Patent ID: 6177947
Filing Date: 2001-01-23
Classification: B41M

Abstract:
Apparatus for forming an image, comprising:a) storage means for storing a digitized image;b) a receiver comprising:i) a matrix;ii) a thermomeltable material disposed in the matrix, having a transition temperature range which is above room temperature wherein the viscosity of the thermomeltable material decreases substantially from below to above the transition temperature range; andiii) field-driven particles, immersed in the thermomeltable material, so that the field-driven particles change reflective densities in response to an applied electric field when the material is above the transition temperature range and is stable at temperatures below its transition temperature range;c) an array of electrodes associated with the receiver for selectively applying electric fields at an image forming position on the receiver;d) means for heating the receiver to control the temperature of the receiver to control the response of the field-driven particles in the receiver; ande) electronic control means coupled to the heater for applying heat to control the temperature of the receiver to selectively control the response of the field-driven particles when an electric field is applied and coupled to the electrode array for selectively applying voltages to the electrode array so that electric fields are applied at the image forming position at particular locations on the receiver corresponding to pixels in response to the stored image whereby the electrodes produces the image in the receiver corresponding to the stored image.