US4760005A
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Amorphous silicon imaging members with barrier layers
Assignee: Xerox Corp
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Filing: 1986-11-03
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Granted: 1988-07-26
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Expires: 2006-11-03
Abstract
Abstract An imaging member comprised of a supporting substrate, a barrier layer of hydrogenated amorphous silicon nitride with dopants, a hydrogenated amorphous silicon photoconducting layer, and in contact therewith a top overcoating layer of nonstoichiometric silicon nitride.
Inventors
- 👤 Damodar M. Pai
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-05 01:02
CPC Classifications
G; G03; G03G; G03G5/00; G03G5/02; G03G5/04; G03G5/08; G03G5/082; G03G5/08214; G03G5/08235
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 33
Claim 1
Independent Claim
54 words
An imaging member comprised of a supporting substrate, a barrier layer of hydrogenated amorphous silicon nitride with dopants, a photoconducting layer which comprises a material selected from the group consisting of a hydrogenated amorphous silicon-tin alloy, and a hydrogenated amorphous carbon-germanium alloy, and in contact therewith a top overcoating layer of nonstoichiometric silicon nitride.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
54 words
An imaging member comprised of a supporting substrate, a barrier layer of hydrogenated amorphous silicon nitride with dopants, a photoconducting layer which comprises a material selected from the group consisting of a hydrogenated amorphous silicon-tin alloy, and a hydrogenated amorphous carbon-germanium alloy, and in contact therewith a top overcoating layer of nonstoichiometric silicon nitride.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
18 words
An imaging member in accordance with claim 1 wherein the barrier layer is doped with boron or phosphorus.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
29 words
An imaging member in accordance with claim 2 wherein the dopants are present in an amount of from about 100 parts per million to about 2,000 parts per million.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
28 words
An imaging member in accordance with claim 1 wherein the barrier layer contains from about 30 percent to about 70 percent of silicon doped with boron or phosphorus.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
18 words
An imaging member in accordance with claim 1 wherein the photoconducting layer is doped with boron or phosphorus.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
29 words
An imaging member in accordance with claim 5 wherein the dopants are present in an amount of from about 1 part per million to about 20 parts per million.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
37 words
An imaging member in accordance with claim 1 wherein the photoconducting layer is doped with phosphorus or boron separately or simultaneously in an amount of from about 2 parts per million to about 100 parts per million.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
42 words
An imaging member which comprises a supporting substrate, a barrier layer of hydrogenated amorphous silicon nitride with dopants, a photoconducting layer comprising a hydrogenated amorphous silicon-tin alloy, and in contact with the photoconducting layer a top overcoating layer of nonstoichiometric silicon nitride.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
42 words
An imaging member which comprises a supporting substrate, a barrier layer of hydrogenated amorphous silicon nitride with dopants, a photoconducting layer comprising a hydrogenated amorphous silicon-tin alloy, and in contact with the photoconducting layer a top overcoating layer of nonstoichiometric silicon nitride.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
42 words
An imaging member which comprises a supporting substrate, a barrier layer of hydrogenated amorphous silicon nitride with dopants, a photoconducting layer comprising a hydrogenated amorphous carbon-germanium alloy, and in contact with the photoconducting layer a top overcoating layer of nonstoichiometric silicon nitride.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
42 words
An imaging member which comprises a supporting substrate, a barrier layer of hydrogenated amorphous silicon nitride with dopants, a photoconducting layer comprising a hydrogenated amorphous carbon-germanium alloy, and in contact with the photoconducting layer a top overcoating layer of nonstoichiometric silicon nitride.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
31 words
An imaging member in accordance with claim 1 wherein the overcoating layer is comprised of silicon nitride wherein the atomic ratio of nitrogen to silicon is from 0.1 to about 0.5.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
15 words
An imaging member in accordance with claim 1 wherein the substrate is comprised of aluminum.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
15 words
An imaging member in accordance with claim 1 wherein the substrate is a flexible belt.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
24 words
An imaging member in accordance with claim 1 wherein the thickness of the photoconducting layer is from about 1 micron to about 60 microns.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
24 words
An imaging member in accordance with claim 1 wherein the thickness of the overcoating layer is from about 0.02 micron to about 2 microns.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
37 words
A method of imaging which comprises providing the photoresponsive imaging member of claim 1 subjecting this member to imagewise exposure, developing the resulting image with a toner composition, and subsequently transferring the image to a suitable substrate.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
38 words
A method of imaging in accordance with claim 15 wherein the photoconducting layer is doped with phosphorus or boron separately or simultaneously in an amount of from about 2 parts per million to about 110 parts per million.
Claim 20
Independent Claim
78 words
A method of imaging which comprises providing a photoresponsive imaging member, subjecting this member to imagewise exposure, developing the resulting image with a toner composition, and subsequently transferring the image to a suitable substrate, wherein the photoresponsive imaging member comprises a supporting substrate, a barrier layer of hydrogenated amorphous silicon nitride with dopants, a photoconducting layer which comprises a hydrogenated amorphous silicon-tin alloy and in contact with the photoconducting layer a top overcoating layer of nonstoichiometric silicon nitride.
Claim 21
Independent Claim
78 words
A method of imaging which comprises providing a photoresponsive imaging member, subjecting this member to imagewise exposure, developing the resulting image with a toner composition, and subsequently transferring the image to a suitable substrate, wherein the photoresponsive imaging member comprises a supporting substrate, a barrier layer of hydrogenated amorphous silicon nitride with dopants, a photoconducting layer which comprises a hydrogenated amorphous silicon-tin alloy and in contact with the photoconducting layer a top overcoating layer of nonstoichiometric silicon nitride.
Claim 22
Independent Claim
77 words
A method of imaging which comprises providing a photoresponsive imaging member, subjecting this member to imagewise exposure, developing the resulting image with a toner composition, and subsequently transferring the image to a suitable substrate, wherein the photoresponsive imaging member comprises a supporting substrate, a barrier layer of hydrogenated amorphous silicon nitride with dopants, a photoconducting layer which comprises hydrogenated amorphous carbon-germanium alloy; and in contact with the photoconducting layer a top overcoating layer of nonstoichiometric silicon nitride.
Claim 23
Independent Claim
77 words
A method of imaging which comprises providing a photoresponsive imaging member, subjecting this member to imagewise exposure, developing the resulting image with a toner composition, and subsequently transferring the image to a suitable substrate, wherein the photoresponsive imaging member comprises a supporting substrate, a barrier layer of hydrogenated amorphous silicon nitride with dopants, a photoconducting layer which comprises hydrogenated amorphous carbon-germanium alloy; and in contact with the photoconducting layer a top overcoating layer of nonstoichiometric silicon nitride.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
27 words
A method of imaging in accordance with claim 15 wherein the barrier layer contains silicon in an amount of from about 30 percent to about 70 percent.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
25 words
A method of imaging in accordance with claim 15 wherein the thickness of the photoconducting layer is from about 1 micron to about 60 microns.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
25 words
A method of imaging in accordance with claim 15 wherein the thickness of the overcoating layer is from about 0.02 micron to about 2 microns.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
19 words
A method of imaging in accordance with claim 15 wherein the barrier layer is doped with boron or phosphorus.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
29 words
A method of imaging in accordance with claim 22 wherein dopants are present in an amount of from about 100 parts per million to about 200 parts per million.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
33 words
A method of imaging in accordance with claim 15 wherein the overcoating layer is comprised of silicon nitride wherein the atomic ratio of nitrogen to silicon is from about 0.1 to about 0.5.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
16 words
A method of imaging in accordance with claim 15 wherein the substrate is comprised of aluminum.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
16 words
A method of imaging in accordance with claim 15 wherein the substrate is a flexible belt.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
46 words
A method of imaging in accordance with claim 15 wherein lateral movement of charges is eliminated at the interface of the overcoating layer and the photoconducting layer, and the barrier layer prevents injection of carriers from the substrate enabling images with high resolution to be obtained.
Claim 33
Dependent Claim
23 words
A method of imaging in accordance with claim 15 wherein the barrier layer increases the adhesion to the substrate thereby enabling mechanical integrity.
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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) | 1991-07-26 | 1992-01-25 | 1992-07-26 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1995-07-26 | 1996-01-25 | 1996-07-26 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1999-07-26 | 2000-01-25 | 2000-07-26 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |