Patent US4954397A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US4954397A
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Light receiving member having a divided-functionally structured light receiving layer having CGL and CTL for use in electrophotography
Assignee: Canon Inc
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Filing: 1989-10-18
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Granted: 1990-09-04
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Expires: 2009-10-18
Abstract
Abstract An improved light receiving member for use in electrophotography having a light receiving layer provided with a charge carrier generation layer (hereinafter referred to as "CGL") and a charge carrier transport layer (hereinafter referred to as "CTL"), the CGL being formed of a non-single-crystal material composed substantially of silicon atom as the main constituent atom and at least one kind selected from hydrogen atom and halogen atom and the CTL being formed of a Non-Si(H,X) material containing carbon atom and a conductivity controlling element selected from the group consisting of boron, aluminum, gallium, indium and thallium belonging to group III of the Periodic Table or from the group consisting of phosphorus, arsenic, antimony and bismuth belonging to group V of the Periodic Table in an uneven state in the thicknesswise direction, and optionally at least one kind selected from oxygen atom and nitrogen atom in this order from the side of a substrate. The above light receiving member is that electrical, optical and photoconductive properties are always substantially stable scarcely depending on the working circumstances, that is excellent against optical fatigue, causes no degreadation upon repeating use and that is excellent in durability and moisture-proofness and exhibits no or scarce residual potential.
Inventors
- 👤 Hiroshi Amada
- 👤 Tatsuyuki Aoike
- 👤 Takehito Yoshino
- 👤 Ryuji Okamura
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-04 06:41
CPC Classifications
G; G03; G03G; G03G5/00; G03G5/02; G03G5/04; G03G5/08; G03G5/082; G03G5/08214; G03G5/08235; G03G5/08242; G03G5/08221; G03G5/08228
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 45
Claim 1
Independent Claim
145 words
A light receiving member for use in electrophotography comprising a substrate for electrophotography and a light receiving layer having, in sequence, (i) a charge carrier generation layer and (ii) a charge carrier transport layer on said substrate, said charge carrier generation layer (i) being formed of a non-single-crystal material substantially consisting of silicon atoms as the main constituent atoms and at least one kind selected from the group consisting of hydrogen atoms and halogen atoms in a total amount of 1 to 40 atomic percent and said charge carrier transport layer (ii) being formed of a non-single-crystal material containing silicon atoms as the main constituent atoms, carbon atoms, a conductivity controlling element capable of providing p-type conductivity or n-type conductivity in an unevenly distributed state in the thickness direction and at least one kind selected from the group consisting of hydrogen atoms and halogen atoms.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
145 words
A light receiving member for use in electrophotography comprising a substrate for electrophotography and a light receiving layer having, in sequence, (i) a charge carrier generation layer and (ii) a charge carrier transport layer on said substrate, said charge carrier generation layer (i) being formed of a non-single-crystal material substantially consisting of silicon atoms as the main constituent atoms and at least one kind selected from the group consisting of hydrogen atoms and halogen atoms in a total amount of 1 to 40 atomic percent and said charge carrier transport layer (ii) being formed of a non-single-crystal material containing silicon atoms as the main constituent atoms, carbon atoms, a conductivity controlling element capable of providing p-type conductivity or n-type conductivity in an unevenly distributed state in the thickness direction and at least one kind selected from the group consisting of hydrogen atoms and halogen atoms.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
36 words
A light receiving member for use in electrophotography according to claim 1, wherein the charge carrier generation layer is 0.01 to 30 μm thick and the charge carrier transport layer is 5 to 50 μm thick.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
16 words
A light receiving member for use in electrophotography according to claim 1, the substrate is electroconductive.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
18 words
A light receiving member for use in electrophotography according to claim 1, wherein the substrate is electrically insulative.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
19 words
A light receiving member for use in electrophotography according to claim 1, wherein the substrate is cylindrical in form.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
19 words
A light receiving member for use in electrophotography according to claim 1, wherein the substrate has an uneven surface.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
19 words
A light receiving member for use in electrophotography according to claim 1, wherein the substrate has an irregular surface.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
44 words
A light receiving member for use in electrophotography according to claim 1, wherein said conductivity controlling element capable of providing p-type conductivity contained in the charge carrier transport layer is an element selected from the group consisting of boron, aluminum, gallium, indium and thallium.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
35 words
A light receiving member for use in electrophotography according to claim 1, wherein the amount of said element in the charge carrier transport layer is in the range of from 0.001 to 3000 atomic ppm.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
43 words
A light receiving member for use in electrophotography according to claim 1, wherein said conductivity controlling element capable of providing n-type conductivity contained in the charge carrier transport layer is an element selected from the group consisting of phosphorous, arsenic, antimony and bismuth.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
35 words
A light receiving member for use in electrophotography according to claim 1, wherein the amount of said element in the charge carrier transport layer is in the range of from 0.001 to 3000 atomic ppm.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
36 words
A light receiving member for use in electrophotography according to claim 1, wherein the amount of said carbon atoms in the charge carrier transport layer is in the range of from 0.01 to 50 atomic percent.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
31 words
A light receiving member for use in electrophotography according to claim 1, wherein the charge carrier transport layer contains said carbon atoms in a uniformly distributed state in the thickness direction.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
31 words
A light receiving member for use in electrophotography according to claim 1, wherein the charge carrier transport layer contains said carbon atoms in an unevenly distributed state in the thickness direction.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
40 words
A light receiving member for use in electrophotography according to claim 1, wherein the charge carrier transport layer contains at least one kind selected from the group consisting of nitrogen atoms and oxygen atoms in addition to said carbon atoms.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
54 words
A light receiving member for use in electrophotography according to claim 1, wherein the total amount of the carbon atoms and said at least one kind selected from the group consisting of nitrogen atoms and oxygen atoms in the charge carrier transport layer is in the range of from 0.01 to 50 atomic percent.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
45 words
A light receiving member for use in electrophotography according to claim 1, wherein the charge carrier transport layer contains said at least one kind selected from the group consisting of hydrogen atoms and halogen atoms in a total amount of 1 to 70 atomic percent.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
29 words
A light receiving member for use in electrophotography according to claim 1, wherein the light receiving layer contains a charge injection inhibition layer under the charge carrier generation layer.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
134 words
A light receiving member for use in electrophotography according to claim 18, wherein the charge injection inhibition layer is 0.01 to 10 μm thick and comprises a member selected from the group consisting of (a) a non-single-crystal silicon-containing material containing a conductivity controlling element and at least one kind selected from the group consisting of hydrogen atoms and halogen atoms, (b) a non-single-crystal silicon-containing material at least one kind selected from the group consisting of carbon atoms, oxygen atoms and nitrogen atoms and (c) a non-single-crystal silicon-containing material containing at least one kind selected from the group consisting of carbon atoms, oxygen atoms and nitrogen atoms and at least one kind selected from the group consisting of hydrogen atoms, halogen atoms and a conductivity controlling element capable of providing p-type conductivity or n-type conductivity.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
28 words
A light receiving member for use in electrophotography according to claim 1, wherein the light receiving layer contains an infrared absorptive layer under the charge carrier generation layer.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
60 words
A light receiving member for use in electrophotography according to claim 20, wherein the infrared absorption layer is 0.05 to 25 μm thick and comprises a non-single-crystal material containing at least one kind selected from the group consisting of germanium atoms and tin atoms and at least one kind selected from the group consisting of hydrogen atoms and halogen atoms.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
21 words
A light receiving member for use in electrophotography according to claim 21, wherein the infrared absorption layer further contains silicon atoms.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
31 words
A light receiving member for use in electrophotography according to claim 21, wherein the infrared absorption layer further contains a conductivity controlling element capable of providing p-type conductivity or n-type conductivity.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
36 words
A light receiving member for use in electrophotography according to claim 21, wherein the infrared absorption layer further contains at least one kind selected from the group consisting of carbon atoms, oxygen atoms and nitrogen atoms.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
27 words
A light receiving member for use in electrophotography according to claim 1, wherein the light receiving layer contains a surface layer on the charge carrier transport layer.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
70 words
A light receiving member for use in electrophotography according to claim 25, wherein the surface layer is 0.003 to 30 μm thick and comprises a non-single-crystal material substantially composed of silicon atoms as the main constituent atoms, at least one kind selected from the group consisting of carbon atoms, oxygen atoms and nitrogen atoms and at least one kind selected from the group consisting of hydrogen atoms and halogen atoms.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
28 words
A light receiving member for use in electrophotography according to claim 18, wherein an infrared absorption layer is disposed between the substrate and the charge injection inhibition layer.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
184 words
A light receiving member for use in electrophotography according to claim 27, wherein the charge injection inhibition layer is 0.01 to 10 μm thick and comprises a member selected from the group consisting of (a) a non-single-crystal silicon-containing material containing a conductivity controlling element and at least one kind selected from the group consisting of hydrogen atoms and halogen atoms, (b) a non-single-crystal silicon-containing material containing at least one kind selected from the group consisting of carbon atoms, oxygen atoms and nitrogen atoms, and (c) a non-single-crystal silicon-containing material containing at least one kind selected from the group consisting of carbon atoms, oxygen atoms and nitrogen atoms and at least one kind selected from the group consisting of hydrogen atoms, halogen atoms and a conductivity controlling element capable of providing p-type conductivity or n-type conductivity and wherein the infrared absorption layer is 0.05 to 25 μm thick and comprises a non-single-crystal material containing at least one kind selected from the group consisting of germanium atoms and tin atoms and at least one kind selected from the group consisting of hydrogen atoms and halogen atoms.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
21 words
A light receiving member for use in electrophotography according to claim 28, wherein the infrared absorption layer further contains silicon atoms.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
31 words
A light receiving member for use in electrophotography according to claim 28, wherein the infrared absorption layer further contains a conductivity controlling element capable of providing p-type conductivity or n-type conductivity.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
36 words
A light receiving member for use in electrophotography according to claim 28, wherein the infrared absorption layer further contains at least one kind selected from the group consisting of carbon atoms, oxygen atoms and nitrogen atoms.
Claim 33
Dependent Claim
24 words
A light receiving member for use in electrophotography according to claim 18, wherein a surface layer is disposed on the charge carrier transport layer.
Claim 34
Dependent Claim
194 words
A light receiving member for use in electrophotography according to claim 32, wherein the charge injection inhibition layer is 0.01 to 10 μm thick and comprises a member selected from the group consisting of (a) a non-single-crystal silicon-containing material containing a conductivity controlling element and at least one kind selected from the group consisting of hydrogen atoms and halogen atoms, (b) a non-single-crystal silicon-containing material containing at least one kind selected from the group consisting of carbon atoms, oxygen atoms and nitrogen atoms and (c) a non-single-crystal silicon-containing material containing at least one kind selected from the group consisting of carbon atoms, oxygen atoms and nitrogen atoms and at least one kind selected from the group consisting of hydrogen atoms, halogen atoms and a conductivity controlling element capable of providing p-type conductivity or n-type conductivity and wherein the surface layer is 0.003 to 30 μm thick and comprises a non-single-crystal material substantially composed of silicon atoms as the main constituent atoms, at least one kind selected from the group consisting of carbon atoms, oxygen atoms and nitrogen atoms and at least one kind selected from the group consisting of hydrogen atoms and halogen atoms.
Claim 35
Dependent Claim
24 words
A light receiving member for use in electrophotography according to claim 20, wherein a surface layer is disposed on the charge carrier transport layer.
Claim 36
Dependent Claim
119 words
A light receiving member for use in electrophotography according to claim 35, wherein the infrared absorption layer is 0.05 to 25 μm thick and comprises a non-single-crystal material containing at least one kind selected from the group consisting of germanium atoms and tin atoms and at least one kind selected from the group consisting of hydrogen atoms and halogen atoms and wherein the surface layer is 0.003 to 30 μm thick and comprises a non-single-crystal material substantially composed of silicon atoms as the main constituent atoms, at least one kind selected from the group consisting of carbon atoms, oxygen atoms and nitrogen atoms and at least one kind selected from the group consisting of hydrogen atoms and halogen atoms.
Claim 37
Dependent Claim
21 words
A light receiving member for use in electrophotography according to claim 35, wherein the infrared absorption layer further contains silicon atoms.
Claim 38
Dependent Claim
31 words
A light receiving member for use in electrophotography according to claim 35, wherein the infrared absorption layer further contains a conductivity controlling element capable of providing p-type conductivity or n-type conductivity.
Claim 39
Dependent Claim
36 words
A light receiving member for use in electrophotography according to claim 35, wherein the infrared absorption layer further contains at least one kind selected from the group consisting of carbon atoms, oxygen atoms and nitrogen atoms.
Claim 40
Dependent Claim
24 words
A light receiving member for use in electrophotography according to claim 27, wherein a surface layer is disposed on the charge carrier transport layer.
Claim 41
Dependent Claim
241 words
A light receiving member for use in electrophotography according to claim 39, wherein the infrared absorption layer is 0.05 to 25 μm thick and comprises a non-single-crystal material containing at least one kind selected from the group consisting of germanium atoms and tin atoms and at least one kind selected from the group consisting of hydrogen atoms and halogen atoms, the charge injection inhibition layer is 0.01 to 10 μm thick and comprises a member selected from the group consisting of (a) a non-single-crystal silicon-containing material containing a conductivity controlling element and at least one kind selected from the group consisting of hydrogen atoms and halogen atoms, (b) a non-single-crystal silicon-containing material containing at least one kind selected from the group consisting of carbon atoms, oxygen atoms and nitrogen atoms and (c) a non-single-crystal silicon-containing material containing at least one kind selected from the group consisting of carbon atoms, oxygen atoms and nitrogen atoms and at least one kind selected from the group consisting of hydrogen atoms, halogen atoms and a conductivity controlling element capable of providing p-type conductivity or n-type conductivity and wherein the surface layer is 0.003 to 30 μm thick and comprises a non-single-crystal material substantially composed of silicon atoms as the main constituent atoms, at least one kind selected from the group consisting of carbon atoms, oxygen atoms and nitrogen atoms and at least one kind selected from the group consisting of hydrogen atoms and halogen atoms.
Claim 42
Dependent Claim
21 words
A light receiving member for use in electrophotography according to claim 40, wherein the infrared absorption layer further contains silicon atoms.
Claim 43
Dependent Claim
31 words
A light receiving member for use in electrophotography according to claim 40, wherein the infrared absorption layer further contains a conductivity controlling element capable of providing p-type conductivity or n-type conductivity.
Claim 44
Dependent Claim
36 words
A light receiving member for use in electrophotography according to claim 40, wherein the infrared absorption layer further contains at least one kind selected from the group consisting of carbon atoms, oxygen atoms and nitrogen atoms.
Claim 45
Dependent Claim
32 words
An electrophotographic process comprising: (a) applying a charge to the light receiving member of claim 1; and (b) applying an electromagnetic wave to said light receiving member thereby forming an electrostatic image.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
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| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
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| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1993-09-03 | 1994-03-05 | 1994-09-04 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1997-09-03 | 1998-03-05 | 1998-09-04 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2001-09-03 | 2002-03-05 | 2002-09-04 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |