US4737429A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Layered amorphous silicon imaging members
Assignee: Xerox Corp
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Filing: 1986-06-26
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Granted: 1988-04-12
•
Expires: 2006-06-26
Abstract
Abstract An electrostatographic imaging member comprised of a supporting substrate; a hydrogenated amorphous silicon photogenerator layer; and in contact therewith a plasma deposited charge transporting layer with components therein selected from the group consisting of silicon nitrides, boron nitrides, aluminum nitrides, phosphorous nitrides, gallium nitrides, boron phosphides, aluminum phosphides, boron oxides, aluminum oxides, gallium oxides, and organosilanes; and wherein the transporting layer contains therein hydrogen, halides, or mixtures thereof.
Inventors
- 👤 Joseph Mort
- 👤 Frank Jansen
- 👤 Koji Okumura
- 👤 Steven J. Grammatica
- 👤 Michael A. Morgan
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-30 03:59
CPC Classifications
G; G03; G03G; G03G5/00; G03G5/02; G03G5/04; G03G5/08; G03G5/082; G03G5/08214; G03G5/08221; G03G5/08228; G03G5/043; G03G5/0433; G03G5/06; G03G5/0601; G03G5/062
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 50
Claim 1
Independent Claim
70 words
An electrophotographic imaging member comprised of a supporting substrate; a hydrogenated amorphous silicon photogenerator layer; and in contact therewith a plasma deposited charge transporting layer with components therein selected from the group consisting of plasma deposited boron nitrides, aluminum nitrides, phosphorus nitrides, gallium nitrides, gallium phosphides, boron phosphides, aluminum phosphides, boron oxides, aluminum oxides, gallium oxides, and organosilanes; and wherein the transporting layer contains therein hydrogen, halogens, or mixtures thereof.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
70 words
An electrophotographic imaging member comprised of a supporting substrate; a hydrogenated amorphous silicon photogenerator layer; and in contact therewith a plasma deposited charge transporting layer with components therein selected from the group consisting of plasma deposited boron nitrides, aluminum nitrides, phosphorus nitrides, gallium nitrides, gallium phosphides, boron phosphides, aluminum phosphides, boron oxides, aluminum oxides, gallium oxides, and organosilanes; and wherein the transporting layer contains therein hydrogen, halogens, or mixtures thereof.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
16 words
An imaging member in accordance with claim 1 further including thereover a protective top overcoating layer.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
28 words
An imaging member in accordance with claim 2 wherein the protective top overcoating layer is selected from the group consisting of silicon nitrides, silicon carbides and amorphous carbon.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
39 words
An imaging member in accordance with claim 1 wherein the charge transport layer is a plasma deposited boron nitride with from about 30 to about 70 atomic percent of boron, excluding the amount of hydrogen, halogens, or mixtures thereof.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
39 words
An imaging member in accordance with claim 1 wherein the charge transport layer is a plasma deposited aluminum nitride with from about 30 to about 70 atomic percent of aluminum, excluding the amount of hydrogen, halogens or mixtures thereof.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
39 words
An imaging member in accordance with claim 1 wherein the charge transport layer is a plasma deposited phosphorus nitride with from about 40 to about 60 atomic percent of phosphorus, excluding the amount of hydrogen, halogens, or mixtures thereof.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
39 words
An imaging member in accordance with claim 1 wherein the charge transport layer is a plasma deposited gallium nitride with from about 40 to about 60 atomic percent of gallium, excluding the amount of hydrogen, halogens, or mixtures thereof.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
39 words
An imaging member in accordance with claim 1 wherein the charge transport layer is a plasma deposited gallium phosphide with from about 40 to about 60 atomic percent of gallium, excluding the amount of hydrogen, halogens or mixtures thereof.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
39 words
An imaging member in accordance with claim 1 wherein the charge transport layer is a plasma deposited boron phosphide with from about 40 to about 60 atomic percent of boron, excluding the amount of hydrogen, halogens, or mixture thereof.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
39 words
An imaging member in accordance with claim 1 wherein the charge transport layer is a plasma deposited aluminum phosphide with from about 40 to about 60 atomic percent of aluminum, excluding the amount of hydrogen, halogens, or mixtures thereof.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
39 words
An imaging member in accordance with claim 1 wherein the charge transport layer is a plasma deposited boron oxide with from about 30 to about 50 atomic percent of boron, excluding the amount of hydrogen, halogens, or mixtures thereof.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
38 words
An imaging member in accordance with claim 1 wherein the charge transport layer is a plasma deposited aluminum oxide with from about 30 to about 50 percent of aluminum, excluding the amount of hyrogen, halogens, or mixtures thereof.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
39 words
An imaging member in accordance with claim 1 wherein the charge transport layer is a plasma deposited gallium oxide with from about 30 to about 50 atomic percent of gallium, excluding the amount of hydrogen, halogens, or mixtures thereof.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
18 words
An imaging member in accordance with claim 1 wherein the charge transport layer is a plasma deposited organosilane.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
26 words
An imaging member in accordance with claim 1 wherein the hydrogen amorphous silicon photogenerator layer is situated between the supporting substrate and the charge transport layer.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
20 words
An imaging member in accordance with claim 1 wherein the photogenerator layer is comprised of a hydrogenated amorphous silicon-germanium alloy.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
20 words
An imaging member in accordance with claim 1 wherein the photogenerator layer is comprised of a hydrogenated amorphous silicon-tin alloy.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
19 words
An imaging member in accordance with claim 1 wherein the photogenerator layer is comprised of a hydrogenated carbon-germanium alloy.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
16 words
An imaging member in accordance with claim 1 wherein the supporting substrate is rigid or flexible.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
26 words
An imaging member in accordance with claim 1 wherein the supporting substrate is selected from the group consisting of aluminum, chromium, nickel, brass, and stainless steel.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
18 words
An imaging member in accordance with claim 1 wherein the supporting substrate is comprised of an insulating material.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
16 words
An imaging member in accordance with claim 12 wherein the insulating material is an organic polymer.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
25 words
An imaging member in accordance with claim 1 wherein the charge transport layer is of a thickness of from about 1.0 to about 10 microns.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
28 words
An imaging member in accordance with claim 2 wherein the overcoating results from plasma deposited silicon nitride, silicon oxynitride, silicon oxide, silicon carbide, amorphous carbon, or aluminum oxide.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
27 words
An imaging member in accordance with claim 1 wherein there is present an interface transition gradient between the charge transport layer and the amorphous silicon photogenerator layer.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
44 words
A method of imaging which comprises providing the photoresponsive imaging member of claim 1, subjecting this member to uniform charging, imagewise exposure, developing the resulting image with a toner composition, subsequently transferring the image to a suitable substrate, and permanently affixing the image thereto.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
39 words
A method of imaging in accordance with claim 26 wherein the charge transport layer is a plasma deposited boron nitride with from 30 to about 70 atomic percent of boron, excluding the amount of halogens, hydrogen, or mixtures thereof.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
39 words
A method of imaging in accordance with claim 26 wherein the charge transport layer is a plasma deposited aluminum nitride with from about 30 to 70 atomic percent of aluminum, excluding the amount of halogens, hydrogen, or mixtures thereof.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
42 words
A method of imaging in accordance with claim 26 wherein the charge transport layer is a plasma deposited phosphorus nitride with from about 40 to about 60 atomic percent of phosphorus, and from about 0 to about 30 atomic percent of nitrogen.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
39 words
A method of imaging in accordance with claim 26 wherein the charge transport layer is a plasma deposited gallium nitride with from about 40 to 60 atomic percent of gallium, excluding the amount of halogens, hydrogen, or mixtures thereof.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
39 words
A method of imaging in accordance with claim 26 wherein the charge transport layer is a plasma deposited boron phosphide with from about 40 to 60 atomic percent of boron, excluding the amount of halogens, hydrogen, or mixtures thereof.
Claim 33
Dependent Claim
39 words
A method of imaging in accordance with claim 26 wherein the charge transport layer is a plasma deposited aluminum phosphide with from about 40 to 60 atomic percent of aluminum, excluding the amount of halogens, hydrogen, or mixtures thereof.
Claim 34
Dependent Claim
39 words
A method of imaging in accordance with claim 26 wherein the charge transport layer is a plasma deposited boron oxide with from about 30 to 50 atomic percent of boron, excluding the amount of halogens, hydrogen, or mixtures thereof.
Claim 35
Dependent Claim
39 words
A method of imaging in accordance with claim 26 wherein the charge transport layer is a plasma deposited aluminum oxide with from about 30 to 50 atomic percent of aluminum, excluding the amount of halogens, hydrogen, or mixtures thereof.
Claim 36
Dependent Claim
39 words
A method of imaging in accordance with claim 26 wherein the charge transport layer is a plasma deposited gallium oxide with from about 30 to 50 atomic percent of gallium, excluding the amount of halogens, hydrogen, or mixtures thereof.
Claim 37
Dependent Claim
19 words
A method of imaging in accordance with claim 26 wherein the charge transport layer is a plasma deposited organosilanes.
Claim 38
Dependent Claim
27 words
A method of imaging in accordance with claim 26 wherein the hydrogenated amorphous silicon photogenerator layer is situated between the supporting substrate and the charge transport layer.
Claim 39
Dependent Claim
21 words
A method of imaging in accordance with claim 26 wherein the photogenerator layer is comprised of a hydrogenated amorphous silicon-germanium alloy.
Claim 40
Dependent Claim
21 words
A method of imaging in accordance with claim 26 wherein the photogenerator layer is comprised of a hydrogenated amorphous silicon-tin alloy.
Claim 41
Dependent Claim
23 words
An imaging member in accordance with claim 1, wherein the phtogenerating layer contains from about 10 to about 50 atomic percent of hydrogen.
Claim 42
Dependent Claim
22 words
An imaging member in accordance with claim 2, wherein the photogenerating layer contains about 10 to about 50 atomic percent of hydrogen.
Claim 43
Dependent Claim
23 words
An imaging member in accordance with claim 1, wherein the transporting layer contains from about 2 to about 25 atomic percent of hydrogen.
Claim 44
Dependent Claim
23 words
An imaging member in accordance with claim 2 wherein the transporting layer contains from about 2 to about 25 atomic percent of hydrogen.
Claim 45
Dependent Claim
38 words
An imaging member in accordance with claim 14 wherein the charge transport layer is of a thickness of about 5 microns, hydrogen is present in an amount of about 20 atomic percent, and the organosilane is phenylmethyl silane.
Claim 46
Dependent Claim
41 words
An imaging member in accordance with claim 5 wherein the charge transport layer is of a thickness of about 5 microns, hydrogen is present in an amount of about 12 atomic percent, and the atomic percentage of aluminum is about 51.
Claim 47
Dependent Claim
41 words
An imaging member in accordance with claim 9 wherein the charge transport layer is of a thickness of about 5 microns, hydrogen is present in an amount of about 25 atomic percent, and the atomic percentage of boron is about 50.
Claim 48
Dependent Claim
41 words
An imaging member in accordance with claim 12 wherein the charge transport layer is of a thickness of about 5 microns, hydrogen is present in an amount of about 20 atomic percent, and the atomic percentage of aluminum is about 41.
Claim 49
Dependent Claim
27 words
An imaging member in accordance with claim 45 wherein the imaging member also comprises an overcoating layer of silicon nitride having a thickness of about 3,000 Angstroms.
Claim 50
Dependent Claim
40 words
An imaging member in accordance with claim 4 wherein the charge transport layer is of a thickness of about 5 microns, hydrogen is present in an atomic percent of about 20, and the atomic percentage of boron is about 48.
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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) | 1991-04-12 | 1991-10-12 | 1992-04-12 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1995-04-12 | 1995-10-12 | 1996-04-12 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1999-04-12 | 1999-10-12 | 2000-04-12 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |