System for reading and authenticating a composite image in a sheeting

1. A system for reading and authenticating a composite image in a sheeting, the sheeting including a composite image that appears to the unaided eye to be floating above or below the sheeting or both, the system comprising:

(a) a reader, comprising:

a first camera to capture a first image of the sheeting and a first image of the composite image floating above or below the sheeting or both;

a second camera to capture a second image of the sheeting and a second image of the composite image floating above or below the sheeting or both;

(b) a computer for comparing the first image and the second image of the sheeting and for comparing the first image and second image of the composite image floating above or below the sheeting or both to calculate the perceived distance between the sheeting and the composite image floating above or below the sheeting or both; and

(c) a database including information about composite images that float above or below the sheeting or both and their floating distances relative to the sheeting.

2. The system for reading and authenticating a composite image in a sheeting of claim 1 , wherein the computer is adapted to compare the first image of the composite image that floats above or below the sheeting or both to the database of composite images to identify the composite image.

3. The system for reading and authenticating a composite image in a sheeting of claim 2 , wherein the system is adapted to compare the calculated perceived distance between the sheeting and the composite image with the floating distances in the database to provide information about the sheeting.

4. The system for reading and authenticating a composite image in a sheeting of claim 3 , wherein the system is adapted to authenticate the sheeting when the calculated perceived distance matches the floating distance in the database for the identified composite image.

5. The system for reading and authenticating a composite image in a sheeting of claim 3 , wherein the system is adapted to not authenticate the sheeting when the calculated perceived distance does not match the floating distances in the database for the identified composite image.

6. The system for reading and authenticating a composite image in a sheeting of claim 1 , wherein the first camera and second camera are perpendicular to the sheeting.

7. The system for reading and authenticating a composite image in a sheeting of claim 1 , wherein the system is adapted to locate the sheeting in a fixed position.

8. The system for reading and authenticating a composite image in a sheeting of claim 1 , wherein the composite image appears under reflected light to float above the sheeting.

9. The system for reading and authenticating a composite image in a sheeting of claim 1 , wherein the composite image appears in transmitted light to float above the sheeting.

10. The system for reading and authenticating a composite image in a sheeting of claim 1 , wherein the composite image appears under reflected light to float below the sheeting.

11. The system for reading and authenticating a composite image in a sheeting of claim 1 , wherein the composite image appears in transmitted light to float below the sheeting.

12. The system for reading and authenticating a composite image in a sheeting of any one of claims 8 - 11 , wherein the composite image also appears to the unaided eye to be at least in part in the plane of the sheeting.

13. A system for reading and authenticating a composite image in a sheeting, the sheeting including a composite image that appears to the unaided eye to be floating above or below the sheeting or both, the system comprising:

(a) a reader, comprising a camera moveable between a first position and a second position, wherein in the first position the camera captures a first image of the sheeting and a first image of the composite image floating above or below the sheeting or both, wherein in the second position the camera captures a second image of the sheeting and a second image of the composite image floating above or below the sheeting or both;

(b) a computer for comparing the first image and the second image of the sheeting and for comparing the first image and second image of the composite image floating above or below the sheeting or both to calculate the perceived distance between the sheeting and the composite image floating above or below the sheeting or both; and

(c) a database including information about composite images that float above or below the sheeting or both and their floating distances relative to the sheeting.

14. The system for reading and authenticating a composite image in a sheeting of claim 13 , wherein the computer is adapted to compare the first image of the composite image that floats above or below the sheeting or both to the database of composite images to identify the composite image.

15. The system for reading and authenticating a composite image in a sheeting of claim 14 , wherein the system is adapted to compare the calculated perceived distance between the sheeting and the composite image with the floating distances in the database to provide information about the sheeting.

16. The system for reading and authenticating a composite image in a sheeting of claim 15 , wherein the system is adapted to authenticate the sheeting when the calculated distance matches the floating distance in the database for the identified composite image.

17. The system for reading and authenticating a composite image in a sheeting of claim 15 , wherein the system is adapted to not authenticate the sheeting when the calculated perceived distance does not match the floating distances in the database for the identified composite image.

18. The system for reading and authenticating a composite image in a sheeting of claim 13 , wherein the system is adapted to locate the sheeting in a fixed position.

19. The system for reading and authenticating a composite image in a sheeting of claim 13 , wherein the composite image appears under reflected light to float above the sheeting.

20. The system for reading and authenticating a composite image in a sheeting of claim 13 , wherein the composite image appears in transmitted light to float above the sheeting.

21. The system for reading and authenticating a composite image in a sheeting of claim 13 , wherein the composite image appears under reflected light to float below the sheeting.

22. The system for reading and authenticating a composite image in a sheeting of claim 13 , wherein the composite image appears in transmitted light to float below the sheeting.

23. The system for reading and authenticating a composite image in a sheeting of any one of claims 19 - 22 , wherein the composite image also appears to the unaided eye to be at least in part in the plane of the sheeting.

24. The system for reading and authenticating a composite image in a sheeting of claim 13 , wherein the camera is perpendicular to the sheeting.

25. A system for reading and authenticating a composite image in a sheeting, the sheeting including a composite image that appears to the unaided eye to be floating above or below the sheeting or both, the system comprising:

(a) a reader, comprising:

(i) a camera; and

(ii) a sheeting holder moveable between a first position and a second position, wherein the microlens sheeting is positioned on the sheeting holder, wherein in the first position the camera captures a first image of the sheeting and a first image of the composite image floating above or below the sheeting or both, wherein in the second position the camera captures a second image of the microlens sheeting and a second image of the composite image floating above or below the sheeting or both;

(b) a computer for comparing the first image and the second image of the sheeting and for comparing the first image and second image of the composite image floating above or below the sheeting or both to calculate the perceived distance between the sheeting and the composite image floating above or below the sheeting or both; and

(c) a database including information about composite images that float above or below the sheeting or both and their floating distances relative to the sheeting.

26. The system for reading and authenticating a composite image in a sheeting of claim 25 , wherein the computer is adapted to compare the first image of the composite image that floats above or below the sheeting or both to the database of composite images to identify the composite image.

27. The system for reading and authenticating a composite image in a sheeting of claim 26 , wherein the system is adapted to compare the calculated perceived distance between the sheeting and the composite image with the floating distances in the database to provide information about the sheeting.

28. The system for reading and authenticating a composite image in a sheeting of claim 27 , wherein the system is adapted to authenticate the sheeting when the calculated perceived distance matches the floating distance in the database for the identified composite image.

29. The system for reading and authenticating a composite image in a sheeting of claim 27 , wherein the system is adapted to not authenticate the sheeting when the calculated perceived distance does not match the floating distances in the database for the identified composite image.

30. The system for reading and authenticating a composite image in a sheeting of claim 25 , wherein the camera is perpendicular to the sheeting.

31. The system for reading and authenticating a composite image in a sheeting of claim 25 , wherein the system is adapted to locate the sheeting in a fixed position.

32. The system for reading and authenticating a composite image in a sheeting of claim 25 , wherein the composite image appears under reflected light to float above the sheeting.

33. The system for reading and authenticating a composite image in a sheeting of claim 25 , wherein the composite image appears in transmitted light to float above the sheeting.

34. The system for reading and authenticating a composite image in a sheeting of claim 25 , wherein the composite image appears under reflected light to float below the sheeting.

35. The system for reading and authenticating a composite image in a sheeting of claim 25 , wherein the composite image appears in transmitted light to float below the sheeting.

36. The system for reading and authenticating a composite image in a sheeting of any one of claims 32 - 35 , wherein the composite image also appears to the unaided eye to be at least in part in the plane of the sheeting.

37. A method of reading and authenticating a composite image in a sheeting, comprising the steps of:

providing a sheeting including a composite image that appears to the unaided eye to be floating above or below the sheeting or both;

recording a first image of the microlens sheeting and recording a first image of the composite image floating above or below the sheeting or both;

recording a second image of the microlens sheeting and recording a second image of the composite image floating above or below the sheeting or both;

calculating the distance between the sheeting and the composite image floating above or below the sheeting or both by comparing the first image and the second image of the microlens sheeting and by comparing the first image and second image of the composite image floating above or below the sheeting or both; and

providing a database including information about composite images that float above or below the sheeting or both and their floating distances relative to the sheeting.

38. The method of claim 37 , further including the step of:

identifying the composite image by comparing the first image of the composite image that floats above or below the sheeting or both to the database of composite images.

39. The method of claim 38 , further including the step of:

comparing the calculated perceived distance between the sheeting and the composite image with the floating distances in the database to provide information about the sheeting.

40. The method of claim 39 , further including the step of:

providing a signal to a user that the sheeting is authentic when the calculated perceived distance matches the floating distance in the database for the identified composite image.

41. The method of claim 38 , further including the step of:

providing a signal to a user that the sheeting is not authentic when the calculated perceived distance does not match the floating distances in the database for the identified composite image.

42. The method of claim 37 , wherein the composite image appears under reflected light to float above the sheeting.

43. The method of claim 37 , wherein the composite image appears in transmitted light to float above the sheeting.

44. The method of claim 37 , wherein the composite image appears under reflected light to float below the sheeting.

45. The method of claim 37 , wherein the composite image appears in transmitted light to float below the sheeting.

46. The method of any one of claims 42 - 45 , wherein the composite image also appears to the unaided eye to be at least in part in the plane of the sheeting.

47. The system for reading and authenticating a composite image in a sheeting according to any one of claims 1 , 13 , or 25 , wherein the system is adapted to detect a security code embedded within the sheeting that includes information about the floating distance relative to the sheeting of the composite image that floats above or below the sheeting or both.