Patent ID: 6632588
Filing Date: 2003-10-14
Classification: B41C,G03F,H05K,Y10S

Abstract:
A direct process for producing an imaged pattern on a substrate surface, comprising the steps of:(a) applying to said surface a film of a thermo-resist composition, which composition has the property of undergoing a thermally-induced transformation effective to increase or decrease its solubility in a particular developer; (b) thereafter, directing to selected areas of said film, corresponding to the positive or negative of the desired resist pattern, a focused beam of infrared energy effective to bring about in said composition the said thermally-induced transformation, without an initial step of non-selective flood exposure of said film to actinic radiation; and (c) thereafter contacting said film with a developer effective to selectively remove from said substrate surface those areas of said composition which, by reason of said transformation are differentially more soluble in said developer; wherein the thermo-resist composition comprises: (1) an infrared absorbing dye; (2) a polymer selected from the group consisting of styrene-maleic anhydride copolymers; and (3) acrylic monomers or oligomers.