Patents Issued in June 12, 2007
  • Patent number: 7229696
    Abstract: The invention relates to an at least two-layer polyester film with a total thickness of from about 5 to about 200 ?m which comprises polyethylene terephthalate and from about 2 to about 20% by weight—based on the weight of the entire film—of polyethylene naphthalate, and also at least one functional outer layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 16, 2003
    Date of Patent: June 12, 2007
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Polyester Film GmbH
    Inventors: Holger Kliesch, Ursula Murschall, Franz Hora, Guenther Crass, Herbert Peiffer, Bodo Kuhmann
  • Patent number: 7229697
    Abstract: The invention relates to a hydrolysis-stable polyester film comprising a polyester, whose thickness is preferably in the range from 0.4 to 500 ?m. The film comprises polyester and at least one hydrolysis stabilizer and is distinguished by its low hydrolysis rate. The invention furthermore relates to a process for the production of the film and its use.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 8, 2005
    Date of Patent: June 12, 2007
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Polyester Film GmbH
    Inventors: Holger Kliesch, Bodo Kuhmann, Thorsten Kiehne, Ingo Fischer, Gottfried Hilkert
  • Patent number: 7229698
    Abstract: Laminated board for exterior cladding formed from a core (13) of kraft paper impregnated with phenolic resin, at least one layer of natural wood (14) and at least one surface covering layer (15) including a coating film (17) and a substrate film (16). The coating film (17) is a single-layer film based on polymethyl methacrylate (PMMA), a two-layer film with its lower layer based on polymethyl methacrylate and its upper layer based on polyvinylidine fluoride (PVDF), or a PMMA/PVDF single-layer film. The substrate film (16) consists of a paper impregnated with a compound formed from 80-95% by weight of a phenolic resin and 5-20% by weight of a polymer promoting adhesion of the coating film (17), such as an acrylic, melamine or urea polymer or a combination thereof.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 8, 2003
    Date of Patent: June 12, 2007
    Assignee: Composites Gurea, S.A.
    Inventors: Fernando Encío Martinez, Santiago Bastida Sagarzazu
  • Patent number: 7229699
    Abstract: A multilayer sliding bearing includes a rigid metal backing having a metal bearing liner attached thereto. The metal bearing liner includes a metal bearing liner layer which is attached to the bearing surface of the metal backing layer and at least one metal overplate layer deposited over an outer surface of the metal bearing liner layer. The metal bearing liner layer has a layer of hard particles embedded in an outer surface thereof which is adjacent to the inner surface of the at least one metal overplate layer. The bearing may also include a barrier layer interposed between the metal bearing liner layer and the metal over plate layer to inhibit diffusion therebetween and/or promote adhesion of the metal over plate layer to the metal bearing liner layer. The invention may also include a thin metal protective coating layer over the outer surface of the bearing liner and backing layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 7, 2004
    Date of Patent: June 12, 2007
    Assignee: Federal-Mogul Worldwide, Inc.
    Inventors: James R. Toth, Barry Schwab
  • Patent number: 7229700
    Abstract: A novel coating composition is provided for imparting corrosion and wear resistance to metal substrates. The novel coating composition is thermally applied and comprises an aluminum alloy mixed with a hard, inert matrix. The coating composition has found particular use in providing corrosion and wear resistance to metal seat rails used to secure aircrafts seats to the aircraft frame.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 26, 2004
    Date of Patent: June 12, 2007
    Assignee: BASF Catalysts, LLC.
    Inventors: Peter F. Ruggiero, Marc J. Froning
  • Patent number: 7229701
    Abstract: The present invention provides a chromium and active elements modified platinum aluminide coating that may be used on a surface of a gas turbine engine component such as a turbine blade. The coating may be used as a protective coating that impedes the progress of corrosion, oxidation, and sulfidation in superalloy materials that comprise the substrate of the turbine blade. Additionally, the coating may be used as a bond coat onto which a thermal barrier coating is deposited. The presence of active elements as well as chromium and platinum provides improved corrosion, oxidation, and sulfidation resistance. The coating is applied using an electron beam physical vapor deposition. The coating is applied alternatively using selected sequential diffusion processing steps involving chromium, platinum and aluminum.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 26, 2004
    Date of Patent: June 12, 2007
    Assignee: Honeywell International, Inc.
    Inventors: Murali Madhava, Timothy R. Duffy, Margaret Floyd, George Reimer
  • Patent number: 7229702
    Abstract: The present invention provides an oligofluorenylene compound represented by the general formula below, which enables production of an organic light-emitting device that exhibits an extremely pure luminescent hue and has a light emission of high efficiency, high brightness, and long lifetime.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 25, 2003
    Date of Patent: June 12, 2007
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Akihito Saitoh, Mizuho Hiraoka, Koichi Suzuki, Akihiro Senoo, Hiroshi Tanabe, Naoki Yamada, Chika Negishi, Maki Okajima
  • Patent number: 7229703
    Abstract: The main object of the present invention is to provide a gas barrier substrate having a high gas barrier property without a ruggedness, a pin hole or the like in the gas barrier layer. The present invention solves the problem by providing a gas barrier substrate having a base material, a planarization layer formed on the base material, and a gas barrier layer comprising a deposition film formed on the planarization layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 26, 2004
    Date of Patent: June 12, 2007
    Assignee: Dai Nippon Printing Co. Ltd.
    Inventors: Sayaka Kawashima, Minoru Komada, Keiji Tokunaga
  • Patent number: 7229704
    Abstract: To provide an organic EL device and a method of manufacturing the same, having light-emitting characteristics enhanced by capturing selectively mobile metal ions, the organic EL device includes between a first electrode and a second electrode, a functional layer having at least a light-emitting layer. A metal ion trapping layer is placed between the first electrode and the second electrode. The metal ion trapping layer is formed of a metal ion trapping material with a ring part including a plurality of Lewis basic elements bonded to at least two carbon atoms.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 4, 2004
    Date of Patent: June 12, 2007
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventors: Shunichi Seki, Ryuji Ishii
  • Patent number: 7229705
    Abstract: The present invention is a turbine engine component comprising a superalloy substrate, a bond coat overlying the substrate having a thickness in the range of about 0.0005 inch to about 0.005 inch, a thin alumina scale overlying the bond coat, and a thermal barrier coating (TBC) overlying the thin alumina scale, the TBC having a thickness in the range of about 0.0025 inch to about 0.010 inch, and comprising at least mischmetal oxide.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 17, 2006
    Date of Patent: June 12, 2007
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Mary B. Johnson, legal representative, Robert W. Bruce, Lyman A. Johnson, deceased
  • Patent number: 7229706
    Abstract: The present invention provides a magnetic detecting element capable of increasing a difference between the ease of a conduction electron flow in a low-resistance state and the ease of a conduction electron flow in a high-resistance state to increase a resistance change ?R. In the magnetic detecting element, a free magnetic layer or a pinned magnetic layer has a synthetic ferromagnetic structure including a first free magnetic sub-layer or a first pinned magnetic sub-layer containing a magnetic material having a positive ? value, and a second magnetic sub-layer or a second pinned magnetic sub-layer containing a magnetic material having a negative ? value. The ? value is characteristics of a magnetic material satisfying the relationship ??/??=(1+?)/(1??)(?1???1)(wherein ?? represents resistivity for minority conduction electrons, and ?? represents resistivity for majority conduction electrons).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 12, 2004
    Date of Patent: June 12, 2007
    Assignee: Alps Electric Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Naoya Hasegawa, Masamichi Saito
  • Patent number: 7229707
    Abstract: A magnetic recording medium including a magnetic recording layer and a substrate that supports the magnetic recording layer is provided. At least two underlayers including a nonmetallic underlayer are placed between the magnetic recording layer and the substrate. The perpendicular magnetic recording medium uses a double-layered or tri-layered underlayer. Accordingly, a perpendicular magnetic recording layer can have a high perpendicular magnetic anisotropic energy constant Ku due to a third underlayer and have small crystal grains and a small exchange coupling due to a second underlayer below the third underlayer. Thus, the perpendicular magnetic recording layer can have a good thermal stability, high-density recording characteristics, and excellent SNR characteristics.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 27, 2003
    Date of Patent: June 12, 2007
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Hoon-sang Oh, Byung-kyu Lee
  • Patent number: 7229708
    Abstract: A magnetic encoder, which comprises a stainless steel sheet; and an under coat adhesive containing epoxy resin and organopolysiloxane, a top coat adhesive containing phenol resin, or phenol resin and epoxy resin, and a rubber magnet, as successively laid one upon another on the stainless steel sheet, has distinguished water resistance and saline water resistance, and thus can be effectively used particularly as a magnetic encoder in wheel speed sensors.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 12, 2003
    Date of Patent: June 12, 2007
    Assignee: NOK Corporation
    Inventors: Katsumi Abe, Kiyofumi Fukasawa, Hironori Nishina
  • Patent number: 7229709
    Abstract: The magnetic recording medium provided is produced by forming a substrate having a nanoparticle layer comprising an array of nanoparticles, and an organic compound between said array of nanoparticles; irradiating the nanoparticle layer with an infrared beam to magnetize the nanoparticles; applying a magnetic field to the nanoparticle layer to orient easy axis of magnetization of the magnetic nanoparticles in a substantially uniform direction; and irradiating the nanoparticle layer with an ultraviolet beam to bind said organic compound to thereby produce a magnetic recording medium wherein easy axis of magnetization of the nanoparticles has been oriented in a direction substantially parallel to a direction at a particular angle with the substrate. The resulting magnetic recording medium experiences no deterioration of the underlying layer or the soft magnetic layer, and exhibits good magnetic properties.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 5, 2004
    Date of Patent: June 12, 2007
    Assignee: Hitachi, Ltd.
    Inventors: Yuko Tsuchiya, Motoyasu Terao
  • Patent number: 7229710
    Abstract: The present invention relates to an electrochemical device. The device features an anode constructed of materials such that the device can be chemically recharged. In addition, the device is capable of switching between operating as a fuel cell or as a battery. In certain aspects of the invention, the device includes a liquid anode and is capable of operating at a temperature of less than 1000° C. Other aspects feature a control system and a fuel delivery system for the electrochemical system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 20, 2002
    Date of Patent: June 12, 2007
    Assignee: CellTech Power, Inc.
    Inventors: Tao Tao, Scott Rackey, Adam Blake, Wei Bai
  • Patent number: 7229711
    Abstract: A stack (11) of fuel cells have water flow channels receiving water through a pump (33) from an accumulator (29) having double walls (63, 66) with vacuum insulation panels (VIPs) (65, 68) therebetween, auxiliary DC power source (80) (battery or supercapacitor) is disposed in a container (43) having double walls (81, 86) with VIPs (65, 68) encapsulated therebetween. A keep-warm heater (51) keeps the source warm enough for at least half power capacity, the source driving its own heater as well as a keep-warm heater (50) in the accumulator to keep the accumulator above freezing. A microwave heater (58) disposed in the accumulator distributes energy to melt ice using fuel cell stack power upon startup.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 12, 2003
    Date of Patent: June 12, 2007
    Assignee: UTC Power Corporation
    Inventor: Richard D. Breault
  • Patent number: 7229712
    Abstract: The present invention relates to microfibrous fuel cell sub-bundle structures, fuel cell bundles and fuel cell assemblies formed by such fuel cell sub-bundles and bundles. Specifically, a fuel cell sub-bundle is provided, which comprises multiple microfibrous fuel cells. Each microfibrous fuel cell comprises: (a) a hollow microfibrous membrane separator comprising an electrolyte medium, (b) an inner electrocatalyst layer in contact with an inner surface of such membrane separator, (c) an outer electrocatalyst layer in contact with an outer surface of such membrane separator, and (d) an individual current collector in electrical contact with the inner surface of such membrane separator. Each of such multiple microfibrous fuel cells is in electrical contact with a common current collector at the outer surface of its membrane separator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 5, 2004
    Date of Patent: June 12, 2007
    Assignee: Microcell Corporation
    Inventors: Ray R. Eshraghi, Michael W. Riley
  • Patent number: 7229713
    Abstract: Provided are an electrode and a battery having superior charge-discharge cycle characteristics and capable of obtaining a higher energy density. The battery comprises a spirally wound electrode body (20) including a cathode (21) and an anode (22) spirally wound with a separator (23) in between. During charge, lithium metal is precipitated on the anode (22), so the capacity of the anode (22) is represented by the sum of a capacity component by insertion and extraction of lithium and a capacity component by precipitation and dissolution of the lithium metal. The anode (22) includes a mixture layer (22b) having a powdered anode active material, and the mixture layer (22b) has liquid absorption properties that when 1 ?dm3 of propylene carbonate is dropped on the mixture layer (22b) at 23° C., a contact angle that the mixture layer (22b) forms with a propylene carbonate drop becomes 10 degrees within 100 seconds.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 18, 2003
    Date of Patent: June 12, 2007
    Assignee: Sony Corporation
    Inventors: Takeru Yamamoto, Gentaro Kano, Hiroyuki Akashi
  • Patent number: 7229715
    Abstract: An anode includes zinc particles. At least about 30% by weight of the zinc particles are spherical.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 16, 2004
    Date of Patent: June 12, 2007
    Assignee: The Gillette Company
    Inventors: James Costanzo, Lifun Lin
  • Patent number: 7229716
    Abstract: A nonaqueous electrolyte secondary battery includes a positive electrode, a negative electrode comprising a graphite as a negative electrode active material, and a nonaqueous electrolyte including at least a saturated cyclic carbonic ester and containing a cyclic carbonic ester having a carbon-carbon double bond such that, when a content of the cyclic carbonic ester having a carbon-carbon double bond is x (g), a content of the graphite in the negative electrode is B (g), a specific surface area of the graphite is A (m2/g), a size of the crystallite of the graphite in a direction of the c axis is Lc, and a size of the crystallite of the graphite in a direction of the a axis is La, a condition expressed by 0.05×10?2?x/[A×B×2Lc/(2Lc+La)]?3×10?2 is satisfied.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 2003
    Date of Patent: June 12, 2007
    Assignee: SANYO Electric Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Katsunori Yanagida, Takao Inoue, Naoya Nakanishi, Atsuhiro Funahashi, Toshiyuki Nohma
  • Patent number: 7229717
    Abstract: A battery with a high capacity and superior cycle characteristics, and an anode active material used for it are provided. An anode active material contains tin as a first element, a second element, and a third element. The second element is at least one from the group consisting of boron, carbon, aluminum, and phosphorus, and the third element is at least one from the group consisting of silicon, magnesium, titanium, vanadium, chromium, manganese, iron, cobalt, nickel, copper, zinc, gallium, zirconium, niobium, molybdenum, silver, indium, cerium, hafnium, tantalum, tungsten, and bismuth. The content of the second element in the anode active material is from 9.8 wt % to 49 wt %.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 21, 2005
    Date of Patent: June 12, 2007
    Assignee: Sony Corporation
    Inventors: Akira Yamaguchi, Satoshi Mizutani, Hiroshi Inoue, Koji Sekai
  • Patent number: 7229718
    Abstract: Disclosed is an electrolyte for a rechargeable lithium battery including 5 to 40 volume % of at least one fluorine-substituted ether compound represented by R1—O—R2 (wherein R1 and R2 are alkyl groups substituted with fluorine), having a substitution ratio of hydrogen with fluorine of 57 to 86%, a viscosity of 0.9 to 2.3 cp, and a boiling point of at least 88° C., and 60 to 90 volume % of a non-aqueous organic solvent having a flash point of at least 80° C.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 15, 2003
    Date of Patent: June 12, 2007
    Assignee: Samsung SDI Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Takitaro Yamaguchi, Ryuichi Shimizu, Cheol-Soo Jung
  • Patent number: 7229719
    Abstract: A highly safe non-aqueous electrolyte secondary cell with excellent self-extinguishing property or flame retardancy is provided which comprises an anode, a cathode, a non-aqueous electrolyte in which an Li-salt as a supporting salt is dissolved in an organic solvent, and a separator. When a high crystalline carbon material such as graphite is used as cathode active substances, it is possible to provide a non-aqueous electrolyte secondary cell whose charging/discharging life is lengthened, whose interface resistance at the non-aqueous electrolyte can be reduced, and which has excellent discharging characteristics at low temperature.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 2, 2001
    Date of Patent: June 12, 2007
    Assignee: Bridgestone Corporation
    Inventors: Masashi Otsuki, Shigeki Endo, Takao Ogino
  • Patent number: 7229720
    Abstract: A simplified method is provided for recording identification information, such as a serial number or the like, in a hologram-recorded film simultaneously with hologram duplication. The method includes the steps of coupling a hologram recording film with a master hologram plate having a master hologram, the master hologram plate having a reflective area adjacent the master hologram; and directing laser beams towards the master hologram plate to induce interference between incident laser light and diffraction laser light from the master hologram in the recording film, at least some of the laser beams radiating the reflective area through a transmission type controllable display device to record a pattern in the hologram recording film corresponding to a pattern displayed at the transmission type controllable display device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 18, 2003
    Date of Patent: June 12, 2007
    Assignee: Dai Nippon Printing Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Satoru Hamada
  • Patent number: 7229721
    Abstract: A method for evaluating a photo mask comprises preparing a photo mask including a unit drawing pattern, finding a dimensional variation relating to the photo mask, the dimensional variation including first and second dimensional variations, the first dimensional variation occurring due to a positional displacement and size mismatch of the unit drawing pattern in the photo mask and the second dimensional variation occurring due to etching and development relating to a manufacturing of the photo mask, estimating a deteriorated amount of an exposure latitude occurring due to the dimensional variation of the photo mask using the dimensional variation and a degree of influence of the dimensional variation for the exposure latitude, and judging quality of the photo mask by comparing the deteriorated amount of the exposure latitude and an allowable deteriorated amount of the exposure latitude.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 13, 2003
    Date of Patent: June 12, 2007
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba
    Inventors: Shoji Mimotogi, Shigeki Nojima, Osamu Ikenaga
  • Patent number: 7229722
    Abstract: A method of designing an alternating phase shifting mask for projecting an image of an integrated circuit design having a plurality of essentially parallel segments of critical width comprises creating essentially parallel alternating phase shifting regions aligned with the critical width segments and extending beyond ends of at least some of the critical width segments, enclosing the integrated circuit layout and the alternating phase shifting regions within a boundary, extending the alternating phase shifting regions to an edge of the boundary, and thereafter creating an alternating phase shifting mask based on the alternating phase shifting regions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 28, 2004
    Date of Patent: June 12, 2007
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Lars W. Liebmann, Zachary Baum
  • Patent number: 7229723
    Abstract: An opening is formed in a light-absorbing layer on a mask by applying a second resist above a first resist on the layer. A first exposure step with subsequent development of the second resist leads to the formation of a first opening in the developed second resist. The first resist is uncovered on an area within the opening. A second exposure step is performed by irradiation of the mask in a second segment, which is laterally offset with respect to the first opening, so that an incomplete portion of the area of the uncovered first resist is exposed within the opening. After a further development step and an etching step with formation of a second opening in the developed first resist with a transfer of the portion into the light-absorbing layer, this opening has a diameter smaller than both the first and the second segment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 2, 2004
    Date of Patent: June 12, 2007
    Assignee: Infineon Technologies AG
    Inventor: Jenspeter Rau
  • Patent number: 7229724
    Abstract: Reticles having reticle patterns suitable for reducing edge of array effects are provided. The reticle patterns have unresolvable patterns formed in the periphery areas of the reticle patterns. The unresolvable patterns are non-transparent with respect to patterning radiation. Systems incorporating the reticles are also provided. Additionally, methods of forming and using the reticles are provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 16, 2004
    Date of Patent: June 12, 2007
    Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: William J. Baggenstoss, Byron N. Burgess, Erik Byers, William A. Stanton
  • Patent number: 7229725
    Abstract: Methods of fabricating a photomask, methods of treating a chemically amplified resist-coated photomask blank, a photomask blank resulting from the methods, and systems for fabricating a photomask are provided. The method is useful for recovering the exposure sensitivity of a chemically amplified resist disposed on a photomask blank from a post-coat delay effect.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 4, 2006
    Date of Patent: June 12, 2007
    Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventor: Baorui Yang
  • Patent number: 7229726
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method for thermally transferring an imaging material from an imaging donor to a receiver to form a pattern of the imaging material on the receiver in which a transparent texturing material is thermally transferred, preferably by laser exposure, from a texturing donor to the receiver prior to thermally transferring the imaging material to the receiver.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 19, 2004
    Date of Patent: June 12, 2007
    Assignee: E. I. du Pont de Nemours and Company
    Inventor: Jonathan V. Caspar
  • Patent number: 7229727
    Abstract: A yellow toner in which, in a spectral-distribution diagram in which the reflectance (%) is plotted as ordinate and the. wavelength (nm) as abscissa, the reflectance determined for a toner in a state of powder ranges from 15% to 20% at a wavelength of 500 nm and ranges from 75% to 80% at a wavelength of 600 nm, a cyan toner in which, in the like spectral-distribution diagram, the reflectance determined for a toner in a state of powder ranges from 30% to 35% at a wavelength of 450 nm and ranges from 35% to 40% at a wavelength of 475 nm, and a magenta toner in which, in the like spectral-distribution diagram, the reflectance determined for a toner in a state of powder ranges from 5% to 10% at a wavelength of 425 nm and ranges from 65% to 70% at a wavelength of 675 nm. These color toners each contain corresponding pigments in specific combination, and promise color reproduction which can ensure the color tones of process inks.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 23, 2004
    Date of Patent: June 12, 2007
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Takayuki Itakura, Takaaki Kotaki, Takaaki Kaya, Kazuhiko Hayami, Nozomu Komatsu
  • Patent number: 7229728
    Abstract: A positively-charged electrophotographic organic photoreceptor includes an electrically conductive support, and a charge transport layer and a charge generating layer sequentially stacked on the electrically conductive support. The charge generating layer is formed by coating a charge generating layer forming composition that includes a fluorene compound, a charge generating material, a binder resin and an organic solvent on the charge transport layer, and drying. The organic photoreceptor has high sensitivity, while suppressing contamination of a charge generating layer during coating, and thicknesses of a charge transport layer and a charge generating layer may be adjusted. Also, the electrostatic properties of the organic photoreceptor, including charge potential and exposure potential, may be easily adjusted.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 20, 2003
    Date of Patent: June 12, 2007
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Nam-jeong Lee, Hae-ree Joo, Kyong-yol Yon
  • Patent number: 7229729
    Abstract: An electrophotographic photoreceptor having an intermediate layer in which the intermediate layer contains a compound formed from a composition containing the following components X, Y and Z.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 9, 2004
    Date of Patent: June 12, 2007
    Assignee: Konica Monolta Business Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Kazuhisa Shida, Masao Asano, Hiroshi Yamazaki, Akihiko Itami, Tomoo Sakimura
  • Patent number: 7229730
    Abstract: The invention provides a process for producing a negative-charging electrophotographic photosensitive member which can improve the adherence between a first layer and a second layer without lowering the effect of lessening image defects and realize a reduction in overall costs, a negative-charging electrophotographic photosensitive member produced by the process, and an electrophotographic apparatus. In the process for producing a negative-charging electrophotographic photosensitive member, a first layer is deposited on a substarte, at least the vertexes of protuberances are removed, the substrate with the first layer deposited theron is placed in a film forming furnace, the first layer surface is plasma-treated with a gas containing at least a Group 13 element in the periodic table and a dilution gas composed of at least one selected from hydrogen, argon and helium, and a layer formed of a non-single-crystal material is deposited as the second layer on the first layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 27, 2006
    Date of Patent: June 12, 2007
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Jun Ohira, Satoshi Kojima, Makoto Aoki, Kazuto Hosoi
  • Patent number: 7229731
    Abstract: To provide a high-image-quality electrophotographic photosensitive member having a high sensitivity for a wavelength close to 380 to 500 nm, remarkable image resolution property in which absorption of the wavelength is hardly recognized, working-environment characteristic and high safety and superior in abrasion resistance and fabrication easiness and reducing optical memories and an electrophotographic apparatus using the high-image-quality electrophotographic photosensitive member. In the case of an electrophotographic photosensitive member having a substrate, photoconductive layer formed on the substrate and surface layer formed on the photoconductive layer and using silicon and nitrogen atoms as base material and containing an amorphous material containing at least oxygen atoms, the surface layer contains nitrogen atoms as an average concentration shown by the following expression (1) and contains oxygen atoms by the maximum value Omax of the number of oxygen atoms in the thickness direction: 0.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 19, 2006
    Date of Patent: June 12, 2007
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Makoto Aoki, Satoshi Kojima, Hironori Owaki, Kazuto Hosoi, Jun Ohira
  • Patent number: 7229732
    Abstract: A composition comprised of a charge transport compound and a crosslinked polymer composition generated from the curing of a solution of a hydroxyl pendant polycarbonate, a hydroxylated charge transport compound, a curing agent and a solvent.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 4, 2004
    Date of Patent: June 12, 2007
    Assignee: Xerox Corporation
    Inventors: Nan-Xing Hu, Timothy P. Bender, Ah-Mee Hor, H Bruce Goodbrand, Yvan Gagnon, George Liebermann
  • Patent number: 7229733
    Abstract: A production process of a light emitting device capable of easily forming a fixed shape insulator layer irrespective of the quality of the material of a substrate is provided. The process of the present invention includes a process of forming an insulator layer by an electrophotography method, in the production process of a light emitting device equipped with a substrate, light emitting layers formed on the substrate, and an insulator layer mutually partitioning the light emitting layers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 2004
    Date of Patent: June 12, 2007
    Assignee: Pioneer Corporation
    Inventor: Toshiyuki Miyadera
  • Patent number: 7229734
    Abstract: In the toner comprising at least a colorant, a releasing agent and a binder resin, the releasing agent being a mixture of carnauba wax and non-paraffin wax, the binder resin contains a polyester resin having an acid value of 7 to 20 mg KOH/g. An electrophotographic negatively charged full color toner having good fixing property, glossiness, transparency, and releasability without coating a fixing oil to a fixing apparatus.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 22, 2004
    Date of Patent: June 12, 2007
    Assignee: Sharp Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Masahiko Kubo
  • Patent number: 7229735
    Abstract: A toner composition for use in a xerographic or electrostatographic imaging process. The toner composition includes a toner particle and an optional primary external surface additive and a friable external surface additive. The friable external surface additive may also be a material that is capable of functioning as a primary external surface additive. The friable external surface additive is generally larger than the primary surface additive and capable of having portions of the friable particle broken or abraded off during the imaging process. The particles that are abraded off the friable additive can replace the primary external additive particles that become embedded into toner particles during the development process. The friable additives contribute to reducing toner aging and provide a toner with satisfactory flow and triboelectric properties.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 26, 2004
    Date of Patent: June 12, 2007
    Assignee: Xerox Corporation
    Inventors: Thomas R. Pickering, Louis V. Isganitis
  • Patent number: 7229736
    Abstract: The invention provides liquid electrographic toner compositions comprising a liquid carrier having toner particles dispersed in the liquid carrier. The liquid carrier has a Kauri-Butanol number less than about 30 mL. The toner particles comprise polymeric binder comprising at least one amphipathic copolymer comprising one or more S material portions and one or more D material portions. The toner composition additionally comprises a wax component associated with the toner particle, wherein the wax component and the amphipathic copolymer each comprise at least one of a Lewis acid and a Lewis base pair in an amount sufficient to form weak, reversible intermolecular non-covalent bonds resulting from acid/base interactions between the wax component and the amphipathic copolymer. These toner particles can exhibit excellent final image durability characteristics, and can also provide toner compositions that provide excellent images at low fusion temperatures on a final image receptor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 31, 2004
    Date of Patent: June 12, 2007
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Company
    Inventors: Ronald J. Moudry, Charles W. Simpson, James A. Baker
  • Patent number: 7229737
    Abstract: Disclosed is a photopolymerizable composition containing a polymerizable compound having an addition-polymerizable unsaturated bond, an organic dye, and an organoboron compound represented by the following general formula (I), wherein at least one kind of the organoboron compound is included and the proportion thereof is one mole or more per mole of the organic dye B?R)4X?.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 29, 2001
    Date of Patent: June 12, 2007
    Assignee: Fujifilm Corporation
    Inventors: Yuuichi Fukushige, Shintaro Washizu
  • Patent number: 7229738
    Abstract: Disclosed is a silver halide photographic light-sensitive material comprising at least one silver halide emulsion layer on a support, which contains a fluorine compound having two or more fluorinated alkyl groups having two or more carbon atoms and 11 or less fluorine atoms and having at least one of an anionic hydrophilic group and a nonionic hydrophilic group, and has a characteristic curve drawn in orthogonal coordinates of logarithm of light exposure (x-axis) and optical density (y-axis) using equal unit lengths for the both axes, on which gamma is 5.0 or more for the optical density range of 0.3-3.0. There is provided a silver halide photographic light-sensitive material that provides high sensitivity, high contrast, favorable half tone dot quality and superior storage stability.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 30, 2003
    Date of Patent: June 12, 2007
    Assignee: Fujifilm Corporation
    Inventors: Shoji Yasuda, Terukazu Yanagi
  • Patent number: 7229739
    Abstract: The invention generally relates to positive-working coating compositions and to a substrate formed with a coating of that composition. Advantageous versions of the invention provide an infrared imageable, positive lithographic printing plate having a coating comprising a hydroxy substituted polymer, a diphenylcarbinol solubility suppressing compound and an infrared radiation absorbing compound.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 25, 2005
    Date of Patent: June 12, 2007
    Assignee: Anocoil Corporation
    Inventors: Paul A. Perron, Brian L. Anderson, William J. Ryan
  • Patent number: 7229740
    Abstract: An image forming medium includes a substrate and an imaging layer including a photochromic material and a polymer binder coated on the substrate, where the photochromic material exhibits a reversible homogeneous-heterogeneous transition between a colorless state and colored state in the polymer binder.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 8, 2005
    Date of Patent: June 12, 2007
    Assignee: Xerox Corporation
    Inventors: Gabriel Iftime, Peter M. Kazmaier
  • Patent number: 7229741
    Abstract: A novel liquid photoreactive asymmetric acrylate compound containing sulfur, aromatic moieties, and optionally bromine, and having high dynamic range sensitivity is disclosed. The acrylate compound is a monomer for a photoimageable system. In one embodiment, when about 2–8% by weight of the acrylate compound is dissolved in a two-component urethane matrix system and incorporated in an optical article formed by reacting the two-component urethane matrix system, the optical article shows a sensitivity of about 4 or more and a shrinkage during the formation of the optical article of about 0.05% versus a sensitivity of 2.26 and a shrinkage of 0.13% when tribromophenyl acrylate, a commercial monomer, was used.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 29, 2003
    Date of Patent: June 12, 2007
    Assignee: InPhase Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Songvit Setthachayanon, Xuan T. Phan, Mark David Michaels, Benjamin C. Ihas
  • Patent number: 7229742
    Abstract: Methods to reduce the write time for forming mask patterns having angled and non-angled features using electron beam lithography are disclosed. In one exemplary embodiment, non-angled features of the mask pattern are formed by exposure to an electron beam. The orientation of the substrate and a path of the generally rectangular-shaped shot from the electron beam may be relatively altered such that the substrate is exposed to the electron beam to form the angled features as if they were non-angled features. In another exemplary embodiment, the electron beam lithography system determines whether it is necessary to relatively alter the orientation of the substrate and a path of the generally rectangular-shaped shot from the electron beam to form the angled features based on the number of angled features and the time required for relatively altering the orientation. Electron beam lithography systems employing a rotatable stage, rotatable apertures, or both, are also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 14, 2004
    Date of Patent: June 12, 2007
    Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventor: Baorui Yang
  • Patent number: 7229743
    Abstract: A fine pattern having first elements within track widths and second elements, which are shifted half a track pitch from the first elements, are drawn across the entire surface of a disk accurately and at high speed. A transfer pattern for a magnetic transfer master carrier is drawn by scanning an electron beam on a disk coated with resist. The first elements and the second elements, which are shifted half a track pitch such that they straddle adjacent tracks, are drawn. While the disk is rotated unidirectionally, the electron beam is deflected in the radial direction within a single track of the disk to draw the first elements. Deflection of the electron beam in the radial direction is shifted half a track, to draw the second elements that straddle adjacent tracks at the same time.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 2005
    Date of Patent: June 12, 2007
    Assignee: Fuji Photo Film Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Toshihiro Usa, Kazunori Komatsu
  • Patent number: 7229744
    Abstract: A method for preparing lithographic printing plates is disclosed. Imaged positive-working, thermally imageable, multi-layer imageable elements useful as lithographic printing plate precursors are developed using solvent based developers. Development may be carried out by immersing the imaged imageable element in the developer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 21, 2003
    Date of Patent: June 12, 2007
    Assignee: Eastman Kodak Company
    Inventor: Jayanti Patel
  • Patent number: 7229745
    Abstract: Multilayer resist systems and techniques used for liftoff or planarizing topography wherein the dimensions and thicknesses of the layers are independently controlled. The undercut may also be independently controlled for precision structures.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 14, 2004
    Date of Patent: June 12, 2007
    Assignee: BAE Systems Information and Electronic Systems Integration Inc.
    Inventor: Philip A. Lamarre
  • Patent number: 7229746
    Abstract: A process for forming magnetic target tracks for position and speed sensors. The tracks are formed from a paste comprising a magnetic powder material and a hardenable carrier. The tracks can be formed within trenches in a substrate or on the substrate surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 2, 2003
    Date of Patent: June 12, 2007
    Assignee: Delphi Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Thaddeus Schroeder, Shih-Chia Chang, Lorenzo Guadalupe Rodriguez