US4379827A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Imaging structure with tellurium metal film and energy sensitive material thereon
Assignee: Energy Conversion Devices Inc
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Filing: 1973-04-12
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Granted: 1983-04-12
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Expires: 1993-04-12
Abstract
Abstract A structure, and method, for producing images such as microform, particularly, microfilm. The structure in its preferred form comprises a flexible substrate having a film, layer or coating of a metal, or metal-like, image forming material on at least one surface thereof. The image forming material, in turn, is provided with a film, layer or coating of an energy sensitive material. The structure is characterized in that it can be exposed to actinic radiation, for example, and developed in a fraction of a second to provide a dry microform having high acuity, contrast and resolution, excellent archival properties, and, significantly, in the case of positive working energy sensitive materials, unique add-on capabilities. The structure and method also have utility in the graphic arts field.
Inventors
- 👤 Robert W. Hallman
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-07 23:02
CPC Classifications
G; G03; G03F; G03F1/00; G03F1/54; G03F1/50
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 5
Claim 1
Independent Claim
239 words
A structure for producing images comprising a substrate, a thin film of a metallic or metallic-like image forming material comprising tellurium or a tellurium containing composition on a surface of the substrate, said image forming material being characterized in that it is opaque and is easily soluble in a solvent consisting essentially of a dilute aqueous solution of an alkali metal hypochlorite, and a thin film of an energy sensitive material on the film of image forming material, said energy sensitive material being characterized in that it is capable upon the application of energy of changing between two states, one of which is a state in which the energy sensitive material is substantially soluble or permeable with respect to the aforementioned solvent in which the image forming material is easily soluble and the other being a state in which the energy sensitive material is substantially insoluble or impermeable with respect to said solvent, the film of energy sensitive material and the film of image forming material and the thinnesses thereof being such that the change in the state of the energy sensitive material upon the application of energy thereto and the essentially simultaneous dissolution in said solvent of both the energy sensitive material in those areas where it is in a substantially soluble or permeable state and the image forming material underlying said areas, can together, take place in substantially less than one minute to provide an imaged product.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
239 words
A structure for producing images comprising a substrate, a thin film of a metallic or metallic-like image forming material comprising tellurium or a tellurium containing composition on a surface of the substrate, said image forming material being characterized in that it is opaque and is easily soluble in a solvent consisting essentially of a dilute aqueous solution of an alkali metal hypochlorite, and a thin film of an energy sensitive material on the film of image forming material, said energy sensitive material being characterized in that it is capable upon the application of energy of changing between two states, one of which is a state in which the energy sensitive material is substantially soluble or permeable with respect to the aforementioned solvent in which the image forming material is easily soluble and the other being a state in which the energy sensitive material is substantially insoluble or impermeable with respect to said solvent, the film of energy sensitive material and the film of image forming material and the thinnesses thereof being such that the change in the state of the energy sensitive material upon the application of energy thereto and the essentially simultaneous dissolution in said solvent of both the energy sensitive material in those areas where it is in a substantially soluble or permeable state and the image forming material underlying said areas, can together, take place in substantially less than one minute to provide an imaged product.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
202 words
A structure for producing images consisting essentially of, a thin, flexible substrate, a thin film on the substrate of a metallic or metallic-like image forming material selected from the group consisting of tellurium and a tellurium-containing composition wherein tellurium comprises at least about 50%, by weight, of the composition, said image forming material being characterized in that it is opaque and is readily soluble in an aqueous solution of an alkali metal hypochlorite, and a thin film of an energy sensitive material on the film of image forming material, said energy sensitive material being characterized in that upon the application of energy to selected areas thereof, the energy exposed areas of the energy sensitive material are changed to a state wherein they are readily soluble in said aqueous solution of an alkali metal hypochlorite, the film of energy sensitive material and the film of image forming material and the thinnesses thereof being such that the change in the solubility of the energy exposed areas thereof and the dissolution of said areas and the image forming material underlying said areas by an aqueous solution of an alkali metal hypochlorite takes place substantially simultaneously in less than one minute to provide an imaged product.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
202 words
A structure for producing images consisting essentially of, a thin, flexible substrate, a thin film on the substrate of a metallic or metallic-like image forming material selected from the group consisting of tellurium and a tellurium-containing composition wherein tellurium comprises at least about 50%, by weight, of the composition, said image forming material being characterized in that it is opaque and is readily soluble in an aqueous solution of an alkali metal hypochlorite, and a thin film of an energy sensitive material on the film of image forming material, said energy sensitive material being characterized in that upon the application of energy to selected areas thereof, the energy exposed areas of the energy sensitive material are changed to a state wherein they are readily soluble in said aqueous solution of an alkali metal hypochlorite, the film of energy sensitive material and the film of image forming material and the thinnesses thereof being such that the change in the solubility of the energy exposed areas thereof and the dissolution of said areas and the image forming material underlying said areas by an aqueous solution of an alkali metal hypochlorite takes place substantially simultaneously in less than one minute to provide an imaged product.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
15 words
A structure according to claim 1 wherein the energy sensitive material is an o-quinone diazide.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1986-04-11 | 1986-10-11 | 1987-04-12 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1990-04-11 | 1990-10-11 | 1991-04-12 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1994-04-11 | 1994-10-11 | 1995-04-12 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |