Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 21
Claim 1
Independent Claim
88 words
A method for forming a laser-induced thermal dye transfer image with a dye-donor element comprising a heat-transferable dye; a bleachable, near-infrared radiation absorbing sensitizer; and an acid photogenerating compound; wherein said method comprises the steps of exposing the dye-donor element with near-infrared radiation to heat exposed areas of said element, whereby exposed portions of said element are volatilized as a laser-induced thermal dye image and said near-infrared absorbing sensitizer is bleached to eliminate unwanted visible light absorptions and transferring said laser-induced thermal dye image to a dye-receiver element.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
88 words
A method for forming a laser-induced thermal dye transfer image with a dye-donor element comprising a heat-transferable dye; a bleachable, near-infrared radiation absorbing sensitizer; and an acid photogenerating compound; wherein said method comprises the steps of exposing the dye-donor element with near-infrared radiation to heat exposed areas of said element, whereby exposed portions of said element are volatilized as a laser-induced thermal dye image and said near-infrared absorbing sensitizer is bleached to eliminate unwanted visible light absorptions and transferring said laser-induced thermal dye image to a dye-receiver element.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
20 words
The method of claim 1, wherein said near-infrared radiation absorbing sensitizer is chosen from the group consisting of cyanine compounds.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
21 words
The method of claim 2, wherein said cyanine compound is chosen from the group consisting of 3,3'-diethylthiatricarbocy anine and 1,1'-diethyl-4,4'-carbocyanine iodide.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
44 words
The method of claim 1, where said acid-photogenerating compound is an aromatic onium salt selected from the group consisting of aryl halonium salts, aryl phosphonium salts, aryl arsenonium salts, aryl sulfonium salts, aryl selenonium salts, aryl diazonium salts, aryl iodonium salts and mixtures thereof.
Claim 6
Independent Claim
98 words
A method for forming a laser-induced thermal dye transfer image with a dye-donor element comprising: a heat transferable dye and a bleachable, heat-transferable, near-infrared radiation absorbing sensitizer; wherein said method comprises the steps of exposing the dye-donor element with near-infrared radiation to heat exposed areas of said element, whereby exposed portions of said element are volatilized as a laser-induced dye image; transferring said laser-induced dye image to a dye-receiver element comprising a dye image receiving layer and an acid-photogenerating compound; and exposing said laser-induced dye image to activating radiation to effect bleaching of said near-infrared radiation absorbing sensitizer.
Claim 7
Independent Claim
98 words
A method for forming a laser-induced thermal dye transfer image with a dye-donor element comprising: a heat transferable dye and a bleachable, heat-transferable, near-infrared radiation absorbing sensitizer; wherein said method comprises the steps of exposing the dye-donor element with near-infrared radiation to heat exposed areas of said element, whereby exposed portions of said element are volatilized as a laser-induced dye image; transferring said laser-induced dye image to a dye-receiver element comprising a dye image receiving layer and an acid-photogenerating compound; and exposing said laser-induced dye image to activating radiation to effect bleaching of said near-infrared radiation absorbing sensitizer.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
12 words
The method of claim 5, wherein said activating radiation is near-infrared radiation.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
15 words
The method of claim 5, wherein said dye-receiver element further comprises a near-ultraviolet absorbing sensitizer.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
12 words
The method of claim 7, wherein said activating radiation is near-ultraviolet radiation.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
61 words
A thermal dye transfer assemblage comprising a dye-donor element comprising a heat-transferable dye and a bleachable, near-infrared radiation absorbing sensitizer; and a dye-receiver element positioned to receive a laser-induced dye image from said dye-donor element and comprising a dye image receiving layer, wherein said thermal dye transfer assemblage contains an acid-photogenerating compound in either said dye-donor element or said dye-receiver element.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
61 words
A thermal dye transfer assemblage comprising a dye-donor element comprising a heat-transferable dye and a bleachable, near-infrared radiation absorbing sensitizer; and a dye-receiver element positioned to receive a laser-induced dye image from said dye-donor element and comprising a dye image receiving layer, wherein said thermal dye transfer assemblage contains an acid-photogenerating compound in either said dye-donor element or said dye-receiver element.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
13 words
The assemblage of claim 9, wherein said acid-photogenerating compound is in said dye-donor
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
14 words
The assemblage of claim 9, wherein said acid-photogenerating compound is in said dye-receiver element.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
21 words
The assemblage of claim 9, wherein said near-infrared radiation absorbing sensitizer is chosen from the group consisting of the cyanine compounds.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
20 words
The assemblage of claim 12, wherein said cyanine compound is chosen from the group consisting of 3,3'-diethylthiatricarbocyanine and 1,1'-diethyl-4,4'-carbocyanine iodide.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
44 words
The assemblage of claim 9, wherein said acid-photogenerating compound is an aromatic onium salt selected from the group consisting of aryl halonium salts, aryl phosphonium salts, aryl arsenonium salts, aryl sulfonium salts, aryl selenonium salts, aryl diazonium salts, aryl iodonium salts and mixtures thereof.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
21 words
The assemblage of claim 9 further comprising: a near-ultraviolet radiation absorbing sensitizer in either said dye-donor element or said dye-receiver element.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
30 words
The assemblage of claim 15, wherein said near-ultraviolet radiation absorbing sensitizer is chosen from the group consisting of xanthones, indandiones, indanones, throxanthones, acetophenones, benzophenones, anthracenes, dialkoxyanthracenes, perylenes, phenothiazines, and pyrenes.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
24 words
A dye-donor element for laser-induced thermal dye transfer comprising a non-bleachable, heat-transferable dye; a bleachable, heat-transferable, near-infrared radiation absorbing sensitizer; and an acid-photogenerating compound.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
24 words
A dye-donor element for laser-induced thermal dye transfer comprising a non-bleachable, heat-transferable dye; a bleachable, heat-transferable, near-infrared radiation absorbing sensitizer; and an acid-photogenerating compound.