Patterned reflective optical structures
US6987590B2 · kind B2 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Sep 18, 2003 |
| Grant date | Jan 17, 2006 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Nov 25, 2023 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC Y)Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
- CPC primaryY10S428/916
- WIPO fieldOptics
- WIPO sectorInstruments
Abstract
An optical structure includes a light transmissive substrate having a surface relief pattern applied thereon, such as a hologram. A patterned layer of a reflective material is applied over portions of the surface relief pattern so as to form alphanumeric characters, bars codes, or pictorial or graphical designs. An optically active coating is applied over the patterned layer of reflective material and exposed portions of the surface relief pattern in order to provide desirable optical effects to the exposed portions of the surface relief pattern. In some embodiments, the optically active coating is a color shifting thin film, or contains color shifting flakes. Optionally, the material of the optically active coating is index matched to the light transmissive substrate in order to optically erase the effect of the surface relief pattern in the portions of the surface relief pattern not covered by the reflective material.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.