Abstract: Methods and systems for optical effects in pigments, inks, and on media. One aspect of this disclosure involves a pigment particle which includes a core, having a fluorescent material and having a spherical shape, and a shell surrounding the core; the shell includes a photochromic material which has a first optical property in a first light source and a second optical property in a second light source which includes a set of wavelengths not sufficiently present in the first light source. The second optical property attenuates an emitted radiation from the fluorescent material. Other aspects are also described.

Abstract: An anti-copy optical material and methods of using the material to passively frustrate scanner-based reproduction processes are disclosed. More particularly, embodiments of the anti-copy optical material include a fluorescent material to absorb visible incident light from a scan lamp and to emit a visible fluorescence. The anti-copy optical material may also include one or more optical absorbers to absorb one or more peak wavelengths of the visible incident light from the scan lamp.

Abstract: An anti-copy optical material and methods of using the material to passively frustrate scanner-based reproduction processes are disclosed. More particularly, embodiments of the anti-copy optical material include a fluorescent material to absorb visible incident light from a scan lamp and to emit a visible fluorescence. The anti-copy optical material may also include one or more optical absorbers to absorb one or more peak wavelengths of the visible incident light from the scan lamp.

Abstract: Methods and systems for optical effects in pigments, inks, and on media. One aspect of this disclosure involves a pigment particle which includes a core, having a fluorescent material and having a spherical shape, and a shell surrounding the core; the shell includes a photochromic material which has a first optical property in a first light source and a second optical property in a second light source which includes a set of wavelengths not sufficiently present in the first light source. The second optical property attenuates an emitted radiation from the fluorescent material. Other aspects are also described.

Abstract: Methods and systems for optical effects in pigments, inks, and on media. One aspect of this disclosure involves a pigment particle which includes a core, having a fluorescent material and having a spherical shape, and a shell surrounding the core; the shell includes a photochromic material which has a first optical property in a first light source and a second optical property in a second light source which includes a set of wavelengths not sufficiently present in the first light source. The second optical property attenuates an emitted radiation from the fluorescent material. Other aspects are also described.

Abstract: Apparatuses and methods relating to excitation, interrogation, and identification of covert taggants, are described. In one exemplary embodiment, a multi-measurement interrogator comprising an emitter and an optical sensing subsystem that is capable to sense more than one type of a response signal from a taggant is described. The multi-measurement interrogator may interrogate the taggant multiple excitation wavelengths, acquire more than one type of the response signal from the taggant, and perform quantitative measurements of the response signal. Another exemplary embodiment of the invention describes an eye-safe interrogator that includes a light emitting diode (LED), wherein LED is capable to stimulate one or more of an upconversion fluorescence and a Stoke's fluorescence from the taggant. Another exemplary embodiment of the invention provides a portable, hand-held covert interrogator, which utilizes invisible light both to excite the taggant and to receive a response from the taggant.

Abstract: There is described an optical-effect-producing medium comprising a carrier medium (1) containing or comprising pigment particles (10) having at least one optically responsive pigment or dye (100) that responds to incident electromagnetic radiation of at least a selected excitation wavelength or wavelength band (?EX) by producing an optical response in the visible or near-visible spectrum. A refractive index (n1) of the carrier medium (1) and a refractive index (n2; n3) of the pigment particles (10) are selected to maximise the amount of incident electromagnetic radiation reaching the said at least one optically responsive pigment or dye (100). Also described is the use of such optical-effect-producing medium to produce an optically responsive feature, especially for security, authentication and/or identification purposes, as well as objects comprising such an optically responsive feature.

Abstract: Methods and systems for optical effects in pigments, inks, and on media. One aspect of this disclosure involves a pigment particle which includes a core, having a fluorescent material and having a spherical shape, and a shell surrounding the core; the shell includes a photochromic material which has a first optical property in a first light source and a second optical property in a second light source which includes a set of wavelengths not sufficiently present in the first light source. The second optical property attenuates an emitted radiation from the fluorescent material. Other aspects are also described.

Abstract: Methods and systems for optical effects in pigments, inks, and on media. One aspect of this disclosure involves a pigment particle which includes a core, having a fluorescent material and having a spherical shape, and a shell surrounding the core; the shell includes a photochromic material which has a first optical property in a first light source and a second optical property in a second light source which includes a set of wavelengths not sufficiently present in the first light source. The second optical property attenuates an emitted radiation from the fluorescent material. Other aspects are also described.

Abstract: Optical elements and methods of forming optical elements are described. In one example, a method applies a photosensitive ink to a substrate and exposes the ink to create an optical element, such as an optical lens or holographic recording medium.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for optically aligning output beams from multiple, individual, different-wavelength laser diodes. The output of a first laser diode is fed directly into the high-reflector of a laser diode, through the gain medium, and is output from an output coupler in each of a sequence of abutting laser diodes. The output from the last laser diode includes the individual beams from each laser diode in the same single optical axis, while retaining the original wavelengths.

Abstract: Optical elements and methods of forming optical elements are described. In one example, a method applies a photosensitive ink to a substrate and exposes the ink to create an optical element, such as an optical lens or holographic recording medium.

Abstract: Optical elements and methods of forming optical elements are described. In one example, a method applies a photosensitive ink to a substrate and exposes the ink to create an optical element, such as an optical lens or holographic recording medium.

Abstract: Optical elements and methods of forming optical elements are described. In one example, a method applies a photosensitive ink to a substrate and exposes the ink to create an optical element, such as an optical lens or holographic recording medium.

Abstract: Methods and systems for optical effects in pigments, inks, and on media. One aspect of this disclosure involves a pigment particle which includes a core, having a fluorescent material and having a spherical shape, and a shell surrounding the core; the shell includes a photochromic material which has a first optical property in a first light source and a second optical property in a second light source which includes a set of wavelengths not sufficiently present in the first light source. The second optical property attenuates an emitted radiation from the fluorescent material. Other aspects are also described.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for optically aligning output beams from multiple, individual, different-wavelength laser diodes. The output of a first laser diode is fed directly into the high-reflector of a laser diode, through the gain medium, and is output from an output coupler in each of a sequence of abutting laser diodes. The output from the last laser diode includes the individual beams from each laser diode in the same single optical axis, while retaining the original wavelengths.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for optically aligning output beams from multiple, individual, different-wavelength laser diodes. The output of a first laser diode is fed directly into the high-reflector of a laser diode, through the gain medium, and is output from an output coupler in each of a sequence of abutting laser diodes. The output from the last laser diode includes the individual beams from each laser diode in the same single optical axis, while retaining the original wavelengths.

Abstract: A real-time, multi-color image ?36! is displayed in a flat screen ?20! composed of a low-phonon, optically transparent, non-pixelated host material doped with active ions. The display uses intersecting infrared laser beams ?22, 24! of different wavelengths to induce a two-frequency upconversion process in the active ions at a point ?28! in the screen. When the ions relax, visible fluorescence is produced. Different points in the display are activated by directing the laser beams ?22, 24! to intersect at different locations within the screen. In one embodiment, beams from two lasers ?28, 30! are controlled by single axis mirrors ?32, 34!. In other embodiments, laser arrays or slab lasers are used to activate points within the screen. Through the use of additional lasers and dopants, multi-color images may be displayed.

Abstract: A heavy metal fluoride glass composition for an optical fiber in mole percent, about: 20 to 40% InF.sub.3, 20 to 0% GaF.sub.3, 2 to 10% PbF.sub.2, 0 to 25% ZnF.sub.2, 0 to 25% CdF.sub.2,10 to 25% BaF.sub.2, 0 to 6% NaCl, 0 to 6% NaF, 0 to 7% SrF.sub.2 and 0 to 5% CaF.sub.2 ; the total of InF.sub.3 and GaF.sub.3 being about 40%; the total of BaF.sub.2, SrF.sub.2 and CaF.sub.2 being about 25%; the total of ZnF.sub.2 and CdF.sub.2 being about 25%, and the total of NaCl and NaF being about 6%; said composition being further doped with a lanthanide series heavy metal fluoride in amount up to about 1%.

Abstract: A system is disclosed which operates to collect high resolution three-dimensional surface mesh data from mechanical components which are used for component evaluation. The system includes a multidimensionally movable fixture mount for holding the mechanical components. A structured light pattern emitting projector is provided together with an image sensing camera for detecting impingement of the light pattern on the mechanical component and for generating the surface data. A set of software tools analyzes the data to provide numerical or quantitative component analysis and further presents the data in display form to allow intuitive or qualitative analysis for product and process improvement.