GB2348852A - Improvements in or relating to diffractive optical elements - Google Patents

Improvements in or relating to diffractive optical elements Download PDF

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Publication number
GB2348852A
GB2348852A GB9904907A GB9904907A GB2348852A GB 2348852 A GB2348852 A GB 2348852A GB 9904907 A GB9904907 A GB 9904907A GB 9904907 A GB9904907 A GB 9904907A GB 2348852 A GB2348852 A GB 2348852A
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United Kingdom
Prior art keywords
film
sheet
optical elements
diffractive optical
ink
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Granted
Application number
GB9904907A
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GB9904907D0 (en
GB2348852B (en
Inventor
David Gifford Burder
Michael Medora
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Individual
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Individual
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Publication date
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Priority to GB9904907A priority Critical patent/GB2348852B/en
Publication of GB9904907D0 publication Critical patent/GB9904907D0/en
Publication of GB2348852A publication Critical patent/GB2348852A/en
Application granted granted Critical
Publication of GB2348852B publication Critical patent/GB2348852B/en
Anticipated expiration legal-status Critical
Expired - Fee Related legal-status Critical Current

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Classifications

    • G—PHYSICS
    • G03—PHOTOGRAPHY; CINEMATOGRAPHY; ANALOGOUS TECHNIQUES USING WAVES OTHER THAN OPTICAL WAVES; ELECTROGRAPHY; HOLOGRAPHY
    • G03H—HOLOGRAPHIC PROCESSES OR APPARATUS
    • G03H1/00—Holographic processes or apparatus using light, infrared or ultraviolet waves for obtaining holograms or for obtaining an image from them; Details peculiar thereto
    • G03H1/02—Details of features involved during the holographic process; Replication of holograms without interference recording
    • G03H1/0276—Replicating a master hologram without interference recording
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B41—PRINTING; LINING MACHINES; TYPEWRITERS; STAMPS
    • B41M—PRINTING, DUPLICATING, MARKING, OR COPYING PROCESSES; COLOUR PRINTING
    • B41M3/00—Printing processes to produce particular kinds of printed work, e.g. patterns
    • B41M3/003—Printing processes to produce particular kinds of printed work, e.g. patterns on optical devices, e.g. lens elements; for the production of optical devices
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B44—DECORATIVE ARTS
    • B44F—SPECIAL DESIGNS OR PICTURES
    • B44F1/00—Designs or pictures characterised by special or unusual light effects
    • B44F1/06—Designs or pictures characterised by special or unusual light effects produced by transmitted light, e.g. transparencies, imitations of glass paintings
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B44—DECORATIVE ARTS
    • B44F—SPECIAL DESIGNS OR PICTURES
    • B44F1/00—Designs or pictures characterised by special or unusual light effects
    • B44F1/08—Designs or pictures characterised by special or unusual light effects characterised by colour effects
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B44—DECORATIVE ARTS
    • B44F—SPECIAL DESIGNS OR PICTURES
    • B44F1/00—Designs or pictures characterised by special or unusual light effects
    • B44F1/08—Designs or pictures characterised by special or unusual light effects characterised by colour effects
    • B44F1/10—Changing, amusing, or secret pictures
    • G—PHYSICS
    • G02—OPTICS
    • G02B—OPTICAL ELEMENTS, SYSTEMS OR APPARATUS
    • G02B5/00—Optical elements other than lenses
    • G02B5/18—Diffraction gratings
    • G02B5/1847—Manufacturing methods
    • G02B5/1857—Manufacturing methods using exposure or etching means, e.g. holography, photolithography, exposure to electron or ion beams
    • G—PHYSICS
    • G03—PHOTOGRAPHY; CINEMATOGRAPHY; ANALOGOUS TECHNIQUES USING WAVES OTHER THAN OPTICAL WAVES; ELECTROGRAPHY; HOLOGRAPHY
    • G03H—HOLOGRAPHIC PROCESSES OR APPARATUS
    • G03H1/00—Holographic processes or apparatus using light, infrared or ultraviolet waves for obtaining holograms or for obtaining an image from them; Details peculiar thereto
    • G03H1/22—Processes or apparatus for obtaining an optical image from holograms
    • G03H1/2249—Holobject properties
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B41—PRINTING; LINING MACHINES; TYPEWRITERS; STAMPS
    • B41M—PRINTING, DUPLICATING, MARKING, OR COPYING PROCESSES; COLOUR PRINTING
    • B41M3/00—Printing processes to produce particular kinds of printed work, e.g. patterns
    • B41M3/14—Security printing
    • B41M3/148—Transitory images, i.e. images only visible from certain viewing angles
    • G—PHYSICS
    • G03—PHOTOGRAPHY; CINEMATOGRAPHY; ANALOGOUS TECHNIQUES USING WAVES OTHER THAN OPTICAL WAVES; ELECTROGRAPHY; HOLOGRAPHY
    • G03H—HOLOGRAPHIC PROCESSES OR APPARATUS
    • G03H1/00—Holographic processes or apparatus using light, infrared or ultraviolet waves for obtaining holograms or for obtaining an image from them; Details peculiar thereto
    • G03H1/0005—Adaptation of holography to specific applications
    • G03H1/0011—Adaptation of holography to specific applications for security or authentication
    • G—PHYSICS
    • G03—PHOTOGRAPHY; CINEMATOGRAPHY; ANALOGOUS TECHNIQUES USING WAVES OTHER THAN OPTICAL WAVES; ELECTROGRAPHY; HOLOGRAPHY
    • G03H—HOLOGRAPHIC PROCESSES OR APPARATUS
    • G03H1/00—Holographic processes or apparatus using light, infrared or ultraviolet waves for obtaining holograms or for obtaining an image from them; Details peculiar thereto
    • G03H1/0005—Adaptation of holography to specific applications
    • G03H2001/0055—Adaptation of holography to specific applications in advertising or decorative art
    • G—PHYSICS
    • G03—PHOTOGRAPHY; CINEMATOGRAPHY; ANALOGOUS TECHNIQUES USING WAVES OTHER THAN OPTICAL WAVES; ELECTROGRAPHY; HOLOGRAPHY
    • G03H—HOLOGRAPHIC PROCESSES OR APPARATUS
    • G03H1/00—Holographic processes or apparatus using light, infrared or ultraviolet waves for obtaining holograms or for obtaining an image from them; Details peculiar thereto
    • G03H1/04—Processes or apparatus for producing holograms
    • G03H1/0476—Holographic printer
    • G03H2001/0478—Serial printer, i.e. point oriented processing
    • G—PHYSICS
    • G03—PHOTOGRAPHY; CINEMATOGRAPHY; ANALOGOUS TECHNIQUES USING WAVES OTHER THAN OPTICAL WAVES; ELECTROGRAPHY; HOLOGRAPHY
    • G03H—HOLOGRAPHIC PROCESSES OR APPARATUS
    • G03H1/00—Holographic processes or apparatus using light, infrared or ultraviolet waves for obtaining holograms or for obtaining an image from them; Details peculiar thereto
    • G03H1/22—Processes or apparatus for obtaining an optical image from holograms
    • G03H1/2202—Reconstruction geometries or arrangements
    • G03H2001/2223—Particular relationship between light source, hologram and observer
    • G03H2001/2234—Transmission reconstruction
    • G—PHYSICS
    • G03—PHOTOGRAPHY; CINEMATOGRAPHY; ANALOGOUS TECHNIQUES USING WAVES OTHER THAN OPTICAL WAVES; ELECTROGRAPHY; HOLOGRAPHY
    • G03H—HOLOGRAPHIC PROCESSES OR APPARATUS
    • G03H1/00—Holographic processes or apparatus using light, infrared or ultraviolet waves for obtaining holograms or for obtaining an image from them; Details peculiar thereto
    • G03H1/22—Processes or apparatus for obtaining an optical image from holograms
    • G03H1/2249—Holobject properties
    • G03H2001/2273—Pseudo-dynamic holobject, e.g. due to angle multiplexing and viewer motion
    • G—PHYSICS
    • G03—PHOTOGRAPHY; CINEMATOGRAPHY; ANALOGOUS TECHNIQUES USING WAVES OTHER THAN OPTICAL WAVES; ELECTROGRAPHY; HOLOGRAPHY
    • G03H—HOLOGRAPHIC PROCESSES OR APPARATUS
    • G03H1/00—Holographic processes or apparatus using light, infrared or ultraviolet waves for obtaining holograms or for obtaining an image from them; Details peculiar thereto
    • G03H1/26—Processes or apparatus specially adapted to produce multiple sub- holograms or to obtain images from them, e.g. multicolour technique
    • G03H1/30—Processes or apparatus specially adapted to produce multiple sub- holograms or to obtain images from them, e.g. multicolour technique discrete holograms only
    • G03H2001/306—Tiled identical sub-holograms
    • G—PHYSICS
    • G03—PHOTOGRAPHY; CINEMATOGRAPHY; ANALOGOUS TECHNIQUES USING WAVES OTHER THAN OPTICAL WAVES; ELECTROGRAPHY; HOLOGRAPHY
    • G03H—HOLOGRAPHIC PROCESSES OR APPARATUS
    • G03H2210/00—Object characteristics
    • G03H2210/20—2D object
    • G—PHYSICS
    • G03—PHOTOGRAPHY; CINEMATOGRAPHY; ANALOGOUS TECHNIQUES USING WAVES OTHER THAN OPTICAL WAVES; ELECTROGRAPHY; HOLOGRAPHY
    • G03H—HOLOGRAPHIC PROCESSES OR APPARATUS
    • G03H2240/00—Hologram nature or properties
    • G03H2240/10—Physical parameter modulated by the hologram
    • G03H2240/12—Amplitude only modulation
    • G—PHYSICS
    • G03—PHOTOGRAPHY; CINEMATOGRAPHY; ANALOGOUS TECHNIQUES USING WAVES OTHER THAN OPTICAL WAVES; ELECTROGRAPHY; HOLOGRAPHY
    • G03H—HOLOGRAPHIC PROCESSES OR APPARATUS
    • G03H2270/00—Substrate bearing the hologram
    • G03H2270/55—Substrate bearing the hologram being an optical element, e.g. spectacles

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  • Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
  • General Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Manufacturing & Machinery (AREA)
  • Optics & Photonics (AREA)
  • Printing Methods (AREA)

Abstract

The present invention provides for production of diffractive optical elements (DOEs) (2) using an ink printing process. This process is relatively inexpensive and can provide resolution to about 5 microns. In addition, this process is applicable to mass production and can be used to produce DOEs (2) on plastic substrates which inherently have increased durability compared to emulsion bases. In addition, using this method, DOEs (2) can be cost effectively produced over a large surface area, and thus can be supplied to shop and vehicle windows, and also to bus stops.

Description

Improvements in or relating to Diffractive Optical Elements Diffraction gratings are well known as one of the most useful optical devices for producing spectra. In one of its forms, the diffraction grating consists of a flat glass plate the surface of which has been ruled with a diamond, to produce a number of equidistant parallel straight lines, which may be as close as 1000 per millimetre. If a narrow source of light is viewed through a grating, it can be seen to be accompanied on each side by one or more spectra. These are produced by diffraction effects from the lines acting as a very large number of equally spaced parallel slits.
Diffractive optical elements (DOE) comprise a transparent surface covered with numerous diffraction gratings. DOEs are encoded with a message or image by the pattern of arrangement of the diffraction gratings. It is known that holographic images may be produced onto DOEs such that when DOEs are placed in front of a point light source and viewed, holographic images appear localised around the point light sources. In fact, DOEs are not actually limited to holographic images, and may also be created by other means including by rulings, etchings, and by direct computer generation.
DOE's that are reproduced using emulsions are limited in their application due to the size restriction of that emulsion bearing sheet. The nature of DOEs being considered here contain large fringes (greater than 2 microns) such that lower resolution methods, as provided by ink printing, become a viable reproduction method.
The present invention provides for the production of DOEs using an ink printing process. This process is relatively inexpensive and can provide resolution to about 5 microns. In addition, this process is applicable to mass production and can be used to produce DOEs on plastic substrates which inherently have increased durability compared to emulsion bases.
Accordingly the present invention provides a method for producing diffractive optical elements by an ink printing process, comprising the steps of firstly making one or more printers plates containing multiple copies of an encoded image, by either contacting down the image onto a film, in a step and repeat procedure prior to making the printing plate, or by transferring multiple copies of a digital representation of the encoded image onto the printers plate, and secondly using ink and the printing plate to print the image onto a substrate.
Preferably, the substrate is a clear coloured transparent substrate e. g. acetate and the ink used is coloured.
Another embodiment of the invention provides a sheet of film containing diffractive optical elements produced by the ink printing method.
A further embodiment of the invention provides a viewing device incorporating the sheet of film produced by the ink printing process. Preferably, the viewing device, is used as spectacles for promotional purposes or eye testing.
In another embodiment, the invention provides a transparent panel in a structure or vehicle having attached thereto or incorporating a sheet of film produced by the ink printing process. Preferably, the panel is located for use in public telephone booth, bus stop, public transport vehicle or display window.
A further embodiment still provides a banknote incorporating a sheet of film produced by the ink printing process.
Further still, the invention provides packaging material incorporating a sheet or film produced by the ink printing process.
The invention also provides a hidden image system comprising a TV, computer or Internet monitor and a sheet or film produced by the ink printing process.
Preferably, the monitor displays a light spot surrounded by concentric coloured patterns of light for visual acuity.
In another embodiment the invention provides the ink printing process using colour coded ink, or substrate, to modulate the effect of the image.
Specific embodiments of the invention will be described with reference to the following drawings in which : Figure 1 is a schematic representation of the arrangement required to visualise the encoded image of a DOE; Figure 2 is a natural view of a point light source as seen s tout the use of a DOE; Figure 3 is a view of the scene of Figure 2 as viewed using the DOE.
Figure 1 shows an eye 1, DOE 2, and point light source 3. The encoded image of the DOE 2 will appear around The point source of light 3, and around each and every point light source. Multiple point light sources give multiple images.
Figure 2 shows a scene of a person with a point light source 3 located in the line of sight. As can be seen in Figure 3, the encoded image 7 of the DOE, in this case of a star, appears located only around the point light source 3.
The ink printing process contained within this invention consists of making plates, containing multiple copies of the encoded image 7. This may be done by either contacting down, in a step and repeat procedure, the encoded image 7 onto film, prior to making the printing plate, or by transferring multiple copies of a digital representation of the image onto the printers plate. The plate is then used for printing the image, using conventional inks, onto clear coloured transparent substrates. The use of coloured inks or substrates can be used to modulate the visual effect according to the colour of the light source.
There are numerous applications for DOEs made by the printing process. These include advertising windows, eye tests, security packaging, computer games, security devices on banknotes, and use in television or computer screen based games and hidden image ccmpetitions.
When the DOE is placed in front of a point light source and viewed by a person with normal or corrected vision, images appear localised around the point light sources. However, images are not seen if the DOE is viewed by a shortsighted person. Thus, this application would be particularly suited to children and/or autistic people. In such cases, if the DOE is viewed by, for example, a child with correct vision, then the child would react positively on seeing the images. However, no such reaction would be observed from someone with uncorrected vision. Thus, by gauging the reaction of the child or autistic person, it is possible to assess whether the individual has a correct vision.
DOEs produced by the ink printing process are also suitable for advertising windows, in particular, shop windows, bus stop window panels and public telephone booths. The ink printing process is suitable to print larger surface area DOEs, which may then be placed over windows or printed directly onto the windows.
Thus, if for example, the window display arrangements in shops comprise point sources of light, the advertising message encoded on the DOE will appear when viewed by a passerby. This would be useful during the Christmas season when many point light sources are used in window displays.
Additionally, different areas of the DOE can be encoded with different messages so that as the passerby walks along the window display they see a variety of images.
Bus stops usually comprise a number of panels, at least one of which is noria''a a window. DOEs can be used on these window panels such that messages can be seen by bus passengers waiting at the bus stop, or pedestrians walking by the bus stop, when for example, vehicles shine their lights through the window. In fact, the messages will be seen when any point source of light viewed through the window. Similarly DOEs can be placed on the windows of public transport vehicles, including railway and subway trains. Such advertising applications would be particularly effective at night.
Due to their cost advantage, DOEs produced using the ink printing process, are very suitable for high volume promotional items, such as advertising spectacles. Thus, the names of various companies or products can be encoded onto the DOE and supplied to a large number of people at a very low cost.
Spectacles can also be used in conjunction with reveal systems, including TV reveal or hidden image systems.
In such cases, many spectacles are manufactured, only some of which have messages informing the person who views the DOE message that they have won a prize. In TV reveal systems, the point source of light is provided by the TV programme. Similarly, DOEs can be sold for use with computer programs, where that the computer program supplies the point source of light.
Conventional copying methods are not able to provide sufficient resolution to distinguish the diffraction grating pattern. Thus, DOEs cannot be easily copied or reverse engineered by conventional scanning and copying methods, and give DOEs applicability in security applications, including for use with packaging and banknotes. In these particular applications DOE panels DOE would be incorporated within or on the devices.
For the television and other electronic display screen systems, the point source of light has to be achieved by displaying a bright spot of light on the monitor, against a dark surround. As it is essential that sufficient contrast is achieved between the spotlight and its darker surroundings, concentric rings and patterns of brightness and colour may be used around the source of light to enhance the apparent brightness of that spot. The computer display can of course be used to interact with the Internet.
The present invention therefore provides for the production of DOEs using an ink printing process.
This process is relatively inexpensive and can provide resolution to about 5 microns. In addition, this process is applicable to mass production and can be used to produce DOEs on plastic substrates which inherently have increased durability compared to emulsion bases. In addition, using this method, DOEs can be cost effectively produced over a large surface area and thus can be applied to shop and vehicle windows, and also to bus stops.

Claims (15)

  1. Claims 1. A method for producing diffractive optical elements, by an ink printing process, comprising the steps of firstly making one or more printers plates containing multiple copies of an image, by either contacting down the encoded image onto a film, in a step and repeat procedure prior to making the printing plate, or by transferring multiple copies of a digital representation of the encoded image onto the printers plate, and secondly using ink and the printing plate to print the image onto a substrate.
  2. 2. A method as claimed in claim 1 wherein the substrate is a clear coloured transparent substrate e. g acetate.
  3. 3. A method as claimed in claim 1 wherein the ink used is coloured.
  4. 4. A sheet of film containing diffractive optical elements produced by the method of claim 1.
  5. 5. A viewing device incorporating a sheet of film as claimed in claim 4.
  6. 6. A viewing device as claimed in claim 5, for use as spectacles for promotional purposes or eye testing.
  7. 7. A transparent panel in a structure or vehicle having attached thereto or incorporating a sheet of film as claimed in claim 4.
  8. 8. A panel as claimed in claim 7, located for use in public telephone booth, bus stop, public transport vehicle or display window.
  9. 9. A banknote incorporating a sheet of film as claimed in claim 4.
  10. 10. Packaging material incorporating a sheet or film as claimed in claim 4.
  11. 11. A hidden image system comprising a TV, computer or Internet monitor and a sheet or film as claimed in claim 4.
  12. 12. A hidden image system as claimed in claim 11, wherein the monitor displays a light spot surrounded by concentric coloured patterns of light for visual acuity.
  13. 13. A method as claimed in claim 1 using colour coded ink, or substrate, to modulate the effect of the image.
  14. 14. A method for producing diffractive optical elements substantially as hereinbefore described and with reference to the accompanying drawings.
  15. 15. A sheet of film containing diffractive optical elements substantially as hereinbefore described and with reference to the accompanying drawings.
GB9904907A 1999-03-03 1999-03-03 Ink printed diffractive optical elements Expired - Fee Related GB2348852B (en)

Priority Applications (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
GB9904907A GB2348852B (en) 1999-03-03 1999-03-03 Ink printed diffractive optical elements

Applications Claiming Priority (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
GB9904907A GB2348852B (en) 1999-03-03 1999-03-03 Ink printed diffractive optical elements

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GB9904907D0 GB9904907D0 (en) 1999-04-28
GB2348852A true GB2348852A (en) 2000-10-18
GB2348852B GB2348852B (en) 2003-03-12

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Citations (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US5912767A (en) * 1993-11-23 1999-06-15 Commonwealth Scientific And Industrial Research Organisation Diffractive indicia for a surface

Patent Citations (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US5912767A (en) * 1993-11-23 1999-06-15 Commonwealth Scientific And Industrial Research Organisation Diffractive indicia for a surface

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Publication number Publication date
GB9904907D0 (en) 1999-04-28
GB2348852B (en) 2003-03-12

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PCNP Patent ceased through non-payment of renewal fee

Effective date: 20120303