US4414319A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Photoconductive member having amorphous layer containing oxygen
Assignee: Canon Inc
•
Filing: 1981-10-29
•
Granted: 1983-11-08
•
Expires: 2001-10-29
Abstract
Abstract A photoconductive member, comprises a support for a photoconductive member and an amorphous layer which is constituted of silicon atoms as matrix containing at least one of hydrogen atom and halogen atom and exhibits photoconductivity, said amorphous layer having a layer region containing oxygen atoms in at least a part thereof, the content of the oxygen atoms in said layer region being distributed unevenly in the direction of the thickness of said layer.
Inventors
- 👤 Shigeru Shirai
- 👤 Junichiro Kanbe
- 👤 Tadaji Fukuda
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-28 01:05
CPC Classifications
G; G03; G03G; G03G5/00; G03G5/02; G03G5/04; G03G5/08; G03G5/082; G03G5/08214; G03G5/08221; G03G5/08228; H; H10; H10F; H10F30/00; H10F30/10; H10F30/15; H10F71/00; H10F71/10; H10F71/103; Y; Y02; Y02E; Y02E10/00; Y02E10/50; Y02P; Y02P70/00; Y02P70/50
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 76
Claim 1
Independent Claim
71 words
A photoconductive member, comprising a support for a photoconductive member and an amorphous layer which comprises silicon atoms as matrix containing at least one of hydrogen atom and halogen atom and exhibits photoconductivity, said amorphous layer having a layer region containing oxygen atom in at least a part thereof, the content of the oxygen atoms in said layer region being distributed unevenly in the direction of the thickness of said layer.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
71 words
A photoconductive member, comprising a support for a photoconductive member and an amorphous layer which comprises silicon atoms as matrix containing at least one of hydrogen atom and halogen atom and exhibits photoconductivity, said amorphous layer having a layer region containing oxygen atom in at least a part thereof, the content of the oxygen atoms in said layer region being distributed unevenly in the direction of the thickness of said layer.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
28 words
A photoconductive member according to claim 1, wherein the layer region has a peak of the content of oxygen atoms distributed in the thickness direction of said layer.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
51 words
A photoconductive member according to claim 1, wherein the distribution profile of the content of oxygen atoms within said layer region in the layer thickness direction has the maximum value of distribution C max on the side of the surface of the amorphous layer opposite to the side of said support.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
21 words
A photoconductive member according to claim 3, wherein the maximum value of distribution C max is 0.3 to 67 atomic %.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
38 words
A photoconductive member according to claim 3, wherein the maximum value of distribution C max is 0.3 to 67 atomic % and the total content of oxygen atoms in the layer region is 0.05 to 30 atomic %.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
40 words
A photoconductive member according to claim 1, wherein the distribution profile of the content of oxygen atoms within the layer region in the layer thickness direction has the maximum value of distribution C max on the side of the support.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
21 words
A photoconductive member according to claim 6, wherein the maximum value of distribution C max is 0.3 to 67 atomic %.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
38 words
A photoconductive member according to claim 6, wherein the maximum value of distribution C max is 0.3 to 67 atomic % and the total content of oxygen atoms in the layer region is 0.05 to 30 atomic %.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
120 words
A photoconductive member according to claim 1, wherein the amorphous layer comprises a lower layer region in which the content of oxygen atoms is distributed substantially uniformly in the layer thickness direction at a distribution content of C 1 , an upper layer region in which the content of oxygen atoms is distributed substantially uniformly in the layer thickness direction at a distribution content of C 2 and an intermediate layer region sandwiched between both of said layers, in which the content of oxygen atoms is distributed substantially uniformly in the layer thickness direction at a distribution content of C 3 , the values of C 1 and C 2 being respectively greater than the value of C 3 .
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
40 words
A photoconductive member according to claim 9, wherein values of the distribution contents C 1 and C 2 range from 11 to 66 atomic %, and a value of the distribution content C 3 from 0.01 to 10 atomic %.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
53 words
A photoconductive member according to claim 9, wherein the total content of oxygen atoms is 0.05 to 30 atomic %, and values of the distribution contents C 1 and C 2 range from 11 to 66 atomic %, and a value of the distribution content C 3 from 0.01 to 10 atomic %.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
20 words
A photoconductive member according to claim 1, wherein the amorphous layer contains an impurity which controlls the electric conduction type.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
14 words
A photoconductive member according to claim 12, wherein the impurity is a p-type impurity.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
23 words
A photoconductive member according to claim 13, wherein the p-type impurity is an element in the group III A of the periodic table.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
23 words
A photoconductive member according to claim 14, wherein the element is selected from the group consisting of B, Al, Ga, In and Tl.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
21 words
A photoconductive member according to claim 13, wherein the content of the p-type impurity is 3×10 -2 atomic % or less.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
14 words
A photoconductive member according to claim 12, wherein the impurity is a n-type impurity.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
23 words
A photoconductive member according to claim 17, wherein the n-type impurity is an element in the group V A of the periodic table.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
23 words
A photoconductive member according to claim 18, wherein the element is selected from the group consisting of N, P, As, Sb and Bi.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
18 words
A photoconductive member according to claim 1, wherein the amorphous layer has a thickness of 3 to 100μ.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
22 words
A photoconductive member according to claim 1, wherein there is further provided an intermediate layer between the support and the amorphous layer.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
15 words
A photoconductive member according to claim 21, wherein the intermediate layer is a barrier layer.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
41 words
A photoconductive member according to claim 21, wherein the intermediate layer comprises an amorphous material comprising silicon atoms as matrix and at least one atom selected from the group consisting of carbon atom, nitrogen atom and oxygen atom as constituent elements.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
25 words
A photoconductive member according to claim 23, wherein the amorphous material further contains at least one of hydrogen atom and halogen atom as constituent elements.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
26 words
A photoconductive member according to claim 23, wherein the amorphous material is represented by the formula Si a C 1-a wherein a is 0.1 to 0.4.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
36 words
A photoconductive member according to claim 23, wherein the amorphous material is represented by the formula (Si b C 1-b ) c H 1-c wherein b is 0.1 to 0.5 and c is 0.6 to 0.99.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
41 words
A photoconductive member according to claim 23, wherein the amorphous material is represented by the formula (Si d C 1-d ) e X 1-e wherein X represents a halogen atom, d is 0.1 to 0.47 and e is 0.8 to 0.99.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
41 words
A photoconductive member according to claim 23, wherein the amorphous material is represented by the formula (Si f C 1-f ) g (H+X) 1-g wherein X represents a halogen atom, f is 0.1 to 0.47 and g is 0.8 to 0.99.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
26 words
A photoconductive member according to claim 23, wherein the amorphous material is represented by the formula Si h N 1-h wherein h is 0.43 to 0.6.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
36 words
A photoconductive member according to claim 23, wherein the amorphous material is represented by the formula (Si i N 1-i ) j H 1-j wherein i is 0.43 to 0.6 and j is 0.65 to 0.98.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
41 words
A photoconductive member according to claim 23, wherein the amorphous material is represented by the formula (Si k N 1-k ) l X 1-l wherein X represents a halogen atom, k is 0.43 to 0.60 and l is 0.8 to 0.99.
Claim 33
Dependent Claim
41 words
A photoconductive member according to claim 23, wherein the amorphous material is represented by the formula (Si m N 1-m ) n (H+X) 1-n wherein X represents a halogen atom, m is 0.43 to 0.60 and n is 0.8 to 0.99.
Claim 34
Dependent Claim
26 words
A photoconductive member according to claim 23, wherein the amorphous material is represented by the formula Si o O 1-o wherein o is 0.33 to 0.40.
Claim 35
Dependent Claim
36 words
A photoconductive member according to claim 23, wherein the amorphous material is represented by the formula (Si p O 1-p ) q H 1-q wherein p is 0.33 to 0.40 and q is 0.65 to 0.98.
Claim 36
Dependent Claim
41 words
A photoconductive member according to claim 23, wherein the amorphous material is represented by the formula (Si r O 1-r ) s X 1-s wherein X represents a halogen atom, r is 0.33 to 0.40 and s is 0.80 to 0.99.
Claim 37
Dependent Claim
41 words
A photoconductive member according to claim 23, wherein the amorphous material is represented by the formula (Si t O 1-t ) u (H+X) 1-u wherein X represents a halogen atom, t is 0.33 to 0.40 and u is 0.80 to 0.99.
Claim 38
Dependent Claim
19 words
A photoconductive member according to claim 21, wherein the intermediate layer is constituted of an electrically insulating metal oxide.
Claim 39
Dependent Claim
19 words
A photoconductive member according to claim 21, wherein the intermediate layer has a thickness of 30 to 1000 Å.
Claim 40
Dependent Claim
19 words
A photoconductive member according to claim 1, wherein there is further provided an upper layer on the amorphous layer.
Claim 41
Dependent Claim
15 words
A photoconductive member according to claim 39, wherein the upper layer is a barrier layer.
Claim 42
Dependent Claim
41 words
A photoconductive member according to claim 39, wherein the upper layer comprises an amorphous material comprising silicon atoms as matrix and at least one atom selected from the group consisting of carbon atom, nitrogen atom and oxygen atom as constituent elements.
Claim 43
Dependent Claim
25 words
A photoconductive member according to claim 41, wherein the amorphous material further contains at least one of hydrogen atom and halogen atom as constituent elements.
Claim 44
Dependent Claim
26 words
A photoconductive member according to claim 41, wherein the amorphous material is represented by the formula Si a C 1-a wherein a is 0.1 to 0.4.
Claim 45
Dependent Claim
36 words
A photoconductive member according to claim 41, wherein the amorphous material is represented by the formula (Si b C 1-b ) c H 1-c wherein b is 0.1 to 0.5 and c is 0.6 to 0.99.
Claim 46
Dependent Claim
41 words
A photoconductive member according to claim 41, wherein the amorphous material is represented by the formula (Si d C 1-d ) e X 1-e wherein X represents a halogen atom, d is 0.1 to 0.47 and e is 0.8 to 0.99.
Claim 47
Dependent Claim
41 words
A photoconductive member according to claim 41, wherein the amorphous material is represented by the formula (Si f C 1-f ) g (H+X) 1-g wherein X represents a halogen atom, f is 0.1 to 0.47 and g is 0.8 to 0.99.
Claim 48
Dependent Claim
26 words
A photoconductive member according to claim 41, wherein the amorphous material is represented by the formula Si h N 1-h wherein h is 0.43 to 0.6.
Claim 49
Dependent Claim
36 words
A photoconductive member according to claim 41, wherein the amorphous material is represented by the formula (Si i N 1-i ) j H 1-j wherein i is 0.43 to 0.6 and j is 0.65 to 0.98.
Claim 50
Dependent Claim
41 words
A photoconductive member according to claim 41, wherein the amorphous material is represented by the formula (Si k N 1-k ) l X 1-l wherein X represents a halogen atom, k is 0.43 to 0.60 and l is 0.8 to 0.99.
Claim 51
Dependent Claim
41 words
A photoconductive member according to claim 41, wherein the amorphous material is represented by the formula (Si m N 1-m ) n (H+X) 1-n wherein X represents a halogen atom, m is 0.43 to 0.60 and n is 0.8 to 0.99.
Claim 52
Dependent Claim
26 words
A photoconductive member according to claim 41, wherein the amorphous material is represented by the formula Si o O 1-0 wherein o is 0.33 to 0.40.
Claim 53
Dependent Claim
36 words
A photoconductive member according to claim 41, wherein the amorphous material is represented by the formula (Si p O 1-p ) q H 1-q wherein p is 0.33 to 0.40 and Q is 0.65 to 0.98.
Claim 54
Dependent Claim
41 words
A photoconductive member according to claim 41, wherein the amorphous material is represented by the formula (Si r O 1-r ) s X 1-s wherein X represents a halogen atom, r is 0.33 to 0.40 and s is 0.80 to 0.99.
Claim 55
Dependent Claim
41 words
A photoconductive member according to claim 41, wherein the amorphous material is represented by the formula (Si t O 1-t ) u (H+X) 1-u wherein X represents a halogen atom, t is 0.33 to 0.40 and u is 0.80 to 0.99.
Claim 56
Dependent Claim
19 words
A photoconductive member according to claim 39, wherein the upper layer is constituted of an electrically insulating metal oxide.
Claim 57
Dependent Claim
19 words
A photoconductive member according to claim 39, wherein the upper layer has a thickness of 30 Å to 5μ.
Claim 58
Dependent Claim
23 words
A photoconductive member according to claim 1, wherein the content of hydrogen atom in the amorphous layer is 1 to 40 atomic %.
Claim 59
Dependent Claim
23 words
A photoconductive member according to claim 1, wherein the content of halogen atom in the amorphous layer is 1 to 40 atomic %.
Claim 60
Dependent Claim
20 words
A photoconductive member according to claim 1, wherein both hydrogen atom and halogen atom are contained in the amorphous layer.
Claim 61
Dependent Claim
24 words
A photoconductive member according to claim 59, wherein the sum of contents of hydrogen atom and halogen atom is 1 to 40 atomic %.
Claim 62
Dependent Claim
19 words
A photoconductive member according to claim 60, wherein the content of hydrogen atoms is 19 atomic % or less.
Claim 63
Dependent Claim
23 words
A photoconductive member according to claim 1, wherein the content of oxygen atom in the layer region is 0.05 to 30 atomic %.
Claim 64
Dependent Claim
56 words
A photoconductive member, comprising a support for a photoconductive member and an amorphous layer which comprises silicon atoms as matrix and exhibits photoconductivity, said amorphous layer containing oxygen atoms and the distribution profile of the content of oxygen atoms being uneven in the direction of the layer thickness and having a maximum value C max .
Claim 65
Dependent Claim
56 words
A photoconductive member, comprising a support for a photoconductive member and an amorphous layer which comprises silicon atoms as matrix and exhibits photoconductivity, said amorphous layer containing oxygen atoms and the distribution profile of the content of oxygen atoms being uneven in the direction of the layer thickness and having a maximum value C max .
Claim 66
Dependent Claim
23 words
A photoconductive member according to claim 63, wherein the content of oxygen atom in the amorphous layer is 0.05 to 30 atomic %.
Claim 67
Dependent Claim
31 words
A photoconductive member according to claim 63, wherein the amorphous layer further contains at least one atom selected from the group consisting of hydrogen atom and halogen atom as constituent elements.
Claim 68
Dependent Claim
26 words
A photoconductive member according to claim 63, wherein the maximum value C max in the content distribution of oxygen atom is 0.3 to 67 atomic %.
Claim 69
Dependent Claim
28 words
A photoconductive member according to claim 1 or claim 63, wherein there is at least one portion in which the content distribution of oxygen atom is continuously decreased.
Claim 70
Dependent Claim
122 words
A photoconductive member according to claim 63, wherein the amorphous layer is constituted of a lower layer region in which the content of oxygen atom is distributed substantially uniformly in the layer thickness direction at a distribution content of C 1 , an upper layer region in which the content of oxygen atom is distributed substantially uniformly in the layer thickness direction at a distribution content of C 2 and an intermediate layer region sandwiched between both of said layers, in which the content of oxygen atom is distributed substantially uniformly in the layer thickness direction at a distribution content of C 3 , the values of C 1 and C 2 being respectively greater than the value of C 3 .
Claim 71
Dependent Claim
19 words
A photoconductive member according to claim 9 or claim 68, wherein C 1 and C 2 are substantially equal.
Claim 72
Dependent Claim
18 words
A photoconductive member according to claim 9 or claim 68, wherein C 1 and C 2 are different.
Claim 73
Dependent Claim
20 words
A photoconductive member according to claim 68, wherein the amorphous layer contains an impurity which controls the electric conduction type.
Claim 74
Dependent Claim
19 words
A photoconductive member according to claim 68, wherein the amorphous layer has a thickness of 3 to 100 microns.
Claim 75
Dependent Claim
22 words
A photoconductive member according to claim 68, wherein there is further provided an intermediate layer between the support and the amorphous layer.
Claim 76
Dependent Claim
19 words
A photoconductive member according to claim 68, wherein there is further provided an upper layer on the amorphous layer.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1986-11-07 | 1987-05-09 | 1987-11-08 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1990-11-07 | 1991-05-09 | 1991-11-08 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1994-11-07 | 1995-05-09 | 1995-11-08 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |