Image recording and/or reproducing apparatus

• US 4,786,971 A
• Filed: 04/14/1987
• Issued: 11/22/1988
• Est. Priority Date: 04/14/1986
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha (Canon Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha (Canon Inc.)
• Inventors: Takahashi, Tohru, Udagawa, Yoshiro, Tsutsumi, Takayoshi, Tojo, Akihiko, Fujimoto, Ryo, Takeuchi, Tatsuo, Kaneko, Shuzo, Hosono, Nagao, Toyono, Tsutomu, Kan, Fumitaka
• Primary Examiner(s): Britton, Howard W.
• Application Number:
  US07/038,337
• Time in Patent Office: 588 Days
• Field of Search: 358/209, 358/213.11, 358/212, 358/909, 358/906, 358/335, 358/338, 358/80, 365/106, 365/112, 365/114, 365/115, 365/215, 365/234, 352/102, 354/105, 354/121, 355/67
• US Class Current: 348/231.7
• CPC Class Codes: G03G 15/221 Machines other than electrographic copiers, e.g. electrophotographic cameras, electrostatic typewriters
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/30 Transforming light or analogous information into electric information scanning details H04N3/00; cameras or camera modules comprising electronic image sensors, or control thereof H04N23/00; circuitry of solid-state image sensors [SSIS] or control thereof H04N25/00

Abstract

An image recording and/or reproducing apparatus including a recording unit having a recording driving mechanism for recording a plurality of images in the form of electrostatic pattern on different regions of a photosensitive member, a reading unit having a beam source and capable of scanning the photosensitive member by an electron beam so as to convert the recorded pattern into electric signals, and a connecting member for connecting the recording unit and the reading unit without causing any change in the states of these units. This apparatus makes it possible to record and/or to reproduce images with a high image quality. The connecting member includes a container accommodating the recording unit and the reading unit. Alternatively, the connecting member is adapted to keep a portion of the recoding unit and a portion of the reading unit in close contact with each other.

Claims

1. An image recording and/or reproducing apparatus comprising:

a photoelectric conversion member for converting an optical image into electrical image data, said photoelectric conversion member being in the form of a thin film on a base member;

means for applying light from predetermined optical images to different areas on said photoelectric conversion member, thus accumulating a plurality of images on said photoelectric conversion member;

scanning means for scanning said photoelectric conversion member with an electron beam; and

means for sealing at least said photoelectric conversion means and said scanning means from the exterior of said apparatus.

2. An image recording and/or reproducing apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising biasing means for controlling the potential of a predetermined portion of said photoelectric conversion member.

3. An image recording and/or reproducing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said applying means includes a plurality of color filters.

4. An image recording and/or reproducing apparatus according to claim 3, further comprising means for selectively displacing said plurality of color filters.

5. An image recording and/or reproducing apparatus according to claim 3, further comprising reference color forming means for accumulating the color of a light source on another portion of said photoelectric conversion member through color filters having different spectral characteristics.

6. An image recording and/or reproducing apparatus according to claim 5, further comprising a white-color diffusion means provided on the front side of said color filters.

7. An image recording and/or reproducing apparatus comprising:

(a) photoelectric conversion means for converting an optical image into electrical image data and for accumulating said electrical image data;

(b) scanning means for scanning said photoelectric conversion means with a beam;

(c) displacing means for displacing said photoelectric conversing means with respect to said scanning means and for rolling said photoelectric conversion means in a stack; and

(d) control means for equalizing the levels of potential of the obverse and reverse sides of said photoelectric conversion means before being rolled by said displacing means.

8. An image recording and/or reproducing apparatus according to claim 7, further comprising a metallic film, wherein said photoelectric conversion means is covered at one side by said metallic film.

9. An image recording and/or reproducing apparatus comprising:

(a) photoelectric conversion means for converting an optical image into electrical image data and for accumulating said electrical image data;

(b) scanning means for scanning said photoelectric conversion means with a beam;

(c) displacing means for displacing said photoelectric conversion means with respect to said scanning means;

(d) an internal power supply for supplying electric power to internal circuits other than said scanning means; and

(e) a connector for connecting an external power supply to said apparatus for supplying electric power at least to said scanning means.

10. An image recording and/or reproducing apparatus comprising:

(a) photoelectric conversion means for converting an optical image into electrical image data and accumulating said electrical image data;

(b) scanning means for scanning said photoelectric conversion means with a beam;

(c) displacing means for displacing said photoelectric conversion means with respect to said scanning means;

(d) a vacuum container housing said photoelectric conversion means, said scanning means and said displacing means; and

(e) driving means for driving said displacing means by applying an electromagnetic force externally of said vacuum container.

11. An image recording and/or reproducing apparatus according to claim 10, wherein said driving means is detachably secured to said vacuum container.

12. An image recording and/or reproducing apparatus according to claim 10, further comprising scanning means disposed between said driving means and said electromagnetic shielding means.

13. An image recording and/or reproducing apparatus comprising:

a photosensitive member;

driving means for moving said photosensitive member;

scanning means for scanning said photosensitive member with a beam;

a vacuum container housing said photosensitive member; and

an optical system through which optical data is supplied to said photosensitive member from the outside of said vacuum container.

14. An image recording and/or reproducing apparatus comprising:

a vacuum container;

a beam generator disposed in said vacuum container for generating a beam for scanning a photosensitive material so as to read images in the form of electrostatic patterns on different portions of said photosensitive material; and

driving means disposed in said vacuum container for effecting a sub-scan by moving said photosensitive member with respect to said beam generator.

15. An image recording and/or reproducing apparatus comprising:

a photosensitive member capable of recording a plurality of image patterns on different portions thereof;

driving means for moving said photosensitive member;

reading means for scanning said photosensitive member with a beam so as to convert the data recorded on said photosensitive member into electrical signals;

a container hermetically accommodating at least said photosensitive member and having a planar inner wall; and

control means for controlling said driving means so as to selectively press a part of said photosensitive member against said planar inner wall of said container.

16. An image recording and/or reproducing apparatus according to claim 15, wherein said recording means includes means for manually moving said photosensitive member.

17. An image recording and/or reproducing apparatus according to claim 15, further comprising a rotatable disk, wherein said photosensitive member is provided on said rotatable disk.

18. An image recording and/or reproducing apparatus according to claim 15, wherein said disk includes a glass plate.

19. An image recording and/or reproducing apparatus according to claim 15, wherein said photosensitive member includes a photoconductive layer and a protective layer which protects said photoconductive layer from being directly irradiated by said beam.

20. An image recording and/or reproducing apparatus according to claim 15, wherein a light-shielding means is provided inside of said container except for a predetermined aperture.

21. An image recording and/or reproducing apparatus according to claim 20, wherein said light-shielding means is provided on the inner surface of said container.

22. An image recording and/or reproducing apparatus according to claim 15, further comprising means for electrostatically charging said photosensitive member or for removing charges therefrom.

23. An image recording and/or reproducing apparatus according to claim 16, wherein said beam is an electron beam and wherein said means for charging or removing charges employs said electron beam.

24. An image recording and/or reproducing apparatus according to claim 22, wherein said means for charging said photosensitive member includes means for varying the pressure acting on said photosensitive member.

25. An image recording and/or reproducing apparatus according to claim 22, wherein said beam is an electron beam and wherein the same surface of said photosensitive material is used as the surface for recording said image and as the surface which is scanned by the electron beam from said reading means.

26. An image recording and/or reproducing apparatus according to claim 25, further comprising pressing means provided on the reverse side of said surface of said photosensitive material and adapted for maintaining the flatness of said photosensitive member.

27. An image recording and/or reproducing apparatus according to claim 22, wherein said means for charging or removing charges is included in said driving means.

28. An image recording and/or reproducing apparatus according to claim 27, wherein said control means is adapted for selectively pressing said photosensitive member against said planar inner wall of said container by the operation of said means for charging or removing charges included in said driving means.

29. An image recording and/or reproducing apparatus according to claim 28, wherein said means for charging or removing charges is adapted for applying a predetermined level of tension to said photosensitive material.

30. An image recording and/or reproducing apparatus comprising:

a photosensitive member;

driving means for moving said photosensitive member;

scanning means for scanning said photosensitive member with a beam;

a vacuum container housing said photosensitive member, said driving means and said scanning means; and

optical system through which optical data is introduced to said photosensitive member from the outside of said container;

fixing means for integrally fixing said vacuum container and said optical system to each other; and

a resilient member for resiliently supporting the integral vacuum container and optical system within a camera body.

31. An image recording and/or reproducing apparatus according to claim 30, further comprising a finder optical system, wherein said fixing means also said finder optical system to said vacuum container.

32. An image recording and/or reproducing apparatus comprising:

a photoelectric conversion member for converting an optical image into electrical image data, said photoelectric conversion member being constructed as a thin film formed on a predetermined base and adapted to be moved in a predetermined direction; and

means for introducing a plurality of optical images to respective different areas of said photoelectric conversion member, wherein said respective different areas are arrayed in a direction perpendicular to the direction of movement of said photoelectric conversion member.

33. An image recording and/or reproducing apparatus according to claim 32, further comprising a plurality of optical systems for introducing said optical images.

34. An image recording and/or reproducing apparatus according to claim 32, further comprising moving means for moving the optical axis of said optical system.

35. An image recording and/or reproducing apparatus according to claim 32, wherein said optical images have different spectral characteristics.

36. An image recording and/or reproducing apparatus according to claim 32, wherein said photoelectric conversion member is flexible and, is adapted to be wound in the form of a roll.

37. An image recording and/or reproducing apparatus according to claim 32, further comprising a vacuum container and an electron beam source therein, wherein said photoelectric conversion member is sealed in said vacuum container having said electron beam source.

38. An image recording and/or reproducing apparatus according to claim 32, further comprising a vacuum container and an electron beam source therein, wherein said photoelectric conversion member is adapted to be scanned by san electron beam while it is held in contact with the outer surface of said vacuum container having said electron beam source.

39. An image recording and/or reproducing apparatus according to claim 32, further comprising scanning means for scanning said photoelectric conversion member by applying an electron beam to said photoelectric conversion member.

40. An image recording and/or reproducing apparatus according to claim 39, further comprising a plurality of said scanning means.

41. An image recording and/or reproducing apparatus comprising:

a photoelectric conversion member capable of converting an optical image into electrical image data and constructed as a thin film formed on a disk-like base, said photoelectric conversion member being rotatable so that different portions thereof are adapted to receive optical images; and

means for introducing a plurality of optical images to respective different areas on said photoelectric conversion member arrayed in the radial direction of said photo-electric conversion member at each angular position of said photoelectric conversion member.

42. An image recording and/or reproducing apparatus comprising:

a photoelectric conversion member capable of converting an optical image into electrical image data and constructed as a thin film on a disk-like base; and

means for introducing a plurality of optical images to respective different areas on said photoelectric conversion member, whereby said photoelectric conversion member can store a plurality of images accumulated thereon, wherein marks are provided on said photoelectric conversion member to indicate reference positions of the respective images.

43. An image recording and/or reproducing apparatus according to claim 42, further comprising scanning means for scanning said photoelectric conversion member by applying an electron beam to said photoelectric conversion member.

44. An image recording and/or reproducing apparatus according to claim 42, wherein said marks are provided on a plurality of portions of said photoelectric conversion member before said plurality of optical images are introduced to said respective different areas on said photoelectric conversion member.

45. An image recording and/or reproducing apparatus according to claim 42, wherein said marks are formed on said photoelectric conversion member simultaneously with the introduction of the optical image to said photoelectric conversion member.

46. An image recording and/or reproducing apparatus comprising:

a beam generator having a window portion in the form of thin film for introducing an electron beam to a photoelectric conversion member disposed in the vicinity of said beam generator and carrying electrical image data accumulated thereon; and

scanning means for scanning said photoelectric conversion member with said electron beam;

wherein said photoelectric conversion member in which still image data are accumulated on different areas thereon is selectively moved to bring said areas to a position in the vicinity of said beam generator, thus enabling said still image data to be read by said electron beam.

47. An image recording and/or reproducing apparatus according to claim 46, further comprising displacing means for displacing said photoelectric conversion member with respect to said window;

and a cartridge holding said photoelectric conversion member and said displacing means as a unit with each other.

48. An image recording and/or reproducing apparatus according to claim 47, wherein said cartridge is capable of accommodating a power supply for supplying electric power to said displacing means.

49. An image recording and/or reproducing apparatus according to claim 47, wherein said cartridge incorporates a biasing means for providing a predetermined bias potential to said photoelectric conversion member.

50. An image reproducing apparatus comprising:

a beam generator having a window portion in the form of a thin film for introducing an electron beam to a photoelectric conversion member disposed in the vicinity of said beam generator and carrying electrical image data accumulated thereon; and

scanning means for scanning said photoelectric conversion member with said electron beam, thus enabling said still image data to be read by said electron beam.

51. An image reproducing apparatus according to claim 50, further comprising driving means for displacing said photoelectric conversion member with respect to said window.

53. An image recording and/or reproducing apparatus according to claim 50, wherein said displacing means stores said photoelectric conversion means by rolling said photoelectric conversion means.

54. An image recording and/or reproducing apparatus according to claim 50, further comprising a metallic film, wherein said photoelectric conversion means is covered on one side by said metallic film.

52. An image recording and/or reproducing apparatus comprising:

(a) photoelectric conversion means for converting an optical image into an electrical image signal and for accumulating said electrical image signal;

(b) scanning means for scanning said photoelectric conversion means with a beam;

(c) displacing means for displacing said photoelectric conversion means with respect to said scanning means and for storing said photoelectric conversion means in a stack; and

(d) biasing means for equalizing the levels of potential of the obverse and reverse sides of said photoelectric conversion means before being stored by said displacing means.