Methods for application of tags onto optical media articles

• US 20040115421A1
• Filed: 12/12/2002
• Published: 06/17/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 12/12/2002
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: General Electric Company
• Original Assignee: General Electric Company
• Inventors: Potyrailo, Radislav Alexandrovich, Wisnudel, Marc Brian, Hubbard, Steven F.
• Application Number:
  US10/317,772
• Publication Number:
  US 20040115421A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 428/323
• CPC Class Codes: B82Y 10/00 Nanotechnology for information processing, storage or transmission, e.g. quantum computing or single electron logic
• CPC Class Codes: B82Y 30/00 Nanotechnology for materials or surface science, e.g. nanocomposites
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 1/12 otherwise than by punching
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 1/123 for colour code marks
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 19/06009 with optically detectable marking G06K19/063, G06K19/08 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 19/06046 Constructional details
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 2019/06225 using wavelength selection, e.g. colour code
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 2019/06253 for a specific application
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 20/00086 Circuits for prevention of unauthorised reproduction or copying, e.g. piracy indicating unauthorised use of record carriers in general G11B23/28; scrambling for television signal recording H04N5/913; network architectures or network protocols for network security H04L63/00; cryptographic mechanisms or cryptographic arrangements for secret or secure communication H04L9/00
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 20/00876 wherein physical copy protection means are attached to the medium, e.g. holograms, sensors, or additional semiconductor circuitry
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 23/30 with provision for auxiliary signals
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 7/252 of layers other than recording layers
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 7/2534 polycarbonates [PC]
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 7/254 of protective topcoat layers
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 7/2585 based on aluminium
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 7/26 Apparatus or processes specially adapted for the manufacture of record carriers
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/25 Web or sheet containing structurally defined element or component and including a second component containing structurally defined particles

Abstract

A method for imparting tags to an optical article comprising modifying predetermined locations on the surface of the optical article to change the surface energy of the predetermined locations, applying the tags to the whole surface of the optical article in a uniform film, and retaining the tag in the modified predetermined locations while the tag is removed from unmodified regions. The method further comprising subjecting the optical article to a spinning motion that produces centrifugal forces and retaining the tags in modified predetermined location while the tags are removed from unmodified regions by the centrifugal forces. An optical article comprising an identification mark produced by the process comprising the steps of dissolving a dye in an appropriate solvent to form a solution, modifying a predetermined location on the surface of the optical article to change the surface energy of the predetermined location, applying the solution to the whole surface of the optical article, subjecting the optical article to a spinning motion that produces centrifugal forces, and retaining the dye on the modified predetermined location while the dye is removed from unmodified locations of the surface of the optical article by the centrifugal forces.

Claims

1. A method for imparting tags to an optical article, comprising:

modifying predetermined locations on the surface of a coating of the optical article to change the surface energy of the predetermined locations;

applying the tags to the whole surface of the coating of the optical article in a uniform thin film; and

retaining the tags in the modified predetermined locations while the tags are removed from unmodified regions.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

subjecting the optical article to a spinning motion that produces centrifugal forces; and

retaining the tags in the modified predetermined locations while the tags are removed from the unmodified regions by the centrifugal forces.

3. The method-of claim 1, wherein the tags comprise spectroscopic tags.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein the spectroscopic tags are dyes selected from the group consisting of:

organic dyes and pigments, inorganic dyes and pigments, nanocrystals, nanoparticles, quantum dots, organic fluorophores, and inorganic fluorophores.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the optical article comprises an optically transparent substrate that is coated with the tags on either a laser-incident surface of the substrate or on a data layer adjacent to a reflective layer, and wherein the reflective layer is sputtered onto the optically transparent substrate.

6. The method of claim 3, wherein excitation wavelengths of the spectroscopic tags are in a range of operation of a laser diode used in an optical media article player or recorder, and wherein a readout of the tag is performed by the laser of the optical media article player or recorder.

7. The method of claim 2, wherein excitation wavelengths of the spectroscopic tags are in a range of operation outside of the laser diode used in an optical media article player or recorder, and wherein a readout of the tag is performed outside of the optical media article player.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein a material of the optical article is selected and/or modified to provide required properties for the retention of the dissolved tags on the surface of the coating of the optical article.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein the modifications comprise different copolymer materials, surface-segregating additives and endcapping.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein the tags are used for identification, piracy protection, labeling and decorative applications.

11. The method of claim 1, wherein the predetermined locations on the surface of the optical article are modified using light-induced surface modification.

12. The method of claim 1, further comprising washing off excess tags by applying a pure solvent onto the whole or partial surface of the coating of the optical article.

13. The method of claim 1, wherein the tags do not interfere with the optical properties of the optical article.

14. A method for tagging an optical article, comprising:

modifying predetermined locations on the surface of a coating of the optical article using a radiation source;

dissolving a dye in an appropriate solvent to form a solution;

applying the solution to the surface of the coating of the optical article in a uniform thin film;

retaining the dye on the modified predetermined locations on the surface of the coating of the optical article to form tags;

removing the dye from unmodified locations on the surface of the coating of the optical article; and

removing the dye from the unmodified locations on the surface of the coating of the optical article using the appropriate solvent.

15. The method of claim 14, further comprising;

applying the solution to the surface of the coating of the optical article in a uniform thin film while the optical article is undergoing a spinning motion; and

removing the dye from the unmodified locations on the surface of the coating of the optical article using centrifugal forces produced from the spinning motion.

16. The method of claim 14, wherein the dye is a fluorophore.

17. The method of claim 14, wherein the tags are used for identification, piracy protection, labeling and decorative applications.

18. An optical article comprising a tag produced by the process comprising the steps of dissolving a dye in an appropriate solvent to form a solution, modifying a predetermined location on the surface of the optical article to change the surface energy of the predetermined location, applying the solution to the whole surface of the optical article, subjecting the optical article to a spinning motion that produces centrifugal forces, and retaining the dye on the modified predetermined location while the dye is removed from unmodified locations of the surface of the optical article by the centrifugal forces.

19. The optical article of claim 18, wherein the tag does not interfere with the optical properties of the optical article.

20. The optical article of claim 18, further comprising removing excess dye from the unmodified locations on the surface of the optical article by applying a solvent onto the whole surface of the optical article.

21. The optical article of claim 18, wherein the tag is used for identification, piracy protection, labeling, and decorative applications.

22. A method for imparting tags to an optical article, comprising:

modifying predetermined locations on the surface of the optical article to change the surface energy of the predetermined locations;

applying the tags to the whole surface of the optical article in a uniform thin film; and

retaining the tags in the modified predetermined locations while the tags are removed from unmodified regions.

23. The method of claim 22, further comprising:

subjecting the optical article to a spinning motion that produces centrifugal forces; and

retaining the tags in the modified predetermined locations while the tags are removed from the unmodified regions by the centrifugal forces.

24. The method of claim 22, wherein the tags comprise spectroscopic tags.

25. The method of claim 22, wherein the optical article comprises an optically transparent substrate that is coated with the tags on either a laser-incident surface of the substrate or on a data layer adjacent to a reflective -layer, and wherein the reflective layer is sputtered onto the optically transparent substrate.

26. The method of claim 22, wherein the predetermined locations on the surface of the optical article are modified using light-induced surface modification.

27. A method for imparting tags to an optical article, comprising:

modifying predetermined locations on the surface of the optical article to change the surface energy of the predetermined locations;

applying the tags to the whole surface of the optical article in a uniform thin film; and

retaining the tags in unmodified locations while the tags are removed from the modified predetermined locations.

28. The method of claim 27, further comprising:

subjecting the optical article to a spinning motion that produces centrifugal forces; and

retaining the tags in the unmodified locations while the tags are removed from the modified predetermined locations by the centrifugal forces.

29. The method of claim 27, wherein the tags comprise spectroscopic tags.

30. The method of claim 27, wherein the optical article comprises an optically transparent substrate that is coated with the tags on either a laser-incident surface of the substrate or on a data layer adjacent to a reflective layer, and wherein the reflective layer is sputtered onto the optically transparent substrate.

31. The method of claim 27, wherein the predetermined locations on the surface of the optical article are modified using chemical modification.