Electro-optical color imaging apparatus

Apparatus for color imaging at an imaging station with a recording layer which is selectively sensitive to light of different colors, said apparatus comprising:

• (a) means for moving successive strips of such recording layer past said imaging station;
• (b) means for producing successive series of time-separated light pulses, each series including a pulse of each of said different light colors;
• (c) electro-optical means including a plurality of discrete electro-optic modulator means, each electrically-addressable for controlling the passage of light from such pulses to a respective pixel of a strip at said imaging station;
• and
• (d) means for electrically addressing said modulator means in a timed relation to such light pulses and according to the color characteristics of the image to be produced so that the pixels of each successive strip are concurrently subjected to light of said different colors, sequentially and according to an image to be produced.

Electro-optical color imaging apparatus for use with an imaging layer of the type which can record different light colors, said apparatus comprising:

• (a) means for disposing such an imaging layer in an imaging station of said apparatus;
• (b) a plurality of discrete electro-optical exposing means, spaced from said imaging station, each for selectively providing sequential pulses of light toward a respective one of a plurality of pixel zones extending across said station;
• (c) moving means for providing relative movement between said exposing means and such imaging layer such that successive portions of said layer are sequentially aligned with said exposing means;
• and
• (d) means for controlling said exposing means so the pixels of such successive layer portions are concurrently subjected to light pulses of said different colors in accordance with a color image pattern to be reproduced;
• said electro-optical exposing means including light pulse generating means for providing successive series of separated light pulses, each series including at least one pulse of each of said different light colors, and a plurality of discrete electrically-addressable light valve means for selectively modulating passage of such light pulses to respective pixel zones.

Apparatus for color imaging with a layer of developer which contains electrophotosensitive particles of different color types, respectively sensitive to light of different colors, said apparatus comprising:

• (a) electrode means for forming generally-uniform, electrical fields across successive strips of such developer layer;
• (b) exposing means including a plurality of discrete electro-optical means, each individually addressable for providing light of said different colors on a respective pixel of a strip within the field of said electrode means;
• and
• (c) means for electrically addressing said electro-optical means so that the pixels of such strip are concurrently subjected to light of said different colors according to an image to be produced;
• said exposing means including means for producing successive series of time-separated light pulses, each series including a pulse of each of said different light colors and said electro-optical means each including an electrically-addressable, electro-optic modulator means actuatable for controlling the passage of light from such pulses to a respective pixel.

Apparatus for color imaging with a layer of developer which contains electrophotosensitive particles of different color types, respectively sensitive to light of different colors, said apparatus comprising:

• (a) electrode means for forming generally-uniform, electrical fields across successive strips of such developer layer;
• (b) means for producing successive series of time-separated light pulses, each series including a pulse of each of said different light colors;
• (c) electro-optical means including a plurality of discrete electro-optic modulator means, each electrically-addressable for controlling the passage of light from such pulses to a respective pixel;
• and
• (d) means for electrically addressing said modulator means in a timed relation to such light pulses and according to the color characteristics of the image to be produced so that the pixels of such strip are concurrently subjected to light of said different colors, sequentially and according to an image to be produced.

Apparatus for color imaging with a photosensitive layer adapted to record different colors of light, said apparatus comprising:

• (a) means for supporting such layer at an exposure station of said apparatus;
• (b) exposing means, including an array of discrete electro-optical means that are each respectively aligned with a different pixel region of said exposure station and are each individually addressable, for effecting multicolor exposure of its respective pixel region;
• and
• (c) means for electrically addressing each of said electro-optical means in parallel according to the color content of its respective portion of an image to be produced.

Electro-optical color imaging apparatus for use with an imaging member of the type which can record different light colors, said apparatus comprising:

• (a) means for disposing such an imaging member in an imaging station of said apparatus;
• (b) an array of discrete electro-optical exposing means, spaced from said imaging station, each exposing means of said array being adapted to produce a plurality of different pulses, of different light color, directed toward its respective one of a plurality of pixel regions of said imaging station;
• and
• (c) means for controlling said exposing means so the pixel regions of such imaging member are concurrently subjected to such light pulses in accordance with a color image pattern to be reproduced.

Electro-optical imaging apparatus for use with an imaging member of the type which can record different light colors, said apparatus comprising:

• (a) means for disposing such an imaging member in an imaging station of said apparatus;
• (b) an array of discrete electro-optical exposing means spaced from said imaging station, each exposing means of such array being adapted to produce a plurality of different light pulses, respectively of a different light color, at its respective one of a plurality of different pixel regions extending across said imaging station;
• (c) moving means for providing relative movement between said array of exposing means and such imaging member so that successive portions of such member are sequentially aligned with said array;
• and
• (d) means for controlling said exposing means of said array so that a plurality of pixel regions of such member are subjected in parallel to light pulses of said different colors in accordance with a predetermined color image pattern to be reproduced.

A method of electro-optical color imaging comprising the steps of:

• moving an image element having a multicolor-sensitive recording layer along an imaging path;
• directing toward lines of such image element flood illumination pulses, successively, of different light colors;
• and
• modulating the passage of light, from each of such pulses, to the lines of the image element with a plurality of discretely operable, pixel light valves that are concurrently addressed with pixel information according to the color content of a corresponding line of the image to be reproduced.

Apparatus for electro-optical color imaging, comprising:

• means for moving an image element having a multicolor-sensitive recording layer along an imaging path;
• means for directing toward lines of an image element moving along said path flood illumination pulses, successively, of different light colors;
• and
• means for modulating the passage of light of each of such pulses to the lines of the image element, said modulating means including a plurality of discretely operable, pixel light valves and means for concurrently addressing said light valves with pixel information in accordance with the color content of the corresponding line of the image to be reproduced.