US4634647A
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Electrophotographic devices containing compensated amorphous silicon compositions
Assignee: Xerox Corp
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Filing: 1985-01-29
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Granted: 1987-01-06
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Expires: 2005-01-29
Abstract
Abstract An electrophotographic photoresponsive device for use in electrophotography comprised of a supporting substrate, and an amorphous silicon composition containing from about 25 parts per million by weight to about 1 weight percent of boron compensated with from about 25 parts per million by weight to about 1 weight percent of phosphorous, nitrogen, or arsenic. Also disclosed is a photoresponsive electrophotographic device comprised of a supporting substrate, an uncompensated amorphous silicon layer and an amorphous silicon composition containing from about 100 parts per million by weight to about 1 weight percent of boron compensated with from about 25 parts per million by weight to about 1 weight percent of phosphorous, wherein the compensation increases from zero percent compensation to one percent compensation, for a distance of from about 0.1 microns to about 5 microns, which distance extends from the uncompensated amorphous silicon layer to the compensated amorphous silicon layer or wherein the photoresponsive device is comprised of a supporting substrate, an uncompensated amorphous silicon composition, a compensated amorphous silicon composition, containing from about 100 parts per million by weight to about 1 weight percent of boron compensated with from about 25 parts per million by weight to about 1 weight percent of phosphorous, wherein the compensation increases from zero percent compensation to one percent compensation, for a distance of from about 0.1 microns to about 5 microns, which distance extends from the uncompensated amorphous silicon layer to the compensated amorphous silicon layer and a top overcoating layer of silicon nitride, silicon carbide, or amorphous carbon.
Inventors
- 👤 Frank Jansen
- 👤 Joseph Mort
- 👤 Michael A. Morgan
- 👤 Steven J. Grammatica
- 👤 John C. Knights
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-27 07:35
CPC Classifications
G; G03; G03G; G03G5/00; G03G5/02; G03G5/04; G03G5/08; G03G5/082; G03G5/08214; G03G5/08221; G03G5/08235; G03G5/08285
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 41
Claim 1
Independent Claim
51 words
An electrophotographic photoresponsive device comprised of a supporting substrate, and an amorphous silicon composition containing in substantially equal amounts from about 25 parts per million by weight to about 1 weight percent of boron compensated with from about 25 parts per million by weight to about 1 weight percent of phosphorous.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
51 words
An electrophotographic photoresponsive device comprised of a supporting substrate, and an amorphous silicon composition containing in substantially equal amounts from about 25 parts per million by weight to about 1 weight percent of boron compensated with from about 25 parts per million by weight to about 1 weight percent of phosphorous.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
24 words
An electrophotographic photoresponsive device in accordance with claim 1 wherein the supporting substrate is aluminum, stainless steel, electroformed nickel, or an insulating polymeric composition.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
42 words
A photoresponsive device in accordance with claim 1 wherein the level of compensation is from about 25 parts per million by weight to about 1 percent, and the thickness of the amorphous silicon layer is from about 5 to about 40 microns.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
64 words
An electrophotographic photoresponsive device comprised of a supporting substrate, a charge carrier transport layer comprised of uncompensated amorphous silicon, and a top overcoating layer comprised of amorphous silicon, containing in substantially equal amounts from about 25 parts per million by weight to about 1 percent weight of boron compensated with from about 25 parts per million by weight to about 1 percent of phosphorous.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
64 words
An electrophotographic photoresponsive device comprised of a supporting substrate, a charge carrier transport layer comprised of uncompensated amorphous silicon, and a top overcoating layer comprised of amorphous silicon, containing in substantially equal amounts from about 25 parts per million by weight to about 1 percent weight of boron compensated with from about 25 parts per million by weight to about 1 percent of phosphorous.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
26 words
An electrophotographic photoresponsive device in accordance with claim 4 wherein the supporting substrate is comprised of aluminum, stainless steel, electroformed nickel, or an insulating polymeric composition.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
43 words
An electrophotographic photoresponsive device in accordance with claim 4 wherein the thickness of the uncompensated amorphous silicon layer is from about 5 to 40 microns, and the thickness of the compensated amorphous silicon layer is from about 0.5 microns to about 5 microns.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
17 words
A photoresponsive device in accordance with claim 5 wherein the uncompensated amorphous silicon is doped with boron.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
31 words
A photoresponsive device in accordance with claim 6 wherein the dopant boron is present in an amount of 4 parts per million by weight to 25 parts per million by weight.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
129 words
An electrophotographic photoresponsive device comprised of a supporting substrate, and an amorphous silicon composition containing in substantially equal amounts from about 25 parts per million by weight to about 1 weight percent of boron compensated with from about 25 parts per million by weight to about 1 weight percent of phosphorous, and as an overcoating, silicon nitride, silicon carbide, or amorphous carbon; or wherein the photoresponsive device is comprised of a supporting substrate, an uncompensated amorphous silicon composition, a compensated amorphous silicon composition, containing from about 25 parts per million by weight to about 1 weight percent of boron compensated with from about 25 parts per million by weight to about 1 weight percent of phosphorous, and a top overcoating layer of silicon nitride, silicon carbide, or amorphous carbon.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
129 words
An electrophotographic photoresponsive device comprised of a supporting substrate, and an amorphous silicon composition containing in substantially equal amounts from about 25 parts per million by weight to about 1 weight percent of boron compensated with from about 25 parts per million by weight to about 1 weight percent of phosphorous, and as an overcoating, silicon nitride, silicon carbide, or amorphous carbon; or wherein the photoresponsive device is comprised of a supporting substrate, an uncompensated amorphous silicon composition, a compensated amorphous silicon composition, containing from about 25 parts per million by weight to about 1 weight percent of boron compensated with from about 25 parts per million by weight to about 1 weight percent of phosphorous, and a top overcoating layer of silicon nitride, silicon carbide, or amorphous carbon.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
23 words
A photoresponsive device in accordance with claim 9 wherein the supporting substrate is aluminum, stainless steel, electroformed nickel, or an insulating polymeric composition.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
19 words
A photoresponsive device in accordance with claim 9 wherein the uncompensated amorphous silicon is doped with boron, or phosphorous.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
70 words
A photoresponsive device in accordance with claim 9 wherein the silicon nitride, silicon carbide, or amorphous silicon top coating layer is of a thickness of from about 0.1 microns to about one microns, the uncompensated amorphous silicon layer is of a thickness of from about 5 microns to about 40 microns, and the compensated amorphous silicon layer is of a thickness of from about 0.5 micron to about 5 microns.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
57 words
A photoresponsive device in accordance with claim 9 wherein the top layer of silicon nitride, or silicon carbide, is rendered partially conductive by the use of the non-stoichiometric composition SiN x , or SiC y , wherein x is a number from 1 to about 1.3, and y is a number from about 0.7 to about 1.3.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
43 words
A photoresponsive device in accordance with claim 9 wherein the top overcoating layer of silicon nitride, silicon carbide, or amorphous carbon, is rendered conductive by doping this layer with from about 0.5 percent to about 5 percent by weight of phosphorous or boron.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
101 words
A photoresponsive electrophotographic device comprised of a supporting substrate, a charge carrier transport layer comprised of uncompensated amorphous silicon, and a top overcoating layer comprised of amorphous silicon, containing in substantially equal amounts from about 25 parts per million by weight to about 1 percent weight of boron compensated with from about 25 parts per million to about 1 percent of phosphorous, wherein the compensation increases from zero percent compensation to one percent compensation, for a distance of from about 0.1 microns to about 5 microns, which distance extends from the uncompensated amorphous silicon layer to the compensated amorphous silicon layer.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
101 words
A photoresponsive electrophotographic device comprised of a supporting substrate, a charge carrier transport layer comprised of uncompensated amorphous silicon, and a top overcoating layer comprised of amorphous silicon, containing in substantially equal amounts from about 25 parts per million by weight to about 1 percent weight of boron compensated with from about 25 parts per million to about 1 percent of phosphorous, wherein the compensation increases from zero percent compensation to one percent compensation, for a distance of from about 0.1 microns to about 5 microns, which distance extends from the uncompensated amorphous silicon layer to the compensated amorphous silicon layer.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
211 words
A photoresponsive electrophotographic device comprised of a supporting substrate, and an amorphous silicon composition containing in substantially equal amounts from about 25 parts per million by weight to about 1 weight percent of boron compensated with from about 25 parts per million by weight to about 1 weight percent of phosphorous, wherein the compensation increases from zero percent compensation to one percent compensation, for a distance of from about 0.1 microns to about 5 microns, which distance extends from the uncompensated amorphous silicon layer to the compensated amorphous silicon layer and as an overcoating, silicon nitride, silicon carbide, or amorphous carbon; or wherein the photoresponsive device is comprised of a supporting substrate, an uncompensated amorphous silicon composition, a compensated amorphous silicon composition, containing in substantially equal amounts from about 25 parts per million by weight to about 1 weight percent of boron compensated with from about 25 parts per million by weight to about 1 weight percent of phosphorous, wherein the compensation increases from zero percent compensation to one percent compensation, for a distance of from about 0.1 microns to about 5 microns, which distance extends from the uncompensated amorphous silicon layer to the compensated amorphous silicon layer and a top overcoating layer of silicon nitride, silicon carbide, or amorphous carbon.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
211 words
A photoresponsive electrophotographic device comprised of a supporting substrate, and an amorphous silicon composition containing in substantially equal amounts from about 25 parts per million by weight to about 1 weight percent of boron compensated with from about 25 parts per million by weight to about 1 weight percent of phosphorous, wherein the compensation increases from zero percent compensation to one percent compensation, for a distance of from about 0.1 microns to about 5 microns, which distance extends from the uncompensated amorphous silicon layer to the compensated amorphous silicon layer and as an overcoating, silicon nitride, silicon carbide, or amorphous carbon; or wherein the photoresponsive device is comprised of a supporting substrate, an uncompensated amorphous silicon composition, a compensated amorphous silicon composition, containing in substantially equal amounts from about 25 parts per million by weight to about 1 weight percent of boron compensated with from about 25 parts per million by weight to about 1 weight percent of phosphorous, wherein the compensation increases from zero percent compensation to one percent compensation, for a distance of from about 0.1 microns to about 5 microns, which distance extends from the uncompensated amorphous silicon layer to the compensated amorphous silicon layer and a top overcoating layer of silicon nitride, silicon carbide, or amorphous carbon.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
57 words
A method of imaging which comprises providing the photoresponsive device of claim 1, subjecting the device to imagewise exposure, developing the resulting image with toner particles, subsequently transferring the image to a suitable substrate, and optionally permanently affixing the image thereto, wherein there is obtained images of excellent quality and high resolution for over 1,000 imaging cycles.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
57 words
A method of imaging which comprises providing the photoresponsive device of claim 4, subjecting the device to imagewise exposure, developing the resulting image with toner particles, subsequently transferring the image to a suitable substrate, and optionally permanently affixing the image thereto, wherein there is obtained images of excellent quality and high resolution for over 1,000 imaging cycles.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
57 words
A method of imaging which comprises providing the photoresponsive device of claim 12, subjecting the device to imagewise exposure, developing the resulting image with toner particles, subsequently transferring the image to a suitable substrate, and optionally permanently affixing the image thereto, wherein there is obtained images of excellent quality and high resolution for over 1,000 imaging cycles.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
57 words
A method of imaging which comprises providing the photoresponsive device of claim 15, subjecting the device to imagewise exposure, developing the resulting image with toner particles, subsequently transferring the image to a suitable substrate, and optionally permanently affixing the image thereto, wherein there is obtained images of excellent quality and high resolution for over 1,000 imaging cycles.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
57 words
A method of imaging which comprises providing the photoresponsive device of claim 16, subjecting the device to imagewise exposure, developing the resulting image with toner particles, subsequently transferring the image to a suitable substrate, and optionally permanently affixing the image thereto, wherein there is obtained images of excellent quality and high resolution for over 1,000 imaging cycles.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
51 words
An electrophotographic photoresponsive device comprised of a supporting substrate, and an amorphous silicon composition containing in substantially equal amounts from about 25 parts per million by weight to about 1 weight percent of boron compensated with from about 25 parts per million by weight to about 1 weight percent of nitrogen.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
51 words
An electrophotographic photoresponsive device comprised of a supporting substrate, and an amorphous silicon composition containing in substantially equal amounts from about 25 parts per million by weight to about 1 weight percent of boron compensated with from about 25 parts per million by weight to about 1 weight percent of nitrogen.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
51 words
An electrophotographic photoresponsive device comprised of a supporting substrate, and an amorphous silicon composition containing in substantially equal amounts from about 25 parts per million by weight to about 1 weight percent of boron compensated with from about 25 parts per million by weight to about 1 weight percent of arsenic.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
51 words
An electrophotographic photoresponsive device comprised of a supporting substrate, and an amorphous silicon composition containing in substantially equal amounts from about 25 parts per million by weight to about 1 weight percent of boron compensated with from about 25 parts per million by weight to about 1 weight percent of arsenic.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
133 words
An electrophotographic photoresponsive device comprised of a supporting substrate, and an amorphous silicon composition containing in substantially equal amounts from about 25 parts per million by weight to about 1 weight percent of boron compensated with from about 25 parts per million by weight to about 1 weight percent of nitrogen, or arsenic, and as an overcoating, silicon nitride, silicon carbide, or amorphous carbon; or wherein the photoresponsive device is comprised of a supporting substrate, an uncompensated amorphous silicon composition, a compensated amorphous silicon composition, containing from about 25 parts per million by weight to about 1 weight percent of boron compensated with from about 25 parts per million by weight to about 1 weight percent of nitrogen, or arsenic, and a top overcoating layer of silicon nitride, silicon carbide, or amorphous carbon.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
133 words
An electrophotographic photoresponsive device comprised of a supporting substrate, and an amorphous silicon composition containing in substantially equal amounts from about 25 parts per million by weight to about 1 weight percent of boron compensated with from about 25 parts per million by weight to about 1 weight percent of nitrogen, or arsenic, and as an overcoating, silicon nitride, silicon carbide, or amorphous carbon; or wherein the photoresponsive device is comprised of a supporting substrate, an uncompensated amorphous silicon composition, a compensated amorphous silicon composition, containing from about 25 parts per million by weight to about 1 weight percent of boron compensated with from about 25 parts per million by weight to about 1 weight percent of nitrogen, or arsenic, and a top overcoating layer of silicon nitride, silicon carbide, or amorphous carbon.
Claim 33
Dependent Claim
104 words
A photoresponsive electrophotographic device comprised of a supporting substrate, a charge carrier transport layer comprised of uncompensated amorphous silicon, and a top overcoating layer comprised of amorphous silicon, containing in substantially equal amounts from about 25 parts per million by weight to about 1 percent by weight of boron compensated with from about 25 parts per million to about 1 percent of nitrogen, or arsenic, wherein the compensation increases from zero percent compensation to one percent compensation, for a distance of from about 0.1 microns to about 5 microns, which distance extends from the uncompensated amorphous silicon layer to the compensated amorphous silicon layer.
Claim 34
Dependent Claim
104 words
A photoresponsive electrophotographic device comprised of a supporting substrate, a charge carrier transport layer comprised of uncompensated amorphous silicon, and a top overcoating layer comprised of amorphous silicon, containing in substantially equal amounts from about 25 parts per million by weight to about 1 percent by weight of boron compensated with from about 25 parts per million to about 1 percent of nitrogen, or arsenic, wherein the compensation increases from zero percent compensation to one percent compensation, for a distance of from about 0.1 microns to about 5 microns, which distance extends from the uncompensated amorphous silicon layer to the compensated amorphous silicon layer.
Claim 35
Dependent Claim
55 words
A photoresponsive device comprised of a supporting substrate, and a photoconductive layer consisting essentially of hydrogenated amorphous silicon containing in substantially equal amounts from about 25 parts per million by weight to about 1 weight percent of boron compensated with from about 25 parts per million by weight to about 1 weight percent of phosphorous.
Claim 36
Dependent Claim
55 words
A photoresponsive device comprised of a supporting substrate, and a photoconductive layer consisting essentially of hydrogenated amorphous silicon containing in substantially equal amounts from about 25 parts per million by weight to about 1 weight percent of boron compensated with from about 25 parts per million by weight to about 1 weight percent of phosphorous.
Claim 37
Dependent Claim
68 words
A photoresponsive device comprised of a supporting substrate; a charge carrier transport layer comprised of uncompensated hydrogenated amorphous silicon; and a top overcoating layer consisting essentially of hydrogenated amorphous silicon containing in substantially equal amounts from about 25 parts per million by weight to about 1 percent by weight of boron compensated with from about 25 parts per million by weight to about 1 weight percent of phosphorous.
Claim 38
Dependent Claim
68 words
A photoresponsive device comprised of a supporting substrate; a charge carrier transport layer comprised of uncompensated hydrogenated amorphous silicon; and a top overcoating layer consisting essentially of hydrogenated amorphous silicon containing in substantially equal amounts from about 25 parts per million by weight to about 1 percent by weight of boron compensated with from about 25 parts per million by weight to about 1 weight percent of phosphorous.
Claim 39
Dependent Claim
16 words
A photoresponsive device in accordance with claim 9 wherein there is selected substantially hydrogenated amorphous silicon.
Claim 40
Dependent Claim
16 words
A photoresponsive device in accordance with claim 15 wherein there is selected substantially hydrogenated amorphous silicon.
Claim 41
Dependent Claim
16 words
A photoresponsive device in accordance with claim 16 wherein there is selected substantially hydrogenated amorphous silicon.
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) | 1990-01-05 | 1990-07-07 | 1991-01-06 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1994-01-05 | 1994-07-07 | 1995-01-06 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1998-01-05 | 1998-07-07 | 1999-01-06 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |