Generic optical matrices having pixels corresponding to color and sub-pixels corresponding to non-color effects, and associated methods

Abstract

Generic optical matrices may have pixels corresponding to color and sub-pixels corresponding to non-color effects. A generic optical matrix may include an array of pixels disposed on a substrate. The array may comprise first pixels corresponding to a first color and second pixels corresponding to a second color. The first and second pixels may be arranged in a motif such that individual ones of the first pixels are positioned adjacent to individual ones of the second pixels. Individual ones of the pixels may comprise sub-pixels. A given pixel may comprise a first and a second sub-pixel. The first sub-pixel may comprise an optical structure configured to reflect or transmit light meeting a first condition. The second sub-pixel may comprise an optical structure configured to reflect or transmit light meeting a second condition. The light reflected or transmitted by the sub-pixels may be the corresponding color of the given pixel.

1 . A generic optical matrix having pixels corresponding to color and sub-pixels corresponding to non-color effects, the generic optical matrix comprising:
 a substrate; and   an array of pixels disposed on the substrate, the array comprising first pixels corresponding to a first color and second pixels corresponding to a second color, the first color being different from the second color, the first pixels and second pixels being arranged in a motif such that individual ones of the first pixels are positioned adjacent to individual ones of the second pixels;   wherein individual ones of the pixels comprise sub-pixels, a given pixel comprising a first sub-pixel and a second sub-pixel, the first sub-pixel comprising a first optical structure configured such that light reflected or transmitted by the optical structure of the first sub-pixel is directed toward a left eye of a person observing the generic optical matrix from the first viewing distance, the second sub-pixel comprising a second optical structure configured such that light reflected or transmitted by the optical structure of the second sub-pixel is directed toward a right eye of the person observing the generic optical matrix from the first viewing distance, the light reflected or transmitted by the first sub-pixel and the second sub-pixel being the corresponding color of the given pixel.   
     
     
         2 . The generic optical matrix of  claim 1 , wherein the substrate includes one or more of photoresist, nickel plate, polyester film, silicon, polycarbonate film, or ultraviolet substrate. 
     
     
         3 . The generic optical matrix of  claim 1 , wherein:
 the array further comprises third pixels corresponding to a third color;   the third color is different from the first color and the second color; and   the third pixels are arranged in the motif such that individual ones of the third pixels are positioned adjacent to individual ones of the first pixels and individual ones of the second pixels.   
     
     
         4 . The generic optical matrix of  claim 3 , wherein:
 the array further comprises fourth pixels corresponding to a fourth color;   the fourth color is different from the first color, the second color, and the third color; and   the fourth pixels are arranged in the motif such that individual ones of the fourth pixels are positioned adjacent to individual ones of the first pixels, individual ones of the second pixels, and individual ones of the third pixels.   
     
     
         5 . The generic optical matrix of  claim 1 , wherein the given pixel comprises a third sub-pixel and a fourth sub-pixel, the third subpixel comprising a third optical structure configured such that light reflected or transmitted by the third optical structure of the third sub-pixel is directed toward a left eye of a person observing the generic optical matrix from a second viewing distance, the fourth sub-pixel comprising a fourth optical structure configured such that light reflected or transmitted by the fourth optical structure of the fourth sub-pixel is directed toward a right eye of the person observing the generic optical matrix from the second viewing distance, the light reflected or transmitted by the third sub-pixel and the fourth sub-pixel being the corresponding color of the given pixel. 
     
     
         6 . The generic optical matrix of  claim 1 , wherein a given optical structure includes one or more of a grating, a hologram, a kinegram, a Fresnel lens, a diffractive optically variable image device, a pixelgram, a holographic stereogram, a diffraction identification device, a dielectric structure, a volume hologram, an interference security image structure, a computer-generated hologram, or an electron-beam grating. 
     
     
         7 . The generic optical matrix of  claim 1 , wherein the array of pixels is arranged as one of a square lattice, a hexagonal lattice, triangular lattice, rectangular lattice, a random arrangement, or a pseudorandom arrangement. 
     
     
         8 . The generic optical matrix of  claim 1 , wherein individual ones of the pixels are shaped as a circle, a square, a rectangle, a line, an oval, a rounded square, or dots. 
     
     
         9 . The generic optical matrix of  claim 1 , wherein the optical matrix covers an area with one linear dimension being in the range of 0.01 microns to 90 inches. 
     
     
         10 . The generic optical matrix of  claim 1 , wherein the array of pixels has a resolution in the range of one pixel per inch to 500,000 pixels per inch. 
     
     
         11 . A generic optical matrix having pixels corresponding to color and sub-pixels corresponding to non-color effects, the generic optical matrix comprising:
 a substrate; and   an array of pixels disposed on the substrate, the array comprising first pixels corresponding to a first color and second pixels corresponding to a second color, the first color being different from the second color, the first pixels and second pixels being arranged in a motif such that individual ones of the first pixels are positioned adjacent to individual ones of the second pixels;   wherein individual ones of the pixels comprise sub-pixels, a given pixel comprising a first sub-pixel and a second sub-pixel, the first sub-pixel comprising a first optical structure configured such that light reflected or transmitted by the optical structure of the first sub-pixel has a first polarization, the second sub-pixel comprising a second optical structure configured such that light reflected or transmitted by the optical structure of the second sub-pixel has a second polarization, the first polarization being different from the second polarization, the light reflected or transmitted by the first sub-pixel and the second sub-pixel being the corresponding color of the given pixel.   
     
     
         12 . The generic optical matrix of  claim 11 , wherein the substrate includes one or more of photoresist, nickel plate, polyester film, silicon, polycarbonate film, or ultraviolet substrate. 
     
     
         13 . The generic optical matrix of  claim 11 , wherein:
 the array further comprises third pixels corresponding to a third color;   the third color is different from the first color and the second color; and   the third pixels are arranged in the motif such that individual ones of the third pixels are positioned adjacent to individual ones of the first pixels and individual ones of the second pixels.   
     
     
         14 . The generic optical matrix of  claim 13 , wherein:
 the array further comprises fourth pixels corresponding to a fourth color;   the fourth color is different from the first color, the second color, and the third color; and   the fourth pixels are arranged in the motif such that individual ones of the fourth pixels are positioned adjacent to individual ones of the first pixels, individual ones of the second pixels, and individual ones of the third pixels.   
     
     
         15 . The generic optical matrix of  claim 11 , wherein a given optical structure includes one or more of a grating, a hologram, a kinegram, a Fresnel lens, a diffractive optically variable image device, a pixelgram, a holographic stereogram, a diffraction identification device, a dielectric structure, a volume hologram, an interference security image structure, a computer-generated hologram, or an electron-beam grating. 
     
     
         16 . The generic optical matrix of  claim 11 , wherein one or more of:
 the array of pixels is arranged as one of a square lattice, a hexagonal lattice, triangular lattice, rectangular lattice, a random arrangement, or a pseudorandom arrangement;   individual ones of the pixels are shaped as a circle, a square, a rectangle, a line, an oval, a rounded square, or dots;   the optical matrix covers an area with one linear dimension being in the range of 0.01 microns to 90 inches; or   the array of pixels has a resolution in the range of one pixel per inch to 500,000 pixels per inch.   
     
     
         17 . A method for fabricating a generic optical matrix having pixels corresponding to color and sub-pixels corresponding to non-color effects, the method comprising:
 obtaining a substrate;   defining an array of pixels disposed on the substrate, the array comprising first pixels corresponding to a first color and second pixels corresponding to a second color, the first color being different from the second color, the first pixels and second pixels being arranged in a motif such that individual ones of the first pixels are positioned adjacent to individual ones of the second pixels; and   forming sub-pixels within individual ones of the pixels, a given pixel comprising a first sub-pixel and a second sub-pixel, the first sub-pixel comprising a first optical structure configured such that light reflected or transmitted by the optical structure of the first sub-pixel is directed toward a left eye of a person observing the generic optical matrix from the first viewing distance, the second sub-pixel comprising a second optical structure configured such that light reflected or transmitted by the optical structure of the second sub-pixel is directed toward a right eye of the person observing the generic optical matrix from the first viewing distance, the light reflected or transmitted by the first sub-pixel and the second sub-pixel being the corresponding color of the given pixel.   
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein:
 the array further comprises third pixels corresponding to a third color;   the third color is different from the first color and the second color; and   the third pixels are arranged in the motif such that individual ones of the third pixels are positioned adjacent to individual ones of the first pixels and individual ones of the second pixels.   
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein:
 the given pixel comprises a third sub-pixel and a fourth sub-pixel;   the third sub-pixel comprises a third optical structure configured such that light reflected or transmitted by the third optical structure is directed toward a left eye of a person observing the generic optical matrix from a second viewing distance;   the fourth sub-pixel comprises a fourth optical structure configured such that light reflected or transmitted by the fourth optical structure is directed toward a right eye of a person observing the generic optical matrix from the second viewing distance; and   the light reflected or transmitted by the third sub-pixel and the fourth sub-pixel being the corresponding color of the given pixel.   
     
     
         20 . A method for fabricating a generic optical matrix having pixels corresponding to color and sub-pixels corresponding to non-color effects, the method comprising:
 obtaining a substrate;   defining an array of pixels disposed on the substrate, the array comprising first pixels corresponding to a first color and second pixels corresponding to a second color, the first color being different from the second color, the first pixels and second pixels being arranged in a motif such that individual ones of the first pixels are positioned adjacent to individual ones of the second pixels; and   forming sub-pixels within individual ones of the pixels, a given pixel comprising a first sub-pixel and a second sub-pixel, the first sub-pixel comprising a first optical structure configured such that light reflected or transmitted by the optical structure of the first sub-pixel has a first polarization, the second sub-pixel comprising a second optical structure configured such that light reflected or transmitted by the optical structure of the second sub-pixel has a second polarization, the first polarization being different from the second polarization, the light reflected or transmitted by the first sub-pixel and the second sub-pixel being the corresponding color of the given pixel.