WO2006125224A2 - Image presentation and micro-optic security system - Google Patents
Image presentation and micro-optic security system Download PDFInfo
- Publication number
- WO2006125224A2 WO2006125224A2 PCT/US2006/019810 US2006019810W WO2006125224A2 WO 2006125224 A2 WO2006125224 A2 WO 2006125224A2 US 2006019810 W US2006019810 W US 2006019810W WO 2006125224 A2 WO2006125224 A2 WO 2006125224A2
- Authority
- WO
- WIPO (PCT)
- Prior art keywords
- icon
- image system
- optical image
- synthetic optical
- elements
- Prior art date
Links
- 230000003287 optical effect Effects 0.000 claims abstract description 238
- 230000008878 coupling Effects 0.000 claims abstract description 13
- 238000010168 coupling process Methods 0.000 claims abstract description 13
- 238000005859 coupling reaction Methods 0.000 claims abstract description 13
- 239000000463 material Substances 0.000 claims description 614
- 239000010410 layer Substances 0.000 claims description 331
- 238000000576 coating method Methods 0.000 claims description 230
- 239000011248 coating agent Substances 0.000 claims description 199
- 239000000758 substrate Substances 0.000 claims description 115
- 125000006850 spacer group Chemical group 0.000 claims description 55
- 238000003491 array Methods 0.000 claims description 30
- 239000012530 fluid Substances 0.000 claims description 27
- 229910052751 metal Inorganic materials 0.000 claims description 26
- 239000002184 metal Substances 0.000 claims description 26
- 239000011888 foil Substances 0.000 claims description 24
- 238000007639 printing Methods 0.000 claims description 23
- 239000007788 liquid Substances 0.000 claims description 18
- 229910052782 aluminium Inorganic materials 0.000 claims description 17
- XAGFODPZIPBFFR-UHFFFAOYSA-N aluminium Chemical compound [Al] XAGFODPZIPBFFR-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 claims description 17
- 238000011049 filling Methods 0.000 claims description 15
- 230000008859 change Effects 0.000 claims description 13
- 238000004806 packaging method and process Methods 0.000 claims description 13
- 239000011247 coating layer Substances 0.000 claims description 10
- 230000001965 increasing effect Effects 0.000 claims description 8
- 239000011800 void material Substances 0.000 claims description 8
- 238000005530 etching Methods 0.000 claims description 7
- 238000003475 lamination Methods 0.000 claims description 7
- 230000010287 polarization Effects 0.000 claims description 6
- 239000007787 solid Substances 0.000 claims description 6
- 238000004040 coloring Methods 0.000 claims description 5
- 238000002310 reflectometry Methods 0.000 claims description 5
- 238000000151 deposition Methods 0.000 claims description 3
- 239000004922 lacquer Substances 0.000 claims description 3
- 238000003860 storage Methods 0.000 claims description 3
- 239000003989 dielectric material Substances 0.000 claims 1
- 239000007769 metal material Substances 0.000 claims 1
- 239000011521 glass Substances 0.000 abstract description 12
- 230000000694 effects Effects 0.000 description 117
- 238000000034 method Methods 0.000 description 90
- 230000033001 locomotion Effects 0.000 description 61
- 239000010408 film Substances 0.000 description 35
- 230000000007 visual effect Effects 0.000 description 33
- 230000008901 benefit Effects 0.000 description 26
- 239000002245 particle Substances 0.000 description 24
- 230000000737 periodic effect Effects 0.000 description 24
- 238000007789 sealing Methods 0.000 description 24
- 238000013461 design Methods 0.000 description 22
- 229920000642 polymer Polymers 0.000 description 21
- 238000004519 manufacturing process Methods 0.000 description 20
- 239000000049 pigment Substances 0.000 description 20
- 239000000123 paper Substances 0.000 description 19
- 239000000975 dye Substances 0.000 description 18
- 239000000976 ink Substances 0.000 description 17
- -1 oligimer Substances 0.000 description 17
- PXHVJJICTQNCMI-UHFFFAOYSA-N Nickel Chemical compound [Ni] PXHVJJICTQNCMI-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 description 16
- PCHJSUWPFVWCPO-UHFFFAOYSA-N gold Chemical compound [Au] PCHJSUWPFVWCPO-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 description 16
- 229910052737 gold Inorganic materials 0.000 description 16
- 239000010931 gold Substances 0.000 description 16
- 238000005286 illumination Methods 0.000 description 16
- 239000000047 product Substances 0.000 description 15
- 229920006254 polymer film Polymers 0.000 description 13
- 230000005855 radiation Effects 0.000 description 13
- 239000000843 powder Substances 0.000 description 12
- 239000002131 composite material Substances 0.000 description 11
- 230000006870 function Effects 0.000 description 11
- 230000000873 masking effect Effects 0.000 description 11
- 230000036961 partial effect Effects 0.000 description 11
- 239000002904 solvent Substances 0.000 description 11
- XLYOFNOQVPJJNP-UHFFFAOYSA-N water Substances O XLYOFNOQVPJJNP-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 description 11
- PEDCQBHIVMGVHV-UHFFFAOYSA-N Glycerine Chemical compound OCC(O)CO PEDCQBHIVMGVHV-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 description 10
- BQCADISMDOOEFD-UHFFFAOYSA-N Silver Chemical compound [Ag] BQCADISMDOOEFD-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 description 10
- 238000001514 detection method Methods 0.000 description 10
- 239000007789 gas Substances 0.000 description 10
- 229920002120 photoresistant polymer Polymers 0.000 description 10
- 239000004332 silver Substances 0.000 description 10
- 239000003086 colorant Substances 0.000 description 9
- 238000011161 development Methods 0.000 description 9
- 238000007654 immersion Methods 0.000 description 9
- 239000012939 laminating adhesive Substances 0.000 description 9
- 238000000059 patterning Methods 0.000 description 9
- 229920000728 polyester Polymers 0.000 description 9
- 229910052709 silver Inorganic materials 0.000 description 9
- GWEVSGVZZGPLCZ-UHFFFAOYSA-N Titan oxide Chemical compound O=[Ti]=O GWEVSGVZZGPLCZ-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 description 8
- 239000000853 adhesive Substances 0.000 description 8
- 230000001070 adhesive effect Effects 0.000 description 8
- 238000006243 chemical reaction Methods 0.000 description 8
- 238000002955 isolation Methods 0.000 description 8
- 238000010030 laminating Methods 0.000 description 8
- 229910052759 nickel Inorganic materials 0.000 description 8
- 238000005323 electroforming Methods 0.000 description 7
- 238000010348 incorporation Methods 0.000 description 7
- 239000011347 resin Substances 0.000 description 7
- 229920005989 resin Polymers 0.000 description 7
- 230000035807 sensation Effects 0.000 description 7
- 230000007704 transition Effects 0.000 description 7
- 238000005266 casting Methods 0.000 description 6
- 239000000696 magnetic material Substances 0.000 description 6
- 230000002829 reductive effect Effects 0.000 description 6
- 238000000926 separation method Methods 0.000 description 6
- 238000005481 NMR spectroscopy Methods 0.000 description 5
- 239000004820 Pressure-sensitive adhesive Substances 0.000 description 5
- 238000013459 approach Methods 0.000 description 5
- 239000012876 carrier material Substances 0.000 description 5
- 238000004049 embossing Methods 0.000 description 5
- 239000004744 fabric Substances 0.000 description 5
- 239000000499 gel Substances 0.000 description 5
- 229920000159 gelatin Polymers 0.000 description 5
- 235000019322 gelatine Nutrition 0.000 description 5
- 235000011187 glycerol Nutrition 0.000 description 5
- 238000003384 imaging method Methods 0.000 description 5
- 229910044991 metal oxide Inorganic materials 0.000 description 5
- 150000004706 metal oxides Chemical class 0.000 description 5
- 150000002739 metals Chemical class 0.000 description 5
- 239000000203 mixture Substances 0.000 description 5
- 229920000139 polyethylene terephthalate Polymers 0.000 description 5
- 239000005020 polyethylene terephthalate Substances 0.000 description 5
- 229920000307 polymer substrate Polymers 0.000 description 5
- 230000008569 process Effects 0.000 description 5
- 239000000126 substance Substances 0.000 description 5
- LFQSCWFLJHTTHZ-UHFFFAOYSA-N Ethanol Chemical compound CCO LFQSCWFLJHTTHZ-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 description 4
- 229920000106 Liquid crystal polymer Polymers 0.000 description 4
- 239000004977 Liquid-crystal polymers (LCPs) Substances 0.000 description 4
- 238000001069 Raman spectroscopy Methods 0.000 description 4
- 238000000149 argon plasma sintering Methods 0.000 description 4
- 230000015572 biosynthetic process Effects 0.000 description 4
- 230000000994 depressogenic effect Effects 0.000 description 4
- 229910003460 diamond Inorganic materials 0.000 description 4
- 239000010432 diamond Substances 0.000 description 4
- 239000000839 emulsion Substances 0.000 description 4
- 210000000887 face Anatomy 0.000 description 4
- 238000001746 injection moulding Methods 0.000 description 4
- 239000004973 liquid crystal related substance Substances 0.000 description 4
- 238000004020 luminiscence type Methods 0.000 description 4
- 239000006249 magnetic particle Substances 0.000 description 4
- 230000005499 meniscus Effects 0.000 description 4
- 238000001465 metallisation Methods 0.000 description 4
- 230000002093 peripheral effect Effects 0.000 description 4
- 239000004408 titanium dioxide Substances 0.000 description 4
- VYZAMTAEIAYCRO-UHFFFAOYSA-N Chromium Chemical compound [Cr] VYZAMTAEIAYCRO-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 description 3
- 108010010803 Gelatin Proteins 0.000 description 3
- 239000004743 Polypropylene Substances 0.000 description 3
- 229920002472 Starch Polymers 0.000 description 3
- 239000011358 absorbing material Substances 0.000 description 3
- 238000010521 absorption reaction Methods 0.000 description 3
- 230000004075 alteration Effects 0.000 description 3
- 229920001222 biopolymer Polymers 0.000 description 3
- 239000006229 carbon black Substances 0.000 description 3
- 238000003486 chemical etching Methods 0.000 description 3
- 238000000748 compression moulding Methods 0.000 description 3
- 239000013078 crystal Substances 0.000 description 3
- 238000005520 cutting process Methods 0.000 description 3
- 239000006185 dispersion Substances 0.000 description 3
- 238000009826 distribution Methods 0.000 description 3
- 239000003814 drug Substances 0.000 description 3
- 238000005401 electroluminescence Methods 0.000 description 3
- 238000010894 electron beam technology Methods 0.000 description 3
- 239000000835 fiber Substances 0.000 description 3
- 239000002657 fibrous material Substances 0.000 description 3
- 235000011852 gelatine desserts Nutrition 0.000 description 3
- 230000036541 health Effects 0.000 description 3
- 229910052500 inorganic mineral Inorganic materials 0.000 description 3
- 230000000670 limiting effect Effects 0.000 description 3
- 239000011707 mineral Substances 0.000 description 3
- 230000004048 modification Effects 0.000 description 3
- 238000012986 modification Methods 0.000 description 3
- 239000002105 nanoparticle Substances 0.000 description 3
- 239000002071 nanotube Substances 0.000 description 3
- 230000010494 opalescence Effects 0.000 description 3
- 239000011368 organic material Substances 0.000 description 3
- 230000003647 oxidation Effects 0.000 description 3
- 238000007254 oxidation reaction Methods 0.000 description 3
- 239000011049 pearl Substances 0.000 description 3
- 239000004038 photonic crystal Substances 0.000 description 3
- 239000002861 polymer material Substances 0.000 description 3
- 229920001155 polypropylene Polymers 0.000 description 3
- 239000012254 powdered material Substances 0.000 description 3
- 238000003847 radiation curing Methods 0.000 description 3
- 239000012857 radioactive material Substances 0.000 description 3
- 239000004065 semiconductor Substances 0.000 description 3
- 238000004544 sputter deposition Methods 0.000 description 3
- 235000019698 starch Nutrition 0.000 description 3
- 230000003068 static effect Effects 0.000 description 3
- 235000000346 sugar Nutrition 0.000 description 3
- 150000008163 sugars Chemical class 0.000 description 3
- 239000000725 suspension Substances 0.000 description 3
- 239000010409 thin film Substances 0.000 description 3
- 238000012546 transfer Methods 0.000 description 3
- 238000005390 triboluminescence Methods 0.000 description 3
- 150000003673 urethanes Chemical class 0.000 description 3
- 239000004593 Epoxy Substances 0.000 description 2
- 208000001613 Gambling Diseases 0.000 description 2
- UQSXHKLRYXJYBZ-UHFFFAOYSA-N Iron oxide Chemical compound [Fe]=O UQSXHKLRYXJYBZ-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 description 2
- 239000004698 Polyethylene Substances 0.000 description 2
- 230000001594 aberrant effect Effects 0.000 description 2
- 238000005299 abrasion Methods 0.000 description 2
- 229920006397 acrylic thermoplastic Polymers 0.000 description 2
- 239000012790 adhesive layer Substances 0.000 description 2
- 239000003570 air Substances 0.000 description 2
- 230000005540 biological transmission Effects 0.000 description 2
- 229920002678 cellulose Polymers 0.000 description 2
- 235000010980 cellulose Nutrition 0.000 description 2
- 239000000919 ceramic Substances 0.000 description 2
- 150000001875 compounds Chemical class 0.000 description 2
- 230000007812 deficiency Effects 0.000 description 2
- 238000005137 deposition process Methods 0.000 description 2
- 238000001035 drying Methods 0.000 description 2
- 230000002708 enhancing effect Effects 0.000 description 2
- 235000019441 ethanol Nutrition 0.000 description 2
- 230000001747 exhibiting effect Effects 0.000 description 2
- 239000012467 final product Substances 0.000 description 2
- 235000013305 food Nutrition 0.000 description 2
- 238000007641 inkjet printing Methods 0.000 description 2
- 238000010884 ion-beam technique Methods 0.000 description 2
- 238000000608 laser ablation Methods 0.000 description 2
- 238000003754 machining Methods 0.000 description 2
- 239000011159 matrix material Substances 0.000 description 2
- 238000005459 micromachining Methods 0.000 description 2
- 238000003801 milling Methods 0.000 description 2
- 238000002156 mixing Methods 0.000 description 2
- 239000000178 monomer Substances 0.000 description 2
- 230000005501 phase interface Effects 0.000 description 2
- 238000001020 plasma etching Methods 0.000 description 2
- 229920003229 poly(methyl methacrylate) Polymers 0.000 description 2
- 229920000573 polyethylene Polymers 0.000 description 2
- 230000001737 promoting effect Effects 0.000 description 2
- 210000001747 pupil Anatomy 0.000 description 2
- 230000009257 reactivity Effects 0.000 description 2
- 238000006722 reduction reaction Methods 0.000 description 2
- 238000007790 scraping Methods 0.000 description 2
- 230000035945 sensitivity Effects 0.000 description 2
- 238000004088 simulation Methods 0.000 description 2
- 238000005507 spraying Methods 0.000 description 2
- 230000008961 swelling Effects 0.000 description 2
- ISXSCDLOGDJUNJ-UHFFFAOYSA-N tert-butyl prop-2-enoate Chemical compound CC(C)(C)OC(=O)C=C ISXSCDLOGDJUNJ-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 description 2
- 238000003856 thermoforming Methods 0.000 description 2
- 210000001519 tissue Anatomy 0.000 description 2
- 239000012780 transparent material Substances 0.000 description 2
- 229920002799 BoPET Polymers 0.000 description 1
- 229920000298 Cellophane Polymers 0.000 description 1
- JOYRKODLDBILNP-UHFFFAOYSA-N Ethyl urethane Chemical compound CCOC(N)=O JOYRKODLDBILNP-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 description 1
- 241001503485 Mammuthus Species 0.000 description 1
- 239000004677 Nylon Substances 0.000 description 1
- 229920001328 Polyvinylidene chloride Polymers 0.000 description 1
- 240000008042 Zea mays Species 0.000 description 1
- 235000005824 Zea mays ssp. parviglumis Nutrition 0.000 description 1
- 235000002017 Zea mays subsp mays Nutrition 0.000 description 1
- 230000002745 absorbent Effects 0.000 description 1
- 239000002250 absorbent Substances 0.000 description 1
- NIXOWILDQLNWCW-UHFFFAOYSA-N acrylic acid group Chemical group C(C=C)(=O)O NIXOWILDQLNWCW-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 description 1
- 230000009471 action Effects 0.000 description 1
- 239000011149 active material Substances 0.000 description 1
- 230000006978 adaptation Effects 0.000 description 1
- 230000002730 additional effect Effects 0.000 description 1
- 230000003466 anti-cipated effect Effects 0.000 description 1
- 230000001166 anti-perspirative effect Effects 0.000 description 1
- 239000003213 antiperspirant Substances 0.000 description 1
- 230000003190 augmentative effect Effects 0.000 description 1
- 230000003796 beauty Effects 0.000 description 1
- 235000013361 beverage Nutrition 0.000 description 1
- 239000011230 binding agent Substances 0.000 description 1
- 239000007844 bleaching agent Substances 0.000 description 1
- 230000001680 brushing effect Effects 0.000 description 1
- 239000011111 cardboard Substances 0.000 description 1
- 239000001913 cellulose Substances 0.000 description 1
- 238000005234 chemical deposition Methods 0.000 description 1
- 229910052804 chromium Inorganic materials 0.000 description 1
- 239000011651 chromium Substances 0.000 description 1
- 230000001427 coherent effect Effects 0.000 description 1
- 230000006835 compression Effects 0.000 description 1
- 238000007906 compression Methods 0.000 description 1
- 230000001010 compromised effect Effects 0.000 description 1
- 239000000470 constituent Substances 0.000 description 1
- 235000005822 corn Nutrition 0.000 description 1
- 239000002537 cosmetic Substances 0.000 description 1
- 238000001723 curing Methods 0.000 description 1
- 230000007547 defect Effects 0.000 description 1
- 230000007123 defense Effects 0.000 description 1
- 239000002781 deodorant agent Substances 0.000 description 1
- 230000001419 dependent effect Effects 0.000 description 1
- 230000008021 deposition Effects 0.000 description 1
- 239000003599 detergent Substances 0.000 description 1
- 238000010586 diagram Methods 0.000 description 1
- 235000015872 dietary supplement Nutrition 0.000 description 1
- 230000004069 differentiation Effects 0.000 description 1
- 238000003618 dip coating Methods 0.000 description 1
- 238000007598 dipping method Methods 0.000 description 1
- 238000012377 drug delivery Methods 0.000 description 1
- 229920001971 elastomer Polymers 0.000 description 1
- 239000000806 elastomer Substances 0.000 description 1
- 238000007772 electroless plating Methods 0.000 description 1
- 238000009713 electroplating Methods 0.000 description 1
- 125000003700 epoxy group Chemical group 0.000 description 1
- 230000008020 evaporation Effects 0.000 description 1
- 238000001704 evaporation Methods 0.000 description 1
- 239000002360 explosive Substances 0.000 description 1
- 238000001125 extrusion Methods 0.000 description 1
- 239000002979 fabric softener Substances 0.000 description 1
- 230000001815 facial effect Effects 0.000 description 1
- 238000007667 floating Methods 0.000 description 1
- 238000009408 flooring Methods 0.000 description 1
- 239000007850 fluorescent dye Substances 0.000 description 1
- 239000003205 fragrance Substances 0.000 description 1
- 239000008273 gelatin Substances 0.000 description 1
- 230000037308 hair color Effects 0.000 description 1
- 238000010438 heat treatment Methods 0.000 description 1
- 238000001093 holography Methods 0.000 description 1
- AMGQUBHHOARCQH-UHFFFAOYSA-N indium;oxotin Chemical compound [In].[Sn]=O AMGQUBHHOARCQH-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 description 1
- 239000004615 ingredient Substances 0.000 description 1
- 238000002347 injection Methods 0.000 description 1
- 239000007924 injection Substances 0.000 description 1
- 238000002372 labelling Methods 0.000 description 1
- 239000002648 laminated material Substances 0.000 description 1
- 229920002521 macromolecule Polymers 0.000 description 1
- 230000005415 magnetization Effects 0.000 description 1
- 238000005259 measurement Methods 0.000 description 1
- 239000002923 metal particle Substances 0.000 description 1
- 238000002493 microarray Methods 0.000 description 1
- 238000001451 molecular beam epitaxy Methods 0.000 description 1
- 210000003205 muscle Anatomy 0.000 description 1
- 230000007935 neutral effect Effects 0.000 description 1
- 235000016709 nutrition Nutrition 0.000 description 1
- 230000035764 nutrition Effects 0.000 description 1
- 229920001778 nylon Polymers 0.000 description 1
- 229910052762 osmium Inorganic materials 0.000 description 1
- SYQBFIAQOQZEGI-UHFFFAOYSA-N osmium atom Chemical compound [Os] SYQBFIAQOQZEGI-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 description 1
- 230000001151 other effect Effects 0.000 description 1
- TWNQGVIAIRXVLR-UHFFFAOYSA-N oxo(oxoalumanyloxy)alumane Chemical compound O=[Al]O[Al]=O TWNQGVIAIRXVLR-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 description 1
- 239000003973 paint Substances 0.000 description 1
- 239000011087 paperboard Substances 0.000 description 1
- 239000012466 permeate Substances 0.000 description 1
- 238000007540 photo-reduction reaction Methods 0.000 description 1
- 230000000704 physical effect Effects 0.000 description 1
- 238000007750 plasma spraying Methods 0.000 description 1
- 239000004033 plastic Substances 0.000 description 1
- 229920003023 plastic Polymers 0.000 description 1
- 229920000515 polycarbonate Polymers 0.000 description 1
- 239000004417 polycarbonate Substances 0.000 description 1
- 229920000647 polyepoxide Polymers 0.000 description 1
- 229920006267 polyester film Polymers 0.000 description 1
- 239000004848 polyfunctional curative Substances 0.000 description 1
- 238000006116 polymerization reaction Methods 0.000 description 1
- 239000005033 polyvinylidene chloride Substances 0.000 description 1
- 230000037452 priming Effects 0.000 description 1
- 238000012545 processing Methods 0.000 description 1
- 238000010107 reaction injection moulding Methods 0.000 description 1
- 230000009467 reduction Effects 0.000 description 1
- 230000003252 repetitive effect Effects 0.000 description 1
- 230000010076 replication Effects 0.000 description 1
- 229910052703 rhodium Inorganic materials 0.000 description 1
- 239000010948 rhodium Substances 0.000 description 1
- MHOVAHRLVXNVSD-UHFFFAOYSA-N rhodium atom Chemical compound [Rh] MHOVAHRLVXNVSD-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 description 1
- 238000005070 sampling Methods 0.000 description 1
- 229920006298 saran Polymers 0.000 description 1
- 238000013515 script Methods 0.000 description 1
- 229920005573 silicon-containing polymer Polymers 0.000 description 1
- 229910001923 silver oxide Inorganic materials 0.000 description 1
- 239000002356 single layer Substances 0.000 description 1
- 238000004513 sizing Methods 0.000 description 1
- 230000003595 spectral effect Effects 0.000 description 1
- 238000001228 spectrum Methods 0.000 description 1
- 238000004528 spin coating Methods 0.000 description 1
- 238000010561 standard procedure Methods 0.000 description 1
- 238000000859 sublimation Methods 0.000 description 1
- 230000008022 sublimation Effects 0.000 description 1
- 239000006188 syrup Substances 0.000 description 1
- 235000020357 syrup Nutrition 0.000 description 1
- 238000010345 tape casting Methods 0.000 description 1
- 229920001187 thermosetting polymer Polymers 0.000 description 1
- 235000019505 tobacco product Nutrition 0.000 description 1
- JFALSRSLKYAFGM-UHFFFAOYSA-N uranium(0) Chemical compound [U] JFALSRSLKYAFGM-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 description 1
- 238000001771 vacuum deposition Methods 0.000 description 1
- 238000007740 vapor deposition Methods 0.000 description 1
- 239000002966 varnish Substances 0.000 description 1
- 238000012795 verification Methods 0.000 description 1
- 229920002554 vinyl polymer Polymers 0.000 description 1
- 230000004304 visual acuity Effects 0.000 description 1
- 239000011782 vitamin Substances 0.000 description 1
- 229940088594 vitamin Drugs 0.000 description 1
- 229930003231 vitamin Natural products 0.000 description 1
- 235000013343 vitamin Nutrition 0.000 description 1
Classifications
-
- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B42—BOOKBINDING; ALBUMS; FILES; SPECIAL PRINTED MATTER
- B42D—BOOKS; BOOK COVERS; LOOSE LEAVES; PRINTED MATTER CHARACTERISED BY IDENTIFICATION OR SECURITY FEATURES; PRINTED MATTER OF SPECIAL FORMAT OR STYLE NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; DEVICES FOR USE THEREWITH AND NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; MOVABLE-STRIP WRITING OR READING APPARATUS
- B42D25/00—Information-bearing cards or sheet-like structures characterised by identification or security features; Manufacture thereof
- B42D25/30—Identification or security features, e.g. for preventing forgery
- B42D25/324—Reliefs
-
- G—PHYSICS
- G02—OPTICS
- G02B—OPTICAL ELEMENTS, SYSTEMS OR APPARATUS
- G02B27/00—Optical systems or apparatus not provided for by any of the groups G02B1/00 - G02B26/00, G02B30/00
- G02B27/10—Beam splitting or combining systems
-
- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B42—BOOKBINDING; ALBUMS; FILES; SPECIAL PRINTED MATTER
- B42D—BOOKS; BOOK COVERS; LOOSE LEAVES; PRINTED MATTER CHARACTERISED BY IDENTIFICATION OR SECURITY FEATURES; PRINTED MATTER OF SPECIAL FORMAT OR STYLE NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; DEVICES FOR USE THEREWITH AND NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; MOVABLE-STRIP WRITING OR READING APPARATUS
- B42D25/00—Information-bearing cards or sheet-like structures characterised by identification or security features; Manufacture thereof
- B42D25/20—Information-bearing cards or sheet-like structures characterised by identification or security features; Manufacture thereof characterised by a particular use or purpose
- B42D25/29—Securities; Bank notes
-
- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B42—BOOKBINDING; ALBUMS; FILES; SPECIAL PRINTED MATTER
- B42D—BOOKS; BOOK COVERS; LOOSE LEAVES; PRINTED MATTER CHARACTERISED BY IDENTIFICATION OR SECURITY FEATURES; PRINTED MATTER OF SPECIAL FORMAT OR STYLE NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; DEVICES FOR USE THEREWITH AND NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; MOVABLE-STRIP WRITING OR READING APPARATUS
- B42D25/00—Information-bearing cards or sheet-like structures characterised by identification or security features; Manufacture thereof
- B42D25/30—Identification or security features, e.g. for preventing forgery
- B42D25/328—Diffraction gratings; Holograms
-
- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B42—BOOKBINDING; ALBUMS; FILES; SPECIAL PRINTED MATTER
- B42D—BOOKS; BOOK COVERS; LOOSE LEAVES; PRINTED MATTER CHARACTERISED BY IDENTIFICATION OR SECURITY FEATURES; PRINTED MATTER OF SPECIAL FORMAT OR STYLE NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; DEVICES FOR USE THEREWITH AND NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; MOVABLE-STRIP WRITING OR READING APPARATUS
- B42D25/00—Information-bearing cards or sheet-like structures characterised by identification or security features; Manufacture thereof
- B42D25/30—Identification or security features, e.g. for preventing forgery
- B42D25/342—Moiré effects
-
- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B42—BOOKBINDING; ALBUMS; FILES; SPECIAL PRINTED MATTER
- B42D—BOOKS; BOOK COVERS; LOOSE LEAVES; PRINTED MATTER CHARACTERISED BY IDENTIFICATION OR SECURITY FEATURES; PRINTED MATTER OF SPECIAL FORMAT OR STYLE NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; DEVICES FOR USE THEREWITH AND NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; MOVABLE-STRIP WRITING OR READING APPARATUS
- B42D25/00—Information-bearing cards or sheet-like structures characterised by identification or security features; Manufacture thereof
- B42D25/30—Identification or security features, e.g. for preventing forgery
- B42D25/351—Translucent or partly translucent parts, e.g. windows
-
- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B42—BOOKBINDING; ALBUMS; FILES; SPECIAL PRINTED MATTER
- B42D—BOOKS; BOOK COVERS; LOOSE LEAVES; PRINTED MATTER CHARACTERISED BY IDENTIFICATION OR SECURITY FEATURES; PRINTED MATTER OF SPECIAL FORMAT OR STYLE NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; DEVICES FOR USE THEREWITH AND NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; MOVABLE-STRIP WRITING OR READING APPARATUS
- B42D25/00—Information-bearing cards or sheet-like structures characterised by identification or security features; Manufacture thereof
- B42D25/30—Identification or security features, e.g. for preventing forgery
- B42D25/355—Security threads
-
- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B42—BOOKBINDING; ALBUMS; FILES; SPECIAL PRINTED MATTER
- B42D—BOOKS; BOOK COVERS; LOOSE LEAVES; PRINTED MATTER CHARACTERISED BY IDENTIFICATION OR SECURITY FEATURES; PRINTED MATTER OF SPECIAL FORMAT OR STYLE NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; DEVICES FOR USE THEREWITH AND NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; MOVABLE-STRIP WRITING OR READING APPARATUS
- B42D25/00—Information-bearing cards or sheet-like structures characterised by identification or security features; Manufacture thereof
- B42D25/30—Identification or security features, e.g. for preventing forgery
- B42D25/36—Identification or security features, e.g. for preventing forgery comprising special materials
-
- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B42—BOOKBINDING; ALBUMS; FILES; SPECIAL PRINTED MATTER
- B42D—BOOKS; BOOK COVERS; LOOSE LEAVES; PRINTED MATTER CHARACTERISED BY IDENTIFICATION OR SECURITY FEATURES; PRINTED MATTER OF SPECIAL FORMAT OR STYLE NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; DEVICES FOR USE THEREWITH AND NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; MOVABLE-STRIP WRITING OR READING APPARATUS
- B42D25/00—Information-bearing cards or sheet-like structures characterised by identification or security features; Manufacture thereof
- B42D25/30—Identification or security features, e.g. for preventing forgery
- B42D25/36—Identification or security features, e.g. for preventing forgery comprising special materials
- B42D25/369—Magnetised or magnetisable materials
-
- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B42—BOOKBINDING; ALBUMS; FILES; SPECIAL PRINTED MATTER
- B42D—BOOKS; BOOK COVERS; LOOSE LEAVES; PRINTED MATTER CHARACTERISED BY IDENTIFICATION OR SECURITY FEATURES; PRINTED MATTER OF SPECIAL FORMAT OR STYLE NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; DEVICES FOR USE THEREWITH AND NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; MOVABLE-STRIP WRITING OR READING APPARATUS
- B42D25/00—Information-bearing cards or sheet-like structures characterised by identification or security features; Manufacture thereof
- B42D25/30—Identification or security features, e.g. for preventing forgery
- B42D25/36—Identification or security features, e.g. for preventing forgery comprising special materials
- B42D25/373—Metallic materials
-
- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B42—BOOKBINDING; ALBUMS; FILES; SPECIAL PRINTED MATTER
- B42D—BOOKS; BOOK COVERS; LOOSE LEAVES; PRINTED MATTER CHARACTERISED BY IDENTIFICATION OR SECURITY FEATURES; PRINTED MATTER OF SPECIAL FORMAT OR STYLE NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; DEVICES FOR USE THEREWITH AND NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; MOVABLE-STRIP WRITING OR READING APPARATUS
- B42D25/00—Information-bearing cards or sheet-like structures characterised by identification or security features; Manufacture thereof
- B42D25/30—Identification or security features, e.g. for preventing forgery
- B42D25/36—Identification or security features, e.g. for preventing forgery comprising special materials
- B42D25/378—Special inks
-
- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B42—BOOKBINDING; ALBUMS; FILES; SPECIAL PRINTED MATTER
- B42D—BOOKS; BOOK COVERS; LOOSE LEAVES; PRINTED MATTER CHARACTERISED BY IDENTIFICATION OR SECURITY FEATURES; PRINTED MATTER OF SPECIAL FORMAT OR STYLE NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; DEVICES FOR USE THEREWITH AND NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; MOVABLE-STRIP WRITING OR READING APPARATUS
- B42D25/00—Information-bearing cards or sheet-like structures characterised by identification or security features; Manufacture thereof
- B42D25/30—Identification or security features, e.g. for preventing forgery
- B42D25/36—Identification or security features, e.g. for preventing forgery comprising special materials
- B42D25/378—Special inks
- B42D25/391—Special inks absorbing or reflecting polarised light
-
- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B42—BOOKBINDING; ALBUMS; FILES; SPECIAL PRINTED MATTER
- B42D—BOOKS; BOOK COVERS; LOOSE LEAVES; PRINTED MATTER CHARACTERISED BY IDENTIFICATION OR SECURITY FEATURES; PRINTED MATTER OF SPECIAL FORMAT OR STYLE NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; DEVICES FOR USE THEREWITH AND NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; MOVABLE-STRIP WRITING OR READING APPARATUS
- B42D25/00—Information-bearing cards or sheet-like structures characterised by identification or security features; Manufacture thereof
- B42D25/40—Manufacture
- B42D25/405—Marking
- B42D25/425—Marking by deformation, e.g. embossing
-
- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B42—BOOKBINDING; ALBUMS; FILES; SPECIAL PRINTED MATTER
- B42D—BOOKS; BOOK COVERS; LOOSE LEAVES; PRINTED MATTER CHARACTERISED BY IDENTIFICATION OR SECURITY FEATURES; PRINTED MATTER OF SPECIAL FORMAT OR STYLE NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; DEVICES FOR USE THEREWITH AND NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; MOVABLE-STRIP WRITING OR READING APPARATUS
- B42D25/00—Information-bearing cards or sheet-like structures characterised by identification or security features; Manufacture thereof
- B42D25/40—Manufacture
- B42D25/405—Marking
- B42D25/43—Marking by removal of material
-
- G—PHYSICS
- G02—OPTICS
- G02B—OPTICAL ELEMENTS, SYSTEMS OR APPARATUS
- G02B30/00—Optical systems or apparatus for producing three-dimensional [3D] effects, e.g. stereoscopic images
- G02B30/20—Optical systems or apparatus for producing three-dimensional [3D] effects, e.g. stereoscopic images by providing first and second parallax images to an observer's left and right eyes
- G02B30/26—Optical systems or apparatus for producing three-dimensional [3D] effects, e.g. stereoscopic images by providing first and second parallax images to an observer's left and right eyes of the autostereoscopic type
- G02B30/27—Optical systems or apparatus for producing three-dimensional [3D] effects, e.g. stereoscopic images by providing first and second parallax images to an observer's left and right eyes of the autostereoscopic type involving lenticular arrays
-
- 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
- G03H1/024—Hologram nature or properties
- G03H1/0244—Surface relief holograms
-
- B42D2033/10—
-
- B42D2033/16—
-
- B42D2033/18—
-
- B42D2033/20—
-
- B42D2033/24—
-
- B42D2035/08—
-
- B42D2035/20—
-
- B42D2035/26—
-
- B42D2035/36—
-
- B42D2035/44—
-
- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B42—BOOKBINDING; ALBUMS; FILES; SPECIAL PRINTED MATTER
- B42D—BOOKS; BOOK COVERS; LOOSE LEAVES; PRINTED MATTER CHARACTERISED BY IDENTIFICATION OR SECURITY FEATURES; PRINTED MATTER OF SPECIAL FORMAT OR STYLE NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; DEVICES FOR USE THEREWITH AND NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; MOVABLE-STRIP WRITING OR READING APPARATUS
- B42D25/00—Information-bearing cards or sheet-like structures characterised by identification or security features; Manufacture thereof
- B42D25/30—Identification or security features, e.g. for preventing forgery
- B42D25/36—Identification or security features, e.g. for preventing forgery comprising special materials
- B42D25/378—Special inks
- B42D25/382—Special inks absorbing or reflecting infrared light
-
- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B42—BOOKBINDING; ALBUMS; FILES; SPECIAL PRINTED MATTER
- B42D—BOOKS; BOOK COVERS; LOOSE LEAVES; PRINTED MATTER CHARACTERISED BY IDENTIFICATION OR SECURITY FEATURES; PRINTED MATTER OF SPECIAL FORMAT OR STYLE NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; DEVICES FOR USE THEREWITH AND NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; MOVABLE-STRIP WRITING OR READING APPARATUS
- B42D25/00—Information-bearing cards or sheet-like structures characterised by identification or security features; Manufacture thereof
- B42D25/30—Identification or security features, e.g. for preventing forgery
- B42D25/36—Identification or security features, e.g. for preventing forgery comprising special materials
- B42D25/378—Special inks
- B42D25/387—Special inks absorbing or reflecting ultraviolet light
Definitions
- the present invention relates to an image presentation system that in an exemplary embodiment is formed of microstructured icon elements in a polymer film.
- the present invention also relates to a synthetic magnification micro-optic system that in an exemplary embodiment is formed as a polymer film.
- the unusual effects provided by the various embodiments of the disclosure can be used as a security device for overt and covert authentication of currency, documents, and products as well as visual enhancement of products, packaging, printed material, and consumer goods. Background
- Typical image presentation systems involve conventional printing techniques.
- Some image presentation systems involve holographic image displays and/or embossed image features. These systems all have drawbacks in relation to the nature or quality of the image displayed. More particularly they all have the disadvantage that they can be readily copied, and thus cannot serve as an authentication or security device.
- Various optical materials have been employed to provide image systems for authentication of currency and documents, to identify and distinguish authentic products from counterfeit products, and to provide visual enhancement of manufactured articles and packaging. Examples include holographic displays, and other image systems involving lenticular structures and arrays of spherical micro- lenses. Holographic displays have become prevalent for use with credit cards, drivers' licenses, and clothing tags.
- a lenticular structure for document security is disclosed in U.S. Patent 4,892,336 to Kaule, et al. directed to a security thread for embedding within a document to provide anti-falsification measures.
- the security thread is transparent having a printed pattern on one side, on the opposite side, a lenticular lens structure coordinated with the printed pattern.
- the lenticular lens structure is described as comprised of a plurality of parallel cylinder lenses, or alternatively spherical or honeycomb lenses.
- U.S. Patent 5,712,731 to Drinkwater, et al. discloses a security device that includes an array of micro-images coupled with an array of substantially spherical micro-lenses.
- the lenses may also be astigmatic lenses.
- the lenses are each typically 50-250 ⁇ m and with a focal length of typically 200 ⁇ m.
- a synthetic optical image system can be provided that includes an array of focusing elements, and an image system that includes or is formed from an array or pattern of microstructured icon elements, such as those described below, wherein the microstructured icon elements are designed to collectively form an image or certain desired information, and wherein the array of focusing elements and the image system cooperate, for example through optical coupling, to form a synthetic optical image which image may optionally be magnified.
- an image presentation system in another form includes or is formed from an array or pattern of microstructured icon elements, such as those described below, wherein the microstructured icon elements are designed to collectively form an image or certain selected information, and wherein the image system is designed to stand alone and be the image viewed or the information read by use of a magnifying device, such as a magnifying glass or microscope, that is provided separately from the image system.
- a magnifying device such as a magnifying glass or microscope
- the present disclosure also relates to a film material that utilizes a regular two-dimensional array of non-cylindrical lenses to enlarge micro-images, called icons herein, and to form a synthetically magnified image through the united performance of a multiplicity of individual lens/icon image systems.
- the synthetically magnified images and the background surrounding them can be either colorless or colored, and either or both the images and the background surrounding them can be transparent, translucent, pigmented, fluorescent, phosphorescent, display optically variable color, metallized, or substantially retroreflective.
- the material displaying colored images on a transparent or tinted background is particularly well suited for use in combination with underlying printed information.
- both the printed information and the images are seen at the same time in spatial or dynamic motion relationship to each other.
- Material of this kind can also be overprinted, i.e. have print applied to the uppermost (lens) surface of the material.
- the material displaying colored images (of any color, including white and black) on a translucent or substantially opaque background of different color is particularly well suited for stand-alone use or with overprinted information, not in combination with underlying printed information.
- the magnitude of the synthetic magnification achieved can be controlled by the selection of a number of factors, including the degree of 'skew' between the axes of symmetry of the lens array and the axes of symmetry of the icon array.
- Regular periodic arrays possess axes of symmetry that define lines that the pattern could be reflected around without changing the basic geometry of the pattern, that in the ideal of arrays are infinite in extent.
- a square array for example, can be reflected around any diagonal of any square without changing the relative orientation of the array: if the sides of the squares are aligned with the x and y axes of the plane, then the sides of the squares will still be aligned with those axes after reflection, with the assumption that all sides are identical and indistinguishable.
- We refer to such arrays as having rotational symmetry or being rotationally symmetric.
- the array can be rotated through an angle equal to the angle between the axes of symmetry of the same type.
- the array can be rotated through an angle of 90 degrees, the angle between diagonals, to arrive at an array orientation which is indistinguishable from the original array.
- an array of regular hexagons can be mirrored or rotated about a number of axes of symmetry, including the "diagonals" of the hexagon (the lines connecting opposite vertices) or "midpoint divisors" (lines that connect between the center points of faces on opposite sides of the hexagon).
- the angle between the axes of symmetry of either type is sixty degrees (60°) results in an array orientation that is indistinguishable from the original orientation.
- a lens array and an icon array are initially arranged with their planar dimensions defining their respective x-y plane, one of the axes of symmetry being chosen to represent the x axis of the first array, the corresponding type of axis of symmetry (for example, diagonal axis of symmetry) being chosen to represent the x axis of the second array, with the two arrays separated by a substantially uniform distance in the z axis direction, then the arrays are said to have zero skew if the x axes of the arrays appear to be parallel to each other when the arrays are viewed along the z axis direction.
- Unison for the material in general, or by the names “Unison Motion”, “Unison Deep”, “Unison SuperDeep”, “Unison Float”, “Unison SuperFloat”, “Unison Levitate”, “Unison Morph”, and “Unison 3-D” for Unison material presenting those respective effects
- Unison motion for the material in general, or by the names “Unison Motion”, “Unison Deep”, “Unison SuperDeep”, “Unison Float”, “Unison SuperFloat”, “Unison Levitate”, “Unison Morph”, and “Unison 3-D” for Unison material presenting those respective effects
- Unison Motion presents images that show orthoparallactic movement (OPM) — when the material is tilted the images move in a direction of tilt that appears to be perpendicular to the direction anticipated by normal parallax.
- Unison Deep and SuperDeep present images that appear to rest on a spatial plane that is visually deeper than the thickness of the material.
- Unison Float and SuperFloat present images that appear to rest on a spatial plane that is a distance above the surface of the material; and Unison Levitate presents images that oscillate from Unison Deep (or SuperDeep) to Unison Float (or SuperFloat) as the material is rotated through a given angle (e.g.
- Unison Morph presents synthetic images that change form, shape, or size as the material is rotated or viewed from different viewpoints.
- Unison 3-D presents images that show large scale three-dimensional structure, such as an image of a face.
- Multiple Unison effects can be combined in one film, such as a film that incorporates multiple Unison Motion image planes that can be different in form, color, movement direction, and magnification.
- Another film can combine a Unison Deep image plane and a Unison Float image plane, while yet another film can be designed to combine Unison Deep, Unison Motion, and Unison Float layers, in the same color or in different colors, those images having the same or different graphical elements.
- the color, graphical design, optical effect, magnification, and other visual elements of multiple image planes are largely independent; with few exceptions, planes of these visual elements can be combined in arbitrary ways.
- the total thickness of the film be less than 50 microns, (also referred to herein as " ⁇ ", or “um”), for example less than about 45 microns, and as a further example in the range of about 10 microns to about 40 microns.
- This can be accomplished, for example, through the use of focusing elements having an effective base diameter of less than 50 microns, as a further example less than 30 microns, and as yet a further example, from about 10 microns to about 30 microns.
- a focusing element having a focal length of less than about 40 microns, and as a further example having a focal length of about 10 to less than about 30 microns can be used.
- focusing elements having a base diameter of 35 microns and a focal length of 30 microns can be used.
- An alternate, hybrid refractive/diffractive embodiment can be made as thin as 8 microns.
- the films herein are highly counterfeit resistant because of their complex multi-layer structure and their high aspect-ratio elements that are not amenable to reproduction by commonly available manufacturing systems.
- the present system provides a micro-optic system preferably in the form of a polymer film having a thickness that when viewed by unaided eye(s) in reflective or transmitted light projects one or more images that: i. show orthoparallactic movement (Unison Motion); ii. appear to lie on a spatial plane deeper than the thickness of the polymer film (Unison Deep and Unison SuperDeep); iii. appear to lie on a spatial plane above a surface of the polymer film (Unison Float and Unison SuperFloat); iv. oscillate between a spatial plane deeper than the thickness of the polymer film and a spatial plane above a surface of the film as the film is azimuthally rotated (Unison Levitate); v.
- Unison Motion orthoparallactic movement
- iii. appear to lie on a spatial plane above a surface of the polymer film Unison Float and Unison SuperFloat
- a synthetic magnification micro-optic system is disclosed that can for example service as a security or authentication device, comprising:
- a periodic planar array of a plurality of image icon focusing elements having a rotational symmetry and a periodicity substantially corresponding to the rotational symmetry and periodicity of the micro image array and having an axis of symmetry within its plane, the axis of symmetry of the array of image icon focusing elements having a selected angle with respect to the corresponding axis of symmetry of the micro image planar array, the image icon focusing elements including focusing elements either having an effective diameter of less than 50 microns or being polygonal base multi-zonal focusing elements, wherein the plane of the image icon focusing elements is disposed substantially parallel to the plane of the image icons at a distance sufficient for the image focusing elements to form a synthetic image of the image icons.
- a method of controlling optical effects in a synthetic magnification micro-optic system or in a security or authentication device comprising the steps of:
- the ratio of the repeat period of the image icons to the repeat period of the focusing elements is selected from the group consisting of less than 1, substantially equal to 1, and greater than 1, and selecting whether the axis of symmetry of the periodic planar array of the micro image and the corresponding axis of symmetry of the periodic planar array of image icon focusing elements are aligned or misaligned.
- an image icon for use in a synthetic micro- optic system including: (a) a micro image comprised of a substrate having a planar array of a plurality of image icons; and
- a planar array of image icon focusing elements wherein the planar array of image icon focusing elements is disposed in relation to the planar array of image icons at a distance and in a manner sufficient for the image focusing elements to form a synthetic image of the image icons; the image icons including image icons formed as recesses in the substrate, the recesses forming voids that are optionally filled with a material providing a contrast with the substrate.
- a synthetic magnification micro-optic system or document security device and methods of making same comprising:
- a security or authentication thread comprising:
- a document security device or security thread, particularly for use in currency, comprising:
- a periodic planar array of a plurality of image icon focusing elements having a rotational symmetry and a periodicity substantially corresponding to the rotational symmetry and periodicity of the micro image array and having an axis of symmetry within its plane, the axis of symmetry of the array of image icon focusing elements having a selected angle with respect to the corresponding axis of symmetry of the micro image planar array, the image icon focusing elements including focusing elements either having an effective diameter of less than 50 microns or being polygonal base multi-zonal focusing elements, wherein the plane of the image icon focusing elements is disposed substantially parallel to the plane of the image icons at a distance sufficient for the image focusing elements to form a synthetic image of the image icons.
- a synthetic magnification optical and security system comprising an image and a plurality of image focusing elements, the focusing elements and the image arranged in a plane in relation to each other wherein when the system is tilted about an axis substantially parallel to the plane of the system the synthetic image appears to move in a direction parallel to the tilt axis.
- the present disclosure further provides a synthetic magnification micro-optic system and method of making the same comprising:
- a micro image comprised of a periodic planar array of a plurality of image icons having an axis of symmetry about at least one of its planar axes, and positioned on or next to the optical spacer;
- each focusing element being either a polygonal base multi-zonal focusing element, a lens providing an enlarged field of view over the width of the associated image icon so that the peripheral edges of the associated image icon do not drop out of view, or an aspheric focusing element having an effective diameter of less than 50 microns.
- the system can include one or more of the aforementioned effects.
- a method is provided by which said effects can be selectively included within the system.
- the present disclosure further provides a security device suitable for at least partial incorporation in or on, and for use on or in association with, a security document, label, tear tape, tamper indicating device, sealing device, or other authentication or security device, which comprises at least one micro-optic system, as defined above. More particularly the present disclosure provides a document security device and method of making the same comprising:
- each focusing element being either a polygonal base multi-zonal focusing element, a lens providing an enlarged field of view over the width of the associated image icon so that the peripheral edges of the associated image icon do not drop out of view, or an aspheric focusing element having an effective diameter of less than 50 microns.
- the present disclosure provides a visual enhancement device which comprises at least one micro-optic system, as defined above and having the above described effects, for visual enhancement of clothing, sldn products, documents, printed matter, manufactured goods, packaging, point of purchase displays, publications, advertising devices, sporting goods, financial documents and transaction cards, and all other goods.
- a security document or label having at least one security device, as defined above, at least partially embedded therein and/or mounted thereon.
- Fig. Ia is a cross-section of a micro-optic system exemplifying one embodiment of the present disclosure providing orthoparallactic movement of the images of the system.
- Fig. Ib is an isometric cutaway view of the embodiment of Fig. Ia.
- Fig. 2a illustrates an orthoparallactic synthetic image motion effect of the embodiment of Figs. la-b.
- Figs. 2 b-c illustrate the visual effects of the Deep and Float embodiments of the present system.
- Figs. 2 d-f illustrate the visual effects obtained by rotation of a Levitate embodiment of the present system.
- Figs. 3 a-i are plan views showing various embodiments and fill-factors of different patterns of symmetric two dimensional arrays of lenses of the present system.
- Fig. 4 is a graph illustrating different combinations of Deep, Unison, Float, and Levitate embodiment effects produced by variation of the icon element period/lens period ratio.
- Figs. 5 a-c are plan views illustrating how the synthetic magnification of the icon images can be controlled by the relative angle between the lens array and icon array axes of the present system.
- Figs. 6 a-c are plan views illustrating an embodiment accomplishing a morphing effect of synthetically magnified images of the present system.
- Figs. 7 a-c are cross-sections showing various embodiments of the icon layer of the present system.
- Figs. 8 a-b are plan views illustrating both 'positive' and 'negative' icon element embodiments.
- Fig. 9 is a cross-section view illustrating an embodiment of a multi-level material for creating regions of a synthetically magnified image having different properties.
- Fig. 10 is a cross-section view illustrating another embodiment of a multi-level material for creating regions of a synthetically magnified image having different properties.
- Figs. 11 a-b are cross-section views showing reflective optics and pinhole optics embodiments of the present system.
- Figs. 12 a-b are cross-section views comparing the structures of an all- refractive material embodiment with a hybrid refractive/reflective material embodiment.
- Fig. 13 is a cross-section view showing a 'peel-to-reveal' tamper-indicating material embodiment.
- Fig. 14 is a cross-section view illustrating a 'peel-to-change' tamper-indicating material embodiment.
- Figs. 15 a-d are cross-section views showing various embodiments of two- sided systems.
- Figs. 16 a-f are cross-section views and corresponding plan views illustrating three different methods for creating grayscale or tonal icon element patterns and subsequent synthetically magnified images by the present system.
- Figs. 17 a-d are cross-section views showing the use of the present system in conjunction with printed information.
- Figs. 18 a-f are cross-section views illustrating the application of the present system to, or incorporation into, various substrates and in combination with printed information.
- Figs. 19 a-b are cross-section views comparing the in-focus field of view of a spherical lens with that of a flat field aspheric lens when each are incorporated into the present system.
- Figs. 20 a-c are cross-section views illustrating two benefits of utility which result from the use of a thick icon layer in the present system.
- Fig. 21 is a plan view that shows the application of the present system to currency as a "windowed” security thread.
- Fig. 22 illustrates the orthoparallactic motion embodiment of the present system of images in connection with a "windowed" security thread.
- Fig. 23 illustrates half-toning a synthetic image of the present system.
- Fig. 24a illustrates use of the present system to create combined synthetic images that are smaller in dimension than the smallest feature of the individual synthetic images.
- Fig. 24b illustrates use of the present system to create narrow patterns of gaps between icon image elements.
- Fig. 25 illustrates incorporation of covert, hidden information into icon images of the present system.
- Fig. 26 illustrates creating fully three-dimensional images with the present system.
- Fig. 27 illustrates the method for designing icon images for the three- dimensional embodiment of Fig. 26.
- Fig. 28 illustrates the icon image resulting from the method of Fig. 27.
- Fig. 29 illustrates how the method of Fig. 27 can be applied to a complex three-dimensional synthetic image.
- Fig. 30 illustrates the central zone focal properties of an exemplary hexagonal base multi-zonal lens having an effective diameter of 28 microns.
- Fig. 31 illustrates the central zone focal properties of a spherical lens having a diameter of 28 microns.
- Fig. 32 illustrates the performance of the side zones of the hexagonal lens of Fig. 30.
- Fig. 33 illustrates the performance of the outer zones of the spherical lens of Fig. 31.
- Figs. 34 a,b illustrate alternate embodiments of microstructured icon elements.
- Figs. 35 a,b illustrate the microstructured icon elements of Figs. 34 a,b further including a coating material.
- Figs. 36 a,b illustrate the microstructured icon elements of Figs. 34 a,b further including a laminated coating material.
- Figs. 37 a-c illustrate positive and negative icon elements.
- Figs. 38 a-c illustrate the combination of filled and coated microstructured icon elements.
- Figs. 39 a-c illustrate the application and combination of patterned coating materials to the microstructured icon elements of Figs. 34 a,b.
- Figs. 40 a-c illustrate the use of a patterned coating material to create icon image elements.
- Figs. 41 a,b illustrate a "lock and key" embodiment of the micro-optic system disclosed herein.
- Fig. 42 illustrates an alternate embodiment of the "lock and key” embodiment of Fig. 41.
- Fig. 43 illustrates a further embodiment of the "lock and key” embodiment of Fig. 41.
- Figs. 44 a,b illustrate an immersible embodiment of the micro-optic system disclosed herein.
- Figs. 45 a,b illustrate alternate embodiment of the immersible embodiment of Figs. 44 a,b.
- Fig. 46 illustrates an embodiment of the present micro-optic system dependent upon azimuthal viewing angle.
- Fig. 47 illustrates an alternate embodiment of the micro-optic system of Fig. 46.
- Figs. 48 a-f illustrate a method of creating filled microstructured icon elements for use in an embodiment of the present micro-optic system.
- Icon fill material any material used to fill micro-structured icon elements.
- Icon fill material may be a gas, liquid, gel, powder, solid, an emulsion, suspension, a composite material, and combinations thereof.
- Icon fill material typically provides some properties that are measurably or detectably different than the surrounding icon layer material. These different properties may provide optical effects or they may provide properties that enable non-contact detection or authentication of the material, or both. Combinations of materials can be used for icon fill materials to provide a multiplicity of desirable icon element properties.
- Material properties of icon fill materials that may produce desirable optical effects include, but are not limited to: transparency, opacity, refractive index, chromatic dispersion, scattering properties, pearlescence, opalescence, iridescence, color reflection and color absorption, reflectivity, linear, circular, and elliptical polarizing properties, Raman or Rayleigh properties, optical rotation, fluorescence, luminescence, phosphorescence, two-photon effects, thermochromicity, piezochromicity, photochromicity, triboluminescence, electroluminescence, electrochromicity, and magnetochromicity.
- Icon fill materials may obtain these properties as pure materials or as mixtures, compounds, suspensions, or other combinations of a multiplicity of materials.
- Material properties of icon fill materials that may produce desirable non- contact detection or authentication properties include, but are not limited to: magnetic reactivity, magnetization, electric charge separation, electrical reactivity, electrical conductivity, thermal conductivity, dielectric strength, fluorescence, luminescence, phosphorescence, two-photon effects, nuclear magnetic resonance, transparency, opacity, refractive index, chromatic dispersion, scattering properties, pearlescence, opalescence, iridescence, color reflection and color absorption, reflectivity, linear, circular, and elliptical polarizing properties, Raman or Rayleigh properties, radioactivity, radioactivation, optical rotation, fluorescence, luminescence, phosphorescence, two-photon effects, thermocliromicity, piezochromicity, photochromicity, triboluminescence, electroluminescence, electrochromicity, and magnetochromicity.
- Icon fill material can preferably include carrier material, such as monomer, oligimer, or polymer materials, and combinations thereof, that is solvent cured, thermally cured, oxidation cured, reaction cured, or radiation cured.
- carrier material such as monomer, oligimer, or polymer materials, and combinations thereof, that is solvent cured, thermally cured, oxidation cured, reaction cured, or radiation cured.
- An exemplary radiation cured photopolymer is Lord Industries Ul 07 photopolymer.
- the optical, non-contact detection, and non-contact authentication properties of the icon fill carrier material can be modified by mixing or combining it with any of the following (for example, but not limited to these materials): dyes, coloring agents, pigments, powdered materials, inks, powdered minerals, magnetic materials and particles, magnetized materials and particles, magnetically reactive materials and particles, phosphors, liquid crystals, liquid crystal polymers, carbon black or other light absorbing materials, titanium dioxide or other light scattering materials, photonic crystals, non-linear crystals, nanoparticles, nanotubes, buckeyballs, buckeytubes, organic materials, pearlescent materials, powdered pearls, multilayer interference materials, opalescent materials, iridescent materials, low refractive index materials or powders, high refractive index materials or powders, diamond powder, structural color materials, polarizing materials, polarization rotating materials, fluorescent materials, phosphorescent materials, thermochromic materials, piezochromic materials, photochromic materials, tribolumenscent materials, electrolum
- Coating material any material used to coat an icon layer or icon fill material, or to coat any layer of a moire magnification system, including but not limited to the lenses, the icon plane, the icon layer, microstructured icon elements, icon fill material, or to any layer(s) of materials deposited, laminated, or applied to the lenses, the icon layer, or any layer internal or external to the lenses, icon layer, substrate, or transparent substrate.
- Coating materials typically provide some properties that are detectibly different from the properties of the other materials in the icon layer, icon fill material, substrate, transparent substrate, or lens layer. These different properties may provide optical effects or they may provide properties that enable non-contact detection or authentication of the material, or both. Combinations of materials can be used for coating materials to provide a multiplicity of desirable coating material properties.
- Material properties of coating materials that may produce desirable optical effects include, but are not limited to: transparency, opacity, refractive index, chromatic dispersion, scattering properties, pearlescence, opalescence, iridescence, color reflection and color absorption, reflectivity, linear, circular, and elliptical polarizing properties, Raman or Rayleigh properties, optical rotation, fluorescence, luminescence, phosphorescence, two-photon effects, thermochromicity, piezochromicity, photochromicity, triboluminescence, electroluminescence, electrochromicity, and magnetochromicity. Coating materials may obtain these properties as pure materials or as mixtures, compounds, suspensions, or other combinations of a multiplicity of materials.
- Suitable methods for applying coating materials depend on many factors, including the material properties and the desired function or effect of the material.
- Metals, metal oxides, semiconductor coatings, and combinations thereof may be applied by wet reduction reactions (as in wet silvering), electro-less plating, electroplating, vapor deposition, sputtering, plasma spraying, molecular beam epitaxy, hot stamping, foil transfer, laminating and other suitable and well known means and combinations thereof.
- Coating materials incorporating a liquid carrier material may be applied by wet coating, spraying, printing, laminating, chemical reaction at the icon surface, ink-jet, electro printing, dipping, meniscus coating, wave coating, reactive coating and other suitable and well known means and combinations thereof.
- Film or foil based coating materials can be applied by hot stamping, foil transfer, lamination and other suitable and well known means and combinations thereof.
- Coating materials may preferably be an evaporated or sputtered metal, such as aluminum, gold, or silver, or metal oxides, such as indium-tin-oxide or iron oxide.
- Coating materials incorporating a fill material may preferably include carrier material, such as monomer, oligimer, or polymer materials, and combinations thereof, that is solvent cured, thermally cured, oxidation cured, reaction cured, or radiation cured.
- An exemplary radiation cured photopolymer is Lord Industries Ul 07 photopolymer.
- optical, non-contact detection, and non-contact authentication properties of a coating carrier material can be modified by mixing or combining it with any of the following (for example, but not limited to these materials): dyes, coloring agents, pigments, powdered materials, inks, powdered minerals, magnetic materials and particles, magnetized materials and particles, magnetically reactive materials and particles, phosphors, liquid crystals, liquid crystal polymers, carbon black or other light absorbing materials, titanium dioxide or other light scattering materials, photonic crystals, non-linear crystals, nanoparticles, nanotubes, buckeyballs, buckeytubes, organic materials, pearlescent materials, powdered pearls, multilayer interference materials, opalescent materials, iridescent materials, low refractive index materials or powders, high refractive index materials or powders, diamond powder, structural color materials, polarizing materials, polarization rotating materials, fluorescent materials, phosphorescent materials, thermochromic materials, piezochromic materials, photochromic materials, tribolumenscent materials, electrolumin
- Coating materials may also be selected to provide physical, chemical, mechanical, priming, or adhesion promoting properties.
- Positive icon element - A graphical element of an icon design or pattern wherein object patterns of the icon element, such as characters or logos, are pigmented, colored, metallized, or otherwise distinguished from the background of the icon element.
- object patterns of the icon element such as characters or logos
- the object patterns of a positive icon element will obtain its distinguishing properties prior to any distinguishing properties obtained or applied to the background of a positive icon element.
- Positive image - The image or synthetic image formed by positive icon elements.
- Negative icon element A graphical element of an icon design or pattern wherein the background of the icon element is pigmented, colored, metallized, or otherwise distinguished from the object patterns of the icon element, such as characters or logos, hi general, in the process of manufacturing, the background of a negative icon element will obtain its distinguishing properties prior to any distinguishing properties obtained or applied to the object patterns of a negative icon element
- Negative image - The image or synthetic image formed by negative icon elements.
- Object patterns of (the/an) icon element The discrete and bounded graphical elements of an icon design or pattern, such as characters or logos.
- object patterns of an icon element are preferably bounded within one, two, or three icon elements or patterns, but may be bounded with more.
- Icon layer A substantially planar layer of micro-printing that may be applied to a face of a substrate or transparent substrate or may be a free-standing layer.
- materials can be used for the icon layer, including but not limited to thermoset polymers, thermoformable polymers, cast polymers, reactive cast polymers, radiation cured polymers, biopolymers, gelatines, starches, sugars, silicone polymers, multilayer dielectric polymer films, solvent cast polymers, compression molded polymers, injection molded polymers, embossed polymers, glasses, metal oxides, diamond, aluminum oxide, photopolymers, photoresists, printed ink or patterned coatings, ink-jet printed coatings, electro-printed coatings, and combinations thereof.
- An exemplary icon layer material is a photopolymer, such as Lord Industries Ul 07 photopolymer.
- An icon layer can be a single material or it can incorporate dyes, coloring agents, pigments, powdered materials, inks, powdered minerals, magnetic materials and particles, magnetized materials and particles, magnetically reactive materials and particles, phosphors, liquid crystals, liquid crystal polymers, carbon black or other light absorbing materials, titanium dioxide or other light scattering materials, photonic crystals, non-linear crystals, nanoparticles, nanotubes, buckeyballs, buckeytubes, organic materials, pearlescent materials, powdered pearls, multilayer interference materials, opalescent materials, iridescent materials, low refractive index materials or powders, high refractive index materials or powders, diamond powder, structural color materials, polarizing materials, polarization rotating materials, fluorescent materials, phosphorescent materials, thermochromic materials, piezochromic materials, photochromic materials, tribolumenscent materials, electroluminescent materials, electrochro
- An exemplary icon layer material is Lord Industries Ul 07 photopolymer.
- Other properties, materials, methods, means, and combinations thereof not explicitly taught here are understood to be included in the scope of this invention as they would be obvious to a worker skilled in the art.
- Microstructured icon image elements - Icon elements having a physical relief or microstructure that can be formed in an icon layer by many suitable means, including thermoforming, casting, compression molding, injection molding, embossing, patterned radiation exposure and development, laser exposure and development, ink-jet printing, electro printing, printing, engraving, electroforming, ruling, photographic, holographic, and laser exposure of a photosensitive emulsion combined with well-known hardening and etching or swelling processes, masking and deposition processes, masking and chemical etching, masking and reactive ion etching, masking and ion beam milling, micromachining, laser machining and laser ablation, photopolymer exposure and development, and other suitable means and combinations thereof.
- suitable means including thermoforming, casting, compression molding, injection molding, embossing, patterned radiation exposure and development, laser exposure and development, ink-jet printing, electro printing, printing, engraving, electroforming, ruling, photographic, holographic, and laser exposure of a photosensitive emulsion combined with well-known harden
- Microstructured image elements are preferably formed by casting a liquid photopolymer between a polymer substrate (usually PET) and a nickel microstructured icon image elements tool, radiation curing said photopolymer, and peeling said polymer substrate with the attached cured photopolymer from said nickel microstructured icon image elements tool.
- Said tooling can be created by many similar and suitable means, including thermofo ⁇ mng, casting, compression molding, injection molding, embossing, patterned radiation exposure and development, laser exposure and development, ink-jet printing, electro printing, printing, engraving, electro forming, ruling, photographic, holographic, and laser exposure of a photosensitive emulsion combined with well-known hardening and etching or swelling processes, masking and deposition processes, masking and chemical etching, masking and reactive ion etching, masking and ion beam milling, micromachining, laser machining and laser ablation, photopolymer exposure and development, and other suitable means and combinations thereof.
- thermofo ⁇ mng casting, compression molding, injection molding, embossing, patterned radiation exposure and development, laser exposure and development, ink-jet printing, electro printing, printing, engraving, electro forming, ruling, photographic, holographic, and laser exposure of a photosensitive emulsion combined with well-known hardening and etching or swelling processes, masking and
- Microstrucrured icon image elements tooling is preferably produced by the well known methods of generation of an original microstructure by optical exposure and development of a photoresist material on a rigid substrate or a rigid transparent substrate, conductive metallization of the microstructured photoresist surface, and nickel electroforming onto the conductive surface.
- Transparent substrate Any substantially planar and substantially optically transparent material, including, but not limited to glass, metal oxides, polymers, composite material, biopolymers, sugars, celluloses, starches, gelatines and combinations thereof that is used to support the optical elements of a Unison moire magnification system, said optical elements optionally including a microlens array and one or more icon image arrays.
- PET polymer film is an exemplary substrate for the icon layers and moire magnification systems of this invention.
- Substrate Any substantially planar material, including, but not limited to glass, metals, composite materials, metal oxides, polymers, biopolymers, sugars, cellulose, starches, gelatins, paper, fibrous materials, non-fibrous materials, foils, non- woven paper substitutes and combinations thereof.
- PET polymer film is an exemplary substrate for this invention.
- Conformal coating material A coating material that conforms to the shape of the surface it is applied to.
- a sputtered metal coating is typically conformal - it coats vertical surfaces, micro-structure sidewalls, and undercut areas as well as horizontal surfaces.
- Non-conformal coating material A coating material that does not conform to the shape of the surface it is applied to.
- An evaporated metal coating is typically non-conformal — it preferentially coats horizontal surfaces but poorly coats vertical surfaces and micro-structure sidewalls and does not coat undercut areas.
- Directional coating material A coating material that preferentially coats horizontal surfaces and surfaces with a surface normal that points in the general direction of the coating source but does not coat surfaces with a surface normal that points in a general direction away from the coating source.
- An offset or baffled evaporated metal coating is one example of a directional coating material: the stream of metal vapor is directed at the surface at an angle substantially off-normal, causing the "near" surfaces of microstructures to be coated, but the "far” surfaces of microstructures to be shadowed and uncoated.
- Fig. Ia illustrates one embodiment of the present micro-optic system 12 providing orthoparallactic movement of the images of the system.
- the system 12 micro-lenses 1 that have at least two substantially equal axes of symmetry and that are arranged in a two-dimensional periodic array.
- Lens diameter 2
- the interstitial space between lenses 3 is preferably 5 ⁇
- Micro-lens 1 focuses an image of icon element 4 and projects this image 10 toward a viewer.
- the system is commonly used in situations having normal levels of ambient lighting, so the illumination of the icon images arises from reflected or transmitted ambient light.
- Icon element 4 is one element of a periodic array of icon elements having periods and dimensions substantially similar to those of the lens array including lens 1.
- an optical spacer 5 which may be contiguous with the lens 1 material or may optionally be a separate substrate 8 - in this embodiment the lenses 9 are separate from the substrate.
- the icon elements 4 may be optionally protected by a sealing layer 6, preferably of a polymer material.
- Sealing layer 6 may be transparent, translucent, tinted, pigmented, opaque, metallic, magnetic, optically variable, or any combination of these that provide desirable optical effects and/or additional functionality for security and authentication purposes, including support of automated currency authentication, verification, tracking, counting and detection systems, that rely on optical effects, electrical conductivity or electrical capacitance, magnetic field detection.
- the total thickness 7 of the system is typically less than 50 ⁇ ; the actual
- the thickness depends on the F# of the lenses 1 and the diameter of the lenses 2, and the thickness of additional security feature or visual effect layers.
- the repeat period 11 of the icon elements 4 is substantially identical to the repeat period of the lenses 1; the "scale ratio", the ratio of the repeat period of the icons to the repeat period of the lenses, is used to create many different visual effects.
- Axially symmetric values of the scale ratio substantially equal to 1.0000 result in Unison Motion orthoparallactic effects when the symmetry axes of the lenses and the icons are misaligned
- axially symmetric values of the scale ratio less than 1.0000 result in Unison Deep and Unison SuperDeep effects when the symmetry axes of the lenses and the icons are substantially aligned
- axially symmetric values of the scale ratio greater than 1.0000 result in Unison Float and Unison SuperFloat effects when the symmetry axes of the lenses and the icons are substantially aligned.
- Axially asymmetric values of the scale ratio such as 0.995 in the X direction and 1.005 in the Y direction, result in Unison Levitate effects.
- Unison Morph effects can be obtained by scale distortions of either or both the lens repeat period and the icon repeat period, or by incorporating spatially varying information into the icon pattern.
- Unison 3-D effects are also created by incorporating spatially varying information into the icon pattern, but in this embodiment the information represents different viewpoints of a three dimensional object as seen from specific locations substantially corresponding to the locations of the icons.
- Fig. Ib presents an isometric view of the present system, as depicted in cross- section in Fig. Ia, having square array patterns of lenses 1 and icons 4 of repeat period 11 and optical spacer thickness 5 (Fig. Ia is not specific to a square array pattern, but is a representative cross-section of all regular periodic array patterns).
- the icon elements 4 are shown as "$" images, clearly seen in the cut-away section at the front. While there is substantially a one-to-one correspondence between lenses 1 and icon elements 4, the axes of symmetry of the lens array will not, in general, be exactly aligned with the axes of symmetry of the icon array.
- the Motion synthetic images produced by a particular combination of lenses, optical spacer(s), and icons move a consistent amount for a given change in viewing angle, and this consistent amount is a percentage of the synthetic image repeat distance. For example, if a Unison Motion material is produced that presents synthetic images having a 0.25 inch repeat distance and these synthetic images appear to have 0.1 inch of orthoparallactic movement when the angle of view changes by 10 degrees, then the same lenses, icons, and spacer(s) used to create Unison that has a synthetic image repeat distance of 1.0 inch will exhibit a proportionally larger orthoparallactic movement - 0.4 inch - when the angle of view changes by 10 degrees. The amount of orthoparallactic image movement is scaled to match the repeat distance of the synthetic image produced.
- the relationship between the change in the angle of view and the scaled orthoparallactic movement depends on the F# of the lenses used. Low F# lenses produce a smaller amount of orthoparallactic movement for a selected change in viewing angle than larger F# lenses.
- An exemplary lens used for a Unison Motion material may have an F# of 0.8.
- One reason that this is a desirable F# is that it minimizes vertical disparity between the images seen with by left eye and those seen by the right eye of the observer.
- Vertical disparity is a vertical misalignment between the left eye and right eye images - one image appears to be vertically displaced with respect to the other image.
- Horizontal image disparity is a familiar and natural phenomenon: it is one of the factors used by the eye-brain system to perceive three dimensional depth.
- Unison Motion materials can be designed to elicit this sensation in the viewer by enhancing the vertical disparity of the images.
- Vertical image disparity is present in Unison Motion materials because the viewer's eyes are disposed in a horizontal plane. The view from the left eye is from a different horizontal angle than the view from the right eye, so the synthetic image seen by the left eye is orthoparallactically displaced in a vertical direction with respect to the synthetic image seen by the right eye, thus creating vertical image disparity.
- the amount of vertical image disparity is small for low F# lenses and is usually unnoticed by viewers.
- the vertical image disparity can be enhanced, however, by using larger F# lenses, such as F# 2.0 or larger, so as to purposefully create the vertical disparity sensation in the viewer's eyes.
- One benefit that can be obtained by creating enhanced vertical image disparity in Unison Motion materials is that the physical sensation thus elicited in the viewer is unique, immediate, and automatic, and can therefore function as a novel authentication method. No other known material can provide a similar sensation from all azimuthal directions of view.
- the synthetic magnification factor of Unison Deep, Unison Float, and Unison Levitate embodiments depends on the angular alignment of the lens 1 axes and the icon elements 4 axes as well as the scale ratio of the system.
- the scale ratio is not equal to 1.0000 the maximum magnification obtained from substantial alignment of these axes is equal to the absolute value of 1/(1.0000 - (scale ratio)).
- a Unison Deep material having a scale ratio of 0.995 would exhibit a maximum magnification of
- 20Ox.
- a Unison Float material having a scale ratio of 1.005 would also exhibit a maximum magnification of 11/(1.000 - 1.005)
- 20Ox.
- the synthetic image produced by a Unison Deep or SuperDeep icon pattern is upright with respect to the orientation of the Unison Deep or SuperDeep icon pattern, while the synthetic image produced by a Unison Float or SuperFloat icon pattern is upside down, rotated one hundred and eighty degrees (180°) with respect to the orientation of the Unison Float or Super Float icon pattern.
- Fig. 2a schematically depicts the counter-intuitive orthoparallactic image motion effects seen in the Unison Motion embodiment.
- the left side of Fig. 2a depicts a piece of Unison Motion material 12 in plan view being oscillated 18 about horizontal axis 16. If the synthetically magnified image 14 moved according to parallax, it would appear to be displaced up and down (as shown in Fig. 2a) as the material 12 was oscillated around the horizontal axis 16. Such apparent parallactic motion would be typical of real objects, conventional print, and holographic images. Instead of exhibiting parallactic motion, synthetically magnified image 14 shows orthoparallactic motion 20 - motion which is perpendicular to the normally expected parallactic motion direction. The right side of Fig.
- FIG. 2a depicts a perspective view of a piece of material 12 exhibiting the orthoparallactic motion of a single synthetically magnified image 14 as it is oscillated 18 about horizontal rotational axis 16.
- the dotted outline 22 shows the position of the synthetically magnified image 14 after it has moved to the right by orthoparallaxis and the dotted outline 24 shows the position of the synthetically magnified image 14 after it has moved to the left by orthoparallaxis.
- the visual effects of the Unison Deep and Unison Float embodiments are isometrically depicted in Figs. 2 b,c. hi Fig.
- a piece of Unison Deep material 26 presents synthetically magnified images 28 that stereoscopically appear to lie beneath the plane of the Unison Deep material 26 when viewed by the eyes of the observer 30.
- a piece of Unison Float material 32 presents synthetically magnified images 34 that stereoscopically appear to lie above the plane of the Unison Float material 34 when viewed by the eyes of the observer 30.
- the Unison Deep and Unison Float effects are visible from all azimuthal viewing positions and over a wide range of elevation positions, from vertical elevation (such that the line of sight from the eyes of the observer 30 to the Unison Deep material 26 or Unison Float material 32 is perpendicular to the surface of the materials) down to a shallow elevation angle which is typically less than 45 degrees.
- the visibility of the Unison Deep and Unison Float effects over a wide range of viewing angles and orientations provides a simple and convenient method of differentiating Unison Deep and Unison Float materials from simulations utilizing cylindrical lenticular optics or holography.
- Figs. 2 d-f The Unison Levitate embodiment effect is illustrated in Figs. 2 d-f by isometric views showing the stereoscopically perceived depth position of a synthetically magnified image 38 in three different azimuthal rotations of the Unison Levitate material 36 and the corresponding plan view of the Unison Levitate material 36 and synthetically magnified image 38 as seen by the eyes of the observer 30.
- Fig. 2d depicts the synthetically magnified image 38 (hereafter referred to as 'the image') as stereoscopically appearing to lie in a plane beneath the Unison Levitate material 36 when said material is oriented as shown in the plan view.
- the heavy dark line in the plan view serves as an azimuthal orientation reference 37 for the sake of explanation. Note that in Fig.
- the orientation reference 37 is aligned in a vertical direction and the image 38 is aligned in a horizontal direction.
- the image 38 appears in the Unison Deep position because the scale ratio is less than 1.000 along a first axis of the Unison Levitate material 36 that is aligned substantially parallel to a line connecting the pupils of the observer's two eyes (this will be hereafter called the 'stereoscopic scale ratio').
- the stereoscopic scale ratio of the Unison Levitate material 36 is greater than 1.000 along a second axis perpendicular to this first axis, thereby producing a Unison Float effect of the image 38 when the second axis is aligned substantially parallel to a line connecting the pupils of the observer's eyes, as shown in Fig. 2f.
- Fig. 2e depicts an intermediate azimuthal orientation of the Unison Levitate material 36 that produces a Unison Motion orthoparallactic image effect because the stereoscopic scale ratio in this azimuthal orientation is substantially 1.000.
- the visual effect of a Unison Levitate image 38 moving from beneath the Unison Levitate material 36 (Fig. 2d) up to the level of the Unison Levitate material 36 (Fig. 2e) and further up above the level of the Unison Levitate material 36 (Fig. 2f) as the material is azimuthally rotated can be enhanced by combining the Unison Levitate material 36 with conventionally printed information.
- the unchanging stereoscopic depth of the conventional print serves as a reference plane to better perceive the stereoscopic depth movement of the images 38.
- Shadow images of the icons maybe seen.
- a strongly directional light source such as a 'point' light source (ex: a spotlight or an LED flashlight) or a collimated source (ex: sunlight)
- a collimated source ex: sunlight
- shadow images are unusual in many ways. While the synthetic image presented by Unison does not move as the direction of illumination is moved, the shadow images produced do move. Furthermore, while the Unison synthetic images may lie in different visual planes than the plane of the material, the shadow images always lie in the plane of the material.
- the color of the shadow image is the color of the icon. So black icons create black shadow images, green icons create green shadow images, and white icons create white shadow images.
- the movement of the shadow image as the angle of illumination moves is tied to the specific depth or motion Unison effect in a way that parallels the visual effect present in the synthetic image.
- the movement of a shadow image as the angle of the light is altered parallels the movement that the synthetic image shows when the angle of view is altered.
- Motion shadow images move orthoparallactically as the light source is moved. Deep shadow images move in the same direction as the light source. Float shadow images move opposite to the direction of the light source. Levitate shadow images move in directions that are a combination of the above:
- Levitate Deep shadow images move in the same direction as the light in the left-right direction, but opposite from the direction of the light in the up-down direction;
- Levitate Float shadow images move opposite to the light in the left right direction but in the same direction as the light in the up-down direction;
- Levitate Motion shadow images show orthoparallactic motion with respect to the light movement.
- Unison Morph shadow images show morphing effects as the light source is moved. Additional unusual shadow image effects are seen when a diverging point light source, such as an LED light, is moved toward and away from a Unison film.
- the shadow images of Unison motion material do not change scale significantly as the convergence or divergence of illumination is changed, rather, the shadow images rotate about the center of illumination.
- Unison Levitate shadow images shrink in one direction and enlarge in the perpendicular direction when the convergence or divergence of the illumination is changed.
- Unison Morph shadow images change in ways specific to the particular Morph pattern as the convergence or divergence of the illumination is changed.
- AU of these shadow image effects can be used as additional authentication methods for Unison materials utilized for security, anti-counterfeiting, brand protection applications, and other similar applications.
- Figs. 3 a-i are plan views showing various embodiments and fill-factors of different patterns of symmetric two-dimensional arrays of micro-lenses.
- Figs.3a, d and g depict micro-lenses 46, 52, and 60, respectively, that are arranged in regular hexagonal array pattern 40.
- the dashed array pattern lines 40,42, and 44 indicate the symmetry of the pattern of lenses but do not necessarily represent any physical element of the lens array.
- the lenses of Fig. 3 a have substantially circular base geometry 46
- the lenses of Fig.3g have substantially hexagonal base geometries 60
- the lenses of Fig. 3d have intermediate base geometries which are rounded-off hexagons 52.
- lens geometries A similar progression of lens geometries applies to the square array 42 of lenses 48, 54, and 62, wherein these lenses have base geometries which range from substantially circular 48, to rounded-off square 54, to substantially square 62, as seen in Figs. 3b, e, and h.
- the equilateral triangular array 44 holds lenses having base geometries that range from substantially circular 50, to rounded-off triangle 58, to substantially triangular 64, as seen in Figs. 3c, f and i.
- the lens patterns of Figs. 3 a-i are representative of lenses that can be used for the present system.
- the intersititial space between the lenses does not directly contribute to the synthetic magnification of the images.
- a material created using one of these lens patterns will also include an array of icon elements that is arranged in the same geometry and at approximately the same scale, allowing for differences in scale utilized to produce Unison Motion, Unison Deep, Unison Float, and Unison Levitate effects. If the interstitial space is large, such as is shown in Fig. 3c, the lenses are said to have a low fill-factor and the contrast between the image and the background will be reduced by light scattered from icon elements.
- the lenses are said to have a high fill-factor and the contrast between the image and the background will be high, providing the lenses themselves have good focal properties and icon elements are in the lenses' focal planes. It is generally easier to form high optical quality micro-lenses with a circular or nearly circular base than with a square or triangular base.
- a good balance of lens performance and minimizing of interstitial space is shown in Fig. 3d; a hexagonal array of lenses having base geometries that are rounded hexagons.
- Lenses having a low F# are particularly suitable for use in the present system.
- low F# we mean less than 4, and in particular for Unison Motion approximately 2 or lower.
- Low F# lenses have high curvature and a correspondingly large sag, or center thickness, as a proportion of their diameter.
- a typical Unison lens, with an F# of 0.8, has a hexagonal base 28 microns wide and a center thickness of 10.9 microns.
- polygonal base multi-zonal lenses for example hexagonal base multi-zonal lenses
- hexagonal base multi-zonal lenses have important and unexpected advantages over circular base spherical lenses.
- hexagonal base multi-zonal lenses significantly improve manufacturability by virtue of their stress-relieving geometry, but there are additional unexpected optical benefits obtained through the use of hexagonal base multi-zonal lenses.
- These lenses are multi-zonal because they possess three optical zones that each provide a different and unique benefit to the subject invention.
- the three zones are the central zone (constituting approximately half of the area of the lens), the side zones, and the corner zones.
- These polygonal lenses have an effective diameter that is the diameter of a circle drawn inside the corner zones around the central zone and including the side zones.
- the hexagonal base multi-zonal lens 784 of the subject disclosure performs at least as well as the spherical lens 792.
- the central zone 780 of the hexagonal base multi-zonal lens 784 provides high image resolution and shallow depth of field from a wide variety of viewing angles.
- Each of the six side zones 796 of the hexagonal base multi-zonal lens 784 of the subject invention have focal lengths that depend on the location with the zone in a complex way, but the effect is to cause the focus of the side zones 796 to be spread over a range of values 798 spanning approximately +/- 10 percent of the central zone focus, as illustrated in Figure 32.
- This vertical blurring 798 of the focal point effectively increases the depth of field of the lens in these zones 796, and provides a benefit that is equivalent to having a flat-field lens.
- the performance of the outer zones 800 of spherical lens 792 can be seen in Figure 33.
- the vertical blurring of the focal point 802 is significantly less for the spherical lens 792 than it is for the hexagonal base multi-zonal lens 784.
- the corner zones 806 of the hexagonal base multi-zonal lens 784 of Figure 32 possess diverging focal properties that provide the unexpected benefit of scattering 808 ambient illumination onto the icon plane and thereby reducing the sensitivity of the Unison material to illumination conditions.
- the spherical lens 792 of Figure 33 does not scatter the ambient illumination over as wide an area (as seen by the absence of rays scattered into the icon plane regions 804), so Unison materials made using spherical lenses have greater synthetic image brightness variations when viewed from a variety of angles than Unison materials made using hexagonal base multi-zonal lenses.
- hexagonal base multi-zonal lenses have a higher fill factor (ability to cover the plane) than spherical lenses.
- the interstitial space between spherical lenses provides virtually no scattering of ambient light, while this non- scattering area is much smaller in the case of hexagonal base multi-zonal lenses.
- hexagonal base multi-zonal lenses provide unexpected benefits and advantages over spherical lenses.
- Either type of lens can benefit from the addition of scattering microstructures or scattering materials introduced into, or incorporated into, the lens interstitial spaces to enhance the scattering of ambient illumination onto the icon plane.
- the lens interstitial spaces can be filled with a material that will form a small radius meniscus, with either converging or diverging focal properties, to direct ambient illumination onto the icon plane.
- These methods may be combined, for example, by incorporating light scattering particles into a lens interstitial meniscus fill material.
- the lens interstitial zones can be originally manufactured with suitably scattering lens interstitial zones.
- a spherical lens having these proportions is very difficult to manufacture because the high contact angle between the surface of the film and the edge of the lens acts as a stress concentrator for the forces applied to separate the lens from the tool during manufacture. These high stresses tend to cause the adhesion of the lens to the film to fail and to failure of removal of the lens from the tool. Furthermore, the optical performance of a low F# spherical lens is progressively compromised for radial zones away from the center of the lens: low F# spherical lenses do not focus well except near their central zone.
- Hexagonal base lenses have an unexpected and significant benefit over lenses that have a more substantially circular base: hexagonal lenses release from their tools with lower peeling force than the optically equivalent lenses with substantially circular bases.
- Hexagonal lenses have a shape that blends from substantially axially symmetric near their center to hexagonally symmetric, with corners that act as stress concentrators, at their bases.
- the stress concentrations caused by the sharp base corners reduce the overall peeling force required to separate the lenses from their molds during manufacturing. The magnitude of this effect is substantial - the peeling forces can be reduced during manufacturing by a factor of two or more for hexagonal base lenses as compared to substantially circular base lenses.
- the image contrast of the material can be enhanced by filling the lens interstitial spaces with a light absorbing (dark colored) opaque pigmented material, effectively forming a mask for the lenses. This eliminates the contrast reduction that arises from light scattered from the icon layer through the lens interstitial spaces.
- An additional effect of this interstitial fill is that the overall image becomes darker because incoming ambient illumination is blocked from passing through the interstitial spaces to the icon plane.
- the image clarity produced by lenses having aberrant focusing at their periphery can also be improved by an opaque pigmented interstitial fill, providing that this fill occludes the aberrant peripheral lens zone.
- a different effect can be obtained by filling the lens interstitial spaces with a white or light colored material, or a material color matched to a substrate to be used with the Unison material. If the light colored lens interstitial fill is dense enough and the icon plane incorporates a strong contrast between the icon elements and the background, the Unison synthetic image will be substantially invisible when viewed with reflected light, yet will be distinctly visible when viewed in transmitted light from the lens side, but not visible when viewed from the icon side. This provides the novel security effect of having a one-way transmission image that is visible only in transmitted light and visible only from one side.
- Fluorescing materials can be utilized in a lens interstitial coating instead of, or in addition to, visible light pigments to provide additional means of authentication.
- Fig. 4 graphs the effects of changing the stereoscopic scale ratio, SSR (the icon element repeat period/ the lens array repeat period), along an axis of the present material. Zones of the system having an SSR greater than 1.0000 will produce Unison Float and SuperFloat effects, zones having an SSR of substantially 1.0000 will produce Unison Motion orthoparallactic motion (OPM) effects, and zones having an SSR less than 1.0000 will produce Unison Deep and Unison SuperDeep effects. All of these effects can be produced and transitioned from one to another in a variety of ways along an axis of system film. This figure illustrates one of an infinite variety of such combinations.
- SSR the icon element repeat period/ the lens array repeat period
- the dashed line 66 indicates the SSR value corresponding substantially to 1.0000, the dividing line between Unison Deep and Unison SuperDeep and Unison Float and Unison SuperFloat, and the SSR value which demonstrates OPM.
- hi zone 68 the SSR of the Unison material is 0.995, creating a Unison Deep effect.
- zone 70 Adjacent to this is zone 70 in which the SSR is ramped from 0.995 up to 1.005, producing a spatial transition from a Unison Deep to a Unison Float effect.
- the SSR in the next zone 72 is 1.005 creating a Unison Float effect.
- the next zone 74 creates a smooth transition down from a Unison Float effect to a Unison Deep effect.
- Zone 76 proceeds stepwise up from a Unison Deep effect, to OPM, to a Unison Float effect, and zone 78 steps it back down to OPM.
- the variations in repeat period needed to accomplish these effects are generally most easily implemented in the icon element layer.
- This graph The easiest way to interpret this graph is to see it as a cross-section of the stereoscopic depth that will be perceived across this axis of apiece of system material. It is therefore possible to create a stereoscopically sculpted field of images, a contoured visual surface, by local control of the SSR and optionally by corresponding local control of the array rotational angle.
- This stereoscopically sculpted surface can be used to represent an unlimited range of shapes, including human faces.
- a pattern of icon elements that create the effect of a stereoscopically sculpted grid, or periodic dots, can be a particularly effective way to visually display a complex surface.
- Figs. 5 a-c are plan views depicting the effect of rotating one array pattern with respect to the other in the production of material of the present system.
- Fig. 5 a shows a lens array 80 having a regular periodic array spacing 82, without substantial change in the angle of the array axes.
- Fig. 5b shows an icon element array 84 with a progressively changing array axis orientation angle 86. If the lens array 80 is combined with the icon element array 84 by translating the lens array over the icon array, as drawn, then the approximate visual effect that results is shown in Fig. 5c.
- the material 88 created by combining lens array 80 and icon array 84 creates a pattern of synthetically magnified images 89, 90, 91 that vary in scale and rotation across the material.
- image 89 is large and shows a small rotation.
- Image 90, toward the upper middle section of material 88 is smaller and is rotated through a significant angle with respect to image 89.
- the different scales and rotations between images 89 and 91 are the result of the differences in the angular misalignment of the lens pattern 82 and the icon element pattern 86.
- Figs. 6 a-c illustrate a method for causing one synthetically magnified OPM image 98 to morph into another synthetically magnified image 102 as the first image moves across a boundary 104 in the icon element patterns 92 and 94.
- Icon element pattern 92 bears circle-shaped icon elements 98, shown in the magnified inset 96.
- Icon element pattern 94 bears star-shaped icon elements 102, shown in the magnified inset 100.
- Icon element patterns 92 and 94 are not separate objects, but are joined at their boundary 104. When the material is assembled using this combined pattern of icon elements the resulting OPM images will show the morphing effects depicted in Figs. 6b and c.
- FIG. 6b shows OPM circle images 98 moving to the right 107 across the boundary 104 and emerging from the boundary as star images 102 also moving to the right.
- Image 106 is in transition, part circle and part star, as it crosses the boundary.
- Fig. 6c of the figure shows the images after they have moved further to the right: image 98 is now closer to the boundary 104 and image 106 has almost completely crossed the boundary to complete its morphing from circle to star.
- the morphing effect can be accomplished in a less abrupt manner by creating a transition zone from one icon element pattern to the other, instead of having a hard boundary 104. In the transition zone the icons would gradually change from circle to star through a series of stages.
- the smoothness of the visual morphing of the resulting OPM images will depend on the number of stages used for the transition.
- the range of graphical possibilities is endless.
- the transition zone could be designed to make the circle appear to shrink while sharp star points protruded up through it, or alternatively the sides of the circle could appear to dent inward to create a stubby star that progressively became sharper until it reached its final design.
- Figs. 7 a-c are cross-sections of materials of the present system that illustrate alternative embodiments of the icon elements.
- Fig. 7a depicts a material having lenses 1 separated from icon elements 108 by optical spacer 5.
- Icon elements 108 are formed by patterns of colorless, colored, tinted, or dyed material applied to the lower surface of optical spacer 5. Any of the multitude of common printing methods, such as ink jet, laseriet, letterpress, flexo, gravure, and intaglio, can be used to deposit icon elements 108 of this kind so long as the print resolution is fine enough.
- Fig. 7b depicts a similar material system with a different embodiment of icon elements 112.
- the icon elements are formed from pigments, dyes, or particles embedded in a supporting material 110.
- Examples of this embodiment of icon elements 112 in supporting material 110 include: silver particles in gelatin, as a photographic emulsion, pigmented or dyed ink absorbed into an ink receptor coating, dye sublimation transfer into a dye receptor coating, and photochromic or thermochromic images in an imaging film.
- Fig. 7c depicts a microstructure approach to forming icon elements 114.
- the icon elements 114 can be formed from the voids in the microstructure 113 or the solid regions 115, singly or in combination.
- the voids 113 can optionally be filled or coated with another material such as evaporated metal, material having a different refractive index, or dyed or pigmented material.
- Figs. 8 a,b depict positive and negative embodiments of icon elements.
- Fig. 8a shows positive icon elements 116 that are colored, dyed, or pigmented 120 against a transparent background 118.
- Fig. 8b shows negative icon elements 122 that are transparent 118 against a colored, dyed, or pigmented background 120.
- a material of the present system may optionally incorporate both positive and negative icon elements. This method of creating positive and negative icon elements is particularly well adapted to the microstructure icon elements 114 of Fig. 7c.
- Fig. 9 shows a cross-section of one embodiment of a pixel-zone material of the present system.
- This embodiment includes zones with lenses 124 having a short focus and other zones with lenses having a long focus 136.
- the short focus lenses 124 project images 123 of icon elements 129 in icon plane 128 disposed at the focal plane of lenses 124.
- the long focus lenses 136 project images 134 of icon elements 137 in icon plane 132 disposed at the focal plane of lenses 136.
- Optical separator 126 separates short focus lenses 124 from their associated icon plane 128.
- Long focus lenses 136 are separated from their associated icon plane 132 by the sum of the thicknesses of optical separator 126, icon plane 128, and second optical separator 130.
- Icon elements 137 in the second icon plane 132 are outside the depth of focus of short focus lenses 124 and therefore do not form distinct synthetically magnified images in the short focus lens zones.
- icon elements 129 are too close to long focus lenses 136 to form distinct synthetically magnified images. Accordingly, zones of material bearing short focus lenses 124 will display images 123 of the icon elements 129, while zones of material bearing long focus lenses 136 will display images 134 of icon elements 137.
- the images 123 and 134 that are projected can differ in design, color, OPM direction, synthetic magnification factor, and effect, including the Deep, Unison, Float, and Levitate effects described above.
- Fig. 10 is a cross-section of an alternate embodiment of a pixel-zone material of the present system.
- This embodiment includes zones with lenses 140 elevated by a lens support mesa 144 above the bases of the non-elevated lenses 148.
- the focal length of the elevated lenses 140 is the distance 158, placing the focus of these lenses in the first icon plane 152.
- the focal length of the non-elevated lenses 148 is the distance 160, placing the focus of these lenses in the second icon plane 156.
- These two focal lengths, 158 and 160 may be chosen to be similar or dissimilar.
- the elevated lenses 140 project images 138 of icon elements 162 in icon plane 152 disposed at the focal plane of lenses 140.
- the non-elevated lenses 148 project images 146 of icon elements 164 in icon plane 156 disposed at the focal plane of lenses 148.
- the elevated lenses 140 are separated from their associated icon elements 162 by the sum of the thickness of the lens support mesa 144 and the optical separation 150.
- the non-elevated lenses 148 are separated from their associated icon elements 164 by the sum of the thickness of the optical separation 150, the icon layer 152, and the icon separator 154.
- Icon elements 164 in the second icon plane 156 are outside the depth of focus of the elevated lenses 140 and therefore do not form distinct synthetically magnified images in the elevated lens zones.
- icon elements 152 are too close to non-elevated lenses 148 to form distinct synthetically magnified images.
- zones of material bearing elevated lenses 140 will display images 138 of the icon elements 162, while zones of material bearing non-elevated lenses 136 will display images 146 of icon elements 156.
- the images 138 and 146 that are projected can differ in design, color, OPM direction, synthetic magnification factor, and effect, including Deep, Unison, Float, and Levitate effects.
- Figs. 11 a,b are cross-sections illustrating non-refractive embodiments of the present system.
- Fig. 11a illustrates an embodiment that utilizes a focusing reflector 166 instead of a refractive lens to project images 174 of icon elements 172.
- the icon layer 170 lies between the viewer's eyes and the focusing optics. Focusing reflectors 166 can be metallized 167 to obtain high focusing efficiency.
- the icon layer 170 is maintained at a distance equal to the focal length of the reflectors by optical separator 168.
- Fig. 1 Ib discloses a pinhole optics embodiment of this material.
- Opaque upper layer 176 preferably black in color for contrast enhancement, is pierced by apertures 178.
- Optical separator element 180 controls the field of view of the system. Icon elements 184 in icon layer 182 are imaged through apertures 178 in a manner similar to the pinhole optics of a pinhole camera. Because of the small amount of light passed through the apertures, this embodiment is most effective when it is back- illuminated, with light passing through the icon plane 182 first, then through the apertures 178. Effects of each of the above-described embodiments, OPM, Deep, Float, and Levitate, can be created using either the reflective system design or the pinhole optics system design.
- Figs. 12 a,b are cross-sections comparing the structures of an all-refractive material 188 with a hybrid refractive/reflective material 199.
- Fig. 12a depicts an exemplary structure, with micro-lenses 192 separated from the icon plane 194 by optical separator 198.
- Optional sealing layer 195 contributes to the total refractive system thickness 196.
- Lenses 192 project icon images 190 toward the viewer (not shown).
- Hybrid refractive/reflective material 199 includes micro-lenses 210 with icon plane 208 directly beneath them.
- Optical spacer 200 separates the lenses 210 and the icon plane 208 from reflective layer 202.
- Reflective layer 202 can be metallized, such as by evaporated or sputtered aluminum, gold, rhodium, chromium, osmium, depleted uranium or silver, by chemically deposited silver, or by multi-layer interference films.
- Light scattered from icon layer 208 reflects from reflective layer 202, passes through icon layer 208 and into lenses 210 which project images 206 toward the viewer (not shown). Both of these figures are drawn to approximately the same scale: by visual comparison it can be seen that the total system thickness 212 of the hybrid refractive/reflective system 199 is about half the total system thickness 196 of the all-refractive system 188. Exemplary dimensions for equivalent systems are
- OPM, Deep, Float, Levitate, Morph, and 3-D can be created using the hybrid refractive/diffractive design.
- Fig. 13 is a cross-section showing a 'peel-to-reveal' tamper-indicating material embodiment of the present system. This embodiment does not display an image until it is tampered with.
- the untampered structure is shown in region 224, where a refractive system 214 is optically buried under a top layer 216 consisting of an optional substrate 218 and apeelable layer 220 which is conformal to the lenses 215.
- Peelable layer 220 effectively forms negative lens structures 220 that fit over positive lenses 215 and negate their optical power.
- Lenses 215 cannot form images of the icon layer in the untampered region, and the light scattered 222 from the icon plane is unfocused.
- Top layer 216 may include an optional film substrate 218.
- Tampering causes the release of top layer 216 from the refractive system 214, exposing the lenses 215 so that they can form images 228. Effects of each of the above described embodiments, OPM, Deep, Float, and Levitate, can be included in a tamper indicating 'peel-to-reveal' system of the type of Fig. 13.
- Fig. 14 is a cross-section illustrating a 'peel-to-change' tamper-indicating material embodiment of the present system.
- This embodiment displays a first image 248 of a first icon plane 242 prior to tampering 252, then displays a second image 258 at region 254 after it has been tampered with.
- the untampered structure is shown in region 252, where two refractive systems, 232 and 230, are stacked.
- the first icon plane 242 is located beneath the lenses 240 of the second system.
- the first, or upper, system 232 Prior to tampering in region 252 the first, or upper, system 232 presents images of the first icon plane 242.
- the second icon plane 246 is too far outside the depth of focus of lenses 234 to form distinct images.
- the first lenses 234 are separated from the second lenses 240 by an optional substrate 236 and a peelable layer 238 which is conformal to the second lenses 240.
- Peelable layer 232 effectively forms negative lens structures 238 that fit over positive lenses 240 and negate their optical power.
- Top layer 232 may include optional film substrate 236. Tampering results in the peeling 256 of the top layer 232, shown in region 254, from the second refractive system 230, exposing the second lenses 240 so that they can form images 258 of the second icon layer 246. Second lenses 240 do not form images of the first icon layer 242 because the icon layer is too close to the lenses 240.
- This embodiment of a tamper indicating material is well suited to application as a tape or label applied to an article. Tampering releases the top layer 232, leaving the second system 230 attached to the article. Prior to tampering, this embodiment presents a first image 248. After tampering 254 the second system 230, still attached to the article, presents a second image 258 while the peeled layer 256 presents no image at all. Effects of each of the above described embodiments, OPM, Deep, Float, and Levitate, can be included in either the first system 232 or the second system 230.
- Figs. 15 a-d are cross-sections showing various two-sided embodiments of the present system.
- Fig. 15a depicts a two-sided material 260 that includes a single icon plane 264 that is imaged 268 by lenses 262 on one side and imaged 270 by a second set of lenses 266 on the opposite side.
- the image 268 seen from the left side (as drawn) is the mirror image of the image 270 seen from the right side.
- Icon plane 264 may contain icon elements that are symbols or images which appear similar in mirror image, or icon elements which appear different in mirror image, or combinations of icon elements wherein a portion of the icon elements are correct-reading when viewed from one side and the other icon elements are correct-reading when viewed from the other side. Effects of each of the above described embodiments, OPM, Deep, Float, and Levitate, can be displayed from either side of a two-sided material according to this embodiment.
- Fig. 15b illustrates another two-sided embodiment 272 having two icon planes 276 and 278 that are imaged, 282 and 286 respectively, by two sets of lenses, 274 and 280 respectively.
- This embodiment is essentially two separate systems, 287 and 289, such as illustrated in Fig. Ia, that have been joined together with an icon layer spacer 277 in between them.
- the thickness of this icon layer spacer 277 will determine the degree that the 'wrong' icon layer is imaged 284 and 288 by a set of lenses. For example, if the thickness of icon layer spacer 277 is zero, such that icon layers 276 and 278 are in contact, then both icon layers will be imaged by both sets of lenses 274 and 280.
- the thickness of icon layer spacer 277 is substantially larger than the depth of focus of lenses 274 and 280, then the 'wrong' icon layers will not be imaged by the lenses 274 and 280.
- the depth of focus of one set of lenses 274 is large, but the depth of focus of the other set of lenses is small (because the lenses 274 and 280 have different F#'s)
- both icon planes 276 and 278 will be imaged 282 through lenses 274 but only one icon plane 278 will be imaged through lenses 280, so a material of this type would show two images from one side but only one of those images, mirrored, from the opposite side. Effects of each of the above described embodiments, OPM, Deep, Float, and Levitate, can be displayed from either side of a two-sided material according to this embodiment, and the projected images 282 and 286 can be of the same or different colors.
- Fig. 15c shows yet another two-sided material 290 having a pigmented icon layer spacer 298 that blocks the lenses on one side of the material from seeing the 'wrong' set of icons.
- Lenses 292 image 294 icon layer 296 but cannot image icon layer 300 because of the presence of pigmented icon layer 298.
- lenses 302 image 304 icon layer 300 but cannot image icon layer 296 because of the presence of pigmented icon layer 298. Effects of each of the above described embodiments, OPM, Deep, Float, and Levitate, can be displayed from either side of a two-sided material according to this embodiment, and the projected images 294 and 304 can be of the same or different colors.
- Fig. 15d discloses a further two-sided material 306 embodiment having lenses 308 that image 318 icon layer 314 and lenses 316 on the opposite side that image 322 icon layer 310.
- Icon layer 310 is close to, or substantially in contact with, the bases of lenses 308 and icon layer 314 is close to, or substantially in contact with, the bases of lenses 316.
- Icons 310 are too close to lenses 308 to form an image, so their light scatters 320 instead of focusing.
- Icons 314 are too close to lenses 316 to form an image, so their light scatters 324 instead of focusing. Effects of each of the above described embodiments, OPM, Deep, Float, and Levitate, can be displayed from either side of a two-sided material according to this embodiment, and the projected images 318 and 322 can be of the same or different colors.
- Figs. 16 a-f are cross-sections and corresponding plan views illustrating three different methods for creating grayscale or tonal icon element patterns and subsequent synthetically magnified images with the present system.
- Figs. 16 a-c are cross-section details of the icon side of a material 307, including part of optical separator 309 and a transparent micro structured icon layer 311.
- the icon elements are formed as bas- relief surfaces 313, 315, 317 that are then filled with a pigmented or dyed material 323, 325, 327 respectively.
- the underside of the icon layer may be optionally sealed by a sealing layer 321 that can be transparent, tinted, colored, dyed, or pigmented, or opaque.
- the bas-relief micro structures of icon elements 313, 315, and 317 provide thickness variations in the dyed or pigmented fill material, 323, 325, and 327 respectively, that create variations in the optical density of the icon element as seen in plan view.
- the plan views corresponding to icon elements 323, 325, and 327 are plan views 337, 339, and 341.
- Fig. 16 a includes icon element 313, dyed or pigmented icon element fill 323, and corresponding plan view 337.
- the cross section view of the icon plane at the top of this figure can only show one cutting plane through the icon elements.
- the location of the cutting plane is indicated by the dashed line 319 through the plane views 337, 339, and 341.
- the cross-section of icon element 313 is one plane through a substantially hemispherical-shaped icon element.
- thickness variations of the dyed or pigmented fill 323 create a tonal, or grayscale, optical density variations represented in the plan view 337.
- An array of icon elements of this type can be synthetically magnified within the present material system to produce images that show equivalent grayscale variations.
- Fig. 16 b includes icon element 315, dyed or pigmented icon element fill 325, and corresponding plan view 339.
- Plan view 339 shows that the icon element 315 is a bas-relief representation of a face.
- the tonal variations in an image of a face are complex, as shown by the complex thickness variations 325 in the cross-section view.
- an array of icon elements of this type as shown by 315, 325, and 339, can be synthetically magnified within the present material system to produce images that show equivalent grayscale variations representing, in this example, the image of a face.
- Fig. 16 c includes icon element 317, dyed or pigmented fill 327, and corresponding plan view 341.
- Icon element 317 illustrates a method for creating a bright center in a rounded surface, as compared to the effect of icon element 313 which creates a dark center in a rounded surface.
- Figs. 16 d,e disclose another embodiment 326 of transparent bas-relief micro structured icon layer 311 including icon elements 329 and 331 that are coated with a high refractive index material 328.
- the icon layer 311 can be sealed with an optional sealing layer 321 that fills the icon elements 329 and 331, 330 and 332, respectively.
- the high refractive index layer 328 enhances the visibility of sloping surfaces by creating reflections from them by total internal reflection.
- Plan views 342 and 344 present representative images of the appearance of icon elements 329 and 331 and their synthetically magnified images.
- This high refractive index coating embodiment provides a kind of edge-enhancement effect without adding pigment or dye to make the icons and their images visible.
- Fig. 16 f discloses yet another embodiment 333 of transparent bas-relief micro structured icon 335 utilizing an air, gas, or liquid volume 336 to provide visual definition for this phase interface 334 microstructure.
- Optional sealing layer 340 may be added with or without optional adhesive 338 to entrap the air, gas, or liquid volume 336.
- the visual effect of a phase interface icon element is similar to that of a high refractive index coated icon element 329 and 331.
- Figs. 17 a-d are cross-sections showing the use of the present system as a laminating film in conjunction with printed information, such as may be utilized in the manufacture of LD.
- Fig. 17a depicts an embodiment of Unison used as a laminate over print 347.
- Material 348 having at least some optical transparency in the icon layer is laminated to fibrous substrate 354, such as paper or paper substitute, with lamination adhesive 350, covering or partly covering print element 352 that had previously been applied to the fibrous substrate 354. Because the material 348 is at least partially transparent, the print element 352 can be seen through it and the effect of this combination is to provide the dynamic image effect of the present system in combination with the static print.
- Fig. 17b shows an embodiment of the system material used as a laminate over a print element 352 applied to a nonfibrous substrate 358, such as a polymer film.
- material 348 having at least some optical transparency in the icon layer is laminated to nonfibrous substrate 358, such as polymer, metal, glass, or ceramic substitute, with lamination adhesive 350, covering or partly covering print element 352 that had previously been applied to the nonfibrous substrate 354. Because the material 348 is at least partially transparent, the print element 352 can be seen through it and the effect of this combination is to provide the dynamic image effect in combination with the static print.
- Fig. 17c depicts the use of a print element directly on the lens side of material 360.
- material 348 has print element 352 directly applied to the upper lens surface.
- This embodiment does not require that the material be at least partly transparent: the print element 352 lies on top of the material and the dynamic image effects can be seen around the print element.
- the material 348 is used as the substrate for the final product, such as currency, ID cards, and other articles requiring authentication or providing authentication to another article.
- Fig. 17d depicts the use of a print element directly on the icon side of an at- least partially transparent material 362.
- Print element 352 is applied directly to the icon layer or sealing layer of an at-least partially transparent system material 348. Because the system material 348 is at least partially transparent, the print element 352 can be seen through it and the effect of this combination is to provide the dynamic image effect in combination with the static print.
- the system material 348 is used as the substrate for the final product, such as currency, ID cards, and other articles requiring authentication or providing authentication to another article.
- a system material 348 can be both overprinted (Fig. 17c) and backside printed (Fig. 17d), then optionally laminated over print on a substrate (Figs. 17 a,b). Combinations such as these can further increase the counterfeiting, simulation, and tampering resistance of the material of the present system.
- Figs. 18 a-f are cross-sections illustrating the application of the present system to, or incorporation into, various substrates and in combination with printed information.
- the embodiments of Figs. 18 a-f differ from those of Figs. 17 a-d in that the former figures disclose system material 348 that covers most or all of an article, whereas the present figures disclose embodiments wherein the system material or its optical effect do not substantially cover a whole surface, but rather cover only a portion of a surface.
- Fig. 18a depicts a piece of at-least partially transparent system material 364 adhered to a fibrous or non-fibrous substrate 368 with adhesive element 366.
- Optional print element 370 has been directly applied to the upper, lens, surface of material 364. Print element 370 may be part of a larger pattern that extends beyond the piece of material 364.
- the piece of material 364 is optionally laminated over print element 372 that was applied to the fibrous or non-fibrous substrate prior to the application of the material 364.
- Fig. 18b illustrates an embodiment of single-sided system material 364 incorporated into an non-optical substrate 378 as a window, wherein at least some of the edges of the system material 364 are captured, covered, or enclosed by the non- optical substrate 378.
- Print elements 380 maybe optionally applied on top of the system material lens surface and these print elements may be aligned with, or correspond to, print elements 382 applied to the non-optical substrate 378 in the area adjacent to print element 380.
- print elements 384 can applied to the opposite side of the non-optical substrate aligned with, or corresponding to, print elements 386 applied to the icon or sealing layer 388 of the system material 364.
- the effect of a window of this kind will be to present distinct images when the material is viewed from the lens side and no images when viewed from the icon side, providing a one-way image effect.
- Fig. 18c shows a similar embodiment to that of Fig. 18b, except that the system material 306 is double-sided material 306 (or other double-sided embodiment described above).
- Print elements 390, 392, 394, and 396 substantially correspond in function to print elements 380, 382, 384, 386, previously described.
- the effect of a material window of this kind will be to present different distinct images when the material is viewed from opposite sides.
- a window incorporated into a currency paper could display the numerical denomination of the bill, such as "10" when viewed from the face side of the bill, but when viewed from the back side of the bill the Unison window could display different information, such as "USA", that may be in the same color as the first image or a different color.
- Fig. 18d illustrates a transparent substrate 373 acting as the optical spacer for a material formed by a zone of lenses 374 of limited extent and an icon layer 376 extending substantially beyond the periphery of the zone of lenses 374.
- the present effects will only be visible in that zone that includes both lenses and icons (corresponding to lens zone 374 in this figure).
- Both the lenses 374 and the adjacent substrate may optionally be printed 375, and print elements may also be applied to the icon layer 376 or to an optional sealing layer covering the icons (not indicated in this figure - see Fig. 1).
- lens zones can be used on an article after the manner of this embodiment; wherever a lens zone is placed the Unison effects will be seen; the size, rotation, stereoscopic depth position, and OPM properties of the images can be different for each lens zone.
- This embodiment is well suited for application to ID cards, credit cards, drivers' licenses, and similar applications.
- Fig. 18e shows an embodiment that is similar to that of Fig. 18d, except that the icon plane 402 does not extend substantially beyond the extent of the lens zone 400.
- Optical spacer 398 separates the lenses 400 from the icons 402.
- Print elements 404 and 406 correspond to print elements 375 and 377 in Fig. 18d.
- Multiple zones 400 can be used on an article after the manner of this embodiment; each zone can have separate effects. This embodiment is well suited for application to DD cards, credit cards, drivers' licenses, and similar applications.
- Fig. 18f depicts an embodiment that is similar to Fig. 18d except that the present embodiment incorporates optical spacer 408 that separates lenses 413 from icon plane 410. Lenses 413 extend substantially beyond the periphery of the icon zone 412. Print elements 414 and 416 correspond to print elements 375 and 377 in Fig. 18d. Multiple lens zones can be used on an article after the manner of this embodiment; wherever a lens zone is placed the present effects will be seen; the size, rotation, stereoscopic depth position, and OPM properties of the images can be different for each lens zone. This embodiment is well suited for application to ID cards, credit cards, drivers' licenses, and similar applications.
- Figs. 19 a,b illustrate cross-sectional views comparing the in-focus field of view of a spherical lens with that of a flat field aspheric lens when each are incorporated into a structure of the type described above.
- Fig. 19a illustrates a substantially spherical lens as applied in a system as described above.
- Substantially spherical lens 418 is separated from icon plane 422 by optical spacer 420.
- Image 424 projected out perpendicular to the surface of the material originates at focal point 426 within the icon layer 422. The image 424 is in sharp focus because the focal point 426 is within the icon layer 422.
- image 428 is blurry and out of focus because the corresponding focal point 430 is no longer in the icon plane, but is above it a substantial distance.
- Arrow 432 shows the field curvature of this lens, equivalent to the sweep of the focal point from 426 to 430.
- the focal point is within the icon plane throughout the zone 434, then moves outside of the icon plane in zone 436.
- Lenses which are well suited to application in coordination with a plane of printed images or icons typically have a low F#, typically less than 1, resulting in a very shallow depth of focus - higher F# lenses can be used effectively with Deep and Float effects, but cause proportionate vertical binocular disparity with effects described herein when used with Unison Motion effects.
- the field curvature of a substantially spherical lens limits the field of view of the image: the image is distinct only within the in-focus zone 434, rapidly going out of focus for more oblique viewing angles.
- Substantially spherical lenses are not flat-field lenses, and the field curvature of these lenses is amplified for low F# lenses.
- Fig. 19b illustrates an aspheric lens as applied to the present system.
- Aspheric lens its curvature is not approximated by a sphere.
- Aspheric lens 438 is separated from icon layer 442 by optical spacer 440.
- Aspheric lens 438 projects image 444 of icon plane 442 normal to the plane of the material .
- the image originates at focal point 446.
- the focal length of aspheric lens 438 lies within the icon plane 442 for a wide range of viewing angles, from normal 444 to oblique 448, because it has a flat-field 452.
- the focal length of the lens varies according to the angle of view through it.
- the focal length is shortest for normal viewing 444 and increases as the viewing angle becomes more oblique.
- the focal point 450 is still within the thickness of the icon plane, and the oblique image is therefore still in focus for this oblique viewing angle 448.
- the in-focus zone 454 is much larger for the aspheric lens 438 than the in-focus zone 434 of the substantially spherical lens 418.
- the aspheric lens 438 thus provides an enlarged field of view over the width of the associated image icon so that the peripheral edges of the associated image icon do not drop out of view compared to that of the spherical lens 418.
- Aspheric lenses are preferred for the present system because of the larger field of view they provide and the resulting increase in visibility of the associated images.
- Figs. 20 a-c are cross-sections illustrating two benefits of utility which result from the use of a thick icon layer. These benefits apply whether the lens 456 used to view them is substantially spherical 418 or aspheric 438, but the benefits are greatest in combination with aspheric lenses 438.
- Fig. 20a illustrates a thin icon layer 460 system material including lenses 456 separated from icon layer 460 by optical spacer 458. Icon elements 462 are thin 461 in comparison to the field curvature of the lens 463, limiting the in-focus zone to a small angle, the angle between the image projected in the normal direction 464 and the highest oblique angle image 468 that has a focal point 470 within the icon layer 460.
- the greatest field of view is obtained by designing the normal image focus 466 to lie at the bottom of the icon plane, thereby maximizing the oblique field of view angle, limited by the point at which the focal point 470 lies at the top of the icon plane.
- the field of view of the system in Fig. 20a is limited to 30 degrees.
- Fig. 20b illustrates the benefits obtained from the incorporation of an icon plane 471 that is thick 472 in comparison to the field curvature of lens 456.
- Lenses 456 are separated from thick icon elements 474 by optical spacer 458.
- Thick icon elements 474 remain in focus 475 over a larger field of view, 55 degrees, than the thin icon elements 462 of Fig. 20a.
- the normal image 476 projected through lenses 456 from focal point 478 is in clear focus, and the focus remains clear while the angle of view increases all the way up to 55 degrees, where oblique image 480 focal point 482 lies at the top of the thick icon plane 471.
- the increased field if view is greatest for a flat-field lens, such as the aspheric lens 438 of Fig. 19b.
- Fig. 20c illustrates yet another advantage of a thick icon plane 492; reducing the sensitivity of the present system material to variations in thickness S that may result from manufacturing variations.
- Lens 484 is spaced a distance S from the bottom surface of icon layer of thickness i.
- Lens 484 projects image 496 from focal point 498 disposed at the bottom of icon layer 492.
- This figure is drawn to demonstrate that variations in the optical space S between the lenses and the icon layer can vary over a range equal to the thickness of the icon layer i without loss of image 496, 500, 504 focus.
- the optical spacer thickness is about (S + i / 2) and the focal point 502 of image 500 is still within the thickness i of icon layer 492.
- the thickness of the optical spacer has increased to (S + i ) 490 and the focal point 506 of image 504 lies at the top of thick icon element 494.
- the optical spacer thickness can therefore vary over a range corresponding to the thickness of the icon layer i : a thin icon layer therefore provides a small tolerance for optical spacer thickness variations and a thick icon layer provides a larger tolerance for optical spacer thickness variations.
- a thick icon layer 492 Imperfect lenses, such as substantially spherical lenses, may have a shorter focal length 493 towards their edges than at their center 496. This is one aspect of the common spherical aberration defect of substantially spherical lenses.
- a thick icon layer provides an icon element that can be clearly focused over a range of focal lengths, 498 to 495, thereby improving the overall clarity and contrast of an image produced by a lens 484 having focal length variations.
- Fig. 21 is a plan view that shows the application of the present system to currency and other security documents as a 'windowed' security thread. Fig.
- Thread 508 is incorporated into the fibrous document substrate 510 and provides windowed zones 514.
- the thread 508 may optionally incorporate a pigmented, dyed, filled, or coated sealing layer 516 to increase image contrast and/or to provide additional security and authentication features, such as electrical conductivity, magnetic properties, nuclear magnetic resonance detection and authentication, or to hide the material from view in reflected illumination when viewed from the back side of the substrate (the side opposite the side presenting the Unison synthetic images and an adhesive layer 517 to strengthen the bond between the thread 508 and the fibrous substrate 510.
- the thread 508 is maintained in an orientation to keep the lenses uppermost so that the image effects are visible in the windowed zones 514.
- Both the fibrous substrate 510 and the thread may be overprinted by print elements 518 and the fibrous substrate may be printed 520 on its opposite face.
- Fig. 21 illustrates that thread 508 and its image effects 522 are only visible from the upper surface 521 of the substrate 510 in the windowed zones 514. Thread 508 is covered by fibrous substrate material at the inside zones 512 and the image effects 522 are not substantially visible in these zones. OPM effects are particularly dramatic when incorporated into thread 508. (See Fig. 22) As the fibrous substrate 510 is tilted in various directions the OPM image can be made to scan across the width 524 of the thread, producing a startling and dramatic visual effect. This scanning feature of an OPM image makes it possible to present image 522 which is larger than the width of the thread 508.
- the user examining the document containing a windowed thread 508 can then tilt the document to scan the whole image across the thread, scrolling it like a marquee sign.
- the effects of the Deep, Float, and Levitate embodiments can also be used to advantage in a windowed thread format.
- the thread 508 may be at least partially incorporated in security papers during manufacture by techniques commonly employed in the paper-making industry. For example, thread 508 may be pressed within wet papers while the fibers are unconsolidated and pliable, as taught by U.S. Patent 4,534,398 which is incorporated herein by reference.
- the windowed thread of the present system is particularly well suited for application to currency.
- a typical total thickness for the thread material is in the
- thread 508 comprises:
- micro-images or icons constitute filled voids or recesses that are formed on a surface of the one or more optical spacers, while the non-cylindrical micro-lenses are aspheric micro-lenses, with each aspheric micro-lens having a base diameter ranging from about 15 to about 35 microns.
- At least one pigmented sealing or obscuring layer 516 may be positioned on the planar array(s) of micro-images or icons for increasing contrast and thus visual acuity of the icons and also for masking the presence of thread 508 when the thread is at least partially embedded in a security document.
- thread 508 comprises:
- each micro-lens have a base diameter ranging from about 20 to about 30 microns;
- the optical spacer(s) may be formed using one or more essentially colorless polymers including, but not limited to, polyester, polypropylene, polyethylene, polyethylene terephthalate, polyvinylidene chloride, and the like.
- the optical spacer(s) is formed using polyester or polyethylene terephthalate and has a thickness ranging from about 8 to about 25 microns.
- the icon and micro-lens arrays can be formed using substantially transparent or clear radiation curable material including, but not limited to acrylics, polyesters, epoxies, urethanes and the like.
- the arrays are formed using acrylated urethane which is available from Lord Chemicals under the product designation Ul 07.
- the icon recesses formed on the lower planar surface of the optical spacer each measures from about 0.5 to about 8 microns in depth and typically 30 microns in micro-image or icon width.
- the recesses can be filled with any suitable material such as pigmented resins, inks, dyes, metals, or magnetic materials.
- the recesses are filled with a pigmented resin comprising a sub-micron pigment which is available from Sun Chemical Corporation under the product designation Spectra Pac.
- the pigmented sealing or obscuring layer 516 can be formed using one or more of a variety of opacifying coatings or inks including, but not limited to, pigmented coatings comprising a pigment, such as titanium dioxide, dispersed within a binder or carrier of curable polymeric material.
- the sealing or obscuring layer 516 is formed using radiation curable polymers and has a thickness ranging from about 0.5 to about 3 microns.
- Thread 508, which is described above, may be prepared in accordance with the following method:
- Incorporation of fluorescent materials into the lens, substrate, icon matrix, or icon fill elements of a Unison film can enable covert or forensic authentication of the Unison material by observation of the presence and spectral characteristics of the fluorescence.
- a fluorescing Unison film can be designed to have its fluorescent properties visible from both sides of the material or from only one side of the material. Without an optical isolation layer in the material beneath the icon layer, the fluorescence of any part of a Unison material will be visible from either of its sides. Incorporation of an optical isolation layer makes it possible to separate the visibility of the fluorescence from its two sides.
- a Unison material incorporating an optical isolation layer beneath the icon plane may be designed to exhibit fluorescence in a number of different ways: fluorescent color A visible from the lens side, no fluorescence visible from the optical isolation layer side, fluorescent color A or B visible from the optical isolation layer side but not from the lens side, and fluorescent color A visible from the lens side and fluorescent color A or B visible from the optical isolation layer side.
- the uniqueness provided by the variety of fluorescent signatures possible can be used to further enhance the security of the Unison material.
- the optical isolation layer can be a layer of pigmented or dyed material, a layer of metal, or a combination of pigmented layers and metal layers, that absorbs or reflects the fluorescent emission from one side of the material and prevents it from being seen from the other side.
- Icons formed from shaped voids and their inverse, icons formed from shaped posts, are particularly enabling for adding machine-readable authentication features to a Unison material security thread for currency and other high value documents.
- the icon matrix, the icon fill, and any number of back coats (sealing coats) can all, separately and/or in all combinations, incorporate non-fluorescing pigments, non- fluorescing dyes, fluorescing pigments, fluorescing dyes, metal particles, magnetic particles, nuclear magnetic resonance signature materials, lasing particles, organic LED materials, optically variable materials, evaporated metal, thin film interference materials, liquid crystal polymers, optical upconversion and downconversion materials, dichroic materials, optically active materials (possessing optical rotary power), optically polarizing materials, and other allied materials.
- a dark or colored coating such as a magnetic material or conductive layer
- a color of the icon plane is objectionable when seen through the back side of a substrate
- Other types of currency security threads commonly incorporate a metal layer, typically aluminum, to reflect light that filters through the surface substrate, thereby providing similar brightness to the surrounding substrate.
- Aluminum or other color neutral reflecting metal can be used in similar manner to mask the appearance of a Unison thread from the back side of a paper substrate by applying the metal layer on the back surface of the Unison material and then optionally sealing it in place.
- a pigmented layer can be utilized for the same purpose, that of hiding or obscuring the visibility of the security thread from the "back" side of the document, in place of a metallized layer, or in conjunction with it.
- the pigmented layer can be of any color, including white, but the most effective color is one that matches the color and intensity of the light internally scattered within, and outside of, the fibrous substrate.
- a metallized layer to a Unison material can be accomplished in a number of ways, including direct metallization of the icon or sealing layer of the Unison material by evaporation, sputtering, chemical deposition, or other suitable means, or lamination of the icon or sealing layer of the Unison material to the metallized surface of a second polymer film.
- Synthetic images can be designed as binary patterns, having one color (or absence of color) defining the icons and a different color (or absence of color) defining the background; in this case each icon zone includes a complete single-tone image that utilizes image 'pixels' that are either full on or full off. More sophisticated synthetic images can be produced by providing tonal variations of the selected icon color. The synthetic image tonal variation can be created by controlling the density of the color in each icon image or by effectively 'half-toning' the synthetic image by including or excluding design elements in selected groups of icons.
- the first method controlling the density of the color in each icon image, may be accomplished by controlling the optical density of the material creating the microprinted icon image.
- One convenient method to do this utilizes the filled void icon embodiment, already described previously.
- the second method 'half-toning' the synthetic image by including or excluding design elements in selected groups of icons, illustrated in Figure 23, accomplished by including image design elements in a proportion of icon zones that is equal to the color density desired.
- Figure 23 illustrates this with an example using a hexagonal repeat pattern for the icon zones 570 that would be coordinated with a similar hexagonal repeat pattern of lenses.
- Each of the icon zones 570 do not contain identical information. All of the icon image elements, 572, 574, 576, and 578 are present at substantially the same color density. Icon image elements 572 and 574 are present in some of the icon zones and different icon image elements are present in other icon zones. Some icon zones contain the single icon image element 570.
- the icon image element 572 is present in half of the icon zones, icon image element 574 is present in three-fourths of the icon zones, icon image element 578 is present in half of the icon zones, and icon image element 576 is present in one- third of the icon zones.
- the information present in each icon zone determines whether its associated lens will show the color of the icon image pattern or the color of the icon image background from a particular viewing orientation. Either image elements 572 or 578 will be visible in all of the lenses associated with this icon pattern, but the synthetic image 580 space of icon image element 572 overlaps the synthetic image space of icon image element 578. This means that the overlap zone 582 of the synthetic images of icons 572 and 578 will appear at 100% color density, because every lens will project icon image color in this zone.
- a related icon image design method can be used to create combined synthetic image elements that are smaller in dimension than the smallest feature of the individual synthetic image elements. This is possible in the common circumstance where the smallest feature size of an icon image is larger than the placement accuracy of the feature.
- an icon image may have minimum features on the order of two microns in dimension, but those features may be placed accurately on any point on a grid of 0.25 micron spacing, hi this case the smallest feature of the icon image is eight times larger than the placement accuracy of that feature.
- this method is illustrated using a hexagonal icon pattern 594, but it applies equally well to any other usable pattern symmetry. Li similar fashion to the method of Figure 23, this method relies on the use of different information in at least one icon zone.
- FIG. 24 In the example of Figure 24a two different icon patterns, 596 and 598, are each present in half of the icon zones (for clarity only one of each pattern is shown in this figure).
- These icon images produce a composite synthetic image 600 that incorporates synthetic image 602 created by icon image elements 596, and synthetic image 604, created by icon image element 598.
- the two synthetic images, 602 and 604, are designed to have overlapped areas, 606 and 608, that appear to have 100% color density while the non-overlapped areas 605 have 50% color density.
- the minimum dimension of the overlapped areas in the composite synthetic image may be as small as the synthetic magnification-scaled positioning accuracy of the icon image elements, and therefore may be smaller than the minimum feature size of the two constituent synthetic images that are designed to overlap in a small region.
- the overlap regions are used to create the characters for the number "10" with narrower lines than would otherwise be possible.
- This method can also be used to create narrow patterns of gaps between icon image elements, as shown in Figure 24b.
- Hexagonal icon zones 609 could be square or any other suitable shape to make a space-filling array, but hexagonal is preferred.
- half the icon patterns the icon image 610, and half of them are the icon image 611. Ideally these two patterns would be relatively uniformly distributed among the icon zones. All of the elements of these patterns are depicted as being of substantially equal and uniform color density.
- Covert, hidden information can be incorporated into the icon images that cannot be seen in the resulting synthetic images. Having such covert information hidden in the icon images can be used, for example, for covert authentication of an object.
- Two methods for accomplishing this are illustrated by Figure 25.
- the first method is illustrated by the use of matched icon images 616 and 618.
- Icon image 616 shows a solid border pattern and the number "42" contained inside of the border.
- Icon image 618 shows a solid shape with the number "42" as a graphical hole in that shape.
- the perimeter shapes of icon images 616 and 618 are substantially identical and their relative position within their respective icon zones, 634 and 636, are also substantially identical.
- the border of the composite synthetic image 622 will show 100% color density because all icon images have a pattern in that corresponding area, so there is full overlap in the synthetic images created from icon images 616 and 618.
- the color density of the interior 624 of the composite synthetic image 620 will be 50%, since the image of the space surrounding the "42" comes from icon images 618 that only fill half the icon zones, and the image of the colored "42” comes from icon images 616 that also fill half the icon zones. Consequently, there is no tonal differentiation between the "42” and its background, so the observed composite synthetic image 626 will show an image having a 100% color density border 628 and a 50% color density interior 630.
- the "42" covertly present in all of the icon images 616 and 618 is thereby "neutralized” and will not be seen in the observed composite synthetic image 626.
- triangles 632 A second method for incorporating covert information into icon images is illustrated by triangles 632 in Figure 25.
- Triangles 632 may be randomly placed within the icon zones (not shown in this figure) or they can be placed in an array or other pattern that does not substantially match the period of the icon zones 634, 632.
- Synthetic images are created from a multiplicity of regularly arrayed icon images that are imaged by a corresponding regular array of micro-lenses. Patterns in the icon plane that do not substantially correspond to the period of the micro-lens array will not form complete synthetic images.
- the pattern of triangles 632 therefore will not create a coherent synthetic image and will not be visible in the observed synthetic image 626.
- This method is not limited to simple geometric designs, such as triangles 632: other covert information, such as alpha-numeric information, bar codes, data bits, and large-scale patterns can be incorporated into the icon plane with this method.
- Figure 26 illustrates a general approach to creating fully three dimensional integral images in a Unison material (Unison 3-D).
- a single icon zone 640 contains icon image 642 that represents a scale-distorted view of an object to be displayed in 3- D as seen from the vantage point of that icon zone 640.
- the icon image 642 is designed to form a synthetic image 670 of a hollow cube 674.
- Icon image 642 has a foreground frame 644 that represents the nearest side 674 of hollow cube 672, tapered gap patterns 646 that represent the corners 676 of the hollow cube 672, and a background frame 648 that represents the farthest side 678 of the hollow cube 672.
- the relative proportions of the foreground frame 644 and the background frame 648 in the icon image 642 do not correspond to the proportions of the nearest side 674 and the farthest side 678 of the synthetic image hollow cube 672.
- the reason for the difference in scale is that images that are to appear further from the plane of the Unison material experience greater magnification, so their size in the icon image must be reduced in order to provide the correct scale upon magnification to form the synthetic image 672.
- icon zone 650 that includes a different icon image 652.
- icon image 652 represents a scale-distorted view of the synthetic image 672 as seen from the different vantage point of this icon zone 650.
- the relative scaling of foreground frame 654 and background frame 658 are similar to the corresponding elements of icon image 642 (although this will not be true, in general), but the position of the background frame 658 has shifted, along with the size and orientation of the corner patterns 656.
- Icon zone 660 is located a further distance away on the Unison 3-D material and it presents yet another scale-distorted icon image 662, including icon image 662 with foreground frame 664, tapered gap patterns 667, and background frame 668.
- icon image in each icon zone in a Unison 3-D material will be slightly different from its nearby neighbors and may be significantly different from its distant neighbors. It can be seen that icon image 652 represents a transitional stage between icon images 642 and 662. In general, each icon image in a Unison 3-D material may be unique, but each will represent a transitional stage between the icon images to either side of it.
- Synthetic image 670 is formed from a multiplicity of icon images like icon images 640, 650, and 660 as synthetically imaged through an associated lens array.
- the synthetic image of the hollow cube 674 shows the effects of the different synthetic magnification factors that result from the effective repeat periods of the different elements of each of the icon images.
- the hollow cube image 674 is intended to be viewed as a SuperDeep image, hi this case if icon zone 640 was disposed some distance to the lower left of icon zone 650, and icon zone 660 was disposed some distance to the upper right of icon zone 650, it can be seen that the effective period of the foreground frames 644, 654, and 664 will be less than that of the background frames 648, 658, and 668, thereby causing the closest face 676 of the cube (corresponding to the foreground frames 644, 654, and 664) to lie closer to the plane of the Unison material and the farthest face 678 of the cube to lie deeper and further from the plane of the Unison material, and to be magnified by a greater factor.
- the corner elements 646, 656, and 667 coordinate with both the foreground and background elements to create the effect of smoothly changing depth between them.
- FIG. 27 This figure isolates the method for a single image projector 680.
- a single image projector includes a lens, an optical spacer, and an icon image; the icon image having substantially the same dimensions as the repeat period of the lens (allowing for the small differences in scale that create the Unison visual effects).
- the field of view for the lens and its associated icon is shown as the cone 682: this also corresponds to an inversion of the focal cone of the lens, so the proportions of the field of view cone 682 are determined by the F# of the lens.
- this cone shows this cone as having a circular base, the base shape will actually be the same as the shape of an icon zone, such as a hexagon.
- Icon image 696 represents the field of view of UNISON image 686 as seen at depth plane 684
- icon image 704 represents the field of view of UNISON image 690 as seen at depth plane 688
- icon image 716 represents the field of view of UNISON image 694 as seen at depth plane 692.
- icon image elements 698 originate from a portion of the first "N” of UNISON image 686
- icon image element 700 originates from a portion of the "I” of UNISON image 686
- icon image elements 702 originate from portions of the "S” of UNISON image 686.
- icon image element 706 originates from a portion of the "U” of UNISON image 690
- icon image element 708 originates from the first "N” of UNISON image 690
- icon image element 710 originates from the "S” of UNISON image 690
- icon image element 714 originates from a portion of the "O” of UNISON image 690.
- icon image 704 for the middle depth plane 688 presents its UNISON letters at a smaller scale than those of icon image 696. This accounts for the higher synthetic magnification that icon image 704 will experience (when synthetically combined with a multiplicity of surrounding icon images for the same depth plane).
- icon image 716 incorporates icon image elements 718 that originate from the UNISON image 694 and the UNISON letters incorporated in its icon image are at a further reduced scale.
- the final icon image for this image projector is created by combining these three icon images 696, 704, and 716 into a single icon image 730, shown in Figure 28.
- the combined icon elements 732 incorporate all of the graphical and depth information necessary for the image projector 680 to make its contribution to the synthetic image formed from a multiplicity of image projectors, each incorporating the specific icon image information that results from the intersection of its own field of view cone, centered on the image projector, with the levels and elements of the synthetic image to be produced. Since each image projector is displaced by at least one lens repeat period from every other image projector, each image projector will carry different information resulting from the intersection of its field of view cone with the synthetic image space.
- Each of the icon images required to present a chosen 3-D image can be computed from knowledge of the three-dimensional digital model of the synthetic image, desired depth position and depth span to be presented in the synthetic image, the lens repeat period, the lens field of view, and the ultimate graphical resolution of the icon images. This latter factor puts an upper limit on the level of detail that can be presented at each depth plane. Since depth planes that lie further from the plane of the Unison material carry a larger amount of information (because of the increased field of view) the graphical resolution limit of the icons has the greatest impact on the resolution of these synthetic image depth planes.
- Figure 29 illustrates how the method of Figure 27 can be applied to a complex three-dimensional synthetic image, such as an image of the priceless ice-age carved mammoth ivory artifact, the Lady of Brassempouy 742.
- Individual image projector 738 incorporating at least a lens, an optical spacing element, and an icon image (not shown in this figure), lies in the plane 740 of a Unison material that separate the float synthetic image space from the deep synthetic image space.
- the synthetic image space spans the Unison material such that a portion of the image lies in the float synthetic image space and a portion lies in the deep synthetic image space.
- the image projector 738 has a substantially conical field of view that extends both into the deep synthetic image space 744 and into the float synthetic image space 746.
- a chosen number of deep image planes are selected, 748 and 752-762, at whatever spacing is required to obtain the deep synthetic image space resolution desired.
- a chosen number of float image planes are selected, 750 and 764-774, at whatever spacing is required to obtain the float synthetic image space resolution desired.
- Some of these planes, such as deep planes 748 and float planes 750 will extend beyond the synthetic image and will not contribute to the final information in the icon image.
- the number of image planes shown in Figure 29 is limited to a small number but the actual number of image planes selected may be high, such as 50 or 100 planes, or more, to obtain the desired synthetic image depth resolution.
- the method of Figures 27 and 28 is then applied to obtain the icon image at each depth plane by determining the shape of the intersection of the surface of the object 742 with the selected depth plane 756-774.
- the resulting separate icon images are scaled to the final size of the combined icon image.
- AU of the float icon images are first rotated 180 degrees (because they undergo that rotation again when they are projected, thereby returning them to their correct orientation in the synthetic image) then they are combined with the deep icon images to form the final icon image for this image projector 738. This process is repeated for each of the positions of the image projectors to obtain the complete pattern of icon images required to form the full synthetic image 742.
- the resolution of the synthetic image depends on the resolution of the optical projectors and the graphical resolution of the icon images. We have obtained icon image graphical resolutions, less than 0.1 micron, that exceed the theoretical optical resolution limit of magnifying optics ( 0.2 micron). A typical icon image is created with a resolution of 0.25 micron.
- Unison materials can be manufactured by sheet or web processing utilizing tools that separately incorporate the lens and icon microstructures. Both the lens tools and the icon tools are originated using photomasks and photoresist methods.
- Lens tools are initially designed as semiconductor-type masks, typically black chrome on glass. Masks having sufficient resolution can be created by photoreduction, electron beam writing, or laser writing. A typical mask for a lens tool will incorporate a repeating pattern of opaque hexagons at a chosen period such as 30 microns, with clear lines separating the hexagons that are less than 2 microns wide. This mask is then used to expose photoresist on a glass plate using a conventional semiconductor UV exposure system. The thickness of the resist is selected to obtain the desired sag of the lens.
- a thickness of 5 microns of AZ 4620 positive photoresist is coated onto a glass plate by suitable means, such as by spin coating, dip coating, meniscus coating, or spraying, to form lenses having a nominal 30 micron repeat and a nominal 35 micron focal length.
- the photoresist is exposed with the mask pattern, and developed down to the glass in a conventional manner, then dried and degassed at 100° C for 30 minutes.
- the lenses are formed by thermal reflow according to standard methods that are known in the art.
- the resulting photoresist micro-lenses are coated with a conductive metal, such as gold or silver, and a negative nickel tool is created by electroforming.
- Icon tools are created in a similar manner.
- An icon pattern is typically designed with the aid of CAD software and this design is transmitted to a semiconductor mask manufacturer.
- This mask is used in similar manner to the lens mask, except the thickness of the resist to be exposed is typically in the range of 0.5 micron to 8 microns, depending on the optical density of the desired synthetic image.
- the photoresist is exposed with the mask pattern, developed down to glass in a conventional manner, coated with a conductive metal, and a negative nickel tool is created by electroforming.
- the icons can be created in the form of voids in the resist pattern or they can be created in the form of "mesas" or posts in the resist pattern, or both.
- Unison materials can be manufactured from a variety of materials and a multiplicity of methods that are known in the art of micro-optic and microstructure replication, including extrusion embossing, radiation cured casting, soft embossing, and injection molding, reaction injection molding, and reaction casting.
- An exemplary method of manufacture is to form the icons as voids in a radiation cured liquid polymer that is cast against a base film, such as 75 gage adhesion-promoted PET film, then to form the lenses from radiation cured polymer on the opposite face of the base film in correct alignment or skew with respect to the icons, then to fill the icon voids with a submicron particle pigmented coloring material by gravure-like doctor blading against the film surface, solidify the fill by suitable means (ex: solvent removal, radiation curing, or chemical reaction), and finally apply an optional sealing layer that may be either clear, dyed, pigmented, or incorporate covert security materials.
- a base film such as 75 gage adhesion-promoted PET film
- the manufacture of Unison Motion material requires that the icon tool and the lens tool incorporate a chosen degree of misalignment of the axes of symmetry of the two arrays. This misalignment of the icon and lens patterns axes of symmetry controls the synthetic image size and synthetic image rotation in the produced material. It is often desirable to provide the synthetic images substantially aligned with either the web direction or the cross-web direction, and in these cases the total angular misalignment of the icons and the lenses is divided equally between the lens pattern and the icon pattern.
- the degree of angular misalignment required is usually quite small. For example, a total angular misalignment on the order of 0.3 degree is suitable to magnify 30 micron icon images to a size of 5.7 mm in a Unison Motion material.
- the total angular misalignment is divided equally between the two tools, so each tool is skewed through an angle of 0.15 degree in the same direction for both tools.
- the skew is in the same direction because the tools form microstructures on opposite faces of abase film, so the skews of the tools add to each other, instead of canceling each other.
- Skew can be incorporated into the tools at the time of the original design of the masks by rotating the whole pattern through the desired angle before writing it. Skew can also be mechanically incorporated into a flat nickel tool by cutting it at the appropriate angle with a numerically controlled mill. The skewed tool is then formed into a cylindrical tool using the skew-cut edge to align the tool to the rotational axis of an impression cylinder.
- the synthetic magnification micro-optic system herein can be combined with additional features including but not limited to these embodiments as single elements or in various combinations, such as icon fill materials, back coatings, top coatings, both patterned and non-patterned, fill or inclusions in the lens, optical spacer or icon materials, as a laminate or coating, inks and or adhesives including aqueous, solvent or radiation curable, optically transparent, translucent or opaque, pigmented or dyed Indicia in the form of positive or negative material, coatings, or print including but not limited to inks, metals, fluorescent, or magnetic materials, X-ray, infrared, or ultraviolet absorbent or emitting materials, metals both magnetic and non-magnetic including aluminum, nickel, chrome, silver, and gold; magnetic coatings and particles for detection or information storage; fluorescent dye and pigments as coatings and particles; IR fluorescent coatings, fill, dyes or particles; UV fluorescent coatings, fill, dyes or particles; phosphorescent dye and pigments as coatings and particles, planchettes, DNA,
- Fig. 34 is a cross- section through the icon layer 821 of one embodiment of a material that bears microstractured icon elements, for example an array of microstructured icon elements.
- the icon layer 821 shown may constitute the icon layer of the present synthetic magnification micro-optic image projection system, moire magnification system, the icon layer of a "lock and key” moire magnification system (described below), a standalone layer of micro-images or effective "micro-printing", the icon layer of a micro cylindrical lenticular image film system, or the image or icon layer of another micro- optic system.
- the icon layer 821 may be freestanding or it may optionally be provided on a substrate 820 or a transparent substrate 820 (the latter being required if the icon layer constitutes an element in a moire magnification system wherein the icon layer 821 is optically coupled to a microlens array through the transparent substrate 820).
- Optional substrate or transparent substrate 820 supports or is in contact with icon layer 821 that incorporates a variety of microstructures that can act as elements of icon images.
- the microstructured icon elements can be formed as either recesses or raised areas in a layer of material, such as icon layer 821, or in a substrate.
- Microstructured icon image elements can take a wide variety of forms and geometries, including but not limited to asymmetric void patterns 822, symmetric void patterns 823, light trap patterns 824, holographic surface relief patterns 825, generalized diffractive surface relief patterns 826, binary structured patterns 827, "binary optic”, “structural color” and general stepped relief patterns 828, random rough and pseudo-random rough patterns 829, nominally flat-surfaced patterns 830, and concave 831 and convex 832 patterns (as viewed from the lower side, as drawn, of the icon layer).
- the icon layer 821 can incorporate an array or pattern of homogeneous microstructures, for example, solely asymmetric void patterns 822. Alternatively, icon layer 821 can incorporate an array or pattern of two or more of microstructure embodiments 822-832.
- the microstructures serve as icon elements that can be formed into an array of microstructured icon elements that collectively form an image, similar to a group or array of pixels forming a conventional printed image.
- a system can be created having an array of microstructured icon elements that can be combined with the aforementioned array of focusing elements, wherein the two arrays cooperate to form a synthetic optical image that may or may not be magnified.
- a system can also be created having an array of microstructured icon elements that collectively form a "micro-printed" image intended to be viewed upon magnification, such as viewing through a magnifying glass or with the aid of a microscope.
- the micro-structured icon elements 822-832 of Fig. 34 can be designed to exhibit optical contrast within their parts and between their parts and the surrounding unstructured areas of icon layer 821 when the icon elements are immersed in or in contact with a vacuum, a gas (including mixed gases, such as air), a liquid, or a solid.
- the optical contrast can arise from refraction, total internal reflection, surface reflection, scattering, partial polarization, polarization, optical rotation, diffraction, optical interference and other optical effects.
- Fig. 35 is a cross-section that illustrates coated icon layer 777 incorporating a number of microstructured icon image element embodiments.
- the icon layer 777 is similar to icon layer 821 of Fig. 34 and may also be freestanding or it may optionally be provided on a substrate 775 or a transparent substrate 775.
- the icon element embodiments illustrated can include those of Fig.
- microstructured icon image elements are formed in the icon layer using any of the aforementioned microstructured icon image elements tooling and methods.
- Any icon element microstructure can be coated with a conformal, non- conformal, and/or directional coating material 793.
- Coating material 793 can be conformal, non-conformal, continuous, discontinuous, patterned, unpatterned, directional, or it can have different properties or materials than the icon layer 777, or combinations thereof. Patterning of coating material 793 can provide icon image elements that are coordinated with microstructured image element patterns or independent of the microstructured image element patterns, or both. Coating material 793 can be patterned to provide icon image elements on the surface of icon layer 777 whether or not icon layer 777 incorporates any microstructured patterns. The coating material 793, whether patterned or unpatterned need not cover the entire surface of icon layer 777. The coating material can be applied to only selected portions of icon layer 777.
- icon image elements can be formed by creating a pattern demetallized aluminum layer as a coating material (as one example of coating material 793) on a polyester icon layer (as one example of icon layer 777) in an area of the polyester icon layer that does not have any microstructure formed into it (such as illustrated in Fig. 40 discussed below).
- the pattern demetallized aluminum layer provides icon images without the use of microstructured surfaces on the icon layer.
- Such a pattern demetallized aluminum layer can also be used in conjunction with microstructured icon image elements in another region of the polyester icon layer.
- the pattern demetallized aluminum layer can coordinate with the microstructured icon image elements, such that their intended appearance is enhanced by the pattern demetallized aluminum layer, or the icon images provided by the pattern demetallized aluminum layer can be independent of the icon layer microstructured icon image elements, such that the pattern demetallized aluminum layer icon images are used to create one synthetic image while the microstructured icon image elements are used to create a second synthetic image.
- Positive and negative images, including patterned coatings Both microstructured icon image elements and patterned icon layer coatings can be used to form either positive images or negative images (see also Fig. 40 below), such that any of these image elements can take on either the chosen "foreground” properties or the chosen "background” properties, while the surrounding regions take on the remaining of the properties.
- the icon image elements can be used to form normal images or color reversed images, and correspondingly normal synthetic images or color reversed synthetic images.
- any of these icon image element methods can be used to provide images (such as a currency denomination — "50") that are opaque or in a first color against a transparent background or a background of a second color, while in a different region of the icon layer 777 the coloring pattern can be reversed, such that the images are transparent or of the second color, while the background is opaque or of the first color.
- Icon image element embodiments used for micro-printing While any and all of the icon image element embodiments of the present disclosure can be used as elements of a moire magnification system, they can also be used alone as ultra-high resolution micro-printing for a broad range of applications.
- the icon image element methods of the subject invention can be used to create micro- printing for compact information storage, for covert identification of currency, documents, packaging, and manufactured articles, for bar code and digital tagging of currency, documents, packaging, and manufactured articles, and for all applications that could benefit from ultra-high resolution printing or information tagging.
- a pattern or array of microstructured icon elements is provided that collectively form an image or provide certain information that requires magnification to be viewed.
- Figs. 36 (a,b) present a cross-section through the icon layer 836 of a material that bears a similar set of microstructured icon image elements as in Figs. 34 and 35 with the addition of coating material layers 838 and 840.
- the icon layer 836 shown could constitute the icon layer of a moire magnification system, the icon layer of "lock and key” moire magnification system (described below), a stand-alone layer of micro-images or effective "micro-printing", the icon layer of a micro cylindrical lenticular image film, or the image or icon layer of another micro-optic system.
- the icon layer 836 may be freestanding or it may optionally be provided on a substrate 834 or a transparent substrate 834.
- Optional substrate or transparent substrate 834 supports or is in contact with icon layer 836 that incorporates a variety of microstructures that can act, either alone or in combination, as elements of icon images.
- Microstructured icon image elements can take a wide variety of forms and geometries, including but not limited to the embodiments 844-864 corresponding to those of Fig. 34.
- the icon layer 836 bearing micro-structured icon elements 844-856 is shown as being laminated with laminating adhesive 838 to a coating material layer 840 that may be supported by a substrate or transparent substrate 842.
- the laminating adhesive 838 may be applied to the icon layer 836 first, then brought into contact with the coating material layer 838, as is indicated by the gaps in the laminating adhesive shown for micro-structured icon elements 844 and 846, or the laminating adhesive 838 may also or instead be applied to the coating material layer 840 first, then brought into contact with the icon layer 836, as indicated by the continuous layer of laminating adhesive 838 shown for micro-structured icon image elements 848-856.
- the coating material layer 840 is in close proximity to, or in contact with, the micro-structured icon image elements 844-856.
- the coating layer is similar to coating layer 793 of Fig. 34 and can have an effect as described in connection with coating layer 793.
- a cross-section is shown of icon layer 837 bearing micro- structured icon image elements 858-864 is shown as being laminated using laminating adhesive 839 to laminate substrate 843 that bears coating material layer 841. While laminating adhesive 839 is shown as having been applied to icon layer 837 and then brought into contact with laminating substrate 843, it should be understood that laminating adhesive 839 may also or instead be applied to laminating substrate 843 first and then brought into contact with icon layer 837.
- the coating material layer 841 is separated from the icon layer 837 by the laminating substrate 843.
- the coating layer 841 can be any of the materials previously listed for coating layers 840 and 793.
- micro-structured icon image elements 844-864 are shown in Fig. 36(a) as being unfilled, at least a portion of the microstructured icon image elements 844-864 can be optionally filled with an icon fill material, or coated with a conformal, non-conformal, or directional coating material prior to lamination.
- the microstrucrured icon elements need not be completely filled. When filled they may only be partially filled, or a portion filled.
- Micro-structured icon image elements can be presented as either positive or negative images, or both.
- icon layer 868 may be freestanding or it may optionally be provided on a substrate 866 or a transparent substrate 866.
- Icon layer 868 may optionally be provided with a coating material layer 870 that may partially or completely cover icon layer 868.
- icon layer 868 bears two zones of micro-structured icon elements: positive icon elements 872 and negative icon elements 874.
- positive icon elements 872 For the purposes of illustration, the general forms of the negative icon elements 872 have been mirrored in the forms of the positive icon elements 874.
- Optional coating material 870 is shown as a conformal coating on the positive icons 872 and a non- conformal coating on the negative icons 874, for example only - both conformal and non-conformal coatings can be employed in conjunction with both positive icons 872 and negative icons 874.
- Object patterns of the positive icon image elements 872 are provided as depressions or voids 871 in the icon layer 868 while the background areas of positive icon image elements 872 are provided as raised areas in the positive icon area 872.
- the background areas of negative icon image elements 874 are provided as depressions 875 in the icon layer 868 and the object patterns of negative icon image elements 874 are provided as raised areas in the icon layer.
- Fig. 37(b) illustrates how the effect of positive and negative icon elements and patterns is particularly dramatic when the icons are filled with an icon fill material having different properties from the icon layer 868 material.
- a different area of icon layer 868 and optional substrate 866 is shown with filled positive icons 876 and filled negative icons 880.
- Icon fill material 878 forms the object patterns 886 of the positive icon elements 876 but the background of the filled negative icon elements 880.
- a detailed plan view 882, see Fig. 37(c), of the filled positive icon elements 890 and the filled negative icon elements 892 shows filled positive icon element 886 that appears different 888 from the surrounding background appearance 884.
- one common difference between the appearance of a filled positive icon element and the background surrounding it is color. If icon fill material 878 bears a pigment, dye, or other coloring material, then the filled positive icon element 886 will show a high concentration 893 of the icon fill material 886, while the surrounding background area 884 will not. In a similar manner, the background of filled negative icon elements 892 will show a high concentration of the icon fill material 886, while the object patterns of filled negative icon elements 892 will show a deficiency 894 of the icon fill material.
- both positive and negative image icon elements can be made.
- these positive and negative image icon elements can be employed to produce positive and negative synthetic images.
- Positive and negative image elements can be used singly or in combination.
- FIG. 38 A representative sampling of embodiments combining filled icons and coatings is presented in Fig. 38 (a-c).
- the icon layer 898 may be freestanding or it may optionally be provided on a substrate 896 or a transparent substrate 896.
- Optional substrate or transparent substrate 896 supports or is in contact with icon layer 898 that incorporates a variety of microstructures that can act, either alone or in combination, as elements of icon images.
- Fig. 38(a) shows coating material 900 that has been applied by suitable means (as described for Fig. 35) to at least a portion of the surface of icon layer 898.
- Coating material 900 is shown in this figure as being conformal to the icon layer 898 surface, but it could be non-conformal, discontinuous, patterned, or consist of coated areas having different properties and/or materials.
- Positive icon elements 904 have their object pattern microstructures filled with icon fill material 902 and their background elements unfilled.
- Negative icon elements 906 have their background microstructures filled with icon fill material 902 while their object pattern microstructures 908 are unfilled.
- the embodiment shown in Fig. 38(a) can provide visual enhancement of the icon images through the different optical effects produced by different viewing angles of the coating material 900 and the icon fill material 902.
- the coating material 900 is a thin layer of aluminum, such that it is substantially transparent when viewed from a direction normal to the plane of the icon layer 898, the central regions of the filled icon elements will appear substantially the same color as they would without the coating.
- the reflectivity of a thin aluminum layer increases with increasing angle of incidence, so sloping sides of filled, coated icon elements appear more reflective, resulting in the appearance of a high-contrast outline of the icon elements.
- coating material 900 is a single layer or multi-layer dielectric coating the color of the coating may be different at different viewing angles, thereby adding a color tinting or color highlighting effect to the sides of the icon elements.
- Other types of coating materials can be used for adhesion promotion, to produce additional visual effects, or can provide covert, machine readable, or forensic authentication features to the material. It will be understood that the icon elements need not be filled or coated. One may partially fill only some of the icon elements.
- FIG. 38(b) reverses the order of icon fill and coating from Fig. 38(a), where the microstructured icons are filled first with icon fill material 902 and then coated with coating material 900.
- Icon layer 898 may optionally be provided on substrate 896 or transparent substrate 896 or may be free standing.
- Icon elements 910 and 912 are filled with icon fill material 902 and then optionally covered with coating material 900.
- the visual effect of the embodiment of Fig. 38(b) will generally be different from the visual effect of Fig. 38(a), even if the same materials are used for the coating material 900 and the icon fill material 902.
- the coating material 900 may or may not be visible through the icon fill material 902, depending on the optical properties of the icon fill material 902.
- the coating material 900 is directly visible in the areas between filled icons.
- the coating material 900 is substantially parallel to the surface of the icon layer 898.
- the presence of the coating material 900 may modify the overall appearance of the icon fill material 902 but it does not provide an outlining or edge enhancing function as in Fig. 38(a).
- Coating material 900 may be designed to have other effects or functions in addition to, or in place of, an optical effect - for example, coating material 900 may enable non-contact authentication, detection, or identification of an object to which the icon layer 898 is attached.
- coating material 900 may not be substantially parallel to the surface of the icon layer 898. Bi this case (not illustrated) there may be additional optical effects provided by coating material 900 in the areas that it contacts icon fill material 902 and is substantially non- planar.
- the embodiment of Fig. 38(c) is an extension of the embodiment of Fig. 38(b) to include multiple icon fill materials. (Although it is not illustrated here, multiple icon fill materials can also be used with the embodiment of Fig. 38(a), and the following discussion also applies to that embodiment.)
- Icon layer 898 bears positive micro-structured icon elements 926 and negative microstructured icon elements 928 that are filled with a first icon fill material 916. The microstructured icon elements 926 and 928 are underfilled with first icon fill material 916.
- Another means for underfilling the icon microstructures is to fill them with first icon fill material 916 and then to remove some icon fill material 916 by a wiping or scraping means, such as by buffing or by high-pressure wiping with a doctor blade.
- the first icon fill material 916 can be optionally stabilized, cured, or dried by drying, by chemical reaction (such as a two-part epoxy or a resin and hardener polymerization reaction), by radiation curing, by oxidation, or by other suitable means.
- the first icon fill material 916 can also be optionally not stabilized so that it can chemically react in some manner with the second icon fill material 918.
- the icon microstructures 926 and 928 are then optionally filled with the second icon fill material 918.
- the relative thicknesses of the first icon fill material 916 and the second icon fill material 918 may differ in different regions or differ for icon element microstructures that have different depth, width, or aspect ratio.
- Positive icon elements 926 show approximately equal volumes of first icon fill material 916 and second icon fill material 918, with the thickness of the two fill materials being approximately equal in the center of the filled areas 920.
- the negative icon elements in this drawing show a large difference in aspect ratio, so that the central zones 922 of the two larger filled icon elements show a fill material thickness ratio of about, for example, 1:3 for the first 916 and second 918 icon fill materials, respectively.
- the center of the smaller negative icon element 924 shows a very different fill material thickness ratio of about, for example, 4:1 for the first 916 and second 918 icon fill materials, respectively.
- the filled icons can optionally be coated with coating material 900.
- Coating material 900 may also be optionally applied to the icon layer 898 prior to filling the icons with the first icon fill material 916 or it may be applied to the icon layer 989 and first icon fill material 916 prior to filling with the second icon fill material 918. These variations are not illustrated in the figure.
- Positive icon elements 920 have their object pattern microstructures filled with icon fill materials 916 and 918 and their background elements unfilled.
- Negative icon elements 928 have their background microstructures filled with icon fill materials 916 and 918 while their object pattern microstructures are unfilled.
- any icon layer material in any embodiment of this invention may itself incorporate pigments, dyes, colorants, fluorescing materials, or filling materials of any suitable kind as previously stated in the Definitions section of this patent. Filling the icon layer renders the distinction between positive and negative icon elements somewhat academic, since a particular microstructured icon element formed in a clear, unpigmented, and uncolored icon layer and then filled with a pigmented icon fill material may be deemed to be a positive icon element, while the very same microstructured icon element formed in a pigmented icon layer and then filled with a clear, unpigmented, and uncolored icon fill material may be deemed to be a negative element.
- Patterned coatings on icons and as icons Figs. 39 (a-c) illustrate the application and combination of patterned coating materials, hot-stamp foils, directional coatings, and filled icons.
- the icon layer 932 may be freestanding or it may optionally be provided on a substrate 930 or a transparent substrate 930.
- Optional substrate or transparent substrate 930 supports or is in contact with icon layer 932 that incorporates a variety of microstructures that can act, either alone or in combination, as elements of icon images.
- the patterning of coating material 934 constitutes regions where the coating material is present 935 and regions where coating material is absent.
- the patterning of coating material 934 can be in any form and for any purpose, including the creation of icon elements for a moire magnification micro-optic system.
- a number of methods of patterning coatings are known in the art, including printing or depositing a resist material on the coating and chemically etching the exposed coating, then optionally chemically stripping the resist material from the coating.
- the resist layer may be a photoresist, and the patterning of the resist may be performed by optical exposure methods.
- An alternative approach to patterning of a coating is to first deposit a patterned resist (or, alternatively, to deposit a resist and subsequently pattern it), then to apply the coating to the surface of the material and the resist, then to chemically remove the resist and the coating that is attached to it.
- a patterned resist or, alternatively, to deposit a resist and subsequently pattern it
- this latter method is common in the manufacture of "demetallized security threads" wherein a resist material is printed onto a polymer substrate, the substrate and resist are coated with aluminum by vacuum metallization or sputtering, and the resist is chemically removed. In the places where the resist was present the aluminum coating is absent, having "lifted-off ' when the resist was removed. Instead of chemically removing selected metallized areas, these areas can be mechanically removed, such as by abrasion. It will be understood that only portions of the coating may be patterned.
- a patterned metallized coating that is not coordinated with the scale and geometry of the icon elements in a moire magnification film can be used to produce an effect of partial transparent metal in the synthetic images because the locations of the demetallized areas will vary from icon element to icon element - a synthetic image formed from these icon elements with present an opacity that is proportionate to the percentage of coating present, in a manner similar to halftoning methods used in printing.
- a patterned demetallized metal coating can be used to create a different set of icon elements from the microstructured icon elements that could be used to generate a second set of synthetic images.
- One application of such additional synthetic images is for covert authentication of materials for currency, document, and brand protection.
- coating material 934 in the area indicated by bracket 936 is patterned in a manner that does not coordinate with the geometry of the microstructured icon elements.
- the patterned coating material 934 may carry separate information, such as a different pattern of icon elements, or it may carry other graphical or text information, or no information.
- coating layer 934 in the area indicated by bracket 938 is coordinated with the icon elements, coating the depressed shapes 931 but not coating the "flats” 939 between them.
- This kind of patterning can be accomplished by coating the whole surface of the icon layer 932 with coating material 934, including both the depressed areas 931 and the "flats” 939, then removing the coating material 932 from the "flats” 939 by scraping, robbing, brushing, skiving, abrading, chemical etching, adhesive pull-off, or by other suitable means.
- a patterned coating material 934 coordinated with the icon elements in this manner can provide strong visual, optical, electromagnetic, magnetic, or other enhancement of the icon elements.
- an icon layer 932 incorporating microstructured icon elements can be sputtered with gold, then the gold can be removed from the flats 939 by rubbing the coated surface against a fibrous material, such as paper. The gold remaining in the icon elements then provides them with a gold metallic appearance, while the flats are free of gold, so the icon elements appear to be separate gold objects against the background.
- Fig. 39 (b) depicts various icon layer 932 embodiments that incorporate a hot stamp foil coating 942 alone (946) and in combination with (950, 951) an icon fill material 948.
- a typical hot stamp foil structure is shown, wherein a thermal adhesive layer 940 bonds the foil layer 942 of the hot stamp foil coating to the icon layer 932.
- a frangible lacquer layer 944 of the hot stamp foil coating is optionally provided to support the hot stamp foil 942.
- Frangible lacquer layer 944 may incorporate a microstructured pattern, such as a hologram.
- bracket 946 a hot stamp foil coating 942 has been applied by well known means to the surface of icon layer 932, sealing over the depressed areas of the microstructured icon elements.
- the hot stamp foil 942 has been applied over a microstructured icon containing an icon fill material 948.
- the hot stamp foil 942 has been applied to the icon layer 932 and then the hot stamp foil coating material that covered over the depressed areas of the microstructured icon elements has been removed. Suitable means of removing the hot stamp foil coating material include, but are not limited to, a high pressure jet of a gas, a jet of high pressure water or other fluid, and mechanical disruption and abrasion.
- the microstructured icon elements may subsequently be optionally filled with an icon fill material 948, such the icon microstructures appearance is controlled by the icon fill material 948 and the "flats" appearance is controlled by the hot stamp foil coating material.
- the icon fill material 948 may be optionally coated over at least a portion of the hot stamp foil coating 942 as shown, or it may be applied so as to only fill the icon depressions (not shown).
- Fig. 39 (c) depicts various icon layer 932 embodiments that incorporate directional coating materials (952 and 962) that may optionally be used in combination with icon fill materials 948.
- First directional coating 952 is applied to icon layer 932 from the direction indicated by arrow 954.
- the directional deposition of first directional coating 952 causes it to preferentially coat the "fiats" and right sides (as drawn) of the icon elements in the area indicated by bracket 956.
- Such a coating can provide visual highlighting of one side of a microstructured icon element, producing a "shadowed" or "spot illuminated” effect.
- first and second directional coatings may be either the same material or be different materials, and they may be applied from opposing directions (954 and 960), as shown, or they may be applied from similar directions.
- the first directional coating 952 is silver and it is applied from the direction shown by arrow 954, and if the second directional coating 962 is gold and it is applied from the direction shown by arrow 960, then the right sides of the microstructured icon elements will appear silver and their left sides will appear gold, while their centers remain uncoated and may appear transparent.
- the conditions of the previous example except the silver is applied at the angle shown by arrow 954 and the gold is applied from the same general direction, at an angle that is ten degrees closer to the overall icon layer 932 surface normal.
- the gold will then coat the same sides of the icon elements as the silver, but the gold will coat higher up the right side or onto the center of the icon.
- the resulting icon element appear to have a silvered right side that blends into a gold color towards the top of the icon element (as drawn).
- FIG. 39 (c) Yet another variation is shown in the area of Fig. 39 (c) indicated by bracket 964, wherein microstructured icon elements have two directional coatings, a first directional coating 952 and a second directional coating 962, and then are filled with icon fill material 948.
- Icon fill material can optionally be added to any of the coated microstructured icon elements of any part of this figure where it is not already shown, including areas 936 and 938 of Fig. 39 (a) and area 956 of Fig. 39 (c).
- Fig. 40(a) illustrates the use of a patterned coating material 967 as a means to create icon image elements.
- Patterned coating material 967 is provided on a substrate 966 or a transparent substrate 966, said patterning incorporating regions of coating material 968 of a selected thickness and either regions of coating material 969 having a smaller thickness or regions without coating material 970, or both.
- the different thicknesses of coating material - foil thickness (968), partial thickness (969), and zero thickness (970) (or the absence of coating material) - can be patterned to represent icon image information as an element in a moire magnification system. Either the full thickness coating material or the zero thickness coating material can be used to form object patterns of the icon elements.
- FIG. 40(b) illustrates a plan view 972 of the use of full thickness icon elements to form object patterns (letters and numbers) against a background 976 formed by zero thickness or partial thickness coating material. Since the object patterns of the icon elements shown in plan view 972 are formed by the presence of coating material 967, the icon image is called a positive icon image.
- Fig. 40c presents a plan view 978 of a negative icon image, wherein the background is formed by foil thickness coating material 982 and the object patterns are formed by partial or zero thickness coating material 980. Regions of partial thickness coating material 969 can be used to create gray-scale patterns, wherein the optical effect of the coating material 967 provides a modified or reduced intensity effect, depending on the nature of the coating material.
- the patterning of coating material 967 can be performed by any of the methods previously described with respect to Fig. 38. Regions of partial thickness coating material can be created by an additional masking and etching step, or by etching the foil thickness coating in the pattern of the partial thickness regions, then performing a second coating of coating material 967 to deposit a partial thickness layer over the whole substrate 966 or transparent substrate 966, then optionally masking and etching one more additional time to produce zero thickness regions 970.
- Additional coating material layers can be optionally added to the patterned coating material 967. Examples include, but are not limited to, metallization by vacuum deposition, pigmented or dyed coatings, or any of those list previously in the Definitions section of this document. Example: such layers may be directly applied, laminated, hot stamped, coated, or otherwise provided. Application of such additional layers may provide a benefit of altering the appearance of the regions of partial thickness coating material 969 and the regions of zero thickness (absent) coating material 970.
- Figs. 41 (a,b) illustrate two embodiments of a two-part moire magnification system that can be used as a "lock-and-key” authentication system in which the micro-lens array is a separate piece that acts like a key to "unlock” the information in the icon array piece.
- an optional transparent substrate 984 carries micro- lenses 986 made from a light transmitting material 988 that may be different or the same as the material used to form the optional transparent substrate 984.
- the total thickness of the lens sheet 1000, incorporating the micro-lenses 986 plus the optional substrate 984, is less than the focal length 1004 of the micro-lenses 986.
- Lens sheet 1000 is not permanently attached to icon sheet 1002, but is a free and separate piece that can be used as an authentication device for icon sheet 1002.
- lens sheet 1000 When used as an authentication device lens sheet 1000 is brought into contact or close proximity to the surface of icon sheet 1002.
- the gap 992 between the two sheets will, in general, contain a thin film of air, or gap 992 can optionally be filled with water, glycerin, or other fluid to provide optical or mechanical coupling between the lens sheet 1000 and the icon sheet 1002.
- Icon sheet 1002 incorporating optional transparent substrate 990, icon layer 994 and icon elements 996 (shown here optionally filled with an icon fill material 997), is disposed with the icon layer on the surface furthest from the lens sheet 1000.
- the total thickness of icon sheet 1002 plus lens sheet 1000 is designed to be substantially equal to the focal length 1004 of the micro-lenses 986.
- the focal point 998 of the micro-lenses 986 should lie somewhere within or near the icon layer 994.
- the optimal position of the focal point 998 is at, or slightly below, the bottom surface of the icon layer 994.
- a system formed according to the embodiments of Fig. 41 (a) can be used as an anticounterfeiting, authentication or security device.
- the icon layer 994 of the icon sheet 1002 can be attached, adhered, or otherwise permanently secured to, or incorporated into, an object or document at the time of manufacture, original creation, packaging, or distribution.
- the icon sheet 1002 by itself does not need to have any visibly distinguishing features.
- the icon elements 996 will be very small, on the order of a few microns to a few tens of microns in dimension, and will be effectively invisible to the unaided eye. Additional conventional printing or imaging can be provided on or attached to icon sheet 1002, if desired.
- An example of such additional imaging could be a person's photograph for identification, such that the icon sheet performs as a background to the photograph.
- the icon sheet 1002 and by association, the object to which it is securely attached, can be authenticated by placing an appropriately scaled lens sheet 1000 substantially into contact with the icon sheet 1002 and rotating the lens sheet 1000 within its plane until the lenses and icon elements 996 align sufficiently to form a synthetic image of the icon elements 996.
- lens sheet is a lens sheet in which the array of focusing elements has a rotational symmetry and repeat period substantially matching that of the array of icon elements 996 on the icon sheet 1002, with an icon/lens repeat ratio designed to achieve the selected optical effect [SuperDeep, Deep, Motion, Float, SuperFloat, Levitate, 3-D, combinations thereof,
- Fig. 41(b) illustrates an alternate embodiment of this aspect of the invention.
- lens sheet 1010 includes is monolithic, consisting of a single material including micro-lenses 1008 on its upper surface and an optional additional thickness of material 1006 to provide optical spacing.
- the lens sheet 1000 of Fig. 41 (a) may also be formed in this manner if lens sheet 1000 does not include the optional transparent substrate 984.
- the lens sheet 1010 of Fig. 41(b) can be formed using a transparent substrate and a micro-lens layer, as shown in Fig. 41 (a).
- the two alternative structures for lens sheets 1000 and 1010 are shown for completeness - either lens sheet, 1000 or 1010 can have either of the two structures shown - monolithic lenses (Fig. 41b) or substrate plus lenses (Fig. 41a).
- the function of the lens sheet 1010 in the embodiment of Fig. 41(b) is the same as that of the lens sheet 1000 of Fig. 41 (a), although the total thickness of lens sheet 1010 will generally be a greater proportion of the micro-lens 1008 focal length 1024 because of the differences in the icon sheet 1014 as compared with the icon sheet 1002.
- the icon sheet 1014 incorporates a surface bearing icon elements 1020 that may optionally be filled with an icon fill material 997.
- icon sheet 1014 is shown as being monolithic, with no separate icon layer and substrate layer, but icon sheet 1014 can alternatively be formed in the manner of icon sheet 1002, with a substrate and an attached icon layer. In like manner icon sheet 1002 can be formed according to the structure of icon sheet 1014, as a monolithic sheet.
- icon sheet 1014 and icon sheet 1002 The functional differences between icon sheet 1014 and icon sheet 1002 are that the former has its icon elements on the surface closest to the lens sheet 1010 while the latter has its icon elements on the surface most distant from the lens sheet 1000.
- the material 1018 that lies beneath the icon elements 1020 does not need to be transparent, whether the icon sheet 1014 is monolithic or whether it has the structure of icon sheet 1002, with an icon layer and a substrate.
- the substrate 990 of icon sheet 1002 does need to be substantially transparent, since light must pass through the substrate 990 in order for the lenses 986 to form an image of the icon elements 996.
- An optional coating material 1016 can be provided on the icon elements 1020 of the icon sheet 1014.
- a coating material 1016 may be desirable to provide optical or non-contact authentication of the icon sheet by means different from the use of lens sheet 1010.
- the coating layer 1016 may include other optical features, such as a holographic or diffractive structure.
- the icon elements of both icon sheet 1002 and icon sheet 1014 can take any form, including any of the icon element embodiments taught herein.
- the lens sheet 1014 of the embodiment of Fig. 41(b) is not permanently attached to icon sheet 1014, but is a free and separate piece that can be used as an authentication device for icon sheet 1014.
- lens sheet 1010 is brought into contact or close proximity to the surface of icon sheet 1014.
- the gap 1012 between the two sheets will, in general, contain a thin film of air, or gap 1012 can optionally be filled with water, glycerin, or other fluid to provide optical or mechanical coupling between the lens sheet 1010 and the icon sheet 1014.
- the total thickness of icon sheet 1014 plus lens sheet 1010 is designed to be substantially equal to the focal length 1024 of the micro-lenses 1008.
- the focal point 1022 the micro-lenses 1008 should lie somewhere within or near the icon elements 1020.
- the optimal position of the focal point 1022 is at, or slightly below, the lower extent of the icon elements 1020.
- a system formed according to the embodiment of Fig. 41(b) can be used as an anticounterfeiting and authentication device.
- the lower surface of the icon sheet 1014 can be attached, adhered, or otherwise permanently secured to, or incorporated into, an object or document at the time of manufacture, original creation, packaging, or distribution.
- the icon sheet 1014 by itself does not need to have any visibly distinguishing features.
- the icon elements 1020 will be very small, on the order of a few microns to a few tens of microns in dimension, and will be effectively invisible to the unaided eye. Additional conventional printing or imaging can be provided on or attached to icon sheet 1014, if desired.
- An example of such additional imaging could be a person's photograph for identification, such that the icon sheet performs as a background to the photograph.
- the icon sheet 1014, and by association, the object to which it is securely attached, can be authenticated by placing an appropriately scaled lens sheet 1010 substantially into contact with the icon sheet 1014 and rotating the lens sheet 1010 within its plane until the lenses and icon elements 1020 align sufficiently to form a synthetic image of the icon elements 1020.
- Either structure or form of icon sheet (1002 or 1014) can incorporate multiple patterns of icon elements (996 or 1020, respectively) that form different synthetic images that can be read or authenticated at different lens sheet rotation angles (such as one icon pattern that produces a maximum magnification synthetic image at a lens sheet rotation angle of 0 degrees and a second icon pattern that produces a maximum magnification synthetic image at a lens sheet rotation angle of 30 degrees), different lens repeat period, different lens and icon array geometry (such as one array set having a hexagonal geometry and a second array set having a square geometry), and combinations thereof.
- An example of the different lens period authentication method is an icon sheet incorporating an icon element pattern that produces a Deep image when synthetically magnified by a lens sheet having a repeat period of 30 microns and also incorporating a second icon element pattern that produces a Float image when synthetically magnified by a lens sheet having a repeat period of 45 microns.
- the second icon element pattern can optionally be authenticated at a different rotational angle than the first icon element pattern.
- Materials having multiple icon patterns can incorporate one set of information that can be revealed by a first key (lens sheet having a first selected repeat period) and additional sets of information that can each be revealed by additional keys (lens sheets each matched to the scale of their respective icon element repeats).
- the multiple icon patterns can also be provided in different icon layers requiring focusing elements having differing focal lengths for forming visible synthetic optical images from the different icon layers.
- the embodiment of Fig. 42 is referred to as a 'wet decoder' method and system for incorporating covert information into a moire magnification system 1026 of the present disclosure that can subsequently be "decoded" or revealed through the use of a covert authentication lens sheet 1040.
- magnification system 1026 including micro-lenses 1028 and icon layer 1030, incorporates covert icon patterns 1034 in or on the icon layer 1030.
- Icon layer 1030 may also optionally include overt icon patterns 1032.
- the magnification system 1026 is designed to produce an overtly viewable synthetic image 1038 of the overt icon patterns 1032, as has previously been taught.
- the repeat period and or rotational symmetry of the covert icon patterns 1034 are purposefully designed so as to not produce overtly viewable synthetic images when viewed by the means of micro-lenses 1028.
- the repeat period of the covert icon patterns 1034 can be designed to be substantially different from the repeat period of the micro-lenses 1028; the covert icon pattern 1034 period may be designed to be 37 microns while the micro-lens 1028 period may be designed to be 32 microns.
- This icon to lens scale ratio (about 1.156) will create a Float synthetic image of the covert icon pattern 1034 having a period of about 205 microns. The features of a covert synthetic image of this size are essentially invisible to the naked eye.
- the covert icon period can alternatively be chosen to produce a Deep synthetic image of equivalent period with an icon to lens scale ratio of about 0.865.
- the repeat period of the covert icons can be designed to produce synthetic images having any Unison moire magnification effect, including but not limited to SuperDeep, Deep, Motion, Float, SuperFloat, Morph.)
- the specific dimensions presented here represent only a single example of the continuum of dimensions that may be chosen.
- the rotational symmetry of the covert icon patterns 1034 can be designed to be substantially different from that of the micro-lenses 1028. In this example we will assume that both the micro-lenses 1028 and the covert icon patterns 1034 are arranged in a hexagonal array, but the orientation of the array of covert icon patterns 1034 is rotated 30 degrees from that of the array of micro-lenses 1028.
- This misalignment of the two arrays will also prevent the formation of an overtly viewable synthetic image of the covert icon patterns 1034.
- Yet another method to prevent the formation of covert icon pattern 1034 synthetic images is to arrange the micro-lenses 1028 into one array geometry, such as hexagonal, while the covert icon patterns 1034 are arranged into a different array geometry, such as square.
- the covert icon patterns 1034 can be revealed by forming a synthetic image with an additional, separate element, a covert authentication lens sheet 1040 that is brought near to, or substantially in contact with, the micro-lenses 1028 of the magnification system 1026 with an optically coupling material 1044 filling the gaps between them.
- the optically coupling material is preferably a liquid, such as glycerin or corn syrup, that has a refractive index that is similar to the refractive indices of the material 1052 forming the covert authentication lens sheet and the material 1050 forming the magnification system lenses 1028.
- the coupling material has the function of partially or fully negating the focusing power of lenses 1028 by immersing them in a medium having a similar refractive index.
- Other materials that can be used to perform this function include gels (including gelatins), elastomers, and pressure sensitive adhesives.
- the properties of the covert authentication lens sheet 1040 are designed to coordinate with the array geometry and repeat period of the covert icon patterns 1034 and the total distance from the covert authentication lens sheet lenses 1042 and the icon plane 1030.
- a small amount of a fluid such as glycerin is placed on the surface of the magnification system lenses 1028 and the flat surface of the covert authentication lens sheet 1040 is placed in contact with the fluid and pressed substantially into contact with the lenses 1028.
- the covert authentication lens sheet 1040 is then rotated in its plane to substantially align the orientation of the array of micro-lenses 1042 with the orientation of the array of covert icon patterns 1034.
- the covert icon pattern 1034 synthetic image 1048 becomes magnified sufficiently to be distinguished with the naked eye, reaching maximum magnification at the position wherein the two arrays have substantially identical orientations.
- An alternative embodiment is to form the covert authentication lens sheet 1040 as a pressure-sensitive label or tape that can be applied to the surface of lenses 1028.
- the function of the optically coupling material 1044 is performed by a substantially transparent pressure sensitive adhesive applied to the flat surface of the covert authentication lens sheet 1040.
- a method of aligning the covert authentication lens sheet 1040 to the orientation of the covert icon pattern 1034 is desirable, such as by printed alignment patterns or oriented edges of the magnification system 1026 that the edge of the covert authentication lens sheet 1040 can be matched to at the time of application.
- Yet another alternative structure for a 'wet decoder' method and system is to incorporate the covert icon patterns 1034 into a second icon layer.
- This second icon layer may be either closer to the lenses 1028 or further from the lenses 1028 than the first icon layer 1030.
- the focal length and thickness of the covert authentication lens sheet 1040 is then designed to cause its focal point to fall in the second icon layer when the covert authentication lens sheet 1040 is applied to lenses 1028 with optically coupling material 1044.
- the array properties of the covert icon patterns 1034 can be the same as those of the overt icon patterns, so long as the position of the second icon plane does not enable the lenses 1028 to form a distinguishable overt image of the covert icon patterns 1034.
- Fig. 43 The embodiment of Fig. 43 is referred to as a 'dry decoder' method and system for incorporating covert information into a magnification system 1054 that can subsequently be "decoded” or revealed through the use of a covert authentication lens sheet 1064.
- the magnification system 1054 including micro-lenses 1056 and icon layer 1058, incorporates covert icon patterns 1060 in or on the icon layer 1058.
- Icon layer 1058 may also optionally include overt icon patterns 1059.
- the magnification system 1056 may optionally be designed to produce an overtly viewable synthetic image of the overt icon patterns 1059, as has previously been taught, hi contrast, the repeat period and or rotational symmetry of the covert icon patterns 1060 are purposefully designed so as to not produce overtly viewable synthetic images when viewed by the means of micro-lenses 1056.
- the repeat period of the covert icon patterns 1060 can be designed to be substantially different from the repeat period of the micro-lenses 1056; the covert icon pattern 1060 period may be designed to be 28.071 microns while the micro-lens 1056 period may be designed to be 28.000 microns.
- This icon to lens scale ratio (about 1.00255) will create a floating synthetic image 1063 (of the covert icon patternslO ⁇ O) having a period of about 392 microns.
- the features of a covert synthetic image of this size are essentially invisible to the naked eye.
- the covert icon period can alternatively be chosen to produce a Deep synthetic image of equivalent period with an icon to lens scale ratio of about 0.99746
- the repeat period of the covert icons can be designed to produce synthetic images having any Unison moire magnification effect, including but not limited to SuperDeep, Deep, Motion, Float, SuperFloat, Morph.
- the specific dimensions presented here represent only a single example of the continuum of dimensions that may be chosen.
- the rotational symmetry of the covert icon patterns 1060 can be designed to be substantially different from that of the micro-lenses 1056.
- both the micro-lenses 1056 and the covert icon patterns 1060 are arranged in a hexagonal array, but the orientation of the array of covert icon patterns 1060 is rotated 30 degrees from that of the array of micro-lenses 1056. This misalignment of the two arrays will also prevent the formation of an overtly viewable synthetic image of the covert icon patterns 1060.
- Yet another method to prevent the formation of covert icon pattern 1060 synthetic images is to arrange the micro-lenses 1056 into one array geometry, such as hexagonal, while the covert icon patterns 1060 are arranged into a different array geometry, such as square.
- the covert synthetic images 1063 can be made visible by forming a second synthetic image by means of an additional, separate element, a covert authentication lens sheet 1064 that is brought near to, or substantially in contact with, the micro- lenses 1056 of the magnification system without the use of an optically coupling material filling the gap 1065 between them.
- Gap 1065 is filled with air, vacuum, or any other gas that permeates the ambient environment of the magnification system 1054.
- the properties of the covert authentication lens sheet 1064 are designed to coordinate with the array geometry and repeat period of the covert synthetic images 1063 and the total distance from the covert authentication lens sheet lenses 1066 and the position of the covert synthetic images 1063 as they are projected into the material 1070 forming the covert authentication lens sheet 1064.
- the fiat surface of the covert authentication lens sheet 1064 is placed in contact with the magnification lenses 1056.
- the covert authentication lens sheet 1064 is then rotated in its plane to substantially align the orientation of the array of micro-lenses 1066 with the orientation of the array of covert synthetic images 1063.
- the covert synthetic images 1063 form a second synthetic image 1068 that becomes magnified sufficiently to be distinguished with the naked eye, reaching maximum magnification at the position wherein the two arrays have substantially identical orientations.
- covert authentication lens sheet 1064 is to form as a pressure-sensitive label or tape that can be applied to the surface of lenses 1056.
- a very thin (substantially less than the height of micro-lenses 1056) substantially transparent pressure-sensitive adhesive (not shown in the figure) may be applied to the entire flat surface of the covert authentication lens sheet 1064 or a patterned pressure-sensitive adhesive (not shown in the figure) may be applied to this surface.
- the covert authentication lens sheet 1064 will maintain an unfilled gap 1065 in those areas where there is no adhesive.
- a method of aligning the covert authentication lens sheet 1064 to the orientation of the covert icon pattern 1060 is desirable, such as by printed alignment patterns or oriented edges of the magnification system 1056 that the edge of the covert authentication lens sheet 1064 can be matched to at the time of application.
- Yet another alternative structure for a 'dry decoder' method and system is to incorporate the covert icon patterns 1060 into a second icon layer.
- This second icon layer may be either closer to the lenses 1056 or further from the lenses 1056 than the first icon layer 1058, in any location that enables lenses 1056 to form a real or virtual image of covert icons 1060.
- the focal length and thickness of the covert authentication lens sheet 1064 is then designed to cause its focal point to fall in the location of the covert synthetic image formed by lenses 1056 when covert authentication lens sheet 1064 is placed substantially in contact with lenses 1056.
- Figs. 44(a,b) Yet another method of revealing hidden information in a magnification system of the present disclosure is illustrated in Figs. 44(a,b).
- a HydroUnison moire magnification system 1078 incorporates an array of micro-lenses 1080, an icon layer 1082, and an optical spacer 1081 between them that may be continguous with either the micro-lenses 1080, the icon layer 1082, or both.
- Icon layer 1082 incorporates icon patterns 1084.
- the thickness of the optical spacer 1081 is substantially greater than the focal length 1086 of the micro-lenses 1080 when they are in air, another gas or vacuum.
- micro-lenses 1080 are far from the icon patterns 1084 and the icon layer 1082.
- the in-air synthetic image projection 1090 from micro-lenses 1080 is therefore severely blurred and out of focus, without a distinguishable image.
- Fig. 44(b) illustrates the effect of immersing the micro-lenses 1080 in a suitable fluid 1092 such as water.
- a suitable fluid 1092 such as water.
- the refractive index of the medium outside of the HydroUnison moire magnification system 1078 can change the focal length of the micro-lenses 1080. In this example, increasing the refractive index of the medium outside of the system increases the focal length of micro-lenses 1080.
- optical spacer 1081 is chosen to bring the focal points 1088 of the fluid 1092 immersed micro-lenses 1080 into or near the icon layer 1082. Under these conditions the micro-lenses 1080 can project well-focused synthetic images 1095 of the icon patterns 1084.
- HydroUnison system appears to have no distinct image when it is viewed in a dry state, with the lenses 1080 in air.
- the lenses are wetted (immersed) with a liquid having a refractive index substantially equal to the selected immersion fluid 1092 index, a synthetic image suddenly appears. This effect is particularly dramatic if the synthetic image is a combination Float/Deep image or a SuperDeep image. As the HydroUnison system dries the synthetic image fades away and disappears.
- Designing a HydroUnison system to produce this effect when immersed in a fluid 1092 having a selected refractive index is accomplished by making the thickness of the optical spacer 1081 to be approximately equal to the fluid 1092 immersed micro-lens 1080 focal length 1094 for a given choice of fluid 1092.
- a convenient fluid 1092 is water, with a typical refractive index of about 1.33.
- the HydroUnison moire magnification system 1078 may not be a "thin lens" optical system, the thin-lens system design Lens-maker's Formula can be used to find a suitably accurate design thickness of the optical spacer 1081 for a chosen immersion fluid 1092.
- the focal point of the lenses 1080 is internal to the HydroUnison moire magnification system 1078, the only curvature affecting the focal length is the first curvature, R 1 - the second curvature, R 2 , can be treated as a flat surface with a radius of infinity, reducing the ratio 1/R 2 equal to zero.
- Other fluids having a similar refractive index to the selected immersion fluid 1092 refractive index can be used to reveal the hidden image, with the effectiveness of a particular fluid depending, in part, on how closely its refractive index matches that of the selected immersion fluid refractive index 1092.
- ethyl alcohol has a refractive index of about 1.36.
- the focal length of the lenses in the example above would be 88.2 microns when immersed in ethyl alcohol, so the synthetic image 1095 would be slightly out of focus if the optical spacer 1081 was designed with a thickness of about 73 microns, corresponding to a selected immersion fluid 1092 having the refractive index of water.
- Figs. 44(a,b) can be used for a variety of applications, including but not limited to authentication of articles bearing a HydroUnison system film laminate, label, patch, thread, seal, stamp, or sticker, such as event tickets, lottery tickets, ID cards, visas, passports, drivers licenses, government documents, birth certificates, negotiable instruments, travelers' checks, bank checks, currency, gambling chips, manufactured goods, and other allied and similar articles.
- HydroUnison systems can also be used to provide decorative, novelty, and wetness indicating utility to articles, documents, and manufactured goods.
- Unison moire magnification systems as taught previously herein are also wetness indicating — immersing the lenses of these Unison systems in a fluid will generally prevent the materials from forming a synthetic image. The synthetic image returns when the liquid is dried or removed.
- Figs. 44(a,b) can be further extended to provide a multiple image HydroUnison system 1096 that can present two or more different Unison moire magnification synthetic images, in the same or in different colors, when the HydroUnison microlenses 1098 are immersed in different media (1112, 112O 5 1128).
- the example presented in Figs. 45(a-c) illustrates a HydroUnison system 1096 that can produce three different synthetic images (1114, 1126, 1134).
- the first synthetic image is produced when the lenses are in a medium 1112 of air, vacuum or another gas; the second synthetic image is produced when the lenses are immersed in water 1120 or other liquid with a refractive index on the order of about 1.33; and the third synthetic image is produced when the lenses are immersed in a medium 1128 having a refractive index of about 1.418 (such as a uniform mixture of 62 volumetric percent glycerin and 389 volumetric percent water).
- Each of these three synthetic images can be the same color, pattern, and type of Unison effect as the others, or they can be different from the others in color, pattern, and Unison effect. While the type, color, and pattern of a Unison synthetic image can be the same for some or all synthetic images produced by a HydroUnison system, it is important to note that the magnitude of Unison depth effects (SuperDeep, Deep, Float, SuperFloat, Levitate), i.e., the apparent height of float images and the depth of Deep images, is proportional to the f-number of the micro-lenses 1112. Immersing the micro-lenses 1098 in media having different refractive indices changes the f-number of the micro-lenses 1098 and proportionately amplifies the magnitude of the Unison depth effects in the synthetic images respectively produced.
- Unison depth effects SuperDeep, Deep, Float, SuperFloat, Levitate
- HydroUnison moire magnification system 1096 incorporates micro-lenses 1098, first optical spacer 1100 separating micro-lenses 1098 from first icon layer 1102, first icon layer 1102 bearing first icon patterns 1117, second optical spacer 1104 separating first icon layer 1102 from second icon layer 1106, second icon layer 1106 bearing second icon patterns 1119, third optical spacer 1108 separating second icon layer 1106 from third icon layer 1110, and third icon layer 1110 bearing third icon patterns 1111.
- Fig. 45(a) illustrates the function of an exemplary multiple image HydroUnison system 1096.
- the micro-lenses 1098 When the micro-lenses 1098 are immersed in a medium having an index substantially equal to 1.000 (such as vacuum, air, and most gases) the micro-lenses 1098 have a focal length 1116 that places their focal points 1118 in or near first icon layer 1102. Icon layer 1102 may be omitted, but if it is present and if it bears suitable icon patterns 1117 in the correct geometric relationship to the micro- lenses 1098 (as has been taught in connection with the various embodiments of the subject invention) then micro-lenses 1098 will project a synthetic image 1114 of the first icon pattern 1117.
- 1.000 such as vacuum, air, and most gases
- Fig. 45(b) the micro-lenses 1098 are shown immersed in a liquid 1120 having a refractive index of approximately 1.33, such as water.
- the fluid immersed focal length 1122 of the micro-lenses 1098 is now more than three times greater than the in-air focal length 1116 of micro-lenses 1098.
- the water-immersed focal point 1124 is now approximately at the depth of the second icon layer 1106 and the micro- lenses 1098 can form a synthetic image 1126 of the second icon patterns 1119.
- Fig. 45(c) The function of the example multiple image HydroUnison moire magnification system 1096 when micro-lenses 1098 are immersed in a fluid 1128 have a refractive index of 1.418 is illustrated in Fig. 45(c). Since the refractive index of the immersion fluid 1128 is even closer to the refractive index of the micro-lenses 1098, their focal length 1130 is substantially greater - about 7.2 times larger than the in-air focal length 1116. The new focal point 1132 is now approximately at the depth of the third icon layer 1110 and the micro-lenses 1098 can form a synthetic image 1134 of the third icon patterns 1111.
- Figs. 45(a-c) Applications of the embodiment of Figs. 45(a-c) include, but are not limited to: premium and promotional items, authentication and security materials, gaming devices, wetness indicators, and devices to distinguish different liquids.
- Fig. 46 Another effect that can be obtained through the use of the magnification system of the present disclosure is illustrated in Fig. 46.
- the effect enables the synthetic image seen by a viewer to change as the relative azimuthal angle of the viewer changes.
- the changing images are seen within a cone of viewing angles displaced away from the normal by a selected amount.
- the image seen can be designed to depend on the particular azimuthal angle of the viewer around that hollow cone.
- the viewer is observing the magnification system from viewpoint A, and from that viewpoint she sees a synthetic image of a capital letter "A". If the viewer moves to a different azimuthal viewpoint, such as viewpoint B shown at the bottom of Fig. 46, then she may see a different synthetic image, such as the image of a capital letter "B".
- Fig. 46 The method of accomplishing the effect is also illustrated in Fig. 46 at the upper left and lower right of the figure.
- the micro-lenses in the system are forming synthetic images from the left sides of the icon patterns, as shown in the upper left of the figure.
- the micro- lenses are forming synthetic images from the right side of the icon patterns, as shown at the lower right of the figure.
- the specific image elements incorporated into each icon pattern will, in general, be unique for each icon pattern, since each icon pattern carries information about multiple synthetic images as seen from multiple viewpoints.
- Fig, 47 illustrates the specific image elements incorporated into one representative icon pattern.
- the image elements in icon zone A will be visible from a range of altitudes from the azimuthal viewpoint direction A.
- the icon zone B will be seen from the viewpoint direction B, and so on.
- This embodiment has a multiplicity of uses.
- Examples include: a synthetic image that does not appear to change from different azimuthal angles, such that it always faces, or "tracks" the viewer; a series of connected images that form a motion picture or animation can be presented; multiple pages of text or graphical information can be provided such that the viewer "turns the pages” by rotating the material and viewing it from different azimuthal positions; street signs or traffic control signs that present different information to drivers approaching them from different directions; and many other applications.
- Figs. 48 (a-f) illustrate a preferred method of creating filled icon microstructures.
- a film substrate preferably 92 gage polyester film
- a coating of a gel or liquid polymer 1502 such as Lord Industries U107.
- the gel or liquid polymer coating 1502 is brought into contact with an icon microstructure tool 1504, typically created by nickel electroforming, and a suitable energy (such as ultraviolet light or electron beam irradiation) is applied to cause the gel or liquid polymer coating 1502 to polymerize and retain the microstructure shape of the icon microstructure tool 1504.
- a suitable energy such as ultraviolet light or electron beam irradiation
- the polymerized coating icon layer 1510 retains negative impressions of the icon microstructure tool, these negative impressions constituting the icon layer 1510 icon microstructures 1508.
- the icon layer 1510 is then coated with an icon fill material 1512, Fig. 48d, that fills the icon microstructures 1508.
- the icon fill material 1512 is removed from the top surface (as drawn) of the icon layer 1510 by means of a doctor blade 1514 that moves in the direction of arrow 1516.
- the doctor blade 1514 selectively removes the icon fill material 1512 from the flat upper surface of the icon layer while leaving it behind in the icon microstructures 1508, as shown in Fig. 48f.
- the icon fill material 1520 remaining in the icon microstructures 1508 is then optionally polymerized by the application of a suitable energy source (such as ultraviolet light or electron beam irradiation).
- a suitable energy source such as ultraviolet light or electron beam irradiation
- the final process step may include heating to drive off the excess solvent.
- Federal, State or Foreign such as Passports, ID Cards, Driver's Licenses, Visas, birth Certificates, Vital Records, Voter Registration Cards, Voting Ballots, Social Security Cards, Bonds, Food Stamps, Postage Stamps, and Tax Stamps
- currency - whether Federal, State or Foreign such as security threads in paper currency, features in polymer currency, and features on paper currency
- documents such as Titles, Deeds, Licenses, diplomas, and Certificates
- financial and negotiable instruments such as Certified Bank Checks, Corporate Checks, Personal Checks, Bank Vouchers, Stock Certificates, Travelers' Checks, Money Orders, Credit cards, Debit cards, ATM cards, Affinity cards, Prepaid Phone cards, and Gift Cards
- confidential information such as Movie Scripts, Legal Documents, Intellectual Property, Medical Records/Hospital Records, Prescription Forms/Pads, and "Secret Recipes"
- product and brand protection including Fabric & Home Care (such as Laundry Detergents, fabric
- Suitable materials for the embodiments described above include a wide range of polymers. Acrylics, acrylated polyesters, acrylated urethanes, polypropylenes, urethanes, and polyesters have suitable optical and mechanical properties for both the microlenses and the microstructured icon elements.
- Suitable materials for the optional substrate film include most of the commercially available polymer films, including acrylic, cellophane, Saran, nylon, polycarbonate, polyester, polypropylene, polyethylene, and polyvinyl.
- Microstructured icon fill materials can include any of the materials listed above as suitable for making microstructured icon elements, as well as solvent based inks and other commonly available pigment or dye vehicles. Dyes or pigments incorporated into these materials should be compatible with the chemical makeup of the vehicle.
- Optional sealing layer materials can include any of the materials listed above as suitable for making microstructured icon elements, plus many different commercially available paints, inks, overcoats, varnishes, laquers, and clear coats used in the printing and paper and film converting industries. There is no preferred combination of materials — the choice of materials depends o the details of the material geometry, on the optical properties of the system, and on the optical effect that is desired.
Landscapes
- Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
- General Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
- Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
- Manufacturing & Machinery (AREA)
- Optics & Photonics (AREA)
- Business, Economics & Management (AREA)
- Accounting & Taxation (AREA)
- Finance (AREA)
- Credit Cards Or The Like (AREA)
- Printing Methods (AREA)
- Stereoscopic And Panoramic Photography (AREA)
- Lenses (AREA)
- Microscoopes, Condenser (AREA)
- Photosensitive Polymer And Photoresist Processing (AREA)
- Casting Or Compression Moulding Of Plastics Or The Like (AREA)
- Heating, Cooling, Or Curing Plastics Or The Like In General (AREA)
Abstract
Description
Claims
Priority Applications (13)
Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
---|---|---|---|
DK06784452.2T DK1893074T3 (en) | 2005-05-18 | 2006-05-18 | Imaging and microoptic security system |
MX2007014362A MX2007014362A (en) | 2005-05-18 | 2006-05-18 | Image presentation and micro-optic security system. |
CN200680026431.9A CN101379423B (en) | 2005-05-18 | 2006-05-18 | Image represents and micro-optic security system |
CA2608754A CA2608754C (en) | 2005-05-18 | 2006-05-18 | Image presentation and micro-optic security system |
JP2008512603A JP5527969B2 (en) | 2005-05-18 | 2006-05-18 | Image display system and micro optical security system |
BRPI0610706A BRPI0610706B8 (en) | 2005-05-18 | 2006-05-18 | synthetic optical imaging system, document security device, image presentation system and security device or authentication system |
EP12000103.7A EP2461203B2 (en) | 2005-05-18 | 2006-05-18 | Image presentation and micro-optic security system |
AU2006246716A AU2006246716C9 (en) | 2005-05-18 | 2006-05-18 | Image presentation and micro-optic security system |
ES06784452T ES2434443T3 (en) | 2005-05-18 | 2006-05-18 | Imaging system and micro-optical security |
EP06784452.2A EP1893074B2 (en) | 2005-05-18 | 2006-05-18 | Image presentation and micro-optic security system |
RU2007145611/28A RU2472192C2 (en) | 2005-05-18 | 2006-05-18 | Image display method and microoptical safety system |
EP11003625.8A EP2365374B1 (en) | 2005-05-18 | 2006-05-18 | Image presentation and micro-optic security system |
IL187440A IL187440A (en) | 2005-05-18 | 2007-11-18 | Image presentation and micro-optic security system |
Applications Claiming Priority (4)
Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
---|---|---|---|
US68223105P | 2005-05-18 | 2005-05-18 | |
US60/682,231 | 2005-05-18 | ||
US68303705P | 2005-05-20 | 2005-05-20 | |
US60/683,037 | 2005-05-20 |
Publications (2)
Publication Number | Publication Date |
---|---|
WO2006125224A2 true WO2006125224A2 (en) | 2006-11-23 |
WO2006125224A3 WO2006125224A3 (en) | 2008-10-02 |
Family
ID=37432213
Family Applications (1)
Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
---|---|---|---|
PCT/US2006/019810 WO2006125224A2 (en) | 2005-05-18 | 2006-05-18 | Image presentation and micro-optic security system |
Country Status (14)
Country | Link |
---|---|
US (2) | US7468842B2 (en) |
EP (11) | EP2365378B1 (en) |
JP (1) | JP5527969B2 (en) |
KR (1) | KR101265368B1 (en) |
CN (1) | CN101379423B (en) |
AU (1) | AU2006246716C9 (en) |
BR (1) | BRPI0610706B8 (en) |
CA (1) | CA2608754C (en) |
DK (1) | DK1893074T3 (en) |
ES (8) | ES2669531T3 (en) |
IL (1) | IL187440A (en) |
MX (1) | MX2007014362A (en) |
RU (1) | RU2472192C2 (en) |
WO (1) | WO2006125224A2 (en) |
Cited By (58)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
WO2008070401A1 (en) * | 2006-12-04 | 2008-06-12 | 3M Innovative Properties Company | A user interface including composite images that float |
DE102007052009B3 (en) * | 2007-10-27 | 2008-12-04 | Hochschule Bremerhaven | Safety system is based on optical identification of highly specific, spatially appearing microstructures in substrate by micro-optical enlargement system integrated into substrate |
WO2009075758A2 (en) * | 2007-12-05 | 2009-06-18 | Eastman Kodak Company | Micro-lens enhanced element |
EP2164713A2 (en) * | 2007-06-25 | 2010-03-24 | Giesecke & Devrient GmbH | Security element having a magnified, three-dimensional moiré image |
JP2010533315A (en) * | 2007-07-11 | 2010-10-21 | スリーエム イノベイティブ プロパティズ カンパニー | Sheet with composite image that emerges |
JP2011505595A (en) * | 2007-11-27 | 2011-02-24 | スリーエム イノベイティブ プロパティズ カンパニー | Method for forming sheet having composite image floating and master tool |
DE102011115125A1 (en) | 2011-10-07 | 2013-04-11 | Giesecke & Devrient Gmbh | Method for producing micro-optical display assembly for displaying multicolor subject, involves providing carrier material with main surface and with another main surface, where former main surface has focusing element grid |
WO2013054117A1 (en) * | 2011-10-11 | 2013-04-18 | De La Rue International Limited | Security devices and methods of manufacture thereof |
US8526085B2 (en) | 2007-08-22 | 2013-09-03 | Giesecke & Devrient Gmbh | Grid image |
US8537469B2 (en) | 2009-03-04 | 2013-09-17 | Securency International Pty Ltd | Methods for producing lens arrays |
DE102012014414A1 (en) * | 2012-07-20 | 2014-01-23 | Giesecke & Devrient Gmbh | Security element for security papers, documents of value or the like |
WO2014044402A1 (en) * | 2012-09-24 | 2014-03-27 | Giesecke & Devrient Gmbh | Security element with display arrangement |
US8778481B2 (en) | 2005-02-18 | 2014-07-15 | Giesecke & Devrient Gmbh | Security element and method for the production thereof |
US8848971B2 (en) | 2009-07-17 | 2014-09-30 | Arjowiggins Security | Parallax effect security element |
US8906184B2 (en) | 2008-04-02 | 2014-12-09 | Giesecke & Devrient Gmbh | Method for producing a micro-optical display arrangement |
US8908276B2 (en) | 2010-03-01 | 2014-12-09 | De La Rue International Limited | Moire magnification device |
WO2014206550A1 (en) * | 2013-06-28 | 2014-12-31 | Giesecke & Devrient Gmbh | Security element with adaptive focusing optical elements |
US8982231B2 (en) | 2009-07-17 | 2015-03-17 | Arjowiggins Security | Parallax effect security element |
GB2505724B (en) * | 2010-03-24 | 2015-10-14 | Securency Int Pty Ltd | Security document with integrated security device and method of manufacture |
US9176266B2 (en) | 2009-12-04 | 2015-11-03 | Giesecke & Devrient Gmbh | Security element, value document comprising such a security element and method for producing such a security element |
US9297941B2 (en) | 2011-07-21 | 2016-03-29 | Giesecke & Deverient Gmbh | Optically variable element, in particular security element |
EP2988154A3 (en) * | 2014-08-20 | 2016-05-25 | Giesecke & Devrient GmbH | Method for producing optical element and optical element |
GB2496351B (en) * | 2010-09-03 | 2017-01-11 | Innovia Security Pty Ltd | Optically variable device |
WO2017009620A1 (en) * | 2015-07-10 | 2017-01-19 | De La Rue International Limited | Methods of manufacturing security documents and security devices |
US9676156B2 (en) | 2011-03-15 | 2017-06-13 | Ovd Kinegram Ag | Multi-layer body |
US9681069B2 (en) | 2012-06-01 | 2017-06-13 | Ostendo Technologies, Inc. | Spatio-temporal light field cameras |
US9770934B2 (en) | 2009-07-09 | 2017-09-26 | Ovd Kinegram Ag | Multi-layer body |
GB2549780A (en) * | 2016-04-29 | 2017-11-01 | De La Rue Int Ltd | Methods of manufacturing lens transfer structures |
US9827802B2 (en) | 2009-12-04 | 2017-11-28 | Giesecke+Devrient Currency Technology Gmbh | Security element, value document comprising such a security element, and method for producing such a security element |
WO2018147966A1 (en) | 2017-02-10 | 2018-08-16 | Crane & Co., Inc. | Machine-readable optical security device |
WO2018172750A1 (en) * | 2017-03-24 | 2018-09-27 | De La Rue International Limited | Security devices |
US10252563B2 (en) | 2015-07-13 | 2019-04-09 | Wavefront Technology, Inc. | Optical products, masters for fabricating optical products, and methods for manufacturing masters and optical products |
US10297071B2 (en) | 2013-03-15 | 2019-05-21 | Ostendo Technologies, Inc. | 3D light field displays and methods with improved viewing angle, depth and resolution |
WO2019121965A3 (en) * | 2017-12-19 | 2019-08-15 | Giesecke+Devrient Currency Technology Gmbh | Value document |
WO2020047650A1 (en) * | 2018-09-07 | 2020-03-12 | Canadian Bank Note Company, Limited | Security device for security documents |
EP2608968B1 (en) | 2010-08-27 | 2020-04-08 | Hueck Folien Gesellschaft m.b.H. | Value document having an at least partially embedded security element |
EP3513984B1 (en) | 2018-01-17 | 2020-09-09 | Giesecke+Devrient Currency Technology GmbH | Security element with luminescence subject area |
US10787018B2 (en) | 2013-03-15 | 2020-09-29 | Visual Physics, Llc | Optical security device |
JP2020175664A (en) * | 2014-07-17 | 2020-10-29 | ビジュアル フィジクス エルエルシー | Improved polymer sheet material for use in making polymer security documents such as banknotes, method of forming the improved polymer material, and polymer security document produced by using the improved polymer sheet material |
US10850550B2 (en) | 2016-04-22 | 2020-12-01 | Wavefront Technology, Inc. | Optical switch devices |
US10859851B2 (en) | 2014-10-24 | 2020-12-08 | Wavefront Technology, Inc. | Optical products, masters for fabricating optical products, and methods for manufacturing masters and optical products |
EP3792070A3 (en) * | 2019-09-11 | 2021-03-24 | Hueck Folien Gesellschaft m.b.H. | Security element for securities or security papers with a substrate film |
US10981411B2 (en) | 2015-06-10 | 2021-04-20 | De La Rue International Limited | Security devices and methods of manufacture thereof |
EP3835851A1 (en) * | 2019-12-10 | 2021-06-16 | Thales Dis France Sa | Laser engravable floating image for security laminates |
WO2021136704A1 (en) * | 2019-12-29 | 2021-07-08 | Thales Dis France Sa | Virtual security element |
US11113919B2 (en) | 2017-10-20 | 2021-09-07 | Wavefront Technology, Inc. | Optical switch devices |
WO2021228573A3 (en) * | 2020-05-14 | 2021-12-30 | Leonhard Kurz Stiftung & Co. Kg | Method for producing a multilayer body, and a multilayer body |
US11221448B2 (en) | 2019-04-19 | 2022-01-11 | Wavefront Technology, Inc. | Animated optical security feature |
US11314971B2 (en) | 2017-09-27 | 2022-04-26 | 3M Innovative Properties Company | Personal protective equipment management system using optical patterns for equipment and safety monitoring |
WO2022126270A1 (en) * | 2020-12-17 | 2022-06-23 | Bank Of Canada | Optical devices comprising microlenses and laser-fabricated patterns or other structures, their manufacture and use |
US11373076B2 (en) | 2017-02-20 | 2022-06-28 | 3M Innovative Properties Company | Optical articles and systems interacting with the same |
US11446950B2 (en) | 2014-03-27 | 2022-09-20 | Visual Physics, Llc | Optical device that produces flicker-like optical effects |
WO2022171625A3 (en) * | 2021-02-15 | 2022-10-06 | Koenig & Bauer Banknote Solutions Sa | Security document |
EP3734352B1 (en) | 2012-04-25 | 2022-11-02 | Visual Physics, LLC | Security device for projecting a collection of synthetic images |
EP4163120A1 (en) | 2018-01-03 | 2023-04-12 | Visual Physics, LLC | Micro-optic security device with interactive dynamic security features |
EP4017737A4 (en) * | 2019-08-19 | 2023-11-08 | Crane & Co., Inc. | Micro-optic security device with zones of color |
US11981157B2 (en) | 2017-02-20 | 2024-05-14 | Zhongchao Special Security Technology Co., Ltd | Optical anti-counterfeiting element and optical anti-counterfeiting product using the same |
EP4421762A2 (en) | 2018-07-03 | 2024-08-28 | Crane & Co., Inc. | Security document with attached security device which demonstrates increased harvesting resistance |
Families Citing this family (205)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
US8867134B2 (en) | 2003-11-21 | 2014-10-21 | Visual Physics, Llc | Optical system demonstrating improved resistance to optically degrading external effects |
TWI247830B (en) * | 2004-02-17 | 2006-01-21 | Taiwan Textile Res Inst | Structure of textile featuring light transmission and thermal insulation and method of manufacturing the same |
US20080118694A1 (en) * | 2005-07-11 | 2008-05-22 | Ward/Kraft, Inc. | Prime pressure sensitive label assembly having lenticular properties displaying multiple imaged patterns |
DE102006005000B4 (en) * | 2006-02-01 | 2016-05-04 | Ovd Kinegram Ag | Multi-layer body with microlens arrangement |
BRPI0711639A2 (en) | 2006-05-12 | 2012-01-17 | Crane & Co Inc | micro-optical film structure that alone or together with a security document or label projects spatially coordinated images with still images and / or other projected images |
US7830368B2 (en) * | 2006-06-06 | 2010-11-09 | 3M Innovative Properties Company | Keypad with virtual image |
US8488242B2 (en) * | 2006-06-20 | 2013-07-16 | Opsec Security Group, Inc. | Optically variable device with diffraction-based micro-optics, method of creating the same, and article employing the same |
DE102006029850A1 (en) * | 2006-06-27 | 2008-01-03 | Giesecke & Devrient Gmbh | security element |
SE530341C2 (en) * | 2006-08-22 | 2008-05-06 | Rolling Optics | Method and apparatus for angular determination with retroreflective film |
WO2008042349A2 (en) * | 2006-10-02 | 2008-04-10 | Travel Tags, Inc. | Layered image display applications and methods |
WO2008042348A1 (en) * | 2006-10-02 | 2008-04-10 | Travel Tags, Inc. | Layered image display sheet |
EP2466005B1 (en) * | 2006-10-27 | 2017-10-04 | Crane & Co., Inc. | A soil and/or moisture resistant secure document |
US20080213528A1 (en) * | 2006-12-19 | 2008-09-04 | Hoffman Anthony L | Customized printing with depth effect |
US9072327B2 (en) * | 2007-04-16 | 2015-07-07 | David Goodson | Using lenses and lens arrays to enhance the appearance of people |
RU2492060C2 (en) * | 2007-08-01 | 2013-09-10 | Текникал Графикс, Инк. | Perfected micro optical protective device |
CN101393710B (en) * | 2007-09-21 | 2010-08-25 | 富士迈半导体精密工业(上海)有限公司 | Billboard |
FR2922227B1 (en) * | 2007-10-12 | 2009-12-18 | Arjowiggins Licensing Sas | SHEET COMPRISING AT LEAST ONE OBSERVABLE WATERMARK ON ONE SIDE OF THE SHEET |
DE102008012419A1 (en) * | 2007-10-31 | 2009-05-07 | Bundesdruckerei Gmbh | Polymer composite layer for security and/or valuable documents comprises at least two interlocking polymer layers joined together with a surface printed with a printed layer absorbing in the visible region in and/or on the composite |
US20090115943A1 (en) * | 2007-11-07 | 2009-05-07 | 3M Innovative Properties Company | Low birefringence light control film and methods of making |
WO2009085003A1 (en) * | 2007-12-27 | 2009-07-09 | Rolling Optics Ab | Synthetic integral image device |
US20090173653A1 (en) * | 2008-01-04 | 2009-07-09 | Nanoventions Holdings, Llc | Merchandising Systems, Methods of Merchandising, and Point-Of-Sale Devices Comprising Micro-Optics Technology |
US20090173654A1 (en) * | 2008-01-04 | 2009-07-09 | Nanoventions Holdings, Llc | Merchandising Systems, Methods of Merchandising, and Point-Of-Sale Devices Comprising Micro-Optics Technology |
US20090172978A1 (en) * | 2008-01-04 | 2009-07-09 | Nanoventions Holdings, Llc | Merchandising Systems, Methods of Merchandising, and Point-Of-Sale Devices Comprising Micro-Optics Technology |
US7609451B1 (en) * | 2008-02-05 | 2009-10-27 | Serigraph, Inc. | Printed article for displaying images having improved definition and depth |
TW200935373A (en) * | 2008-02-05 | 2009-08-16 | Wayseal Co Ltd | Security tag and manufacturing method thereof |
BRPI0915031A2 (en) * | 2008-06-12 | 2015-10-27 | Crane & Co Inc | method for increasing adhesion between a security member and a fibrous sheet material |
WO2010005729A2 (en) * | 2008-07-08 | 2010-01-14 | 3M Innovative Properties Company | Optical elements for showing virtual images |
US8111463B2 (en) | 2008-10-23 | 2012-02-07 | 3M Innovative Properties Company | Methods of forming sheeting with composite images that float and sheeting with composite images that float |
KR20100074443A (en) * | 2008-12-24 | 2010-07-02 | 주식회사 동부하이텍 | Microlens mask of image sensor and formation method of microlens |
EP2399159A1 (en) * | 2009-02-20 | 2011-12-28 | Rolling Optics AB | Devices for integral images and manufacturing method therefore |
KR100998017B1 (en) * | 2009-02-23 | 2010-12-03 | 삼성엘이디 주식회사 | Lens for Light Emitting Diode Package and Light Emitting Diode Package Having The Same |
JP5509667B2 (en) * | 2009-04-27 | 2014-06-04 | 凸版印刷株式会社 | Anti-counterfeit media |
DE102009022612A1 (en) * | 2009-05-26 | 2010-12-02 | Giesecke & Devrient Gmbh | Security element, security system and manufacturing method therefor |
US8351087B2 (en) * | 2009-06-15 | 2013-01-08 | Ecole Polytechnique Federale De Lausanne (Epfl) | Authentication with built-in encryption by using moire parallax effects between fixed correlated s-random layers |
TWI406008B (en) * | 2009-06-25 | 2013-08-21 | Nat Univ Tsing Hua | Double-sided lenslet array, laser beam shaping and homogenizing device and laser light source system |
CN101951739A (en) * | 2009-07-10 | 2011-01-19 | 深圳富泰宏精密工业有限公司 | Shell and method for manufacturing same |
US20110130508A1 (en) * | 2009-07-29 | 2011-06-02 | Alan David Pendley | Topside optical adhesive for micro-optical film embedded into paper during the papermaking process |
DE102009035361A1 (en) * | 2009-07-30 | 2011-02-03 | Giesecke & Devrient Gmbh | Security element for an object to be protected and to be protected object with such a security element |
EP2464527B1 (en) | 2009-08-12 | 2020-04-01 | Visual Physics, LLC | A tamper indicating optical security device |
DE102009040975A1 (en) | 2009-09-11 | 2011-03-24 | Ovd Kinegram Ag | Multi-layer body |
US20110069394A1 (en) * | 2009-09-22 | 2011-03-24 | Stelter Eric C | Lens array image |
TW201114070A (en) * | 2009-10-15 | 2011-04-16 | Aurotek Corp | Light-emitting device |
US8292863B2 (en) | 2009-10-21 | 2012-10-23 | Donoho Christopher D | Disposable diaper with pouches |
GB0919108D0 (en) * | 2009-10-30 | 2009-12-16 | Rue De Int Ltd | Security device |
US20110135888A1 (en) * | 2009-12-04 | 2011-06-09 | Ppg Industries Ohio, Inc. | Crystalline colloidal array of particles bearing reactive surfactant |
US9025251B2 (en) | 2009-12-11 | 2015-05-05 | Opsec Security Group, Inc. | Optically variable devices, security device and article employing same, and associated method of creating same |
EA017394B1 (en) | 2010-03-09 | 2012-12-28 | Ооо "Центр Компьютерной Голографии" | Microoptical system for forming visual images |
DE102011012274A1 (en) * | 2010-03-18 | 2011-09-22 | Heidelberger Druckmaschinen Ag | Method for producing a structured surface by printing technology |
KR20110106733A (en) * | 2010-03-23 | 2011-09-29 | 삼성모바일디스플레이주식회사 | Organic light emitting diode display |
FR2959830B1 (en) * | 2010-05-07 | 2013-05-17 | Hologram Ind | OPTICAL AUTHENTICATION COMPONENT AND METHOD FOR MANUFACTURING THE SAME |
US9301569B2 (en) | 2010-06-22 | 2016-04-05 | Nike, Inc. | Article of footwear with color change portion and method of changing color |
US8769836B2 (en) | 2010-06-22 | 2014-07-08 | Nike, Inc. | Article of footwear with color change portion and method of changing color |
US8474146B2 (en) | 2010-06-22 | 2013-07-02 | Nike, Inc. | Article of footwear with color change portion and method of changing color |
JP2012018324A (en) * | 2010-07-08 | 2012-01-26 | Sony Corp | Multi-viewpoint image recording medium and authenticity determination method |
US10215992B2 (en) * | 2010-08-23 | 2019-02-26 | Ccl Secure Pty Ltd | Multichannel optically variable device |
DE102010048262A1 (en) * | 2010-10-12 | 2012-04-12 | Giesecke & Devrient Gmbh | presentation element |
JP2012103315A (en) * | 2010-11-08 | 2012-05-31 | Three M Innovative Properties Co | Microlens laminated body capable of providing floating composite image |
JP5707909B2 (en) * | 2010-12-06 | 2015-04-30 | 大日本印刷株式会社 | Method for producing fine particles |
DE102010055689A1 (en) * | 2010-12-22 | 2012-06-28 | Giesecke & Devrient Gmbh | Micro-optical viewing arrangement |
JP6042347B2 (en) | 2011-01-28 | 2016-12-14 | クレーン アンド カンパニー インコーポレイテッド | Laser marked device |
US9708773B2 (en) | 2011-02-23 | 2017-07-18 | Crane & Co., Inc. | Security sheet or document having one or more enhanced watermarks |
WO2012143426A1 (en) * | 2011-04-20 | 2012-10-26 | Rolic Ag | Asymmetric optically effective surface relief microstructures and method of making them |
JP5224489B2 (en) * | 2011-04-22 | 2013-07-03 | グラパックジャパン株式会社 | Image display sheet and image display body |
WO2012165193A1 (en) * | 2011-05-31 | 2012-12-06 | 大日本印刷株式会社 | Counterfeit prevention particles and method for manufacturing same, counterfeit prevention ink, counterfeit prevention sheet, securities certificate, card |
CN103765248A (en) | 2011-06-28 | 2014-04-30 | 光学物理有限责任公司 | Low curl or curl free optical film-to-paper laminate |
JP2013020540A (en) | 2011-07-13 | 2013-01-31 | Glory Ltd | Paper sheet identification device and paper sheet identification method |
CN104024921B (en) * | 2011-08-19 | 2018-09-21 | 光学物理有限责任公司 | The optionally transferable optical system of thickness with reduction |
JP2013064996A (en) * | 2011-08-26 | 2013-04-11 | Nikon Corp | Three-dimensional image display device |
DE102011112554A1 (en) * | 2011-09-06 | 2013-03-07 | Giesecke & Devrient Gmbh | Method for producing a security paper and microlens thread |
CN103874941A (en) * | 2011-09-21 | 2014-06-18 | 富士胶片株式会社 | Object including latent image |
WO2013048875A1 (en) | 2011-09-26 | 2013-04-04 | Technical Graphics, Inc. | Method for producing a composite web and security devices prepared from the composite web |
JP5620354B2 (en) * | 2011-09-29 | 2014-11-05 | 株式会社東芝 | Display device |
DE102011117044B4 (en) * | 2011-10-27 | 2019-05-29 | Bundesdruckerei Gmbh | security element |
CN104081257B (en) * | 2011-12-06 | 2018-05-15 | 奥斯坦多科技公司 | Space-optics and time and space-optical orientation optical modulator |
CN103998955B (en) | 2011-12-15 | 2018-06-01 | 3M创新有限公司 | Personalized secure product and the method for differentiating holder of the method for security article with verifying security article |
DE102011121588A1 (en) | 2011-12-20 | 2013-06-20 | Giesecke & Devrient Gmbh | Security element for security papers, documents of value or the like |
AU2011101684B4 (en) * | 2011-12-22 | 2012-08-16 | Innovia Security Pty Ltd | Optical Security Device with Nanoparticle Ink |
US9425571B2 (en) * | 2012-01-06 | 2016-08-23 | Johnson & Johnson Vision Care, Inc. | Methods and apparatus to form electrical interconnects on ophthalmic devices |
USD668060S1 (en) * | 2012-01-24 | 2012-10-02 | Michael Cordovana | Three dimensional bubble patterned fabric |
US8614806B2 (en) * | 2012-03-02 | 2013-12-24 | Xerox Corporation | Systems and methods for printing hybrid raised markings on documents to enhance security |
AU2012100573B4 (en) * | 2012-05-10 | 2013-03-28 | Innovia Security Pty Ltd | An optical security device |
WO2013188518A1 (en) | 2012-06-13 | 2013-12-19 | Visual Physics, Llc | Micro-optic material with improved abrasion resistance |
AU2012100985B4 (en) * | 2012-06-29 | 2012-11-15 | Ccl Secure Pty Ltd | Optically variable colour image |
KR20140018548A (en) * | 2012-08-02 | 2014-02-13 | 삼성디스플레이 주식회사 | Organic light emitting display device with enhanced light efficiency and manufacturing method thereof |
KR101960402B1 (en) * | 2012-08-03 | 2019-03-20 | 쑤저우 에스브이쥐 옵트로닉스 테크놀러지 컴퍼니 리미티드 | Colored, dynamic, and amplified safety film |
EP4282665A1 (en) | 2012-08-17 | 2023-11-29 | Visual Physics, LLC | A process for transferring microstructures to a final substrate |
CN104838304B (en) * | 2012-09-05 | 2017-09-26 | 卢门科有限责任公司 | Pixel-map, arrangement and imaging for realizing total volume 3D and multi-direction motion based on circular and square microlens array |
WO2014051518A1 (en) * | 2012-09-25 | 2014-04-03 | Temasek Polytechnic | Security film for revealing a passcode |
US9052518B2 (en) * | 2012-11-30 | 2015-06-09 | Lumenco, Llc | Slant lens interlacing with linearly arranged sets of lenses |
DE102013000717A1 (en) * | 2013-01-17 | 2014-07-17 | Bayer Material Science Ag | Datasheet for a security and / or value document |
GB2510381B (en) | 2013-02-01 | 2015-11-04 | Rue De Int Ltd | Security devices and methods of manufacture thereof |
EP2885135B1 (en) * | 2013-02-12 | 2018-01-10 | Sectago GmbH | Security device |
EP2767395A1 (en) * | 2013-02-15 | 2014-08-20 | KBA-NotaSys SA | Substrate for security papers and method of manufacturing the same |
US10358569B2 (en) | 2013-03-15 | 2019-07-23 | South Dakota Board Of Regents | Systems and methods for printing patterns using near infrared upconverting inks |
US20140265301A1 (en) | 2013-03-15 | 2014-09-18 | 3M Innovative Properties Company | Security feature utlizing hinge material and biodata page |
US9873281B2 (en) | 2013-06-13 | 2018-01-23 | Visual Physics, Llc | Single layer image projection film |
US20140367957A1 (en) * | 2013-06-13 | 2014-12-18 | Ad Lucem Corp. | Moiré magnification systems |
DE102013009972A1 (en) | 2013-06-14 | 2014-12-18 | Giesecke & Devrient Gmbh | security element |
KR101466833B1 (en) * | 2013-07-08 | 2014-11-28 | 코닝정밀소재 주식회사 | Light extraction substrate for oled, method of fabricating thereof and oled including the same |
AU2014315695B2 (en) * | 2013-09-04 | 2018-11-01 | Lumenco, Llc | Pixel mapping and printing for micro lens arrays to achieve dual-axis activation of images |
MY175647A (en) * | 2013-10-11 | 2020-07-03 | Chow Tai Fook Jewellery Co Ltd | Method of providing markings to precious stones including gemstones and diamonds, and markings and marked precious stones marked according to such a method |
US9498382B2 (en) * | 2013-10-29 | 2016-11-22 | Oberon Company Div Paramount Corp. | Grey compounded infrared absorbing faceshield |
KR20150059494A (en) * | 2013-11-22 | 2015-06-01 | 삼성전자주식회사 | Method of manufacturing optical film for reducing color shift, organic light emitting display employing the optical film and method of manufacturing the organic light emitting display |
CN107329259B (en) | 2013-11-27 | 2019-10-11 | 奇跃公司 | Virtual and augmented reality System and method for |
US10207531B2 (en) | 2013-12-02 | 2019-02-19 | SECTAG GmbH | Security device |
WO2015084872A2 (en) | 2013-12-03 | 2015-06-11 | Crane & Co., Inc. | A security sheet or document having one or more enhanced watermarks |
US10388098B2 (en) * | 2014-02-07 | 2019-08-20 | Korea Institute Of Machinery & Materials | Apparatus and method of processing anti-counterfeiting pattern, and apparatus and method of detecting anti-counterfeiting pattern |
US9348069B2 (en) * | 2014-03-19 | 2016-05-24 | Nike, Inc. | Article having a plurality of optical structures |
US10766292B2 (en) | 2014-03-27 | 2020-09-08 | Crane & Co., Inc. | Optical device that provides flicker-like optical effects |
DE102014004941A1 (en) | 2014-04-04 | 2015-10-08 | Giesecke & Devrient Gmbh | Security element for security papers, documents of value or the like |
US9691211B2 (en) * | 2014-07-03 | 2017-06-27 | Seiko Epson Corporation | Image processing apparatus, image processing method, and program |
GB201413473D0 (en) * | 2014-07-30 | 2014-09-10 | Rue De Int Ltd | Security device and method of manufacture thereof |
DE102014011425A1 (en) | 2014-07-31 | 2016-02-04 | Giesecke & Devrient Gmbh | Security element for the production of value documents |
AU2015317844B2 (en) | 2014-09-16 | 2019-07-18 | Crane Security Technologies, Inc. | Secure lens layer |
CN106715603B (en) * | 2014-10-03 | 2020-05-19 | 恩图鲁斯特咨询卡有限公司 | Surface covering film supply, surface covering layer, plastic card |
DE102014018512A1 (en) * | 2014-12-12 | 2016-06-16 | Giesecke & Devrient Gmbh | Optically variable security element |
US9595126B2 (en) | 2014-12-15 | 2017-03-14 | Konan Medical Usa, Inc. | Visual function targeting using randomized, dynamic, contrasting features |
DE102014018551A1 (en) | 2014-12-15 | 2016-06-16 | Giesecke & Devrient Gmbh | value document |
CN113230021A (en) | 2015-01-12 | 2021-08-10 | 科达莱昂治疗公司 | Droplet delivery apparatus and method |
US10295815B2 (en) | 2015-02-09 | 2019-05-21 | Arizona Board Of Regents On Behalf Of The University Of Arizona | Augmented stereoscopic microscopy |
EP3256642A1 (en) | 2015-02-11 | 2017-12-20 | Crane & Co., Inc. | Method for the surface application of a security device to a substrate |
WO2016134339A1 (en) * | 2015-02-19 | 2016-08-25 | South Dakota Board Of Regents | Reader apparatus for upconverting nanoparticle ink printed images |
CN107614281A (en) * | 2015-05-21 | 2018-01-19 | Ccl证券私人有限公司 | Combine lenticule Optical devices |
IL295566B2 (en) | 2015-06-15 | 2024-01-01 | Magic Leap Inc | Display system with optical elements for in-coupling multiplexed light streams |
EP3109060B1 (en) * | 2015-06-23 | 2018-08-15 | Hueck Folien Gesellschaft m.b.H. | Safety element and method for manufacturing a safety element |
WO2017005206A1 (en) * | 2015-07-08 | 2017-01-12 | 昇印光电(昆山)股份有限公司 | Optical film |
US11143794B2 (en) | 2015-07-08 | 2021-10-12 | Shine Optoelectronics (Kunshan) Co., Ltd | Optical film |
MA42906A (en) | 2015-07-10 | 2018-05-16 | De La Rue Int Ltd | METHOD OF MANUFACTURING A PATTERN IN OR ON A SUPPORT |
CZ307164B6 (en) * | 2015-08-20 | 2018-02-14 | Petr Sobotka | The method of transferring digital currency encryption keys based on the procedure for issuing, authenticating and disabling the physical carrier with multifactor authorization and the physical carrier of encryption keys for the digital currency for implementing this method |
WO2017033553A1 (en) * | 2015-08-25 | 2017-03-02 | ソニー株式会社 | Illumination device |
CN108349289B (en) | 2015-08-27 | 2022-05-13 | 克瑞尼安全技术股份有限公司 | Single or double transfer process for preparing a clearly defined single element and transferring it to an object to be protected, pre-patch transfer sheet and method for preparing same |
KR102486430B1 (en) * | 2015-09-25 | 2023-01-10 | 엘지이노텍 주식회사 | Imaging processing apparatus |
US20170123112A1 (en) * | 2015-10-28 | 2017-05-04 | Joel Scott Scarbrough | Multilayered Press Stable Lens Array Film |
KR101837710B1 (en) * | 2015-11-27 | 2018-03-13 | 한국과학기술연구원 | anti-counterfeiting and re-use prevention structure, a method for manufacturing the same and method for discriminating the re-use and anti-counterfeiting using the same |
ES2860910T5 (en) * | 2015-12-18 | 2024-06-03 | Visual Physics Llc | Single Layer Imaging Film |
DE102015016751A1 (en) | 2015-12-23 | 2017-06-29 | Giesecke & Devrient Gmbh | Security element for security papers, documents of value or the like |
KR101644830B1 (en) * | 2016-01-29 | 2016-08-11 | 주식회사 우리옵토 | Security image film manufacturing method with micron unit of thickness based on micro-lenz |
CN107219570A (en) * | 2016-03-22 | 2017-09-29 | 昇印光电(昆山)股份有限公司 | Optical imaging film and preparation method thereof |
WO2017163778A1 (en) * | 2016-03-23 | 2017-09-28 | 株式会社エンプラス | Marker |
US20220221735A1 (en) * | 2020-10-21 | 2022-07-14 | Wavefront Technology, Inc. | Optical switch devices |
DE102016109193A1 (en) * | 2016-05-19 | 2017-11-23 | Ovd Kinegram Ag | Method for producing security elements with a lenticular flip |
IL245932A (en) * | 2016-05-30 | 2017-10-31 | Elbit Systems Land & C4I Ltd | System for object authenticity detection including a reference image acquisition module and a user module and methods therefor |
WO2017206724A1 (en) * | 2016-05-31 | 2017-12-07 | 昇印光电(昆山)股份有限公司 | Decorative member, cover plate for electronic apparatus, and electronic apparatus |
US10551596B2 (en) | 2016-06-29 | 2020-02-04 | Ams Sensors Singapore Pte. Ltd. | Optical and optoelectronic assemblies including micro-spacers, and methods of manufacturing the same |
BR112019003187A2 (en) | 2016-08-15 | 2019-06-18 | Visual Physics Llc | security device and its production method, security label and its production method and secure document |
RU2639791C1 (en) * | 2016-10-10 | 2017-12-22 | Михаил Николаевич Оверченко | Marking additive to explosive, method of its preparation, method for determination of explosive origin |
EP3555700B1 (en) | 2016-12-14 | 2023-09-13 | Magic Leap, Inc. | Patterning of liquid crystals using soft-imprint replication of surface alignment patterns |
WO2018119276A1 (en) | 2016-12-22 | 2018-06-28 | Magic Leap, Inc. | Systems and methods for manipulating light from ambient light sources |
CA3039106A1 (en) | 2017-01-20 | 2018-07-26 | Kedalion Therapeutics, Inc. | Piezoelectric fluid dispenser |
GB2563187B (en) * | 2017-02-03 | 2020-07-22 | De La Rue Int Ltd | Method of forming a security sheet substrate |
RU2019128200A (en) | 2017-02-10 | 2021-03-10 | Крейн Энд Ко., Инк. | ANTI-BORROWING SECURITY ELEMENT FOR AUTHENTICATION WITH MACHINE-RECOGNIZABLE SIGNS |
CN108454265B (en) | 2017-02-20 | 2023-09-08 | 中钞特种防伪科技有限公司 | Anti-counterfeiting element and optical anti-counterfeiting product |
EA030058B1 (en) * | 2017-03-15 | 2018-06-29 | Общество С Ограниченной Ответственностью "Центр Компьютерной Голографии" | Microoptical system for formation of visual images with kinematic motion effects |
DE102017106433A1 (en) | 2017-03-24 | 2018-09-27 | Ovd Kinegram Ag | Security element and method for producing a security element |
US10189626B2 (en) * | 2017-05-23 | 2019-01-29 | Reuben Bahar | Package handling system |
JP7171621B2 (en) | 2017-06-05 | 2022-11-15 | クレイン アンド カンパニー、 インコーポレイテッド | Optical device providing flicker-like optical effect |
US11647906B2 (en) * | 2017-08-03 | 2023-05-16 | Michal Pawel Kasprzak | Dermoscope and methods |
AU2017101291B4 (en) * | 2017-09-21 | 2018-03-08 | Ccl Secure Pty Ltd | Optically variable three dimensional moiré device |
GB2566944B (en) * | 2017-09-26 | 2022-08-03 | De La Rue Int Ltd | Method of forming microimage elements |
EP3715117B1 (en) | 2017-09-29 | 2024-03-06 | NIKE Innovate C.V. | Structurally-colored textile articles and methods for making structurally-colored textile articles |
KR102012836B1 (en) * | 2017-11-16 | 2019-08-22 | (주)엔피케미칼 | Window film unit for a mobile type electric device and method for fabricating the same |
CN111699417B (en) * | 2017-12-14 | 2022-04-29 | 唯亚威通讯技术有限公司 | Optical system |
CN108254938B (en) * | 2018-01-23 | 2020-11-06 | 浙江理工大学 | Double imaging method and system of Fourier transform array and application thereof |
KR101945961B1 (en) * | 2018-03-19 | 2019-02-08 | 그린비월드(주) | Slim type 3-dimensional film and method thereof |
US10875094B2 (en) * | 2018-03-29 | 2020-12-29 | Vulcanforms Inc. | Additive manufacturing systems and methods |
GB201807979D0 (en) * | 2018-05-16 | 2018-07-04 | Optrical Ltd | Improvements in and relating to tamper-evident devices |
CN111761962B (en) * | 2018-07-20 | 2021-07-23 | 安徽原上草节能环保科技有限公司 | Security element |
CA3103997A1 (en) * | 2018-08-13 | 2020-02-20 | Crane & Co., Inc. | Lens-less micro-optic film |
KR102639539B1 (en) * | 2018-11-05 | 2024-02-26 | 삼성전자주식회사 | Image sensor and method of forming the same |
EP3894915A4 (en) | 2018-12-14 | 2022-08-17 | 3M Innovative Properties Company | Liquid crystal display having a frontside light control film |
JP7308269B2 (en) * | 2018-12-27 | 2023-07-13 | クレイン アンド カンパニー、 インコーポレイテッド | Surface-attached micro-optical anti-counterfeiting security device |
CN109752862B (en) * | 2019-01-10 | 2022-03-29 | 浙江理工大学 | Color image |
US11679028B2 (en) | 2019-03-06 | 2023-06-20 | Novartis Ag | Multi-dose ocular fluid delivery system |
US12097145B2 (en) | 2019-03-06 | 2024-09-24 | Bausch + Lomb Ireland Limited | Vented multi-dose ocular fluid delivery system |
CN111716939B (en) * | 2019-03-19 | 2021-10-26 | 中钞特种防伪科技有限公司 | Optical anti-counterfeiting element and optical anti-counterfeiting product |
CN109870821A (en) * | 2019-04-03 | 2019-06-11 | 冯煜 | A kind of focusing structure and the method for realizing naked eye 3D display |
WO2020237259A1 (en) | 2019-05-20 | 2020-11-26 | Crane & Co., Inc. | Use of nanoparticles to tune index of refraction of layers of a polymeric matrix to optimize microoptic (mo) focus |
EP3969947A1 (en) | 2019-06-26 | 2022-03-23 | Nike Innovate C.V. | Structurally-colored articles and methods for making and using structurally-colored articles |
CN114206149A (en) | 2019-07-26 | 2022-03-18 | 耐克创新有限合伙公司 | Structurally colored articles and methods for making and using same |
US11186113B2 (en) | 2019-08-13 | 2021-11-30 | Thales Dis France Sa | Integrated floating image for security documents |
CN112505938B (en) * | 2019-08-26 | 2022-07-05 | 昇印光电(昆山)股份有限公司 | Stereo imaging film |
KR102264589B1 (en) * | 2019-09-09 | 2021-06-11 | 안병학 | Product Of Lenticular Transferring Printed Matter Heat-Adhered By Hot-Melt Resin |
CN112572019B (en) * | 2019-09-30 | 2022-03-01 | 中钞特种防伪科技有限公司 | Optical anti-counterfeiting element and anti-counterfeiting product |
CN114599247A (en) | 2019-10-21 | 2022-06-07 | 耐克创新有限合伙公司 | Article with coloured structure |
JP7240678B2 (en) * | 2019-11-18 | 2023-03-16 | 独立行政法人 国立印刷局 | Glittering animated pattern |
CN112848744B (en) * | 2019-11-28 | 2022-04-29 | 中钞特种防伪科技有限公司 | Optical anti-counterfeiting element and anti-counterfeiting product |
CA3164980A1 (en) * | 2019-12-18 | 2021-06-24 | Crane & Co., Inc. | Micro-optic security device with phase aligned image layers |
WO2021151459A1 (en) | 2020-01-27 | 2021-08-05 | Orell Füssli AG | Security document with lightguide having a sparse outcoupler structure |
US11938057B2 (en) | 2020-04-17 | 2024-03-26 | Bausch + Lomb Ireland Limited | Hydrodynamically actuated preservative free dispensing system |
WO2021212038A1 (en) | 2020-04-17 | 2021-10-21 | Kedalion Therapeutics, Inc. | Hydrodynamically actuated preservative free dispensing system having a collapsible liquid reservoir |
US11925577B2 (en) | 2020-04-17 | 2024-03-12 | Bausch + Lomb Ireland Limted | Hydrodynamically actuated preservative free dispensing system |
CN111572235B (en) * | 2020-05-21 | 2021-09-14 | 苏州大学 | Hidden stereoscopic imaging film |
EP4117932B1 (en) | 2020-05-29 | 2023-09-13 | Nike Innovate C.V. | Structurally-colored articles and methods for making and using structurally-colored articles |
JP2023531349A (en) | 2020-05-29 | 2023-07-24 | アンビライト・インコーポレイテッド | Electrochromic device based on two color layers and method of manufacturing the electrochromic device |
US11129444B1 (en) | 2020-08-07 | 2021-09-28 | Nike, Inc. | Footwear article having repurposed material with concealing layer |
US11889894B2 (en) | 2020-08-07 | 2024-02-06 | Nike, Inc. | Footwear article having concealing layer |
US11241062B1 (en) | 2020-08-07 | 2022-02-08 | Nike, Inc. | Footwear article having repurposed material with structural-color concealing layer |
WO2022036012A1 (en) * | 2020-08-12 | 2022-02-17 | Dolby Laboratories Licensing Corporation | Moire reduction with controlled perforation location |
KR20230092874A (en) * | 2020-10-22 | 2023-06-26 | 엘지전자 주식회사 | Cover glass, cover glass manufacturing method and mobile terminal |
CN114537015B (en) | 2020-11-24 | 2023-03-31 | 中钞特种防伪科技有限公司 | Optical anti-fake element and product thereof |
GB2592719B (en) * | 2020-12-15 | 2024-01-17 | Koenig & Bauer Banknote Solutions Sa | Methods for designing and producing a security feature |
DE102021000879A1 (en) | 2021-02-19 | 2022-08-25 | Giesecke+Devrient Currency Technology Gmbh | Process for producing a security element with microimaging elements |
EP4067102A1 (en) * | 2021-04-02 | 2022-10-05 | Kaunas University of Technology | An optical device with ordered scatterer arrays for secure identity and a method of producing the same |
EP4347271B1 (en) * | 2021-05-31 | 2024-10-09 | OVD Kinegram AG | Functional element, a method for producing a functional element, and a product |
TWI836532B (en) * | 2022-07-28 | 2024-03-21 | 達運精密工業股份有限公司 | Floating display device |
Family Cites Families (144)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
US992151A (en) | 1909-02-04 | 1911-05-16 | Rodolphe Berthon | Apparatus for color photography. |
US1824353A (en) | 1926-12-15 | 1931-09-22 | Jensen Rasmus Olaf Jonas | Screen for showing projected images in lighted rooms and for shortexposure photography |
US1849036A (en) | 1926-12-23 | 1932-03-08 | Victor C Ernst | Photographic process and auxiliary element therefor |
US1942841A (en) | 1931-01-19 | 1934-01-09 | Shimizu Takeo | Daylight screen |
US2268351A (en) | 1938-08-25 | 1941-12-30 | Tanaka Nawokich | Means for presenting pictures in apparent three dimensions |
US2355902A (en) | 1941-04-10 | 1944-08-15 | Photoplating Company | Sign with animated effect |
US2432896A (en) | 1945-03-12 | 1947-12-16 | Hotchner Fred | Retroreflective animation display |
NL110404C (en) | 1955-03-29 | |||
US2888855A (en) | 1956-08-23 | 1959-06-02 | Tanaka Nawokich | Means for presenting pictures in three dimensional effect |
US3122853A (en) | 1961-08-10 | 1964-03-03 | John C Koonz | Fishing lure |
US3264164A (en) | 1962-04-30 | 1966-08-02 | Toscony Inc | Color dynamic, three-dimensional flexible film and method of making it |
US3241429A (en) | 1962-05-14 | 1966-03-22 | Pid Corp | Pictorial parallax panoramagram units |
US3357772A (en) | 1963-02-27 | 1967-12-12 | Rowland Products Inc | Phased lenticular sheets for optical effects |
GB1095286A (en) | 1963-07-08 | 1967-12-13 | Portals Ltd | Security device for use in security papers |
US3312006A (en) | 1964-03-11 | 1967-04-04 | Rowland Products Inc | Motion displays |
US3463581A (en) | 1966-01-17 | 1969-08-26 | Intermountain Res & Eng | System for three-dimensional panoramic static-image motion pictures |
US3811213A (en) | 1968-11-17 | 1974-05-21 | Photo Motion Corp | Moire motion illusion apparatus and method |
JPS4941718B1 (en) * | 1968-12-30 | 1974-11-11 | ||
US3643361A (en) | 1969-11-17 | 1972-02-22 | Photo Motion Corp | Moire motion illusion apparatus |
BE789941A (en) | 1971-04-21 | 1973-02-01 | Waly Adnan | MINIATURIZED IMAGE RECORDING AND PLAYBACK SYSTEM |
US4025673A (en) * | 1972-04-13 | 1977-05-24 | Reinnagel Richard E | Method of forming copy resistant documents by forming an orderly array of fibers extending upward from a surface, coating the fibers and printing the coated fibers and the copy resistant document resulting from said method |
US4105318A (en) | 1974-05-30 | 1978-08-08 | Izon Corporation | Pinhole microfiche recorder and viewer |
US4185191A (en) | 1978-06-05 | 1980-01-22 | Honeywell Inc. | Range determination system |
US4498736A (en) | 1981-02-02 | 1985-02-12 | Griffin Robert B | Method and apparatus for producing visual patterns with lenticular sheets |
US4892385A (en) | 1981-02-19 | 1990-01-09 | General Electric Company | Sheet-material authenticated item with reflective-diffractive authenticating device |
US4417784A (en) * | 1981-02-19 | 1983-11-29 | Rca Corporation | Multiple image encoding using surface relief structures as authenticating device for sheet-material authenticated item |
US4345833A (en) * | 1981-02-23 | 1982-08-24 | American Optical Corporation | Lens array |
DE3211102A1 (en) * | 1982-03-25 | 1983-10-06 | Schwarz Klaus Billett Automat | METHOD FOR AUTHENTICITY CONTROL OF PAPER SECTIONS AND USE OF A COLOR REACTION SYSTEM SUITABLE FOR THIS |
US4814594A (en) * | 1982-11-22 | 1989-03-21 | Drexler Technology Corporation | Updatable micrographic pocket data card |
US4645301A (en) | 1983-02-07 | 1987-02-24 | Minnesota Mining And Manufacturing Company | Transparent sheet containing authenticating image and method of making same |
US4634220A (en) | 1983-02-07 | 1987-01-06 | Minnesota Mining And Manufacturing Company | Directionally imaged sheeting |
US4507349A (en) | 1983-05-16 | 1985-03-26 | Howard A. Fromson | Security medium and secure articles and methods of making same |
NL8400868A (en) | 1984-03-19 | 1984-10-01 | Philips Nv | LAYERED OPTICAL COMPONENT. |
US4534398A (en) | 1984-04-30 | 1985-08-13 | Crane & Co. | Security paper |
US4691993A (en) | 1985-05-13 | 1987-09-08 | Minnesota Mining And Manufacturing Company | Transparent sheets containing directional images and method for forming the same |
US4662651A (en) * | 1985-05-31 | 1987-05-05 | The Standard Register Company | Document protection using multicolor characters |
DE3687560D1 (en) * | 1985-10-15 | 1993-03-04 | Gao Ges Automation Org | DATA CARRIER WITH AN OPTICAL AUTHENTICITY CHARACTER, AND METHOD FOR PRODUCING AND CHECKING THE DATA CARRIER. |
US4920039A (en) | 1986-01-06 | 1990-04-24 | Dennison Manufacturing Company | Multiple imaging |
DE3609090A1 (en) * | 1986-03-18 | 1987-09-24 | Gao Ges Automation Org | SECURITY PAPER WITH SECURED THREAD STORED IN IT AND METHOD FOR THE PRODUCTION THEREOF |
DE3741179A1 (en) | 1987-12-04 | 1989-06-15 | Gao Ges Automation Org | DOCUMENT WITH FALSE-PROOF SURFACE RELIEF AND METHOD FOR PRODUCING THE SAME |
DK0723875T3 (en) | 1989-01-31 | 2001-12-27 | Dainippon Printing Co Ltd | Methods for providing heat transfer records and heat transfer image receiving sheets |
JPH0355501A (en) | 1989-07-25 | 1991-03-11 | Nippon Sheet Glass Co Ltd | Lens array plate |
US5085514A (en) * | 1989-08-29 | 1992-02-04 | American Bank Note Holographics, Inc. | Technique of forming a separate information bearing printed pattern on replicas of a hologram or other surface relief diffraction pattern |
US5695346A (en) | 1989-12-07 | 1997-12-09 | Yoshi Sekiguchi | Process and display with moveable images |
US5044707A (en) † | 1990-01-25 | 1991-09-03 | American Bank Note Holographics, Inc. | Holograms with discontinuous metallization including alpha-numeric shapes |
US6870681B1 (en) | 1992-09-21 | 2005-03-22 | University Of Arkansas, N.A. | Directional image transmission sheet and method of making same |
US6724536B2 (en) | 1990-05-18 | 2004-04-20 | University Of Arkansas | Directional image lenticular window sheet |
US5232764A (en) | 1990-06-04 | 1993-08-03 | Meiwa Gravure Co., Ltd. | Synthetic resin pattern sheet |
US5254390B1 (en) | 1990-11-15 | 1999-05-18 | Minnesota Mining & Mfg | Plano-convex base sheet for retroreflective articles |
GB9106128D0 (en) | 1991-03-22 | 1991-05-08 | Amblehurst Ltd | Article |
GB9113462D0 (en) * | 1991-06-21 | 1991-08-07 | Pizzanelli David J | Laser-activated bar-code holograms and bar-code recognition system |
US5384861A (en) | 1991-06-24 | 1995-01-24 | Picker International, Inc. | Multi-parameter image display with real time interpolation |
US5538753A (en) † | 1991-10-14 | 1996-07-23 | Landis & Gyr Betriebs Ag | Security element |
DK95292D0 (en) | 1992-07-23 | 1992-07-23 | Frithioff Johansen | PROCEDURE AND DISPLAY TO PROVIDE AN ENLARGED PICTURE OF A TWO-DIMENSIONAL PERIODIC PICTURE PATTERN |
US5359454A (en) | 1992-08-18 | 1994-10-25 | Applied Physics Research, L.P. | Apparatus for providing autostereoscopic and dynamic images |
DE4243987C2 (en) * | 1992-12-23 | 2003-10-09 | Gao Ges Automation Org | ID cards with visually visible authenticity |
GB9309673D0 (en) | 1993-05-11 | 1993-06-23 | De La Rue Holographics Ltd | Security device |
US5393590A (en) * | 1993-07-07 | 1995-02-28 | Minnesota Mining And Manufacturing Company | Hot stamping foil |
US5555476A (en) | 1993-08-30 | 1996-09-10 | Toray Industries, Inc. | Microlens array sheet for a liquid crystal display, method for attaching the same and liquid crystal display equipped with the same |
DE69432080T2 (en) | 1993-09-30 | 2004-01-22 | Grapac Japan Co., Inc. | METHOD FOR PRODUCING A LENS AND ITEM WITH A LENS, ITEM WITH LENS AND RESIN COMPOSITION THAT MAKES A SEPARATION |
US6345104B1 (en) | 1994-03-17 | 2002-02-05 | Digimarc Corporation | Digital watermarks and methods for security documents |
US5598281A (en) | 1993-11-19 | 1997-01-28 | Alliedsignal Inc. | Backlight assembly for improved illumination employing tapered optical elements |
DE4344553A1 (en) | 1993-12-24 | 1995-06-29 | Giesecke & Devrient Gmbh | Security paper with a thread-like or ribbon-shaped security element and method for producing the same |
GB9400942D0 (en) | 1994-01-19 | 1994-03-16 | De La Rue Thomas & Co Ltd | Copy indicating security device |
US5464690A (en) | 1994-04-04 | 1995-11-07 | Novavision, Inc. | Holographic document and method for forming |
US5933276A (en) | 1994-04-13 | 1999-08-03 | Board Of Trustees, University Of Arkansas, N.A. | Aberration-free directional image window sheet |
FR2722303B1 (en) | 1994-07-07 | 1996-09-06 | Corning Inc | METHOD AND DEVICE FOR MANUFACTURING OPTICAL MICROLENTIAL NETWORKS |
US5642226A (en) | 1995-01-18 | 1997-06-24 | Rosenthal; Bruce A. | Lenticular optical system |
US5604635A (en) | 1995-03-08 | 1997-02-18 | Brown University Research Foundation | Microlenses and other optical elements fabricated by laser heating of semiconductor doped and other absorbing glasses |
DE69632863T2 (en) * | 1995-08-01 | 2004-11-18 | Boris Iliich Belousov | TAPE DATA CARRIER, METHOD AND DEVICE FOR PRODUCING THE SAME |
US5886798A (en) | 1995-08-21 | 1999-03-23 | Landis & Gyr Technology Innovation Ag | Information carriers with diffraction structures |
US5995638A (en) | 1995-08-28 | 1999-11-30 | Ecole Polytechnique Federale De Lausanne | Methods and apparatus for authentication of documents by using the intensity profile of moire patterns |
DE19541064A1 (en) * | 1995-11-03 | 1997-05-07 | Giesecke & Devrient Gmbh | Data carrier with an optically variable element |
US7114750B1 (en) | 1995-11-29 | 2006-10-03 | Graphic Security Systems Corporation | Self-authenticating documents |
JP2761861B2 (en) | 1996-02-06 | 1998-06-04 | 明和グラビア株式会社 | Decorative sheet |
GB2350319B (en) | 1996-06-14 | 2001-01-10 | Rue De Int Ltd | Security printed device |
US6819775B2 (en) | 1996-07-05 | 2004-11-16 | ECOLE POLYTECHNIQUE FéDéRALE DE LAUSANNE | Authentication of documents and valuable articles by using moire intensity profiles |
RU2111125C1 (en) | 1996-08-14 | 1998-05-20 | Молохина Лариса Аркадьевна | Decorative base for personal visiting, business or identification card, souvenir or congratulatory card, or illustration, or monetary document |
AUPO289296A0 (en) | 1996-10-10 | 1996-10-31 | Securency Pty Ltd | Self-verifying security documents |
KR100194536B1 (en) | 1996-10-17 | 1999-06-15 | 김충환 | 3D effect handbill and its manufacturing method |
US6060143A (en) * | 1996-11-14 | 2000-05-09 | Ovd Kinegram Ag | Optical information carrier |
US6144795A (en) † | 1996-12-13 | 2000-11-07 | Corning Incorporated | Hybrid organic-inorganic planar optical waveguide device |
US6362868B1 (en) | 1997-07-15 | 2002-03-26 | Silverbrook Research Pty Ltd. | Print media roll and ink replaceable cartridge |
AUPP044197A0 (en) | 1997-11-19 | 1997-12-11 | Securency Pty Ltd | Moire security device |
JP3131771B2 (en) | 1997-12-26 | 2001-02-05 | 明和グラビア株式会社 | Decorative sheet with three-dimensional effect |
DE19804858A1 (en) | 1998-01-30 | 1999-08-05 | Ralf Dr Paugstadt | Methods and devices for producing lenticular alternating images |
DE19825950C1 (en) | 1998-06-12 | 2000-02-17 | Armin Grasnick | Arrangement for three-dimensional representation |
US6256149B1 (en) | 1998-09-28 | 2001-07-03 | Richard W. Rolfe | Lenticular lens sheet and method of making |
US6301363B1 (en) | 1998-10-26 | 2001-10-09 | The Standard Register Company | Security document including subtle image and system and method for viewing the same |
US6350036B1 (en) * | 1998-10-30 | 2002-02-26 | Avery Dennison Corporation | Retroreflective sheeting containing a validation image and methods of making the same |
GB9828770D0 (en) | 1998-12-29 | 1999-02-17 | Rue De Int Ltd | Security paper |
JP2000256994A (en) | 1999-03-10 | 2000-09-19 | Tokushu Paper Mfg Co Ltd | Windowed thread paper |
JP3505617B2 (en) | 1999-06-09 | 2004-03-08 | ヤマックス株式会社 | Virtual image appearance decoration |
DE19932240B4 (en) | 1999-07-10 | 2005-09-01 | Bundesdruckerei Gmbh | Optically variable displayable / concealable security elements for value and security documents |
US6751024B1 (en) | 1999-07-22 | 2004-06-15 | Bruce A. Rosenthal | Lenticular optical system |
GB9917442D0 (en) * | 1999-07-23 | 1999-09-29 | Rue De Int Ltd | Security device |
CN1222811C (en) | 1999-09-30 | 2005-10-12 | 皇家菲利浦电子有限公司 | Lenticular device |
DE69917947T2 (en) | 1999-11-29 | 2005-07-21 | Ecole polytechnique fédérale de Lausanne (EPFL) | NEW METHOD AND DEVICE FOR AUTHENTICATING DOCUMENTS BY APPLYING THE INTENSITY PROFILE OF MOIREMUSTER |
JP2001187496A (en) * | 1999-12-28 | 2001-07-10 | Toppan Forms Co Ltd | Method for forming forgery preventing sheet and forgery preventing sheet |
EP1849620B1 (en) | 2000-01-21 | 2016-03-23 | Viavi Solutions Inc. | Optically variable security devices |
US20010048968A1 (en) | 2000-02-16 | 2001-12-06 | Cox W. Royall | Ink-jet printing of gradient-index microlenses |
US7068434B2 (en) | 2000-02-22 | 2006-06-27 | 3M Innovative Properties Company | Sheeting with composite image that floats |
US6288842B1 (en) | 2000-02-22 | 2001-09-11 | 3M Innovative Properties | Sheeting with composite image that floats |
EP1272873A2 (en) | 2000-03-17 | 2003-01-08 | Zograph, LLC | High acuity lens system |
US7254265B2 (en) | 2000-04-01 | 2007-08-07 | Newsight Corporation | Methods and systems for 2D/3D image conversion and optimization |
GB2362493B (en) | 2000-04-04 | 2004-05-12 | Floating Images Ltd | Advertising hoarding,billboard or poster with high visual impact |
JP4013450B2 (en) * | 2000-05-16 | 2007-11-28 | 凸版印刷株式会社 | Dot pattern display medium and manufacturing method thereof |
GB0013379D0 (en) | 2000-06-01 | 2000-07-26 | Optaglio Ltd | Label and method of forming the same |
US6424467B1 (en) | 2000-09-05 | 2002-07-23 | National Graphics, Inc. | High definition lenticular lens |
US6500526B1 (en) | 2000-09-28 | 2002-12-31 | Avery Dennison Corporation | Retroreflective sheeting containing a validation image and methods of making the same |
ES2273883T3 (en) * | 2000-10-05 | 2007-05-16 | Trub Ag | SUPPORT FOR DATA RECORDING. |
EP1346315A4 (en) | 2000-11-02 | 2008-06-04 | Taylor Corp | Lenticular card and processes for making |
JP2002169223A (en) † | 2000-11-29 | 2002-06-14 | Mitsubishi Rayon Co Ltd | Manufacturing method of lenticular lens sheet |
US6795250B2 (en) | 2000-12-29 | 2004-09-21 | Lenticlear Lenticular Lens, Inc. | Lenticular lens array |
US6833960B1 (en) | 2001-03-05 | 2004-12-21 | Serigraph Inc. | Lenticular imaging system |
US20030205895A1 (en) * | 2001-03-27 | 2003-11-06 | Scarbrough Joel Scott | Reflective printed article and method of manufacturing same |
US6726858B2 (en) | 2001-06-13 | 2004-04-27 | Ferro Corporation | Method of forming lenticular sheets |
GB0117391D0 (en) | 2001-07-17 | 2001-09-05 | Optaglio Ltd | Optical device and method of manufacture |
JP2003039583A (en) | 2001-07-27 | 2003-02-13 | Meiwa Gravure Co Ltd | Decorative sheet |
US7030997B2 (en) | 2001-09-11 | 2006-04-18 | The Regents Of The University Of California | Characterizing aberrations in an imaging lens and applications to visual testing and integrated circuit mask analysis |
JP3909238B2 (en) * | 2001-11-30 | 2007-04-25 | 日本写真印刷株式会社 | Printed matter with micropattern |
WO2003052680A1 (en) * | 2001-12-18 | 2003-06-26 | Digimarc Id System, Llc | Multiple image security features for identification documents and methods of making same |
US7221512B2 (en) * | 2002-01-24 | 2007-05-22 | Nanoventions, Inc. | Light control material for displaying color information, and images |
GB0201767D0 (en) * | 2002-01-25 | 2002-03-13 | Rue De Int Ltd | Improvements in methods of manufacturing substrates |
US6856462B1 (en) | 2002-03-05 | 2005-02-15 | Serigraph Inc. | Lenticular imaging system and method of manufacturing same |
EP1511620A4 (en) | 2002-05-17 | 2009-08-05 | Visual Physics Llc | Microstructured taggant particles, applications and methods of making the same |
US6983048B2 (en) * | 2002-06-06 | 2006-01-03 | Graphic Security Systems Corporation | Multi-section decoding lens |
US6935756B2 (en) | 2002-06-11 | 2005-08-30 | 3M Innovative Properties Company | Retroreflective articles having moire-like pattern |
US7058202B2 (en) | 2002-06-28 | 2006-06-06 | Ecole polytechnique fédérale de Lausanne (EPFL) | Authentication with built-in encryption by using moire intensity profiles between random layers |
MXPA05001528A (en) * | 2002-08-13 | 2005-04-11 | Giesecke & Devrient Gmbh | Data carrier comprising an optically variable structure. |
US7194105B2 (en) | 2002-10-16 | 2007-03-20 | Hersch Roger D | Authentication of documents and articles by moiré patterns |
US7751608B2 (en) * | 2004-06-30 | 2010-07-06 | Ecole Polytechnique Federale De Lausanne (Epfl) | Model-based synthesis of band moire images for authenticating security documents and valuable products |
US6803088B2 (en) | 2002-10-24 | 2004-10-12 | Eastman Kodak Company | Reflection media for scannable information system |
JP4023294B2 (en) † | 2002-11-11 | 2007-12-19 | 凸版印刷株式会社 | Method for manufacturing lenticular lens sheet |
JP4391103B2 (en) * | 2003-03-03 | 2009-12-24 | 大日本印刷株式会社 | Authenticator and authenticator label |
US7422781B2 (en) | 2003-04-21 | 2008-09-09 | 3M Innovative Properties Company | Tamper indicating devices and methods for securing information |
US20080130018A1 (en) | 2003-05-19 | 2008-06-05 | Nanoventions, Inc. | Microstructured Taggant Particles, Applications and Methods of Making the Same |
KR20060065731A (en) | 2003-09-22 | 2006-06-14 | 진 돌고프 | Omnidirectional lenticular and barrier-grid image displays and methods for making them |
CA2990275C (en) * | 2003-11-21 | 2023-01-03 | Visual Physics, Llc | Micro-optic security and image presentation system |
US7576918B2 (en) | 2004-07-20 | 2009-08-18 | Pixalen, Llc | Matrical imaging method and apparatus |
US7504147B2 (en) | 2004-07-22 | 2009-03-17 | Avery Dennison Corporation | Retroreflective sheeting with security and/or decorative image |
US20060018021A1 (en) * | 2004-07-26 | 2006-01-26 | Applied Opsec, Inc. | Diffraction-based optical grating structure and method of creating the same |
JP4285373B2 (en) | 2004-09-01 | 2009-06-24 | セイコーエプソン株式会社 | Microlens manufacturing method, microlens and microlens array, and electro-optical device and electronic apparatus |
TWI382239B (en) | 2008-09-12 | 2013-01-11 | Eternal Chemical Co Ltd | Optical film |
-
2006
- 2006-05-18 DK DK06784452.2T patent/DK1893074T3/en active
- 2006-05-18 EP EP11003629.0A patent/EP2365378B1/en active Active
- 2006-05-18 ES ES11008301.1T patent/ES2669531T3/en active Active
- 2006-05-18 ES ES11003629.0T patent/ES2654150T3/en active Active
- 2006-05-18 RU RU2007145611/28A patent/RU2472192C2/en not_active Application Discontinuation
- 2006-05-18 EP EP06784452.2A patent/EP1893074B2/en active Active
- 2006-05-18 EP EP12001223A patent/EP2458423A3/en not_active Withdrawn
- 2006-05-18 EP EP11003627.4A patent/EP2365376B1/en active Active
- 2006-05-18 ES ES12000103T patent/ES2654209T5/en active Active
- 2006-05-18 EP EP11003630.8A patent/EP2400338B9/en active Active
- 2006-05-18 EP EP11003625.8A patent/EP2365374B1/en active Active
- 2006-05-18 MX MX2007014362A patent/MX2007014362A/en active IP Right Grant
- 2006-05-18 KR KR1020077029417A patent/KR101265368B1/en active IP Right Grant
- 2006-05-18 JP JP2008512603A patent/JP5527969B2/en active Active
- 2006-05-18 BR BRPI0610706A patent/BRPI0610706B8/en active IP Right Grant
- 2006-05-18 ES ES06784452T patent/ES2434443T3/en active Active
- 2006-05-18 EP EP13178731.9A patent/EP2660070A1/en not_active Withdrawn
- 2006-05-18 US US11/438,081 patent/US7468842B2/en active Active
- 2006-05-18 EP EP11003626.6A patent/EP2365375B1/en active Active
- 2006-05-18 ES ES11003626.6T patent/ES2644361T3/en active Active
- 2006-05-18 EP EP11008301.1A patent/EP2450735B1/en active Active
- 2006-05-18 EP EP12000103.7A patent/EP2461203B2/en active Active
- 2006-05-18 ES ES11003630.8T patent/ES2563755T3/en active Active
- 2006-05-18 ES ES11003627.4T patent/ES2554859T3/en active Active
- 2006-05-18 EP EP11003628A patent/EP2365377A3/en not_active Withdrawn
- 2006-05-18 WO PCT/US2006/019810 patent/WO2006125224A2/en active Application Filing
- 2006-05-18 AU AU2006246716A patent/AU2006246716C9/en active Active
- 2006-05-18 ES ES11003625T patent/ES2794076T3/en active Active
- 2006-05-18 CA CA2608754A patent/CA2608754C/en active Active
- 2006-05-18 CN CN200680026431.9A patent/CN101379423B/en active Active
-
2007
- 2007-11-18 IL IL187440A patent/IL187440A/en active IP Right Grant
-
2008
- 2008-12-22 US US12/341,702 patent/US8144399B2/en active Active
Non-Patent Citations (1)
Title |
---|
None |
Cited By (106)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
EP1853763B2 (en) † | 2005-02-18 | 2018-06-27 | Giesecke+Devrient Currency Technology GmbH | Security element and method for the production thereof |
US8778481B2 (en) | 2005-02-18 | 2014-07-15 | Giesecke & Devrient Gmbh | Security element and method for the production thereof |
WO2008070401A1 (en) * | 2006-12-04 | 2008-06-12 | 3M Innovative Properties Company | A user interface including composite images that float |
US7800825B2 (en) | 2006-12-04 | 2010-09-21 | 3M Innovative Properties Company | User interface including composite images that float |
EP2164713B1 (en) * | 2007-06-25 | 2016-04-06 | Giesecke & Devrient GmbH | Security element having a magnified, three-dimensional moiré image |
EP2164713A2 (en) * | 2007-06-25 | 2010-03-24 | Giesecke & Devrient GmbH | Security element having a magnified, three-dimensional moiré image |
JP2010533315A (en) * | 2007-07-11 | 2010-10-21 | スリーエム イノベイティブ プロパティズ カンパニー | Sheet with composite image that emerges |
US8526085B2 (en) | 2007-08-22 | 2013-09-03 | Giesecke & Devrient Gmbh | Grid image |
DE102007052009B3 (en) * | 2007-10-27 | 2008-12-04 | Hochschule Bremerhaven | Safety system is based on optical identification of highly specific, spatially appearing microstructures in substrate by micro-optical enlargement system integrated into substrate |
JP2011505595A (en) * | 2007-11-27 | 2011-02-24 | スリーエム イノベイティブ プロパティズ カンパニー | Method for forming sheet having composite image floating and master tool |
WO2009075758A3 (en) * | 2007-12-05 | 2010-01-21 | Eastman Kodak Company | Micro-lens enhanced element |
WO2009075758A2 (en) * | 2007-12-05 | 2009-06-18 | Eastman Kodak Company | Micro-lens enhanced element |
US8906184B2 (en) | 2008-04-02 | 2014-12-09 | Giesecke & Devrient Gmbh | Method for producing a micro-optical display arrangement |
GB2515209B (en) * | 2009-03-04 | 2015-01-28 | Innovia Security Pty Ltd | Improvements in methods for producing lens arrays |
AT510245A5 (en) * | 2009-03-04 | 2022-02-15 | Ccl Secure Pty Ltd | IMPROVEMENTS TO METHODS OF GENERATION OF LENS ARRAYS |
US9442224B2 (en) | 2009-03-04 | 2016-09-13 | Securency International Pty Ltd | Methods for producing lens arrays |
US8537469B2 (en) | 2009-03-04 | 2013-09-17 | Securency International Pty Ltd | Methods for producing lens arrays |
GB2515208A (en) * | 2009-03-04 | 2014-12-17 | Innovia Security Pty Ltd | Improvements in Methods For Producing Lens Arrays |
GB2515209A (en) * | 2009-03-04 | 2014-12-17 | Innovia Security Pty Ltd | Improvements in methods for producing lens arrays |
AT510245B1 (en) * | 2009-03-04 | 2022-05-15 | Ccl Secure Pty Ltd | IMPROVEMENTS TO METHODS OF GENERATION OF LENS ARRAYS |
GB2515208B (en) * | 2009-03-04 | 2015-01-28 | Innovia Security Pty Ltd | Improvements in Methods For Producing Lens Arrays |
US9770934B2 (en) | 2009-07-09 | 2017-09-26 | Ovd Kinegram Ag | Multi-layer body |
US8982231B2 (en) | 2009-07-17 | 2015-03-17 | Arjowiggins Security | Parallax effect security element |
US8848971B2 (en) | 2009-07-17 | 2014-09-30 | Arjowiggins Security | Parallax effect security element |
US9827802B2 (en) | 2009-12-04 | 2017-11-28 | Giesecke+Devrient Currency Technology Gmbh | Security element, value document comprising such a security element, and method for producing such a security element |
US9176266B2 (en) | 2009-12-04 | 2015-11-03 | Giesecke & Devrient Gmbh | Security element, value document comprising such a security element and method for producing such a security element |
US10525758B2 (en) | 2009-12-04 | 2020-01-07 | Giesecke+Devrient Currency Technology Gmbh | Security element, value document comprising such a security element, and method for producing such a security element |
EP2542420B2 (en) † | 2010-03-01 | 2022-06-01 | De La Rue International Limited | Moire magnification device |
US9070237B2 (en) | 2010-03-01 | 2015-06-30 | De La Rue International Limited | Moire magnification device |
EP2542424B2 (en) † | 2010-03-01 | 2022-04-06 | De La Rue International Limited | Moire magnification device |
US8908276B2 (en) | 2010-03-01 | 2014-12-09 | De La Rue International Limited | Moire magnification device |
EP2542425B1 (en) | 2010-03-01 | 2015-10-14 | De La Rue International Limited | Moire magnification device |
US10127755B2 (en) | 2010-03-01 | 2018-11-13 | De La Rue International Limited | Moire magnification device |
EP2542425B2 (en) † | 2010-03-01 | 2019-05-08 | De La Rue International Limited | Moire magnification device |
US9177433B2 (en) | 2010-03-01 | 2015-11-03 | De La Rue International Limited | Moire magnification device |
GB2505724B (en) * | 2010-03-24 | 2015-10-14 | Securency Int Pty Ltd | Security document with integrated security device and method of manufacture |
EP2608968B1 (en) | 2010-08-27 | 2020-04-08 | Hueck Folien Gesellschaft m.b.H. | Value document having an at least partially embedded security element |
GB2496351B (en) * | 2010-09-03 | 2017-01-11 | Innovia Security Pty Ltd | Optically variable device |
US10427368B2 (en) | 2011-03-15 | 2019-10-01 | Ovd Kinegram Ag | Multi-layer body |
US9676156B2 (en) | 2011-03-15 | 2017-06-13 | Ovd Kinegram Ag | Multi-layer body |
US9297941B2 (en) | 2011-07-21 | 2016-03-29 | Giesecke & Deverient Gmbh | Optically variable element, in particular security element |
DE102011115125B4 (en) | 2011-10-07 | 2021-10-07 | Giesecke+Devrient Currency Technology Gmbh | Manufacture of a micro-optical display arrangement |
DE102011115125A1 (en) | 2011-10-07 | 2013-04-11 | Giesecke & Devrient Gmbh | Method for producing micro-optical display assembly for displaying multicolor subject, involves providing carrier material with main surface and with another main surface, where former main surface has focusing element grid |
AU2016203370B2 (en) * | 2011-10-11 | 2017-04-13 | De La Rue International Limited | Security devices and methods of manufacture thereof |
AU2012322526B2 (en) * | 2011-10-11 | 2016-02-25 | De La Rue International Limited | Security devices and methods of manufacture thereof |
US9804497B2 (en) | 2011-10-11 | 2017-10-31 | De La Rue International Limited | Security devices and methods of manufacture thereof |
WO2013054117A1 (en) * | 2011-10-11 | 2013-04-18 | De La Rue International Limited | Security devices and methods of manufacture thereof |
EP3045972B1 (en) | 2011-10-11 | 2017-09-27 | De La Rue International Limited | Security devices and methods of manufacture thereof |
EP3045972A1 (en) * | 2011-10-11 | 2016-07-20 | De La Rue International Limited | Security devices and methods of manufacture thereof |
EP3734352B1 (en) | 2012-04-25 | 2022-11-02 | Visual Physics, LLC | Security device for projecting a collection of synthetic images |
US9779515B2 (en) | 2012-06-01 | 2017-10-03 | Ostendo Technologies, Inc. | Spatio-temporal light field cameras |
US9712764B2 (en) | 2012-06-01 | 2017-07-18 | Ostendo Technologies, Inc. | Spatio-temporal light field cameras |
US9681069B2 (en) | 2012-06-01 | 2017-06-13 | Ostendo Technologies, Inc. | Spatio-temporal light field cameras |
US9774800B2 (en) | 2012-06-01 | 2017-09-26 | Ostendo Technologies, Inc. | Spatio-temporal light field cameras |
US9930272B2 (en) | 2012-06-01 | 2018-03-27 | Ostendo Technologies, Inc. | Spatio-temporal light field cameras |
DE102012014414A1 (en) * | 2012-07-20 | 2014-01-23 | Giesecke & Devrient Gmbh | Security element for security papers, documents of value or the like |
WO2014044402A1 (en) * | 2012-09-24 | 2014-03-27 | Giesecke & Devrient Gmbh | Security element with display arrangement |
US10297071B2 (en) | 2013-03-15 | 2019-05-21 | Ostendo Technologies, Inc. | 3D light field displays and methods with improved viewing angle, depth and resolution |
US10787018B2 (en) | 2013-03-15 | 2020-09-29 | Visual Physics, Llc | Optical security device |
WO2014206550A1 (en) * | 2013-06-28 | 2014-12-31 | Giesecke & Devrient Gmbh | Security element with adaptive focusing optical elements |
US11446950B2 (en) | 2014-03-27 | 2022-09-20 | Visual Physics, Llc | Optical device that produces flicker-like optical effects |
JP2020175664A (en) * | 2014-07-17 | 2020-10-29 | ビジュアル フィジクス エルエルシー | Improved polymer sheet material for use in making polymer security documents such as banknotes, method of forming the improved polymer material, and polymer security document produced by using the improved polymer sheet material |
EP2988154A3 (en) * | 2014-08-20 | 2016-05-25 | Giesecke & Devrient GmbH | Method for producing optical element and optical element |
US12078821B2 (en) | 2014-10-24 | 2024-09-03 | Wavefront Technology, Inc. | Optical products, masters for fabricating optical products, and methods for manufacturing masters and optical products |
US10859851B2 (en) | 2014-10-24 | 2020-12-08 | Wavefront Technology, Inc. | Optical products, masters for fabricating optical products, and methods for manufacturing masters and optical products |
US10981411B2 (en) | 2015-06-10 | 2021-04-20 | De La Rue International Limited | Security devices and methods of manufacture thereof |
AU2016293295B2 (en) * | 2015-07-10 | 2021-08-12 | De La Rue International Limited | Methods of manufacturing security documents and security devices |
EP3319813B1 (en) | 2015-07-10 | 2019-08-28 | De La Rue International Limited | Security documents and security devices and method of their manufaturing |
GB2557415A (en) * | 2015-07-10 | 2018-06-20 | De La Rue Int Ltd | Methods of manufacturing security documents and security devices |
WO2017009620A1 (en) * | 2015-07-10 | 2017-01-19 | De La Rue International Limited | Methods of manufacturing security documents and security devices |
US10593006B2 (en) | 2015-07-10 | 2020-03-17 | De La Rue International Limited | Methods of manufacturing security documents and security devices |
GB2557415B (en) * | 2015-07-10 | 2019-04-10 | De La Rue Int Ltd | Methods of manufacturing security documents and security devices |
US10252563B2 (en) | 2015-07-13 | 2019-04-09 | Wavefront Technology, Inc. | Optical products, masters for fabricating optical products, and methods for manufacturing masters and optical products |
US11590790B2 (en) | 2015-07-13 | 2023-02-28 | Wavefront Technology, Inc. | Optical products, masters for fabricating optical products, and methods for manufacturing masters and optical products |
US10850550B2 (en) | 2016-04-22 | 2020-12-01 | Wavefront Technology, Inc. | Optical switch devices |
US11618275B2 (en) | 2016-04-22 | 2023-04-04 | Wavefront Technology, Inc. | Optical switch devices |
GB2549780B (en) * | 2016-04-29 | 2019-11-27 | De La Rue Int Ltd | Methods of manufacturing lens transfer structures |
GB2549780A (en) * | 2016-04-29 | 2017-11-01 | De La Rue Int Ltd | Methods of manufacturing lens transfer structures |
WO2018147966A1 (en) | 2017-02-10 | 2018-08-16 | Crane & Co., Inc. | Machine-readable optical security device |
EP4026702A1 (en) | 2017-02-10 | 2022-07-13 | Crane & Co., Inc. | Machine-readable optical security device |
US11981157B2 (en) | 2017-02-20 | 2024-05-14 | Zhongchao Special Security Technology Co., Ltd | Optical anti-counterfeiting element and optical anti-counterfeiting product using the same |
US11651179B2 (en) | 2017-02-20 | 2023-05-16 | 3M Innovative Properties Company | Optical articles and systems interacting with the same |
US11373076B2 (en) | 2017-02-20 | 2022-06-28 | 3M Innovative Properties Company | Optical articles and systems interacting with the same |
WO2018172750A1 (en) * | 2017-03-24 | 2018-09-27 | De La Rue International Limited | Security devices |
US11314971B2 (en) | 2017-09-27 | 2022-04-26 | 3M Innovative Properties Company | Personal protective equipment management system using optical patterns for equipment and safety monitoring |
US11682185B2 (en) | 2017-09-27 | 2023-06-20 | 3M Innovative Properties Company | Personal protective equipment management system using optical patterns for equipment and safety monitoring |
US11861966B2 (en) | 2017-10-20 | 2024-01-02 | Wavefront Technology, Inc. | Optical switch devices |
US11113919B2 (en) | 2017-10-20 | 2021-09-07 | Wavefront Technology, Inc. | Optical switch devices |
WO2019121965A3 (en) * | 2017-12-19 | 2019-08-15 | Giesecke+Devrient Currency Technology Gmbh | Value document |
EP3828002B1 (en) * | 2017-12-19 | 2023-06-14 | Giesecke+Devrient Currency Technology GmbH | Value document |
EP4431306A2 (en) | 2018-01-03 | 2024-09-18 | Visual Physics, LLC | Micro-optic security device with interactive dynamic security features |
EP4163120A1 (en) | 2018-01-03 | 2023-04-12 | Visual Physics, LLC | Micro-optic security device with interactive dynamic security features |
EP3513984B1 (en) | 2018-01-17 | 2020-09-09 | Giesecke+Devrient Currency Technology GmbH | Security element with luminescence subject area |
EP3513984B2 (en) † | 2018-01-17 | 2024-03-20 | Giesecke+Devrient Currency Technology GmbH | Security element with luminescence subject area |
EP4421762A2 (en) | 2018-07-03 | 2024-08-28 | Crane & Co., Inc. | Security document with attached security device which demonstrates increased harvesting resistance |
WO2020047650A1 (en) * | 2018-09-07 | 2020-03-12 | Canadian Bank Note Company, Limited | Security device for security documents |
US11221448B2 (en) | 2019-04-19 | 2022-01-11 | Wavefront Technology, Inc. | Animated optical security feature |
EP4017737A4 (en) * | 2019-08-19 | 2023-11-08 | Crane & Co., Inc. | Micro-optic security device with zones of color |
EP3792070A3 (en) * | 2019-09-11 | 2021-03-24 | Hueck Folien Gesellschaft m.b.H. | Security element for securities or security papers with a substrate film |
EP3835851A1 (en) * | 2019-12-10 | 2021-06-16 | Thales Dis France Sa | Laser engravable floating image for security laminates |
WO2021115954A1 (en) * | 2019-12-10 | 2021-06-17 | Thales Dis France Sa | Laser engravable floating image for security laminates |
WO2021136704A1 (en) * | 2019-12-29 | 2021-07-08 | Thales Dis France Sa | Virtual security element |
WO2021228573A3 (en) * | 2020-05-14 | 2021-12-30 | Leonhard Kurz Stiftung & Co. Kg | Method for producing a multilayer body, and a multilayer body |
GB2617957A (en) * | 2020-12-17 | 2023-10-25 | Bank Of Canada | Optical devices comprising microlenses and laser-fabricated patterns or other structures, their manufacture and use |
WO2022126270A1 (en) * | 2020-12-17 | 2022-06-23 | Bank Of Canada | Optical devices comprising microlenses and laser-fabricated patterns or other structures, their manufacture and use |
WO2022171625A3 (en) * | 2021-02-15 | 2022-10-06 | Koenig & Bauer Banknote Solutions Sa | Security document |
Also Published As
Similar Documents
Publication | Publication Date | Title |
---|---|---|
AU2006246716B2 (en) | Image presentation and micro-optic security system | |
US7738175B2 (en) | Micro-optic security and image presentation system providing modulated appearance of an in-plane image | |
EP2284018B1 (en) | Micro-optic security and image presentation system | |
AU2013204845A1 (en) | Image presentation and micro-optic security system | |
AU2013204869A1 (en) | Micro-optic security and image presentation system |
Legal Events
Date | Code | Title | Description |
---|---|---|---|
WWE | Wipo information: entry into national phase |
Ref document number: 200680026431.9 Country of ref document: CN |
|
121 | Ep: the epo has been informed by wipo that ep was designated in this application | ||
ENP | Entry into the national phase |
Ref document number: 2608754 Country of ref document: CA |
|
WWE | Wipo information: entry into national phase |
Ref document number: MX/a/2007/014362 Country of ref document: MX |
|
WWE | Wipo information: entry into national phase |
Ref document number: 187440 Country of ref document: IL |
|
ENP | Entry into the national phase |
Ref document number: 2008512603 Country of ref document: JP Kind code of ref document: A |
|
NENP | Non-entry into the national phase |
Ref country code: DE |
|
WWE | Wipo information: entry into national phase |
Ref document number: 2006246716 Country of ref document: AU |
|
WWE | Wipo information: entry into national phase |
Ref document number: 9625/DELNP/2007 Country of ref document: IN |
|
WWE | Wipo information: entry into national phase |
Ref document number: 07133068 Country of ref document: CO Ref document number: 1020077029417 Country of ref document: KR Ref document number: 2006784452 Country of ref document: EP |
|
WWE | Wipo information: entry into national phase |
Ref document number: 2007145611 Country of ref document: RU |
|
ENP | Entry into the national phase |
Ref document number: 2006246716 Country of ref document: AU Date of ref document: 20060518 Kind code of ref document: A |
|
ENP | Entry into the national phase |
Ref document number: PI0610706 Country of ref document: BR Kind code of ref document: A2 |