Ablation enhancement layer

• US 6,485,839 B1
• Filed: 05/12/2000
• Issued: 11/26/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 05/14/1999
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company (3M Company)
• Original Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company (3M Company)
• Inventors: McCarthy, David W., Chiulli, Carl A., Sen, Radha, Nagarkar, Pradnya V., Ram, Jyothsna, Richard, James T., Heath, Linda S.
• Primary Examiner(s): Jones, Deborah
• Assistant Examiner(s): Dicus, Tamra
• Application Number:
  US09/570,074
• Time in Patent Office: 928 Days
• Field of Search: 428/461, 428/469, 428/689, 204/193
• US Class Current: 428/461
• CPC Class Codes: B41M 5/24 Ablative recording, e.g. by burning marks; Spark recording marking by high energetic means, e.g. by laser otherwise than burning or ablative removal B41M5/26; materials or methods for recording or reproduction by optical means G11B7/00
• CPC Class Codes: G02F 1/13439 characterised by their electrical, optical, physical properties; materials therefor; method of making
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/31692 Next to addition polymer from unsaturated monomers

Abstract

An ablatable laminar imaging medium useful in the manufacture of a substantially transparent electrode assembly is disclosed. The laminar imaging medium comprises a substrate, a high-index metal oxide layer, an ablatable metallic conductive layer, a high-index conductive metal oxide layer, and an ablation enhancement layer. The ablation enhancement layer has an IR-absorption greater than the IR-absorption of said high-index conductive metal oxide layer and an IR-reflectivity less than the IR-reflectivity of said high-index conductive metal oxide layer. Presence in the laminar imaging medium of the ablation enhancement layer lowers the exposure threshold of the medium and improves ablation accuracy, both—when occasioned in the manufacture of LCD electrode patterns—resulting collectively and ultimately in a more reliably formed electrical architecture, less susceptible to unwanted “shorting”.

Claims

1. An ablatable laminar imaging medium, useful in the manufacture of a substantially transparent electrode assembly, comprising:

(a) a substrate;

(b) a high-index metal oxide layer;

(c) an ablatable metallic conductive layer;

(d) a high-index conductive metal oxide layer; and

(e) an ablation enhancement layer having an IR-absorption greater than the IR-absorption of said high-index conductive metal oxide layer and an IR-reflectivity less than the IR-reflectivity of said high-index conductive metal oxide layer.

2. The ablatable laminar imaging medium of claim 1, wherein said ablation enhancement layer is substantially water-soluble or substantially water-dispersible.

3. The ablatable laminar imaging medium of claim 2, wherein said ablation enhancement layer comprises carbon black dispersed in a substantially water-soluble or substantially water-dispersible polymeric matrix.

4. The ablatable laminar imaging medium of claim 2, wherein said ablation enhancement layer includes an IR-absorbing dye.

5. The ablatable laminar imaging medium of claim 1, further comprising a substantially water-soluble or substantially water-dispersible release layer intermediate said ablation enhancement layer and said high-index conductive metal oxide layer.

6. The ablatable laminar imaging medium of claim 5, wherein said ablation enhancement layer comprises aluminum.

7. The ablatable laminar imaging medium of claim 6, wherein said release layer comprises polyvinylalcohol.

8. The ablatable laminar imaging medium of claim 1, further comprising a metal-oxide layer with poor absorption in IR.