Optically variable multilayer thin film interference stack on flexible insoluble web

• US 5,084,351 A
• Filed: 03/29/1989
• Issued: 01/28/1992
• Est. Priority Date: 12/28/1979
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: JDS Uniphase Corporation (Lumentum Holdings Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Flex Products Incorporated (Sicpa Holding SA)
• Inventors: Philips, Roger W., Mayer, Thomas, Ash, Gary S.
• Primary Examiner(s): Ball, Michael W.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Falasco, Louis
• Application Number:
  US07/329,941
• Time in Patent Office: 1,035 Days
• Field of Search: 428/43, 428/46, 428/202, 428/203, 428/204, 428/352, 428/354, 106/20, 106/22, 106/286.5, 106/287.17, 106/288.13, 106/436, 106/404, 106/405, 106/417, 156/289, 523/171, 356/71
• US Class Current: 428/411.1
• CPC Class Codes: B05D 1/286 using a temporary backing to which the coating has been applied
• CPC Class Codes: B05D 5/06 to obtain multicolour or other optical effects B05D5/02 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B41M 3/00 Printing processes to produce particular kinds of printed work, e.g. patterns printing apparatus or machines of special type or for particular purposes B41F17/00; special designs or pictures per se B44F; manufacturing printed circuits using printing techniques H05K3/12 ; manufacturing organic semiconductor devices using printing techniques H10K71/13
• CPC Class Codes: B41M 3/14 Security printing securities B42D25/29
• CPC Class Codes: C01P 2004/51 Particles with a specific particle size distribution
• CPC Class Codes: C01P 2004/54 Particles characterised by their aspect ratio, i.e. the ratio of sizes in the longest to the shortest dimension
• CPC Class Codes: C03C 17/00 Surface treatment of glass, not in the form of fibres or filaments, by coating optical coatings of optical elements G02B1/10
• CPC Class Codes: C09C 1/0015 Pigments exhibiting interference colours, e.g. transparent platelets of appropriate thinness or flaky substrates, e.g. mica, bearing appropriate thin transparent coatings
• CPC Class Codes: C09C 1/0051 comprising a stack of coating layers with alternating low and high refractive indices, wherein the first coating layer on the core surface has the low refractive index
• CPC Class Codes: C09C 1/0078 Pigments consisting of flaky, non-metallic substrates, characterised by a surface-region containing free metal
• CPC Class Codes: C09C 2200/1054 the core consisting of a metal
• CPC Class Codes: C09C 2200/24 Interference pigments comprising a metallic reflector or absorber layer, which is not adjacent to the core
• CPC Class Codes: C09C 2220/20 PVD, CVD methods or coating in a gas-phase using a fluidized bed
• CPC Class Codes: C09D 11/50 Sympathetic, colour changing or similar inks
• CPC Class Codes: F24S 70/225 for spectrally selective absorption
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 10/40 Solar thermal energy, e.g. solar towers
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 428/916 Fraud or tamper detecting
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/2486 with outer strippable or release layer
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/24917 including metal layer
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/31504 Composite [nonstructural laminate]

Abstract

An article adapted to be utilized in the production of optically variable ink comprised of a flexible insoluble web, a release lever formed on the web and an optically variable multilayer thin film interference stack disposed on the release layer and which provides a color shift between two predetermined uniform colors. The interference stack includes an opaque reflective layer which has first and second surfaces and at least one period on each said first and second surfaces to provide the same color shift from each of said first and second surfaces between said two predetermined uniform colors at two different angles of incident light. Each period is comprised of a dielectric layer and a semi-opaque layer.

Claims

1. An article adapted to be utilized in the production of optically variable ink comprising a flexible insoluble web, a release layer formed on the web and an optically variable multilayer thin film interference stack disposed on the release layer and providing a color shift between two predetermined uniform colors, said interference stack including an opaque reflective layer having first and second surfaces and having at least one period on each said first and second surfaces to provide the same color shift from each of said first and second surfaces between said two predetermined uniform colors at two different angles of incident light, each period being comprised of a dielectric layer and a semi-opaque layer.

2. An article as in claim 1 wherein said release coat is formed of a material which is soluble in a solvent.

3. An article adapted to be utilized to form an optically variable coating on a preselected substrate, said article comprising a flexible insoluble web of preselected material and having a surface, and an optically variable thin film multilayer interference stack formed on said surface of said web;

said optically variable interference stack including a metal reflector having first and second surfaces and at least one period being disposed on each of said first and second surfaces, each period being comprised of a first and second surfaces, each period being comprised of a dielectric layer and semi-opaque layer, said optically variable interference stack being adapted to be secured to such substrate; and

such preselected material of said web being adapted to be thereafter separated from said optical coating.

4. An article as claimed in claim 3, wherein said optically variable interference stack is secured to said substrate with a preselected adhesive.

5. An article as claimed in claim 3, wherein said optically variable interference stack is secured to said substrate by a hot stamping process.

6. An article adapted to be utilized in the production of an optical variable pigment for use in an optical variable ink or paint comprising a flexible insoluble web having a surface, an optically variable thin film interference stack disposed on the surface of the web so that an interface is provided between the stack and the web, said stack being formed on said web so that when the stack is separated from the web, the stack has a central opaque reflecting layer with first and second surfaces and a period disposed on each surface of the opaque reflecting layer, each period being comprised of a dielectric layer and a semi-opaque layer.

7. An article as in claim 6 wherein the opaque reflecting layer is a metal layer.

8. An article as in claim 6 wherein the dielectric layers formed of a low index material having an index of refraction of 1.65 or less.

9. An article as in claim 6 wherein a release layer is formed between the interference stack and the surface of the web.

10. An article as in claim 9 wherein said release layer is formed of an organic material.