US3961314A
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US
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Structure and method for producing an image
Assignee: Energy Conversion Devices Inc
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Filing: 1974-03-05
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Granted: 1976-06-01
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Expires: 1994-03-05
Abstract
Abstract A new structure comprising a layer of an imaging material, capable of undergoing an image forming change in response to energy, a layer of a barrier material and a layer of a catalyst material which, if necessary after activation, is capable of causing or promoting the image forming change in the imaging material. The barrier material is capable of controlling in accordance with a desired image pattern, the passage of the catalyst material through the barrier layer into contact with the imaging material in selected areas, while it prevents passage of the catalyst material in other selected areas. The permeability of the barrier layer for the catalyst material and, if necessary the activation of the catalyst material, may be controlled by the selective imagewise application of imaging energy to the structure, and the image forming change in the imaging material may be brought about by the application of development energy, such as heat, to the structure to produce a detectable image in the layer of the imaging material.
Inventors
- 👤 Peter H. Klose
- 👤 Stanford R. Ovshinsky
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-31 11:41
CPC Classifications
G; G11; G11C; G11C13/00; G11C13/04; G11C13/048; G03; G03C; G03C1/00; G03C1/705; G03C1/72; G03C1/73; G03C1/734
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 83
Claim 1
Independent Claim
127 words
A structure comprising a layer comprising an imaging material which is capable of an image forming change upon the application of energy and wherein the image forming change can be promoted by a catalyst material, a barrier layer, comprising a barrier material, in contact on one side with said layer of imaging material, and in contact with said barrier layer on the opposite side thereof a layer comprising a catalyst material, which is capable of traversing the barrier layer and of promoting, in activated form, the image forming change in said layer of imaging material, wherein the layer of barrier material has the capacity of controlling transmission of the catalyst material from the layer of catalyst material to the layer of imaging material in response to energy.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
127 words
A structure comprising a layer comprising an imaging material which is capable of an image forming change upon the application of energy and wherein the image forming change can be promoted by a catalyst material, a barrier layer, comprising a barrier material, in contact on one side with said layer of imaging material, and in contact with said barrier layer on the opposite side thereof a layer comprising a catalyst material, which is capable of traversing the barrier layer and of promoting, in activated form, the image forming change in said layer of imaging material, wherein the layer of barrier material has the capacity of controlling transmission of the catalyst material from the layer of catalyst material to the layer of imaging material in response to energy.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
14 words
The structure of claim 1, wherein said imaging material is an elemento-organic imaging material.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
13 words
The structure of claim 1, wherein said imaging material is a memory material.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
39 words
The structure of claim 1, wherein the barrier material in said barrier layer is non-transmissive for said catalyst, and wherein the barrier material has the capacity of becoming transmissive for said catalyst, when said structure is subjected to energy.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
32 words
The structure of claim 1, wherein the barrier material in said barrier layer is capable of reacting, under the effect of energy applied thereto, with the catalyst material in said catalyst layer.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
115 words
A structure comprising a layer of a memory material, which is capable of undergoing a physical change in structure in response to energy, a barrier layer comprising a barrier material in contact on one side with said layer of memory material, and in contact with said barrier layer on the opposite side thereof a layer comprising a catalyst material, which is capable of traversing the barrier layer and of promoting, in activated form, the physical change in structure in said memory material, wherein the layer of barrier material has the capacity of controlling the transmission of the catalyst material from the layer of catalyst material to the layer of memory material in response to energy.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
115 words
A structure comprising a layer of a memory material, which is capable of undergoing a physical change in structure in response to energy, a barrier layer comprising a barrier material in contact on one side with said layer of memory material, and in contact with said barrier layer on the opposite side thereof a layer comprising a catalyst material, which is capable of traversing the barrier layer and of promoting, in activated form, the physical change in structure in said memory material, wherein the layer of barrier material has the capacity of controlling the transmission of the catalyst material from the layer of catalyst material to the layer of memory material in response to energy.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
34 words
The structure of claim 6, wherein said barrier layer comprises in selected areas barrier material which is non-transmissive for said catalyst and in other selected areas barrier material which is transmissive for said catalyst.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
25 words
The structure of claim 6, wherein the said barrier material has the capacity of controlling the transmission of the catalyst in response to actinic radiation.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
36 words
The structure of claim 6, wherein the said catalyst material in said layer is inactive, and having the capacity of being activated in response to the energy causing the change in the transmission of the catalyst.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
19 words
The structure of claim 6, wherein the physical change in structure of the memory material comprises a morphological change.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
16 words
The structure of claim 6, wherein the memory material comprises a chalcogenide element other than oxygen.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
11 words
The structure of claim 6, wherein the memory material comprises selenium.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
11 words
The structure of claim 6, wherein the barrier layer comprises sulfur.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
11 words
The structure of claim 6, wherein the barrier layer comprises arsenic.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
13 words
The structure of claim 6, wherein the barrier layer comprises arsenic and sulfur.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
30 words
The structure of claim 6, wherein the barrier layer comprises a material, which is capable of retarding said physical change in structure of the memory material in response to energy.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
27 words
The structure of claim 1, wherein the barrier layer comprises a material which is capable of promoting the formation of a photo-dissociable material from said catalyst material.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
27 words
The structure of claim 1, wherein the barrier layer comprises a material, which is capable of promoting the formation of a photo-reducible material from said catalyst material.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
28 words
The structure of claim 1, wherein the barrier layer comprises a material which is capable of reducing its transmissiveness for said catalyst material under the effect of energy.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
28 words
The structure of claim 1, wherein the barrier layer comprises a material which is capable of increasing its transmissiveness for said catalyst material under the effect of energy.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
29 words
The structure of claim 1, wherein the barrier layer comprises a material, which is capable of increasing its transmissiveness for said catalyst material under the effect of actinic radiation.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
30 words
The structure of claim 1, wherein the barrier layer comprises a material, which is capable of chemically reacting with said catalyst material at their interface under the effect of energy.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
31 words
The structure of claim 1, wherein the barrier layer comprises a material, which is capable of chemically reacting with said catalyst material at their interface under the effect of actinic radiation.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
35 words
The structure of claim 1, wherein the barrier layer comprises a material, which is capable of promoting under the effect of energy the conversion of the catalyst material at their interface into an ionized form.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
36 words
The structure of claim 1, wherein the barrier layer comprises a material, which is capable of promoting, under the effect of actinic radiation, the conversion of the catalyst material at their interface into an ionized form.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
41 words
The structure of claim 1, wherein the catalyst material comprises a metal and the barrier layer comprises a material which is capable of promoting under the effect of actinic radiation the conversion of said metal at their interface into metal ions.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
48 words
The structure of claim 1, wherein the catalyst material comprises a metal, which is capable of forming a photo-dissociable salt and the barrier layer comprises a material which is capable of promoting under the effect of energy the conversion at their interface of said metal into metal ions.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
12 words
The structure of claim 1, wherein the catalyst material comprises a metal.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
20 words
The structure of claim 1, wherein the catalyst material comprises a metal, which is capable of forming a photo-dissociable salt.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
28 words
The structure of claim 6, wherein the catalyst material comprises a material selected from the group consisting of silver, copper, thallium, cadmium, mercury, alkali metals, and the halogens.
Claim 33
Dependent Claim
22 words
The structure of claim 6, wherein the memory material is generally amorphous, having the capacity of crystallizing under the effect of energy.
Claim 34
Dependent Claim
34 words
The structure of claim 31, wherein said catalyst material comprises a metal, which is capable of forming ions, which in turn are capable of forming nucleation sites for the crystallization of said memory material.
Claim 35
Dependent Claim
60 words
The structure of claim 31, wherein said catalyst material comprises a metal, which is capable of forming ions, which in turn are capable of forming nucleation sites for the crystallization of said memory material, and wherein the barrier layer comprises a material which is capable of promoting, under the effect of energy, the conversion of said metal into metal ions.
Claim 36
Dependent Claim
11 words
The structure of claim 6, wherein the barrier layer comprises halogen.
Claim 37
Dependent Claim
12 words
The structure of claim 6, wherein the barrier layer comprises a halide.
Claim 38
Dependent Claim
14 words
The structure of claim 6, wherein the barrier layer comprises an alkali metal halide.
Claim 39
Dependent Claim
12 words
The structure of claim 6, wherein the barrier layer comprises potassium bromide.
Claim 40
Dependent Claim
62 words
The structure of claim 6, wherein the barrier layer comprises a second memory material, which is capable of undergoing a physical change in structure in response to energy, said second memory material having a chemical composition different from that of the first memory material and having a transition temperature which is substantially higher than the transition temperature of said first memory material.
Claim 41
Dependent Claim
18 words
The structure of claim 38, wherein the said second memory material in the said barrier layer comprises sulfur.
Claim 42
Dependent Claim
26 words
The structure of claim 38, wherein the said second memory material in the said barrier layer comprises sulfur and wherein said catalyst material comprises metallic silver.
Claim 43
Dependent Claim
13 words
The structure of claim 1, wherein the catalyst material comprises a photo-dissociable salt.
Claim 44
Dependent Claim
13 words
The structure of claim 1, wherein the catalyst material comprises a photo-reducible salt.
Claim 45
Dependent Claim
167 words
A structure comprising a layer of memory material, which is capable of undergoing a physical change in structure in response to the effect of energy, a layer of a barrier material in contact on one side with said layer of memory material, and a layer of an inactive catalyst material in contact with said layer of a barrier material on the opposite side thereof, wherein the layer of barrier material has the capacity of controlling the transmission of the catalyst material from the layer of catalyst material to the layer of memory material in response to energy, and wherein the inactive catalyst material is a material, which when activated, and in contact with said layer of memory material catalyzes the physical change in structure of the memory material, and wherein the barrier material is a material which is capable of interacting with said inactive catalyst material, when subjected to imaging energy, to produce an activated catalyst material and allow transmission thereof to the layer of memory material.
Claim 46
Dependent Claim
167 words
A structure comprising a layer of memory material, which is capable of undergoing a physical change in structure in response to the effect of energy, a layer of a barrier material in contact on one side with said layer of memory material, and a layer of an inactive catalyst material in contact with said layer of a barrier material on the opposite side thereof, wherein the layer of barrier material has the capacity of controlling the transmission of the catalyst material from the layer of catalyst material to the layer of memory material in response to energy, and wherein the inactive catalyst material is a material, which when activated, and in contact with said layer of memory material catalyzes the physical change in structure of the memory material, and wherein the barrier material is a material which is capable of interacting with said inactive catalyst material, when subjected to imaging energy, to produce an activated catalyst material and allow transmission thereof to the layer of memory material.
Claim 47
Dependent Claim
48 words
The structure of claim 43, wherein said layer of barrier material comprises at least one member selected from the group consisting of arsenic, the monosulfide of arsenic, the disulfide of arsenic, the trisulfide of arsenic, the pentasulfide of arsenic, a mixture of arsenic and sulfur, and potassium bromide.
Claim 48
Dependent Claim
30 words
The structure of claim 43, wherein said layer of catalyst material comprises a metal which is a member selected from the group consisting of silver, copper, thallium, cadmium and mercury.
Claim 49
Dependent Claim
14 words
The structure of claim 43, wherein the layer of said memory material comprises selenium.
Claim 50
Dependent Claim
30 words
The structure of claim 43, wherein the layer of said memory material comprises selenium, the layer of the barrier material comprises arsenic and the layer of catalyst material comprises silver.
Claim 51
Dependent Claim
32 words
The structure of claim 43, wherein the layer of said memory material comprises selenium, the layer of the barrier material comprises arsenic trifulsifde and the layer of the catalyst material comprises silver.
Claim 52
Dependent Claim
23 words
The structure of claim 43, wherein the layer of said memory material comprises selenium and up to 15 atomic percent by weight sulfur.
Claim 53
Dependent Claim
18 words
The structure of claim 1, wherein the said layer of the catalyst material is disposed on a substrate.
Claim 54
Dependent Claim
12 words
The structure of claim 50, wherein the said substrate is light transmissive.
Claim 55
Dependent Claim
20 words
The structure of claim 1, wherein said barrier layer has a thickness of from about 50 to about 10,000 Angstroms.
Claim 56
Dependent Claim
21 words
The structure of claim 1, wherein said barrier layer has a thickness of from about 100 Angstroms to about 1000 Angstroms.
Claim 57
Dependent Claim
23 words
The structure of claim 1, wherein the layer of said imaging material has a thickness of from about 1000 to about 10,000 Angstroms.
Claim 58
Dependent Claim
23 words
The structure of claim 1, wherein the layer of said imaging material has a thickness of from about 3000 to about 5000 Angstroms.
Claim 59
Dependent Claim
19 words
The structure of claim 6, wherein the layer of said memory material has a thickness of about 5000 Angstroms.
Claim 60
Dependent Claim
24 words
The structure of claim 1, wherein the said layer comprising the catalyst material has a thickness of from about 50 to about 5000 Angstroms.
Claim 61
Dependent Claim
24 words
The structure of claim 1, wherein the said layer comprising the catalyst material has a thickness of from about 100 to about 500 Angstroms.
Claim 62
Independent Claim
203 words
The method of producing an image comprising the step of providing a structure which comprises a layer of a memory material which is capable of undergoing a physical change in structure in response to energy; a barrier layer in contact on one side with said layer of memory material, and in contact with said barrier layer on the other side thereof a layer comprising a catalyst material which is capable of traversing the barrier layer and of promoting, in activated form, said physical change in structure of said memory material upon contacting the memory material, wherein said barrier layer has the capacity of controlling the transmission of the catalyst material from the layer of catalyst material to the layer of memory material under the effect of energy, the step of applying a pattern of imaging energy to selected areas of said structure to control the transmission of the catalyst material so as to permit the catalyst material to contact said memory material in selected areas thereby promoting the physical change in structure in those areas of said memory material where it is contacted by said catalyst material, when said memory material is subjected to energy to bring about said physical change in structure.
Claim 63
Independent Claim
203 words
The method of producing an image comprising the step of providing a structure which comprises a layer of a memory material which is capable of undergoing a physical change in structure in response to energy; a barrier layer in contact on one side with said layer of memory material, and in contact with said barrier layer on the other side thereof a layer comprising a catalyst material which is capable of traversing the barrier layer and of promoting, in activated form, said physical change in structure of said memory material upon contacting the memory material, wherein said barrier layer has the capacity of controlling the transmission of the catalyst material from the layer of catalyst material to the layer of memory material under the effect of energy, the step of applying a pattern of imaging energy to selected areas of said structure to control the transmission of the catalyst material so as to permit the catalyst material to contact said memory material in selected areas thereby promoting the physical change in structure in those areas of said memory material where it is contacted by said catalyst material, when said memory material is subjected to energy to bring about said physical change in structure.
Claim 64
Dependent Claim
31 words
The method of claim 59, which comprises the further step of applying energy to said structure for bringing about said physical change in structure in selected areas of said memory material.
Claim 65
Dependent Claim
18 words
The method of claim 59, in which said imaging energy in said pattern of energy comprises actinic radiation.
Claim 66
Dependent Claim
77 words
The method of claim 59, in which said catalyst material contacting said memory material forms nuclei for said physical change in structure in said memory material in those areas which correspond to the areas of the barrier material which have been subjected to said energy, and in which energy is applied to said structure in an additional step to cause said physical change in structure to take place in the areas which correspond to the imaging energy.
Claim 67
Dependent Claim
19 words
The method of claim 62, in which said energy applied to the structure in said additional step comprises heat.
Claim 68
Dependent Claim
20 words
The method of claim 62, in which said physical change in structure of the memory material comprises a morphological change.
Claim 69
Dependent Claim
48 words
The method of claim 62, in which said memory material is generally amorphous and in which said physical change in structure of the memory material comprises crystallization of said amorphous memory material under the effect of heat comprised in the energy in said additional step of applying energy.
Claim 70
Dependent Claim
12 words
The method of claim 65, in which said memory material comprises selenium.
Claim 71
Dependent Claim
31 words
The method of claim 59, in which imaging energy comprising actinic radiation is applied to the structure in a pattern and in addition energy comprising heat is applied to the structure.
Claim 72
Dependent Claim
16 words
The method of claim 67, in which said actinic radiation and said heat are applied simultaneously.
Claim 73
Dependent Claim
33 words
The method of claim 67, in which first said actinic radiation is applied to selected areas of said structure and thereafter said heat energy is applied to the structure in a separate step.
Claim 74
Dependent Claim
48 words
The method of claim 59, in which the said layer of memory material is transmissive to the said imaging energy and the imaging energy is applied through said layer of memory material onto the said barrier layer in form of a pattern in selected areas of said structure.
Claim 75
Dependent Claim
56 words
The method of claim 61, wherein the structure comprises a substrate which is transmissive for actinic radiation, said substrate being in contact with said layer comprising the catalytic material, and in which method the actinic radiation is applied from the substrate side of the structure in form of a pattern in selected areas of said structure.
Claim 76
Dependent Claim
55 words
The method of claim 59, in which said catalyst material is present in an inactive form and in which said imaging energy activates said catalyst and causes the activated catalyst to contact said memory material in the selected areas in accordance with said pattern of energy, thereby promoting the physical changes in said memory material.
Claim 77
Dependent Claim
26 words
The method of claim 59, in which the said imaging energy, applied in a pattern, comprises a combination of at least two different forms of energy.
Claim 78
Dependent Claim
21 words
The method of claim 73, in which said combination of two different forms of energy comprises actinic energy and electrical energy.
Claim 79
Dependent Claim
42 words
The method of claim 60, in which said energy bringing about said physical change in structure of said memory material in those areas where it is contacted by said catalyst material, comprises a combination of at least two different forms of energy.
Claim 80
Dependent Claim
20 words
The method of claim 75, in which said combination of two different forms of energy comprises heat and light energy.
Claim 81
Dependent Claim
30 words
The method of claim 60, in which said energy bringing about said physical change in structure of said memory material, is applied simultaneously with the application of said imaging energy.
Claim 82
Dependent Claim
30 words
The method of claim 60, in which said energy bringing about said physical change in structure of said memory material is applied subsequent to the application of said imaging energy.
Claim 83
Dependent Claim
47 words
The method of claim 59, in which the catalyst material comprises ions, and in which an electric field is applied to said structures so as to accelerate the passage of the catalyst material through the transmissive portions of said barrier layer into contact with said memory material.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US3644741A
Cited
US3868651A
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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) | 1979-06-01 | 1979-12-01 | 1980-06-01 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1983-06-01 | 1983-12-01 | 1984-06-01 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1987-06-01 | 1987-12-01 | 1988-06-01 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |