Reflective multi-image surface

• US 20050134981A1
• Filed: 11/18/2004
• Published: 06/23/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 11/18/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Temeku Technologies Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Merlin Technology Limited Liability Company
• Inventors: Poulsen, Peter D.
• Granted Patent: US 7,123,411 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 359/850
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 5/10 with curved faces

Abstract

A surface containing a plurality of individually-addressable encoded images comprises an array of curved specular reflectors. Reflectance modifying treatment is applied to a first region of at least one of the curved specular reflectors, such that beamable energy that is directed towards the array is viewable from a first subset of the curved specular reflectors only under a first set of viewing conditions. Reflectance modifying treatment is applied to a second region of at least one of the curved specular reflectors, such that beamable energy that is directed towards the array is viewable from a second subset of the curved specular reflectors only under a second set of viewing conditions.

Claims

1. A surface for reflecting beamable energy, comprising:

an array of curved specular reflectors.

2. A surface for reflecting beamable energy as in claim 1, further comprising:

a reflectance modifying treatment applied to at least one curved specular reflector, such that beamable energy that is directed towards the array is differentially reflected by a subset of the curved specular reflectors.

3. A surface for reflecting beamable energy as in claim 1, further comprising:

a first reflectance modifying treatment, said treatment applied to a first region of at least one curved specular reflector, such that beamable energy that is reflected forms a first image that is viewable primarily under a first set of viewing conditions.

4. A surface for reflecting beamable energy as in claim 3, further comprising:

a second reflectance modifying treatment, said treatment applied to a second region of at least one curved specular reflector, such that beamable energy that is reflected forms a second image that is viewable primarily under a second set of viewing conditions, different from the first.

5. A surface for reflecting beamable energy as in claim 1, wherein the array of curved specular reflectors is substantially planar.

6. A surface for reflecting beamable energy as in claim 1, wherein the array of curved specular reflectors is substantially convex.

7. A surface for reflecting beamable energy as in claim 1, wherein the array of curved specular reflectors is substantially concave.

8. A surface for reflecting beamable energy as in claim 1, wherein the curved specular reflectors are substantially convex.

9. A surface for reflecting beamable energy as in claim 1, wherein the curved specular reflectors are substantially concave.

10. A surface for reflecting beamable energy as in claim 1, wherein the beamable energy is electromagnetic radiation.

11. A surface for reflecting beamable energy as in claim 1, wherein the beamable energy is light.

12. A surface for reflecting beamable energy as in claim 1, wherein the beamable energy is radio frequency waves.

13. A surface for reflecting beamable energy as in claim 1, wherein the beamable energy is x-rays.

14. A surface for reflecting beamable energy as in claim 1, wherein the beamable energy is microwaves.

15. A surface for reflecting beamable energy as in claim 1, wherein the beamable energy is sunlight.

16. A surface for reflecting beamable energy as in claim 1, wherein the beamable energy is an artificial light source.

17. A surface for reflecting beamable energy as in claim 16, wherein the artificial light source is collimated.

18. A surface for reflecting beamable energy as in claim 1, wherein the beamable energy is an acoustic source.

19. A surface for reflecting beamable energy as in claim 1, wherein the beamable energy is ultrasound.

20. A surface for reflecting beamable energy as in claim 1, wherein the perimeters of said curved specular reflectors are approximately rectangular.

21. A surface for reflecting beamable energy as in claim 1, wherein the perimeters of said curved specular reflectors are approximately hexagonal.

22. A surface for reflecting beamable energy as in claim 1, wherein the perimeters of said curved specular reflectors are approximately triangular.

23. A surface for reflecting beamable energy as in claim 1, wherein the surfaces of said curved specular reflectors are substantially spherical in profile.

24. A surface for reflecting beamable energy as in claim 1, wherein the surfaces of said curved specular reflectors are substantially oval in profile.

25. A surface for reflecting beamable energy as in claim 1, wherein the reflected beamable energy forms an image.

26. A surface for reflecting beamable energy as in claim 25, wherein the image is viewable only from a limited angle relative to the array of curved specular reflectors.

27. A method of producing an image from a reflective surface, comprising:

forming an array of curved specular reflectors;

applying reflection modifying treatment to a region of at least one of the curved specular reflectors, such that applied beamable energy is differentially reflected by a subset of the curved specular reflectors; and

directing a source of beamable energy at the array of curved specular reflectors such that an observer can perceive an image encoded on the array of curved specular reflectors.

28. A method of producing an image from a reflective surface as in claim 27, such that the curved specular reflectors are substantially convex.

29. A method of producing an image from a reflective surface as in claim 27, further comprising:

arranging the array of curved specular reflectors into a substantially planar configuration.

30. A method of producing an image from a reflective surface as in claim 27, such that the beamable energy is electromagnetic radiation.

31. A method of producing an image from a reflective surface as in claim 27, such that the beamable energy is visible light.

32. A method of producing an image from a reflective surface as in claim 27, such that the beamable energy is ultrasound.

33. A surface containing a plurality of individually-addressable encoded images, comprising:

an array of curved specular reflectors;

reflectance modifying treatment applied to first regions of a first subset of the curved specular reflectors, such that beamable energy that is directed towards the array is differentially reflected from the array of curved specular reflectors, said differential reflectance being viewable primarily under a first set of viewing conditions; and

reflectance modifying treatment applied to second regions of a second subset of the curved specular reflectors, such that beamable energy that is directed towards the array is differentially reflected from the array of curved specular reflectors, said differential reflectance being viewable primarily under a second set of viewing conditions.

34. A surface containing a plurality of individually-addressable encoded images as in claim 33, wherein the reflectance modifying treatment comprises an applied reflectance modifying material.

35. A surface containing a plurality of individually-addressable encoded images as in claim 33, wherein the reflectance modifying treatment comprises roughening.

36. A surface containing a plurality of individually-addressable encoded images as in claim 33, wherein the reflectance modifying treatment comprises producing holes.

37. A surface containing a plurality of individually-addressable encoded images as in claim 33, wherein the first or second set of viewing conditions comprise distance of an observer from the array of curved specular reflectors.

38. A surface containing a plurality of individually-addressable encoded images as in claim 33, wherein the first or second set of viewing conditions comprise an angle between the beamable energy and the array of curved specular reflectors.

39. A surface containing a plurality of individually-addressable encoded images as in claim 33, wherein the first or second set of viewing conditions comprise an angle between an observer and the array of curved specular reflectors.

40. A surface containing a plurality of individually-addressable encoded images as in claim 33, wherein the beamable energy is emitted from an extended source.

41. A surface containing a plurality of individually-addressable encoded images as in claim 40, wherein the extended source is the sun.

42. A surface containing a plurality of individually-addressable encoded images as in claim 33, wherein the beamable energy is substantially collimated.

43. A surface for reflecting beamable energy, comprising:

an array of curved reflectors; and

reflectance-modifying treatment applied to at least one curved reflector, such that incident light is specularly reflected from at least one of said reflectance-modifying treated curved reflectors.