Abstract: A durable printed composite material can include a printable layer having an image reverse printed thereon. The printable layer can be a transparent or translucent material. A metallic layer can be adhered to the image side of the printable layer using an adhesive layer. The layers are formed such that at least a portion of the metallic layer is visible through the printable layer. A method of forming a durable printed composite material can include reverse printing an image on a printable layer to form a printed surface. A metallic layer can then be adhered to the printed surface of the printable layer. Heat and pressure can be applied to the metallic layer to produce a durable printed composite material. The metallic layer can be at least partially visible through the printable layer. The durable printed composite material provides a medium which has an image having a reflective metallic background useful in a variety of applications.

Abstract: An electroluminescent panel includes a partial electroluminescent panel base, a layer of electrically isolated conductive areas next to the partial electroluminescent panel base, and an activatable conductive layer next to the layer of electrically isolated conductive areas. The activatable conductive layer is selectively activated to electrically connect selected electrically isolated conductive areas together to define one or more electrically isolated conductive electrode regions.

Abstract: Substrates, coatings and methods for marking substrates using the coatings. The substrate contains a coating of encapsulated marking materials. Capsules of the encapsulated marking materials are designed to preferentially absorb a predetermined wavelength of light or range of wavelengths of light. The capsules contain color chemistry capable of activation by the predetermined wavelength of light or range of wavelengths of light for the generation of a color response. By utilizing capsules of differing color chemistries, such substrates are capable of multi-color image generation.

Abstract: A data storage device includes a data storage mechanism within which is stored a computing program. The data storage device also includes a surface used for labeling. The labeling includes machine readable security information. The data program requires machine reading of the security information before at least a portion of the program is run.

Abstract: An electroluminescent panel includes a partial electroluminescent panel base and one or more electrode regions. The electrode regions are inkjet-printed on the partial electroluminescent base.

Abstract: Various embodiments of a method, coating and system for conductive patterning are disclosed.

Abstract: A method for locating a labelable region on a surface of an optical storage medium including an unlabelable region. A laser beam is impinged onto a location on the surface without marking the location. Laser energy reflected from the location is detected. Based on the reflected laser energy, it is determined whether the location is in a labelable region markable by the laser energy or an unlabelable region not markable by the laser energy.

Abstract: A flexible sheet which includes a substrate having at least one visually discernable surface and at least one electroluminescent lamp assembly positioned proximate to the surface and controlled by a suitable power source as well as means for isolating at least one electroluminescent lamp assembly from deleterious interaction with environment external to the flexible sheet. The flexible sheet can be employed in various applications including bound books, functional cards, locational orientation devices as well as in mechanisms for selectively indicating ingress or egress from architectural structures and other safety indicators. At least one component of the flexible sheet with the electroluminescent lamp assembly can be produced by drop ejection.

Abstract: Identifying optical disc properties from information read from the label side of an optical disc is disclosed. The information from the label side of an optical disc is first read. From this information read from the label side of the optical disc, one or more properties of the optical disc are then identified.

Abstract: A method and a medium for laser imaging is herein disclosed. The medium incorporates one or more types of microstructures having a predetermined heat or radiation modifiable optical characteristic such as color, scattering, diffusion, diffraction, interference and iridescence. Associated intimately with the microstructures is a radiation antenna that acts to absorb radiation from a radiation source. The radiation antenna and source are attuned to one another to efficiently transfer energy therebetween and subsequently to the microstructures; this transfer of energy results in the modification of an optical characteristic of the microstructures to form an image on the medium. The medium has one or more layers that may include both the radiation antenna and the microstructures. Alternatively, the microstructures and radiation antenna may be included in separate layers. Coatings that incorporate one or more layers that include distinct microstructures and radiation antennae are also contemplated.

Abstract: A method of one embodiment of the invention is disclosed that receives information to be optically written on an optically writable label side of an optical disc. The method formats the information so that the information is optically written on a least number of tracks of the optically writable label side of the optical disc, to minimize optical writing time of the information to the optically writable label side of the optical disc.

Abstract: A transparent, protective overcoat for a printed medium achieved with a thermal transfer material on a carrier ribbon that is heated and pressed to transfer a segment of thermal transfer material from the carrier ribbon onto the printable surface of a medium.

Abstract: A thermal transfer overcoating technology for reducing overcoat tags. Skewing the interface between a carrier ribbon to coated document at the peeling of the carrier from the coated document concentrates the forces at the interface to a smaller region of the document edge. Moreover, tensioning the document at the interface changes the forces at the interface from peeling type to tensile type.

Abstract: A flexible sheet which includes a substrate having at least one visually discernable surface and at least one electroluminescent lamp assembly positioned proximate to the surface and controlled by a suitable power source as well as means for isolating at least one electroluminescent lamp assembly from deleterious interaction with environment external to the flexible sheet. The flexible sheet can be employed in various applications including bound books, functional cards, locational orientation devices as well as in mechanisms for selectively indicating ingress or egress from architectural structures and other safety indicators. At least one component of the flexible sheet with the electroluminescent lamp assembly can be produced by drop ejection.

Abstract: An exemplary solution-processed thin film transistor formation method of the invention forms solution-processed thin film layers into a transistor structure. During formation, semiconductor portions of the transistor structure are selectively heated via a laser to modify the material state of semiconductor material from a solution deposited material state to a thin film layer material state.

Abstract: A transparent, protective undercoat for a printed medium achieved with a thermal transfer material on a carrier ribbon that is heated and pressed to transfer a segment of thermal transfer material from the carrierribbon onto the printable surface of a medium.

Abstract: A printer for creating specialty-sized prints where media is advanced through the printer along a media advancement path, the printer including a housing, a printing mechanism disposed in the housing and configured to place a desired print on the media, a cutter mechanism disposed in the housing adjacent the printing mechanism and configured to cut the media transverse to a media advancement direction through the cutter mechanism, and a slicing mechanism disposed in the housing adjacent the printing mechanism and configured to cut the media parallel to a media advancement direction through the slicing mechanism.

Abstract: A method for creating photographic-quality prints and prints produced by these methods are disclosed. The prints generally comprise three layers: a transparent carrier; an image, and a particle-based undercoat. The transparent carrier comprises a substrate for receiving an image. The image can be produced by inkjet, electrostatic, or other imaging methods, including reverse printing methods. The particle-based undercoat layer is applied to the image containing side of the transparent carrier. Also disclosed is an apparatus for producing said prints by methods of the present invention.

Abstract: A method for creating photographic-quality prints and prints produced by these methods are disclosed. The prints generally comprise three layers: a transparent carrier; an image, and a particle-based undercoat. The transparent carrier comprises a substrate for receiving an image. The image can be produced by inkjet, electrostatic, or other imaging methods, including reverse printing methods. The particle-based undercoat layer is applied to the image containing side of the transparent carrier. Also disclosed is an apparatus for producing said prints by methods of the present invention.

Abstract: A thermal transfer overcoating technology for reducing overcoat tags. Skewing the interface between a carrier ribbon to coated document at the peeling of the carrier from the coated document concentrates the forces at the interface to a smaller region of the document edge. Moreover, tensioning the document at the interface changes the forces at the interface from peeling type to tensile type.