MICRO-OPTIC SECURITY DEVICE WITH ZONES OF COLOR
A micro-optic security device with zonal color transitions includes a planar array of focusing elements, an image icon layer including a plurality of retaining structures, the plurality of retaining structures defining isolated volumes at a first depth within the image icon layer, a first zone of image icons, the first zone of image icons having a first predefined subset of the plurality of retaining structures, wherein the isolated volumes of retaining structures of the first predefined subset of the plurality of retaining structures contain cured pigmented material of a first color, and a second zone of image icons, the second zone of image icons including a second predefined subset of the plurality of retaining structures, wherein the isolated volumes of retaining structures of the second predefined subset of the plurality of retaining structures contain cured pigmented material of a second color, wherein the second color contrasts with the first color.
1 . A micro-optic security device with zonal color transitions, comprising:
a planar array of refractive focusing elements;
an image icon layer comprising a plurality of retaining structures, the plurality of retaining structures defining a plurality of isolated volumes;
a first zone of image icons, the first zone of image icons comprising a spatially defined first subset of the plurality of retaining structures in which a first subset of isolated volumes contain cured pigmented material of a first color;
a second zone of image icons, the second zone of image icons comprising a spatially defined second subset of the plurality of retaining structures in which a second subset of isolated volumes contain cured pigmented material of a second color, wherein the second color contrasts with the first color; and
out-of-zone material, the out-of-zone material comprising cured pigmented material of the first color within the second zone of image icons wherein the first zone of image icons contacts the second zone of image icons along a border,
wherein the cured pigmented material of the first color in the first zone contributes to a synthetic image of the image icon layer projected by the planar array of focusing elements,
wherein the cured pigmented material of the second color in the second zone contributes to the synthetic image, and
wherein the out-of-zone material does not contribute to the synthetic image.
2 . The micro-optic security device of claim 1 , wherein the first subset of the plurality of retaining structures corresponds to a dynamically customized display to be provided by the micro-optic security device.
3 . The micro-optic security device of claim 2 , wherein the dynamically customized display to be provided by the micro-optic security device comprises a unique alphanumeric identifier of the micro-optic security device.
4 . The micro-optic security device of claim 2 , wherein the dynamically customized display comprises image icons from the first zone of image icons and the second zone of image icons.
5 . The micro-optic security device of claim 1 , wherein the image icon layer is disposed proximate to a focal plane of the planar array of refractive focusing elements.
6 . The micro-optic security device of claim 1 , wherein the cured pigmented light-curable material of the first color comprises a light-curable ink, wherein the light-curable ink polymerizes in response to light wavelengths in an emission spectrum of a light emitting diode (LED) lamp.
7 . The micro-optic security device of claim 1 , further comprising:
a third zone of image icons comprising a third spatially defined subset of the plurality of retaining structures, in which a first subset of isolated volumes contain cured pigmented material of a third color, wherein the third color contrasts with the first and second colors.
8 . The micro-optic security device of claim 1 ,
wherein one or more image icons of the first zone of image icons and one or more image icons of the second zone of image icons occupy locations in the image icon layer associated with a common phasing relationship relative to the refractive focusing elements of the planar array of refractive focusing elements.
wherein, when viewed through the refractive focusing elements of the planar array of refractive focusing elements, the one or more image icons of the first zone of image icons and the one or more image icons of the second zone of image icons present a dynamic visual effect, having an appearance which changes across ranges of viewing angles, and
wherein the common phasing relationship of the first zone of image icons and second zone of image icons relative to the refractive focusing elements of the planar array of refractive focusing elements produces sequential changes in the appearance of the dynamic visual effect.