Abstract: The invention relates to anisotropic, reflective, magnetic flakes. In a liquid carrier and under influence of an external magnetic field, the flakes attract to one another side-by-side and form ribbons which provide higher reflectivity to a coating and may be used as a security feature for authentication of an object.

Abstract: A diffractive pigment blend or composition is provided which includes a plurality of groups of all-dielectric diffractive pigment flakes. The pigment flakes of each group each include one or more dielectric layers for providing a background color, at least one of which includes a diffractive structure for providing a diffractive effect. Each group of pigment flakes provides a different diffractive effect, and the diffractive pigment blend or composition provides a combined diffractive effect that is a combination of the different diffractive effects. The combined diffractive effect may be a neutral white diffractive effect or may include a reversal in color travel.

Abstract: Microstructured pigments include a dielectric core having a diffraction grating. The microstructured dielectric core is encapsulated with one or more encapsulation layers which are deposited using chemical vapor deposition in a fluidized bed. The fluidizing conditions allow for providing uniform and highly-conforming encapsulation layers.

Abstract: The invention relates to anisotropic, reflective, magnetic flakes. In a liquid carrier and under influence of an external magnetic field, the flakes attract to one another side-by-side and form ribbons which provide higher reflectivity to a coating and may be used as a security feature for authentication of an object.

Abstract: A color shifting security device has a Fabry-Perot type structure wherein a dielectric layer is disposed between a reflector and an absorbing layer. The absorber and reflector layers may be conforming and the dielectric layer therebetween is non-conforming, filling the regions in the micro structured adjacent absorbing or reflecting layer, at least one of which has a microstructure therein or thereon. By having the dielectric layer not conform to the microstructure it is next to, its thickness varies in cross section, which allows for different colors to be seen where the thickness varies.

Abstract: A color shifting security device has a Fabry-Perot type structure wherein a dielectric layer is disposed between a reflector and an absorbing layer. The absorber and reflector layers may be conforming and the dielectric layer therebetween is non-conforming, filling the regions in the micro structured adjacent absorbing or reflecting layer, at least one of which has a microstructure therein or thereon. By having the dielectric layer not conform to the microstructure it is next to, its thickness varies in cross section, which allows for different colors to be seen where the thickness varies.

Abstract: The invention provides a plurality of substantially same planar pigment flakes, each formed of one or more thin film layers. Each flake has a face surface and a flake border delimiting the face surface; the flake border undulates in the plane of the flake. The flakes have a pre-selected shape, may have a symbol or a grating thereon. A method of manufacturing of these flakes including the steps of: (a) providing a substrate having a plurality of one-flake regions and a plurality of depressions or protrusions disposed therebetween and not extending into the one-flake regions, (b) coating the substrate with a releasable coating, and (c) removing the releasable coating and breaking it into the flakes; wherein two adjacent of the one-flake regions are separated by at least three of the depressions or protrusions for facilitating the breaking of the releasable coating into the flakes.

Abstract: In a plurality of substantially same planar pigment flakes, each flake is formed of one or more thin film layers. Each flake has a face surface and a flake border delimiting the face surface; the flake border undulates in the plane of the flake. The flakes have a pre-selected shape, may have a symbol or a grating thereon. A method of manufacturing of these flakes including the steps of: (a) providing a substrate having a plurality of one-flake regions and a plurality of depressions or protrusions disposed therebetween and not extending into the one-flake regions, (b) coating the substrate with a releasable coating, and (c) removing the releasable coating and breaking it into the flakes; wherein two adjacent of the one-flake regions are separated by at least three of the depressions or protrusions for facilitating the breaking of the releasable coating into the flakes.

Abstract: A printed image is disclosed wherein the image may be in the form of an array of magnetically aligned platelets or flakes that may by uniform in shape and size and wherein the flakes are arranged in a particularly manner to form optically illusive images useful as security devices, or useful in beam steering applications. In one embodiment of this invention printed array is disclosed a plurality of concentric rings of magnetically aligned platelets disposed upon a substrate in the form of a Fresnel structure, preferably a Fresnel reflector. Advantageously, since the magnetic field can be controlled with respect to strength and direction, one can easily design a field that will correct for spherical aberration that would otherwise be present in a typical Fresnel reflector. In other embodiments of the invention optically illusive images of funnels, domes and cones are printed.

Abstract: A device includes a substrate and at least 1,000 flakes resting upon the substrate, each flake including a magnetic layer. The plurality of flakes are aligned so as to form a plurality of rings or curves, wherein within each ring or curve, flakes are tilted at a same angle with respect to the substrate and planes extending from surfaces of said flakes intersect with one another. The device provides a visible image of a single ring or curve when illuminated with a single light source, and three rings or curves are visible when three light sources illuminate the device. The device may be used as a printed light detector.

Abstract: An optically variable device may be manufactured by aligning magnetic flakes on a surface of an adhesive layer by applying the flakes onto the adhesive layer surface in presence of a magnetic field, and curing the adhesive layer having magnetic flakes adhered to the adhesive layer. When cured, the adhesive layer holds the magnetic flakes oriented, enabling subsequent encapsulation of the oriented magnetic flakes in a coating layer on the adhesive layer, without a substantial loss of orientation of the magnetic flakes.

Abstract: Opaque flakes, such as pigment or bright flakes used in paints and inks, have a selected shape and/or other indicia to provide a covert security feature to an object. Shaped opaque covert flakes are not readily detectable by causal observation, but in some embodiments are easily seen at 50× magnification. In manufacturing the flakes a sheet of embossed frames are provided having embossed symbols or indicia within. Upon removing a coating from the embossed sheet the coating material tends to break along frame lines or grooves and the resulting flakes are substantially uniform in size. In order to have the flakes break along frame lines or grooves more readily than along the embossing or grooves defining indicia within a frame, the frames are provided with a deeper groove than indicia grooves. As well a groove having a different shaped profile conducive to breakage can be used for the frame grooves whereas a groove having a profile less conducive to breakage can be used to form the indicia grooves.

Abstract: A plurality of flakes are provided that can be used in ink or paint wherein the flakes are of a size that requires magnification to see their shape, in the form of polygons, such as squares, triangle or rectangles. A breaking or grinding process is used to break a foil into these shaped flakes and frames or walls are provided within the foil sheet so as to delineate the shapes and these lines provided by frames or walls will facilitate breakage in a preferred manner such that the flakes break into selected shaped polygons. Remnants are typically present along flake edges due to the grinding and breakage process however with magnification, one can see the resultant regular polygonal shape. To clearly see the remnants one requires increased magnification and the remnant itself provides a type of signature. It can be seen as a taggent within a taggent.

Abstract: A plurality of flakes are provided that can be used in ink or paint wherein the flakes are of a size that requires magnification to see their shape, in the form of polygons, such as squares, triangle or rectangles. A breaking or grinding process is used to break a foil into these shaped flakes and frames or walls are provided within the foil sheet so as to delineate the shapes and these lines provided by frames or walls will facilitate breakage in a preferred manner such that the flakes break into selected shaped polygons. Remnants are typically present along flake edges due to the grinding and breakage process however with magnification, one can see the resultant regular polygonal shape. To clearly see the remnants one requires increased magnification and the remnant itself provides a type of signature. It can be seen as a taggent within a taggent.

Abstract: A plurality of flakes are provided that can be used in ink or paint wherein the flakes are of a size that requires magnification to see their shape, in the form of polygons, such as squares, triangle or rectangles. A breaking or grinding process is used to break a foil into these shaped flakes and frames or walls are provided within the foil sheet so as to delineate the shapes and these lines provided by frames or walls will facilitate breakage in a preferred manner such that the flakes break into selected shaped polygons. Remnants are typically present along flake edges due to the grinding and breakage process however with magnification, one can see the resultant regular polygonal shape. To clearly see the remnants one requires increased magnification and the remnant itself provides a type of signature. It can be seen as a taggent within a taggent.

Abstract: A diffractive pigment blend or composition is provided which includes a plurality of groups of all-dielectric diffractive pigment flakes. The pigment flakes of each group each include one or more dielectric layers for providing a background color, at least one of which includes a diffractive structure for providing a diffractive effect. Each group of pigment flakes provides a different diffractive effect, and the diffractive pigment blend or composition provides a combined diffractive effect that is a combination of the different diffractive effects. The combined diffractive effect may be a neutral white diffractive effect or may include a reversal in color travel.

Abstract: A device includes a substrate and at least 1,000 flakes resting upon the substrate, each flake including a magnetic layer. The plurality of flakes are aligned so as to form a plurality of rings or curves, wherein within each ring or curve, flakes are tilted at a same angle with respect to the substrate and planes extending from surfaces of said flakes intersect with one another. The device provides a visible image of a single ring or curve when illuminated with a single light source, and three rings or curves are visible when three light sources illuminate the device. The device may be used as a printed light detector.

Abstract: Microstructured pigments include a dielectric core having a diffraction grating. The microstructured dielectric core is encapsulated with one or more encapsulation layers which are deposited using chemical vapor deposition in a fluidized bed. The fluidizing conditions allow for providing uniform and highly-conforming encapsulation layers.

Abstract: A security device has a support substrate of a first material having a softening temperature t1 and an embossed layer of a second different material supported by the support substrate having a softening temperature t2, wherein t2<t1. A thin film coating deposited directly upon the embossed layer, wherein the embossed layer is capable of being dissolved in a dissolving agent and wherein the thin film coating is not dissolvable by said dissolving agent. There is not need for an additional release layer as the second different material is dissolvable and allows flakes to be formed by dissolving the second layer.

Abstract: A security image and method of forming said image is disclosed wherein a substrate having an image or indicia thereon is coated with a dilute solution of pigment flakes in an ink or paint. The flakes are subsequently aligned in a magnetic field and are fixed after the field is applied. Most or all of the flakes in a region are aligned so as to be partially upstanding wherein their faces are essentially parallel. Coating the image with flakes yields a latent image which can be clearly seen at a small range of predetermined angles.