To provide an image recording method and apparatus that can record and
display an image of free pattern without forming the complex wirings in an
electrochromic material, and to reduce the manufacturing costs of the
image recording apparatus employing the EC material.
A recording sheet 7 having a coloring layer made of an electrochromic
material and an electrolytic layer with an increasing electrical
conductivity in a specific temperature range is employed, and a recording
head 13 with a plurality of heating elements arranged in a linear
direction is moved relative to the surface of the recording sheet 7 in the
direction orthogonal to the linear direction while at the same time a
voltage is applied to the front and back faces of the recording sheet 7,
thereby selectively heating the heating elements 11. Thereby, a coloring
reaction is caused only in a part where heat is applied by the heating
elements of the recording sheet 7 and voltage is applied to form an image
on the recording sheet 7.
