Diffractive Surfaces With Color Shifting Backgrounds

• US 20080018965A1
• Filed: 09/26/2007
• Published: 01/24/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 07/08/1999
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Viavi Solutions, Inc. (Lumentum Holdings Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Viavi Solutions, Inc. (Lumentum Holdings Inc.)
• Inventors: Higgins, Patrick, Bonkowski, Richard, Phillips, Roger, Markantes, Charles
• Application Number:
  US11/861,393
• Publication Number:
  US 20080018965A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 359/2
• CPC Class Codes: B42D 2035/24 Colours
• CPC Class Codes: B42D 25/29 Securities; Bank notes
• CPC Class Codes: B42D 25/324 Reliefs
• CPC Class Codes: B42D 25/328 Diffraction gratings; Holograms
• CPC Class Codes: B42D 25/36 comprising special materials
• CPC Class Codes: B42D 25/369 Magnetised or magnetisable materials
• CPC Class Codes: B42D 25/373 Metallic materials
• CPC Class Codes: G03H 1/0011 for security or authentication holograms on information-bearing cards B42D25/328; testing papers with holograms G07D7/0032
• CPC Class Codes: G03H 1/02 Details of features involved during the holographic process; Replication of holograms without interference recording
• CPC Class Codes: G03H 1/0244 Surface relief holograms replicating hologram without interference recording G03H1/0276
• CPC Class Codes: G03H 1/0256 having specific functional layer
• CPC Class Codes: G03H 2250/12 Special arrangement of layers
• CPC Class Codes: G03H 2250/42 Reflective layer G03H2250/36 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/24355 Continuous and nonuniform or irregular surface on layer or component [e.g., roofing, etc.]
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/24479 including variation in thickness
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/2457 Parallel ribs and/or grooves
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/24802 Discontinuous or differential coating, impregnation or bond [e.g., artwork, printing, retouched photograph, etc.]

Abstract

A security article includes a light transmissive substrate having a first surface and an opposing second surface, with the first surface having an embossed region with an optical diffraction pattern or a holographic image pattern. A color shifting optical coating is formed on the substrate such as on the opposing second surface, with the optical coating providing an observable color shift as the angle of incident light or viewing angle changes. The security article can be used in a variety of applications and products to provide for enhanced security measures such as anticounterfeiting.

Claims

1. A security article comprising:

a light transmissive substrate having a first surface and an opposing second surface, said first surface having a diffraction grating pattern or a holographic image pattern formed thereon; and

a color-shifting multilayer optical film structure formed on said diffraction grating pattern or said holographic image pattern formed on said first surface of said light transmissive substrate, so as to conform to the shape thereof, said color-shifting multilayer optical film structure being defined by a reflector layer formed directly on said diffraction grating pattern or said holographic image pattern formed on said first surface of said light transmissive substrate, a dielectric layer formed directly on said reflector layer, and an optical absorber layer formed directly on said dielectric layer and having a first surface thereof opposite a second surface thereof formed directly on said dielectric layer, said first surface of said reflector layer replicating said diffraction pattern or said holographic image pattern formed on said first surface of said light transmissive substrate; and

wherein said color-shifting multilayer optical film structure provides color shifting with change of viewing angle or angle of incident light.

2. A security article as defined in claim 1, wherein the first surface of the absorber layer has the diffraction pattern or holographic image pattern replicated and formed therein.

3. A security article as defined in claim 1, wherein a layer of the color-shifting multilayer optical film structure is segmented.

4. A security article as defined in claim 2 wherein a layer of the color-shifting multilayer optical film structure is segmented.

5. A security article as defined in claim 3 wherein the reflector layer is segmented.