US3715209A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Electrical color masking in a photo electrophoretic imaging process
Assignee: Xerox Corp
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Filing: 1970-02-27
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Granted: 1973-02-06
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Expires: 1990-02-27
Abstract
Abstract The densities of pigments comprising an image are altered in electrophoretic imaging systems by supressing or enhancing pigment migration in an electric field by employing in selected areas electrostatic charge to increase or decrease the field effecting migration.
Inventors
- 👤 R Gundlach
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-28 23:06
CPC Classifications
G; G03; G03G; G03G17/00; G03G17/04; H; H04; H04N; H04N1/00; H04N1/23
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 8
Claim 1
Independent Claim
209 words
An imaging method comprising a. providing a monochromatic photoelectrophoretic ink including electrically photosensitive particles suspended in an electrically insulating fluid, said ink being primarily sensitive to radiation within a first region of the electromagnetic spectrum; b. providing a pair of electrodes at least one of which is at least partially transparent to radiation within said first region and one of said electrodes having an insulating surface; c. arranging a layer of said moNochromatic ink between said electrodes; d. establishing an electric field across said electrodes; e. exposing said monochromatic ink to a pattern of activating radiation of wavelengths within said first region emitted by an original, wherein said original is capable of emitting wavelengths of radiation both within said first region and outside of said first region; and f. locating a pattern of electrostatic charge on said insulating surface of said electrode, said charge pattern being in a configuration of the wavelengths outside of said first region emitted by an original, wherein said charge pattern on said insulating surface and said pattern of activating radiation to which said ink is exposed are positioned in registration with each other whereby the density of the ink particles comprising images on the electrodes is altered in the areas of the electrostatic charge.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
209 words
An imaging method comprising a. providing a monochromatic photoelectrophoretic ink including electrically photosensitive particles suspended in an electrically insulating fluid, said ink being primarily sensitive to radiation within a first region of the electromagnetic spectrum; b. providing a pair of electrodes at least one of which is at least partially transparent to radiation within said first region and one of said electrodes having an insulating surface; c. arranging a layer of said moNochromatic ink between said electrodes; d. establishing an electric field across said electrodes; e. exposing said monochromatic ink to a pattern of activating radiation of wavelengths within said first region emitted by an original, wherein said original is capable of emitting wavelengths of radiation both within said first region and outside of said first region; and f. locating a pattern of electrostatic charge on said insulating surface of said electrode, said charge pattern being in a configuration of the wavelengths outside of said first region emitted by an original, wherein said charge pattern on said insulating surface and said pattern of activating radiation to which said ink is exposed are positioned in registration with each other whereby the density of the ink particles comprising images on the electrodes is altered in the areas of the electrostatic charge.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
43 words
The method of claim 1 wherein said insulating layer comprises a photoconductive material and said electrostatic charge pattern is formed by uniformly charging said photoconductive insulating layer and exposing the charged layer to electromagnetic radiation within said first region emitted by said original.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
20 words
The method of claim 1 further including transferring an image formed on one of said electrodes to a transfer member.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
134 words
The method of claim 3 further including repeating the steps of claim 3 at least one additional time, each subsequently formed image being of a different color than said first image and each subsequently formed image being comprised of a monochromatic ink primarily sensitive to radiation within a region of said spectrum different from said first region, and wherein for each additional image: the exposure in step (e) is carried out with activating radiation of wavelengths emitted by said original within the region to which said ink is primarily sensitive, the electrostatic charge pattern recited in step (f) is in a configuration of the wavelengths emitted by said original outside of said region to which said ink is primarily sensitive, and each subsequently transferred image is transferred in registration with said first transferred image.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
143 words
In a three step photoelectrophoretic color imaging method wherein yellow, magenta and cyan monochromatic photoelectrophoretic inks are separately exposed in an electric field established between two electrodes one of which has an insulating surface to blue, green and red radiation, respectively, emitted from an original to form blue, green and red separation images that are transferred in registration to a record member, each said monochromatic ink including electrically photosensitive particles suspended in an electrically insulating fluid, the improvement comprising locating an electrostatic charge pattern on the insulating surface of said electrode during the formation of at least one separation image to alter the density of the ink in a separation image, said electrostatic charge pattern being in a configuration of wavelengths emitted by said original outside of the wavelengths emitted by said original within the region to which said ink is primarily sensitive.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
143 words
In a three step photoelectrophoretic color imaging method wherein yellow, magenta and cyan monochromatic photoelectrophoretic inks are separately exposed in an electric field established between two electrodes one of which has an insulating surface to blue, green and red radiation, respectively, emitted from an original to form blue, green and red separation images that are transferred in registration to a record member, each said monochromatic ink including electrically photosensitive particles suspended in an electrically insulating fluid, the improvement comprising locating an electrostatic charge pattern on the insulating surface of said electrode during the formation of at least one separation image to alter the density of the ink in a separation image, said electrostatic charge pattern being in a configuration of wavelengths emitted by said original outside of the wavelengths emitted by said original within the region to which said ink is primarily sensitive.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
60 words
The method of claim 5 wherein electrostatic charge in the configuration of the green and red light emitted from said original is located adjacent the yellow ink during formation of the blue separation image and electrostatic charge in the configuration of the red light emitted from said original is adjacent the magenta ink during formation of the green separation image.
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) | 1976-02-06 | 1976-08-07 | 1977-02-06 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1980-02-06 | 1980-08-07 | 1981-02-06 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1984-02-06 | 1984-08-07 | 1985-02-06 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |