Anti-Counterfeiting Structure with Integrated Optical Device Layer

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative Solutions
Generate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

Information authentication media, such as passports and ID cards, can be counterfeited by peeling off optical variable devices (OVDs) from genuine substrates and attaching them to fraudulent substrates, making it difficult to distinguish genuine from counterfeit versions.

Innovation Solution

An anti-counterfeiting structure is designed with an optical device layer and an information portion integrated on a substrate, where the information portion changes its optical characteristics upon laser irradiation, making it difficult to separate the optical device layer from the information portion, thus preventing the addition of fraudulent information.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of manufacture

If the optical device layer and information portion are separately positioned on the substrate, then it is easy to manufacture and assemble, but it becomes easy to peel off the optical device layer and attach it to fraudulent substrates

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveease of assemblyVSAvoidanti-counterfeiting capability
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of manufactureVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent merges the optical device layer and information portion into a single integrated device structure. The information portion is formed within the optical device layer itself, making them inseparable. This integration ensures that when the device structure is peeled off the substrate, both the optical device and information are removed together, preventing counterfeiting while maintaining manufacturing feasibility.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

2Reliability

If the optical device layer and information portion are integrated into a single device structure, then it becomes difficult to peel off and counterfeit, but it increases manufacturing complexity

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveanti-counterfeiting capabilityVSAvoidmanufacturing complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent segments the authentication system into two parts: a substrate and a device structure. The device structure contains both the optical device layer and information portion as an integrated unit that can be manufactured separately and then attached to the substrate. This segmentation allows the complex integrated device structure to be produced using standard lamination processes, reducing overall manufacturing complexity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

3Ease of operation

If the information portion is made from a substance changeable by laser irradiation, then it provides visible information display, but it requires additional laser processing steps

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveinformation display capabilityVSAvoidprocessing steps
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent uses a substance in the information portion that changes its optical properties (transparency, color) in response to laser irradiation. This parameter change allows the information to be displayed or activated without adding complex mechanical or electronic components. The laser processing step is simplified to merely triggering a material property change rather than requiring complex assembly or activation mechanisms.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

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

This integration makes it challenging to counterfeit the authentication medium by combining the optical device layer with fraudulent information, as the genuine information is securely linked, allowing for easier detection of falsification.

Implementation Method 1

the first substance is changeable to a second substance having a different optical characteristic from the first substance by laser irradiation

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectLaser irradiation: Laser

Implementation Method 2

the first substance is changeable to a second substance having a different optical characteristic from the first substance by laser irradiation

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectPhotochemical change: Photopolymerisation

Data Source

PatentEP4467353A1Anti-counterfeiting structure
Publication Date: 2024.11.27 TOPPAN HOLDINGS INC
  • EP4467353A1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP4467353A1 patent drawingFigure 3~5
  • EP4467353A1 patent drawingFigure 6~7

AI summary

An anti-counterfeiting structure includes a substrate having a surface, and a device structure positioned on the surface. A side opposite to the side on which the substrate is positioned with respect to the device structure 12 is an observation side, and the device structure comprises an optical device layer that emits predetermined light towards the observation side, the optical device layer including a relief structure layer, and an information portion that contains given information. The information portion comprises a first substance having optical transparency, wherein the first substance is changeable to a second substance having a different optical characteristic from the first substance by laser irradiation, and the second substance representing information. The information portion is constituted by a plurality of information elements. The device structure has a display surface that is a surface opposite to the surface on which a surface of the substrate, and is configured so as to display information contained in the information portion via the display surface. After laser irradiation each of the information elements includes the first substance dispersed substantially throughout the entire information element and the second substance dispersed substantially throughout the entire information element, and has a shape representing a portion of the information as viewed perpendicular to the surface. In a portion of the relief structure layer contacting an information element, a discolored changed portion, that is a portion having a color different from that of a portion other than the discolored changed portion in the relief structure layer, is formed by the laser irradiation.