Abstract: Low-cost copper nanoparticle inks that can be annealed onto paper substrate for RFID antenna applications, using substituted dithiocarbonates as stabilizers during copper nanoparticle ink production.

Abstract: A reusable image forming medium, including a substrate; an imaging layer coated on or impregnated into the substrate, wherein an irradiation of the imaging layer produces an image; and a signature material coated on or impregnated into the substrate or the imaging layer, the signature material being detectable by a sensor.

Abstract: The present disclosure provides toners and processes for making said toners. In embodiments, the toners are invisible when viewed under natural light, but possess a UV emitter that renders them visible when exposed to UV light of a specific wavelength. By selecting the appropriate UV emitter and utilizing an ionic crosslinker, the gloss of the toner may be tailored to match the gloss of any substrate, such as paper, to which the toner is to be applied, thereby further enhancing its invisibility under visible light.

Abstract: The present disclosure provides toners and processes for making said toners. In embodiments, the toners are invisible when viewed under natural light, but possess a fluorescent agent that renders them visible when exposed to UV light of a specific wavelength. In other embodiments the toners have a color under natural light, and a different color when exposed to UV light.

Abstract: Exemplary embodiments provide compositions and methods for an erasable medium that can include a photochromic composite containing a photochromic polymer dispersed in a polymer binder, a similar type polymer of a backbone portion of the photochromic polymer.

Abstract: A reusable image forming medium, including a substrate; an imaging layer coated on or impregnated into the substrate, wherein an irradiation of the imaging layer produces an image; and a signature material coated on or impregnated into the substrate or the imaging layer, the signature material being detectable by a sensor.

Abstract: Exemplary embodiments provide compositions and methods for making and using an erasable medium that can contain oligomeric photochromic materials such as spiropyran oligomers, wherein the oligomeric photochromic material can include a plurality of photochromic groups such as spiropyrans covalently connected together by one or more linkers.

Abstract: A method and an apparatus for measuring reflectivity, charge and/or particle mobility of electrophoretic display mediums and particles are described. The apparatus for evaluating characteristics of an electrophoretic display medium, comprising a cell for containing the electrophoretic display medium, located between conductive substrates, a voltage application unit associated with the cell, an electrometer to measure transient current, and a densitometer to measure reflectance.

Abstract: A system and method create an authentication mark on a recording medium by depositing marking material on a medium in an image area to create a marking material image and to create a marking material authentication image. A predetermined amount of additional marking material is further deposited upon the medium in the authentication image area to increase an amount of marking material associated with the marking material authentication image in the authentication image area. The fixed marking material associated with the authentication image area is a tactilely perceptible authentication mark wherein the fixed marking material associated with the authentication mark has a height, with respect to a surface of the medium, that is tactilely perceptible.

Abstract: Exemplary embodiments provide compositions and methods for making and using an erasable medium that can include a photochromic layer disposed over a substrate. The photochromic layer can include one or more photochromic molecule-polymer systems, wherein each of the one or more photochromic molecule-polymer systems can include a photochromic molecule covalently bonded within a polymer main chain, the photochromic molecule including one or more photochromic moieties (PM) linked together via a linker.

Abstract: Disclosed is an item, for example a document, including a substrate having thereon a multiplicity of separate printed markings, wherein the printed markings include both conductive printed markings and substantially non-conductive printed markings. The different conductive and substantially non-conductive regions on the substrate can be detected, for example by measuring the resistance or current of each printed marking. The pattern of different conductive and substantially non-conductive regions can be used as a security pattern of authenticity that cannot be replicated by standard office equipment, and/or can be used to encrypt information in binary code form in the item. A system for forming and detecting the different printed markings is also described.

Abstract: A document includes paper having an average surface roughness of at least about 0.5 microns and including one or more optical brighteners, and includes at least one image thereon wherein the at least one image includes clear binder and light absorbing material that absorbs light only at wavelengths below 350 nm. The image is substantially not detectable to a naked human eye through differential gloss or exposure to light having wavelengths of 365 nm or more, but may be revealed to the naked human eye by exposing the document to light having a wavelength at which the light absorbing material absorbs light.

Abstract: A method for determining whether an item has been exposed to an environmental condition during a monitoring period. The method includes placing a sensor at least in proximity to the item at the beginning of the monitoring period so that the sensor will be exposed to a level of an environmental condition that can be correlated to an exposure level of the item to the environmental condition; reading the sensor; and determining from reading the sensor whether the item has been exposed to the environmental condition. The sensor includes a detecting material comprising a photochromic or photothermochromic material, the detecting material selected so that upon exposure to the environmental condition the detecting material exhibits a detectable color change.

Abstract: Disclosed is a birefringent marking material comprising a vehicle for the marking material and birefringent nanoparticles having an average particle size of less than about 700 nm. The birefringent marking material, such as an ink or a toner, can be used to provide a security marking on or in an item, thereby enabling authentication of the item containing the image formed using the birefringent marking material.

Abstract: Disclosed is a radiation curable ink containing a fluorescent material that upon exposure to activating energy fluoresces such that an image that was not visible prior to exposure to the activating energy becomes visible. Also disclosed are an ink jet system and a process printing the disclosed radiation curable ink.

Abstract: Methods form a multi-color electrophoretic display. The methods include providing microcapsules, wherein the microcapsules have an electrostatic charge, and wherein the microcapsules comprise, a shell that is transparent and a display medium within the shell, wherein the display medium is comprised of either (a) at least two sets of differently colored particles in a substantially clear fluid, or (b) at least one set of colored particles in a differently colored fluid. The methods include transferring the microcapsules to a substrate, wherein the electrostatic charge of the microcapsules attracts the microcapsules to the substrate, wherein a display layer of microcapsules is formed on the substrate. The methods include positioning a conductive substrate adjacent to the substrate, wherein the substrate is located between the display layer and the conductive substrate.

Abstract: An image forming medium includes a substrate; an imaging layer including an imaging material coated on said substrate, wherein the imaging material exhibits a reversible transition between a colorless state and a colored state; and a protective layer over the imaging layer, the protection layer including dipolar molecules that can be reversibly switch between a UV light transmission state and a UV light absorption state, wherein the dipolar molecules in their random orientation absorb in substantially the same spectral region as the imaging material in its un-imaged state, and wherein the imaging layer is imageable by ultraviolet light when the dipolar molecules are in the UV light transmission state, but the imaging layer is substantially not imageable by ultraviolet light when the dipolar molecules are in the UV light absorption state.

Abstract: Methods form multi-color electrophoretic displays. The method includes providing a solution containing microcapsules, wherein the microcapsules comprise a shell that is transparent and a display medium within the shell, wherein the display medium comprised of either (a) at least two sets of differently colored particles in a substantially clear fluid, or (b) at least one set of colored particles in a differently colored fluid. The method includes dispensing the solution onto a substrate, wherein a display layer of microcapsules is formed on the substrate. The method includes positioning a conductive substrate adjacent to the substrate, wherein the substrate is located between the display layer and the conductive substrate, wherein the conductive substrate applies an electric field to at least one microcapsule of the display layer, wherein the sets of particles of each microcapsule in the display layer are movable within the microcapsule by the electric field to be displayed.

Abstract: An ink set includes a plurality of inks, at least one ink but less than all inks of the ink set including an ink vehicle, colorant and fluorescence agent and remaining additional inks including an ink vehicle, colorant and free of fluorescence agent. At least a first ink grouping and a second ink grouping of the ink set form a combination, the first and second groupings of the combination exhibiting a substantially same color under ambient light conditions upon image formation. The first ink grouping and the second ink grouping of the combination contain a different amount of the fluorescence agent, wherein upon exposure to activating energy, the fluorescence agent fluoresces to cause a visible change in the color of a pattern formed in an image by the first ink grouping as compared to the second ink grouping.

Abstract: A system and a method print one or more images to one or more reimageable documents, wherein the one or more representative of at least a portion of a digital file. The method includes a connecting a portable printer to a computing device. Moreover, the method includes emitting ultraviolet light from a light source, wherein an imaging layer of the reimageable document is imagable by ultraviolet light, wherein ultraviolet light forms a color contrast on the imaging layer that defines an image representative of at least a portion of the digital file.