U.S. patent application number 13/631830 was filed with the patent office on 2013-01-31 for providing erasable printing with nanoparticles.
This patent application is currently assigned to HJ LABORATORIES, LLC. The applicant listed for this patent is HJ Laboratories, LLC. Invention is credited to Jaron Jurikson-Rhodes, Harry Vartanian.
Application Number | 20130027494 13/631830 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 45466640 |
Filed Date | 2013-01-31 |
United States Patent
Application |
20130027494 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Vartanian; Harry ; et
al. |
January 31, 2013 |
PROVIDING ERASABLE PRINTING WITH NANOPARTICLES
Abstract
Providing rewritable or erasable printing or copying utilizing
nanoparticle ink or toner is disclosed. A paper-like material is
described using nanoparticles that are selectively controlled to
show a substantially dark, gray, or white dot depending on an
emitted signal or field in a printer or copier device. Also
disclosed is a printer or copier device that erases and writes
nanoparticles to a paper-like material depending on an emitted
magnetic signal in a printer or copier device.
Inventors: |
Vartanian; Harry;
(Philadelphia, PA) ; Jurikson-Rhodes; Jaron;
(Philadelphia, PA) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
HJ Laboratories, LLC; |
Philadelphia |
PA |
US |
|
|
Assignee: |
HJ LABORATORIES, LLC
Philadelphia
PA
|
Family ID: |
45466640 |
Appl. No.: |
13/631830 |
Filed: |
September 28, 2012 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
|
12837170 |
Jul 15, 2010 |
8289352 |
|
|
13631830 |
|
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Current U.S.
Class: |
347/110 |
Current CPC
Class: |
B41J 3/4076 20130101;
B41J 2/00 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
347/110 |
International
Class: |
B41J 2/00 20060101
B41J002/00 |
Claims
1. A method of erasable printing by a printing device, the method
comprising: applying nanoparticle toner and printing a dot by the
printing device on plain paper; and erasing, subsequently, the dot
by emitting a signal or field by the printing device to change an
orientation of portions of the applied nanoparticle toner on the
plain paper.
2. The method of claim 1 further comprising: emitting, subsequently
by the printing device, another signal or field to the portions of
the applied nanoparticle toner on the plain paper to change a state
to further erase the dot on the plain paper.
3. The method of claim 1 further comprising: emitting, subsequently
by the printing device, another signal or field to the portions of
the applied nanoparticle toner on the plain paper to change an
orientation to rewrite another dot on the plain paper.
4. The method of claim 1 further comprising: emitting, subsequently
by the printing device, another signal or field to the portions of
the applied nanoparticle toner on the plain paper to change an
orientation and remove the nanoparticle toner from the plain
paper.
5. The method of claim 1 further comprising: erasing pre-applied
nanoparticle toner on the plain paper by the printing device.
6. The method of claim 1 wherein the printing device is configured
as a 3D printing device.
7. A printing device configured for erasable printing comprising:
the printing device configured to apply nanoparticle toner and
print a dot on plain paper; and wherein the dot is subsequently
erased by the printing device by emission of a signal or field to
change an orientation of portions of the applied nanoparticle toner
on the plain paper.
8. The printing device of claim 7 further comprising: the printing
device configured to emit, subsequently, another signal or field to
the portions of the applied nanoparticle toner on the plain paper
to change a state to further erase the dot on the plain paper.
9. The printing device of claim 7 further comprising: the printing
device configured to emit, subsequently, another signal or field to
the portions of the applied nanoparticle toner on the plain paper
to change an orientation to rewrite another dot on the plain
paper.
10. The printing device of claim 7 further comprising: the printing
device configured to emit, subsequently, another signal or field to
the portions of the applied nanoparticle toner on the plain paper
to change an orientation and remove the nanoparticle toner from the
plain paper.
11. The printing device of claim 7 further comprising: the printing
device configured to erase pre-applied nanoparticle toner on the
plain paper.
12. The printing device of claim 7 wherein the printing device is
configured as a 3D printing device.
Description
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
[0001] This application is a continuation of U.S. patent
application Ser. No. 12/837,170 filed Jul. 15, 2010, the contents
of which is hereby incorporated by reference herein as if fully set
forth.
FIELD OF INVENTION
[0002] This application relates to printing or copying. In
particular it relates to providing rewritable or erasable printing
or copying using nanoparticle technology.
BACKGROUND
[0003] With significant technological advances, the laser printer,
inkjet printer, and copy machine in the home or office have become
affordable and ubiquitous. As printing or copying technology has
improved and become further utilized, the costs of paper and ink or
toner have also reduced substantially. As a product of lower cost,
the volume of printing or copying has increased to a point where
many sheets of paper are wasted unnecessarily on a daily basis. In
fact, recent studies have shown that printed or copied papers are
typically used for only a few hours before disposal. Although the
cost of paper and ink or toner have become reasonable it is not
negligible with the increase of printing or copying volume. In
addition, continuous disposal of paper creates waste.
[0004] Inkless printing technologies such as the thermal printer
have attempted to address the problem of increased paper waste and
ink or toner cost. However, the thermal paper used by a thermal
printer cannot typically be reused and print outs can degrade
quickly over time due to ambient heat.
[0005] The rate of advances in nanotechnology is increasing. As
scientists understand more about materials on a molecular scale
they are able to control and leverage them to develop new
applications. However, the use of nanotechnology to improve the
paper printer or copier has been largely ignored. It is desirable
to use nanotechnology to provide a rewritable or erasable printer
or copier device thereby reducing waste and ink or toner
expenses.
SUMMARY
[0006] An apparatus and method for providing rewritable or erasable
printing or copying that utilizes nanoparticle ink or toner is
disclosed. A paper-like material is described using nanoparticles
that are selectively controlled to show a substantially dark, gray,
or white dot depending on an emitted signal or field in a printer
or copier device. Also disclosed is a printer or copier device that
erases and writes nanoparticles to a paper-like material depending
on an emitted magnetic signal in a printer or copier device.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0007] A more detailed understanding may be had from the following
description, given by way of example in conjunction with the
accompanying drawings wherein:
[0008] FIG. 1 is a diagram of a printer or copier computer device
in accordance with one embodiment;
[0009] FIG. 2a is a diagram of a paper-like material having
controllable nanoparticle ink or toner in accordance with another
embodiment;
[0010] FIG. 2b is a detailed view of a controllable nanoparticle
ink or toner in accordance with another embodiment;
[0011] FIG. 2c is diagram of printer or copier device for writing,
erasing, or rewriting information on a paper-like material having
controllable nanoparticle ink or toner in accordance with another
embodiment;
[0012] FIG. 2d is diagram of printer or copier device for writing,
erasing, or rewriting information on an ordinary paper-like
material having controllable nanoparticle ink or toner in
accordance with another embodiment;
[0013] FIG. 3a is a diagram showing a magnetically controllable
nanoparticle ink or toner in accordance with another
embodiment;
[0014] FIG. 3b is a diagram of a printer or copier device that
writes, erases, or rewrites nanoparticle ink or toner to a
paper-like material in accordance with another embodiment;
[0015] FIG. 3c is a diagram of paper-like material for use with a
magnetically controllable nanoparticle ink or toner in accordance
with another embodiment;
[0016] FIG. 3d is a detailed view of magnetically controllable
nanoparticle molecular bonding in accordance with another
embodiment;
[0017] FIG. 4 is a process to write, erase, or rewrite information
on a paper-like material having controllable nanoparticle ink or
toner in accordance with another embodiment;
[0018] FIG. 5 is a process to write, erase, or rewrite nanoparticle
ink or toner to a paper-like material in accordance with another
embodiment; and
[0019] FIG. 6 is a process to write, erase, or rewrite information
on an ordinary paper-like material having controllable nanoparticle
ink or toner in accordance with another embodiment.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0020] The present invention will be described with reference to
the drawing figures wherein like numerals represent like elements
throughout. For the processes described below the steps recited may
be performed out of sequence and sub-steps not explicitly described
or shown may be performed. In addition, "coupled" or "operatively
coupled" may mean that objects are linked between zero or more
intermediate objects.
[0021] In the details given below, nanoparticle ink or toner is
utilized to provide the reuse of ordinary paper, plain paper,
and/or paper-like material. For instance, special paper-like
material imbedded with nanoparticle ink or toner may repeatedly be
used in a printer or copier device where with each print or copy an
emitted signal or field selectively makes sections of the paper
appear substantially opaque or transparent in certain patterns.
[0022] As another example, ordinary paper or paper-like material
may be substantially uniformly applied, sprayed, or treated with
nanoparticle ink or toner as it passes through a printer or copier
device an initial time such that during current or future prints a
signal or field selectively makes sections of the ink or toner
appear substantially opaque or transparent. Moreover, ordinary
paper or paper-like material may be printed with nanoparticle ink
or toner during a current print out, which, upon a future print, is
transformed substantially transparent to allow a new layer of
opaque nanoparticle ink or toner to be printed over it.
[0023] As another example, nanoparticle ink or toner may be
initially printed on ordinary paper or paper-like material by a
printer or copier, where the nanoparticle ink or toner is
subsequently substantially removed during future prints to allow
new prints. For this example the removed nanoparticle ink may be
reapplied or reused after removal during the current or future
print.
[0024] FIG. 1 is a diagram of a printer or copier computer device
100 in accordance with one embodiment. Printer or copier computer
device 100 may be part of or made integral with another computing
device, a surface computer, a tablet computer, a monitor, a general
display, a versatile device, an automobile computer system, a
vehicle computer system, a television, a mobile user station or a
portable user station. Device 100 comprises computer bus 140 that
couples at least one or more processors 102, one or more interface
controllers 104, memory 106 having software 108, storage device
110, power source 112, and/or one or more displays controller
120.
[0025] Device 100 also comprises print or copy engine 121 for
providing printing services. Print or copy engine 121 comprises
hardware and software components for providing printing services in
conjunction with mechanical components 132.
[0026] One or more display devices 122 can be configured as a
liquid crystal display (LCD), light emitting diode (LED), field
emission display (FED), organic light emitting diode (OLED), or
flexible OLED display device. The one or more display devices 122
may be configured, manufactured, produced, or assembled based on
the descriptions provided in US Patent Publication Nos.
2007-247422, 2007-139391, 2007-085838, or 2006-096392 or U.S. Pat.
No. 7,050,835 or WO Publication 2007-012899 all herein incorporated
by reference as if fully set forth. In the case of a flexible
display device, the one or more electronic display devices 122 may
be configured and assembled using organic light emitting diodes
(OLED), liquid crystal displays using flexible substrate
technology, flexible transistors, or field emission displays (FED)
using flexible substrate technology, as desired. One or more
display devices 122 may be configured as a touch or multitouch
screen display using resistive, capacitive, surface-acoustic wave
(SAW) capacitive, infrared, strain gauge, optical imaging,
dispersive signal technology, acoustic pulse recognition,
frustrated total internal reflection or magneto-strictive
technology, as understood by one of ordinary skill in the art.
[0027] Coupled to computer bus 140 are one or more input/output
(I/O) controller 116, I/O devices 118, GPS device 114, one or more
network adapters 128, and/or one or more antennas 130. The one or
more network adapters 128 may be configured to receive print jobs
from a remote computer such as for cloud based printing. Device 100
may have one or more motion, proximity, light, optical, chemical,
environmental, moisture, acoustic, heat, temperature, radio
frequency identification (RFID), biometric, face recognition,
image, photo, or voice recognition sensors 126 and touch detectors
124 for detecting any touch inputs, including multi-touch inputs,
for one or more display devices 122. One or more interface
controllers 104 may communicate with touch detectors 124 and I/O
controller 116 for determining user inputs to device 100.
[0028] Still referring to device 100, storage device 110 may be any
disk based or solid state memory device for storing data. Power
source 112 may be a plug-in, battery, solar panels for receiving
and storing solar energy, or a device for receiving and storing
wireless power as described in U.S. Pat. No. 7,027,311 herein
incorporated by reference as if fully set forth. One or more
network adapters 128 may be configured as a Time Division Multiple
Access (TDMA), Code Division Multiple Access (CDMA), Orthogonal
Frequency-Division Multiplexing (OFDM), Orthogonal
Frequency-Division Multiple Access (OFDMA), Global System for
Mobile (GSM) communications, Enhanced Data rates for GSM Evolution
(EDGE), General Packet Radio Service (GPRS), cdma2000, wideband
CDMA (W-CDMA), long term evolution (LTE), 802.11x, Wi-Max, mobile
Wi-MAX, Bluetooth, or any other wireless or wired transceiver for
modulating and demodulating information communicated via one or
more antennas 130. Additionally, any of devices, controllers,
displays, components, etc. in device 100 may be combined, made
integral, or separated as desired.
[0029] FIG. 2a is a diagram of a sheet of paper-like material 201
composed of in part controllable nanoparticle ink or toner in
accordance with another embodiment. Examples of paper-like material
include primarily or mixtures of wood fibers, wood by-products,
lignin, plant fibers, chalk, clay, linen, cotton, cellulose fibers,
latex, polyolefine, or plain paper composite materials, as desired.
The nanoparticle ink or toner may be in part composed of
nanomagnets, such as ferromagnets, for use by the nanoprinter that
may be provided during the production of paper-like material 201.
Examples of ferromagnetic materials include iron, cobalt, nickel,
silver, or copper. Alternatively material 201 or 203 forthcoming,
may be composed of any nanoparticles, nanotubes, nanofibers,
nanodots, nanocrystals, nanowires, or nanocomposites that may be
controlled or manipulated by magnetic fields, electric fields,
electromagnetic fields, varying voltage levels, varying current
levels, chemically, or a chemical reaction to produce a
substantially dark dot and reversibly turn the substantially dark
dot to a substantially lighter or white dot. An example of
controlling is changing the orientation, position, or state of a
nanoparticle using a control signal or field.
[0030] As explained in the article "Switching a nanomagnet is all
in the timing" by Jonathan Sun and "Nanomagnets bend the rules",
both herein incorporated by reference as if fully set forth,
ferromagnetic materials become magnetic when exposed to a magnetic
field or electric current. With a magnetic field control, as the
strength of the external field increases, the materials become more
magnetic by a process called magnetic saturation. When the magnetic
field is removed, ferromagnets undergo an internal restructuring
and the acquired magnetization decays, or fades, very slowly at a
rate that increases with temperature. When controlling a
ferromagnet with current, a torque is induced on the ferromagnetic
moment. This effect is referred to as a spin-transfer torque and it
controls the magnetic properties of the ferromagnet.
[0031] As another example, a sheet of paper-like material 203 is
composed of in part controllable nanoparticle ink or toner that is
applied, sprayed, or treated during an initial printing or copying
process. Since the nanoparticle ink or toner is applied, sprayed,
or treated, at a printing or copying device, paper-like material
203 may not have to be specially processed, pretreated, or
manufactured at a facility. Once the nanoparticle ink or toner is
provided to the paper-like material it may be erased by changing
the orientation of the nanoparticles in the paper-like material to
show a substantially transparent or white dot. The same piece of
paper may then be rewritten on by applying new nanoparticle ink or
toner by a head device. Alternatively, the nanoparticle ink or
toner may be erased by changing the orientation of the
nanoparticles in the paper-like material to show a substantially
white dot and then the same nanoparticle ink or toner is used to
rewrite by changing the orientation to a substantially darker or
black dot. As a result of providing the nanoparticle ink or toner
at the print or copy device, this allows erasable or rewritable
printing or copying with nanoparticles using a plain, ordinary, or
regular paper-like material 203.
[0032] In FIG. 2a, visible substantially black dot 200 is composed
of a plurality of nanoparticles orientated in such a way to show a
visible substantially black dot 200. Substantially gray dot 202 is
composed of a plurality of nanoparticles orientated in such a way
to show a visible substantially gray dot 202. FIG. 2b is an
illustration at a magnified scale of a plurality of nanoparticles.
In FIG. 2b, a visible substantially black dot 204 is shown at a
smaller scale where a plurality of nanoparticles 206 are orientated
in such a way to show the visible substantially black dot. Visible
substantially gray dot 208 shows a lesser amount of a plurality of
nanoparticles 210 orientated in such a way to show the visible
substantially gray dot. Moreover, an individual nanoparticle is
shown having a substantially dark side 212 and a lighter side 214.
To perform an erase operation, a substantially white dot is
produced on paper-like material 201 by orienting the plurality of
nanoparticles collectively in such a way to mostly show lighter
side 214.
[0033] FIG. 2c is diagram of printer or copier device 215 for
writing, erasing, or rewriting information on a paper-like material
having controllable nanoparticle ink or toner in accordance with
another embodiment. A benefit of device 215 is to provide printing
that is environmentally friendly since it does not generate much
paper or toner or ink waste. Paper-like material 218, composed of
in part controllable nanoparticle ink or toner, is fed by roller
220 into housing 216 in direction 217. Printer or copier device 215
may detect if paper-like material 218 already has printed or copied
content and may dewrinkle or smooth the paper-like material 218
using heat and/or a straight edge press.
[0034] Printer or copier head 221 comprises of writing, erasing, or
rewriting device 222 and optical device 224. As the printer or
copier head 221 moves laterally or horizontally on axis or track
226, writing, erasing, or rewriting device 222 creates or erases
dots 200 or 202 line by line or pattern by pattern on paper-like
material 218. Dots 200 or 202 are created or erased by altering the
orientation of the nanoparticle ink or toner by emitting a signal
or field to show a visible substantially black, gray, or white dot.
Writing, erasing, or rewriting device 222 is controlled at least in
part by software 108, print or copy engine 121, or sensors 126.
Optical device 224 may provide feedback to writing, erasing, or
rewriting device 222 by detecting the lightness or darkness of a
dot or pattern to determine if a desired write, erase, or rewrite
operation was successful after orientating the nanoparticles for
one or more dots.
[0035] FIG. 2d is diagram of printer or copier device 230 for
writing, erasing, or rewriting information on ordinary paper-like
material having controllable nanoparticle ink or toner in
accordance with another embodiment. A benefit of device 230 is to
provide printing that is environmentally friendly since it does not
generate much paper waste. Ordinary paper-like material 233 is fed
by roller 235 into housing 231 in direction 232. Printer or copier
device 230 may detect if paper-like material 233 already has
printed or copied content and may dewrinkle or smooth the
paper-like material 233 using heat and/or a straight edge press as
a result.
[0036] Printer or copier head 236 comprises of writing, erasing, or
rewriting device 237 and optical device 239. As the printer or
copier head 236 moves laterally or horizontally on axis or track
241, writing, erasing, or rewriting device 237 creates dots 200 or
202 line by line or pattern by pattern on paper-like material 233.
Dots are created by applying, spraying, or treating by device 237
nanoparticle ink or toner to ordinary paper-like material 233 to
show a visible substantially black or gray dot. Writing, erasing,
or rewriting device 237 is controlled at least in part by software
108, print or copy engine 121, or sensors 126.
[0037] Optical device 239 may provide feedback to writing, erasing,
or rewriting device 237 by detecting if ordinary paper-like
material 233 already has printed or copied nanoparticle ink or
toner. If optical device 239 detects content on ordinary paper-like
material 233, writing, erasing, or rewriting device 237 erases the
content by changing the orientation of the existing nanoparticles
by emitting a signal or field to show a substantially white dot and
rewrites new content by applying new nanoparticle ink or toner by
device 237. The erasing or rewriting operation may be performed
line by line, pattern by pattern, or dot by dot. Alternatively,
writing, erasing, or rewriting device 237 erases and then rewrites
content by altering the orientation of the existing nanoparticle
ink or toner by emitting a signal or field on the ordinary
paper-like material 233 to show a visible substantially black,
gray, or white dot.
[0038] Referring again to FIGS. 2c and 2d, device 215 or 230 may be
configured to stop a print or copy job in progress if there is a
change in the print or copy request, such as a canceled or altered
job, and erase or alter any content on paper-like material 218 or
233 with writing, erasing, or rewriting device 222 or 237 by
reversing the feed direction 228 or 243.
[0039] FIG. 3a is a diagram showing a magnetically controllable
nanoparticle ink or toner in accordance with another embodiment.
Source device 302 provides or emits a magnetic field 304 to
paper-like material 300. Magnetic field 304 causes nanoparticle 308
to be released 310 from paper-like material 300. Nanoparticle 306
outside of magnetic field 304 stays attached to paper-like material
300.
[0040] FIG. 3b is a diagram of a printer or copier device 315 that
writes, erases, or rewrites nanoparticle ink or toner to a
paper-like material in accordance with another embodiment.
Paper-like material is fed via path 312 by roller 314. Printer or
copier device 315 may detect if paper-like material fed via path
312 already has printed or copied content and may dewrinkle or
smooth the paper-like material using heat and/or a straight edge
press as a result.
[0041] As paper-like material passes through path 312, roller 314
acts in part as a nanomagnetic drum by layer 316 applying or
emitting a magnetic field. As magnetic field 318 is applied, if the
paper-like material is not blank any nanoparticles on the
paper-like material are released into collector or hopper 311 for
later reuse and the information on paper-like material is erased as
it emerges 319. The ability of a nanoparticle to attach and release
from a surface is explained in U.S. Pat. No. 7,695,811, herein
incorporated by reference as if fully set forth.
[0042] The substantially blank paper-like material is passed
through path 322 by rollers 320 and 321. As it traverses to point
325, printer/copier head or applicator 324 on track 326 applies or
bonds nanoparticles from collector and hopper 311 to the paper-like
material to produce a substantially dark or gray dot. As an
example, applying may be performed by a spraying process similar to
that used by inkjet printers. The writing or rewriting operation by
printer/copier head or applicator 324 may be performed line by
line, pattern by pattern, or dot by dot. Printer/copier head or
applicator 324 is controlled at least in part by software 108,
print or copy engine 121, or sensors 126. The printed material
emerges at point 328 via rollers 323. Device 315 may be configured
to stop a print or copy job in progress if there is a change in the
print or copy request, such as a canceled or altered job, and erase
or alter any content on a paper-like material with printer/copier
head or applicator 324 by reversing the feed direction 330.
[0043] The erasing procedures given above may be performed line by
line, pattern by pattern, or dot by dot followed by a rewrite
operation. However, devices 215, 230, and 315 may be configured to
first erase any information on a whole sheet of paper-like material
by either changing the orientation of the nanoparticle ink or toner
or removing the nanoparticle ink or toner prior to rewriting. Thus,
complete erasure may be performed prior to rewriting information on
the paper-like material. This may be performed by feeding the whole
sheet of paper-like material all the way through the printer or
copier device then reversibly feeding back the paper-like material
to a write or rewrite position.
[0044] In addition, example devices given in FIGS. 2c, 2d, and 3b
may be configured and integrated with a 3D printing, 3D
manufacturing, or rapid prototyping device. FIGS. 2c, 2d, and 3b
may also be configured for two sided printing or copying. In the
example devices given in FIGS. 2c, 2d, and 3b, different components
may be combined in order to provide rewritable or erasable printing
or copying. For instance, printer or copier device 215 may be
configured with a roller stage to magnetically remove any
nanoparticles on a paper-like material by printer or copier device
315. Alternatively, printer or copier device 315 may be configured
with a print or copy stage to alter any content produced on
paper-like material by device 215.
[0045] Although the examples given in FIGS. 2c and 2d are for black
and white or grayscale printing or copying, one of ordinary skill
in the art may extend the examples to color by having paper-like
material composed of nanoparticles of different colors or colorants
that appear and disappear based on orientation. Similarly, device
315 may be configured to remove nanoparticles of different colors,
separate the nanoparticles of different colors, and then apply or
reapply the nanoparticles of different colors.
[0046] FIG. 3c is a diagram of paper-like material for use with a
magnetically controllable nanoparticle ink or toner in accordance
with another embodiment. In this embodiment a paper-like material
may be composed of primarily or mixtures of wood fibers, wood
by-products, lignin, plant fibers, chalk, clay, linen, cotton,
cellulose fibers, latex, polyolefine, or plain paper composite
materials in layer 336. Applied or bonded nanoparticles are
provided to a special layer 334. Layer 336 and special layer 334
may be substantially separate or slightly mixed, as desired.
[0047] FIG. 3d is a detailed view of magnetically controllable
nanoparticle ink or toner molecular bonding in accordance with
another embodiment. In a steady state nanoparticle 340 is bonded to
paper-like material 342. When a magnetic field is applied or
emitted, bond 341 is broken and nanoparticle 340 is released.
Depending on the composition and type of the nanoparticle, the
breaking of the bond may be reactive to a magnetic field strength
of a particular value or range.
[0048] FIG. 4 is a process 400 to write, erase, or rewrite
information on a paper-like material having controllable
nanoparticle ink or toner in accordance with another embodiment.
Paper-like material having nanoparticle ink or toner is fed (step
402). Print or copy information is received from software 108,
print or copy engine 121, or sensors 126 (step 403). A dot is
searched for in a current position by optical device 224 (step
404). If a dot is detected (step 406), the dot in the current
position is erased (step 407) by emitting a signal or field by a
printer or copier head to change the orientation of nanoparticles
at the current position to show a substantially white or
transparent dot. The paper-like material in the current position
may then be smoothed or dewrinkled, if necessary, in order to
ensure a like new surface look (step 408). A signal or field is
then applied to create a dot in the current position (step
409).
[0049] If a dot is not detected (step 406), a signal or field is
then applied to create a dot in the current position (step 409) to
change the orientation of nanoparticles at the current position to
show a substantially dark or gray dot. If there are anymore dots to
print or copy (step 410 and 411), the printer or copier head is
moved to the next position and the process is repeated as
information is printed or copied line by line, pattern by pattern,
or dot by dot. If not, the print or copy operation is finished
(step 412).
[0050] FIG. 5 is a process 500 to write, erase, or rewrite
nanoparticle ink or toner to a paper-like material in accordance
with another embodiment. Paper-like material having nanoparticles
is fed to an erase position (step 502). Print or copy information
is received from software 108, print or copy engine 121, or sensors
126 (step 503). A magnetic field is applied or emitted to the
current position (step 504). The nanoparticles at the current
position are collected if the paper-like material is not completely
blank (step 506). The paper-like material may then be smoothed or
dewrinkled if necessary (step 507). The paper is subsequently fed
to the print/copy write/rewrite position (step 508). The same or
different nanoparticles are then printed or copied by writing or
rewriting onto the paper (step 510) dot by dot, line by line, or
pattern by pattern by a head or applicator.
[0051] FIG. 6 is a process 600 to write, erase, or rewrite
information on an ordinary paper-like material having controllable
nanoparticle ink or toner in accordance with another embodiment.
Ordinary or plain paper-like material is fed (step 602) to a first
position. Optionally, if the ordinary or plain paper-like material
does not have any nanoparticle ink or toner, it is applied,
sprayed, or treated with nanoparticle ink or toner, such as by a
head device, by an initial complete pass through the printer or
copier device and then may be reversibly fed to the first position
(step 603).
[0052] Print or copy information is received from software 108,
print or copy engine 121, or sensors 126 (step 604). A dot may be
searched for in a current position by optical device 224 (step
605). If a dot is detected (step 606), the dot in the current
position is erased (step 607). Alternatively if a dot is detected
an erase procedure may be performed on the entire sheet of
paper-like material by a complete pass through the printer or
copier device and then the paper-like material is reverse fed to
the current position. An erase operation may be performed by
emitting a signal or field by a printer or copier head to change
the orientation of nanoparticles to show a substantially white or
transparent dot.
[0053] The paper-like material in the current position may then be
smoothed or dewrinkled, if necessary, in order to ensure a like new
surface look (step 608). New nanoparticle ink or toner is applied,
sprayed, or treated to the ordinary paper-like material in the
first position (step 609). Alternatively, if step 603 is performed
a signal or field is applied to create a dot in the current
position using existing nanoparticle ink or toner on the paper-like
material.
[0054] If a dot is not detected (step 606), new nanoparticle ink or
toner is applied, sprayed, or treated to the ordinary paper-like
material in the current position (step 609). Alternatively, a
signal or field is applied to create a dot in the current position
using existing nanoparticle ink or toner if step 603 was performed.
If there are anymore dots to print or copy (step 610 and 611), the
printer or copier head is moved to the next position and the
process is repeated to print information line by line or pattern by
pattern. If not, the print or copy operation is finished (step
612).
[0055] Although the examples given above are for rewritable or
erasable printing or copying with nanoparticles, devices 230 or 315
may be configured to apply or remove nanoparticles, nanotubes,
nanofibers, nanodots, nanocrystals, nanowires, or nanocomposites to
a paper-like material. For example, a radio frequency
identification (RFID) device may be selectively applied then
removed by performing an erasing operation to a paper-like
material.
[0056] Although features and elements are described above in
particular combinations, each feature or element may be used alone
without the other features and elements or in various combinations
with or without other features and elements. The methods or flow
charts provided herein may be implemented in a computer program,
software, or firmware instructions incorporated in a
computer-readable storage medium for execution by a general purpose
computer or a processor. Examples of computer-readable storage
mediums include a read only memory (ROM), a random access memory
(RAM), a register, cache memory, semiconductor memory devices,
magnetic media such as internal hard disks and removable disks,
magneto-optical media, and optical media such as CD-ROM disks, and
digital versatile disks (DVDs).
[0057] Suitable processors include, by way of example, a general
purpose processor, a special purpose processor, a conventional
processor, a digital signal processor (DSP), a plurality of
microprocessors, one or more microprocessors in association with a
DSP core, a controller, a microcontroller, Application Specific
Integrated Circuits (ASICs), Field Programmable Gate Arrays (FPGAs)
circuits, any other type of integrated circuit (IC), and/or a state
machine.
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