Methods of manufacturing a liquid crystal device including depositing a layer of liquid crystal material on a substrate and imprinting a pattern on the layer of liquid crystal material using an imprint template are disclosed. The liquid crystal material can be jet deposited. The imprint template can include surface relief features, Pancharatnam-Berry Phase Effect (PBPE) structures or diffractive structures. The liquid crystal device manufactured by the methods described herein can be used to manipulate light, such as for beam steering, wavefront shaping, separating wavelengths and/or polarizations, and combining different wavelengths and/or polarizations.

Virtual and augmented reality systems and methods

The present invention provides a method and apparatus for the production and labeling of objects in a manner suitable for the prevention and detection of counterfeiting. Thus, the system incorporates a variety of features that make unauthorized reproduction difficult. In addition, the present invention provides an efficient means for the production of labels and verification of authenticity, whereby a recording apparatus which includes a recording medium, having anisotrophic optical domains, along with a means for transferring a portion of the recording medium to a carrier, wherein a bulk portion of the recording medium has macroscopically detectable anisotrophic optical properties and the detecting apparatus thereon.

Authentication method and system

Light redirecting films include a pattern of individual optical elements of well defined shape on the light exit surface of the films for refracting the light entering the entrance surface of the films from a backlight toward a direction normal to the exit surface. The individual optical elements overlap and intersect each other. Also, the orientation, size and/or shape of the optical elements may be tailored to redirect more of the incident light from the backlight within a desired viewing angle.

Light redirecting films and film systems

Light from an image displayed on a display screen (10) is transmitted to an observer's eye (11) by way of a dynamic optical element (12) (such as a spatial light modulator or an electrically switchable holographic composite) which acts as a lens. Emitters (17) on the display screen (10) emit infrared radiation which is projected by the dynamic lens (12) as a broad wash onto the eye (11). Infrared radiation reflected back from the eye (11) is focused by the dynamic lens (12) onto detectors (18) also provided on the display screen (10). The detectors (18) are thus able to sense the direction of eye gaze, and the dynamic lens (12) is controlled in dependence on this to create an area of high resolution in an area of interest centred on the direction of gaze, which is moved to follow the eye gaze as its direction alters. Other than in the area of interest, the dynamic lens (12) has a relatively low resolution.

Method of and apparatus for viewing an image

A lenticular optical system is described in which a composite image is viewable through a lens sheet from a first angle and an object or image placed at a preselected distance beneath the composite image is viewable from a second angle. Optical designs and alignment processes are disclosed which make possible the economical production of thin materials which facilitate the manufacturing and utilization of the optical system in packaging and the like.

Lenticular optical system

A synthetic micro-optic system and security device is disclosed including an in-plane image formed of an array or pattern of image icons and an array of focusing elements, the system producing at least two different synthetic images whereby one synthetic image operates to modulate or control the extent of the appearance of another synthetic image. In an exemplary form, the array of image icons forms an in-plane synthetic image, while the interaction of the array of focusing elements with the array of image icons forms a separate synthetically magnified image that serves to control the field of view of the in-plane image and, thus, serves to modulate or control the extent of appearance of the in-plane image. The appearance of the in-plane image, thus, visually appears and disappears, or turn on and off, depending upon the viewing angle of the system.

Micro-optic security and image presentation system

An image presentation system employing microstructured icon elements to form an image. In one form a synthetic optical image system is provided that includes an array of focusing elements, and an image system that includes or is formed from an array or pattern of microstructured icon elements, such as those described below, wherein the microstructured icon elements are designed to collectively form an image or certain desired information, and wherein the array of focusing elements and the image system cooperate, for example through optical coupling, to form a synthetic optical image which image may optionally be magnified. In another form an image presentation system is provided that includes or is formed from an array or pattern of microstructured icon elements, such as those described below, wherein the microstructured icon elements are designed to collectively form an image or certain selected information, and wherein the image system is designed to stand alone and be the image viewed or the information read by use of a magnifying device, such as a magnifying glass or microscope, that is provided separately from the image system.

Image presentation and micro-optic security system

The present invention provides methods and compositions for identification and counterfit deterrence using non-holographic micro-optics and microstructures having a surface relief greater than a few microns. Embodiments of the present invention disclose a range of distinctive optical effects obtained from micro-optic systems incorporating micro lenses (35), non-imaging collectors (31), prisms, wave guides, mirrors (68), gratings, structural interference filters, and photonic crystal microstructures.

Micro-optics for article identification

A light control material having a layer of emulsion, an inner optic, and a substrate. Image strips are formed in the emulsion. The inner optic provides illumination of the image strips as well as the light direction control needed to produce the perception of autostereoscopic depth, motion, or color change. The inner optic is comprised of a pattern of bright zones and dark zones. The inner optic has a constant period and the width of the bright zones is approximately equal to the width of the image strips. The field of view of the autostereoscopic or dynamic image may be altered by varying the widths of the bright zones and the image strips.

Apparatus for providing autostereoscopic and dynamic images and method of manufacturing same

Microstructured taggant particles, their applications and methods of making the same are described Precisely formed taggant particles can be formed, in the range of 500µ and smaller, from either inert polymers or biodegradable materials bearing information indicia, such as through specific shape, size, color, reflectively, refractive index, surface geometry, imprinting, optical effect or properties, and electromagnetic properties, to uniquely tag, identify or authenticate articles

Mark J. Hurt

Papers

Micro-optic security and image presentation system

Image presentation and micro-optic security system

Micro-optics for article identification

Apparatus for providing autostereoscopic and dynamic images and method of manufacturing same

Microstructured taggant particles, applications and methods of making the same