Visible Imaging Using Radiation Only Other Than Heating By Surface Contact Or Convection Patents (Class 430/346)
  • Patent number: 5206118
    Abstract: A color-change dosimeter film made of a halogen-containing polymer in which is dispersed an acid-sensitive leuco dye, which dye a) is substantially free from groups that are sensitive to high-energy radiation and b) becomes colored in acid. This color-change dosimeter film (1) remains substantially colorless upon exposure to artificial illumination, including fluorescent light, for at least several months, (2) becomes colored upon exposure to high-energy radiation and accurately indicates small changes in dosage by the intensity of its color, and (3) remains substantially unchanged in its intensity of that color after being stored for several months, whether or not exposed to artificial illumination. An article of either quantitative or qualitative determination of the extent of high-energy radiation exposure is also provided, displaying a colored message of words, codes, symbols, or patterns on a substrate after exposure to the high-energy radiation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 19, 1991
    Date of Patent: April 27, 1993
    Assignee: Minnesota-Mining & Manufacturing Company
    Inventors: Lu Ann N. Sidney, Doreen C. Lynch, Peggy S. Willett
  • Patent number: 5198321
    Abstract: A method for forming an image is described which includes bringing a transparent heat-sensitive recording material including a transparent support made of a synthetic polymer having thereon a transparent heat-sensitive recording layer into contact with a light-absorbing material, at least at the time of effecting recording, and irradiating the light-absorbing material with a laser beam to heat the transparent heat-sensitive recording layer and to cause color formation therein. High speed, high density, and high quality recording can be performed with an increased light absorption efficiency.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 3, 1991
    Date of Patent: March 30, 1993
    Assignee: Fuji Photo Film Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Noriyuki Hosoi, Kotaro Nakamura
  • Patent number: 5196284
    Abstract: An optical recording element comprising a thin film optical recording layer of an alloy is disclosed. The alloy is represented by the formula:Sb.sub.x Cd.sub.1-xwherein x is between about 0.68 and 0.83, and the formula:Sb.sub.x Cd.sub.y Sn.sub.z,wherein Sb.sub.x Cd.sub.y Sn.sub.z is within the polygon enclosed by Sb.sub.83 Cd.sub.17 -Sb.sub.46 Cd.sub.24 Sn.sub.30 -Sb.sub.42 Cd.sub.46 Sn.sub.12 -Sb.sub.68 Cd.sub.32 in a ternary Sb-Cd-Sn composition diagram.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 9, 1990
    Date of Patent: March 23, 1993
    Assignee: Eastman Kodak Company
    Inventors: Kee-chuan Pan, Yuan-sheng Tyan, Fridrich Vazan
  • Patent number: 5196297
    Abstract: This invention relates to novel recording materials which employ color-forming di- and triarylmethane compounds possessing certain S-containing ring-closing moieties, namely, or thiolactone, dithiolactone or thioether ring-closing moiety and to a method of forming color by contacting these dye precursor compounds with a Lewis acid material capable of opening the thiolactone, dithiolactone or thioether ring-closing moiety whereby the compound is rendered colored, that is, converted to its chromophore color.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 5, 1986
    Date of Patent: March 23, 1993
    Assignee: Polaroid Corporation
    Inventors: Edward J. Dombrowski, Jr., James R. Freedman, Patrick F. King
  • Patent number: 5178990
    Abstract: A method of identifying the output energy, main wavelength, position, pattern, etc., of light, which comprises irradiating a photosensitive coloring medium comprising a base material, a heat-sensitive coloring material, and a light absorptive material releasing heat sufficient for coloring the heat-sensitive coloring material by absorbing the light and identifying the output energy, main wavelength, position, pattern, etc., of the light from the colored extent thereof.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 9, 1990
    Date of Patent: January 12, 1993
    Assignee: Jujo Paper Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Toshimi Satake, Tomoaki Nagai, Hiroshi Fukui, Miyuki Yokoyama, Akio Sekine
  • Patent number: 5158862
    Abstract: This invention relates to the preparation of a supported modulating film having a permanent orange yellow imaged layer of the homopolymer of crystralline 5,7-dodecadiyn-1,12-bis(isopropyl carbamate) monomer having the structure ##STR1## and to the use of said film as a blue light modulator in the production of master printing plates or printed circuit boards.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 3, 1992
    Date of Patent: October 27, 1992
    Assignee: ISP Investments Inc.
    Inventor: Kou-Chang Liu
  • Patent number: 5153106
    Abstract: The invention relates to a process for direct and permanent photopositive scribing on a thermochromic coating composition consisting essentially of certain thermosensitive aryl diacetylenes which contain a moiety selected from the group of sulfonyl, amino, urethanyl, carboxylate and nitro radicals, and a dye capable of absorbing radiation energy generated by a laser in a wavelength of from about 600 to about 1,500 nm and to the coating composition comprising said aryl diacetylene and energy absorbing dye.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 11, 1991
    Date of Patent: October 6, 1992
    Assignee: ISP Investments Inc.
    Inventor: Kou-Chang Liu
  • Patent number: 5149616
    Abstract: This invention relates to the preparation of a supported modulating film having a permanent orange yellow imaged layer of the homopolymer of crystalline 5,7-dodecadiyn-1,12-bis(isopropyl carbamate) monomer having the structure ##STR1## and to the use of said film as a blue light modulator in the production of master printing plates or printed circuit boards.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 23, 1990
    Date of Patent: September 22, 1992
    Assignee: ISP Investments Inc.
    Inventor: Kou-Chang Liu
  • Patent number: 5149617
    Abstract: This application relates to monomers and homopolymers of diacetylenic ethers having the formula ##STR1## wherein X is alkyl, alkenyl, aryl, alkaryl, aralkyl, aralkenyl, monoalkylamino or dialkylamino and Y is alkyl, alkenyl or ##STR2## where X' is independently selected from the group of X. The invention also relates to the method of preparing and using said alkoxy diacetylenes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 25, 1991
    Date of Patent: September 22, 1992
    Assignee: ISP Investments Inc.
    Inventor: Kou-Chang Liu
  • Patent number: 5139926
    Abstract: This invention relates to the preparation of a supported modulating film having a permanent yellow imaged layer of the homopolymer of 10,12-docosadiyndioic acid monomer; said monomer having the structure[HOOC(CH.sub.2).sub.8 --C.tbd.C].sub.2and to the use of said film as a blue light modulator in the production of master printing plates or printed circuit boards.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 23, 1990
    Date of Patent: August 18, 1992
    Assignee: ISP Investments Inc.
    Inventor: Kou-Chang Liu
  • Patent number: 5139927
    Abstract: This invention relates to the preparation of a supported modulating film having a permanent yellow imaged layer of the homopolymer of a crystalline diacetylene cinnamate monomer ##STR1## and to the use of said film as a light modulator in the production of master printing plates or printed circuit boards.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 23, 1990
    Date of Patent: August 18, 1992
    Assignee: ISP Investments Inc.
    Inventors: Kou-Chang Liu, David F. Lewis, John C. Hornby
  • Patent number: 5139928
    Abstract: The invention relates to the exposure of a recording film to an image transmitting device and to a thermochromic polyacetylenic recording film comprising, as an imageable medium, a supported, imageable crystalline polyacetylene monomer layer in contact with an imageable polyacetylene polymer in a mole ratio of between about 1:1 and about 1000:1 which medium additionally can contain an energy absorbing, heat transferring agent having an optical absorbance at a wavelength similar to that of the image transmitting device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 23, 1990
    Date of Patent: August 18, 1992
    Assignee: ISP Investments Inc.
    Inventor: David F. Lewis
  • Patent number: 5077181
    Abstract: Antimony-tin alloys including a third element are useful for phase change optical recording. Some preferred alloys have a higher amorphous to crystalline transition temperature and thus, amorphous areas are stable for longer periods. Other preferred alloys exhibit improved CNR or lower noise or other improved performance characteristics.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 2, 1990
    Date of Patent: December 31, 1991
    Assignee: Eastman Kodak Company
    Inventors: Kee-Chuan Pan, Yuan-Sheng Tyan, Fridrich Vazan, Donald R. Preuss
  • Patent number: 5055380
    Abstract: An aggregated-Group Ib metal colloid is prepared, which may be used to form stable color-differentiated images, by the selective application of thermal energy thereto. The metal aggregates, when exposed to thermal energy, revert either to the unaggregated metal or to an aggregate of lesser dimension. This change induces a color change in the material, which is clearly visible against those areas not so exposed. The metal aggregates, when dispersed in a polymeric matrix, are stable in the absence of heat.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 18, 1989
    Date of Patent: October 8, 1991
    Assignee: Eastman Kodak Company
    Inventors: Sidney J. Bertucci, Hugh S. A. Gilmour
  • Patent number: 5049472
    Abstract: A method of and an apparatus for recording an image on a recording medium. A heat-sensitive sheet having a light-transmissive base sheet provided with a heat-fusible supercooled substance layer is made to abut a copy original such that the heat-fusible supercooled substance layer faces the original image to be copied while flashlight is projected onto the base sheet of the heat-sensitive sheet. Thus, the image portion of the copy original to be copied absorbs the light transmitted through the heat-sensitive sheet and thereby generates heat so that an adhesive area containing a pattern corresponding to the original image is formed on the supercooled substance layer. After the heat-sensitive sheet has been removed from the copy original, such an adhesive area is transferred to the recording medium owing to the adhesiveness of the adhesive area.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 27, 1989
    Date of Patent: September 17, 1991
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Nagao Hosono, Yukio Nagase, Tatsuo Takeuchi, Hiroshi Satomura, Hidemi Egami, Yuji Sakemi, Yasushi Miura
  • Patent number: 5039598
    Abstract: Processes for preparing ionographic imaging member including providing a flexible, shrinkable tube containing a dielectric film forming polymer having a T.sub.g of at least about -40.degree. C., charge decay of less than about 2 nonocoulombs per cm.sup.2 per second and elastic memory, providing a cylindrical support member having an outer diameter that is less than the inner diameter of the flexible tube, applying a continuous coating on the interior of the tube or on the exterior of the cylindrical support member, the coating comprising a material selected from the group consisting of an electrically conductive material, an adhesive material and mixture thereof, shrinking the tube to bring the inner surface of the tube and the outer surface of the cylindrical support member into intimate physical contact with the continuous coating. This imaging member may be employed in an ionographic imaging process.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 29, 1989
    Date of Patent: August 13, 1991
    Assignee: Xerox Corporation
    Inventors: Dennis A. Abramsohn, John A. Frank, Joseph Mammino, Brendan C. Casey, Donald S. Sypula
  • Patent number: 5035977
    Abstract: A dye-donor element for laser-induced thermal dye transfer comprising a support having thereon a dye layer and an infrared-absorbing material which is different from the dye in the dye layer, and wherein the infrared-absorbing material is an oxonol dye. In a preferred embodiment, the oxonol dye has the following formula: ##STR1## wherein: R.sup.1, R.sup.2 and R.sup.3 each independently represents hydrogen, halogen, cyano, alkoxy, aryloxy, acyloxy, aryloxycarbonyl, alkoxycarbonyl, carbamoyl, sulfonyl, acyl, acylamido, alkylamino, arylamino or a substituted or unsubstituted alkyl, aryl or hetaryl group; or any two of said R.sup.1, R.sup.2 and R.sup.3 groups may be joined together to complete a 5- to 7-membered substituted or unsubstituted carbocyclic or heterocyclic ring; or either R.sup.1 or R.sup.2 may be joined to R.sup.4 or R.sup.6 to complete a 5- to 7-membered substituted or unsubstituted carbocyclic or heterocyclic ring; or R.sup.2 or R.sup.3 may be joined to R.sup.5 or R.sup.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 16, 1989
    Date of Patent: July 30, 1991
    Assignee: Eastman Kodak Company
    Inventors: Charles D. DeBoer, Steven Evans
  • Patent number: 5035983
    Abstract: A laser-marking composition characterized by containing a non-black inorganic lead compound and a resin and a laser-marking method characterized by marking the surface of an object comprising said composition by exposure to laser beams having wavelengths falling in the far infrared regions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 31, 1989
    Date of Patent: July 30, 1991
    Assignee: Dainippon Ink and Chemicals, Inc.
    Inventors: Toshiyuki Kiyonari, Satoshi Hirabayashi, Naoto Kidokoro
  • Patent number: 5034313
    Abstract: A particulate metastable Group Ib metal colloid is prepared is formed by plating a Group Ib metal onto small nuclei in a suspension to form non-spherical particles of varying color. The preparation is stable below about 100.degree. C., but when coated onto a support, can be used to form a visible image by application of thermal energy.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 28, 1989
    Date of Patent: July 23, 1991
    Assignee: Eastman Kodak Company
    Inventor: David C. Shuman
  • Patent number: 5034303
    Abstract: A dye-donor element for laser-induced thermal dye transfer comprising a support having thereon a dye layer and an infrared-absorbing material which is different from the dye in the dye layer, and wherein the infrared-absorbing material is a trinuclear cyanine dye. In a preferred embodiment, the trinuclear cyanine dye has the following formula: ##STR1## wherein: R.sup.1, R.sup.2 and R.sup.3 each independently represents a substituted or unsubstituted alkyl or cycloalkyl group having from 1 to about 6 carbon atoms or an aryl or hetaryl group having from about 5 to about 10 atoms;R.sup.4, R.sup.5, R.sup.6, R.sup.7 and R.sup.8 each independently represents hydrogen, halogen, cyano, alkoxy, aryloxy, acyloxy, aryloxycarbonyl, alkoxycarbonyl, sulfonyl, carbamoyl, acyl, acylamido, alkylamino, arylamino or a substituted or unsubstituted alkyl, aryl or hetaryl group;or any of said R.sup.4, R.sup.5, R.sup.6, R.sup.7 and R.sup.8 groups may be combined with R.sup.1, R.sup.2 or R.sup.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 16, 1989
    Date of Patent: July 23, 1991
    Assignee: Eastman Kodak Company
    Inventors: Steven Evans, Charles D. DeBoer
  • Patent number: 5034292
    Abstract: A method of forming visible images on a differentiated background comprises the application of thermal energy to a coating of metastable metal colloid on a support. Thermal energy is able to convert the metastable metal colloid to a stable spheroidal form. Computer control of a laser beam or thermal print head can be employed to provide highly resolved images carrying graphic, digital and textural information.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 13, 1990
    Date of Patent: July 23, 1991
    Assignee: Eastman Kodak Company
    Inventors: Hugh S. A. Gilmour, David C. Shuman
  • Patent number: 5030551
    Abstract: A method of laser marking ceramic materials, glazes, glass ceramics and glasses of any desired form, which comprises applying to the material to be marked a 100 to 10,000 .ANG. thick transparent layer of titanium dioxide, then irradiating said oxide layer with a pulsed laser such that the radiation is directed onto said layer in accordance with the form of the marking to be applied, and using laser light of a wavelength which is sufficiently absorbed by the oxide layer, so that a discolouration of said oxide layer is produced at the irradiated areas.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 2, 1990
    Date of Patent: July 9, 1991
    Assignee: Ciba-Geigy Corporation
    Inventors: Fritz Herren, Manfred Hofmann
  • Patent number: 5028792
    Abstract: Photochemical systems for the direct visualization of exposure to ultraviolet radiation that effect visible color changes involving a process in which a photoacid is formed upon irradiation of a nitro-substituted aromatic aldehyde with ultraviolet light and wherein proton transfer to a dye causes the dye to undergo a visible color change. The system undergoes such color change to an extent directly proportional to the cumulative amount of ultraviolet incident thereupon.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 27, 1989
    Date of Patent: July 2, 1991
    Assignee: Xytronyx, Inc.
    Inventor: Kary B. Mullis
  • Patent number: 5026619
    Abstract: The invention relates to an optical data recording method which comprises addressing a recording device using an infra-red laser modulated with a waveform of the information to be recorded, wherein said recording device comprises an infra-red absorbing material and a photochromic fulgide which is converted into its colored form under the influence of the heat absorbed from the laser, and updating the recording by erasing undesired previously recorded data using a laser operation in the visible region of the spectrum.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 24, 1989
    Date of Patent: June 25, 1991
    Assignee: Plessey Overseas Limited
    Inventor: Clive Trundle
  • Patent number: 5024927
    Abstract: An information recording medium comprising a substrate, and a recording layer formed thereon which comprises (a) a carbon-based material and (b) an optically reversible material whose optical characteristics can be reversibly changed, with the thermal decomposition temperature of the carbon-based material being higher than the melting point of the optically reversible material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 4, 1989
    Date of Patent: June 18, 1991
    Assignee: Ricoh Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Katsuyuki Yamada, Yukio Ide, Makoto Harigaya, Hiroko Iwasaki
  • Patent number: 5019487
    Abstract: A master disc which is provided on one side with a reflective optical structure and a recording double-layer is exposed to a first laser beam which scans the optical structure and to a second laser beam which is controlled by the first beam, information bits in the form of bulges being formed in the recording layer due to exposure to the second beam, a metal skin being subsequently provided on the recording layer, in which metal skin the surface structure of the recording layer is copied and, finally, the matrix thus obtained being removed from the master disc.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 28, 1989
    Date of Patent: May 28, 1991
    Assignee: U.S. Philips Corporation
    Inventors: Dirk J. Gravesteijn, Josephus M. Wijn, Johannes P. J. G. van Liempd
  • Patent number: 5019480
    Abstract: A dye-donor element for laser-induced thermal dye transfer comprising a support having thereon a dye layer and an infrared-absorbing material which is different from the dye in the dye layer, and wherein the infrared-absorbing material is an indene-bridged-polymethine dye. In a preferred embodiment, the indene-bridged-polymethine dye has the following formula: ##STR1## wherein: R represents a substituted or unsubstituted alkyl or cycloalkyl group having from 1 to about 6 carbon atoms or an aryl or hetaryl group having from about 5 to about 10 atoms; R.sup.1, R.sup.2, R.sup.3, R.sup.4 and R.sup.5 each independently represents hydrogen, halogen, cyano, alkoxy, aryloxy, acyloxy, aryloxycarbonyl, alkoxycarbonyl, sulfonyl, carbamoyl, acyl, acylamido, alkylamino, arylamino or a substituted or unsubstituted alkyl, aryl or hetaryly group; or any two of said R, R.sup.1, R.sup.2, R.sup.3, R.sup.4 and R.sup.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 16, 1989
    Date of Patent: May 28, 1991
    Assignee: Eastman Kodak Company
    Inventors: Charles D. DeBoer, Steven Evans
  • Patent number: 5015548
    Abstract: An optical recording element comprising a thin film optical recording layer of an alloy is disclosed. The alloy is represented by the formula Sb.sub.x Te.sub.1-x, wherein x is between about 0.58 and 0.75. The alloys have short erasure times (amorphous to crystalline transition) and excellent environmental stability.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 21, 1990
    Date of Patent: May 14, 1991
    Assignee: Eastman Kodak Company
    Inventors: Kee-Chuan Pan, Yuan-sheng Tyan, Fridrich Vazan
  • Patent number: 5013635
    Abstract: An information storage medium consists of a polycarbonate substrate and a recording layer formed on the substrate and containing an AgTe eutectic alloy, carbon, and hydrogen. Information is recorded on the medium by forming pits in the recording layer upon radiation of a laser beam, and is reproduced by radiating a reproducing laser beam onto the recording layer in which the pits are formed and detecting reflectances.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 29, 1989
    Date of Patent: May 7, 1991
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba
    Inventors: Hideki Ohkawa, Norio Ozawa, Hiroyuki Higashino, Motonari Matsubara
  • Patent number: 5006446
    Abstract: A medium for image formation which comprises a monomolecular film or monomolecular built-up film of a metal chelate compound and a process for image formation which comprises (1) manipulating the adsorption of a gas on a metal chelate compound and the desorption of the gas therefrom or (2) reducing metal ions in molecules of a metal chelate compound.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 20, 1988
    Date of Patent: April 9, 1991
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Masahiro Haruta, Hiroshi Matsuda, Hirohide Munakata, Yukuo Nishimura
  • Patent number: 4985349
    Abstract: An information storage medium comprises a substrate and a recording layer formed on the substrate containing Te, Ge, C and H. The recording layer is formed by sputtering, with a Ge-Te alloy being used as a target and with a mixed gas of a noble gas and a hydrocarbon being used as a sputtering gas. The hydrocarbon content in the sputtering gas falls within a range of 3 to 35%. The composition of the target is Ge.sub.x Te.sub.100-x (where x is expressed by atomic %, and 5.ltoreq.x.ltoreq.20).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 22, 1989
    Date of Patent: January 15, 1991
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba
    Inventors: Kideki Ohkawa, Norio Ozawa, Motonari Matsubara
  • Patent number: 4981772
    Abstract: Antimony-tin alloys including a third element are useful for phase change optical recording. Some preferred alloys have a higher amorphous to crystalline transition temperature and thus, amorphous areas are stable for longer periods. Other preferred alloys exhibit improved CNR or lower noise or other improved performance characteristics.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 16, 1989
    Date of Patent: January 1, 1991
    Assignee: Eastman Kodak Company
    Inventors: Kee-Chuan Pan, Yuan-Sheng Tyan, Fridrich Vazan, Donald R. Preuss
  • Patent number: 4975355
    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).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 28, 1989
    Date of Patent: December 4, 1990
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba
    Inventor: Katsumi Suzuki
  • Patent number: 4970137
    Abstract: This invention concerns a process of mixing a dispersion comprising a substantially crystalline, image receptive polyacetylenic compound in an aqueous non-solvating binder solutions with an effective ripening amount of an organic liquid boiling above 30.degree. C. which is completely miscible with water at least in a proportion of 1:2 part per parts and in which said polyacetylene is soluble for a time and at an elevated temperature sufficient to effect crystalline growth and improved sensitivity to imaging by exposure to a source of radiation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 9, 1989
    Date of Patent: November 13, 1990
    Assignee: GAF Chemicals Corporation
    Inventors: David F. Lewis, Steward E. Purdy
  • Patent number: 4965174
    Abstract: A recording medium is provided which comprises a recording layer comprising at least one set of image-forming units containing a region holding a photosensitive protein and a color-developing means capable of developing a color according to a change in the hydrogen ion concentration in the region. Each of said image-forming units within the same set having a photosensitive protein sensitive to a different wavelength.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 24, 1989
    Date of Patent: October 23, 1990
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Ryuichi Arai, Masahiro Haruta, Nobuko Yamamoto, Tetsuya Yano, Hiroyoshi Kishi, Masanori Sakuranaga
  • Patent number: 4960680
    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.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 25, 1989
    Date of Patent: October 2, 1990
    Assignee: Eastman Kodak Company
    Inventors: Kee-Chuan Pan, Yuan-Sheng Tyan, Donald R. Preuss
  • Patent number: 4950579
    Abstract: An optical recording medium and a method for preparing the medium in which information can be recorded and read by means of a focused modulated laser beam. The optical recording medium comprises a substrate containing on at least one surface, a layer of organic material having an anisotropic and/or inhomogeneous physical microstructure which gives the layer a non-uniform density gradient along the direction perpendicular to the plane of the layer before exposure to a laser beam, whereby upon exposure to electromagnetic radiation the level of anisotropy and/or inhomogeneity is reduced.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 8, 1988
    Date of Patent: August 21, 1990
    Assignee: Minnesota Mining and Manufacturing Company
    Inventors: Mark K. Debe, Kam K. Kam, Daniel R. Field
  • Patent number: 4906556
    Abstract: An optical recording medium comprising a substrate and a recording layer made of metal and/or semi-metal and on which data can be recorded with a laser beam, wherein a plasma polymerization layer is formed on at least an upper surface of said recording layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 10, 1989
    Date of Patent: March 6, 1990
    Assignee: Fuji Photo Film Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Yasuo Nishikawa, Yonosuke Takahashi
  • Patent number: 4894303
    Abstract: The invention relates to high energy beam-sensitive glass articles exhibiting insensitivity and/or inertness to artinic radiation, i.e., glass articles which are darkened and/or colored within a thin surface layer of, e.g., about 0.1-3 .mu.m upon exposure to high energy beams, electron beams, and ion beams in particular, without a subsequent development step, and which need no fixing to stabilize the colored image, since both the recorded image and the glass article are sensitive to radiation in the spectral range of UV, and longer, wavelengths. More particularly, the instant invention is concerned with Ag+ ion-exchanged glass articles having base glass within alkali metal silicate composition fields containing at least one of the oxides of transition metals which have one to four d-electrons in an atomic state.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 1, 1987
    Date of Patent: January 16, 1990
    Assignee: Canyon Materials Research & Engineering
    Inventor: Che-Kuang Wu
  • Patent number: 4891305
    Abstract: This invention relate to an optical information recording medium, characterized by having an organic thin film recording layer containing at least one of compounds expressed by the general formula (I), (II), (III) and (IV): ##STR1## (wherein in the above formulas, A, B, D and E represent a substituted or non-substituted aryl group; R.sub.1 to R.sub.8 may be the same or different and represent hydrogen atom, halogen atom or alkyl group; Y represents a divalent residue having atomic groups necessary for forming a five-membered ring or six-membered ring; m, n and l represents 0, 1 or 2; ans X.sup.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 7, 1988
    Date of Patent: January 2, 1990
    Assignee: Ricoh Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Hideaki Oba, Tsutomu Sato, Masaakira Umehara, Yutaka Ueda, Tetsu Yamamuro, Michiharu Abe
  • Patent number: 4886717
    Abstract: A photochromic material comprising a thin film of montmorillonite intercalation compound which has as a guest organic metal complex ions exhibiting a property of accepting electrons in a photo-excited state,a photochromic device comprising; (i) a transparent electrode layer 1, (ii) a transparent layer 2 of polycrystalline n-type semiconductor, (iii) the above-mentioned thin film 3 of montmorillonite intercalation compound, (iv) an electrolytic layer 6 containing an electron-donative reducing agent and (v) an opposed transparent electrode layer 4, anda method for recording and erasing information, comprising the steps of forming the above-mentioned thin film 3 of montmorillonite intercalation compound over the transparent layer 2 of polycrystalline n-type semiconductor, irradiating with light the thin film 3 in contact with the electrolyte 6 containing an electron-donative reducing agent to develop color on the irradiated site of the film and applying a bias voltage to the film being exposed to light to remove
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 8, 1987
    Date of Patent: December 12, 1989
    Inventors: Masafumi Jinno, Ichiro Kake, Yuichiro Nishina, Tsuyoshi Masumoto
  • Patent number: 4865948
    Abstract: This invention provides an optical recording material comprising a base and a thin film formed on the base and composed of oxides which are represented by the formula (V.sub.2 O.sub.5).sub.1-x. (M.sub.y O.sub.z).sub.x wherein M.sub.y O.sub.z is at least one of metal oxides, metalloid oxides and non-metal oxides, and 0.ltoreq.x<1 and which have an amorphous or layer structure and a process for preparing an optical recording material, the process comprising the steps of applying to a base a solution, sol solution or gel solution of amorphous oxides represented by the formula (V.sub.2 O.sub.5).sub.1-x.(M.sub.y O.sub.z).sub.x wherein M.sub.y O.sub.z is at least one of metal oxides, metalloid oxides and nonmetal oxides, and 0.ltoreq.x<1, and evaporating off the solvent.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 7, 1985
    Date of Patent: September 12, 1989
    Assignees: Research Development Corporation of Japan, Otsuka Kagaku Kabushiki Kaisha, Nikon Corporation
    Inventors: Tsuyoshi Masumoto, Kenji Suzuki, Mika Okubo, Akira Matsumoto, Nobuhiro Ota, Shuji Masuda
  • Patent number: 4865955
    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, aluminum, and tin; wherein(a) the composition diagram is according to FIG.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 11, 1988
    Date of Patent: September 12, 1989
    Assignee: Eastman Kodak Company
    Inventors: Kee-Chuan Pan, Yuan-Sheng Tyan, Fridrich Vazan
  • Patent number: 4847184
    Abstract: Method for producing a picture on the surface of a substrate by laser-printing comprising the steps of:generating still video information consisting of a series of gradational signals each of which corresponds to each of picture elements within a predetermined frame;preparing a substrate having a surface carbonizable or discolorable with heating;generating a laser beam having a sufficient energy to cause the carbonizing or discoloring of said surface;modulating the laser beam in accordance with said video information;scanning the modulated laser beam in accordance with said video information within said frame; anddirecting and focusing said scanned laser beam to form a sweeping spot over the surface area of said substrate corresponding to said predetermined frame, thereby producing a graphic pattern consisting of picture elements individually gradationally carbonized or discolored.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 3, 1987
    Date of Patent: July 11, 1989
    Assignee: Kanzaki Paper Manufacturing Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Itaru Taniguchi, Toshiya Katsuragi
  • Patent number: 4837127
    Abstract: A recording medium comprising a substrate and a recording layer arranged on the substrate, said recording layer being removable by irradiation of radiation having high energy density thereto through evaporation or fusion in the area having received said irradiation, which is characterized in that said recording layer comprises indium and at least one metal compound selected from the group consisting of a metal sulfide, a metal fluoride and a metal oxide and contains at least one metal showing a surface tension of not less than 600 dyne/cm within temperatures of the melting point thereof to a temperature higher than the melting point by 300.degree. C.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 28, 1986
    Date of Patent: June 6, 1989
    Assignee: Fuji Photo Film Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Shinichiro Ohara, Kyoichi Naruo
  • Patent number: 4837134
    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.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 16, 1987
    Date of Patent: June 6, 1989
    Assignee: Drexler Technology Corporation
    Inventors: Eric W. Bouldin, Jerome Drexler
  • Patent number: 4818666
    Abstract: Erasable optical recording element according to FIG. 1 having a substrate 1 and a recording layer 4 which is provided thereon and which satisfies the formula (QSb).sub.100-x M.sub.x, wherein Q is the element Ga or In, M is a metal or chalcogenide element and x has the value 2-15, as well as a method of optically recording and erasing information in which under the influence of pulsated laser light amorphous info areas 10 are formed in the recording layer 4, which areas can be reverted by laser light to the crystalline phase and can be erased.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 2, 1986
    Date of Patent: April 4, 1989
    Assignee: U.S. Philips Corporation
    Inventors: Dirk J. Gravesteijn, Carlus J. Van Der Poel
  • Patent number: 4818665
    Abstract: A medium for image formation which comprises a monomolecular film or monomolecular built-up film of a metal chelate compound and a process for image formation which comprises (1) manipulating the adsorption of a gas on a metal chelate compound and the desorption of the gas therefrom or (2) reducing metal ions in molecules of a metal chelate compound.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 23, 1987
    Date of Patent: April 4, 1989
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Masahiro Haruta, Hiroshi Matsuda, Hirohide Munakata, Yukuo Nishimura
  • Patent number: 4816385
    Abstract: According to the method a rotating recording element 23 (FIG. 3) having a crystalline recording layer 28 of the composition Q.sub.x Sb.sub.y Te.sub.z, wherein Q=In, Ga; X=34-44 at. %; y=51-62 at. %; Z=2-9 at. %; is exposed to a pulsated laser light spot 29 (FIG. ) in which amorphous information bits are formed which are read by means of weak laser light 30 and which can be erased in real time during one revolution of the element 23 by means of a laser light erasing spot 33 (FIG. 4) and be returned to the crystalline state.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 4, 1987
    Date of Patent: March 28, 1989
    Assignee: U.S. Philips Corporation
    Inventors: Dirk J. Gravesteijn, Carolus J. Van Der Poel
  • Patent number: 4816374
    Abstract: An opacifier substance is added to a plastic material which is naturally transparent to laser radiation. The opacifier substance is added in powder form as a concentration of 2% to 6% by weight of the plastic material. The opacifier substance is preferably antimony oxide and the resulting plastic material is capable of being permanently marked by a laser beam and is suitable for providing animal ear tags. These tags may be marked with an automatically readable bar code and this code continues to be automatically readable over a period of several years use on the animal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 9, 1986
    Date of Patent: March 28, 1989
    Assignee: Societe d'Applications Plastiques Rhone-Alpes (SAPRA)
    Inventor: Gilbert Lecomte