CN108638690B - Method for manufacturing anti-counterfeiting device - Google Patents

Abstract

A visual display assembly adapted for use as an anti-counterfeiting device for banknotes, product labels and other objects. The assembly includes a film of transparent material including a first surface containing an array of lenses and a second surface opposite the first surface. The assembly also includes a printed image proximate the second surface. The printed image includes pixels of a frame of one or more images interleaved with respect to two orthogonal axes. The lenses of the array are nested in a plurality of parallel rows, and adjacent ones of the lenses in columns of the array are aligned in a single one of the rows without offset of the lenses in adjacent columns/rows. The lens may be a circular-based lens or a square-based lens, and the lens may be provided at a 200 Lens Per Inch (LPI) or higher LPI in both directions.

Description

Method for manufacturing anti-counterfeiting device

The present application is a divisional application of an invention patent application having an application date of 2014, 27/2, application number of 201480060437.2, entitled "pixel mapping and printing for microlens arrays to achieve biaxial activation of an image".

Cross reference to related applications

This application is a continuation-in-part application of U.S. patent application No. 14/017,415 filed on 9/4/2013, which claims the benefit of U.S. provisional application No. 61/743,485 filed on 9/5/2012, both of which are incorporated herein by reference in their entirety.

Technical Field

The present invention relates generally to combining printed images with lens arrays to display three-dimensional (3D) images with or without motion, and more particularly, to a method suitable for use with arrays of square, circular, parallelogram or hexagonal-based microlenses to provide pixel mapping of enhanced 3D images (images) with more complete volume and/or with multi-directional motion, to provide arrangement of pixels, and to image.

Background

There are many applications where it is desirable to view a printed image via an array of lenses. For example, anti-counterfeiting efforts (effort) often involve the use of the following anti-counterfeiting devices or elements: the security device or element is comprised of an array of lenses, and an image printed onto the back of the lens array or onto an underlying substrate or surface (e.g., a sheet of paper or plastic). The security element can be used to display the following images: the image is selected to be unique and to be an indicator that the item carrying the security element is not a forgery. The anti-counterfeiting market is growing rapidly around the world, with anti-counterfeiting elements placed on wide (wide range) items, such as on currency (e.g., on the surface of paper bills (paper bill) to help prevent copying) and on labels for retail products (e.g., labels on clothing showing authenticity).

In this regard, moire patterns have been used for many years in security elements having arrays of circular lenses and arrays having hexagonal arrays (or arrays of circular and hexagonal lenses). Typically, the printed image provided in the ink layer beneath the lens arrays is a tiny, fine image relative to the size of the lenses. The moire pattern is provided in the printed image in the form of a secondary and visually apparent superimposed pattern which is created when two identical patterns on the surface are superimposed while being displaced or rotated a small amount from each other.

In such moire pattern based security elements, some of the images may be printed at a somewhat more or less frequent frequency than a one-to-one dimension of the two axes of the lens, and some of the images may be printed somewhat differently with respect to each other. FIG. 1 shows an enlarged, exemplary assembly 100 that can be used as a security element using a moire pattern. The assembly 100 includes a lens array 110 made up of side-by-side, parallel columns (or rows) 112 of circular lenses 114, and it can be seen that the columns 112 are offset from each other (by about 50%) such that pairs of adjacent lenses 114 in a column are not aligned (e.g., the lenses in the next column are placed in the gap between two lenses in the previous column).

The printed image 120 is provided in an ink layer (on the back planar surface of the lens array 110) underneath the lens array 110. The result that is difficult to see in fig. 1 is a magnified moire pattern that provides the viewer with the illusion of depth of field, or in some cases the sensation that the image is moving (motion or animation of the displayed item), via the lenses 112 of the lens array 110. Typically, the thickness of each of the lenses 112 is in the range of 0.5/1000 to 5/1000 inches (or 12 to about 125 microns), and the frequency of the lenses 112 in the array 110 is about 400 x 400 per inch to over 1000 x 1000.

While helping to reduce counterfeiting, the use of moire patterns with magnifying circular lens arrays is not entirely satisfactory for the anti-counterfeiting market. One reason is that the effect that can be achieved with moire patterns is limited. For example, a photograph cannot be taken and a moire pattern is employed to display 3D. Generally, moire patterns are used in the security and/or anti-counterfeiting industry in very fine lenses having a focal length of about 20 to 75 microns and a frequency of over 500 lenses per inch in one axis or more than 250,000 lenses per square inch. As a result, the image under the lenses in the lens array is typically printed at least at 12,000DPI (dots per inch), and may even be provided at over 25,000 DPI. These microlens arrays are typically closely nested (nested) as shown in the element 200 with its array 210 in fig. 2. Array 210 uses hexagonal lenses provided in offset and superimposed columns 212 (e.g., side-by-side lenses 214 are not aligned in rows and are placed to fill or nest into the gaps between two lenses of adjacent columns 212) to focus and magnify the image or moire pattern 220 in the underlying ink layer.

One difficulty or problem with the use of such arrays 210 and images 220 is that the element 200 is relatively easy to reverse engineer, which limits its usefulness as a security element. In particular, the pattern 220 under the lens 214 can be seen using an inexpensive and readily available microscope, which allows one to determine the frequency of the images and patterns. In addition, the lens 214 can be cast and re-molded, which makes printing the identified image the only obstacle to successfully replicating the element 200 (and then counterfeiting the currency or product label). Unfortunately, printing the image 220 becomes easier to accomplish due to high resolution lasers and setters (setters) and other printing advances. Typically, for element 200, microlenses are printed using embossing and filling techniques, which limits printing to one color due to the fact that the process is susceptible to self-contamination after one color, and also due to the fact that it is difficult for the process to control the relative color-to-color spacing in the embossing and filling printing process.

Accordingly, there is a need for advances in the design and manufacture of assemblies or components that combine a lens array and a printed image (an ink layer containing the image/pattern) to display an image. Such improvements may allow the production of new security devices or elements for use with currency, labels, credit/debit cards and other items, and these security devices will preferably be more difficult, if not almost impossible, to duplicate or copy. Furthermore, there is an increasing demand for such anti-counterfeiting devices as follows: the security device uses the image (e.g., a more realistic 3D display) of the image it displays, such as floating above and/or below the focal plane, to provide surprise or 'wow factor'.

Disclosure of Invention

Briefly, the inventors have recognized that it may be beneficial to provide different nesting of lenses in an array that can then be combined with an image having biaxial interlacing. For example, the lenses may be circular or square based lenses with their centers aligned such that an array is made up of parallel rows and columns of lenses (e.g., without offsetting adjacent lenses from each other as seen in the arrays of fig. 1 and 2). The images are printed from a printed document generated from a matrix of frames of images taken (take) from a plurality of viewpoints (POV) along a first axis (X-axis) and also along a second axis (Y-axis). The frames are interleaved in both directions to provide a pixel map to the lenses of the array.

More particularly, a visual display assembly is provided that is useful as a security device on banknotes, product labels and other objects. The assembly includes a film of transparent material including a first surface containing an array of lenses and a second surface opposite the first surface. The assembly also includes a printed image proximate the second surface. The printed image comprises pixels of a frame of one or more images interleaved with respect to two orthogonal axes (from a document print generated using biaxial interleaving rather than uniaxial interleaving as in conventional raster (lenticular) printing). The lenses of the array are nested in multiple parallel rows, and adjacent ones of the lenses in columns of the array may be aligned to be in a single row of rows (e.g., in some cases, it may be useful for adjacent lenses to be offset-free).

To provide a lens array, the lenses may be circular-based lenses, square-based or hexagonal-based lenses. The lenses of the array are provided at a LPI of 200LPI (or higher) measured along both orthogonal axes. The lenses may each have a focal length of less than 10/1000 inches. In some embodiments, the frames each include a different viewpoint (POV) of one or more images. In this case, the frame includes images from at least three POVs along a first of two orthogonal axes, and the frame also includes images from at least two additional POVs corresponding to each of the three POVs along a second of the two orthogonal axes.

In the assembly, the printed image may be adapted such that the image displayed from the normal POV includes a first set of symbols and a second set of symbols, and in the image displayed when the assembly is rotated about the first axis from the normal POV, the first set of symbols and the second set of symbols move in opposite directions. Further, the printed image may be adapted such that in an image displayed when the assembly is rotated from the normal POV about a second axis orthogonal to the first axis, the first symbol and the second symbol move in a single direction orthogonal to the second axis.

In other assemblies, the printed image may be adapted such that the image displayed from the normal POV includes a first set of symbols and a second set of symbols, and the first set of symbols and the second set of symbols may move in a single direction parallel to the first axis of the assembly in the image displayed when the assembly is rotated about the first axis from the normal POV. In such an embodiment of the assembly, the printed image may be adapted such that in an image displayed when the assembly is rotated from the normal POV about a second axis orthogonal to the first axis, the first symbol and the second symbol move in a single direction parallel to the second axis.

Another visual effect is achieved in other embodiments of the assembly. In particular, the printed image may include wallpaper patterns (e.g., with icons, logos, and other symbols) and overlay patterns. The printed image may then include mapped pixels such that the wallpaper pattern is visible from multiple POVs (when the component is rotated/tilted to different angles relative to the viewer's line of sight), and the superimposed pattern has different ranges of visibility over the multiple POVs. For example, the different visualizations may include: a normal POV along the assembly is not visible (or only weakly visible) to the viewer's overlay, rotating or tilting the assembly (in some cases in any direction) from normal farther and farther so that the darkness or brightness of the overlay pattern increases until fully visible (or at some more extreme angles such as normal relative to angles in the range such as 45 to 60 degrees, etc., the colors are as dark or bright as possible).

Drawings

FIG. 1 is a top view of an assembly for use as a security element or device having an array of lenses comprised of side-by-side and vertically offset columns of circular lenses (e.g., the lenses are not arranged in linear rows in the array) overlying a printed moire pattern;

FIG. 2 is a top view similar to that of FIG. 1, showing an assembly for use as a security element or device having a lens array comprised of side-by-side and vertically offset columns of hexagonal lenses overlaying a printed moire pattern (e.g., the lenses are not arranged in linear rows and are closely nested with abutting contacts);

FIGS. 3A and 3B show top and cross-sectional views, respectively, of an item, such as a banknote or product label, having a circular lens array based security device, taken at line 3B-3B;

FIGS. 4A and 4B show top and cross-sectional views, respectively, taken at line 4B-4B of an item, such as a banknote or label, having a security device or element provided on a surface based on a square lens array;

FIG. 5 illustrates a process of obtaining frames or images associated with different viewpoints of a scene taken along a horizontal or X axis;

FIG. 6 illustrates a process of obtaining frames or images associated with different viewpoints of the scene of FIG. 5 taken along a vertical or Y axis;

FIG. 7 illustrates a larger set of frames or images, e.g., multiple sets of frames to provide height, obtained by taking different viewpoints of the scene at each point along the X-axis (or Y-axis);

FIG. 8 shows an image provided by an exemplary interlaced file (e.g., a vertically assembled file) for one row of a matrix of frame files associated with multiple viewpoints;

FIG. 9 shows an image provided by a combined printed document (or a bi-directionally interleaved document or an X-axis and Y-axis combined document) for use with the lens array of the present description;

FIG. 10 illustrates a side-by-side comparison of an image of an original combined printed document with an image of a combined printed document adjusted (enlarged) as discussed in the description;

fig. 11 and 12 show views of two exemplary components viewed from different POVs, where the components are useful as anti-counterfeiting devices for currency and the like configured with a lens array and printed images to provide different motion effects;

fig. 13 shows multiple views of another exemplary lens/printed image (ink layer) assembly (or security device) from multiple different POVs;

fig. 14 shows a normal (or orthogonal/planar) view and left and right oblique views of another lens/printed image assembly (anti-counterfeiting device);

fig. 15 shows a component (e.g., a security device in the form of a label) incorporating a microlens array provided on an ink layer containing a biaxially interlaced set of images as described herein;

FIG. 16 is a functional block diagram or schematic diagram of a system for use in manufacturing the security device or lens/printed image assembly of the present description;

FIG. 17 shows a flow diagram of a 0a pixel adjustment method according to the present description and which can be implemented using the system of FIG. 16;

FIG. 18 provides a schematic diagram and printed file (pixel map) illustrating a process of providing dual-axis interleaving of image frames to achieve the visual effects described herein;

19-21 are ray tracing plots showing components used in the present description, e.g., a lens array for combination with a dual axis interlaced image;

FIG. 22 is an off-axis ray tracing plot;

FIG. 23 is a plot of dots corresponding to the off-axis analysis of FIG. 22;

FIGS. 24 and 25 are two additional dot plots or dot arrays for a circle-based lens (or ball lens);

FIG. 26 is a plot of ray tracing for the lens associated with the plots of FIGS. 24 and 25;

similar to fig. 11 and 12, fig. 27-29 show additional exemplary components viewed from different POVs, where the components are useful as security devices for currency or other objects configured with lens arrays and printed images to provide different motion effects (dual axis activation);

fig. 30 shows another component that can be used as a security device with a background pattern that pushes back from the foreground image in all POVs;

fig. 31 shows the top of an item of a security device, such as a banknote or product label, having a hexagonal-based lens array (an array of hexagonal lenses in a nested pattern); and

fig. 32 shows the top of an item of security device, such as a banknote or product label, with a circular or ring-based lens array (an array of circular lenses in a nested pattern).

Detailed Description

Briefly, the present description is directed to the design of an assembly of lens arrays for combination with a printed image provided in an ink layer. The assembly may be used, for example, but not limited to, as a security element or device. The lens array differs in part from the lens array shown in fig. 1 and 2 in that the lenses are arranged in non-vertically offset columns such that the lenses are provided in parallel columns and also in parallel rows (e.g., adjacent lenses in side-by-side columns are aligned with their collinear central axes). The lens may be a circular, square, parallelogram or hexagon based lens, and the underlying image has its pixels mapped and arranged such that the microlens array produces a 3D display image with full volume, and in some cases with multi-directional motion or animation.

In the embodiment shown in fig. 3A and 3B, an item 300, such as a banknote, a label for a product, etc., is provided with a security element or device in the form of a lens array (circular lens array) 310 overlying or disposed on top of an ink layer 320 providing a printed image. As shown, item 300 includes a substrate or body 305, such as a sheet of paper or plastic (e.g., paper to be used as currency, or paper/plastic to be used for product labeling). On the surface 307 of the substrate/body 305, an image is printed via the ink layer 320, and the lens array 310 is disposed on the exposed surface of the ink layer 320 (e.g., the ink layer 320 and its pattern/image may be printed onto the substrate surface 307 or the back of the lens array 310).

As shown, lens array 310 is comprised of a plurality of lenses 314, each of the plurality of lenses 314 having a circular base 317 abutting a surface 321 of ink layer 320 and having a dome-shaped (dome-shaped) cross-section, as seen in fig. 3B. The circular-based lenses or circular lenses 314 are arranged in a plurality of columns 312, the plurality of columns 312 being parallel as shown by the parallel vertical or Y-axis 313 in fig. 3A (the axis passing through the centers of the lenses 314 in the columns 312). Further, the lenses 314 are arranged such that pairs of lenses 314 in adjacent ones of the columns 312 are in contact or proximity at least at the mount 317 (as seen in fig. 3A and 3B). Still further, as seen in the arrays 110, 210 of fig. 1 and 2, the columns 312 are not vertically offset such that pairs of adjacent lenses 314 are aligned in rows, as can be seen by parallel horizontal or X-axes 315 passing through the centers of the lenses 314 in the array 310 (e.g., the lenses 314 of the array 310 are aligned both vertically and horizontally due to the particular nesting shown in fig. 3A).

In the embodiment shown in fig. 4A and 4B, an item 400, such as a banknote, a label for a product, etc., is provided with a security element or device in the form of a lens array (e.g., a square-based lens array) 410 that covers or is disposed on top of an ink layer 420 that provides a printed image. As shown, item 400 includes a substrate or body 405, such as a sheet of paper or plastic (e.g., paper to be used as currency, or paper/plastic to be used for product labeling). On the surface 407 of the substrate/body 405, an image is printed via the ink layer 420, and the lens array 410 is disposed on the exposed surface of the ink layer 420 (e.g., the ink layer 420 and its pattern/image may be printed onto the substrate surface 407 or onto the back of the lens array 410).

As shown, the lens array 410 is made up of a plurality of lenses 414, each of the plurality of lenses 414 having a square base 417 abutting a surface 421 of the ink layer 420 and may have a dome-shaped cross-section, as seen in fig. 4B. The square-based lenses or square lenses 414 are arranged in a plurality of columns 412, the plurality of columns 412 being parallel as shown by the parallel vertical or Y-axis 413 in fig. 4A (the axis passing through the centers of the lenses 414 in the columns 412). Further, the lenses 414 are arranged such that pairs of lenses 414 in adjacent ones of the columns 412 are in contact or close proximity at least at the mounts 417 (as seen in fig. 4A and 4B). Still further, as seen in the arrays 110, 210 of fig. 1 and 2, the columns 412 are not vertically offset such that pairs of adjacent lenses 414 are aligned in rows as can be seen by parallel horizontal or X-axes 415 passing through the centers of the lenses 414 in the array 410 (e.g., the lenses 414 of the array 410 are aligned both vertically and horizontally due to the illustrated nesting of the lenses 414).

In the lens arrays 310, 410, lenses may be provided at a frequency of as few as 150 lenses per linear inch in both the X-axis and the Y-axis, or up to about 4000 lenses per linear inch in each of the X-axis and the Y-axis. Note that the lenses are nested as shown in fig. 3A and 4A such that when a viewer of an item 300, 400 views an image in ink layer 320, 420, there is little or no interference from adjacent or neighboring lenses. Both the stacked square-based lenses 414 or the circular-based lenses 314 may be used to support the interleaving process described herein for providing an image/pattern in the ink layers 320, 420. In some cases, square-based lenses 414 may be preferred because these square-based lenses 414 produce a more complete or completely filled image.

The ink layer 320, 420 is adapted or designed for use with the lens array 310, 410 to provide a full volume 3D display image with or without multi-directional motion or animation. Specifically, similar to the raster image, the image is interleaved in the X-axis and then also in the Y-axis to create a full volume 3D interleaved image. The lenses 314, 414 have point focus for the viewer, and the resulting image viewed by the viewer (the image displayed from light reflected from the ink layers 320, 420 via the lens arrays 310, 410) is a 3D image in all directions, regardless of the viewpoint of the viewer.

In this regard, it may be useful to compare and contrast the pixel mapping arrangement in the ink layer 320, 420 combined with the lens array 310, 410 with respect to the effects produced with conventional moir é pattern based assemblies (see assemblies shown in fig. 1 and 2), with the following listed effects: (1) both moire and pixel mapping according to the present description provide floating; (2) the floating height is limited to 100% with moire patterns, while 150% floating can be achieved with embodiments based on pixel mapping; (3) both techniques provide 1-directional motion; (4) on-off is available/achievable only with pixel mapping techniques; (5) animation can also be obtained using only pixel-based mapping embodiments; (6) magnification may not be provided using moire patterns, but may be provided using pixel mapping; (7) the pixel mapping based embodiments described herein can only be employed to provide true 3D; (8) it is also only possible to use the pixel mapping based embodiment of the present description to implement the shift in the opposite direction; (9) one image up/side is another effect that can only be achieved by using the pixel-based mapping embodiment; and (10) full volume 3D can only be obtained by using the lens array and pixel mapping taught herein. As a result of some or all of these effects or aspects of both techniques, moire pattern based security devices are easily reverse engineered, whereas pixel mapping based security devices are impossible or nearly impossible to reverse engineer.

With a general understanding of the lens array and the configuration of the lens array as understood, it may be useful to discuss pixel arrangements, imaging and mapping (e.g., the design of the ink layers of the assembly shown in fig. 3A-4B) based on round and square-based lenses. Conventional raster printing (interlaced printing of images for use with a lenticular lens array) uses a certain number of files created from different viewpoints (or view points) in order to obtain a 3D effect. For example, the viewpoint in a single plane is moved to the left or right to create the next viewpoint. Traditional raster printing also uses different frames from a sequence of images to create certain motions or animations, or other visual effects. Once generated, the set of frames or files are combined in an interleaved file, which is then printed onto the back of the lenticular lens array or onto a substrate on which the lenticular lens array may be applied. The process of creating the final file from the original frame is called "interlacing" (e.g., the process of striping and arranging the printed information to a given pitch to match a particular lenticular lens array).

The interlacing on conventional grating-like materials has only one direction and the interlacing depends on the lens direction, so that the striping is horizontal or vertical. This process combines the frames so that the viewer can see the effect of acting horizontally or vertically (but not both) depending on the lens orientation. Fig. 5 illustrates a process 500 of obtaining a set of files of a single image or scene 540 for use in printing viewed from three different viewpoints 510, 520, and 530 (such as-45 degrees, orthogonal, and +45 degrees, etc.). Viewpoints 510, 520, and 530 are views taken along a horizontal or X axis from the same scene. The resulting frames or views 510, 520, 530 from the views are slightly different and then combined in an interleaving process. When a frame of the interleaved image is combined with a sheet of grating material and viewed, the frame may generate a depth perception or 3D effect.

As shown in fig. 3A-4B, circular and square based lenses may be used in a lens array with a printed image, and these lenses may allow the effect to act in two directions simultaneously, e.g., both horizontal and vertical directions. The fact that the visual effect is created in all directions also requires that a more complete set of frames or views from the same scene be provided in the printed image (or ink layer) used with the circular or square lens array. With the inventors' recognition of this, the inventors developed a new process (described below) for interleaving (or more precisely, mapping, arranging, and imaging pixels) these sets of frames from a single scene.

For example, lens arrays based on rings, hexagons, parallelogram types or circles (as compared to cylindrical lenses or elongated cylindrical lenses) allow to have not only one set of viewpoints as shown in fig. 5 that can be used with conventional grating lenses, but also different sets of viewpoints from different heights (or along the vertical or Y axis). Fig. 6 shows a process 600 for obtaining additional frames or views from a scene 640 (which may be the same as scene/image 540). As shown, frames 610, 620, 630 from three different viewpoints (e.g., +45 degrees with respect to orthogonal to the Y axis, and-45 degrees with respect to the Y axis, etc.) are obtained from an image 640 of a single scene.

One of the main differences between the presently described process and conventional raster printing is the fact that: the viewpoints or two or more sets of frames corresponding to the viewpoints are now combined in an image file for printing. In other words, interleaving is performed for the views along the vertical axis and along the horizontal axis. This means that instead of interleaving a sequence of frames, a new interleaving process (or print file generation process) involves intelligently mapping a matrix of frames corresponding to different viewpoints taken along both the X-axis and the Y-axis. In this example, as shown in diagram 700 of fig. 7, there are three sets 710, 720, 730 each containing three frames 712, 714, 716, 722, 724, 726, 732, 734, 736. This may be considered as selecting each horizontal or X-axis viewpoint (as shown in fig. 5) and then generating two additional vertical or Y-axis viewpoints for a single scene (as shown in fig. 6) (or vice versa).

Fig. 5-7 provide simple examples, but many other numbers of viewpoints may be utilized. For example, conventional raster printing may involve using 10 frames corresponding to 10 different viewpoints along the X-axis (or Y-axis). In contrast, the presently described interlacing or image printing process will involve 10 sets of 10 frames each, such that the total number of frames provides a matrix of 100 frames. The interleaving or printing process then involves mapping and imaging each of the 100 frames in a single pixel according to the present description.

In this regard, it may be useful to describe the mapping and imaging of X-axis and Y-axis pixels in more detail to obtain an image file that can be printed for use with one of the lens arrays described herein (such as for use in currency or product labels as part of a security device). The matrix of frame files (e.g., matrix 700 of frame files of fig. 7) is preferably combined to generate a file to be printed, and which when printed and used with a predefined/specific lens array can generate the desired visual effect. For example, if we assume that six frames are used for each frame set (instead of three as shown in sets 710, 720, 730 in fig. 7), the matrix of frames will be (where the frame number provides the set number and the frames within the set):

frame 11	Frame 12	Frame 13	Frame 14	Frame 15	Frame 16
						Frame 21	Frame 22	Frame 23	Frame 24	Frame 25	Frame 26
Frame 31	Frame 32	Frame 33	Frame 34	Frame 35	Frame 36
						Frame 41	Frame 42	Frame 43	Frame 44	Frame 45	Frame 46
Frame 51	Frame 52	Frame 53	Frame 54	Frame 55	Frame 56
						Frame 61	Frame 62	Frame 63	Frame 64	Frame 65	Frame 66

The first step in mapping/imaging may be to combine each row of a frame from the matrix (e.g., as with a vertical lens). In this way, a sequence of combined pixels from the same scene but from a slightly different height or viewpoint (from the Y-axis) is generated on the X-axis. For example, the combining may start with interleaving six frames from a first row of the matrix, interleaving six frames from a second row, and so on until there is one interleaved file for each row of the matrix of frame files (images of the scene from different viewpoints). It may be useful to name the image sequences in order from the top to the bottom of the matrix, and the first interleaved file may be "IF 01", which is the result from the first row, and so on until we have the sixth interleaved file "IF 06" file from the sixth row of the exemplary (but non-limiting) matrix provided above. Fig. 8 shows an image 800 using the image from the matrix 700 of fig. 7 for one of the rows of the matrix. The result file providing the image 800 is a combination of slices 810 (interleaved image stripes (strips) or slices 810) from each frame in a particular row.

The second step in mapping/imaging is to combine these vertically combined files (X-axis) into one final file to be used in printing. The useful or even required information is one horizontal slice for creating effects in other directions concurrently or simultaneously. A second mapping process (horizontal) is performed but now a bi-directional (X-axis and Y-axis) frame is created using the previously generated vertical pixel file as input.

In this second step it is desirable that: (1) the pixels in the file are vertically combined in the same order as previously defined; (2) regenerating the file using the horizontal information according to the (pursuant) pixel map, and thus creating a printed file; and (3) the result is a bi-directional pixel map with full 3D or motion information in both directions, meaning that instead of having stripes or slices, the final file has squares with data from a matrix arranged in a similar manner to the frames in the matrix. With respect to this third item, it may be important to note that when combined with a lens based on an array of circles, hexagons, parallelograms, or squares, the image printed from the document will allow any view to be achieved/displayed to a viewer, and will allow motion to be rendered in any direction.

Fig. 9 shows an image 900 output from the final print file from the second mapping/imaging step that can be printed for use with a circular, hexagonal, parallelogram or square based lens array. In this final linear image 900, the interlacing in the vertical direction with slices/stripes 912 can be seen, and the interlacing in the horizontal direction with slices/stripes 914 can also be seen. The exploded and/or enlarged portion 910 is useful to illustrate the two-directional interlacing, and also to illustrate the "square" composition (see, e.g., square 916) of the final printed document (two-axis combined document).

Mapping and imaging may also be performed using both the X-axis and the Y-axis to achieve motion effects. In conventional raster printing, the idea is to obtain loops (loops) in an interlaced printed image with a sequence of frames describing or providing motion. This "round robin" concept is also useful for printing as described herein, but again a matrix of frames is processed using circular, hexagonal, parallelogram or square based lenses (or other lens arrays). To obtain a cyclic sequence in all directions, the matrix should typically be arranged in the following way: the cyclic sequence is viewed simultaneously in each row of the matrix and also in each line (line)/column. For example, if the input for printing is a sequence of six frames, a matrix of 6 x 6 frames may be arranged as:

frame 5	Frame 6	Frame 1	Frame 2	Frame 3	Frame 4
						Frame 6	Frame 1	Frame 2	Frame 3	Frame 4	Frame 5
Frame 1	Frame 2	Frame 3	Frame 4	Frame 5	Frame 6
						Frame 2	Frame 3	Frame 4	Frame 5	Frame 6	Frame 1
Frame 3	Frame 4	Frame 5	Frame 6	Frame 1	Frame 2
						Frame 4	Frame 5	Frame 6	Frame 1	Frame 2	Frame 3

The arrangement provided in this matrix allows a person to see the cycles (through a circular or square based lens array) in two directions (X-axis and Y-axis) when used to create a printed image. The printed image may also be rendered with little to no distortion by providing each row and column to be slightly out of phase with respect to other nearby rows and columns. The interleaving process based on this matrix will then be the same as described above to obtain or generate the final interleaved file (sometimes also referred to as the X-axis and Y-axis pixel files).

To create a high quality image in microlens printing (for use with the lens arrays shown herein), the optical pitch of the lenses should be precisely matched to plate-making, proof-proofing, or digital output devices in both axes. In other words, the number of frames in both the X and Y axes multiplied by the number of lenses should be equal (in some cases, exactly equal) to the DPI (dots per inch) of the optical pitch of the output device of the lenses. The exact number of lenses LPI produced by the construction of the sheet of lens array material is the so-called mechanical pitch, but depending on the viewing distance, these lenticules will be focused (focus on) at different frequencies, which means that when combining the number of lines per inch for a certain frame there will be a mismatch with the number of lenticules per inch. Thus, a calibration process (known as a pitch test) can be used to better determine the exact number of lines per inch at a given distance and focused on a particular lens plate or film for a particular printing device.

Stated differently, the X-axis frame count times the number of lenses (optical pitch) should equal the resolution of the output device (this should also apply for the Y-axis). One challenge is that DPIs generated during printing, even if carefully designed, may not match the optical pitch of the printed lens. This may be due to deformations in the web or paper processing and/or due to typical shrinkage or expansion and deformation in the manufacture of films. Even if the film is precisely made to match the optical pitch of the output device, the pitch may vary significantly when the film is printed due to cylindrical distortions common in all printing processes (e.g., flexo, gravure, offset, letterpress, holography, embossing and filling, etc.). In addition, the distortion may be greater in the repeat direction of the web or sheet around the cylinder.

In the past, software tools such as Adobe Photoshop have been used in conventional linear grating optics to complete the adjustment file to match the target pitch to the DPI, and this process works well in linear lenses that can be used in relatively good lens arrays. However, in microlenses used in arrays as discussed herein (e.g., lenses provided at over 200LPI in any direction), the results of using these conventional software tools or by simply allowing a break in the image or placing a setter to make the adjustment are unsatisfactory because of the potential for serious quality issues. These quality problems may arise because attempts to match resolution, while functional in some cases, tend to create corrupted files in which the image slices do not settle exactly in their path relative to the lens array.

Furthermore, this problem does not arise when using thick lens arrays, but is a problem that needs to be solved when using microlens arrays as taught herein, since otherwise the image may become unclear or the printed image may not function at all to achieve the desired 3D or motion effect due to the mixing of light in the channels to the viewer. Such results are typically due to non-uniform image slices and interpolation of the file in the process. When the document is examined microscopically after adjustment by a rip or other conventional graphical program, it can be seen that the interleaved slices are no longer uniform. Thus, the images are blended with respect to the lens focus (e.g., one image may be blended with another image (image 2 blended with image 4, etc.), which significantly reduces the quality of the image provided to or viewed by the viewer). Thus, when this problem or challenge is considered in the context of dual X-axis and Y-axis, full volume interlacing, the problem/challenge is significantly complex, and the output can be particularly cluttered, making the displayed image unpleasant, or even unintelligible to the viewer.

In some cases, the desired optical spacing may be within a certain range of the target (such as within 3% of the target). In these cases, a device, such as a VMR (variable main scan resolution) from Kodak or the like, may be used to adjust the file to an accurate number. However, since this process only works in one axis, it is not very useful for X-axis and Y-axis or full volume interlacing as discussed herein. In order for the image to work under almost any condition and to be properly adjusted to print the film, the inventors have recognized that other techniques/tools should be used to precisely adjust the pitch so that the output device can be run at parent resolution (parent resolution) in both axes without adversely affecting the integrity of the X-axis and Y-axis interleaved images. The channels in both axes are preferably maintained precisely with respect to the target optical spacing of the lens, as planned in the document. Alternatively, the file may be "scaled" to the target number by interleaving the file in two axes by the nearest integer. Such scaling may be performed above or below the target optical pitch, resulting in a DPI that is higher or lower than the target DPI. Pixels can be added or subtracted from the entire document image by manual software or by automated software.

As mentioned previously, in both directions, the number of frames used in the combined image multiplied by the optical pitch should equal the exact resolution of the output device. This can be expressed as: NF x OP ═ DOR, where NF is the number of frames, OP is the optical spacing, and DOR is the device output resolution. One typical situation in this respect is that the number of frames must be an integer despite the fact that it is possible to choose the number of frames. Further, the number of lenses per inch may vary over time due to the production lot of lenses and the environmental conditions at the time of printing. As a result, one option for the above equation to work properly is to combine the images by choosing an integer number of frames and optical spacing (even if not the required optical spacing) that is close enough to achieve the precise resolution of the output device. The file may then be corrected in such a way that the pitch is adjusted without changing the resolution.

Because of the complexity of this process, it may be useful to describe an exemplary (but non-limiting) process of how these techniques can be successfully implemented to provide printed images for use with the lens arrays of the present specification. For example, an output device of 2400DPI may be used to print combined X-axis and Y-axis files, and the printed image is intended for use with a 240LPI lens (mechanical) with an optical pitch of 239.53. This means that it is advisable to combine 10 frames at 240LPI to obtain the 2400DPI required for the component (e.g., anti-counterfeiting device). Thus, the challenge is how to scale the interleaved image of 240LPI to 239.53 without modifying the size of the file and without losing pixel integrity or changing resolution.

To make such an adjustment, it may be useful to enlarge the size of the file by, for example, 0.196% (i.e., according to 240.0 divided by 239.53) while also maintaining the same pixel size. To this end, the calculated number of pixel columns may be inserted at precise locations across the width of the file. In this particular example, if the file is 1 inch wide, the file has a total of 2400 pixels. Following this example, further, 5(4.7 rounded to 5) pixels would need to be inserted to reduce the interleaved LPI count while maintaining the same resolution or pixel size. A software routine (or intelligent algorithm) may be implemented in a computer system (e.g., software or code stored in memory may be executed by a processor computer to cause the computer to perform the described functions on an image file stored in memory or accessible to the processor/computer) that functions to select an appropriate place to add or clone pixels or remove a desired number of columns of pixels without distorting the image.

Fig. 10 provides a side-by-side comparison 1000 showing an image 1010 provided by an original combined (or dual-axis) printed document and an image 1020 provided by the same printed document after adjustment. In this example, the adjustment is a 0.7% amplification by Adobe Photoshop. Image comparison 1000 shows how simple pitch adjustment can disrupt pixel integrity if a simple single axis or other conventional resizing technique is used. As will be appreciated from fig. 10, the image 1020 after adjustment is no longer original (pristine) and the focal points of the lenses of the array will likely produce a blurred image or an image that simply does not (simplynot) contain a target or desired visual effect, such as 3D or motion in two directions. The effect of the adjustment involving magnification using one axis or automatic adjustment through a slit is to blend the images viewable by the viewer in an inconsistent manner.

For example, when an image of the matrix described above is copied or adjusted using Adobe Photoshop or other automated process, light mixing for the viewer occurs. This is because the pixels are no longer uniform (uniform) on both axes. Thus, the lenses of the array (e.g., circular or square based lenses) are focused on (focus on) non-uniform numbers, and the light rays are mixed for the viewer. The viewer may receive the following information of numbers "1" and "4" and the like at the same time instead of the viewer receiving all of numbers "3". The viewing results or displayed images have poor quality. The height and width of the pixels are no longer the uniform precise height and width required to achieve good results, as each pixel may vary in the printed image. The result is that the lens focuses on a different image (rather than on a particular intended pixel) and the image is no longer original and in many cases even not viewable.

Fig. 11 and 12 show two exemplary components useful as anti-counterfeiting devices for currency and the like configured with lens arrays and printed images to provide different motion effects. In particular, the sets 1100 and 1200 of the graphs in fig. 11 and 12 may be used to illustrate how a circular, hexagonal, parallelogram, or square based lens array may be effectively used to provide a selected motion effect when combined with a printed image having biaxial interlacing/combining as described herein. The components shown in fig. 11 and 12 are particularly useful as anti-counterfeiting devices (which can be applied to currency, product labels and other objects/items) because they are very difficult to replicate, in part because of the complex interleaving process that provides the pixel mapping.

In diagram 1100 of fig. 11, a plan or orthogonal view 1110 of a lens/image assembly according to the present description is shown. The viewer is able to observe or view the original image of each row with two different icons, where the icons are either still or non-moving. In diagram or view 1120, the assembly is tilted or angled to the right (e.g., by or up to an angle of 15 to 45 degrees, etc.), and the interleaving of the matrix of frames (a set of different viewpoints (POVs) of the original image shown in view 1110, such as similar to the matrix shown in fig. 7) is configured to cause the rows of different icons to move in opposite directions. For example, the row with the padlock icon moves to the right, while the company logo/icon moves to the left. Instead, in diagram or view 1122, the component is tilted or angled to the left (e.g., through or up to an angle of 15 to 45 degrees, etc.), and the interleaving of the matrix of frames is configured to cause the rows of different icons to again move in the opposite direction. For example, the row of padlock icons may move to the left while the company logo/icon simultaneously moves to the right. In other words, the printed image is adapted to provide an animation of the original image when the lens/printed image (or ink layer) is viewed from a different angle or viewpoint (e.g., pivoting the component or security device shown in view 1110 about a first or vertical axis).

Notably, assemblies having lens arrays with ink layers that provide biaxial interlaced images provide animation or motion in more than one direction. In diagram or view 1124, the assembly is tilted or angled upward (e.g., by pivoting about a second or horizontal axis of the assembly, by or up to an angle of 15 to 45 degrees, etc.), and the interlacing of the matrix of frames (a set of different viewpoints (POVs) of the original image shown in view 1110, such as similar to the matrix shown in fig. 7) is configured to cause the rows of different icons to move in a single direction (e.g., all move upward). Instead, in diagram or view 1126, the component is tilted or angled downward (e.g., through or up to an angle of 15 to 45 degrees about the horizontal axis of the component, etc.), and the interleaving of the matrix of frames is configured to cause the rows of different icons to again move in a single direction (e.g., all move downward). In other words, the printed image is adapted to provide an animation of the original image when the lens/printed image (or ink layer) is viewed from a different angle or viewpoint (e.g., pivoting the assembly or security device shown in view 1110 about a second or horizontal axis).

In the diagram or view 1200 of fig. 12, a plan or orthogonal view 1210 of a lens/image assembly according to the present description is shown. The viewer is able to observe or view the original image of each row with two different icons, where the icons are either still or non-moving. In diagram or view 1220, the assembly is tilted or angled to the right (e.g., through or up to an angle of 15 to 45 degrees, etc.), and the interleaving of the matrix of frames (a set of different viewpoints (POVs) of the original image shown in view 1210, such as similar to the matrix shown in fig. 7) is configured to cause the rows of different icons to move in a single direction (rather than in the opposite direction as shown in 1120 of fig. 11). For example, when the assembly (or security device) is tilted to the right, the row with the padlock icon and the company logo/icon both move downward. Conversely, in diagram or view 1222, the component is tilted or angled to the left (e.g., by or up to an angle of 15 to 45 degrees, etc.), and the interleaving of the matrix of frames is configured to cause the rows of different icons to again move in a single direction, such as upward. In the embodiment shown in fig. 12, the printed image is adapted to provide an animation of the original image when the lens/printed image (or ink layer) is viewed from a different angle or viewpoint (e.g., pivoting the assembly or security device shown in view 1210 about a first or vertical axis). The animation as shown may be in a lateral direction relative to the pivoting direction.

Notably, as discussed with respect to fig. 11, the assembly of the lens array with the ink layers providing the biaxially interlaced image provides animation or motion in more than one direction. In diagram or view 1224, the assembly is tilted or tilted upward (e.g., by pivoting about a second or horizontal axis of the assembly, through or up to an angle of 15 to 45 degrees, etc.), and the interlacing of the matrix of frames (a set of different viewpoints (POVs) of the original image shown in view 1210, such as similar to the matrix shown in fig. 7) is configured to cause rows of different icons to move (e.g., all move or scroll to the right) in a single direction, but in a direction different than that found during tilting to the left or right. Instead, in diagram or view 1226, the component is tilted or angled downward (e.g., through or up to an angle of 15 to 45 degrees about the horizontal axis of the component, etc.), and the interleaving of the matrix of frames is configured to cause the rows of different icons to again move or scroll in a single direction (e.g., all move to the left). In other words, the printed image is adapted to provide an animation of the original image when the lens/printed image (or ink layer) is viewed from a different angle or viewpoint (e.g., pivoting the assembly or security device shown in view 1210 about a second or horizontal axis).

Fig. 13 shows a view 1300 of an assembly of one set of images or another lens/printed image (ink layer) that may be seen by a viewer, such as in a different position or by tilting or moving the assembly to change the viewing angle to the viewer. The assembly may take the form of an array of circular, hexagonal, parallelogram or square based microlenses that overlay a biaxially interlaced image (printed onto a flat surface or substrate (e.g., paper currency, plastic card, paper or plastic label, etc.) on the back of the lens array, onto which the lens array is later attached). The interleaved image is printed using a print file that is generated as discussed above to combine a matrix of frames (e.g., a collection of 2 to 4 or more frames of a single image/scene taken at different POVs with respect to the horizontal and vertical axes) to provide a pixel map.

In fig. 13, an image or view 1310, which in this example is a company logo, shows a flat or orthogonal view of the assembly or anti-counterfeiting device 1300. The image or view 1320 is visible to a viewer when the assembly is tilted upward (the planar assembly is rotated about its horizontal or first axis) as indicated by arrow 1321. As shown, view/image 1320 shows additional information relative to the original image seen in view 1310, such as an identification of what has been the subject of the interleaved image file or the bottom side of the object. Another image or view 1322 is visible to the viewer when the component is rotated or tilted to the right (e.g., the planar component is rotated or tilted about a vertical axis (e.g., a second axis that is orthogonal or at least transverse to the first axis of the component) as indicated by arrow 1323. More information or imagery is visible in view 1322, such as a logo of the subject of the interleaved image file or the left side of other objects.

In addition, when the assembly is rotated or tilted 1325 down (about a horizontal or first axis), another view or image 1324 is viewed, and in this view 1324, information is presented that is not seen in the other view, such as or the top side of a logo or other imaged object. The view or image 1326 provides more information or portion of the target object, such as the right side of the logo/target object, and the view 1326 is visible when the component is rotated or tilted 1327 about a vertical or second axis of the component.

Fig. 14 shows a set of views/images 1400 of another embodiment or implementation of a lens/printed image assembly (or security device) 1410. As shown in the view/displayed image 1412, the assembly 1410 is seen from a viewpoint perpendicular or orthogonal to the front surface 1411 of the assembly 1410 (an array of microlenses as described herein placed on a biaxial interlacing of a matrix of frames corresponding to different images of a scene/object from different viewpoints). In some embodiments, the front surface 1411 is provided by an outer surface of an array of circular, hexagonal, parallelogram, or square based lenses. As shown, the viewer can see the background containing the static (icon and padlock) wallpaper pattern. The icon/image component may appear very deep in the plane of the film and may be visible in each viewing angle (e.g., visible in views 1414, 1416 when the assembly 1410 is tilted to the right or left). However, the superimposed pattern is in the plane of the film, but is not visible (or only slightly visible) when viewed straight as shown in view 1412 (but is visible in views 1414 and 1416).

View 1416 may be used to show the display provided by the interleaved image of component 1410 when the component is tilted at a shallow angle (tilted or rotated slightly to the left about a vertical axis). When tilted at a shallow angle (e.g., up to about 15 degrees, etc.), the superimposed pattern is visible in black only on the front surface 1411 of the region or component 1410 of the film closest to the viewer. The printed image may be configured such that a slight tilt (e.g., less than about 15 degrees) in either side direction (up, down, left, or right, or rotating the assembly 1410 about a vertical or horizontal axis) causes the superimposed pattern to gradually become visible (appearing black in this example). The pattern is a "overlay" that appears in the plane of the film (or the outer surface 1411 of the component 1410) on top of or over the icon or wallpaper pattern.

At shallow angles, the overlay is first visible on the portion of the film or component 1410 closest to the viewer. As the component 1410 is tilted further away from the viewer (such as up to an angle of about 30 to 45 degrees or more), more and more of the overlay pattern becomes increasingly visible until the entire overlay pattern is visible when the component 1410 is viewed through the surface 1411 at a predefined more extreme angle (e.g., 45 to 60 degrees or more relative to the normal view 1412). This can be seen in the extreme angle view 1414 of fig. 14, where the assembly 1410 is rotated about a vertical axis by greater than about 60 degrees (e.g., to the right). In view 1414, the superimposed pattern is fully visible on the wallpaper pattern with icons (logo and padlock in this example) over the entire surface 1411 of the component/film 1410.

Fig. 15 illustrates a component 1510 of another embodiment of the present description. Component 1510 can be configured for use as a security device or label having a body/substrate, an ink layer providing a biaxially interleaved printed image having a matrix of different POV frames as discussed herein, and an array of circular, hexagonal, parallelogram, or square based lenses for viewing the printed image. For example, the component 1510 can be a label (e.g., a 2 inch by 1 inch or other sized label) that can be printed (print down) on a web of paper on a 1.125 inch center or the like during its manufacture. Component 1510 includes a front or upper surface 1512 (e.g., a thin lens array formed of transparent or at least translucent plastic or similar material) through which interlaced images (images constructed using pixel mapping as taught herein) can be viewed as shown. The printed image may include voids or white spaces that may be used to print (e.g., flexographic print) bar codes and/or human-readable text, as shown with white (or other colored) boxes 1513, which may be off-line or added in later processing (e.g., by thermal transfer printing).

The component/label 1510 has a printed image that has been specially designed to provide a number of images and effects to make it more difficult to reproduce and to allow a viewer to easily verify its authenticity. For example, the printed image presents a gray background 1516 (e.g., which may be subsurface printed (e.g., flexographic), over which gray background 1516 icons or symbols 1514, 1517 (in color and/or black) may be printed or layered. The symbol 1517 may take the form of a border (e.g., a circle) in which a second symbol or text is provided, such as should be completely within the border to show that the label 1510 is not counterfeit or authentic text (e.g., "OK").

The printed interleaved image may also include devices/components that further allow a viewer to check the authenticity of the label 1510. For example, the magnifier image 1520 may be incorporated into a printing plate used to make the assembly/label 1510 and appear on the surface 1512 or plane of the film. One or more icons/ symbols 1523, 1525 may be provided within the image 1520, such as under the mirror of a magnifying glass of the image 1520. The printed image may then be configured such that when viewed by a viewer through the mirror region (glassarea) of the image 1520, the icons 1523 appear black and the icons 1525 appear blue, which may be a different color than these icons 1514, 1517 appearing in the remainder of the label 1510 (e.g., the color of these icons is reversed when viewed under the mirror image 1520). Further, the icons 1523 and 1525 under the magnifier image 1520 may appear slightly larger in size than the corresponding wallpaper/background versions of these icons 1514, 1517.

Wallpaper icon 1530 may be designed to move in the opposite (or same) direction when component 1510 is tilted about a first axis (e.g., rotating/tilting component/tab to the left or right), and to move in the same (or opposite) direction when component 1510 is tilted about a second axis (e.g., rotating/tilting component/tab to the up or down). In contrast to some embodiments of the label 1510, the corresponding icons/ symbols 1523, 1525 under the magnifier image 1520 may be designed to move differently than those icons 1530 that are not under the mirror. For example, when rotating/tilting component 1510 about a particular axis, icons 1523, 1525 under mirror image 1520 may move together in a single direction while icon 1530 moves in the opposite direction as indicated by arrow 1531.

The printed image under the lens array of component 1510 can include additional elements 1540 (e.g., a framed/bordered display) to improve security (or to further limit counterfeiting efforts). Element 1540 may include a boundary 1549 that may be composed of a difficult-to-reproduce pattern such as a micro-text boundary containing one or more intentional misspellings (e.g., the boundary appears as a solid line to the naked eye of a viewer, but misspelled words are apparent under a microscope), 0.15mm (or other size). In the normal view as shown in FIG. 15, a first image 1541 is displayed in element 1540, but when the component 1510 is rotated 1543 about a first axis (e.g., rotated to the right or left about the vertical axis of the component 1510), a second image 1542 is displayed as shown in the exploded view. To further enhance security, a third image 1544 may be displayed in the element 1540 when the component 1510 is rotated 1545 in another direction (e.g., rotated up or down about the horizontal axis of the component 1510).

Fig. 16 shows a system 1600 adapted for use in manufacturing components of an anti-counterfeiting device such as described herein. The system 1600 includes an imaging workstation 1610 having a processor 1612 for executing code or software programs to perform particular functions. The workstation 1610 may take the form of almost any computer device with a processor 1612 for managing the operation of input and output devices 1614, such as devices for allowing an operator of the station 1610 to view and input data usable by the mapping and imaging module 1620 to create a printed file 1648 that is passed to a print controller 1680 as shown at 1675. The CPU 1612 also manages memory 1630 that is accessible to the mapping and imaging module 1620.

The mapping and imaging module 1620 performs functions useful in performing the following functions and processes described herein: such as for generating frame sets 1640 from the original image 1632, creating frame matrices 1646 from these image sets 1640, and generating bi-directional bitmaps or printed files 1648 (i.e., printed files using pixel mapping) from the frame matrices 1646. For example, the memory 1630 may be used to store an original image 1632, which may include a background 1634 and one or more icons/symbols 1636 that may be provided as wallpaper (e.g., these elements may be layered over the background 1634).

The module 1620 may be used to generate several sets 1640 of frames from the original image 1632, and each of the sets 1640 may include a set of 2 to 10 or more frames from different viewpoints of the original image (see, e.g., the set of frames providing different POV frames (X and Y axis frames/images of the base or original image 1632) along two axes as shown in fig. 7). The module 1620 may generate a frame matrix 1646 as described above to map pixels appropriately to provide appropriate X and Y axis interlacing with or without motion effects. From matrix 1648, a bi-directional pixel map or print file 1648 is generated by combining rows and columns of matrix 1646 with the appropriate ordering (with all 3D and/or motion information in both directions, such as having squares with data from matrix 1646 instead of stripes).

The mapping and imaging module 1620 may generate a print file 1648 based on various imaging/mapping parameters 1650. For example, module 1620 may take: lens array design information 1652, including whether the lenses are circular, hexagonal, parallelogram, or square, an optical pitch 1654, and LPI 1656 values are included as inputs to create a printed file 1648. Further, the device output resolution 1670 may be used by the module 1620 to create the print file 1648, such as to set the number of frames in the collection 1640, and so on. Parameters 1650 may also include motion parameters 1660 to define how the original image is animated with the tilt/rotation of the component, such as by setting the direction of movement of the icon/symbol and how fast the movement occurs (how much rotation is needed to achieve a particular motion effect, etc.). Parameters 1650 can also include color parameters 1666, such as whether an icon/symbol changes color with rotation of the assembly of images printed from the document 1648 and what such color should be in the displayed image.

Once the print file 1648 is created, the imaging workstation 1610 can transfer the file 1648 (in a wired or wireless manner, such as over a digital communications network) to a print controller 1680 (e.g., another computer or computing device). The print controller 1682 may use the print document 1648 to make a printing or embossing plate 1682, which may then be used to emboss a flat/backside surface, such as a lens array, with the manufacturing apparatus 1684. The embossed surface may then be filled with one or more coating/ink layers to form a printed image in a lens array/printed image assembly (e.g., security device). Controller 1680 may also use print file 1648 to provide digital file 1670 to color digital printer 1674 for printing a biaxially interlaced image on a surface such as a flat back side of a lens array, or a side of a note or product label to which a lens array is later applied to provide a security device to the note/label.

In this regard, it may be useful to describe techniques for performing pixel adjustment that may be performed (at least in part) by software modules/programs, such as the mapping and imaging module 1620 of fig. 16. Fig. 17 illustrates, in a flow diagram, a pixel adjustment method 1700 in accordance with the present description. Method 1700 includes performing print tests on the X-axis and also the Y-axis of the lens array at 1710 (e.g., using components 1680 through 1684 of fig. 16) to determine an optical pitch that may vary depending on the design, as discussed above. At 1720, a target visual separation is selected (again on the X and Y axes) for the desired or input viewing distance. For example, as shown at 1730, method 1700 may involve setting the target pitch at 416.88 for the X-axis and 384.47 for the Y-axis.

The method 1700 continues at 1740 with interleaving the X-axis and the Y-axis in the pixel map. This typically involves mapping with the closest device output for the desired target spacing (e.g., the output of 400 is close to the spacing set at step 1730). In step 1750, method 1700 includes calculating a difference between the device output and the target optical spacing. In this example, the difference in the X-axis is 4.22% (i.e., the target pitch of 416.88 divided by the device output of 400) and the difference in the Y-axis is-3.9% (e.g., the target pitch of 384.47 divided by the device output of 400).

At step 1760, the mapping and imaging module/software program is used to remove pixels based on the differences determined in step 1750. In this example, the module may remove 4.22% of the pixels on the X-axis by specifically targeting low information areas. The module can also be used to add 3.9% of the pixels on the Y-axis. This process is further explained by step 1770 of method 1700, where the module is used to identify pixels with little information for removal (e.g., averaged over the X-axis in this example), while the addition of pixels can be performed by blending pixels such as nearby (e.g., adding blended pixels over the Y-axis). At 1780, a plate is output based on the print file modified to provide the pixel adjustment. In this working example, a printing plate for printing may be output at 4800 pixels on the X-axis and 4800 pixels on the Y-axis. At 1790, note that the process 1700 preserves the integrity of the displayed image without blurring, for example, due to re-resolution of the original pixels.

FIG. 18 may be used to further explain the process of providing biaxial interlacing for the lens arrays of the present description. A lenslet array or lenslet 1810 including four lenses 1812, 1814, 1816, and 1818 is shown in plan or top view (with more typical arrays having more lenses). As shown at 1815, lenses 1812, 1814, 1816 and 1818 in this non-limiting example are circular-based lenses. Below the lens array 1810, a biaxially printed image (or ink layer with a printed image) may be provided, with each block 1813 in the figure being used to represent a pixel. Further, each of these "pixels" 1813 may be considered a lens focal point.

The printed image provided in pixels 1813, when combined with lens array 1810, provides a display device that can be used to provide a complete 3D imagery as well as multi-directional motion. For example, each lens 1812, 1814, 1816, 1818 may be used to display a cyclical image. To this end, a diagonal set 1830 of pixels shown in shading may be used to provide a 45 degree oblique cyclic scan, while horizontal and vertical sets 1820 of pixels shown in "stars" may be used to provide edge-to-edge and up-and-down image cycles.

With this in mind, the chart 1850 is useful for illustrating how the 7 pixel by 7 pixel arrangement provided under each lens 1812, 1814, 1816 and 1818 is printed with a two-axis combined/interleaved image to provide these effects. In this example, four frames on the X-axis are combined with four frames on the Y-axis (e.g., "X ═ 3" refers to one particular frame in a set of four frames along the X-axis). A mapping and imaging module (such as module 1620) may be used to select appropriate frames to generate such matrices and/or print maps and may generate a print file from the maps for use in printing a biaxially interlaced image at each pixel shown in chart 1850 to provide the visual effect described with pixels 1820, 1830.

Fig. 19-21 are plots 1900, 2000, and 2100 illustrating ray tracing for components of the present description, e.g., for a lens array combined with a biaxially interlaced image. In particular, fig. 19 shows a plot 1900 of a tracing of rays 1920 using a component 1910 (e.g., a security device) configured as described herein. As shown, the component 1910 includes a lens array 1912 of circular-based lenses 1914 covering an ink layer/printed image 1916 that includes several interlaces 1918 (7 images are interlaced using biaxial interlacing).

Plot 1900 shows light rays 1920 traced from idealized grating interwoven stripes 1918 in printed image/ink layer 1916. The order of interleaving is modified so that the images are properly interleaved for the viewer. In this example, the radius of each lens 1914 is 1.23 mils (mil), the lenses 1914 are provided at 408LPI, the lenses 1914 are 3 mils thick, and the refractive index is assumed to be 1.49. For clarity, only zero width interlaces are identified, with 7 interlaces 1918 for each set of two lenses 1914. The tracking is performed over a range of +30 degrees to-30 degrees with the close lenticular zones shown in 5 degree steps.

Plot 2000 is a solid ray trace illustrating a larger overall view of plot 1900 of fig. 19. The interlacing of plot 2000 was taken to be 2 mils wide, providing 7 interlaces per set of two lenses. Five steps per interlace are tracked, ranging from +30 degrees to-30 degrees using 1 degree steps. The order of interleaving is 6, 4, 2, 3, 7, 5 and 1. Plot 2100 is a trace done using the normal interleaving sequence (e.g., 1, 2, 3,4, 5, 6, and 7) where the radius of the lens is 1.23 mils, the lens is provided at 408LPI, the lens thickness is 3 mils, and the index of refraction is 1.49. The lens width was chosen to be 2 mils and 7 interlaces were provided for each set of two lenses. Again a range of +30 degrees to-30 degrees with 1 degree steps is used to trace five steps across each lens. In summary, plots 1900, 2000, and 2100 illustrate coding accomplished by having multiple interlaces per multiple lenticules and the change in distribution to the viewer by changing the order of the interlaces.

In analyzing the use of the lens array of the present invention with a biaxially interlaced printed image, it is useful to generate ray tracing and dot charts to examine the planned array/image design. In this regard, fig. 22 is a plot 2200 of off-axis ray tracing, while fig. 23 is a corresponding plot 2300 that may be generated to analyze a planned array/image design. Further, fig. 24 and 25 are two additional plots or plots 2400 and 2500 for a circular-based lens (or spherical lens), while fig. 26 is a plot 2600 for ray tracing for the lens associated with the plots of fig. 24 and 25. For the latter three figures, the radius of the lens is 5 units and the focal plane is about 10 units (e.g., the units may be any units such as mils).

Although the invention has been described and illustrated with a certain degree of particularity, it is understood that the present disclosure has been made only by way of example and that numerous changes in the combination and arrangement of parts may be resorted to by those skilled in the art without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as hereinafter claimed.

The present specification teaches a display assembly (e.g., a security device) comprising an array of circular or square lenses in combination with an ink layer having a printed image/pattern. The lens array consists of nested circular, hexagonal, parallelogram or square lenses arranged as shown in the drawings. The printed image/pattern provided in the ink layer(s) is aligned with the lens array (e.g., aligned with the X-axis and Y-axis of the printed image), and the printed image/graphic consists of vertically and horizontally mapped pixels (e.g., printed using a print file defining a biaxial interlacing (interlacing in two axes) of the frames of the matrix discussed herein). The pixels may be of any type and are often adapted to match the output device to the optical separation of the viewer in two axes. The lens array may be provided at 200 or more LPI in two directions to provide 4000 or more lenses per square inch. The focal length of the lens can vary, but for circular and square based lenses, some arrays have been implemented with focal lengths less than about 10/1000 inches.

Printing of a dual-axis interlaced image for use with a lens array may be performed using one or more colors that utilize a pixel map provided in the generated print file. In some cases, diffraction techniques are used to intentionally or unintentionally create separate colors with wavelengths within an interlaced image in a circular-based lens array. In particular, the printing step involves the printing of X and Y pixel imaged documents or pixel maps in order to produce a printing form or digital image, either of which can be used to provide an ink layer with a printed image/pattern (e.g., printed on the back or flat surface of the lens material to provide X and Y axis pixel mapped images) useful in combination with circular and square based lenses nested in an array as described herein. In other cases, an embossing plate is produced for embossing the back side of the lens material (lens array). The embossed back surface is then filled with ink or metallized for combination with a circular or square based lens array in a hologram. In some cases, however, printing may also occur on the front or contoured surface of the lens array. For example, printing may involve printing features, colors, or images directly on top of the lenses (i.e., the non-flat side of the lens array), combined with printing on the back or flat side of the lenses using an interlaced image.

Many unique visual or display effects can be achieved with a printed image viewed through one of the lens arrays of the present description. For example, image mapping of the X-axis and Y-axis may be performed such that the wallpaper arrays of a repeating icon (e.g., the company logo and padlock of the exemplary figures) roll or move across the substrate in opposite directions to one another when the substrate (or component or anti-counterfeiting device) is tilted left and right (rotated about a vertical or first axis), and the wallpaper arrays of the repeating icon roll or move across the substrate in the same direction when the substrate is tilted up and down (rotated about a horizontal or second axis that is transverse to the first axis). This effect may be labeled "continuum movement in the opposite direction".

In other cases, image mapping is performed such that the wallpaper array of repeated icons moves or scrolls up and down (icons all moving in the same direction) across the surface of the component/anti-counterfeiting device as the component/device is tilted left and right; and the wallpaper array of repeated icons moves or scrolls right and left across the surface of the component/anti-counterfeiting device as the component/device is tilted up and down (again, the icons all move in the same direction) (e.g., tilting left causes all icons to scroll or move up, tilting right causes all icons to scroll down, tilting up causes all icons to scroll right, and tilting down causes all icons to scroll left). This effect can be labeled as "continuum motion in orthogonal directions".

Image mapping of X and Y axis pixels may be performed such that a volume icon or image (e.g., a company logo or symbol) has five viewable sides (e.g., top, bottom, left, right, and front or front). When the component/device is tilted or rotated with different instructions (orthogonal/normal view, tilted to the left, tilted to the right, tilted up, and tilted down or positioned in between), these five sides are viewable in three dimensions with significant depth and full parallax. The front face of the 3D logo/symbol/icon may be a different color than the side faces to create a more noticeable 3D effect, and this effect may be referred to as "full volume 3D".

Another effect that may be achieved by the X-axis and Y-axis image mapping described herein is to provide wallpaper with icons of another overlay pattern. An overlay pattern may then be provided in the printed document and the resulting printed image such that the overlay pattern is hidden when the assembly is viewed from certain POVs (such as normal POVs), but the overlay pattern (in the plane of the film and wallpaper pattern) becomes progressively more visible on top of the icon/symbol/logo of the wallpaper (such as when moving from normal to an angle of 30 to 60 degrees, etc.). Furthermore, the entire printed image is not required to provide a single effect. Rather, different areas or portions of the printed image may be used to provide different visual effects (e.g., any of the effects described herein).

Several devices may be used to implement the systems and methods discussed in this specification. These devices include, but are not limited to, digital computer systems, microprocessors, Application Specific Integrated Circuits (ASICs), general purpose computers, programmable controllers, and Field Programmable Gate Arrays (FPGAs), all of which may be collectively referred to herein as a "processor". For example, in one embodiment, signal processing may be incorporated by an FPGA or ASIC, or alternatively by an embedded or separate processor. Accordingly, other embodiments include program instructions residing on computer readable media, which when implemented by such a device, enable the various embodiments. Computer-readable media include any form of non-transitory physical computer memory device. Examples of such physical computer memory devices include, but are not limited to, punch cards, magnetic disks or tapes, optical data storage systems, flash read-only memory (ROM), non-volatile ROM, Programmable ROM (PROM), erasable-programmable ROM (E-PROM), Random Access Memory (RAM), or any other form of permanent, semi-permanent, or temporary memory storage system or device. The program instructions include, but are not limited to, computer-executable instructions executed by a computer system processor and a hardware description language, such as Very High Speed Integrated Circuit (VHSIC) hardware description language (VHDL).

While fig. 11-15 illustrate a number of effects that can be achieved using the pixel mapping techniques described herein in conjunction with a microlens array, it may be useful to discuss these unique effects in greater detail at this time. Pixel mapping (or biaxial interleaving) allows for the generation of a printed file having a plurality of pixels that are each generated with a specific purpose that allows for the activation of an effect with respect to one of the two axes. In other words, activation in 2 axes requires, or at least is enhanced by, the pixel mapping taught herein. The "effects" that can be achieved (including those shown in fig. 11-15) can be considered to be the same as the set of effects achieved on a single axis using a lenticular lens and interleaving of the image in a single direction. However, one (or two, three or more) of these effects may now be provided in each direction at a time using pixel mapping, and the anti-counterfeiting device may use any combination of these effects (in many cases, one effect is provided in each direction). These effects include 3D, motion, flipping (changing an image to another or a modified image), animation, on/off (making an image appear and disappear with rotation about an axis or with "activation"), scaling, transformation (e.g., flipping but a transition to a new image can be viewed (transition)), and color shifting (changing color as part of activation).

As a first example, the lens array and printed image assembly may be designed and manufactured to provide 3D in one axis (such as in the X-axis) and effect activation in a second axis that is transverse (such as orthogonal) to the first axis (such as by providing activation in the Y-axis). 3D with patterns or elements in different layers (such as by having foreground images over one or more background images) may be provided on a first axis of the assembly. Activation of additional effects may then be provided on the second axis, such as: (a) motion (e.g., elements move or have displacement in a frame); (b) flipping (e.g., image "A" changes to image "B" for flipping of two images; or more than two images may be used to provide more flipping); (c) animation (e.g., a sequence of frames may be used to describe or define an animation of an image); (d) on/off (e.g., a single element or multiple elements may be provided in a frame that appear or disappear depending on the viewing angle); (e) zooming (e.g., a single element or multiple elements may be provided that enlarge or reduce the size of the displayed image depending on the viewing angle); (f) a transformation (e.g., the effect may resemble the inversion from image "a" to image "B", but with a transition frame included between the final images so that the viewer can see the transition from image "a" to image "B"); and (g) color shift (e.g., through multiple viewing angles or POVs, a single element or multiple elements may change color with activation that may be triggered by rotation of the component).

With these combinations in mind, fig. 27 shows a collection 2700 of views of an exemplary assembly viewed from different POVs, where the assembly is useful as an anti-counterfeiting device for currency or other objects configured with a lens array and printed images to provide different motion effects (dual axis activation). In the diagram or view 2700 of fig. 27, a plan or orthogonal view 2710 of a lens/image assembly according to the present description is shown. The viewer is able to observe or view an original image of a row with two different icons 2712, where the icons 2712 are both stationary or non-moving. Further, the original image includes an overlay image or foreground image 2714A (shown here as a tick mark) appearing in a different layer than the row of icons 2712. Thus, the components are adapted to provide a 3D effect. In the drawings, two rows of icons are shown, but it will be understood that this is for ease of explanation only and not by way of limitation. With the understanding of the rows of two icons and how they may be used to provide security with activation on two axes, it will be understood that each row may include two or more different icons (rather than a single icon per row), and that rows of third, fourth or more different icons may be included in the assembly as needed to achieve the desired display image.

In diagram or view 2720, the components are tilted or angled to the right (e.g., through or up to an angle of 15 to 45 degrees, etc.), and the interleaving of the matrix of frames (a set of different viewpoints (POVs) of the original image shown in view 2710, such as a matrix similar to that shown in fig. 7, are used in the pixel mapping) is configured such that the rows of different icons 2712 move in opposite directions. For example, when the component (or anti-counterfeiting device) is tilted to the right, the row with the padlock icons and/or logo 2712 is moved to the left and right. Conversely, in diagram or view 1222, the components are tilted or angled to the left (e.g., across or up to an angle of 15 to 45 degrees, etc.), and the interleaving of the matrix of frames is configured such that the rows of different icons are again moved in different directions from one another and in a direction opposite view 2720 (icon 2712, which just moved to the right, now moves to the left, and vice versa).

In the embodiment shown in fig. 27, the printed image is adapted to provide an animation of the original image when the lens/printed image (or ink layer) is viewed from a different angle or viewpoint (e.g., the component or security device shown in view 2710 is pivoted about a first or vertical axis). The animation as shown may be in a direction parallel to the direction of pivoting. However, the printed file is configured such that some images, such as the foreground or other layer images 2714A, remain in the same relative position, and this movement of the background or other layer icons (when these moving icons 2712 may be foreground images and the symbols/icons 2714A may be provided in the background layer) enhances or even provides a 3D effect of the component.

Furthermore, the 3D effect may be combined with an additional effect when the component is activated on the other or second of the two orthogonal axes. As shown, the assembly of the lens array with the ink layer presenting the biaxially interlaced image provides animation and 3D effects in one direction or when activated along one axis, and flipping (or changing) in a second direction or when activated along a second axis. In diagram or view 2724, the component is tilted or angled upward (e.g., by pivoting about a second or horizontal axis of the component, through or up to an angle of 15 to 45 degrees, etc.), and the interleaving of the matrix of frames (a set of different viewpoints (POVs) of the original image shown in view 2710, such as similar to the matrix shown in fig. 7) is configured such that the icons 2712 remain the same or remain the same while the symbols/icons 2714A in the other layers (foreground images) flip (or transition) to a different image 2714B (where the tick marks flip to stars).

Similarly, in diagram or view 2726, the component is tilted or angled downward (e.g., about the horizontal axis of the component, through or up to an angle of 15 to 45 degrees, etc.), and the interleaving of the matrix of frames is configured such that the rows of icons 2712 remain stationary while the foreground or other layer symbols/icons 2714A flip (or transform) into a different image 2714B (here, the same image as when the component is tilted upward). In other words, the printed image is adapted to provide a flip of the image when the assembly is rotated about a second axis (such as about a horizontal axis or an X-axis). In fig. 27, the flipping over of the effect provided when activated in the second direction is shown, but the effect may also be a shift, on/off, motion, animation, scaling or color shift.

To further illustrate the many possible combinations, fig. 28 shows a collection of views 2800 of an exemplary assembly viewed from different POVs, where the assembly is useful as an anti-counterfeiting device for currency or other objects configured with a lens array and printed images to provide different motion effects (dual axis activation). In diagram or view 2800 of fig. 28, a plan or orthogonal view 2810 of a lens/image assembly according to the present description is shown and the assembly is configured to provide 3D (e.g., float and/or depth) from different viewpoints and the same or different image elements with Y-axis or X-axis activation (to have the additional effects of motion, flipping, transforming, or obtainable with interleaving of image frames). A viewer can observe or view an original image having a row of two different icons 2812, where the icons 2812 are both stationary or non-moving. Further, the original image includes first and second overlay images or foreground images 2814A and 2816A (shown here as the word "OK" and tick marks) appearing in a different layer than the row of icons 2812. Thus, the components are adapted to provide a 3D effect.

In diagram or view 2820, the components are tilted or angled upward (e.g., through or up to an angle of 15 to 45 degrees, etc.), and the interleaving of the matrix of frames (a set of different viewpoints (POVs) of the original image shown in view 2810, such as a matrix similar to that shown in fig. 7, are used in the pixel mapping) is configured such that the rows of different icons 2812 move in a single direction (e.g., all icons move downward or move opposite to the activation direction). In the case of such movement of the components (tilt up), the foreground images 2814A and 2816A remain unchanged (e.g., do not flip at this point in time). Movement of the icon 2812 under (or in some embodiments above) the symbols 2814A, 2816A enhances the 3D effect achieved with this component.

Conversely, in diagram or view 2822, the components are tilted or angled downward (e.g., through or up to an angle of 15 to 45 degrees, etc.), and the interleaving of the matrix of frames is configured such that the rows of different icons again move in a single direction (but this time upward or opposite to the activation direction). At the same time, however, a flip effect is also activated, wherein the foreground symbol/icon 2814A flips to an image as shown at 2814B (e.g., flip from the word "OK" to the word "Yes"), while the other symbols/icons 2816A remain unchanged in this example. From view 2822 to view 2820, when the symbol 2814B is to change back or flip back to the image 2814A, the flipping will occur again (e.g., with rotation about the horizontal or X axis of the component to activate the flip effect while having a movement effect on the icon 2812 (in a single direction in this non-limiting example)).

Furthermore, the 3D effect may be combined with an additional flip effect when the assembly is activated on the other or second of the two orthogonal axes. As shown, the assembly of the lens array with the ink layer presenting the biaxially interlaced image provides animation and 3D effects in one direction or when activated along one axis, and flipping (or changing) in a second direction or when activated along a second axis. In diagram or view 2824, the component is tilted or angled to the left (e.g., by pivoting about a second or horizontal axis of the component, through or up to an angle of 15 to 45 degrees, etc.), and the interlacing of the matrix of frames (a set of different viewpoints (POVs) of the original image shown in view 2810, such as similar to the matrix shown in fig. 7) is configured such that the icon 2812 is placed in motion, with the icon 2812 moving in the same direction (again, opposite to the activation direction and orthogonal to the earlier movement direction of views 2820 and 2822). At the same time, the symbol/icon 2814A (or 2814B) in the other layer (foreground image) remains unchanged, while the symbol/icon 2816A does not flip but is activated to have a transition effect in which it changes to spin to a new position as shown at 2816B (e.g., the hook in this example has a new orientation, which can also be considered an animation effect).

Similarly, in diagram or view 2826, the component is tilted or angled to the right (e.g., about a horizontal axis of the component, through or up to an angle of 15 to 45 degrees, etc.), and the interleaving of the matrix of frames is configured such that the rows of icons 2812 again have a motion effect (moving in the same direction, such as opposite to the activation direction), while the foreground or other layer symbols/icons 2816A again transform (or animate) to spin into images 2816B. In other words, the printed image is adapted to provide 3D with a foreground image that can be flipped, transformed or animated with activation, and such activation of effects can be independent of each other and independent of the background image. Further, the printed image provides a simultaneous motion effect for the background image, which is shown as being activated to move together in a single direction opposite the activation direction. In the case where the icon 2812 is moved in the direction shown, the result is a depth effect (e.g., 3D), where the icon 2812 appears to be pushed backwards from the foreground symbol/icon 2814A-2816B. The effect may also be combined with some layers that are pushed forward or outward towards the viewer.

To further illustrate the many possible combinations yet, fig. 29 shows a set of views 2900 of an exemplary assembly viewed from different POVs, where the assembly is useful as an anti-counterfeiting device for currency or other objects configured with a lens array and printed images to provide different motion effects (dual axis activation). In diagram or view 2900 of fig. 29, a plan or orthogonal view 2910 of a lens/image assembly according to the present description is shown and configured to provide: activation in a first axis, such as the X-axis, enabling orthogonal movement of picture elements is combined with activation in a second axis, such as the Y-axis, of the same or a different picture element. The viewer is able to observe or view the original image of the row with two different icons 2912, where the icons 2912 are either stationary or non-moving. Further, the original image includes first and second overlay images or foreground images 2914A and 2916A (shown here as the word "OK" and a hook symbol) appearing in a different layer than the row of icons 2912. Thus, the components are adapted to provide a 3D effect.

In diagram or view 2920, the components are tilted or angled to the right (e.g., through or up to an angle of 15 to 45 degrees, etc.), and the interleaving of the matrix of frames (a set of different viewpoints (POVs) of the original image shown in view 2910, such as a matrix similar to that shown in fig. 7, are used in the pixel mapping) is configured such that the rows of different icons 2912 move in a single direction (e.g., all icons move down or move orthogonal to the activation direction). With this movement of the components (tilting to the right), the foreground images 2914A and 2916A remain unchanged (e.g., do not flip at this point). Movement of the icon 2912 under (or in some embodiments above) the symbols 2914A, 2916A enhances the 3D effect achieved with this assembly.

Conversely, in diagram or view 2922, the component is tilted or angled to the left (e.g., through or up to an angle of 15 to 45 degrees, etc.), and the interleaving of the matrix of frames is configured such that the rows of different icons again move in a single direction (but this time upward (opposite to the movement shown in view 2920) and orthogonal to the activation direction). At the same time, however, a flip effect is also activated, wherein the foreground symbol/icon 2914A flips to the image as shown at 2914B (e.g., flip from the word "OK" to the word "Yes"), while the other symbols/icons 2916A remain unchanged in this example. From view 2922 to view 2920, when the symbol 2914B is to be changed or flipped back to the image 2914A, the flipping will again occur (e.g., with rotation about the vertical or Y-axis of the component to activate the flipping effect while having a movement effect on the icon 2912 (in this non-limiting example in a single direction)).

Furthermore, the 3D effect may be combined with an additional flip effect when the assembly is activated on the other or second of the two orthogonal axes. As shown, the assembly of the lens array with the ink layer presenting the biaxially interlaced image provides animation and 3D effects in one direction or when activated along one axis, and flipping (or morphing) in a second direction or when activated along a second axis. In diagram or view 2924, the component is tilted or angled upward (e.g., by pivoting about a second axis or horizontal of the component, through or up to an angle of 15 to 45 degrees, etc.), and the interlacing of the matrix of frames (a set of different viewpoints (POVs) of the original image shown in view 2910, such as similar to the matrix shown in fig. 7) is configured to place the icon 2912 in motion, with the icon 2912 moving in the same direction (again, orthogonal to the activation direction, which may be to the right as shown in this example). At the same time, the symbol/icon 2914A (or 2914B) in the other layer (foreground image) remains unchanged, while the symbol/icon 2916A does not flip but is activated to have a transition effect in which it changes to spin to a new location as shown at 2916B (e.g., the hook number in this example has a new orientation, which may also be considered an animation effect).

Similarly, in diagram or view 2926, the component is tilted or angled downward (e.g., about a horizontal axis of the component, through or up to an angle of 15 to 45 degrees, etc.), and the interleaving of the matrix of frames is configured to cause the rows of icons 2912 to again have a motion effect (moving in the same direction, such as to the left, and so as to move orthogonally to the activation direction (or vertical or Y axis of the component)), while the foreground or other layer symbols/icons 2916A again transform (or animate) to spin into images 2916B.

Fig. 30 shows another component 3010 useful as a security device that can be used on or with currency and the like. The component 3010 may be formed with a top or outer surface 3012, which may be provided with an array of lenses. Component 3010 may also include ink layer(s) that provide printed images printed using printed files having pixel mappings as described herein to provide biaxial activation in two axes (or activation of image effects such as 3D, motion, etc.). In particular, the printed image of the component 3010 is adapted to allow viewing of a background image composed of a plurality of smaller symbols/icons 3014 (such as the hook symbols shown in fig. 30). The printed image of the component 3010 is also adapted to allow viewing (through the lens array/front surface layer 3012) of a foreground image composed of one or more symbols/icons (which are typically larger than the background image elements 3014).

In some implementations of component 3010, the printed image is mapped to pixels of the lens array in a manner that provides full 3D in all directions by providing image elements 3014 and 3018 in 2 or more layers. As shown in fig. 30, the background image or pattern provided by the symbol/icon 3014 is pushed back away from the viewer to appear behind the foreground image made up of the symbol/icon 3018. Element 3018 may be provided as a larger element, and element 3108 may be made to appear to float in a different hierarchy relative to image element 3014 from all viewpoints. This may be achieved in part by: such that the image 3018 remains stationary during dual axis activation (rotating the component 3010 about the X and Y axes) while the background image 3018 is moved (applying motion effects to the image element 3014).

The following other components may be created: the other components include a printed image formed using the selected pixel map to provide a pattern or image activated on a first axis having any of the effects listed or described herein. Further, the printed image may be configured to provide the same image elements (e.g., icons or symbols) or a combination of different image elements activated on a second axis (e.g., the Y-axis) having any of the effects listed or described (the same or different effects). For example, effects may include, but are not limited to: (a) a 3D layered effect (e.g., image elements are displayed to appear in different layers, where each layer is a flat image); (b)3D realistic effects (e.g., providing pictures or 3D elements generated by 3D software or the like); (c) motion effects (e.g., picture elements that move or have a displacement in a frame); (d) flip effects (e.g., image "A" changes to image "B" for flipping of two images; or more than two images may be used in a flip effect); (e) animation (e.g., a sequence of frames describing or defining an animation for one or more image elements); (f) on/off effects (e.g., single or multiple image elements may be caused to appear or disappear depending on the viewing angle for the assembly); and (g) zoom effects (e.g., single or multiple image elements may be enlarged or reduced in size depending on the viewing angle of the printed image through a circular, hexagonal, parallelogram, or square-based microlens array).

Fig. 3A-4B provide examples of items formed using circular-based and square-based lenses used to form the lens array. In addition, these lens arrays are specifically patterned or arranged so as to not use rows and columns of offset or nested lenses (e.g., lenses in adjacent rows and columns are aligned rather than offset). The use of pixel mapping as taught by the inventors herein allows for the efficient fabrication of anti-counterfeiting devices having lens arrays/printed image components using lens arrays having offset/nested lenses and also lens arrays configured to include hexagonal lenses or hexagonal-based lenses. Thus, fig. 31 and 32 provide specific working examples of these implementations.

In the embodiment shown in fig. 31, item 3100 (such as a banknote, a label for a product, etc.) is provided with a security element or device in the form of a lens array (array of hexagonal-based lenses) 3110 that is overlaid or disposed on top of an ink layer 3120 providing a printed image. As shown, item 3100 includes a substrate or body 3105, such as a cardboard or plastic sheet (e.g., paper to be used as currency or paper/plastic to be used for product labels). On the surface of substrate/body 305, an image is printed via ink layer 3120, and lens array 3110 is disposed on the exposed surface of ink layer 3120 (e.g., ink layer 3120 and its pattern/image can be printed onto the substrate surface or onto the back surface of lens array 3110).

As shown, lens array 3110 is comprised of a plurality of lenses 3114, each of the plurality of lenses 3114 having a hexagonal base abutting a surface of ink layer 3120 and having a dome-shaped cross-section and/or one or two or more cut plane (faclet)/sides. Hexagonal-based lenses or circular lenses 3114 are arranged in a plurality of columns 3112, the plurality of columns 3112 being parallel as shown by parallel vertical or Y-axes 3113 (axes passing through the centers of the lenses 3114 in the columns 3112) in fig. 31. Further, lenses 3114 are arranged such that lens pairs 3114 in adjacent ones of columns 3112 are touching or at least proximate at the base. Further, the columns 3112 are vertically offset such that adjacent lens pairs 3114 in a particular column 3112 are spaced apart. Then, array 3110 is configured with parallel rows of lenses 3114 in which each lens abuts their neighbor lens (or nearly touches each other at the base), as can be seen by parallel horizontal or X-axis 3115 passing through the center of lens 3114 in array 3110, and the rows are shown abutting each other and also offset (e.g., with a horizontal offset as well as a vertical offset.

In the embodiment shown in fig. 32, an item 3200 (such as a banknote, a label for a product, etc.) is provided with a security element or device in the form of a lens array (array of circular-based lenses) 3210 overlying or disposed on top of an ink layer 3220 providing the printed image. As shown, item 3200 includes a substrate or body 3205, such as a sheet of paper or plastic (e.g., paper used as currency or paper/plastic used for product labels). On the surface of the substrate/body 305, an image is printed via the ink layer 3220, and the lens array 3210 is disposed on the exposed surface of the ink layer 3220 (e.g., the ink layer 3220 and its pattern/image may be printed onto the substrate surface or onto the back of the lens array 3210).

As shown, the lens array 3210 is comprised of a plurality of lenses 3214 each having a circular or annular base abutting the surface of the ink layer 3220 and having a dome-shaped cross-section and/or one or two or more cut-outs/sides. Circular lenses 3214 are arranged in a plurality of columns 3212, the plurality of columns 3212 being parallel as shown by parallel vertical or Y-axis 3213 in fig. 32 (the axis passing through the center of lenses 3214 in column 3212). Further, the lenses 3214 are arranged such that pairs of lenses 3214 in adjacent ones of the columns 3212 are in contact or proximity at least at the base. Further, the columns 3212 are vertically offset such that pairs of adjacent lenses 3214 are spaced apart in a particular column 3212. Then, the array 3210 is configured with parallel rows of lenses 3214 in which each lens abuts their neighbor lenses (or nearly touches each other at the base), as can be seen by parallel horizontal or X-axis 3215 passing through the center of the lenses 3214 in the array 3210, and the rows are shown abutting each other and also offset (e.g., with a horizontal offset as well as a vertical offset in this way, the lenses 3214 can be closely nested in the pattern shown in FIG. 32 (note that the array 3210 can be rotated for rotation, such as by 90 degrees, so that "columns" become "rows" and vice versa).

As discussed in the beginning of this document, moire patterns have been used for many years in conjunction with circular and hexagonal lens arrays. Typically, the printed image is a tiny fine image relative to the size of the lens. Some of the images may be printed at a frequency that is slightly more or less frequent than a one-to-one dimensional lens in two axes, and some of the images may be printed slightly differently relative to each other. The result is a moire pattern that shows the viewer either an illusion of depth of field or the movement of the item with the lens. Typically, these lens arrays combined with printing of the image are used in the anti-counterfeiting market for labels and currency. The thickness of the lens is less than 5/1000 inches and as low as about 0.5/1000 inches (e.g., 125 microns to about 12 microns). The frequency of these lenses is about 400 x 400 per inch to over 1000 x 1000.

Although useful in one regard, the effects that can be achieved with moire patterns are limited. For example, a photograph cannot be taken and a moire pattern is employed to display 3D. Typically, moire patterns are used in the security industry in very fine lenses having a focal length of about 20 to 75 microns and a frequency of over 500 lenses per inch in one axis (or more than 250,000 lenses per square inch). In the case of a tightly nested microlens array (e.g., as shown in fig. 1 and 2), the printed image under the lens is typically 12,000DPI, and can exceed 25,000 DPI. In other cases, 30 lenses per linear inch and only about 900 lenses per square inch with focal lengths greater than 0.125 inch or even 0.25 inch may be quite good.

A significant problem with the use of moire images is that they can be reverse engineered relatively easily. This makes it easy to see the pattern under the lens with an inexpensive microscope and to determine the image and frequency of the pattern. Furthermore, the lens can be cast and re-molded, which makes counterfeiting possible. The relative difficulty in reverse engineering comes from printing the image, but this is also made easier to achieve due to the high resolution laser and placement device.

Typically, microlenses are printed using embossing and filling techniques. This often limits printing to one color due to the fact that the process is prone to self-contamination after one color, and also due to the fact that it is difficult for the process to control the relative color-to-color spacing in the embossing and filling printing process. Motion techniques using embossing-filling, high resolution printing of one colour have been implemented due to the fact that: the web or sheet is pre-embossed, flood coated with ink and wiped clean (except in the embossed areas), and the blade leaves ink residues and contaminants, making additional color challenging. Another problem with respect to typical web stretching and movement is that it is difficult to achieve the small optical pitch differences required for amplified moire due to differences in running tension between colors.

The inventors have therefore determined that there is a need for a security device that is more difficult, if not impossible, to replicate. It is determined that these devices should also be designed to have a "wok-factor" for a fair (over) display of images floating above and below the focal plane.

The printed lens array may be difficult to print in sheet or web form (especially web form) using lithography, gravure, flexographic printing or any other method. Some of the problems are the equipment that makes the plate or "plate setter" and the physical ability to print very small dots or images. This fact, when combined with registration (registration) inaccuracies in the device, film stretching and other variables, makes it impossible or difficult to print very high resolution images required in 4-color processes or microlens arrays with any true accuracy. These facts limit what can be done in printing microlenses.

The general printing accuracy limitations found in printer manuals can be found as follows (color-to-color registration): (1) best sheet-fed printing (Heidelberg or Xiaosen) -8 microns; (2) best currency printing (KBA Notsys only paper) -4 to 6 microns; (3) optimal web (gravure or flexographic) -150 microns or more; (4) preferably the centre-embossed web is-50 microns. In addition, physics dictates that the thinner the substrate or lens array used (required for security and anti-counterfeiting), the finer or finer the lens array is for a target thickness and focal length relationship. The basic formula is as follows: (A) chord width is C; (B) radius of the lens R; (C) focal length F (or lens thickness); and (D) LPI-lens count or number of lenses per linear inch. Then, the basic lens physics determines: r >.5 (C). In addition, F is 1.5(C) (as an approximation).

For example, currency lines may be printed in multiple colors in a pattern, as well as plain colors, at about 25 microns. The minimum realistic LPI in both directions that makes this possible is about 1200LPI, which requires at least 5 pixels for a realistic 3D or animation. Thus, 5 × 1200 is 6000DPI in both directions. However, better quality indicates 10 images and about 12000 DPI. Non-registered patterns or the like may be printed to show motion and 3D in multiple colors. However, registration for printing colors to color, 4-color processes, or registering the colors together at this level requires that it be impossible or at least extremely difficult to achieve with past techniques. In this case, the lens width or chord width (C) is about 21 microns. The printing requirement for even a single color is difficult because one pixel is required for each frame and 5 frames are required for each lens. Looking at the discussion above, an optimal web press registers colors to colors at about 50 microns. The registration requirement for a 4-color process or other close multi-color process having a chord width of about 21 microns (5 frames of 4.2 microns each) is about 2-3 microns. Unfortunately, this has proven difficult, impossible to achieve with current technology.

It is not possible with current technology to produce non-holographic images (printed images) in registration using more than one color, even on one axis. Clearly, regardless of the printing technique, motion or 3D photography is not possible under the lens array. Practical limitations in web using current technology are truly non-existent (the thickness of the material would necessarily exceed 15/1000 "and possibly register the color to about 100LPI of the color, and would not actually be wound in the web). Thus, the printing and registration colors will be limited to sheet fed offset technology (rather than labels that are actually used for banknotes or security).

There is a need for a novel way of addressing this problem for techniques beyond conventional printing. Patterned and perforated metal films or metal-coated films at sub-wavelength scale achieve spectral selectivity by balancing the transmission and reflection characteristics of the surface in the microwave portion of the spectrum where there is little loss. For light frequencies where joule loss is important, a violation of the planar structure or continuity of the (non-perforated) metal film is sufficient to provide or achieve a substantial change in reflectivity. By designing the geometry of the structures that are patterned or embossed onto the surface, the "perceived" color of the metal can be greatly altered without the use of chemicals, thin film coatings, or diffractive effects.

This novel selective frequency effect is based on the plasma joule loss of successive elements of the ("intaglio" and "bas-relief") pattern in the metamaterial, to distinguish both the convex and concave portions of the structure, and is a spectral-specific optical portion. Such techniques have the advantage of maintaining the integrity of the metal structure on the surface, and are scalable for mass production techniques and manufacturing.

The highest possible resolution for printing a color image is determined by the diffraction limit of visible light. To reach this "limit," individual color elements (which are or may be considered "pixels") having a pitch of 250nm (e.g., a pitch of less than 10,000 nanometers (or 10 microns), such as in the range of 200 to 300 nanometers or a pitch of less than about 300 nm) are required or desired for an effective printing resolution (typically given as Dots Per Inch (DPI)) of about 100,000DPI (or a range of 10,000 to 125,000DPI, or in some cases at least about 10,000DPI, while in other cases at least 75,000DPI may be used). Color information can be encoded into the size parameters of the metal nanostructures in order to tune their plasmon resonance to determine the color of individual pixels. This type of color mapping produces images with sharp color differences and fine tone variations. The method can be used for large volume color printing by nanoimprint lithography without the need for ink.

This technique can be used to reproduce the entire spectrum of visible colors, from different colors to RGB mixes and CMYK process colors, for reproduction of photographs or other images. It is important to note that unlike diffraction images, the color resulting from the balanced manipulation of reflected and transmitted waves is largely insensitive to viewing angle. Thus, since these nanostructures in combination with lens arrays tuned to produce color pixels simulating up to 100,000DPI with both moire and interlaced images as described herein result in incident light rays of different entry angles (due to the lens focal point), the resulting color returned to the viewer is not distorted or altered, as is the case with diffraction patterns. The interleaved image with the lenses focused on individual pixels or groups of pixels remains as designed and the color remains unchanged when rendered or reflected back to the viewer. The resulting color is largely unaffected by the angle of incidence.

For the reasons described above, combining the lens arrays described herein with this "plasmon resonance" technology makes desirable or at least very useful combinations for thin film 4-color processes and for providing combined and registered color for lens arrays used in security, brand, and other applications. For the first time, realistic color effects that can be produced in a single step of intaglio/low relief metamaterials can be used. It is equally applicable to bulky and thin film surfaces and can be implemented into a single step process. The mapping of pixels may be performed after the interleaving or mapping of the 3D or animated image. The image may first be interlaced and then converted to the appropriate conversion method (continuous intaglio or bas-relief) at the pixel level to simulate the desired color.

An example of the surprising depth of features and animations that might occur is shown by the traditional counterpart (traditional printing in combination with the lenses) which would be 75 microns. Even in a proofing environment (images are not likely to register and print in production), a maximum of 6 images for a 400LPI lens (bi-directional circular or square based lens) of 6 images can achieve about 2400 DPI. In contrast, the plasmon resonance system described above allows the design of a very sharp focusing lens that will provide a 75 micron pixel. Instead of a 6 by 6 frame pattern (36 images in the lens), a 250 image by 250 image pattern can be achieved with 100,000DPI with 62,500 views or image frames in primary, direct (PMS equivalent) or RGB colors. Thus, plasmon resonance facilitates larger frame patterns greater than 6 by 6 patterns, such as 7 by 7 frame patterns (49 image frames) to 250 by 250 frame patterns (62,500 image frames).

The lens array is then cast, extruded or laminated to a nano-bas-relief or embossed film containing the image or nano-bas-relief structure. The optical pitch of the lenses can be designed and fabricated to match the exact resonance of the color pixels generated by the nano-bas-relief structures or vice versa. By systematically removing the set of pixels (formed by the set of nanostructures) or adding (modeled) nanostructures programmed in mixed (non-interfering) colors or pixels, the optical pitch can be scaled to exactly match the lens array, so that the exact resolution of the device writing the file is matched without interpolation down to about 250 nanometers.

Using plasmon resonance or continuous metal frequencies for creating an image using an interlaced document allows fine tuning of the document down to a combined nanopillar (nanopost) combination to create color resonance at the 250 nanometer level. This pixel "replacement" represents the final pixel and, therefore, the adjustment for matching the optical pitch (image) to the microlens drops to about 250 nanometers. This is ideal for creating an exact match between the lenticules and the image itself, as it allows fine adjustments without the use of ancillary procedures that result in averaging and warping in the file.

For a generic interlacing for all lens arrays using continuous metal frequency technology, images can be created in the normal way using photographs, Photoshop illuminator from Adobe corporation or any number of programs. The color file is then separated into color patches by color separation software (RGB or CMYK may be used for the image). This is done at a very high resolution so that the pixels can be decomposed so that colors are built up at up to about 100,000DPI, with each pixel at about 250 nanometers. The shape of the nanopillars may then be formed to match the appropriate color given the plasmon resonance associated with that color when matching the wavelength to the electron. This can be done in the color separation software.

The individual color choices for those pixels are then interpreted into the appropriate physical shape of the microstructures (nanopillars) to create the appropriate color to the viewer. However, prior to the final selection of the shape, the files are interleaved for 3D and/or animation down to a possible level of one pixel per frame or 250nm, depending on the size of the file and or the lenticules. The file is then interleaved to match whether circular, square, hexagonal, linear, parallelogram-type or aspherical lenses are used in the lens array. The pixels are then interpreted (after interleaving) using software that identifies the colors and pixels and provides the data necessary to create a nanopillar or microembossed file containing X, Y and Z coordinates.

With respect to lens applications and general manufacturing, after creating a document using interlaced images and converting the document into an embossed document, the plastic substrate may first be embossed and then suitably metallized, with the precise meta-material used varying from application to application. The material may be a single conductive material or a combination of conductive materials, such as gold, aluminum, silver, and the like. These materials may be vapor coated with a layer of 2 to 50 or more nanometers of material. Instead, the film itself may be pre-coated with a metamaterial and post-embossed with nanostructures.

The lens may be applied after or even before the process of metallization and embossing (again, any of the aforementioned types/shapes may be used). The lens array may be formed on or as part of the film and metallization occurs, with subsequent embossing on the flat side of the lens. However, when the lens is applied thereafter, the adhesive and or stamping process and associated hot melt adhesive and refractive index should be considered to calculate the appropriate focal length.

In summary, an array of lenses or microlenses: (1) application may be performed after production, embossing and metallization of the substrate; (2) embossing may be done with the lens array first extruded or cast and then embossed with the nano-interlaced image (then metallized with the metamaterial); and (3) can be fabricated, metallized, and then embossed on the back side (flat side).

Program listing or subroutine for ray tracing for a dual-axis interleaved and circular or square-based lens array

Claims (10)

1. A method of manufacturing an anti-counterfeiting device, comprising:

generating a print file defining a biaxial interleaving of a matrix of image frames;

providing a transparent film comprising an array of lenses on a first surface; and

printing an ink layer or providing a thin metal film having a nanostructure on a second surface opposite to the first surface based on a printed document, wherein the lenses of the array are circular-based lenses, hexagonal-based lenses or square-based lenses nested in the array,

wherein generating the printed document comprises providing a pixel map of an interleaved image that when viewed through an array of lenses provides image elements that are activated first to provide a first display effect when the security device is rotated about a first axis and are activated to provide a second display effect when the security device is rotated about a second axis that is transverse to the first axis,

wherein the first display effect and the second display effect are each selected from a group of display effects consisting of: 3D layering, 3D live action, motion, flip, animation, transform, on and off, and zoom, and

wherein generating the print file comprises: the image frames from the rows of the matrix are combined to obtain a vertical pixel file comprising combined pixels in a first axis, and then the vertical pixel file is combined to obtain a print file comprising bidirectional frames in the first axis and a second axis.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the first axis is a horizontal axis and the second axis is a vertical axis, the image frames comprising images from a plurality of viewpoints relative to the horizontal axis and the vertical axis.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the nanostructures are formed using plasmon resonance and are formed to encode color information in a size parameter of the nanostructures to define a color of each pixel of the frame of the image.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein generating the printed document comprises resizing the printed document to match an optical pitch of the array of lenses.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein generating a print file defining a biaxial interleaving of a matrix of image frames comprises mapping pixels to two or more lenses in the array.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein the non-sequential processing is performed based on a viewing distribution of the lenses of the array, and wherein the lenses of the array are non-linear lenses having a square base, a hexagonal base, or a circular base.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the thin metal film comprises a non-bas-relief or embossed film fabricated to contain nanostructures.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the nanostructures are provided at a pitch of less than 300 nanometers.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein the nanostructures provide an effective printing resolution of at least 10,000 dots per inch.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein the optical pitch of the array of lenses matches the resonance of the color pixels provided by the nanostructures.

Images