Information recording device

• US 20010008582A1
• Filed: 03/07/2001
• Published: 07/19/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 07/06/1998
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Sharp Kabushiki Kaisha (Hon Hai Precision Industry Co., Ltd.)
• Original Assignee: Sharp Kabushiki Kaisha (Hon Hai Precision Industry Co., Ltd.)
• Inventors: Yamamoto, Masao, Sato, Eiji, Nishino, Tomoko, Narikawa, Shiro
• Granted Patent: US 6,424,387 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 396/429
• CPC Class Codes: G02F 1/133348 Charged particles addressed liquid crystal cells, e.g. controlled by an electron beam
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 2310/02 Addressing, scanning or driving the display screen or processing steps related thereto
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 3/36 using liquid crystals
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00127 Connection or combination of a still picture apparatus with another apparatus, e.g. for storage, processing or transmission of still picture signals or of information associated with a still picture
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00246 with an optical device, e.g. an optical viewing aid
• CPC Class Codes: 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-scanningsheet-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
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/193 using electrically scanned linear arrays , e.g. linear CCD arrays
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/23 Reproducing arrangements

Abstract

A device main body is formed portable, which includes (i) an information writing/erasing section which erases information recorded in a liquid crystal paper and returns the liquid crystal paper into an initialized state in which information recording is possible, and records information previously stored in the device main body into the initialized liquid crystal paper as required, and (ii) a sheet holding section which holds the liquid crystal paper in such a manner that the liquid crystal paper can be transported to an information erasure position and an information recording position in the information writing/erasing section and that the liquid crystal paper is curved at portions thereof other than those at which information recording and erasing is carried out. With this, it is possible to provide an information recording device with improved operability, such as improved portability and capability of easily reading out information at any place.

Claims

1. An information recording device for use with a recording medium sheet to which information can be recorded and erased,

said information recording device comprising a device main body which is portable, said device main body including:

memory means for storing information to be recorded in said recording medium sheet;

at least one information recording and erasing means for erasing information recorded in said recording medium sheet to return said recording medium sheet to an initialized state in which recording information is possible, and for recording, as required, information stored in said memory means with respect to said recording medium sheet in the initialized state; and

sheet holding means for holding said recording medium sheet in a manner such that said recording medium sheet can be transported to an erasure position at which information is erased by said information recording and erasing means, and to a recording position at which information is recorded by said information recording and erasing means.

2. The information recording device as set forth in

claim 1

, wherein said sheet holding means holds said recording medium sheet in a manner such that said recording medium sheet is curved at portions thereof other than those at which information recording and erasing is carried out.

3. The information recording device as set forth in

claim 2

, wherein said sheet holding means is equipped with winding means for winding said recording medium sheet therearound.

4. The information recording means as set forth in

claim 3

, wherein said winding means is detachably provided to said device main body, said winding means being detached and attached from and to said device main body in a state in which said recording medium sheet is wound therearound.

5. The information recording device as set forth in

claim 1

, wherein said device main body includes:

a transport path for guiding said recording medium sheet to the erasure position and the recording position; and

an opening through which said recording medium sheet whose one end is fixed to said device main body is discharged, said opening being provided at an end of said transport path and being gradually curved downward in a convex form.

6. The information recording device as set forth in

claim 1

, wherein said device main body includes:

a transport path for guiding said recording medium sheet to the erasure position and the recording position; and

an opening through which said recording medium sheet whose one end is fixed to said device main body is discharged, said opening being provided at an end of said transport path, an edge surrounding said opening having a portion protruding downward into said opening.

7. The information recording device as set forth in

claim 1

, wherein said device main body includes holding means for holding said recording medium sheet discharged through said device main body.

8. The information recording medium as set forth in

claim 1

, wherein said device main body includes transport means which is brought into contact with said recording medium sheet and transports said recording medium sheet to the erasure position and the recording position, said transport means being detached from said recording medium sheet when not transporting said recording medium sheet.

9. The information recording device as set forth in

claim 8

, wherein:

liquid crystal is used as recording medium of said recording medium sheet; and

said transport means is brought into contact with sealing sections of said recording medium sheet so as to transport said recording medium sheet, the sealing sections being used for sealing the liquid crystal.

10. The information recording device as set forth in

claim 1

, wherein said device main body includes:

a transport path for guiding said recording medium sheet to the erasure position and the recording position;

a plurality of said information recording and erasing means disposed along said transport path; and

two openings through which said recording medium sheet is brought in and out, said openings being provided at ends of said transport path on an upper part and a lower part of a same surface of said device main body, and

wherein said sheet holding means holds said recording medium sheet in a manner such that said recording medium sheet is curved at portions thereof other than those at which information recording and erasing is carried out.

11. The information recording device as set forth in

claim 10

, wherein a length of said transport path from one end to the other end thereof is shorter than a length of said recording medium sheet to be transported through said transport path.

12. The information recording device as set forth in

claim 10

, wherein said recording medium sheet has at least two information display regions, said information display regions having respective layer structures such that information recorded in said recording medium sheet can be viewed from one and same side, irrespective of which opening said recording medium sheet is discharged from.

13. The information recording device as set forth in

claim 12

, wherein said information display regions are disposed at both end portions of said recording medium sheet in the transport direction, the layer structures of said information display regions being substantially symmetric with respect to a center point of said recording medium sheet.

14. The information recording device as set forth in

claim 10

, wherein said sheet holding means is equipped with winding means for winding said recording medium sheet therearound.

15. The information recording device as set forth in

claim 1

, wherein said device main body is arranged so that said recording medium sheet held by said sheet holding means is brought in and out to said device main body in a spread state.

16. The information recording device as set forth in

claim 15

, wherein said sheet holding means is a frame member for holding said recording medium sheet in a spread state and for being brought into and out of said device main body in a state of holding said recording medium sheet.

17. The information recording device as set forth in

claim 16

, wherein said frame member is detachably provided to said device main body.

18. The information recording device as set forth in

claim 1

, wherein said device main body further includes:

a transport path for guiding said recording medium sheet to the erasure position and the recording position;

an opening and closing member openably provided at an end of said transport path;

detecting means for detecting an opened or closed state of said opening and closing member; and

stopping means for stopping driving of said device main body when said detecting means detects the closed state of said opening and closing member in which said transport path is closed.

19. The information recording device as set forth in

claim 1

, wherein:

said device main body further includes, on a surface thereof, a display section for displaying operation information relating to an operation with respect to said recording medium sheet; and

said display section also serves as an operation section for commanding the operation.

20. The information recording device as set forth in

claim 1

, wherein:

said recording medium sheet includes an information-display region and a non-information-display region; and

distinction marks are recorded on the non-information-display region, the distinction marks being used for distinction of said recording medium sheet from another recording medium sheet or for distinction between a front and a back of said recording medium sheet,

said information recording device further comprising;

detecting means for detecting the distinction marks; and

control means for controlling transport operations by driving means with respect to said recording medium sheet, based on a result of the detection by said detecting means.

21. The information recording device as set forth in

claim 20

, wherein the distinction marks are provided on both ends of said recording medium sheet in the transport direction.