Optical device that generates a flicker-like optical effect

Abstract

We provide an optical device that generates a flicker-like optical effect. [Solution] The optical device comprises at least one array of image icons formed from cured pigmented materials 26, 32, 38, and an array of embedded light-gathering elements 12 arranged to form one or more composite images of at least a portion of the array(s) of image icons. Some or all of the pigmented materials(s) are cured using collimated light directed towards the array(s) of image icons through the light-gathering elements at one or more angles with respect to the surface of the optical device to form directionally cured image icons. The composite image(s) of the cured image icons can be seen at the curing angle(s) and visually appear and disappear, i.e., turn on and off, as the viewing angle of the device moves through the curing angle(s).

Claims

1. An optical device that generates a flicker-like optical effect, The optical device comprises a single icon layer made of a substantially transparent or clear radiation-curable resin, together with at least one array of image icons, the image icons comprising pre-formed and pre-processed columns in the radiation-curable resin, which is a substantially transparent or clear, uncolored material that does not absorb non-collimating light, and the image icons being formed from the colored material to fill the gaps forming the columns around the columns, using colored material that is cured sequentially in a time series in the direction in which the icon layer extends, for two or more different types. The optical device comprises at least one array of embedded light-gathering elements arranged to form one or more compositely enlarged images of at least a portion of the at least one array of the image icons, At least one of the two or more pigmented materials is cured using collimated light directed through the light-gathering element at one or more angles with respect to the surface of the optical device to form a directionally cured image icon. The two or more colored materials, excluding at least one of them, are scattered through the light-gathering element and cured using the non-collimating light, which includes the non-collimating light passing through the column of the uncolored material, to form a non-directionally cured image icon. The one or more compositely enlarged images of the directionally cured image icon can be viewed at one or more collimated light curing angles, and therefore visually appear and disappear, turn on and off, as the viewing angle of the optical device moves through these angles. The scaling ratio of the repetition period of the image icons in at least one array of image icons to the repetition period of the light-gathering elements in at least one array of light-gathering elements is substantially equal to 1.0000. Within one array or layer of image icons in the optical device, micro-sized image icons and nano-sized image icons are aligned with each other. Optical devices.

2. The optical device according to claim 1, wherein each image icon in the at least one array of image icons is formed from two cured pigmented materials, each having a different color and each cured using collimating light at a different angle.

3. A method for manufacturing the optical device described in claim 2, A method comprising curing a colored pigmented material using collimated light from one angle, cleaning the uncured pigmented material from the optical device, then adding a second colored pigmented material and curing it at a different angle.

4. The optical device according to claim 1, wherein each image icon in the at least one array of image icons is formed from one cured fluorescent dye material and one cured non-fluorescent dye material.

5. The optical device described in claim 1, and optionally comprising one or more layers located above and below the optical device, A laser-markable optical device wherein at least one array or layer of the optical device, or at least one layer above or below the optical device, is a laser-markable array or layer.

6. The laser-markable optical device has at least one layer which is a laser-markable layer beneath the optical device, The laser-markable optical device according to claim 5, wherein the at least one array of image icons of the optical device is formed from one or more cured pigmented materials and one or more cured uncolored materials.

7. The optical device described in claim 1, and optionally comprising one or more layers located above and below the optical device, At least one array or layer of the optical device, or at least one layer above or below the optical device, is a laser-markable array or layer. A laser-marked optical device in which at least one laser-markable array or layer has one or more laser-marked static two-dimensional images on it.

8. The laser-marked optical device has at least one layer, which is a laser-markable layer, beneath the optical device. The laser-marked optical device according to claim 7, wherein the at least one array of image icons of the optical device is formed from one or more cured colored materials and one or more cured uncolored materials.

9. A method for laser marking the laser-markable optical device according to claim 6, comprising directing laser energy into or below the optical device at an angle different from one or more angles to which collimation hardening energy is applied.

10. A sheet material made from the optical device described in claim 1 or using the optical device described in claim 1.

11. A document made from the sheet material described in claim 10.

12. A polymer ID card comprising the optical device described in claim 1 in the form of a patch embedded within the polymer ID card.

13. The optical device according to claim 1, wherein the processed column has a depth between 0.5 microns and 8 microns.

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