Image forming medium, method and apparatus

A method for recording signals on a semiconductor recording medium comprising, arranged in the order stated, at least a laminate comprising a transparent conductive layer having translucent conducting properties, a photoconductive semiconductor layer whose resistance value changes in proportion to a quantity of light received thereon, a plurality of semiconductor layers mutually electrically separated from each other, an oxide film, and a nitrided film, said method comprising the steps of:

• applying an optical signal modulated according to an input recording signal on said transparent conductive layer while applying a predetermined voltage between said transparent conductive layer and said nitrided film of said recording medium so as to cause a depletion layer and charges to be produced and held in said semiconductor layers and said nitrided film, respectively, for recording purposes.

A method for recording signals on a semiconductor recording medium comprising, arranged in the order stated at least a laminate comprising a transparent conductive layer having translucent conducting properties, a photoconductive semiconductor layer whose resistance value changes in proportion to a quantity of light received thereon, a plurality of semiconductor layers mutually electrically separated from each other, an oxide film, and a nitrided film, said method comprising the steps of:

• directing an optical signal of a photographic object on said transparent conductive layer while applying a predetermined voltage between said transparent conductive layer and said nitrided film of said recording medium so as to cause a depletion layer and charges to be produced and held in said semiconductor layer and said nitrided film, respectively, for recording purposes.

A method for reproducing recorded signals from a semiconductor recording medium comprising at least a laminate comprising, arranged in the order stated a transparent conductive layer having translucent conducting properties, a photoconductive semiconductor layer whose resistance value changes in proportion to a quantity of light received thereon, a plurality of semiconductor layers mutually electrically separated from each other, an oxide film, and a nitrided film, said method comprising the steps of:

• detecting an electrostatic capacity between said transparent conductive layer and said nitrided film while directing light with a fixed intensity of illumination onto said transparent conductive layer so as to reproduce the recorded signal.

A recording medium comprising:

• a semiconductor substrate, a laminate laid on one surface of said semiconductor substrate, said laminate comprising, arranged in the order stated from said one surface, an oxide film, a nitrided film, a photoconductive semiconductor layer and a transparent conductive layer, and a conductive layer formed on the other surface of said semiconductor substrate.

A method for recording signals on a semiconductor recording medium comprising a laminate laid on one surface of a semiconductor substrate, said laminate comprising, arranged in the order stated from said one surface, an oxide film, a nitrided film, a photoconductive semiconductor layer and a transparent conductive layer, and a conductive layer formed on the other surface of said semiconductor substrate, said method comprising the steps of:

• directing an optical signal modulated according to an input recording signal on said transparent conductive layer while applying a predetermined voltage between said transparent conductive layer and said nitrided film of said recording medium so as to cause a depletion layer and charges to be produced and held in predetermined portions of said semiconductor substrate and said nitrided film, respectively, for recording purposes.

A method for recording signals on a semiconductor recording medium comprising a laminate laid on one surface of a semiconductor substrate, said laminate comprising, arranged in the order stated from said one surface, an oxide film, a nitrided film, a photoconductive semiconductor layer and a transparent conductive layer, and a conductive layer formed on the other surface of said semiconductor substrate, said method comprising the steps of:

• directing an image of a photographic object on said transparent conductive layer while applying a predetermined voltage between said transparent conductive layer and said conductive layer so as to cause a depletion layer and charges to be produced and held in said semiconductor substrate and said nitrided film, respectively, for recording purposes.

A method for recording signals on a semiconductor recording medium comprising a laminate laid on a surface of a semiconductor substrate, said laminate comprising, arranged in the order stated from said one surface, an oxide film, a nitrided film, a photoconductive semiconductor layer and a transparent conductive layer, and a conductive layer formed on the other surface of said semiconductor substrate, said method comprising applying an input recording signal between said transparent conductive layer and said conductive layer while applying light with a fixed intensity of illumination on said transparent conductive layer so as to cause a depletion layer and charges to be produced and held in said semiconductor substrate and said nitrided film, respectively, for recording purposes.

A method for reproducing recorded signals from a recording medium comprising a laminate laid on one surface of a semiconductor substrate, said laminate comprising, arranged in the order stated from said one surface, an oxide film, a nitrided film, a photoconductive semiconductor and a transparent conductive layer, and a conductive layer formed on the other surface of said semiconductor substrate, said method comprising the steps of:

• detecting an electrostatic capacity between said transparent conductive layer and said conductive layer while directing light with a fixed intensity of illumination of said transparent conductive layer so as to reproduce the recorded signal.

An electronic still camera system employing a semiconductor recording medium comprising at least a laminate comprising, arranged in the order stated, a monocrystalline semiconductor layer, an oxide film and a nitrided film, and a photoconductive semiconductor layer covering at least one of an undersurface of said monocrystalline semiconductor layer and a surface of said nitrided film, said camera system comprising:

• at least a recording mechanism comprising means for applying a predetermined voltage between said photoconductive semiconductor layer and said monocrystalline semiconductor layer, and an optical system for directing an image of a photographic object onto said photoconductive semiconductor layer.

A method for forming images by recording latent images using a semiconductor recording medium comprising a laminate laid on one surface of a semiconductor substrate, said laminate comprising, arranged in the order stated, an oxide film, a nitrided film, a photoconductive semiconductor layer and a transparent conductive layer, and a conductive layer formed on the other surface of said semiconductor substrate, said method comprising:

• directing an optical image of a photographic object from said transparent conductive layer while applying a predetermined voltage between said transparent conductive layer and said conductive layer so as to allow said nitrided film to accumulate charges produced in said semiconductor substrate in correspondence with said optical image, and simultaneously allowing said semiconductor substrate to store a depletion layer.

A method for forming images comprising:

• directing an optical image of a photographic object on a semiconductor substrate of a recording medium comprising a laminate laid on one surface of a semiconductor substrate, said laminate comprising, in the order stated from said one surface, an oxide film, a nitrided film, a photoconductive semiconductor and a transparent conductive layer, and a conductive layer formed on the other surface of said semiconductor substrate, energizing said nitrided film with predetermined charges, and allowing said nitrided film to accumulate charges in a pattern corresponding to said optical image for recording a latent image.