US4698288A — Electrophotographic imaging members having a grou…

Claim 1

Independent Claim 44 words

A photoresponsive imaging member comprised of a supporting insulating a substrate, ground plane of hydrogenated amorphous silicon having incorporated therein as dopants elements selected from Groups III and V of the periodic table; and in contact therewith a photoconductive layer of hydrogenated amorphous silicon.

Claim 2

Dependent Claim 44 words

A photoresponsive imaging member comprised of a supporting insulating a substrate, ground plane of hydrogenated amorphous silicon having incorporated therein as dopants elements selected from Groups III and V of the periodic table; and in contact therewith a photoconductive layer of hydrogenated amorphous silicon.

Claim 3

Dependent Claim 30 words

A photoresponsive imaging member comprised of an insulating nonmetallic substrate, a ground plane of hydrogenated amorphous silicon having incorporated therein dopants; and a photoconductive layer comprised of hydrogenated amorphous silicon.

Claim 4

Dependent Claim 30 words

A photoresponsive imaging member comprised of an insulating nonmetallic substrate, a ground plane of hydrogenated amorphous silicon having incorporated therein dopants; and a photoconductive layer comprised of hydrogenated amorphous silicon.

Claim 5

Dependent Claim 43 words

A photoresponsive imaging member comprised of a supporting insulating a substrate, ground plane of hydrogenated amorphous silicon having incorporated therein as dopants elements selected from the group consisting of phosphorus and boron; and in contact therewith a photoconductive layer of hydrogenated amorphous silicon.

Claim 6

Dependent Claim 43 words

A photoresponsive imaging member comprised of a supporting insulating a substrate, ground plane of hydrogenated amorphous silicon having incorporated therein as dopants elements selected from the group consisting of phosphorus and boron; and in contact therewith a photoconductive layer of hydrogenated amorphous silicon.

Claim 7

Dependent Claim 16 words

A photoresponsive imaging member in accordance with claim 3 wherein the ground plane includes therein boron.

Claim 8

Dependent Claim 15 words

An imaging member in accordance with claim 3 wherein the ground plane includes therein phosphorus.

Claim 9

Dependent Claim 30 words

An imaging member in accordance with claim 3 wherein the phosphorus or boron are present in an amount of from about 1 part per million to 10,000 parts per million.

Claim 10

Dependent Claim 27 words

A photoresponsive imaging member in accordance with claim 3 wherein the amorphous silicon for the ground plane contains from about 10 to about 50 atomic percent hydrogen.

Claim 11

Dependent Claim 27 words

A photoresponsive imaging member in accordance with claim 3 wherein the amorphous silicon for the photoconductive layer contains from about 10 to about 50 atomic percent hydrogen.

Claim 12

Dependent Claim 13 words

An imaging member in accordance with claim 3 further including an overcoating layer.

Claim 13

Dependent Claim 25 words

An imaging member in accordance with claim 9 wherein the overcoating is selected from the group consisting of silicon carbide, amorphous carbon, and silicon nitride.

Claim 14

Dependent Claim 39 words

An imaging member comprised of a supporting insulating substrate, a ground plane of hydrogenated amorphous silicon with from about 10 to about 50 atomic percent of hydrogen having incorporated therein dopants; and a photoconductive layer of hyrogenated amorphous silicon.

Claim 15

Dependent Claim 39 words

An imaging member comprised of a supporting insulating substrate, a ground plane of hydrogenated amorphous silicon with from about 10 to about 50 atomic percent of hydrogen having incorporated therein dopants; and a photoconductive layer of hyrogenated amorphous silicon.

Claim 16

Dependent Claim 21 words

An imaging member in accordnce with claim 11 wherein the dopants are selected from the group consisting of phosphorous and boron.

Claim 17

Dependent Claim 24 words

An imaging member in accordance with claim 11 wherein the phosphorous or boron are present in an amount of about 10,000 parts per million.

Claim 18

Dependent Claim 34 words

An imaging member in accordance with claim 11 wherein hydrogen is present in an amount of from about 10 to about 50 atomic percent, and the substrate is comprised of an insulating polymer composition.

Claim 19

Dependent Claim 16 words

An imaging member in accordance with claim 11 wherein there is further included an overcoating layer.

Claim 20

Dependent Claim 25 words

An imaging member in accordance with claim 15 wherein the overcoating is selected from the group consisting of silicon carbide, silicon nitride, and amorphous carbon.

Claim 21

Dependent Claim 48 words

A photoresponsive imaging member comprised of a supporting insulating a substrate ground plane containing hydrogenated amorphous silicon having incorporated therein dopants; a hydrogenated amorphous silicon photoconductive layer; and in contact therewith a charge transporting layer of plasma deposited silicon oxide containing at least 50 atomic percent of oxygen.

Claim 22

Dependent Claim 48 words

A photoresponsive imaging member comprised of a supporting insulating a substrate ground plane containing hydrogenated amorphous silicon having incorporated therein dopants; a hydrogenated amorphous silicon photoconductive layer; and in contact therewith a charge transporting layer of plasma deposited silicon oxide containing at least 50 atomic percent of oxygen.

Claim 23

Dependent Claim 26 words

An imaging member in accordance with claim 17 wherein the silicon oxide charge transport layer is situated between the supporting substrate and the amorphous silicon layer.

Claim 24

Dependent Claim 27 words

An imaging member in accordance with claim 17 wherein the amorphous silicon photoconductive layer is situated between the supporting substrate and the silicon oxide charge transport layer.

Claim 25

Dependent Claim 15 words

An imaging member in accordance with claim 17 further including a protective top overcoating layer.

Claim 26

Dependent Claim 24 words

An imaging member in accordance with claim 19 wherein the amorphous silicon photoconductive layer is overcoated by a transparent and partially conductive passivation layer.

Claim 27

Dependent Claim 41 words

An imaging member in accordance with claim 17 wherein the photoconductive layer is comprised of amorphous silicon doped with phosphorus or boron separately or simultaneously in an amount of from about 1 part per million to about 100 parts per million.

Claim 28

Dependent Claim 19 words

An imaging member in accordance with claim 17 wherein the photoconductive layer is comprised of an amorphous silicon-germanium alloy.

Claim 29

Dependent Claim 19 words

An imaging member in accordance with claim 17 wherein the photoconductive layer is comprised of an amorphous silicon-tin alloy.

Claim 30

Dependent Claim 19 words

An imaging member in accordance with claim 17 wherein the photoconductive layer is comprised of an amorphous carbon-germanium alloy.

Claim 31

Dependent Claim 34 words

An imaging member in accordance with claim 17 wherein the transport layer of silicon oxide is prepared by the glow discharge of a mixture of a silane gas and a gaseous nitrogen oxygen compound.

Claim 32

Dependent Claim 38 words

An imaging member in accordance with claim 17 wherein the transport layer of silicon oxide is prepared by the glow discharge of a mixture of a silane gas, a gaseous nitrogen oxygen compound and a boron containing gas.

Claim 33

Dependent Claim 38 words

An imaging member in accordance with claim 17 wherein the transport layer of silicon oxide is prepared by the glow discharge of a mixture of a silane gas, a gaseous nitrogen oxygen compound and a phosphorus containing gas.

Claim 34

Dependent Claim 27 words

An imaging member in accordance with claim 18 wherein the thickness of the silicon oxide charge transport layer is from about 1.0 microns to about 10 microns.

Claim 35

Dependent Claim 24 words

An imaging member in accordance with claim 20 wherein the thickness of the overcoating layer is from about 0.1 micron to about 1.0 micron.

Claim 36

Dependent Claim 29 words

An imaging member in accordance with claim 20 wherein the overcoating layer results from plasma deposited silicon nitride, silicon oxynitride, silicon oxide, silicon carbide, amorphous carbon, or alumium oxide.

Claim 37

Dependent Claim 31 words

An imaging member in accordance with claim 17 wherein the ground plane dopants are selected from the group consisting of elements of Group III and Group V of the periodic table.

Claim 38

Dependent Claim 21 words

An imaging member in accordance with claim 32 wherein the dopants are selected from the ground consisting of phosphorus and boron.

Claim 39

Dependent Claim 24 words

An imaging member in accordance with claim 33 wherein the phosphorus or boron are present in an amount of about 10,000 parts per million.

Claim 40

Dependent Claim 41 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.

Claim 41

Dependent Claim 41 words

A method of imaging which comprises providing the photoresponsive device of claim 2 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.

Claim 42

Dependent Claim 41 words

A method of imaging which comprises providing the photoresponsive device of claim 3 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.

Claim 43

Dependent Claim 41 words

A method of imaging which comprises providing the photoresponsive device of claim 17 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.

Claim 44

Dependent Claim 32 words

A method of imaging in accordance with claim 35 wherein the ground plane of hydrogenated amorphous silicon has incorporated therein as dopants elements selected from the group consisting of phosphorous and boron.

Claim 45

Dependent Claim 32 words

A method of imaging in accordance with claim 36 wherein the ground plane of hydrogenated amorphous silicon has incorporated therein as dopants elements selected from the group consisting of phosphorous and boron.

Claim 46

Dependent Claim 32 words

A method of imaging in accordance with claim 37 wherein the ground plane of hydrogenated amorphous silicon has incorporated therein as dopants elements selected from the group consisting of phosphorous and boron.

Claim 47

Dependent Claim 59 words

A photoresponsive imaging member comprised of a supporting insulating substrate selected from the group consisting of insulating inorganic components, insulating organic components, and conductive components, a ground plane of hydrogenated amorphous silicon having incorporated therein as dopants, elements selected from Group III and V of the periodic table; and in contact therewith a photoconductive layer of hydrogenated amorphous silicon.

Claim 48

Dependent Claim 59 words

A photoresponsive imaging member comprised of a supporting insulating substrate selected from the group consisting of insulating inorganic components, insulating organic components, and conductive components, a ground plane of hydrogenated amorphous silicon having incorporated therein as dopants, elements selected from Group III and V of the periodic table; and in contact therewith a photoconductive layer of hydrogenated amorphous silicon.

Claim 49

Dependent Claim 26 words

An imaging member in accordance with claim 42 wherein the supporting substrate is comprised of a polymer selected from the group consisting of polyimides and polycarbonates.

Claim 50

Dependent Claim 27 words

An imaging member in accordance with claim 42 wherein the supporting substrate is selected from the groups consisting of aluminum, chromium, nickel, brass, stainless steel, and ceramics.

Claim 51

Dependent Claim 32 words

A method of imaging in accordance with claim 38 wherein the ground plane of hydrogenated amorphous silicon has incorporated therein as dopants elements selected from the group consisting of phosphorous and boron.

Claim 52

Dependent Claim 44 words

A photoresponsive imaging member consisting essentially of a supporting substrate, a ground plane of hydrogenated amorphous silicon having incorporated therein as dopants elements selected from Groups III and V of the periodic table; and in contact therewith a photoconductive layer of hydrogenated amorphous silicon.

Claim 53

Dependent Claim 44 words

A photoresponsive imaging member consisting essentially of a supporting substrate, a ground plane of hydrogenated amorphous silicon having incorporated therein as dopants elements selected from Groups III and V of the periodic table; and in contact therewith a photoconductive layer of hydrogenated amorphous silicon.

Annuity Stage	Window Opens	Payment Deadline	Surcharge Period Until	Estimated Fee	Status
3.5 Years (Year 4)	1990-10-05	1991-04-06	1991-10-06	$2000.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8)	1994-10-05	1995-04-06	1995-10-06	$3760.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12)	1998-10-05	1999-04-06	1999-10-06	$7700.00	Window Closed / Lapsed

Electrophotographic imaging members having a ground plane of hydrogenated amorphous silicon

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