Activation system and method for activating an optical article

1. An optical article comprising:

a plurality of optically detectable marks disposed on a surface of the optical article;

a removable electrical device disposed on the surface of the optical article and over at least one mark of the plurality of optically detectable marks;

wherein the electrical device is operatively coupled to the optical article; and wherein the electrical device is configured to interact with an activation signal when brought in direct contact with a communication device that applies the activation signal to the electrical device; and

an input interface element in direct contact with the electrical device disposed over the at least one of the optically detectable marks to apply the activation signal to the optical article.

2. The optical article of claim 1 , wherein the electrical device is selected from one or more of a flexible tag, an inflexible tag, a card, a ribbon cable, and an inter-connect.

3. The optical article of claim 1 , wherein the electrical device masks at least one mark of the plurality of optically detectable marks disposed on the optical article.

4. The optical article of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of optically detectable marks comprise an optical-state change material.

5. The optical article of claim 1 , wherein the input interface element uses an additional electrical device to apply a power component of the activation signal to the electrical device disposed over the at least one mark of the plurality of optically detectable marks; and uses a data component of the activation signal to regulate application of power.

6. The optical article of claim 5 , wherein the electrical device comprises one or more of a radio frequency circuitry, a thermocouple, a light-emitting diode, a strain gauge, a sound detecting element, a diode, an antenna, a dipole, an electrical receiver, a photocell, a resistor, a capacitor, a rectifier, an integrated circuit, a surface mount resistor, a chip resistor, an electrode, a thermal gap filler, adhesives, and a heating element.

7. The optical article of claim 1 , wherein the activation signal applied to the electrical device results in a change in at least one physical property of at least one of the plurality of optically detectable marks, resulting in transforming the optical article from a pre-activated state of functionality to an activated state of functionality.

8. The optical article of claim 7 , wherein the change in at least one physical property of the optically detectable marks comprises one or more changes selected from the group consisting of layer reflectivity, single layer reflectivity, dual layer reflectivity, refractive index, birefringence, polarization, opacity, absorbance, thickness, optical path length, and position.

9. The optical article of claim 7 , wherein the pre-activated state is characterized by an optical reflectivity of at least one portion of the optical article having a reflectivity of less than about 20 percent based on the reflectivity of the at least one portion of the optical article in the activated state.

10. The optical article of claim 1 , wherein the activation signal comprises one or more of a laser, thermal energy, electromagnetic radiation, gamma rays, acoustic waves, electrical energy, chemical energy, magnetic energy, mechanical energy, radio frequency waves, and ultraviolet radiation.

11. The optical article of claim 1 , wherein the electrical device is a multi-component structure.

12. The electrical device of claim 11 , comprising electrical traces and at least one electrode or at least one heating element; wherein the electrode and the heating element are configured to generate electrical energy and thermal energy respectively.

13. The electrical device of claim 12 , wherein the electrical traces are made from a material selected from one or more of a conjugated polymer, carbon, silver, copper, gold, aluminum, platinum, lead dioxide, stainless steel, indium tin oxide, nickel, chromium, and any combinations and alloys thereof.

14. The electrical device of claim 12 , wherein the electrode is made from a material selected from one or more of a conjugated polymer, carbon, silver, copper, gold, aluminum, platinum, lead dioxide, stainless steel, indium tin oxide, nickel, chromium, and any combinations and alloys thereof.

15. The electrical device of claim 12 , wherein the heating element is made from a material selected from one or more of carbon, titanium, copper, gold, tantalum-nitride, aluminum, molybdenum, titanium-tungsten, chromium, platinum, indium tin oxide, nickel, silver, conjugated polymers, and any combinations and alloys thereof.

16. The optical article of claim 1 , further comprising a coupling layer configured to couple the electrical device to the surface.

17. The optical article of claim 1 , wherein the optical article comprises a CD, a DVD, a HD-DVD, a blu-ray disc, a near field optical storage disc, a holographic storage medium, another like volumetric optical storage medium, an identification card, a passport, a payment card, a driving license, packaging of an optical article, or a personal information card.

18. A removable electrical device configured to be in contact with an optical article, comprising:

an electrical circuit element configured to directly interact with an activation signal provided by a communication device in direct contact with the electrical device;

wherein a plurality of optically detectable marks are disposed on a surface of the optical article;

wherein upon direct interaction with the activation signal provided by the communication device in direct contact with the electrical device, the electrical device is configured to transmit the activation signal to at least one of the plurality of optically detectable marks disposed on the optical article; and

wherein the activation signal is selected from one or more of a laser, thermal energy, electromagnetic radiation, gamma rays, acoustic waves, electrical energy, chemical energy, magnetic energy, mechanical energy, radio frequency waves, and ultraviolet radiation; and

an input interface element in direct contact with the electrical device disposed on the optically detectable marks to apply the activation signal to the optical article.

19. The electrical device of claim 18 , wherein the electrical device is selected from one or more of a flexible tag, an inflexible tag, a card, a ribbon cable, and an inter-connect.

20. The electrical device of claim 18 , wherein the electrical device masks at least one mark of the plurality of optically detectable marks disposed on the optical article.

21. The electrical device of claim 18 , wherein the input interface element uses an additional electrical device to apply a power component of the activation signal to the electrical device disposed over at least one mark of the plurality of optically detectable marks; and uses a data component of the activation signal to regulate application of power.

22. The electrical device of claim 21 , wherein the power is applied individually to a plurality of heater elements or electrodes on the electrical device.

23. The electrical device of claim 21 , wherein the activation signal is determined with reference to an identification code automatically obtained by an external network from the activation device, the target, or another source at the user's point of sale, that comprise an optical article package identifier.

24. The electrical device of claim 21 , wherein the electrical device comprises one or more of a radio frequency circuitry, a thermocouple, a light-emitting diode, a strain gauge, a sound detecting element, a diode, an antenna, a dipole, an electrical receiver, a photocell, a resistor, a capacitor, a rectifier, an integrated circuit, a surface mount resistor, a chip resistor, an electrode, a thermal gap filler, an adhesives, and a heating element.

25. The electrical device of claim 18 , wherein the activation signal applied to the electrical device results in a change in at least one physical property of at least one of the plurality of optically detectable marks, resulting in transforming the optical article from a pre-activated state of functionality to an activated state of functionality.

26. The electrical device of claim 25 , wherein the electrical device is a multi-component structure.

27. The electrical device of claim 26 , comprising electrical traces and at least one electrode or at least one heating element; wherein the electrode and the heating element are configured to generate electrical energy and thermal energy respectively.

28. The electrical device of claim 27 , wherein the electrical traces are made from a material selected from one or more of a conjugated polymer, carbon, silver, copper, gold, aluminum, platinum, lead dioxide, stainless steel, indium tin oxide, nickel, chromium, and any combinations and alloys thereof.

29. The electrical device of claim 27 , wherein the electrode is made from a material selected from one or more of a conjugated polymer, carbon, silver, copper, gold, aluminum, platinum, lead dioxide, stainless steel, indium tin oxide, nickel, chromium, and any combinations and alloys thereof.

30. The electrical device of claim 27 , wherein the heating element is made from a material selected from one or more of carbon, titanium, copper, gold, tantalum-nitride, aluminum, molybdenum, titanium-tungsten, chromium, platinum, indium tin oxide, nickel, silver, conjugated polymers, and any combinations and alloys thereof.

31. A system comprising:

an optical article to be activated;

a plurality of optically detectable marks disposed on a surface of the optical article;

an input interface element; and

an activation device that is configured to apply an activation signal to the optical article via the input interface element to effect a change in at least one of the plurality of optically detectable marks and thereby activating the optical article, wherein the activation device is an electrical device in direct contact with the input interface element and disposed on the surface of the optical article and over the at least one of the plurality of optically detectable marks.