Battelle Memorial Institute

Xerox Corporation

Battelle Development Corporation

Paul G Andrus

Thomas M Dolash

James M Hardenbrook

Harold M Epstein

Robert E Schwerzel

William M Myers

Keith A Ramsey

B Thomas Smith

Osmar A Ullrich

A ultrablack article made of a resin containing light absorbing pigments or dyes and its method of manufacture. The surface of the article is provided with light reflecting projections that cause incident light to reflect from the sides of such projections at least twice and preferably at least three times before reflecting from the articles surface. The vast majority of the incident light is thereby transmitted into the article where it is absorbed. The projections are advantageously conical, pyramidal or ridge shaped. The total incident light that reflects from the surface and from the interior of the article is not greater than 0.5%. The surface can be made by applying cone or pyramid shaped light beams to photoresist stepwise to make cones and pyramids and by scanning to make ridges. Means are provided to transfer such surfaces to more suitable resins and to do so continuously.

Method of forming relief surfaces

An article for presenting dye/pigment images therein comprising a substantially transparent viewing region 20; photodeveloped, printed, deposited or diffused dyes and/or pigments 21 in the viewing region; and a substrate region 22 adjacent to the viewing region. The outer surface 23 of the viewing region is configured in a relief pattern comprising microscopic, smooth, sharp pyramids 31, cones 48, or ridges 29, to provide a series of at least 3 surface reflections of any light impinging thereon, before the light travels toward the viewer's eyes. The reflectivity at any one surface reflection is less than about 5% of normally incident light, so less than about 0.05% (and preferably not more than 0.02%) of such incident light is returned toward the viewer after 3 reflections, and less after 4. A viewer thus can see the dye/pigment images clearly from any direction and free from noticeable reflected light from the outer surface, and without loss of detail or contrast in dark areas.

Nonreflective articles

A method for providing intelligible markings that are virtually invisible to the unaided eye on the surface of an article, comprises: applying onto the surface, by a jet printing process, a marking medium comprising a compatible liquid or viscous substance containing an organic laser dye (typically IR-125 in a concentration of about 0.005 to 0.05 percent by weight of the medium) that is poorly absorptive of radiation in the visible range of about 400 to 700 nanometers, is highly absorptive of radiation in the near infrared range of at least about 750 nanometers in wavelength (typically about 750 to 900 nanometers), and fluoresces in response to radiation excitation in the said near infrared range to produce fluorescent radiation of wavelengths longer than the wavelength of the excitation (typically in the range of about 800 to 1100 nanometers). Other useful laser dyes may comprise DTTCI, DNTTCI, HDITCI, DDTTCI, IR-140, DDCI-4, or IR-132.

Providing intelligible markings

Apparatus and methods for providing patterns of materials, as for color printing. A support member (30) has groups of surface areas (40A,40B, etc.) with each surface area in a given group (e.g. 40A) facing generally in a direction different from that faced by the surface areas in any other group (e.g. 40B, etc.), and an energy-modifiable material (41A,41B, etc.) adjacent to the surface areas in each group. Energy (A,B,C) is directed onto the material adjacent to the surface areas in each group in such manner as to substantially modify some of the material without substantially modifying the material adjacent to the surface areas of the other groups. A receiver member (32) may be positioned with a surface (31) thereof adjacent to the groups of surface areas; and a substantial proportion either of the modified materials or of the remaining unmodified materials may be transferred to the receiver surface (31) to form the desired patterns thereon, or electromagnetic radiation (A,B,C) may be directed to the patterns formed by the modified materials and be modulated thereby to project images on the receiver surface (31).

Providing patterns

Apparatus (10) for obtaining fluorescence laser EXAFS (Extended X-ray Absorption Fine Structure). A lens (12) directs a pulse of radiant energy (13) onto a metal target (15) to produce X-rays (16). A baffle (17) directs the X-rays (16) onto a spectral-dispersive monochromator (18) which directs the spectrally-resolved X-rays (16R) therefrom onto a sample (11). Fluorescence X-rays (27) from the sample (11) strike a phosphor (26) on a grid (19). Emitted light (21) from the phosphor (26) corresponds spatially to the spectral resolution of the X-rays (16R). Emitted light intensity at a point along the spatial distribution corresponds to the absorption characteristics of the sample (11) at a particular wavelength of the incoming X-rays (16R). An imaging lens (20) directs the emitted light (21) onto photographic film or an array detector (22). A reference spectrum of the spectrally-resolved X-rays (16R) is obtained by placing photographic film or an array detector (29) in the path of the spectrally-resolved X-rays (16R) so that only a portion of the X-rays (16R) throughout the spectrum strikes the film or array detector with the remaining portion throughout the spectrum allowed to pass to the sample (11).

Fluorescence laser EXAFS

Electrostatic imaging apparatus for transfer development of latent images employing a developer donor member with a plurality of raised micro-pins on the donor surface, for self-spacing the donor from the imaging surface. Methods of producing such donors are disclosed.

Method of making a donor member mold

Feedback circuit for the probe of an d.c. type electrostatic voltmeter to reduce spacing sensitivity thereof. A variable gain amplifier is employed to control the amplitude of the a.c. signal output of a square wave oscillator in response to the potential sensed by the probe. The a.c. signal output drives a high voltage transformer, the output of which is rectified to provide a d.c. signal output matching the potential sensed by the probe. The d.c. output is returned to the probe housing to bias the housing to a potential equal to the potential read by the probe. A sample and hold circuit enables readout of the d.c. signal output.

Growing community of inventors

Powell, OH, United States of America

Paul G Andrus