US5059502A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Electrophotographic photoconductor
Assignee: Semiconductor Energy Laboratory Co Ltd
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Filing: 1989-11-13
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Granted: 1991-10-22
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Expires: 2009-11-13
Abstract
Abstract An electrophotographic photoconductor comprises an electroconductive substrate, an organic photoconductive layer formed on the electroconductive substrate, and a protective layer formed on the organic photoconductive layer, comprising carbon or a carbon-based material as its main component, in which the difference in the Vickers hardness between the organic photoconductive layer and the protective layer is 2500 Kg/mm 2 or less, and the oxygen concentration at the interface or in the vicinity of the interface between the organic photoconductive layer and the protective layer is 1 atom % or less.
Inventors
- 👤 Narihito Kojima
- 👤 Hiroshi Nagame
- 👤 Mitsuru Seto
- 👤 Shunpei Yamazaki
- 👤 Shigenori Hayashi
- 👤 Noriya Ishida
- 👤 Naoki Hirose
- 👤 Mari Sasaki
- 👤 Junichi Takeyama
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-04 20:28
CPC Classifications
G; G03; G03G; G03G5/00; G03G5/14; G03G5/147; G03G5/14704; G03G5/02; G03G5/04; G03G5/08; G03G5/082; G03G5/08285
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 25
Claim 1
Independent Claim
58 words
An electrophotographic photoconductor comprising: an electroconductive substrate, an organic photoconductive layer formed on said electroconductive substrate, and a protective layer formed on said organic photoconductive layer, comprising carbon or a carbon-based material as its main component, with the difference between the Vickers hardness of said organic photoconductive layer and said protective layer being 2500 Kg/mm 2 or less.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
58 words
An electrophotographic photoconductor comprising: an electroconductive substrate, an organic photoconductive layer formed on said electroconductive substrate, and a protective layer formed on said organic photoconductive layer, comprising carbon or a carbon-based material as its main component, with the difference between the Vickers hardness of said organic photoconductive layer and said protective layer being 2500 Kg/mm 2 or less.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
25 words
The electrophotographic photoconductor as claimed in claim 1, further comprising an intermediate layer which is interposed between said organic photoconductive layer and said protective layer.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
36 words
The electrophotographic photoconductor as claimed in claim 1, wherein the oxygen concentration at the interface or in the vicinity of the interface between said organic photoconductive layer and said protective layer is 1 atom% or less.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
35 words
The electrophotographic photoconductor as claimed in claim 2, wherein the oxygen concentration at the interface or in the vicinity of the interface between said intermediate layer and said protective layer is 1 atom% or less.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
30 words
The electrophotographic photoconductor as claimed in claim 1, wherein said difference in the Vickers hardness between said organic photoconductive layer and said protective layer is 2000 Kg/mm 2 or less.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
23 words
The electrophotographic photoconductor as claimed in claim 1, wherein the Vickers hardness of said protective layer is 100 to 2500 Kg/mm 2 .
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
23 words
The electrophotographic photoconductor as claimed in claim 1, wherein the Vickers hardness of said protective layer is 500 to 2000 Kg/mm 2 .
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
20 words
The electrophotographic photoconductor as claimed in claim 1, wherein the thickness of said protective layer is 0.01 to 5 μm.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
21 words
The electrophotographic photoconductor as claimed in claim 1, wherein said protective layer has a diamond-like structure containing the SP 3 orbital.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
23 words
The electrophotographic photoconductor as claimed in claim 1, wherein the specific resistance of said protective layer is 1×10 7 to 1×10 13 Ω·cm.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
23 words
The electrophotographic photoconductor as claimed in claim 1, wherein the optical energy band width of said protective layer is 1.0 eV or more.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
20 words
The electrophotographic photoconductor as claimed in claim 1, wherein said protective layer is transparent to infrared light and visible light.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
17 words
The electrophotographic photoconductor as claimed in claim 1, wherein said protective layer is composed of multiple layers.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
20 words
The electrophotographic photoconductor as claimed in claim 1, wherein said protective layer further comprises a halogen, nitrogen, phosphorus or boron.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
24 words
The electrophotographic photoconductor as claimed in claim 1, wherein the Vickers hardness of said organic photoconductive layer is 10 to 100 Kg/mm 2 .
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
24 words
The electrophotographic photoconductor as claimed in claim 1, wherein the Vickers hardness of said organic photoconductive layer is 10 to 50 Kg/mm 2 .
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
17 words
The electrophotographic photoconductor as claimed in claim 1, wherein organic photoconductive layer is a single-layer-type photoconductive layer.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
21 words
The electrophotographic photoconductor as claimed in claim 17, wherein the thickness of said single-layer-type photoconductive layer is 5 to 30 μm.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
27 words
The electrophotographic photoconductor as claimed in claim 1, wherein organic photoconductive layer is a function-separated-type photoconductive layer comprising a charge generating layer and a charge transporting layer.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
24 words
The electrophotographic photoconductor as claimed in claim 19, wherein said charge generating layer comprises an azo pigment which serves as a charge generating material.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
21 words
The electrophotographic photoconductor as claimed in claim 19, wherein the thickness of said charge generating layer is 0.01 to 5 μm.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
21 words
The electrophotographic photoconductor as claimed in claim 19, wherein the thickness of said charge transporting layer is 5 to 100 μm.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
25 words
The electrophotographic photoconductor as claimed in claim 1, further comprising an undercoat layer which is interposed between said electroconductive substrate and said organic photoconductive layer.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
20 words
The electrophotographic photoconductor as claimed in claim 23, wherein the thickness of said undercoat layer is 5 μm or less.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
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| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1994-10-21 | 1995-04-22 | 1995-10-22 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1998-10-21 | 1999-04-22 | 1999-10-22 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2002-10-21 | 2003-04-22 | 2003-10-22 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |