US 4,063,222 AGranted

Selective erasure of image recording devices

AssigneeXerox Corporation

InventorsJan S. Snyder, Clark I. Bright

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Abstract

Method and apparatus for selectively erasing information formed on the surface of image recording device which deforms when illuminated in the presence of an electrostatic field applied thereacross. The image recording device, comprising a layered structure consisting of a conductive transparent substrate, a photoconductive layer, a deformable elastomer layer and a deformable electrode, is initially raster scanned by information containing light on the photoconductor layer with voltage applied between the conductive electrodes whereby the elastomer and deformable electrode are deformed in accordance with the input information. For selective erasure, the voltage is removed and the device is short-circuited. With the device shorted, the area to be erased is scanned with the spot of light. The short is then removed and the voltage reapplied, the remainder of the information except for the area erased, being restored. Additional information can be written in the erased area if desired.

Claims26

Dependent claims

A method for selectively erasing information formed on a surface of an image recording device, said information being in the form of deformations on said surface, comprising the steps of:

a. providing an image recording device comprising a first conductive layer, a layer of photoconductive material adjacent said first conductive layer, an electric field deformable elastomer layer adjacent said layer of photoconductive material and a deformable conductive layer adjacent said elastomer layer,
b. subjecting said image recording device to an electric field,
c. generating radiation to which the photoconductive layer is responsive,
d. modulating said radiation in accordance with information to be formed on said elastomer layer as deformations,
e. directing said information modulated radiation to said image recording device to thereby deform said elastomer layer corresponding to changes in the electric field caused by said information modulated radiation,
f. removing the electric field applied to said recording device,
g. creating a short-circuit condition between said first conductive layer and said deformable conductive layer, and
h. directing said radiation to selected areas of said image recording device whereby the deformations created on said elastomer layer which correspond to said selected areas are erased.

5 more elements

A system for selectively erasing information formed on a surface of an image recording device, said information being in the form of deformation on said surface comprising:

an image recording device comprising a first conductive layer, a layer of photoconductive material adjacent said first conductive layer, an electric field deformable elastomer layer adjacent said layer of photoconductive material and a deformable conductive layer adjacent said elastomer layer,
means for applying an electric field to said image recording device,
means for generating radiation to which the photoconductive layer is responsive,
means for modulating said radiation in accordance with information to be formed on said elastomer layer as deformations,
means for directing said information modulated radiation to said image recording device to thereby deform said elastomer layer corresponding to changes in the electric field caused by said information modulated radiation,
means for removing the electric field applied to said image recording device, and
means for creating a short-circuit condition between said first conductive layer and said deformable conductive layer, said directing means directing said radiation to selected areas of said image recording device whereby the deformations created on said elastomer layer which corresponds to said selected areas are erased.

4 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.