Acute-Angle Diffractive Security Element for Forgery Resistance
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing security elements with diffraction structures are easily detectable and can be imitated, as they require a significant angle between the direction of incidence and diffraction, making them vulnerable to forgery and falsification.
Innovation Solution
A security element with a diffraction structure designed to diffract at an acute angle, where the target exposure direction and target detection direction enclose an angle of less than 10 degrees, making it difficult to detect in ambient light, and can be verified using a mobile phone's integrated lighting and camera by adjusting the detection geometry.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If a diffraction structure is designed with a large angle between incidence and diffraction directions (greater than 15-20 degrees), then it is easily detectable by human observers, but it becomes easier to imitate and less secure
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the critical parameter of diffraction angle from the conventional large angle (15-20 degrees) to a small acute angle (less than 10 degrees, preferably less than 5 degrees). This parameter change creates a diffraction geometry where the diffraction structure is hidden from ambient light detection while remaining verifiable with specialized equipment, thus resolving the contradiction between detectability and security.
2Reliability
If a diffraction structure is designed with a small acute angle between incidence and diffraction directions (less than 10 degrees), then it becomes secure and difficult to detect in ambient light, but it requires specialized verification equipment
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces an intermediary verification system using a mobile device with integrated light source and camera. The light source provides controlled illumination at the required acute angle, and the camera captures the diffraction pattern. This intermediary system enables verification of the hidden diffraction structure without requiring complex specialized equipment, thus resolving the contradiction between security and ease of verification.
3Ease of operation
If a diffraction structure is visible in ambient light, then it is easy to verify, but it can be easily located and imitated by forgery
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary anti-action by designing the diffraction structure to be invisible in ambient light conditions, preventing potential forgers from locating and copying it. The structure only becomes visible under controlled verification conditions using the mobile device's light source, thus preventing forgery while maintaining verification capability.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The acute-angled diffraction structure is highly secure, as it is challenging to detect without specialized equipment and can be easily verified using common mobile phone technology, enhancing authenticity verification while reducing the likelihood of imitation.
Implementation Method 1
a diffraction element which reflectively diffracts light in the visible wavelength range in particular, so that the detected diffraction enables verification
Implementation Method 2
A diffraction element has at least one diffraction structure capable of influencing light through the physical effect of diffraction
Data Source
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AI summary
The invention relates to a security element (10) having a diffraction structure (20) and to a method for manufacturing said security element. What is proposed is a security element (10) comprising a diffraction element (20) diffracting to reflection, wherein the diffraction element (20) comprises a diffraction structure (101) for which there exists a diffraction geometry (100) for which a desired exposure direction (105) for the light (120) provided for diffraction forms an acute angle (190), at the point of incidence (180) on the diffraction element (20), with a desired detection direction (115) in which the light diffracted to reflection is detectable. Such a security element is manufactured by virtue of a diffraction structure (101) of the diffraction element (20) being printed or impressed into a material layer, for which diffraction structure there exists a diffraction geometry (100) for which a desired exposure direction (105) for the light (120) provided for diffraction forms an acute angle (190), at the point of incidence (180) on the diffraction element (20), with a desired detection direction (115) in which the light diffracted to reflection is detectable.