The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Oct. 07, 1986
Filed:
Jan. 06, 1983
Nicholas J Krasutsky, Carrollton, TX (US);
Mark E Koch, Dallas, TX (US);
LTV Aerospace and Defense Company, Dallas, TX (US);
Abstract
A method and apparatus for rapidly erasing and rebiasing a thermoptic thin film. A thermal insulating material (16) is disposed adjacent a thermoptic thin film (10). A layer of resistive material (14) is disposed between the insulating material and the thermoptic thin film and is connected to a current generator (18) which supplies a current to the layer dissipating heat into the thermoptic thin film and insulating layer. A thermal body (22), having high thermal conductivity and interfacing with the insulating layer the opposite boundary from the thermoptic thin film, contains a conduit through which a refrigerated liquid is flowed to establish a thermal gradient from the thermoptic thin film to the fluid. Sufficient current is supplied to the resistive layer to maintain the temperature of the thermoptic thin film at the bias temperature. A control circuit is provided for intermittently interrupting the current flow, causing heat to dissipate from the thermoptic thin film and the temperature to drop to a point below the hysteresis loop, whereby images written in the thermoptic thin film are erased. A sensor (28) may be provided adjacent the thermoptic thin film for generating a temperature signal corresponding to the temperature of the film. The signal is fed back to the control circuit. When the temperature of the film drops below 45.degree. C. and the film is erased, sufficient current is then furnished to the resistive layer to cause the temperature of the film to increase to the bias temperature.