US3655971A
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Imaging system
Assignee: Xerox Corp
•
Filing: 1969-08-12
•
Granted: 1972-04-11
•
Expires: 1989-08-12
Abstract
Abstract A system wherein a film of liquid crystalline material is exposed to ultraviolet radiation thereby producing a visible image.
Inventors
- 👤 Werner E L Haas
- 👤 James E Adams
- 👤 James H Becker
- 👤 Joseph J Wysocki
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-25 15:10
CPC Classifications
G; G02; G02F; G02F1/00; G02F1/01; G02F1/13; G02F1/132; G03; G03C; G03C1/00; G03C1/72; G03C1/73
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 57
Claim 1
Independent Claim
53 words
An imaging method comprising: providing a film comprising a cholesteric liquid crystalline material; providing said material in its aligned state; and, exposing in imagewise configuration said film to ultraviolet electromagnetic radiation thereby producing a visible image on the film material and at least in part changing the chemical composition of said film material.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
53 words
An imaging method comprising: providing a film comprising a cholesteric liquid crystalline material; providing said material in its aligned state; and, exposing in imagewise configuration said film to ultraviolet electromagnetic radiation thereby producing a visible image on the film material and at least in part changing the chemical composition of said film material.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
20 words
The imaging method of claim 1 wherein said ultraviolet radiation comprises radiation of wavelengths of less than about 3,000 A.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
13 words
The method of claim 1 wherein said film is provided on a substrate.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
22 words
The method of claim 1 wherein said film is of a thickness in the range between about 0.1 and about 1,000 microns.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
22 words
The method of claim 1 wherein said film is of a thickness in the range between about 1 and about 50 microns.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
45 words
The method of claim 1 wherein said film is selectively exposed to ultraviolet radiation of a plurality of different total exposures in a plurality of different areas, whereby an image is produced having a plurality of different colors in said different areas of selective exposure.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
17 words
The method of claim 1 wherein the exposure in imagewise configuration is performed using an optical mask.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
21 words
The method of claim 7 wherein the optical mask comprises a transparency having different areas of different transmissivity to ultraviolet radiation.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
36 words
A method comprising the method of claim 1 and physically remixing the material comprising said liquid crystalline film thereby destroying the visible image thereon and thereby providing the film in its aligned state suitable for re-exposure.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
18 words
The method of claim 3 wherein said substrate is sufficiently transparent to view the liquid crystalline material therethrough.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
31 words
The method of claim 1 wherein said liquid crystalline material comprises a material selected from the group consisting of: cholesteryl iodide, cholesteryl bromide, cholesteryl chloride, cholesteryl nonanoate, and oleyl cholesteryl carbonate.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
41 words
The method of claim 1 wherein the film is exposed under conditions wherein the cholesteric liquid crystalline material is outside of its cholesteric liquid crystalline state, and it is thereafter brought into said liquid crystalline state whereupon the image becomes visible.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
14 words
The method of claim 1 wherein said visible image is a permanently visible image.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
67 words
An imaging method comprising: providing a film comprising a cholesteric liquid crystalline material; providing said material in its unaligned state; and exposing in imagewise configuration said film to ultraviolet electromagnetic radiation thereby producing a latent image on the film material and at least in part changing the chemical composition of said film material; and developing said latent image into a visible image by heating the exposed film.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
67 words
An imaging method comprising: providing a film comprising a cholesteric liquid crystalline material; providing said material in its unaligned state; and exposing in imagewise configuration said film to ultraviolet electromagnetic radiation thereby producing a latent image on the film material and at least in part changing the chemical composition of said film material; and developing said latent image into a visible image by heating the exposed film.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
19 words
The imaging method of claim 14 wherein said ultraviolet radiation comprises radiation of wavelengths of less than about 3,000.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
13 words
The method of claim 14 wherein said film is provided on a substrate.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
18 words
The method of claim 16 wherein said substrate is sufficiently transparent to view the liquid crystalline material therethrough.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
22 words
The method of claim 14 wherein said film is of a thickness in the range between about 0.1 and about 1,000 microns.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
22 words
The method of claim 14 wherein said film is of a thickness in the range between about 1 and about 50 microns.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
31 words
The method of claim 14 wherein said liquid crystalline material comprises a material selected from the group consisting of: cholesteryl iodide, cholesteryl bromide, cholesteryl chloride, cholesteryl nonanoate, and oleyl cholesteryl carbonate.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
45 words
The method of claim 14 wherein said film is selectively exposed to ultraviolet radiation of a plurality of different total exposures in a plurality of different areas whereby an image is produced having a plurality of different colors in said different areas of selective exposure.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
17 words
The method of claim 14 wherein the exposure in imagewise configuration is performed using an optical mask.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
21 words
The method of claim 22 wherein the optical mask comprises a transparency having different areas of different transmissivity to ultraviolet radiation.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
35 words
A method comprising the method of claim 14, and physically remixing the material comprising said liquid crystalline film thereby destroying the visible image thereon and providing the film in its unaligned state suitable for re-exposure.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
41 words
The method of claim 14 wherein the film is exposed under conditions wherein the cholesteric liquid crystalline material is outside of its cholesteric liquid crystalline state, and it is thereafter brought into said liquid crystalline state whereupon the image becomes visible.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
14 words
The method of claim 14 wherein said visible image is a permanently visible image.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
14 words
The method of claim 14 wherein said visible image is a permanently visible image.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
52 words
A deformation imaging process comprising providing a filM comprising a material having a cholesteric liquid crystalline mesophase, exposing in imagewise configuration said film to ultraviolet electromagnetic radiation while said film is in its cholesteric liquid crystalline mesophase, thereby producing a deformation in said film at the boundaries between exposed and unexposed areas.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
52 words
A deformation imaging process comprising providing a filM comprising a material having a cholesteric liquid crystalline mesophase, exposing in imagewise configuration said film to ultraviolet electromagnetic radiation while said film is in its cholesteric liquid crystalline mesophase, thereby producing a deformation in said film at the boundaries between exposed and unexposed areas.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
25 words
The process of claim 28 wherein the deformation is enhanced by heating the deformation imaged film above the isotropic transition temperature of said film material.
Claim 33
Dependent Claim
24 words
The process of claim 28 wherein said deformation imaging is accompanied by a visible change in color of the exposed area of said film.
Claim 34
Dependent Claim
20 words
The imaging process of claim 28 wherein said ultraviolet radiation comprises radiation of wavelengths of less than about 3,000. A.
Claim 35
Dependent Claim
13 words
The process of claim 28 wherein said film is provided on a substrate.
Claim 36
Dependent Claim
18 words
The method of claim 32 wherein said substrate is sufficiently transparent to view the liquid crystalline material therethrough.
Claim 37
Dependent Claim
22 words
The process of claim 28 wherein said film is of a thickness in the range between about 0.1 and about 1,000 microns.
Claim 38
Dependent Claim
22 words
The process of claim 28 wherein said film is of a thickness in the range between about 1 and about 50 microns.
Claim 39
Dependent Claim
31 words
The method of claim 30 wherein said liquid crystalline material comprises a material selected from the group consisting of: cholesteryl iodide, cholesteryl bromide, cholesteryl chloride, cholesteryl nonanoate, and oleyl cholesteryl carbonate.
Claim 40
Dependent Claim
45 words
The process of claim 30 wherein said film is selectively exposed to ultraviolet radiation of a plurality of different total exposures in a plurality of different areas whereby an image is produced having a plurality of different colors in said different areas of selective exposure.
Claim 41
Dependent Claim
17 words
The process of claim 28 wherein the exposure in imagewise configuration is performed using an optical mask.
Claim 42
Dependent Claim
21 words
The process of claim 38 wherein the optical mask comprises a transparency having different areas of different transmissivity to ultraviolet radiation.
Claim 43
Dependent Claim
31 words
A process comprising the process of claim 28 and physically remixing the material comprising said liquid crystalline film thereby destroying the image thereon and providing the film in condition for re-exposure.
Claim 44
Dependent Claim
14 words
The method of claim 30 wherein said visible image is a permanently visible image.
Claim 45
Dependent Claim
71 words
An imaging method comprising: providing a film comprising a cholesteric liquid crystalline material; providing said material in its unaligned state; and exposing in imagewise configuration said film to ultraviolet electromagnetic radiation thereby producing a latent image on the film material and at least in part changing the chemical composition of said film material; and developing said latent image into a visible image by contacting the exposed film with organic solvent vapors.
Claim 46
Dependent Claim
71 words
An imaging method comprising: providing a film comprising a cholesteric liquid crystalline material; providing said material in its unaligned state; and exposing in imagewise configuration said film to ultraviolet electromagnetic radiation thereby producing a latent image on the film material and at least in part changing the chemical composition of said film material; and developing said latent image into a visible image by contacting the exposed film with organic solvent vapors.
Claim 47
Dependent Claim
20 words
The imaging method of claim 42 wherein said ultraviolet radiation comprises radiation of wavelengths of less than about 3,000 Angstroms.
Claim 48
Dependent Claim
13 words
The method of claim 42 wherein said film is provided on a substrate.
Claim 49
Dependent Claim
18 words
The method of claim 44 wherein said substrate is sufficiently transparent to view the liquid crystalline material therethrough.
Claim 50
Dependent Claim
22 words
The method of claim 42 wherein said film is of a thickness in the range between about 0.1 and about 1,000 microns.
Claim 51
Dependent Claim
22 words
The method of claim 42 wherein said film is of a thickness in the range between about 1 and about 50 microns.
Claim 52
Dependent Claim
31 words
The method of claim 42 wherein said liquid crystalline material comprises a material selected from the group consisting of: cholesteryl iodide, cholesteryl bromide, cholesteryl chloride, cholesteryl nonanoate, and oleyl cholesteryl carbonate.
Claim 53
Dependent Claim
45 words
The method of claim 42 wherein said film is selectively exposed to ultraviolet radiation of a plurality of different total exposures in a plurality of different areas whereby an image is produced having a plurality of different colors in said different areas of selective exposure.
Claim 54
Dependent Claim
17 words
The method of claim 42 wherein the exposure in imagewise configuration is performed using an optical mask.
Claim 55
Dependent Claim
21 words
The method of claim 50 wherein the optical mask comprises a transparency having different areas of different transmissivity to ultraviolet radiation.
Claim 56
Dependent Claim
35 words
A method comprising the method of claim 42, and physically remixing the material comprising said liquid crystalline film thereby destroying the visible image thereon and providing the film in its unaligned state suitable for re-exposure.
Claim 57
Dependent Claim
41 words
The method of claim 42 wherein the film is exposed under conditions wherein the cholesteric liquid crystalline material is outside of its cholesteric liquid crystalline state, and it is thereafter brought into said liquid crystalline state whereupon the image become visible.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
GB1041490A
Cited
GB1120093A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1975-04-11 | 1975-10-11 | 1976-04-11 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1979-04-11 | 1979-10-11 | 1980-04-11 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1983-04-11 | 1983-10-11 | 1984-04-11 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |