US6404464B1 — Method and system for producing color images with…

Claim 1

Independent Claim 207 words

A polarization-encoded composite image structure for stereoscopically viewing 3-D objects graphically represented therein, said polarization-encoded composite image structure comprising: (1) a substrate having radiation absorbing characteristics; (2) a left-perspective image structure formed on said substrate, and containing (i) spectrally-tuned microflakes, each being made from left-handed circularly polarizing (LHCP) material having left-handed circularly-polarizing reflection characteristics over a preselected band of the electromagnetic spectrum in order to produce additive-primary color effects within the vision system of a human viewer, and (ii) broadband microflakes made from LHCP material having left-handed circularly-polarizing reflection characteristics over a substantial portion of the visible-band of the electromagnetic spectrum in order to produce super-white color effects within the vision system of a human viewer; and (3) a right-perspective image structure formed on said substrate and containing (i) spectrally-tuned microflakes, each being made from right-handed circularly polarizing (RHCP) material having right-handed circularly-polarizing reflection characteristics over a preselected band of the electromagnetic spectrum in order to produce additive-primary color effects within the vision system of said human viewer, and (ii) broadband microflakes made from RHCP material having right-handed circularly-polarizing reflection characteristics over a substantial portion of the visible-band of the electromagnetic spectrum in order to produce super-white color effects within the vision system of said human viewer.

Claim 2

Dependent Claim 207 words

A polarization-encoded composite image structure for stereoscopically viewing 3-D objects graphically represented therein, said polarization-encoded composite image structure comprising: (1) a substrate having radiation absorbing characteristics; (2) a left-perspective image structure formed on said substrate, and containing (i) spectrally-tuned microflakes, each being made from left-handed circularly polarizing (LHCP) material having left-handed circularly-polarizing reflection characteristics over a preselected band of the electromagnetic spectrum in order to produce additive-primary color effects within the vision system of a human viewer, and (ii) broadband microflakes made from LHCP material having left-handed circularly-polarizing reflection characteristics over a substantial portion of the visible-band of the electromagnetic spectrum in order to produce super-white color effects within the vision system of a human viewer; and (3) a right-perspective image structure formed on said substrate and containing (i) spectrally-tuned microflakes, each being made from right-handed circularly polarizing (RHCP) material having right-handed circularly-polarizing reflection characteristics over a preselected band of the electromagnetic spectrum in order to produce additive-primary color effects within the vision system of said human viewer, and (ii) broadband microflakes made from RHCP material having right-handed circularly-polarizing reflection characteristics over a substantial portion of the visible-band of the electromagnetic spectrum in order to produce super-white color effects within the vision system of said human viewer.

Claim 3

Dependent Claim 42 words

The polarization-encoded composite image structure of claim 1 , wherein each said spectrally-tuned microflake has an upper surface and a lower surface, and the polarization and reflection characteristics of said spectrally-tuned microflake are substantially the same over said upper and lower surfaces.

Claim 4

Dependent Claim 42 words

The polarization-encoded composite image structure of claim 2 , wherein each said broadband microflake has an upper surface and a lower surface, and the polarization and reflection characteristics of said broadband microflake are substantially the same over said upper and lower surfaces.

Claim 5

Dependent Claim 36 words

The polarization-encoded composite image structure of claim 3 , wherein said spectrally-tuned microflakes are made from a cholesteric liquid crystal (CLC) material, and wherein said broad-band microflakes are made from a cholesteric liquid crystal (CLC) material.

Claim 6

Dependent Claim 49 words

The polarization-encoded composite image structure of claim 2 , wherein each said spectrally-tuned microflake comprises first and second layers of cholesteric liquid crystal CLC material laminated together, wherein said upper surface is physically associated with said first layer and said lower surface is physically associated with said second layer.

Claim 7

Dependent Claim 83 words

The polarization-encoded composite image structure of claim 1 , wherein said spectrally-tuned microflakes in said left and right perspective image structures are made from film material having a cholesterically ordered liquid crystal molecules having a substantially constant pitch across the thickness of each said spectrally-tuned microflake, and said broadband microflakes in said left and right perspective image structures are made from film material having a cholesterically ordered liquid crystal molecules having a substantially non-linear pitch across the thickness of each said broadband microflake.

Claim 8

Dependent Claim 42 words

The polarization-encoded composite image structure of claim 1 , wherein said prespecified additive-primary color effect produced from said left and right perspective image structures is either the color red, green or blue or any arbitrary color made composed from any combination thereof.

Claim 9

Dependent Claim 26 words

The polarization-encoded composite image structure of claim 7 , wherein said super-white color effect produced from said left and right perspective images is Magnesium-oxide like white.

Claim 10

Dependent Claim 51 words

The polarization-encoded composite image structure of claim 1 , in combination with a pair of circularly-polarizing spectacles comprising: a LHCP lens for transmitting LHCP light therethrough over a substantial portion of the visible band; and a RHCP lens for transmitting RHCP light therethrough over a substantial portion of the visible band.

Claim 11

Dependent Claim 79 words

The computer-controlled system of claim 1 , wherein said LHCP-type microflakes comprise: LHCP spectrally-tuned microflakes, each having an upper surface and a lower surface, and the polarization and reflection characteristics of said LHCP spectrally-tuned microflake being substantially the same over said upper and lower surfaces; and LHCP broad-band microflakes, each having an upper surface and a lower surface, and the polarization and reflection characteristics of said LHCP broadband microflake being substantially the same over said upper and lower surfaces.

Claim 12

Dependent Claim 78 words

The computer-controlled system of claim 10 , wherein said RHCP-type microflakes comprise: RHCP spectrally-tuned microflakes, each having an upper surface and a lower surface, and the polarization and reflection characteristics of said RHCP spectrally-tuned microflake being substantially the same over said upper and lower surfaces; and RHCP broad-band microflakes, each having an upper surface and a lower surface, and the polarization and reflection characteristics of said broadband microflake being substantially the same over said upper and lower surfaces.

Claim 13

Dependent Claim 96 words

The computer-controlled system of claim 11 , wherein each said LHCP spectrally-tuned microflake and said LHCP broadband microflake comprises first and second layers of LHCP-type CLC material laminated together, wherein said upper surface is physically associated with said first layer and said lower surface is physically associated with said second layer; and wherein each said RHCP spectrally-tuned microflake and said RHCP broadband microflake comprises first and second layers of RHCP-type CLC material laminated together, wherein said upper surface is physically associated with said first layer and said lower surface is physically associated with said second layer.

Claim 14

Dependent Claim 43 words

The computer-controlled system of claim 11 , wherein said LHCP and RHCP spectrally-tuned microflakes produce prespecified additive-primary color effects within the vision system of the viewer, and LHCP and RHCP broadband microflakes produce super-white color effects within the vision system of said viewer.

Claim 15

Independent Claim 126 words

A method of producing a polarization-encoded composite image for stereoscopically viewing 3-D objects graphically represented therein, said method comprising the steps of: (a) forming a LHCP-encoded left-perspective image on a radiation absorbing substrate using coloring media containing (i) spectrally-tuned LHCP-type microflakes made from a LHCP-type cholesteric liquid crystal (CLC) material and having symmetrical polarization and reflection characteristics, and broadband LHCP-type microflakes made from a LHCP-type cholesteric liquid crystal (CLC) material and having symmetrical polarization and reflection characteristics; and (b) forming a RHCP-encoded right perspective image on said radiation absorbing substrate using coloring media containing RHCP-type microflakes having symmetrical polarization and reflection characteristics, whereby a polarization-encoded composite image having high brightness and color uniformity characteristics is produced, for high-quality stereoscopic viewing of 3-D objects graphically represented therein.

Claim 16

Independent Claim 126 words

A method of producing a polarization-encoded composite image for stereoscopically viewing 3-D objects graphically represented therein, said method comprising the steps of: (a) forming a LHCP-encoded left-perspective image on a radiation absorbing substrate using coloring media containing (i) spectrally-tuned LHCP-type microflakes made from a LHCP-type cholesteric liquid crystal (CLC) material and having symmetrical polarization and reflection characteristics, and broadband LHCP-type microflakes made from a LHCP-type cholesteric liquid crystal (CLC) material and having symmetrical polarization and reflection characteristics; and (b) forming a RHCP-encoded right perspective image on said radiation absorbing substrate using coloring media containing RHCP-type microflakes having symmetrical polarization and reflection characteristics, whereby a polarization-encoded composite image having high brightness and color uniformity characteristics is produced, for high-quality stereoscopic viewing of 3-D objects graphically represented therein.

Claim 17

Dependent Claim 64 words

The method of claim 14 , wherein step (b) comprises forming a RHCP-encoded left-perspective image on a radiation absorbing substrate using coloring media containing (i) spectrally-tuned RHCP-type microflakes made from a RHCP-type cholesteric liquid crystal (CLC) material and having symmetrical polarization and reflection characteristics, and broadband RHCP-type microflakes made from a RHCP-type cholesteric liquid crystal (CLC) material and having symmetrical polarization and reflection characteristics.

Claim 18

Dependent Claim 167 words

A computer-controlled system for producing polarization-encoded composite images for stereoscopically viewing 3-D objects graphically represented therein, said system comprising: a first plurality of computer-controlled applicators for forming LHCP-encoded left-perspective images on radiation absorbing substrates using coloring media containing (i) spectrally-tuned LHCP-type microflakes made from a LHCP-type cholesteric liquid crystal (CLC) material and having symmetrical polarization and reflection characteristics, and (ii) broadband LHCP-type microflakes made from a LHCP-type cholesteric liquid crystal (CLC) material and having symmetrical polarization and reflection characteristics; and a second plurality of computer-controlled applicators are provided for forming RHCP-encoded right perspective images thereon using coloring media containing (i) spectrally-tuned RHCP-type microflakes made from a RHCP-type cholesteric liquid crystal material and having symmetrical polarization and reflection characteristics, and (ii) broadband RHCP-type microflakes made from a RHCP-type cholesteric liquid crystal (CLC) material and having symmetrical polarization and reflection characteristics, whereby polarization-encoded composite images can be formed on said radiation absorbing substrates with high brightness and color uniformity for high-quality stereoscopic viewing of 3-D objects graphically represented therein.

Claim 19

Dependent Claim 167 words

A computer-controlled system for producing polarization-encoded composite images for stereoscopically viewing 3-D objects graphically represented therein, said system comprising: a first plurality of computer-controlled applicators for forming LHCP-encoded left-perspective images on radiation absorbing substrates using coloring media containing (i) spectrally-tuned LHCP-type microflakes made from a LHCP-type cholesteric liquid crystal (CLC) material and having symmetrical polarization and reflection characteristics, and (ii) broadband LHCP-type microflakes made from a LHCP-type cholesteric liquid crystal (CLC) material and having symmetrical polarization and reflection characteristics; and a second plurality of computer-controlled applicators are provided for forming RHCP-encoded right perspective images thereon using coloring media containing (i) spectrally-tuned RHCP-type microflakes made from a RHCP-type cholesteric liquid crystal material and having symmetrical polarization and reflection characteristics, and (ii) broadband RHCP-type microflakes made from a RHCP-type cholesteric liquid crystal (CLC) material and having symmetrical polarization and reflection characteristics, whereby polarization-encoded composite images can be formed on said radiation absorbing substrates with high brightness and color uniformity for high-quality stereoscopic viewing of 3-D objects graphically represented therein.

Claim 20

Dependent Claim 55 words

The computer-controlled system of claim 16 , in combination with a pair of circularly-polarizing spectacles comprising: a LHCP lens for transmitting LHCP light through said LHCP lens over a substantial portion of the visible band; and a RHCP lens for transmitting RHCP light through said RHCP lens over a substantial portion of the visible band.

Claim 21

Independent Claim 227 words

A system for producing a polarization-encoded composite image for stereoscopically viewing 3-D objects graphically represented therein, said system comprising: supply means for supplying a sheet of substrate material having radiation absorbing characteristics; first image forming means for forming a first-perspective image formed on said sheet, wherein said first-perspective image contains (i) spectrally-tuned microflakes, each being made from left-handed circularly polarizing (LHCP) material having left-handed circularly-polarizing reflection characteristics over a preselected band of the electromagnetic spectrum in order to produce additive-primary color effects within the vision system of a human viewer, and (ii) broadband microflakes made from LHCP material having left-handed circularly-polarizing reflection characteristics over a substantial portion of the visible-band of the electromagnetic spectrum in order to produce super-white color effects within the vision system of a human viewer; and second image forming means for forming a second-perspective image formed on said substrate, wherein said second-perspective image contains (i) spectrally-tuned microflakes, each being made from right-handed circularly polarizing (RHCP) material having right-handed circularly-polarizing reflection characteristics over a preselected band of the electromagnetic spectrum in order to produce additive-primary color effects within the vision system of said human viewer, and (ii) broadband microflakes made from RHCP material having right-handed circularly-polarizing reflection characteristics over a substantial portion of the visible-band of the electromagnetic spectrum in order to produce super-white color effects within the vision system of said human viewer.

Claim 22

Independent Claim 227 words

A system for producing a polarization-encoded composite image for stereoscopically viewing 3-D objects graphically represented therein, said system comprising: supply means for supplying a sheet of substrate material having radiation absorbing characteristics; first image forming means for forming a first-perspective image formed on said sheet, wherein said first-perspective image contains (i) spectrally-tuned microflakes, each being made from left-handed circularly polarizing (LHCP) material having left-handed circularly-polarizing reflection characteristics over a preselected band of the electromagnetic spectrum in order to produce additive-primary color effects within the vision system of a human viewer, and (ii) broadband microflakes made from LHCP material having left-handed circularly-polarizing reflection characteristics over a substantial portion of the visible-band of the electromagnetic spectrum in order to produce super-white color effects within the vision system of a human viewer; and second image forming means for forming a second-perspective image formed on said substrate, wherein said second-perspective image contains (i) spectrally-tuned microflakes, each being made from right-handed circularly polarizing (RHCP) material having right-handed circularly-polarizing reflection characteristics over a preselected band of the electromagnetic spectrum in order to produce additive-primary color effects within the vision system of said human viewer, and (ii) broadband microflakes made from RHCP material having right-handed circularly-polarizing reflection characteristics over a substantial portion of the visible-band of the electromagnetic spectrum in order to produce super-white color effects within the vision system of said human viewer.

Claim 23

Dependent Claim 39 words

The system of claim 18 , wherein each said spectrally-tuned microflake has an upper surface and a lower surface, and the polarization and reflection characteristics of said spectrally-tuned microflake are substantially the same over said upper and lower surfaces.

Claim 24

Dependent Claim 39 words

The system of claim 18 , wherein each said broadband microflake has an upper surface and a lower surface, and the polarization and reflection characteristics of said broadband microflake are substantially the same over said upper and lower surfaces.

Claim 25

Dependent Claim 24 words

The system of claim 20 , wherein said spectrally-tuned microflakes are made from a cholesteric liquid crystal (CLC) material cholesteric liquid crystal (CLC) material.

Claim 26

Dependent Claim 46 words

The system of claim 18 , wherein each said spectrally-tuned microflake comprises first and second layers of cholesteric liquid crystal CLC material laminated together, wherein said upper surface is physically associated with said first layer and said lower surface is physically associated with said second layer.

Claim 27

Dependent Claim 78 words

The system of claim 18 , wherein said spectrally-tuned microflakes in said left and right perspective image are made from film material having a cholesterically ordered liquid crystal molecules having a substantially constant pitch across the thickness of each said spectrally-tuned microflake, and said broadband microflakes in said left and right perspective images are made from film material having a cholesterically ordered liquid crystal molecules having a substantially non-linear pitch across the thickness of each said broadband microflake.

Claim 28

Dependent Claim 38 words

The system of claim 18 , wherein said prespecified additive-primary color effect produced from said left and right perspective images is either the color red, green or blue or any arbitrary color made composed from any combination thereof.

Claim 29

Dependent Claim 23 words

The system of claim 24 , wherein said super-white color effect produced from said left and right perspective images is Magnesium-oxide like white.

Claim 30

Dependent Claim 48 words

The system of claim 18 , in combination with a pair of circularly-polarizing spectacles comprising: a LHCP lens for transmitting LHCP light therethrough over a substantial portion of the visible band; and a RHCP lens for transmitting RHCP light therethrough over a substantial portion of the visible band.

Claim 31

Independent Claim 116 words

A method of producing a polarization-encoded composite image, comprising the steps of: (a) forming a LHCP-encoded left-perspective image on a radiation absorbing substrate using coloring media containing (i) spectrally-tuned LHCP-type microflakes made from a LHCP-type cholesteric liquid crystal (CLC) material and having symmetrical polarization and reflection characteristics, and broadband LHCP-type microflakes made from a LHCP-type cholesteric liquid crystal (CLC) material and having symmetrical polarization and reflection characteristics; and (b) forming a RHCP-encoded right perspective image on said radiation absorbing substrate using coloring media containing RHCP-type microflakes having symmetrical polarization and reflection characteristics, whereby a polarization-encoded composite image having high brightness and color uniformity characteristics is produced, for high-quality stereoscopic viewing of 3-D objects graphically represented therein.

Claim 32

Independent Claim 116 words

A method of producing a polarization-encoded composite image, comprising the steps of: (a) forming a LHCP-encoded left-perspective image on a radiation absorbing substrate using coloring media containing (i) spectrally-tuned LHCP-type microflakes made from a LHCP-type cholesteric liquid crystal (CLC) material and having symmetrical polarization and reflection characteristics, and broadband LHCP-type microflakes made from a LHCP-type cholesteric liquid crystal (CLC) material and having symmetrical polarization and reflection characteristics; and (b) forming a RHCP-encoded right perspective image on said radiation absorbing substrate using coloring media containing RHCP-type microflakes having symmetrical polarization and reflection characteristics, whereby a polarization-encoded composite image having high brightness and color uniformity characteristics is produced, for high-quality stereoscopic viewing of 3-D objects graphically represented therein.

Claim 33

Dependent Claim 64 words

The method of claim 27 , wherein step (b) comprises forming a RHCP-encoded left-perspective image on a radiation absorbing substrate using coloring media containing (i) spectrally-tuned RHCP-type microflakes made from a RHCP-type cholesteric liquid crystal (CLC) material and having symmetrical polarization and reflection characteristics, and broadband RHCP-type microflakes made from a RHCP-type cholesteric liquid crystal (CLC) material and having symmetrical polarization and reflection characteristics.

Annuity Stage	Window Opens	Payment Deadline	Surcharge Period Until	Estimated Fee	Status
3.5 Years (Year 4)	2005-06-10	2005-12-10	2006-06-11	$2000.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8)	2009-06-10	2009-12-10	2010-06-11	$3760.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12)	2013-06-10	2013-12-10	2014-06-11	$7700.00	Window Closed / Lapsed

Method and system for producing color images with improved brightness and color characteristics on radiation absorptive surfaces

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