Granted Patent B2

US 7,935,463 · App. 12/400,147 · Granted May 3, 2011

Abstract

Claims (12)

1. A reusable image forming medium, comprising

a substrate;

an imaging layer coated on or impregnated into the substrate, wherein an irradiation of the imaging layer produces an image;

wherein an exposure to an activating energy switches an exposed portion of the imaging layer from a first clear state to a second colored state, and wherein the exposed portions of the imaging layer are capable of returning to the first clear state based upon a predetermined condition, and

a signature material that indicates a compatibility with a predetermined printing device coated on or impregnated into the substrate or the imaging layer, the signature material being detectable by a sensor.

2. The image forming medium of claim 1 , wherein the substrate is selected from the group consisting of glass, ceramic, wood, plastic, paper, fabric, textile, metals, plain paper, and coated paper.

3. The image forming medium of claim 1 , wherein the signature material is visible under ambient light.

4. The image forming medium of claim 1 , wherein the signature material is a fluorescent material substantially invisible under ambient light.

5. The image forming medium of claim 1 , wherein the signature material is disposed in a symmetrical pattern that covers at least a portion of the outer periphery of the image forming medium.

6. The image forming medium of claim 4 , wherein the signature material is disposed in a symmetrical pattern that covers at least a portion of the outer periphery of the image forming medium.

7. The image forming medium of claim 6 , wherein the symmetrical pattern is disposed on all sides of the image forming medium.

8. The image forming medium of claim 7 , wherein the symmetrical pattern is disposed on the image forming medium such that at least a portion of the signature material will pass under the sensor, regardless of an orientation of the image forming medium.

Assignments (9)