What is claimed is:
1. A method for making a color image comprising:
(1) imagewise exposing to laser radiation a laserable assemblage comprising:
(A) the thermally imageable element comprising a thermally imageable layer; and
(B) a receiver element in contact with the thermally imageable layer of the thermally imageable element; the receiver element comprising:
(a) an image receiving layer; and
(b) an receiver support;
whereby the exposed areas of the thermally imageable layer are transferred to the receiver element to form a colored image on the image receiving layer;
(2) separating the thermally imageable element (A) from the receiver element (B), thereby revealing the colored image on the image receiving layer of the receiver element;
(3) contacting the colored image on the image receiving layer of the receiver element with an image rigidification element comprising:
(c) a support having a release surface, and
(d) a thermoplastic polymer layer,
the colored image being adjacent to the thermoplastic polymer layer during said contacting whereby the color image is encased between the thermoplastic polymer layer and the image receiving layer of the receiving element;
(4) removing the support having a release surface thereby revealing the thermoplastic polymer layer; and
(5) contacting the revealed thermoplastic polymer layer from step (4) with a permanent substrate.
2. The method of claim 1 wherein the receiver support is transparent.
3. The method of claim 1 further comprising:
(1) removing the receiver support.
4. The method of claim 1 wherein the permanent substrate is paper.
5. The method of claim 1 wherein the permanent substrate is a polyester film.
6. The method of claim 1 wherein the exposure step is effected at a laser fluence of at most 600 mJcm2.
7. The method of claim 1 wherein the thermally imageable element is prepared by coating the thermally imageable layer on a base element.
8. The method of claim 7 wherein the thermally imageable layer is applied as an aqueous coating.
9. The method of claim 7 wherein the base element comprises:
(a) an ejection or subbing layer; and
(b) a heating layer.
10. The method of claim 9 wherein (a) is an ejection layer.
11. The method of claim 9 wherein (a) is an subbing layer.
12. The method of claim 7 wherein the base element comprises:
(a) a heating layer, and
(b) a base element support.
13. The method of claim 1 or 3 wherein the thermally imageable element comprises a colorant and a polymeric binder.
14. The method of claim 13 wherein the polymeric binder is a low decomposition temperature polymer having a decomposition temperature greater than about 350 C.
15. The method of claim 13 wherein the colorant comprises a pigment dispersion.
16. The method of claim 13 wherein the colorant comprises a dye.
17. The method of claim 1 or 3 wherein the thermally imageable element or the image receiving layer of the receiver element comprises a thermal amplification additive.
18. The method of claim 17 wherein the thermal amplification additive is selected from the group consisting essentially of diazo alkyls, diazonium salts, azido (N3) compounds; ammonium salts; oxides which decompose to form oxygen; carbonates; peroxides and mixtures thereof.
19. The method of claim 17 wherein the thermal amplification additive is 4-diazo-N,N diethyl-aniline fluoroborate.
20. The method of claim 17 wherein the thermal amplification additive is an near infrared absorbing (NIR) dye.
21. The method of claim 17 wherein the NIR dye is selected from the group consisting of poly(substituted) phthalocyanine compounds, metal-containing phthalocyanine compounds; cyanine dyes; squarylium dyes; chalcogenopyryioacrylidene dyes; croconium dyes; metal thiolate dyes; bis(chalcogenopyrylo) polymethine dyes; oxyindolizine dyes; bis(aminoaryl) polymethine dyes; merocyanine dyes; quinoid dyes and mixtures thereof.
22. The method of claim 1 or 3 wherein the image receiving layer of the receiver element comprises a crystalline polymer.
23. The method of claim 22 wherein the image receiving layer has a melting point of 50 to 64 C.
24. The method of claim 23 wherein the image receiving layer has a melting point of 56 to 64 C.
25. The method of claim 24 wherein the image receiving layer has a melting point of 58 to 62 C.
26. The method of claim 22 wherein the crystalline polymer is polycaprolactone.
27. The method of claim 1 or 3 wherein the image rigidification element support having a release surface comprises a support and a release layer.
28. The method of claim 27 wherein the release layer is selected from the group consisting of silicones; melamine acrylic resins; vinyl chloride polymers; vinyl chloride copolymers; vinyl acetate polymers; ; vinyl acetate copolymers; plasticized polyvinyl alcohols; ethylene; propylene polymers and propylene copolymers.
29. The method of claim 1 or 3 wherein the thermoplastic polymer is selected from the group consisting essentially of polyester, methacrylate, acrylate, polyvinylacetate, polyvinylbutyral, polyvinylformal, styrene-isoprene-styrene and styrene-ethylene-butylene-styrene polymers.
30. The method of claim 1 or 3 wherein the thermoplastic polymer is amorphous.
31. The method of claim 30 wherein the thermoplastic polymer has a Tg in the range of 30 to 150 C.
32. The method of claim 31 wherein the thermoplastic polymer has a Tg in the range of 40 to 70 C.
33. The method of claim 32 wherein the thermoplastic polymer has a Tg in the range of 40 to 55 C.
34. The method of claim 30 wherein the thermoplastic polymer is compatible with the image receiving layer.
35. The method of claim 30 wherein the thermoplastic polymer is polyester.
36. The method of claim 20 wherein the thermoplastic polymer layer comprises an NIR dye bleaching agent.
37. The method of claim 36 wherein the NIR dye bleaching agent is selected from the group consisting of amines, azo compounds, carbonyl compounds and, organometallic compounds, carbanions, peroxides, diacylperoxides, peroxy acids, hydroperoxides, persulfates, and halogen compounds.
38. The method of claim 1 or 3 further comprising before step (3):
(2a) repeating steps (1) to (2) at least once using a different thermally imageable element to from a colored image comprising at least two colors on the same image receiving layer.
39. The method of claim 38 wherein step (1) and (2) are repeated at least twice to form a colored image comprising at least four colors.
40. The method of claim 1 or 3 wherein contact of the colored image on the image receiving layer of the receiver element with the image rigidification element is accomplished by lamination.
41. The method of claim 40 wherein lamination takes place at speeds of at least 600 mmmin.
42. The method of claim 40 wherein lamination takes place at speeds of at least 800 mmmin.
43. The method of claim 1 or 3 wherein contact of the revealed thermoplastic polymer layer to the permanent substrate is accomplished by lamination.
44. The method of claim 43 wherein lamination takes place at speeds of at least 600 mmmin.
45. A method of bleaching a polymethine type NIR dye contained in a laserable assemblage which comprises contacting the dye in the laserable assemblage with a oxidant type bleaching agent selected from the group consisting of hydrogen peroxide, organic peroxides, hexaaryl biimidazoles, halogenated organic compounds, persulfates, perborates, perphosphates, hypochlorites and azo compounds; whereby the NIR dye is bleached by the bleaching agent.
46. An image proofing system comprising:
(a) a laser generated halftone dot color thermal image formed on a crystalline polymer layer, the crystalline polymer layer being located on a first temporary carrier; and
(b) a thermoplastic polymer layer laminated to the crystalline polymer layer whereby the color image is encased between the crystalline polymer layer and the thermoplastic polymer layer, the thermoplastic polymer layer being located on a second temporary carrier.
47. The image proofing system of claim 46 wherein the crystalline polymer is polycaprolactone.
48. The image proofing system of claim 47 wherein the crystalline polymer has a melting point of 50 to 64 C.
49. The image proofing system of claim 48 wherein the crystalline polymer has a melting point of 56 to 64 C.
50. The image proofing system of claim 49 wherein the crystalline polymer has a melting point of 58 to 62 C.
51. The image proofing system of claim 46 wherein the thermoplastic polymer has a Tg in the range of 30 to 150 C.
52. The image proofing system of claim 51 wherein the thermoplastic polymer has a Tg in the range of 40 to 70 C.
53. The image proofing system of claim 52 wherein the thermoplastic polymer has a Tg in the range of 40 to 55 C.
54. The image proofing system of claim 46 wherein the thermoplastic polymer is polyester.
55. The image proofing system of claim 46 wherein the first and second temporary carriers comprise polyester.
56. The image proofing system of claim 46 wherein the first and second temporary carriers have release surfaces.
57. The image proofing system of claim 46 wherein the crystalline polymer layer comprises an NIR dye.
58. The image proofing system of claim 57 wherein the thermoplastic polymer layer contains an NIR dye bleaching agent.
59. A printed proof comprising:
(a) a laser generated halftone halftone dot color thermal image formed on a crystalline polymer layer; and
(b) a thermoplastic polymer layer is laminated on one surface to the crystalline polymer layer and on the other surface to a permanent substrate, whereby the color image is encased between the crystalline polymer layer and the thermoplastic polymer layer.
60. The printed proof of claim 59 wherein the crystalline polymer has a melting point of 50 to 64 C.
61. The printed proof of claim 60 wherein the crystalline polymer has a melting point of 56 to 64 C.
62. The printed proof of claim 61 wherein the crystalline polymer has a melting point of 58 to 62 C.
63. A printed proof of claim 59 wherein the crystalline polymer is polycaprolactone.
64. The printed proof of claim 59 wherein the thermoplastic polymer has a Tg in the range of 30 to 150 C.
65. The method of claim 64 wherein the thermoplastic polymer has a Tg in the range of 40 to 70 C.
66. The method of claim 65 wherein the thermoplastic polymer has a Tg in the range of 40 to 55 C.
67. The printed proof of claim 59 wherein the thermoplastic polymer is polyester.
68. The printed proof of claim 59 wherein the color image comprises a pigment.
69. The printed proof of claim 59 wherein the color image comprises a dye.
70. The printed proof of claim 59 wherein the color image contains an NIR dye.
71. The printed proof of claim 70 wherein the thermoplastic polymer layer contains a dye bleaching agent which has effectively bleached the NIR dye.
72. The printed proof of claim 59 wherein the permanent substrate is paper.
73. A printed proof comprising in order:
(a) a receiver support;
(b) an image receiving layer;
(c) a thermal halftone dot color image;
(d) a thermoplastic polymer layer; and
(e) a paper substrate; wherein the color image is encased between the image receiving layer and the thermoplastic polymer layer.
74. The printed proof of claim 73 wherein the receiver support is transparent.
75. The printed proof of claim 73 wherein the receiver support is removed.
76. The printed proof of claim 73 which comprises at least four thermal halftone dot color images of different colors encased between the image receiving layer and the thermoplastic polymer layer.
77. A method for improving color purity in a thermal transfer color imaging process utilizing an NIR dye, comprising encasing the color image between a crystalline polymer layer and a thermoplastic polymer layer containing an NIR dye bleaching agent.
78. The method of claim 77 wherein the thermoplastic polymer layer further comprises a plasticizer.
79. The method of claim 78 wherein the plasticizer is present in the amount of about 1 to 20%, based on the total weight of the thermoplastic polymer layer.
80. The method of claim 77 wherein the NIR dye is selected from the group consisting of poly(substituted) phthalocyanine compounds; metal-containing phthalocyanine compounds; cyanine dyes; squarylium dyes; chalcogenopyryioacrylidene dyes; croconium dyes; metal thiolate dyes; bis(chalcogenopyrylo) polymethine dyes; oxyindolizine dyes; bis(aminoaryl) polymethine dyes; merocyanine dyes; and quinoid dyes.
81. The method of claim 80 wherein the NIR dye bleaching agent is selected from the group consisting of hydrogen peroxide, organic peroxides, hexaaryl biimidazoles, halogenated organic compounds, persulfates, perborates, perphosphates, hypochlorites and azo compounds.
The claims below are in addition to those above.
All refrences to claim(s) which appear below refer to the numbering after this setence.
1. A liquid crystal display, comprising:
a plurality of data lines;
a plurality of scan lines crossing said data lines, wherein said scan lines are grouped into a first group and a second group, and scan lines of the first group and scan lines of the second group are alternatively arranged;
a plurality of pixels defined by two neighboring data lines and two neighboring scan lines crossing the two neighboring data lines;
a plurality of common electrodes disposed in corresponding pixels to define said pixels to includes a plurality of first sub-pixels and a plurality of second sub-pixels;
a plurality of first switching devices respectively disposed in the first sub-pixels;
a plurality of second switching devices electrically coupled to corresponding data lines through said first switching devices respectively; and
a plurality of pixel electrodes electrically coupled to said first and second switching devices respectively.
2. The liquid crystal display of claim 1, further comprising a plurality of third switching devices disposed in said first sub-pixels respectively, wherein said third switching devices are electrically coupled to corresponding data lines through said first switching devices.
3. The liquid crystal display of claim 2, wherein said second switching devices are electrically coupled to said first switching devices and said third switching devices.
4. The liquid crystal display of claim 1, wherein said first switching devices and said second switching devices are transistors.
5. The liquid crystal display of claim 1, wherein said common electrodes and said pixel electrodes form storage capacitors.
6. A liquid crystal display, comprising:
a plurality of data lines;
a plurality of scan lines crossing said data lines;
a plurality of pixels defined by two neighboring data lines and two neighboring scan lines crossing the two neighboring data lines, wherein each pixel comprises:
a first pixel electrode;
a second pixel electrode;
a common electrode, wherein said common electrode and said first pixel electrode define a first sub-pixel and said common electrode and said second pixel electrode define a second sub-pixel;
a first transistor located in said first sub-pixel, a gate electrode of said first transistor is connected to said first scan line, a first sourcedrain electrode of said first transistor is connected to said first data line and a second sourcedrain electrode of said first transistor is connected to said first pixel electrode; and
a second transistor located in said second sub-pixel, a gate electrode of said second transistor is connected to said second scan line, a first sourcedrain electrode of said second transistor is connected to a second sourcedrain electrode of said first transistor and a second sourcedrain electrode of said second transistor is connected to said second pixel electrode, wherein said second transistor is coupled to said first data line through said first transistor.
7. The liquid crystal display of claim 6, further comprising a third transistor located in said first sub-pixel, a gate electrode of said third transistor is connected to said first scan line, a first sourcedrain electrode of said third transistor is connected to a second sourcedrain electrode of said first transistor and a second sourcedrain electrode of said third transistor is connected to said first pixel electrode, wherein said third transistor is coupled to said first data line through said first transistor.
8. The liquid crystal display of claim 7, wherein said second transistor is coupled to a common connection point of said first transistor and said third transistor.
9. The liquid crystal display of claim 6, wherein said common electrode and corresponding pixel electrode form a storage capacitor.
10. A liquid crystal display, comprising:
a plurality of data lines;
a plurality of scan lines crossing said data lines:
a plurality of pixels defined by two neighboring data lines and two neighboring scan lines crossing the two neighboring data lines, wherein each pixel comprises:
a first pixel electrode;
a second pixel electrode;
a common electrode, wherein said common electrode and said first pixel electrode define a first sub-pixel and said common electrode and said second pixel electrode define a second sub-pixel;
a first transistor located in said first sub-pixel, a gate electrode of said first transistor is connected to said first scan line, a first sourcedrain electrode of said first transistor is connected to said first data line and a second sourcedrain electrode of said first transistor is connected to said first pixel electrode;
a second transistor located in said first sub-pixel, a gate electrode of said second transistor is connected to said first scan line, a first sourcedrain electrode of said second transistor is connected to a second sourcedrain electrode of said first transistor and a second sourcedrain electrode of said second transistor is connected to said second pixel electrode, wherein said second transistor is coupled to said first data line through said first transistor; and
a third transistor located in said second sub-pixel, a gate electrode of said third transistor is connected to said second scan line, a first sourcedrain electrode of said third transistor is connected to a common connection point of said first transistor and said second transistor and a second sourcedrain electrode of said third transistor is connected to said second pixel electrode, wherein said third transistor is coupled to said first data line through said first transistor.
11. The liquid crystal display of claim 10, wherein said common electrode and corresponding pixel electrode form a storage capacitor.
12. A drive method for driving a liquid crystal display as claimed in claim 9, said method comprises:
providing pulse signals to drive said scan lines sequentially, wherein two pulse signals providing to adjacent scan lines partially overlap; and
providing two-step signals to said data lines sequentially, said two-step signal includes a first voltage signal and a second voltage signal, wherein said first voltage signal is written to said first sub-pixel through said first transistor when said first and second scan line are driven together, and said second voltage signal is written to said second sub-pixel through adjacent sub-pixel’s first transistor and said second transistor when said second scan line and adjacent pixel’s first scan line are driven.
13. The drive method of claim 12, wherein the overlap width of two pulse signals is equal to half width of the pulse signal.
14. The drive method of claim 12, wherein the value of said first voltage signal is larger than the value of said second voltage signal.
15. A drive method for driving a liquid crystal display as claimed in claim 10, said method comprises:
providing a first signal to said first scan line;
providing a second signal to said second scan line, wherein said first signal and said second signal partially overlap; and
providing two-step signals to said data lines sequentially, said two-step signal includes a first voltage signal and a second voltage signal, wherein said first voltage signal is written to said first sub-pixel through said first transistor and said second transistor when said first scan line is driven by said first signal, and said second voltage signal is written to said second sub-pixel through adjacent pixel’s first transistor and said second transistor when said first scan line is not driven and said second scan line is driven by said second signal and adjacent pixel’s first scan line is driven by said first signal.
16. The drive method of claim 15, wherein the overlap width of two pulse signals is equal to half width of the pulse signal.
17. The drive method of claim 15, wherein the first signal and the second signal are pulse signals.
18. The drive method of claim 17, wherein said second scan line is driven by pulse signal when said first scan line is driven by pulse signal.
19. The drive method of claim 15, wherein the first signal is a pulse signal and the second signal is a clock signal.
20. The drive method of claim 19, wherein said second scan line is not driven by clock signal when said first scan line is driven by pulse signal.
21. The drive method of claim 15, wherein the value of said first voltage signal is larger than the value of said second voltage signal.