# US 2017/0031168 A1 · Thin integral image devices > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2017/0031168 A1 - Document ID: US20170031168A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 15/302,869 - Filed: 2015-03-31 - Published: 2017-02-02 - Earliest claimed: 2014-04-11 - Assignees: Rolling Optics AB - Applicants: Rolling Optics AB - Inventors: Axel LUNDVALL - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20170031168A1 ## CPC - G02B 30/40: giving the observer of a single two-dimensional [2D] image a perception of depth - B42D 25/324: Reliefs - B42D 25/328: Diffraction gratings; Holograms - B42D 25/342: Moiré effects - B42D 25/351: Translucent or partly translucent parts, e.g. windows - B42D 25/373: Metallic materials - B42D 25/425: by deformation, e.g. embossing - B44F 1/10: Changing, amusing, or secret pictures - G02B 3/0056: {arranged along two different directions in a plane, e.g. honeycomb arrangement of lenses (G02B3/0043 takes precedence; miniaturised objectives for electronic devices employing wafer level optics G02B13/0085)} - G06K 19/16: the marking being a hologram or diffraction grating - G02B: OPTICAL ELEMENTS, SYSTEMS OR APPARATUS - B42D: BOOKS; BOOK COVERS; LOOSE LEAVES; PRINTED MATTER CHARACTERISED BY IDENTIFICATION OR SECURITY FEATURES; PRINTED MATTER OF SPECIAL FORMAT OR STYLE NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; DEVICES FOR USE THEREWITH AND NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; MOVABLE-STRIP WRITING OR READING APPARATUS - B44F: SPECIAL DESIGNS OR PICTURES - G06K: GRAPHICAL DATA READING (image or video recognition or understanding G06V); PRESENTATION OF DATA; RECORD CARRIERS; HANDLING RECORD CARRIERS ## Abstract An integral image device (1) comprises an array (20) of focusing micro-lenses (22), optionally a reflecting layer (40) and an image fragment plane (30). The reflecting layer is positioned on a same side of the array of focusing micro-lenses as a focal plane of the focusing micro-lenses as such. The reflecting layer is arranged for reflecting at least a part of light incident on a surface (49) of the reflecting layer facing the array of focusing micro-lenses. The image fragment plane has image fragment structures (32). The array of focusing micro-lenses is positioned between the reflecting layer and the image fragment plane. The image fragment plane is arranged to, when being viewed refracted through the array of focusing micro-lenses towards the reflecting layer, reflected by the reflecting layer and refracted back through the array of focusing micro-lenses from the reflecting layer, give rise to an integral image. ## Claims ### Claim at position 1 1-29. (canceled) ### Claim 30 An integral image device, comprising: an array of focusing micro-lenses; said array of focusing micro-lenses, as such, having a focal plane; and an image fragment plane with image fragment structures; said image fragment plane being positioned on an opposite side of said array of focusing micro-lenses with respect to said focal plane; wherein said image fragment plane is arranged to, when being viewed refracted through said array of focusing micro-lenses away from a viewer, reflected back and refracted back through said array of focusing micro-lenses towards said viewer, give rise to an integral image. ### Claim 31 (depends on 30) The integral image device according to claim 30, wherein said array of focusing micro-lenses is an array of embedded focusing micro-lenses. ### Claim 32 (depends on 30) The integral image device according to claim 30, further comprising: a reflecting layer, positioned on a same side of said array of focusing micro-lenses as said focal plane; said reflecting layer being arranged for reflecting at least a part of light incident on a surface of said reflecting layer facing said array of focusing micro-lenses; and whereby said array of focusing micro-lenses is positioned between said reflecting layer and said image fragment plane; wherein said image fragment plane is arranged to, when being viewed refracted through said array of focusing micro-lenses towards said reflecting layer), reflected by said reflecting layer and refracted back through said array of focusing micro-lenses from said reflecting layer, give rise to an integral image. ### Claim 33 (depends on 30) The integral image device according to claim 30, wherein said reflecting layer is arranged for transmitting at least a part of light incident on a surface of said reflecting layer facing away from said array of focusing micro-lenses. ### Claim 34 (depends on 33) The integral image device according to claim 33, further comprising: an additional image fragment plane; said reflecting layer being positioned between said image fragment plane and said additional image fragment plane; wherein said additional image fragment plane is arranged to, when being viewed through said reflecting layer and through said array of focusing micro-lenses, give rise to an additional integral image). ### Claim 35 (depends on 35) The integral image device according to claim 35, further comprising: an additional array of focusing micro-lenses; said additional array of focusing micro-lenses is positioned between said reflecting layer and said additional image fragment plane; said reflecting layer being additionally arranged for reflecting at least a part of light incident on a surface of said reflecting layer facing said additional array of focusing micro-lenses; wherein said additional image fragment plane is arranged to, when being viewed via said reflecting layer and through said additional array of focusing micro-lenses, give rise to an opposite side integral image; wherein said image fragment plane is arranged to, when being viewed through said reflecting layer and through said additional array of focusing micro-lenses, give rise to an additional opposite side integral image. ### Claim 36 (depends on 33) The integral image device according to claim 33, wherein said reflecting layer has thickness allowing said at least a part of said light to be transmitted is transmitted through said reflecting layer. ### Claim 37 (depends on 33) The integral image device according to claim 33, wherein said reflecting layer is perforated with perforations allowing said at least a part of said light to be transmitted is transmitted through said perforations), and wherein said at least a part of said light to be reflected is reflected on areas between said perforations. ### Claim 38 (depends on 37) The integral image device according to claim 37, wherein said perforations and said areas between said perforations are provided in a regularly repeated pattern, said regularly repeated pattern has a pitch that differs from a pitch of said focusing micro-lenses by a small fraction, and in that said perforations or said areas between said perforations are formed in a simple geometrical shape. ### Claim 39 (depends on 32) The integral image device according to claim 32, wherein reflective portions of said reflecting layer are concavely curved, said reflective portions being arranged in an array that is laterally aligned with said array of focusing micro-lenses. ### Claim 40 A method for manufacturing an integral image device, comprising the steps of: providing a thin, at least partly optically transmissive, substrate; creating an array of focusing micro-lenses at a first surface of said substrate; and providing an image fragment plane with image fragment structures on top of said array of focusing micro-lenses; wherein said step of providing said image fragment plane comprises arranging said image fragment plane with image fragment structures to, when being viewed refracted through said array of focusing micro-lenses away from a viewer, reflected and refracted back through said array of focusing micro-lenses towards said viewer, give rise to an integral image. ### Claim 41 (depends on 40) The method according to claim 40, wherein said step of creating an array of focusing micro-lenses comprises the steps of: creating an array of curved surfaces between a first transmissive material, having a first refraction index, and a surrounding gas, at said first surface of said substrate; and filling interstices between or within said curved surfaces by a second transmissive material, having a second refraction index, different from said first refraction index, creating a planar outer surface. ### Claim 42 (depends on 40) The method according to claim 40, comprising the further step of: forming a reflecting layer at a second surface of said substrate, opposite to said first surface, for reflecting at least a part of light incident on a surface of said reflecting layer facing said array of focusing micro-lenses; wherein said step of providing said image fragment plane comprises arranging said image fragment plane with image fragment structures to, when being viewed refracted through said array of focusing micro-lenses towards said reflecting layer, reflected by said reflecting layer and refracted back through said array of focusing micro-lenses from said reflecting layer, give rise to an integral image. ### Claim 43 (depends on 40) The method according to claim 40, wherein said step of forming a reflecting layer at said second surface comprises forming a reflecting layer transmitting at least a part of light incident on said surface of said reflecting layer facing away from said array of focusing micro-lenses. ### Claim 44 (depends on 43) The method according to claim 43, comprising the further steps of: providing an additional image fragment plane so that said reflecting layer becomes positioned between said image fragment plane and said additional image fragment plane; wherein said step of providing said additional image fragment plane comprises arranging said additional image fragment plane with image fragment structures to, when being viewed through said reflecting layer and through said array of focusing micro-lenses, gives rise to an additional integral image. ### Claim 45 (depends on 44) The method according to claim 44, comprising the further steps of: providing a thin, at least partly optically transmissive, additional substrate; creating an additional array of focusing micro-lenses at a first surface of said additional substrate; wherein said step of providing an additional image fragment plane comprises providing of an image fragment plane with image fragment structures on top of said additional array of focusing micro-lenses; and forming a partly transmissive reflecting layer between said substrate and said additional substrate; said step of forming a partly transmissive reflecting layer comprising said step of forming a reflecting layer at a second surface of said substrate and a step of forming said reflecting layer also at a second surface of said additional substrate, said second surface of said additional substrate being opposite to said first surface of said additional substrate; wherein said step of providing said additional image fragment plane comprises arranging said additional image fragment plane with image fragment structures to, when being viewed via said reflecting layer and through said additional array of focusing micro-lenses, give rise to an additional integral image; wherein said step of providing said image fragment plane comprises arranging said image fragment plane with image fragment structures to, when being viewed through said reflecting layer and through said additional array of focusing micro-lenses, give rise to an additional integral image. ### Claim 46 (depends on 43) The method according to claim 43, wherein said step of forming a reflecting layer at a second surface of said substrate comprises forming of a reflecting layer with a thickness allowing said at least a part of said light to be transmitted is transmitted through said reflecting layer. ### Claim 47 (depends on 43) The method according to claim 43, wherein said step of forming a reflecting layer at a second surface of said substrate comprises forming of a reflecting layer perforated with perforations allowing said at least a part of said light to be transmitted is transmitted through said perforations, and wherein said at least a part of said light to be reflected is reflected on areas between said perforations. ### Claim 48 (depends on 48) The method according to claim 48, wherein said step of forming a reflecting layer perforated with perforations comprises providing of said perforations in a regularly repeated pattern. ### Claim 49 (depends on 42) The method according to claim 42, wherein said step of forming a reflecting layer comprises the steps of: creating an array of convex curved surfaces at said second surface of said substrate; and covering said array of convex curved surfaces at said second surface with said reflecting layer; wherein one of said step of creating said array of convex curved surfaces at said second surface and said step of creating said array of focusing micro-lenses at said first surface comprises the step of laterally aligning said array of convex curved surfaces at said second surface with said array of focusing micro-lenses at said first surface.