Optical recording system

1. An optical recording system, comprising:

a disc comprising a substrate and a markable coating on said substrate, said markable coating being an optical recording layer and having a thickness less than 1 μm and comprising:

a matrix; and

a color-forming agent included in the matrix and comprising a leuco dye and developer;

wherein said leuco dye is selected to change from high reflectance of radiation with wavelengths between 400 and 500 nm to low reflectance of radiation with wavelengths between 400 and 500 nm when activated by an application of energy above a threshold level;

wherein said color-forming agent includes particles having an average particle size that is less than one-half a wavelength of a marking light source used to apply the energy above the threshold level; and

the marking light source positioned so as to illuminate said disc in a desired manner and selected to form a spot size that is less than about 1 μm across;

wherein the leuco dye is chosen from: 1,2-benzo-6-(N-ethyl-N-toluidino)fluoran, 1,2-benzo-6-(N-methyl-N-cyclohexylamino)fluoran, 1,2-benzo-6-dibutylaminofluoran, 1,2-benzo-6-diethylaminofluran, 2-(.alpha.-phenylethylamino)-6-(N-ethyl-p-toluidino)fluoran, 2-(2,3-dichloroanilino)-3-chloro-6-diethylaminofluran, 2-(2,4-dimethylanilino)-3-methyl-6-diethylaminofluoran, 2-(di-p-methylbenzilamino)-6-(N-ethyl-p-toluidino)fluoran, 2-(m-trichloromethylanilino)-3-methyl-6-(N-cyclohexyl-N-methylamino)fluoran, 2-(m-trichloromethylanilino)-3-methyl -6-diethylanimofluoran, 2-(m-trifluoromethylaniline)-6-diethylaminofluoran, 2-(m-trifluoromethylanilino)-3-chloro-6-diethylaminofluran, 2-(m-trifluoromethylanilino)-3-methyl-6-diethylanimofluoran, 2-(N-ethyl-p-toluidino)-3-methyl -6-(N-ethylanilino)fluoran, 2-(N-ethyl-p-toluidino)-3-methyl-6-(N-propyl-p-toluidino) fluoran, 2-(o-chloroanilino)-3-chloro-6-diethlaminofluran, 2-(o-chloroanilino)-6-dibutylaminofluoran, 2-(o-chloroanilino)-6-diethylaminofluoran, 2-(p-acetylanilino)-6-(N-n-amyl-N-n-butylamino)fluoran, 2,3-dimethyl-6-dimethylaminofluoran, 2-amino-6-(N-ethyl-2,4-dimethylanilino)fluoran, 2-amino-6-(N-ethylanilino)fluoran, 2-amino-6-(N-ethyl-p-chloroanilino)fluoran, 2-amino-6-(N-ethyl-p-ethylanilino)fluoran, 2-amino-6-(N-ethyl-p-toluidino)fluoran, 2-amino-6-(N-methyl-2,4-dimethylanilino)fluoran, 2-amino-6-(N-methylanilino)fluoran, 2-amino-6-(N-methyl-p-chloroanilino)fluoran, 2-amino-6-(N-methyl-p-ethylanilino)fluoran, 2-amino -6-(N-methyl-p-toluidino)fluoran, 2-amino-6-(N-propyl-2,4-dimethylanilino)fluoran, 2-amino-6-(N-propylanilino)fluoran, 2-amino-6-(N-propyl-p-chloroanilino)fluoran, 2-amino-6-(N-propyl-p-ethylanilino)fluoran, 2-amino-6-(N-propyl-p-toluidino)fluoran, 2-anilino-3-methyl-6-(N-cyclohexyl-N-methylamino)fluoran, 2-anilino-3-methyl-6-(N-ethyl--N-isoamylamino)fluoran, 2-anilino -3-methyl-6-(N-ethyl-N-p-benzyl)aminofluoran, 2-anilino-3-methyl-6-(N-ethyl-N-propylamino)fluoran, 2-anilino-3-methyl-6-(N-iso-amyl-N-ethylamino)fluoran, 2-anilino-3-methyl-6-(N-isobutyl-methyl amino)fluoran, 2-anilino -3-methyl-6-(N-isopropyl-methyl amino)fluoran, 2-anilino-3-methyl-6-(N-methyl-p-toluidino-)fluoran, 2-anilino-3-methyl-6-(N-n-amyl-N-ethylamino)fluoran, 2-anilino-3-methyl-6-(N-n-amyl-N-methylamino)fluoran, 2-anilino-3-methyl-6-(N-n-propyl-N-isopropylamino)fluoran, 2-anilino-3-methyl-6-(N-n-propyl-N-methylamino)fluoran, 2-anilino-3-methyl-6-(N-sec-butyl-N-methylamino)fluoran, 2-anilino-3-methyl-6-diethylaminofluoran, 2-anilino-3-methyl-6-di-n-butylaminofluoran,2-anilino-6-(N-n-hexyl-N-ethylamino)fluoran, 2-benzilamino-6-(N-ethyl-2,4-dimethylanilino)fluoran, 2-benzilamino-6-(N-ethyl-p-toluidino)fluoran, 2-benzilamino-6-(N-methyl-2,4-dimethylanilino)fluoran, 2-benzilamino-6-(N-methyl-p-toluidino)fluoran, 2-bromo-6-diethylaminofluoran, 2-chloro-3-methyl-6-diethylaminofluran, 2-chloro-6-(N-ethyl-N-isoamylamino)fluoran, 2-chloro-6-dipropylaminofluoran, 2-diethylamino-6-(N-ethyl-p-toluidino)fluoran, 2-diethylamino-6-(N-methyl-p-toluidino)fluoran, 2-dimethylamino-6-(N-ethylanilino)fluoran, 2-dimethylamino-6-(N-methylanilino)fluoran, 2-dipropylamino-6-(N-ethylanilino)fluoran, 2-dioropylamino-6-(N-methylanilino)fluoran, 2-ethylamino-6-(N-ethyl-2,4-dimethylanilino)fluoran, 2-ethylamino-6-(N-methyl-p-toluidino)fluoran, 2-methylamino-6-(N-ethylanilino)fluoran, 2-methylamino-6-(N-methyl-2,4-dimethylanilino)fluoran, 2-methylamino-6-(N-methylanilino)fluoran, 2-methylamino-6-(N-propylanilino)fluoran, 3-(1-ethyl-2-methylindole-3-yl)-3-(2-ethoxy-4-diethylaminophenyl)-4-azaphthalide, 3-(1-ethyl-2-methylindole-3-yl)-3-(2-ethoxy-4-diethylaminophenyl)-7-azaphthalide, 3-(1-ethyl-2-methylindole-3-yl)-3-(2-methyl-4-diethylaminophenyl)-4-azaphthalide, 3-(1-ethyl-2-methylindole-3-yl)-3-(2-methyl-4-diethylaminoohenyl)-7-azaohthalide, 3-(1-ethyl-2-methylindole-3-yl)-3-(4-diethylaminophenyl)-4-azaphthalide, 3-(1-ethyl-2-methylindole-3-yl)-3-(4-N-n-amyl-N-methylaminophenyl)-4-azaphthalide, 3-(1-methyl-2-methylindole-3-yl)-3-(2-hexyloxy-4-diethylaminophenyl)-4-azaphthalide, 3-(1-ethyl-2-methylindole-3-yl)-3-(2-ethoxy-4-diethylaminophenyl)-4-azaphthalide, 3-(N-cyclohexyl-N-methylamino)-6-methyl-7-phenylaminofluoran, 3-(N-ethyl-N-isoamylamino)-6-methyl-7-phenylaminofluoran, 3-(N-ethyl-p-toluidino)-6-methyl-7-phenylaminofluoran, 3,3-bis(2-ethoxy-4-diethylaminghenyl)-4-azaphthalide, 3,3-bis(2-ethoxy-4-diethylaminohenyl)-7-azaohthalide, 3,6-dibutoxyfluoran, 3-bromo-6-cyclohexylaminofluoran, 3-dibutylamino-7-(o-chloro-phenylamino)fluoran, 3-diethylamino-5-methyl-7-dibenzylaminofluoran, 3-diethylamino-6-(m-trifluoromethylanilino)fluoran, 3-diethylamino-6,7-dimethylfuoran, 3-diethylamino-7-(2-carbomethoxy-ohenylamino)fluoran, 3-diethylamino-7-(N-acetyl-N-methylamino)fluoran, 3-diethylamino-7-(N-chloroethyl-N-methylamino)fluoran, 3-diethylamino-7-(N-methyl-N-benzylamino)fluoran, 3-diethylamino-7-(o-chlorophenylamino)fluoran, 3-diethylamino-7-chlorofluoran, 3-diethylamino-7-dibenzylaminofluoran, 3-diethylamino-7-diethylaminofluoran, 3-diethylamino-7-N-methylaminofluoran, 3-dimethylamino-6-methoxylfluoran, 3-dimethylamino-7-methoxyfluoran, 3-methyl-6-(N-ethyl-p-toluidino)fluoran, 3-piperidino-6-methyl-7-phenylaminofluoran, 3-pyrrolidino-6-methyl-7-p-butylphenylaminofluoran, 3-pyrrolidino-6-methyl-7-phenylaminofluoran, 2-anilino-3-methyl-6-(di-n-amylamino)fluoran, 3-(N-ethyl-p-toluidino)-6-methyl-7-anilinofluoran, 3-(N-ethyl-N-isoamylamino)-6-methyl-7-anilinofluoran, 3-diethylamino-6-methyl-7-(o,p-dimethylanilino)fluorane, 3-pyrrolidino-6-methyl-7-anilinofluoran, 3-piperidino-6-methyl-7-anilinofluoran, 3-(N-cyclohexyl-N-methylamino)-6-methyl-7-anilinofluoran, 3-diethylamino-7-(m-trifluoromethylanilino) fluoran, 3-dibutylamino-6-methyl-7-anilinofluoran, 3-diethylamino-6-chloro-7-anilinofluoran, 3-dibutylamino-7-(o-chloroanilino)fluoran, 3-diethylamino-7-(o-chloroanilino)fluoran 3-di-n-pentylamino-6-methyl-7-anilinofluoran, 3-di-n-butylamino-6-methyl-7-anilinofluoran, 3-(n-ethyl-n-isopentylamino)-6-methyl-7-anilinofluoran, 3-pyrrolidino-6-methyl-7-anilinofluoran, 1(3H)-isobenzofluranone, and 4,5,6,7-tetrachloro-3, 3-bis[2-[4-(dimethylamino)phenyl]-2-(4-methoxyphenyl)ethenyl]fluoran.

2. The optical recording system according to claim 1 wherein the marking light source provides light having a wavelength between 380 nm and 420 nm.

3. The optical recording system according to claim 1 wherein an unmarked portion of the markable coating is transparent at the wavelength of the marking light source.

4. The optical recording system according to claim 1 , the matrix further comprising a radiation absorber.

5. The optical recording system according to claim 4 wherein the radiation absorber has a peak absorbance at wavelengths between 400 and 500 nm.

6. The optical recording system according to claim 1 , further including a sensor for detecting an optical mark on said optical data recording medium.

7. The optical recording system according to claim 1 , further including a processor for controlling a position of the disc.

8. A method of making an optical data recording medium, comprising:

a) providing a substrate; and

b) providing a markable coating on said substrate, said markable coating being an optical recording layer and having a thickness less than 1 μm and comprising:

a matrix; and

a color-forming agent included in the matrix and comprising a leuco dye and developer;

wherein said leuco dye is selected to change from high reflectance of radiation with wavelengths between 400 and 500 nm to low reflectance of radiation with wavelengths between 400 and 500 nm when activated by an application of energy above a threshold level;

wherein said color-forming agent includes particles having an average particle size that is less than one-half a wavelength of a marking light source used to apply the energy above the threshold level;

wherein the leuco dye is chosen from: 1,2-benzo-6-(N-ethyl-N-toluidino)fluoran, 1,2-benzo-6-(N-methyl-N-cyclohexylamino)fluoran, 1,2-benzo-6-dibutylaminofluoran, 1,2-benzo-6-diethylaminofluran, 2-(.alpha.-phenylethylamino)-6-(N-ethyl-p -toluidino)fluoran, 2-(2,3-dichloroanilino)-3-chloro-6-diethylaminofluran, 2-(2,4-dimethylanilino)-3-methyl-6-diethylaminofluoran, 2-(di-p-methylbenzilamino)-6-(N-ethyl-p-toluidino)fluoran, 2-(m-trichloromethylanilino)-3-methyl-6-(N-cyclohexyl-N-methylamino)fluoran, 2-(m-trichloromethylanilino)-3-methyl-6-diethylanimofluoran, 2-(m-trifluoromethylaniline)-6-diethylaminofluoran, 2-(m-trifluoromethylanilino)-3-chloro-6-diethylaminofluran, 2-(m-trifluoromethylanilino)-3-methyl-6-diethylanimofluoran, 2-(N-ethyl-p-toluidino)-3-methyl-6-(N-ethylanilino)fluoran, 2-(N-ethyl-p-toluidino)-3-methyl-6-(N-propyl-p-toluidino) fluoran, 2-(o-chloroanilino)-3-chloro-6-diethlaminofluran, 2-(o-chloroanilino)-6-dibutylaminofluoran, 2-(o-chloroanilino)-6-diethylaminofluoran, 2-(p-acetylanilino)-6-(N-n-amyl-N-n-butylamino)fluoran, 2,3-dimethyl-6-dimethylaminofluoran, 2-amino-6-(N-ethyl-2,4-dimethylanilino)fluoran, 2-amino-6-(N-ethylanilino)fluoran, 2-amino-6-(N-ethyl-p-chloroanilino)fluoran, 2-amino-6-(N-ethyl-p-ethylanilino)fluoran, 2-amino-6-(N-ethyl-p-toluidino)fluoran, 2-amino-6-(N-methyl-2,4-dimethylanilino)fluoran, 2-amino-6-(N-methylanilino)fluoran, 2-amino-6-(N-methyl-p-chloroanilino)fluoran, 2-amino-6-(N-methyl-p-ethylanilino)fluoran, 2-amino-6-(N-methyl-p-toluidino)fluoran, 2-amino-6-(N-propyl-2,4-dimethylanilino)fluoran, 2-amino-6-(N-propylanilino)fluoran, 2-amino-6-(N-propyl-p-chloroanilino)fluoran, 2-amino-6-(N-propyl-p-ethylanilino)fluoran, 2-amino-6-(N-propyl-p-toluidino)fluoran, 2-anilino-3-methyl-6-(N-cyclohexyl-N-methylamino)fluoran, 2-anilino-3-methyl-6-(N-ethyl--N-isoamylamino)fluoran , 2-anilino-3-methyl-6-(N-ethyl-N-p-benzyl)aminofluoran, 2-anilino-3-methyl-6-(N-ethyl-N-propylamino)fluoran, 2-anilino-3-methyl-6-(N-iso-amyl-N-ethylamino)fluoran, 2-anilino-3-methyl-6-(N-isobutyl-methyl amino)fluoran, 2-anilino-3-methyl-6-(N-isopropyl-methyl amino)fluoran, 2-anilino-3-methyl-6-(N-methyl-p-toluidino-)fluoran, 2-anilino-3-methyl-6-(N-n-amyl-N-ethylamino)fluoran, 2-anilino-3-methyl-6-(N-n-amyl-N-methylamino)fluoran, 2-anilino-3-methyl-6-(N-n-propyl-N-isopropylamino)fluoran, 2-anilino-3-methyl-6-(N-n-propyl-N-methylamino)fluoran, 2-anilino-3-methyl-6-(N-sec-butyl-N-methylamino)fluoran, 2-anilino-3-methyl-6-diethylaminofluoran, 2-anilino-3-methyl-6-di-n-butylaminofluoran, 2-anilino-6-(N-n-hexyl-N-ethylamino)fluoran, 2-benzilamino-6-(N-ethyl-2,4-dimethylanilino)fluoran, 2-benzilamino-6-(N-ethyl-p-toluidino)fluoran, 2-benzilamino-6-(N-methyl-2,4-dimethylanilino)fluoran, 2-benzilamino-6-(N-methyl-p-toluidino)fluoran, 2-bromo-6-diethylaminofluoran, 2-chloro-3-methyl-6-diethylaminofluran, 2-chloro-6-(N-ethyl-N-isoamylamino)fluoran, 2-chloro-6-dipropylaminofluoran, 2-diethylamino-6-(N-ethyl-p-toluidino)fluoran, 2-diethylamino-6-(N-methyl-p-toluidino)fluoran, 2-dimethylamino-6-(N-ethylanilino)fluoran, 2-dimethylamino-6-(N-methylanilino)fluoran, 2-dipropylamino-6-(N-ethylanilino)fluoran, 2-dipropylamino-6-(N-methylanilino)fluoran, 2-ethylamino-6-(N-ethyl-2,4-dimethylanilino)fluoran, 2-ethylamino-6-(N-methyl-p-toluidino)fluoran, 2-methylamino-6-(N-ethylanilino)fluoran, 2-methylamino-6-(N-methyl-2,4-dimethylanilino)fluoran, 2-methylamino-6-(N-methylanilino)fluoran, 2-methylamino-6-(N-propylanilino)fluoran, 3-(1-ethyl-2-methylindole-3-yl)-3-(2-ethoxy-4-diethylaminophenyl)-4-azaphthalide, 3-(1-ethyl-2-methylindole-3-yl)-3-(2-ethoxy-4-diethylaminophenyl)-7-azaphthalide, 3-(1-ethyl-2-methylindole-3-yl)-3-(2-methyl-4-diethylaminophenyl)-4-azaphthalide, 3-(1-ethyl-2-methylindole-3-yl)-3-(2-methyl-4-diethylaminophenyl)-7-azaphthalide, 3-(1-ethyl-2-methylindole-3-yl)-3-(4-diethylaminophenyl)-4-azaphthalide, 3-(1-ethyl-2-methylindole-3-yl)-3-(4-N-n-amyl-N-methylaminophenyl)-4-azaphthalide, 3-(1-methyl-2-methylindole-3-yl)-3-(2-hexyloxy-4-diethylaminophenyl)-4-azaphthalide, 3-(1-ethyl-2-methylindole-3-yl)-3-(2-ethoxy-4-diethylaminophenyl)-4-azaphthalide, 3-(N-cyclohexyl-N-methylamino)-6-methyl-7-phenylaminofluoran, 3-(N-ethyl-N-isoamylamino)-6-methyl-7-phenylaminofluoran, 3-(N-ethyl-p-toluidino)-6-methyl-7-phenylaminofluoran, 3,3-bis(2-ethoxy-4-diethylaminphenyl)-4-azaphthalide, 3,3-bis(2-ethoxy-4-diethylaminphenyl)-7-azaphthalide, 3,6-dibutoxyfluoran, 3-bromo-6-cyclohexylaminofluoran, 3-dibutylamino-7-(o-chloro-phenylamino)fluoran, 3-diethylamino-5-methyl-7-dibenzylaminofluoran, 3-diethylamino-6-(m-trifluoromethylanilino)fluoran, 3-diethylamino-6,7-dimethylfuoran, 3-diethylamino-7-(2-carbomethoxy-phenylamino)fluoran, 3-diethylamino-7-(N-acetyl-N-methylamino)fluoran, 3-diethylamino-7-(N-chloroethyl-N-methylamino)fluoran, 3-diethylamino-7-(N-methyl-N-benzylamino)fluoran, 3-diethylamino-7-(o-chlorophenylamino)fluoran, 3-diethylamino-7-chlorofluoran, 3-diethylamino-7-dibenzylaminofluoran, 3-diethylamino-7-diethylaminofluoran, 3-diethylamino-7-N-methylaminofluoran, 3-dimethylamino-6-methoxylfluoran, 3-dimethylamino-7-methoxyfluoran, 3-methyl-6-(N-ethyl-p-toluidino)fluoran, 3-piperidino-6-methyl-7-phenylaminofluoran, 3-pyrrolidino-6-methyl-7-p-butylphenylaminofluoran, 3-pvrrolidino-6-methyl-7-phenylaminofluoran, 2-anilino-3-methyl-6-(di-n-amylamino)fluoran, 3-(N-ethyl-p-toluidino)-6-methyl-7-anilinofluoran, 3-(N-ethyl-N-isoamylamino)-6-methyl-7-anilinofluoran, 3-diethylamino-6-methyl-7-(o,p-dimethylanilino)fluorane, 3-pyrrolidino-6-methyl-7-anilinofluoran, 3-piperidino-6-methyl-7-anilinofluoran, 3-(N-cyclohexyl-N-methylamino)-6-methyl-7-anilinofluoran, 3-diethylamino-7-(m-trifluoromethylanilino) fluoran, 3-dibutylamino-6-methyl-7-anilinofluoran, 3-diethylamino-6-chloro-7-anilinofluoran, 3-dibutylamino-7-(o-chloroanilino)fluoran, 3-diethylamino-7-(o-chloroanilino)fluoran 3-di-n-pentylamino-6-methyl-7-anilinofluoran, 3-di-n-butylamino-6-methyl-7-anilinofluoran, 3-(n-ethyl-n-isopentylamino)-6-methyl-7-anilinofluoran, 3-pyrrolidino-6-methyl-7-anilinofluoran, 1(3H)-isobenzofluranone, and 4,5,6,7-tetrachloro-3,3-bis [2-[4-(dimethylamino)phenyl]-2-4-methoxyphenypethenyl] fluoran.

9. The method according to claim 8 wherein step b) includes providing a markable coating that includes a radiation absorber having a peak absorption wavelength between 380 nm and 420 nm.

10. The method according to claim 8 wherein step b) includes providing a markable coating that includes a radiation absorber having a peak absorption wavelength between 300 nm and 980 nm.

11. The method according to claim 8 wherein step b) includes providing a color-forming agent that comprises particles having an average diameter less than 250 nm.

12. The method according to claim 8 wherein step b) includes providing an unmarked markable coating that is transparent at the wavelengths between 400 and 500 nm.