Anti-Harvesting Security Feature Deformation Mechanism
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing security features are vulnerable to harvesting techniques, such as thermal harvesting, which allows counterfeiters to remove and reattach them to counterfeit products without damage, making it difficult to distinguish authentic from counterfeit products.
Innovation Solution
Incorporating an anti-harvesting component with a selected anti-harvesting temperature lower than the harvesting temperature of the coupling means, which causes the security feature to deform or decay when exposed to thermal attacks, preventing its removal and reattachment without damage.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If thermal harvesting is applied to remove the security feature from the authentic product, then the security feature can be extracted and reused on counterfeit products, but the security feature remains intact and functional after extraction
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary anti-action by incorporating a heat-sensitive component into the security feature that is designed to degrade or change properties when exposed to thermal harvesting temperatures. This pre-built vulnerability counteracts the harvesting attempt before it can successfully extract a functional security feature, thereby preventing the contradiction from being resolved in favor of the counterfeiters.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent utilizes parameter changes by designing the heat-sensitive component to undergo physical or chemical changes when exposed to specific temperature ranges. These changes alter the component's properties (such as melting, decomposing, or changing optical characteristics) in response to thermal harvesting, transforming the security feature from a reusable element into a degraded, non-functional state that cannot be effectively reused on counterfeit products.
2Ease of operation
If the adhesive coupling means is made thermally sensitive to allow easy harvesting, then the security feature can be removed by heating, but this makes the security feature vulnerable to theft and reuse
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a heat-sensitive component as an intermediary element between the security feature and the adhesive coupling means. This intermediary component is specifically designed to respond to thermal stimuli by degrading or changing properties, thereby protecting the security feature from being harvested while maintaining the adhesive's thermal sensitivity for legitimate removal purposes.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent segments the security feature system into distinct functional components: the security feature itself, the adhesive coupling means, and a separate heat-sensitive component. This segmentation allows each component to have optimized properties - the adhesive remains thermally sensitive for controlled removal, while the heat-sensitive component provides the anti-harvesting functionality through its temperature-dependent behavior.
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 security feature becomes unusable for counterfeiting by deforming or decaying when subjected to harvesting temperatures, thereby maintaining product authenticity and preventing misidentification of counterfeit products.
Implementation Method 1
the anti-harvesting component causes the security feature to become deformed when the security feature or the product to which it is attached is subjected to temperatures above the anti-harvesting temperature
Data Source
Figure 1~3
AI summary
The application provides a security feature comprising an anti-harvesting element which deforms the security feature upon harvesting or attempts to harvest the security feature.