IP Library Granted Patent US 8,330,932
Granted Patent B2
US 8,330,932 · App. 11/009,884 · Granted Dec 11, 2012

Bistable watermark

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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 8,330,932
App. No.
11/009,884
Granted
Dec 11, 2012
Kind
B2
Abstract

A watermark formed of a bistable material, and a method of forming the watermark, are described.

Claims (19)

1. A material comprising a watermark area, wherein the watermark area comprises a substrate and a layer of bistable material,

the layer of bistable material comprises areas of bistable material and areas of a filling material between the areas of bistable material,

the filling material comprises the bistable material and a second bistable material, the second bistable material is different from the bistable material, and

the filling material does not react or interact with the areas of bistable material.

2. The material of claim 1 , wherein the bistable material of the watermark area comprises an imagewise pattern.

3. The material of claim 2 , wherein the imagewise pattern is permanent.

4. The material of claim 2 , wherein the imagewise pattern is permanent and hideable.

5. The material of claim 1 , wherein the filling material is gelatin.

6. The material of claim 1 , wherein the filling material has a different thickness than the bistable material.

7. The material of claim 1 , wherein the bistable material comprises one or more of an electrochemical material, an electrophoretic material, an electro chromic material, a magnetic material, a ferro electric material, a nematic liquid crystal material, or a chiral nematic liquid crystal material.

8. The material of claim 1 , wherein the bistable material comprises one or more of a nematic liquid crystal material, or a chiral nematic liquid crystal material.

9. The material of claim 8 , wherein the bistable layer can be in a state selected from any bistable or gray scale state.

10. The material of claim 9 , wherein the watermark area further comprises a background layer on a side of the bistable material layer opposite the substrate, wherein the background layer is the same in appearance as at least one of the states of the bistable layer.

11. The material of claim 1 , wherein the watermark area further comprises a background layer on a side of the bistable material layer opposite the substrate.

12. The material of claim 1 , wherein the watermark area further comprises a first conductor adjacent a first side of the bistable layer, and a second conductor adjacent a second side of the bistable layer.

13. The material of claim 1 , wherein the material is paper, synthetic paper, cloth, packaging material, a tag, an electronic display, or an electronic document.

14. A material comprising a watermark area, wherein the watermark area comprises a substrate and a layer of bistable material,

the layer of bistable material comprises areas of bistable material and areas of a filling material between the areas of bistable material, and

the filling material comprises the bistable material and a second bistable material, the second bistable material is different from the bistable material.

Assignments (5)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Mar 2, 2018
From: STAR TREND ENTERPRISE CORP
To: HKC CORPORATION LIMITED
Reel/Frame 045092/0784 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Nov 28, 2017
From: INDUSTRIAL TECHNOLOGY RESEARCH INSTITUTE
To: STAR TREND ENTERPRISE CORP.
Reel/Frame 044235/0462 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Nov 28, 2017
From: INDUSTRIAL TECHNOLOGY RESEARCH INSTITUTE
To: STAR TREND ENTERPRISE CORP.
Reel/Frame 044238/0966 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Sep 18, 2007
From: EASTMAN KODAK COMPANY
To: INDUSTRIAL TECHNOLOGY RESEARCH INSTITUTE
Reel/Frame 019834/0987 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Dec 21, 2004
From: MI, XIANG-DONG; STEPHENSON, STANLEY W., III
To: EASTMAN KODAK COMPANY
Reel/Frame 016078/0481 →