Variable digital optical images may be fabricated using generic optical matrices. A generic optical matrix may have a substrate and a plurality of pixels corresponding to color and sub-pixels corresponding to non-color effects. The pixels may include first pixels corresponding to a first color and second pixels corresponding to a second color. The sub-pixels may include first sub-pixels corresponding to a first non-color effect and second sub-pixels corresponding to a second non-color effect. Individual ones of the pixels and sub-pixels of the generic optical matrix may be obliterated according to a negative while remaining pixels and/or sub-pixels may be preserved. The remaining pixels and sub-pixels may form an optical image corresponding to a base image. The optical image may be colored based on the remaining pixels. The optical image may exhibit non-color effects corresponding to the remaining sub-pixels. The optical image may comprise a hologram or a stereo image.

An optical master is created by using a nanoimprint alignment layer to pattern a liquid crystal layer. The nanoimprint alignment layer and the liquid crystal layer constitute the optical master. The optical master is positioned above a photo-alignment layer. The optical master is illuminated and light propagating through the nanoimprinted alignment layer and the liquid crystal layer is diffracted and subsequently strikes the photo-alignment layer. The incident diffracted light causes the pattern in the liquid crystal layer to be transferred to the photo-alignment layer. A second liquid crystal layer is deposited onto the patterned photo-alignment layer, which subsequently is used to align the molecules of the second liquid crystal layer. The second liquid crystal layer in the patterned photo-alignment layer may be utilized as a replica optical master or as a diffractive optical element for directing light in optical devices such as augmented reality display devices.

Systems and methods for copying a diversity of hologram prescriptions from a common master in accordance with various embodiments of the invention are illustrated. One embodiment includes a method of contact copying a hologram from a master. The method includes steps for providing a light source, a master grating encoding a first grating prescription, a substrate supporting a layer of holographic recording material, and a wavefront modifying component, forming a first wavefront from the light source, reflecting the first wavefront from the wavefront modifying component to provide a second wavefront, diffracting the second wavefront to provide diffracted light with a third wavefront and zero-order light with the second wavefront, interfering the third wavefront and the zero-order light at a contact image plane, and forming a hologram having a second grating prescription different from the first grating prescription.

Variable digital optical images may be fabricated using generic optical matrices. A generic optical matrix may have a substrate and a plurality of pixels corresponding to color and sub-pixels corresponding to non-color effects. The pixels may include first pixels corresponding to a first color and second pixels corresponding to a second color. The sub-pixels may include first sub-pixels corresponding to a first non-color effect and second sub-pixels corresponding to a second non-color effect. Individual ones of the pixels and sub-pixels of the generic optical matrix may be obliterated according to a negative while remaining pixels and/or sub-pixels may be preserved. The remaining pixels and sub-pixels may form an optical image corresponding to a base image. The optical image may be colored based on the remaining pixels. The optical image may exhibit non-color effects corresponding to the remaining sub-pixels. The optical image may comprise a hologram or a stereo image.

Method of patterning a surface of an object or a tool with nano and/or micro structure elements having dimensions in a range of 1 nanometer to 1 millimeter, comprising the steps of producing a flexible mask with said nano or micro structure pattern formed on a surface of said flexible mask, chemically activating said surface of the flexible mask and/or said surface to be patterned of the tool, placing said patterned surface of the flexible mask in contact with said surface to be patterned of the object or tool, promoting a covalent bonding reaction between said patterned surface of the flexible mask in contact with said surface to be patterned, removing the flexible mask from the tool whereby a layer of said flexible mask remains bonded to said surface to be patterned of the tool, etching said surface to be patterned of the tool whereby the bonded layer of flexible mask material resists etching. An anti-activation mask defining a periphery of the surface area to be patterned, or peripheries of the surface area to be patterned if there are a plurality of separate portions of surface area to be patterned, is deposited on the flexible mask prior to placing the patterned surface of the flexible mask on the surface to be patterned. The anti-activation mask prevents bonding of the flexible mask to the surface of the object or tool in areas where the anti-activation mask is present.

Variable digital optical images may be fabricated using generic optical matrices. A generic optical matrix may have pixels corresponding to color and sub-pixels corresponding to non-color effects. The pixels may include first pixels corresponding to a first color and second pixels corresponding to a second color. The sub-pixels may include first sub-pixels corresponding to a first non-color effect and second sub-pixels corresponding to a second non-color effect. Individual ones of the pixels and/or sub-pixels of the generic optical matrix may be obliterated according to a negative while remaining pixels and/or sub-pixels may be preserved. The remaining pixels and/or sub-pixels may form an optical image corresponding to a base image. The optical image may be colored based on the remaining pixels. The optical image may exhibit non-color effects corresponding to the remaining sub-pixels. The optical image may comprise a hologram or a stereo image.

Method of patterning a surface of an object or a tool with nano and/or micro structure elements having dimensions in a range of 1 nanometer to 1 millimeter, comprising the steps of producing a flexible mask with said nano or micro structure pattern formed on a surface of said flexible mask, chemically activating said surface of the flexible mask and/or said surface to be patterned of the tool, placing said patterned surface of the flexible mask in contact with said surface to be patterned of the object or tool, promoting a covalent bonding reaction between said patterned surface of the flexible mask in contact with said surface to be patterned, removing the flexible mask from the tool whereby a layer of said flexible mask remains bonded to said surface to be patterned of the tool, etching said surface to be patterned of the tool whereby the bonded layer of flexible mask material resists etching. An anti-activation mask defining a periphery of the surface area to be patterned, or peripheries of the surface area to be patterned if there are a plurality of separate portions of surface area to be patterned, is deposited on the flexible mask prior to placing the patterned surface of the flexible mask on the surface to be patterned. The anti-activation mask prevents bonding of the flexible mask to the surface of the object or tool in areas where the anti-activation mask is present.

Variable digital optical images may be fabricated using generic optical matrices. A generic optical matrix may have pixels corresponding to color and subpixels corresponding to noncolor effects. The pixels may include first pixels corresponding to a first color and second pixels corresponding to a second color. The subpixels may include first subpixels corresponding to a first noncolor effect and second subpixels corresponding to a second noncolor effect. Individual ones of the pixels and/or subpixels of the generic optical matrix may be obliterated according to a negative while remaining pixels and/or subpixels may be preserved. The remaining pixels and/or subpixels may form an optical image corresponding to a base image. The optical image may be colored based on the remaining pixels. The optical image may exhibit noncolor effects corresponding to the remaining subpixels. The optical image may comprise a hologram or a stereo image.

A hologram manufacturing device includes a master hologram on which a diffraction grating is formed, a duplicate hologram disposed close to the master hologram, a first light source that emits, to the master hologram and the duplicate hologram, a first laser light that satisfies a Bragg diffraction condition in the diffraction grating, a second light source that emits, to the master hologram and the duplicate hologram, a second laser light that does not satisfy the Bragg diffraction condition in the diffraction grating, and a sensor that measures the second laser light. The hologram manufacturing device ends exposure of the duplicate hologram with the first laser light based on a measurement result of the sensor.

An optical master is created by using a nanoimprint alignment layer to pattern a liquid crystal layer. The nanoimprint alignment layer and the liquid crystal layer constitute the optical master. The optical master is positioned above a photo-alignment layer. The optical master is illuminated and light propagating through the nanoimprinted alignment layer and the liquid crystal layer is diffracted and subsequently strikes the photo-alignment layer. The incident diffracted light causes the pattern in the liquid crystal layer to be transferred to the photo-alignment layer. A second liquid crystal layer is deposited onto the patterned photo-alignment layer, which subsequently is used to align the molecules of the second liquid crystal layer. The second liquid crystal layer in the patterned photo-alignment layer may be utilized as a replica optical master or as a diffractive optical element for directing light in optical devices such as augmented reality display devices.