US5715316A — Optical image encryption and decryption processes

Claim 1

Independent Claim 177 words

A method for encrypting and decrypting graphic displays comprising: creating a spatially encrypted graphic display by dividing an original graphic display into a plurality of graphic display fragment zones through application of one or more image alteration methods to said original graphic display and by positioning said fragment zones into a substantially planar display in a substantially single plane; and providing a decrypting optic having a plurality of light multiplexing zones; and decrypting said spatially encrypted graphic display to visually reconstruct said original graphic display by viewing said spatially encrypted graphic display through said decrypting optic, wherein said decrypting optic substantially reverses the encryption by optically superimposing the graphic display fragment zones to create an overlap zone to which each of said graphic display fragment zones contribute at least one set of image fragments, and wherein said decrypting optic comprises a layer of substantially transparent substrate material having a surface relief pattern formed therein for directing light passing through said optic in a plurality of directions, and wherein said surface pattern comprises a plurality of prismatic zones.

Claim 2

Independent Claim 177 words

A method for encrypting and decrypting graphic displays comprising: creating a spatially encrypted graphic display by dividing an original graphic display into a plurality of graphic display fragment zones through application of one or more image alteration methods to said original graphic display and by positioning said fragment zones into a substantially planar display in a substantially single plane; and providing a decrypting optic having a plurality of light multiplexing zones; and decrypting said spatially encrypted graphic display to visually reconstruct said original graphic display by viewing said spatially encrypted graphic display through said decrypting optic, wherein said decrypting optic substantially reverses the encryption by optically superimposing the graphic display fragment zones to create an overlap zone to which each of said graphic display fragment zones contribute at least one set of image fragments, and wherein said decrypting optic comprises a layer of substantially transparent substrate material having a surface relief pattern formed therein for directing light passing through said optic in a plurality of directions, and wherein said surface pattern comprises a plurality of prismatic zones.

Claim 3

Independent Claim 192 words

A method for encrypting and decrypting graphic displays comprising the steps of: selecting an optical function for a decrypting optic; creating a spatially encrypted graphic display by dividing an original graphic display into a plurality of graphic display fragment zones by altering the original graphic display in a manner dictated by said optical function and by positioning said fragment zones into a planar display wherein said fragment zones are placed in a substantially single plane; and providing a decrypting optic having a plurality of light multiplexing zones; and decrypting said spatially encrypted graphic display to visually reconstruct said original graphic display by viewing the encrypted graphic display through said decrypting optic, wherein said decrypting optic substantially reverses the encryption by optically superimposing the graphic display fragment zones to create an overlap zone to which each of said graphic display fragment zones contribute at least one set of image fragments, and wherein said decrypting optic comprises a layer of substantially transparent substrate material having a surface relief pattern formed therein for directing light passing through said optic in a plurality of directions, and wherein said surface pattern comprises a plurality of prismatic zones.

Claim 4

Independent Claim 192 words

A method for encrypting and decrypting graphic displays comprising the steps of: selecting an optical function for a decrypting optic; creating a spatially encrypted graphic display by dividing an original graphic display into a plurality of graphic display fragment zones by altering the original graphic display in a manner dictated by said optical function and by positioning said fragment zones into a planar display wherein said fragment zones are placed in a substantially single plane; and providing a decrypting optic having a plurality of light multiplexing zones; and decrypting said spatially encrypted graphic display to visually reconstruct said original graphic display by viewing the encrypted graphic display through said decrypting optic, wherein said decrypting optic substantially reverses the encryption by optically superimposing the graphic display fragment zones to create an overlap zone to which each of said graphic display fragment zones contribute at least one set of image fragments, and wherein said decrypting optic comprises a layer of substantially transparent substrate material having a surface relief pattern formed therein for directing light passing through said optic in a plurality of directions, and wherein said surface pattern comprises a plurality of prismatic zones.

Claim 5

Independent Claim 191 words

A method for encrypting and decrypting graphic displays comprising the steps of: selecting an optical function for a decrypting optic; creating a spatially encrypted graphic display by operating on an original graphic display with said decrypting optic to divide said original graphic display into a plurality of graphic display fragment zones and by positioning said fragment zones into a substantially planar display wherein said fragment zones are placed in a substantially single plane; and providing a decrypting optic having a plurality of light multiplexing zones; and decrypting said spatially encrypted graphic display to visually reconstruct said original graphic display by viewing said spatially encrypted graphic display through said decrypting optic, wherein said decrypting optic substantially reverses the encryption by optically superimposing the graphic display fragment zones to create an overlap zone to which each of said graphic display fragment zones contribute at least one set of image fragments, and wherein said decrypting optic comprises a layer of substantially transparent substrate material having a surface relief pattern formed therein for directing light passing through said optic in a plurality of directions, and wherein said surface pattern comprises a plurality of prismatic zones.

Claim 6

Independent Claim 191 words

A method for encrypting and decrypting graphic displays comprising the steps of: selecting an optical function for a decrypting optic; creating a spatially encrypted graphic display by operating on an original graphic display with said decrypting optic to divide said original graphic display into a plurality of graphic display fragment zones and by positioning said fragment zones into a substantially planar display wherein said fragment zones are placed in a substantially single plane; and providing a decrypting optic having a plurality of light multiplexing zones; and decrypting said spatially encrypted graphic display to visually reconstruct said original graphic display by viewing said spatially encrypted graphic display through said decrypting optic, wherein said decrypting optic substantially reverses the encryption by optically superimposing the graphic display fragment zones to create an overlap zone to which each of said graphic display fragment zones contribute at least one set of image fragments, and wherein said decrypting optic comprises a layer of substantially transparent substrate material having a surface relief pattern formed therein for directing light passing through said optic in a plurality of directions, and wherein said surface pattern comprises a plurality of prismatic zones.

Claim 7

Independent Claim 208 words

A method for encrypting and decrypting graphic displays comprising the steps of: creating a spatially encrypted graphic display by dividing an original graphic display into a plurality of graphic display fragment zones through application of one or more image alteration methods to said original graphic display, the alteration methods being selected from the group consisting of geometric distortion, segmentation and displacement of image components, chromatic distortion, and chromatic segmentation and by positioning said fragment zones into a substantially planar display wherein said fragment zones are placed in a substantially single plane; providing a decrypting optic having a plurality of light multiplexing zones; and decrypting said spatially encrypted graphic display to visually reconstruct said original graphic display by viewing said spatially encrypted graphic display through said decrypting optic, wherein said decrypting optic substantially reverses the encryption by optically superimposing the graphic display fragment zones to create an overlap zone to which each of said graphic display fragment zones contribute at least one set of image fragments, and wherein said decrypting optic comprises a layer of substantially transparent substrate material having a surface relief pattern formed therein for directing light passing through said optic in a plurality of directions, and wherein said surface pattern comprises a plurality of prismatic zones.

Claim 8

Independent Claim 208 words

A method for encrypting and decrypting graphic displays comprising the steps of: creating a spatially encrypted graphic display by dividing an original graphic display into a plurality of graphic display fragment zones through application of one or more image alteration methods to said original graphic display, the alteration methods being selected from the group consisting of geometric distortion, segmentation and displacement of image components, chromatic distortion, and chromatic segmentation and by positioning said fragment zones into a substantially planar display wherein said fragment zones are placed in a substantially single plane; providing a decrypting optic having a plurality of light multiplexing zones; and decrypting said spatially encrypted graphic display to visually reconstruct said original graphic display by viewing said spatially encrypted graphic display through said decrypting optic, wherein said decrypting optic substantially reverses the encryption by optically superimposing the graphic display fragment zones to create an overlap zone to which each of said graphic display fragment zones contribute at least one set of image fragments, and wherein said decrypting optic comprises a layer of substantially transparent substrate material having a surface relief pattern formed therein for directing light passing through said optic in a plurality of directions, and wherein said surface pattern comprises a plurality of prismatic zones.

Claim 9

Independent Claim 28 words

The method of claims 1, 2, 3 or 4 in which said decrypting optic is a compound optic consisting of two or more optical elements arranged in series.

Claim 10

Independent Claim 23 words

The method of claims 1, 2 or 3 in which said decrypting optic incorporates both a multiplexing defraction pattern and a holographic image.

Claim 11

Dependent Claim 67 words

The method of claim 4, said method combining two or more visual patterns into said encrypted graphic display such that each of said patterns is reconstructable by different rotational orientations of said decrypting optic, by different separation distances between the spatially encrypted graphic display and said decrypting optic, or by providing said decrypting optic with a plurality of zones wherein said zones may have different optical functions.

Claim 12

Independent Claim 26 words

The method of claims 1, 2, 3 or 4 in which said spatially encrypted graphic display and said decrypting optic are incorporated into a bottle label.

Claim 13

Independent Claim 18 words

The method of claims 1, 2, 3 or 4 wherein the method is applied to promotional gaming applications.

Claim 14

Independent Claim 17 words

The method of claims 1, 2, 3 or 4 wherein said decrypting optic is defractive in nature.

Claim 15

Dependent Claim 36 words

The method of claim 10 wherein said diffractive optic has a groove design which is optimized to substantially equalize optical energy distribution into selected diffractive orders and to substantially suppress the presence of other diffractive orders.

Claim 16

Independent Claim 17 words

The method of claims 1, 2, 3 or 4 wherein said decrypting optic is refractive in nature.

Claim 17

Independent Claim 20 words

The method of claims 1, 2, 3 or 4 wherein said decrypting optic is both refractive and defractive in nature.

Claim 18

Independent Claim 21 words

The method of claims 1, 2, 3 or 4 wherein the method is applied to document security or document verification applications.

Claim 19

Dependent Claim 49 words

The method of claim 4 wherein said one or more image alteration methods include a method of dividing the original graphic display into a plurality of graphic display fragment zones by dividing the original graphic display into geometric elements and separating the geometric elements into two or more zones.

Claim 20

Dependent Claim 56 words

The method of claim 4 wherein said one or more image alteration methods include a method of dividing the original graphic display into a plurality of graphic display fragment zones by dividing the original graphic display along false lines of continuity to form image fragments and spacially separating the image fragments into two or more zones.

Claim 21

Dependent Claim 50 words

The method of claim 4 wherein said one or more image alteration methods include a method of dividing the original graphic display into a plurality of graphic display fragment zones by dividing a background of the original graphic display into fragments which can be decrypted to form different reconstructed images.

Claim 22

Dependent Claim 65 words

The method of claim 4 wherein said one or more image alteration methods include a method of dividing the original graphic display into a plurality of graphic display fragment zones by creating a plurality of image fragments comprised of pixels which are turned on or off and spacially separating the image fragments such that the encrypted image forms a continuous pattern of seemingly random pixels.

Claim 23

Dependent Claim 71 words

The method of claim 4 wherein said one or more image alterations methods include a method of dividing the original the graphic display into a plurality of graphic display fragment zones by dividing the original graphic display into a plurality of maze patterns, wherein each maze pattern is printed in a particular color and wherein when the graphic display fragment zones are overlapped, certain colors add while other colors cancel out.

Claim 24

Dependent Claim 65 words

The method of claim 4 wherein said one or more image alterations methods include a method of dividing the original graphic display into a plurality of graphic display fragment zones by dividing the original graphic display into interlocking shapes and spacially separating sets of the interlocking shapes into fragment zones such that when the fragment zones are optically superimposed, the encrypted graphic display is decrypted.

Claim 25

Dependent Claim 70 words

The method of claim 4 wherein said one or more image alterations methods include a method of dividing the original graphic display into a plurality of graphic display fragment zones by superimposing the original graphic display onto itself but spacially offset by a predetermined amount so that the displays are not in perfect alignment and wherein the decrypting optic decrypts the encrypted graphic display by optically realigning the graphic displays.

Claim 26

Dependent Claim 17 words

The method of claim 4 wherein said one or more image alteration methods include additive color processing.

Claim 27

Dependent Claim 37 words

The method of claim 4 wherein said one or more image alteration methods include controlled overlap of various encrypted image components to create the appearance of different tones in said visual reconstruction of said original graphic display.

Claim 28

Dependent Claim 29 words

The method of claim 4 wherein said one or more alteration methods include chromatic dispersion to produce or alter color in said visual reconstruction of said original graphic display.

Claim 29

Dependent Claim 14 words

The method of claim 4 wherein said decrypting optic is of substantially radial design.

Claim 30

Dependent Claim 19 words

The method of claim 4 wherein said decrypting optic incorporates two or more zones each having different multiplexing functions.

Annuity Stage	Window Opens	Payment Deadline	Surcharge Period Until	Estimated Fee	Status
3.5 Years (Year 4)	2001-02-02	2001-08-04	2002-02-03	$2000.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8)	2005-02-02	2005-08-04	2006-02-03	$3760.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12)	2009-02-02	2009-08-04	2010-02-03	$7700.00	Window Closed / Lapsed

Optical image encryption and decryption processes

Abstract

Inventors

Bibliographic Details

Claims Analysis

References Cited (Backward Citations)

USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows

Assigned Categories & Tags

Assign Category Tag