Color imaging devices and color filter arrays using photo-bleachable dyes

Claim 2

In a color imaging device comprising: (i) a radiation-sensitive surface and, superimposed thereon, (ii) a single layer of a transparent binder containing a planar array of filter elements, the improvement wherein at least some of said filter elements contain at least two cationic photo-bleachable dyes which selectively absorb radiation in at least one portion of the spectrum, wherein the first of said dyes absorbs radiation in a first portion of the spectrum and the second of said dyes absorbs radiation in a second portion of the spectrum corresponding to a wavelength shorter than that to which said first portion corresponds, and wherein said second dye has a bleaching efficiency higher than said first dye.

Claim 3

A color imaging device as described in claim 1 wherein said layer containing the planar array of filter elements has a thickness less than about 3 microns and wherein each of said dyes is present in an amount sufficient to impart a density of at least about 1.5 in that portion of the spectrum in which it selectively absorbs.

Claim 4

A color imaging device according to claim 1 wherein at least one of said cationic photo-bleachable dyes is selected from the group consisting of chromylium and thiachromylium dyes; pyrylium and thiapyrylium cyanines; and flavylium and thioflavylium cyanines.

Claim 5

A color imaging device according to claim 1 wherein said radiation-sensitive surface comprises a planar array of charge-handling semiconductive photosensors and wherein said layer containing said filter elements is in micro-registration with said array of photosensors.

Claim 6

In a color imaging device comprising: (i) a planar array of charge-handling semiconductive photosensors and superimposed in micro-registration therewith, (ii) a single layer of a transparent binder containing a planar array of filter elements comprising at least two sets of filter elements in an interlaid pattern, the improvement wherein: (1) said layer has a thickness less than about 10 microns, and wherein: (2) each of said filter elements contains at least one cationic photo-bleachable dye that selectively absorbs radiation in at least one portion of the spectrum, and wherein: (3) one set of filter elements contains a first dye that selectively absorbs radiation in a first portion of the spectrum and another set of filter elements contains a second dye that selectively absorbs radiation in a second portion of the spectrum corresponding to a shorter wavelength than that to which said first portion corresponds, and wherein said second dye has a higher bleaching efficiency than said first dye, and wherein: (4) each of said dyes is present in an amount sufficient to impart a density to said layer of at least about 0.5 in that portion of the spectrum in which it selectively absorbs.

Claim 7

In a color imaging device comprising: (i) a planar array of charge-handling semiconductive photosensors and superimposed in micro-registration therewith, (ii) a single layer of a transparent binder containing a planar array of filter elements comprising at least two sets of filter elements in an interlaid pattern, the improvement wherein: (1) said layer has a thickness less than about 10 microns, and wherein: (2) each of said filter elements contains at least one cationic photo-bleachable dye that selectively absorbs radiation in at least one portion of the spectrum, and wherein: (3) one set of filter elements contains a first dye that selectively absorbs radiation in a first portion of the spectrum and another set of filter elements contains a second dye that selectively absorbs radiation in a second portion of the spectrum corresponding to a shorter wavelength than that to which said first portion corresponds, and wherein said second dye has a higher bleaching efficiency than said first dye, and wherein: (4) each of said dyes is present in an amount sufficient to impart a density to said layer of at least about 0.5 in that portion of the spectrum in which it selectively absorbs.

Claim 8

In a color imaging device comprising: (i) a planar array of charge-handling semiconductive photosensors and superimposed in micro-registration therewith, (ii) a single layer of a transparent binder containing a planar array of filter elements comprising three sets of filter elements lying in an interlaid pattern, a first set having elements containing yellow and magenta dyes, a second set having elements containing yellow and cyan dyes, and a third set having elements containing magenta and cyan dyes, the improvement wherein: (1) said layer has a thickness less than about 10 microns, and wherein: (2) each of said dyes is a cationic photo-bleachable dye, and wherein: (3) the bleaching efficiency of said yellow dye and of said magenta dye, is greater than the bleaching efficiency of said cyan dye, and wherein: (4) each of said dyes is present in an amount sufficient to impart a density to said layer of at least about 0.5 in its portion of the spectrum.

Claim 9

In a color imaging device comprising: (i) a planar array of charge-handling semiconductive photosensors and superimposed in micro-registration therewith, (ii) a single layer of a transparent binder containing a planar array of filter elements comprising three sets of filter elements lying in an interlaid pattern, a first set having elements containing yellow and magenta dyes, a second set having elements containing yellow and cyan dyes, and a third set having elements containing magenta and cyan dyes, the improvement wherein: (1) said layer has a thickness less than about 10 microns, and wherein: (2) each of said dyes is a cationic photo-bleachable dye, and wherein: (3) the bleaching efficiency of said yellow dye and of said magenta dye, is greater than the bleaching efficiency of said cyan dye, and wherein: (4) each of said dyes is present in an amount sufficient to impart a density to said layer of at least about 0.5 in its portion of the spectrum.

Claim 10

A color imaging device according to claim 6 wherein said layer containing the planar array of filter elements has a thickness less than about 3 microns and wherein said dyes are present in an amount sufficient to impart a density of at least about 1.5.

Claim 11

A color imaging device according to claim 6 wherein said photo-bleachable dyes are selected from the group consisting of chromylium and thiachromylium dyes; pyrylium and thiapyrylium cyanines; and flavylium and thiaflavylium cyanines.

Claim 12

A color imaging device as described in claim 7 wherein said layer has a thickness less than about 10 microns and wherein each of said dyes is present in an amount sufficient to impart a density to said layer of at least about 0.5 in that portion of the spectrum in which it selectively absorbs.