Conductive color-changing ink

• US 6,188,506 B1
• Filed: 10/28/1998
• Issued: 02/13/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 11/05/1997
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: T-Ink Inc. (Winnick & Co., Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Colortronics Technologies, LLC
• Inventors: Kaiserman, Terrance Z., Ferber, Andrew R., Rose, Adrian I.
• Primary Examiner(s): Mack, Ricky
• Application Number:
  US09/181,162
• Time in Patent Office: 839 Days
• Field of Search: 359/288, 359/289, 349/199
• US Class Current: 359/288
• CPC Class Codes: B44F 1/08 characterised by colour effects
• CPC Class Codes: G02F 1/0147 based on thermo-optic effects G02F1/132 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H01B 1/22 the conductive material comprising metals or alloys
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 10/488 Cells or batteries combined with indicating means for external visualization of the condition, e.g. by change of colour or of light density
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 50/581 in response to temperature
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 6/505 Cells combined with indicating means for external visualization of the condition, e.g. by change of colour or of light intensity
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 60/10 Energy storage using batteries

Abstract

A conductive composition is disclosed. The conductive composition comprises a thermochromic material and a conductive material dispersed in a resin. An electrical system is also disclosed which incorporates the conductive composition in combination with a power source.

Claims

1. A conductive composition comprising:

a thermochromic material and a conductive material dispersed in a resin, said thermochromic material comprises an ambient color and at least a second color, said thermochromic material being present in an amount of between 2%-75% by weight so that said ambient color changes to said second color in response to a sufficient amount of heat applied thereto.

2. The conductive composition of claim 1 further comprising a thickener.

3. The conductive composition of claim 1 wherein said conductive material is present in an amount of between 10%-60% by weight so that a sufficient level of electrical current can flow therethrough whereby an associated circuit component is activated to a desired state.

4. The conductive composition of claim 1 wherein said resin is selected from the group consisting of urethanes, acrylics, phenolics, epoxies and other oxidizing materials.

5. The conductive composition of claim 1 wherein said thermochromic material is selected from the group consisting of encapsulated and nonencapsulated materials.

6. The conductive composition of claim 5 wherein said thermochromic material comprises cholosteric liquid crystal.

7. The conductive composition of claim 1 wherein said conductive material comprises a precious metal or non-precious metal.

8. The conductive composition of claim 1 further comprising a pigment.

9. The conductive composition of claim 8 wherein said pigment is organic.

10. The conductive composition of claim 8 wherein said pigment is inorganic.

11. The conductive composition of claim 1 further comprising a defoamer.

12. The conductive material of claim 11 wherein said defoamer comprises silicone or non-silicone surfactants or solvents.

13. The conductive composition of claim 1 further comprising a reducer.

14. An electrical system comprising:

a substrate;

conductive composition arranged on said substrate, said conductive composition including a thermochromic material and a conductive material dispersed in a resin, said thermochromic material comprises an ambient color and at least a second color, said thermochromic material being present in an amount of between 2%-75% by weight so that said ambient color changes to said second color in response to a sufficient amount of heat applied thereto; and

a power source connected to said conductive composition whereby current can flow from said power source through said conductive composition.

15. The electrical system of claim 14 wherein said thermochromic material is selected from the group consisting of encapsulated and nonencapsulated material.

16. The electrical system of claim 14 further comprising a switch electrically connected to said conductive composition for permitting current to selectively flow from said power source through said conductive composition.

17. The electrical system of claim 14 further comprising a current operated module responsive to current permitted to flow from said power source.

18. The electrical system of claim 17 wherein said current operated module comprises a sound or light producing device.