Eastman-kodak Company

Thomas M Smith

Peter T Aylward

Robert P Bourdelais

Stanley W Stephenson

John W Boettcher

Scott E Tunney

Daniel A Slater

Vito A DePalma

John I Kilburn

Luba Kordovski

Arlene L Meyer

Mridula Nair

Alphonse D Camp

Wayne A Bowman

Mary Christine Brick

Narasimharao Dontula

Cheryl J Kaminsky

Aparna V Bhave

Ronda E Factor

Karissa L Eckert

Wen-Li A Chen

Michael P Cunningham

Richard Allen Castle

Lawrence B Wallace

Robert W Easterly

Arunachalam T Ram

Brian H Johnston

Leonard S Gates

Jan A Chrisler

Eugene A Armour

Jack J Holt

Ronald M Stimson

Frederick J Oleson

Barry M Brown

James Skoronski

Kenneth W Metz

Richard O Smith

This invention relates to a method of manufacturing micro-cell arrays. Such an array may find use in a number of applications such as, for example, a video display, electronic paper, and signage. The microcell arrays find particular use in electromodulating displays.

Electro-optical modulating display and method of making the same

Disclosed is a waveguide having a light inlet surface and a viewing surface comprising stacked core layers separated by clad layers to form channels and bearing a smoothing layer on at least one of the light inlet surface or the viewing surface thereof.

Waveguide and method of smoothing optical surfaces

A method is described for splicing together overlapping ends of first and second lengths of photographic film strips of common film strip width, comprising positioning a bonding element between an overlapping end of the first length of photographic film and a corresponding overlapped end of the second length of photographic film, and heating the bonding element to effect an adhesive bond between such film ends, wherein the bonding element comprises an induction heating receptive support and thermoplastic adhesive layers on each side of the support, and wherein the heating of the bonding element is performed by induction heating. The present invention allows for the preparation of photographic film splices, consisting of either homogeneous or dissimilar film bases, using a bonding element and induction heating to provide smooth yet strong splices. In particular, the invention enables successful splicing of acetate support (e.g., cellulose triacetate (CTA)) based films and polyester support (e.g., polyethylene terephthalate (PET)) based films either to themselves or each other. The invention provides a method of forming composite rolls of motion picture film containing different film bases as well as eliminating the need for emulsion skiving, and the use of toxic, flammable film cements when splicing CTA films.

Induction splicing of photographic film strips

In accordance with one embodiment of the invention, a method is described for ultrasonically splicing together overlapping ends of first and second lengths of photographic film strips of common film strip width with a film splicer employing a stationary elongated ultrasonic horn positioned on one side of the overlapping film strip ends in the width direction and a relatively movable anvil positioned on the opposite side of the overlapping film strip ends which traverses across the overlapping film ends by sliding or rolling in the length direction of the horn while the horn is ultrasonically vibrated and which provides pressure to the overlapping film ends while traversing across the overlapping film ends such that ultrasonic energy from the horn is transferred to the overlapping film ends effecting an ultrasonic weld between such film ends, wherein one of the first and second lengths of photographic film strips comprises an acetate based film strip and the other of the first and second lengths of photographic film strips comprises an acetate based film strip or a polyester based film strip, and wherein the product of the anvil pressure and anvil traverse rate is less than 6.0 kg,mm/sec when the anvil is slid across the overlapping film ends and less than 3.5 kg.mm/sec when the anvil is rolled across the overlapping film ends. The method enables the use of existing commercially available ultrasonic splicers to splice either polyester-based films to acetate-based films or acetate-based films to themselves and provide an adequate level of splice strength and smoothness.

Ultrasonic splicing of photographic film strips

The invention relates to a material to form an indicator element comprising a base material and at least one photosensitive silver halide layer, wherein the base material comprises at least one specular reflective layer between two polymer layers wherein the polymer layer between the at least one specular reflective layer and the silver halide layer is substantially transparent.

High contrast indicator element

A photothermographic film and a method for making same is taught. The film includes a support, a photothermographic imaging layer coated on the support, and a complement film generally confining the photothermographic imaging layer between the support and the complement film. The complement film is applied to the photothermographic imaging layer prior to exposure of the photothermographic imaging layer. The complement film retains any volatile materials present in the photothermographic imaging layer generated when thermal energy is applied thereto to develop a latent image exposed on the photothermographic imaging layer.

Lamination of emissions prevention layer in photothermographic materials

A method of making a liquid crystal display, comprising the steps of: providing a substrate; providing a first electrode over the substrate; coating the first electrode with aqueous dispersed material which when dried provides a dielectric layer over the first electrode; coating the dielectric layer with liquid crystal bearing material and drying such liquid crystal bearing material and providing a second electrode in contact with the dried liquid crystal bearing material.

Liquid-crystal display comprising a dielectric layer between electrodes and methods for making the same

A method of making a liquid crystal display, including the steps of providing a substrate; providing a first electrode over the substrate; coating the first electrode with aqueous dispersed material which when dried provides a protective dielectric layer over the first electrode; coating the dielectric layer with liquid crystal bearing material and drying such liquid crystal bearing material, providing a second substrate having a second electrode, coating the second electrode with a dielectric adhesive layer; and laminating the coated second electrode to the liquid crystal bearing material by means of the dielectric adhesive material.

Method of making liquid crystal display having a dielectric adhesive layer for laminating a liquid crystal layer

A process is described for healing scratches on the base side of an imaged motion picture film element comprising a polymeric film base having one or more image layers on one side thereof, the process comprising applying an aqueous coating formulation comprised of an aqueous dispersion of a polyurethane to the scratched base side of the motion picture film element, and drying the applied coating formulation to form a polyurethane layer, wherein the polyurethane comprises an aliphatic polyurethane which has a Young's modulus at 100% elongation to break of less than 4000 psi and a Sward hardness value of at least 60. Scratch healing formulations employed in accordance with the invention provide coated layers with superior resistance to blocking, cleaning solvents, and abrasion, and which are more flexible, dry faster, and are more effective in hiding minor scratches than that disclosed in the prior art.

Process for scratch healing of motion picture films

The invention relates to an imaging member comprising at least two polymer sheets joined by solvent based thermoplastic adhesive applied to at least one said at least two polymer sheets between 15 and 50&deg; C.

Imaging member with polyester adhesive between polymer sheets

A dye solution comprising a laser recordable dye and a solvent for the dye that has (a) a solvent functional group selected from esters, ketones and ethers; and (b) the solvent functional group has as hindering groups (i) at least one t-butyl group on one side thereof or (ii) two groups on opposite sides thereof selected from the group consisting of isoamyl, t-butyl, isobutyl and isopropyl; provided that both groups cannot be isopropyl and (c) the hindering groups are adjacent to the solvent functional group.

Dye solution containing hindered solvent functionality

A photographic element is disclosed comprising a support bearing at least one photosensitive layer and an antistatic layer comprising a binder, vanadium pentoxide, and an aromatic ketone ultraviolet absorbing compound. The antistatic layer provides the properties of UV absorbance and antistatic protection, which properties are retained after photographic processing. Specifically, in accordance with preferred embodiments, a layer providing a surface and volume resistivity of less than about 10.sup.8 ohm/cm coupled with an optical density of greater than about 1.0 from 300-400 nm and less than about 0.03 as measured in orthochromatic light is provided. The layer composition components are soluble in common coating solvents, compatible with each other, and do not produce any adverse sensitometric effects either in the raw state, during or after processing of the film itself.

Antistatic layer for photographic elements

A photographic element is disclosed which comprises (a) a support, (b) a radiation-sensitive silver halide emulsion layer on one side of the support, and (c) a protective backing on the opposite side of the support which provides scratch and abrasion resistance and process surviving lubricity. The protective backing is comprised of one or more layers, the outermost of which comprises a film-forming hydrophobic lubricious polyimide-siloxane block copolymer. In preferred embodiments of the invention, the backing further comprises a solid particle dye dispersion of a filter dye which is readily soluble or decolorizable in alkali aqueous photographic processing solutions at pH of 8 or above dispersed in an alkaline aqueous insoluble, organic solvent soluble film forming binder, and an electrically conductive agent, such that the backing provides halation protection during exposure as well as process-surviving antistatic protection. The present invention provides photographic elements with a backing which provides photographic process-surviving lubricity. In preferred embodiments, the backing includes a filter dye layer which provides effective antihalation protection, where the filter dyes are decolorized or removed upon processing, preferably over a protected antistatic layer. The invention employs hydrophobic, inherently lubricious, polymeric binders that may be used as film-backing binders for anti-halation dyes, provide an adequate level of scratch and abrasion resistance, an appropriate level of slip or friction, and is coatable from relatively safe organic solvents.

Photographic elements having a process-surviving polysiloxane block

A photographic element is disclosed which comprises (a) a support, (b) a radiation-sensitive silver halide emulsion layer on one side of the support, and (c) a protective backing on the opposite side of the support which provides scratch and abrasion resistance and process surviving lubricity. The protective backing is comprised of one or more layers, the outermost of which comprises a film-forming hydrophobic lubricious polyester-siloxane block copolymer and a hydrophobic co-binder which does not contain polysiloxane block units. In preferred embodiments of the invention, the backing further comprises a solid particle dye dispersion of a filter dye which is readily soluble or decolorizable in alkali aqueous photographic processing solutions at pH of 8 or above dispersed in an alkaline aqueous insoluble, organic solvent soluble film forming binder, and an electrically conductive agent, such that the backing provides halation protection during exposure as well as process-surviving antistatic protection. The present invention provides photographic elements with a backing which provides photographic process-surviving lubricity. In preferred embodiments, the backing includes a filter dye layer which provides effective antihalation protection, where the filter dyes are decolorized or removed upon processing, preferably over a protected antistatic layer. The invention employs hydrophobic, inherently lubricious, polymeric binder combinations that may be used as film-backing binders for anti-halation dyes, provide an adequate level of scratch and abrasion resistance, an appropriate level of process-surviving slip or friction, and is coatable from relatively safe organic solvents.

Photographic elements are formed by (a) coating a first layer on a transparent support from a coating composition comprising an organic solvent, an alkaline aqueous insoluble, organic solvent soluble film forming binder, and a solid particle non-aqueous dispersion of a filter dye which is substantially insoluble in the organic solvent and readily soluble or decolorizable in alkaline aqueous photographic processing solutions at pH of 8 or above, and (b) coating a second layer on the opposite side of the support relative to the filter dye containing layer from an aqueous coating composition comprising a silver halide emulsion. The solid particle dispersions of photographic filter dyes which are readily soluble or decolorizable in alkali aqueous photographic processing solutions at pH of 8 or above, are prepared by milling the dye in the presence of a non-aqueous liquid in which the dye is substantially insoluble to obtain a solid particle dispersion consisting of fine particles of dye dispersed in a non-aqueous medium. The present invention provides a method to incorporate filter dyes with desired absorbance characteristics for imaging elements, in coating processes that cannot tolerate significant quantities of water.

Growing community of inventors

Spencerport, NY, United States of America

Thomas M Smith