Patents by Inventor Alberto Argoitia
Alberto Argoitia has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).
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Patent number: 6777085Abstract: Particles are encapsulated with a layer or sequence of layers. The particles can be flakes and the layers can form an optical interference stack for use as an optically variable pigment, among other purposes. In a particular embodiment a highly reflective metal layer is deposited around a glass flake with specular surfaces. The particles can be produced using a variety of deposition systems. In a particular embodiment, a downstream plasma-enhanced chemical vapor deposition system achieves high deposition rates while avoiding contamination of the plasma source with deposition products.Type: GrantFiled: April 19, 2002Date of Patent: August 17, 2004Assignee: Optical Coating Laboratory, Inc.Inventors: Alberto Argoitia, Roger W. Phillips, Ludvik Martinu, Jolanta E. Klemberg-Sapieha
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Publication number: 20040151827Abstract: Opaque flakes, such as pigment or bright flake used in paints and inks, have a selected shape and/or other indicia to provide a covert security feature to an object. In some embodiments the composition includes base pigment, and the opaque covert flakes match the visual characteristics of the base pigment. In another embodiment, opaque covert flakes are mixed in the carrier with base pigment at a concentration sufficient to avoid changing the appearance of the composition. In another embodiment, opaque covert flakes are mixed in a clear or tinted varnish base that can be applied over an existing security feature. Shaped opaque covert flakes are not readily detectable by causal observation, but in some embodiments are easily seen at 100× magnification.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 20, 2004Publication date: August 5, 2004Applicant: Flex Products, Inc., a JDS Uniphase CompanyInventors: Alberto Argoitia, Paul G. Coombs, Charles T. Markantes
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Patent number: 6749936Abstract: Achromatic multilayer diffractive pigment flakes and foils are provided having diffractive structures thereon. The diffractive pigment flakes can have a symmetrical stacked coating structure on opposing sides of a reflective core layer, an asymmetrical stacked coating structure on one side of a reflective layer, or can be formed with one or more encapsulating coatings around the reflective core layer. The diffractive pigment flakes can be interspersed into liquid media such as paints or inks to produce diffractive compositions for subsequent application to a variety of objects. The foils can be laminated to various objects or can be formed on a carrier substrate. The diffractive pigment flakes and foils can be formed with a variety of diffractive structures thereon to produce selected optical effects. The diffractive foils and diffractive compositions applied to an object exhibit an iridescent diffractive effect over an achromatic background.Type: GrantFiled: December 20, 2001Date of Patent: June 15, 2004Assignee: Flex Products, Inc.Inventors: Alberto Argoitia, Paul T. Kohlmann, Matthew R. Witzman, Paul G. Coombs, Charles T. Markantes, Richard A. Bradley, Jr.
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Patent number: 6749777Abstract: Diffractive pigment flakes include single layer or multiple layer flakes that have a diffractive structure formed on a surface thereof. The multiple layer flakes can have a symmetrical stacked coating structure on opposing sides of a reflective core layer, or can be formed with encapsulating coatings around the reflective core layer. The diffractive pigment flakes can be interspersed into liquid media such as paints or inks to produce diffractive compositions for subsequent application to a variety of objects. The diffractive pigment flakes can be formed with a variety of diffractive structures thereon to produce selected optical effects.Type: GrantFiled: December 10, 2002Date of Patent: June 15, 2004Assignee: Flex Products, Inc.Inventors: Alberto Argoitia, Richard A. Bradley, Jr.
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Patent number: 6692830Abstract: Diffractive pigment flakes include single layer or multiple layer flakes that have a diffractive structure formed on a surface thereof. The multiple layer flakes can have a symmetrical stacked coating structure on opposing sides of a reflective core layer, or can be formed with encapsulating coatings around the reflective core layer. The diffractive pigment flakes can be interspersed into liquid media such as paints or inks to produce diffractive compositions for subsequent application to a variety of objects. The diffractive pigment flakes can be formed with a variety of diffractive structures thereon to produce selected optical effects.Type: GrantFiled: July 31, 2001Date of Patent: February 17, 2004Assignee: Flex Products, Inc.Inventors: Alberto Argoitia, Richard A. Bradley, Jr.
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Publication number: 20030224164Abstract: All-dielectric diffractive pigment flakes can be applied to an object to impart a diffractive effect to the object without substantially changing the background color of the object. In one case, such diffractive pigment flakes can be applied to a white object to impart a white diffractive effect. The thickness of the dielectric layers in the diffractive pigment flakes can be chosen to provide thin-film interference, as well as diffraction from the interfaces between layers patterned with a diffraction grating. In some cases, the thin-film interference can provide color shifting in addition to the diffractive effect.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 11, 2003Publication date: December 4, 2003Applicant: Flex Products, Inc., a JDS Uniphase CompanyInventors: Alberto Argoitia, Vladimir P. Raksha, Paul T. Kohlmann
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Publication number: 20030215641Abstract: Interference pigment flakes and foils are provided which have color shifting properties. The pigment flakes can have a symmetrical coating structure on opposing sides of a reflector layer, can have an asymmetrical coating structure with all of the layers on one side of the reflector layer, or can be formed with encapsulating coatings around a core reflector layer. The coating structure of the flakes and foils includes a reflector layer, a dielectric layer on the reflector layer, and a titanium-containing absorber layer on the dielectric layer. The pigment flakes and foils exhibit a discrete color shift so as to have a first color at a first angle of incident light or viewing and a second color different from the first color at a second angle of incident light or viewing. The pigment flakes can be interspersed into liquid media such as paints or inks to produce colorant compositions for subsequent application to objects or papers.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 14, 2003Publication date: November 20, 2003Applicant: Flex Products, Inc.Inventors: Roger W. Phillips, Charlotte R. LeGallee, Paul T. Kohlmann, Vladimir Raksha, Alberto Argoitia
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Publication number: 20030203222Abstract: Interference pigment flakes and foils are provided which have color shifting properties. The pigment flakes can have a symmetrical coating structure on opposing sides of a reflector layer, can have an asymmetrical coating structure with all of the layers on one side of the reflector layer, or can be formed with encapsulating coatings around a core reflector layer. The coating structure of the flakes and foils includes a reflector layer, a dielectric layer on the reflector layer, and a titanium-containing absorber layer on the dielectric layer. The pigment flakes and foils exhibit a discrete color shift so as to have a first color at a first angle of incident light or viewing and a second color different from the first color at a second angle of incident light or viewing. The pigment flakes can be interspersed into liquid media such as paints or inks to produce colorant compositions for subsequent application to objects or papers.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 14, 2003Publication date: October 30, 2003Applicant: Flex Products, Inc.Inventors: Roger W. Phillips, Charlotte R. LeGallee, Paul T. Kohlmann, Vladimir Raksha, Alberto Argoitia
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Publication number: 20030203223Abstract: Interference pigment flakes and foils are provided which have color shifting properties. The pigment flakes can have a symmetrical coating structure on opposing sides of a reflector layer, can have an asymmetrical coating structure with all of the layers on one side of the reflector layer, or can be formed with encapsulating coatings around a core reflector layer. The coating structure of the flakes and foils includes a reflector layer, a dielectric layer on the reflector layer, and a titanium-containing absorber layer on the dielectric layer. The pigment flakes and foils exhibit a discrete color shift so as to have a first color at a first angle of incident light or viewing and a second color different from the first color at a second angle of incident light or viewing. The pigment flakes can be interspersed into liquid media such as paints or inks to produce colorant compositions for subsequent application to objects or papers.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 14, 2003Publication date: October 30, 2003Applicant: Flex Products, Inc.Inventors: Roger W. Phillips, Charlotte R. LeGallee, Paul T. Kohlmann, Vladimir Raksha, Alberto Argoitia
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Publication number: 20030190473Abstract: Multilayer chromatic diffractive pigment flakes and foils are provided having diffractive structures thereon. The diffractive pigment flakes can have a symmetrical stacked coating structure on opposing sides of a reflective core layer, an asymmetrical stacked coating structure on one side of a reflective layer, or can be formed with one or more encapsulating coatings around the reflective core layer. The diffractive pigment flakes can be interspersed into liquid media such as paints or inks to produce diffractive compositions for subsequent application to a variety of objects. The foils can be laminated to various objects or can be formed on a carrier substrate. The diffractive pigment flakes and foils can be formed with a variety of diffractive structures thereon to produce selected optical effects.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 5, 2002Publication date: October 9, 2003Applicant: Flex Products, Inc.Inventors: Alberto Argoitia, Roger W. Phillips, Michael R. Nofi, Paul G. Coombs, Charles T. Markantes, Richard A. Bradley
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Publication number: 20030129404Abstract: Achromatic multilayer diffractive pigment flakes and foils are provided having diffractive structures thereon. The diffractive pigment flakes can have a symmetrical stacked coating structure on opposing sides of a reflective core layer, an asymmetrical stacked coating structure on one side of a reflective layer, or can be formed with one or more encapsulating coatings around the reflective core layer. The diffractive pigment flakes can be interspersed into liquid media such as paints or inks to produce diffractive compositions for subsequent application to a variety of objects. The foils can be laminated to various objects or can be formed on a carrier substrate. The diffractive pigment flakes and foils can be formed with a variety of diffractive structures thereon to produce selected optical effects. The diffractive foils and diffractive compositions applied to an object exhibit an iridescent diffractive effect over an achromatic background.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 20, 2001Publication date: July 10, 2003Applicant: Flex Products, Inc.Inventors: Alberto Argoitia, Paul T. Kohlmann, Matthew R. Witzman, Paul G. Coombs, Charles T. Markantes, Richard A. Bradley
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Publication number: 20030104206Abstract: Diffractive pigment flakes include single layer or multiple layer flakes that have a diffractive structure formed on a surface thereof. The multiple layer flakes can have a symmetrical stacked coating structure on opposing sides of a reflective core layer, or can be formed with encapsulating coatings around the reflective core layer. The diffractive pigment flakes can be interspersed into liquid media such as paints or inks to produce diffractive compositions for subsequent application to a variety of objects. The diffractive pigment flakes can be formed with a variety of diffractive structures thereon to produce selected optical effects.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 10, 2002Publication date: June 5, 2003Applicant: Flex Products, Inc.Inventors: Alberto Argoitia, Richard A. Bradley
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Patent number: 6569529Abstract: Interference pigment flakes and foils are provided which have color shifting properties. The pigment flakes can have a symmetrical coating structure on opposing sides of a reflector layer, can have an asymmetrical coating structure with all of the layers on one side of the reflector layer, or can be formed with encapsulating coatings around a core reflector layer. The coating structure of the flakes and foils includes a reflector layer, a dielectric layer on the reflector layer, and a titanium-containing absorber layer on the dielectric layer. The pigment flakes and foils exhibit a discrete color shift so as to have a first color at a first angle of incident light or viewing and a second color different from the first color at a second angle of incident light or viewing. The pigment flakes can be interspersed into liquid media such as paints or inks to produce colorant compositions for subsequent application to objects or papers.Type: GrantFiled: October 10, 2000Date of Patent: May 27, 2003Assignee: Flex Product, Inc.Inventors: Roger W. Phillips, Charlotte R. LeGallee, Paul T. Kohlmann, Vladimir Raksha, Alberto Argoitia
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Publication number: 20030031870Abstract: Diffractive pigment flakes include single layer or multiple layer flakes that have a diffractive structure formed on a surface thereof. The multiple layer flakes can have a symmetrical stacked coating structure on opposing sides of a reflective core layer, or can be formed with encapsulating coatings around the reflective core layer. The diffractive pigment flakes can be interspersed into liquid media such as paints or inks to produce diffractive compositions for subsequent application to a variety of objects. The diffractive pigment flakes can be formed with a variety of diffractive structures thereon to produce selected optical effects.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 31, 2001Publication date: February 13, 2003Applicant: Flex Products, inc.Inventors: Alberto Argoitia, Richard A. Bradley