Authenticatable Object Incorporating An Image That Appears To Float Above A Plane

Abstract

A method is provided for producing an authenticatable object that includes providing a decoder lens having a lens pattern and providing an array of image elements having an image pattern that corresponds to the lens pattern. The decoder lens is disposed a substantially uniform distance from the array of image elements such that the decoder lens reveals a visible image that includes at least a portion of the image elements, the image elements being adjusted in size by a zoom factor so that the visible image appears to float above a given plane when viewed at different angles through the decoder lens. Alternatively, the image elements may be adjusted in size by a zoom factor and selected image elements may be flipped so that the visible image appears to float above a given plane in different directions when viewed at different angles through the decoder lens.

We claim: 
     
         1 . A method of producing an authenticatable object, comprising:
 providing a decoder lens having a lens pattern;   providing an array of image elements having an image pattern that corresponds to the lens pattern; and   disposing the decoder lens a substantially uniform distance from the array of image elements such that the decoder lens reveals a visible image that includes at least a portion of the image elements, the image elements being adjusted in size by a zoom factor so that the visible image appears to float above a given plane when viewed at different angles through the decoder lens.   
     
     
         2 . The method of producing the authenticatable object according to  claim 1 , wherein the decoder lens defines a fly's eye lens that includes a two dimensional array of lens elements having a predetermined lens element shape. 
     
     
         3 . The method of producing the authenticatable object according to  claim 2 , wherein the image elements are shaped to correspond to the predetermined lens element shape. 
     
     
         4 . The method of producing the authenticatable object according to  claim 1 , wherein the image elements are subdivided into a number of subelements to form a subelement pattern. 
     
     
         5 . The method of producing the authenticatable object according to  claim 4 , wherein at least a portion of the subelements have a geometric shape selected from a group consisting of a polygon, an ellipse, a partial ellipse, a circle, and a partial circle. 
     
     
         6 . The method of producing the authenticatable object according to  claim 1 , wherein providing the array of image elements includes printing the image elements on a surface of the authenticatable object and performing at least one of embossing, debossing, molding, or altering a surface geometry of the authenticatable object. 
     
     
         7 . The method of producing the authenticatable object according to  claim 1 , wherein the zoom factor includes a reduction in size. 
     
     
         8 . The method of producing the authenticatable object according to  claim 1 , wherein the zoom factor is adjusted to control an amount the visible image appears to float above the given plane. 
     
     
         9 . The method of producing the authenticatable object according to  claim 1 , wherein the image elements correspond to at least two different images. 
     
     
         10 . The method of producing the authenticatable object according to  claim 9 , wherein a size of the image elements that correspond to the at least two different images is adjusted by a different zoom factor before providing the array of image elements, the different zoom factors causing the different images to float at different depths in order to provide three dimensional effects. 
     
     
         11 . A method of producing an authenticatable object, comprising:
 providing a decoder lens having a lens pattern;   providing an array of image elements having an image pattern that corresponds to the lens pattern; and   disposing the decoder lens a substantially uniform distance from the array of image elements such that the decoder lens reveals a visible image that includes at least a portion of the image elements, the image elements being adjusted in size by a zoom factor and wherein selected image elements are flipped so that the visible image appears to float above a given plane in different directions when viewed at different angles through the decoder lens.   
     
     
         12 . The method of producing the authenticatable object according to  claim 11 , wherein the decoder lens defines a fly's eye lens that includes a two dimensional array of lens elements having a predetermined lens element shape. 
     
     
         13 . The method of producing the authenticatable object according to  claim 12 , wherein the image elements are shaped to correspond to the predetermined lens element shape. 
     
     
         14 . The method of producing the authenticatable object according to  claim 11 , wherein the image elements are subdivided into a number of subelements to form a subelement pattern. 
     
     
         15 . The method of producing the authenticatable object according to  claim 14 , wherein at least a portion of the subelements have a geometric shape selected from a group consisting of a polygon, an ellipse, a partial ellipse, a circle, and a partial circle. 
     
     
         16 . The method of producing the authenticatable object according to  claim 11 , wherein providing the array of image elements includes printing the image elements on a surface of the authenticatable object and performing at least one of embossing, debossing, molding, or altering a surface geometry of the authenticatable object. 
     
     
         17 . The method of producing the authenticatable object according to  claim 11 , wherein the zoom factor includes a reduction in size. 
     
     
         18 . The method of producing the authenticatable object according to  claim 11 , wherein the zoom factor is adjusted to control an amount the visible image appears to float above the given plane. 
     
     
         19 . The method of producing the authenticatable object according to  claim 11 , wherein the image elements correspond to at least two different images. 
     
     
         20 . The method of producing the authenticatable object according to  claim 19 , wherein a size of the image elements that correspond to the at least two different images is adjusted by a different zoom factor before providing the array of image elements, the different zoom factors causing the different images to float at different depths in order to provide three dimensional effects.