US4137078A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Method of continuous tone imaging using dispersion imaging material
Assignee: Energy Conversion Devices Inc
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Filing: 1978-03-30
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Granted: 1979-01-30
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Expires: 1998-03-30
Abstract
Abstract A continuous tone dry process imaging film includes a solid, high optical density and substantially opaque film of dispersion imaging material deposited on a substrate. Energy is applied to the film of dispersion imaging material, in an amount sufficient to increase the absorbed energy in the material above a certain critical value, to change the same to a substantially fluid state in which the surface tension of the material acts to cause the film, where subject to the applied energy, to disperse and change to a discontinuous film comprising openings and deformed material which are frozen in place following the application of said energy and through which openings light can pass. Means are associated with the film of dispersion imaging material for retarding the change to the discontinuous film, caused by the surface tension, and for controlling the amount of such change in accordance with the intensity of the applied energy above said certain critical value to increase the amount of such change and the area of the openings in the film and decrease the area of the deformed material in the film and, therefore, the optical density in accordance with the intensity of the applied energy above said certain critical value for providing continuous tone imaging.
Inventors
- 👤 Masatsuga Izu
- 👤 Stanford R. Ovshinsky
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-27 18:04
CPC Classifications
G; G03; G03C; G03C1/00; G03C1/705; G03C5/00; G03C5/56; G03G; G03G16/00
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 50
Claim 1
Independent Claim
402 words
The method of producing by a dry process a continuous tone image, which method comprises the step of providing a continuous tone dry process imaging film including a substrate, a solid, high optical density and substantially opaque film of a dispersion imaging material deposited on said substrate, said substantially opaque film of the dispersion imaging material, upon application of energy in an amount sufficient to increase the absorbed energy in the material above a certain critical value, being capable of changing to a substantially fluid state in which the surface tension of the material acts to cause the substantially opaque film where subject to said energy to disperse and change to a discontinuous film comprising openings and deformed material which are frozen in place following said application of energy and through which openings light can pass, and means associated with said film of imaging material for retarding the change to the discontinuous film, caused by the surface tension, and for controlling the amount of such change in accordance with the intensity of the applied energy above said certain critical value to increase the amount of said change and the area of the openings in the film and decrease the area of the deformed material in the film and, therefore, the optical density of the film in accordance with the intensity of the applied energy above said certain critical value for providing continuous tone imaging of the dry process imaging film, the step of applying to said substantially opaque film of dispersion imaging material energy in an amount sufficient to increase the absorbed energy in the material above said certain critical value to disperse and change the same, where subjected to said applied energy, to a discontinuous film comprising openings and deformed material which are frozen in place following said application of energy and through which openings light can pass, and controlling the intensity of the applied energy above said certain critical value to control the amount of such change in accordance with the intensity of the applied energy above said certain critical value to increase the amount of said change and the area of the openings in the film and decrease the area of the deformed material in the film and, therefore, the optical density of the film in accordance with the intensity of the applied energy above said certain critical value for continuous tone imaging of the dry process imaging film.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
402 words
The method of producing by a dry process a continuous tone image, which method comprises the step of providing a continuous tone dry process imaging film including a substrate, a solid, high optical density and substantially opaque film of a dispersion imaging material deposited on said substrate, said substantially opaque film of the dispersion imaging material, upon application of energy in an amount sufficient to increase the absorbed energy in the material above a certain critical value, being capable of changing to a substantially fluid state in which the surface tension of the material acts to cause the substantially opaque film where subject to said energy to disperse and change to a discontinuous film comprising openings and deformed material which are frozen in place following said application of energy and through which openings light can pass, and means associated with said film of imaging material for retarding the change to the discontinuous film, caused by the surface tension, and for controlling the amount of such change in accordance with the intensity of the applied energy above said certain critical value to increase the amount of said change and the area of the openings in the film and decrease the area of the deformed material in the film and, therefore, the optical density of the film in accordance with the intensity of the applied energy above said certain critical value for providing continuous tone imaging of the dry process imaging film, the step of applying to said substantially opaque film of dispersion imaging material energy in an amount sufficient to increase the absorbed energy in the material above said certain critical value to disperse and change the same, where subjected to said applied energy, to a discontinuous film comprising openings and deformed material which are frozen in place following said application of energy and through which openings light can pass, and controlling the intensity of the applied energy above said certain critical value to control the amount of such change in accordance with the intensity of the applied energy above said certain critical value to increase the amount of said change and the area of the openings in the film and decrease the area of the deformed material in the film and, therefore, the optical density of the film in accordance with the intensity of the applied energy above said certain critical value for continuous tone imaging of the dry process imaging film.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
27 words
The method of producing by a dry process a continuous tone image as defined in claim 1, wherein the applied energy is applied in a short pulse.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
24 words
The method of producing by a dry process a continuous tone image as defined in claim 1, wherein the applied energy is radiant energy.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
28 words
The method of producing by a dry process a continuous tone image as defined in claim 3, wherein the applied radiant energy is applied in a short pulse.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
25 words
The method of producing by a dry process a continuous tone image as defined in claim 1, wherein the applied energy is noncoherent radiant energy.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
29 words
The method of producing by a dry process a continuous tone image as defined in claim 5, wherein the applied noncoherent radiant energy is applied in a short pulse.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
127 words
The method of producing by a dry process a continuous tone image as defined in claim 5, wherein the applied noncoherent radiant energy is applied through an imaging mask, having a full format continuous tone image pattern including portions of continuously differing transmissiveness for said energy, to said substantially opaque film of dispersion imaging material substantially evenly in a full format pattern corresponding to the full format continuous tone imaging pattern of the imaging mask and having areas of different intensitities of the applied energy above said certain critical value to provide at one time in said substantially opaque film of dispersion imaging material a stable finished full format image pattern of said discontinuous film corresponding to the full format continuous tone pattern of the applied energy.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
29 words
The method of producing by a dry process a continuous tone image as defined in claim 7, wherein the applied noncoherent radiant energy is applied in a short pulse.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
25 words
The method of producing by a dry process a continuous tone image as defined in claim 1, wherein the applied energy is coherent radiant energy.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
29 words
The method of producing by a dry process a continuous tone image as defined in claim 9, wherein the applied coherent radiant energy is applied in a short pulse.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
25 words
The method of producing by a dry process a continuous tone image as defined in claim 1, wherein the applied energy is Joule heat energy.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
29 words
The method of producing by a dry process a continuous tone image as defined in claim 11, wherein the applied Joule heat energy is applied in a short pulse.
Claim 14
Independent Claim
224 words
The method of making a continuous tone dry process imaging film comprising depositing on a substrate a solid, high optical density and substantially opaque film of a dispersion imaging material, said substantially opaque film of the dispersion imaging material, upon application of energy in an amount sufficient to increase the absorbed energy in the material above a certain critical value, being capable of changing to a substantially fluid state in which the surface tension of the material acts to cause the substantially opaque film where subject to said energy to disperse and change to a discontinuous film comprising openings and deformed material which are frozen in place following said application of energy and through which openings light can pass, and providing said film of dispersion imaging material with means for retarding the change to the discontinuous film, caused by the surface tension, and for controlling the amount of such change in accordance with the intensity of the applied energy above said certain critical value to increase the amount of said change and the area of the openings in the film and decrease the area of the deformed material in the film and, therefore, the optical density of the film in accordance with the intensity of the applied energy above said certain critical value for providing continuous tone imaging of the dry process imaging film.
Claim 15
Independent Claim
224 words
The method of making a continuous tone dry process imaging film comprising depositing on a substrate a solid, high optical density and substantially opaque film of a dispersion imaging material, said substantially opaque film of the dispersion imaging material, upon application of energy in an amount sufficient to increase the absorbed energy in the material above a certain critical value, being capable of changing to a substantially fluid state in which the surface tension of the material acts to cause the substantially opaque film where subject to said energy to disperse and change to a discontinuous film comprising openings and deformed material which are frozen in place following said application of energy and through which openings light can pass, and providing said film of dispersion imaging material with means for retarding the change to the discontinuous film, caused by the surface tension, and for controlling the amount of such change in accordance with the intensity of the applied energy above said certain critical value to increase the amount of said change and the area of the openings in the film and decrease the area of the deformed material in the film and, therefore, the optical density of the film in accordance with the intensity of the applied energy above said certain critical value for providing continuous tone imaging of the dry process imaging film.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
46 words
The method of making a continuous tone dry process imaging film as defined in claim 13, wherein said retarding and controlling means is produced by providing multiple different components and phase boundaries therebetween in the substantially opaque film of dispersion imaging material prior to dispersion thereof.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
88 words
The method of making a continuous tone dry process imaging film as defined in claim 13, wherein said retarding and controlling means is produced by providing a grain structure in the substantially opaque film of dispersion imaging material having grains which are substantially vertically oriented with respect to the substrate with substantially vertically oriented grain boundaries, and providing multiple components in the substantially opaque film of dispersion imaging material with the grain boundaries thereof having a component different from that of the grains to provide phase boundaries therebetween.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
55 words
The method of making a continuous tone dry process imaging film as defined in claim 13, wherein said retarding and controlling means is produced by providing an outer surface of the substantially opaque film of dispersion imaging material having a component different from that of the remainder of the film to provide phase boundaries therebetweeen.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
43 words
The method of making a continuous tone dry process imaging film as defined in claim 13, wherein said retarding and controlling means is produced by the substrate and the substantially opaque film of dispersion imaging material deposited thereon and the interfacial adhesion therebetween.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
61 words
The method of making a continuous tone dry process imaging film as defined in claim 13, wherein said retarding and controlling means is produced by depositing an overcoat film on the outer surface of said substantially opaque film of dispersion imaging material, and the interfacial adhesion between the substantially opaque film of dispersion imaging material and the overcoat film deposited thereon.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
67 words
The method of making a continuous tone dry process imaging film as defined in claim 13, wherein said substantially opaque film of dispersion imaging material has a grain structure comprising grains which are relatively small in width, which are substantially vertically oriented with respect to the substrate with substantially vertically oriented grain boundaries therebetween, and which are substantially dome shaped at the outer surface of the film.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
71 words
The method of making a continuous tone dry process imaging film as defined in claim 19, wherein said retarding and controlling means is produced by depositing an overcoat film on the outer surface of said substantially opaque film of dispersion imaging material, and the interfacial adhesion between the substantially dome shaped grains at the outer surface of the substantially opaque film of dispersion imaging material and the overcoat film deposited thereon.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
46 words
The method of making a continuous tone dry process imaging film as defined in claim 19, wherein the outer surfaces of the substantially dome shaped grains of the film have a coating of a component different from that of the grains to provide phase boundaries therebetween.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
98 words
The method of making a continuous tone dry process imaging film as defined in claim 21, wherein said retarding and controlling means is produced by the coating of the component on the outer surfaces of the substantially dome shaped grains different from that of the grains themselves, and also depositing an overcoat film on the outer surface of said coating on the substantially opaque film of dispersion imaging material, and the interfacial adhesion between the substantially dome shaped grains at the outer surface of the substantially opaque film of dispersion imaging material and the overcoat film deposited thereon.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
37 words
The method of making a continuous tone dry process imaging film as defined in claim 19, wherein the grain boundaries of the film have a component different from that of the grains to provide phase boundaries therebetween.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
88 words
The method of making a continuous tone dry process imaging film as defined in claim 23, wherein said retarding and controlling means is produced by the coating of the component of the grain boundaries different from that of the grains, and also depositing an overcoat film on the outer surface of said substantially opaque film of dispersion imaging material, and the interfacial adhesion between the substantially dome shaped grains at the outer surface of the substantially opaque film of dispersion imaging material and the overcoat film deposited thereon.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
53 words
The method of making a continuous tone dry process imaging film as defined in claim 19, wherein the outer surfaces of the substantially dome shaped grains of the film and the grain boundaries of the film have a coating of a component different from that of the grains to provide phase boundaries therebetween.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
100 words
The method of making a continuous tone dry process imaging film as defined in claim 25, wherein said retarding and controlling means is produced by the coating of the component of the outer surfaces of the substantially dome shaped grains and of the grain boundaries different from that of the grains themselves, and also depositing an overcoat film on the outer surface of said substantially opaque film of dispersion imaging material, and the interfacial adhesion between the substantially dome shaped grains at the outer surface of the substantially opaque film of dispersion imaging material and the overcoat film deposited thereon.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
47 words
The method of making a continuous tone dry process imaging film as defined in claim 13, wherein said substantially opaque film of dispersion imaging material has a structure comprising deposited alternate layers of different components and phase boundaries therebetween substantially parallely oriented with respect to the substrate.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
71 words
The method of making a continuous tone dry process imaging film as defined in claim 27, wherein said retarding and controlling means is produced by the different components of the deposited alternating layers, and also an overcoat film deposited on the outer surface of said substantially opaque film of dispersion imaging material, and the interfacial adhesion between the outer surface of the substantially opaque film and the overcoat film deposited thereon.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
65 words
The method of making a continuous tone dry process imaging film as defined in claim 13, wherein said substantially opaque film of dispersion imaging material comprises an alloy, having a eutectic within its system, of a plurality of substantially mutually insoluble solid components having an excess of at least one of the components so that the alloy is off the eutectic of the alloy system.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
44 words
The method of making a continuous tone dry process imaging film as defined in claim 29, wherein said retarding and controlling means is produced by said at least one of the solid components of the alloy in the fluid state above the eutectic temperature.
Claim 33
Dependent Claim
66 words
The method of making a continuous tone dry process imaging film as defined in claim 30, wherein said retarding and controlling means is also produced by an overcoat film deposited on the outer surface of said substantially opaque film of dispersion imaging material, and the interfacial adhesion between the outer surface of the substantially opaque film of dispersion imaging material and the overcoat film deposited thereon.
Claim 34
Dependent Claim
45 words
The method of making a continuous tone dry process imaging film as defined in claim 13, wherein said substantially opaque film of dispersion imaging material comprises a heterogeneous structure of a plurality of different solid components having different solid components having different fluid forming temperatures.
Claim 35
Dependent Claim
45 words
The method of making a continuous tone dry process imaging film as defined in claim 32, wherein said retarding and controlling means is produced by at least one of said solid components in the material when the other components thereof are in the fluid state.
Claim 36
Dependent Claim
66 words
The method of making a continuous tone dry process imaging film as defined in claim 33, wherein said retarding and controlling means is also produced by an overcoat film deposited on the outer surface of said substantially opaque film of dispersion imaging material, and the interfacial adhesion between the outer surface of the substantially opaque film of dispersion imaging material and the overcoat film deposited thereon.
Claim 37
Independent Claim
271 words
The method of producing by a dry process an image with a minimum of applied energy, which method comprises the step of providing a dry process high sensitivity imaging film including a substrate, a solid, high optical density and substantially opaque film of a dispersion imaging material deposited on said substrate, said film material comprising a microheterogeneous alloy of a plurality of substantially mutually insoluble solid components and having a low melting point eutectic within its system, said film, upon application of energy in an amount sufficient to increase the absorbed energy in the film material above a certain critical value related to the low melting point value of the eutectic thereof, being capable of changing to a substantially fluid state in which the surface tension of the film material acts to cause the substantially opaque film, where subject to said energy, to disperse and change to a discontinuous film comprising openings and deformed material which are frozen in place following said application of energy and through which openings light can pass for decreasing the optical density of the film thereat, and the step of applying to said substantially opaque film of dispersion imaging material energy in an amount sufficient to increase the absorbed energy in the material above said certain critical value related to the low melting point value of the eutectic thereof to disperse and change the same, where subjected to said applied energy, to a discontinuous film comprising openings and deformed material which are frozen in place following said application of energy and through which openings light can pass for decreasing the optical density of the film thereat.
Claim 38
Independent Claim
271 words
The method of producing by a dry process an image with a minimum of applied energy, which method comprises the step of providing a dry process high sensitivity imaging film including a substrate, a solid, high optical density and substantially opaque film of a dispersion imaging material deposited on said substrate, said film material comprising a microheterogeneous alloy of a plurality of substantially mutually insoluble solid components and having a low melting point eutectic within its system, said film, upon application of energy in an amount sufficient to increase the absorbed energy in the film material above a certain critical value related to the low melting point value of the eutectic thereof, being capable of changing to a substantially fluid state in which the surface tension of the film material acts to cause the substantially opaque film, where subject to said energy, to disperse and change to a discontinuous film comprising openings and deformed material which are frozen in place following said application of energy and through which openings light can pass for decreasing the optical density of the film thereat, and the step of applying to said substantially opaque film of dispersion imaging material energy in an amount sufficient to increase the absorbed energy in the material above said certain critical value related to the low melting point value of the eutectic thereof to disperse and change the same, where subjected to said applied energy, to a discontinuous film comprising openings and deformed material which are frozen in place following said application of energy and through which openings light can pass for decreasing the optical density of the film thereat.
Claim 39
Dependent Claim
213 words
The method of producing by a dry process an image as defined in claim 35, wherein means are associated with said film of imaging material for retarding the change to the discontinuous film, caused by the surface tension, and for controlling the amount of such change in accordance with the intensity of the applied energy above said certain critical value to increase the amount of said change and the area of the openings in the film and decrease the area of the deformed material in the film and, therefore, the optical density of the film in accordance with the intensity of the applied energy above said certain critical value for providing continuous tone imaging of the dry process imaging film, and controlling the intensity of the applied energy above said certain critical value to control the amount of such change in accordance with the intensity of the applied energy above said certain critical value to increase the amount of said change and the area of the openings in the film and decrease the area of the deformed material in the film and, therefore, the optical density of the film in accordance with the intensity of the applied energy above said certain critical value for continuous tone imaging of the dry process imaging film.
Claim 40
Dependent Claim
25 words
The method of producing by a dry process an image as defined in claim 35, wherein the applied energy is applied in a short pulse.
Claim 41
Dependent Claim
22 words
The method of producing by a dry process an image as defined in claim 35, wherein the applied energy is radiant energy.
Claim 42
Dependent Claim
26 words
The method of producing by a dry process an image as defined in claim 38, wherein the applied radiant energy is applied in a short pulse.
Claim 43
Dependent Claim
23 words
The method of producing by a dry process an image as defined in claim 35, wherein the applied energy is noncoherent radiant energy.
Claim 44
Dependent Claim
27 words
The method of producing by a dry process an image as defined in claim 40, wherein the applied noncoherent radiant energy is applied in a short pulse.
Claim 45
Dependent Claim
119 words
The method of producing by a dry process an image as defined in claim 35, wherein the applied noncoherent radiant energy is applied through an imaging mask, having a full format imaging pattern including portions of differing transmissiveness for said energy, to said substantially opaque film of dispersion imaging material substantially evenly in a full format pattern corresponding to the full format imaging pattern of the imaging mask and having areas of intensities of the applied energy above said certain critical value to provide at one time in said substantially opaque film of dispersion imaging material a stable finished full format image pattern of said discontinuous film corresponding to the full format continuous tone pattern of the applied energy.
Claim 46
Dependent Claim
27 words
The method of producing by a dry process an image as defined in claim 42, wherein the applied noncoherent radiant energy is applied in a short pulse.
Claim 47
Dependent Claim
23 words
The method of producing by a dry process an image as defined in claim 35, wherein the applied energy is coherent radiant energy.
Claim 48
Dependent Claim
27 words
The method of producing by a dry process an image as defined in claim 44, wherein the applied coherent radiant energy is applied in a short pulse.
Claim 49
Dependent Claim
23 words
The method of producing by a dry process an image as defined in claim 35, wherein the applied energy is Joule heat energy.
Claim 50
Dependent Claim
27 words
The method of producing by a dry process an image as defined in claim 46, wherein the applied Joule heat energy is applied in a short pulse.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
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| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1986-01-29 | 1986-07-31 | 1987-01-30 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1990-01-29 | 1990-07-31 | 1991-01-30 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |