Flex Products, Inc.

Viavi Solutions Inc.

Jds Uniphase Corporation

Matthew R Witzman

Richard Alan Bradley, Jr

Roger Winston Phillips

Charles Thomas Markantes

Paul G Coombs

Paul Thomas Kohlmann

Cornelis Jan Delst

Vladimir P Raksha

Neil Teitelbaum

Eric William Kurman

Charlotte R LeGallee

Oleg Bouevitch

Christopher W Lantman

Eric R Cox

Jason Satern

Alberto Argoitia

Curtis Ross Hruska

Donald M Friedrich

Richard A Bradley

Ken D Cardell

Bryan James Clifton

Shaun McCaffery

Bruce Matson

John Reinecke

A deposition device may deposit, on a substrate, a binder layer that includes a first set of magnetic flakes and a second set of magnetic flakes and may cause, when a temperature of the binder layer satisfies a temperature threshold (e.g., a Curie temperature of the first set of magnetic flakes), a magnetic field to be applied to the binder layer to cause the first set of magnetic flakes and the second set of magnetic flakes to be oriented according to the magnetic field. The deposition device may cause, when the temperature of the binder layer ceases to satisfy the temperature threshold, another magnetic field to be applied to the binder layer to cause only the second set of magnetic flakes to be oriented according to the other magnetic field.

Orienting magnetic flakes within a binder layer

A composition including a first color shifting pigment flake population having a first D50 particle size; and a second color shifting pigment flake population having a second D50 particle size that is different from the first D50 particle size, wherein the first color shifting pigment flake population and the second color shifting pigment flake population have a similar face color and color shift is disclosed. An article including the composition is included. A method of making the composition and a method of making the article are also disclosed.

Composition including a color shifting pigment having a different particle size

A method of providing a configuration of a system of interference filters with a visible color shifting effect, includes: a hue matching step of identifying a configuration of a first interference filter including two first metal layers and a first spacer layer therebetween, and a configuration of a second interference filter including two second metal layers and a second spacer layer therebetween, wherein the first and second filters match in hue at the first viewing angle, and the mismatch in hue at the second angle; and a lightness adjustment step which may include modifying the layer material or the layer thickness of one of the metal layers; wherein a difference in lightness at the first viewing angle between the first and second modified filters is less that a difference in lightness at the first viewing angle between the first and second filters.

Matched interference pigments or foils having viewing angle dependent mismatch

Interference pigments or foils as separate structures having color match or mismatch depending on viewing angle

An optical device exhibiting a color shift upon rotation is disclosed. The optical device has a textured surface having a relief structure finer than a human eye resolution but large enough not to exhibit diffraction effects. The textured surface is coated with an interference thin film that exhibits a color shift with tilt. A uniform color seen at one angle of rotation changes to another uniform color when the optical device is rotated in its own plane. A method of manufacturing of such an optical device, as well as the use of the optical device as an optical security and authentication element, is also disclosed.

Optical device exhibiting color shift upon rotation

An optically variable device is disclosed having a substrate with an array of pyramidal structures formed upon it or within it. The structures are coated with an optically variable color-shifting coating. Each of the structures form a pyramidal-like having at least three slanted faces and wherein one or more colors seen when viewing the pyramids vary as substrate is rotated at least 30 degrees about an axis orthogonal to the substrate. In order to see a color shift the device is rotated around the surface normal of the substrate, while keeping the angle of incidence to the light source the same, and keeping the viewing angle the same. Various forms of pyramids may be used, however pyramids with planar faces are most suitable.

Structured surfaces that exhibit color by rotation

An optically variable device is disclosed having a substrate with an array of pyramidal structures formed upon it or within it. The structures are preferably formed by printing pyramids with an optically variable color-shifting ink using an Intaglio-like printing process. Alternatively the structure can be formed by embossing a layer of ink with positive pyramids so as to yield an array of positive embossed pyramids. Each of the structures form a pyramidal-like having at least three slanted faces and wherein one or more than one color is seen when viewing the pyramids vary as substrate is rotated at least 30 degrees about an axis orthogonal to the substrate. In order to see a color shift the device is rotated around the surface normal of the substrate, while keeping the angle of incidence to the light source the same, and keeping the viewing angle the same. Various forms of pyramids may be used, however pyramids with planar faces are most suitable.

An automated verification system for authenticating an object having an optical security feature includes an optical system, a transport staging apparatus, and an analyzing device. The optical system includes one or more light sources that are capable of generating either narrowband or broadband light beams. The transport staging apparatus cooperates with the light sources and is configured to position the object such that one or more of the light beams strike a portion of the object where the security feature should be located. The analyzing device receives the light beams reflected or transmitted from the object and is adapted to analyze the optical characteristics of the light beams at varying angles and/or wavelengths to verify the authenticity of the object.

Automated verification systems and method for use with optical interference devices

Methods and devices for producing images on coated articles are provided. The methods generally comprise applying a layer of magnetizable pigment coating in liquid form on a substrate, with the magnetizable pigment coating containing a plurality of magnetic non-spherical particles or flakes. A magnetic field is then applied to selected regions of the pigment coating while the coating is in liquid form, with the magnetic field altering the orientation of selected magnetic particles or flakes. Finally, the pigment coating is solidified, affixing the reoriented particles or flakes in a non-parallel position to the surface of the pigment coating to produce an image such as a three dimensional-like image on the surface of the coating. The pigment coating can contain various interference or non-interference magnetic particles or flakes, such as magnetic color shifting pigments.

Methods for producing imaged coated articles by using magnetic pigments

Achromatic multilayer diffractive pigment flakes and foils are provided having diffractive structures thereon. The diffractive pigment flakes can have a symmetrical stacked coating structure on opposing sides of a reflective core layer, an asymmetrical stacked coating structure on one side of a reflective layer, or can be formed with one or more encapsulating coatings around the reflective core layer. The diffractive pigment flakes can be interspersed into liquid media such as paints or inks to produce diffractive compositions for subsequent application to a variety of objects. The foils can be laminated to various objects or can be formed on a carrier substrate. The diffractive pigment flakes and foils can be formed with a variety of diffractive structures thereon to produce selected optical effects. The diffractive foils and diffractive compositions applied to an object exhibit an iridescent diffractive effect over an achromatic background.

Achromatic multilayer diffractive pigments and foils

A linear aperture deposition apparatus and process are provided for coating substrates with sublimed or evaporated coating materials. The apparatus and process are particularly suited for producing flexible films having an optical interference coating with a very high surface thickness uniformity and which is substantially free of defects from particulate ejection of a source material. The apparatus includes a source box containing a source material, a heating element to sublime or evaporate the source material, and a chimney to direct the source material vapor from the source box to a substrate. A flow restricting baffle having a plurality of holes is positioned between the source material and the substrate to confine and direct the vapor flow, and an optional floating baffle is positioned on the surface of the source material to further restrict the vapor flow, thereby substantially eliminating source material spatter.

Growing community of inventors

Santa Rosa, CA, United States of America

Matthew R Witzman