IMPROVEMENTS ψ INK FORMULATrONS rQM?^S^f:OA _{T T fT} rTVf

Field of the Invention

The present application relates to infrared (IR) dyes, in particular rtfar-IR dyes, which are synthetically accessible in high yield and which are dispersible in an aqueous ink bsw. It has been developed primarily for providing IR inks compatible with CMYK, inks, and for optimraug IR-absorption.

Background, of the Invention

IR absorbing dyes have numerous applications, such a* optical recording systems, thermal writing displays, laser filters, infrared photography, medical applications and printiag. Typically, it is desirable for the dyes used in these applications to have strong absorption in the near-IR at the emission wavelengths of semiconductor lasers (e.g. between about 700 and 2000 nra, preferably between about 700 and 1000 nm). In optical recording technology, for example, gaUium aluminium arsenide (GaAlAs) and indium phosphide (IaP) diode lasers are widely used as light sources.

Another important application of DR. dyes is in inks, such as printing inks. The storage and retrieval of digital information in printed form is particularly important. A familiar example of this technology is the use of primed, scanoable bar codes. Bar codes are typically printed onto tags or labels associated with a particular product and contain information about the product, such as its identity, price etc. Bar codes are usually printed in lines of visible black ink, and detected using visible light from a scanner. The scanner typically comprises m VBV) or laser {e.g. a HeNe Jaser, which emits light at 633 nm) light source and a photocell for detecting reflected light. Black dyes suitable for use in barcode inks are described in, for example, WO03/074613. However, in other applications of mis technology (e.g, security tagging) it is desirable to have a barcode, or other intelligible marking, printed with an ink that is invisible to me unaided eye, but which can be detected under UV or IR ligbt

An especially important application of detectable invisible ink is in automatic identification systems, and especially "netpage" mi "Hyperlabel™" systems. Netpage systems are the subject of a number of patents and patent applications some of which are listed in the cross-reference section above and , all of which are incorporated herein by reference.

In general, the netpage system relies on the production of, and human interaction with, netpages.

These are pages of text, graphics and images printed on ordinary paper, but which work like interactive web pages. Information is encoded on each page using ink which is substantially invisible to the unaided human eye. The ink, however, and thereby the coded data, can be sensed by an optically imaging pen and transmitted to the netpage system.

Active buttons and hyperlinks on each page may be clicked with the pen to request information from the network or to signal preferences to a network server. In some forms, text written by band on a natpage may be automatically recognized and converted to computer text in the netpage system, allowing forms to be filled in. In other farms, signatures recorded on a netpage may b* automatically verified,

allowing e-commerce transactions to be securely authorized.

Netpages are the foundation on which a netpage network is built They may provide a paper-based user interface to published information and interactive services.

A netpage consists of a printed page (or other surface region) invisibly tagged with, references to an online description of the page. The online page description is maintained persistently by a netpage page server. The page description describes the visible layout and content of the page, including text, graphics and images. It also describes the input elements on the page, including buttons, hyperlinks, and input fields. A netpage allows markings made with a netpage pen on its surface to be simultaneously captured and processed by the netpage system. Multiple netpages can share the same page description. However, to allow input through otherwise identical pages to be distinguished, each tωipage is assigned a unique page identifier. This page ID has sufficient precision to distinguish between a very large number of netpages.

Each reference to the page description is encoded in a printed tag. The tag identifies the unique page on which it appears, and thereby indirectly identifies the page description. The tag also identifies its own position on the page.

Tags are printed in infrared-absorptive ink on any substrate which is infrared-reflective, such as ordinary paper. Near-infrared wavelengths are invisible to the human eye but are easily sensed by a solid- state image sensor with an appropriate filter.

A tag is sensed by an area image sensor in the netpage pen, and the tag data is transmitted to the netpage system via the nearest netpage printer. The pen is wireless and communicates with the netpage printer via a short-range radio link. Tags are sufficiently small and densely arranged that the pen can reliably image at least one tag even on a single click on the page. It is important that the pen recognize the page ID and position on every interaction with the page, since the interaction is stateless. Tags are error-conrectably encoded to make them partially tolerant to surface damage. The netpage page server maintains a unique page instance for each printed netpage, allowing it to maintain a distinct set of user-supplied values for input fields in the page description for each printed neipage.

Hyperlabel™ fc a trade mark of Silverbrook Research Pty Ltd, Australia. In general Hyperlabel™ systems use an invisible (e.g. infrared) tagging scheme to uniquely identify a product item. This has the significant advantage that it allows the entire surface of a product to be tagged, or a significant portion thereof, without impinging on me graphic design of the product's packaging or labeling- If the entire surface of a product is tagged ("omMtagge-T'X then the orientation of the product does not aflect its ability to be scanned Le. a significant part of the ϋne-of-sight disadvantage of visible barcodes is eliminated. Furthermore, if the tags are compact and massively replicated ("omnitags"), then label damage no longer prevents scanning.

Thus, hypertabelh ^' ng consists of covering a large portion of the surface of a product with optically- readable invisible tags. When the tags utilize reflection or absorption in the infrared spectrum, they are referred to as infrared identification (OUCD) tags. Each Hyperlabel™ tag uniquely identifies the product on which it appears. The tag may directly encode the product code of the item, or it may encode a surrogate ID which in turn identifies the product code via a database lookup. Each tag also optionally identifies its own position on the surface of the product item, to provide the downstream consumer benefits of neφage

interactivity.

Hypcrlabels™ are applied durøg product ra-rau&ctwe and/or packaging nsrag digital printers, preferably inkjet printers. These may be add-on infrared printers, which print the tags after the text and graphics have been printed by other means, or integrated colour and infiared printers which print the tags, texr and graphics simultaneously,

Hyperlabels ^M can be detected- using similar technology to barcodes, except using a light source having an appropriate near-IR frequency. The light source may be a laser (e.g. a GaAlAs laser, which emits UgJw at 830 nm) or it may bo an LED.

From toe foregoing, it will be readily apparent that invisible IR detectable inks are an important comp ^O B ^ώ nt of uetoage and Hyperlabel™ systems. Kn order for an IR absorbing ink to functiott satisfactorily in these systems _* it should ideally meet a number of criteria:

0) compaiib ility of the IR dye with traditional inJςjet inks; (ii) compatibility of the IR dye with aqueous solvents used io itύq&t inks; (iii) intense absorption in the near infra-red region (e-g. 700 to 1000 nm); (iv) zero or low intensity visible absorption;

(v) lightfestness; (vi) thermal stability; (vii) zero or low toxicity; (viii) low-cost manufacture; (Lx) adheres well to paper and other media; and

(x) no sfrftftttoougfl and minimal bleeding of the ink on printing,

Hence, it would be desirable to develop IR dyes and ink compositions fulfilling at least some and preferably all of the above criteria. Such inks are desirable Co complement netpage and HyperlabβJ™ systems. Some IR dyes are commercially available from various sources, such as Epolin Products, Avecia

Inks and H.W. Sands Corp.

In addition, the prior art describes various IR dyes. US 5,460,646, for example, describes an infrared printing ink comprising a colorant, a vehicle and a solvent, wherein the colorant is 3 silicon (IV) 2,3- naphfbβlocyanine bis-trislkylsilyloxidβ. US S,282,$94 describes a solvent-based printing ink comprising a metal-free phthβlocvanine, a complβxβd ph-halocyaniiie, a metal-free naphthalocyanine, a complexed naphthalocyaπine, a nickel ditaioleae, an røimum compound, a methine compound or an βziύenesqvaήc acid,

Howbver, none of these prior art dyes can be formulated into ink compositions suitable for use in netpage or Hyperlabel™ Systems. Iri particular, øornmercislly available <wtd/or prior art inks sufϊer from one ■ or more of the following problems: absorption at wavelengths unsuitable for detection by near-ER. sensors; poor solubility otdispersibiljty in aqueous solvent systems; or uπacceptably high absorption in the visible part of the spectrum.

Ih our earlier US patent application no. 10/986,402 (the contents of which is herein incorporated by reference), we described a water-solubJe gallium naphthalocyanine dye fulfilling many of the desirable properties identified above. TIw dye typically comprises fcur sulfonic acid groups, which impart a high degree of watftr-sorubility, either in its acid or salt form. However, it has since been found that the formation

of salts using, for example, sodium hydroxide or triβthylamine produces an unexpected biuβ-shift in the Q- band (λmά of the dyft, from about 805 ran to about 790 nm or less. On the one hand, salt formation is desirable bec-wse it raises the pH of the dye in solution majdng it compatible with other CMYK inks. Typically, CMYK inks have a pH in the range of 8-9, so a strongly acidic DR. ink would potentially cause precipitation of ink components if the IR and CNdYK inks are mixed on a printhead face durittg purging. On (he other hand, blue-shifting of the Q-band caused by salt formation makes these dyes less appealing as JR ink candidates, because they must be used in higher concentrations to have acceptable detectability by an IR sensor, resulting in the ink appearing more colored.

These contradictory requirements of the IR dye need to be addressed in order to formulate an IR ink having optimal performance in netpage ftfld Hyperlabel™ applications.

Summary of the Invention

In a first aspect, there is provided an JR-ab$orbing naphthaiocyanine dye of formula (I);

wherein:

M is Ga(A');

A ¹ is an axial ligand selected from -OH ₇ halogen, -OR*, -OC(O)R ⁴ or -0(CH ₂ CH ₂ O) ₆ R" wherein e is an integer from 2 to 10 and R" is H, Q _v % alkyl or C(O)C _1-8 ulkyU

R ¹ and R ² may be the same or different and are selected from hydrogen or C,. ₁₂ alkoxy; R ³ is selected from Ql ₁₂ alkyl, C ₅ - _U aryi, C ₅ .,. arylalkyl or Si(R ¹ ^)(R ¹ );

R ⁴ is selected from C _M2 alkyl. C _3- I ₂ aryi or C ₅₄ J arylalkyl;

R", R ^y and R ¹ may be the same or different and are selected fora C,. _l2 alkyl, C _5- I ₂ aryi, C5-12 arylalkyl, C ₁ .^ alkoxy, C _5-12 aryloxy or C _5-U arylalkoxy; and

each B is independently selected from a base, wherein Biff has a pK _» of batween 4 and 9.

Alternatively, there is provided an aqueous formulation comprising an KR-sbsorbing naphtbalocyanine dyό of formula (U);

or a salt form raereof, wherein:

M is Ga(A ¹ );

A ¹ is an axial ligand selected from -OH, halogen, -OR. ³ , -OC(O)R ⁴ or -0(CH ₂ CH ₂ O)JEL'' wherein e is an integer from 2 to 10 and W is H ₅ C,. ₆ slkyl or C(O)C ₁₄ alkyl;

R ¹ an4 R ² may be the same or different and are selected from hydrogen or C|.j ₂ alkoxy; R ³ is selected from Q _-12 alkyl, C ₅ . _J2 aiyl, C _M2 aryl»U<yl or Si(R^)(RO(R ² );

R ⁴ is selected from Ci-u alky], Cs-i^aryl or Cs^ aiyJaUcyl,' and

R ^x , R ^y and R ^z tnay be the same or different and are selected from Cι_u alky], Cj-j, aryl, aryMkyJ, Cj., _a alkoxy, Cj _-I2 aryloxy or CM ₂ aryJalbcmy; said fotmuktion bAvmg apH in λe range of 3.5 to 7, In a second aspect, there is provided an rokjet ink compri-ing a dye or a formulation as described above.

In 3 third aspect, there is provided an inkjet printer comprising a printbead in fluid communication with at least one ink reservoir, wherein said at least one ink reservoir comprises an inkjet ink as described above. In a fourth aspect, there is provided an ink cartridge for m inkjet printer, wherein said ink cartridge comprises osx inkjet ink as described above- In a fifth aspect* there is provided a substrate having a dye as described above disposed thereon.

In a sixth aspect, there is provided a method of enabling entry of data into a computer system via a printed form, me form containing human-readable information and machine-readable coded data, the coded date being indicative of an identity of the forrø and of a plurality of locations on the form, the method including the steps of: receiving, in the computer system and from a sensing device, indicating data regarding the identity of the form and a position of the sensing device relative to the form, the sensing device, when placed in an operative position relative to the form, generating the indicating data using at least some of the coded data; identifying, in the computer system and from the indicating data, at least one field of the form; and interpreting) in the computer system, at least some of the indicating data as it relates to the at least one field, wherein said coded data comprises an IR-absorbing dye as described above.

In a seventh, aspect, there is provided a method of interacting with a product item, the product item having a printed surface containing human-readable information and machine-readable coded data, the coded data being indicative of an identity of the product item, (he method including the steps of: (a) receiving, in the computer system and team a sensing device, indicating data regarding the identity of the product item, the sensing device, when placed in an operative position relative to the product item, generating the indicating data using at least some of the coded data; and

(b) identifying, in the computer system and using the indicating data, an interaction relating to the product item, wherein said coded data comprises an m-absorbing dye according as described above.

Brief Description of Drawings

Figure Hs a schematic of a the relationship between a sample printed πcipage and its online page description; Figure 2 is a schematic view of a interaction between a netpage pen, a Web terminal, a netpage printer, a netpage relay, a netpage page server, and a netpage application server, and a Web server;

Figure 3 illustrates a collection of netpage servers, Web terminals, printers and relays interconnected via a network;

Figure 4 is a schematic view of a high-level structure of a printed netpage and its online page description;

Figure 5a is a plan view showing the interleaving aad rotation of the symbols of foiw codewords of the tag;

Figure 5b is a plan view showing a macrodot layout far the tag shown in Figure 5a;

Figure 5c is a plan view showing an arrangement of nine of the tags shown in Figures 5a and 5b, jn which targets are shared between adjaoejit tags;

Figure Sd is a plan view showing a relationship between a set of the tags shown in Figure 5a and a field of view of a neφage sensing device in the form of a n ^β tpage pen;

Figure 6 is a perspective view of a netpage pen and its associated tag-sensing ficld-of-vi ^β w cone;

Figure 7 is a perspective exploded view of the netpage pen shown in Figure 6; Figure 8 is a schematic block diagram of a pen controller for the netpage pen shown in Figures 6 and 7;

Figure 9 is a perspective vjew of a wall-mounted uetpage printer,

Figure JO is a section through the length of the netpage printer of Figure 9;

Figure 10a is an enlarged portion of Figure JO snowing a section of the duplexed print engines and glue wheel assembly; Figure 11 is a detailed view of the ink cartridge, ink, air and glue paths, and print engines of the netpage printer of Figures 9 and 10;

Figure 12 is an exploded view of an ink cartridge;

Figure 13 is a schematic view of the structure of an item ED;

Figure 14 is a schematic view of the structure of an omnitag; Figure 15 is a schematic view of a pen class diagram;

Figure 16 is a schematic view of the interaction between -> product item, a fixed product scanner, a hand-held product scanner, a scanner relay, a product server, and a product application server;

Figure 17 is a perspective view of a bi-lithic printhead;

Figure 18 an exploded perspective view of the bi-Hthic printhead of Figure 17; Figure 19 is a sectional view through one end of the bt-lithtc priftthead of Figure 17;

Figure 20 is a longitudinal sectional view through the bi-Uthic priπihead of Figure 17;

Figures 21 (a) to 2l(d) show a side elevation, plan view, opposite side elevation and reverse plan view, respectively, of the bi-Jitbic prinfhead of Figure 17;

Figures 22 (a) to 22{c) show the basic operational principles of a thermal tκsod actuator; Figure 23 show$ a three dimensional view of a single ink jet nozzle arrangement constructed in accordance with Figure 22;

Figure 24 shows an array of the nozzle arrangements shown in Figure 23;

Figure 25 is a schematic cross-sectional view through an ink chamber of a unit cell of a bubble forming heater element actuator; Figure 26 shows a reflectance spectrum of hydroxygalliwn raphtbalocyanHwtβtτasulfonic acid 4;

Figure 27 shows a ¹ H NMR spectrum of hydroxygallium. naphthalocyaπiπetetrasulfonic acid 4 in w/v);

Figure 28 shows a reflectance spectrum of tetraimidazoliuni hydroxygallium naphthalocyaametetrasulfonate 7; Figure 29 shows a reflectance spectrum of te1τakis(DBUammonioin) hydroxygalUum naphthaiocyaninetctrasulforiate 9;

Figure 30 shows a reflectance spectrum of tetrakis(DBUammoniwn) hydroxygalUum naphthalocyanineteixasuifonate 9 with.p-toluenesulfonic acid (3 equivalents);

Figure 31 shows a reflectance . spectrum of tstrawnidazolium hydroxygallium naphthalocyantnβtetrasulfonatft 7 with two equivalents of acetic acid-

petailed Description IR-Ahsarhine Dye

As used herein, the term "IR-absorbing dye" means a dye substance, which absorb$ infrared radiation and which is therefore suitable for detection by an infrared sensor, Preferably, the IR-absorbing dye absorbs in m* near infrared region, and preferably has 3 λ-^ in the range of 700 to 1000 am, more preferably

750 to 500 mo, more preferably 780 to 850 nm. Dyes having a ^ _1x in this range are particularly suitable for detection by semiconductor lasers, such as a gallium aluminium arsenide diode laser.

As will be explained in more detail below, dyes represents by formula (I) may be in equilibrium with other tautomers in which me ^j o-nitrogen(s) of the naphtbalocyanine ring system are protonated. Indeed, the dye represented by formula (I) may only be a minor species in this equilibrium. However, by convention, dyes according to the present invention are generally represented by formula G). Other tautomers in equilibrium therewith are, of course, included within the scope of the present invention.

Dyes according to the present invention have the advantageous features of: optimal absorption in the near-IR region; suitability for formulation into aqueous inkjet inks; pH compatible with known CMYK inks Without sacrificing optimal πear-IR absorption; and facile preparation. Moreover, their high extinction coefficients in the near-IR region means that the dyes appear "invisible" at a concentration suitable for detection by a near-IR. detector (e.g. a aetpage pen). Accordingly, the dyes of the present invention are especially suitable for use in netpage and Hyperlabel™ applications. None of the dyes known in the prior art has this unique combination of properties.

The present invention was initially conceived by observing the reaction of a gallium πaphthalocywine tettasulfonic acid salt with four equivalents of amine to given an ammonium salt. It was found, surprisingly, that the reflectance spectra of ammonium salts are independent of the structure of the amine, but very much affected by the pK_ of the ammonium salt. At low pK^ the Q-band Q-^ _a ) has a lar ge monomelic component and is red-shifted to 800-810 nm. However, when strongly basic amines are used, the Q-band exhibits a significant dimer or aggregate component and the monomer component is blue shifted to <800 nm. Given mat the internal m&o nitrogens of the naphthalocyanice ring system have pKa values of about 11.5 (first protonation) and 6.7 (second protonation), then without wishing to be bound by theory, these results have been interpreted in terms of the ability of the ammonium ion to protoπate zero (structure A), one (structure B) or two (structure C) of the msso nitrogens. The greater the protonating ability of the ammonium ion (lower pKa), the greater the degree of protonation of the mrøocycle. It is believed that protonation of the macrocycle reduces %-τ, stacking between adjacent molecules by electrostatic repulsion. With less aggregation and a greater monomer component, a red-shift of the Q-band of the salt is observed.

Following on from these surprising results, it was then found that other weak acids could effect the same phenomena. For example, treating the tetrasuifbnjc acid with four equivalents of lithium or a-odium acetate (B = AeO') gave characteristic red-shifted spectra resulting from the formation of the lithium or sodium salt and four equivalents of acetic acid. It was therefore concluded that the pH of the solution

(controlled by the PK ₃ of the BH ⁺ species) is the most important factor in controlling th« red-shifted behaviour of certain naphthalocyanine dyes.

With pH identified as the key ftctar controlling X _n ^, it follows that suitable IK ink formulations may be prepared by dissolving a naphtMlocyaninetetrasulfonic acid in an ink vehicle and adjusting the pH of the resulting formulation. It has been found that formulations having a pH within the range of 3.5 to 7, or optionally 4 to 6.5; are desirable for achieving a red-shifted Q-band while maintaining CMYK compatibility. The pH may be adjusted using any suitable base (e.g. the corrugate bases of the weak acids described below) or using a buffer solution.

It is expected that the same phenomenon may be similarly used in controlling Q-band absorption for a whole range of sulfonated phthalocyanine and naphthalpcyanine dyes. The use of pH to fine-tune Q-baπd absorption has not been exploited previously and represents a convenient, low cost approach to producing red-shifted ER dyes. Specific examples of dyes and formulations exploiting this phenomenon are provided below in the Examples.

The species BH ⁺ in the present invention is a weak acid having a pKj in the range of 4 to 9, or optionally 4,5 to 8. The dyes of formula (I) may be readily formed by the addition of a base to the corresponding tetrasulfonic acid. The base B maybe neutral (e,g, pyridine), in which case BH ⁺ will be overall positively charged (fi.g. C ₆ HsNHt). Alternatively, the base maybe anionic {e.g, acetate anion) in which case BIT will be overall neutral (e.g. AcOH). In the case of any or all OfBH ⁺ being neutral, the overall neutrality of the naphthalocyaninβ salt is maintained by a suitable number of mete! counterions (e,g. hi*, Na* etc).

The skilled person will be well aware of a wide variety of weafc acids, which fulfil the criteria of the present invention. Some examples of common acids having a pK _» in me range of 4 to 9 are provided below. Jn accordance with convention, the ρK» of some acids are referred to by their corresponding conjugate base. For example, the pK. of pyridine refers to the pjc. of the corresponding pyridinium ion.

Acetic acid 4.76

Ethyleneimine 8.01

1 H-Imidazole 6.95

2-Thiazolamine 5.36

Acrylic acid 4.25

Melamine 5.00

Propanoic acid 4.86

3-Hydroxyproρanoic acid 4.51

Trimethylamine oxide 4.65

Barbituric acid 4.01

Alloxanic acid 6.64

1-Memyiimidazole 6.95

Alϊantoin 8.96

3-Butenoic acid 4.34 trans-Crotonic acid 4,69

3-Chlorobutanoic acid 4.05

IO

-φ-CIilcijObufanoic aolά 4.52

Butanoic afiid 4,83

2-Metbyipropanoio acid 4.88

3-Hy4irøytmtenoic acid 4.70

4-Hydroxybutanαic acid 4.72

Morpholi&e 8.33

Pyridine 5.25

2-Pyridioaaji«u 6.82

2 ,5-Pyridiπcdiainine 6.4S

2,4-D«nettvy}arad|a?ole S.36

Met&yi≤uccinic acid 443 ^'

Histamine 6.04 ; 9.75

2-Methylbut∑røoic acid 4.S0

3-Methylbutanoie acid 4.77

Pβntaaoic acid 4.84

TrimetbyJacetic seid 5.03

2,3-DicJj]oropheπo] 7.44 .

3,6-Diiύtroρheαol 5.Z5

Pteridise 4.05

2-Cbloroρbenol 8.49

3-Chlorophenol ^' 8,85

3-Pyridiλβcaϊboxylic acid 4.SS

4-Pyridinecarboxylic acid 4.96

2-Nitfoρbftήol 7.17

3-Nitropbenpl 8-28

4-Nitrophenol 7.15

4-Citlorαamlme 445

4-Flwθroanilme 4.65

Aailiae 4.63

2-Mefhylpyridmc 5.97

3-Methylpyridjne 5.68

4-MeλyJρytidine 6.02

Mcfcoxypyήdine «.47

4,&-DimethylpyτimidTOarome 4.82

3-Methyigltttaric add 4.24

Adipaπύc add 4.63

Hexanoic acid 4.85

4-Methylperttajioic acid 4.84

Bcnziσudazolc 5.53

Benzoic add 449

3,5-DibydrQ3-ybenzoic acid - 4-04

I l

Gallic acid 4.41

3-Aminobenzαjc add 4.7S

2,3-Dimethylpyridm ^β 6.57

2,4-Dimetbylpyridine 6.99

2,5-Diϊft ^β tbylpyτidLne 6.40

2,6-Dimethylρyridin* 6,65

3 ,4-lDiroβttιyJpyπdine 6.46

3,5-DJroeth.yIpyriduie 6.15

2-Etbylpyridrøe 5.89

N-Mβthylamline 4.84 o-Methylaniline 4.44 ra-Metliylanilioe 4.73 ρ-Meλylaraline 5.08 o-Anisidine 4.52 ro-Aaisidine 4.23 p-Anisidiae 5.34

4-Me(bylthioaniliBn 4.35

Cyclohexaαecaλoxylio acid 4.9Q

Heptanftio acid 4.89

2-Meth.ylben2imid4zole 649

PheayJacetic add 4.28

2-(Methyl3mino)benzoic acid 5.34

3-(MctbyJaroin<3)benzoie βcid 540

4-(Methylamino)be3izoic acid 5.04 .

HN-DJjnethyl4JMJme 545

N-Ethylanilύie 5.12

2,4,6-Trimethylρyήdine 7.43 o-Pbenfitidmβ 4.43 m-Phenetidine 448 p-Ph«netidin* 5.20

Verongi 7.43

Octanβdioiύ acid 4.52

Octanoic acid 4.89

P-CWOTOCHWWHC acid 4.23 m-CWorocinnamic acid 4.29 p-Cblorocipnamic acid 4.41

Isoqυiαoline 5.42

Quinoline 4,90

7-IsαquinoJwol 5.68

1 -IsoquiBolinajnin* 7.59

3 -Quinoliuaioiαfi 4,91

traas-Ciππfιτπic acid 4.44

2-Ethylbeniη'τπidazole 6.1S

Mβsitylenic acid 4.32

N-Allytøniitnft 447

Tyrosjneamide 7.33

Nonanic acid 4.96 l-'MetbylquinoIine 5.83

4-MethylquinθUnc 5.67

5-Methylquinoline 5.20

6-Metfioxyquinoline 5.03 o-Me&ylcinnaraic acid 4.50 ro-Methylcinnamic acid 4.44 p-Me&ylcinnajnic acid 4.56

4-Phenylbutanoιc acid 4.76

N,N-Diethylaniline 6.61

Perimidine 6.35

2-N3pbthoie add 4.17

Pilocarpine 6.87

1,10-Phenaiιtlwolrae 4.84

2-Ben*yIpyήdine . 543

Acridine 5,58

Phenaothridine 5.58

Morphine 8.21

Codeine 8.21

Papaverine 6.4 ^Q

Strychnine 8.26

BruCine 8.28

It will, of course, be appreciated that the present invention is not limited to those acids listed above and the skilled person will be readily able to select other acids (or conjugate bases) having a pK* in the range of 4 to 9, or optionally 5 to 8.

Optionally, each B is independently selected from m« group consisting of a nitrogen base and an oxyanion. Accordingly, each B may be a nitrogen base. Alternatively, each B may be an oxyanion base. Alternatively, there may be a mixture of nitrogen and oxyanion bases in one dye salt. For example, the four BH ^1" molecules may consist of two molecules of acetic acid and two pyridinήnn ions, or alternatively one molcculfe of acetic qod three inύdazolivμtn ions, The skilled person will be readily able to conceive of a variety of mixed dye salts within the ambit of the present invention.

By "nitrogen base" it is meεmt a base containing at least one nitrogen atom, which can be protonated. Optionally, the nitrogen ba≤* is a C _5-1Z heteroaryl base, such as imidazole or pyridine. Imidazole is a particularly preferred base in the present invention.

By "oxyanion" it is meant a base containing at least one oxyanion, which can be prottmated. Optionally, the oxyanion base »_ a carboxylate base, A carboxyJate base is an organic molecule comprising at least one carboxylase (CO ₂ ^" ) moiety. Optionally, the carboxylate base is of formula R ⁵ C(O)O', wherein R ^s ϊ ₅ selected from Cw ₂ alkyl, C _s . _l2 aryi or Cs-u aryϊa&yl. Examples of carboxytøte bases include acetate, benzoate etc.

The groups represented by R ¹ and R' may be used for modifying oj* "tuning" the wavelength of X _n ^ of the dye. Electron-donating substituents (e.g. aUcoxy) at the ortbo positions can produce a red-sbift in the dye. IE one preferred embodiment of the present invention, R ¹ and R ² are both CL ₈ alkoxy groups, preferably butoxy. Butoxy substituents advantageously shift the λ,^ towards longer wavelengths in the near infrared, which are preferable for detection by commercially available la&srs, In another preferred embodiment R ¹ and R ² are both hydrogen, which provides an expeditions synthesis of the requisite napbtbalocyanines.

The central metal atom M has been found, surprisingly, to have a very significant impact on the light stability of the compounds of the present invention. Previously, it was believed that the nature of the organic naphthalocyanine cnromophore was primarily responsible for the rate at which such compounds degrade. However, it has now been found that certain metal naphthalocyanwes show unusually high light stability compared to other metals. Specifically, gallium and copper naphthalαcyanines have been shown to exhibit very good light stability, making these compounds highly suitable for neipage and Hyperlabet™ applications in which the IR dye may be exposed to office lighting or sunlight for a year or more. Gallium compounds are particularly preferred since these have a more red-shifted A^ compared to copper- A more red-shifted λ _m m is preferred, because colored cyan dyes are less likely to interfere with the IR dye's response to the netpage pen.

Typically A ¹ is a hydroχyl group (-OH). Alternatively, A* may be selected or modified to impart specific properties onto the dye molecule. A ¹ may be selected to add axial stβrie bulk to the dye molecule, thereby reducing cofacial interactions between adjacent dye molecules. Optionally, the axial iigand, when present, adopts a conformation (or is configured) such that it effectively "protects" or blocks a π-fsce of the dye molecule. An axial h'gand, which can form an "umbrella" over the π-system and reduce cofacial interactions between adjacent dye molecules is particularly suitable for use in the present invention.

It has been recognized by the present inventors mat IR-absoλing dye compounds of the prior art absorb, at least to some extent, in the visible region of the spectrum. Indeed, the vast majority of IR- absorbing dye compounds known in the prior art are black or green or brown hues of black in the solid state. This visible absorption is clearly undesirable in "invisible" IR inks, especially IR inks for use m netpage or Hyperlabel™ systems.

Ii has fiuther been recognized by the present inventors that the presence of visible bands in the absorption spectra of IR-absorbing dye compounds, and particularly IR-absorbing metøl-ligand complexes, is at least in part due to cofacial interactions between adjacent molecules.

Typically, IR-absorbing compounds comprise a π-system which forms a substantially planar moiety in at least part of the molecule. There is a natural tendency for planar π-systems in adjacent molecules to stack on top of each other via co&cial it-interactions, known as π-π stacking. Hence, IR-absorbing compounds have a natural tendency to group together via cofacial ^-interactions, producing relatively weakly

bound dimers, trimers etc. Without wishing to be bound by theory, it is understood by the present inventors that π-π stacking of IR-absorbing compounds contributes significantly to the production of visible absorption bands in their IPEl spectra, which would not otherwise be present in the corresponding monomerie compounds. This visible absorption is understood to be due to broadening of IR absorption bands when π- systems stack on top of each other and π-orbitals interact, producing small change in their respective energy levels. Broadening of IR absorption bands is undesirable in two respects: firstly, it reduces the intensity of absorption in the IE. region; secondly, the IR absorption band tends to tail into the visible region, producing highly coloured compounds.

Furthermore, the formation of coloured dimers, trimcrs etc, via π-π interactions occurs both in the solid state and to solution. However, it is a particular problem in the solid state, where there are no solvent molecules to disrupt the formation of extended π-stacked oligomers. TH dyes having acceptable solution characteristics may still be intensely coloured solids when printed onto paper. The ideal "invisible" IR dye should remaw invisible when the solvent has evaporated or wicked into the paper.

Dendrimers, for example, are useful for exerting maximum steric repulsion since they have a plurality of branched chains, such as polymeric chains. However, it will be appreciated from the above that any moiety or group ύmt can interfere sufficiently with the coføcial π-π interactions of adjacent dye molecules -will be suitable for mioimizjng visible absorption.

Alternatively (or in addition), A ¹ maybe selected to add further hydrophilϊcϊty to the dye molecule to increase its water-dispersibtfity- Generally, the naphtbalocyanjne dyes according to the present invention are synthesized via a cascaded coupling of four 2,3-dicyanonapthalene (I) molecules, although they may also be prepared from the corresponding l-amino-3-iminoisoindolene (2).

The cascaded base-catalysed macrocyclisation may be facilitated by mfttal templating, or it may proceed in the absence of a metal. If macrocylisation is performed in the absence of a templating metal, then a metal may be readily inserted inrø the resultant metal-free napthalocyaninβ. Subsequent sulfbnation and salt formation proceed by standard procedures. Further synthetic details are provided below in the Examples.

The term "hydrocarbyl" is used herein to refer to monovalent groups consisting generally of carbon and hydrogen. Hydrocarbyl groups thus include alkyl, alkenyϊ and alkynyl groups (in both straight and branched chain forms), carbocyclic groups (including polycycloaUcyl groups such as bicyclooctyl and adamantyl) and aryl groups, and combinations of the foregoing, such as alkylcycloalkyl, alkylpolycycloalkyl, alkylaryl, alkenylaryl, alkynylaryl, cycloalkylaryl and eycloalkenyiaryl groups. Similarly, the term "hydrocarbyiene" refers to divalent groups corresponding to the monovalent hydrocarbyl groups described above.

IS

Unless specifically stated otherwise, up to four -C-C- and/or -C-H moieties in the hydrocarbyl group may be optionally interrupted by one or more moieties selected from -O-; -ηSC-; -S-; -C(O)-; -C(O)O-; -C(O)NIT-; -S(O)-; -SO ₂ -; -SO ₂ O-; -SO ₂ NR"'-; where K" is a, group selected from H, C,.« alkyl, C ₆ - _U aryl or C ₅ - _I2 arylalkyl.

5 Unless specifically stated otherwise, where the hydrocarbyl group contains one or more -(X!- moieties, up to four -C=C- moieties may optionally be replaced by -C=N-. Hence, the term "hydrocarbyl" may include moieties such as heteroaryl, ether, thioether, carboxy, hydroxy., alkoxy, amine, thiol, amide, ester, ketone, sulfoxide, sulfonate, sulfonamide etc.

Unless specifically stated otherwise, the bydroearbyl group may comprise up co four substitueots

I O independently selected from halogen, cyanα, oitro, a hydropbilic group as defined above (e.g. -SO ₃ H, -SOjK ₁ -CO ₂ Na ₁ -NH ₃ ⁺ , -NMe ₃ ^* etc.) or a polymeric group as defined above (e.g. 3 polymeric group derived from polyethylene glycol).

The term "aryF is used herein to refer to an aromatic group, such as phenyl, naphthyl or triptycenyl, Cs- ₁₂ aryl, for example, refers to an aromatic group having from 6 to 12 carbon atoms, excluding any

15 sυbstituents. The teiro "arylene", of course, r*fers to divalent groups corresponding to the monovalent aryl groups described above. Any reference to aryl implicitly includes arylene, where appropriate.

The term "heteroaryl" refers to an aryl group, where ] , 2, 3 or 4 carbon atoms are replaced by a heteroatom selected from N, O or S. Examples of heteroary] (or πetcroarorøiWic) groups include pyridyl, beroaroidazolyl, indazolyl, quinolinyl, isoquinolinyl, jndolinyl, isoindolinyl, indolyl, jsoindolyl, fuπtnyl,

20 tbiophenyl, pyrrolyl, thiazolyl, iπu'dazolyi, oxazolyl, isoxazolyl, pyrazolyl, isoxazolonyl, pipeiazinyt, pyrimidinyl, pφeridinyl, morpholinyl, pyrrolidinyl, iaothiaaolyl, triazolyl, oxadiazolyl, tbiadiazolyl, pyridyl, pyrimidinyl, benzopyrimidinyl, bemzotriazole, quinoxalinyl, pyridazyl, coumarinyl etc. The term ''heteroaryleπe", of course, refers to divalent groups corresponding to the monovalent heteroaryl groups described above. Any reference to heteroaryl implicitly includes heteroarylene, where appropriate.

25 Unless specifically stated otherwise, aryl, arylene, heteroaryl and neteroarylene groups may be optionally substituted with I ₅ 2, 3, 4 or 5 of the substitueπts described below.

Wbere reference is made to optionally substituted groups (e.g. in connection with bridged cyclic groups, aiyl groups or heteroaryl groups), the optional substitttβnt(s) are independently selected from C^ aUcyl, C _j-8 alkoxy, -(QCH _J CH _J ) _1J OR^ {wherein d is an integer from 2 to 50OQ and R." is H, C ₁ ^ alfcyl or

30 C(O)C _j4 alkyl), cysno, halogen, gmmo, hydroxy!, thiol, -SR ^V , -NR ¹ H ¹ ; nitro, phenyl, phβftoxy, ~C0 ₂ R ^μ , -C(O)R ^V , -OCOR", -SO ₂ R", -OSO ₂ R", -SOjOR", -NHC(O)R ^V , -CONR"R ^V , 'CONR"R ^V , -SOjNR"R ^v , wfaereiu R" and R" are independently selected from hydrogen, CM ₂ alkyl, phenyl or ph«ιyl-Cj.g aOςyl (e.g. Dcπzyl). Wbfiiβ, for example, a group contains more than one substituent, different substituents can have different R" or R" groups. For example, a naphthyl group may be substituted with three substituenfcs; -

35 SO ₂ NHPh, -CO ₂ Me group and -NH ₂ ,

The term "alky!" is used hereto to refer to alkyl groups in both straight and branched forms, The aJkyJ group may be interrupted with 1, 2 or 3 heteroatoπis selected from O, N or S. The alkyl group may also be interrupted with 1, 2 or 3 double and/or triple bonds. However, the term "alkyl" usually refers to alkyl groups having no beteroatom interruptions or double or triple bond interruptions. Where "alkenyl" groups are

40 specifically mentioned this is not intended to be construed as a limitation on the definition of "alkyl" above.

The term "alkyl" also includes balogejioalkyl groups. A CH, alkyl group may, for example, have up to 5 hydrogen atoms replaced by halogen atoms. For example, the group -OC(O)C] _-J j alkyl specifically includes

-OC(O)CF ₃ . Where reference is made to, for example, Cj. _l2 alkyj, it is meant the alkyl group may contain any number of carbon atoms between I and 12. Unless specifically stated otherwise, any reference to "alkyl" means C _h alky!, preferably C ₁ ^ alkyl.

The terra "alkyl" also includes cycloalkyl groups. As used herein, the term "cyeloalkyl" includes cycloalkyl, polyeycloaliyl, and cycloa&enyl groups, as well as combinations of these with linear -ukyl groups, such as cycloalfeyWkyl groups. TIw pycjøslj-yl group may be interrupted with 1, 2 or 3 hetøroatoms selected from O, N or S. However, the term "cyc!oall-yl" usually refers to cycloalkyl groups having no heteroatom interruptions. Examples of cyeloaJlcyl groups include eydopentyl, cyclohexyt, cydoβexenyl, cyclohexylmethyl and. adεuwntyl groups.

The term "arylalkyS" refers to groups such aa benzyl, phenylethyl and twphthyhnethyl, The term "halogen" or "halo" is used herein to refer to any of fluorine, chlorine, bromine and iodine.

Usually, however, halogen refers to chlorine or fluorine substituents.

Where reference is wade to "a substituent comprising ..." (e.g, "a substittumt comprising a hydrophilic group", "a substituent comprising an acid group (including salts thereof)", "a substituent comprising a polymeric chain" etc.), ώe subsritueπt in question may consist entirely or partially of the group specified. For example, "a substituent comprising w acid group (including salts thereof)" may bs of formula

-(CHJ-SOsK, wherein j is O or an integer from 1 to (S. Hence, in this context, the term "substituent" may be, for example, an alkyl group, which has a specified group attached. However, it will be readily appreciated that the exact nature of the substituent is not crucial to the desired firoctjorølity, provided that the specified group is present Chiral compounds described herein have not been given stereo-descriptors. However, when compounds may exist in stereoisomaric forms, then all possible stereoisomers and mixtures thereof are included (e.g-. enϋntiojners, diastereomers and all combinations including racemic mixtures etc.).

Likewise, when compounds may exist in a number of regioisomeric forms, then all possible regimsomers and mixtures thereof are included. For the avoidance of doubt, the term "a" (or "W), in phrases such as "comprising a", means "at least one", and not "one and only one". Where the term "at least one" is specifically used, this should not be construed as having a limitation on the definition of "a".

Throughout the specification, the term "comprising", or variations such as "comprise" or

"comprises", should be construed as including H stated element, integer or step, but not excluding any other element, integer or step.

InkJet Inks

The present invention also provides an inkjet tele. Preferably, the inkjct ink is a water-baaed inijet ink.

Water-based inkjet ink compositions are well known in the literature and, in addition to water, may comprise additives, such as co-solvents, biocides, sequestering agents, humectants, viscosity modifiers, penetrants, wetting agents, surfactants etc.

Co-solvents are typically water-soluble organic solvents. Suitable -water-soluble organic solvents include C _w allcyl alcohols, such as ethanol, methanol, butanol, propanol, and 2-propanol; glycol ethers, such as ethylene glycol monomethyl etber, ethylene glycol monoethyl ether, ethylene glycol monobutyl ether, ethylene glycol mono-methyl ether acetate, diethylene glycol monomethyl ether, diethylene glycol monoethyl ether, diefhylcπe glycol mono-a-propyl ether, ethylene glycol mono~jsoρroρyi ether, diethylene glycol raαno- isopropyl emer, ethylene glycol tnono-n-butyl ether, diethylene glycol monc-thbutyl ether, tπothyiene glycol mono-n-buryl ether, ethylene glycol mono-t-butyl ether, diethylene glycol mono-t-butyl etber, 1 -methyl- i- tnethoxybutanol, propylene glycol monomethyl ether, propylene glycol monoethyl ether, propylene glycol jnc- _HO -t-butyl ether, propylene glycol mono-tv-propyl ether, propylene glycol mono-isopropyl ether, dipropylene glycol monomethyl ether, dipropylene glycol monoethyl ether, dipropylene glycol mono-n- propyl ether, dipropylβw. glycol mono-isopropyl ether, propylene glycol mono-n-butyl ether, and dipropylene glycol mono-n-butyl ether; forroaraidc, aoetamide., dimethyl sulfoxide, sorbitol, sorbitan, glycerol raonoacetate, glycerol diaectate, glycerol triacetate, and aulfoJane; or combinations mareof.

Other useful water-soluble organic solvents include polar solvents, such as 2-pyrrolidone, N- raethylpyrrolidone, ε-caprolactam, dimethyl sulfoxide, sulfolαne, morpholine, N-etbyhnorphoUne, 1,3- dimethyl-2-nnidazolidiiione and combinations thereof. The inlq'et ink may contain a high-boϋing water-soluble organic solvent which can serve $s a wetting agent or humectarø for imparting water retentivity and wetting properties to me ink composition- Such a high-boiling water-soluble organic solvent includes one having a boiling point of 180 ^a C or higher. Examples of the water-soluble organic solvent having a boiling point of 180'C or higher are ethylene glycol, propylene glycol, dϊathylene glycol, pentamethylene glycol, trimethylene glycol, 2-butene-l,4-dϊol, 2-ethyi- 1 ,3-hexanediol, 2-methyl-2,4-pentanediol, tripropylene glycol monomethyl ether, dipropylene glycol monoethyl glycol, dipropylene glycol monoethyl ether, dipropyjene glycol monomethyl ether, dipropylene glycol, triethylene glycol monomethyl ether, tetroethyletie glycol, triethylene glycol, diethylene glycol monobutyl ether, diethylene glycol monoethyl etber, diethylene glycol monomethyl ether, tripropylene glycol, polyethylene glycols having molecular weights of 2000 or lower, 1,3-propylene glycol, isopropyjene glycol, isobutylene glycol, 1,4-butanediol, 1,3-butanediol, 1,5-ρentanediol, 1,6-hexanediol, glycerol, erythritol, pentaeiythritol and combinations thereof.

The total water-soluble organic solvent content in the inkjet ink is preferably about 5 to 50% by weight, more preferably 10 to 30% by weight, based on the total ink composition.

Other suitable wetting agents or bumectants include saccharides (including monosaccharides, oligosaccharides and polysaccharides) and derivatives thereof (e.g. raaltitol, sorbitol, xylitol, hyaluronic salts, aldonic acids, uronic acids etc)

The ύwget ink may also contain a penetrant for accelerating penetration of the aqueous ink into the recording medium. Suitable penetrants include polyhydric alcohol alkyl ethers (glycol ethers) and/or 1,2- alkyldiol≤. Examples of suitable polyhydric alcohol alkyl ethers arc ethylene glycol monomethyl ether, ethylene glycol monoethyl ether, ethylene glycol monobutyl ether, ethylene glycol monomethyl ether acetate, diethylene glycol monomethyl ether, diethylene glycol monoetbyl ether, ethylene glycol mono-n-propyl

ether, ethylene glycol mono-isopropyl ether, dietbyieae glycol motto-jsopropyl ether, ethylene glycol mono- n-miryl ether, diethylene glycol mono-n-butyl ether, methylene glycol mono-u-buryl ether, ethylene glycol mono-t-butyl ether, dietbyten* glycol mono-t-butyl eiber, l-me&yH-metiioxybutanol, propylene glycol monomethyi ether, propylene glycol mønøethyl ether, propylene glycol mono-t-butyl ether, propylene glycol mono-n-propyl ether, propylene glycol mono-isopropyl ether, dipropylene glycol mαnomethyl etπer, dipropylene glycol monoethyl ether, dipropyϊene glycol mono-n-propyl ether, dipropyteae glycol mono- isopropyl ether, propylene glycol monc-n-butyl ether, and dipropylene glycol mono~n-btttyl ether. Examples of suitable 1 ,2-alkyldiols are 1,2-ρentanediol and 1,2-hexanediol. The penetrant may also be selected from straight-chain hydrocarbon diols, such as 1,3-piraρanediol, 1,4-butanediol, 1,5-pentanήdiαl, 1,6-hexanediol, 1 ,7-beptanβdiol, and 1 ,8-octanedio!. Glycerol ar urea may also be used as penetrants.

The amount of penetrant is preferably in the range of I to 20% by weight, more preferably 1 to 10% by weight, baasd on the total ink composition,

The inkjet ink tmy also contain a surface active agent, especially an anionic surface active agent and/or a nonionic surface active agent. Useful anionic surface active agents include sulfonic acid types, such as alkanesulfonic acid salts, α-olefiπsulft>nic acid salts, alkylbenzenesulfόnic acid salts, alkylnaphthaleπesulfonic acids, acylmethyltaurines, and dialkylsulfoswcinic acids; allcylsulfuric ester salts, sulfated oils, sulfated olefins, polyoxyethylene aUcyl ether sulfuric ester salts; carboxylic acid types, e.g., fatty acid salts and aHcylsarcosine salts; and phosphoric acid ester types, such as aHcylpbosphoric ester salts, polyoxyetbylene alkyl ether phosphoric ester salts, and glycβropbosphoric ester salts. Specific examples of the anionic surface active agents are sodium dodecylbenz.enesulfonate, sodium laurate, and a polyoxyethylene aUςyl ether sulfate ammonium salt

Suitable nonionic surfacή active agents include ethylene o*ide a44»ct types, such as poiyoxyethyiene aUcyl ethers, polyoxyethylene alfcylphenyl ethers, poiyoxycthylβne alkyl esters, and polyoxyethylene alkylaroidβs; polyol ester types, such a$ glycerol alkyl esters, sorbitan alkyl esters, and sugar alkyl esters; polyether types, such as polyhydric alcohol alkyl ethers; and aUsanolamide types, such as allcanolamine fatty acid. amides. Specific examples of nonionic surface active agents are ethers such as polyoxyetbylene nαnylphenyl ether, polyoxyethyli-ius octylphenyl ether, polyoxyethylene dodecylphenyl ether, polyoxyethylene alkylallyl ether, polyoxyethyleae oleyl cώer, polyoxyethylene lauiyl ether, and pαlyoxyalkylene alkyl ethers {e.g, polyoxyethylene alkyl ethers); and esters, such as polyoxyethyleatϊ oleate, polyoxyethylene otøate ester, polyoxyethylene distearste, sorbitan laurels, sorbitrø monostearate, sorbitan moao-oleate, sorbitan sβsquioleate, polyoxyethylene mono-oleatβ, and pojyoxyetαyleπe stearate. Acetylene glycol surface active agents, such as 2,4,7^-τetτaraetbyl-5-decyne-4,7-diol, 3,6-dJroethyl-4-octyne-3,6-dioI or 3,S-dύnetnyl-l-aexyn-3-αl, may also be used.

The inkjet ink may also include a biocide, such as benzoic add, dichloropbene, hexachlorophene, sorbic acid, hydroxybenzoic esters, sodium dehydroacetate, 3,4-isothiazα!in-3-αne or 4,4-dimethyioxazolidrae.

The jakjet ink may also contain a sequestering agent, such as ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid (EOTA).

The inkjet ink may also contain a singlet oxygen quencher. The presence of singlet oxygen quencher(s) in the ink reduces the propensity for the IR-absorbing dye to degrade. The quencher consumes any singlet oxygen generated in the vicinity of the dye moleculas and, hence, minimizes their degradation.

»9

An excess of singlet oxygen quencher is advantageous for twnimizing degradation of the dye and retaining its IR-abso.bing properties over time. Preferably, the singlet oxygen quencher is selected from ascorbic acid, l,4-dia2abicyclo-[2.2.2]octane CDABCO) ₅ azides (e.g. sodium azidc), histidine fir tryptophan.

Inb ^' et Printers

The present invention also provides an iukjet printer comprising a pritWhead in fluid communication with at least one ink ressrvon") whereto said ink reservoir comprises an inkjet ink as described above.

Inlqet printers, such as thermal bubble-jet and piezoelectric printers, are well known in the art and will form part of uV skilled person's common general knowledge. The printer may be a high-speed inkjet printer. The printer is preferably β pagewidth printer. Preferred iakjet printers and printbeads for use in the present invention are described in the Mowing patent applications, all of which are incorporated herein by reference in their entirety,

10/302,274 6692108 6672709 10/303,348 6672710 6669334

10/302,668 10/302,577 6669333 10/302,618 10/302,617 10/302,297 .

Printhead

A Merojet printer generally has two printhead integrated circuits that are mounted adjacent each other to form a pagewidth prinihead. Typically, the printhead ICs can vary in size from 2 inches to 8 inches, so several combinations can be used to produce, say, an A4 pagewidth printhead. For example two printhead ICs of 7 and 3 inches, 2 and 4 inches, or 5 and 5 inches could be used to create an A4 printbead (the notation is 7:3). Similarly 6 and 4 (6:4) or 5 and 5 (5:5) combinations can be used, An A3 printhead can be constructed from 8 and 6-inch printhead integrated circuits, for example. For photographic printing, particularly in camera, smaller prjniheads can be used. It will also be appreciated that a single printhead integrated circuit, or more than two such circuits, can also be used to achieve the required printhead width. A preferred priarhead embodiment of the pinthcad will now be described with reference to Figures

17 ao4 18. A printhead 420 takes the form of an elongate unit. As best shown in Figure 18, the components of me printhead 420 include a support member 421, a flexible PCB 422 _S an ink distribution molding 423, an ink distribution plate 424, a MEMS printhead comprising first and second printhead integrated circuits (ICs)

' 425 and 426, and busbars 427. The support member 421 is can be formed from any suitable material, such as metal or plastic, and can be extruded, molded or formed ia any other way. The support member 421 should be strong enough TO hold the other components in the appropriate alignment relative to each other whilst stiffening and strengthening the printhead as a whole.

The flexible PCB extends the length of the printhead 420 and includes first and second electrical connectors 428 and 429. The electrical connectors 428 and 429 correspond with flexible connectors (not shown). The electrical connectors include contact areas 450 and 460 that, in use, are positioned in contact with corresponding output connectors from a SoPEC chip (not shown). Data from the SoPEC chip passes along the electrical connectors 428 and 429, and is distributed to respective ends of the first and second prinmead ICs 425 and 426. _. As shown TO Figure 19, the ink distribution molding 423 includes a plurality of elongate conduits

430 that distribute fluids (ie, colored inks, infrared ink and fixative) and pressurized air from the air pump

along the length of the printbead 420 (Figure 18). Sets of fluid apertures 431 (Figure 20) disposed along the length of the ink distribution molding 423 distribute the fluids and air from the conduits 430 to the ink distribution ptøte 424. The fluids and air are supplied via nozzles 440 formed on a plug 441 (Figure 21), which plugs into a corresponding socket (not shown) in the printer. The distribution plate 424 is a multi-layer construction configured to take fluids provided locally from the fluid apertures 431 and distribute them through smaller distribution apertures 432 into the prrathead ICs 425 and 426 (as shown in Figure 20),

The printhead ICs 425 aad 426 are positioned end to end, and are held in contact with the distribution plate 424 so that ink from the smaller distribution apertures 432 can be fed into corresponding apertures (not shown) in the printhead ICs 425 and 426.

The busbars 427 are relatively high-capacity conductors positioned to provide drive current to the actuators αf the printhead nozzles (described in detail below). As best shown in Figure 20, the busbars 427 are retained in position at one end by a socket 433, and at both ends by wrap-around wings 434 of the flexible PCB 422. The busbars also help hold &fi printhead ICs 425 in position. As shown best in Figure 18, when assembled, the flexible PCB 422 is effectively wrapped around the other components, thereby holding them in contact with each other. Notwithstanding this binding effect, me support member 421 provides a major proportion of the required stiffness and strength of ^* the printhead 420 as a whole.

Two forms of printhead nozzles ("thermal bend actuator" and "bubble forming heater element actuator"), suitable for use in the printhead described above, will now be described.

Thermal Bend Actuator

In the thermal bend actuator, there is typically provided a nozzle arrangement having a nozzle chamber containing ink and a thermal bend εtctt)a.tor connected to a paddle positioned within the chamber. The thermal actuator device is actuated so as to eject ink from the nozzle chamber. The preferred embodiment includes a particular thermal bend actuator which includes a series of tapered portions for providing conductive heating of a conductive trace. The actuator is connected to the paddle via an arm received through a slotted wall of the nozzle chamber. The actuator arm has a mating shape so as to mate substantially with tkβ surfaces of the slot in the nozzle chamber wall. Turning initially to Figures 22(a)-(c), there is provided schematic illustrations of the basic operation of a nozzle arrangement of this embodiment. A nozzle chamber 501 is provided filled with ink 502 by means of an ink inlet channel 503 which can be etched through s wafer substrate on which the nozzle chamber 501 tests. The nozzle chamber 501 further includes an ink ejection port 504 around which an ink meniscus forms, Inside the nozzle chamber 501 is a paddle type device 507 which is interconnected to an actuator

508 through a slot in the wall of me nozzle chamber 501. The actuator 508 includes a heater means e.g. 5Q_> located adjacent to an end portion of a post 510. The post 510 is fixed to a substrate. .

When it is desired to eject a drop from the nozzle chamber 501 , as illustrated in Figure 22(b), the heater means 509 is heated so as to undergo thermal expansion. Preferably, the heater means 509 itself or the other portions of the actuator 508 are built from materials having a high bend efficiency where the bend efficiency is defined as:

. .. Young's Modulus * {Coefficient of thermal Expansion) bend efficiency =

Density * Specific Heat Capacity

A suitable material for the beater elements is a copper nickel alloy which can be formed so as to bend a glass material.

Tbo boater means 509 is ideally located a4jacent the end portion of the post 510 such tbat the effects of activation are magnified at the paddle end 507 such that small thermal expansions near the post S 10 result in large movements of the paddle end.

The heater means 509 and consequential paddle movement causes a general increase in pressure around the ink meniscus 505 which expands, as illustrated in Figure 22(b), in a rapid manner- The heater cuirent is pulsed and ink is ejected out of (be port 504 in addition to flowing in from Hie ink channel 503, Subsequently, the paddle 507 is deactivated to again return to its quiescent position. The deactivation causes a general reflow of the ink into the nozzle chamber. The forward momentum of the ink outside the nozzle rim and the corresponding backflow results in a general necking and breaking off of the drop 512 which proceeds to the print media. The collapsed meniscus 505 results in a general sucking of ink into me nozzle chamber 502 via the ink flow channel 503. In time, the nozzle chamber 501 is refilled such that the position in Figure 22(s) is again reached and the πozdβ chamber is subsequently ready for the ejection of another drop of ink.

Figure 23 illustrates a side perspective view of the nozzje arrangement. Figure 24 illustrates sectional view through aa array of nozzle arrangement of Figure 23. In these figures, the numbering of elements previously introduced has besn retained. Firstly, the actuator 50S includes a series of tapered actuator units e.g. 515 which comprise an upper glass portion (amorphous silicon dioxide) 516 formed on top of a titanium nitride layer 517. Alternatively a copper nickel alloy layer (hereinafter called cupronickel) can be utilized which will have a higher bend efficiency.

The titanium nitride layer 517 is in a tapered form and, as such, resistive heating takes place near an end portion of the post 510. Adjacent titanium nitride/glass portions 515 are interconnected at a block portion 519 which also provides a mechanical structural support for the actuator 508.

The heater means 509 ideally includes a plurality of the tapered actuator unit 515 which arc elongate and spaced apart such that, upon heating, the bending force exhibited along the axis of the actuator 508 is maximized. Slots are defined between adjacent tapered units 515 and allow for slight differential operation of each actuator 5OS with respect to adjacent actuators 508.

The block portion 519 is interconnected to an arm 520. The arm 520 is in turn connected to the paddle 507 inside the nozzle chamber 501 by means of a slot e.g. 522 formed in the side of the nozzle chamber 501. The slot 522 is designed generally to mate with (bo surfaces of (he arm 520 so as to minimize opportunities for the outflow of ink around the arm 520. The ink is held generally within the nozzle chamber 501 via surface tension effects around The slot 522.

When it is desired to actuate the arm 520, a conductive current is passed through the titanium nitride layer 517 via vias within the block portion 519 connecting to a lower CMOS layer 506 which provides me necessary power an4 control circuitry for me nozzle arrangement The conductive current results in beating of the nitride layer 517 adjacent to the post 510 which results in a general upward bending of the arm 20 and

consequential ejection of ink out of the nozzle 504. The ejected drop is printed on a page in the usual manner for an InkJet printer as previously described.

An array of nozzle arrangements can be formed so as to create a single prjntbead. For example, in Figure 24 there is illustrated a partly sectioned various array view which comprises multiple ink ejection nozzle arrangements of Figure 23 laid out in interleaved lines so as to form a prrotbead array. Of course, different types of arrays can be formulated including full color arrays etc.

The construction of the printhead system described can proceed utilizing standard MEMS techniques through suitable modification of the steps as set out in US 6,243,113 entitled "Image Creation Method and Apparatus (IJ 41)" to the present applicant, the contents of which are fully incorporated by cross reference.

Bubble Forming Heater Element Actuator

With reference to Figure 17, the unit cell 1001 of a bubble forming heater element actuator comprises a nozzle plate J0G2 with nozzles 1003 therein, the nozzles having nozzle rims 1004, ^' and apertures 1005 extending through the nozzle plate. The nozzle plate 1002 is plasma etched from a silicon nitride structure which is deposited, by way of chemical vapor deposition (CVD), over a sacrificial material which is subsequently etched.

The printhead also includes, with respect to each nozzle 1003, side walls 1006 on which the nozzle plate is supported, a chamber 1007 defied by the walls and me nozzle plate 1002, a multi-layer substrate 1008 and an inlet passage 1009 extending through the multHayer substrate to the far side (not shown) of the substrate. A looped, elongate heater element 1010 is suspended within the chamber 1007, so that the element is in the form of a suspended beam. The prinmead as shown is a mϊcroelectromechanical system (MEMS) structure, which is formed by a lithographic process.

When the printhead is in use, ink 10 U from a reservoir (not shown) enters the chamber 1007 via the inlet passage 1009, so that the chamber fills. Thereafter, the heater element 1010 is heated for somewhat less than 1 micro second, so that the heating is in the form of a thermal pulse. It will be appreciated that the heater element 1010 is in thermal contact with the ink 1011 in the chamber 1007 so that when the element is heated, this causes the generation of vapor bubbles in the ink. Accordingly, the ink 1011 constitutes a bubble forming liquid. The bubble 1012, once generated, causes aa increase in pressure within the chamber 1007, which in turn causes the ejection of a drop 1016 of the ink 1011 through the nozzle 1003. The rim 1004 assists in directing the drop 1016 as it is ejected, so as to minimize the chance of a drop misdirection.

The reason that there is only one nozzle 1003 and chamber 1007 per inlet passage 1009 is so mat the pressure wave generated within (ha chamber, on heating of the element IOIO and forming of a bubble 1012, does not effect adjacent chambers and then" corresponding nozzles.

The incrsasή in pressure within the chamber 1007 not only pushes ink IQJX out through the nozzle 1003, but also pushes some ink back through the inlet passage X009. However, the inlet passage 1009 is approximately 200 to 300 microns in length, and is only approximately 16 microns in diameter. Hence there is a substantial viscous drag. As a result, the predominant effect of the pressure rise in the chamber 1007 is to force ink out through the nozzle 1003 as an ejected drop 1016, rather than back through the inlet passage 9.

As shown in Figure 17, the ink drop 1016 is being ejected is shown during its "necking phase" before the drop breaks off. At this stage, the bubble 1012 has already reached its τnfr>qττwm size and has then begun to collapse towards the point of collapse 1017.

The collapsing of the bubble 1012 towards the point of collapse 1017 causes some ink 1011 to be drawn from within the nozzle 1003 (from the sides 1018 of the drop), and some to be drawn from the inlet passage 1009, towards the point of collapse. Most ofthe ink 1011 drawn in this manner is drawn from the nozzle 1003, forming an annular neck 1019 at the base of me drop 16 prior to its breaking off.

The drop 1016 requires a certain amount of momentum to overcome surface tension forces, in order to break off. As ink 1011 is drawn from the nozzle 1003 by the collapse ofthe bubble 1012, the diameter of the aeck 1019 reduces thereby reducing the amount of total surface tension holding the drop, so that the momentum of thft drop as it- is ejected out ofthe nozzle is sufficient to allow the drop to break off.

When the drop 1016 breaks off, cavitation forces are caused as reflected by the arrows 1020, as the bubble 1012 collapses to the point of collapse 1017. It will be noted that mere are no solid surfaces in the vicinity of the* point of collapse 1017 on which the cavitation can have an effect

Inkfet Cartridges

The present invention also provides an inkjet ink cartridge comprising an inkjet ink as described above. Ink cartridges for inkjet printers are well known in the art and are available in numerous forms. Preferably, the inkjet ink cartridges of tfw present invention are replaceable. InkJet cartridges suitable for use in the present invention are described in the following patent applications, all of which are incorporated herein by reference in their entirety.

6428155, 10/171,987

In one preferred form, the ink cartridge comprises: a housing defining a plurality of storage areas wherein at least one ofthe storage areas contains colorant for printing information that is visible to me human eye and at least one of the other storage areas contains an inkjet ink as described above.

Preferably, each storage area is sized corresponding to the expected levels of use of its contents relative to the intended print coverage for a number of printed pages,

There now follows a brief description of an ink cartridge according to me present invention. Figure 12 shows the complete assembly ofthe replaceable ink cartridge 627. It has bladders or chambers for storing fixative 644, adhesive (530, and cyan 631, magenta 632, yellow 633, black 634 and infrared 635 inks. The cartridge 627 also contains a micro air filter 636 in a base molding 637. As shown in Figure 9, the micro air filter 636 interfaces with an air pump 638 inside the printer via a hose 639. This provides filtered air to the printhcads 70S to prevent ingress of micro particles into the Memjet™ printheads 705 which may clog the nozzles. By incorporating the air filter 636 within the cartridge 627, the operational life of the filter is effectively linked to the life ofthe cartridge. This ensures that the filter is replaced together with the cartridge rather than relying on the user to clean or replace the filter at the required intervals. Furthermore, the adhesive and infrared ink are replenished together with the visible inks and air filter thereby reducing how frequently the printer operation is interrupted because of the depletion of a consumable material. The cartridge 627 has a thin wall casing 640. The ink bladders 631 to 63S and fixitive bladder 644 are suspended within the casing by a pin 645 which hooks the cartridge together. The single glue bladder 630 is

accommodated in the base molding 637. This is a fully recyclable product with a capacity for printing and gluing 3000 pages (1500 sheets).

Substrates As mentioned above, the dyes of (he present invention are especially suitable for use in

Hypertabel™ and neipage systems. Such systems are described in more detail below and in the patent applications listed above, all of which are incorporated herein by reference in their entirety.

Hence, the present invention provides a substrate having an IR-absorbing dye as described above disposed thereon. Preferably, the substrate comprises an interface surface. Preferably, the dye is disposed in the form of coded data suitable for use in πeipage and/αr Hyperlabei™ systems. For example, the coded data may be indicative of the identity of a product item. Preferably, ilie coded data i* disposed ovόr a substantial portion of an intw&cή surface of fbe substrate (e.g. greater than 20%, greater tban 50% or greater than $0% of the surface).

Preferably, the substrate is IR reflective so that the dye disposed thereon may be detected by a sensing device. The substrate may be comprised of any suitable material such as plastics (eg. polyojefins, polyesters, polyftrojdes etc.), paper, røetal or combinations thereof.

For netpage applications, the substrate is preferably a paper sheet. For Hyperlabel™ applications, the substrate is preferably a tag, a label, 3 packaging material or a surface of a product item- Typically, tags and labels arc comprised of plastics, paper or combinations thereof. Ia accordance with Hyperlabel™ applications of the invention, the substrate may be an interactive product item adapted for interaction with a user via a sensing device and a computer system, the interactive product item comprising: a product item having an identity, an iuterfi&e surface associated with the product item and having disposed thereon information relating to the product item and coded data indicative of the identity of the product item, wherein said coded data comprise a» IR-absorbing dye as described above,

Netpaqe and Hvperlahel™

Netpage applications of this invention are described generally in the sixth and seventh aspects of the invention above, Hyperiabel™ applications of this invention are described generally in the eighth and ninth aspects of the invention above.

There now follows a detailed overview of netpage and Hypcriabel™, (Note: Memjet™ and HyperlabeJ™ are trade marks of Silverbrook Research Pty Ltd, Australia). It will fee appreciated that not every implementation will necessarily embody all or even most of the specific details and extensions discussed below in relation to th* basic system. However, the system is described in its most complete form to reduce the need for external reference when attempting to understand the context in which the preferred embodiments and aspects of the present invention operate.

IB brief summary, the preferred form of the Bβtpage system employs a computer interface in the form of a mapped surface, that is, a physical surfece which, contains references to a map of the sur&ce maintained in a computer system. The map references can be queried by an appropriate sensing device.

Depending upon the specific implementation, the map references may be encoded visibly or invisibly, and

defined in such a way that a local -ftjery 00 the mapped surface yields an unambiguous map reference; both within the map and among different maps. The computer system can contain information about features on the mapped surface, and such information can be retrieved based Dn map references supplied by a sensing device used with the mapped surface. The information thus retrieved can take the form of actions which are initiated by the computer system on behalf of the operator in response to the operator's interaction with the surface features.

In its preferred farm, Uw netpage system rftUes on the production of, and human interaction with, netpages. These are pages of text, graphics and images printed on ordinary paper, but which work like interactive web pages. Information is encoded on each page using ink which is substantially invisible to the unaided human eye. The ink, however, and thereby the coded data, can be sensed by an optically imaging pen and transmitted to the netpage system.

In the preferred form, active buttons and hyperlinks on each page can be clicked with the pen to request information from the network or to signal preferences to a network server. In one embodiment, text written by band on a netpage is automatically recognized and converted to computer text in the netpage system, allowing forms to be filled in. ϊn other embodiments, signatures recorded on a netpage are automatically verified, allowing e-cotnmercc transactions to be securely authorized.

A$ illustrated in Figure 1, a printed netpage 1 can represent an interactive form which can be filled in by the user both physically, 00 the printed page, and "electronically", via communication between the pen and the oetpage system. The example shows a "Request form containing name and address fields and a submit button. The netpage consists of graphic data 2 printed using visible ink, end coded data 3 printed as a collection of tags 4 using invisible ink. The corresponding page description 5, stored on the netpage network, describes the individual elements of the nctpage, ϊn particular it describes the type and spatial extent (zone) of each interactive clement (i.e. text field or button in. the example), to allow the netpage system to correctly interpret input v» the netpage. The submit button 6, for example, has a zone 7 which corresponds to the spatial extent of the corresponding graphic 8.

As illustrated in Figure 2, the netpage pen IQi, a preferred form of which is shown in Figures 6 and 7 and described in more detail below, works in conjunction with a personal computer (PC), Web terminal 75, or a netpage printer 601. The netpage printer is an Internet-connected printing appliance for home, office or mobile use. The pen is wireless and communicates securely with the netpage network via a short-range radio link 9. Short-range communication is relayed to the netpage network by a local relay function which is either embedded in the PC, Web terminal or netpage printer, or is provided by a separate relay device 44, The relay function can also be provided by a mobile phone or other device which incorporates both short-range and longer-range communications functions,

In an alternative eπibodiment, the netpage pen utilises a wired connection, such as a USB or other serial connection, to the PC, Web terminal, netpage printer or relay device.

The neipage printer 601, 8 preferred form of which is shown in Figures 9 to Il and described in more detail below, is able to deliver, periodically or an demand, personalized newspapers, magazines, catalogs, brochures and other publications, all printed at high quality as interactive netpages. Unlike a personal compute) ^* , the netpage printer is an appliance which can be, for example, wall-mounted adjacent to an area where the morning news js first consumed, such as in a user's kitchen, near a breakfast table, or near

2(5 the household's point of departure for the day. It also comes in tabletop, desktop, portable and miniature versions.

Netpages printed at (heir point of consumption combine the ease-of-use of paper with the timeliness and interactivity of an interactive medium. As shown inFigure 2, the netpage pan 101 interacts with the coded data on a printed wstpagβ I (or product item 201) and communicates the interaction via a short-range radio link 9 to a relay. The relay sends the interaction to the relevant netpage page server 10 for interpretation. In appropriate circumstances, the page server sends a corresponding message to application computer software running on a ndtpage application server 13. The application server may in turn send a response which is printed on the originating printer.

In an alternative embodiment, the PC, Web terminal, netpage printer or relay device may communicate directly wife local or remote application software, including a local or remote Web server. Elatedly, output is not limited to being printed by the netpage printer. It can also be displayed on the PC Or Web terminal, and further interaction can be screen-based rather than paper-based, or a mixture of the two. The netpage system is made considerably more convenient in the preferred embodiment by being used in conjunction with high-speed raicroelectroHiechanical system (MEMS) based inkjet (Memjet ^fM ) printers. Io roe preferred form of this technology, relatively nigh-speed and high-quality printing is made more affordable to consumers, In its preferred form, a netpage publication has the physical characteristics of a traditional newsmagazine, such as a set of Jetter-siee gloasy pages printed in foil color on both sides, bound together for easy navigation and comfortable handling.

The netpage printer exploits the growing availability of broadband Internet access. Cable service is available to 95% of households in the United States, and cable modem Service offering broadband Internet access is already available to 20% of these- The netpage printer can also operate with slower connections, but ■ώ/ith longer delivery times and lower image quality. Indeed, the netpage system can be enabled using existing consumer inkjet and laser printers, ^" although the system will operate more slowly and will therefore he less acceptable from a consumer's point of view > In other embodiments, the netpage system is hosted on a private intranet. In still other embodiments, the netpage system is hosted on a single computer or computer-enabled device, such as a printer.

Netpage publication servers 14 on the netpage network are configured to deliver print-quality publications to netpage printers. Periodical publications are delivered automatically to subscribing netpage printers via pQtnteastrag and multicasting Internet protocols. Personalized publications are filtered and formatted according to individual user profiles.

A netpage printer can be configured to support any number of pens, and a pen can work with any number of netpage printers. In the preferred implementation, each netpage pen has a unique identifier. A household may have a collection of colored netpage pens, one assigned to each member of the family. This allows each user to maintain a distinct profile with respect to a netpage publication server or application server.

A netpage pen can also be registered with a netpage registration server 11 and linked to one or more payment card accounts. This allows e-commerce payments to he securely authorized using the netpage pen. The netpage registration server compares the signature captured by the netpag* p*n with a previously registered signature, allowing it to authenticate the user's identify to an e-commerce server. Other biometrics

can also be used to verify identity. A version of the netpage pen includes fingerprint scanning, verified in a similar way by the netpage registration Server.

Although a netpage printer may deliver periodicals such as the morning newspaper without user intervention, it can be configured never to deliver unsolicited junk mail. In its preferred form, it only delivers periodicals from subscribed or otherwise authorized sources. IQ. this respect, the netpage printer is unlike a fax machine or e-raail account which is visible to any junk mailer who knows the telephone number or email address.

1 NETPAGE SYSTEM ARCHITECTURE

Each object model in the system is described using a Unified Modeling Language (UML) class diagram- A class diagram consists of a set of object classes connected by relationships, and two kinds of relationships are of interest here: associations and generalizations. An association represents some kind of relationship between objects, i.e. between instances of classes. A generalization relates actual classes, and can be understood in the following way. if a class is thought of as the set of all objects of that class, and class A is a generalization of glass B, then B is simply a subset of A, The UML does not directly support sάxrad- order modelling - i.e. classes of classes.

Each class is drawn as a rectangle labelled with the name of the class. It contains a list of the attributes of the class _* separated from the name by a horizontal line, and a list of the operations of the class, separated from the attribute list by a horizontal line. In the class diagrams which follow, however, operations are never modejjed, - An association is drawn aa a line joining two classes, optionally labelled at either end with the multiplicity of the association. The default multiplicity is one. An asterisk {*) indicates a multiplicity of "many", i.e. zero or more. Each association is optionally labelled with its name, and is also optionally labelled at either end with the role of the corresponding class. An open diamond indicates an aggregation association ("is-ρart-of ^γ ), and is drawn at the aggregator end of the association line. A generalization relationship ("is-a") is drawn as a solid line joining two classes, with an arrow

(in the form of an open triangle) at the generalization end.

When a class diagram is broken up into multiple diagrams, any class which is duplicated is shown with a dashed outline in all but the main diagram which defines it It is shown with attributes only where it is defined. 1.1 NETPAGES

Nctpages are the foundation on which a netpage network is buϋt. They provide a paper-based user interface to published information and interactive services.

A netpage consists of a printed page (αr other surface region) invisibly tagged with references to an online description of the page. The online page description is maintained persistently by a netpage page server. The page description describes the visible layout and content of the page, including text, graphics and images. It also describes the input elements on the page, including buttons, hyperlinks, and input fields, A netpage allows markings made with a neψage pen on its sur&ce to be simultaneously captured and processed by the netpage system.

Multiple netpages can share the same page description. However, to allow input through otherwise identical pages to be distinguished, each neipage is assigned a unique page identifier. This page ID has sufficient precision to distinguish between a very large number of netpages.

2«

Each reference to the page description is encoded in a printed tag. The tag identifies the unique page on which it appears, and tterefcy indirectly identifies the page description. The tag a!so identifies its own position on the page. Characteristics of the tags are described in more detail below.

Tags are printed in infrared-absorptive Lnk on any substrate which is infrared-reflective, such as ordinary paper. NeaHnfrared wavelengths are invisible to the human eye hut are easily sensed by a soh'4- state image sensor with an appropriate filter.

A tag is sensed by an ares, image sensor in the netpage pen, and the tag data is transmitted to the netpage system vfa the nearest netpage printer. The pen is wireless mά communicates with the netpage printer via, a short-raoge radio hat. Tags are sufficiently small and densely arranged that the pen can reliably image at least one tag even on a single click on the page. It is important that the pen recognize the page ID ana ¹ position on every interaction with the page, since the interaction is stateless. Tags are error-correctably encoded to make them partially tolerant to surface damage.

The netpage page Server maintains a unique page instance for each printed netpage, allowing it to maintain a distinct set of user-supplied values for input fields in the page description for each printed neipage.

The relationship between the page description, the page instance, and the printed neipage is shown in Figure 4. The printed netpage may be part of a printed netpage document 45. The page instance is associated with both the netpage printer which printed it and, if known, the neφage user who requested it.

As shown in Figure 4, one or more πetpages may also be associated with a physical object such as a product item, for example when printed onto the product item's label, packaging, or actual surface, 1,2 NETPAGE TAGS 1.2.1 Tag Data Content

^■ IQ a preferred form, each tag identifies the region in which it appears, and the location of that tag within the region- A tag may also contain flags which relate to the region as a whole or t» the tag. One or more flag bits may, for example, signal a tag sensing device to provide feedback indicative of a function associated with the immediate area of the tag, without the sensing device having to refer to a description of the region. A netpage pen may, for example, illuminate an "active area" LED when in the zone of a hyperlink,

As will be more clearly explained below, in a preferred embodiment, each tag contains an easily recognized invariant structure which aids initial detection, and which assists in minimizing the effect of any warp induced by the surføee or by the sensing process. The tags preferably tile the entire page, and are sufficiently small and densely ananged that the pen can reliably image at least one tag even on a single click on the page. It is important that the pen recognize the page ID and position on every interaction with the page, since the interaction is stateless, In a preferred embodiment, the region to which a tag refers coincides with an entire page, and the region ID encoded in the tag is therefore synonymous with the page ID of the page on which the tag appears. In other embodiments, the region to which a tag refers cm he an arbitrary subregion of a page or other surface. For example, it can coincide with the aønβ of an interactive element, in which case the region ID can directly identify the interactive element In the preferred form, each tag contains 120 bits of information. The region JD is typically allocated up to 100 bits, the tag ID at least 16 bits, and ih« remaining bits are allocated to flags etc. Assuming

a tag density of 64 pftr S-juai* inch, a 16-bit tag ID supports a t egioo size of up to 1024 square inches. Larger regions can be mapped continuously without increasing the tag ID precision simply by vising abutting regions and maps. The iOO^bft region IP allows 2 ^m (~10 ³⁶ or a million trillion trillion) different regions to be uniquely identified 1,2,2 Tag Data Encoding

Ia oπft embodiment, the 120 bits of tag data are redundantly encoded using a (15, 5) Reed- Solomon code. TWs yields 360 encoded bite consisting of 6 codewords of 15 4-bit symbols each. The (15 ₄ 5) code allows up to 5 symbol errors to be corrected per codeword, i.e. it is tolerant of a symbol error rate of up to 33 % per codeword. Each 4-bit symbol is represented in a spatially coherent way in the tag, and raβ symbols of the six codewords are interleaved spatially -within the tag. TWs ensures itoat a burst arrαr (an error affecting multiple spatially adjacent bits) damages a mύiύmirα number of symbols overall and a minimum number of symbols in any one codeword, thus maximising the likelihood that the burst error can be fully corrected.

Any suitable eπw-COrrtCtrog code code can be us«d in place of a (15, 5) Reed-Solomon code, for example; a Reed-Solomon code with more or less redundancy, with the same or different symbol and codeword sizes; another block code; or a different kind of code, such as a coavoluttonal code (see, for example, Stephen B. Wicker, Error Control Systems fbr Digital Communication and Storage, Prentice-Hall 1995, the contents of which a herein incorporated by reference thereto).

In order to support "singje-click" interaction with a tagged region via a sensing device, the sensing device must be able to sec at least one entire tag ώ us field of view po matter where in the region or at what orientation it is positioned. The required diameter of the fold of view of the sensing device is therefore a function of the siae and spacing of the tags, 1.2.3 Tag Structure

Figure 5a shows a tag 4, iα the form of tag 726 with four perspective targets 17. The tag 726 represents sixty 4-bit Reed-Solomon symbols 747 , for a total of 240 bits. The tag represents each "one" bit by the presence of a mark 748, referred to as a macrαdot, and each "zero" bit by the absence of the corresponding macrodot. Figure 5c shows a square tiling 728 of nine tags, containing all "one" bits for illustrative purposes. It will be noted mat the perspective targets are designed to be shared between adjacent tags. Figure 3d shows a square tiling of 16 tags and a corresponding mipimum field of view 193, which spans the diagonals of two tags.

Using a (X 5, 7) Reed-Solomon code, 112 bits of tag data are rediw-Uwfly encoded to produce 240 encoded bits. The four codewords are interleaved spatially within the tag to maximize resilience to burst errors. Assuming a 16-bit tag ID as before, mis allows a region !PD of up to 92 bits.

The data-bearing macrodots 748 øf the tag are designed to not overlap their neighbors, $o that groups of tags cannot produce structures that resemble targets. This also saves ink. The perspective targets allow detection of me tag, so further targets are not required.

Although the tag may contain an orientation feature to allow disambiguation, of the four possible orientations of the tag relative to the sensor, the present invention is concerned with embedding orientation data in the tag data. For example, the four codewords can. be arranged so mat each tag orientation (in a rotational sense) contains one codeword placed at that orientation, as shown in Figure 5a _s where each symbol is labelled with the number of its codeword (1-4) and the position of the symbol within the codeword (A-O).

Tag decoding then consists of decoding one codeword at each rotational orientation. Each codeword can either contain a single bit indicating whether it is the &st codeword, or two bits indicating which codeword it is. The latter approach has the advantage that if, say, the data content of only one codeword is required, then at most two codewords need to be decoded to obtain the desired data. This may be the case if the region ID is not expected to change within a stroke and is thus only decoded at the start of a stroke. Within a stroke only the codeword containing the tag ID is then desired. Furthermore, since the rotation of the sensing device ohanges slowly and predictably within a stroloc, only one codeword typically needs to be decoded per frame.

It is possible to dispense with perspective targets altogether and instead, rely on the data representation being self-registering, In this caae each bit value (or multi-bit value) is typically represented by an explicit glyph, i,e. no bit value is represented by the absence of a glyph. This ensures that the data grid is well-populated, and thus allows the grid to be reliably identified aad ϊfø perspective distortion detected and subsequently corrected during data sampling. To allow tag boundaries to be detected, each tag data roust contain a marker pattern, and these must be redundantly encoded to allow reliable detection. The overhead of such marker patterns is similar to the overhead of explicit perspective targets. Various such, schemes are described in the present applicants ¹ co-pending PCT application PCT/Aϋ0i;01274 filed 11 October 2001.

The arrangement -728 of Figure 5c shows that the square tag 726 can be used to fully tile or fesselate, i.e. without gaps or overlap, a plane of arbitrary sisse.

Although in preferred embodiments the tagging schemes described herein encode a single data bit using the presence or absence of a single undifferentiated microdot, they can also use sets of differentiated glyphs to represent siagle^bit or multi-bit values, such as the sets of glyphs illustrated in the present applicants' application PCT/AUQI/Q1274 tiled 11 October 2001. 1.3 THE NETPAGE NgTWORK

In a preferred embodiment, a netpage network consists of a distributed set of neipage page servers 10, netpage registration servers U, neφage IP servers 12, netpage application servers 13, netpage publication servers 14, Web terminals 73, neipage printers 601, and relay devices 44 conncøte-t via a network 19 such as the Internet, as shown uiFigure 3.

The netpage registration server 11 is a server which records relationships between users, pens, printers, applications and publications, and thereby authorizes various network activities, It authenticates users and acts as a signing proxy on behalf of authenticated users in application transactions. It also provides handwriting recognition services, As described abovts, a netpage page server 10 maintains persistent information about page descriptions and page instances. The netpage network includes any numbήr of page servers, each handling a subset of page instances. Since a page server also maintains user input values for each page instance, clients such as netpage printers send neipage input directly to the appropriate page server. Tbts page server interprets any such input relative to the description of the corresponding page. A netpage ED server 12 allocates document IDs 51 on demand, and provides load-balancing of page servers via its ID allocation scheme.

A neφage printer uses the Internet Distributed Name System (DNS), or similar, to resolve a netpage page ϊO 50 into the network address of th* 'netpage page server handling me corresponding page instance. A netpage application server 13 is a server which hosts interactive neipage applications, A netpage publication server 14 is an application server which publishes netpage documents to netpage printers.

Netpage servers can be hosted on a variety of network server platforms from manufacturers such as IBM, Hewlett-Packard, and Sun. Multiple netpage servers can run concurrently on a single host, and a single server can be distributed over a number of hosts. Some or all of the functionality provided by netpage servers, and in particular the functionality provided by the ED server and the page server, can also be provided directly in a netpage appliance such aa a neipage. printer, in a computer workstation, or on a local network. 1.4 THE NETPAGE PRINTER

The netpage printer 601 is an appliance which is registered with the netpage system and prints netpage documents on demand and via subscription. Each printer has a unique printer ID 62, and is conneete4 to the netpage network via a network such as the Internet, ideally via a broadband connection-

Apart from identity and security settings in non-volatile memory, the netpage printer contains no persistent storage. As far as a user is concerned, "the network is the computer". Netpages function interactively across space and time with the help of the distributed netpage page servers 10, independently of particular netpage printers. The netpage printer receives subscribed netpage documents from netpage publication servers 14.

Each document is distributed in two parts: the page layouts, and the actual text and image objects which populate the pages. Because of personalization, page layouts are typically specific tα a particular subscriber and so are pointcast to the subscriber's printer via the appropriate page server. Text and image objects, on the other band, are typically shared with otiher subscribers, and so are multicast to all subscribers' printers and the appropriate page servers.

The αetpage publication server optimizes the segmentation of document content into pointeasts and multicasts. After receiving the pointcast of a document's page layouts, the printer knows which multicasts, if any, to listen to.

Once the printer has received the complete page layouts and objects that define the document to be printed, it can print the document.

The printer rasterizes and prints odd and even pages simultaneously on both sides of the sheet It contains duplexed print engine controllers 760 and print engines utilizing Memjet™ printheads 350 for this purpose.

. The printing process consists of two decoupled stages: rasterization of page descriptions, and expansion and printing of page images. The raster image processor CRIP) consists of one or more standard

DSPs 757 running in parallel- The duplexed print engine controllers consist of custom processors which expand, dither and print page images in real time, synchronized with the operation of the printheads in the print engines.

Printers not enabled for ϊB. printing have the option to print tags using IR-ahsorρtive black ink, although this restricts tags to otherwise empty areas of die page. Although such pages have more limited functionality than IR-printed pages, they are still classed as netpages.

A normal netpage printer prints netpages on sheets of paper. More specialised netpage printers may print onto more specialised surfaces, such as globes. Each printer supports at least one surface type, and supports at least one tag tiling scheme, and hence tag map, for each surface type. The tag map 8 U which describes the tag tiling scheme actually used to print a document becomes associated with that document so that the document's tags can be correctly interpreted.

J2

Figure 2 shows the πdpagft printer class diagram, reflecting- printer-related information maintained fay a registration server 11 on the netpage network- 1.5 THE NETPAQE PEN

The active sensing device of the netpage system is typically a pen 101, -which, using its embedded controller 134, is able to capture and decode DR- position tags from a page via an image sensor. The image sensor is a solid-state device provided with an appropriate filter to permit sensing at only near-infrared wavelengths. As 4ascήbe4 in more detail below, thft system is able to sense when the nib is in contact with the surface, and the pen is able to sense tags at a sufficient rate to capture human handwriting (i.e. at 200 dpi or greater and 100 H? or faster). Information captured by the pen is encrypted and wireleasly transmitted to the printer (or base station), the printer or base station interpreting the data with respect to the (known) page structure.

The preferred embodiment of the neipage pen operates both as a normal marking ink pan and as a non-marking stylus. The marking aspect, however, is not necessary for using the netpage system as a browsing system, such as when it is used as an Internet interface. Each netpage pen is registered with the netpage system and has a unique pen ID 61. Figure 14 shows me neφage pen class diagram, reflecting pen- related information maintained by ft registration server 11 on the netpage network.

When either nib is in contact with a netpage, the pen determines its position and orientation relative tα the page. The nib is attached to a force sensor, and the force on the nib is interpreted relative to a threshold to indicate whether the pen is "up" or "down". This allows a interactive element on the page to be 'clicked' by pressing with the pen nib, in order to request, say, information from a network. Furthermore, the force is captured as a continuous value to allow, say, the full dynamics of a signature to be verified.

The pen determines the position and orientation of its nib on the netpage by imaging, in me infrared spectrum, aa area 193 of the page in the vicinity of the nib. It decodes me nearest tag and computes the position of the nib relative to the tag from the observed perspective distortion on the imaged tag and the known geometry of the pen optics. Although the position resolution of the tag may be low, because the tag density on the page is inversely proportional to the tag size, the adjusted position resolution is quite high, exceeding the minimum resolution required for accurate handwriting recognition.

Pen actions relative to a netpage are captured as a series of strokes. A stroke consists of a sequence of time-stamped pen positions on the page, initiated by a pen-down event and completed by the subsequent pen-up event. A stroke is also tagged with the page ID 50 of the netpage whenever the page ID changes, which, under normal circumstances, is at the commencement of the stroke.

Each netpage pen has a current selection &26 associated with it, allowing the user to perform copy and paste operations etc. The selection is timestamped to allow the system to discard it after a defined time period. The current selection describes a region of a page instance. It consists of the most recent digital ink stroke captured through the pen relative to the background area of the page. It is interpreted in an application- specific manner once iris submitted to an application via a selection hyperlink activation.

Each pen has a current nib 824. This is the nib last notified by tae pen to the system, In the case of the default netpage pen described above, either the marking black ink nib or the nαn-marking stylus nib is current. Each pen also has a current nib style 825. This is the nib style last associated with the pen by an application, e.g. in response to the user selecting a color from a palette. The default nib style is the nib style

associated with the current nib. Strokes captured through a pen are tagged with the current nib style, When the strokes are subsequently reproduced, they are reproduced in the nib style with which they are tagged.

Whenever the pen is within range αf a printer with which it cm communicate, the pen slowly flashes its "online" USD- When the pen fails to decode a stroke relative to the page, it momentarily activates its "error" LED. When the pen succeeds j» decoding a stroke relative to the page, it momentarily activates its "ok" LED.

A sequence of captured strokes is referred to as digital ink. Digital ink forms the basis for the digital exchange of drawings and handwriting, for online recognition of handwriting, and for online verification of signatures. The pen is wireless and transmits digital ink to the nerpage printer via a short-range radio link.

The transmitted digital ink is encrypted for privacy and security and packetreed for efficient transmission, but is always flushed on a pen-up event to ensure timely handling in the printer.

When the pen is out-of-range of a printer it buffers digital ink in internal memory, which has a capacity of over ten minutes of continuous handwriting. When the pen is once again within range of a printer, it transfers any buffered digital ink.

A pen can be registered with any number of printers, but becai»se all state data resides in netpages both on paper and on the network, it is largely immaterial which printer a pen is cornraunicating with at any particular tune-

A preferred embodiment of the pen is described in greater detail below, with reference to Figures 6to 8.

1.6 NETPAGE INTERACTION

The netpage printer 601 receives data relating to a stroke from the pen 101 when the pen is used to interact with a aeipage 1. The coded data 3 of the tags 4 is read by the pen wheu it is used to execute a movement, such as a stroke. The φjtø allows the identity of the particular page and associated interactive element to be determined and an indicatiαβ of the relative positioning of the pea relative to the page to be obtained. Theindicatmg data is transmitted to the printer, where it resolves, via the DNS» the page ID 50 of the stroke into the network address of the netpage page server 10 which maintains the corresponding page instance 830. It then transmits the stroke to the page server. If the pϋge was recently identified in an earlier stroke, then the printer may already have the address of the relevant page server in its cache. Each netpage ^• consists of a compact page layout maintained persistently by a peφ-ige page server (see below). The page layout refers to objects such as images, fonts aod pieces of text, typically stored elsewhere on the πefpsgc network.

When the page server receives the stroke from the pen, it retrieves the page description to which the stroke applies, and determines which element of the page description the stroke intersects. It is then able to interpret the stroke in the context of the type of the relevant element.

A "click" is a stroke where the distance and time between the pen down position and the subsequent pen up position are bom Ies9 man some small maximum. An object which is activated by a click typically requires a click to be activated, and accordingly, a longer stroke is ignored. The Mure of a pen action, such as a "sloppy" click, to register is indicated by the lack of response from the pen's "ok" LBP. There are two kinds of input elements in a ttetpage page description: hyperlinks and form fields.

Input through a form field can also trigger the activation of an associated hyperlink.

2-1 PHN MECHANICS

Referring to Figures 6 and 7, the pen, generally designated by reference numeral 101, includes a housing 102 in the form of a plastics moulding having walls 103 defining an interior space 104 for mounting the pen components. The pen top JOS js _TO operation rotatably mounted at one end 106 of the housing 102 _, A serai-transparent coyer 107 is secured to the opposite end IOS of Uw housing 102. The cover 107 is also of moulded plastics, and is formed from semi-tran_paj*nt material in order to enable the user to view the status of the LED mounted within the housing 102. The cover 107 includes a main part 109 which substantially surrounds the end 108 of the bousing 102 and a projecting portion 110 which projects back from the main part 100 and fits within a corresponding slot 111 formed in the walls 103 of the housing 102. A radio antenna 112 is mounted behind the projecting portion 110, within the housing 102, Screw threads 113 surrounding an aperture 113A on the cover 107 are arranged to receive a metal end piece 114, including corresponding screw threads 1 IS. The metal end piece 114 is removable to enable ink cartridge replacement.

Also mounted within the cover 107 is a tri-color status LED 116 on a flew PCB 117. The antenna 112 is also mounted on the flex PCB 117, The status LED l lfi is mounted at the top of the pen 101 for good all-around visibility.

The pen can operate both as a normal marking ink pen and as a non-marking stylus. An ink pen cartridge 118 with nib 1 lθ and a stylus 120 with stylus nib 121 are mounted side by side within the housing 102. Either the ink cartridge nib 119 or the stylus nib 121 can be brought forward through open end 122 of the metal end piece 114, by rotation of the pen top 105. Respective slider blocks 123 and 124 are mounted to the ink cartridge 118 and stylus 120, respectively. A rotatable cam barrel 125 is secured to (bo pen top 105 in operation and arranged to rotate therewith. The cam barrel 125 includes a cam 126 in the form of a slot within the walls 181 of the cam barrel. Cam followers 127 and 128 projecting from slider blocks 123 and 124 fit within the cam slot 126. On rotation of the cam barrel 125, the slider blocks 123 or 124 move relative to each other to project either the pen nib 119 or stylus nib 121 out through the hole 122 in the metal end piece 114, The pen 101 has three states of operation. By turning the top 105 through 90° steps, the three states are:

* stylus 120 nib X2X out

* ink cartridge HB nib 119 out, and ^'

* neither ink cartridge HS nib 1X9 out nor stylus 120 nib 121 out

A-second flex PCB 129, is mounted on an electronics chassis 130 which sits within the housing 102. The second flex PCB 129 mounts an infrared LED 131 for providing infrared radiation for projection onto the surface. An image sensor 132 is provided mounted on the second flex PCS 129 for receiving reflected radiation from the surface. The second flex PCB 129 also mounts a radio frequency chip 133, which includes an EJF transmitter and RF receiver, and a. controller chip 134 far controlling operation of the pen 101. An optics block 135 (formed from moulded clear plasties) sits within the cover 107 and projects an infrared beam onto the surface and receives images onto the image sensor 132. Power supply wires 136 connect the components on the second flex PCB 129 to battery contacts 137 which are mounted within the cam barrel 125. A terminal 138 connects to the battery contacts 137 and the cam barrel 125. A three volt rechargeable battery 139 sits within the cam barrel 125 in contact with the battery contacts. An induction charging coil 140 is mounted about the second flex PCB 129 to enable recharging of the battery 139 via

^ induction. The second flex PCB 129 also mounts an infrarftd LED 143 and infrared photodiode 144 for detecting displacement in ^β jft cam barrel 125 when either the stylus UO or the ink cartridge 118 is used for writing, in order to enable a determination of the force being applied to the surface by the pea nib 119 or stylus nib 121. The ER. photodiode 144 detects light iron, the IR LED 143 via reflectors (not shown) mounted On the slider blocks 123 and 124.

Rubber grip pads 141 and 142 arc provided towards the end 108 of the housing 102 to assist gripping the pen 101, and top 105 also includes a clip 142 for clipping the pen IQl to a pocJcet, 3.2 PgN CONTROU-ER

Tk: pen 101 is arranged to determine the position of its nib (stylus nib 121 or ink cartridge nib 119) by imaging, hi the infrared spectrum, an area of the surface in the vicinity of the nib. ft records the location data from the nearest location tag, and is arranged to calculate the distance of the nib 121 or 119 from the location tab utilising optics 135 and controller chip 134. The controller chip 134 calculates the orientation of the pen and the nib-to-fag distance from the perspective distortion observed on me imaged tag. Utilising the KB chip 133 and røpenna 1 Xl the pen 101 can transmit the digital ink data (which is encrypted for security and packaged for efficient transmission) tα me computing system.

When the pen is in range of a receiver, the digital ink data is transmitted as it is formed. When the pen 101 moves out of range, digital ink data is buffered within the pen 101 (the pen 101 circuitry includes a buffer arranged to store digital ink data for approximately 12 minutes of the pen motion on the surface) and can be transmitted IaWr. The controller chip 134 is mounted on the second flex PCB 129 in the pen IOL Figure 8 is a block diagram illustrating in more detail the architecture of the controller chip 134. Figure 8 also shows representations of the RF chip 133, the image sensor 132, the tri-color status LED 116, the IR illumination LEP 131, the IR force sensor LED 143, aα4 the force sensor photodiode 144.

The pen controller chip 134 includes a controlling processor 145. Bus 146 enables the exchange of data between components of (be controller chip 134. Flash memory 147 and a 512 KB DRAM 148 ar* also included. An analog-to-digitel converter 149 is arranged to convert the analog signal from the force sensor photodiαde 144 to a digital signal.

An image sensor interface 152 interfaces with the image sensor 132. A transceiver controller 153 and base band circuit 154 are also included to interface with the RF chip 133 which includes an RF circuit 155 and RF resonators sad inductors 156 connected to the antenna 112,

The controlling processor 145 captures and decodes location date from tags from the surface via the image sensor 132, monitors the force sensor phottκjiode 144, controls the JLJBDs 116, 131 and 143, and handles short-range radio communication via the radio transceiver 153. It is a medium-petforroance ("-40MHz) gftoisjal-purpose RISC processor. The processor 145, digital transceiver components (transceiver controller 153 and baseband

Circuit 154), image sensor interface 152, flash memory 147 and 512KB DRAM 148 are integrated in a single controller ASIC. Analog RF components (RF circuit 155 and RF resonators and inductors 156) are provided in tiie separate RF chip.

The image seosor is a CCD or CMOS image sensor. Pepending on tagging scheme, it has a size ranging from about 100x100 pixels to 200x200 pjxejs. Many miniature CMOS image sensors are . commercially available, including the National Semiconductor LM5630.

The controller ASIC 134 enters a quiescent state after a period of inactivity when the pen 101 is not in contact with a surface. It incorporates a dedicated circuit 150 which monitors the force sensor photodiode 144 and wakes up the; controller 134 via the power manager 151 on a pen-down event.

The radio transceiver communicates in the unlicensed θOOMHz band normally used by cordless 5 telephones, or alternatively in the unlicensed 2.4GHz industrial, scientific and medical 0SM) band, and uses frequency hopping and collision detection to provide interference-free conumuuestion.

In an alternative embodiment, the pen incorporates an infrared Data Association (IrDA) interface for short-range communication with a base station or netpage printer.

In a further embodiment, the pen 101 includes a pair of orthogonal accelerometers mounted in the 10 normal plane of the pen 101 axis. The accelerometers 190 are shown in Figures 7 and 8 in ghost outline.

The provision of the accelerometers enables this embodiment of me pen 101 to sense motion without references W surface location tags, allowing the location tags to be sampled at a lower rate. Each location tag JD can then identify an object of interest rather than a position on the surface. For example, if the object is a user interface input element (e.g. a command button), then the tag ID of each location tag within

15 the area of the input dement can directly identify the input element.

The acceleration measured by the accelerometers in each of the x and y directions is integrated with respect to time to produce an instantaneous velocity and position.

Since the starting position of the stroke is not known, only relative positions within a stroke are calculated. Although position integration accumulates errors in the sensed acceleration, seeeterometers 20 typically have high resolution, and the time duration of a stroke, over which errors accumulate, is short,

3 NETPA(SE PRINTER DESCRIPTION

3,1 PRINTER MECHANICS

The vertically-mounted netpage waUprinter 6Ol is shown fully assembled in Figure 9. It prints netpages on Letter/A4 sized media using duplexed 8Va" Memjef™ print engines 602 and 603, as shown in 25 Figures 10 and 10s. It uses a straight paper path with the paper 604 passing through the duplexed print engines 602 and 603 which print bom sides of a sheet simultaneously, in full color and with full bleed.

An integral binding assembly 605 applies a strip of glue along one edge of each printed sheet, allowing it to adhere to the previous sheet when pressed against it. This creates a final bound document 6IS which can range in thickness from one sheet to several hundred sheets. 30 The replaceable ink cartridge 627, shown in Figure 12 coupled with the duplexed print engines, has bladders or chambers for storing fixative, adhesive, and cyan, magenta, yellow, black and infrared inks.

The cartridge also contains a micro air filter in a base molding. The micro air filter interfaces with an air pump 638 inside the printer via a hose 639. This provides filtered air to the printheads to prevent ingress of micro particles into roe Mejnjet™ printheads 350 which might otherwise clog the printhead nozzles. By 35 incorporating the air filter within the cartridge, (he operational life of the filter is effectively linked W the life of the cartridge. The ink cartridge is a fully recyclable product with a capacity for printing and gluing 3000 pages (1500 sheets).

Referring to Figure 10, the motorized media pick-up roller assembly 626 pushes the top sheet directly from the media tray past a paper sensor on the first print engine 602 into the duplexed Memjet™ 40. printhead assembly. The two Merajet™ print engines 602 and 603 are mounted in ^n opposing in-line

.

37 sequential configuration along the straight papftrpath. The paper 604 is drawn into fb* first print engine 602 by integral, powered pick-up rollers 626. The position and size of the paper 604 is sensed and full bleed printing commences. Fixative is printed simultaneously to aid drying in the shortest possible time.

The paper exits the fust Memjet™ print engine 602 through a set of powered exit spike wheels (aligned along the straight paper path), which act against a rubberized roller. These spike wheels contact the _o 'wet' printed surface and continue to feed the sheet 604 Into the second Memjet™ print engine 603.

Referring to Figures 10 and 10a, the paper 604 passes from the duplexed print engines 602 and 603 into the binder assembly 605. The printed page passes between a powered spike wheel axle 670 with a fibrous support roller and another movable axle with spike wheels and a momentary action glue wheel. The movable axle/glue assembly 673 is mounted to a metal support bracket and it is transported forward to intet&ce with the powered axle 670 via gears by action of a camshaft. A separate motor powers this camshaft.

The glue wheel assembly 673 consists of a partially hollow axle 679 with a rotating coupling for the glue supply hose 641 from the ink cartridge 627, This axle 679 connects to a glue wheel, which absorbs adhesive by capillary action through radial holes, A molded housing 682 surrounds the glue wheel, with an . opening at the front. Pivoting side moldings and sprung outer doors are attached to the metal bracket and hinge out sideways when the rest of me assembly 673 is thrust forward. This action exposes the glue wheel through the front of the molded housing 682. Tension springs close the assembly and effectively cap the glue wheel during periods of inactivity. As the sheet 604 passes into the glue wheel assembly 673, adhesive is applied to one vertical edge on the front side (apart from the first sheet of a document) as it is transported down into the binding assembly 605-

4 PROPUCT TAGGING Automatic identification refers to the μse of technologies such as bar codes, magnetic stripe cards, smartcards, and RF transponders, to (sami-Oautomatically identify objects to data processing systems without manual keying.

For the purposes of automatic identification, a product item is commonly identified by a 12-digit

Universal Product Code (UPC), encoded machine-readably in the form of a printed bar code The most common UPC numbering system incorporates a 5-digit manufacturer number and a 5-digit item number.

Because of its limited precision, a UPC is used to identity a class of product rather than an individual product item. The Uniform Code Council and EAN International define and administer the UPC and related codes as subsets of the 14-digit Global Trade Item Number (GTTN),

Within supply chain management, there is considerable interest in expanding or replacing the UPC scheme to allow individual product items to be uniquely identified and thereby tracked- Individual item tagging can reduce "shrinkage" due to lost, stolen or spoiled goods, improve the efficiency of demand-driven manufacturing and supply, &cilitøt» ifø profiling of product usage, and improve the customer experience.

There are two main contenders for individual item tagging: optical tags in the form of so-called two-dimensional bsμ- codes, and radio frequency identification (RFID) tags. For a detailed description of RPϊD tags, refer to Klaus Finkcnzeller, RFIϊ) Handbook, John Wiley & Son (!->->->), the contents of which are herein, incorporated by cross-reference. Optical tags nave the advantage of being inexpensive, but require

optical Jiofr-of-sjght &r reading. RFID tags have the advantage of supporting oranidireotjoiw! reading _, but are comparatively expensive. The presence of metal or liquid can seriously interfere with RFTD tag performa _j ice, undermining the omnidirectional reading advantage. Passive (reader-powftrβct) RFtD tags are projected to be priced at 10 cents each in multi-million quantities by the end of 2003, and at 5 cents each soon thereafter, but this still falls short of the sub-oae-eent industry target for low-price items such as grocery. The read-only nature of most optical tags has also been cited as a disadvantage, since status changes cannot be written to a tag as an item progresses through the supply chain. However, this disadvantage is mitigated by the fact that a read-only tag can refer to information maintained dynamically on a network.

The Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) Auto-ID Center has developed $ standard for a 96-bit Electronic Product Code (EPC), coupled with mx Internet-based Object Name Service (ONS) and a Product Markup Language (PML)- Once an BPC is scanned or otherwise obtained, it is used to look up, possibly via the ONS, matching product information portably encoded in PML, The EPC consists of an 8-bit header, a 28-bit EPC manager, 824-bit object class, and a 36^bit serial number. For a detailed description of thώ EPC, refer to Brock, D.L., The Electronic Product Code (EPC), MJT Auto-H) Cento (January 2001), the contents of which are herein, incorporated by cross-reference. The Auto-ID Center has defined a mapping of the GTtN onto the EPC to demonstrate compatibility between the EPC and current practices Brock, D.L., Integrating the Electronic Product Code (EPC) and the Global Trade Item Number (GTIN), MIT Auto-IP Center (November 2001), the contents of which are herein incorporated by cross-reference. The EPC is administered by EPCglobaU an. EAN-UCC joint venture. EPCs are technology-neutral and oatα be encoded and carried in many forms, tee Auto-ID Center strongly advocates the use of low-cost passive RFID tags to carry EPCs, and has defined a 64-bit version of the EPC to allow the cost of &FϊP tags to be minimKed iα the short term. For detailed description of Jow- co$t RFIP tag characteristics, refer to Sanaa, S., Towards the Sc Tag, MϊT Auto-ID Center (November 2001), the contents of which, are herein incorporated by cross-reference. For a description of a conuoercially- available low-cost passive EFIP tag, refer to 91 S MHs RFW Tag., Alien Technology (2002), the contents of which are herein incorporated by cross-reference. For detailed description of the 64-bit EPC, refer to Brock, DX., The Compact Electronic Product Code, MIT Auto-ID Center (November 2001), the contents of which are herein incorporated by cross-reference.

EPCs aje intended not just for unique item-level tagging and tracking, but also for case-tevfcl and pallet-level tagging, and for tagging of other logistic units of shipping and transportation such as containers and trucks. The distributed PML database records dynamic relationships between items and higher-level containers in the packaging, shipping and transportation hierarchy.

4,1 OM NiTAQGiNe IN THE SUPPLY CHAIN Using an invisible (e.g. infrared) tagging scheme to uniquely identify a product item has the significant advantage that it allows the entire surface of a product to be tagged, or a significant portion thereof, without impinging on the graphic design of the product's packaging or labelling, ϊf the entire product surface is tagged, then the orientation of the product doesn't affect its ability to be scanned, i.e. a significant part of the line-of-sight disadvantage of a visible bar code is eliminated. Furthermore, since the tags are small and massively replicated, label damage no longer prevents scanning.

Omoitegging, then, consists of covering a tørge proportion of the surføce of a product item with optically-readable invisible tags. Each omnitag uniquely identifies the product item on which it appears. The omnitag may directly encode the product: code (eg. EPC) of the item, or may encode a surrogate ID which in turn identifies the product code via a database lookup. Each omnitag also optionally identifies its own position on the surface of the product item, to provide the downstream consumer benefits of netpage

, interactivity described eadicr,

Gmnitags are applied during product manufacture and/or packaging using digital printers. These may be add-on infrared printers which print the omnitags after the text and graphics nave been printed by other means, or integrated color and infrared printers which print the ommtags, text and graphics simultaneously. Digitally-printed text and graphics may include everything on the label or packaging, or may consist only of the variable portions, with other portions still printed by other means. 4.2 OMNITAGGINQ

As shown in Figure 13, a product's unique item ID 215 may be seen as a special Mnd of unique object ID 210. Th* Electronic Product Code (EPC) 220 is one emerging standard for w item IP. An item ID typically consists of a product ID 214 and a semi number 213. The product ϊP identifies ή class of product, while the serial number identifies a particular instance of that class, Ie. an individual product item. Tb& product ID in turn typically consists of a marow%ctørβr number 211 and a product class number 212. The best-known product ID is the EAN.UCC Universal Product Code (UpC) 221 and its variants.

M shown in Figure 14, an oamitøg 202 encodes a page ID (or region ID) 50 and a two- dimensional (2D) position 86. The region ID identifies the surface region containing the tag, and the position identifies the tag's position within the two-dimensional region. Since the surface in question is the surface of a physical product item 201, it is useful to define a one-to-one mapping between the region ID and the unique object ID 210, and more specifically the item ID 215, of the product item. Note, however, that the mapping can be ma»y-to-one without compromising the utility of the omnitag. For example, each panel of a product item's packaging could have a different region ID 50. Conversely, the omnitag may directly encode the item

ID, in which case the region ID contains the item ID ₁ suitably prefixed to decouple item IO allocation from general netpage region IP allocation. Note that the region ID uniquely distinguishes the corresponding surface region from all other surface regions identified within the global nctpage system.

The item HD 2J5 is preferably (Jw EPC 220 proposed by the Auto-ID Center, since (his provides direct compatibility between omnitags and EPC-carrying RFID tags.

In Figure 14 the position 86 is shown as optional. This is to indicate that much of the utility of ^h* omnitag in the supply chain derives from the region ID 50. and the position may be omitted if not desired for a particular product.

For interoperability with the netpage system, an omnitag 202 is a wrtpagβ tag 4, i-e. it has the logical structure, physical layout and semantics of a wttpage tag.

When a _f tctpage sensing device such a≤ the uetpage pen 101 images and decodes an omnitag, it uses the position and orientation of the tήg in its field of view and combines this with the position encoded in the tag to compute its own position relative to the tag. As the sensing device is moved relative to a

HyperlabcUcd surface region, it is thereby able to track its own motion relative to the region snd generate a set of ώnestamped position samples representative of its time-varying path. When the sensing device is a

pen, then the pain consists of a sequence of strokes, with each stroke starting when the pen makes contact with, the surface, and ending when the pen breaks contact with the surface.

When a stroke is forwarded to the page server 10 responsible for the region ID ₁ the server retrieves a description of the region keyed by region ID ₁ and interprets the stroke in relation to the description. For example, if the description includes a hyperlink and the stroke intersects the zone of the hyperlink, then the server may interpret the stroke as a designation of the hyperlink and activate the hyperlink. 4,3 OMNiTAG PRINTING

An omnicag printer is a digital printer which prints omnitags onto the label, packaging or actual sur&ce- of a product before, during or after product manufacture and/or assembly. It is a special case of a netpage printer 601. It is capable of printing a coacmMous pattern of omnitags onto a surface, typically «sing α near-infrared-absorptive ink. In high-Speed environments, the printer includes hardware which accelerates tag rendering. This typically includes real-time Reed-Soloraon weeding of variable tag data such as tag position, and real-time template-based rendering of the actual tag pattern at the dot resolution of the printnead. The printer may be an add-on infrared printer which prints the omnitags after text and graphics have been printed by other means, or an integrated color and infrared printer which prints me onmitags, text end graphics simultaneously. Digitally-printed text and graphics may include everything on the tøbel or packaging, or may consist only of the variable portions, with other portions still printed by other means. Thus an omnitag printer with an infrared and black printing capability can displace an existing digital printer used for variable data printing, such as a conventional thermal transfer or inkjet printer.

For the purposes of the fallowing discussion, any reference to printing onto an ϊt&m label is intended to include printing onto the item packaging in general, or directly onto the item surface. Furthermore, any reference to an item ID 215 is intended to include a region ID 50 (or collection of per-panel " region ids), αr a component thereof Tbe printer is typically controlled by a host computer, which supplies the printer with fixed and-Or variable text and graphics as well as item ids for inclusion in the omnitags. Tbe host may provide real-time control over the printer, whereby it provides the printer with data in real time as printing proceeds. As an optimisation, the host may provide the printer with fixed data before printing begins, and only provide variable data in real time. The printer may also be capable of generating per-itera variable data based on parameters provided by tbe host For example, the host may provide the printer with a bgse item ID prior to printing, and the printer may simply increment the base item ϊD to generate successive item ids. Alternatively, memory in the ink cartridge or other storage medium inserted into the printer may provide a source of unique itftm ids, in which ease the printer reports the assignment of items ids to the host computer for recording by the host Alternatively still, the printer may be capable of reading a pre-existing item ff> from the label onto which the omnitags are being primed, assuming the unique ID has been applied in some form to the label during a previous maπu&cturing step. For example, the item ID may already be present in the form of a visible 2D bar code, or encoded in anRFϊD tag. In the former case the printer can include an optical bar code scanner. In the latter case it can includes an RFID reader.

The printer may also be capable of rendering the item ID in other forms. For example, it may be capable of piintiag the item ID in the form of a 2D bar code, or of printing the product ID component of the item ID in the &>rm of a ID barcode, or of writing the item ID to a writable or write-once RFED tag.

4.4 OMNITAS SCANNING Item information- typically flows to the product server in response to situated scan events, e.g. when an item is scanned into inventory on delivery; when the item i- placed on a retail shelf; and when the item is scanned at point of sale, Both fixed and hand-held scanners may be used to scan αnwitagged product items, using both laser-based 2D scanning and 2D image-sensor-based scanning, using similar or the same techniques as employed in the netpage pen. As shown ia Figure 16, both a fixed scanner 254 and a hand-held scanner 252 communicate scan daw to the product server 251. The product server may w torn communicate product item event data to a peer product server (not shown), or to a product application server 2SO, which may implement sharing of data with related product servers. For example, stock movements within a retail store may be recorded locally on the retail store's product server, but the manufacturer's product server may be notified once a product item is sold.

4.5 QMNITAG-BASED NETPAGg INTERACTIONS

A product item whose labelling, packaging or actual surface has been oraπitagged provides the same level of interactivity as any other netpage.

There is a strong case to be made for netpήge-conipatible product tagging, Neipage turns any printed surføee into a finely differentiated graphical user interlace akin to a ψah page, and there are many applications which map nicely onto the surface of a product. These applications include obtaining product information of various kinds (nutritional information; cooking instructions; recipes; related products; use-by dates; servicing instructions; recall notices); playing games; entering competitions; roanagmg ownership (registration; query, such as in we case of stolen goods; transfer); providing product feedback; messaging; and indirect device control. If, on the other hand, the product tagging is undifferentiated, such as ia the case of an undifferentiated 2D barcode or RFED-carried item ID, theft the burden of information navigation is transferred to the information delivery device, which may significantly increase the complexity of the user experience or the required sophistication of the delivery device user interface.

The invention will now be described with reference to the following examples. However, it will of course be appreciated that this invention may be embodied in many other forms without departing from the scope of the invention, as defined in the accompanying claims.

Examples

4 quantltaϋva

R = CHaCHzOCHjCWjOCHjGHjOMβ

Scheme 1

(i) Galliumαil) chloride (5.70 g; 0.032 mol) was dissolved in anhydrous toluene {68 mL) wnder a slow stream of nitrogen and then the resulting solution was cooled in ice/water. Sodium methoxide (25% in methanol; 23.4 mL) was added alowty with stirring causing a thick white precipitate to form. Upon completion of the addition, the mixture was stifred at room temperature for 1 h and then nϊφhthalene-2,3- dicarbofljtrile (22.8 g; 0.J28 nW) was added pαrBonwise, followed by Methylene glycol monomethyl ether (65 mL). The thick slurry was distilled for 2 h to remove the methanol and toluene. Once the tojyejje bad distilled off, the reaction mixture became homogeneous and less viscous and stirred readily. Heating was continued for 3 h at 190 °C (internal). The brown/btøck reaction mixture was cooled to 60 ⁰ C, diluted with chloroform (ISO mL), and filtered under gravity through a sintered glass funnel. The solid residue was washed with more chloroform (50 mL) and then a further portion (50 mL) with suction under reduced pressure. The resulting dark green solid was then sequentially washed under reduced pressure with acetone (2 x 50 mL), DMF (2 x 50 mL), water (2 x SO mL), acetone (2 x 50 mL), and diethyl ether (2 x 50 mL). The moist solid was air-dried to a dry powder and then bested under high vacuum at ca. 100 "C for I h to complete the drying process. Naphthatooyaninatogsllium methoxymethyleneoxide 3 was obtained as a fine dark green powder (23.X4 g; 80%), λ^ (NMP) 770 pm.

(ϋ) HaphλatocyanήwtogaUiwm methoxytriethyjeneoxtøe 3 (9.38 g; 0.010 mol) was treated with 30% oleum (47 mL) by slow addition vis a dropping funnel while cooling ia as ice/water bath under a nitrogen atmosphere. Upon completion of the addition, the reaction mixture was transferred to a preheated water bath at 55 ⁰ C and stirred at this temperature for 2 h during which time the mixture became a homogeneous visc-m- dϋrJc blue solution- Th* stirred reaction mixture was cooled in aa ice/watβr bam and then 2-ρrρρariol (40 mL) was added slowly via a dropping funnel. This mixture was then poured into 2-propanol (100 mL) using more 2-ρroρanol (160 mL) to wash out the residues from the reaction flask. Diethyl ether (100 taQ was then added to me mixture which was then transferred to a sintered glass fennel and filtered under gravity affording a moist dark brown solid and a yellow/brown filtrate. The solid was washed sequentially with ether (50 roL), acetone/ether (1:1, 100 mL), and ether (100 mL) with suction under reduced pressure. The resulting solid (J3.4 g) alter drying under high vacuum was λen stirred in ethanoj/ether (1:3, 100 roL) for 3 days and then filtered and dried to give the tetrasulfonic acid 4 as a fine red/brown solid (J2.2 g; 105% of theoretical yield; 90% purity according to potentiorβctric titration). ¹ U 3SlMK. tøφMSO) δ 7.97, 8.00 (4H, dά\ J 7. ₅ = J7.6 = 7.2

Hz ₇ H7); 8.49 (4H, dd, J ₈ ,7 = 7.2, J ₈ ,, = 5-7 Hz, H8); 8.84, 8.98 (4H, d, J _6l7 ~ 7.2 Hz, H6); 10.10, 10.19, 10.25 (4H, d, J ₁ .. = 5.7 Hz ₅ Hl); 11.13, 11.16 (4H, s, H4).

Example 2 - Preparation of<μt\monium suits

The following Salts were prepared as described below.

(<t> Tetrapyridinium 5

Hydroxygallium napbttolύoyaiώaetetϊaswlfonic acid 4 (189 mg; 0,17 jw»ol) was suspended in pyridiae/water (50;50; 4 oJL) and stirred at room temperature for 16 h during which tans the reaction mixture became homogeneous. E&fir/etteno! (86:14, 35 vaL) was added to precipitate the salt and the supernatant liquid was decanted off before efher/e&anol (83:17, J 2 mL) was added with stirring, The solid waa filtered off and washed with ether/ethanol (50:50, 2 ^ 5 mt) and ether (2 * 5 mL). After drying under high vacuum, the

Tetrapyridinium salt 5 was obtained as a green powder (136 mg; 56%), ¹ H NMR førDMSQ) S 7,7& (8H, dd, J = 6.3, 6.3 Hz, H3\ H5'); 7.97, 8.00 (4H, dd, / _7fg = J _τb = 7.2 Hz, H7); 8.25 (4H, dd, /- 7.8, 7.8 Hz, W);

8.49 (4H, dd, fa = 7.2, J ₈ ,, = 5.7 Hz ₁ HS); 8.80 (8H, 47 ^» 7.8 H ₂ , «2% HB'); »-84, 8.98 (4H ₇ d, J ₆ ,, = 7.2 Ha, H6); 104O ₁ 10.19, 10.25 (4BL tL Ji ₁₈ = 5.7 Hz, Hl); 11.13, 11.16 (4H, «, H4).

φ ^j Tetr«kis(l,S-dfazabicyc ⁽ afS,4.0Jun4ec-7-enium) 9 - Comparative Example HydroxygδHiura naphtbalocyaπinetetrasuJfonic acid 4 (348 _mg; o,31 mwA) and 1,8- dw-abicyclo[5.4.0]undec-7-ene (DBU) (306 rag; 2.17 mmol) war* stirred in methanol (5 raL) for 20 h at room temperature during which time the reaction mixture became homogeneous. The mixture was diluted with ethanol/ether (25:75; 20 raL) and stirred for 30 rain. The supernatant was decanted off, ether (20 mL) was added and the sobxJ was filtered off, washing with ethanol/ether (50:50; 2 x 20 mL), mi <sth*r (2 x 20 raL). The tetmsromomum salt 9 was obtained a$ a green powder after drying under high vacuum (252 mg; 48%). ¹ H NMK tørDMSO) fi 1.1-1.2 (32H, in, PB ¹ , H4\ HS', HlO'); 2.5 (8H, ro, Hd ¹ ); 3,0-3.1 (24H ₁ m, H2\ m\ HH'); 7.97, 8.00 (4H, dd, λλ - JV ₁₆ = 7.2 Hz, H7); 8.49 (4H, dd, J _υ = 7.2, J _iA = 5 J Hz, H8); 8.84, 8.98 (4H, d, λ7 = 7,2 Hz, H6); 10.10, 10.19, 10,25 (4H, d, J _lfi = 5.7 Hz, Hl); 11.13, U.16 (4H, s, H4).

(c) Tetrakis(tributylammonium)8 - Comparative Example

HydrαxygaUium naphthalocyaninetetrasulforic acid 4 (905 rag; 0.81 mmol) and tributylamtne (2.32 rot; 9.70 mmol) were stirred in ethanol (96%; 5 mL) for 4.75 h at room temperature during which tune the reaction mixture became homogeneous. The solution was diluted with ether (100 mL) and the precipitated solid was filtered off, washing with more ether (2 x 25 mL). Excess amine was retnov&d by stirring the soli4 in tetrahytJroftwan/ether (70:30, 40 mL) fat 2 h and filtering off the solid. Toe tdτaJάs(tributylanwnonium) salt 8 was dried under high vacuum and obtained a* a green powder (730 mg; 49%). This salt is sparingly soluble in water buϊ readily dissolves in ethanol. ¹ H NMR tøs-DMSO) s 0.90 (12H, t, J = 7.2 Hz, H4 ¹ ); 1.34 (8H, sxt, J= 7.5 Hz, H3'); 1-58 (6H ₅ m, H2 ¹ ); 3.03 (6H ₁ br dd, /= 7.8, 7.8 Hz, Hl'); 7.97, S.00 (4H ₁ dd, Ju = J _u = 7-2 Hz, Wf); 3.49 (4H ₃ 44, J _itl = 7.2, J _aλ = 5.7 Hz, HS); 8.84, 8.98 (4H, d, λ, ₇ = 7.2 Hz, H6); 10.10, 10.19, 10.25 (4H, d, λβ ^« 5.7 Hz, Hl); 1143, 11.16 (4H, β, H4).

(4) Tetrαimdαzolium 7

Hydroxygalliuin nφhthalocyaninetetrasulfonic acid 4 (1.40 g; 1.25 jnrooJ) and imidazole (0.596 g; 8,75 mmόl) were suspended in memanol/water (S0:20; 17.5 mL) amd then the resulting green mixture was stirred at room temperature for 2 h, becoming homogeneous after 1 h. The solution was diluted with diethyl ether (50 mL), stirred for 15 min, and then allowed to stand. The supernatant liquid was decanted off and then ether/mefhanol (50:50; 20 mL) was added with stirring. The solid was filtered off, washing with etαer/methaaol (50:50; 3 x 20 mL) mά ether (2 x 20 mL). The sojid was then suspended in methanoj/ether (50;50; 20 mL) and stirred for 3 h. Filtration and drying under high vacuum afforded the tetraiπu ^' daxoliuro salt 7 as a green powder (1.32 g; 76%). ¹ H NMR tø-DMSO) S 7.61 (8H, br s. B4\ H5'); 7.98, 8.02 (4H, dd, j , ₈ = J ₁₆ = 7.2 Hz, H7); 8.49 (4H, br m, H8); 8.84, 8.98 (4H, d, / _w = 7.2 Hz, H6); 8.91 (4H ₃ br s, rø'); 10.10, 10.19, 10.25 (4H ₁ d.Ju = 5.7 Hz, Hl); 11.13, (4H, bτ m, H4).

Example S - Preparation of Inks and Refø&ffMP ffp ^g ffrfl of Ammonium Salts A solution of each salt was madts up in an ink vehicle according to Table 1.

Table I Composition of dyeless ink vehicles for salt derivatives

The resulting clear green solutions were printed on Cetcast matt photoquality inkjet pap«r (143 gsm) on an Epson C61 iaJςjet printer and then the reflectance spectra were measured on a Cary 5 UV-vis spectrophotometer. Results arc given in Table 2.

^s Fi£urό 2S; Figiwe

Table 2 Relationstup between amine conφoncπt of jβtrasulfonate salts, pH of ink wade accoπϋing to Table 1, au4 position of Q-band

From Table 2, it can be seen that compounds S, and 7, where BH ^* has a γK, ia the range of 4 to 9 and the pH of the ink formulation is between 4 and 6.5, the Q-band of absorption is greater than 800 nro. However, for compounds 8 and 9, wnere BH ⁺ has a pK» greater than 9 and the pH of the ink formulation is greater than 6.5, the Q-baπd is significantly less than 800 nm. Accordingly, compounds 5, and 7 are suitable for formulating inks which are not too acidic to be compatible with conventional CMYK inks, and which retain strong absorption in the πtsar-ϊB. region above 800 nm.

Other amine salts of the gallium naphthakicyanine tetrasul&nate 4 were prepared analogously to those prepared abpve in Examples 2(EiHd) ₁ and frrouilateci as 2 mM solutions in Wk vehicle A. The resulting clear green solutions were printed on Celcast matt pbotoquality inkjet paper (143 gsm) on an Epson

C61 iπkjet printer and then the reflectance spectra were measured on a Cary 5 UV-vis spectrophotometer. Results are given ia Table 3.

S Table 3 Spectroscopic properties of o&er aπmωaium salts

Front Table 3, it can be seen that DABCO and quinoline in a stoichiometric πttiQ of 4:1 provide salts, which can be formulated into inks having acceptable reflectance spectra. Stronger bases used in the same ratio are generally unsuitable and result in a significant blue-shift. However, the use of feww 0 equivalents of a stronger base can still provide inks having red-shifted Q-bands, Example 3(i) uses ^" tr&utylamiae in a ratio of 1:1 and provides a formulation having a Q-band at 805 nm. By contrast, tributylamine in a ratio of 4: 1 (Table 2) provides a formulation having a blue-shifted Q-band at 792 nm.

ψxamyle 4 - Preparation _m d jleflectanix Sϋάctra nffrfc ψith Added Carbϋxvlate Salts 5 Inks according to the present invention may also be prepared without isolation of the naphthalocyanine salts. For example, the teirasulfiroic add 4 may be formulated in aα ink vehicle and the pH adjusted using a suitable base or buffer. Examples 4(a) mά 4{b) below describe the preparation of inks by addition of carboxylate salts in aa iok comprising the tetrasul&nie 4.

0 (a) Lϊthwm/saάium &e$Utte ami mrasμJfonk ttcid 4

The tetrasulfonic acid 4 was made up to 2 mM in ink vehicle B containing 8 mM ISTaOAc or kiOAc. Tαis gave a clear green, solution containing 6 (pH 5.1) that was printed on Celcast matt photoquality mlget paper (143 gem). The reftectaneft spectrum had λ^x 806 nm for bom sodium and lithium.

5 (b) E&TA disodfuut salt and tetrasutfonic acid 4

The tetrasulfonic acid 4 was mδde up to 1.5 roM in ink vehicle B containing 3 mM ethyletiediaminetetraacetic acid (EPTA) disodium salt. This gave a clear green solution (pH 3.7) that was printed on Celcast matt photoquality mkjet paper (143 gsm). The reflectance spectrum had λ,^ S05 nm.

0 Exaψnfe S - Preparation and Reffepf^ce Spe<pra of Inks Commmtε Mixed Salts

Inks according to the present invention may also comprise mixed salts. Mixed salts may be advantageous in providing a suitable balance of properties or for tuning the spectroscopic characteristics of a salt. For example, in Example 5(b) the direct addition of three equivalents of p-tojuenesulfonic acid to the tetrakis(DBUararaoniura) salt 9 in the ink formulation lowers the pH from 7.7 to 4.0 and shifts the Q-band to 806 nm Indicating that protonatioα of the internal maso-nitrogens has taken place.

(<t) TetrttsHtfottk add 4 βrttt tetratis(trlbutyUmmønmm) salt 8

Solutions of the tctrasul&nic acid 4 and the tcrraMs(tnbutylararaonium) salt 8 (2 mM in vehicle C) were mixed in the ratios as shown in Table 4. The resulting clear green solutions were printed on Celcast matt photoqudity inlqet paper (143 gsm) with an Epson C61 inJget printer and the pH and maximum absorptions were measured.

Table 4 Properties of raised tetrasulfonie acid 4 and the tetraMs(tributylamrttoraum) salt 8 in vehicle C

(J>) Tetrakis(DMVamnωnium) salt 9 end p-ioluentsttlfotttc aci4

The DBUaromonium salt 9 (26.3 mg; 15.2 μmol) and p-toluenesulfonic acid (S.68 mg; 4≤.6 μmol) were •dissolved in. ink vehicle B (11.2 mL) to make up a solution that was 1.36 mM with respect to the naphthalocyanme. This gave a clear green, solution (pH 4.0) that was printed on Celcast matt photoquaUty inkjet paper (143 gsm). The reflectance spectrum had Km ⁸⁰⁶ røi (Figure 30),

(a) JmidUzύiium salt 7 and acetic acid

The tetraimjdazoliwn salt 7 was made up to 1. S mM in ink vehicle B containing 3 mM acetic acid. This gave a clear grsen solution (pH 5.1) that was printed on Celcast matt phorøquality InkJet paper (143 gsm). The reflectance spectrum bad ^W 807 nm (Figure 31).

Example 6 — Lfehtfastness

An Osram 250 W ra*tal halide lamp (HQI-EP 25OW7P E40) wiih an intensity of 17,000 lumens, (approximately 70,000 lux) was used to ύwiiate printed samples positioned at a distance of 9.0 cm from the globe. The industry standard measurement of lightiastness is the time taken for a sample to fade by 30% under typical indoor lighting conditions. Typical indoor lighting conditions are defined as iUuminatioo under a lighting intensity of 500 lux for 10 hours per day.

Lightfestness - Time taken to fade by 30% x (70,000 lux / 500 lux) x (24 h/ IQ h) = Time taken to fade by 30% x 336

a e ro ecte etmes o gtrunon uaj sa ts poute on paper.

All inks according to the present invention, with a pH in the range of 3.5 to 7, have excellent lightiastness. By contrast, tbc ink prepared from tetrakisφBUammoniwn) 9, having a pH of 7.7, had poor 5 lightfastacss with a projected lifetime of only 7,9 years,

This surprising result is a further advantage of the present invention and i≤ understood to be a result of the prøtouated jnacrccycle being less reactive towards singlet oxygen.

Example 7- pψnefastness 0 Inks were formulated from a variety of salts using the ink vehicles A ₇ B, C P ₁ F, H or I. Ink vehicles A-C were described in Table 1 above. Table 6 below describes ink vehicles D, F, H and I.

able 7 Composition o dyft ss n ve c es

$ Ozonefastaesa of inks printed on Celca$t mat* pbotoqusliry inkjet paper (143 gsm) were tested as follows. The printed samples were exposed to ozone at a concentration of 1 ppm until the intensity at SlO nm had decreased to 70%. 'F ¹ denotes a final result for samples that had readied 70% intensity. Other samples had intensity >70% during ibe teat period and the ozone lifetime was extrapolated from acquired data.

Table 8 - Ozonβftstness o printe inks

Inks according to the present invention were shown to have acceptable ozonefestness, in addition to acceptable lϊghtfastoess.

Io conclusion, gallium napntbalocyanme salts and ink fbmrølatioas of ώe present invention are excellent for use with oetpage and HypβrlabeP ¹ * systems. These dyes and inks exhibit near-IR. absorption above 800 am, good solubility in inJςjet ink formulations, negligible or low visibility and excellent u'ght&stne≤s. Moreover, these dyes can b# prepared in a high-yielding, expedient and efficient synthesis.