Abstract: A system and method of creating transmissive images in a developed photographic film is disclosed. A light-sensitive silver halide emulsion is developed to form an opaque surface layer of fine silver grains with a clear underlayer supported on a transparent substrate. Transmissive images are created in the opaque surface layer by selectively applying an oxidizing solution which oxidizes the silver grains to silver ions which are poor absorbers of light. The underlayer absorbs excess oxidizing solution with little or no swelling. The oxidizing solution may be dispersed by a modified ink-jet printer. The imaged film has high contrast and can be directly used without further processing in color printing plate making systems and other applications requiring a transmissive film or mask.

Abstract: A transmissively read light beam sensitive recording medium is disclosed having a thin layer of irregularly shaped spheroidal silver grains which are capable of being modified by a light beam into smoothly rounded spherical silver grains. Portions of the thin layer which contain the irregularly shaped grains are highly absorptive of light, while portions of the layer which have been modified are transmissive. Also disclosed are methods for creating said medium.

Abstract: A method for extending the life of information recorded on an optical storage medium, such as direct-read-after-write laser recording material. Information and an index are recorded on the medium. When the optical contrast ratio of the recording begins to deteriorate, when a specified error rate in reading data bits occurs, or after a predetermined time elapses, the information is re-recorded at another location on the medium and a new index entry is added.

Abstract: A system for recording data onto optical tape by means of a laser. The optical tape may be disposed on reels and transported along a tape path between supply and takeup hubs. A laser or laser array is used to write data on the tape in a plurality of parallel tracks as it is driven along the tape path. The tape features a flexible web backing, a reflective metallic layer deposited over the backing and an optical storage layer on top of the metallic layer with a planar crust of irregular, nonfilamentary and oblong black silver particles within the top one-half micron of the storage layer and substantially clear gelatin below the crust. The tape may have prepatterned indica, such as servo track guides or timing marks. Laser recording modifies the black silver particles of the crust to expose the reflective underlayer through the clear gelatin. The laser at low power together with a light detector may be used to read the data, an optical reflective contrast ratio of at least 1.

Abstract: A data card comprising a self-supporting, wallet size plastic card base upon which is disposed a film substrate layer, a highly reflective layer and an optical storage layer which is a selected photosensitive layer which has been exposed at an actinic wavelength and developed to be substantially opaque over a portion of its extent, except for an imagewise exposure pattern of clear and partially clear data marks revealing to varying extends reflectivity in the underlying reflective layer. Data spots may have one of four different reflectivities thereby representing a quadrinary digit 0, 1, 2 or 3 replacing two binary digits. The reflective layer is matched to the selected optical storage layer so that the reflective layer is highly reflective at a read beam wavelength in the red or near infrared and less reflective at actinic wavelengths either in the blue/green range or in the ultraviolet.

Abstract: A data card for optical information featuring a gelatin layer having a thin black crust at the top of the layer. The crust is formed by developed black irregular oblong silver particles within the top 0.5 micron of the gelatin colloid matrix. The remainder of the colloid matrix is substantially clear gelatin and a reflective metallic layer is disposed below the gelatin. The strip is laminated into a wallet-size card and may be pre-patterned during formation of the crust with control indicia or pre-recorded data. User data may be recorded by modifying the black silver particles in the crust with a laser to expose the reflective underlayer. A laser or other light source is used to read data on the medium with optical contrast between the black surface metallic layer underlying the gelatin layer which can be observed in the recorded spots.

Abstract: A medium in tape form for laser recorded optical information featuring a gelatin layer having a thin black crust at the top of the layer. The crust is formed by developed black filamentary silver particles within the top 0.5 micron of a gelatin colloid matrix. The remainder of the colloid matrix is substantially clear gelatin and a reflective metallic layer is disposed below the gelatin. The tape may be disposed on reels and may be pre-patterned during formation of the crust with indicia, such as servo track guides or timing marks. User data may be recorded by modification or by displacing the black silver particles in the crust with a laser to expose the reflective underlayer. A laser or other light source is used to read data on the medium with optical contrast between the black surface and the reflective metallic layer underlying the gelatin layer which can be observed in the recorded spots.

Abstract: An optical memory disk for laser recorded optical information featuring a gelatin layer having a thin black crust at the top of the layer. The crust is formed by developed black irregular oblong silver particles within the top 0.5 micron of a gelatin colloid matrix. The remainder of the colloid matrix is substantially clear gelatin and a reflective metallic layer is disposed below the gelatin. The disk may be pre-patterned during formation of the crust with control indicia, such as servo track guides or timing marks. User data may be recorded by modification of the black silver particles in the crust with a laser to expose the reflective underlayer. A laser or other light source is used to read data on the medium with optical contrast between the black surface and the reflective metallic layer underlying the gelatin layer which can be observed in the recorded spots.

Abstract: A medium in tape form for laser recorded optical information featuring a gelatin layer having a thin black crust at the top of the layer. The crust is formed by developed black irregular silver particles within the top 0.5 micron of a gelatin colloid matrix. The remainder of the colloid matrix is substantially clear gelatin and a reflective metallic layer is disposed below the gelatin. The tape may be disposed on reels and may be pre-patterned during formation of the crust with indicia, such as servo track guides or timing marks. User data may be recorded by modification of the black silver particles in the crust with a laser to expose the reflective underlayer. A laser or other light source is used to read data on the medium with optical contrast between the black surface and the reflective metallic layer underlying the gelatin layer which can be observed in the recorded spots.

Abstract: An improved reflective silver laser recording and data storage medium for direct read after writing, having a protective gold plating on the silver particles of the reflective surface. The gold plating increases the recording sensitivity resulting in higher contrast ratios for the recorded data. Increased contrast ratios between recorded and non-recorded reflective areas are obtained by the gold plating allowing lower laser energy for readout of recorded data. The reflective silver surface is plated with gold by an electroless ion displacement procedure.

Abstract: An underlayer for a laser recording and data storage medium with a light absorption characteristic suited to a recording laser. The underlayer is formed by creating a nuclei layer in a silver-halide photosensitive emulsion layer and then contacting the emulsion layer with a chromogenic reducing agent and a chromogenic dye coupler. The reflective layer may be formed prior to this step by subjecting the nuclei layer to a monobath having a silver-halide solvent and a silver reducing agent until a reflective surface layer of non-filamentary silver particles is formed, or after the step by chemical vapor deposition or sputtering of a reflective metal layer over the underlayer.

Abstract: A method of making an underlayer for a laser recording and data storage medium with a light absorption characteristic suited to a recording laser. The underlayer is formed by creating a nuclei layer in a silver-halide photosensitive emulsion layer and then contacting the emulsion layer with a chromogenic reducing agent and a chromogenic dye coupler. The reflective layer may be formed prior to this step by subjecting the nuclei layer to a monobath having a silver-halide solvent and a silver reducing agent until a reflective surface layer of non-filamentary silver particles is formed, or after the step by chemical vapor deposition or sputtering of a reflective metal layer over the underlayer.

Abstract: A method for making a laser recording and data storage medium by first exposing a Lippman emulsion to light in order to form a depthwise nuclei gradient, then physically developing the emulsion until a reflective surface layer of spheroid silver particles, having the desired degree of reflectivity, is attained and then chemically developing the remaining nuclei to form a dark underlayer of filamentary silver particles.

Abstract: A laser recording medium consisting of shiny silver particles in a colloid matrix having at least one superposed layer of colloid matrix containing dispersed metal particles other than silver to lower the reflectivity of the medium.

Abstract: A broadband laser recording and data storage medium for direct read after writing, formed from a photosensitive silver-halide emulsion in four steps. First, a non-saturating actinic radiation exposure is used to create latent images. A normal photographic development is used to produce a medium of gray neutral density. The surface of the remaining silver halide is fogged in a water or alcohol based solution to create a very thin layer of silver precipitating nuclei on the surface. Finally, a single-step, negative silver diffusion transfer process is used to dissolve the unexposed and undeveloped silver halide, forming silver ion complexes.

Abstract: A method of replicating data from a master transmissive optical data storage medium whereby the resulting product displays areas of low reflectivity and high reflectivity. Actinic radiation is shone through transmissive areas onto a silver-halide emulsion photosensitive medium. The photosensitive medium is then chemically developed black. Next, the developed medium is fogged to create a latent image layer of silver precipitating nuclei. Finally, the fogged medium is placed in a monobath comprising a weak silver-halide reducing agent and a rapid-acting silver-halide solvent for partial chemical development and substantial physical development. The resulting product displays areas of low reflectivity, which correspond to the transmissive areas of the master, in a reflective field.

Abstract: A reflective laser recording and data storage medium, for direct reading after writing, formed from a photosensitive silver-halide emulsion including silver precipitating nuclei. A single step negative silver diffusion transfer process is used to develop silver nuclei of the latent image and dissolve unexposed silver halide elsewhere, forming silver ion complexes. These complexes are transported by diffusion transfer to the developing silver nuclei sites where silver is precipitated and adsorbed to form a high concentration of non-filamentary particles at a surface of a low melting temperature dielectric matrix which is highly reflective of light and electrically non-conducting.

Abstract: A broadband laser recording and data storage medium for direct read after writing, formed from a photosensitive silver-halide emulsion in four steps. First, a non-saturating actinic radiation exposure is used to create latent images. A normal photographic development is used to produce a medium of gray neutral density. The surface of the remaining silver halide is fogged in a water or alcohol based solution to create a very thin layer of silver precipitating nuclei on the surface. Finally, a single-step, negative silver diffusion transfer process is used to dissolve the unexposed and undeveloped silver halide, forming silver ion complexes.

Abstract: A reflective laser recording and data storage medium, for direct reading after writing, formed from a photosensitive silver-halide emulsion wherein a surface latent image exposure on the recording area forms a depthwise gradient of silver nuclei. A single step negative silver diffusion transfer process is used to develop silver nuclei of the latent image and dissolve unexposed silver halide elsewhere, forming silver ion complexes. These complexes are transported by diffusion transfer to the developing silver nuclei sites where silver is precipitated and adsorbed to form a high concentration of non-filamentary particles at a surface of a low melting temperature dielectric matrix which is highly reflective of light and electrically non-conducting.

Abstract: A method for making a reflective data storage medium by creating a volume concentration gradient of silver precipitating nuclei on one surface of a silver halide emulsion coated photoplate. This volume concentration is then built up by a silver diffusion transfer negative development using primarily solution physical development until the surface becomes reflective. Lastly, a thermal annealing step is used to increase reflectivity, recording sensitivity and produce a more uniform contrast ratio.