Multiple Band Reflector with Metal and Dielectric Layers
First Claim
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1. A multiple band visible light reflector, comprising:
- a substrate;
a stack disposed on said substrate or on one or more intervening layers that are disposed on said substrate, wherein said stack comprises;
a first metal layer disposed in contact with said substrate;
a first dielectric layer disposed in contact with said first metal layer;
a second metal layer disposed in contact with said first dielectric layer; and
,a second dielectric layer disposed in contact with said second metal layer;
wherein said first dielectric layer and said second dielectric layer have a difference in thickness of at least 6 percent optical thickness; and
,wherein said reflector reflects light over the visible spectrum in at least two reflection peaks, wherein the intensity of each reflection peak is at least 45% of incident light at the same wavelength as said each reflection peak and the intensity of valleys between said reflection peaks are no more than 50% of the average intensities of said reflection peaks.
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Abstract
Now, according to the present invention, multiple band optical reflectors are provided that utilize a stack of metal and dielectric layers to create a reflection curve in the visible spectrum that has multiple peak intensities. Reflectors of the present invention comprise at least two dielectric layers that have differing thicknesses, with metal layers disposed therebetween. The use of metal layers in the present invention, as opposed to using alternating layers of dielectric materials, results in a reflector that is substantially thinner than a conventional two dielectric reflector.
39 Citations
21 Claims
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1. A multiple band visible light reflector, comprising:
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a substrate; a stack disposed on said substrate or on one or more intervening layers that are disposed on said substrate, wherein said stack comprises; a first metal layer disposed in contact with said substrate; a first dielectric layer disposed in contact with said first metal layer; a second metal layer disposed in contact with said first dielectric layer; and
,a second dielectric layer disposed in contact with said second metal layer; wherein said first dielectric layer and said second dielectric layer have a difference in thickness of at least 6 percent optical thickness; and
,wherein said reflector reflects light over the visible spectrum in at least two reflection peaks, wherein the intensity of each reflection peak is at least 45% of incident light at the same wavelength as said each reflection peak and the intensity of valleys between said reflection peaks are no more than 50% of the average intensities of said reflection peaks. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19)
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20. An item comprising a multiple band visible light reflector as an anti-counterfeiting measure, wherein said reflector comprises:
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a substrate; a stack disposed on said substrate or on one or more intervening layers that are disposed on said substrate, wherein said stack comprises; a first metal layer disposed in contact with said substrate; a first dielectric layer disposed in contact with said first metal layer; a second metal layer disposed in contact with said first dielectric layer; and
,a second dielectric layer disposed in contact with said second metal layer; wherein said first dielectric layer and said second dielectric layer have a difference in thickness of at least 6 percent optical thickness; and
,wherein said reflector reflects light over the visible spectrum in at least two reflection peaks, wherein the intensity of each reflection peak is at least 45% of incident light at the same wavelength as said each reflection peak and the intensity of valleys between said reflection peaks are no more than 50% of the average intensities of said reflection peaks.
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21. A method of confirming the authenticity of an item, comprising the steps:
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A) directing a light of known wavelengths at said item; B) reflecting said light off of a multiple band visible light reflector that said item comprises, wherein said reflector comprises; a stack disposed on said substrate or on one or more intervening layers that are disposed on said substrate, wherein said stack comprises; a first metal layer disposed in contact with said substrate; a first dielectric layer disposed in contact with said first metal layer; a second metal layer disposed in contact with said first dielectric layer; and
,a second dielectric layer disposed in contact with said second metal layer; wherein said first dielectric layer and said second dielectric layer have a difference in thickness of at least 6 percent optical thickness; and
,wherein said reflector reflects light over the visible spectrum in at least two reflection peaks, wherein the intensity of each reflection peak is at least 45% of incident light at the same wavelength as said each reflection peak and the intensity of valleys between said reflection peaks are no more than 50% of the average intensities of said reflection peaks. C) confirming that reflected light matches a knows pattern of reflection from said reflector.
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Specification