US 11,685,180 B2
Micro-optic security device with zones of color
Samuel M. Cape, Woodstock, GA (US); Jonathan D. Gosnell, Cumming, GA (US); Benjamin E. Bleiman, Cumming, GA (US); Jennifer Cowan, Marietta, GA (US); Nicholas G. Pearson, Amherst, NH (US); and Ryan Toole, Washington, DC (US)
Assigned to Crane & Co., Inc., Dalton, MA (US)
Filed by Crane & Co., Inc., Boston, MA (US)
Filed on Aug. 18, 2020, as Appl. No. 16/996,718.
Claims priority of provisional application 62/888,957, filed on Aug. 19, 2019.
Prior Publication US 2021/0053381 A1, Feb. 25, 2021
Int. Cl. B42D 25/324 (2014.01); B42D 25/36 (2014.01); B42D 25/43 (2014.01); G02B 3/00 (2006.01); G02B 17/00 (2006.01); B41M 3/14 (2006.01); B42D 25/30 (2014.01); B42D 25/445 (2014.01); B42D 25/29 (2014.01); B42D 25/23 (2014.01); B42D 25/24 (2014.01); B42D 25/44 (2014.01)
CPC B42D 25/36 (2014.10) [B41M 3/14 (2013.01); B42D 25/30 (2014.10); B42D 25/324 (2014.10); B42D 25/43 (2014.10); G02B 3/0037 (2013.01); G02B 17/002 (2013.01); B42D 25/23 (2014.10); B42D 25/24 (2014.10); B42D 25/29 (2014.10); B42D 25/44 (2014.10); B42D 25/445 (2014.10)] 10 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A micro-optic security device with zonal color transitions, comprising:
a planar array of refractive focusing elements;
an image icon layer comprising a plurality of retaining structures, the plurality of retaining structures comprising wells, wherein each well comprises a sidewall and a floor at a first depth, wherein each well defines an isolated volume at a first depth within the image icon layer;
a first zone of image icons, the first zone of image icons comprising a first predefined subset of the plurality of retaining structures, wherein the wells comprising the first predefined subset of the plurality of retaining structures are at least partially filled with cured light-curable pigmented material of a first color such that, for each well of the first predefined subset of the plurality of retaining structures, the cured light-curable pigmented material of the first color covers each floor of each well; and
a second zone of image icons, the second zone of image icons comprising a second predefined subset of the plurality of retaining structures, wherein the wells comprising the second predefined subset of the plurality of retaining structures are at least partially filled with a cured light-curable pigmented material of a second color, wherein the second color contrasts with the first color, such that, for each well of the second predefined subset of the plurality of retaining structures, the cured light-curable pigmented material of the second color covers each floor of each well,
wherein the first zone of image icons and the second zone of image icons share a boundary,
wherein, when viewed through the planar array of refractive focusing elements, the first zone of image icons and the second zone of image icons present a synthetic image comprising a sharp transition between the first color and the second color,
wherein each refractive focusing element of the planar array of refractive focusing elements has a footprint,
wherein the first zone of image icons covers a first plurality of footprints and the second zone of image icons covers a second plurality of footprints, and
wherein portions of the isolated volumes of the retaining structures of the first predefined subset of the plurality of retaining structures distant to the planar array of refractive focusing elements contain cured light-curable pigmented material of the second color layered on the cured light-curable pigmented material of the first color.