Image forming device and two dimensional optical scanning device

An image forming device, comprising:

• means for providing a light valve including at least one layer of a photoconductive material rendered conductive by light of at least a predetermined intensity level and at least one layer of an electrooptic medium having at least a predetermined electric field threshold, said light valve means having an image forming region which is defined by at least portions of said layers of photoconductive material and electrooptic medium which are in registration, said image forming region of said light valve means being free of an electrically conductive layer between said layers of photoconductive material and electrooptic medium;
• means for applying a modulated electric field across said layers of photoconductive material and electrooptical medium of said image forming region of said light valve means and modulating said electric field relative to said predetermined electric field threshold of said electrooptic medium;
• means for producing at least one scanned light beam;
• means for inputting an image to said photoconductive material by modulating and scanning said at least one scanned light beam along the photoconductive layer side of said image forming region of said light valve means synchronous with the modulation of said electric field, said image inputting means including a first deflector means for deflecting scanning of said at least one scanned light beam in a first direction and second deflector means for deflecting scanning of said at least one scanned light beam deflected by said first deflector device in a direction essentially orthogonal to said first direction;
• a first detecting means for detecting a scanning cycle of said first deflector means and producing a first reference signal, said second deflecting means incrementally deflecting said at least one scanned light beam deflected by said first deflecting means an incremental distance in response to said reference signal;
• a location of said photoconductive material becoming conductive to permit application of said electric field to a corresponding location of said electrooptic medium at least when said at least one scanned light beam is modulated to have an intensity above said predetermined level is applied to said location, a corresponding location of said electrooptic medium in registration with said photoconductive material which has become conductive undergoing a light transmissive state transition upon application of said electric field modulated to be at least at said predetermined threshold, whereby said image input by said image inputting means is stored in said electrooptic medium;
• including a first detecting means for detecting a scanning cycle of said first deflector means and producing a first reference signal, said second deflecting means incrementally deflecting said at least one scanned light beam deflected by said first deflecting means an incremental distance in response to said reference signal;
• and
• means for reading said stored image from said light valve means,
• wherein said image is written into said electrooptic medium at successive locations in said light valve means where said predetermined threshold of the electric field and said predetermined intensity level of the at least one scanned light beam are simultaneously satisfied, for reading by said image reading means.

An image forming device, comprising:

• means for providing a light valve including at least one layer of a photoconductive material rendered conductive by light of at least a predetermined intensity level and at least one layer of an electrooptic medium having at least a predetermined electric field threshold, said light valve means having an image forming region which is defined by at least portions of said layers of photoconductive material and electrooptic medium which are in registration, said image forming region of said light valve means being free of an electrically conductive layer between said layers of photoconductive material and electrooptic medium;
• means for applying a modulated electric field across said layers of photoconductive material and electrooptical medium of said image forming region of said light valve means and modulating said electric field relative to said predetermined electric field threshold of said electrooptic medium;
• means for producing at least one scanned light beam;
• means for inputting an image to said photoconductive material by modulating and scanning said at least one scanned light beam along the photoconductive layer side of said image forming region of said light valve means synchronous with the modulation of said electric field, said image inputting means including a first deflector means for deflecting scanning of said at least one scanned light beam in a first direction and second deflector means for deflecting scanning of said at least one scanned light beam deflected by said first deflector device in a direction essentially orthogonal to said first direction;
• an image signal source means which provides a horizontal synchronization signal as a reference signal, said at least one scanned light beam producing means synchronizing with said reference signal;
• a location of said photoconductive material becoming conductive to permit application of said electric field to a corresponding location of said electrooptic medium at least when said at least one scanned light beam is modulated to have an intensity above said predetermined level is applied to said location, a corresponding location of said electrooptic medium in registration with said photoconductive material which has become conductive undergoing a light transmissive state transition upon application of said electric field modulated to be at least at said predetermined threshold, whereby said image input by said image inputting means is stored in said electrooptic medium;
• and
• means for reading said stored image from said light valve means,
• wherein said image is written into said electrooptic medium at successive locations in said light valve means where said predetermined threshold of the electric field and said predetermined intensity level of the at least one scanned light beam are simultaneously satisfied, for reading by said image reading means.

An image forming device, comprising:

• means for providing a light valve including at least one layer of a photoconductive material rendered conductive by light of at least a predetermined intensity level and at least one layer of an electrooptic medium having at least a predetermined electric field threshold, said light valve means having an image forming region which is defined by at least portions of said layers of photoconductive material and electrooptic medium which are in registration, said image forming region of said light valve means being free of an electrically conductive layer between said layers of photoconductive material and electrooptic medium;
• means for applying a modulated electric field across said layers of photoconductive material and electrooptical medium of said image forming region of said light valve means and modulating said electric field relative to said predetermined electric field threshold of said electrooptic medium;
• means for producing at least one scanned light beam;
• means for inputting an image to said photoconductive material by modulating and scanning said at least one scanned light beam along the photoconductive layer side of said image forming region of said light valve means synchronous with the modulation of said electric field, said image inputting means including a first deflector means for deflecting scanning of said at least one scanned light beam in a first direction and second deflector means for deflecting scanning of said at least one scanned light beam deflected by said first deflector device in a direction essentially orthogonal to said first direction;
• an image signal source means which provides a horizontal synchronous signal as a reference signal, said at least one scanned light beam producing means and said electric field applying means synchronizing with said reference signal;
• a location of said photoconductive material becoming conductive to permit application of said electric field to a corresponding location of said electrooptic medium at least when said at least one scanned light beam is modulated to have an intensity above said predetermined level is applied to said location, a corresponding location of said electrooptic medium in registration with said photoconductive material which has become conductive undergoing a light transmissive state transition upon application of said electric field modulated to be at least at said predetermined threshold, whereby said image input by said image inputting means is stored in said electrooptic medium;
• and
• means for reading said stored image from said light valve means,
• wherein said image is written into said electrooptic medium at successive locations in said light valve means where said predetermined threshold of the electric field and said predetermined intensity level of the at least one scanned light beam are simultaneously satisfied, for reading by said image reading means.

An image forming device, comprising:

• means for providing a light valve including at least one layer of a photoconductive material rendered conductive by light of at least a predetermined intensity level and at least one layer of an electrooptic medium having at least a predetermined electric field threshold, said light valve means having an image forming region which is defined by at least portions of said layers of photoconductive material and electrooptic medium which are in registration, said image forming region of said light valve means being free of an electrically conductive layer between said layers of photoconductive material and electrooptic medium;
• means for applying a modulated electric field across said layers of photoconductive material and electrooptical medium of said image forming region of said light valve means and modulating said electric field relative to said predetermined electric field threshold of said electrooptic medium, wherein said electric field applying means produces an AC signal driving voltage for application to said light valve means including a first write driving signal which assumes a polarity which synchronizes with a positive image input by said image inputting means and a second write driving signal which assumes the opposite polarity which synchronizes with a negative image input of said image inputting means;
• means for producing at least one scanned light beam;
• means for inputting an image to said photoconductive material by modulating and scanning said at least one scanned light beam along the photoconductive layer side of said image forming region of said light valve means synchronous with the modulation of said electric field, said image inputting means including a first deflector means for deflecting scanning of said at least one scanned light beam in a first direction and second deflector means for deflecting scanning of said at least one scanned light beam deflected by said first deflector device in a direction essentially orthogonal to said first direction;
• a location of said photoconductive material becoming conductive to permit application of said electric field to a corresponding location of said electrooptic medium at least when said at least one scanned light beam is modulated to have an intensity above said predetermined level is applied to said location, a corresponding location of said electrooptic medium in registration with said photoconductive material which has become conductive undergoing a light transmissive state transition upon application of said electric field modulated to be at least at said predetermined threshold, whereby said image input by said image inputting means is stored in said electrooptic medium;
• and
• means for reading said stored image from said light valve means,
• wherein said image is written into said electrooptic medium at successive locations in said light valve means where said predetermined threshold of the electric field and said predetermined intensity level of the at least one scanned light beam are simultaneously satisfied, for reading by said image reading means.

An image forming device, comprising:

• means for providing a light valve including at least one layer of a photoconductive material rendered conductive by light of at least a predetermined intensity level and at least one layer of an electrooptic medium having at least a predetermined electric field threshold, said light valve means having an image forming region which is defined by at least portions of said layers of photoconductive material and electrooptic medium which are in registration, said image forming region of said light valve means being free of an electrically conductive layer between said layers of photoconductive material and electrooptic medium;
• means for applying a modulated electric field across said layers of photoconductive material and electrooptical medium of said image forming region of said light valve means and modulating said electric field relative to said predetermined electric field threshold of said electrooptic medium;
• means for producing at least one scanned light beam;
• means for inputting an image to said photoconductive material by modulating and scanning said at least one scanned light beam along the photoconductive layer side of said image forming region of said light valve means synchronous with the modulation of said electric field, said image inputting means including a first deflector means for deflecting scanning of said at least one scanned light beam in a first direction and second deflector means for deflecting scanning of said at least one scanned light beam deflected by said first deflector device in a direction essentially orthogonal to said first direction, wherein said image inputting means produces at least one scanned light beam having a first intensity level at which said electrooptic medium is transited from one state to another by inputting at least one scanned light beam of said first intensity and a second intensity level at which said electrooptic medium is not transited from one state to another by inputting said at least one scanned light of said second intensity but is transited by inputting simultaneously at least two scanned light beams each of said second intensity level;
• a location of said photoconductive material becoming conductive to permit application of said electric field to a corresponding location of said electrooptic medium at least when said at least one scanned light beam is modulated to have an intensity above said predetermined level is applied to said location, a corresponding location of said electrooptic medium in registration with said photoconductive material which has become conductive undergoing a light transmissive state transition upon application of said electric field modulated to be at least at said predetermined threshold, whereby said image input by said image inputting means is stored in said electrooptic medium;
• and
• means for reading said stored image from said light valve means,
• wherein said image is written into said electrooptic medium at successive locations in said light valve means where said predetermined threshold of the electric field and said predetermined intensity level of the at least one scanned light beam are simultaneously satisfied, for reading by said image reading means.

An image forming device, comprising:

• means for providing a light valve including at least one layer of a photoconductive material rendered conductive by light of at least a predetermined intensity level and at least one layer of an electrooptic medium having at least a predetermined electric field threshold, said light valve means having an image forming region which is defined by at least portions of said layers of photoconductive material and electrooptic medium which are in registration, said image forming region of said light valve means being free of an electrically conductive layer between said layers of photoconductive material and electrooptic medium;
• means for applying a modulated electric field across said layers of photoconductive material and electrooptical medium of said image forming region of said light valve means and modulating said electric field relative to said predetermined electric field threshold of said electrooptic medium;
• means for producing at least one scanned light beam;
• means for inputting an image to said photoconductive material by modulating and scanning said at least one scanned light beam along the photoconductive layer side of said image forming region of said light valve means synchronous with the modulation of said electric field, said image inputting means including a first deflector means for deflecting scanning of said at least one scanned light beam in a first direction and second deflector means for deflecting scanning of said at least one scanned light beam deflected by said first deflector device in a direction essentially orthogonal to said first direction, wherein said image inputting means produces at least two scanned light beams each having a predetermined intensity;
• and said electric field means produces a driving voltage for application to said light valve means having a first voltage level at which said electrooptic medium is transited from one state to another by inputting said at least one scanned light beam of said first predetermined intensity and a second voltage level at which said electrooptic medium is not transited from one state to another by inputting only one of said at least two scanned light beams of said predetermined intensity but is transited by inputting at least two scanned light beams each of said predetermined intensity;
• a location of said photoconductive material becoming conductive to permit application of said electric field to a corresponding location of said electrooptic medium at least when said at least one scanned light beam is modulated to have an intensity above said predetermined level is applied to said location, a corresponding location of said electrooptic medium in registration with said photoconductive material which has become conductive undergoing a light transmissive state transition upon application of said electric field modulated to be at least at said predetermined threshold, whereby said image input by said image inputting means is stored in said electrooptic medium;
• and
• means for reading said stored image from said light valve means,
• wherein said image is written into said electrooptic medium at successive locations in said light valve means where said predetermined threshold of the electric field and said predetermined intensity level of the at least one scanned light beam are simultaneously satisfied, for reading by said image reading means.

A two dimensional optical scanning device comprising means for generating at least one scanned light beam, a rotating polygon mirror deflector for scanning of the at least one scanned light beam in one direction, a focusing optical means for directing the at least one scanned light beam on a scanning plane to form an image;

• a linear movable mirror linearly movable along a specified plane for reflecting said at least one scanned light beam deflected by said rotating polygon-mirror deflector at a given angle;
• and a linear mirror mover for moving said linearly moveable mirror in a linear direction along a specified plane, wherein an effective scanning length 1p on the scanning plane, a distance traveled by said linear movable mirror is, an angle α/2 made by said linear movable mirror and the specified plane and an angle β made by the scanned plane and the specified plane is expressed by the equations:
• 1p/sinα=1s/sinβ
• α+2β=π
• where π is a constant.

An image forming device, comprising:

• means for providing a light valve including at least one layer of a photoconductive material defining a two-dimensional surface and rendered conductive by light at least of a predetermined intensity level and at least one layer of an electrooptic medium having at least a predetermined electric field threshold, said light value means having an image forming region which is defined by at least portions of said layers of photoconductive material and electrooptic medium which are in registration, said image forming region of said light valve means being free of an electrically conductive layer between said layers of photoconductive material and electrooptic medium;
• means for applying an electric field modulated relative to said threshold across said layers of photoconductive material and electrooptical medium of said image forming region of said light valve means;
• means for producing at least two light beams;
• means for inputting at least one two-dimensional optical image to said photoconductive material by modulating the intensity level of said at least two light beams synchronous with said modulation of said electric field and including means for scanning said at least two light beams along said image forming region of said two-dimensional surface synchronous with said modulation of said light intensity level and said modulation of said electric field;
• a location of said photoconductive material becoming conductive to permit application of said electric field to a corresponding location of said electrooptic medium in registration with said photoconductive material which has become conductive at least when light from at least one of said at least two scanned light beams of said at least predetermined intensity level is applied to said location, a corresponding location of said electrooptic medium undergoing a light transmissive state transition upon application of said electric field modulated to be at least at said predetermined threshold, whereby said image input by said image inputting means is stored in said electrooptic medium;
• and
• means for reading said stored two-dimensional image from said light valve means,
• wherein said two-dimensional image is written into said electrooptic medium at successive locations in said light valve means dependent on a coincidence of light at at least said predetermined intensity level applied at said locations and said electric field of at least said predetermined threshold being applied to said light valve means, for reading by said image reading means.