Abstract: The present invention provides a liquid alignment device including: a stage configured to carry a liquid crystal display panel, wherein in the liquid crystal display panel a first substrate is placed on the stage; a curing light source configured to irradiate the first substrate; a probe configured to provide the first substrate with a voltage. The present invention employs a color resist layer disposed in a second substrate of the liquid crystal display panel to solve the issue that during liquid alignment the second substrate must be disposed on a lower place and the first substrate must be disposed on an upper place to prevent efficiency of the liquid alignment.

Abstract: Analyte sensors and methods for fabricating analyte sensors and analyte sensing layers are presented here. In accordance with certain embodiments, a method for fabricating an analyte sensor includes providing a base layer and forming a conductive layer over the base layer. Further, the method includes forming an analyte sensing layer disposed over the conductive layer. The analyte sensing layer includes glucose oxidase entrapped within a thermally-cured polymer matrix and within a UV-cured polymer matrix.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a 3D printing device for multiple materials comprising: a material transfer unit comprising at least two lines; a material supply unit to supply at least one type of printing material on each line of the material transfer unit; a thickness control unit to control a thickness of a material supplied by the material supply unit; a 3D printing module to solidify the material controlled with the thickness by the thickness control unit to a predefined shape to solidify the material on one line and to move to the other line so as to solidify the material on the other line; a material processing module to perform washing or drying for the material solidified by the 3D printing module; and a collecting module to collect the printing material unused during the printing.

Abstract: The present invention provides a resist composition containing a base resin composed of a polymer compound that contains a repeating unit “a” shown by formula (1) and a repeating unit “b” having either or both of a carboxyl group in which a hydrogen atom is substituted with an acid-labile group and a phenolic hydroxyl group in which a hydrogen atom is substituted with an acid-labile group, with a weight average molecular weight of 1,000 to 500,000. There can be provided a resist composition that has high sensitivity and high resolution, and can give a pattern with low dimensional variation and good pattern profile after exposure. wherein R1 represents a hydrogen atom or a methyl group; Z represents a hydroxybenzoquinone group, or a hydroxynaphthoquinone group optionally containing a substituent; and a fraction “a” of the repeating unit “a” satisfies 0<a<1.0, and a fraction “b” of the repeating unit “b” satisfies 0<b<1.0.

Abstract: Embodiments of the disclosure provide an exposure method and an exposure device. The exposure method comprises: placing at least two transparent substrates coated with photoresist under one mask, wherein all of the at least two substrates are in parallel with the mask; irradiating the mask vertically with parallel exposure light to respectively expose the photoresist on the at least two substrates along a propagation direction of the exposure light.

Abstract: Methods for providing a silicon layer on a photomask substrate surface with minimum defeats for fabricating film stack thereon for EUVL applications are provided. In one embodiment, a method for forming a silicon layer on a photomask substrate includes performing an oxidation process to form a silicon oxide layer on a surface of a first substrate wherein the first substrate comprises a crystalline silicon material, performing an ion implantation process to define a cleavage plane in the first substrate, and bonding the silicon oxide layer to a surface of a second substrate, wherein the second substrate is a quartz photomask.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is a film-type photodegradable transfer material, comprising: a support film; a resin protection layer; a photodegradable photoresist layer; and a cover film, wherein the resin protection layer has an adhesion force of 0.05 kgf or less. When the film-type photodegradable transfer material is used to form a fine circuit pattern, such as a printed circuit board or the like, the resolution of the pattern can be increased by minimizing the distance between a mask and a photosensitive resin layer at the time of exposure, and work can be performed in the form of a sheet or a roll to roll process can be applied to the work even when the support film has been removed before an exposure process.

Abstract: The invention relates to a stamp comprising a nanostructure for introducing and/or applying nanostructures into/onto components as well as a device and a method for producing said stamp. The inventive stamp is provided with a rigid support for the nanostamping structure while the nanostamping structure is joined to the support.

Abstract: A method of creating signage visible by infrared cameras and infrared weapon sights is provided. Particular application is made to the calibration of infrared weapon sights. An improved calibration target and method is developed.

Abstract: Semiconductor nanocrystals surface-coordinated with a compound containing a photosensitive functional group, a photosensitive composition comprising semiconductor nanocrystals, and a method for forming semiconductor nanocrystal pattern by producing a film using the photosensitive semiconductor nanocrystals or the photosensitive composition, exposing the film to light and developing the exposed film, are provided. The semiconductor nanocrystal pattern exhibits luminescence characteristics comparable to the semiconductor nanocrystals before patterning and can be usefully applied to organic-inorganic hybrid electroluminescent devices.

Abstract: Solid imaging apparatus and methods for use are disclosed that reduce the amount of uncured solid imaging build material remaining on a completed build object following the completion of the solid imaging build process. The amount of uncured build material is reduced through the use of either an uncoating web that removes excess build material from the build object during the course of the building process or an ink jet source of build material that uses only as much build material as is necessary for the fabrication of the build part. Also disclosed is an imager assembly for use with such a solid imaging apparatus that incorporates two or more individual imagers in an array and accounts for variations in the intensity and alignment of adjacent imagers. The apparatus can be modified for semi-continuous operation and for integrating into a manufacturing operation, if desired.

Abstract: A method for forming a minute pattern includes depositing a material layer on a semiconductor substrate having a conductive region, forming a first mask layer on the material layer, forming a recess region in the first mask layer, performing layer processing to form a first mask pattern in the recess region, and etching the material layer to form a material layer pattern.

Abstract: A method is described for reducing the space width of holes in a first resist pattern and simultaneously removing unwanted holes to change the pattern density in the resulting second pattern. This technique provides holes with a uniform space width as small as 100 nm or less that is independent of pattern density in the second pattern. A positive resist is patterned to form holes with a first pattern density and first space width. A water soluble negative resist is coated over the first resist and selectively exposed to form a second patterned layer consisting of water insoluble plugs in unwanted holes in the first pattern and a thin water insoluble layer on the first resist pattern in unexposed portions. The plugs may form dense and isolated hole arrays while the thin insoluble layer reduces space width to the same extent in remaining holes in the second pattern.

Abstract: The present invention provides a highly reliable technology for manufacturing a substrate with protrusions. After filling an UV-curable transfer material into the grooves of an intaglio plate for transfer, the UV-curable transfer material is cured by irradiating UV rays under the conditions where it is exposed to an atmosphere that contains at least one of oxygen and ozone while a curing-inhibited portion is formed in an area of the UV-curable transfer material exposed to this atmosphere, and the UV-curable transfer material is transferred to the substrate to form the protrusions, while the curing-inhibited portion is made to adhere to the substrate.

Abstract: A process for adjusting the energy of an imaging laser for imaging of a thermally imageable element and thermally imageable elements suitable for this purpose are described.

Abstract: An ink transfer sheet and method for using the same. The transfer sheet includes a backing layer, a release layer on the backing layer, and an ink receiving layer on the release layer. The ink receiving layer contains a quaternary ammonium salt thereon or impregnated therein. To use the transfer sheet, an ink containing an anionic coloring agent is applied to the ink receiving layer, preferably using thermal inkjet methods. Thereafter, the transfer sheet is positioned on a fabric substrate. Heat is applied to the sheet which causes the release layer and ink receiving layer to adhere to the substrate. The backing layer is then detached from the release layer leaving the release and ink receiving layers (with the printed image thereon) on the substrate. This process transfers the image to the fabric substrate, with the image being stabilized by interactions between the quaternary ammonium salt and anionic coloring agent.

Abstract: A mass transfer imaging element comprising a substrate having a surface colourant layer containing a pigment to be imagewise transferred, wherein said colourant layer comprises a fluorocarbon additive in an amount to provide a fluorocarbon additive:pigment weight ratio of at least 1:20.

Abstract: A method of transferring an image on a surface to a substrate comprising: a) heating the surface to a first temperature above a temperature at which the image adheres to the substrate; b) heating the substrate to a second temperature above ambient temperature and below the first temperature; c) pressing the substrate to the surface; d) cooling the image while it is in contact with both the surface and the substrate such that it cools during said contact to a third temperature, below a temperature at which its cohesion is greater than its adhesion to the surface; and e) then separating the substrate from the surface, said image being transferred to the substrate.

Abstract: The invention relates to an image element comprising at least one image layer, a base, a gelatin layer below said base and a pressure sensitive adhesive below said gelatin layer, wherein said base has a stiffness of less than 20 mN.

Abstract: First, an image receiving sheet is put on an insertion table of an image transfer device, next, the paper is overlapped on the image receiving sheet, then, a flexible hygroscopic carrier sheet is further overlapped on them and they are inserted between the pair of heat rollers in that state.

Abstract: Provided is a photosensitive copper paste permitting the formation of a fine and thick copper pattern having high adhesion to a substrate, and having excellent preservation stability without causing gelation, and a method of forming a copper pattern, a circuit board and a ceramic multilayer substrate using the photosensitive copper paste. The photosensitive copper paste includes a mixture of an organic binder having an acid functional group, a copper powder and a photosensitive organic component. The copper powder has a surface layer having a thickness of at least 0.1 &mgr;m from the surface composed CuO as a main component. The copper powder also has an oxygen content of about 0.8% to 5% by weight.

Abstract: Patterned articles, such as RFID antenna, are made by subablation, a process comprising the steps of: A. providing a substrate having a coating, such as a metal or metal oxide, and an interface comprising the thin region where the coating and the substrate are closest to each other; B. exposing at least one part of the total area of the coating to a flux of electromagnetic energy, Such as a focused excimer laser beam, sufficient to disrupt the interface but insufficient to ablate the coating, and C. removing the parts of the coating in registry with the portion of the interface area that was disrupted, by means such as ultrasonic agitation. The process has advantages over photo-resist processes in that there is no residual chemical resist left on the product and no undercutting of the pattern or image. It has advantages over laser ablation processes in that higher throughput is possible at the same energy level and there is no microscopic debris left on the product surface.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are processes for polymerizing ethylene, acyclic olefins, and/or selected cyclic olefins, and optionally selected olefinic esters or carboxylic acids, and other monomers. The polymerizations are catalyzed by selected transition metal compounds, and sometimes other co-catalysts. Since some of the polymerizations exhibit some characteristics of living polymerizations, block copolymers can be readily made. Many of the polymers produced are often novel, particularly in regard to their microstructure which gives some of them unusual properties. Numerous novel catalysts are disclosed, as well as some novel processes for making them. The polymers made are useful as elastomers, molding resins, in adhesives, etc.

Abstract: A method is described for preparing opto-electronic devices such as organic light-emitting diodes. The method is a thermal dye transfer process in which a dye pattern is transferred from a dye transfer plate into a receiving layer of a substrate by bringing the dye transfer plate into contact with the receiving layer and heating to a relatively low temperature, preferably below the vaporization or sublimation temperature of the dye. The pattern of the dye is maintained upon transfer and diffusion. Preferably, the method is repeated to provide a three-color pattern in the receiving layer. The invention also encompasses an opto-electronic device comprising a receiving layer as prepared by the aforementioned method wherein the receiving layer is sandwiched between two electrodes, one of which is transparent. Optionally, a hole-transporting or electron-transporting layer can be deposited between each electrode and the receiving layer.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a development material by means of a latent, colored image, obtained by laminating another, photopolymerizable material colored in a primary color onto an image-receiving material, peeling-off the film support and exposing the material under the associated negative color separation film, can be developed by laminating the development material onto the latent image and then peeling-off the development material together with the non-image areas. The invention also relates to a process for the production of a color proof using this development material in combination with photopolymerizable materials in the various primary colors.

Abstract: Photopolymerizable mixtures containing a polymeric binder mixture with salt-forming groups, a photopolymerizable monomer, a photoinitiator and at least 10% by weight of a vinyl acetate homopolymer or a vinyl acetate copolymer, and photopolymerizable recording materials made of such mixtures. They exhibit less oxygen sensitivity during the production of color proofs.

Abstract: In the manufacture of a screen suitable for use as a rear projection screen, a first layer (10) of a photopolymerisable monomer or oligomer which is tacky in its monomeric or oligomeric form and non-tacky in its polymerised form, is exposed to polymerising light, such as ultra-violet light, in a pattern comprising an array of spots of such light, and consequent selective polymerisation is allowed to take place in the first layer (10). There is then applied to the exposed surface of the first layer (10) a printing medium comprising an opaque pigment layer (28) on a supporting substrate (30) so that the pigment layer (28) contacts the exposed surface of the first layer (10) and sticks to the unpolymerised and therefore still tacky regions of the first layer (10), but not to the polymerised regions. The substrate (30) carrying the pigment layer (28) is then stripped from the first layer (10), leaving pigment (28) adhering only to the unpolymerised regions.

Abstract: This invention is a surface modifying element comprising a photosensitive layer on one side of a carrier substrate. The photosensitive layer comprises a photosensitive binder material and particulates. The invention is also a method of using the surface modifying element to create a receiver having imagewise variation in glossiness.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method of increasing the sensitivity of laser induced thermal imaging by using certain sublimable compounds. The invention is useful in the field of thermal transfer imaging for the production of various graphic arts media.

Abstract: Disclosed is a color image-formable material for forming and transferring a color image. The color image-formable material has a support, a cushion layer provided on the support and color light-sensitive layer containing a light-sensitive composition and a coloring agent provided on the cushion layer. It gives a transferred image by forming a color image portion by imagewise exposure and developing treatment and then transferring the color image portion alone to an image-receiving material. The cushion layer has a hardness of 40 to 85 and a thickness of 15 .mu.m to 100 .mu.m. A process for preparation of the color image-formable material is also disclosed.

Abstract: The present invention provides new image forming methods. The image forming methods use a combination of a light-sensitive material and an image receiving material. The light-sensitive material comprises a support, a strippable layer and a light-sensitive polymerizable layer in order. The light-sensitive polymerizable layer contains silver halide, a reducing agent and an ethylenically unsaturated polymerizable compound or a cross-linkable polymer. The light-sensitive polymerizable layer may further contain a colorant. An image forming method using the light-sensitive polymerizable layer containing no colorant comprises an exposing step, a developing step, a toning step and a transferring step. Another image forming method using the colorant-containing light-sensitive polymerizable layer comprises an exposing step, a developing step, a removing step and a transferring step.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method of increasing the sensitivity of laser induced thermal imaging by using certain diazo compounds. The diazo compounds contain functional groups adjacent the diazo substituent capable of stabilizing these compounds. The invention is useful in the field of thermal transfer imaging for the production of various graphic arts media.

Abstract: A lithographic printing plate is comprised of a support having a porous hydrophilic surface, such as grained and anodized aluminum, and an oleophilic imaging layer overlying the porous hydrophilic surface. The imaging layer is comprised of an oleophilic, radiation-absorbing, heat-sensitive, film-forming composition which is readily removable from the porous hydrophilic surface prior to imagewise exposure and which is adapted to form a lithographic printing surface as a result of imagewise exposure to absorbable electromagnetic radiation and subsequent removal of the non-exposed areas to reveal the underlying porous hydrophilic surface. Examples of suitable techniques for removing the non-exposed areas include contact with printing ink on the press, removal by lamination and peel development steps and removal by use of an integral stripping layer.

Abstract: Described is a photosensitive material for producing metal-colored images, comprisingA) a flexible transparent plastic support film,B) a photosensitive layer comprising a polymeric binder, a photosensitive substance and a pearl luster pigment, and optionallyC) a thermoplastic adhesion-promoting layer.The material of the invention makes it possible to produce color-proofing images for metal-colored multicolor prints by combining metal-colored single-color images with single-color images in the usual primary colors as desired.

Abstract: The present invention provides new image forming methods. The image forming methods use a combination of a light-sensitive material and an image receiving material. The light-sensitive material comprises a support, a strippable layer and a light-sensitive polymerizable layer in order. The light-sensitive polymerizable layer contains silver halide, a reducing agent and an ethylenically unsaturated polymerizable compound or a cross-linkable polymer. The light-sensitive polymerizable layer may further contain a colorant. An image forming method using the light-sensitive polymerizable layer containing no colorant comprises an exposing step, a developing step, a toning step and a transferring step. Another image forming method using the colorant-containing light-sensitive polymerizable layer comprises an exposing step, a developing step, a removing step and a transferring step.

Abstract: An image transfer sheet comprises a base sheet, an intermediate thermoplastic resin layer and a top developer layer containing a binder. The binder of the top layer and the thermoplastic resin of the intermediate layer include a polymer having a common monomer component so that separation of the top layer from the intermediate layer and splitting of the top layer are effectively prevented. This provides a clear, high quality image on an image receiving surface such as paper by transference of a developed image on the developer layer.

Abstract: The present invention provides an imaging element comprising on a support a photosensitive layer containing a photopolymerizable composition containing a urethane type monomer mixture according to the formula (I) as defined in the claims and description. There is further provided a method for obtaining images and/or a lithographic printing plate therewith.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method of transferring an image of a master pattern by an intermediate carrier being a laser copy of the master pattern onto a carrier, for example a plate of metal. The surface of the carrier is provided on one side with a layer of a couch or with a layer of a lacquer or with a layer of a thermoplastic or elastomeric material or with a powder coating which is dried at an increased temperature. The material forming the image penetrates under the action of heat and pressure into the layer or the powder coating thus softened which is subsequently after-baked. A weather-resistant and scratch-resistant copy of the master pattern is provided.

Abstract: A binary image comprising a plurality of first areas, at which a porous or particulate image-forming substance is adhered to a substrate, and a plurality of second areas, at which the substrate is free from the image-forming substance, is protected by laminating thereto a laminating sheet comprising a barrier layer, a durable layer and a support layer with the barrier layer facing the image, so that the barrier and durable layers adhere to both the first and second areas of the image. The support layer is then displaced away from the image such that the barrier and durable layers remain attached to the image. Both the barrier and durable layers are substantially transparent and the barrier layer comprises a polymeric organic material substantially impervious to the passage of hexane, isopropanol or water.

Abstract: A process for forming on any printing stock, single colored and multi-colored images using the expose-in-register and laminate-in-register processes is described. Images having high quality, good resolution, and color flexibility not heretofore economically feasible are obtained using the process of the invention.

Abstract: An element and process of use in a laser-induced ablative transfer process, said element comprising (a) a support having a first surface, said first surface having a surface roughness with an R.sub.z value of r, and bearing on the first surface (b) at least one transfer coating comprising (i) a non-sublimable imageable component (ii) a laser-radiation absorbing component, and (iii) optionally a binder, wherein the imageable component and the laser-radiation absorbing component can be the same or different; wherein the transfer coating and any additional coating on the first surface of the support have a total thickness t; and further where r.gtoreq.1.5t is described.

Abstract: An element for use in a laser induced ablative transfer process, said element comprising a support bearing on a first surface thereof at least one coating comprising (i) a non-sublimable imageable component, (ii) a laser radiation absorbing component, (iii) a particular filler having an average particle size (S), and (iv) optionally a binder, wherein the non-sublimable imageable component and the laser radiation absorbing component can be the same or different; wherein the total thickness of all coatings present on the first surface is T and further wherein S.gtoreq.2T is described.

Abstract: An image formation process uses two light-sensitive elements comprising first and second adhesive light-sensitive layers which become nonadhesive upon exposure to light, respectively, and first and second toner elements comprising toner layers (a') and (b') of hues (a) and (b), respectively.

Abstract: An image formation process uses two light-sensitive elements comprising first and second adhesive light-sensitive layers which become nonadhesive upon exposure to light, respectively, and first and second toner elements comprising toner layers (a') and (b') of hues (a) and (b), respectively.

Abstract: The present invention provides an imaging element comprising a support, a porous layer, a photosensitive layer containing a photopolymerizable composition and optionally a stripping layer characterized in that there is provided a barrier layer between said photosensitive layer and said porous layer said barrier layer being impermeable for the photopolymerizable composition at ambient temperature and capable of increasing its permeability with increasing temperature.

Abstract: A process for preparing images on tonable, light-sensitive layers using a transfer material comprising (a) a support, (b) a transfer layer containing in its binder a finely divided powder or a finely divided powder and a dissolved dye, and (c) a cover layer containing a binder and/or discrete, inert particles is described. Such transfer materials can be used to make color proof prints having high resolution, reproducible color density, low dot growth, and no troublesome background fog.

Abstract: A photosensitive transfer material comprises a temporary substrate having provided thereon an alkali-soluble thermoplastic resin layer, an intermediate layer, and a photosensitive resin layer in this order, the interlaminar adhesion in the transfer material being the smallest at the interface between the thermoplastic resin layer and the temporary substrate. The photosensitive resin layer can be transferred to a permanent substrate without involving failure due to fine dust, air bubbles or unevenness of the permanent substrate. An image can be formed with the transfer material by adhering the transfer material to a permanent substrate at least under heat and, after stripping the temporary substrate, imagewise exposing the photosensitive resin layer to light, and processing the transferred layers to develop the photosensitive resin layer.

Abstract: An image-forming process comprises the steps of: forming an ink-receiving area and an ink-repelling area on a light-sensitive material by imagewise exposure; pressing on the ink-receiving area and ink-repelling area of the material an ink sheet comprising a support and an ink layer composed of a colorant and a polymer binder; removing the ink sheet from the material so that the ink layer of the ink sheet is transferred only onto the ink-receiving area of the material; pressing an image receiving sheet on the ink-receiving area having the ink layer and the ink-repelling layer of the material; and separating the image receiving sheet from the material so that the ink layer in the ink-receiving area is transferred onto the image receiving sheet. A similar image-forming process using a resist ink sheet is also disclosed.

Abstract: In the formation of microstructures, a preformed sheet of photoresist, such as polymethylmethacrylate (PMMA), which is strain free, may be milled down before or after adherence to a substrate to a desired thickness. The photoresist is patterned by exposure through a mask to radiation, such as X-rays, and developed using a developer to remove the photoresist material which has been rendered susceptible to the developer. Micrometal structures may be formed by electroplating metal into the areas from which the photoresist has been removed. The photoresist itself may form useful microstructures, and can be removed from the substrate by utilizing a release layer between the substrate and the preformed sheet which can be removed by a remover which does not affect the photoresist. Multiple layers of patterned photoresist can be built up to allow complex three dimensional microstructures to be formed.

Abstract: A process for preparing images on a tonable, light-sensitive layer using a transfer layer containing at least 20 percent by weight of a toner and a polymer with a maximum tensile strength of at least 2 N/mm.sup.2 as a binder. The pigmented transfer layers can be used in color proofing processes requiring high resolution, reproducible color density and low dot gain.