Single step processing of color thermochromic materials

Abstract

An approach for forming a multi-colored image on a substrate that includes a thermochromic material capable of producing at least two different colors is disclosed. Individually selected pixels of the thermochromic material that correspond to the image are heated to predetermined temperatures. Each predetermined temperature corresponds to a predetermined color shift of the thermochromic material. While the individually selected pixels are being heated, an area that includes the individually selected pixels is flooded with an amount of UV radiation sufficient to at least partially polymerize the thermochromic material. A color of each individually selected pixel is determined by a predetermined temperature to which the pixel is heated and the amount of UV radiation to which the pixel is exposed.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.