US4666806A
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Overcoated amorphous silicon imaging members
Assignee: Xerox Corp
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Filing: 1985-09-30
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Granted: 1987-05-19
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Expires: 2005-09-30
Abstract
Abstract Disclosed is an electrostatographic imaging member comprised of a supporting substrate, a blocking layer of hydrogenated amorphous silicon with dopants, a hydrogenated amorphous silicon photoconducting layer with dopants, and in contact therewith a top overcoating layer of nonstoichiometric silicon nitride with from between 67 to 95 atomic percent of silicon, and from between 33 to 5 atomic percent of nitrogen.
Inventors
- 👤 Damodar M. Pai
- 👤 Edwin R. Kuhn
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-05 14:33
CPC Classifications
G; G03; G03G; G03G5/00; G03G5/02; G03G5/04; G03G5/08; G03G5/082; G03G5/08214; G03G5/08235
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 36
Claim 1
Independent Claim
58 words
An electrostatographic imaging member comprised of a supporting substrate, a blocking layer of hydrogenated amorphous silicon with dopants, a hydrogenated amorphous silicon photoconducting layer with dopants, and in contact therewith a top overcoating layer of nonstoichiometric silicon nitride with from between 67 to 95 atomic percent of silicon, and from between 33 to 5 atomic percent of nitrogen.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
58 words
An electrostatographic imaging member comprised of a supporting substrate, a blocking layer of hydrogenated amorphous silicon with dopants, a hydrogenated amorphous silicon photoconducting layer with dopants, and in contact therewith a top overcoating layer of nonstoichiometric silicon nitride with from between 67 to 95 atomic percent of silicon, and from between 33 to 5 atomic percent of nitrogen.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
18 words
An imaging member in accordance with claim 1 wherein the blocking layer is doped with boron or phosphorous.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
29 words
An imaging member in accordance with claim 2 wherein the dopant is present in an amount of from about 50 parts per million to about 500 parts per million.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
17 words
An imaging member in accordance with claim 1 wherein the amorphous silicon photoconducting layer contains dopants therein.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
29 words
An imaging member in accordance with claim 4 wherein the dopant is boron present in an amount of from about 1 part per million to 20 parts per million.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
39 words
An imaging member in accordance with claim 1 wherein the photoconducting layer is comprised of amorphous silicon simultaneously doped with boron and phosphorous in an amount of from about 2 parts per million to about 100 parts per million.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
19 words
An imaging member in accordance with claim 1 wherein the photoconducting layer is comprised of an amorphous silicon-germanium alloy.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
19 words
An imaging member in accordance with claim 1 wherein the photoconducting layer is comprised of an amorphous silicon-tin alloy.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
19 words
An imaging member in accordance with claim 1 wherein the photoconducting layer is comprised of an amorphous carbon-germanium alloy.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
15 words
An imaging member in accordance with claim 1 wherein the substrate is comprised of aluminum.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
15 words
An imaging member in accordance with claim 1 wherein the substrate is a flexible belt.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
24 words
An imaging member in accordance with claim 1 wherein the thickness of the photoconducting layer is from about 2 microns to about 100 microns.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
24 words
An imaging member in accordance with claim 1 wherein the thickness of the overcoating layer is from about 0.05 micron to about 2 microns.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
40 words
A method of imaging which comprises subjecting the photoresponsive imaging member of claim 1, to imagewise exposure, developing the resulting image with a toner composition, subsequently transferring the image to a suitable substrate, and optionally permanently affixing the image thereto.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
43 words
A method of imaging in accordance with claim 14 wherein the photoconducting layer is comprised of amorphous silicon doped with boron or simultaneously with boron and phosphorous in an amount of from about 2 parts per million to about 100 parts per million.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
16 words
A method of imaging in accordance with claim 14 wherein the amorphous silicon contains dopants therein.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
20 words
A method of imaging in accordance with claim 14 wherein the photoconducting layer is comprised of an amorphous silicon-germanium alloy.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
19 words
A method of imaging in accordance with claim 14 wherein the photoconducting layer is comprised of an silicon-tin alloy.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
20 words
A method of imaging in accordance with claim 14 wherein the photoconducting layer is comprised of an amorphous carbon-germanium alloy.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
25 words
A method of imaging in accordance with claim 14 wherein the thickness of the photoconducting layer is from about 2 microns to about 100 microns.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
25 words
A method of imaging in accordance with claim 14 wherein the thickness of the overcoating layer is from about 0.05 micron to about 2.0 microns.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
17 words
A method of imaging in accordance with claim 14 wherein the blocking layer is doped with boron.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
33 words
A method of imaging in accordance with claim 14 wherein dopants in the blocking layer are present in an amount of from about 100 parts per million to about 500 parts per million.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
16 words
A method of imaging in accordance with claim 14 wherein the substrate is comprised of aluminum.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
16 words
A method of imaging in accordance with claim 14 wherein the substrate is a flexible belt.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
35 words
A method of imaging in accordance with claim 14 wherein lateral movement of charges is eliminated at the interface of the overcoating layer, and the photoconducting layer enabling images with high resolution to be obtained.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
25 words
An imaging member in accordance with claim 1 wherein from about 10 to about 40 atomic percent of hydrogen is present in the amorphous silicon.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
35 words
An imaging member in accordance with claim 1 wherein there is present in the top overcoating layer from between 15 to 30 atomic percent of nitrogen, and from 85 to 70 atomic percent of silicon.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
59 words
An electrostatographic imaging member consisting essentially of a supporting substrate, a blocking layer of hydrogenated amorphous silicon with dopants, a hydrogenated amorphous silicon photoconducting layer with dopants, and in contact therewith a top overcoating layer of nonstoichiometric silicon nitride with from between 67 to 95 atomic percent of silicon, and from between 33 to 5 atomic percent of nitrogen.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
59 words
An electrostatographic imaging member consisting essentially of a supporting substrate, a blocking layer of hydrogenated amorphous silicon with dopants, a hydrogenated amorphous silicon photoconducting layer with dopants, and in contact therewith a top overcoating layer of nonstoichiometric silicon nitride with from between 67 to 95 atomic percent of silicon, and from between 33 to 5 atomic percent of nitrogen.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
35 words
An imaging member in accordance with claim 29 wherein there is present in the top overcoating layer from between 15 to 30 atomic percent of nitrogen, and from 85 to 70 atomic percent of silicon.
Claim 33
Dependent Claim
25 words
An imaging member in accordance with claim 29 wherein the top overcoating layer contains 31 atomic percent of nitrogen and 69 atomic percent of silicon.
Claim 34
Dependent Claim
25 words
An imaging member in accordance with claim 29 wherein the top overcoating layer contains 17 atomic percent of nitrogen and 83 atomic percent of silicon.
Claim 35
Dependent Claim
25 words
An imaging member in accordance with claim 29 wherein the top overcoating layer contains 31 atomic percent of nitrogen and 69 atomic percent of silicon.
Claim 36
Dependent Claim
25 words
An imaging member in accordance with claim 29 wherein the top overcoating layer contains 33 atomic percent of nitrogen and 67 atomic percent of 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) | 1990-05-18 | 1990-11-17 | 1991-05-19 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1994-05-18 | 1994-11-17 | 1995-05-19 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1998-05-18 | 1998-11-17 | 1999-05-19 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |