Patents Examined by Richard L. Schilling
  • Patent number: 7041417
    Abstract: This invention relates to an image receiving layer (22) of a receiver element (20) for laser-induced thermal transfer imaging processes. The image receiving layer (22) is made from a formulation containing a caprolactone polymer and a cellulose ester. The invention is, typically, useful in proofing and color filter applications.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 9, 2003
    Date of Patent: May 9, 2006
    Assignee: E. I. du Pont de Nemours and Company
    Inventor: Harvey Walter Taylor, Jr.
  • Patent number: 7037634
    Abstract: The present invention relates to an imaging element comprising at least one imaging layer and a base. The base comprises a foam core layer, which comprises a polymer that has been expanded through the use of a blowing agent, and at least one polymeric surface smoothing layer, which comprises a solution polymer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 27, 2004
    Date of Patent: May 2, 2006
    Assignee: Eastman Kodak Company
    Inventors: Peter T. Aylward, Narasimharao Dontula
  • Patent number: 7037641
    Abstract: A silver halide emulsion sheet for detecting track of charged elementary particles, in which emulsion at least one silver halide emulsion layer and at least one hydrophilic protective colloid layer are applied on both surfaces of a transparent support, and a compound selected from benzotriazoles is contained in said at least one silver halide emulsion layer. A processing method for processing the above-described silver halide emulsion sheet with a developer comprising a developing agent represented by formula (A): wherein R1 represents a hydrogen atom, an alkyl group, an aryl group, or a heterocyclic group. A developer for use in developing the above-described silver halide emulsion sheet, comprising a developing agent represented by the above-mentioned formula (A).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 18, 2005
    Date of Patent: May 2, 2006
    Assignee: Fuji Photo Film Co.,Ltd.
    Inventor: Ken-ichi Kuwabara
  • Patent number: 7037636
    Abstract: The present invention provides a presensitized plate useful for preparing a lithographic printing plate, which comprises a substrate provided thereon with a light-sensitive layer containing a fluoro-aliphatic group-containing copolymer prepared by copolymerizing at least (A) a fluoroalkyl(meth)acrylate represented by the general formula (I) and (B) a polyoxyalkylene group-containing ethylenic unsaturated monomer. By such a presensitized plate, a lithographic printing plate is provided with a light-sensitive layer whose uniformity and solubility or dispersibility in a developer are improved and which has an ability of forming high contrast images without entraining any reduction of the sensitivity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 9, 2003
    Date of Patent: May 2, 2006
    Assignee: Fuji Photo Film Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Kazuo Fujita
  • Patent number: 7037640
    Abstract: A phosphor or scintillator sheet, web or panel is provided, wherein a phosphor or a scintillator layer is coated onto a flexible substrate, the stiffness of which is lowered by presence of pits or grooves onto said substrate, preferably applied by a technique selected from the group consisting of mechanical, chemical, (laser) optical, electrical and photo-etching techniques.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 6, 2004
    Date of Patent: May 2, 2006
    Assignee: Agfa-Gevaert
    Inventors: Jan Koninckx, Paul Leblans, Johan Lamotte
  • Patent number: 7033743
    Abstract: A substantially light-insensitive black and white monosheet thermographic recording material has a support and on one side of the support comprises a thermosensitive element, a barrier layer and an outermost protective layer, the thermosensitive element being exclusive of a high contrast agent and containing at least one substantially light-insensitive silver salt of a carboxylic acid, at least one reducing agent therefor in thermal working relationship therewith, at least one toning agent and at least one binder, wherein the at least one reducing agent is an ortho-dihydroxy-benzene derivative and the barrier layer comprises a copolymer comprising vinyl chloride units and vinyl acetate and/or vinyl alcohol units, a copolymer comprising styrene units and acrylonitrile units, a copolymer comprising cationic units and/or a copolymer comprising styrene units and maleic acid units.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 16, 2003
    Date of Patent: April 25, 2006
    Assignee: Agfa Gevaert
    Inventors: Ingrid Geuens, Frank Loewet, Peter Michiels
  • Patent number: 7033733
    Abstract: A photosensitive resin composition for color filters comprises (A) an alkali-soluble resin; (B) a photopolymerizable monomer; (C) a photoinitiator; (D) an organic solvent; and (E) a pigment; wherein said alkali-soluble resin (A) is formed by polymerizing at least one monomer (a-1), which dipole moment is below 1.5D and having at least one aromatic functional group and at least one copolymerizable monomer (a-2) other than said monomer (a-1), wherein the content of oligomer having a molecular weight below 1,000 of said alkali-soluble resin (A) is less than 0.6 wt %, based on the photosensitive resin composition except solvent(D), which remains less residue on an unexposed portion(s) of the substrate and the black matrix at the time of development, and provides color pixels having excellent heat resistance and chemical resistance, further provides LCD having lower electric resistance of the ITO electrode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 11, 2003
    Date of Patent: April 25, 2006
    Assignee: Chi Mei Corporation
    Inventor: Po-Yi Hsu
  • Patent number: 7033711
    Abstract: A method of improving the aperture ratio or resolution of an OLED device which includes a plurality of laterally spaced electrodes and one or more electrodes vertically spaced apart from the plurality of laterally spaced electrodes. The improvement includes providing a donor having transferable organic material in spaced relationship with the laterally spaced electrodes, and illuminating the donor with radiation in patterns corresponding to the area of the laterally spaced electrodes to transfer organic material over the laterally spaced electrodes such that substantially all of the organic material is transferred and the edge taper region of the organic material is less than 8 microns thereby permitting the reduction in spacing between the laterally spaced electrodes and improvement in the aperture ratio, the resolution, or both, of the OLED device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 16, 2003
    Date of Patent: April 25, 2006
    Assignee: Eastman Kodak Company
    Inventors: Michael L. Boroson, Giana M. Phelan
  • Patent number: 7033723
    Abstract: The present invention relates to an imaging element comprising an imaging layer and a support, wherein the support comprises a core layer having a surface roughness of at least 1.4 microns and a pit camouflaging flange layer between the support and the imaging layer. The present invention also relates to a method of forming an imaging support comprising extruding a polymer layer onto a core layer of surface roughness of at least 1.4 microns, and passing the extruded polymer layer on the core layer between two temperature controlled rollers, one of which comprises a pit camouflaging surface and a method of forming an imaging support comprising extruding a polymer layer, passing the extruded polymer layer between two temperature controlled rollers, one of which comprises a pit camouflaging surface, and laminating the polymer layer onto a core layer with a surface roughness of at least 1.4 microns.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 27, 2004
    Date of Patent: April 25, 2006
    Assignee: Eastman Kodak Company
    Inventors: Peter T. Aylward, Narasimharao Dontula, Sandra J. Dagan, Thaddeus S. Gula, Terry A. Heath
  • Patent number: 7033741
    Abstract: A method of converting a recording element is provided. The method includes providing an imaged recording element having a convertible layer, the convertible layer comprising polymeric particles and a polymeric binder, the polymeric particles having a glass transition temperature Tg1, and the polymeric binder having a glass transition temperature Tg2; heating the convertible layer to a temperature Tp, Tp being greater than Tg1 and Tg2; and converting the heated convertible layer of the recording element by advancing the recording element through a pair of rollers, the first roller of the pair of rollers being maintained at a first temperature T1 and the second roller of the pair of rollers being maintained at a second temperature T2, T1 and T2 being less than Tp, the convertible layer of the recording element becoming a converted layer after advancing through the pair of rollers, wherein the converted layer has an exit temperature Tf, Tf being less than Tp.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 17, 2004
    Date of Patent: April 25, 2006
    Assignee: Eastman Kodak Company
    Inventors: Po-Jen Shih, Arthur M. Gooray, Timothy J. Wojcik, Hwei-Ling Yau, James E. Pickering
  • Patent number: 7029836
    Abstract: A radiographic image conversion panel including a support, and at least one photostimulable phosphor layer formed on the support by a vapor phase deposition method (vapor phase growth). The panel is manufactured according to deposition, and a temperature of the support at the time of deposition is controlled at 50° C. to 150° C.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 6, 2004
    Date of Patent: April 18, 2006
    Assignee: Konica Minolta Holdings, Inc.
    Inventors: Kuniaki Nakano, Osamu Morikawa, Akihiro Maezawa, Satoshi Honda
  • Patent number: 7029819
    Abstract: A phosphor screen comprises an inorganic phosphor capable of absorbing X-rays and emitting electromagnetic radiation having a wavelength greater than 300 nm. The phosphor is disposed on a support that has a reflective substrate comprising a continuous polyester first phase and a second phase dispersed within the continuous polyester first phase. The second phase contains microvoids that in turn contain barium sulfate particles. This support provides improved reflectivity particularly at shorter wavelengths.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 19, 2004
    Date of Patent: April 18, 2006
    Assignee: Eastman Kodak Company
    Inventors: Thomas M. Laney, David J. Steklenski
  • Patent number: 7029805
    Abstract: Thermally imageable elements comprising a masking layer and a substrate are disclosed. The masking layer contains a sulfobetaine and/or a carboxybetaine containing co-polymer or a mixture of a sulfobetaine and/or a carboxybetaine containing co-polymers and absorbs both infrared and ultraviolet radiation. When the masking layer is on the substrate, the imageable element may be imaged and developed to form a photomask. When the imageable element additionally comprises a photosensitive layer, the masking layer may be imaged and developed to form an integral photomask. The imageable elements that comprise a photosensitive layer are useful as flexographic printing plate precursors.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 7, 2004
    Date of Patent: April 18, 2006
    Assignee: Eastman Kodak Company
    Inventors: Kevin Ray, Ting Tao, Scott Beckley
  • Patent number: 7029808
    Abstract: A radiation-sensitive coating material, in addition to a base polymer, has a solvent and a radiation-active substance which forms an acid on irradiation by light (including energetic electrons or ions), a fluorescent substance which alters its fluorescence property subject to a change in the acid content of its surroundings. In a process for exposing a substrate coated with the coating material at least one sensor in the exposure chamber of the exposure apparatus measures the intensity of the change in fluorescence spectrum as a function of time during the exposure operation. From the course of intensity at the time of an individual line of the fluorescence spectrum or the intensity integrated over a wavelength interval it is possible to determine the endpoint of the exposure operation by way of electronic algorithms. Deviations from experimentally determined ideal curves of the intensity course provide information on erroneous functions in the course of coating material application and exposure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 29, 2003
    Date of Patent: April 18, 2006
    Assignee: Infineon Technologies AG
    Inventors: Jenspeter Rau, Siegfried Schwarzl, Stefan Wurm
  • Patent number: 7029824
    Abstract: A positive working thermal imaging assembly comprising: A) a substrate; and B) a thermally sensitive imaging element of a composite layer structure comprising: (I) a first layer on the substrate of a polymeric material soluble in aqueous alkali solution, optionally containing compounds that absorb and convert light to heat and/or a coloured dye or pigment; said first layer being converted at its surface by treatment with solutions at elevated temperatures that contain an active compound or compounds capable of rendering said first polymeric material less soluble in an aqueous alkali developer at the point of contact; the first layer being oleophilic; (ii) optionally, a first intermediate layer between the substrate and the said first layer with a second polymeric material which is soluble or dispersible in aqueous solution optionally containing compounds that absorb and convert light or radiation to heat and/or a coloured dye or pigment coated from a solvent that does not substantially dissolve the first laye
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 4, 2003
    Date of Patent: April 18, 2006
    Assignee: IBF Industria Brasileira De Filmes Ltda.
    Inventors: Andre Luiz Arias, Luiz Nei Arias, Marjorie Arias, Mario Italo Provenzano
  • Patent number: 7030201
    Abstract: The present invention relates to bottom antireflective coating compositions and polymers useful in making such compositions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 26, 2003
    Date of Patent: April 18, 2006
    Assignee: AZ Electronic Materials USA Corp.
    Inventors: Huirong Yao, Shuji Ding-Lee, Hengpeng Wu, Zhong Xiang
  • Patent number: 7026103
    Abstract: A multilayer imageable article with at least two layers including a multiphoton imageable composition. The composition includes a multiphoton-sensitive photoactive system and at least one of a dye and a dye precursor. The photoactive system includes a multiphoton sensitizer capable of simultaneously absorbing at least two photons, an electron acceptor capable of transformation to a dye-activating species upon interaction with the multiphoton sensitizer subsequent to absorption of at least two photons, and optionally an electron donor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 14, 2001
    Date of Patent: April 11, 2006
    Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company
    Inventors: Robert J. DeVoe, Robert D. DeMaster, Brook F. Duerr, Jonathan P. Kitchin, Dennis E. Vogel
  • Patent number: 7026092
    Abstract: A thermal transfer medium for use in mass transfer printing comprises a substrate bearing on at least part of one surface thereof a coating of an overlay material comprising polyester having a glass transition greater than 50° C. (preferably at least 75° C.) and a molecular weight in the range 6,000 to 10,000. The overlay material combines good transfer characteristics, barrier properties and durability and is highly transparent.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 20, 2000
    Date of Patent: April 11, 2006
    Assignee: Imperial Chemical Industries PLC
    Inventors: Julie C. Double, Andrew Clifton, Alan Butters
  • Patent number: 7026079
    Abstract: A process for preparing a substantially transparent conductive layer configuration on a support, the layer configuration comprising in any order at least a first layer containing an intrinsically conductive polymer optionally containing structural units represented by formula (I): wherein n is larger than 1 and each of R1 and R2 independently represents hydrogen or an optionally substituted C1-4 alkyl group or together represent an optionally substituted C1-4 alkylene group or an optionally substituted cycloalkylene group, preferably an ethylene group, an optionally alkyl-substituted methylene group, an optionally C1-12 alkyl- or phenyl-substituted ethylene group, a 1,3-propylene group or a 1,2-cyclohexylene group; and a second layer consisting of a non-continuous layer of conductive silver, the process comprising the step of: preparing the second layer by a photographic process; and light emitting diodes, photovoltaic devices, transistors and electroluminescent devices comprising a layer configuration pr
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 21, 2003
    Date of Patent: April 11, 2006
    Assignee: AGFA Gevaert
    Inventors: Frank Louwet, Tom Cloots, Hieronymus Andriessen
  • Patent number: 7026096
    Abstract: A method for the production of a support for a lithographic printing plate precursor that comprises providing on a grained aluminum support having an anodic oxide film formed thereon a layer of inorganic compound particles having a major axis larger than a pore diameter of the anodic oxide film and treating the layer of inorganic compound particles with a treating solution capable of dissolving the inorganic compound particles, thereby fusing together the inorganic compound particles to form a layer of the inorganic compound.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 4, 2003
    Date of Patent: April 11, 2006
    Assignee: Fuji Photo Film Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Yoshionori Hotta