Article with electrically-conductive pattern

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2025037900-A1
Application number	US-202318359097-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Jul 26, 2023
Priority date	Jul 26, 2023
Publication date	Jan 30, 2025
Grant date	—

Abstract

An article is provided to have a transparent substrate; and an electrically-conductive, metal-containing pattern disposed on a surface the transparent substrate. The electrically-conductive, metal-containing pattern has, in order outwardly from a surface of the transparent substrate: a first darkening agent; a metallic pattern; and a second darkening agent. The first darkening agent substantially conforms to a first surface of the metallic pattern, forming a first darkened surface on the metallic pattern. In addition, the second darkening agent is disposed over at least a portion of a second surface of the metallic pattern, forming a second darkened surface on the metallic pattern.

First claim

1 . An article comprising:
a transparent substrate; and an electrically-conductive, metal-containing pattern disposed on a surface the transparent substrate, wherein the electrically-conductive, metal-containing pattern comprises, in order outwardly from a surface of the transparent substrate: a first darkening agent; a metallic pattern; and a second darkening agent, wherein the first darkening agent substantially conforms to a first surface of the metallic pattern, forming a first darkened surface on the metallic pattern, and wherein the second darkening agent is disposed over at least a portion of a second surface of the metallic pattern, forming a second darkened surface on the metallic pattern.

2 . The article of claim 1 , wherein the first darkened surface and the second darkened surface of the metallic pattern, independently have an L* value that is reduced by at least 1 unit compared to an L* value of the metallic pattern in the absence of the first and second darkening agents, respectively.

3 . The article of claim 1 , wherein C* values of the first darkened surface and of the second darkened surface of the metallic pattern are, independently closer to zero than C* values of the metallic pattern in the absence of the first and second darkening agents, respectively.

4 . The article of claim 2 , wherein the L* value of the first darkened surface of the metallic pattern and the L* value of the second darkened surface of the transferred metallic pattern are the same values, 5 L* units.

5 . The article of claim 1 , wherein the C* value of the first darkened surface of the metallic pattern and the C* value of the second darkened surface of the transferred metallic pattern are the same values to within ±25%.

6 . The article of claim 4 , wherein the C* value of the first darkened surface of the metallic pattern and the C* value of the second darkened surface of the transferred metallic pattern are the same values to within ±25%.

7 . The article of claim 1 , wherein the metallic pattern comprises copper, gold, aluminum, silver, or platinum.

8 . The article of claim 1 , comprising two or more of the same or different electrically-conductive metal-containing patterns disposed on the surface of the transparent substrate.

9 . The article of claim 1 , wherein the electrically-conductive metal-containing pattern further comprises a pattern of a catalytic ink disposed over at least a portion of the second surface of the metallic pattern.

10 . The article of claim 9 , wherein the portion of the second surface of the metallic portion covered by the second darkening agent is substantially non-overlapping with the at least portion of the second surface of the metallic pattern covered by the pattern of the catalytic ink.

11 . The article of claim 1 , wherein the metallic pattern comprises a plurality of features that can be spaced apart or connected, which plurality of features can be the same or different for each metallic pattern.

12 . An article comprising:
a continuous web of transparent polymeric film; and a plurality of the same or different electrically-conductive metal-containing patterns spaced apart from each other and disposed on a surface of the continuous web of the transparent polymeric film, wherein each of the electrically-conductive metal-containing pattern includes, in order outwardly from the surface of the continuous web of the transparent polymeric film: a first darkening agent; a metallic pattern; and a second darkening agent; wherein the first darkening agent substantially conforms to a first surface of the metallic pattern, forming a first darkened surface on the metallic pattern; and wherein the second darkening agent is disposed over at least a portion of a second surface of the metallic pattern, forming a second darkened surface.

13 . The article of claim 12 , wherein the plurality of the same or different electrically-conductive metal-containing patterns comprise two or more of the same electrically-conductive metal-containing patterns.

14 . The article of claim 12 , wherein the first darkened surface and the second darkened surface of the metallic pattern of each of the same or different electrically-conductive metal-containing patterns, independently have an L* value that is reduced by at least 1 unit compared to an L* value of the metallic pattern in the absence of the first and second darkening agents, respectively.

15 . The article of claim 12 , wherein C* values of the first darkened surface and of the second darkened surface of the metallic pattern of each of the same or different electrically-conductive metal-containing patterns are, independently closer to zero than C* values of the metallic pattern in the absence of the first and second darkening agents, respectively.

16 . The article of claim 15 , wherein the L* value of the first darkened surface of the metallic pattern and the L* value of the second darkened surface of the transferred metallic pattern, of each of the same or different electrically-conductive metal-containing patterns, are the same values, ±5 L* units.

17 . The article of claim 12 , wherein the C* value of the first darkened surface of the metallic pattern and the C* value of the second darkened surface of the transferred metallic pattern, of each of the same or different electrically-conductive metal-containing patterns, are the same values to within ±25%.

18 . The article of claim 12 , wherein each of the same or different electrically-conductive metal-containing patterns further comprises a catalytic ink disposed over at least a portion of the second surface of the metallic pattern.

19 . The article of claim 18 , wherein the portion of the second surface of the second surface of the metallic pattern covered by the second darkening agent, of each of the same or different electrically-conductive metal-containing patterns, is substantially non-overlapping with the at least portion of the second surface of the metallic pattern covered by the catalytic ink.

Assignees

• Eastman Kodak Co

Inventors

• Farmer Danielle A
• Honan James S
• Spaulding Kevin Edward

Classifications

• H01B13/0026

  Apparatus for manufacturing conducting or semi-conducting layers, e.g. deposition of metal · CPC title

• H01B1/22

  the conductive material comprising metals or alloys · CPC title

• H01B1/026

  Alloys based on copper · CPC title

• H01B5/14 Primary

  comprising conductive layers or films on insulating-supports · CPC title

• H05K3/187

  means therefor, e.g. baths, apparatus · CPC title