Image presentation and micro-optic security system
View Patent ↗An image presentation system employing microstructured icon elements to form an image. In one form a synthetic optical image system is 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. In another form an image presentation system is provided 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 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.
1. A synthetic optical image system, comprising
an array of focusing elements including focusing elements having an effective base diameter of less than 50 microns, and
an array of icon elements,
wherein the system operates as an authentication system in which the array of focusing elements is separate from the array of icon elements and is used to read information contained in the array of icon elements, the array of focusing elements and the array of icon elements cooperating to form at least one synthetically magnified optical image of at least a portion of the icon elements when the array of focusing elements is disposed in proximity to the array of icon elements,
wherein the array of icon elements is formed as a sheet that is secured to or incorporated into an object as an authentication or security device.
2. The synthetic optical image system of claim 1 , wherein the array of focusing elements is formed as a sheet and the focusing element and icon element sheets are adapted to be optically or mechanically coupled to thereby form the at least one synthetically magnified optical image, and the focal length of the focusing elements is greater than the thickness of the sheet including the focusing elements.
3. The synthetic optical image system of claim 2 , wherein the array of icon elements is positioned on or in a surface of its sheet and the focal point of the focusing elements is at or slightly off of said surface of said icon element sheet when the two sheets are coupled to form a synthetic optical image, the surface of the icon element sheet including the icon elements designed to form the at least one synthetically magnified optical image.
4. The synthetic optical image system of claim 2 , wherein the icon element sheet includes multiple patterns of icon elements that form different synthetic optical images in cooperation with the array of focusing elements.
5. The synthetic optical image system of claim 4 , wherein the different synthetic optical images are formed at different angles of rotation of the focusing element sheet in relation to the icon element sheet.
6. The synthetic optical image system of claim 4 , wherein one icon pattern has a differing repeat period or differing rotational symmetry or both from another icon element pattern.
7. The synthetic optical image system of claim 4 , wherein the differing icon patterns are provided in at least two different icon element layers.
8. The synthetic optical image system of claim 7 , wherein the different icon element layers are provided in different icon element sheets.
9. The synthetic optical image system of claim 1 , wherein the array of focusing elements is formed as a sheet and the focusing element and icon element sheets are adapted to be optically or mechanically coupled to thereby form the at least one synthetically magnified optical image, and the focal length of the focusing elements is greater than the thickness of the sheet including the focusing elements,
the system further including a surface coating on the icon element sheet.
10. The synthetic optical image system of claim 9 , wherein the surface coating on the icon element sheet includes one or more of a metal, a magnetic material, X-ray absorbent material, an infrared absorbent material, an ultraviolet absorbent material, an X-ray emitting material, an infrared emitting material, an ultraviolet emitting material, a fluorescent dye, a fluorescent pigment, an infrared fluorescent dye, an infrared fluorescent particle, an ultraviolet fluorescent dye, an ultraviolet fluorescent particle, a phosphorescent dye or a phosphorescent pigment.
11. The synthetic optical image system of claim 1 , further including an optical spacer positioned between the array of focusing elements and the array of icon elements.
12. The synthetic optical image system of claim 1 , wherein at least a portion of the icon elements are positioned such that the at least one synthetically magnified optical image seen by a viewer changes as the azimuthal angle of view of the image system changes.
13. The synthetic optical image system of claim 1 , wherein the array of icon elements includes icon elements formed as recesses in a substrate, the recesses forming voids that are optionally filled with a material providing a contrast with the substrate.
14. The synthetic optical image system of claim 13 , wherein the icon elements are filled with at least one of a material having a different refractive index than the substrate, a dyed material, a metal, or a pigmented material.
15. The synthetic optical image system of claim 13 , wherein the icon recesses have a recess depth of from about 0.5 microns to about 8 microns.
16. The synthetic optical image system of claim 1 , wherein the array of icon elements includes icon elements formed from patterns of colorless, transparent, opaque, ink, colored, tinted or dyed material.
17. The synthetic optical image system of claim 1 , wherein the array of icon elements includes: icon elements that are either positive or negative icons in relation to their background and are transparent, translucent, pigmented, fluorescent, phosphorescent, metallized, substantially retroreflective, or display optically variable color; or icon elements that are either positive or negative icons in relation to their background and have a background that is transparent, translucent, pigmented, fluorescent, phosphorescent, metallized, substantially retroreflective, or displays optically variable color; or both.
18. The synthetic optical image system of claim 1 , wherein the array of icon elements includes image icons that are either positive or negative icons in relation to their background and are formed from printing, microstructures, lamination, deposited metallization, direct metallization, patterned metallization, patterned demetallization, or formed in a photographic emulsion, or combinations thereof.
19. The synthetic optical image system of claim 1 , wherein the array of icon elements includes icon elements that are either positive or negative icons in relation to their background and are formed of non-fluorescing pigments, non-fluorescing dyes, fluorescing pigments, fluorescing dyes, metal, metal particles, magnetic particles, nuclear magnetic resonance signature materials, lasing particles, organic LED materials, optically variable materials, evaporated materials, sputtered materials, chemically deposited materials, vapor deposited materials, thin film interference materials, liquid crystal polymers, optical upconversion and/or downconversion materials, dichroic materials, optically active materials, or optically polarizing materials.
20. The synthetic optical image system of claim 1 , wherein the array of icon elements includes icon elements that are either positive or negative icons in relation to their background and are formed by evaporation, sputtering or chemical deposition, or chemical vapor deposition process.
21. The synthetic optical image system of claim 1 , wherein the array of icon elements includes icon elements formed using a metal material.
22. The synthetic optical image system of claim 1 , wherein the array of icon elements includes icon elements formed from a printing method selected from the group of ink jet, laserjet, letterpress, flexo, gravure, intaglio, and dye sublimation printing methods.
23. The synthetic optical image system of claim 1 , wherein the at least one synthetically magnified optical image is a grayscale or tonal synthetically magnified optical image.
24. A synthetic optical image system, comprising
an array of focusing elements, and
an array of icon elements,
wherein the system operates as an authentication system in which the array of focusing elements is separate from the array of icon elements and is used to read information contained in the array of icon elements, the array of focusing elements and the array of icon elements cooperating to form at least one synthetically magnified optical image of at least a portion of the icon elements when the array of focusing elements is disposed in proximity to the array of icon elements,
wherein the array of focusing elements is formed as a sheet and the array of icon elements is formed as a sheet and the two sheets are adapted to be optically or mechanically coupled to thereby form the at least one synthetically magnified optical image, and the focal length of the focusing elements is greater than the thickness of the sheet including the focusing elements,
wherein the two sheets are non-permanently coupled with a coupling fluid.
25. A synthetic optical image system, comprising
a two-dimensional array of focusing elements, and
a two-dimensional array of icon elements,
wherein the system operates as an authentication system in which the array of focusing elements is separate from the array of icon elements and is used to read information contained in the array of icon elements, the array of focusing elements and the array of icon elements cooperating to form at least one synthetically magnified optical image of at least a portion of the icon elements when the array of focusing elements is disposed in proximity to the array of icon elements,
wherein the array of focusing elements is formed as a sheet and the array of icon elements is formed as a sheet and the two sheets are adapted to be optically or mechanically coupled to thereby form the at least one synthetically magnified optical image, and the focal length of the focusing elements is greater than the thickness of the sheet including the focusing elements,
wherein the icon element sheet is secured to or incorporated into an object as an authentication or security device.
26. The synthetic optical image system of claim 1 ,
wherein the array of focusing elements is formed as a sheet and the focusing element and icon element sheets are adapted to be optically or mechanically coupled to thereby form the at least one synthetically magnified optical image, and the focal length of the focusing elements is greater than the thickness of the sheet including the focusing elements, wherein the array of icon elements is positioned on or in a surface of its sheet and the focal point of the focusing elements is at or slightly off of said surface of said icon element sheet when the two sheets are coupled to form a synthetic optical image, the surface of the icon element sheet including the icon elements designed to form the at least one synthetically magnified optical image, and
wherein the array of focusing elements and the array of icon elements have a rotational symmetry and a repeat period that substantially match.
27. A synthetic optical image system, comprising
an array of focusing elements, and
an array of icon elements,
wherein the system operates as an authentication system in which the array of focusing elements is separate from the array of icon elements and is used to read information contained in the array of icon elements, the array of focusing elements and the array of icon elements cooperating to form a synthetically magnified optical image when the array of focusing elements is disposed in proximity to the array of icon elements,
wherein the array of focusing elements is formed as a sheet and the array of icon elements is formed as a sheet and the two sheets are adapted to be optically or mechanically coupled to thereby form the synthetically magnified optical image, and the focal length of the focusing elements is greater than the thickness of the sheet including the focusing elements,
wherein the icon element sheet includes multiple patterns of icon elements that form different synthetic optical images in cooperation with the array of focusing elements, and
wherein the different synthetic optical images are formed through use of different separate focusing element sheets, the different separate focusing element sheets having arrays of focusing elements that differ in one or more of the repeat period of the focusing element array, the focal length of the focusing elements, or their rotational symmetry.
28. A synthetic optical image system, comprising
an array of focusing elements, and
an array of icon elements,
wherein the system operates as an authentication system in which the array of focusing elements is separate from the array of icon elements and is used to read information contained in the array of icon elements, the array of focusing elements and the array of icon elements cooperating to form a synthetically magnified optical image when the array of focusing elements is disposed in proximity to the array of icon elements,
wherein the array of focusing elements is formed as a sheet and the array of icon elements is formed as a sheet and the two sheets are adapted to be optically or mechanically coupled to thereby form the synthetically magnified optical image, and the focal length of the focusing elements is greater than the thickness of the sheet including the focusing elements,
wherein the icon element sheet includes multiple patterns of icon elements that form different synthetic optical images in cooperation with the array of focusing elements,
wherein one icon pattern has a differing repeat period or differing rotational symmetry or both from another icon element pattern, and
wherein different focusing element sheets are required to form synthetic optical images from the different icon element patterns.
29. A synthetic optical image system, comprising
an array of focusing elements, and
an array of icon elements,
wherein the system operates as an authentication system in which the array of focusing elements is separate from the array of icon elements and is used to read information contained in the array of icon elements, the array of focusing elements and the array of icon elements cooperating to form a synthetically magnified optical image when the array of focusing elements is disposed in proximity to the array of icon elements,
wherein the array of focusing elements is formed as a sheet and the array of icon elements is formed as a sheet and the two sheets are adapted to be optically or mechanically coupled to thereby form the synthetically magnified optical image, and the focal length of the focusing elements is greater than the thickness of the sheet including the focusing elements,
wherein the icon element sheet includes multiple patterns of icon elements that form different synthetic optical images in cooperation with the array of focusing elements,
wherein one icon pattern has a differing repeat period or differing rotational symmetry or both from another icon element pattern, and
wherein a second focusing element sheet is placed over a first focusing element sheet to form synthetic optical images of two differing icon element patterns, one of the focusing element sheets having focusing elements with a different focal length than the focusing elements of the other focusing element sheet.
30. A synthetic optical image system, comprising
an array of focusing elements, and
an array of icon elements,
wherein the system operates as an authentication system in which the array of focusing elements is separate from the array of icon elements and is used to read information contained in the array of icon elements, the array of focusing elements and the array of icon elements cooperating to form a synthetically magnified optical image when the array of focusing elements is disposed in proximity to the array of icon elements,
wherein the array of focusing elements is formed as a sheet and the array of icon elements is formed as a sheet and the two sheets are adapted to be optically or mechanically coupled to thereby form the synthetically magnified optical image, and the focal length of the focusing elements is greater than the thickness of the sheet including the focusing elements,
wherein the icon element sheet includes multiple patterns of icon elements that form different synthetic optical images in cooperation with the array of focusing elements,
wherein one icon pattern has a differing repeat period or differing rotational symmetry or both from another icon element pattern,
wherein a second focusing element sheet is placed over a first focusing element sheet to form synthetic optical images of two differing icon element patterns, one of the focusing element sheets having focusing elements with a different focal length than the focusing elements of the other focusing element sheet, and
wherein the first and second focusing element sheets have arrays of focusing elements that differ in one or more of the repeat period of the focusing element arrays, the focal length of the focusing elements, or their rotational symmetry.
31. A synthetic optical image system, comprising
an array of focusing elements, and
an array of icon elements,
wherein the system operates as an authentication system in which the array of focusing elements is separate from the array of icon elements and is used to read information contained in the array of icon elements, the array of focusing elements and the array of icon elements cooperating to form a synthetically magnified optical image when the array of focusing elements is disposed in proximity to the array of icon elements,
wherein the icon elements are either incorporated into an icon layer, or in a coating layer formed on a substrate,
the system further including an optical spacer positioned between the array of focusing elements and the array of icon elements,
wherein the thickness of the optical spacer is greater than the focal length of the focusing elements such that the synthetic optical image is not distinguishable without placing a material over the array of focusing elements, the refractive index of the material being sufficient to change the focal length of the focusing elements to focus on the icon elements of the image system, thereby forming a synthetic optical image.
32. A synthetic optical image system, comprising
an array of icon elements, and
an array of focusing elements disposed in relation to the array of icon elements,
wherein the system operates as an authentication system in which the array of focusing elements includes focusing elements having a focal length that is greater than or less than the focal length necessary for said focusing elements to form a synthetic optical image in cooperation with at least a portion of the icon elements in the array of icon elements,
wherein the system further comprises either a material that alters the index of refraction of the focusing elements allowing the focusing elements to cooperate with the at least a portion of the icon elements in the array of icon elements to form a synthetic optical image or a second array of focusing elements including focusing elements having a focal length sufficient to cooperate with the at least a portion of the icon elements in the array of icon elements to form a synthetic optical image.
33. A synthetic magnification micro-optic system comprising:
(a) an array of icon elements; and
(b) an array of focusing elements, the array of focusing elements being disposed in relation to the array of the icon elements at a distance sufficient for at least a portion of the focusing elements to form at least one synthetically magnified image of at least a portion of the icon elements, wherein the at least a portion of the icon elements are positioned such that the at least one synthetically magnified optical image seen by a viewer changes in form as the azimuthal angle of view of the image system changes.
34. An image presentation system comprising an array of microstructured icon elements, the microstructured icon elements designed to collectively form an image or certain selected information, wherein the image is designed to be viewed or the information read by use of a separate magnifying device comprising focusing elements, the focusing elements including focusing elements having an effective base diameter of less than 50 microns.
35. A synthetic optical image system, comprising
an array of focusing elements, and
a two-dimensional array of icon elements,
wherein the system operates as an authentication system in which the array of focusing elements is separate from the array of icon elements and is used to read information contained in the array of icon elements, the array of focusing elements and the array of icon elements cooperating to form at least one synthetically magnified optical image of at least a portion of the icon elements when the array of focusing elements is disposed in proximity to the array of icon elements,
wherein the array of focusing elements is formed as a sheet and the array of icon elements is formed as a sheet and the two sheets are adapted to be optically or mechanically coupled to thereby form the at least one synthetically magnified optical image, and the focal length of the focusing elements is greater than the thickness of the sheet including the focusing elements,
wherein the icon element sheet includes multiple patterns of icon elements that form different synthetic optical images in cooperation with the array of focusing elements.
36. The synthetic optical image system of claim 35 , wherein one icon pattern has a differing repeat period or differing rotational symmetry or both from another icon element pattern.
37. The synthetic optical image system of claim 35 , wherein the differing icon patterns are provided in at least two different icon element layers.
38. The synthetic optical image system of claim 37 , wherein the different icon element layers are provided in different icon element sheets.
39. A synthetic optical image system, comprising
an array of focusing elements, and
a two-dimensional array of icon elements,
wherein the system operates as an authentication system in which the array of focusing elements is separate from the array of icon elements and is used to read information contained in the array of icon elements, the array of focusing elements and the array of icon elements cooperating to form at least one synthetically magnified optical image of at least a portion of the icon elements when the array of focusing elements is disposed in proximity to the array of icon elements,
wherein the array of focusing elements is formed as a sheet and the array of icon elements is formed as a sheet and the two sheets are adapted to be optically or mechanically coupled to thereby form the at least one synthetically magnified optical image, and the focal length of the focusing elements is greater than the thickness of the sheet including the focusing elements,
wherein the icon element sheet includes multiple patterns of icon elements that form different synthetic optical images in cooperation with the array of focusing elements, and
wherein the different synthetic optical images are formed at different angles of rotation of the focusing element sheet in relation to the icon element sheet.
40. A synthetic optical image system, comprising
an array of focusing elements, and
a two-dimensional array of icon elements,
wherein the system operates as an authentication system in which the array of focusing elements is separate from the array of icon elements and is used to read information contained in the array of icon elements, the array of focusing elements and the array of icon elements cooperating to form at least one synthetically magnified optical image of at least a portion of the icon elements when the array of focusing elements is disposed in proximity to the array of icon elements,
wherein the array of icon elements includes: icon elements that are either positive or negative icons in relation to their background and are transparent, translucent, pigmented, fluorescent, phosphorescent, metallized, substantially retroreflective, or display optically variable color; or icon elements that are either positive or negative icons in relation to their background and have a background that is transparent, translucent, pigmented, fluorescent, phosphorescent, metallized, substantially retroreflective, or displays optically variable color;
or both.
41. A synthetic optical image system, comprising
an array of focusing elements, and
a two-dimensional planar array of icon elements,
wherein the system operates as an authentication system in which the array of focusing elements is separate from the array of icon elements and is used to read information contained in the array of icon elements, the array of focusing elements and the array of icon elements cooperating to form at least one synthetically magnified optical image of at least a portion of the icon elements when the array of focusing elements is disposed in proximity to the array of icon elements,
wherein the array of icon elements includes icon elements formed using a metal material.
42. An image presentation system comprising a two-dimensional array of microstructured icon elements, the microstructured icon elements designed to collectively form an image or certain selected information in the form of microprinting, wherein the image is designed to be viewed or the information read only by use of a separate magnifying device.
43. A synthetic optical image system, comprising
an array of focusing elements, and
an array of icon elements,
wherein the system operates as an authentication system in which the array of focusing elements is separate from and not permanently coupled to the array of icon elements and is used to read information contained in the array of icon elements, the array of focusing elements and the array of icon elements cooperating to form at least one synthetically magnified optical image of at least a portion of the icon elements when the array of focusing elements is disposed in proximity to the array of icon elements.
44. A synthetic optical image system, comprising:
(a) an array of icon elements; and
(b) an array of focusing reflectors,
wherein the system operates as an authentication system in which the array of focusing reflectors is separate from the array of icon elements and is used to read information contained in the array of icon elements, the array of focusing reflectors and the array of icon elements cooperating to form at least one synthetically magnified optical image of at least a portion of the icon elements.
45. The synthetic optical image system of claim 44 , wherein the array of focusing reflectors includes metallized focusing reflectors.
46. A synthetic optical image system, comprising:
(a) a planar array of icon elements;
(b) an array of focusing elements; and
(c) a substrate positioned between the arrays of icon elements and focusing elements,
wherein at least a portion of the icon elements are formed as bas-relief surfaces on or in a surface of the substrate, the bas-relief surfaces filled with a pigmented or dyed material, and
wherein the system operates as an authentication system in which the array of focusing elements is separate from the array of icon elements and is used to read information contained in the array of icon elements, the array of focusing elements and the array of icon elements cooperating to form at least one grayscale or tonal synthetically magnified optical image of at least a portion of the icon elements.
47. The synthetic optical image system of claim 46 , wherein the system is protected by a sealing layer, the sealing layer being applied to a side of the array of icon elements opposite the array of focusing elements, the sealing layer having at least a portion that is transparent, tinted, colored, dyed, pigmented, or opaque.
48. A synthetic optical image system, comprising:
(a) a planar array of icon elements;
(b) an array of focusing elements; and
(c) a substrate positioned between the arrays of icon elements and focusing elements,
wherein at least a portion of the icon elements are formed as bas-relief surfaces on or in a surface of the substrate, the bas-relief surfaces coated with a high refractive index material, and
wherein the system operates as an authentication system in which the array of focusing elements is separate from the array of icon elements and is used to read information contained in the array of icon elements, the array of focusing elements and the array of icon elements cooperating to form at least one grayscale or tonal synthetically magnified optical image of at least a portion of the icon elements.
49. The synthetic optical image system of claim 48 , wherein, the system is protected by a sealing layer, the sealing layer being applied to a side of the array of icon elements opposite the array of focusing elements, the sealing layer filling the bas-relief surfaces and having at least a portion that is transparent, tinted, colored, dyed, pigmented, or opaque.
50. A synthetic optical image system, comprising:
(a) a planar array of icon elements;
(b) an array of focusing elements; and
(c) a substrate positioned between the arrays of icon elements and focusing elements,
wherein, at least a portion of the icon elements are formed as bas-relief surfaces on or in a surface of the substrate,
wherein the system operates as an authentication system in which the array of focusing elements is separate from the array of icon elements and is used to read information contained in the array of icon elements, the array of focusing elements and the array of icon elements cooperating to form at least one grayscale or tonal synthetically magnified optical image of at least a portion of the icon elements.
51. A synthetic optical image system, comprising:
(a) an array of icon elements;
(b) an array of focusing elements; and
(c) a substrate positioned between the arrays of icon elements and focusing elements,
wherein, at least a portion of the icon elements are formed as bas-relief surfaces on or in a surface of the substrate,
wherein the system operates as an authentication system in which the array of focusing elements is separate from the array of icon elements and is used to read information contained in the array of icon elements, the array of focusing elements and the array of icon elements cooperating to form at least one grayscale or tonal synthetically magnified optical image of at least a portion of the icon elements, and
wherein air, gas, or liquid is contained within the bas-relief surfaces, wherein the system is protected by a sealing layer, the sealing layer being applied to a side of the array of icon elements opposite the array of focusing elements, entrapping the air, gas, or liquid within the bas-relief surfaces, the sealing layer having at least a portion that is transparent, tinted, colored, dyed, pigmented, or opaque.