Abstract: Optical or light diffusers (or, simply, “diffusers”) designed and manufactured to include numerous facets arranged in cells or sets in which the planar faces or outward-facing surfaces have orientations and transmission angles (as may be defined by direction cosines of normal) to redirect received light to a region or portion of a predefined light distribution. A method of designing or defining the facets of the diffuser is also provides as are methods of manufacturing the diffusers and apparatus or products that include the new diffusers (such as microdisplays and lighting components). The diffusers are optically designed to produce a user-specified distribution of light. The diffusers can be engineered through the configuration of the facets on its front or outer surface (light transmission surface) to produce nearly any type of light distribution or shape, and the diffuser design facilitates their manufacture using extrusion processes as well as other fabrication techniques.

Abstract: A solar or photovoltaic (PV) system that includes a PV device with an upper surface configured for receiving sunlight and converting the received sunlight into electrical energy. An infrared (IR) reflecting film is placed over the upper surface to increase the efficiency of the PV device by retaining its operating temperature in more desired ranges. The IR reflecting film includes a substrate with a top surface and a bottom surface, and the bottom surface is mated with the upper surface of the PV device. The IR reflecting film also includes a plurality of structures, each with a recessed surface, formed on the top surface of the substrate. The IR reflecting film includes a reflective mask on the top surface of the substrate that includes reflective elements each disposed in the structures' recessed surfaces. In use, the IR reflecting film reflects sunlight having a wavelength greater than about 950 nanometers (nm).

Abstract: A visual display assembly useful as an authentication or anti-counterfeiting element. The assembly includes a substrate and, on a surface of the substrate, an array of micro mirrors receiving ambient light. Each mirror includes a reflective surface to reflect the ambient light to display an image that appears to float in a plane, which is spaced a distance apart from the surface of the substrate. The image includes a plurality of pixels, and the array of micro mirrors includes for each of the pixels a set of the micro mirrors each having a reflective surface oriented to reflect the ambient light toward a point on the plane corresponding to one of the pixels. Each of the sets of the micro mirrors includes a plurality of the micro mirrors, and the reflected ambient light each set of micro mirrors intersects to illuminate or write a pixel of an image.

Abstract: Optical or light diffusers (or, simply, “diffusers”) designed and manufactured to include numerous facets arranged in cells or sets in which the planar faces or outward-facing surfaces have orientations and transmission angles (as may be defined by direction cosines of normal) to redirect received light to a region or portion of a predefined light distribution. A method of designing or defining the facets of the diffuser is also provides as are methods of manufacturing the diffusers and apparatus or products that include the new diffusers (such as microdisplays and lighting components). The diffusers are optically designed to produce a user-specified distribution of light. The diffusers can be engineered through the configuration of the facets on its front or outer surface (light transmission surface) to produce nearly any type of light distribution or shape, and the diffuser design facilitates their manufacture using extrusion processes as well as other fabrication techniques.

Abstract: A visual display assembly useful as an authentication or anti-counterfeiting element. The assembly includes a substrate and, on a surface of the substrate, an array of micro mirrors receiving ambient light. Each mirror includes a reflective surface to reflect the ambient light to display an image that appears to float in a plane, which is spaced a distance apart from the surface of the substrate. The image includes a plurality of pixels, and the array of micro mirrors includes for each of the pixels a set of the micro mirrors each having a reflective surface oriented to reflect the ambient light toward a point on the plane corresponding to one of the pixels. Each of the sets of the micro mirrors includes a plurality of the micro mirrors, and the reflected ambient light each set of micro mirrors intersects to illuminate or write a pixel of an image.

Abstract: Products, such as branding labels, credit cards, and currency, that are fabricated so as to include an optical security element, which is designed to provide enhanced optical focusing onto each color used in the printed image (or in the ink layer). The optical security assembly may include a carrier film or substrate. An image element, e.g., a printed ink layer, is provided on a first surface of the carrier film/substrate, and the optical security assembly further includes an array or plurality of micro lenses on a second surface of the carrier film/substrate opposite the image element (when the substrate/carrier film is transparent). In order to make the registration and print requirements easier, pixels are isolated into sections of the printed ink layer, which can then be arranged to align with sets of lenses (i.e., each set/group of lenses may be dedicated to focusing upon a particular color of ink).

Abstract: Products, such as branding labels and currency, fabricated to include an optical security element. The optical security assembly may include a carrier film or substrate. An image element, e.g., a printed ink layer, is provided on a first surface of the carrier film/substrate, and the optical security assembly further includes an array or plurality of micro lenses on a second surface of the carrier film/substrate opposite the image element. In order to make the registration and print requirements easier, a mask is provided between the printed ink layer to define color pixels, and the printed ink layer is provided in the form of color blocks in a checkboard pattern with each block aligned with a portion of the mask and a subset of the holes or openings that define the viewable color pixels.

Abstract: A visual display assembly useful as an authentication or anti-counterfeiting element. The assembly includes a substrate and, on a surface of the substrate, an array of micro mirrors receiving ambient light. Each mirror includes a reflective surface to reflect the ambient light so as to display an image that appears to float in a plane, which is spaced a distance apart from the surface of the substrate. The image includes a plurality of pixels, and the array of micro mirrors includes for each of the pixels a set of the micro mirrors each having a reflective surface oriented to reflect the ambient light toward a point on the plane corresponding to one of the pixels. Each of the sets of the micro mirrors includes a plurality of the micro mirrors, and the reflected ambient light each set of micro mirrors intersects to illuminate or write a pixel of an image.

Abstract: Products, such as branding labels, credit cards, and currency, that are fabricated so as to include an optical security element, which is designed to provide enhanced optical focusing onto each color used in the printed image (or in the ink layer). The optical security assembly may include a carrier film or substrate. An image element, e.g., a printed ink layer, is provided on a first surface of the carrier film/substrate, and the optical security assembly further includes an array or plurality of micro lenses on a second surface of the carrier film/substrate opposite the image element (when the substrate/carrier film is transparent). In order to make the registration and print requirements easier, pixels are isolated into sections of the printed ink layer, which can then be arranged to align with sets of lenses (i.e., each set/group of lenses may be dedicated to focusing upon a particular color of ink).

Abstract: A visual display assembly useful as an authentication or anti-counterfeiting element. The assembly includes a substrate and, on a surface of the substrate, an array of micro mirrors receiving ambient light. Each mirror includes a reflective surface to reflect the ambient light so as to display an image that appears to float in a plane, which is spaced a distance apart from the surface of the substrate. The image includes a plurality of pixels, and the array of micro mirrors includes for each of the pixels a set of the micro mirrors each having a reflective surface oriented to reflect the ambient light toward a point on the plane corresponding to one of the pixels. Each of the sets of the micro mirrors includes a plurality of the micro mirrors, and the reflected ambient light each set of micro mirrors intersects to illuminate or write a pixel of an image.

Abstract: A method for generating additional views from a stereo image defined by a left eye image and a right eye image. The method includes receiving as input at least one stereo image. The method includes, for each of the stereo images, generating a plurality of additional images. The method includes interlacing the additional images for each of the stereo images to generate three dimensional (3D) content made up of multiple views of the scenes presented by each of the stereo images. The interlacing may be performed such that the generated 3D content is displayable on a 3D display device including a barrier grid or a lenticular lens array on the monitor screen. The additional images may include 12 to 40 or more frames providing views of the one or more scenes from differing viewing angles than provided by the left and right cameras used to generate the original stereo image.

Abstract: A visual display assembly adapted for use as an anti-counterfeiting device on paper currency, product labels, and other objects. The assembly includes a film of transparent material including a first surface including an array of lenses and a second surface opposite the first surface. The assembly also includes a printed image proximate to the second surface. The printed image includes pixels of frames of one or more images interlaced relative to two orthogonal axes. The lenses of the array are nested in a plurality of parallel rows, and adjacent ones of the lenses in columns of the array are aligned to be in a single one of the rows with no offset of lenses in adjacent columns/rows. The lenses may be round-based lenses or are square-based lenses, and the lenses may be provided at 200 lenses per inch (LPI) or a higher LPI in both directions.

Abstract: A visual display assembly adapted for use as an anti-counterfeiting device on paper currency, product labels, and other objects. The assembly includes a film of transparent material including a first surface including an array of lenses and a second surface opposite the first surface. The assembly also includes a printed image proximate to the second surface. The printed image includes pixels of frames of one or more images interlaced relative to two orthogonal axes. The lenses of the array are nested in a plurality of parallel rows, and adjacent ones of the lenses in columns of the array are aligned to be in a single one of the rows with no offset of lenses in adjacent columns/rows. The lenses may be round-based lenses or are square-based lenses, and the lenses may be provided at 200 lenses per inch (LPI) or a higher LPI in both directions.

Abstract: An optical product that includes a transparent lens sheet, which has a first side with a plurality of side-by-side sets of linearly arranged lenses. Each of the sets of lenses is at a slant angle in the range of 10 to 46 degrees from a vertical or a horizontal axis of the lens sheet. The product includes an image layer that includes pixels from a number of digital images. The pixels are arranged in a pattern of pixel locations providing non-orthogonal interlacing of the digital images relative to each of the sets of the linearly arranged lenses. The pattern of pixel locations aligns a number of the pixels from each of the digital images to be parallel to a line extending through a center of the linearly arranged lenses in each set. Each of the linearly arranged lenses may have a round base, a hexagonal base, or a square base.

Abstract: A waveguide for use in solar power systems to capture sunlight without solar tracking. The waveguide includes a first transparent layer with a first surface receiving sunlight, and the waveguide includes a second surface, opposite the first surface of the first layer, including recessed surfaces (or “microstructures”) each defined by sidewalls extending from the second surface toward the first surface of the first layer. The waveguide includes a second layer of transparent material with a first surface proximate to the second surface of the first layer for receiving a portion of the sunlight transmitted through the first layer. The second layer has a second surface, opposite the first surface, including recessed surfaces of the same or differing shape, size, location, and orientation as those of the first layer. The recessed surfaces of the first and second layers capture sunlight of differing ranges of incidence angles with total internal reflection (TIR).

Abstract: A method of interlacing images into an interlaced print file for controlling an output device. The interlacing method involves arranging a set of pixels in a line that is transverse but non-orthogonal to the longitudinal axis of a slant lens or lenticule. Each of these pixels is associated with a different frame/image, e.g., six or more frames are used in each interlaced image, with one being visible through the lens or lenticule at a time by a viewer. The slant lens interlacing method does not involve slicing each frame and then splicing these slices together. Instead, individual pixels from each frame are combined within a digital print file in a unique pattern to provide the non-orthogonal interlacing described herein (e.g., the new interlacing may be considered “matrix interlacing” or “angular-offset interlacing”), and a significantly larger amount of information is presented under each slant lens.

Abstract: A computer-implemented method of preparing a digital image file or files for lenticular printing involves selectively blanking pixels of multiples images that are or are to comprise a composite interlaced image file for lenticular printing, such that the blanked pixels are distributed amongst the multiple images in successive complementary pixel sets distributed across the composite interlaced image file. As a result, the data integrity of the file is maintained, and the multiple images are represented in the composite interlaced image file without loss of information.

Abstract: A visual display assembly adapted for use as an anti-counterfeiting device on paper currency, product labels, and other objects. The assembly includes a film of transparent material including a first surface including an array of lenses and a second surface opposite the first surface. The assembly also includes a printed image proximate to the second surface. The printed image includes pixels of frames of one or more images interlaced relative to two orthogonal axes. The lenses of the array are nested in a plurality of parallel rows, and adjacent ones of the lenses in columns of the array are aligned to be in a single one of the rows with no offset of lenses in adjacent columns/rows. The lenses may be round-based lenses or are square-based lenses, and the lenses may be provided at 200 lenses per inch (LPI) or a higher LPI in both directions.

Abstract: An optical product that includes a transparent lens sheet, which has a first side with a plurality of side-by-side sets of linearly arranged lenses. Each of the sets of lenses is at a slant angle in the range of 10 to 46 degrees from a vertical or a horizontal axis of the lens sheet. The product includes an image layer that includes pixels from a number of digital images. The pixels are arranged in a pattern of pixel locations providing non-orthogonal interlacing of the digital images relative to each of the sets of the linearly arranged lenses. The pattern of pixel locations aligns a number of the pixels from each of the digital images to be parallel to a line extending through a center of the linearly arranged lenses in each set. Each of the linearly arranged lenses may have a round base, a hexagonal base, or a square base.

Abstract: A visual display assembly adapted for use as an anti-counterfeiting device on paper currency, product labels, and other objects. The assembly includes a film of transparent material including a first surface including an array of lenses and a second surface opposite the first surface. The assembly also includes a printed image proximate to the second surface. The printed image includes pixels of frames of one or more images interlaced relative to two orthogonal axes. The lenses of the array are nested in a plurality of parallel rows, and adjacent ones of the lenses in columns of the array are aligned to be in a single one of the rows with no offset of lenses in adjacent columns/rows. The lenses may be round-based lenses or are square-based lenses, and the lenses may be provided at 200 lenses per inch (LPI) or a higher LPI in both directions.