US4066460A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Imaging and recording of information utilizing tellurium tetrahalide
Assignee: Energy Conversion Devices Inc
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Filing: 1975-07-17
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Granted: 1978-01-03
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Expires: 1995-07-17
Abstract
Abstract Selected areas of a layer comprising a tellurium tetrahalide imaging material, exemplified by tellurium tetrachloride, are subjected to the imaging effect of imaging energy, and of developing energy causing a chemical change in the tellurium tetrahalide imaging material in the imaged areas accompanied by a change in the detectable characteristic of the imaged areas. The aforesaid imaging material is extended in a matrix of a film-forming material together with a sensitizer. The application of the energy is advantageously effected in two steps, an imaging step employing imaging energy and producing a latent image, followed by a development step employing developing energy and producing the detectable recorded information or image.
Inventors
- 👤 Yew C. Chang
- 👤 Stanford R. Ovshinsky
- 👤 Ronald W. Citkowski
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-02 02:56
CPC Classifications
C; C07; C07D; C07D307/00; C07D307/02; C07D307/26; C07D307/30; C07D307/32; C07D307/33; C07D307/77; C07D307/78; C07D307/79; C07D307/80; C07D311/00; C07D311/02; C07D311/04; C07D311/06; C07D311/08; C07D311/16; C07D333/00; C07D333/02; C07D333/04; C07D333/06; C07D333/22; C07D333/50; C07D333/52; C07D333/54; C07D333/56; C07D345/00; G; G03; G03C; G03C1/00; G03C1/705; G03C1/72; G03C1/725; C07C; C07C2603/00; C07C2603/02; C07C2603/04; C07C2603/22; C07C2603/26
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 37
Claim 1
Independent Claim
142 words
A method for producing a record of retrievable information: providing a layer which comprises an imaging material in the form of a tetrahalide of tellurium in which the halide is at least one member selected from the group consisting of chlorine and bromine, said imaging material having one detectable characteristic and which is capable of undergoing a chemical change in response to the application of energy to produce a material of different chemical character having another detectable characteristic, said imaging material being dissolved or dispersed in a polymeric matrix material, the step of applying imaging particle or wave radiation to at least a certain portion of said layer to bring about the chemical change in said imaging material in said certain portion of said layer to produce said material of different chemical character and to record the desired information in said layer.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
142 words
A method for producing a record of retrievable information: providing a layer which comprises an imaging material in the form of a tetrahalide of tellurium in which the halide is at least one member selected from the group consisting of chlorine and bromine, said imaging material having one detectable characteristic and which is capable of undergoing a chemical change in response to the application of energy to produce a material of different chemical character having another detectable characteristic, said imaging material being dissolved or dispersed in a polymeric matrix material, the step of applying imaging particle or wave radiation to at least a certain portion of said layer to bring about the chemical change in said imaging material in said certain portion of said layer to produce said material of different chemical character and to record the desired information in said layer.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
13 words
The method of claim 1, in which said imaging radiation comprises electromagnetic radiation.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
27 words
The method of claim 1, in which said layer comprises also a spectral sensitizer to modify the sensitivity of said imaging material to a given imaging radiation.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
32 words
The method of claim 3, in which said imaging material and the sensitizer are dissolved in said polymeric matrix material, said polymeric matrix material being at least in part of amorphous character.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
14 words
The method of claim 4, in which said imaging material is TeCl 4 .
Claim 7
Independent Claim
116 words
A method for producing an image comprising: providing a layer which comprises an imaging material having the formula TeCl n Br m where n is an integer from 2 to 4 and m is an integer from 0 to 2 with the proviso that the sum of n and m equals 4, said imaging material being dissolved or dispersed in a polymeric matrix material, applying imaging particle or wave radiation to at least a certain portion of said layer to decompose said imaging material to form a latent image, and then subjecting said latent image to heat or reducing sugars to convert said latent image into a developed image which is defined by crystals of tellurium.
Claim 8
Independent Claim
116 words
A method for producing an image comprising: providing a layer which comprises an imaging material having the formula TeCl n Br m where n is an integer from 2 to 4 and m is an integer from 0 to 2 with the proviso that the sum of n and m equals 4, said imaging material being dissolved or dispersed in a polymeric matrix material, applying imaging particle or wave radiation to at least a certain portion of said layer to decompose said imaging material to form a latent image, and then subjecting said latent image to heat or reducing sugars to convert said latent image into a developed image which is defined by crystals of tellurium.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
14 words
The method of claim 6, in which said imaging material comprises TeCl 4 .
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
27 words
The method of claim 7, in which said layer comprises also a spectral sensitizer to modify the sensitivity of said imaging material to a given imaging radiation.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
34 words
The method of claim 8 in which said imaging material and the sensitizer are dissolved or dispersed in said polymeric matrix material, said polymeric matrix material being at least in part of amorphous character.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
15 words
The method of claim 9, in which the imaging material is sensitive to visible light.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
15 words
The method of claim 9, in which the imaging material is sensitive to ultraviolet light.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
21 words
The method of claim 9, in which the imaging radiation is electromagnetic radiation and in which the development energy is heat.
Claim 15
Independent Claim
176 words
A method for producing a record of retrievable information comprising: providing a layer in the form of a matrix of a glassy, amorphous material which has a glass transition temperature and which carries an imaging material in the form of a tetrahalide of tellurium in which the halide is at least one member selected from the group consisting of chlorine and bromine, said imaging material being of one structure and having one detectable characteristic which is capable of undergoing a change in response to the application of imaging radiation to produce a material of different structure having another detectable characteristic, selectively subjecting said layer to imaging particle or wave radiation to form a latent image, with or without the aid of a spectral sensitizer, which latent image is essentially not a record of retrievable information; and developing, through the utilization of heat, either simultaneously with or subsequently to the application of the imaging radiation, to produce in the exposed areas an image which is a record of retrievable information constituted by atoms of the element tellurium.
Claim 16
Independent Claim
176 words
A method for producing a record of retrievable information comprising: providing a layer in the form of a matrix of a glassy, amorphous material which has a glass transition temperature and which carries an imaging material in the form of a tetrahalide of tellurium in which the halide is at least one member selected from the group consisting of chlorine and bromine, said imaging material being of one structure and having one detectable characteristic which is capable of undergoing a change in response to the application of imaging radiation to produce a material of different structure having another detectable characteristic, selectively subjecting said layer to imaging particle or wave radiation to form a latent image, with or without the aid of a spectral sensitizer, which latent image is essentially not a record of retrievable information; and developing, through the utilization of heat, either simultaneously with or subsequently to the application of the imaging radiation, to produce in the exposed areas an image which is a record of retrievable information constituted by atoms of the element tellurium.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
16 words
The method of claim 13, in which said radiation applied to said layer is electromagnetic radiation.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
14 words
The method of claim 14, in which the glassy amorphous material is polyvinyl formal.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
14 words
The method of claim 15, in which the imaging material comprises TeCl 4 .
Claim 20
Independent Claim
144 words
A method for producing a record of retrievable information comprising: the step of applying a solution of an imaging material to a substrate to lay down a layer of said imaging material on said substrate, said imaging material having the formula TeCl n Br m where n is an integer from 2 to 4 and m is an integer from 0 to 2 with the proviso that the sum of n and m equals 4, said imaging material being dissolved or dispersed in a polymeric matrix material, then, while said layer is still moist from said solution, applying imaging electromagnetic radiation to at least a certain portion of said layer to bring about a chemical change in said imaging material in said certain portion of said layer to produce a material of different chemical character and to record the desired information in said layer.
Claim 21
Independent Claim
144 words
A method for producing a record of retrievable information comprising: the step of applying a solution of an imaging material to a substrate to lay down a layer of said imaging material on said substrate, said imaging material having the formula TeCl n Br m where n is an integer from 2 to 4 and m is an integer from 0 to 2 with the proviso that the sum of n and m equals 4, said imaging material being dissolved or dispersed in a polymeric matrix material, then, while said layer is still moist from said solution, applying imaging electromagnetic radiation to at least a certain portion of said layer to bring about a chemical change in said imaging material in said certain portion of said layer to produce a material of different chemical character and to record the desired information in said layer.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
27 words
The method of claim 17, in which the imaging material is a member selected from the group consisting of TeCl 4 and TeCl 2 Br 2 .
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
13 words
The method of claim 18, in which the electromagnetic radiation is ultraviolet light.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
85 words
In a method for producing a record of retrievable information, the steps which include providing, on a substrate, a matrix containing an imaging material and a spectral sensitizer, said matrix comprising polymeric material which is at least in part amorphous, and said imaging material comprising TeCl 4 , applying imaging particle or wave radiation to a portion of said layer to bring about decomposition of said imaging material to produce metallic tellurium and a latent image in those areas where said imaging radiation is applied.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
85 words
In a method for producing a record of retrievable information, the steps which include providing, on a substrate, a matrix containing an imaging material and a spectral sensitizer, said matrix comprising polymeric material which is at least in part amorphous, and said imaging material comprising TeCl 4 , applying imaging particle or wave radiation to a portion of said layer to bring about decomposition of said imaging material to produce metallic tellurium and a latent image in those areas where said imaging radiation is applied.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
18 words
The method of claim 20, in which heat is applied to said latent image to effect development thereof.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
11 words
The method of claim 21, in which the sensitizer is phenanthrenequinone.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
21 words
The method of claim 1, in which said imaging radiation is applied simultaneously with development energy in the form of heat.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
31 words
The method of claim 1, in which the imaging radiation is radiant radiation, and in which heat is applied to effect development subsequent to the application of the imaging radiant radiation.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
37 words
The method of claim 1, in which the imaging layer containing the imaging material is in amorphous form and in which said imaging material is transformed by the radiation into a metallic tellurium having a crystalline structure.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
102 words
An article for producing a record of retrievable information comprising a layer of an imaging material and a spectral sensitizer on a substrate, said imaging material comprising a tetrahalide of tellurium in which the halide is at least one member selected from the group consisting of chlorine and bromine, said imaging material having one detectable characteristic and which is capable of undergoing a chemical change in response to the application of particle or wave radiation to produce a material of different chemical character having another detectable characteristic, said imaging material and spectral sensitizer being dissolved or dispersed in a polymeric matrix material.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
102 words
An article for producing a record of retrievable information comprising a layer of an imaging material and a spectral sensitizer on a substrate, said imaging material comprising a tetrahalide of tellurium in which the halide is at least one member selected from the group consisting of chlorine and bromine, said imaging material having one detectable characteristic and which is capable of undergoing a chemical change in response to the application of particle or wave radiation to produce a material of different chemical character having another detectable characteristic, said imaging material and spectral sensitizer being dissolved or dispersed in a polymeric matrix material.
Claim 33
Dependent Claim
14 words
The article of claim 26, in which the imaging material comprises TeCl 4 .
Claim 34
Dependent Claim
109 words
An article for producing a record of retrievable information in the form of a dry to the touch film or layer comprising a matrix containing an imaging material and a spectral sensitizer, said matrix comprising polymeric material which is at least in part amorphous, and said imaging material comprising a tetrahalide of tellurium in which the halide is at least one member selected from the group consisting of chlorine and bromine, said imaging material having one detectable characteristic and which is capable of undergoing a chemical change in response to the application of particle or wave radiation to produce a material of different chemical character having another detectable characteristic.
Claim 35
Dependent Claim
109 words
An article for producing a record of retrievable information in the form of a dry to the touch film or layer comprising a matrix containing an imaging material and a spectral sensitizer, said matrix comprising polymeric material which is at least in part amorphous, and said imaging material comprising a tetrahalide of tellurium in which the halide is at least one member selected from the group consisting of chlorine and bromine, said imaging material having one detectable characteristic and which is capable of undergoing a chemical change in response to the application of particle or wave radiation to produce a material of different chemical character having another detectable characteristic.
Claim 36
Dependent Claim
14 words
The article of claim 28, in which the imaging material comprises TeCl 4 .
Claim 37
Dependent Claim
11 words
The article of claim 29, in which the sensitizer is phenanthrenequinone.
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) | 1981-01-02 | 1981-07-04 | 1982-01-03 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1985-01-02 | 1985-07-04 | 1986-01-03 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1989-01-02 | 1989-07-04 | 1990-01-03 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |