US2898468A - Recording apparatus - Google Patents

Description

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IN V EN TOR. JOSEPH IMcNA/VEY BY ATTORNEY OR IN; ESQ/HER Aug. 4, 1959 J. T. MCNANEY 2,898,468

' RECORDING APPARATUS Filed June 29, 1956 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 III/II,

IN V EN T 0R. JOSEPH I MC/VANEY BY ATTORNEY 3 Sheets-Shet 3 uvmvroa JOSEPH T. MCNANEY gram/Ex Aug. 4, 1959 J. T. MCNANEY RECORDING APPARATUS Filed June. 29, 1956 United States 2,898,468 Patented Aug. 4, 1959 ice RECORDING APPARATUS Joseph T. McNaney, La Mesa, Caliti, assiguor to General Dynamics Corporation, Rochester, N.Y., a corporation of Delaware Application June 29, 1956, Serial No. 594,909 9 Claims. (Cl. 250-495 This invention relates to recording apparatus and more particularly to improved apparatus for recording information presented in the form of light radiation by or on mediums which may be insensitive to such radiation.

' The instant invention permits utilization of recording mediums which do not require the elaborate preparations that are typical of the process requirements of the more conventional photographic films and papers. The present invention utilizes several known means for recording together with a novel means for translating the light information into a form to effect recording upon the means.

In accordance with the invention, light images are converted into controlled electrical energy such as current or corona discharges, or both, which may be used to either (1) excite current sensitive materials or gases, and (2) impress potential charges on the surfaces of current resistive materials, or both.

In one embodiment of the invention, radiation, in the region of the desired optically responsive frequency range,

may be used to lower the electrical resistance of a member, such as a photoconductor, responsive to the radiation to vary its resistance characteristics. The member is thereby caused to admit an excitation potential to *a point intermediate electrical contacts thereby altering the environment intermediate the contacts and the point sufiiciently to produce an electrical breakdown between the contacts. The breakdown results in a current flow or a corona discharge which may be used to excite current sensitive materials for recordation of the breakdown.

be developed into a visual image with techniques as explained in my Patent No. 2,736,770.

It is an object of this invention to provide apparatus for converting light radiation into electrical energy and utilizing that energy to make a record of the radiation on media I not necessarily sensitive to such radiation.

Another object of this invention is to provide an apparatus for recordation of information presented and recorded at relatively high speeds by non-mechanical means upon inexpensive recording media.

Another object of this invention is to provide apparatus capable of printing on current sensitive paper in response to photoelectric currents wherein the latter currents trigger a much lower impedance source of current to produce the desired discolorations on the recording medium or paper.

Another object of this invention is to provide appara- -tus which will establish latent images in the form of electrostatic charges on a recording paper medium through the creation of corona efiects that are in accordance with radiation patterns exposed to the surface of the member,

such as the photoconductor.

Another object of this invention is to provide amplification of an original radiation source through the use of the member or the photoconductor to trigger a secondary source of radiation energy of greater magnitude.

Other objects will appear hereinafter as a description of the invention proceeds.

The novel features of the invention and how the objects are attained will appear more fully from the specification and the accompanying drawings, showing embodiments of the invention and forming a part of this hereof, and all of these novel features as are and intended to be pointed out in the appended claims.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 shows in partial sectional and plan views, namely, a, b, c and d, various details of an embodiment of the invention wherein current sensitive material is used for recording electrical effects that have been converted from radiation;

Figure 2 shows a partial sectional view of an additional embodiment of the invention which employs the conversion techniques of converting radiation to electrical energy for amplifying the intensity of the initial radiation;

Figure 3 shows partial sectional and plan views, namely, a, b, and c, of another embodiment of the invention which converts the light rays into electrical charges on the surface of an insulating material for record purposes;

Figure 4 shows diagrammatically at least one means of developing the electrical charges on the record medium.

Referring with greater particularity to the drawings, namely, Figure 1, we have shown in Figure 1a an assembly of a control element 10 which represents the construction of a single assembly, disposition of aplurality thereof with construction of component parts is shown in Figures 1b, 0 and d.

Element 10 comprises generally a main support body 11. The main support body 11 is utilized essentially for carrying component parts of the elements 10 and may preferably be made of aninsulator material such as glass, ceramic or the like. As shown in Figure 1c, the main support body 11 may be preformed in a configuration in which it is desired to construct the restof the element 10. To this end, support body 11 has been furnished with openings 12 of predetermined configuration for supporting other parts of elements 10.

Control element 10, in addition to support body 11, includes a member 14 which is responsive to spectral frequency radiation. Member 14 may be any known type of material which presents a predetermined resistivity in the absence of radiation and changes to a resistivity less than the predetermined resistivity in the presenceof radiation. Materials possessing the characteristics desired of member 14 may be enumerated as photoconductive materials such as selenium, cadmium sulfide, silver selenide, germanium and like materials. These materials in the presence of radiation, which radiation may fall within the optically responsive frequency range of the spectrum and be visible to the human eye or invisible thereto, normally change from materials of a high resistivity on the order of 10 ohms to conductors of electricity. The energizing radiation therefore may be any radiation lying generally in the spectrum including infrared, ultra-violet or visible light rays and may include light emitted by a cathode ray tube 41. A tube such as this shown diagrammatically in Figures 2 and 4 may be found in Patent No. 2,736,770. The radiation, which for demonstrative purposes in explaining this application may be light rays 15, suchas are visible to the eye, are generated by the cathode ray tube. It should be.understood, however, that radiation within the spectrum such as infraaaaaacs red and ultra-violet rays will effect the apparatus in the same or similar manner. Therefore, the entire spectrum is included in the source of radiation which may be presented to the member 14 for activation thereof.

Rays 15 may be projected onto the external surface of member 14 to change the predetermined resistivity of member 14 from a high resistance to that of a low resistivity. Member 14 may preferably be of a longitudinal construction with a predetermined longitudinal dimension or length, which length is determined by the desired predetermined resistance of the member 14. The predetermined length should be sufiicient to cause no current flow across or along the surface of the longitudinal member, unless and until radiation changing the resistance to low resistance is presented to the member 14. When member 14 becomes a low resistance in the presence of radiation, the member acts as a conductor and will conduct current along its surface.

The member 14 has, generally speaking, a first end 16 and a second end 17 intermediate which ends is the predetermined length. A low resistance first conductor 18, which may be made of copper, aluminum or the like, may be brought to bear against or be affixed to the first end 16 for conduction of electricity thereto. And a low resistance second conductor or conducting member 19 may be brought into contact or afiixed to a discharge portion or second end 17.

Adjacent the unatfixed end 20 of conductor 19 or as shown in Figure 3a adjacent second end 17, may be placed various types of means capable of selectively responding to current and corona discharge for selectively permanent and transitory recordation of the radiation effects upon member 14, such as record medium 21. hi the embodiments of Figures 1 and 2, a conductor and another conductor 26 may be positioned selectively adjacent member 14 and the means for recordation or record medium 21. Record medium 21 is disposed selectively adjacent and spaced apart from the member 14 or end 20 of conductive member 19 thereby forming a gap 27 therebetween or between conductors 25 and 26 or both.

An electrical potential or power supply 28 may be provided to produce at least one voltage source intermediate its terminals 29, and if desired, may produce 'an additional voltage of greater magnitude than the aforestated voltage source at terminal 31. The voltage source may then be connected across member 14 by connecting terminal 29 of power supply 28 to first conductor 18 which in turn, is connected at first end 16 of member 14. In the absence of radiation the surface of member 14 acts as a resistance to prevent current flow toward second end 17, therefore isolating first end 16 from second end 17. Terminal 30 may be connected with conductor 25 and terminal 31 with conductor 26. In the absence of radiation upon member 14 conductors 25 and 26 will be isolated electrically from each other. Upon presentation of radiation 15 to member 14, the resistivity of member 14 is lowered and permits member 14 to conduct current along its surface or longitudinal dimension to second end 17, through conductive member 19 in the embodiments of Figures 1 and 2, and presenting the voltage source at gap 27 generally intermediate conductors 25 and 26. Presentation of the voltage source at the end 20 of conductor 19 in the presence of the voltage upon conductors 25 and 26 efiects a current discharge generally adjacent gap 27 and intermeidate conductors 25 and 26. In the embodiment of Figure 3, the voltage source is applied so as to cause corona discharge adjacent gap 50. Presentation of the voltage source, therefore, at or across the gap either adjacent or across record medium 21 causes selective current and corona discharge which discharge is recorded by record medium 21.

Various means for recording and their particular constructions facilitating operation with and in the apparatus are shown in Figures 1, 2 and 3. Figure l which has been described above, in operation, utilizes, essentially a current sensitive material 35 which may be disposed upon a backing 36 such as paper or like material, if desired. Such material 35 disposed upon a backing 36 is well known in current recording equipment by the trademark Alfax. In utilizing the material 35, as shown in Figure l, the apparatus produces sufficient magnitude current discharge to produce discolorations of material 35, thereby recording the discharge. Generally, such a discharge will be affected when the voltage at terminal 29 is presented at end 20. When this happens, the potential between conductors 25 and 26 is excited beyond the critical amount by the presence of the voltage of terminal 29 at end 20 to produce the necessary voltage breakdown between conductors 25 and 26. The current produced thereby follows a path of least resistance over the current sensitive surface 35 upon backing 36 producing the desired change in color on material 35.

The effective recording area in utilizing current sensitive material 35 will be governed by the size, electrical characteristics, and center to center spacing of the plurality of control elements 10 as is illustrated in Figure 1b and d and Figure 30 thereof. When it is desired to continually move backing 36 in the direction of arrow 37, in accordance with the application of radiation or light rays 15 as dictated by the information to be presented by the radiation, the recordation of the radiation upon record medium 21 may be arranged in a straight line substantially at right angles with respect to the movement of backing 36 and the information to be recorded may be displayed horizontally as light ray 15. Such recordntion may be accomplished by providing a single line of control elements 10 arranged in a line at right angle to the movement of the backing 36.

Referring more particularly to Figure 2, there is shown an assembly of control elements 10 which are arranged to receive light rays 15 from a phosphor screen 40 of the cathode ray tube 41 through a lens 42. The electron beam 43 generated by the cathode ray tube 41 may be of any desired shape and size and controlled in any known manner necessary to convert electrical information presented to the tube 41 into the desired light rays 15. The particular application of the embodiment of Figure 2 lies in its ability to amplify light rays 15 through the medium of the control elements 10. The recording medium 21 here includes a gas chamber means 44, having a gas therein, such as neon or the like which glows when subjected to current passing therethrough. Gas chamber means 44 formed by use of a transparent window 4-5 such as glass, plastic or the like to form in cooperation with conductors 25 and 26 air-tight gas chambers 44.

In operation, when radiation causes member 14 to lower its resistance thereby permitting voltage impressed at first end 16 to be transmitted to second end 17 and through conductive member 19 be presented at end 20 thereof, such presentation of voltage will again cause a voltage breakdown with subsequent current flow between end 20 and conductors 25 and 26. The gas in the gas chamber means will be made to glow by the current passage, which glow will be visible through the window 45. It is possible with this arrangement, depending upon the characteristics of the conductor assembly and of the source of energy to the conductors, to efiect a higher light level through window 45 than the level of the light rays 15 initiating or energizing control elements 10. By providing for a sustained current flow between condoctors 25 and 26 upon their excitation, sustained light output is also possible.

. Figure 3, a, b and 0, shows a further embodiment of the invention wherein support body 11 has disposed assesses Y 5 thereon in the direction of the recording medium 21 first conductor 18. Member 14 which may be disposed uponsupport body 11 has its second end 17 presented immediately adjacent the recording medium Ell. In this embodiment, recording medium 21 may utilize a backing 36 having disposed thereon a high resistance material 46 such as carbon particles, rubber and like high resistance first end 16 and a back plate 47. Back plate 47 is made of known electrically conducting material and aids to establish a potential at and adjacent gap 50. The magnitude of the potential and the relationship between member 14 adjacent gap 50 and back plate 47-are such,

voltage wise, that an electrostatic charge may be applied to material 46 in the immediate vicinity of gap 50 upon lowering'of the resistance of member 14 by appropriate radiation. The electrostatic charge will appear as latent images upon material 46.

Figure 4 shows generally a system of developing the latent images produced upon material 46 into visible images. This system is described in greater detail in Patent No. 2,736,770. The latent images upon material 46 may be developed into visible images by applica- I 'tion of electroscopic powder 51 from receptacle 52 by rotation of agitator 53 whereby the electroscopic powder is brought into intimate contact with the latent images. Depending upon the charge of the latent images the powder 51 will either adhere or not adhere thereto.

The powder-carrying material 46 is then heated by a heater 54 causing the visible images, namely the powder, to; be fused into the backing 36 thereby providing a permanent printed record of the images.

The particular embodiment of the invention illustrated and described herein is illustrative only and the invention includes such other modifications andgequivalents as may readily appear to those skilled in the art within the scope of the appended claims.

I claim:

1. Apparatus for recordation of light radiation comprising a longitudinal photoconductive member having a first end and a second end and an externalsurface therebetween, said member being responsive 'to radiation directed onto said external surface and having a predetermined resistivity intermediate said first and second ends in the absence of said radiation and a resistivity intermediate said first and second ends less than said predetermined resistivity in the presence of said radiation, at least one voltage source for selectively effecting current and corona discharge, said voltage source being substantially impressed across said member between said ends and subject to said predetermined resistivity of said member in the absence of said radiation, said voltage source being adapted to cause, selectively, current and corona discharge in the presence of said radiation changing said predetermined resistivity to said resistivity, andmeans capable of responding selectively to current -and corona discharge for selectively permanent and transitory recordation of said radiation.

.2. Apparatus for recordation of light radiation comprising a photoconductive member having a longitudinal for selectively permanent and transitory recordation of said radiation, said means being disposed selectively adjacent and spaced apart from said member, a conductor disposed selectively adjacent said member and said means,

said voltage source being connected across said longitudinal dimension of said member and said conductor, said predetermined resistivity being adapted to isolate said voltage source, said resistivity being adapted to cause said voltage source to effect selectively current and corona discharge intermediate said member and said conductor adjacent said means for recordation by said means.

3. Apparatus for recordation of light radiation comprising a longitudinal photoconductive member having a predetermined length, said member being responsive to said radiation directed along its said length, said member having a predetermined resistance in the absence of said radiation and a resistance less than said predetermined resistance in the presence of said radiation, said predetermined resistance and said resistance having values substantially proportional to said predetermined length for a given magnitude of light radiation, at least one voltage source having terminals, said voltage source being capable of providing selectively current and corona discharge between its terminals, means capable of selectively responding to current and corona discharge for selectively permanent and transitory recordation of said radiation, said means being disposed selectively adjacent and spaced apart from said member, a conductor disposed selectively adjacent said member and said means, said voltage source being connected across said member and said conductor, said predetermined resistance being adapted to isolate said voltage source, said resistance being adapted to cause said voltage source to eifect intermediate said member and said conductor adjacent said means selec' tively current and corona discharge for recordation by said means.

4. Apparatus for recordation of light radiation comprising a longitudinal photoconductive member having a first and a second end and an external surface therebetween, said light radiations being selectively projected onto predetermined portions of said surface, said member having a predetermined resistance value between said ends in the absence of said radiation and a resistance value of less than said predetermined resistance value in the presence of said radiation, said predetermined resistance value and said resistance value being substantially proportional to the length of said member between said ends, at least one voltage source having a first and a secend terminal, said voltage source being capable of providing selectively current and corona discharge between said terminals, said first terminal being applied at said first first terminal from said second terminal when said mem ber has a predetermined lengthbetween said ends, said resistance value being adapted to provide for said voltage source between said first terminal and said second terminal to be presented across said gap to effect selectively current and corona discharge across said gap adjacent said means for recordation by said means.

5. Apparatus for recordation of light radiation comprising a plurality of longitudinal photoconductive members, each of said members having a first end and a second end, said members responding to radiation obliquely directed onto said external surface in a manner having a predetermined resistivity interrnediate said first and seconds ends in the absence of said radiation and a resistivity intermined resisitvity in the presence of said radiation, at least assaesn one voltage source for selectively etfecting current and corona discharge, said voltage source being substantially impressed across said predetermined resistivity of said member in the absence of said radiation, said voltage source being adapted to cause, selectively, current and corona discharge in the presence of said radiation changing said predetermined resistivity to said resisitivity, and means capable of responding selectively to current and corona discharge for selectively permanent and transitory recordation of said radiation.

6. Apparatus for recordation of light radiation comprising a longitudinal photoconductive member having a predetermined length, said member having a first end and a second end and an external surface, said radiation being selectively projected onto selected portions of said surface, said member having a predetermined resistance in the absence of said radiation and a resistance less than said pre' determined resistance in the presence of said radiation, said predetermined length determining said predetermined resistance, a voltage source having a first and a second terminal, said voltage source being capable of providing corona discharge between said terminals, said first terminal being applied at said first end, a record medium having a high resistance surface, said surface being capable of responding to corona discharge for permanent recordation as latent images thereon of said radiation, said record medium being disposed selectively adjacent and spaced apart from said second end forming a gap intermediate said second end and said means, a conductor disposed selectively adjacent said second end and said record medium, said second terminal being connected to said conductor, said predetermined resistance being adapted to isolate said first terminal from said second terminal, said resistance being adapted to provide for said voltage source of said first terminal and said second terminal to be presented across said gap to elfect corona discharge adjacent said record medium for recordation as latent images on said record medium.

7. Apparatus for recordation of light radiation comprising a longitudinal photoconductive member having a predetermined length, said member having a first end and a second end and an external surface, said member being responsive to said radiation on said external surface, a conducting member attached to said second end, said member having a predetermined resistance in the absence of said radiation and a resistance less than said predetermined resistance in the presence of said radiation, said predetermined length determining said predetermined resistance, at least one voltage source having a first and a second terminal, said voltage source being capable of providing selectively current and corona discharge between said'terminals, said first terminal being applied at said first end, current sensitive material capable'of responding to current and corona discharge for permanent recordation of said radiation, a pair of conductors disposed adjacent said conducting member end and said material, said material being disposed adjacent and spaced apart from said conducting member and said conductor forming a-gap intermediate said conducting member and said material, said second terminal being connected to one of said conductors, said first terminal being connected to the other of said conductors, said predetermined resistance being adapted to isolate said first terminal from said second terminal, said resistance being adapted to cause said voltage source of said first terminal and said second terminal to be presented across said gap to effect current and corona discharge adjacent said material for recordation by said material.

8. Apparatus for recordation of light radiation comprising a longitudinal photoconductive member having a predetermined lcngth, said member having a first end and a second end and an external surface, said member being responsive to said radiation on said external surface, a conducting member attached to said second end, said member having a predetermined resistance in the absence of said radiation and a resistance less than said predetermined resistance in the presence of said radiation, said predetermined length determining said predetermined resistance, at least one voltage source having a first and a second terminal, said voltage source being capable of providing selectively current and corona discharge between said terminals, said first terminal being applied at said first end, gas chamber means capable of responding to current discharge for transitory recordation of said radiation, a pair of conductors disposed adjacent said conducting member and said gas chamber, said gas chamber means being disposed selectively adjacent said conducting member and said conductor, said gas chamber means including a gas capable of glowing when current passes therethrough and a transparent window, said window being in sealing relation with said conductors for forming a gas chamber containing said gas, a gap being formed intermediate said conducting member and said conductors, said second terminal being connected to one of said conductors, said first terminal being connected to the other of said conductors, said predetermined resistance being adapted to isolate said first terminal from said second terminal, said resistance being adapted to cause said voltage source of said first terminal and said second terminal to be presented across said gap to etfcct current discharge across said gap in said gas chamber for transitory display through said window by glowing of said gas.

9. Apparatus for recordation of light radiation comprising a voltage source having a predetermined voltage, and a voltage greater than said predetermined voltage, a photoconductive member having a longitudinal dimension and an external surface along said longitudinal dimension, said member being responsive to light radiation on said external surface, said member having a predetermined resistance in the absence of said radiation and a resistance less than said predetermined resistance when exposed to said radiation, said member having a discharge portion, said predetermined voltage being impressed upon said member, said voltage being established adjacent the discharge portion of said member, said predetermined resistance changing to said resistance in the presence of said radiation, said resistance of said member being adapted to cause said predetermined voltage to be presented by said discharge portion adjacent said voltage and causing current flow from said predetermined voltage to said voltage, means responsive to said current flow for recordation thereof.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,880,289 Sukumlyn Oct. 4, 1932 2,297,691 Carlson Oct. 6, 1942 2,319,174 Wilson May 11, 1943 2,549,546 Thomas Apr. 17, 1951 2,683,689 Nichols July 13, 1954 2,716,826 Huebner Sept. 6, 1955 2,764,693 Jacobs et al. Sept. 25, 1956 2,836,725 Vyverberg May 27, 1958

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