US4173673A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Dot-etchable masks from photopolymerizable elements
Assignee: EIDP Inc
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Filing: 1977-06-01
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Granted: 1979-11-06
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Expires: 1997-06-01
Abstract
Abstract Photopolymerizable elements are described comprising a sheet support, a photopolymerizable layer having a thickness of, at most, 0.0006 inch (0.015 mm.) and an optical density of at least 3.0 in the actinic region. Resist images made from these elements may be etched by a process of chemically undercutting the image areas and then spraying or rubbing them. The elements are useful as contact speed lithographic films and for other graphic arts applications.
Inventors
- 👤 Martin D. Bratt
- 👤 Abraham B. Cohen
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-31 10:12
CPC Classifications
G; G03; G03F; G03F5/00; Y; Y10; Y10T; Y10T428/00; Y10T428/24; Y10T428/24942; Y10T428/24983
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 16
Claim 1
Independent Claim
160 words
A dot-etchable mask prepared by imagewise exposing to actinic radiation a photopolymerizable element which comprises a transparent support bearing an addition photopolymerizable layer which is the outermost layer of the element or is contiguous to a removable cover sheet or an overcoat layer which is at least partially soluble in or permeable to a solvent for the photopolymerizable layer, said photopolymerizable layer being no more than 0.015 mm thick, and removing unexposed areas of the layer, said mask containing a tone correctable image comprised of polymeric dots having a hardened upper skin which rests on a softer undervolume having a lesser degree of polymerization or hardening, said dots having an optical density greater than 3.0 in the 350-400 nm region and being reducible in size by undercutting the polymeric dots with a solvent for the softer undervolume and removing hardened polymer from the edges of the hardened upper skin by mechanical action on the image bearing surface of the mask.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
160 words
A dot-etchable mask prepared by imagewise exposing to actinic radiation a photopolymerizable element which comprises a transparent support bearing an addition photopolymerizable layer which is the outermost layer of the element or is contiguous to a removable cover sheet or an overcoat layer which is at least partially soluble in or permeable to a solvent for the photopolymerizable layer, said photopolymerizable layer being no more than 0.015 mm thick, and removing unexposed areas of the layer, said mask containing a tone correctable image comprised of polymeric dots having a hardened upper skin which rests on a softer undervolume having a lesser degree of polymerization or hardening, said dots having an optical density greater than 3.0 in the 350-400 nm region and being reducible in size by undercutting the polymeric dots with a solvent for the softer undervolume and removing hardened polymer from the edges of the hardened upper skin by mechanical action on the image bearing surface of the mask.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
27 words
A dot-etchable mask according to claim 1 wherein the dots have a thickness of no more than 0.010 mm and an optical density of at least 4.0.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
16 words
A dot-etchable mask according to claim 2 wherein the mechanical action is rubbing, brushing, or spraying.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
20 words
A dot-etchable mask according to claim 1 wherein the polymeric dots are reducible in size by solvent and mechanical action.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
38 words
A dot-etchable mask according to claim 1 wherein the tone correctable image comprises a plurality of polymeric dots having photopolymerized caps resting on underlying columns, the columns being soluble in a solvent in which the caps are insoluble.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
28 words
A dot-etchable mask according to claim 1 wherein exposure to actinic radiation is sufficient to polymerize the surface but not more than about one-third the photopolymerizable layer thickness.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
19 words
A dot-etchable mask according to claim 1 wherein the polymeric dots are reducible in size by at least 5%.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
99 words
A dot-etchable mask comprising a transparent support bearing an addition photopolymerized tone correctable image having image areas which consist of hardened upper skins which rest on softer undervolumes having a lesser degree of polymerization or hardening, said image areas being no more than 0.015 mm thick and having an optical density greater than 3.0 in the 350-400 nm region and being reducible in size by undercutting the image areas with a solvent for the softer undervolume and removing hardened polymer from the edges of the hardened upper skin by mechanical action on the image bearing surface of the mask.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
99 words
A dot-etchable mask comprising a transparent support bearing an addition photopolymerized tone correctable image having image areas which consist of hardened upper skins which rest on softer undervolumes having a lesser degree of polymerization or hardening, said image areas being no more than 0.015 mm thick and having an optical density greater than 3.0 in the 350-400 nm region and being reducible in size by undercutting the image areas with a solvent for the softer undervolume and removing hardened polymer from the edges of the hardened upper skin by mechanical action on the image bearing surface of the mask.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
28 words
A dot-etchable mask according to claim 8 wherein the image areas have a thickness of no more than 0.010 mm and an optical density of at least 4.0.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
26 words
A dot-etchable mask according to claim 8 wherein the thickness of the upper skin is not more than about one-third the thickness of said image areas.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
37 words
A dot-etchable mask according to claim 8 wherein the image areas comprise a plurality of polymeric dots having photopolymerized caps resting on underlying columns, the columns being soluble in a solvent in which the caps are insoluble.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
16 words
A dot-etchable mask according to claim 8 wherein the mechanical action is rubbing, brushing, or spraying.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
21 words
A dot-etchable mask according to claim 8 wherein the image areas are reducible in size by a solvent and mechanical action.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
19 words
A dot-etchable mask according to claim 11 wherein the polymeric dots are reducible in size by at least 5%.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1982-11-05 | 1983-05-07 | 1983-11-06 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1986-11-05 | 1987-05-07 | 1987-11-06 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1990-11-05 | 1991-05-07 | 1991-11-06 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |