Patents Issued in March 6, 2001
  • Patent number: 6197448
    Abstract: A hydrogen storage alloy of the AB5-type, where the A component includes La and/or Nd and at least 0.4 mole fraction Pr, as well as batteries including the alloy, are disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 15, 1997
    Date of Patent: March 6, 2001
    Assignee: Duracell Inc.
    Inventors: Mark Gaydos, Weifang Luo
  • Patent number: 6197449
    Abstract: An electrode arrangement for the cells of batteries includes two electrodes each having a three-dimensional grid-type structure, which are held spaced apart from one another. The electrodes are arranged interleaved with one another in all directions in space.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 31, 1997
    Date of Patent: March 6, 2001
    Inventors: Hans Hoffmann, Sven Siemonsen
  • Patent number: 6197450
    Abstract: Thin-film micro-electrochemical energy storage cells (MEESC) such as microbatteries and double-layer capacitors (DLC) are provided. The MEESC comprises two thin layer electrodes, an intermediate thin layer of a solid electrolyte and optionally, a fourth thin current collector layer; said layers being deposited in sequence on a surface of a substrate. The MEESC is characterized in that the substrate is provided with a plurality of through cavities of arbitrary shape, with high aspect ratio. By using the substrate volume, an increase in the total electrode area per volume is accomplished.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 22, 1998
    Date of Patent: March 6, 2001
    Assignee: Ramot University Authority for Applied Research & Industrial Development Ltd.
    Inventors: Menachem Nathan, Emanuel Peled, Dan Haronian
  • Patent number: 6197451
    Abstract: The present invention relates to methods and compositions for reducing corrosion and gassing that occurs within lead-acid storage batteries. In particular, combinations of anodic corrosion inhibitors such as hydrolyzed gelatin and water soluble iodides are preferred inhibitors; and these inhibitors provide excellent results when also used in combination with surfactants which are sodium salts of diphenyl sulfonate. Admixtures of anodic corrosion inhibitors, replace the conventional electrolyte solution within the battery.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 7, 1998
    Date of Patent: March 6, 2001
    Assignee: Henkel Corporation
    Inventors: Lester Steinbrecher, R. Ashton White, Gerald A. Black
  • Patent number: 6197452
    Abstract: The present invention provides a light exposure pattern mask comprising an integrated circuit wiring pattern consisting of a plurality of wiring pattern elements and a dummy pattern consisting of a plurality of dummy pattern elements provided in the vicinity of ends of the wiring pattern elements. This enables to prevent an exposure failure in a wiring pattern element of small dimensions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 16, 1998
    Date of Patent: March 6, 2001
    Assignee: NEC Corporation
    Inventor: Akira Matumoto
  • Patent number: 6197454
    Abstract: A clean-enclosure to protect a reticle from contamination when using extreme ultraviolet (EUV) lithography is disclosed. The clean-enclosure consists of frame and a cover attached to the frame. The cover contains an exposure window comprised of a thin film of silicon. This thin film window allows EUV light to pass through to the reticle and reflect onto the photoresist layer of a semiconductor substrate with minimal transmission loss. Also, a process for forming the silicon thin film exposure window is disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 29, 1998
    Date of Patent: March 6, 2001
    Assignee: Intel Corporation
    Inventor: Pei-Yang Yan
  • Patent number: 6197455
    Abstract: A method of repairing defects in a photomask used in the formation of a semiconductor wafer includes the use of a scanning tunneling microscope. The scanning tunneling microscope includes a very sharp tip having a diameter on the order of 100 Å or less. In order to remove excess material from a mask layer in the photomask, the tip is placed into contact with those regions having such excess material and the tip is used to scrape the excess material away. In order to add material to voids in a mask layer of the photomask, the tip is placed in proximity to those areas in need of the excess material and caused to deposit such material upon, for example, application of a bias voltage to the tip.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 14, 1999
    Date of Patent: March 6, 2001
    Assignee: Advanced Micro Devices, Inc.
    Inventors: Sanjay K. Yedur, Bharath Rangarajan, Bhanwar Singh, Michael K. Templeton, Kathleen R. Early
  • Patent number: 6197456
    Abstract: A mask is provided which has a complex transmission function and which includes a transparent layer and a non-transparent layer. The transparent layer has three types of phase-shifting elements, each imparting a different phase shift relative to the others, with the phase-shifting elements alternating in both x and y dimensions. The non-transparent layer has holes arranged in an approximately equally spaced grid pattern defined by common points in borders of the phase-shifting elements. Centers of at least two holes in the non-transparent layer have different offsets from their corresponding common points. Also provided is a mask blank which includes a transparent layer and a non-transparent layer. The transparent layer has three types of phase-shifting elements, each imparting a different phase shift relative to the others, with the phase-shifting elements alternating in both x and y dimensions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 19, 1999
    Date of Patent: March 6, 2001
    Assignee: LSI Logic Corporation
    Inventors: Stanislav V. Aleshin, Genadij V. Belokopitov, Ranko Scepanovic
  • Patent number: 6197457
    Abstract: An X-ray mask including (a) an X-ray permeable membrane and (b) an X-ray absorber formed in a pattern on the X-ray permeable membrane. The X-ray absorber is composed of an alloy having one of the following groups: (a) tantalum (Ta), ruthenium (Ru), and germanium (Ge); (b) tantalum (Ta), ruthenium (Ru), and silicon (Si); (c) rhenium (Re) and germanium (Ge); and (d) tungsten (W) and germanium (Ge). The X-ray mask provides advantageous features, such as having high ability for absorbing X-ray therein, possible reproduction of a thin film having low stress and having a densified crystal structure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 19, 1999
    Date of Patent: March 6, 2001
    Assignee: NEC Corporation
    Inventor: Takuya Yoshihara
  • Patent number: 6197458
    Abstract: Disclosed herein is a color filter comprising a substrate, a light-shielding layer having apertures provided on the substrate, and a patterned color filter layer formed by coloring an ink-receiving layer within each of the apertures, wherein the ink-receiving layer is composed of a solid particle layer, and almost the whole top surface of the light-shielding layer is exposed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 8, 1998
    Date of Patent: March 6, 2001
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Naoki Kato
  • Patent number: 6197459
    Abstract: A photosensitive resin, process for its use, and printing plates formed thereby are disclosed wherein the photosensitive resin comprises (i) a polyurethane prepolymer which is the reaction product of at least one polyether diol having olefin unsaturation equal to or less than 0.01 meq/gm, at least one diisocyanate, and a hydroxy-functionalized (meth) acrylate, (ii) at least one monomer and (iii) at least one photoinitiator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 21, 2000
    Date of Patent: March 6, 2001
    Assignee: MacDermid, Incorporated
    Inventor: Douglas Leach
  • Patent number: 6197460
    Abstract: A rewritable, heat sensitive, color image recording medium having a pair of opposed substrate sheets at least one of which is transparent, and a heat sensitive layer interposed between the substrate sheets and containing a cholesteric liquid crystal compound having a molecular weight of not greater than 2,000 and a glass transition point of at least 35° C. A color image is formed on the recording medium by varying imagewise the temperature of the heat sensitive layer from a first temperature to a second temperature such that the cholesteric liquid crystal compound assumes a cholesteric liquid crystal phase at at least one of the first and second temperatures. The image is fixed by rapidly cooling the recording medium to a temperature lower than the glass transition point of the cholesteric liquid crystal compound.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 6, 1998
    Date of Patent: March 6, 2001
    Assignee: Director-General of Agency of Industrial Science and Technology
    Inventors: Nobuyuki Tamaoki, Alexander Parfenov, Atsushi Masaki, Hiro Matsuda
  • Patent number: 6197461
    Abstract: Multiple-seam electrostatographic imaging member belts include two or more imaging member portions joined together by two or more seams. The belts can be formed from imaging member web that either includes or does not include an anti-curl backing layer, and that includes a charge transport layer that is substantially stress free.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 24, 1999
    Date of Patent: March 6, 2001
    Assignee: Xerox Corporation
    Inventors: Robert S. Foltz, Richard P. Millonzi, Robert C. U. Yu, John J. Darcy, Edouard E. Langlois
  • Patent number: 6197462
    Abstract: A flexible electrostatographic imaging member including at least one photographic imaging layer, a support layer, and an anticurl back layer having an exposed surface including a cross linked polyamide at the exposed surface, the polyamide being, formed from a solution selected from the group including a first solution including crosslinkable alcohol soluble polyamide containing methoxy methyl groups attached to amide nitrogen atoms, an acid having a pKa less than about 3, a cross linking agent selected from the group including a formaldehyde generating cross linking agent, an alkoxylated cross linking agent, a methylolamine cross linking agent and mixtures thereof, and a liquid selected from the group including alcohol solvents, diluent and mixtures thereof, a second solution including crosslinkable alcohol soluble polyamide free of methoxy methyl groups attached to amide nitrogen atoms, an acid having a pKa less than about 3, a cross linking agent selected from the group including a an alkoxyla
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 29, 1999
    Date of Patent: March 6, 2001
    Assignee: Xerox Corporation
    Inventors: John F. Yanus, Timothy J. Fuller, Damodar M. Pai, William W. Limburg, John A. Bergfjord, Sr., Dale S. Renfer
  • Patent number: 6197463
    Abstract: Electrophotographic photosensitive bodies which comprise a photosensitive layer on a conductive support, and which contain a wax having an ester group in their outermost layer, exhibit excellent durability and improved wear and printing resistance, without sacrificing their photosensitizability properties, such as chargeability and sensitivity, or ease and quality of application.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 15, 1998
    Date of Patent: March 6, 2001
    Assignees: Mitsubishi Chemical Corporation, Mitsubishi Chemical America, Inc.
    Inventors: Rudolf E. Cais, Santanu Debnath, Shinichi Suzuki, Moto Makino
  • Patent number: 6197464
    Abstract: An electrophotographic imaging member including a substrate, a charge generating layer, a charge transport layer, and an overcoat layer formed from a solution including a first cross linkable polyamide film forming binder free of methyl methoxy groups, an optional second cross linkable polyamide film forming binder containing methyl methoxy groups, a cross linking catalyst and a hole transport material. A process for forming an overcoated imaging member is also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 12, 2000
    Date of Patent: March 6, 2001
    Assignee: Xerox Corporation
    Inventors: Kenny-tuan T. Dinh, Timothy J. Fuller, Markus R. Silvestri, Paul J. Defeo, Damodar M. Pai, John F. Yanus, Robert W. Nolley, William W. Limburg, Dale S. Renfer
  • Patent number: 6197465
    Abstract: A carrier for electrophotography includes a carrier core material provided with magnetism and a coating layer which coats the surface of the carrier core material and includes a high molecular weight polyethylene resin having a weight average molecular weight of 50,000 or more. An outermost layer containing a magnetic powder having a three-dimensional form of a convex polyhedron is formed on the outermost surface of the coating layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 25, 1999
    Date of Patent: March 6, 2001
    Assignees: Idemitsu Kosan Co., Ltd., Kyocera Corporation
    Inventors: Shigeo Matsuzaki, Takashi Arakane, Kazuo Murakata, Susumu Kikuchi, Hisashi Mukataka, Yuji Kamiyama
  • Patent number: 6197466
    Abstract: An electrophotographic toner composition comprising toner particles admixed with metal oxide, wherein the metal oxide is selected from titanium dioxide and silicon dioxide; the metal oxide is 0.1 to 5.0 weight percent of the toner composition; and the ratio of titanium dioxide on the surface of the toner particles:total titanium dioxide in the toner composition is in the range of 1.0-3.0:1.0 and the ratio of silicon dioxide on the surface of the toner particles:total silicon dioxide in the toner composition is in the range of 10.0-25.0:1.0.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 30, 1999
    Date of Patent: March 6, 2001
    Inventors: Robert D. Fields, Satyanarayan A. Srinivasan
  • Patent number: 6197467
    Abstract: Charge control agent comprising a metal complex salt compound having a monoazo compound as a ligand, wherein the metal complex salt compound is amorphous, and which is excellent in charge control properties, heat resistance and light fastness, good in dispersibility in, and wettability with, toner resins, hardly damages the photoreceptor when used in a toner, and is unlikely to drop from toner particles during charging; process for manufacturing the charge control agent, comprising subjecting a crystalline metal complex salt compound having a monoazo compound as a ligand to wet milling in an organic solvent, or dissolving the crystalline metal complex salt compound in an organic solvent, and subsequently re-dispersing it in water; and toner for developing electrostatic images comprising said charge control agent, a toner resin, and a coloring agent, and method of use thereof.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 22, 1998
    Date of Patent: March 6, 2001
    Assignee: Orient Chemical Industries
    Inventors: Shun-ichiro Yamanaka, Kazuaki Sukata, Masashi Yasumatsu
  • Patent number: 6197468
    Abstract: A toner for electrophotography is disclosed. The toner comprises a binder resin and a colorant and a wax in amount of 0.5 to 8 percent by weight, and adhesion power index of wax particles to toner particles is between 0.7 and 2.2. The toner improves the durability of the developer material and a photoreceptor, minimizes image smear at high temperature and humidity, and exhibits excellent fixation as well as offsetting resistance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 23, 1999
    Date of Patent: March 6, 2001
    Assignee: Konica Corporation
    Inventors: Ken Ohmura, Tomomi Oshiba
  • Patent number: 6197469
    Abstract: A toner or a mixture of toners, comprises a pyrogenically synthesized alumina-silica mixed oxide as a component in combination with other components necessary to complete a toner formulation. The surface of the mixed alumina-silica oxide material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 16, 1999
    Date of Patent: March 6, 2001
    Assignee: Degussa-Huels Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Dieter Kerner, Helmut Mangold, Juergen Meyer
  • Patent number: 6197470
    Abstract: A toner is disclosed which contains toner particles and a hydrophobic fine silica powder. The hydrophobic fine silica powder has the following hydrophobic properties: the transmittance of the measuring sample fluid as defined in the specification at a methanol content of from 60% by volume to 72% by volume is 95% or more, and the transmittance of the measuring sample fluid at a methanol content of 74% by volume is 90% or more. Also, disclosed are an image forming method and an apparatus unit making use of the toner.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 22, 2000
    Date of Patent: March 6, 2001
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Osamu Tamura
  • Patent number: 6197471
    Abstract: A new photoreceptor is provided which comprises a conductive substrate and a photoconductive layer of 5 micra or less in thickness on the substrate. The photoreceptor has a dark decay greater than 20 seconds and contains less than 5% total hydrogen. The substrate is selected from the group consisting of alloys of aluminum, chromium, iron, molybdenum, nickel or tungsten. In addition, the substrate can be a nonconductive material, such as plastic, provided with an electrically conductive layer. A new method for making the improved photoreceptor comprises providing a conductive substrate and forming a photoconductive layer of 5 micra or less in thickness on said substrate by depositing an amorphous material containing silicon and hydrogen atoms wherein said substrate has a negative potential between −40 and −100 volts during the forming of said layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 25, 1998
    Date of Patent: March 6, 2001
    Assignee: Coulter International Corp.
    Inventors: Marshall Donnie Graham, Gary L. Dorer
  • Patent number: 6197472
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a recording material having a substrate and a negative-working, radiation-sensitive layer which contains a diazonium salt, metal-free colored pigments dispersed in an organic polymeric binder, transparent spacer pigments having a pore volume of more than 1.0 ml/g and a polymeric binder. The predispersal of the colored pigments is achieved by milling with an organic polymeric binder containing hydroxyl groups, some or all of which have been reacted with a di- or polycarboxylic anhydride so that the binder has an acid number of from 20 to 200. Printing plates in which the printing parts have a clearly visible contrast relative to the substrate can be produced from the recording material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 21, 2000
    Date of Patent: March 6, 2001
    Assignee: Afga-Gevaert N.V.
    Inventors: Klaus-Peter Konrad, Andreas Elsaesser, Frank Fischer, John Kynaston Davies
  • Patent number: 6197473
    Abstract: The objectives of the present invention are to provide a photosensitive composition having high solubility to organic solvents as well as to alkaline developers or water-base developers of pH 11 or less, and to provide a pattern forming process for obtaining a high-resolution resist pattern. These objectives are achieved by means of a photosensitive composition comprising a compound which is glassy at room temperature and has a cyclic structure with three or more aromatic rings containing an acid-decomposable substituent, and a pattern forming process wherein a photosensitive material using said photosensitive composition is exposed to a light pattern and developed with an aqueous solution of an alkali or with a water-base developer of pH 11 or less.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 17, 1998
    Date of Patent: March 6, 2001
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba
    Inventors: Naoko Kihara, Satoshi Saito, Toru Ushirogouchi
  • Patent number: 6197474
    Abstract: A process of forming a halftone color proof containing at least one dye transfer image and at least one pigment transfer image, comprising imagewise-exposing, for less than about 10−4 sec., by means of a laser having a power density of greater than 104 W/cm2, a dye-donor element comprising a support having thereon a dye layer comprising a dye dispersed in a polymeric binder, the dye layer having an infrared-absorbing material associated therewith, the laser exposure taking place through the side of the support of the dye-donor element which does not have the dye layer thereon, and transferring a portion of the dye in the dye layer to a receiving element having thereon an image-receiving layer; and imagewise-exposing, for less than about 10−4 sec.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 26, 2000
    Date of Patent: March 6, 2001
    Assignee: Eastman Kodak Company
    Inventors: David A. Niemeyer, Gerard J. Brien, Charles DeBoer
  • Patent number: 6197475
    Abstract: There is disclosed a positive type photosensitive resin composition which comprises an alkali-soluble polymer (A) having a carboxyl group and/or a phenolic hydroxyl group, and a compound (B) which forms an amine compound with irradiation of light.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 28, 1994
    Date of Patent: March 6, 2001
    Assignee: Hitachi Chemical Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Hideo Hagiwara, Makoto Kaji, Yasunori Kojima
  • Patent number: 6197476
    Abstract: The present invention provides a cyclic dione polymer, which is a homopolymer or a copolymer of a cyclic dione monomer selected from those represented by formulae (I) and (II) wherein A and B may be the same or different and are independently selected from the group consisting of halogen, hydrogen, C3-20 cyclic or pericyclic alkyl, C1-20 linear and branched alkyl, C6-20 aryl, C7-20 arylalkyl, C7-20 alkylaryl, silyl, alkylsilyl, germyl, alkylgermyl, alkoxycarbonyl, acyl, and a heterocylic group; or, A and B are linked together to form a C3-20 saturated or unsaturated cyclic hydrocarbon group or a substituted or unsubstituted heterocyclic group; C is selected from the group consisting of oxygen, sulfur, wherein each R1 is independently selected from C1-20 alkyl and phenyl.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 17, 1998
    Date of Patent: March 6, 2001
    Assignee: Industrial Technology Research Institute Everlight Chemical Industrial Corporation
    Inventors: Sheng-Yueh Chang, Bang-Chein Ho, Jian-Hong Chen, Ting-Chun Liu, Tzu-Yu Lin
  • Patent number: 6197477
    Abstract: An optical recording material including a substrate and a recording layer which is formed overlying the substrate, wherein the recording layer includes an azo chelate compound including an azo compound and at least one of a metal and a metal salt, and wherein the azo compound has the following formula (1):
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 18, 1999
    Date of Patent: March 6, 2001
    Assignee: Ricoh Company, LTD
    Inventors: Tsutomu Satoh, Shohji Maruyama, Yasunobu Ueno, Tatsuya Tomura, Noboru Sasa, Yasuhiro Higashi
  • Patent number: 6197478
    Abstract: According to the present invention there is provided a method for making driographic printing plates comprising the image-wise exposure of a heat-sensitive recording material comprising on an ink-accepting support an image-forming layer containing hydrophobic thermoplastic polymer particles and a compound capable of converting light into heat, said compound being present in said image-forming layer or a layer adjacent thereto and a cured ink-repellant surface layer. After the exposure the printing plate is developed by wiping it with water or an aqueous solution before or after mounting it on the print cylinder of a printing press.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 25, 1997
    Date of Patent: March 6, 2001
    Assignee: AGFA-Gevaert, N.V.
    Inventors: Joan Vermeersch, Marc Van Damme
  • Patent number: 6197479
    Abstract: A photosensitive resin composition comprising (A) a polymer as derived from its latex dispersion in water, (B) a hydrophilic photopolymerizable monomer, (C) rubber, and (D) a photopolymerization initiator, especially that as prepared by mixing (A′) a latex dispersion in water and (B) a hydrophilic photopolymerizable monomer to give a component (E), followed by kneading under heat the resulting component (E) with (C) rubber and (D) a photopolymerization initiator, can be developed with a developer not containing additives such as surfactants and alkali metal salts. The composition has good image reproducibility and is favorable to flexographic printing plates.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 23, 1999
    Date of Patent: March 6, 2001
    Assignee: Toray Industries, Inc.
    Inventors: Shinji Tanaka, Katsutoshi Sasashita, Masanao Isono
  • Patent number: 6197480
    Abstract: To provide a photosensitive paste that permits pattern formation with a high aspect ratio and a high accuracy and to provide a plasma display including the photosensitive paste, by using a photosensitive paste that includes, as essential components, an inorganic particles and an organic component that contains a photosensitive compound with the difference between the average refractive index of the organic component and the average refractive index of the inorganic particles being 0.1 or less.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 21, 1997
    Date of Patent: March 6, 2001
    Assignee: Toray Industries, Inc.
    Inventors: Yuichiro Iguchi, Takaki Masaki, Keiji Iwanaga
  • Patent number: 6197481
    Abstract: In this invention a coating of unexposed photoresist is used to protect from semiconductor processing the area immediately above a zero layer alignment mark used for a wafer stepper alignment. The entire surface of a wafer is coated with photoresist and all shot sites on the surface of a wafer including those containing the zero layer alignment marks are exposed with circuit patterns. Before the exposed areas of photoresist are removed, a protective coating of unexposed photoresist is applied to the surface of the wafer immediately above the alignment marks but within the boundaries of the shot site. The wafer is processed in the areas outside of the protective coating of photoresist including the shot site containing alignment marks. The area under the protective coating is not processed. This maintains a clear and concise view of the alignment marks. The area beyond the protective coating is processed along with the other shot sites.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 17, 1998
    Date of Patent: March 6, 2001
    Assignee: Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company
    Inventors: Chen-Yu Chang, Wei-Kay Chiu
  • Patent number: 6197482
    Abstract: The present invention is an imaging element which includes a support, an imaging layer superposed on a side of said support and an overcoat overlying the imaging layer. The overcoat is composed of an organic polymer. The overcoat is discontinuous such that a fraction of the surface area of the imaging layer remains uncovered by said polymer, wherein the fraction of area not covered by the said polymer is from 0.02 to 0.98. The present invention is a photographic which includes a support, a silver halide emulsion layer superposed on a side of said support and an overcoat overlying the silver halide layer. The overcoat is composed of an organic polymer. The overcoat is discontinuous such that a fraction of the surface area of the silver halide emulsion layer remains uncovered by said polymer, wherein the fraction of area not covered by the said polymer is from 0.02 to 0.98. In one embodiment, the discontinuous overcoat is a series of parallel stripes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 14, 1999
    Date of Patent: March 6, 2001
    Assignee: Eastman Kodak Company
    Inventors: Lloyd A. Lobo, Mridula Nair, Rukmini B. Lobo, Barry A. Fitzgerald
  • Patent number: 6197483
    Abstract: Color photographic silver halide materials, especially color photographic papers, are processed effectively with reduced iron retention after bleaching with a biodegradable bleaching composition. Bleaching is accomplished using an iron chelate of a biodegradable chelating ligand in the presence of a polyphosphonic acid. This bleaching step is followed by fixing using a fixing composition that includes a fixing agent and a polycarboxylic acid.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 18, 1998
    Date of Patent: March 6, 2001
    Assignee: Eastman Kodak Company
    Inventors: Carl A. Marrese, Alaine M. Gray, David G. Foster
  • Patent number: 6197484
    Abstract: A homogeneous, single part slurry-form color photographic developer composition for use in color photographic processing is provided which comprises a defined compound of Formula (1) and, a p-phenylenediamine derivative, and contains a discontinuous solid phase distributed in a single liquid phase. The slurry is used by being completely dissolved in water, and diluted to make a working tank developer or developer replenisher solution, typically with a pH of about 10.4 or less for the working tank and 12.0 or less for the replenisher. The slurry is compact, homogeneous, easy to dispense, has excellent water solubility, and remains free of degradation during long-term storage. A process for developing photographic color silver halide photosensitive material with the slurry is also provided, as well as a process for making the slurry.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 15, 1999
    Date of Patent: March 6, 2001
    Assignee: Fuji Hunt Photographic Chemicals, Inc.
    Inventors: Hongzoon Kim, Hailing Duan, Mani Philipose
  • Patent number: 6197485
    Abstract: A photographic assemblage comprising a silver halide photographic light-sensitive element comprising at least one sulfur and gold sensitized silver halide emulsion layer, said element comprising chlorinated s-triazine hardeners and photographically useful chemical compounds containing cyano groups, and a closed vessel in which the element is closed and stored at a constant relative humidity, is protected against HCN gas, which may evolve from photographic addenda included in the light-sensitive element to cause fog in the silver halide emulsion layers, by the addition of a palladium compound, in a silver halide emulsion layer and/or an adjacent layer thereto, as scavenger for HCN gas released from the element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 27, 1993
    Date of Patent: March 6, 2001
    Assignee: Minnesota Mining & Manufacturing Company
    Inventors: Luigi Cellone, Brunella Fornasari, Giovanni Giusto
  • Patent number: 6197486
    Abstract: The invention relates to a reflection photographic imaging material comprising at least one silver halide layer and a base material comprising at least one extruded layer comprising a polymeric antistatic material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 27, 1999
    Date of Patent: March 6, 2001
    Assignee: Eastman Kodak Company
    Inventors: Debasis Majumdar, Jehuda Greener, Thomas M. Laney
  • Patent number: 6197487
    Abstract: A support of photographic material is disclosed. The support is composed of plastic film in which polyethylene naphthalate is the major component. The plastic film is thermally treated at a temperature of not less than its Tg of said film to no more than its Tg plus 55° C.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 28, 1999
    Date of Patent: March 6, 2001
    Assignee: Konica Corporation
    Inventors: Kenji Ohnuma, Masahito Takada, Hidetoshi Ezure, Yasuo Kurachi
  • Patent number: 6197488
    Abstract: Disclosed is a color photographic element comprising at least one light sensitive silver halide emulsion layer having associated therewith a coupler according to Formula I: COUP—(TIME)n—HSM  (I) wherein: COUP is an organic fragment which reacts with oxidized developer to release—(TIME)n—HSM, TIME is an optional timing group or linking group which connects HSM to COUP at the site of reaction with oxidized developer, n=0,1 or 2, and HSM is a compound having a minimum of three heteroatoms and having a ClogP sufficient to increase the speed of said element compared to the same element without the coupler. The invention provides improved light sensitivity without significant adverse effect on granularity or ease of manufacture.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 21, 1999
    Date of Patent: March 6, 2001
    Assignee: Eastman Kodak Company
    Inventors: Philip A. Allway, Bernard A. Clark, Louis E. Friedrich, Stephen P. Singer
  • Patent number: 6197489
    Abstract: Disclosed is a color photographic element comprising at least four imaging layers including: a first light sensitive silver halide imaging layer having associated therewith a cyan image dye-forming coupler; a second light sensitive silver halide imaging layer having associated therewith a magenta image dye-forming coupler; a third light sensitive silver halide imaging layer having associated therewith a yellow image dye-forming coupler; and a fourth light sensitive silver halide imaging layer having associated therewith a fourth image dye-forming coupler for which the normalized spectral transmission density distribution curve of the dye formed by the fourth image dye-forming coupler upon reaction with color developer has a CIELAB hue angle, hab, from 225 to 310°. The element provides improved color gamut.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 28, 1999
    Date of Patent: March 6, 2001
    Assignee: Eastman Kodak Company
    Inventors: James L. Edwards, William J. Begley
  • Patent number: 6197490
    Abstract: Disclosed is a photographic element comprising a light-sensitive silver halide emulsion layer having associated therewith a “NB coupler” having the formula (I): wherein the term “NB coupler” represents a coupler of formula (I) that forms a dye for which the left bandwidth (LBW) using spin-coating is at least 5 nm less than that of the same dye in solution form; Y is H or a coupling-off group; each Z″ and Z* is an independently selected substituent group where n is 0 to 5 and p is 0 to 2; W2 represents the atoms necessary to complete a carbocyclic or heterocyclic ring group; and V is a substituent group containing a sulfonamido group; provided that the combined sum of the aliphatic carbon atoms in V, all Z″ and all Z* is at least 8. The element provides a dye of improved hue.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 28, 1999
    Date of Patent: March 6, 2001
    Assignee: Eastman Kodak Company
    Inventors: William J. Begley, Gary M. Russo, Denis T. Curt
  • Patent number: 6197491
    Abstract: Disclosed is a photographic element comprising a light-sensitive silver halide emulsion layer having associated therewith a “NB coupler” having the formula (I): wherein: the term “NB coupler” represents a coupler of formula (I) that forms a dye for which the left bandwidth (LBW) using spin-coating is at least 5 nm less than that of the same dye in solution form; Y is H or a coupling-off group; each Z* is an independently selected substituent group where p is 0 to 2; V is a substituent group containing a sulfonamido group; R4 is hydrogen or a group bonded to the carbonamido group by an aliphatic carbon atom; provided that the combined sum of the aliphatic carbon atoms in V, R4 and all Z* is at least 8. The element provides a dye of improved hue.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 28, 1999
    Date of Patent: March 6, 2001
    Assignee: Eastman Kodak Company
    Inventors: William J. Begley, Gary M. Russo, Denis T. Curt
  • Patent number: 6197492
    Abstract: Disclosed is a photographic element comprising a light-sensitive silver halide emulsion layer having associated therewith a cyan “NB coupler” having the formula (I): wherein: the term “NB coupler” represents a coupler of formula (I) that forms a dye for which the left bandwidth (LBW) using spin-coating is at least 5nm less than that of the same dye in solution form; Y is H or a coupling-off group; each Z″ and Z* is an independently selected substituent group where n is 0 to 4 and p is 0 to 2; W2 represents the atoms necessary to complete a heterocyclic ring group; and V is a sulfone or sulfoxide containing group; provided that the combined sum of the aliphatic carbon atoms in V, all Z″ and all Z* is at least 8. The element exhibits improved cyan dye hue.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 28, 1999
    Date of Patent: March 6, 2001
    Assignee: Eastman Kodak Company
    Inventors: William J. Begley, Frank D. Coms, Gary M. Russo
  • Patent number: 6197493
    Abstract: A silver halide color photographic light-sensitive material is disclosed. The light-sensitive material comprises a support having thereon a blue-sensitive silver halide emulsion layer containing a yellow dye-forming coupler represented by the following Formula I; Formula I wherein R, is an aliphatic group or an aromatic group, R2 is an anti-diffusion aliphatic group or aromatic group, R3 is a hydrogen atom or halogen atom, Z3 is >N—R2, in which R2, is a hydrogen atom, an alkyl group, a cycloalkyl group, an aryl group, a heterocyclic group, or —O—, Z4 is >N—R22 in which R22 is a hydrogen atom, an alkyl group, a cycloalkyl group, an aryl group, a heterocyclic group, or >C(R23) (R24) in which R23 and R24 are each a hydrogen atom or a substituent.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 10, 1999
    Date of Patent: March 6, 2001
    Assignee: Konica Corporation
    Inventors: Satoru Ikesu, Katsuji Ota
  • Patent number: 6197494
    Abstract: An element and method for easily performing liquid assays are disclosed. The element uses capillary action to draw a predetermined volume of a liquid sample into a reaction chamber charged with reagent, where reaction between the liquid sample and the reagent is monitored.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 18, 1997
    Date of Patent: March 6, 2001
    Assignee: Cardiovascular Diagnostics, Inc.
    Inventor: Bruce Oberhardt
  • Patent number: 6197495
    Abstract: A novel Staphylococcus glycyl tRNA synthetase crystalline structure is identified. Also disclosed are methods of identifying inhibitors of these synthetases and/or active sites, and inhibitors identified by these methods.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 10, 1998
    Date of Patent: March 6, 2001
    Assignees: SmithKline Beecham Corporation, SmithKline Beecham plc
    Inventors: Xiayang Qiu, Neal Frederick Osborne, Christine Mary Richardson, Cheryl A. Janson
  • Patent number: 6197496
    Abstract: Immunological reagents obtained from multimeric forms of the HIV-2 and SIV envelope glycoproteins and their use in the detection of HIV-2 are disclosed. Particularly, the HIV-2 proteins, gp300, p200, p90, and p80, and gp300 of SIV are described.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 27, 1994
    Date of Patent: March 6, 2001
    Assignee: Institut Pasteur
    Inventors: Luc Montagnier, Anne G. Laurent Crawford, Bernard Krust, Ara G. Hovanessian, Marie-Anne Rey Cuillé
  • Patent number: 6197497
    Abstract: The invention provides segments of HSV-1 and HSV-2 glycoprotein B which include antigenic epitopes in the gB amino-proximal region that react with human antibodies in a type-specific manner, and epitopes in the gB carboxy-proximal region that cross-react with HSV-1 and HSV-2 antibodies.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 19, 1996
    Date of Patent: March 6, 2001
    Assignee: University of New Mexico
    Inventors: Diane E. Goade, Richard Bell, Steven Jenison
  • Patent number: 6197498
    Abstract: Fast and highly accurate mass spectrometry-based processes for detecting particular nucleic acid molecules and sequences in the molecules are provided. Depending upon the sequence to be detected, the processes, for example, can be used to diagnose a genetic disease or a chromosomal abnormality, a predisposition to a disease or condition, or infection by a pathogen, or for determining identity or heredity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 6, 1999
    Date of Patent: March 6, 2001
    Assignee: Sequenom, Inc
    Inventor: Hubert Köster