Transfer foil having reflecting layer with fine dimple pattern recorded thereon

• US 5,300,169 A
• Filed: 01/24/1992
• Issued: 04/05/1994
• Est. Priority Date: 01/28/1991
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Dai Nippon Printing Company Limited
• Original Assignee: Dai Nippon Printing Company Limited
• Inventors: Tahara, Shigehiko
• Primary Examiner(s): Simmons, David A.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Rivard, Paul M.
• Application Number:
  US07/826,063
• Time in Patent Office: 802 Days
• Field of Search: 156/230, 156/233, 156/240, 156/234, 156/277, 156/283, 156/284, 430/1, 430/2, 283/86, 283/904, 359/3, 359/15
• US Class Current: 156/230
• CPC Class Codes: G03H 1/0236 Form or shape of the hologram when not registered to the substrate, e.g. trimming the hologram to alphanumerical shape substrates bearing a hologram G03H1/0272
• CPC Class Codes: G03H 1/0244 Surface relief holograms replicating hologram without interference recording G03H1/0276
• CPC Class Codes: G03H 1/0252 Laminate comprising a hologram layer
• CPC Class Codes: G03H 1/028 by embossing
• CPC Class Codes: G03H 2001/0296 Formation of the master hologram
• CPC Class Codes: G03H 2001/184 Partially erasing
• CPC Class Codes: G03H 2001/187 Trimming process, i.e. macroscopically patterning the hologram
• CPC Class Codes: G03H 2240/50 Parameters or numerical values associated with holography, e.g. peel strength
• CPC Class Codes: G03H 2240/54 Refractive index
• CPC Class Codes: G03H 2240/55 Thickness
• CPC Class Codes: G03H 2250/10 arranged to be transferred onto a carrier body

Abstract

A method wherein a hologram is transferred from a transfer foil formed with a fine dimple pattern and having a reflecting layer, and information, e.g., an image or a character, other than information originally recorded on the hologram is added to the transferred hologram. The method comprises preparing a transfer foil having a reflection relief hologram comprising a resin layer having a fine dimple pattern, e.g., a relief hologram, a relief diffraction grating, etc., formed on the surface thereof, and a reflecting layer formed on the dimpled surface of the resin layer, transferring at least a part of the hologram to the surface of an object, and heating a part of the transferred portion with a heating device, thereby destroying the reflecting layer to record another information. Also disclosed are a method which enables a fine hologram pattern to be readily transferred to a large area, a transfer foil having a reflecting layer which enables a fine dimple pattern to be transferred precisely with excellent foil breaking characteristics, and a method of producing such a fine dimple pattern transfer foil.

Claims

1. An information recording method comprising the steps of:

preparing a transfer foil having a reflection relief hologram comprising at least a resin layer having a fine dimple pattern formed on the surface thereof, and a reflecting layer formed on the dimpled surface of said resin layer, at least a part of said reflection relief hologram being formed as a transferable region;

transferring a predetermined portion of said transferable region to the surface of an object to which information is to be transferred; and

heating at least a part of the transferred portion with a heating means, thereby destroying said reflecting layer.

3. An information recording medium which has information recorded thereon by the method of claim 1.

2. An information recording method comprising the steps of:

preparing a transfer foil having a reflection relief hologram comprising at least a resin layer having a fine dimple pattern formed on the surface thereof, and a reflecting layer formed on the dimpled surface of said resin layer, at least a part of said reflection relief hologram being formed as a transferable region;

transferring a predetermined portion of said transferable region to the surface of an object to which information is to be transferred; and

heating at least a part of the transferred portion with a heating means, thereby smoothing a dimple pattern formed by the surface of said resin layer and said reflecting layer.

4. An information recording medium which has information recorded thereon by the method of claim 2.