Abstract:
A device displaying a polychromatic effect, comprising a light source a first linear polarizing layer optically coupled to said light source a first bi-refringent layer a second linear polarizing layer a motor coupled to said first linear polarizing layer so that said first linear polarizing layer rotates, varying the polarizing angle between said first linear polarizing layer and said bi-refringent layer.

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
   This application is a Utility application which claims priority to an earlier filed U.S. Provisional application No. 60/393,701, filed Jul. 2, 2002. 

   FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
   The invention disclosed in this document relates to an object and base, wherein the object appears to have a polychromatic effect. 
   BACKGROUND 
   Light is a complex phenomenon that may be explained with a simple model based on rays and wave-fronts. 
   Visible light represents only a small portion of the entire electromagnetic spectrum of radiation that extends from high-frequency gamma rays through X-rays, ultraviolet light, infrared radiation and microwaves to very low frequency long-wavelength radio waves. 
   Very high-frequency electromagnetic radiation such a gamma rays, X-rays, and ultraviolet light possess very short wavelengths and a great deal of energy. On the other hand, lower frequency radiation such as visible, infrared, microwave, and radio waves have correspondingly greater wavelengths with lower frequencies and energy. The vast majority of the light we see is emitted from the sun, which also emits many other frequencies of radiation that do not fall in the visible range. When indoors, we are exposed to visible light that comes from “artificial” sources primarily originating from fluorescent and/or tungsten devices. 
   Reflection of light and other forms of electromagnetic radiation occur when waves encounter a boundary that does not absorb the radiation&#39;s energy and bounces the waves off the surface. The incoming light wave is referred to as an incident wave and the wave that is bounced from the surface is called the reflected wave. 
   The refraction of visible light is an important characteristic of lenses that allows them to focus a beam of light onto a single point. Refraction, or bending of the light, occurs as light passes from a one medium to another when there is a difference in the index of refraction between the two materials. 
   Diffraction of light occurs when a light wave passes by a corner or through an opening or slit that is physically the approximate size of, or even smaller than, that light wave&#39;s wavelength. Diffraction describes a specialized case of light scattering in which an object with regularly repeating features, such as a diffraction grating, produces an orderly diffraction of light in a diffraction pattern. In the real world most objects are very complex in shape and should be considered to be composed of many individual diffraction features that can collectively produce a random scattering of light. 
   Natural sunlight and most forms of artificial illumination transmit light waves whose electric field vectors vibrate in all perpendicular planes with respect to the direction of propagation. When the electric field vectors are restricted to a single plane by filtration then the light is said to be polarized with respect to the direction of propagation and all waves vibrate in the same plane. 
   An important characteristic of light waves is their ability, under certain circumstances, to interfere with one another. One of the best examples of interference is demonstrated by the light reflected from a film of oil floating on water or a soap bubble, which reflects a variety of beautiful colors when illuminated by natural or artificial light sources. 
   Anisotropic crystals have crystallographically distinct axes and interact with light in a manner that is dependent upon the orientation of the crystalline lattice with respect to the incident light. When light enters a non-equivalent axis in an anisotropic crystal, it is refracted into two rays each polarized with the vibration directions oriented at right angles to one another, and traveling at different velocities. This phenomenon is termed “double-” or “bi-refraction” or “bi-refringence” and is seen to a greater or lesser degree in all anisotropic crystals. 
   This phenomenon can be duplicated using other means such as photoelasticity and stress Refringence. Photoelasticity is the property of some materials (including most plastics) that compression can cause birefringence. The effect is also known as mechanical birefringence or stress refringence. Stress Refringence is the phenomenon that occurs when certain transparent or translucent materials are subjected to external or internal stresses. The existing stress, which usually varies from point to point, causes local changes in the index of refraction. This in turn means variations in the speed of light through the material. When coming from a beam of polarized light, individual rays take different paths through the material and, upon recombining, produce interference patterns. Properly interpreted, lines of the same refringence indicate points in the material of the same stress. This is the principle that underlies the technique of photoelasticity. 
   Further, bi-refringence may be created using Oriented polymer films. The oriented polymer film has polymer chains oriented along an axis, effectively creating a crystal structure as described in the definitions above. By applying numerous layers of varied thickness and orientation, you can further modify the local index of refraction and corresponding patterns of birefringence. 
   Another means of creating the phenomenon is Stressed Transparent objects. Stressed Transparent objects are created by varying the stress in a transparent object (be it of acrylic, glass, or any transparent object) color may be created (as described above) through the variation of the stress patterns. The patterns are created from the photoelastic effect or stress refringence. 
   The concept of color temperature is based on the relationship between the temperature and radiation emitted by a theoretical standardized material termed a black body radiator cooled down to a state in which all molecular motion has ceased. This model is useful in relating the emission spectrum of natural and artificial light sources to the emulsion characteristics of individual photographic films and electronic digital cameras. 
   Visible light contains primary colors that are fundamental to human color vision. The primary additive colors are red, green, and blue, while the primary subtractive colors are cyan, magenta, and yellow. Adding the primary additive colors together in equal portions yields white, and adding the primary subtractive colors together (also in equal portions) yields black. 
   Most natural and artificial light sources emit a broad range of wavelengths that cover the entire visible light spectrum. However, it is often desirable to produce light that has a restricted wavelength spectrum. This can be easily accomplished through the use of specialized filters that transmit some wavelengths and selectively absorb or reflect unwanted wavelengths. 
   Glass lenses are composed of glass or transparent plastic, which allow light to be focused, magnified, and/or scattered to produce a wide spectrum of effects. Most lenses have two surfaces that are ground and polished in a specific manner designed to produce either a convergence or divergence of light passing through the lens. 

   
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       FIG. 1  illustrates a first exemplary embodiment in accordance with this invention. 
       FIG. 2  illustrates a cross section of the first exemplary embodiment in accordance with this invention. 
       FIG. 3  illustrates a second exemplary embodiment in accordance with this invention. 
       FIG. 4  illustrates a third exemplary embodiment in accordance with the present invention. 
       FIG. 5  illustrates a fourth exemplary embodiment in accordance with this invention. 
       FIG. 6  illustrates a side view of an object used with any exemplary embodiment in accordance with this invention. 
       FIG. 7  illustrates a front view of the object used with any exemplary embodiment in accordance with this invention. 
       FIG. 8  illustrates an orthogonal view of the object used with any exemplary embodiment in accordance with this invention. 
       FIG. 10  illustrates an exploded view of a base of the fifth exemplary embodiment in accordance with this invention. 
       FIG. 11  illustrates an exploded view of the base and attachment of the fifth exemplary embodiment in accordance with this invention. 
   

   DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
   Most light sources produce light that is un-polarized or that is vibrating in all directions. A linear polarizer filters this random light by allowing only light waves vibrating in one plane to pass through it. 
   Light travels through different materials at different speeds (this is the index of refraction). Certain materials have a property that causes light to travel through it at two different speeds (bi-refringent). Polarized light traveling through the bi-refringent material will be resolved into two perpendicular components and since the light is traveling at different speeds in the two directions, the two components become out of phase with each other. 
   When this light now passes through a second linear polarizer (the first linear polarizer produced the polarized light in the first place), the components of the 2 waves that are vibrating in the same plane will pass through the polarizer and since they are still out of phase, interference will occur and color will result. The colors that are seen are dependent on the viewing angle and the orientation of the polarizers&#39; optical axis with respect to each other. The thickness and type of bi-refringent material also play a part in the colors that are seen. 
   Thus, the disclosed system comprises a light source that transmits light through three different layers: 1) a first linear polarizing layer; 2) a bi-refringent layer; and 3) a second linear polarizing layer. Further any one or more of the layers may be rotated. The rotation of at least one of the layers will produce a polychromatic effect, whereby a viewer may see many different colors changing into other colors. By coating an object (internally or externally), such as a statuette or figurine with the second polarizing layer (or with the second polarizing layer and a bi-refringent layer under it) you may produce the effect of producing changing color in that object, so long as at least one of the layers is being rotated. This effect can be expanded to transparent liquids in that if you were to place a liquid over the second polarizing film you would also see a color change through that liquid. 
   Referring to  FIG. 1 , one embodiment of the disclosed system is shown. The disclosed device consists of two main parts, a housing  100  and an object  104 . The object  104  may be a statue, figurine, or any ornamental object that is transparent or translucent. The housing  100  is shown in more detail in  FIG. 2 . 
   Referring to  FIG. 2 , the housing comprises a fixed light source  112 , which is positioned within a rotating body  114 . The light source may comprise different types of light sources such as diffuse light or white light. The light source and power for the rotating body can be anything from a motor  120  and light bulb  112  to a candle and rotating mast powered by convection. The top of the rotating body may have a linearly polarized element  116  such that the polarized element rotates with the body. The housing itself contains this light source and rotating body and on the top of the housing is another element  118 . This element is fixed to the housing instead of to the rotating body, thus the element does not rotate. The element  118  has a bi-refringent property. This bi-refringent property may be comprised of a variety of bi-refringent layers in different orientations. 
   In another embodiment, the bi-refringent coating may be placed on the transparent or translucent sculpture described below as a preliminary coating done prior to the polarizing coating. 
   The object  104  from  FIG. 1  may be coated with a linearly polarizing film. This sculpture is then placed on the top of the housing as shown in  FIG. 1 . The bi-refringent coating can also be placed on the transparent or translucent object as a preliminary coating done prior to the polarizing coating. 
   There is color generated in the transparent or translucent sculpture due to the fact that the viewer is looking through a 1st polarizing layer on the object, then through a bi-refringent layer on the base, then through a rotating polarizing layer, and finally to the light source. This embodiment illustrates where the various coatings may be applied, but it should be understood that the coatings can be applied in a variety of ways and in a number of combinations, and as long as one or more of the layers are rotating, the polychromatic effect will appear. The key here is that all of the coatings align such that the viewer has them all in their line of sight (in order to see the colors) and this can be done by applying the coatings in numerous combinations and orientations. 
   In another embodiment of the disclosed system, the base may have a concave surface for the object to be positioned on, which would allow for a greater opportunity for the changing color effect to be seen at different relative positions to the object/base system. 
   Another embodiment of the disclosed system is shown in  FIG. 3 . A light source  130  is shown. Two rays of light  134  and  138  are shown emanating from the light source  130 . An object  142  is shown. A base  146  is shown in dotted lines. The base may be essentially the same as the base described in  FIG. 2 . The object  142  may be coated in a second linear polarizing layer. However, the object  142  may have the property of reflecting and/or bending the light rays entering into it from the light source  130 . Thus, a viewer can see light rays as they pass through the first linear polarizing layer, a bi-refringent layer of the base  146  and a second polarizing layer on the object, without necessarily having to establish a straight line of sight through the three layers, as one would have to do with the disclosed system in  FIG. 1 . Reflecting/refracting of light can also be used to modify the configuration of the housing  100 , whereby the light entering or exiting each of the layers can be directed to the next layer by reflection/refraction. For example, this would allow configurations that result in the light exiting the housing at an angle that is not normal to the platform (e.g., reflect the light so that it exits through a tube behind the object). 
   A further embodiment of the disclosed system is shown in  FIG. 4 . A light source  148  is shown. Two rays of light  150  and  152  are shown emanating from the light source  148 . An object  154  is shown. A base  156  is shown in dotted lines. The base may be essentially the same as the base described in  FIG. 2 . However, the object  154  may have the property of reflecting and/or bending the light rays entering into it from the light source  148 . Thus, a viewer can see light rays as they pass through the first linear polarizing layer, a first bi-refringent layer of the base and a second polarizing layer on the object  154 , without necessarily having to establish a straight line of sight through the three layers, as one would have to do with the disclosed system in  FIG. 1 . 
   A further embodiment of the disclosed system is shown in  FIG. 5 . A light source  158  is shown. Two rays of light  160  and  162  are shown emanating from the light source  158 . An object  164  is shown. A base  166  is shown in dotted lines. The base  166  may be essentially the same as the base described in  FIG. 2 . The object  164  may be stressed to create a variety of different stress patterns within the object  164 . However, the object  164  may also have the property of reflecting and/or bending the light rays entering into it from the light source  158 . Thus, a viewer can see light rays as they pass through the first linear polarizing layer, a bi-refringent layer of the base  166 , a second bi-refringent layer  168  created by the stresses within the object, and a second polarizing layer on the object  164 , without necessarily having to establish a straight line of sight through the three layers, as one would have to do with the disclosed system in  FIG. 1 . 
     FIG. 6  is a side view of one of the many potential objects that may be used in the device. The object  170  is placed on a base  172 , which may be essentially the same as the base described in  FIG. 2 . A light source  174  is shown. A single ray  176  is shown emanating from the light source  174 . The ray  176  is shown with an incident angle  178  and a reflected angle  180  which are equal. The incident angle  178  and the reflected angle  180  vary with the position of the viewer  182 . By adding a variety of facets to object  170  the field of view  184  may be increased so that a viewer  182  may see the color changes from many different positions. Further, the back slope  186  of the object  170  may be modified so that the reflected angle  180  provides a maximum field of view. 
     FIG. 7  is a front view of one of the many potential objects that may be used in the device. The object  188  is placed on a base  190 , which may be essentially the same as the base described in  FIG. 2 . A light source  192  is shown. A pair of rays  194  and  196  is shown emanating from the light source  192 . The ray  194  is shown reflecting off one of the many potential facets of the object  188 . Ray  196  is shown reflecting off one of the back slope of the object  188 . 
     FIG. 8  is an orthogonal view of the object. This view is shown to further display the potential variants of the object  198 . The object  188  is placed on a base  190 , which may be essentially the same as the base described in  FIG. 2 . A light source  192  is shown. A pair of rays  194  and  196  is shown emanating from the light source  192 . The ray  194  is shown reflecting off one of the many potential facets of the object  188 . 
     FIG. 9  is a non-angular object that uses the properties of refraction to create a field of view rather than reflection or the combination of reflection and refraction. This view is shown to further display the potential variants of the object  198 . The object  198  is placed on a base  200 , which may be essentially the same as the base described in  FIG. 2 . A light source  202  is shown. A single ray  204  is shown emanating from the light source  202 . The ray  204  is shown refracting through the object  198 . As seen from this embodiment the shape of the object is a non-liming factor in the present invention. 
     FIG. 10  is an exploded view of the present invention  210 . The present invention includes a base  212 . The base incorporates light source  214 . The base  212  also incorporates a motor  216  which turns gear  218 . Gear  218  turns gear  220  which is attached to a linearly polarizing film  222  which polarizes the light from light source  214  into two components  224 ,  225 . The base  212  and the gear  220  are then covered with housing  226 . Housing  226  also incorporates a bi-refringent layer  228 . 
     FIG. 11  is an exploded view of the present invention  230  incorporating object  232 . Present invention  230  incorporates the base  234  and gear  236  and housing  238  as in  FIG. 10 .  FIG. 11  further incorporates object  232  which may incorporate the bi-refringent properties discussed above and the second linear polarizing layer. 
   The preceding embodiments are by no means the only configurations possible. It is the intent of this disclosure to demonstrate the elements for producing the polychromatic effects in said objects. The actual orientation and configuration of a system used to produce the effects may vary from those disclosed.