US4696882A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Member having light receiving layer with smoothly interconnecting nonparallel interfaces
Assignee: Canon Inc
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Filing: 1985-07-08
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Granted: 1987-09-29
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Expires: 2005-07-08
Abstract
Abstract A light-receiving member comprises a substrate and a light-receiving layer of a multi-layer structure having a first layer comprising an amorphous material containing silicon atoms and germanium atoms and a second layer comprising an amorphous material containing silicon atoms and exhibiting photoconductivity provided successively from the substrate side, said light-receiving layer having at least one pair of non-parallel interfaces within a short range and said non-parallel interfaces being aranged in a large number in at least one direction within the plane perpendicular to the layer thickness direction, said non-parallel interfaces being connected to one another smoothly in the direction in which they are arranged.
Inventors
- 👤 Keishi Saitoh
- 👤 Tetsuo Sueda
- 👤 Kyosuke Ogawa
- 👤 Teruo Misumi
- 👤 Yoshio Tsuezuki
- 👤 Masahiro Kanai
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-08 08:05
CPC Classifications
G; G03; G03G; G03G5/00; G03G5/02; G03G5/04; G03G5/08; G03G5/082; G03G5/08214; G03G5/08221; G03G5/08228; G03G5/10
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 58
Claim 1
Independent Claim
105 words
A light receiving member comprising a substrate and a light-receiving layer of a multi-layer structure having a first layer comprising an amorphous material containing silicon atoms and germanium atoms and a second layer comprising an amorphous material containing silicon atoms and exhibiting photoconductivity provided successively from the substrate side, said light-receiving layer having at least one pair of non-parallel interfaces within a short range and said non-parallel interfaces being arranged in a large number in at least one direction within the plane perpendicular to the layer thickness direction, said non-parallel interfaces being connected to one another smoothly in the direction in which they are arranged.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
105 words
A light receiving member comprising a substrate and a light-receiving layer of a multi-layer structure having a first layer comprising an amorphous material containing silicon atoms and germanium atoms and a second layer comprising an amorphous material containing silicon atoms and exhibiting photoconductivity provided successively from the substrate side, said light-receiving layer having at least one pair of non-parallel interfaces within a short range and said non-parallel interfaces being arranged in a large number in at least one direction within the plane perpendicular to the layer thickness direction, said non-parallel interfaces being connected to one another smoothly in the direction in which they are arranged.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
19 words
The invention according to claim 1, wherein the light-receiving layer has a layer thickness of 1 to 100 μm.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
30 words
The invention according to claim 1, wherein the layer thickness T B of the first layer and the layer thickness T of the second layer satisfy the relationship of TB/T≦1.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
107 words
The invention comprising a light-receiving member comprising a substrate and a light-receiving layer of a multi-layer structure having a first layer comprising an amorphous material containing silicon atoms and germanium atoms and a second layer comprising an amorphous material containing silicon atoms and exhibiting photoconductivity provided successively from the substrate side, said light-receiving layer having at least one pair of non-parallel interfaces within a short range and said non-parallel interfaces being arranged in a large number in at least one direction within the plane perpendicular to the layer thickness direction, said non-parallel interfaces being connected to one another smoothly in the direction in which they are arranged.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
107 words
The invention comprising a light-receiving member comprising a substrate and a light-receiving layer of a multi-layer structure having a first layer comprising an amorphous material containing silicon atoms and germanium atoms and a second layer comprising an amorphous material containing silicon atoms and exhibiting photoconductivity provided successively from the substrate side, said light-receiving layer having at least one pair of non-parallel interfaces within a short range and said non-parallel interfaces being arranged in a large number in at least one direction within the plane perpendicular to the layer thickness direction, said non-parallel interfaces being connected to one another smoothly in the direction in which they are arranged.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
14 words
The invention according to claim 1 or 4 wherein the arrangement is made regularly.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
15 words
The invention according to claim 1 or 4, wherein the arrangement is made in cycles.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
17 words
The invention according to claim 1 or 4, wherein the short range is 0.3 to 500 μm.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
30 words
The invention according to claim 1 or 4, wherein the non-parallel interfaces are formed on the basis of the smooth unevenness arranged regularly provided on the surface of the substrate.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
15 words
The invention according to claim 8, wherein the unevenness is formed by sinusoidal linear projections.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
13 words
The invention according to claim 1 or 4, wherein the substrate is cylindrical.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
21 words
The invention according to claim 10, wherein the sinusoidal linear projection has a spiral structure within the surface of the substrate.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
15 words
The invention according to claim 11, wherein the spiral structure is a multiple spiral structure.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
18 words
The invention according to claim 9, wherein the sinusoidal linear projection is divided in its edge line direction.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
25 words
The invention according to claim 11, wherein the edge line direction of the sinusoidal linear projection is along the center axis of the cylindrical substrate.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
13 words
The invention according to claim 8, wherein the smooth unevenness has slanted planes.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
13 words
The invention according to claim 15 wherein the slanted planes are mirror finished.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
34 words
The invention according to claim 8, wherein on the free surface of the light-receiving layer is formed a smooth unevenness arranged with the same pitch as the smooth unevenness provided on the substrate surface.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
26 words
The invention according to claim 1 or 4, wherein the distribution state of germanium atoms in the first layer is nonuniform in the layer thickness direction.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
20 words
The invention according to claim 18, the nonunirom distribution state of germanium atoms is more enriched toward the substrate side.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
20 words
The invention according to claim 1 or 4, wherein a substance for controlling conductivity is contained in the first layer.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
30 words
The invention according to claim 1 or 4, wherein the substance for controlling conductivity is an atom belonging to the group III or the group V of the periodic table.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
20 words
The invention according to claim 1 or 4, wherein a substance for controlling conductivity is contained in the second layer.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
28 words
The invention according to claim 22, wherein the substance for controlling conductivity is an atom belonging to the group III or the group V of the periodic table.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
23 words
The invention according to claim 1 or 4, wherein the light-receiving layer has a layer region (PN) containing a substance for controlling conductivity.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
28 words
The invention according to claim 24, wherein the distribution state of the substance for controlling conductivity in the layer region (PN) is nonuniform in the layer thickness direction.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
28 words
The invention according to claim 24, wherein the distribution state of the substance for controlling conductivity in the layer region (PN) is uniform in the layer thickness direction.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
28 words
The invention according to claim 24, wherein the substance for controlling conductivity is an atom belonging to the group III or the group V of the periodic table.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
17 words
The invention according to claim 24, wherein the layer region (PN) is provided in the first layer.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
17 words
The invention according to claim 24, wherein the layer region (PN) is provided in the second layer.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
25 words
The invention according to claim 24, wherein the layer region (PN) is provided at the end portion on the substrate side of the light-receiving layer.
Claim 33
Dependent Claim
22 words
The invention according to claim 24, wherein the layer region (PN) is provided over both the first layer and the second layer.
Claim 34
Dependent Claim
22 words
The invention according to claim 24, wherein the layer region (PN) occupies a part of the layer region in the light-receiving layer.
Claim 35
Dependent Claim
27 words
The invention according to claim 32, wherein the content of the substance for controlling conductivity in the layer region (PN) is 0.01 to 5×10 4 atomic ppm.
Claim 36
Dependent Claim
24 words
The invention according to claim 1 or 4, wherein at least one of hydrogen atoms and halogen atoms is contained in the first layer.
Claim 37
Dependent Claim
23 words
The invention according to claim 1 or 4, wherein 0.01 to 40 atomic % of hydrogen atoms are contained in the first layer.
Claim 38
Dependent Claim
21 words
The invention according to claim 4, wherein 0.01 to 40 atomic % of halogen atoms are contained in the first layer.
Claim 39
Dependent Claim
29 words
The invention according to claim 1 or 4, wherein 0.01 to 40 atomic % as a total of hydrogen atoms and halogen atoms are contained in the first layer.
Claim 40
Dependent Claim
23 words
The invention according to claim 1 or 4, wherein 1 to 40 atomic % of hydrogen atoms are contained in the second layer.
Claim 41
Dependent Claim
23 words
The invention according to claim 1 or 4, wherein 1 to 40 atomic % of halogen atoms are contained in the second layer.
Claim 42
Dependent Claim
29 words
The invention according to claim 1 or 4, wherein 1 to 40 atomic % as a total of hydrogen atoms and halogen atoms are contained in the second layer.
Claim 43
Dependent Claim
24 words
The invention according to claim 1 or 4, wherein at least one of hydrogen atoms and halogen atoms is contained in the second layer.
Claim 44
Dependent Claim
28 words
The invention according to claim 1 or 4, wherein the light-receiving layer contains at least one kind of atoms selected from oxygen atoms, carbon atoms and nitrogen atoms.
Claim 45
Dependent Claim
33 words
The invention according to claim 1 or 4, wherein the light-receiving layer has a layer region (OCN) containing at least one kind of atoms selected from oxygen atoms, carbon atoms and nitrogen atoms.
Claim 46
Dependent Claim
25 words
The invention according to claim 43, wherein the layer region (OCN) is provided at the end portion on the substrate side of the light-receiving layer.
Claim 47
Dependent Claim
20 words
The invention according to claim 44, wherein the layer region (OCN) contains 0.001 to 50 atomic % of oxygen atoms.
Claim 48
Dependent Claim
20 words
The invention according to claim 44, wherein the layer region (OCN) contains 0.001 to 50 atomic % of carbon atoms.
Claim 49
Dependent Claim
20 words
The invention according to claim 44, wherein the layer region (OCN) contains 0.001 to 50 atomic % of nitrogen atoms.
Claim 50
Dependent Claim
25 words
The invention according to claim 44, wherein oxygen atoms are contained in the layer region (OCN) in nonuniform distribution state in the layer thickness direction.
Claim 51
Dependent Claim
25 words
The invention according to claim 44, wherein oxygen atoms are contained in the layer region (OCN) in uniform distribution state in the layer thickness direction.
Claim 52
Dependent Claim
25 words
The invention according to claim 44, wherein carbon atoms are contained in the layer region (OCN) in nonuniform distribution state in the layer thickness direction.
Claim 53
Dependent Claim
25 words
The invention according to claim 44, wherein carbon atoms are contained in the layer region (OCN) in uniform distribution state in the layer thickness direction.
Claim 54
Dependent Claim
25 words
The invention according to claim 44, wherein nitrogen atoms are contained in the layer region (OCN) in nonuniform distribution state in the layer thickness direction.
Claim 55
Dependent Claim
25 words
The invention according to claim 44, wherein nitrogen atoms are contained in the layer region (OCN) in uniform distrubution state in the layer thickness direction.
Claim 56
Dependent Claim
21 words
The invention according to claim 1 or 4, wherein the first layer has a layer thickness of 30Å to 50 μm.
Claim 57
Dependent Claim
21 words
The invention according to claim 1 or 4, wherein the second layer has a layer thickness of 0.5 to 90 μm.
Claim 58
Dependent Claim
44 words
An electrophotographic image forming process comprising: (a) applying a charging treatment to the light receiving member of claim 1; (b) irradiating the light receiving member with a laser beam carrying information to form an electrostatic latent image; and (c) developing said electrostatic latent image.
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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) | 1990-09-28 | 1991-03-30 | 1991-09-29 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1994-09-28 | 1995-03-30 | 1995-09-29 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1998-09-28 | 1999-03-30 | 1999-09-29 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |