Thermally sensitive medium and methods and systems for forming an image on a thermally sensitive medium

• US 20060132585A1
• Filed: 12/22/2004
• Published: 06/22/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 12/22/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P. (HP Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P. (HP Inc.)
• Inventors: Bhatt, Jayprakash C., Van Brocklin, Andrew L., Valley, Jeffrey M.
• Granted Patent: US 7,477,274 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 347/221
• CPC Class Codes: B41J 11/0021 using irradiation
• CPC Class Codes: B41J 11/00214 using UV radiation
• CPC Class Codes: B41J 3/4071 Printing on disk-shaped media, e.g. CDs
• CPC Class Codes: B41M 5/34 Multicolour thermography

Abstract

A thermally sensitive medium includes at least one layer of temperature-activated dye, and antenna molecules disposed in the layer of temperature-activated dye for converting radiant energy into thermal energy. A system for forming an image on a thermally sensitive medium includes a radiant energy source for selectively heating portions of the thermally sensitive medium to activate temperature-activated dyes of the medium. A method of forming an image on a thermally sensitive medium having multiple layers of temperature-activated dyes is performed by selectively heating portions of each of the layers of temperature-activated dyes with a light source to form the image.

Claims

1. A thermally sensitive medium comprising:

at least one layer of temperature-activated dye; and

antenna molecules disposed in said layer of temperature-activated dye for converting radiant energy into thermal energy.

2. The medium of claim 1, wherein:

said medium comprises multiple layers of temperature-activated dye, each layer comprising temperature-activated dye of a different color; and

said antenna molecules are disposed in each of said multiple layers of dyes.

3. The medium of claim 2, wherein said each layer of dye is sensitive to, and assumes a specific color at, a different temperature.

4. The medium of claim 2, wherein said multiple layers of dyes comprising:

a layer of yellow temperature-activated dye;

a layer of magenta temperature-activated dye; and

a layer of cyan temperature-activated dye.

5. The medium of claim 1, wherein each successive layer of dye from a surface of said medium is less temperature sensitive than a preceding layer of dye.

6. The medium of claim 1, wherein said at least one layer of dye is disposed on a substrate with an adhesive layer.

7. The medium of claim 1, further comprising multiple layers of temperature-activated dye and spacer layers between said layers of dye.

8. A system for forming an image on a thermally sensitive medium comprising:

a radiant energy source for selectively heating portions of said thermally sensitive medium to activate temperature-activated dyes of said medium.

9. The system of claim 8, further comprising a carriage for moving said radiant energy source relative to said medium.

10. The system of claim 9, wherein a speed of said carriage is slowed when said radiant energy source is selectively heating a deeper layer of temperature-activated dye on said medium.

11. The system of claim 8, further comprising a media movement system for moving said medium relative to said radiant energy source.

12. The system of claim 11, wherein a speed of said media movement system is slowed when said radiant energy source is selectively heating a layer of temperature-activated dye through one or more other layers on said medium.

13. The system of claim 8, wherein a power of said radiant energy source is increased for selectively heating a layer of temperature-activated dye through one or more other layers on said medium.

14. The system of claim 8, further comprising an ultraviolet light source for irradiating said medium to selectively neutralize said temperature-activated dyes.

15. The system of claim 14, wherein said ultraviolet light source selectively outputs ultraviolet light of at least two separate wavelengths corresponding to wavelengths effective to neutralize temperature-activated dye in different color-forming layers of said medium.

16. The system of claim 8, further comprising antenna molecules disposed in at least one layer of dye on said medium, said molecules converting light energy from said radiant energy source into thermal energy.

17. The system of claim 8, wherein said radiant energy source is incorporated into an optical disc player or drive and said thermally sensitive medium comprises an optical disc.

18. The system of claim 8, wherein said radiant energy source is incorporated into a printing device.

19. A method of forming an image on a thermally sensitive medium comprising multiple layers of temperature-activated dyes, said method comprising selectively heating portions of each of said layers of temperature-activated dyes with a light source to form said image.

20. The method of claim 19, further comprising heating said temperature-activated dyes with antenna molecules disposed in at least one of said layers of dye, wherein said antenna molecules convert light energy from said light source into heat.

21. The method of claim 19, further comprising successively forming a particular color component of said image in each of said layers of dye.

22. The method of claim 19, wherein said selectively heating portions of each of said layers of dye comprises moving said medium relative to said light source.

23. The method of claim 22, further comprising moving said medium at a different speed for selective heating of each of said layers of temperature-activated dye.

24. The method of claim 19, wherein selectively heating portions of each of said layers of dye comprises adjusting a power of said light source based on a depth of a layer of temperature-activated dye being selectively heated.

25. The method of claim 19, further comprising irradiating said medium with ultraviolet light after forming a color component of said image in a particular layer of dye to neutralize un-activated dye in that layer.

26. The method of claim 19, wherein said medium comprises a yellow color-forming layer disposed over a magenta color-forming layer disposed over a cyan color-forming layer, with each layer being less temperature sensitive than a preceding layer.

27. The method of claim 26, further comprising selectively heating said yellow color-forming layer with said light source to form a yellow component of said image in said yellow color-forming layer.

28. The method of claim 27, wherein said yellow color-forming layer is irradiated with ultraviolet light at a first wavelength to neutralize un-activated dye in said yellow color-forming layer.

29. The method of claim 28, further comprising selectively heating said magenta color-forming layer with said light source to form a magenta component of said image in said magenta color-forming layer.

30. The method of claim 29, wherein said magenta color-forming layer is irradiated with ultraviolet light at a first wavelength to neutralize un-activated dye in said magenta color-forming layer.

31. The method of claim 30, further comprising selectively heating said cyan color-forming layer with said light source to form a cyan component of said image in said cyan color-forming layer.

32. A system of forming an image on a thermally sensitive medium comprising multiple layers of temperature-activated dyes, said system comprising:

means for selectively heating portions of each of said layers of temperature-activated dyes with a light source to form said image; and

means, in said medium, for converting light from said light source into heat to effect said heating.

33. An optical disc player or drive for forming an image on a thermally sensitive medium disposed on an optical disc, said drive comprising:

a radiant energy source for selectively heating portions of said thermally sensitive medium to activate temperature-activated dyes of said medium; and

an ultraviolet light source for irradiating said medium to selectively neutralize said temperature-activated dyes.

34. The player or drive of claim 33, further comprising a carriage for moving said radiant energy source relative to said medium, wherein a speed of said carriage is adjusted based on a depth of a layer of temperature-activate dye being activated by said radiant energy source.

35. The player or drive of claim 33, further comprising a spindle for rotating said medium relative to said radiant energy source, wherein a speed of said spindle is adjusted based on a depth of a layer of temperature-activate dye being activated by said radiant energy source.

36. The player or drive of claim 33, wherein said ultraviolet light source selectively outputs ultraviolet light of at least two separate wavelengths corresponding to wavelengths effective to neutralize temperature-activated dye in different color-forming layers of said medium.

37. The player or drive of claim 33, further comprising antenna molecules disposed in at least one layer of dye on said medium, said molecules converting light energy from said radiant energy source into thermal energy.

38. A printing device for forming an image on a thermally sensitive medium, said device comprising:

a radiant energy source for selectively heating portions of said thermally sensitive medium to activate temperature-activated dyes of said medium; and

an ultraviolet light source for irradiating said medium to selectively neutralize said temperature-activated dyes.

39. The device of claim 38, further comprising a carriage for moving said radiant energy source relative to said medium, wherein a speed of said carriage is adjusted based on a depth of a layer of temperature-activate dye being activated by said optical pickup.

40. The device of claim 38, further comprising a media feeding system for moving said medium relative to said radiant energy source, wherein a speed of said media feeding system is adjusted based on a depth of a layer of temperature-activate dye being activated by said radiant energy source.

41. The device of claim 38, wherein said ultraviolet light source selectively outputs ultraviolet light of at least two separate wavelengths corresponding to wavelengths effective to neutralize temperature-activated dye in different color-forming layers of said medium.

42. The device of claim 38, further comprising antenna molecules disposed in at least one layer of dye on said medium, said molecules converting light energy from said radiant energy source into thermal energy.