Directionally dependent optical features apparatus and method

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2022057551-A1
Application number	US-201817413443-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Dec 14, 2018
Priority date	Dec 14, 2018
Publication date	Feb 24, 2022
Grant date	—

Abstract

Directionally dependent optical effects are produced from faceted micrometer-scale substructures. The directionally dependent optical effects can appear as one specific color when viewed from one direction and another specific color when flipped and viewed from the opposing direction. The directionally dependent optical effects may appear reflective or transmissive from one direction and antireflective or opaque when flipped around.

First claim

1 . A faceted structure having directionally dependent optical features, comprising:
a first plurality of facets substantially facing a first direction, wherein said first plurality of facets includes facets having a first length dimension that is larger than a target wavelength of interest directed at said faceted structure; a second plurality of facets substantially facing a second direction different from said first direction, wherein said second plurality of facets includes facets having a second length dimension that is larger than said target wavelength of interest; and means for producing from said faceted structure at least one directionally dependent optical effect of said target wavelength of interest depending on the direction with which said faceted structure is viewed.

2 . The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein said faceted structure further comprises a third plurality of facets substantially facing in one or more additional directions that are different from said first direction and said second direction, wherein said third plurality of facets have a third length dimension that is larger than said target wavelength of interest.

3 . The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein said first plurality of facets face said first direction within a tolerance of plus or minus 8% in any given direction and wherein said second plurality of facets face said second direction within a tolerance of plus or minus 8% in any given direction.

4 . The apparatus of claim 2 , wherein said third plurality of facets face said one of more directions within a tolerance of plus or minus 8% in any given direction.

5 . The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein said target wavelength of interest is less than 750 nm.

6 . The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein said at least one directionally dependent optical feature includes a color, an image, a degree of reflectivity or a degree of transmissivity.

7 . The apparatus of claim 2 , wherein said at least one directionally dependent optical feature includes a color, an image, a degree of reflectivity or a degree of transmissivity.

8 . The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein said means for producing at least one directionally dependent optical effect comprises a first coating on said first plurality of facets and a second coating on said second plurality of facets, wherein said first coating has a first thickness and wherein said second coating has a second thickness that is different from said first thickness.

9 . The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein said means for producing at least one directionally dependent optical effect comprises a coating on said first plurality of facets and no coating on said second plurality of facets.

10 . The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein said means for producing at least one directionally dependent optical effect comprises a conformal coating on both said first plurality of facets and said second plurality of facets.

11 . The apparatus of claim 10 , wherein said conformal coating comprises a multilayer thin film.

12 . The apparatus of claim 10 , wherein said faceted structure comprises a material that is stretchable.

13 . A method, comprising;
providing a faceted structure having directionally dependent optical features, comprising: a first plurality of facets substantially facing a first direction, wherein said first plurality of facets includes facets having a first length dimension that is larger than a target wavelength of interest directed at said faceted structure; a second plurality of facets substantially facing a second direction different from said first direction, wherein said second plurality of facets includes facets having a second length dimension that is larger than said target wavelength of interest; and means for producing from said faceted structure at least one directionally dependent optical effect of said target wavelength of interest depending on the direction with which said faceted structure is viewed; and directing said target wavelength of interest at said faceted structure.

14 . The method of claim 13 , wherein said faceted structure further comprises a third plurality of facets substantially facing in one or more additional directions that are different from said first direction and said second direction, wherein said third plurality of facets have a third length dimension that is larger than said target wavelength of interest.

15 . The method of claim 13 , wherein said first plurality of facets face said first direction within a tolerance of plus or minus 8% in any given direction and wherein said second plurality of facets face said second direction within a tolerance of plus or minus 8% in any given direction.

16 . The method of claim 14 , wherein said third plurality of facets face said one of more directions within a tolerance of plus or minus 8% in any given direction.

17 . The method of claim 13 , wherein said target wavelength of interest is at least 750 nm.

18 . The method of claim 13 , wherein said at least one directionally dependent optical feature includes a color, an image, a degree of reflectivity or a degree of transmissivity.

19 . The method of claim 14 , wherein said at least one directionally dependent optical feature includes a color, an image, a degree of reflectivity or a degree of transmissivity.

20 . The method of claim 13 , wherein said means for producing at least one directionally dependent optical effect comprises a first coating on said first plurality of facets and a second coating on said second plurality of facets, wherein said first coating has a first thickness and wherein said second coating has a second thickness that is different from said first thickness.

21 . The method of claim 13 , wherein said means for producing at least one directionally dependent optical effect comprises a coating on said first plurality of facets and no coating on said second plurality of facets.

22 . The method of claim 13 , wherein said means for producing at least one directionally dependent optical effect comprises a conformal coating on both said first plurality of facets and said second plurality of facets.

23 . The method of claim 22 , wherein said conformal coating comprises a multilayer thin film.

24 . The method of claim 22 , wherein said faceted structure comprises a material that is stretchable, said method further comprising stretching said faceted structure.

Assignees

• L Livermore Nat Security Llc

Inventors

• Hiszpanski Anna M
• Kuntz Joshua D
• Meshot Eric
• Krauter Kerry G
• Lee Elaine
• Pascall Andrew J
• Worsley Marcus A

Classifications

• G02B5/09 Primary

  Multifaceted or polygonal mirrors {, e.g. polygonal scanning mirrors; Fresnel mirrors} · CPC title

• G02B5/136

  plural reflecting elements forming part of a unitary body (G02B5/124 takes precedence) · CPC title

• B42D25/351

  Translucent or partly translucent parts, e.g. windows · CPC title

• B42D25/373

  Metallic materials · CPC title

• G02B5/1861 Primary

  Reflection gratings characterised by their structure, e.g. step profile, contours of substrate or grooves, pitch variations, materials (G02B5/1809, G02B5/1828, G02B5/1833, G02B5/1838 and G02B5/1847 take precedence) · CPC title