Anticounterfeiting Foil With Integrated Nanostructures and UV Ink
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current anticounterfeiting features either rely on static overt features that lack interactivity or advanced covert features that are complex to manufacture, necessitating a solution that integrates both overt and covert functionalities in a single, easily producible device for enhanced security.
Innovation Solution
A foil stack integrating overt and covert features, comprising a resin layer with periodic nanostructures, a coating layer, and an ink layer, where the coating layer and nanostructures interact with light to display images at different angles, and the ink layer emits visible light when illuminated by UV light, filtered to produce an optical effect, enhancing security while simplifying production.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If advanced covert features combining ink layers and multi-layer dielectric stacks are used to provide interactivity and enhanced security, then security enhancement is improved, but manufacturing complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines overt and covert security features into a single integrated device. The foil stack integrates a resin layer with periodic nanostructures (overt feature) and an ink layer with UV fluorescence (covert feature), eliminating the need for separate manufacturing processes and reducing overall complexity while maintaining enhanced security
Solution Approach 2:
The single foil stack structure serves multiple functions: it provides overt security features through diffractive nanostructures that display images at different angles, and covert security features through UV-responsive fluorescent ink. This multi-functionality in a single device reduces manufacturing steps compared to producing separate overt and covert features
2Illumination intensity
If multiple thin film metal or dielectric layers are coated to provide reflection efficiency for overt features, then optical performance is improved, but manufacturing complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies different functional layers to different regions of the foil stack. The coating layer is selectively applied to work with the first periodic array of nanostructures for reflection mode overt features, while leaving other regions open for UV transmission to the fluorescent ink layer. This localized functional differentiation optimizes optical performance without requiring complete multi-layer coverage across the entire structure
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 integrated device provides enhanced security through interactive overt and covert functionalities, offering both reflection and transmission modes under ambient and UV light, with a single layer of coating material enabling UV transparency and colorshift filtering, while simplifying manufacturing by reducing the need for multiple coatings.
Implementation Method 1
the coating layer and the first periodic array of nanostructures are configured to interact with incident light to display a plurality of images to a user, each image displayed based on a different viewing angle of the user
Implementation Method 2
the ink layer is configured to emit visible light when illuminated by the incident ultraviolet light
Implementation Method 3
the coating layer and the second periodic array of nanostructures are configured so that incident ultraviolet light is transmitted through the second periodic array of nanostructures and the coating layer to the ink layer, and incident visible light emitted by the ink layer is filtered to produce an optical effect when viewed by the user
Data Source
AI summary
An anticounterfeiting device having a film stack including functionalized microstructures and nanostructures that produces overt and covert features under ambient visible and ultraviolet light, as well as methods of use and construction are disclosed herein.