Recording method and recording device using a heat reversible recording medium
AssigneeMinolta Co., Ltd.
InventorsShoji Kotani, Naoya Suzuki, Hideaki Ueda, Eiji Yamakawa
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Abstract
A heat reversible recording medium is disclosed which includes a cholesteric liquid crystal compound. By selective application of differing temperature profiles, regions of the recording medium can be fixed in states which selectively reflect light in different wavelengths thus providing the ability to fix color images in the medium. The disclosure also includes a method of recording a color image using a medium which includes a cholesteric liquid crystal compound, an apparatus for fixing an image in the recording medium as well as several cholesteric liquid crystal compounds which are suitable for use in the method and apparatus.
Claims25
A method of recording using a heat sensitive recording medium, which includes a cholesteric liquid crystal compound, said method comprising the steps of:
- a first step of fixing a first portion of the cholesteric liquid crystal compound of the recording medium in a first state in which it reflects light having a first wavelength;
- and
- a second step of fixing at least a second portion of the cholesteric liquid crystal compound of the recording medium in a second state in which it reflects light having a second wavelength that is shorter than the first wavelength,
- wherein said second portion is a portion of said first portion.
A recording device using a heat sensitive recording medium, comprising:
- a first recording means for fixing a first portion of the cholesteric liquid crystal compound of the recording medium in a first state in which it reflects light having a first wavelength;
- and
- a second recording means for fixing, a second portion of the cholesteric liquid crystal compound of the recording medium in a second state in which it reflects light having a second wavelength that is shorter than the first wavelength,
- wherein said second portion is a portion of said first portion.
A method of forming a color image on a recording medium comprising the steps of:
- providing a heat sensitive recording medium for forming an image thereon, said heat sensitive recording medium including a cholesteric liquid crystal compound;
- subjecting at least a first portion of said heat sensitive recording medium to a first temperature profile such that said at least a first portion of said heat sensitive recording medium thereafter is in a first state in which it reflects light having a first wavelength;
- and
- subjecting at least a second portion of said heat sensitive recording medium to a second temperature profile, different than said first temperature profile, such that said second portion of said heat sensitive recording medium thereafter is in a second state in which it reflects light having a second wavelength, said second wavelength being shorter than said first wavelength,
- wherein said second portion is a portion of said first portion.
A recording device using a heat sensitive recording medium which includes a cholesteric liquid crystal compound, said recording device comprising:
- a first recording means for fixing a first portion of the cholesteric liquid crystal compound of the recording medium in a first state in which it reflects light having a first wavelength;
- and
- a second recording means for fixing at least a portion of the first portion of the cholesteric liquid crystal compound of the recording medium fixed by said first recording means in said first state in a second state in which it reflects light having a second wavelength that is shorter than the first wavelength.
A method of forming a color image on a recording medium comprising the steps of:
- providing a heat sensitive recording medium for forming an image thereon, said heat sensitive recording medium including a cholesteric liquid crystal compound;
- subjecting at least a first portion of said heat sensitive recording medium to a first temperature profile such that said at least a first portion of said heat sensitive recording medium thereafter is in a first state in which it reflects light having a first wavelength;
- and
- subjecting at least a portion of said first portion of said heat sensitive recording medium to a second temperature profile, different than said first temperature profile, such that said at least a portion of said first portion of said heat sensitive recording medium thereafter is in a second state in which it reflects light having a second wavelength, said second wavelength being shorter than said first wavelength.
A method of recording using a heat sensitive recording medium, which includes a cholesteric liquid crystal compound, said method comprising the steps of:
- a first step of fixing a first portion of the cholesteric liquid crystal compound of the recording medium in a first state in which it reflects light having a first wavelength;
- and
- a second step, subsequent to said first step of, fixing at least a portion of the first portion of the cholesteric liquid crystal compound of the recording medium in a second state in which it reflects light having a second wavelength that is shorter than the first wavelength.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.