Abstract: 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.

Abstract: A light control material for displaying black-and-white and color images by forming light traps in a layer of photopolymer at selected locations. The photopolymer layer constitutes a master from which embossments can be produced. An embossment which displays the image can be produced from the master by a soft embossing procedure. The light traps are formed in the master by reactively ion etching a layer of cured photopolymer at selected locations to create fields of tapered structures. An embossment generated from the master contains fields of tapered structures which correspond to those created in the master. The surface of the embossment which includes the fields of tapered structures is coated with a reflective material such as metal. Light which enters the fields is reflected within the fields of tapered structures until substantially all of the light has been absorbed. Light which does not enter the fields is reflected.

Abstract: A light control material generally comprising a transparent substrate for carrying a print or photographic image and a plurality of focusing elements which provide a field of view over which the brightness of the print or photographic image is enhanced. The field of view is controlled by the geometry of the focusing elements including radius, width, and degree of symmetry. By providing a field of view over which the brightness of the image is enhanced, the image may be viewed at angles which avoid the angles of specular reflection, which are usually seen as unwanted glare. Furthermore, selected portions of an image may be brightness enhanced more than others or selected portions may be brightness enhanced while others are not.

Abstract: A light control material for providing autostereoscopic and dynamic images. The light control material is comprised of a light direction control optic which contains a pattern of bright zones and dark zones which provide light direction control, and a light focusing optic which contains a plurality of gradient refractive index lenses which provide light focusing control. The bright zones and dark zones and the gradient refractive index lenses are preferably formed in a single polymer layer. Interleaved image elements may generally be located anywhere between the light control optic and an observer. The light direction control optic in conjunction with the light focusing optic and the interleaved image elements produce the perception autostereoscopic depth, motion, or color change.

Abstract: A light control material includes a two-layer optical system for producing autostereoscopic and dynamic images in thin-film materials. The first layer comprises focusing optics which have a plurality of focusing elements. These elements may consist of refractive optics, binary optics, or mixed optics. The second layer comprises light control optics having dark zones and bright zones for providing directional control of light through the focusing optics. The bright zones may be comprised of a light transmissive material, or the light control optics may include a reflective layer for reflecting light at the bright zones. The dark zones may be formed by using an opaque material, preferably pigmented ink, on a substrate.