Thermal imaging system

A method of recording a visual image which comprises the steps of providing a thermal imaging device having a print surface for providing localized heating to an imageable medium comprising a thermally activatable component of an image forming system, the device comprising the following sequential layers:

• (a) a transparent or semi-transparent electrically conductive layer,
• (b) a photoconductive layer which when illuminated by radiation of 633 nm wavelength and intensity of 4.0.times.10.sup.6 W/m.sup.2 has a conductivity of at least 0.01 S/cm and a photosensitive ratio of at least 1.times.10.sup.5, layer (b) being in contact with layer (c),
• (c) an electrically conductive layer in electrical contact with the photoconductive layer (b) and in contact with:
• (d) a layer of said medium comprising said thermally activatable component of said image forming system,
• applying an electrical potential across layers (a) and (c), exposing the device through layer (a) to form exposed areas on layer (b) such that the exposed areas of layer (b) become conductive thereby enhancing current flow and generating heat in layer (b) at points corresponding to the exposed areas of layer (b) and causing localized heating at the print surface sufficient to generate a visual image in said medium.

A thermal imaging device having a print surface for providing localized heating to a layer comprising a thermally activatable component of an image forming system, the device consisting of the following sequential layers:

• (a) a transparent or semi-transparent electrically conductive layer,
• (b) a photoconductive layer which when illuminated by radiation of 633 nm wavelength and intensity of 4.0.times.10.sup.6 W/m.sup.2 has a conductivity of at least 0.01 S/cm and a photosensitive ratio of at least 1.times.10.sup.3, layer (b) being in contact with layer (a),
• (c) an electrically conductive layer in electrical contact with the photoconductive layer (b) and in contact with:
• (d) a layer comprising said thermally activatable component of an image forming system;
• wherein the layers are constructed and arranged such that when a voltage potential is applied across layers (a) and (c) and the device is exposed through layer (a) to form exposed areas of layer (b), the exposed areas of layer (b) become conductive, enhancing current flow and generating heat in layer (b) at points corresponding to the exposed areas of layer (b) and causing localized heating at areas at the print surface adjacent exposed areas of layer (b) sufficient to thermally activate said component of an image forming system, the device not containing ferromagnetic garnet materials.