Abstract: A laser imageable direct write printing member for use with a laser producing laser infrared radiation comprising a flexible sheet of plastic having first and second surfaces serving as a film substrate. A vacuum-deposited laser ablative coating is carried by said first surface formed of a metal selected from a group consisting of titanium, zirconium, hafnium and alloys thereof.

Abstract: Barrier film with a high colorless transparency comprising a flexible plastic substrate. A barrier layer is formed on the surface and has a thickness ranging from approximately 50 to 100 Angstroms and is formed of a material selected from the group of aluminum oxide, tin oxide and yttrium oxide. An additional barrier layer formed of silicon dioxide may also be formed on the barrier layer.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to color filters comprising a transparent substrate and a repeating pattern of colored pixels on the substrate thereby forming the color filter, wherein each of the pixels comprises a plurality of small colorant areas, referred to as a sub-pixel. Processes forming pixels comprising a plurality of sub-pixels exhibit a drastic increase in the formation of usable color filters, resulting in greatly improved yields.

Abstract: An embossed substrate comprising a substrate of a plastic material and having a surface and an embossed surface carried by the surface of the substrate. The embossed surface is characterized by having a pattern with an average roughness of between 100 nanometers and 300 nanometers with the roughness being distributed substantially uniformly over the surface, the pattern has ridges and valleys with the horizontal distance between adjacent ridges and/or valleys being greater than the depth between the ridges and the valleys. The peaks and the valleys are randomly disposed without periodicity to cause diffusion of light impinging thereon to minimize or eliminate interference effects when the embossed surface overcoated with thin planar organic layers is exposed to light.

Abstract: A lithographic laser imageable thin film structure comprising a substrate having first and second surfaces. A vacuum-deposited metal layer is carried by the first surface of the substrate. A layer of semiconductor material is adhered to and overlies the metal layer. The metal layer and the semiconductor material have thicknesses which are selected to maximize absorption of laser energy impinging on the same.

Abstract: Flexible optical medium comprising a flexible substrate having a surface. An imaging layer is carried by the surface and a protective overcoat of silicon dioxide is provided on the imaging layer to provide abrasion resistance for said imaging layer.

Abstract: An optically variable article comprising of a substrate and at least one non-overlapping pair of optically variable structures on the surface of the substrate, the optically variable structures having the same color at one angle of incidence and different colors at all other angles of incidence. The optically variable structures are formed from optically variable pigments, optically variable opaque foils, or optically variable multilayer thin film interference stacks.

Abstract: A method for manufacture of a small dimension product using a dissolvable crystal. The crystal is coated with at least one layer of vacuum deposited material to form a coated crystal. The coated crystal is mixed with a liquid to dissolve the crystal and permit the layer of material to break into flakes. The flakes are separated from the liquid.

Abstract: A laser imageable tuned optical cavity thin film for use with a laser producing laser radiation at a laser wavelength comprising a flexible sheet of plastic having first and second surfaces serving as a film substrate. A thin film stack is disposed on the first surface of the film substrate and comprises a first vacuum-deposited metal layer carried by the first surface. It is also comprised of a dielectric layer deposited on the first metal layer. A second semi-opaque metal layer is vacuum deposited onto the dielectric layer. The thin film stack is tuned to provide maximum absorption at the laser wavelength.

Abstract: An embossed substrate comprising a substrate of a plastic material and having a surface and an embossed surface carried by the surface of the substrate. The embossed surface is characterized by having a pattern with an average roughness of between 100 nanometers and 300 nanometers with the roughness being distributed substantially uniformly over the surface, the pattern has ridges and valleys with the horizontal distance between adjacent ridges and/or valleys being greater than the depth between the ridges and the valleys. The peaks and the valleys are randomly disposed without periodicity to cause diffusion of light impinging thereon to minimize or eliminate interface effects when the embossed surface overcoated with thin planar organic layers is exposed to light.

Abstract: An article with a surface with a paint film adherent thereto having a liquid medium hardened into a solid to form said paint film and having first and second parallel surfaces with the first parallel surface being adhered to the surface of the article and the second surface exposed to be viewed by the human eye. A plurality of flakes are provided having first and second planar parallel surfaces lying in said paint film with the first and second planar parallel surfaces being parallel to the first and second parallel surfaces of the paint film. The flakes are characterized in that they have physical dimensions such that when the dimensions of the flakes are measured parallel to and perpendicular to the respective first and second planar parallel surfaces, an aspect ratio of at least two-to-one is provided.

Abstract: An article for applying a color shifting optically variable coating on a substrate formed from a polymeric web, a release coating on the web and an optically variable coating wherein the optically variable coating consists of a semi-opaque metal layer adjacent to the release layer, a transparent dielectric layer on the semi-opaque metal layer and a reflective metal layer on the dielectric layer. The article can be bonded to a substrate by means of hot stamping with the hot stamp adhesive layer being applied to the article or applied to the substrate.

Abstract: A composition of material of the formula MN.sub.x O.sub.y, where M and N are metals selected from groups IIIA, IVA and VA of the periodic table, O is oxygen and x and y have values such that the oxygen-to-metal ratio is less than 4 and the ratio of y/(1+x) is also less than 4, said material being in the form of a single oxide phase and having a crystal structure of a single type alone with no detectable crystal structure of a second type, said material being sub-stoichiometric.

Abstract: A viewing device for use by an observer to ascertain the authenticity of an instrument of value having an image formed from an optically variable device. The viewing device includes a frame structure which permits viewing of the image in a fixed spatial orientation and a reflector carried by the frame structure for permitting the observer to see simultaneously the image in first and second colors without movement of the observer, the viewing device or the image.

Abstract: A method of heat-treating multilayer interference platelets to improve the durability of the platelets comprising subjecting the platelets at a temperature of 200.degree.-300.degree. C. for 10 minutes to 24 hours. The platelets are formed from a multilayer interference thin film construction comprising a metal reflecting layer having a multilayer interference thin film structure on both sides of the metal reflecting layer wherein the multilayer interference thin film structure comprises a pair of layers consisting of a dielectric layer and a semi-opaque metal layer with the dielectric layer of the pair being directly adjacent to the metal reflecting layer.

Abstract: A color-shifting paint comprising a polymeric paint medium and a plurality of colored interference thin film platelets dispersed in the paint medium. Each platelet being characterized in that platelets has first and second generally planar outer surfaces and an edge thickness perpendicular to the first and second generally planar outer surfaces. Each platelet is comprised of a metal reflecting layer having first and second surfaces. A multilayer interference structure is disposed on each of the first and second surfaces of the metal reflecting layer to provide a symmetrical platelet. The multilayer interference thin film structure comprises a pair of layer consisting of a dielectric layer formed of a dielectric material and a semi-opaque layer. with the dielectric layer directly adjacent to the metal reflecting layer. The thickness of the dielectric layer determines the color and the dielectric material determines the degree of color shift.

Abstract: A collection of color-shifting interference thin film platelets of high chroma characterized in that the platelets are comprised of a metal reflecting layer having first and second surfaces and a multilayer interference thin film structure disposed on both surfaces of the metal reflecting layer. The multilayer interference thin film structure comprises a pair of layers consisting of a dielectric layer and a semi-opaque metal layer with the dielectric layer being directly adjacent to a surface of the metal reflecting layer. The layers of the multilayer interference thin film structure lie in parallel planes. Each platelet has an aspect ratio of at least 2:1, respectively, for surfaces parallel to the planes of layers and surfaces perpendicular to the planes of the layers. The platelets have a maximum dimension on any surface ranging from approximately 2-200 microns.

Abstract: A barrier film comprising a flexible substantially of transparent substrate having first and second surfaces. A substantially colorless barrier coating is formed on at least one of said surfaces of a graphite material having a thickness ranging from 50 to 350 .ANG..

Abstract: A polymeric sheet comprising a layer of polymeric material having a first and second parallel surfaces. A plurality of oriented multilayer interference thin film flakes are disposed in the layer of polymeric material. The flakes have first and second parallel surfaces and a width and a thickness and have an aspect ratio of at least 2:1 for the width with respect to the thickness.

Abstract: Articles and methods for forming optically variable thin film flakes and replicated coatings having preselected optical properties. The articles generally comprise a flexible web of material and an optically variable thin film coating formed on one surface of the web. The optically variable coating is separated from the web to form optically variable thin film flakes. The flakes are disposed in ink and paint vehicles to provide optically variable inks, paints and the like.