Abstract: The present invention provides an optical information medium in which the recording and/or reproducing beam incident side surface displays excellent anti-staining properties and lubricity, as well as superior scratch resistance and abrasion resistance. An optical information medium comprising a film element composed of one or more layers including at least a recording layer (4) or a reflective layer, on a supporting substrate (20), wherein at least one of the supporting substrate (20)-side surface and the film element-side surface is formed of a hard coat layer (8) comprising a cured product of the hard coat agent composition comprising a fluorine-containing block copolymer (A) and an active energy ray-curable compound (B).

Abstract: Block polymers suitable for the preparation of data storage media are disclosed. The media produced of the inventive of the polymers has thickness in the range of a few millimeters. In contrast with currently available materials that feature high optical density the inventive polymers feature increased dilution of dyes (decrease in optical density) and decrease in the holographic diffraction efficiency.

Abstract: An optical disc is includes a recording layer, a reflective layer, and a protective layer provided, in that order, on one surface of a light-transmissive substrate and a hard coating layer having a thickness in the range of 1 to 5 ?m on the other surface of the substrate. The hard coating layer is formed by applying and curing a solution comprising a hard coating agent containing colloidal silica and a UV-curable acrylic resin and a solvent containing butyl acetate as a principal constituent. The hard coating layer contains 90 mg/cm3 or less of residual solvent.

Abstract: An optical disc is includes a recording layer, a reflective layer, and a protective layer provided, in that order, on one surface of a light-transmissive substrate and a hard coating layer having a thickness in the range of 1 to 5 ?m on the other surface of the substrate. The hard coating layer is formed by applying and curing a solution comprising a hard coating agent containing colloidal silica and a UV-curable acrylic resin and a solvent containing propylene glycol monomethyl ether acetate as a principal constituent. The hard coating layer contains 110 mg/cm3 or less of residual solvent.

Abstract: An optical disc is includes a recording layer, a reflective layer, and a protective layer provided, in that order, on one surface of a light-transmissive substrate and a hard coating layer having a thickness in the range of 1 to 5 ?m on the other surface of the substrate. The hard coating layer is formed by applying and curing a solution comprising a hard coating agent containing colloidal silica and a UV-curable acrylic resin and a solvent containing propylene glycol monomethyl ether as a principal constituent. The hard coating layer contains 40 mg/cm3 or less of residual solvent.

Abstract: An optical disc-producing sheet 1, which has an adhesive layer 11 having a specific heat capacity after curing of not more than 1.9 J/g·° C. at 80° C. and a protective sheet 12, is laminated onto an information recording layer 3 (a laminate of a reflecting layer 31, a dielectric layer 32, a phase change layer 33 and a dielectric layer 32?) formed on an optical recording medium substrate 2. According to this optical disc, recorded information can be reproduced accurately even in the case that recording/erasure or reproduction of information has been carried out repeatedly.

Abstract: An optical disk for a mobile device is provided. The optical disk includes a substrate, having an outer diameter less than 120 mm and not smaller than 30 mm and a thickness less than 1.1 mm and not smaller than 0.40 mm, so that a deflection angle of 0.7° or smaller can be obtained. Alternatively, the optical disk includes a substrate, having an outer diameter not smaller than 30 mm and a thickness not smaller than 0.435 mm, so that a deflection angle of 0.6° or smaller is obtained.

Abstract: To improve a bad appearance due to an interconnection between a pair of disk substrates (20, 30) which are bonded with annular grooves (25, 35) being opposed to each other by a simple structure and at a low cost, which have annular grooves (25, 35) near their center openings (15), an outer groove end (26) of the annular groove (25) of one disk substrate (20) in the radial direction is registered in position with an outer end (36) of the annular groove (35) of the other disk substrate (30) and inner groove ends (27, 37) of the annular grooves in the radial direction are located in different positions. The annular grooves have different groove widths A, B.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for the recording of data, in particular, personal data on and/or in a data support, by means of electromagnetic radiation. A corresponding data support is made ready, on and/or in which a dye is at least locally provided and said dye is irradiated by means of said electromagnetic radiation of at least one wavelength range, such that a change in the color of the dye by bleaching occurs in the region of the irradiation. Said color change may be determined by machine and/or by the human eye. An improved counterfeiting and manipulation security for the data support is thus achieved.

Abstract: An optical recording medium is made by a step of bonding a light-transmissive substrate to a supporting substrate having a brightness of 8 or more and a saturation of 4 or less via a bonding layer composed of an epoxy resin; and a step of forming a transparent ink-receiving layer on a surface of the supporting substrate remote from the light-transmissive substrate. The bonding using the epoxy resin is conducted by a method of curing the resin by using a cationic initiator, a method of curing the resin by an addition reaction between the resin and a crosslinking agent containing an active hydrogen compound, a method of curing the resin by heating, or the like. In this invention, the bonding layer is composed of a material containing an epoxy resin instead of a radically polymerizable UV-curable resin typically used. Thus, although UV irradiation through the supporting substrate is not possible, the light-transmissive substrate can be securely bonded to the supporting substrate.

Abstract: The invention relates to a protective U.V. curable or photoimageable cover layer for an optical disk substrate and a method of applying the protective cover layer to an optical substrate. The U.V. curable or photoimageable layer is applied as a dry film and has high clarity and cures to a flexible, scratch resistant, non-shrinking film, which has good adhesion to the underlying substrate.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus are provided for making an optically readable storage media in which the reading beam passes through a bonding layer configured with a reactive material that transforms from an optically transparent state to an optically opaque state after exposure to a predefined stimulus, thereby inhibiting access to the data encoded on the optically readable storage media. The method includes steps of synthesizing a blocked dye combining the blocked dye with a carrier material curing the resultant combination deblocking the dye to produce a reduced dye in the resultant bonding layer exposing the optically readable storage media with the reactive material in its bonding layer to a predetermined stimulus. In a further aspect of the present invention methods and apparatus are provided for making an optically readable storage media wherein the reading light passes through the bonding layer and the data encoded information is encoded on the L1 substrate.

Abstract: This invention concerns a luminescent optical memory material and method of forming this material, including the encoding of information by a photographic process. The method involves the use of silver halide crystals of a defined size range, with the optional use of sensitizers, emulsion stabilizers, and other agents followed by the absorption of luminescent dyes on the developed silver particle to form a luminescent optical memory system. The method involves synthesis of a photographic emulsion with silver halide crystals of a defined size range, applying photographic emulsion to a substrate, exposing to light photochemical treatment and a process of transformation of the silver particles formed in the places exposed by light into luminescent particles. The method involves obtaining a multi-layer luminescent material for a three-dimensional optical memory devices.

Abstract: Compositions and methods for production of color images using leuco dye-containing color forming compositions are described. The color forming composition can include a color forming leuco dye, an activator having at least one acid group which can be protected by a protection leaving group; and a deprotecting agent configured for removing the protection leaving group upon application of energy in the form of heat or light.

Abstract: A recording medium which has, formed on a substrate, a recording layer that contains spherical grains having a substantially uniform grain size and including inorganic grains. Preferably, an undercoat layer having no substantial information recording ability is formed between the substrate and the recording layer.

Abstract: The present invention provides a reactive adhesive formulation for use in a limited play data storage medium, the reactive adhesive formulation including at least one adhesive material, at least one reactive material disposed within the at least one adhesive material and at least one photo-bleaching retarder material disposed within the at least one adhesive material. The at least one photo-bleaching retarder material includes resorcinol, 4-hexylresorcinol and/or polyhydroxystyrene.

Abstract: A disk recording medium of the present invention comprises an antimicrobial agent and an antifungal agent.

Abstract: A liquid crystalline gel composition including a liquid crystalline compound, and a gelling agent having a structural unit represented by the following formula (1): wherein R1 represents a hydrogen atom or an organic group having at least one carbon atom, X represents a divalent organic group having at least one carbon atom, Y represents a divalent hydrocarbon group having at least one carbon atom, R2 represents a hydrogen atom or an organic group having at least one carbon atom, and n is an integer of at least 1. A display medium including a pair of substrates each having an electrode thereon, and a layer of the above liquid crystalline gel composition interposed between the pair of substrates.

Abstract: A fine pattern of an optical device formed by the Photo-Polymer method has a groove 100, a side wall 100a of which is sloped against a surface of stamper 18. The slope angle ? of the side wall 100a satisfies the following relational expression: Tan?1(4×h×w1?0.2)<?<80° where h: a depth of the groove 100; and w1: a width of a top of a projected portion formed by the side walls 100a. Burrs formed in the optical device are reduced, and thereby mass productivity of the optical device is improved.

Abstract: A protective agent for protecting a print formed on a printing object comprises a high-volatile organic solvent as a dispersion medium and non-water family high polymer emulsion liquid including synthetic resin particles as a dispersoid. This protective agent is sprayed onto a print formed on a printing object by a spray method and then dried. For example, an oil-based first print layer 2 is formed on a surface of an information record member 1, an oil-based second print layer 3 is formed on at least a part of the upper surface of the first print layer 2, and the aforementioned protective agent is applied on the upper surface of the second print layer 3 and dried to form a protective layer 4. Thus, the print will not disappeared even if a hands touches or water is adhered, and no bad influence will be given to the substrate material since the protective agent is excellent in quick-drying property.

Abstract: This disclosure relates to a data storage medium, and in particular to a data storage medium comprising at least one high modulus layer used to control the overall degree of flatness in the storage medium.

Abstract: Compositions and methods for production of color images using leuco dye-containing color forming compositions are described. The color forming composition can include a color forming leuco dye, a metal salt activator, a suppression agent configured for inhibiting the activity of the metal salt activator until application of energy in the form of heat or light, and an initiator precursor. The initiator precursor is capable of liberating scavenger species which reduce the inhibiting action of the suppression agent. The color forming compositions can be a single phase mixture of a leuco dye, metal salt activator, suppression agent, and initiator precursor which are stable under ambient conditions and form a colored composition upon application of energy.

Abstract: An optical recording medium is provided which has a reflective film, a lower dielectric film, a recording film and an upper dielectric film stacked in this order on a substrate, and is adapted to receive light from the side of the upper dielectric film and reproduce a signal by utilizing at least reflected light from the recording film. The optical recording medium is characterized in that a surface of the recording film at an interface with the upper dielectric film has a surface roughness of not greater than 4 ?.

Abstract: A method of transferring a lithographic pattern onto a substrate by use of a lithographic apparatus. The method includes the steps of: (1) defining features to be printed on the substrate; (2) determining which of the features require assist features to be disposed adjacent thereto in order for the features to be printed within defined resolution limits; (3) generating a mask containing the features to be printed and the assist features; (4) performing a first illumination process so as to print the features on the substrate, the first illumination process resulting in the partial printing of the assist features on the substrate; and (5) performing a second illumination process so as to reduce the amount of the assist features printed on the substrate; the second illumination process entails the step of performing a quadrapole illumination.

Abstract: An optical recording medium in which deposition of impurities or damage to a surface of the medium illuminated by the light for signal recording and/or reproduction is to be prevented from occurring. An amine salt compound of perfluoropolyether having terminal carboxylic groups, represented by the chemical formulas (1) and/or (2): Rf—COO?N+HR1R2R3??(formula 1) R1R2R3N+H?CO—Rf—COO?N+HR1R2R3??(formula 2) where Rf denotes a perfluoropolyether group and R1, R2 and R3 denote hydrogen or a hydrocarbon group, is held on the surface side illuminated by light.

Abstract: An optical information medium which has excellent abrasion resistance and which further exhibits sufficient smudge-proof properties is provided. The optical information medium is coated on at least one surface with a film of a silane coupling agent containing a water- or oil-repellent substituent, said silane coupling agent being represented by the following formula (1): R1—Si(X)(Y)(Z) wherein R1 is the water- or oil-repellent substituent; X, Y and Z are independently a monovalent group; and at least one of X, Y and Z is a group which is capable of forming Si—O—Si bond by polycondensation with silanol group; and said medium has an underlying layer formed in contact with said silane coupling agent film, and at least the surface of said underlying layer comprises a compound having a chemical bond represented by the formula (2): M—A wherein M is a metal atom (including a semimetal), and A is a chalcogen atom selected from O, S, Se, and Te, nitrogen atom, or carbon atom.

Abstract: An information recording medium including a transparent substrate, and a recording layer or a metallic layer formed on the transparent substrate directly or through an undercoat layer, with an amplitude attenuation time of 1 second or less and/or a vibration frequency attenuation time of 3 seconds or less, when vibrated in the direction perpendicular to the flat surface of said information recording medium, or wherein when the information recording medium is in-plane vibrated in the direction perpendicular to the extending direction of information recording, reproducing and/or deleting tracks, a maximum in-plane deviation of a recording, reproducing or deleting position in the tracks in the perpendicular direction from a correct recording, reproducing or deleting position in the tracks is 12.

Abstract: A process for the preparation of optical data carriers made of a particualr polycarbonate is disclosed. The polycarbonate is prepared by the phase boundary process that entails reacting at least one dihydroxydiarylalkane in the form of its alkali metal salts with phosgene in the heterogeneous phase in the presence of sodium hydroxide solution and an organic solvent. The process is characterized in that the feedstock have but low content of Fe, Cr, Ni, Zn, Ca, Mg, Al metals or homologues thereof, and in that the organic solvent is separated off, and in that the polycarbonate which is obtained is worked up. The resulting polycarbonate is particularly useful in producing optical data carriers.

Abstract: The present invention relates to photopolymerizable resin composition inducing substantially no chemical degradation in metals in tight contract with the resin. Further, the present invention relates to optical recording media using the photopolymerizable resins. In one embodiment, a photopolymerizable resin composition includes a photopolymerizable resin based on acrylic ester, and an additive based on at least one selected from the group consisting of benzotriazole and a derivative of benzotriazole, and a photointiator.

Abstract: A double-sided high-density information storage medium uses a laser pickup head with blue light and light of a shorter wavelength to read and save data in order to increase the data storage per unit area on the information storage medium. The invention further uses a double-sided high-density information storage medium and a double-sided recording stack structure to increase the storage capacity, forming a double-sided two-recording-layer and double-sided four-recording-layer information storage media.

Abstract: To provide an optical disc having a label printing surface capable of forming a high quality and high fastness image by an ink jet recording process and a process for the production of a label An ink-receiving layer 5 is provided on an optical disc substrate 1 on the label printing side thereof. A protective layer 7 made of a transparent, non-aqueous solvent soluble resin capable of forming at ordinary temperature a water-resistant plastic film is formed on the label image-printed surface developed by an ink jet printer.

Abstract: A method is provided for preparing an optical information medium comprising a disk-shaped supporting substrate having a center hole, an annular information recording area thereon, and an annular resin-based light-transmitting layer on the information recording area through which recording/reading laser beam is transmitted. In the formation of the light-transmitting layer, a coating fluid containing an actinic radiation-curable resin is fed onto the supporting substrate having the information-recording area formed thereon and the supporting substrate is rotated for spreading the coating fluid over the supporting substrate to thereby form a resin layer, and subsequently, the resin layer is irradiated with actinic radiation to thereby cure said resin layer while reducing the rotation speed of the supporting substrate. This method is capable of suppressing the size of the bump formed in the outer peripheral region of the light-transmitting layer.

Abstract: A computer-readable medium having material at a select position therein and containing instructions for controlling an optical reader to cause the optical reader to re-read the position having the material one or more times to elicit a measurable parameter at such position.

Abstract: A stamper for forming a data recording region on a recording medium substrate by means of a transfer surface thereof. The transfer surface transfers a predetermined set of data to the recording medium substrate. The stamper is fitted on at least one of metal molds that are arranged opposite one another for forming the recording medium substrate. The stamper includes a stepped portion formed as bends in the material of the stamper. The stepped portion is configured to project from the transfer surface toward the recording medium substrate.

Abstract: In an apparatus for fabricating a carbon coating, an object such as a magnetic r cording medium is disposed on a side of an electrode connected to a high-frequency power supply. Ultrasonic vibrations are supplied to the object. Discharge is generated between the electrode connected to the high-frequency power supply and a grounded electrode to fabricate a carbon coating on the surface of the object. Also, an electrode interval is set to 6 mm or less, pressure between the electrodes is set to 15 Torr to 100 Torr, whereby high-density plasma is generated to form an ion sheath on an anode side. Therefore, a coating is fabricated on the surface of the object by bombardment of ions.

Abstract: Disclosed is an image recording method employing a photocurable ink containing an oxetane compound with an oxetane ring having a substituent at the 2-position, the method comprising the steps of (a) ejecting the photocurable ink as ink droplets from an ink ejecting section of a recording head onto a recording medium, and (b) exposing, to ultraviolet light, the photocurable ink ejected onto the recording medium, wherein the ink ejecting section is heated to a temperature of 40 to 80 ° C. and the recording medium is heated to a temperature equal to or lower than that of the ink ejecting section, so that the difference in temperature between the ink ejecting section and the recording medium is not more than 40 ° C.

Abstract: An optical information recording medium includes a transparent substrate on which a recording layer, a reflection layer, a hydrophobic protective layer, a hydrophobic intermediate layer, and an ink receiving layer are successively overlaid.

Abstract: An ultra high-density recordable optical data recording media that which adds a near-field electromagnetic field enhancement layer between a substrate and a recording layer, by using the resonance enhancement effect produced between the near-field electromagnetic field enhancement layer and the recording layer to read very small recording marks (less than 100 nm) and increase the carrier to noise ratio and the recording density of the disks.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a high-density optical disk having thin film layer made from a thermochromic polymer with a red-shift which exhibits self-focusing and optical bleaching. After an incident light beam passes through the polymer medium, not only can the spot size of the beam be reduced but also transmittance can be enhanced due to these kinds of third-order nonlinear optical response. Thus, a high-density disk structured according to the present invention is capable of the signal reproduction resolution beyond the diffraction limit with an efficient reflectivity. Accordingly, data recording density of a high-density disk can be improved greatly.

Abstract: A multi-layer imaging medium has a layer that absorbs radiation at a wavelength used by an optical auto-focus system. Spurious reflections are suppressed. The layer transmits radiation at a wavelength used to image the medium. The layer may function as a support layer for the medium. Thermal imaging media may be made according to the invention.

Abstract: Squarylium-metal chelate compounds as recording materials for optical recording media, and optical recording media using these compounds, which have excellent recording properties, light resistance and storage stability.

Abstract: The present invention discloses an optically active polyester comprising at least constituent units represented by the general formula (I) and the general formula (II): wherein Ar1 and Ar2 each independently represents a bivalent aromatic group or a bivalent heteroaromatic group, and X1 and X2 each independently represents a hydrogen atom or an electron-withdrawing group, wherein A represents a bivalent substituent.

Abstract: An optical information recording medium of the present invention includes a transparent substrate and a multi-layered film provided on the transparent substrate. The multi-layered film includes at least a recording layer that is changed between two or more different states capable of being detected by irradiation with a light beam, and a light absorbing layer in this order from a side close to the transparent substrate. The recording layer contains a material represented by a formula: Gex(BiySb1−y)2Tex+3 (where x≧5 and 0<y≦1) as a main component. Such a multi-layered film including a recording layer also is applicable to a multi-layered recording medium including a first information layer to an N-th information layer (N is an integer of 2 or more) disposed on a transparent substrate in this order from a side close to the transparent substrate.

Abstract: The invention provides an optical recording material employing chalcogenide glass which can achieve high-capacity optical recording. The optical recording material comprises chalcogenide glass having metal particles dispersed therein. In the optical recording material, irradiation of light results in light doping of the metal particles, producing a change in the optical properties of the optical recording material, and recording is thus accomplished by the difference in properties. The optical recording material has high transmittance for the recording light, and is therefore capable of multilayer recording wherein multiple recordings are performed in the direction of depth and multiplex recording by hologram recording, so that high-capacity recording can be achieved.

Abstract: An optical recording medium including a recording layer which is formed into a predetermined shape with a thickness of 0.1 mm to 5 mm and which contains a polyester represented by the following formula (1).

Abstract: A multilayer information recording medium is provided which has both good reproducing performance and good recording and rewriting capabilities as well as good repeated rewriting capabilities even after being archived for a long period of time. The information recording medium (22) has at least a first recording layer (104) and a second recording layer (204), which generate reversible phase changes between the crystalline phase and the amorphous phase. The first recording layer (104) contains Ge, Te and Bi, while the second recording layer (204) contains Sb and one or more elements M1 selected from a group consisting of V, Mn, Ga, Ge, Se, Ag, In, Sn, Te, Pb, Bi and Au.

Abstract: An optical recording medium includes a recording layer containing an alloy represented by a general formula: (TixM11-x)yM21-y, where element M1 is Si or Al, element M2 is an element selected from the group consisting of Si, Al and Fe and different from the element M1, x is equal to or larger than 0.3 and equal to or smaller than 0.8, and y is equal to or larger than 0.75 and equal to or smaller than 1.

Abstract: An optical recording medium includes a substrate and a recording layer in which data can be recorded by projecting a laser beam thereonto, the recording layer including a first recording film containing an element selected from the group consisting of Si, Ge, C, Sn, Au, Zn and Cu as a primary component and a second recording film containing Cu as a primary component.

Abstract: This invention relates to a reflective coating for a surface of an optical substrate, the reflective coating including plurality of layers of alternating higher and lower refractive index, the thickness and/or number of the layers selected to cause the reflective coating to be scratch masking.

Abstract: An optical recording medium includes a support substrate, a light transmission layer and a recording layer located between the support substrate and the light transmission layer and containing an organic dye as a primary component, the light transmission layer including a first light transmission film located on the side of the recording layer and having Vickers hardness of 30 mgf/&mgr;m2 to 50 mgf/&mgr;m2 with respect to a load of 200 mgf and a second light transmission film located on the side of a light incidence plane through which a laser beam enters.