MICRO-OPTIC FILM STRUCTURE THAT ALONE OR TOGETHER WITH A SECURITY DOCUMENT OR LABEL PROJECTS IMAGES SPATIALLY COORDINATED WITH STATIC IMAGES AND/OR OTHER PROJECTED IMAGES

• US 20070273143A1
• Filed: 05/11/2007
• Published: 11/29/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 05/12/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Crane & Company Incorporated (Crane Company)
• Original Assignee: Crane & Company Incorporated (Crane Company)
• Inventors: Morck-Hamilton, Karin, Maraschi, Marco, Crane, Timothy, Niedeck, Tod
• Granted Patent: US 8,284,492 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 283/72
• CPC Class Codes: B41M 3/003 on optical devices, e.g. lens elements; for the production of optical devices production by thermal imaging means B41M5/265
• CPC Class Codes: B42D 2033/20 Coloured material; Pigments or inks
• CPC Class Codes: B42D 2033/24 Reliefs or indentations
• CPC Class Codes: B42D 2035/20 Optical effects
• CPC Class Codes: B42D 2035/24 Colours
• CPC Class Codes: B42D 2035/36 visible in transmitted light, e.g. in a window region
• CPC Class Codes: B42D 2035/44 Miniaturised markings
• CPC Class Codes: B42D 2035/50 Corresponding markings appearing in different shapes or at different places
• CPC Class Codes: B42D 25/00 Information-bearing cards or sheet-like structures characterised by identification or security features; Manufacture thereof printing processes to produce identification or security features B41M3/14
• CPC Class Codes: B42D 25/324 Reliefs
• CPC Class Codes: B42D 25/346 Perforations
• CPC Class Codes: B42D 25/355 Security threads
• CPC Class Codes: B42D 25/382 absorbing or reflecting infrared light
• CPC Class Codes: B42D 25/387 absorbing or reflecting ultraviolet light
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 3/0006 Arrays G02B3/02, G02B5/188 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 5/1861 Reflection gratings characterised by their structure, e.g. step profile, contours of substrate or grooves, pitch variations, materials G02B5/1809, G02B5/1828, G02B5/1833, G02B5/1838 and G02B5/1847 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/24612 Composite web or sheet

Abstract

A micro-optic film structure that alone or together with a security document or label projects images spatially coordinated with static images and/or other projected images is provided. The inventive film structure is made up of: (a) one or more polymer film materials; (b) one or more planar arrangements of primary image icons; (c) one or more planar arrangements of focusing elements or lenses; and (d) one or more secondary image icons. The planar arrangements are configured such that when a planar arrangement of primary image icons is viewed through a planar arrangement of focusing elements or lenses, one or more first synthetic images are projected. The secondary image icons appear as static and/or other projected images. These images are spatially coordinated with the first synthetic image(s) projected by the film structure, such that when simultaneously displayed therewith, they visually enhance or cancel the projected first synthetic image(s).

Claims

1. A micro-optic film structure, which projects one or more first synthetic optical images and optionally one or more second synthetic optical images, wherein the one or more first synthetic optical images are spatially coordinated with (i) one or more static images, (ii) one or more second synthetic optical images, or (iii) a combination of one or more static images and one or more second synthetic optical images.

2. The micro-optic film structure of claim 1, wherein the film structure projects one or more first synthetic optical images and one or more second synthetic optical images, wherein the one or more first synthetic optical images are spatially coordinated with the one or more second synthetic optical images.

3. The micro-optic film structure of claim 2, wherein the one or more first synthetic optical images and the one or more second synthetic optical images are magnified images.

4. The micro-optic film structure of claim 1, wherein the one or more first synthetic optical images are spatially coordinated with one or more static images.

5. The micro-optic film structure of claim 4, wherein the one or more first synthetic optical images are magnified images.

6. The micro-optic film structure of claim 4, which comprises:

(a) one or more polymer film materials;

(b) one or more planar arrangements of primary image icons located on or within a polymer film material; and

(c) one or more planar arrangements of focusing elements located on or near a polymer film material or a planar arrangement of primary image icons,

wherein, the planar arrangements are configured such that when a planar arrangement of primary image icons is viewed through a planar arrangement of focusing elements, one or more first synthetic optical images are projected; and

(d) one or more secondary image icons directly or indirectly superimposed upon or formed through one or more primary image icons and/or one or more focusing elements,

wherein, the one or more secondary image icons appear as static images spatially coordinated with the one or more first synthetic optical images,

wherein, when the static images are viewed with the one or more first synthetic optical images projected by the film structure, the static images visually enhance or cancel the one or more projected images.

7. The micro-optic film structure of claim 6, wherein the one or more primary image icons are optionally filled voids or recesses formed on or within the one or more polymer film materials.

8. The micro-optic film structure of claim 6, wherein the one or more first synthetic optical images are magnified images.

9. The micro-optic film structure of claim 8, wherein the one or more magnified first synthetic optical images show orthoparallactic movement as the film structure is tilted or viewed from different viewing angles.

10. The micro-optic film structure of claim 6, wherein the one or more secondary image icons are printed icons.

11. The micro-optic film structure of claim 6, wherein the one or more secondary image icons are in the form of optically variable holographic foil patches or stripes.

12. The micro-optic film structure of claim 6, wherein the one or more secondary image icons are in the form of microscopic holes that extend completely through the thickness of the film structure.

13. The micro-optic film structure of claim 6, wherein the one or more secondary image icons visually enhance the one or more first synthetic optical images projected by the film structure by:

(a) changing at least one of color, optical density, luminosity, or background of the one or more first synthetic optical images;

(b) forming one or more new images or icons; and

/or

(c) amplifying apparent movement of the one or more first synthetic optical images.

14. The micro-optic film structure of claim 8, wherein the one or more first synthetic optical images and the one or more secondary image icons or static images together form a legible phrase.

15. The micro-optic film structure of claim 6, wherein the one or more secondary image icons or static images are negative or reverse likenesses of the one or more first synthetic optical images such that when the projected and static images merge, cancellation occurs.

16. The micro-optic film structure of claim 6, which comprises:

(a) a polymer film material having opposing surfaces;

(b) a planar arrangement of primary image icons located on or within one surface of the polymer film material; and

(c) a planar arrangement of focusing elements located on an opposing surface of the polymer film material,

wherein, the planar arrangements are configured such that when the planar arrangement of primary image icons is viewed through the planar arrangement of focusing elements, one or more magnified first synthetic optical images are projected; and

(d) one or more secondary image icons directly or indirectly superimposed upon or formed through one or more primary image icons and/or one or more focusing elements,

wherein, the one or more secondary image icons appear as static images spatially coordinated with the one or more magnified first synthetic optical images,

wherein, the one or more magnified first synthetic optical images projected by the film structure show orthoparallactic movement as the film structure is tilted or viewed from different viewing angles, and

wherein, when the static images are viewed with the one or more magnified first synthetic optical images projected by the film structure, the static images visually enhance or cancel the one or more magnified images.

17. The micro-optic film structure of claim 16, wherein the one or more primary image icons are optionally filled voids or recesses formed on or within the polymer film material, and wherein the one or more secondary image icons are printed icons.

18. A security document or label having opposing surfaces and comprising at least one micro-optic film structure partially embedded in and/or mounted on a surface of the security document or label, wherein the micro-optic film structure projects one or more first synthetic optical images and optionally one or more second synthetic optical images, wherein the one or more first synthetic optical images are spatially coordinated with (i) one or more static images, (ii) one or more second synthetic optical images, or (iii) a combination of one or more static images and one or more second synthetic optical images.

19. The security document or label of claim 18, wherein the micro-optic film structure projects one or more first synthetic optical images and one or more second synthetic optical images, wherein the one or more first synthetic optical images are spatially coordinated with the one or more second synthetic optical images.

20. The security document or label of claim 19, wherein the one or more first synthetic optical images and the one or more second synthetic optical images are magnified images.

21. The security document or label of claim 18, wherein the one or more first synthetic optical images are spatially coordinated with one or more static images.

22. The security document or label of claim 21, wherein the at least one micro-optic film structure comprises:

(a) one or more polymer film materials;

(b) one or more planar arrangements of primary image icons located on or within a polymer film material; and

(c) one or more planar arrangements of focusing elements located on either a polymer film material or on a planar arrangement of primary image icons,

wherein, the planar arrangements are configured such that when a planar arrangement of primary image icons is viewed through a planar arrangement of focusing elements, one or more first synthetic optical images are projected; and

(d) one or more secondary image icons directly or indirectly superimposed upon or formed through one or more primary image icons and/or one or more focusing elements,

wherein, the one or more secondary image icons appear as static images spatially coordinated with the one or more first synthetic optical images,

wherein, when the static images are viewed with the one or more first synthetic optical images projected by the film structure, the static images visually enhance or cancel the one or more projected images.

23. The security document or label of claim 22, wherein the secondary image icons are in the form of microscopic holes extending through the film structure and overlying security document or label.

24. The security document or label of claim 22, wherein the at least one micro-optic film structure in the form of a security thread is partially embedded in the security document or label, wherein the one or more secondary image icons are printed on one or both surfaces of the security document or label in areas overlying the partially embedded security thread.

25. A method for authenticating a security document or label comprising at least one micro-optic film structure partially embedded in and/or mounted on a surface of the security document or label, wherein the micro-optic film structure has an outermost planar arrangement of focusing elements, wherein the micro-optic film structure alone or together with the security document or label projects one or more first synthetic optical images and optionally one or more second synthetic optical images, wherein the one or more first synthetic optical images are spatially coordinated with (i) one or more static images, (ii) the one or more second synthetic optical images, or (iii) a combination of the one or more static images and the one or more second synthetic optical images, which method comprises:

(a) directing a coherent light source at a shallow angle over the planar arrangement of focusing elements of the micro-optic film structure to project a unique pattern;

(b) detecting the unique projected pattern; and

(c) comparing the detected unique projected pattern to expected patterns.