Ablatable direct write imaging medium
AssigneePrecision Coatings, Inc.
InventorsNorman Sweet, Scott Zavada
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
An ablatable, direct write imaging medium includes a polymeric matrix having a carbon pigment and an ultraviolet absorbing dye therein. The carbon pigment functions to absorb relatively long wavelengths of light to cause ablation of the medium. The ultraviolet absorbing dye gives the ablation-imaged medium high optical density in ultraviolet portions of the spectrum.
Claims20
A light ablatable, ultraviolet absorbing imaging medium, said medium comprising:
- a substrate member;
- and
- a body of light ablatable, ultraviolet absorbing material supported by the substrate, said body comprising:
- a polymeric matrix;
- a carbon pigment dispersed in at least a portion of the thickness of the matrix;
- and
- an ultraviolet absorbing dye dissolved in at least a portion of the thickness of the matrix;
- wherein the concentration of carbon in said body is such that the optical absorption of said body at a wavelength of 360 nm attributable to said carbon is less than 50% of the optical absorption at 360 nm of said body which is attributable to the remainder of the components thereof.
A method of forming a photo mask, said method comprising the steps of:
- providing a light ablatable, ultraviolet absorbing imaging medium, said medium comprising a substrate, and a body of light ablatable, ultraviolet absorbing material supported by said substrate, said body comprising:
- a polymeric matrix, an infrared absorbing pigment disposed in at least a portion of the thickness of said polymeric matrix, and an ultraviolet absorbing dye dissolved in at least a portion of the thickness of said polymeric matrix, wherein the concentration of said pigment is such that the optical absorption of said body at a wavelength of 360 nm which is attributable to said pigment is less than 50% of the absorption of said body which is attributable to the remainder of the components of said body;
- and
- exposing said medium to an imagewise pattern of illumination having an energy level and profile sufficient to ablate said body from said substrate whereby an imagewise pattern is formed in said imaging medium.
A method for forming an imagewise pattern on a layer of photo responsive material, said method comprising the steps of:
- disposing a body of light ablatable, ultraviolet absorbing imaging medium in a superposed relationship with said layer of photo responsive material, said imaging medium comprising a polymeric matrix having a particulate material dispersed in at least a portion of the thickness of the matrix, and an ultraviolet absorbing dye dissolved in at least a portion of the thickness of the matrix, wherein the concentration of said particulate material in said matrix is such that the optical absorption of said imaging medium at 360 nm, which is attributable to said particulate material, is less than 50% of the absorption of said medium at 360 nm which is attributable to the remainder of the components thereof;
- exposing said imaging medium to an imagewise pattern of light having an energy sufficient to cause ablation of said imaging medium whereby the imaging medium is ablated to form an imagewise pattern;
- and
- illuminating said layer of photo responsive material through said imagewise pattern, with light which is capable of activating said photo responsive material.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.