Abstract: A process for the preparation of an optical recording medium, which comprises forming a thin optical recording film comprising at least one low melting point metal, carbon and hydrogen on a substrate, and heat treating the so formed film on said substrate at a temperature of from 70.degree. to 300.degree. C. for a period of at least 5 seconds. The optical recording medium so prepared has an enhanced recording sensitivity and a prolonged service life.

Abstract: Support layers for photosensitive media comprise reflective sheeting which is transparentizable. The properties of the support layer enable it to act as an antihalation layer.

Abstract: An optical disk comprises a polycarbonate substrate, a first protective layer formed on the substrate and made of SiO.sub.2, a recording layer formed on the first protective layer and made of an In-Sb-Te alloy, a second protective layer formed on the recording layer and made of SiO.sub.2, and a surface protective layer formed on the second protective layer and made of an ultraviolet curable resin. The recording layer has a composition of In.sub.50-x Sb.sub.50 Te.sub.x (wherein x is in atomic % and falls within the range of 0<x<20).

Abstract: Volume phase holograms and other holographic elements are disclosed which include microscopic areas of a material having an index of refraction different from that of the holographic fringes.

Abstract: A photosensitive and heat-sensitive polymer having conjugated polyenes and sulfonic acid groups and an absorbance ratio of a strong band in the region of 1200 cm.sup.-1 to 1300 cm.sup.-1 assignable to sulfonic acid groups adjacent to conjugated polyenes of at least 3 sequence lengths to a strong band near 1050 cm.sup.-1 assignable to sulfonic acid groups in the IR spectrum of at least 0.6. The photosensitive and heat-sensitive polymer is obtained by the sulfonation of a polymer of an ethylenically unsaturated monomer having a number average molecular weight of at least 10,000 or a polymer having conjugated polyenes and a number average molecular weight of at least 10,000 and selected from specified polymers and copolymers. The photosensitive and heat-sensitive polymer is useful for information recording materials capable of being recorded by a laser beam or a thermal head for preparing printing plates, especially offset printing plates.

Abstract: Recording and record elements are disclosed. The elements have thin film optical recording layers of the SbInSn alloy. The alloy has a composition within a polygon abcdefg in a ternary SbInSn composition diagram as shown in FIG. 7 herein.

Abstract: Solid photopolymerizable compositions and photosensitive elements are provided that are useful in preparing optical elements, and especially holograms. The composition contains a polymeric binder, a liquid ethylenically unsaturated monomer, and a photoinitiator system. Typical compositions have a refractive index modulation of at least 0.005 when measured per the specified test.

Abstract: A lithography method for forming an opening in a resist layer with a sloped profile is disclosed which requires no additional processing steps or equipment. A scattering element, for example a ground glass diffuser, is placed in the optical path of radiation passing through a standard lithography apparatus. The scattering element modifies the radiation passing through the lithography apparatus with the result that the developed resist profile exhibits sloped edges. The slope modification can be conveniently changed by exchanging the optical scattering element used.

Abstract: A method of manufacturing optical elements, such as for head-up displays, from holographically recorded interference patterns in a dichromatic gelatin is disclosed. The exposed hologram pattern is developed through hydration, the hydrated hologram gelatin is dehydrated by contacting the hydrated gelatin with a mixture of isopropyl alcohol and an inert anhydrous fluid, such as a liquid fluorinated hydrocarbon solution. The dehydrated hologram pattern can then be subsequently stabilized, for example, by baking.

Abstract: The invention relates to an information recording card using a semiconductor laser beam for writing and reading information. The card has a recording layer formed on a card substrate so as to closely cover at least a selected surface area of the substrate and may have a reflective metal layer on the back side of the recording layer. The material of the reacording layer is a polymer blend which exhibits phase transition and resultant changes in light transmittance and reflectance by heating and which is either a binary polymer blend of a vinylidene fluoride (VDf) base polymer, either PVDF or a copolymer of VDF and another F-containing monomer such as TFE, and an acrylic or methacrylic polymer represented by PMMA or a ternary copolymer comprising a vinyl ester polymer in addition to the components of the binary polymer blend. The thermally caused phase transition is reversible by slow cooling in the case of the binary polymer blend but is irreversible in the case of the ternary polymer blend.

Abstract: A radiation-sensitive carrier body directly utilized as a stamper has a glass substrate, a first highly adhesive layer securely adhered to the substrate, a radiation-sensitive layer which discharges a gas component upon being irradiated with a laser beam and which locally forms a protuberance due to the absorbed energy, a second highly adhesive layer securely adhered to the specific material of the radiation-sensitive layer and which deforms in accordance with deformation of the layer, and a metal layer which has a high releasability to allow easy separation from a optical disk substrate material such as an acrylic material when the carrier body is used as a stamper substrate for manufacturing optical disks. A protuberance formed on the carrier body such as a continuous spiral protuberance allows formation of a corresponding spiral groove in the acrylic material, serving as a pre-track into which desired information will be digitally written by a user.

Abstract: There is disclosed herein a hologram recording medium comprising of substrate formed of transparent and non-light scattering material having a plurality of open pores for said substrate and photopolymerization composition impregnated in said open pores. The photopolymerization composition consists essentially of a photopolymerizable monomer or oligomer which adheres to the surface of said open pores, a photopolymerization initiator and activator for controlling the photopolymerization speed.

Abstract: A data card for optical information featuring a gelatin layer having a thin black crust at the top of the layer. The crust is formed by developed black irregular oblong silver particles within the top 0.5 micron of the gelatin colloid matrix. The remainder of the colloid matrix is substantially clear gelatin and a reflective metallic layer is disposed below the gelatin. The strip is laminated into a wallet-size card and may be pre-patterned during formation of the crust with control indicia or pre-recorded data. User data may be recorded by modifying the black silver particles in the crust with a laser to expose the reflective underlayer. A laser or other light source is used to read data on the medium with optical contrast between the black surface metallic layer underlying the gelatin layer which can be observed in the recorded spots.

Abstract: Photosensitive compositions having surfactant vesicles therein are described. A method is also shown in which the photosensitive vesicle containing an enclosed substance is exposed to light to control the release of the substance.

Abstract: A method for forming an optical pattern involves subjecting a porous glass material impregnated with a photocurable composition to a patterning exposure. The composition remaining uncured in the unexposed portion of the glass material is removed from the glass material to form a pattern composed of a section containing a photocured composition filled in the pores of the glass material. The glass material is directly heated to carbonize the photocured composition present in the glass material, or heated after having been further impregnated with a substance capable of changing an optical characteristic of glass. The photocurable composition may comprise one or more members selected from an acrylic ester, a methacrylic ester, an acrylic ester resin and an epoxy resin, and optionally a photopolymerization initiator.

Abstract: Recording and record elements are disclosed. The elements have thin film optical recording layers of a SbSnGe alloy. The alloy has a composition within a polygon ABCDEF in a ternary SbSnGe composition diagram as shown in FIG. 5 herein.

Abstract: Optical recording and record elements are provided. The elements comprise a write-once amorphous thin-film optical recording layer of an alloy having a composition within a polygon in a ternary composition diagram of antimony, zinc, and tin; wherein(a) the composition diagram is according to FIG.

Abstract: A medium in tape form for laser recorded optical information featuring a gelatin layer having a thin black crust at the top of the layer. The crust is formed by developed black filamentary silver particles within the top 0.5 micron of a gelatin colloid matrix. The remainder of the colloid matrix is substantially clear gelatin and a reflective metallic layer is disposed below the gelatin. The tape may be disposed on reels and may be pre-patterned during formation of the crust with indicia, such as servo track guides or timing marks. User data may be recorded by modification or by displacing the black silver particles in the crust with a laser to expose the reflective underlayer. A laser or other light source is used to read data on the medium with optical contrast between the black surface and the reflective metallic layer underlying the gelatin layer which can be observed in the recorded spots.

Abstract: Method and apparatus for full-color reproduction of a continuous tone color picture or scene using multiple diffraction gratings and masking techniques. A properly photosensitized media, containing regular arrays of multiple diffraction gratings (70), is first created using computer-generated masks and an interferometric recording technique. This plate is referred to as the "white grating canvas" master or WGC master. Reflective and/or transmissive replicas of the WGC master are then created. For the reproduction of each unique scene, one of these WGC replicas is selectively masked in order to leave only certain gratings or portions thereof active. Photographic or xerographic means are two possible ways in which the masking might be accomplished. The selective masking of the WGC itself, or an intermediate material which is then laminated in registration with the WGC, is done in such a way as to reproduce the primary color components in the original scene when properly illuminated and viewed.

Abstract: A method for substantially increasing the refractive index change induced in porous glass through metal oxide deposition by photolysis of organometallic compounds present therein, according to which the photolyzed glass is re-impregnated with additional organometallic compounds which undergo decomposition reactions catalyzed by the photolyzed organometallics or oxides resulting from the initial photolysis step. Enhancements of ten times the original refractive index change are attainable.

Abstract: A method for manufacturing a combination pattern-refraction modification type phase grating comprises the steps of (1) forming a thin film of composition which includes a photosensitive acrylic acid or methacrylic acid group polymer including double bonds between carbons and at least one of compounds selected from aromatic aldehyde and aromatic ketone which have a substituent or a no-substituent (2) irradiating the thin film in a regularly arranged pattern with ultraviolet rays and (3) removing the non-reacted compound.

Abstract: An optical memory disk for laser recorded optical information featuring a gelatin layer having a thin black crust at the top of the layer. The crust is formed by developed black irregular oblong silver particles within the top 0.5 micron of a gelatin colloid matrix. The remainder of the colloid matrix is substantially clear gelatin and a reflective metallic layer is disposed below the gelatin. The disk may be pre-patterned during formation of the crust with control indicia, such as servo track guides or timing marks. User data may be recorded by modification of the black silver particles in the crust with a laser to expose the reflective underlayer. A laser or other light source is used to read data on the medium with optical contrast between the black surface and the reflective metallic layer underlying the gelatin layer which can be observed in the recorded spots.

Abstract: A medium in tape form for laser recorded optical information featuring a gelatin layer having a thin black crust at the top of the layer. The crust is formed by developed black irregular silver particles within the top 0.5 micron of a gelatin colloid matrix. The remainder of the colloid matrix is substantially clear gelatin and a reflective metallic layer is disposed below the gelatin. The tape may be disposed on reels and may be pre-patterned during formation of the crust with indicia, such as servo track guides or timing marks. User data may be recorded by modification of the black silver particles in the crust with a laser to expose the reflective underlayer. A laser or other light source is used to read data on the medium with optical contrast between the black surface and the reflective metallic layer underlying the gelatin layer which can be observed in the recorded spots.

Abstract: An optical recording medium is provided which comprises an optical recording layer provided on a support, said optical recording layer containing a compound modifiable under light irradiation and gelled polymer.

Abstract: Method and apparatus for full-color reproduction of a continuous tone color picture or scene using multiple diffraction gratings. The reproduction consists of a plurality of small diffraction gratings (70). A plurality of color separation masks (60) are created for each unique scene. Those picture elements in the original scene containing a given primary color are captured in these transmission-type masks. In certain zones dictated by the separation masks, a plurality of interference patterns are recorded in the properly photosensitized media (70). The spatial freqency of said interference patterns correlates to the primary color to be reproduced. These interference patterns become multiple diffraction gratings when properly developed. The properly photosensitized media may be used as a master for replication purposes. When either master or replica (78) are properly illuminated in white light (76) and properly viewed, the multiple diffraction gratings act to reproduce the colors in the original scene.

Abstract: A sheet containing an integrated-directional, half-tone image. Each sheet may contain one or more such images. Also a method for forming such images in microlens sheetings comprising directly a highly collimated light through an interposed half-tone mask.

Abstract: In an optical disk, a single recording layer is formed on a transparent substrate. The recording layer has an insulative base layer in which metal clusters and organic clusters are uniformly contained. When radiation is incident on the recording layer such that the intensity of the radiation is changed in accordance with the type of recording information, the metal clusters absorb radiation energy. The organic clusters produce a gas component in accordance with a level of the radiation energy absorbed by the metal clusters, thereby causing the base layer to incur a local projection by a pressure of the gas component such that a protuberance is formed on the base layer.

Abstract: In order to be able, in a simple manner, to erase, by heating, data recorded on bodies with reversible, temperature-variable light extinctions, and then to be able to use the body anew for the recording of data, these bodies consists of at least one polymer material and/or resin matrix material (A) and at least one organic low-molecular substance (B), which is insoluble, at least partially, in the latter and which is contained therein as a dispersed second phase, whereby the pair of materials (A/B) possess variable light extinctions below a specific temperature (T.sub.0) in dependence on a previous heating above T.sub.0 and are so constituted that, upon being heated above a conversion temperature (T.sub.2) which lies above T.sub.0, and being cooled off subsequently to below T.sub.0, yields maximum light extinction; and, upon being heated in the state of maximum light extinction to a temperature (T.sub.1) which lies above T.sub.0 and below T.sub.2, and subsequent cooling off to below T.sub.

Abstract: An improved vesicular matrix prepared by the emulsion polymerization of methacrylonitrile, either alone or with a small amount of comonomer, in the presence of a cationic emulsifier. The resulting polymer or copolymer can be used alone, or the polymer or copolymer may be blended with a small amount of a highly incompatible polymer or copolymer, to provide an improved vesicular matrix.

Abstract: An improved vesicular matrix prepared by employing regulated inner incompatibility to produce enhanced nucleation. The inner incompatibility is produced by copolymerizing a first monomer with a small amount of a second monomer wherein a homopolymer of the second monomer would be incompatible with a polymer of the first monomer, or by blending a first polymer or copolymer with a small amount of a highly incompatible second polymer or copolymer.

Abstract: A recording medium utilizing metal azides as an energy amplifying substance is disclosed. A photosensitive material comprises an energy absorptive dye and a metal azide dispersed in an inert binder. Low to moderate pulses of laser light cause the azide particles to react exothermally creating a void in the photosensitive material which can be read by an optical readout device.

Abstract: A radiation-sensitive carrier body directly utilized as a stamper has a glass substrate, a first highly adhesive layer securely adhered to the substrate, a radiation-sensitive layer which discharges a gas component upon being irradiated with a laser beam and which locally forms a protuberance due to the absorbed energy, a second highly adhesive layer securely adhered to the specific material of the radiation-sensitive layer and which deforms in accordance with deformation of the layer, and a metal layer which has a high releasability to allow easy separation from a optical disk substrate material such as an acrylic material when the carrier body is used as a stamper substrate for manufacturing optical disks. A protuberance formed on the carrier body such as a continuous spiral protuberance allows formation of a corresponding spiral groove in the acrylic material, serving as a pre-track into which desired information will be digitally written by a user.

Abstract: An improved diazotype photoprinting material of high printing speed and its method of preparation are disclosed. The improvement is achieved by distributing through the film coating a substantially uniform distribution of sites having a refractive index substantially different from that of the remainder of the coating. The sites consist of either voids or finely divided solids. Voids are created by contacting the film coating with an aqueous fluid at elevated temperature or an organic solvent for a sufficient period of time to cause a measurable haze to appear on the film. The sites operate to reflect or refract incident light rays during imagewise exposure, and thus increase the optical path length through a given thickness of film.

Abstract: A radiation imageable composition in which an image can be produced upon exposure to intense radiation is disclosed which comprises (a) hollow, ceramic microspheres, and (b) a binder material which will not be destroyed during exposure of the composition to intense radiation and will not mask the image produced upon exposure to intense radiation, wherein the binder material has an index of refraction greater than the index of refraction of the microspheres in the absence of any other dye or pigment.

Abstract: A thermal recording element comprising a support having formed thereon a recording layer, a first protective layer comprising an organic high molecular weight material having a softening point below about 70.degree. C. formed on the recording layer, and a second protective layer comprising an organic high molecular weight material having high mechanical strength.

Abstract: Process for formation of white opaque image in the toned areas of a photopolymer composition which comprises a leachable monomer, photoinitiator, organic polymer binder and optionally a plasticizer wherein the toned image areas are treated with a leaching solution, e.g., mixtures of organic solvents or mixtures of water and organic solvents; washing the treated areas, e.g., with water; and drying at a temperature up to 70.degree. C., e.g., with hot air dryer. The process is useful for the preparation of overlay exhibits and direct positive image for microfilm.

Abstract: Novel, coatable, highly long-chain branched, ungelled, most preferably endblocked, non-linear phenoxy resins of random structure devoid of regularly recurring units, with the average distance between the branch sites thereof being essentially of the same order of magnitude as the average branch length, such resins advantageously comprising the copolymerization product of:(i) at least one dihydric phenol, e.g., sulfonyl diphenol;(ii) an epoxy comonomer having two epoxy functional groups, e.g., resorcinol diglycidyl ether;(iii) a branching agent comprising an epoxy or phenolic compound having a functionality greater than 2, and preferably at least 3, wherein the amount of branching agent is sufficient to provide at least 10 mole percent branch sites in the polymer resin, and, most preferably;(iv) a monofunctional phenol or epoxide as an endblocker compound.The branched phenoxy resins are well adapted as matrices for enhanced film speed vesicular films.

Abstract: A photographic image-processing method which is capable of obtaining, from negative and positive films having an image whose density is in continuous gradation, a linear image representing the contour of that image. This method comprises the step of sandwiching a light scattering film between the negative and positive films in registration, thereby making a mask, and exposing a photographic paper to light at a right angle by way of the mask which is placed on the photographic paper, with a result that the light which passes through the light transmissive portion of the negative film is subjected to course alteration by the scattering film is order to pass through the light transmissive portion of the positive film, with a result that a linear contour image of the original image is formed on the photographic paper.

Abstract: Stabilizers for vesicular imaging compositions are shown. Derivatives of benzoic acid are used to improve the image stability of vesicular imaging compositions containing homopolymers or copolymers of .alpha.-chloroacrylonitrile, and a light-sensitive agent which decomposes and releases gas on irradiation.

Abstract: Silver halide emulsions, which have been precipitated in the presence of polymers having recurring units with a 8-hydroxy quinoline structure are suitable for the preparation of vesicular images.

Abstract: A self-aligned photoresist process for selectively covering a pattern on a substrate with photoresist without using a mask or needing an alignment step. It may be used when the pattern to be covered or not covered has a much different reflectivity than the non-pattern areas. A photoresist layer is deposited over the substrate and exposed to a flood beam. The higher reflectivity regions reflect much more exposing radiation and cause increased exposure in the regions overlying the higher reflectivity pattern. Upon development, the more exposed regions (or in the case of a negative resist, the less exposed regions) preferentially develop away, leaving a resist pattern corresponding with the reflective pattern and aligned therewith. This process can be used, for example, to cover a substrate with resist everywhere except at metallized areas.

Abstract: The photosensitive printing plate of this invention features incorporation of an organic foaming agent in the photosensitive composition that constitutes the photosensitive layer, said organic foaming agent being thermally decomposed upon drying of said composition under heating to thereby roughen the surface of the photosensitive layer. According to this invention, no specific mechanical treatment is required for forming the photosensitive layer and also there is no need of remodeling the existing coating equipments, and further, the vacuum contact time can be appreciably lessened, so that this invention can greatly improve the working efficiency in plate making and markedly reduce the production cost.

Abstract: Process for forming a vesicular image utilizing a vesicular recording material having an imaging layer which includes a defined sulphone and/or sulphonamide additive in an amount of 1 to 100% by weight based upon the weight of a polymeric component of the plastics vehicle. The additive provides improved image density and a back-appearing image.

Abstract: A photographic light-sensitive silver halide element is described comprising a support, at least one light-sensitive silver halide emulsion layer and a light-scattering layer. This element is used for forming a dot image by a photographic exposure using laser through a contact screen. The light-scattering layer is provided in such a manner that the silver halide emulsion layer is exposed to laser through the light-scattering layer.

Abstract: Process for the production of vesicular recording materials. The photographic characteristics such as speed and contrast of vesicular recording materials are improved by treating the light-sensitive vesicular recording layer with an aqueous medium at 5.degree. to 30.degree. C. for at least 45 minutes. The treatment may be effected by spraying with cold water and winding the wet material into a roll. Water marking in the wound roll can be avoided by coating the recording layer prior to water treatment with an antimarking composition such as a solution of nitrocellulose.

Abstract: A light-sensitive vesicular recording material comprising a support and a layer comprised of a binder and a light-sensitive compound applied to the support, said binder comprising a butanone soluble copolymer of methacrylonitrile and vinylidene chloride; particularly, a mixture of a butanone soluble methacrylonitrile/vinylidene chloride copolymer and a vinylidene chloride/acrylonitrile copolymer, said copolymers being miscible with each other in butanone.

Abstract: The production of polymeric bodies having included, isolated areas of fine metal or metal oxide particles dispersed therein by mixing a metal compound with a polymer, converting the resulting mixture to a desired shape and irradiating selected areas of the shape with laser light to decompose the metal compound in the irradiated areas.

Abstract: Process for modifying a tacky surface of a multilayer negative-working surprint proof having a photosensitive tacky layer as the outer layer which comprises exposing the tacky layer through a screen tint, e.g., having a tint value of 25 to 75 percent, and applying an admixture of particulate material and carrier particles and removing excess particulate material and the carrier particles from the tacky surface. The ratio of average particle diameter of the carrier particles to average particle diameter of the particulate material is greater than 2 and the weight ratio of particulate material to carrier particles is less than 1. A durable matte finish is obtained that is nonblocking, is capable of being written on, and is noncracking over extended storage periods.

Abstract: Methods for making photosensitive thin film structures comprising one or more metal-dielectric layers, produced by the sequential deposition of discontinuous metal island films and transparent covering films containing selected dielectric acceptor materials, and the use of the photosensitive thin film structures to record full-color and/or dichroic images, are described.

Abstract: A light-sensitive vesicular imaging composition comprising a vesiculating agent which liberates gas upon exposure to activating radiation and a matrix which is a novolac branched epoxy resin of a bis-glycidyl ether and a dihydric phenol.