IP Library › Granted Patent US 12691702
Granted Patent B2
US 12691702 · App. 18/549,567 · Granted Jul 28, 2026

Micro-optic security device with multi-phase icon structure

Inventors: Samuel M. Cape (Woodstock, GA); Benjamin E. Bleiman (Cumming, GA); Jason Van Gumster (Woodstock, GA)
Assignee: Crane & Co., Inc
B42D25/351B42D25/324B42D25/342G02B3/005G02B3/0056B42D25/24B42D25/29
View Patent ↗
Loading inventors, assignments & file history…
Monitor This Case
Get email alerts when status or documents change.
Order Certified Copies
Most orders are placed with the USPTO same day — all within 24 business hours.
Order via The Patent Place →
Pre-filled with this patent's details
Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 12691702
App. No.
18/549,567
Filed
Sep 7, 2023
Granted
Jul 28, 2026
Kind
B2
Art Unit
2871
USPC
359/754
Abstract

An optical security device includes an array of focusing elements spaced at a first pitch along a first axis of repetition, wherein each focusing element of the array of focusing elements is associated with a focal footprint at a first focal depth. The optical security device further includes an icon layer disposed at the first focal depth relative to the array of focusing elements, the icon layer comprising an array of hybrid image icons. Each hybrid image icon includes a first component associated with a first emergent image projected by the optical security device and a second component associated with a second emergent image projected by the optical security device.

Claims (53)

1 . An optical security device comprising:

an array of focusing elements spaced at a first pitch along a first axis of repetition, wherein each focusing element of the array of focusing elements is associated with a focal footprint at a first focal depth; and

an icon layer disposed at the first focal depth relative to the array of focusing elements, the icon layer comprising an array of hybrid image icons,

wherein each hybrid image icon comprises a first component associated with a first emergent image projected by the optical security device and a second component associated with a second emergent image projected by the optical security device,

wherein the first components of the hybrid image icons repeat along the first axis of repetition such that the first components of the hybrid image icons occupy a first phase space within focal footprints of focusing elements of the array of focusing elements, and

wherein the second components of the hybrid image icons repeat along the first axis of repetition such that the second components of the hybrid image icons occupy a second phase space within focal footprints of focusing elements of the array of focusing elements,

wherein the first phase space is a function of a first repeat ratio between the first components of the hybrid image icons and the first pitch of the focusing elements along the first axis of repetition and an offset between the first components and other components of the hybrid image icons.

2 . The optical security device of claim 1 , wherein focusing elements of the array of focusing elements comprise hexagonal or aspherical focusing elements.

3 . The optical security device of claim 1 , wherein focusing elements of the array of focusing elements comprise spherical focusing elements.

4 . The optical security device of claim 1 , wherein:

the first components of the hybrid image icons repeat along the first axis of repetition at the first repeat ratio relative to the first pitch,

the second components of the hybrid image icons repeat along the first axis of repetition at a second repeat ratio relative to the first pitch, and

the first repeat ratio is equal to the second repeat ratio.

5 . The optical security device of claim 1 , wherein:

the first components of the hybrid image icons repeat along the first axis of repetition at the first repeat ratio relative to the first pitch, and

the second components of the hybrid image icons repeat along the first axis of repetition at a second repeat ratio relative to the first pitch,

wherein the first repeat ratio is not equal to the second repeat ratio.

6 . The optical security device of claim 1 , wherein at least one of the first emergent image or the second emergent image is a dynamic emergent image.

7 . The optical security device of claim 1 , wherein:

the first components of the hybrid image icons are of a first color, and

the second components of the hybrid image icons are of a second color,

wherein the second color contrasts with the first color.

8 . The optical security device of claim 7 , wherein:

the first emergent image comprises at least one cyclically repeating band of the first color moving through a first area of the optical security device in response to a change in viewing angle, and

the second emergent image comprises at least one cyclically repeating band of the second color moving through the first area of the optical security device in response to the change in viewing angle.

9 . The optical security device of claim 1 , wherein focusing elements of the array of focusing elements comprise lenticular focusing elements.

10 . The optical security device of claim 1 , wherein each hybrid image icon further comprises a third component associated with a third emergent image projected by the optical security device,

wherein the third components of the hybrid image icons repeat along the first axis of repetition such that the third components of the hybrid image icons occupy a third phase space within focal footprints of focusing elements of the array of focusing elements.

11 . A method of making an optical security device, the method comprising:

providing an array of focusing elements spaced at a first pitch along a first axis of repetition, wherein each focusing element of the array of focusing elements is associated with a focal footprint at a first focal depth; and

providing an icon layer disposed at the first focal depth relative to the array of focusing elements, the icon layer comprising an array of hybrid image icons,

wherein each hybrid image icon comprises a first component associated with a first emergent image projected by the optical security device and a second component associated with a second emergent image projected by the optical security device,

wherein the first components of the hybrid image icons repeat along the first axis of repetition such that the first components of the hybrid image icons occupy a first phase space within focal footprints of focusing elements of the array of focusing elements, and

wherein the second components of the hybrid image icons repeat along the first axis of repetition such that the second components of the hybrid image icons occupy a second phase space within focal footprints of focusing elements of the array of focusing elements,

wherein the first phase space is a function of a first repeat ratio between the first components of the hybrid image icons and the first pitch of the focusing elements along the first axis of repetition and an offset between the first components and other components of the hybrid image icons.

12 . The method of claim 11 , wherein focusing elements of the array of focusing elements comprise hexagonal or aspherical focusing elements.

13 . The method of claim 11 , wherein focusing elements of the array of focusing elements comprise spherical focusing elements.

14 . The method of claim 11 , wherein:

the first components of the hybrid image icons repeat along the first axis of repetition at the first repeat ratio relative to the first pitch, and

the second components of the hybrid image icons repeat along the first axis of repetition at a second repeat ratio relative to the first pitch,

wherein the first repeat ratio is equal to the second repeat ratio.

15 . The method of claim 11 , wherein:

the first components of the hybrid image icons repeat along the first axis of repetition at the first repeat ratio relative to the first pitch, and

the second components of the hybrid image icons repeat along the first axis of repetition at a second repeat ratio relative to the first pitch,

wherein the first repeat ratio is not equal to the second repeat ratio.

16 . The method of claim 11 , wherein:

the first components of the hybrid image icons are of a first color, and

the second components of the hybrid image icons are of a second color,

wherein the second color contrasts with the first color.

17 . The method of claim 11 , wherein:

the first emergent image comprises at least one cyclically repeating band of a first color moving through a first area of the optical security device in response to a change in viewing angle, and

the second emergent image comprises at least one cyclically repeating band of a second color moving through the first area of the optical security device in response to the change in viewing angle.

18 . The method of claim 11 , wherein focusing elements of the array of focusing elements comprise lenticular focusing elements.