Abstract: An exterior part (200) includes (a) a structure color generation portion (210) having a minute shape (structure color generation region (211)) formed therein, light in a visible light range being produced from the minute shape by a physical phenomenon such as interference or diffraction with the incidence of light, and (b) a resin portion (220) that is made of resin having a light transmitting property and serves as the outer surface of a product, (c) the structure color generation portion (210) and the resin portion (220) are formed by molding, and (d) the structure color generation portion (210) is made of resin different from the resin of the resin portion (220), and covered with the resin portion (220).

Abstract: There are provided compositions, optical data storage media and methods of using the optical data storage media. The compositions comprise a non-linear sensitizer comprising one or more subphthalocyanine reverse saturable absorbers capable of absorbing actinic radiation to cause upper triplet energy transfer to a reactant that undergoes a photochemical change upon triplet excitation.

Abstract: The invention concerns a security element in the form of a multi-layer film body having a volume hologram layer with two different items of optical information and a process for the production of such a security element.

Abstract: Methods for storing holographic data are presented. The method includes providing an optically transparent substrate comprising a thermally active photochemically active polymer composition, the polymer composition including a photochemically active dye and a heat generating chromophore, thermally activating at least a part of a volume element of the optically transparent substrate to increase a quantum efficiency of photochemical conversion of the photochemically active dye into a photo-product, within the at least a part of the volume element and converting at least some of the photochemically active dye to a photo-product, and producing concentration variations of the photo-product within the volume element of the optically transparent substrate, thereby producing an optically readable datum corresponding to the volume element.

Abstract: An optimal recording exposure is determined by varying in the first to nth stages the recording exposure with a write laser beam to record a bright pattern image and a dark pattern image in each stage as the first to nth bright pattern images and the first to nth dark pattern images, respectively; irradiating the respective pattern images with a read beam to detect the intensity of a diffracted beam from the central portion of each image of the bright and dark patterns; calculating Sa1/Sb1=SNR1, . . . , and San/Sbn=SNRn, where Sa1 to San are the intensity of a diffracted beam from the first to nth bright pattern images and Sb1 to Sbn, are the intensity of s diffracted beam from the first to nth dark pattern images; and determining a recording exposure which is given at the SNRmax being the maximum value of the resulting SNR1 to SNRn.

Abstract: A composition for producing optical elements having a gradient structure, particularly for holographic applications, is formed by a refractive index gradient. The composition is produced from one or more polymerizable and/or polycondensable monomers and at least one biological polymer. A potential difference is generated for the directed diffusion of the monomers by inducing a local polymerization or polycondensation. The result is the formation of a refractive index gradient.

Abstract: The present invention is provided to enhance security of a volume hologram by recording therein individualized information such as information of character, numerical character, picture pattern, biometric matter and/or the like by irradiating laser light to the volume hologram thereby modifying the same physically or chemically, and is related to a laser marking hologram comprising a volume hologram layer 2 including interference fringes recorded therein, wherein the volume hologram layer 2 includes information of character, numerical character, picture pattern, biometric matter, and/or the like recorded therein having a contrast between an irradiated portion and a non-irradiated portion thereof provided by selectively irradiating laser light 10 to the volume hologram layer 2 in a manner to modify 11 the irradiated portion.

Abstract: In accordance with one aspect of the present invention, a method for recording holographic data in an optical data storage medium is provided. The method includes (i) providing an optical data storage medium including: (a) a thermoplastic polymer matrix, (b) a latent acid generator, (c) a non-linear sensitizer, and (d) a reactant including a latent chromophore. The method further includes (ii) irradiating a volume element of the optical data storage medium with an interference pattern, said interference pattern including an incident radiation having a wavelength and an intensity sufficient to cause upper triplet energy transfer from the non-linear sensitizer to the latent acid generator, thereby generating an acid, wherein the latent acid generator is substantially non-responsive to said incident radiation.

Abstract: The improvement of the performance of holographic glasses with recorded holograms as measured by a figure of merit of the holographic glasses is disclosed. The improvement in the figure of merit of the holographic glasses is obtained at least in part with the addition of arsenic in the formation of the holographic glasses. The presence of arsenic increases the figure of merit as measured at a wavelength of interest of a holographic glass with a recorded hologram as compared to a holographic glass with a recorded hologram that does not contain arsenic.

Abstract: A method of recording a volume holographic image is described in which a holographic recording medium containing a photoreactive dye is exposed to a plurality of coherent light sources emitting at a wavelength to which the dye is sensitive, thereby forming an interference fringe pattern therein. The photoreaction occurring in the areas of constructive interference generates a periodic array of photoreacted areas of the dye and unreacted areas of the dye. This generated interference fringe pattern may contain, but does not have to contain any image or other encoded information. Selected areas of the interference fringe pattern are then exposed to actinic radiation in such a manner to partially or fully bleach, remove, or deactivate the photoreactive dye fringe pattern, thereby producing a holographic pattern, shape, or image formed by areas of the interference fringe pattern that were not bleached, removed, or deactivated.

Abstract: A multi-layer body having a partially shaped first layer and a diffractive first relief structure shaped in a first region of a replication layer. The first layer is applied to the replication layer in the first region and, in a second region, a photosensitive layer is applied to the first layer or a photosensitive washing mask is applied thereto as a replication layer. The photosensitive layer or the washing mask is exposed through the first layer so that the photosensitive layer or washing mask is exposed differently due to the first relief structure in the first and in the second regions, and the first layer is removed using the exposed photosensitive layer or washing mask as a mask layer in the first region but not in the second region or in the second region but not in the first region.

Abstract: A recessed portion forming method for forming a plurality of recessed portions in a thermally deformable heat mode recording material layer is provided, which method includes: a recessed portion forming step of applying condensed light emitted from an optical system including a light source, to the recording material layer to form the recessed portions; an inspection light illumination step of applying inspection light to the recessed portions during or after formation of the recessed portions in the recording material layer; a detection step of detecting a light quantity of the inspection light reflected or diffracted from the recessed portions; and an output regulation step of regulating an output of the light source based upon the light quantity so that the light quantity becomes a predetermined value. Methods for manufacturing a pit-projection product, a light emitting element, and an optical element, using this method are also provided.

Abstract: The present application provides a method of manufacturing a reflection hologram. The method comprises the steps of placing a first pattern of activating material upon a layer of inactive holographic recording material to selectively activate the layer and exposing the layer to holographic recording process for producing a reflection hologram.

Abstract: A method for interlaminating a transparent embossed hologram, the transparent embossed hologram comprising a support having two sides, at least one of the two sides either itself being embossed or having a layer thereon which is embossed and a layer of a HRI-material contiguous with the embossed side or embossed layer, comprising the steps of: a) conditioning the outermost surface of the layer of inorganic HRI-material with at least one organic liquid; b) drying the outermost surface of the layer of the inorganic HRI-material thereby providing a conditioned outermost surface of the layer of inorganic HRI-material; c) applying an adhesive layer to the conditioned outermost surface; and d) laminating the outermost surface of inorganic HRI-material to an optionally transparent film, wherein the at least one organic liquid is selected from the group consisting of ketones, ethers, heterocyclic ethers, lactams, amides, halo-aliphatic compounds, nitriles and esters; wherein at least one of the support and the film i

Abstract: A composition for holographic recording is provided, comprising an inert polyphenyl ether binder capable of supporting radical polymerization, wherein the inert binder is substantially transparent in visible light, and is viscous at room temperature; a photopolymerizable part comprising a matrix forming component comprising at least one radically photopolymerizable multifunctional (meth)acrylic oligomer or monomer, and a radically polymerizable recording component; and a photoinitiation system capable of initiating radical polymerization.

Abstract: The volume hologram recording photosensitive composition provided by the present invention contains at least a fluorine-contained photoreactive compound represented by the following formula (1): R1—R3—(CF2)n-R4—R2 wherein R1 and R2 are photoreactive groups which can be bonded to each other by photoreaction, and each of R3 and R4 is independently a single bond or a bivalent hydrocarbon group having 1 to 5 carbon atoms, and n is an integer of 1 or more. This volume hologram recording photosensitive composition is used to form a recording section of a recording medium, and then the section is exposed to light, whereby a bright volume hologram can be obtained.

Abstract: The present invention provides a hologram recording medium which can attain high refractive index change, flexibility, high sensitivity, low scattering, environment resistance, durability, low dimension change (low shrinkage) and high multiplicity in holographic memory record using a blue laser. A hologram recording medium (11) comprising at least a hologram recording material layer, wherein the hologram recording material layer (21) comprises at least a metal oxide and a photopolymerizable compound; and said hologram recording medium has a light transmittance of 50% or more at a wavelength of 405 nm, or a light reflectance of 25% or more at a wavelength of 405 nm.

Abstract: The present invention provides a hologram recording material which is suitable for volume hologram record and attains high refractive index change, flexibility, high sensitivity, low scattering, environment resistance, durability, low shrinkage and high multiplicity in holographic memory record using not only a green laser but also a blue laser; a process for producing the same; and a hologram recording medium having the hologram recording material. A hologram recording material comprising: a metal oxide comprising Si and at least one selected from the group consisting of Ta and Zr, as metals, wherein a complexing ligand is coordinated to Ta and/or Zr; and a photopolymerizable compound. The complexing ligand is preferably selected from the group consisting of ?-dicarbonyl compounds, polyhydroxylated ligands, and ?- or ?-hydroxy acids. A hologram recording medium (11) comprising the hologram recording material layer (21).

Abstract: A photopolymerizable system comprises an organic-inorganic compound with a metal and an organic unit having a organic photopolymerizable subunit capable of undergoing a polymerization, a support matrix compound being polymer or capable of forming a polymer upon polymerization, and a photoinitiator system adapted to initiate the polymerization of the photopolymerizable subunits. The molecules of the organic-inorganic compound are distributed on a molecular level in the photopolymerizable system.

Abstract: Apparatus, methods and systems for production of high efficiency refractive and diffractive elements by providing a photo-sensitizer free multicomponent glass, exposing the multi component glass to pulsed laser radiation to produce refractive indexed modulation, and heating the exposed multicomponent silicate glass to produce the high efficiency refractive and diffractive elements. The pulsed laser radiation is infrared femtosecond pulses to ultraviolet nanosecond pulses which provide ionization of glass matrix. The multicomponent glass is a photosensitive glass with high transparency in ultraviolet spectral region, e.g. silicate glass which includes silver, fluorine and bromine and does not contain photosensitizers such as cerium and antimony, PTR glass, cerium free PTR glass and cerium+antimony free PTR glass.

Abstract: Disclosed are a volume phase hologram recording material having high sensitivity, high contrast, and excellent multiple recording and record holding properties and a volume phase hologram recording medium using the same. The volume phase hologram recording material comprises mainly a polymer matrix (a), a radically photopolymerizable compound (b), and a radical photopolymerization initiator (c) and the polymer matrix is a three-dimensionally crosslinked or linear polymer matrix formed from a polymer matrix-forming material containing 0.5-50 wt % of an episulfide compound (f), an epoxy compound (g), and a curing agent (h).

Abstract: The invention concerns a security document comprising a flexible carrier and a multi-layer flexible film body which is applied to the flexible carrier and which provides one or more optical security features. The flexible multi-layer film body has an electrically controller display element for generating an optical security feature with associated electrical current source for operation of the display element in combination with an optically active diffractive structure.

Abstract: We propose a method of detecting the presence of certain chemical and biochemical substances by virtue of the fact that they are, or have attached to them, either a dye molecule which acts as a photosensitizer for a holographic recording process, or another essential molecular component of the holographic recording material such as a monomer or a free radical generator. A recording material used in the process utilizes a photopolymer system consisting of a monomer and a crosslinking monomer, a free radical generator, a photosensitizer and, additionally, a polymeric binder when dry formulations are required and specifically lacks the substance to be detected. Subsequent holographic exposure records an interference pattern only where the complementary substance is present. Applications are broad ranging. Examples in diagnostics, printing, security, and environmental monitoring are given.

Abstract: A composition for holographic recording medium, which can be coated in a uniform thickness and enables to simply produce a high definition holographic recording medium is provided. And a holographic medium having a low error rate, high storage capacity, high-performance, high-density, which is produced using the composition for the holographic recording medium, is also provided. The composition comprises a (meth)acrylic acid ester group-containing polymerizable substance, an alicyclic epoxy group-containing cationical polymerizable substance of which is ring-opening polymerized by heat, and a hydroxyl group-containing substance which is reactive with the alicyclic epoxy group-containing cationical polymerizable substance. The holographic recording medium is produced by forming a holographic recording layer on a substrate by applying the composition on the base material and polymerizing the alicyclic epoxy group-containing cationical polymerizable substance and the hydroxyl group-containing substance.

Abstract: The present invention provides a lengthy volume hologram layer transfer foil capable of transferring a volume hologram layer continuously to a specified position of a transfer-receiving member. The above problem can be solved by a lengthy volume hologram layer transfer foil according to the present invention, the transfer foil is formed lengthwise and comprises: a substrate, a volume hologram layer which is formed on the substrate and in which a volume hologram is recorded, and a heat seal layer which is formed on the volume hologram layer and which contains a thermoplastic resin, the transfer foil being characterized in that it is provided with a cut portion formed so as to penetrate through the heat seal layer and to cut at least a part of the volume hologram layer, on at least a part of the full width in a direction perpendicular to the longitudinal direction thereof.

Abstract: The present invention provides a hologram recording material which attains high refractive index change, flexibility, high sensitivity, low scattering, environment resistance, durability, low shrinkage, and high multiplicity, and is suitable for volume hologram recording. Also, the present invention provides a hologram recording medium. A hologram recording material comprising: an organometallic compound at least containing at least two kinds of metals, oxygen, and an aromatic group, and having an organometallic unit wherein two aromatic groups are bonded directly to one metal; and a photopolymerizable compound containing at least a monofunctional compound (A) having one polymerizable functional group in the molecule. The hologram recording material may comprise, as the photopolymerizable compound, a polyfunctional compound (B) having two or more polymerizable functional groups in the molecule. A hologram recording medium 11 has a hologram recording material layer 21.

Abstract: The present invention relates to novel polyurethane compositions which are advantageous for the production of holographic media, inter alia for data storage, but also for optical applications of different types.

Abstract: The present invention provides a hologram recording material which attains high refractive index change, high flexibility, high sensitivity, low scattering, environment resistance, durability, low dimensional change and high multiplicity, and is suitable for volume hologram recording. Also, the present invention provides a hologram recording medium. A hologram recording material comprising: an organometallic compound at least containing at least two kinds of metals, oxygen, and an aromatic group and having an organometallic unit wherein two aromatic groups are bonded directly to one metal; and a photopolymerizable compound. One of the at least two kinds of metals is Si, and the metal(s) other than Si is/are preferably selected from the group consisting of Ti, Zr, Ge, Sn, Al and Zn. The organometallic unit is preferably a unit wherein two aromatic groups are bonded directly to one Si atom. A hologram recording medium (11) has a hologram recording material layer (21).

Abstract: The present invention provides a hologram recording material which attains high refractive index change, flexibility, high sensitivity, low scattering, environment resistance, durability, low shrinkage, and high multiplicity, and is suitable for volume hologram recording. Also, the present invention provides a hologram recording medium. A hologram recording material comprising: an organometallic compound at least containing at least two kinds of metals, oxygen, and an aromatic group, and having an organometallic unit wherein two aromatic groups are bonded directly to one metal; metal oxide fine particles; and a photopolymerizable compound. For example, the metal oxide fine particles are selected from the group consisting of silica fine particles, alumina fine particles, titania fine particles, zirconia fine particles, and complex oxide fine particles containing one or more kinds of metal atoms which constitute said four metal oxides. A hologram recording medium 11 has a hologram recording material layer 21.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to optical media and the formation and use of such media. In certain embodiments the optical media or a composition suitable for such media includes a polymeric matrix or substrate. A dye, such as an energy transfer dye is chemically appended to the polymeric matrix or substrate, such as by one or more covalent bonds.

Abstract: The present invention provides a hologram recording material which is not required to be subjected to pre-exposure treatment at the time of recording, attains high refractive index change, high sensitivity, low scattering, environment resistance, durability, low dimensional change, and high multiplicity, and is suitable for volume hologram recording. Also, the present invention provides a hologram recording medium. A hologram recording material comprising a matrix material having a softening temperature of 50° C. or higher, and a photopolymerizable monomer which is in a liquid phase state at room temperature. The matrix material is preferably contained in an amount of 50% by weight or more and 90% by weight or less of the whole of the hologram recording material. A softening temperature of the hologram recording material is preferably 0° C. or higher.

Abstract: A sensitive liquid crystalline polymeric material suitable for the reflective hologram recording and the preparing method thereof are disclosed. The material includes a base film, a buffer layer coated on one side of the base film, a sensitive polymeric layer coated on the other side of the buffer layer and a protective layer coated on the surface of the sensitive polymeric layer.

Abstract: Dynamic range enhancing dopants for photopolymeric media are described. Also described are optical articles using these dopants and methods for making such optical articles.

Abstract: Tough decorative printable film products having holographic-type images are provided that are low in cost. These film products include a relatively high temperature film that is made by continuous extrusion of the film resin onto a master film having pre-etched holographic-type imaging in order to provide a high-temperature primary film with conforming holographic imaging. This primary film provides a tough holographic-type image that is readily secured to any number of products to impart a holographic character to them. For example, this primary film is suitable for use on the surface of recreational sportsboards. When desired, sublimation printing can be used to impart indicia, text, images and colors, alone or in combination, to the primary film.

Abstract: Apparatus and methods for altering one or more spectral, spatial, or temporal characteristics of a light-emitting device are disclosed. Generally, such apparatus may include a volume Bragg grating (VBG) element that receives input light generated by a light-emitting device, conditions one or more characteristics of the input light, and causes the light-emitting device to generate light having the one or more characteristics of the conditioned light.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method of generating a laser marking in a security document by means of at least one laser beam, the security document having at least one laser-markable layer and also at least one reflecting layer which overlaps at least partly with the at least one laser-markable layer and has opaque regions. The at least one reflecting layer has at least one transparent region and, at least visually, is not significantly altered by the laser treatment of the laser-markable layer.

Abstract: Disclosed is a volume phase hologram recording material of high sensitivity, high contrast, and excellent record retention properties and also disclosed is a volume phase hologram recording medium using the said material. The volume phase hologram recording material mainly contains a three-dimensional crosslinked polymer matrix, a radically polymerizable monomer, and a photoradical polymerization initiator. The three-dimensional crosslinked polymer matrix is formed from a matrix-forming compound having two photoradically polymerizable unsaturated groups and two non-photoradically polymerizable hydroxyl groups represented by the following general formula (1) and another matrix-forming compound having no photoradically polymerizable group.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for selecting a specific fraction from a heterogeneous fluid-borne sample using optical gradient forces in a microfluidic or fluidic system are presented. Samples may range in size from a few nanometers to at least tens of micrometers, may be dispersed in any fluid medium, and may be sorted on the basis of size, shape, optical characteristics, charge, and other physical properties. The selection process involves passive transport through optical intensity field driven by flowing fluid, and so offers several advantages over competing techniques. These include continuous rather than batch-mode operation, continuous and dynamic tunability, operation over a wide range of samples, compactness, and low cost.

Abstract: A production method is provided by which a copied volume hologram from a multi-layer master is later customized by utilization of the color tuning properties of the light-curable materials used for the application onto personal documents. These holographic individual data, such as a passport photo, are also separately detectable, without the holographic elements copied from the master, that are visible under other viewing angles, impairing the visibility of the individual data. The volume hologram overlay obtained by this method is applied on personal and valuable documents to increase protection against forgery, possesses superimposed optically variable items of information that are separately visible under different viewing angles and give a defined color change under different view angles, wherein at least one of these items of optical information represents individual personal data, in particular a passport photograph.

Abstract: A sensor device comprising a holographic element comprises a grating or hologram recorded in a holographic recording medium wherein at least one physical and/or chemical and/or optical characteristic of the holographic element or the image produced by it varies as a result of variation in relative humidity or moisture content in the air surrounding the element. Also provided is an acrylamide-based photopolymer and an acrylamide-based reflection hologram.

Abstract: A system and method for producing a Bragg grating. A system and a method for apodization of gratings. The system and method for producing a grating include splitting a beam and reflecting one split beam an odd number of times and the other an even number of times before the two are allowed to interfere within a photosensitive target. When the original beam is scanned in predetermined directions, the split beams scan the target while interfering within the target. The original beam is scanned such that an intersection point of the reflected split beams moves along a bisector of the two split beams. In the system and method for apodizing, scanning of the interfering beams along a length of the target may be controlled to yield a substantially uniform average refractive index for the apodized grating that is being recorded in the photosensitive target medium.

Abstract: There is provided volume holographic data recording media having a recording layer which is capable of recording interference fringes generated by interference of light having excellent coherence as fringes having different refractive indexes and undergoes holographic data recording by an amount of spatial shift distance of not more than 3 ?m which is smaller than that of conventional media.

Abstract: A sensor for the detection of an analyte, comprising a holographic element comprising a medium and a hologram disposed throughout the volume of the medium, wherein an optical characteristic of the hologram changes as a result of a variation of a physical property occurring throughout the volume of the medium, wherein the medium is obtainable by formation in situ in the presence of a pore-forming agent, wherein the agent is not present in the sensor or does not react with the analyte and the sensor.

Abstract: An optical medium is provided. The optical medium comprises: a diffusion-controlling matrix framework; at least one photoactive monomer attached to the diffusion-controlling matrix framework in a first state of the optical medium, wherein the at least one photoactive monomer is released from the diffusion-controlling matrix framework by photo cleavage, producing a second state of the optical medium, in which diffusion of the photoactive monomer through the optical medium is possible; and wherein the at least one photoactive monomer is then polymerized or reattached to the diffusion-controlling matrix, giving a third state of the optical medium, when exposed to photo-polymerizing light.

Abstract: The invention provides a hologram in which a visually unidentifiable microtext or other micropattern of the order of 10 ?m is recorded, and a process for the fabrication of the same. A volume hologram recording material 2 is located on the side of a reflection type volume hologram master 1 onto which copying illumination light 11 is incident, and the copying illumination light 11 incident onto the recording material 2 and light 12 diffracted through the master 1 interfere together in the volume hologram recording material 2 thereby copying the reflection type volume hologram master.

Abstract: A metal identification platelet equipped with an identification code, while the identification code comprises a hologram. A method of producing the identification platelet with the identification code, including the following steps: A shield from an electro-insulation material is formed on a shim with a holographic motif. Then, the shim is galvanized in the places not covered by the shield from the electro-insulation material. And the completed metal identification platelets are removed from the shim.

Abstract: An organic-inorganic hybrid material comprising (a) at least one soluble organic polymer and (b) at least one mono- or polynuclear metal complex having at least one ligand which comprises at least one photochemically and/or thermally polymerizable functional group. Also disclosed is an optical component which is made by using the hybrid material.

Abstract: The present invention provides a fluorine-containing volume holographic data recording material making it unnecessary to provide a step of eliminating a specific solvent even in the case of a thick film, and having high hologram performance and good dynamic range. There is provided a composition comprising a base polymer (a), a liquid monomer (b) and a photo-initiator (c), wherein the base polymer (a) is an amorphous polymer comprising a fluorine-containing monomer as a structural unit and having a fluorine content of 26 to 80% by mass, the liquid monomer (b) comprises at least one liquid monomer (b1) initiating polymerization by means of activated species generated from the photo-initiator (c), the photo-initiator (c) is a compound causing the liquid monomer (b1) to initiate polymerization by exposure to light having excellent coherence and, and a refractive index of the liquid monomer (b) is higher than an average refractive index of a mixture of the base polymer (a) and the photo-initiator (c).

Abstract: An optical recording material and methods of making such material is provided. The material comprises of a dewar benzene monomer, with at least two cross-linkable groups, a sensitizer, a cross-linker, and an initiator. The material does not require a binder or a co-sensitizer. The material can be fabricated by an exceedingly easy technique that offers high photosensitivity, high diffraction efficiency, millimeter thickness, and high dynamic range.

Abstract: A computer generated hologram includes a plurality of cells which form a light intensity distribution on a predetermined plane. The plurality of cells includes a plurality of first cells including isotropic media and anisotropic media, and a plurality of second cells including anisotropic media alone. The plurality of cells change a phase of incident light which impinges on each of the plurality of cells to form a phase distribution including N phases (N is the number of phases, N?2) for each of a wavefront of a linearly polarized light component in a first direction and a wavefront of a linearly polarized light component in a second direction perpendicular to the first direction.