate or a plastic substrate.

[Optical Sensor and Information Recording Medium] Next, the optical sensor and the information recording medium in the present invention will be described.
The optical sensor 7 and the information recording medium 8 are laminated with a gap or in close contact with each other, and a voltage is applied in a direction substantially perpendicular to their surfaces. FIG. 7 is a view showing a case where the planar optical sensor 7 and the information recording medium 8 are laminated in close contact with each other in the recording / erasing apparatus of the present invention. In FIG.
Reference numeral 28 is a dielectric layer used when the layers are closely adhered to each other.
FIG. 8 is a diagram showing a case where the planar optical sensor 7 and the information recording medium 8 are laminated with a gap provided in the recording / erasing apparatus of the present invention. FIG. 8 shows a state in which the gradation scale, which is the subject, is recorded on the information recording medium 8. This is not visible from the illustrated angle, but it is the same in FIG. 7. The optical sensor 7 and the information recording medium 8 in the present invention may have any of the configurations shown in FIGS.

The photoconductive layer of the photosensor of the present invention may be composed of a single layer or a laminated body composed of a plurality of layers. Here, a laminated photosensor will be described. In FIGS. 7 and 8, 1 is a first base material, 2 is a first transparent electrode, and 3 is a photoconductive layer. The photoconductive layer 3 is composed of 26 charge generation layers and 27 charge transport layers. That is, the optical sensor 7 is composed of the first substrate 1, the first transparent electrode 2, the charge generation layer 26, and the charge transport layer 21. Further, 4 is a second substrate, 5 is a second transparent electrode, and 6
Is a polymer-dispersed liquid crystal, and an information recording medium is composed of these.

[Configuration and Material of Optical Sensor] First, the optical sensor will be described. In the optical sensor, the charge generation layer 26
Consists of a charge generating substance and a binder. As the charge generating substance, pyrylium dye, azurenium dye,
Dyes and pigments such as squarylium salt-based dyes, phthalocyanine-based pigments, perylene-based pigments, polycyclic quinone-based pigments, indigo-based pigments, pyrrole-based pigments and azo-based pigments can be used alone or in combination of two or more. Examples of the binder include polycarbonate resin, vinyl formal resin, vinyl acetal resin, vinyl butyral resin, polyester resin, acrylic resin, methacrylic resin, vinyl chloride resin, vinyl acetate resin, vinyl chloride-vinyl acetate copolymer resin and the like. The binder resins may be used alone or in combination of two or more.

The mixing ratio of the charge generating agent and the binder is 0.1 to 1 part by weight of the charge generating agent.
It is desirable to use 10 parts by weight, preferably 0.2 to 1 part by weight. The charge generation layer has a thickness after drying of 0.01 to 1 μm, preferably 0.1 to 0.5 μm.
m is preferable, and such a film thickness shows good sensitivity and image quality. In addition, the above-described charge-generating substance that can be vapor-deposited can be formed into a film alone without using a binder.

The charge transport layer 27 comprises a charge transport material and a binder. The charge-transporting substance is a substance having a good property of transporting charges generated in the charge-generating layer, and examples thereof include oxazole-based, thiazole-based, triphenylmethane-based, styryl-based, stilbene-based, hydrazone-based, carbazole-based, enamine-based, There are aromatic amine-based, triphenylamine-based, butadiene-based, polycyclic aromatic compound-based, biphenyl-based, etc., and it is necessary to use a substance having good hole transport properties.

As the binder, the same binders as those used in the charge generation layer described above, and styrene resin, styrene-butadiene copolymer resin, polyarylate resin and phenoxy resin can be used, but preferably styrene resin and styrene-butadiene copolymer are used. Polymer resins and polycarbonate resins. The binder is 0.1 to 10 parts by weight, preferably 0.
It is desirable to use it in a ratio of 1 to 1 part by weight. The thickness of the charge transport layer after drying is from 1 to 50 μm, preferably from 3 to 26 μm. With such a thickness, good sensitivity and image quality can be obtained.

The first transparent electrode 2 is the information recording medium is required to have transparency as long as opaque, transparent if the information recording medium has a transparency may be either opaque, 10 ⁶ Omega · Material that stably gives a specific resistance of cm or less, for example, metal thin film conductive film of gold, platinum, zinc, titanium, copper, iron, tin, etc., tin oxide, indium oxide, zinc oxide, titanium oxide, tungsten oxide, vanadium oxide A metal oxide conductive film such as the above, 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 kinds. Of these, oxide conductors are preferable, and indium tin oxide (ITO) is particularly preferable.

The first transparent electrode 2 is formed by a method such as vapor deposition, sputtering, CVD, coating, plating, dipping and electric field polymerization. The film thickness needs to be changed depending on the electrical characteristics of the material forming the electrodes and the applied voltage at the time of information recording. For example, the thickness of the ITO film is about 10 to 300 nm, and the entire surface between the information recording layer and Alternatively, it is formed according to an arbitrary pattern. Further, two or more kinds of materials can be laminated and used.

The first substrate 1 is required to have transparency if the information recording medium described later is opaque. However, if the information recording medium is transparent, it may be transparent or opaque. It has the shape of a film, tape, sheet, disk, etc., and strongly supports the optical sensor. For example flexible plastic film,
Or glass, polyethylene, polypropylene, polyethylene terephthalate, polymethylmethacrylate,
A rigid body such as a card such as a plastic sheet such as polymethyl acrylate, polyester, or polycarbonate is used. If the electrode 13 is transparent, a layer having an antireflection effect may be laminated on the other surface of the substrate on which the electrode 13 is provided, or a film having a film thickness capable of exhibiting the antireflection effect may be formed. The antireflection property may be imparted by adjusting the transparent substrate or by combining the two.

The photoconductive layer contains an electron-accepting substance, a sensitizing dye,
Antioxidants, ultraviolet absorbers, light stabilizers and the like may be added. The electron-accepting substance and the sensitizing dye have the functions of adjusting the base current, stabilizing the base current, and sensitizing. Each is added in an amount of 0.001 to 10 parts by weight, preferably 0.01 to 1 part by weight, relative to 1 part by weight of the photoconductive substance. If less than 0.001 parts by weight, no action is shown, and 1
If the amount is more than 0 parts by weight, the image quality is adversely affected. This is the end of the description of the configuration and materials of the optical sensor of the present invention.

[Manufacturing of Stacked Photosensor] Next, a method of manufacturing the stacked photosensor will be described. An ITO film having a sheet resistance of 80 Ω / □ and a film thickness of 100 nm was formed by sputtering on a sufficiently washed glass substrate having a thickness of 1.1 mm to obtain an electrode. Scriber cleaning machine for electrodes (trade name: plate cleaner model 602 Ultratech)
At this point, the cleaning treatment was performed twice: pure water spraying 2 seconds, scriber cleaning 20 seconds, pure water rinsing 15 seconds, water removal by high speed rotation 25 seconds, and infrared drying 55 seconds. 3 parts by weight of a bisazo pigment having a structure shown in Table 1 below as a charge generating substance on the electrode, a vinyl chloride-vinyl acetate mixed resin (Denka vinyl # 1000D manufactured by Denki Kagaku Kogyo and 18,325.89J vinyl acetate resin manufactured by Aldrich). With 7
1 part by weight of a mixture of 5:25), 98 parts by weight of 1,4-dioxane and 98 parts by weight of cyclohexanone, and sufficiently kneaded by a mixer to prepare a coating solution, which is spinner at 1400 rpm for 0.4 seconds. Coated with.

[0039]

Embedded image After that, a film is formed on the surface of the coating film, and leveling drying is performed by leaving it in a dust-free state until the surface does not adhere, and then dried at 100 ° C. for 1 hour to form a charge generation layer having a film thickness of 300 nm. Were laminated.

On this charge generation layer, a butadiene derivative having a structure shown in Table 2 below (T manufactured by Annan) was used as a charge transporting substance.
─405) 50 parts by weight and 10 parts by weight of styrene-butadiene copolymer resin (Clearene 730L manufactured by Denki Kagaku Kogyo Co., Ltd.) are uniformly dissolved in 68 parts by weight of chlorobenzene and 136 parts by weight of 1,1,2-trichloroethane to obtain a coating solution. And

[0041]

Embedded image Using the coating solution, a spinner was used at 350 rpm,
After coating for 4 seconds, the film is formed on the surface of the coating film and left to stand without wind for leveling and drying until the surface of the coating film does not adhere. A photosensor of the present invention having a 20 μm-thick photoconductive layer including a charge generation layer and a charge transport layer was manufactured by laminating a transport layer, and was aged for 3 days in a dark place at room temperature and a relative humidity of 60% or less. .

[Structure and Material of Information Recording Medium] Next, the structure and material of the information recording medium 2 will be described. First, as an information recording medium in the present invention, a case where the information recording layer is a polymer dispersed liquid crystal is mentioned. The polymer-dispersed liquid crystal has a structure in which resin particles are dispersed in a liquid crystal phase, and as the liquid crystal material, smectic liquid crystal, nematic liquid crystal, 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 its orientation and permanently retains information.

As the smectic liquid crystal, a liquid crystal substance exhibiting a smectic A phase such as a cyanobiphenyl type, a cyanoterphenyl type, a phenyl ester type in which the terminal carbon group of the substance exhibiting liquid crystallinity is a fluorine type, or a ferroelectric substance Examples thereof include a liquid crystal substance exhibiting a smectic C phase used as a liquid crystal, a liquid crystal substance exhibiting smectic H, G, E, F and the like.

The material for forming the resin particles is, for example, an ultraviolet curable resin that is compatible with the liquid crystal material in the monomer or oligomer state, or a solvent common to the liquid crystal material in the monomer or oligomer state. Those having compatibility with can be preferably used. Examples of such an ultraviolet curable resin include acrylic acid ester and methacrylic acid ester. 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 containing these as a main component, an epoxy resin, You may use silicone resin etc.

The liquid crystal material and the resin may be used in such a manner that the liquid crystal content is 10 to 90 parts by weight, preferably 40 to 80 parts by weight,
If it is less than 10 parts by weight, the light transmittance is low even if the liquid crystal phase is aligned by information recording, and if it exceeds 90 parts by weight, phenomena such as seeping out of the liquid crystal occur and image unevenness is not preferable. Since the film thickness of the information recording layer affects the resolution,
Film thickness after drying 0.1 μm to 10 μm, preferably 3 μm
The thickness may be 8 μm, and the operating voltage can be lowered while maintaining high resolution. If the film thickness is too thin, the contrast of the information recording portion will be low, and if it is too thick, the operating voltage will be high, which is not preferable. This is the end of the description of the configuration and materials of the information recording medium of the present invention.

[Production of Information Recording Medium] Next, a method for producing the information recording medium will be described. An ITO film having a film thickness of 100 nm was formed as a conductive layer on a glass substrate having a thickness of 1.1 mm by sputtering to obtain an electrode, and then the surface was washed. A polyfunctional monomer (dipentaerythritol hexaacrylate, manufactured by Toagosei Kagaku, M
-400) 40 parts by weight, a photo-curing initiator (2-hydroxy-2-methyl-1-phenylpropan-1-one, manufactured by Ciba-Geigy, Darocure 1173) 2 parts by weight, liquid crystal 50 parts by weight (of which smectic liquid crystal ( Made by Merck,
90% S-6, nematic liquid crystal (M3, E3
1 LV) 10%), a surfactant (Sumitomo 3M, Florard FC-430) 3 parts by weight A coating solution obtained by uniformly dissolving in 96 parts by weight of xylene was applied with a blade coater having a gap of 50 μm. after coating with, and dried for 3 minutes at 47 ° C., then dried under reduced pressure for 2 minutes at 47 ° C., immediately to cure the coating film by irradiation of infrared rays 0.3 J / cm ^2, an information recording layer having a thickness of 6μm An information recording medium having the above was obtained. After extracting the liquid crystal from the information recording layer surface with hot methanol and drying it, the internal structure was observed with a scanning electron microscope (S-800 manufactured by Hitachi, Ltd.) at 1000 times. It had a structure in which a resin particle phase having a particle diameter of 0.1 μm was filled in a liquid crystal phase which was covered with a cured resin and formed a continuous layer inside the layer.

[Structure and Material of Integrated Type Intermediate Layer] As described above, in the structure of the recording / erasing apparatus of FIG. 7, the dielectric layer 28 is provided between the optical sensor and the information recording medium in the structure of the recording / erasing apparatus of FIG. They are arranged so as to face each other and are directly laminated to form an integrated type. The second information recording system is particularly suitable when the photoconductive layer in the photosensor is formed by coating using a solvent, and when the information recording layer is directly formed by coating on the photoconductive layer, the interaction of the two causes It is possible to prevent image unevenness due to liquid crystal elution in the information recording layer and elution of the photoconductive material by the solvent for forming the information recording layer, and it is possible to integrate the optical sensor and the information recording medium. It is what

When forming the dielectric layer 28, it is necessary that the dielectric layer 28 has no solubility in the photoconductive layer forming material and the information recording layer forming material, and that it does not have conductivity. Is. In the case of having conductivity, the space charge is diffused and the resolution is deteriorated, so that the insulating property is required. Further, the dielectric layer lowers the distribution voltage applied to the liquid crystal layer or deteriorates the resolution. Therefore, it is preferable that the film thickness is thin, preferably 2 μm or less. In addition to the generation of image noise due to various interactions, there is a problem of penetration due to defects such as pinholes in the multilayer coating. The penetrability due to defects such as pinholes depends on the solid content ratio of the material to be laminated and coated, the type of solvent, and the viscosity, so the film thickness of the laminated coating is set appropriately, but at least 10 μm
The following film thickness is preferable, and 0.1 μm to 3 μ is preferable.
It is good to set m. Further, in consideration of the voltage distribution applied to each layer, it is preferable to use a material having a high dielectric constant as well as a thin film.

As a material for forming the dielectric layer 28, inorganic materials such as SiO ₂ , TiO ₂ , CeO ₂ and Al are used.
₂ O ₃ , Si ₃ N ₄ AiN, TiN, MgF ₂ , Zn
When 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 are used and laminated by a vapor deposition method, a sputtering method, a chemical vapor deposition (CVD) method, or the like. Good. Alternatively, a water-soluble resin having a low compatibility with an organic solvent, for example, an aqueous solution of polyvinyl alcohol, water-based polyurethane, water glass, or the like may be used and laminated by a spin coating method, a blade coating method, a roll coating method, or the like. Further, a coatable fluororesin may be used, and in this case, it may be dissolved in a fluorine-based 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, the fluororesin disclosed in JP-A-4-24728,
Furthermore, organic materials such as polyparaxylylene and polyvinyl alcohol, which are film-formed in a vacuum system, can be preferably used. As described above, as the information recording medium, the recording by the information exposure is visualized by the orientation of the liquid crystal, but by selecting the combination of the liquid crystal and the resin, the information once oriented and the visualized information is not erased, It is possible to impart sex. Further, by heating 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. This is the end of the description of the configuration and material of the intermediate layer of the integrated type according to the present invention.

[Temperature Characteristic of Information Recording Medium] Next, the temperature characteristic of the information recording medium used in the present invention will be described.
FIG. 9 is a diagram showing an example of temperature characteristics of the information recording medium used in the present invention. In FIG. 9, the horizontal axis represents the voltage (Volt) applied to the polymer-dispersed liquid crystal 6, and the vertical axis represents the modulation rate (%). The modulation rate is a scale in which the output of the detector in the maximum light transmission state is 100% and the output of the detector in the maximum light scattering state is 0% when optically reading the recorded information from the information recording medium. Is given to the output of the detector. As shown in the figure, the reason why the modulation rate changes sharply with respect to the change in voltage is
It shows that the sensitivity is extremely high. On the other hand, the change in the characteristic of the modulation rate with respect to temperature indicates that the temperature and voltage are controlled when used in an environment where the temperature changes. It also shows that it is possible to erase the recorded information by utilizing such characteristics. In the present invention, in consideration of such characteristics of the information recording medium, specific settings such as a temperature condition and a voltage condition during use are set.

[Photo-induced Current Amplifying Action of Photo Sensor] Next, the photo-induced current amplifying action of the photo sensor 7, which is one of the features of the present invention, will be described. When the light pattern is applied to the light sensor, the light sensor exhibits conductivity, and the voltage applied to the information recording medium or the amount of charge applied is amplified over time. Further, if the voltage is continuously applied even after the light irradiation is finished, the photosensor maintains the expressed conductivity in a relaxation-attenuating manner, and the voltage applied to the information recording medium or the applied charge amount continues to elapse. Is amplified. Then, these voltages and charge amounts form a voltage pattern and charge amount pattern having the same shape as the light pattern applied to the optical sensor, and are further medium-converted into a visible pattern or the like as necessary and recorded on the information recording medium. It

The time-dependent amplifying action of the applied charge amount in the photosensor, that is, the "photoinduced current amplifying action" will be described in more detail. An optical sensor and a measuring device are configured as follows, and the photo-induced current amplification action of the optical sensor is measured. An ITO electrode is provided on transparent glass, a photoconductive layer is formed on the electrode, and 0.16 cm is further formed on the photoconductive layer.
Form ² gold electrodes. Then, between the two electrodes, ITO
While applying a constant DC voltage with the electrode as a positive electrode,
0.5 seconds after the start of voltage application, light is irradiated from the substrate side for 0.033 seconds, and the behavior of the current value in the photosensor during the measurement time is measured from the start of light irradiation (t = 0). The irradiation light is a xenon lamp (L2274 manufactured by Hamamatsu Photonics).
To the light source, a green filter (manufactured by Nippon Vacuum Optical Co., Ltd.) having the characteristics shown in FIG. To do.

Considering the power spectrum of the light source, the light transmittance of the transparent substrate, the ITO film, and the spectral characteristics of the filter when light is irradiated with this light intensity, the photoconductive layer has 4.2 × 10 4.
¹¹ photons / cm ² seconds are incident. Then, if all the incident photons are converted into photocarriers, theoretically, the photocurrent is 1.35 × 10 ⁻⁶ A / unit area.
A current of cm ² is generated.

Here, in the case of the photo-induced current actually generated by the optical sensor with respect to the theoretical photo-current in the case of measuring with the above-mentioned measuring device, (the photo-induced current value actually generated by the photo-sensor / theoretical The photocurrent value) is defined as the quantum efficiency of the photosensor. The photo-induced current is the current value of the light irradiation part minus the base current value which is the current that flows in the part when light is not irradiated. It refers to a current that flows due to it and is different from so-called photocurrent. The photoinduced current amplification action in the photosensor of the present invention is defined as such behavior of photoinduced current.

An optical sensor having a photo-induced current amplifying action and an optical sensor having no photo-induced current amplifying action (hereinafter referred to as a comparative sensor) according to the present invention will be described using the measurement results of the measuring device. First, the measurement results of the comparative sensor are shown in FIG. In FIG. 11, line (m) is a reference line showing the theoretical value (1.35 × 10 ⁶ A / cm ² ), and light irradiation was performed for 0.033 seconds, and voltage application was continued after light irradiation. Indicates. The (n) line is a measured line of an optical sensor having no photo-induced current amplification effect, and FIG. 12 shows changes in quantum efficiency during light irradiation.

On the other hand, in the photosensor of the present invention, as shown in FIG. 13 as an example, the photoinduced current increases during light irradiation, and as is clear from FIG. It can be seen that the quantum efficiency exceeds 1 in 0.01 seconds and continues to increase thereafter. Further, in the comparative sensor, the photocurrent abruptly attenuates at the same time as the light irradiation is completed, so that even if the voltage is continuously applied after the light irradiation, the effective current as the light information cannot be obtained. On the other hand, in the photosensor of the present invention, the photoinduced current continuously flows by continuing the voltage application even after the light irradiation, and the photoinduced current can be continuously taken out, and the optical information can be continuously obtained. it can. This effect is defined as relaxation-type conductivity. This is the end of the description of the photo-induced current amplifying action of the photosensor in the present invention.

[Semiconductivity of Optical Sensor] In the optical sensor of the present invention, the photoconductive layer is a semiconductive material in the dark.
From the flowing current density, the specific resistance in the dark is 10 ⁹ to 10 ¹³ Ω.
It is preferably cm. Particularly, the specific resistance is 10 ¹⁰ to 1
With 0 ¹¹ Ω · cm, the amplification effect is remarkable. In the case of an optical sensor having a specific resistance larger than 10 ¹³ Ω · cm, 10 ⁵ to 1
In the electric field strength range of 0 ⁶ V / cm, it does not exhibit the amplifying action as the optical sensor of the present invention. Also, the specific resistance is 10 ⁹ Ω · c.
If the photosensor is less than m, a large amount of current flows, and noise is likely to occur due to the current, which is not preferable.

On the other hand, for an organic photoconductor used for general electrophotography, a material having a dark specific resistance of 10 ¹⁴ to 10 ¹⁶ Ω · cm is used as an insulating material in the dark. Has been. Therefore, when the photosensor of the present invention is used in electrophotography, the purpose of electrophotography cannot be achieved.
Further, the organic photoreceptor used in general electrophotography cannot attain the object of the present invention when used in the photosensor of the present invention.

Further, when the information recording layer in the information recording medium is a polymer dispersed liquid crystal, it is necessary to set the sensitivity of the optical sensor in the operating voltage region of the liquid crystal. That is, the contrast voltage, which is the voltage between the voltage (bright potential) applied to the information recording medium in the maximum exposure portion and the voltage (dark potential) applied to the information recording medium in the minimum exposure portion, is It is necessary to be included in the operating voltage region of the polymer-dispersed liquid crystal and have such a size that a predetermined operating amplitude can be obtained. Therefore, for example, the dark potential applied to the liquid crystal layer of the minimum exposure portion of the photosensor 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 at room temperature,
The optical sensor is required to have such conductivity that a base current of 10 ⁻⁴ to 10 ⁻⁷ A / cm ² is generated in a state where an electric field of 10 ⁵ to 10 ⁶ V / cm is applied, and preferably 10 ⁻⁵ to 10 ^-6
The range of A / cm ² is good.

In the photosensor having a base current of less than 10 ^-7 A / cm ² , the polymer dispersed liquid crystal layer is not aligned even in the maximum exposure state, and in the photosensor having a base current of 10 ^-4 A / cm ² or more. Even when the liquid crystal layer is in the minimum unexposed state, a large current flows at the same time as voltage is applied, and the polymer dispersed liquid crystal is aligned.
Therefore, even if exposed, a difference in transmittance depending on the exposure amount cannot be obtained. Further, since the operating voltage and range may vary depending on the type of 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. This is the end of the description of the semiconductivity of the optical sensor of the present invention.

[0062]

As described above, according to the recording / erasing apparatus of the present invention, an optical sensor having a photo-induced current amplifying action is used and the sensitivity is high, and the optical sensor and the polymer dispersed liquid crystal are combined. High-resolution recording can be performed by combining the information recording medium as a constituent element. Further, according to the recording / erasing apparatus of the present invention having the heat erasing unit, the temperature of the polymer dispersed liquid crystal is raised to the erasable temperature by the heat erasing unit to erase the information recorded in the polymer dispersed liquid crystal. Since it is configured as described above, it is possible to always record information under good conditions with no afterimage or noise. Further, according to the recording / erasing apparatus of the present invention having the electric field erasing section, the electric field erasing section first raises the temperature of the polymer dispersed liquid crystal to a erasable temperature to bring the polymer dispersed liquid crystal into a light scattering state. After that, the light is transmitted once by the electric field, and then returned to the light scattering state, so the performance of erasing the information recorded on the polymer dispersed liquid crystal is high, and there is no afterimage or noise, and uniform erasing is performed over the entire surface. You can Further, according to the recording and erasing apparatus of the present invention in which the information recording unit is arranged behind the heat erasing unit in the transfer path of the information recording medium, after the information recorded on the information recording medium is efficiently and surely erased. ,
Information can be recorded on the information recording medium in the information recording unit. Therefore, information recording without unnecessary information such as an afterimage can be performed.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing the configuration of a recording / erasing apparatus of the present invention having a heating / erasing unit.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing a configuration of a recording / erasing apparatus of the present invention having an electric field erasing section.

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing a modification of the erasing mechanism in the recording / erasing apparatus of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a diagram showing a modified example of a heating erasing unit or heating means, which uses dielectric heating, electromagnetic waves, or heat rays.

FIG. 5 is a diagram showing a method of reading information recorded on an information recording medium by the recording / erasing apparatus of the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a diagram showing a method for reproducing and displaying information recorded on an information recording medium by the recording / erasing apparatus of the present invention.

FIG. 7 is a diagram showing a case where a planar optical sensor and an information recording medium are closely adhered and laminated in the recording / erasing apparatus of the present invention.

FIG. 8 is a diagram showing a case where a planar optical sensor and an information recording medium are laminated with a gap provided in the recording / erasing apparatus of the present invention.

FIG. 9 is a diagram showing an example of temperature characteristics of an information recording medium used in the present invention.

FIG. 10 is a diagram showing characteristics of a green filter used in the present invention.

FIG. 11 is a diagram showing measurement results of a conventional sensor that does not have a photoinduced current amplifying action, unlike the photosensor of the present invention.

FIG. 12 is a diagram showing a change in quantum efficiency during light irradiation of an optical sensor having no photoinduced current amplification effect.

FIG. 13 is a diagram showing an increase in photoinduced current at the time of light irradiation in the photosensor having a photoinduced current amplification effect according to the present invention.

FIG. 14 is a diagram showing the quantum efficiency of photoinduced current during light irradiation in the photosensor having the photoinduced current amplification effect according to the present invention.

FIG. 15 is a diagram showing a conventional information recording method or device in which information recording is stabilized.

FIG. 16 is a diagram showing another modification of the erasing mechanism in the recording / erasing apparatus of the present invention.

FIG. 17 is a diagram showing a modification of the information recording medium in the recording / erasing apparatus of the present invention.

FIG. 18 is a diagram showing another modification of the information recording medium in the recording / erasing apparatus of the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

 1 First Substrate 2 First Transparent Electrode 3 Photoconductive Layer 4 Second Substrate 5 Second Transparent Electrode 6 Polymer Dispersed Liquid Crystal 7 Optical Sensor 8 Information Recording Medium 9 Subject 10 Lens 11 Shutter 12 First Roller 13 second roller 14 heater power supply 15 voltage application means 16 recording film 17 electric field generator 18 voltage source 19 planar heating element 20 high frequency power supply 21 high frequency oscillator 22 electromagnetic shielding container 23 light source 24 photoelectric conversion device 25 screen 26 charge generation layer 27 Charge transport layer 28 Dielectric layer 29 Linear heating element 30 Head heating element 31 Strobe light emitting head 32 Filter 33 Scanning mirror 34 Optical system 35 Laser 36 Semiconductor laser element 37 Heating element 38 Card medium 39 Moving stage 40 Linear guide 41 Center Part 42 Disc-shaped medium 101 Drum 102 Drum Shaft 103 Recording Medium 104 Heater 105 Cooler 106 Electric Field Erasing Section (Electrode) 107 Switch 108 Power Supply 109 Charge Eliminator 110 Recording Head (Thermal Head, Heating Element)

─────────────────────────────────────────────────── ─── Continuation of the front page (51) Int.Cl. ⁶ Identification code Internal reference number FI Technical display location G11B 11/00 9075-5D H04N 5/225 Z 5/30

Claims (13)

[Claims] 1. A photosensor having a transparent first substrate, a first transparent electrode, and a photoconductive layer, which is semiconductive and has a photoinduced current amplification effect, a polymer-dispersed liquid crystal, and a photosensor. Information recording medium formed by stacking two transparent electrodes, voltage application means for applying a voltage to the first transparent electrode and the second transparent electrode, and image formation for forming a subject image on the optical sensor And a heat erasing unit for erasing the information recorded on the information recording medium by heating the information recording medium to a predetermined temperature to erase the information recorded on the information recording medium. Erase device. 2. The recording / erasing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the information recording unit is arranged behind the heating / erasing unit in a transfer path of the information recording medium. 3. A photosensor having a transparent first substrate, a first transparent electrode, and a photoconductive layer, which is semiconductive and has a photoinduced current amplification effect, a polymer-dispersed liquid crystal and a photosensor. Information recording medium formed by stacking two transparent electrodes, voltage application means for applying a voltage to the first transparent electrode and the second transparent electrode, and image formation for forming a subject image on the optical sensor An information recording unit including: a heating unit that heats the information recording medium to a predetermined temperature before erasing the information recorded on the information recording medium; and an electric field applied to the information recording medium. A recording and erasing apparatus, comprising: an electric field erasing unit having an erasing unit for erasing an image. 4. The recording / erasing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the heating / erasing portion is heated by using a heating element. 5. The recording / erasing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the heating / erasing section is heated by using high frequency. 6. The recording / erasing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the heating / erasing unit is heated by using a laser beam. 7. The recording / erasing apparatus according to claim 4, wherein the heating element of the heating / erasing section is in the form of a roller. 8. The recording / erasing apparatus according to claim 4, wherein the heating element of the heating / erasing section is planar. 9. The recording / erasing apparatus according to claim 4, wherein the heating element of the heating / erasing section is linear. 10. The recording / erasing apparatus according to claim 4, wherein the heating element of the heating / erasing section has a head shape. 11. The recording / erasing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the information recording medium has a film shape. 12. The recording / erasing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the information recording medium has a card shape. 13. The recording / erasing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the information recording medium has a disk shape.