Patent US5024989A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US5024989A
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Process and materials for thermal imaging
Assignee: Polaroid Corp
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Filing: 1990-04-25
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Granted: 1991-06-18
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Expires: 2010-04-25
Abstract
Abstract A process for thermal imaging uses a donor sheet and a receiving sheet. The donor sheet comprises a support and a dye capable of being transferred by heat, while the receiving sheet is adapted to receive the dye and thereby form an image. The donor and receiving sheets are placed adjacent one another, and at least one of the adjacent faces of the donor and receiving sheets has a layer of a polymeric liquid crystal thereon. Selected portions of the donor sheet are heated so as to transfer dye from the donor sheet to the receiving sheet, thereby forming an image on the receiving sheet.
Inventors
- 👤 Yunn H. Chiang
- 👤 Russell A. Gaudiana
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-08 11:17
CPC Classifications
B; B41; B41M; B41M5/00; B41M5/26; B41M5/40; B41M5/42; B41M5/44; B41M5/382; B41M5/392; B41M5/395; B41M5/50; B41M5/52; B41M5/5254; B41M5/5263; B41M5/5272; Y; Y10; Y10S; Y10S428/00; Y10S428/913; Y10S428/914; Y10S430/00; Y10S430/142; Y10T; Y10T428/00; Y10T428/26; Y10T428/263; Y10T428/264; Y10T428/265; Y10T428/31504; Y10T428/31507; Y10T428/31786; Y10T428/31855
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 34
Claim 1
Independent Claim
117 words
A process for thermal imaging using a donor sheet and a receiving sheet, the donor sheet comprising a support and a dye capable of being transferred by heat, the receiving sheet comprising a support and being adapted to receive the dye and thereby form an image, the process comprising placing the donor and receiving sheets adjacent one another, a polymeric liquid crystal being provided on at least one of the donor and receiving sheets so as to be present at the interface between the donor and receiving sheets, and heating selected portions of the donor sheet so as to transfer dye from the donor sheet to the receiving sheet, thereby forming an image on the receiving sheet.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
117 words
A process for thermal imaging using a donor sheet and a receiving sheet, the donor sheet comprising a support and a dye capable of being transferred by heat, the receiving sheet comprising a support and being adapted to receive the dye and thereby form an image, the process comprising placing the donor and receiving sheets adjacent one another, a polymeric liquid crystal being provided on at least one of the donor and receiving sheets so as to be present at the interface between the donor and receiving sheets, and heating selected portions of the donor sheet so as to transfer dye from the donor sheet to the receiving sheet, thereby forming an image on the receiving sheet.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
47 words
A process according to claim 1 wherein the donor sheet comprises a dye layer disposed on one face of the support, the dye layer comprising the dye and a binder for the dye, and during the heating the dye layer on the support faces the receiving sheet.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
15 words
A process according to claim 2 wherein the binder comprises a vinyl alcohol/vinyl butyral copolymer.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
43 words
A process according to claim 2 wherein a layer of a lubricating agent is provided on the face of the donor sheet remote from the dye layer, the lubricating agent serving to reduce adhesion of a thermal printing head to the donor sheet.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
15 words
A process according to claim 1 wherein the receiving sheet comprises the polymeric liquid crystal.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
29 words
A process according to claim 5 wherein the receiving sheet comprises a layer of polymeric liquid crystal layer from about 0.5 to about 10 μ thick on the support.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
25 words
A process according to claim 6 wherein the polymeric liquid crystal layer on the receiving sheet is from about 1 to about 6 μ thick.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
15 words
A process according to claim 5 wherein the polymeric liquid crystal comprises a polymeric polyester.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
24 words
A process according to claim 8 wherein the polymeric liquid crystal comprises a polymer of an aliphatic dicarboxylic acid and an aromatic dihydroxylic phenol.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
28 words
A process according to claim 9 wherein the aliphatic dicarboxylic acid comprises azelaic acid and the aromatic dihydroxylic phenol comprises at least one of a methylquinol and 4,4'-bisphenol.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
30 words
A process according to claim 8 wherein the polymeric liquid crystal comprises a polymer containing residues of an aromatic hydroxy acid or an aromatic dicarboxylic acid and an alkylene glycol.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
30 words
A process according to claim 11 wherein the polymer comprises residues of at least one of p-hydroxybenzoic acid, a phthalic acid, and a halophthalic acid, and residues of ethylene glycol.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
29 words
A process according to claim 5 wherein the polymeric liquid crystal is the only component of the receiving sheet adapted to receive the dye and thereby form an image.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
21 words
A process according to claim 5 wherein the receiving sheet comprises an image receiving material which is not a liquid crystal.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
18 words
A process according to claim 14 wherein the image receiving material comprises an acrylate polymer or a polycarbonate.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
14 words
A process according to claim 15 wherein the image receiving material comprises poly(methyl methacrylate).
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
48 words
A process according to claim 1 wherein heating of the donor sheet is effected by means of a thermal printing head which is scanned over a plurality of areas of the donor sheet to effect an imagewise transfer of dye from the donor sheet to the receiving sheet.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
44 words
A process according to claim 17 wherein the duration of contact between the thermal printing head and the various ones of the plurality of areas of the donor sheet is varied to vary the reflectance density of the various parts of the image produced.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
52 words
Sheet material for use in thermal imaging, the sheet material comprising a donor sheet and a receiving sheet, the donor sheet comprising a support and a dye capable of being transferred by heat, and the receiving sheet having on one of its faces an image receiving layer comprising a polymeric liquid crystal.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
52 words
Sheet material for use in thermal imaging, the sheet material comprising a donor sheet and a receiving sheet, the donor sheet comprising a support and a dye capable of being transferred by heat, and the receiving sheet having on one of its faces an image receiving layer comprising a polymeric liquid crystal.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
33 words
Sheet material according to claim 19 wherein the donor sheet comprises a dye layer disposed on one face of a support, the dye layer comprising the dye and a binder for the dye.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
43 words
Sheet material according to claim 20 wherein a layer of a lubricating agent is provided on the face of the donor sheet remote from the dye layer, the lubricating agent serving to reduce adhesion of a thermal printing head to the donor sheet.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
26 words
Sheet material according to claim 19 wherein the image receiving layer comprises a layer of polymeric liquid crystal from about 0.5 to about 10 μ thick.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
21 words
Sheet material according to claim 22 wherein the polymeric liquid crystal layer is from about 1 to about 6 μ thick.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
15 words
Sheet material according to claim 19 wherein the polymeric liquid crystal comprises a polymeric polyester.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
24 words
Sheet material according to claim 24 wherein the polymeric liquid crystal comprises a polymer of an aliphatic dicarboxylic acid and an aromatic dihyroxylic phenol.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
28 words
Sheet material according to claim 25 wherein the aliphatic dicarboxylic acid comprises azelaic acid and the aromatic dihyroxylic phenol comprises at least one of a methylquinol and 4,4'-bisphenol.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
30 words
Sheet material according to claim 24 wherein the polymeric liquid crystal comprises a polymer containing residues of an aromatic hydroxy acid or an aromatic dicarboxylic acid and an alkylene glycol.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
30 words
Sheet material according to claim 27 wherein the polymer comprises residues of at least one of p-hydroxybenzoic acid, a phthalic acid, and a halophthalic acid, and residues of ethylene glycol.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
30 words
Sheet material according to claim 19 wherein the image receiving layer comprises a mixture of the polymeric liquid crystal and an image receiving material which is not a liquid crystal.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
15 words
Sheet material according to claim 19 wherein the image receiving layer comprises an acrylate polymer.
Claim 33
Dependent Claim
14 words
Sheet material according to claim 30 wherein the image receiving layer comprises poly(methyl methacrylate).
Claim 34
Dependent Claim
64 words
Sheet material according to claim 19 wherein, in addition to the image receiving layer comprising a polymeric liquid crystal, the receiving sheet comprises a second image receiving layer formed from a material which is not a liquid crystal, this second image receiving layer being in contact with the polymeric liquid crystal layer on the side thereof remote from the surface of the receiving sheet.
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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) | 1994-06-17 | 1994-12-17 | 1995-06-18 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1998-06-17 | 1998-12-17 | 1999-06-18 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2002-06-17 | 2002-12-17 | 2003-06-18 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |