Abstract: The present teachings provide thermosensitive recording compositions which are useful for preparing thermosensitive recording media for displaying images. The thermosensitive recording media can include a substrate, a thermosensitive recording composition, and a topcoat. Methods of preparing and using the thermosensitive recording media also are disclosed.

Abstract: The invention generally relates to double-sided labels and methods of manufacture and use. More specifically, the invention relates to labels that include printed information on their front and back sides. The labels also include a detachable portion, which includes printed traces on its back side and is located between two portions of the label that contain adhesive on their back sides that permanently attach those portions to a product.

Abstract: The invention generally relates to roll core inserts disposed with a security device and methods of using such roll core inserts. More specifically, the invention relates to roll core inserts having a body that connects the inside planar surfaces of a first circular disk and a second circular disk and the outside planar surface of one of the disks has an engagement mechanism. A security device is disposed on the roll core insert.

Abstract: Disclosed is a circuit element that includes a thermoplastic substrate and a conductive trace at least partially embedded in the thermoplastic substrate. Also disclosed is a method of forming a circuit element. The method includes the steps of providing a thermoplastic substrate having a softening temperature, printing a conductive ink onto the thermoplastic substrate to form a trace, and embedding the trace into the thermoplastic substrate by heating the thermoplastic substrate to a temperature above about the softening temperature about the trace.

Abstract: Disclosed is a circuit element that includes a thermoplastic substrate and a conductive trace at least partially embedded in the thermoplastic substrate. Also disclosed is a method of forming a circuit element. The method includes the steps of providing a thermoplastic substrate having a softening temperature, printing a conductive ink onto the thermoplastic substrate to form a trace, and embedding the trace into the thermoplastic substrate by heating the thermoplastic substrate to a temperature above about the softening temperature about the trace.

Abstract: A light diffusing screen is made by exposing a photopolymerisable material to polymerising light through a mask having an array of light-transmitting apertures in an opaque background or vice versa, at least some of the light being directed obliquely onto the photopolymerisable material. The resulting photopolymerised material has asymmetric light diffusing properties. In some embodiments two beams of light directed onto the photopolymerisable material are equally and oppositely inclined to the perpendicular to the plane of the material. An analogous effect may be provided, in other embodiments, by exposing the photopolymerisable material to light converging conically on the photopolymerisable material.

Abstract: Disclosed is a circuit element that includes a thermoplastic substrate and a conductive trace at least partially embedded in the thermoplastic substrate. Also disclosed is a method of forming a circuit element. The method includes the steps of providing a thermoplastic substrate having a softening temperature, printing a conductive ink onto the thermoplastic substrate to form a trace, and embedding the trace into the thermoplastic substrate by heating the thermoplastic substrate to a temperature above about the softening temperature about the trace.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is an apparatus for maintaining and converting a localized polarization shift into a localized intensity variation in a liquid crystal display assembly. The assembly includes a liquid crystal display having a back side and a front side, a polarization-maintaining, light-diffusing layer adjacent to the front side of the liquid crystal display, and a front light-polarizing layer disposed adjacent to the polarization-maintaining, light-diffusing layer. A method for maintaining and converting a localized polarization shift into a localized intensity variation in a liquid crystal display assembly also is disclosed.

Abstract: An inked ribbon assembly for use with a printing apparatus such as a thermal facsimile machine includes a generally cylindrical supply spool, a generally cylindrical take-up spool, and a sheet-like inked ribbon extending therebetween, with the inked ribbon rolled upon the supply spool and connected to the take-up spool for advancement through the printing apparatus to the take-up spool. The spools of the inked ribbon assembly are rotatably supported in the printing apparatus by support spindles, which effect driven rotation of the supply and take-up spools. The support spindles each include one or more drive lugs which engage the spools of the ribbon assembly for effecting advancement of the inked ribbon.

Abstract: A projection screen element is described that includes a substrate and a diffusion coating disposed on the substrate. The diffusion coating includes a matrix having a first index of refraction and a plurality of particles having a second index of refraction disposed within the matrix. The substrate may be translucent for use as a rear projection screen element or reflective for use as a front projection screen element. A method of making a projection screen element also is described.

Abstract: Disclosed are heat sensitive coatings and record materials that are environmentally resistant and therefore do not require a protective coating. One embodiment includes an environmentally resistant heat sensitive coating that includes an acrylate polymer of the formula: wherein R1 is a hydrogen or a methyl group, R2 is a hydrogen or a methyl group, and R3 is nitrile or chlorine or wherein, when c is 0, R4 is methyl, phenyl, or substituted phenyl, and when c is greater than 0, R4 is methyl, phenyl, substituted phenyl, halogen, nitrile or hydroxyl; m is greater than 1; n is greater than 1; b is greater than or equal to 0; and c is an integer from 0 to 38.

Abstract: Disclosed is a light-transmissive material and methods of its manufacture. The light-transmissive material of the invention uses two distinct particles in a diffusive layer to provide increased light transmissive properties. For example, when used as a rear projection screen, the light-transmissive material of the invention exhibits high gain, high contrast, and low scintillation. In another embodiment of the invention, the light-transmissive material includes light channeling contrast enhancement layer.

Abstract: An adhesive-backed label useful for security applications. The label comprises a substrate onto which has been coated, in order, at least a thermally-imprintable color producing layer, and an adhesive layer, preferably a pressure-sensitive adhesive.

Abstract: A method for preparing thermoplastic toner resins is disclosed and the toner resins produced by said method. More particularly, an emulsion polymerized resin, constituting a high molecular weight component, is used as a seed for subsequent suspension polymerization of a lower molecular weight component. The emulsion micelles are swelled with monomers and subsequent suspension polymerization produces particles where the high and low molecular weight components are interpenetrated to form a resin with a bimodal distribution of molecular weight. A toner composition is made using the resin as the main component. The resin particle has a first resin portion having a particle size in the range of about 50 to about 200 nm. and a number average molecular weight in the range of about 104 to about 107, and a second resin portion formed around the first resin portion with a number average molecular weight lower than that of said first resin portion, the resin having a polydispersity in the range of 5 to 50.

Abstract: Disclosed is a heat-sealable adhesive label with a built-in spacer and methods of its manufacture. The adhesive label of the present invention includes a substrate having a first surface and a second surface, and an adhesive coating disposed on the first surface of the substrate. The adhesive coating includes an adhesive and a plurality of spacer particles that impart roughness to the adhesive coating. Methods of making and using a heat-sealable adhesive label also are disclosed.

Abstract: Screens having unique optical properties are produced according to the invention by crosslinking and stretching, or otherwise deforming, a sheet of light-diffusing material having symmetrical light diffusion characteristics under conditions sufficient to induce asymmetry. Screens made from the asymmetric light diffusing materials described herein exhibit enhanced brightness and clarity. Utilizing the present methods, optical materials having a desired view angle or improved optical characteristics can be achieved.

Abstract: A carrier composition is provided for electrophotographic development. Core particles are coated with a graft copolymer of a fluoropolymer and methyl methacrylate. The core particles preferably are a material selected from steel, nickel, iron, ferrites, passivated iron, or mixtures or alloys thereof. The fluoropolymer preferably is a polymer selected from chlorotrifluoroethylene, polyvinylidene fluoride, polytrifluoroethylene, polytetrafluoroethylene, copolymers of vinylidene fluoride and hexafluoropropylene, and copolymers of vinylidene fluoride and tetrafluoroethylene. In a preferred carrier composition, the coating consists of two layers. The exterior layer is a graft copolymer made of a fluoropolymer and methyl methacrylate.

Abstract: Thermally-imageable articles which allow verification of the genuineness of the articles, and methods of producing such articles are disclosed. The thermally-imageable articles includes a substrate and a light transmissive/reflective platy pigment in or on one or both surfaces of the article. The article may be analyzed or inspected to determine the presence and nature of the platy pigment and accordingly, the authenticity of the article. When viewed from different incident angles, the pigment produces a unique pearlescent, color shift, or iridescent type effect.