# US 2019/0169755 A1 · Metallic Sheet With Deposited Structured Images And Method Of Manufacture > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2019/0169755 A1 - Document ID: US20190169755A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 15/831,108 - Filed: 2017-12-04 - Published: 2019-06-06 - Earliest claimed: 2017-12-04 - Inventors: Laurie Johansen; Adam Trexler; Paul Diffendaffer - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20190169755A1 ## CPC - B44C 3/00: Processes, not specifically provided for elsewhere, for producing ornamental structures - C23C 30/00: Coating with metallic material characterised only by the composition of the metallic material, i.e. not characterised by the coating process (C23C26/00, C23C28/00 take precedence) - B05D 3/002: {Pretreatement} - B32B 3/10: characterised by a discontinuous layer, i.e. formed of separate pieces of material - B44C 1/00: Processes, not specifically provided for elsewhere, for producing decorative surface effects (decorating textiles D06Q) - C23C 14/205: {by cathodic sputtering} - C23C 14/588: {by mechanical treatment} - B44C: PRODUCING DECORATIVE EFFECTS (processes for applying liquids or other fluent materials to surfaces, in general B05D; shaping of plastics or substances in a plastic state B29C; printing processes to produce transfer pictures B41M3/12; thermographic duplication or marking methods B41M5/00); MOSAICS; TARSIA WORK (imitation of mosaic or tarsia work patterns B44F11/04); PAPERHANGING {(labels G09F; multi-step processes for making paper labels or tags B31D1/02)} - C23C: COATING METALLIC MATERIAL; COATING MATERIAL WITH METALLIC MATERIAL; SURFACE TREATMENT OF METALLIC MATERIAL BY DIFFUSION INTO THE SURFACE, BY CHEMICAL CONVERSION OR SUBSTITUTION; COATING BY VACUUM EVAPORATION, BY SPUTTERING, BY ION IMPLANTATION OR BY CHEMICAL VAPOUR DEPOSITION, IN GENERAL (making metal-coated products by extrusion B21C23/22; covering with metal by connecting pre-existing layers to articles, see the relevant places, e.g. B21D39/00, B23K; metallising of glass C03C; metallising mortars, concrete, artificial stone, ceramics or natural stone C04B41/00; enamelling of, or applying a vitreous layer to, metals C23D; treating metal surfaces or coating of metals by electrolysis or electrophoresis C25D; single-crystal film growth C30B; by metallising textiles D06M11/83; decorating textiles by locally metallising D06Q1/04) - B05D: PROCESSES FOR APPLYING FLUENT MATERIALS TO SURFACES, IN GENERAL (conveying articles or workpieces through baths of liquid B65G, e.g. B65G49/02) - B32B: LAYERED PRODUCTS, i.e. PRODUCTS BUILT-UP OF STRATA OF FLAT OR NON-FLAT, e.g. CELLULAR OR HONEYCOMB, FORM ## Abstract A metallic sheet with deposited structured images and method for manufacture (MSDIMM) that includes a substrate, at least one structural feature, and a metal layer. The structural feature is at least one cavity on the substrate's upper surface, or at least one material object that extends outward from the substrate's upper surface. The metal layer is deposited, either by sputtering or atomic deposition, onto the substrate's upper surface, and, as the metal layer is deposited, the metal layer interfaces with and follows the dimensions of the structural feature(s), thereby creating a visible image at the location(s) of the structural feature(s). The visible image can be any image, and is preferably either an artistic image, a textual image, or an authentication image. The MDSIMM can be used for a variety of purposes, and is especially effective as a form of exonumia or currency. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A metallic sheet with deposited structured images and method for manufacture (MSDIMM) wherein said metallic sheet with deposited structured images is comprised of a substrate having at least one structural feature wherein a layer of metal is deposited onto said substrate, wherein as said metal layer is deposited on said substrate, said metal layer interfaces with and follows the dimensions of the structural feature, thereby creating a visible image on said metal layer at the location of said structural feature. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The metallic sheet with deposited structured images and method for manufacture as specified in claim 1 wherein said substrate is made of a material selected from the group consisting of polyethylene terephthalate also known as PET; polyimide known as nylon; Kapton; polyethylene; polypropylene; polybutylene; polyolefin blends; polyolefin composites; polyolefin reinforced with uniaxially oriented polyolefin fibers; spun polyolefin; bonded polyolefin also known as Tyvek; polycarbonate, polystyrene; acrylic known as polymethylmethacrilate or PMMA; acrylonitrile butadine styrene known as ABS; polyurethane; celluosics including cellulose triacetate, cellulose diacetate known as cellophane, and blends of tri and diacetate cellulose, nitrocellulose known as gun cotton; metal foils including aluminum (Al), tin (Sn), copper (Cu), silver (Ag), zinc (Zn), indium (In), magnesium (Mg.), gold (Au), nickel (Ni) stainless steel; paper; parchment; rice paper; wood pulp paper; polymer-coated woven fabrics; and bioplastics including polylactic acid known as PLA, PolyVinylChloride known as PVC, PolyVinylFluoride known as PVF, PolyVinylideneChloride known as PVDC, PolyvinylideneFlouride known as PVDF, or PolyvinylideneAlcohol known as PVDA. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The metallic sheet with deposited structured images and method for manufacture as specified in claim 1 wherein said substrate is comprised of an upper surface, a lower surface and a side edge. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The metallic sheet with deposited structured images and method for manufacture as specified in claim 1 wherein said structural feature is comprised of a cavity. ### Claim 5 (depends on 4) The metallic sheet with deposited structured images and method for manufacture as specified in claim 4 wherein the at least one cavity is created by means selected from the group consisting of heat application; melting; scratching; ablating; cutting; impacting; embossing, denting; blistering, surface relief casting, reticulation, bi-phase separation deposition; mud cracking; laser ablation; etching including plasma, laser, ion beam, electron beam, chemical; bead blasting, or sand blasting. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The metallic sheet with deposited structured images and method for manufacture as specified in claim 1 wherein said structural feature is comprised of an outward extending material object. ### Claim 7 (depends on 6) The metallic sheet with deposited structured images and method for manufacture as specified in claim 6 wherein the at least one outward extending material object is created by means selected from the group consisting of placing pigmented ink, placing a transparent material, spraying material, printing material, placing material by adhesion, molding, or painting, lamination, blistering, surface relief casting, reticulation, bi-phase separation, deposition sintering, laser annealing of applied colloidal suspension, selective chemical vapor deposition, electroless plating, electroplating, and low energy cauliflower growth deposition. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The metallic sheet with deposited structured images and method for manufacture as specified in claim 1 visible image that is created on said metal layer is selected from the group consisting of an artistic image, a textual image or an authentication image. ### Claim 9 A metallic sheet with deposited structured images and method for manufacture (MSDIMM) wherein said metallic sheet with deposited structured images is comprised of: a) a substrate with an upper surface, a lower surface and a side edge, b) at least one structural feature located on the upper surface of said substrate, and c) a metal layer that is deposited onto the upper surface of said substrate, wherein as said metal layer is deposited on said substrate, said metal layer interfaces with and follows the dimensions of said at least one structural feature, thereby creating a visible image on said metal layer at the location of said structural feature. ### Claim 10 (depends on 9) The metallic sheet with deposited structured images and method for manufacture as specified in claim 9 wherein said substrate is made of a material selected from the group consisting of polyethylene terephthalate known as PET; polyimide known as nylon; Kapton; polyethylene; polypropylene; polybutylene; polyolefin blends; polyolefin composites; polyolefin reinforced with uniaxially oriented polyolefin fibers; spun polyolefin; bonded polyolefin also known as Tyvek; polycarbonate; polystyrene; acrylic known as polymethylmethacrilate or PMMA; acrylonitrile butadine styrene known as ABS; polyurethane; celluosics including cellulose triacetate, cellulose diacetate known as cellophane, and blends of tri and diacetate cellulose; nitrocellulose known as gun cotton; metal foils including aluminum (Al), tin (Sn), copper (Cu), silver (Ag), zinc (Zn), indium (In), magnesium (Mg.), gold (Au), nickel (Ni) stainless steel; paper; parchment; rice paper; and wood pulp paper; polymer-coated woven fabrics; and bioplastics including polylactic acid known as PLA, and PolyVinylChloride known as PVC, PolyVinylFluoride known as PVF, PolyVinylideneChloride known as PVDC, PolyvinylideneFlouride known as PVDF or PolyvinylideneAlcohol known as PVDA. ### Claim 11 (depends on 9) The metallic sheet with deposited structured images and method for manufacture as specified in claim 9 wherein said at least one structural feature is comprised of at least one cavity on the upper surface of said substrate. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) The metallic sheet with deposited structured images and method for manufacture as specified in claim 11 wherein the at least one cavity is created by means selected from the group consisting of heat application; melting; scratching; ablating; cutting; impacting; embossing, denting; blistering, surface relief casting, reticulation, bi-phase separation deposition; mud cracking; laser ablation; etching including plasma, laser, ion beam, electron beam, chemical; bead blasting, or sand blasting. ### Claim 13 (depends on 9) The metallic sheet with deposited structured images and method for manufacture as specified in claim 9 wherein said at least one structural feature is comprised of at least one material object that extends outward from the upper surface of said substrate. ### Claim 14 (depends on 13) The metallic sheet with deposited structured images and method for manufacture as specified in claim 13 wherein the at least one outward extending material object is created by means selected from the group consisting of placing pigmented ink, placing a transparent material, spraying material, printing material, placing material by adhesion, molding, or painting, lamination, blistering, surface relief casting, reticulation, bi-phase separation, deposition sintering, laser annealing of applied colloidal suspension, selective chemical vapor deposition, electroless plating, electroplating, and low energy cauliflower growth deposition. ### Claim 15 (depends on 9) The metallic sheet with deposited structured images and method for manufacture as specified in claim 9 wherein multiple cavities or material objects are used to create a pattern in the visible image. ### Claim 16 (depends on 9) The metallic sheet with deposited structured images and method for manufacture as specified in claim 9 visible image that is created on said metal layer is selected from the group consisting of an artistic image, a textual image or an authentication image. ### Claim 17 (depends on 9) The metallic sheet with deposited structured images and method for manufacture as specified in claim 9 wherein the visible image that is created is comprised of non-repeating features having dimensions less than fifty microns. ### Claim 18 (depends on 9) The metallic sheet with deposited structured images and method for manufacture as specified in claim 9 wherein said metal layer is comprised of a precious metal. ### Claim 19 (depends on 9) The metallic sheet with deposited structured images and method for manufacture as specified in claim 9 wherein said metallic sheet with deposited structured images is a form of exonumia or currency. ### Claim 20 (depends on 9) The metallic sheet with deposited structured images and method for manufacture as specified in claim 9 wherein said metal layer is deposited on said substrate by sputtering. ### Claim 21 (depends on 9) The metallic sheet with deposited structured images and method for manufacture as specified in claim 9 wherein said metal layer is deposited on said substrate by vapor deposition. ### Claim 22 (depends on 9) The metallic sheet with deposited structured images and method for manufacture as specified in claim 9 wherein said metal layer is deposited on said substrate by colloid deposition and densification. ### Claim 23 (depends on 9) The metallic sheet with deposited structured images and method for manufacture as specified in claim 9 wherein said metal layer further comprises variable thickness that is produced by means selected from the group consisting of laser etching the metal, placing pinholes in the metal, reducing areas of deposition in the metal, chemically etching the metal, or abrading the metal. ### Claim 24 (depends on 9) The metallic sheet with deposited structured images and method for manufacture as specified in claim 9 further comprising two metallic sheets with deposited structured images that are laminated together lower surface to lower surface, thereby allowing the produced images to be visible from the upper and lower surface. ### Claim 25 (depends on 9) The metallic sheet with deposited structured images and method for manufacture as specified in claim 9 wherein said method for manufacture is comprised of the following steps: a) acquire a substrate with an upper surface, a lower surface, and a side edge, b) modify the substrate by creating at least one structural feature larger than fifty microns or non-repeating and smaller than fifty microns on the substrate's upper surface, and c) deposit a metal layer onto the substrate's upper surface thereby creating at least one visible image where the metal layer interfaces with and follows the dimensions of the structural feature. ### Claim 26 (depends on 24) The metallic sheet with deposited structured images and method for manufacture as specified in claim 24 wherein said at least one structural feature is comprised of at least one cavity on the upper surface of said substrate. ### Claim 27 (depends on 24) The metallic sheet with deposited structured images and method for manufacture as specified in claim 24 wherein said at least one structural feature is comprised of at least one material object extending outward from the upper surface of said substrate. ### Claim 28 (depends on 24) The metallic sheet with deposited structured images and method for manufacture as specified in claim 24 wherein the metal layer is deposited on the substrate by sputtering. ### Claim 29 (depends on 24) The metallic sheet with deposited structured images and method for manufacture as specified in claim 24 further comprising a step of removing a quantity of the deposited metal layer. ### Claim 30 (depends on 24) The metallic sheet with deposited structured images and method for manufacture as specified in claim 24 further comprising when the cavity is created or the outward extending material object created, any material removed from the substrate or placed on the substrate is in a non-repeating pattern within the 0.25 to 50 micron range, thereby not producing visible diffraction grating.