# US 5,414,262 A · Imaging device and method for developing, duplicating and printing graphic media

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- Number: US 5,414,262 A
- Document ID: US5414262A
- Status: Granted
- Kind: A
- Application number: 08/148,759
- Filed: 1993-11-05
- Granted: 1995-05-09
- Earliest claimed: 1990-10-16
- Inventors: Andrew S. Filo
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US5414262A

## CPC

- B41M 5/48: combined with other image registration layers or compositions; Special originals for reproduction by thermography
- B41M 5/26: Thermography (B41M5/20, B41M5/24 take precedence); {Marking by high energetic means, e.g. laser otherwise than by burning, and characterised by the material used (B23K takes precedence; thermographic or photothermographic systems using noble metal compounds G03C1/494)}
- G07B 15/063: {using wireless information transmission between the vehicle and a fixed station (identification of vehicles G08G)}
- G07C 15/005: {with dispensing of lottery tickets}
- H04N 1/00795: {Reading arrangements (details of scanning heads H04N1/024; scanning arrangements therefor H04N1/04)}
- H04N 1/00803: {Presence or absence of information}
- H04N 1/00806: {According to type of the original, e.g. colour paper or transparency, or reading a plurality of different types of original}
- H04N 1/02865: {using an array of light sources or a combination of such arrays, e.g. an LED bar}
- H04N 1/12: using the sheet-feed movement {or the medium-advance or the drum-rotation movement} as the slow scanning component, {e.g. arrangements for the main-scanning}({sheet-feed movement by translatory movement of a flat picture-bearing surface H04N1/1008; main-scanning using oscillating or rotating mirrors H04N1/113; } using multi-element arrays H04N1/19)
- H04N 1/128: {using a scanning head arranged for linear reciprocating motion}
- H04N 1/2323: {according to characteristics of the reproducing medium, e.g. type, size or availability}
- Y10S 283/903: Lottery ticket
- B41M: PRINTING, DUPLICATING, MARKING, OR COPYING PROCESSES; COLOUR PRINTING, (correction of typographical errors B41J; processes for applying transfer pictures or the like B44C1/16; fluid media for correction of typographical errors by coating C09D10/00; printing textiles D06P)
- G07B: TICKET-ISSUING APPARATUS; FARE-REGISTERING APPARATUS; FRANKING APPARATUS
- G07C: TIME OR ATTENDANCE REGISTERS; REGISTERING OR INDICATING THE WORKING OF MACHINES; GENERATING RANDOM NUMBERS; VOTING OR LOTTERY APPARATUS; ARRANGEMENTS, SYSTEMS OR APPARATUS FOR CHECKING NOT PROVIDED FOR ELSEWHERE
- H04N: PICTORIAL COMMUNICATION, e.g. TELEVISION
- Y10S: TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC CROSS-REFERENCE ART COLLECTIONS [XRACs] AND DIGESTS

## Abstract

The present invention provides an imaging device and method for developing, duplicating and printing graphic media. The imaging device of the present invention is utilized in devices such as copiers, printers, game cards and the like, and comprises a substrate bearing an infrared image producing layer, a thermal image forming layer and a light source. A brief but intense flash of visible light from the light source causes latent heat properties of the infrared layer to generate heat and convert visible light into far infrared light. This far infrared light develops or marks portions of the thermal layer which are adjacent the infrared layer.

## Claims

### Claim 1

Apparatus for reproducing an image, comprising:
a substrate;
an image on the substrate, the image being responsive to visible light applied thereto for converting the applied visible light into infrared light;
means for applying pulses of visible light to the image on the substrate, the intensity and duration of the applied pulses being controlled to result in the conversion of said pulses into an infrared light replica of said image; and
an image forming layer responsive to said infrared light replica to develop a visible replica of said image.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said means for applying pulses of visible light further comprises:
means for emitting pulses of visible light without substantial infrared content.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said image forming layer is disposed between said source and said image.

### Claim 4 (depends on 3)

The apparatus of claim 3, wherein said image forming layer is positioned on said image.

### Claim 5 (depends on 3)

The apparatus of claim 3, wherein said image forming layer further comprises:
a translucent layer responsive to said infrared light replica to develop a portion of said image forming layer by darkening.

### Claim 6

A method for reproducing an image, comprising the step of:
applying pulses of visible light to the image on a substrate, the intensity and duration of the applied pulses being controlled to result in the conversion of the pulses into an infrared light replica of said image; and
applying the infrared light replica of the image to a thermographic layer to develop a visible replica of said image.

### Claim 7 (depends on 6)

The method of claim 6, wherein the step of applying pulses of visible light further comprises the step of:
emitting pulses of visible light without substantial infrared content.

### Claim 8 (depends on 6)

The method of claim 6, wherein the step of applying the infrared light replica of the image to a thermographic layer further comprises the step of:
darkening a portion of a translucent thermographic layer in response to said infrared light replica to develop the image.

### Claim 9

Apparatus for reproducing an original image, comprising:
light source means for applying visible light to the original image;
means, mounted for motion with respect to the original image and responsive to energy from the original image resulting from the application of visible light thereto, for producing a pattern of infrared energy related to the original image; and
thermographic means for developing a visible copy of the original image in response to the pattern of infrared energy.

### Claim 10 (depends on 9)

The apparatus of claim 9, wherein the means for converting the applied pulses of visible light into a pattern of infrared light further comprises:
detector means for producing an image signal in response to energy from the original image; and
print head means for producing the pattern of infrared energy in response to the image signal.

### Claim 11 (depends on 10)

The apparatus of claim 10, wherein the print head means further comprises:
printing means for operating the light source means to produce the pattern of infrared energy.

### Claim 12 (depends on 11)

The apparatus of claim 11, wherein the printing means further comprises:
printing element means for converting a pattern of visible light into the pattern on infrared energy; and
means for operating the light source means to apply the pattern of visible light to the printing element means.

### Claim 13 (depends on 12)

The apparatus of claim 12, wherein the light source further comprises:
a scan head mounted for motion in between the original image and the thermographic means;
a plurality of light emitting devices mounted on the scan head; and
means for illuminating the light emitting devices.

### Claim 14 (depends on 13)

The apparatus of claim 13, wherein the scan head further comprises:
means for mounting the light emitting devices on a first side of the scan head to apply visible light directly to the original image: and
transparent means for conducting visible light from the light emitting devices to a second side of the scan head to apply visible light to the printing element means.

### Claim 15 (depends on 10)

The apparatus of claim 10, wherein the detector means further comprises:
means for detecting the energy from the original image to produce an analog image signal;
means for converting the analog image signal into a digital image signal; and
means for producing the image signal from the digital image signal.

### Claim 16 (depends on 15)

The apparatus of claim 15, wherein the detector means further comprises:
means for storing the digital image signal.

### Claim 17 (depends on 10)

The apparatus of claim 10, wherein the original image is formed of IR ink and the detector means further comprises:
IR detector means for detecting infrared energy to produce the image signal.

### Claim 18 (depends on 10)

The apparatus of claim 10, wherein the detector means further comprises:
visible light detector means for detecting visible light to produce the image signal.

### Claim 19 (depends on 9)

The apparatus of claim 9, wherein the thermographic image forming means further comprises:
a translucent layer responsive to the infrared light to develop a portion of the layer by darkening.

### Claim 20

The method of reproducing an original image, comprising the steps of:
applying first pulses of visible light to the original image;
converting the applied first pulses of visible light into a pattern of infrared energy related to the original image; and
developing a visible copy of the original image in response to the pattern of infrared energy.

### Claim 21 (depends on 20)

The method of claim 20, wherein the step of converting the applied first pulses of visible light into a pattern of infrared energy further comprises the steps of:
producing an image signal in response to energy from the original image; and
producing the pattern of infrared energy in response to the image signal.

### Claim 22 (depends on 21)

The method of claim 21, wherein the step of producing the pattern of infrared energy in response to the image signal further comprises the step of:
applying second pulses of visible light to a printing element in response to the image signal; and
converting the second pulses of visible light into the pattern of infrared energy.

### Claim 23 (depends on 22)

The method of claim 22 further comprising the step of:
operating a light source to produce the first and second pulses of visible light.

### Claim 24 (depends on 23)

The method of claim 23, wherein the step of operating the light source further comprises the steps of:
mounting a plurality of light emitting devices for motion in between the original image and the visible copy; and
illuminating the light emitting devices.

### Claim 25 (depends on 24)

The method of claim 24, wherein the step of operating the light source comprises the steps of:
mounting the light emitting devices on a first side of a scan head to apply the first pulses of visible light directly to the original image: and
conducting visible light from the light emitting devices to a second side of the scan head to produce the visible copy.

### Claim 26 (depends on 21)

The method of claim 21, wherein the step of producing the image signal further comprises the steps of:
detecting energy from the original image to produce an analog image signal;
converting the analog image signal into a digital image signal; and
producing the image signal from the digital image signal.

### Claim 27 (depends on 26)

The method of claim 26, wherein the step of producing the image signal further comprises the step of:
means for storing the digital image signal before the image signal is produced.

### Claim 28 (depends on 21)

The method of claim 21, wherein the step of producing the image signal further comprises the step of:
detecting infrared energy from the original image.

### Claim 29 (depends on 21)

The method of claim 21, wherein the step of producing the image signal further comprises the step of:
detecting visible light from the original image.

### Claim 30

Imaging apparatus, comprising:
a source of visible light;
means for converting the visible light into a pattern of first infrared energy;
thermographic means for forming a visible image in response to the pattern of first infrared energy;
a source of second infrared energy;
means for converting the second infrared energy into a second pattern of infrared energy to provide verification of the visible image.

### Claim 31 (depends on 30)

The apparatus of claim 30, wherein the means for converting the second infrared energy further comprises:
a pattern of areas of infrared ink and non-infrared ink.

### Claim 32 (depends on 31)

The apparatus of claim 31, wherein the means for converting the visible light into a pattern of first infrared energy further comprises:
an infrared ink image.

### Claim 33 (depends on 32)

The apparatus of claim 32, wherein the means for converting visible light into a pattern of first infrared energy further comprises:
a substrate supporting the infrared ink image.

### Claim 34 (depends on 33)

The apparatus of claim 33, wherein the source of visible light further comprises:
means for providing pulses of visible light to the infrared ink image and substrate.

### Claim 35 (depends on 34)

The apparatus of claim 34, wherein the means for providing pulses of visible light further comprises:
means for controlling the intensity and duration of the pulses of visible light applied to the infrared ink image and the substrate so that pattern of first infrared energy represents a replica of the image.

### Claim 36 (depends on 35)

The apparatus of claim 35, further comprising:
masking means for rendering the infrared ink image not visible.

### Claim 37 (depends on 36)

The apparatus of claim 36, wherein the masking means further comprises:
a masking layer obscuring the infrared ink image.

### Claim 38 (depends on 37)

The apparatus of claim 37, wherein the masking layer further comprises:
a masking pattern of non-infrared ink.

### Claim 39 (depends on 30)

The apparatus of claim 30, wherein the means for converting the additional infrared energy into the second pattern of infrared energy further comprises:
a pattern of infrared ink.

### Claim 40 (depends on 39)

The apparatus of claim 39, wherein the means for converting the additional infrared energy into the second pattern of infrared energy further comprises:
means for rendering the pattern of infrared ink not visible.

### Claim 41 (depends on 40)

The apparatus of claim 40, wherein the means for rendering the pattern of infrared ink not visible further comprises:
a masking pattern of non infrared ink.

### Claim 42 (depends on 30)

The apparatus of claim 30, wherein the source of additional infrared energy further comprises:
a plurality of infrared light emitting devices.

### Claim 43 (depends on 30)

The apparatus of claim 30, wherein the imaging apparatus further comprises:
means in response to the second pattern of infrared energy for providing voice information relating to said visible image.

### Claim 44 (depends on 30)

The apparatus of claim 30, wherein the thermographic means further comprises:
a heat sensitive layer positioned between the source of visible light and the infrared ink image.

### Claim 45

A method of producing a verified image, comprising the steps of:
converting visible light into a first pattern of infrared energy;
thermographically forming a visible image in response to the first pattern of infrared energy; and
converting additional infrared energy into a second pattern of infrared energy to provide verification of the visible image.

### Claim 46 (depends on 45)

The method of claim 45, wherein the step of converting the second infrared energy further comprises the step of:
providing a pattern of areas of infrared ink and non-infrared ink.

### Claim 47 (depends on 46)

The method of claim 46, wherein the step of converting the visible light into a first pattern of infrared energy further comprises the step of:
providing an infrared ink image.

### Claim 48 (depends on 47)

The method of claim 47, wherein the step of converting visible light into a first pattern of infrared energy further comprises the step of:
supporting the infrared ink image on a substrate.

### Claim 49 (depends on 48)

The method of claim 48, wherein the step of converting visible light further comprises the step of:
providing pulses of visible light to the infrared ink image and substrate.

### Claim 50 (depends on 49)

The method of claim 49 wherein the step of providing pulses of visible light further comprises the step of:
controlling the intensity and duration of the pulses of visible light applied to the infrared ink image and the substrate so that pattern of first infrared energy represents a replica of the image.

### Claim 51 (depends on 45)

The method of claim 45, wherein the step of thermographically forming a visible image further comprises the step of:
positioning a heat sensitive layer between the source of visible light and the infrared ink image.

### Claim 52 (depends on 51)

The method of claim 51, further comprising the step of:
rendering the infrared ink image not visible.

### Claim 53 (depends on 52)

The method of claim 52, wherein the step of rending the infrared ink image not visible further comprises the step of:
obscuring the infrared ink image with a masking layer.

### Claim 54 (depends on 53)

The method of claim 53, wherein the step of rending the infrared ink image not visible further comprises the step of:
masking the pattern of infrared ink with a masking pattern of non-infrared ink.

### Claim 55 (depends on 45)

The method of claim 45, wherein the step of converting additional infrared energy into a second pattern of infrared energy further comprises the step of:
illuminating a plurality of infrared light emitting devices.

### Claim 56 (depends on 45)

The method of claim 45, further comprises the step of:
generating voice information relative to said visible image in response to the second pattern of infrared energy.