The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Nov. 23, 1999
Filed:
Jun. 10, 1997
Shoko Yoshitake, Tokyo, JP;
Mitsuo Okabe, Tokyo, JP;
Dai Nippon Printing Co., Ltd., Tokyo, JP;
Abstract
A display medium employing a diffraction grating to define and represent a display pattern by the contour thereof, which enables the display pattern to move smoothly as the visual point moves and which allows the display pattern to move in various ways and is easy to produce. A display pattern ('DNP'), e.g., a character, an image, etc., is defined and displayed by the outer or inner contour of a diffraction grating (A or B) composed of a group of smooth curves, or a diffraction grating composed of a group of partial straight-line diffraction gratings that form polygonal lines linearly approximating smooth curves. Accordingly, as the visual point is moved relative to the display medium, a position that looks bright by diffraction moves smoothly and variously. If the display medium is illuminated by white light, the region that looks bright becomes a rainbow-colored region. Accordingly, the display pattern becomes not only readily recognizable but also interesting to view. Thus, display and design effects become extremely excellent. By varying the configuration of curves, the motion of the region that looks bright can be changed variously. Also disclosed is a method of producing a diffraction grating assembly for the display medium.