Color filter arrays and color imaging devices

Claim 2

In a color filter array containing a planar array of filter elements which comprise a transparent, polymeric layer, at least one of said elements containing at least one heat-transferred dye in said polymeric layer, the improvement wherein: said polymeric layer comprises an amorphous, solvent-soluble, aromatic polyester having recurring units derived from the condensation residue of a diol and a carbonic acid or a dicarboxylic acid, at least 30 mole percent of the recurring units containing a saturated gem-bivalent radical having a saturated polycyclic three-dimensional structure that includes a saturated bicyclic atomic bridge hydrocarbon ring member.

Claim 3

The color filter array according to claim 1 wherein the edge sharpness of said filter elements is less than 4 microns.

Claim 4

The color filter array according to claim 1 wherein said polyester comprises recurring units comprised of the condensation residue of an aromatic diol having the general formula: HO--AR--X--AR--OH or the condensation residue of an aromatic dicarboxylic acid having the general formula: HOOC--AR--X--AR--COOH wherein AR is an aromatic radical and X is a saturated gem-bivalent radical having a saturated polycyclic three-dimensional structure that includes a saturated bicyclic atomic bridge hydrocarbon ring member.

Claim 5

The color filter array according to claim 3 wherein said atomic bridge contains one or more carbon atoms, an oxygen atom, a nitrogen atom or a spiro-union linkage.

Claim 6

The color filter array according to claim 3 wherein AR is represented by the formula: ##STR17## wherein each R is independently selected from hydrogen, halogen and alkyl having from 1 to about 4 carbon atoms.

Claim 7

The color filter array according to claim 1 wherein said polyester is selected from the group consisting of poly[4,4'-isopropylidenediphenylene-co-4,4'-hexahydro-4,7-methanoindan-5-ylidenediphenylene (50:50 molar ratio) terephthalate-co-isophthalate (50:50 molar ratio)]; poly(4,4'-hexahydro-4,7-methanoindan-5-ylidenediphenylene terephthalate); poly[4,4'-(2-norbornylidene)diphenylene carbonate]; and poly-(4,4'-hexahydro-4,7-methanoindan-5-ylidenediphenylene carbonate).

Claim 8

In a color imaging device comprising: (i) a radiation-sensitive surface and superimposed thereon, (ii) a color filter array comprising a transparent, polymeric layer, said layer containing a planar array of filter elements, at least some of which contain at least one heat-transferred dye that absorbs radiation in at least one portion of the spectrum and transmits radiation in at least one other portion of the spectrum, the improvement wherein: said polymeric layer comprises an amorphous, solvent-soluble, aromatic polyester having recurring units derived from the condensation residue of a diol and a carbonic acid or a dicarboxylic acid, at least 30 mole percent of the recurring units containing a saturated gem-bivalent radical having a saturated polycyclic three-dimensional structure that includes a saturated bicyclic atomic bridge hydrocarbon ring member.

Claim 9

In a color imaging device comprising: (i) a radiation-sensitive surface and superimposed thereon, (ii) a color filter array comprising a transparent, polymeric layer, said layer containing a planar array of filter elements, at least some of which contain at least one heat-transferred dye that absorbs radiation in at least one portion of the spectrum and transmits radiation in at least one other portion of the spectrum, the improvement wherein: said polymeric layer comprises an amorphous, solvent-soluble, aromatic polyester having recurring units derived from the condensation residue of a diol and a carbonic acid or a dicarboxylic acid, at least 30 mole percent of the recurring units containing a saturated gem-bivalent radical having a saturated polycyclic three-dimensional structure that includes a saturated bicyclic atomic bridge hydrocarbon ring member.

Claim 10

The color imaging device according to claim 7 wherein said radiation-sensitive surface is a planar array of charge-handling semiconductive photosensors and wherein said color filter array is in micro-registration with said array of photosensors.

Claim 11

The color imaging device according to claim 7 wherein the edge sharpness of said filter elements is less than 4 microns.

Claim 12

The color imaging device according to claim 7 wherein said polyester comprises recurring units comprised of the condensation residue of an aromatic diol having the general formula: HO--AR--X--AR--OH or the condensation residue of an aromatic dicarboxylic acid having the general formula: HOOC--AR--X--AR--COOH wherein AR is an aromatic radical and X is a saturated gem-bivalent radical having a saturated polycyclic three-dimensional structure that includes a saturated bicyclic atomic bridge hydrocarbon ring member.

Claim 13

The color imaging device according to claim 7 wherein said atomic bridge contains one or more carbon atoms, an oxygen atom, a nitrogen atom or a spiro-union linkage.

Claim 14

The color imaging device according to claim 10 wherein AR is represented by the formula: ##STR18## wherein each R is independently selected from hydrogen, halogen and alkyl having from 1 to about 4 carbon atoms.

Claim 15

The color imaging device according to claim 7 wherein said polyester is selected from the group consisting of poly[4,4'-isopropylidenediphenylene-co-4,4'-hexahydro-4,7-methanoindan-5-ylidenediphenylene (50:50 molar ratio) terephthalate-co-isophthalate (50:50 molar ratio)]; poly(4,4'-hexahydro-4,7-methanoindan-5-ylidenediphenylene terephthalate); poly[4,4'-(2-norbornylidene)diphenylene carbonate]; and poly(4,4'-hexahydro-4,7-methanoindan-5-ylidenediphenylene carbonate).

Claim 16

The color imaging device according to claim 7 wherein said color filter array comprises three sets of filter elements in an interlaid pattern, a first set containing a red dye, a second set containing a green dye and a third set containing a blue dye.

Claim 17

The color imaging device according to claim 8 wherein at least one of said filter elements and said photosensors have areas less than about 10 -4 square centimeter.