Thermal writing surface and method for making the same
AssigneeOptum, Inc.
InventorAndrew S. Filo
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A thermal writing device which changes color in response to induced temperature changes and a method for making such a device is disclosed. The thermal writing device includes a flexible substrate with low thermal mass for rapidly assimilating temperatures. Thermochromic inks which change color when subjected to temperature changes are printed upon or incorporated within this flexible substrate. The flexible substrate is disposed upon a support material having low thermal mass and poor heat conductance to facilitate rapid color transitions by the thermochromic inks with minimal expenditures of energy.
Claims14
A thermal writing surface for marking and erasing comprising:
- a flexible substrate having a drawing side and a bottom side wherein the flexible substrate has low thermal mass for quickly assimilating temperatures applied to the drawing side;
- at least one thermochromic ink applied to or incorporated within the flexible substrate and having a first color state achieved when its temperature falls below a first transition temperature and a second color state achieved when its temperature exceeds a second transition temperature, the color states being unchanged by room temperature;
- a fibrous support material disposed adjacent to the bottom side of the flexible substrate and having low thermal mass and low heat conductance for quickly assimilating temperatures applied to the drawing side of the flexible substrate while transferring minimal amounts of thermal energy to or from the flexible substrate;
- and wherein
- said fibrous support material is selected from the group consisting of chain knitted material, spun fiber material, and vertically oriented fiber material.
A writing device for marking and erasing comprising:
- a drawing surface including a flexible substrate having low thermal mass and incorporating at least one thermochromic ink which can be selectively transitioned between at least two color states by selectively changing the temperature of the thermochromic ink;
- a frame supporting one side of the drawing surface;
- and
- a fibrous support material interposed between the flexible substrate and the frame for isolating the drawing surface from heat transfers to or from the frame, the support material having low thermal mass and low heat conductance such that areas of the support material can be rapidly heated or cooled without transferring thermal energy to or from other areas of the support material;
- and wherein
- said fibrous support material is selected from the group consisting of chain knitted material, spun fiber material, and vertically oriented fiber material.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.