Rolic Ag

Rolic Ltd C/o Rolic Technologies Ltd

3m Innovative Properties Company

Rolic Technologies Ag

Rolic Ltd.

Hoffmann-la Roche Inc.

Hubert Seiberle

Martin Schadt

Andreas Schuster

Guy Marck

Peggy Studer

Olivier Muller

Thomas Bachels

Jean-Francois Eckert

Fabien Xavier Delbaere

Joachim Reichardt

Qian Tang

Zoubair Mohammed Cherkaoui

Mohammed Ibn-Elhaj

Izabela Bury

Richard Buchecker

Klaus Schmitt

Satish Palika

Thomas Peglow

Martin Roth

Richard C Allen

Jurg Funfschilling

Carsten Benecke

Richard Frantz

David Pires

Jean-François Eckert

Julien Martz

Jürg Fünfschilling

Thierry Becret

Patricia Scandiucci De Freitas

Herve Vissieres

Sabrina Chappellet

Franco Moia

Frederic Lincker

Eva Veenstra

Martin Ruetschi

Wolfgang Wernet

Stefano Tugulu

Olivier Müller

Hervé Vissieres

Jürg Funfschilling

Oliver MÜLLER

The present invention relates to a method for manufacturing an optical element including a layer comprising anisotropic optical function and alignment capability. The layer is formed from a composition comprising polymerizable liquid crystals and one or more photo-orientable substances. Alignment on top of the layer is achieved by exposure to linearly polarized light.

Method for generating alignment on top of a liquid crystal polymer material

The present invention relates to novel photoactive polymer materials and their use as orienting layer for liquid crystals, which are used for the production of non-structured and structured optical elements or electro-optical elements and multi-layer systems.

Photoactive polymer materials

A photo-alignable object has a thickness of more than 2 &#x3bc;m. The photo-alignable object can be in the form of a free standing film. Also, the photo-alignable object can have a topographical surface structure. The depth of the topographical surface structure can be larger than 100 nm, and preferably the depth of the topographical surface structure is larger than 1 &#x3bc;m.

Photo-alignable object

The invention relates to an optical security system comprising an optical element with a patterned anisotropic optical property, wherein information is encoded and encrypted in the pattern of the optical element. The system further comprises a patterned polarizer in which the pattern is such that the information stored in the optical element can be decrypted.

Encrypted optical security device

The invention relates to an optical device comprising two patterned retarders and a reflective polarizer between the retarders. Information which is stored in the pattern of the retarders can be observed both in transmission and reflection. The device according to the invention can be used as high security element, for example for banknotes.

Optical security device

The invention provides a method for generation of an orientation pattern in a photo-alignable material using parallax optic. The invention further provides optical devices comprising a parallax optical element and an element with patterned optical anisotropic properties. Such devices have angular dependent, optically anisotropic properties, which are useful for various applications.

Optical devices with patterned anisotropy incorporating parallax optic

The present invention relates to a photoalignment composition comprising a) 0.001 to 20%, by weight; preferably, 1 to 10% by weight, more preferably 1 to 9% by weight of at least one photoreactive compound (I) that comprises a photoalignment group and b) 80 to 99.999% by weight, preferably, 90 to 99% by weight, more preferably 91 to 99% by weight of at least one compound (II) that does not comprise a photoalignment group, and c) optionally at least one reactive or non reactive additives, and d) optionally at least one solvent. Further, the present invention relates to the use of this photoalignment composition for the alignment of liquid crystals or liquid crystal polymers, in electro-optical and optical elements, systems and devices.

Photoalignment composition

The present invention relates to novel photoactive polymer materials their use as orienting layer for liquid crystals, which are used for the production of non-structured and structured optical elements or electro-optical elements and multi-layer systems.

The present invention relates to a method for manufacturing a photo-alignable object. The invention further provides compositions for the manufacturing of a photo-alignable object as well as different embodiments of photo-alignable objects and devices using them.

The present invention relates to an apparatus which allows producing elements with individually patterned anisotropic properties, where the pattern may vary from element to element. An apparatus according to the invention comprises a support for a substrate and an exposure unit for providing spatially modulated aligning light with a first polarization plane, wherein the exposure unit contains a light source, a spatial light modulator, which can be controlled electronically, for example by a computer, and a projection lens. The present invention furthermore relates to a method for fast production of elements with individually patterned anisotropic properties using such an apparatus.

Fast generation of elements with individually patterned anisotropy

The present invention relates to a photoalignment composition comprising Further the present invention relates to the use of this photoalignment composition for the alignment of liquid crystals or liquid crystal polymers, in electro&#x2014;optical and optical elements, systems and devices.

An element for protection against forgery and/or copying is arranged on a substrate and includes an optically anisotropic layer which has at least two regions with different optical axes, characterized in that the substrate is a reflective polarizer. The optically anisotropic layer can include cross-linked liquid crystal monomers. The anisotropic layer can be placed on an orientation layer. The orientation layer can be in contact with the polarizer and can include a photo-oriented polymer network. A device for protection against forgery and/or copying is characterized in that an element as set forth above and an analyzer are arranged on the same substrate.

Optical element

The present invention relates to a method for the replication of a patterned surface relief microstructure, comprising the steps of generation of a first layer with a patterned surface relief microstructure, generation of a master, by copying the microstructure of the first layer into a second layer, thereby involving at least one dry or wet etching step, characterized by an additional step, in which the microstructure of the master is brought into contact with a replica material, such that the microstructure of the master is reproduced in the replica. The invention further relates to the elements made as a replica according to the method. The surface relief microstructures are suitable to display images with a positive-negative and/or color image flip. The elements according to the invention are particularly useful for securing documents and articles against counterfeiting and falsification.

Surface relief microstructures, related devices and method of making them

This invention relates to an optical element for the purpose of identification and/or prevention of forgery or copying, including at least one layer with anisotropic optical properties, wherein the anisotropic optical properties are patterned, characterized in that the pattern represents biometric information. In addition, this invention relates to a method for the preparation of an optical element for the purpose of identification and/or prevention of forgery or copying.

Optical biometric security element

Growing community of inventors

Weil am Rhein, Germany

Hubert Seiberle