US4722595A — Process for displaying optically readable informa…

Claim 1

Independent Claim 150 words

A process for recording, storing and displaying optically readable information on a carrier comprising effecting a thermal energy change on a polymer mixture P as the information carrier and said change on the polymer mixture P, said polymer mixture P comprising at least two different, mutually compatible polymers P 1 and P 2 , which differ in their refractive indexes by at least 0.01, and having a lower critical solution temperature (LCST), the optically differentiable modification of the information carrier being brought about by phase transition from a compatible polymer mixture below the LCST to demixed polymers P 1 and P 2 above the LCST or the reverse of this transition, wherein, in the demixed state above the LCST, the two polymer phases are present side-by-side, at least one polymer phase of which has a domain size in the range of 10 nm 2 to 10 8 nm 2 .

Claim 2

Dependent Claim 150 words

A process for recording, storing and displaying optically readable information on a carrier comprising effecting a thermal energy change on a polymer mixture P as the information carrier and said change on the polymer mixture P, said polymer mixture P comprising at least two different, mutually compatible polymers P 1 and P 2 , which differ in their refractive indexes by at least 0.01, and having a lower critical solution temperature (LCST), the optically differentiable modification of the information carrier being brought about by phase transition from a compatible polymer mixture below the LCST to demixed polymers P 1 and P 2 above the LCST or the reverse of this transition, wherein, in the demixed state above the LCST, the two polymer phases are present side-by-side, at least one polymer phase of which has a domain size in the range of 10 nm 2 to 10 8 nm 2 .

Claim 3

Dependent Claim 46 words

The process of claim 1, wherein the transition from a one-phase region, characterized by polymer compatibility, to a two-phase region, characterized by demixing, is brought about by an increase in temperature and the transition in the reverse direction is brought about by a decrease in temperature.

Claim 4

Dependent Claim 17 words

The process of claim 1, wherein the polymers differ in their refractive index by at least 0.03.

Claim 5

Dependent Claim 16 words

The process of claim 1, wherein the polymer mixture P has an LCST below 250° C.

Claim 6

Dependent Claim 16 words

The process of claim 1, wherein the polymer mixture P has an LCST below 140° C.

Claim 7

Dependent Claim 16 words

The process of claim 1, wherein the polymer mixture P has an LCST below 100° C.

Claim 8

Dependent Claim 42 words

The process of claim 1, wherein, on increasing the temperature from 10° C. below the LCST to 10° C. above the LCST, light transmission is reduced by at least 20%, the determination being carried out on a 0.1 mm thick, unpigmented sample.

Claim 9

Dependent Claim 33 words

The process of claim 7, wherein the transmission of the sample is more than 80% in the temperature range from 10° C. below the LCST to at least 50° C. below the LCST.

Claim 10

Dependent Claim 23 words

The process of claim 1, wherein the transmission is reduced by at least 20% in a temperature interval of less than 10° C.

Claim 11

Dependent Claim 29 words

The process of claim 1, wherein input of information by application of energy is accomplished by means of a temperature change at a rate of more than 1° C./sec.

Claim 12

Dependent Claim 27 words

The process of claim 10, wherein the input of information is accomplished by means of a temperature change at a rate of more than 10° C./1 sec.

Claim 13

Dependent Claim 27 words

The process of claim 10, wherein the input of information is accomplished by means of a temperature change at a rate of more than 10° C./0.1 sec.

Claim 14

Dependent Claim 29 words

The process of claim 1, wherein at least one polymer phase has a domain size in the range of 10 2 nm 2 to 10 6 nm 2 .

Claim 15

Dependent Claim 22 words

The process of claim 1, wherein the glass transition temperature T g of the compatible polymer mixture P is below 150° C.

Claim 16

Dependent Claim 22 words

The process of claim 14, wherein the glass transition temperature T g of the compatible polymer mixture P is below 100° C.

Claim 17

Dependent Claim 22 words

The process of claim 14, wherein the glass transition temperature T g of the compatible polymer mixture P is below 50° C.

Claim 18

Dependent Claim 22 words

The process of claim 14, wherein the glass transition temperature T g of the compatible polymer mixture P is below 0° C.

Claim 19

Dependent Claim 22 words

The process of claim 14, wherein the glass transition temperature T g of the compatible polymer mixture P is below -50° C.

Claim 20

Dependent Claim 22 words

The process of claim 1, wherein one or more low molecular weight substances W are further added to the polymer mixture P.

Claim 21

Dependent Claim 31 words

The process of claim 19, wherein 0.1-1,000 weight percent, based on the polymers P 1 and P 2 , of low molecular weight substance is added to the polymer mixture P.

Claim 22

Dependent Claim 23 words

The process of claim 20, wherein 5-300 weight percent of a low molecular weight substance W is added to the polymer mixture P.

Claim 23

Dependent Claim 21 words

The process of claim 19, wherein the low molecular weight substance W has a solid point of less than 10° C.

Claim 24

Dependent Claim 29 words

The process of claim 1, wherein the temperature difference between the LCST and the glass transition temperature T g of the polymer mixture P is at least 20° C.

Claim 25

Dependent Claim 25 words

The process of claim 1, wherein the glass transition temperature T g of the polymer mixture P is at least 50° C. below the LCST.

Claim 26

Dependent Claim 25 words

The process of claim 24, wherein the glass transition temperature T g of the polymer mixture P is at least 100° C. below the LCST.

Claim 27

Dependent Claim 28 words

The process of claim 19, wherein the low molecular weight substance W is a solvent for at least one of the polymers P 1 or P 2 .

Claim 28

Dependent Claim 28 words

The process of claim 19, wherein the low molecular weight substance W does not have the same refractive index as the polymers P 1 and P 2 .

Claim 29

Dependent Claim 30 words

The process of claim 19, wherein at least one of the two polymers P 1 and P 2 is insoluble in water at temperatures ranging from 0° to 100° C.

Claim 30

Dependent Claim 18 words

The process of claim 19, wherein the polymers, which form polymer mixture P, are not soluble in water.

Claim 31

Dependent Claim 24 words

The process of claim 1, wherein at least one of the polymers P 1 and P 2 has a carbon content greater than 80%.

Claim 32

Dependent Claim 40 words

The process of claim 1, wherein at least one of the polymers forming the polymer mixture P contains at least 5 weight percent of one or more groups with a double bond or a triple bond on a carbon atom.

Claim 33

Dependent Claim 35 words

The process of claim 1, wherein at least one of the polymers forming the polymer mixture P contains more than 10 weight percent of covalently bonded halogen from the group of fluorine, chlorine or bromine.

Claim 34

Dependent Claim 34 words

The process of claim 1, wherein at least one of the polymers forming the polymer mixture P contains more than 10 weight percent of covalently bonded chalcogen from the group of oxygen or sulfur.

Claim 35

Dependent Claim 29 words

The process of claim 1, wherein the ratio of the halogen content in weight percent in polymer P 1 to that in polymer P 2 is greater than 1.5:1.

Claim 36

Dependent Claim 29 words

The process of claim 31, wherein the ratio of the oxygen content in weight percent in polymer P 1 to that in polymer P 2 is greater than 1.2:1.

Claim 37

Dependent Claim 36 words

The process of claim 1, wherein at least one of the polymers forming the polymer mixture P represents a copolymer, in which the monomer present as the main component constitutes no more than 95 weight percent.

Claim 38

Dependent Claim 31 words

The process of claim 1, wherein the polymer mixture P has a single glass transition temperature T g and no crystalline regions at temperatures ranging from room temperature to the LCST.

Claim 39

Dependent Claim 26 words

The process of claim 1, wherein the polymer mixture P contains means of protection against aging or UV in amounts of 0.01 to 10 weight percent.

Claim 40

Dependent Claim 27 words

The process of claim 1, wherein at least one of the two polymers P 1 or P 2 has an average molecular weight of at least 2,000.

Claim 41

Dependent Claim 22 words

The process of claim 39, wherein both polymers P 1 or P 2 have an average molecular weight of at least 10,000.

Claim 42

Dependent Claim 30 words

The process of claim 39, wherein at least one of the two polymers P 1 and P 2 has an average molecular weight in the range of 2,000 to 500,000.

Claim 43

Dependent Claim 30 words

The process of claim 39, wherein at least one of the two polymers P 1 and P 2 has an average molecular weight in the range of 10,000 to 500,000.

Claim 44

Dependent Claim 24 words

The process of claim 1, wherein at least 0.1 weight % of polymer P 1 is covalently bonded to the polymer P 2 .

Claim 45

Dependent Claim 22 words

The process of claim 43, wherein polymer P 1 is covalently linked with polymer P 2 through block polymerization or graft polymerization.

Claim 46

Dependent Claim 36 words

The process of claim 1, wherein the mixing ratio of polymer P 1 to polymer P 2 in the polymer mixture P lies in the range of 98:2 parts by weight to 2:98 parts by weight.

Claim 47

Dependent Claim 31 words

The process of claim 45, wherein the mixing ratio of polymer P 1 to polymer P 2 lies in the range of 90:10 parts by weight to 10:90 parts by weight.

Claim 48

Dependent Claim 30 words

The process of claim 45, wherein the mixing ratio of polymer P 1 to P 2 lies in the range of 80:20 parts by weight to 20:80 parts by weight.

Claim 49

Dependent Claim 11 words

The process of claim 1, wherein the polymer mixture is dyed.

Claim 50

Dependent Claim 14 words

The process of claim 48, wherein a soluble dye is used for the dyeing.

Claim 51

Dependent Claim 37 words

The process of claim 48, wherein a coloring matter with pigment particles is used, the diameter of which does not exceed 50% of the average diameter observed in the polymer phase domains, which are formed by demixing.

Claim 52

Dependent Claim 17 words

The process of claim 1, wherein the polymer mixture P is used directly without a supporting base.

Claim 53

Dependent Claim 15 words

The process of claim 1, wherein the polymer mixture P is on a supporting base.

Claim 54

Dependent Claim 15 words

The process of claim 52, wherein the polymer mixture P adheres to a supporting base.

Claim 55

Dependent Claim 19 words

The process of claim 52, wherein the polymer mixture P is embedded, using a supporting base and a covering.

Claim 56

Dependent Claim 25 words

The process of claim 52, wherein the supporting base consists of a transparent, inorganic material, selected from the group of silicate glass or chalcogenide glass.

Claim 57

Dependent Claim 13 words

The process of claim 52, wherein the supporting base comprises a transparent plastic.

Claim 58

Dependent Claim 37 words

The process of claim 56, wherein the transparent plastic is a polymer selected from the group consisting of acrylic resins, cellulose hydrate, regenerated cellulose, polyamide, polyester, polyvinylchloride, polyolefin, polyglycol, polyacetal, polysulfone, polysulfide, polymethane, polyether, polycarbonate and 4-methyl-1-pentene.

Claim 59

Dependent Claim 12 words

Process as defined in claim 52, wherein the supporting base is dyed.

Claim 60

Dependent Claim 30 words

The process of claim 1, wherein the polymer mixture P is applied to or embedded in a supporting base and has the geometric form of a plate, disk, or tape.

Claim 61

Dependent Claim 20 words

The process of claim 1, wherein the polymer mixture P is used in a thickness of less than 1 mm.

Claim 62

Dependent Claim 20 words

The process of claim 60, wherein the polymer mixture P is used in a thickness of less than 0.1 mm.

Claim 63

Dependent Claim 20 words

The process of claim 60, wherein the polymer mixture P is used in a thickness of less than 0.01 mm.

Claim 64

Dependent Claim 20 words

The process of claim 1, wherein the polymer mixture P is incorporated in a material functioning as a matrix M.

Claim 65

Dependent Claim 30 words

The process of claim 63, wherein the refractive index of the material forming the matrix M is identical with the refractive index of the polymer mixture P below the LCST.

Claim 66

Dependent Claim 50 words

The process of claim 52, wherein when layers that do not consist of polymer mixture P are used for embedding in the form of a matrix or as a supporting base or as a covering layer, the thickness of at least one of these layers does not exceed 0.5 mm.

Claim 67

Dependent Claim 15 words

The process of claim 1, wherein the polymer mixture P is used as a fiber.

Claim 68

Dependent Claim 37 words

The process of claim 63, wherein the polymer mixture P is incorporated in the form of discrete particles with a diameter in the range of 20 nm to 200 μm in a material functioning as a matrix.

Claim 69

Dependent Claim 35 words

The process of claim 67, wherein said polymer mixture P is incorporated in the form of discrete particles with a diameter of 50 nm to 50 μm in a matrix M functioning as a matrix.

Claim 70

Dependent Claim 21 words

The process of claim 1, wherein at least one polymer component of the polymer mixture P is produced by emulsion polymerization.

Claim 71

Dependent Claim 24 words

The process of claim 1, wherein both polymer components P 1 and P 2 of the polymer mixture P are produced by emulsion polymerization.

Claim 72

Dependent Claim 44 words

The process of claim 70, wherein the emulsion polymerization is carried out according to the core-shell principle, with a latex, built up largely from polymer component P 1 , functioning as a seed latex for the emulsion polymerization of polymer component P 2 .

Claim 73

Dependent Claim 50 words

The process of claim 71, wherein the emulsion polymerization is carried out in a process, which comprises three consecutive steps, the polymerization to polymer component P 1 , to polymer component P 2 and to polymer component PM, PM being a polymeric material which is compatible with the matrix M.

Claim 74

Dependent Claim 35 words

The process of claim 1, wherein the following condition is fulfilled: η D matrix>η D polymer P 1 (Δη>0.01) η D matrix<η D polymer P 2 (Δη>0.01) η D matrix≃η D polymer mixture P (Δη<0.01)

Claim 75

Dependent Claim 40 words

The process of claim 1, wherein the polymer mixture P, or the whole of the system containing the polymer mixture P, is maintained at a working temperature no more than 20° C. below the LCST, before the information is introduced.

Claim 76

Dependent Claim 29 words

The process of claim 1, wherein the cloudiness of polymer mixture P, produced by exceeding the LCST, is frozen-in by cooling at a rate of at least -10° C./sec.

Claim 77

Dependent Claim 38 words

The process of claim 1, wherein the cloudiness, produced by exceeding the LCST, is deleted once again by heating at a temperature, 20° C. to 1° C. below the LCST for a period of less than 1 hour.

Claim 78

Dependent Claim 18 words

The process of claim 1, wherein the information, perceived as cloudiness of polymer mixture P, is entered digitally.

Claim 79

Dependent Claim 14 words

The process of claim 1, wherein the information is read with an optical device.

Claim 80

Dependent Claim 13 words

The process of claim 1, wherein the information is read with a photocell.

Claim 81

Dependent Claim 116 words

A process for recording, storing and displaying optically readable information on a carrier, comprising effecting a thermal energy change on a polymer mixture P as the information carrier and optically reading the effects of said change on the polymer mixture P, said polymer mixture P comprising a carbonyl group-containing polymer P 1 and a halogen-containing polymer P 2 , which differ in their refractive indexes by at least 0.01, and having a lower critical solution temperature (LCST), the optically differentiable modification of the information carrier being brought about by phase transition from a compatible polymer mixture below the LCST to demixed polymers P 1 and P 2 above the LCST or the reverse of this transition.

Claim 82

Dependent Claim 116 words

A process for recording, storing and displaying optically readable information on a carrier, comprising effecting a thermal energy change on a polymer mixture P as the information carrier and optically reading the effects of said change on the polymer mixture P, said polymer mixture P comprising a carbonyl group-containing polymer P 1 and a halogen-containing polymer P 2 , which differ in their refractive indexes by at least 0.01, and having a lower critical solution temperature (LCST), the optically differentiable modification of the information carrier being brought about by phase transition from a compatible polymer mixture below the LCST to demixed polymers P 1 and P 2 above the LCST or the reverse of this transition.

Annuity Stage	Window Opens	Payment Deadline	Surcharge Period Until	Estimated Fee	Status
3.5 Years (Year 4)	1991-02-01	1991-08-03	1992-02-02	$2000.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8)	1995-02-01	1995-08-03	1996-02-02	$3760.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12)	1999-02-01	1999-08-03	2000-02-02	$7700.00	Window Closed / Lapsed

Process for displaying optically readable information

Abstract

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