Abstract: A composition, method, and system for recording an image. The system includes a multiphase imaging material in which energy is absorbed by an antenna material. The absorbed energy causes the reaction of an activator and a color-forming material to form a mark. A fixer is employed to retard the fading of the mark.

Abstract: An image forming method including (a) providing a reimageable medium comprised of a substrate and a photochromic material, wherein the medium is capable of exhibiting a color contrast and an absence of the color contrast; (b) exposing the medium to an imaging light corresponding to a predetermined image to result in an exposed region and a non-exposed region, wherein the color contrast is present between the exposed region and the non-exposed region to allow a temporary image corresponding to the predetermined image to be visible for a visible time; (c) subjecting the temporary image to an indoor ambient condition for an image erasing time to change the color contrast to the absence of the color contrast to erase the temporary image without using an image erasure device; and (d) optionally repeating procedures (b) and (c) a number of times to result in the medium undergoing a number of additional cycles of temporary image formation and temporary image erasure, wherein the reimageable medium is prepared by a s

Abstract: An image forming medium includes a paper substrate and an imaging layer coated on or impregnated into a paper substrate, where the imaging layer is formed of an imaging composition that includes an alkoxy substituted diarylethene photochromic material dissolved or dispersed in a solvent or polymeric binder, and where the imaging composition exhibits a reversible transition between a colorless and a colored state.

Abstract: An image forming medium includes a substrate, and an imaging layer coated on or impregnated into the substrate, wherein the imaging layer includes an imaging composition including a photochromic or photochromic-thermochromic material and an infrared absorbent dissolved or dispersed in a solvent or polymeric binder; wherein the infrared absorber absorbs infrared light of a wavelength in a range from about 730 nm to about 1500 nm; and wherein the imaging composition is imageable by light of a first wavelength and erasable in a short time period by a combination of infrared radiation and light of a second wavelength and exhibits a reversible transition between a colorless and a colored state.

Abstract: A reimagable medium and a method for “writing” to a reimagable medium are disclosed. The reimagable medium includes a liquid crystal layer, one or more photochromic layers and an electric field generating apparatus. The electric field generating apparatus supplies voltage levels across the liquid crystal layer causing the liquid crystal layer to transfer between a white and a transparent state. The photochromic layers transfer to a colored state when illuminated by ultraviolet light and to a transparent state when illuminated by visible light. Each of the layers maintains their present states when voltage or illumination below corresponding thresholds is supplied. The reimagable medium is flexible and may maintain an image “written” to it until the paper is rewritten. The paper may be attached to a colored substrate if an additional color is to be displayed.

Abstract: A solvent-less process for producing a transient document which is capable of self-erasing, wherein the solvent-less process includes a) heating and reacting a photochromic compound and a polymer to form a coating composition, and b) coating the coating composition onto an image-receiving side of a transient document substrate, and further an image forming method using the same solvent-less process and including (i) providing a reimageable medium of a substrate and a photochromic material, wherein the medium is capable of exhibiting a color contrast and an absence of the color contrast; (ii) exposing the medium to an imaging light corresponding to a predetermined image to result in an exposed region and a non-exposed region, wherein the color contrast is present between the exposed region and the non-exposed region to allow a temporary image corresponding to the predetermined image to be visible for a visible time; (iii) subjecting the temporary image to an indoor ambient condition for an image erasing time t

Abstract: A reimageable medium including a transparent substrate having a first side and any opposing side, a protective layer and an imaging layer. The protective layer can be located on the first side of the transparent substrate and the imaging layer can be located on the opposing side of the transparent substrate.

Abstract: An image forming medium includes a substrate and a mixture including a photochromic material and a solvent wherein the mixture is coated on the substrate, such that the photochromic material exhibits a reversible homogeneous-heterogeneous transition between a colorless state and a colored state in the solvent.

Abstract: The invention relates to a process for the production of a multi-layer image, preferably a multi-color image. A transfer film which is applied to a paper ubstrate and which is treated with laser irradiation is used. The transfer film has a laser-sensitive layer and a background layer arranged therebeneath. The laser-sensitive layer comprises laser-sensitive material, for example laser-sensitive pigments or other laser-sensitive coloring agents. The laser-sensitive material in the layer is region-wise bleached by laser irradiation. That results in a so-called laser-induced image component. As it is transparent or partly transparent, the background layer which is arranged therebeneath and which can have a printed image then becomes visible from above in that region. That therefore gives a multi-layer image which is formed by the laser-induced image component and by the background layer jointly.

Abstract: In various aspects, the present invention provides substantially monolayer thick molecular films with photoresponsive wettability, the molecules of said films comprising a photochromic molecule coordinated to a metal atom, which is coordinated to an organic tethering molecule, surface coupling group, or both, having a group for attachment to a surface of a substrate. In various aspects, the present inventions also provide photochromic articles comprising said films, methods of forming said films, and methods of manufacturing photochromic articles using said films. In various embodiments, provided are molecular films where the photoconversion between configurations of the photochromic molecule is substantially reversible by irradiation with light. In various embodiments, provided are films where the photoconversion is substantially irreversible by irradiation with light.

Abstract: An image forming medium including at least a polymer and a photochromic compound such as spiropyran embedded in the polymer, wherein spiropyran molecules of the spiropyran compound are chelated by a cation.

Abstract: An image forming method composed of: (a) providing a reimageable medium composed of a substrate and a photochromic material, wherein the medium is capable of exhibiting a color contrast and an absence of the color contrast; (b) exposing the medium to an imaging light corresponding to a predetermined image to result in an exposed region and a non-exposed region, wherein the color contrast is present between the exposed region and the non-exposed region to allow a temporary image corresponding to the predetermined image to be visible for a visible time; (c) subjecting the temporary image to an indoor ambient condition for an image erasing time to change the color contrast to the absence of the color contrast to erase the temporary image without using an image erasure device; and (d) optionally repeating procedures (b) and (c) a number of times to result in the medium undergoing a number of additional cycles of temporary image formation and temporary image erasure.

Abstract: Described is a multi-layer body having two laser-sensitive layers 4, 32. The multi-layer body is a body laminated from the overlay films 30, 32, the inlets 90, 90 and the further overlay films 30, 30. At its underside the upper overlay film 30 has a layer structure applied there, by the application of a hot stamping film. The layer structure comprises a lacquer layer 50, a reflection layer 5r, a laser-sensitive layer 4, a background layer 5 and an adhesive layer 6. A diffraction and/or hologram structure 5b is provided in the lacquer layer 5c, the reflection layer 5r and the laser-sensitive layer 4. The second laser-sensitive layer is formed by the carbon-doped overlay film 32. By means of laser treatment, it is possible to produce a laser-induced, preferably colored image component in the upper laser-sensitive layer 4 and a further laser-sensitive image component, preferably in the form of a gray scale image, in the subjacent carbon-doped laser-sensitive layer 32.

Abstract: Imaging compositions and methods of using the compositions are disclosed. The imaging compositions are sensitive to low levels of energy such that upon application of the low levels of energy the compositions change color or shade. The compositions may be used in methods of marking.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a process for increasing the level of safeguard in respect of forgery of paper documents. For that purpose, applied to the paper document is a transfer film or laminating film having a laser-sensitive layer. This multi-layer body is then treated with laser radiation. In that case, a laser-induced marking is produced in the laser-sensitive layer, for example, by laser-induced bleaching, laser-induced color change or laser-induced blackening. Respective individualization of the document can be effected by way of that laser-induced marking.

Abstract: Imaging compositions and methods of using the compositions are disclosed. The imaging compositions are sensitive to low levels of energy such that upon application of the low levels of energy the compositions change color or shade. The compositions may be applied to a work piece to mark it and removed from the work piece by peeling.

Abstract: An reimageable medium composed of: a substrate; and a photochromic material, wherein the medium is capable of exhibiting a color contrast and an absence of the color contrast, wherein the medium has a characteristic that when the medium exhibits the absence of the color contrast and is then exposed to an imaging light corresponding to a predetermined image to result in an exposed region and a non-exposed region, the color contrast is present between the exposed region and the non-exposed region to form a temporary image corresponding to the predetermined image that is visible for a visible time, wherein the medium has a characteristic that when the temporary image is exposed to an indoor ambient condition for an image erasing time, the color contrast changes to the absence of the color contrast to erase the temporary image in all of the following: (i) when the indoor ambient condition includes darkness at ambient temperature, (ii) when the indoor ambient condition includes indoor ambient light at ambient temp

Abstract: A reimageable medium for receiving an imaging light having a predetermined wavelength scope, the medium composed of: a substrate; a photochromic material capable of reversibly converting among a number of different forms, wherein one form has an absorption spectrum that overlaps with the predetermined wavelength scope; and a light absorbing material exhibiting a light absorption band with an absorption peak, wherein the light absorption band overlaps with the absorption spectrum of the one form.

Abstract: A reimageable recording medium includes a substrate, a display layer, and a protective layer. The protective layer comprises a microencapsulated diarylethene material that is capable of switching between a UV absorbing and UV transparent state. During an imaging process, the protective layer is switched from a UV absorbing state to a UV transparent state to allow UV light of a sufficient wavelength to convert a photochromic material of the display layer to a colored state to form an image. The protective material is then switched back to a UV absorbing state to prevent the UV light component from a reading source to convert unimaged areas of the display layer to change color, which would reduce the contrast and resolution of the imaged medium.

Abstract: A protective, switchable layer adapted for use in transient imageable documents is disclosed. The protective layer can be disposed on an underlying photochromic layer and enables writing or imaging the underlying layer. The protective layer prevents unintentional writing on the photochromic layer, such as can otherwise occur from exposure to certain wavelengths of light.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a color-developing agent resin composition, which contains: (1) a phenolic resin represented by formula I; and (2) a blend of graft copolymers of a phenolic resin and a multivalent metal salt polymer of a substituted aryl carboxylic acid, said graft copolymers are represented by (II) and (III). The present invention further relates to a resin emulsion containing the color-developing agent resin composition and a method for preparing the same. The color-developing agent resin composition and the color-developing agent resin emulsion of the present invention are used for no-carbon copying paper as special resin color-developing agents. They have advantages of not only fast developing at a low temperature and bright colors, but also heavy developing strength and good light-aging resistance of writing, and furthermore, their coatings are not easy to turn yellow when they are hold in the air, and the like.

Abstract: Imaging compositions and methods of using the compositions are disclosed. The imaging compositions are sensitive to low levels of energy such that upon application of the low levels of energy the compositions change color or shade. The compositions may be applied to a work piece to mark it and removed from the work piece by peeling.

Abstract: An enhanced-contrast projection screen and method of controlling such screens are disclosed. An embodiment of a dynamic projection screen includes a passive layer and at least one active layer. The active layer is superimposed on at least a portion of the passive layer and is adapted to selectively toggle between being transparent and being opaque. A method of controlling such a screen includes determining desired dimensions of a reflective region, and activating at least a portion of an active layer superimposed on at least a portion of a passive layer. The active layer is adapted to selectively toggle between being transparent and opaque.

Abstract: An image display medium that includes a photoconductive layer containing a photochromic compound and an electron accepting compound; and a substrate, in which the photochromic compound contains a fulgide compound, and the electron accepting compound contains a compound selected at least from: a) a phosphonic acid compound having an aliphatic group containing 12 or more carbon atoms; b) an aliphatic carboxylic acid compound having an aliphatic group containing 12 or more carbon atoms; and c) a phenolic compound having an aliphatic group containing 12 or more carbon atoms, a process for forming an image using the medium, and a multicolor image-forming apparatus using the medium and suitable for the process.

Abstract: Described is a polymerizable composition of a photochromic amount of at least one photochromic compound, at least one material having at least one carbonate group and at least one hydroxyl group, and at least one monoisocyanate containing material having at least one unsaturated group. The polymerizable composition optionally contains copolymerizable monomers. Also described are photochromic polymerizates, e.g., photochromic optical elements such as ophthalmic lenses, prepared from the polymerizable composition of the present invention.

Abstract: A method for providing three dimensional optical memory storage for computers. The method comprises subjecting a nanocomposite to irradiation. The nanocomposite comprises a matrix of particles of a liquid core resin within an inner shell resin and an outer shell resin. The inner shell resin retains the liquid core resin while the outer shell resin forms a continuous phase of the matrix. The particles of core resin contain at least one photosensitive compound and are in an array in the matrix. The continuous phase is substantially free of photosensitive compound. The irradiation may be a single beam of irradiation selectively focused on individual particles in the array to effect photobleaching of individual particles or a two-photon irradiation of a wavelength to effect photobleaching.

Abstract: Photographic process, in which a substrate comprising a plurality of superimposed layers of photochromic materials sensitive to different light wavelengths is provided. The object to be photographed is scanned and a digital file defining the image of the object is generated from the scanning. A plurality of sources of laser light having different wavelengths, each of which is the wavelength to which one of the photochromic materials is sensitive is provided and the layers of photochromic materials are irradiated by means of the laser beams produced by the sources, according to a program determined by the digital file, whereby to develop in each pixel of the substrate the color that it has in the image. The colors thus generated in the pixels of the substrate layers; and the background areas of the substrate layers are set.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a photochromic spirobenzopyran compound of the formula (1) and its derivatives, a spirobenzopyran group having unsaturated terminal groups, a polymer prepared therefrom, a method for the production thereof, a composition comprising said spirobenzopyran or said spirobenzopyran group-containing polymer and a photochromic switch film using the same: 1

Abstract: A diarylethene compound of the following formula (1) wherein R1 is a hydrogen or a substituted or unsubstituted C1-22 alkyl group, a fluoro group, a substituted or unsubstituted phenyl group, a substituted or unsubstituted phenylalkyl group, R2 is a C1-22 alkylene group which may be unsubstituted or substituted with fluorine, R3 is a chemical bond, O, S, NR1, N(R2R1), or a C1-3 alkylene group which may be unsubstituted or substituted with one or more oxygen atoms or fluorine atoms, X and Y independently of one another O, S, nitrogen, NR1, or N(R2R1), and Z is a carbonyl group or a methylene group which may be unsubstituted or substituted with fluorine.

Abstract: A platemaking system uses an intermediate imaging mask made of a film of photochromic material, preferably bacteriorhodopsin. The film is normally transparent, but it is temporary made opaque by exposure to light of a certain wavelength. An image is formed on the mask using light of the appropriate wavelength, which renders portions of the mask opaque. The mask is then interposed between a photosensitive printing plate and a light source which produces light to which the plate is sensitive, exposing the printing plate and thereby transferring the desired image onto the plate. The described method is preferably implemented using a transparent rotating drum that is coated with a bR film. As the drum rotates past a green or yellow laser, a desired image is written onto the film by the laser's beam. The drum rotates the image until it is opposite a photosensitive printing plate, and a light source inside the drum exposes the plate through the mask to transfer the image.

Abstract: A composition including a matrix comprised of particles comprised of a core resin and a shell resin thereover, wherein the core resin contains a covalently bonded photosensitive compound, and wherein the shell resin is the continuous phase of the matrix.

Abstract: A thermal recording medium comprising a ultraviolet absorber precursor represented by formula (1-A) or an image forming compound changing hue and an acid, which is high in thermal sensitivity, recordable with such a low output laser that no ablation takes place even when a thermal heat mode image recording system using a laser is utilized, requiring no different receiving sheet, and excellent in keeping quality: wherein P represents a protecting group for a hydroxyl group which is deblocked by heating to 250° C. or less in the presence of an acid; R1 and R2, which may be the same or different, each represents a substitutable group; and 1 and m each represents an integer of 0 to 4.

Abstract: A photo-decoloring dye represented by the following Formula (1), ##STR1## wherein Z.sub.1, Z.sub.2 and Z.sub.3 each represents a carbon atom or a nitrogen atom, R.sub.1, R.sub.2 and R.sub.3 each represents a hydrogen atom and substituents, Z.sub.2 and Z.sub.3 may form a condensed ring, Z represents N or CH, X+ represents an organic cation, m represents an integer of 0 to 4, n represents an integer of 0 to 3.

Abstract: A method for printing on an exposed polymerised thermoplastic or curable layer of the body of a portable data medium, and a portable data medium particularly a chip card, comprising a polymerised layer, are disclosed. The method comprises the steps of mixing a polymerisable thermoplastic or curable binder and at least one light-sensitive compound responsive to laser radiation having a predetermined wavelength in such a way that it changes from a first state to a second coloured state, in order to form a mixture, exposing the mixture to the laser radiation having a predetermined wavelength; and polymerising the mixture to form the polymerised layer of the body of the data medium. The method is particularly suitable for printing on smart cards.

Abstract: A rewritable, color image recording medium composed of a pair of opposed substrates at least one of which is transparent, and an intermediate layer interposed between the substrates. The intermediate layer contains at least one cholesteric liquid crystal compound having a molecular weight of not greater than 2,000 and a glass transition point of at least 35.degree. C., and a photochromic compound. By irradiating the intermediate layer imagewise with the light through the transparent substrate, while maintaining the intermediate layer at such a temperature that the cholesteric liquid crystal compound assumes a cholesteric liquid crystal phase, an image is formed. The image may be fixed by rapidly cooling the recording medium to a temperature lower than the glass transition.

Abstract: A thermal recording medium comprising a ultraviolet absorber precursor represented by formula (1-A) or an image forming compound changing hue and an acid, which is high in thermal sensitivity, recordable with such a low output laser that no ablation takes place even when a thermal heat mode image recording system using a laser is utilized, requiring no different receiving sheet, and excellent in keeping quality: ##STR1## wherein P represents a protecting group for a hydroxyl group which is deblocked by heating to 250.degree. C. or less in the presence of an acid; R.sup.1 and R.sup.2, which may be the same or different, each represents a substitutable group; and 1 and m each represents an integer of 0 to 4.

Abstract: Compositions for making structured color images comprising(a) a soluble pigment precursor which can be transformed to an insoluble pigment by means of chemical, thermal, photolytic or radiation-induced method, and(b) a binder polymer or prepolymer, or a positive or negative resist-type resin which can be structured by crosslinking, polymerization or depolymerization by applying heat or electromagnetic irradiation.The compositions can be applied to optical and thermal recording, printing, and the production of color filters for Liquid Crystal Displays, with high accuracy, high transparency and high stability.

Abstract: A reversible heat-sensitive recording medium has a substrate where a reversible heat-sensitive recording layer and a protective layer are successively formed on top of it. The reversible heat-sensitive recording layer is formed by a reversible heat-sensitive recording material including a leuco dye and a color developing/reducing agent. The color developing/reducing agent is a combination of two kinds of color developing/reducing agents, one with a high color developing ability and the other with high image preservation and stabilization capabilities. The two agents are combined at a ratio between 1:4 to 4:1. Thus a reversible heat-sensitive recording material with a fine color developing ability and high image preservation and stabilization capabilities can be obtained.

Abstract: Describes polymerizable organic compositions of a major amount of a first monomer component which is a polyol(allyl carbonate), e.g., diethylene glycol bis(allyl carbonate), and from about 2 to 35 weight percent of a second monomer component which is an alkoxylated bisphenol (or hydrogenated bisphenol) having acrylate or methacrylate groups, e.g., dimethacrylate of bisphenol A having 25 to 35 ethoxy units. Substantially completely cured polymerizates prepared from such compositions may be used to prepare photochromic articles, e.g., lenses, by incorporating a photochromic substance, e.g., by thermal transfer, into the polymerizate.

Abstract: A composition including a matrix comprised of particles comprised of a core resin and a shell resin thereover, wherein the core resin contains a covalently bonded photosensitive compound, and wherein the shell resin is the continuous phase of the matrix.

Abstract: A photochromic cured product is produced by subjecting a photopolymerizable composition containing(A) a radical-polymerizable monomer,(B) an ultraviolet polymerization initiator having the main absorption in an ultraviolet region and a molar extinction coefficient at 400 nm of 150 lit./(mol.multidot.cm) or more, and(C) a photochromic compound, to an irradiation with an active energy ray having, as the main spectrum, an emission spectrum of 400 nm or more, to cure the composition, whereby the polymerization can be performed easily in a short time and a cured product having an excellent photochromic property can be obtained.

Abstract: Compositions for making structured color images comprising (a) a soluble pigment precursor which can be transformed to an insoluble pigment by means of chemical, thermal, photolytic or radiation-induced method, and (b) a binder polymer or prepolymer, or a positive or negative resist-type resin which can be structured by crosslinking, polymerization or depolymerization by applying heat or electromagnetic irradiation. The compositions can be applied to optical and thermal recording, printing, and the production of color filters for Liquid Crystal Displays, with high accuracy, high transparency and high stability.

Abstract: There is disclosed a color developing resin composition comprising a base polymer, a dialdehyde represented by the general formula OHC--R.sup.1' --CHO, a diamine represented by the general formula H.sub.2 N--R.sup.2' --NH.sub.2 (at least one of R.sup.1' and R.sup.2' is an aromatic group), a compound which produces an acid by light irradiating and a resin which is crosslinked with the acid.

Abstract: Describes polymerizable organic compositions of from about 30 to 95 weight percent of a first monomer component which is an alkoxylated diol, e.g., alkoxylated bisphenol, having acrylate or methacrylate groups, i.e., dimethacrylate of bisphenol A having an average of 1 to 4 ethoxy units, and from about 5 to 70 weight percent of a second monomer component which is an alkoxylated diol, e.g., alkoxylated bisphenol, having acrylate or methacrylate groups, i.e., dimethacrylate of bisphenol A having 25 to 70 ethoxy units. Optionally there may also be present from about 0 to 65 weight percent of at least one monomer component which is selected from: (i) a monoethylenically unsaturated monomer that is polymerizable by free radical initiation; (ii) a bis?(meth)acryloyl-terminated!polyethylene glycol monomer; and (iii) a monomer having at least three terminal ethylenically-unsaturated groups. Substantially completely cured polymerizates prepared from such compositions may be used to prepare photochromic articles, e.g.

Abstract: The invention relates to a light sensing device comprising a spironaphthoxazine dispersed in a layer of gelatin on a base material.

Abstract: A data storage process which includes an erasable high speed, high density, storage medium having a transition metal oxide layer where said oxide layer is capable of undergoing an optically readable chemical change when simultaneously exposed to heat and to light of a selected wavelength. An optically readable image is formed in selected regions of the oxide layer under ambient conditions which include O.sub.2 by simultaneously exposing said layer to heat and to radiation in the blue-green or shorter wavelength spectrum. The image is erased by heating the entire medium using a furnace or by heating selected portions with IR radiation.

Abstract: There is provided an optical memory medium comprising a flat plate modified on the surface thereof by a photolytic residual group, an optical recording apparatus comprising an optical probe having a microscopic aperture on the leading end thereof, a light source, X-Y-Z position control means, and a controller for controlling the apparatus as whole and an apparatus for reading the optical memory medium comprising the optical memory medium, a friction detecting probe, an X-Y-Z position control means and a controller for controlling the apparatus as a whole.

Abstract: An optical material contains a photochromic compound which is expressed in the following general formula (I): ##STR1## where A represents an oxygen atom, a nitrogen atom, or a substituted nitrogen atom, B represents a thiophene ring, benzothiophene ring, pyrrole ring or indole ring, R.sub.1 represents a methyl group, an alkoxy group or a perfluoroalkyl group, R.sub.2 to R.sub.7 represent a hydrogen atom, a halogen atom, a hydroxy group, an alkyl group and the like respectively. This photochromic compound may be bonded with a polymer as a side chain in the position of A.

Abstract: A rhodopsin family protein is inserted into an etalon type cavity having partially reflecting mirrors as principal components having a reflectivity of 50% to less than 100% for light having a wavelength in the 650-800 nm region and a transmissivity of 30% or more for light having a wavelength in the 400-600 nm region to form a photo-controlled spatial modulator. By utilizing a change in the refractive index by light of the photo-sensitive protein, near infrared light of a stronger intensity can be controlled by weaker visible light, and the information contained in the light signal on a two-dimension plane can be rapidly controlled by a light signal of weaker intensity of another two-dimension plane by using an optical switch of a simple construction.

Abstract: An optical memory medium having a transparent substrate, a recording layer and a reflective layer, the recording layer and the reflective layer being formed in this order on the transparent substrate. The recording layer is a diarylethene derivative dispersed in a non-polar polymeric binder. The optical memory medium with such a recording layer fully utilizes advantageous properties of the diarylethene derivative, such as good thermal stability of recorded state, excellent durability against repeated color changes between colored and colorless states, and photosensitive property to semiconductor laser light with a wavelength of 780 nm. The optical memory medium enables high-density recording and non-destructive readout.