Binary Tilting Security Element Using Complementary Color Layers
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current security elements for data carriers, such as banknotes and credit cards, face challenges in providing enhanced verifiability and protection against forgery, as existing optically variable colors can be replicated by counterfeiters using substances like nail polish, and the visibility of these colors is often weak, especially when viewed from certain angles.
Innovation Solution
A security element comprising a color layer and an effect layer where the effect layer is transparent at one angle and reveals a complementary contrast color at another angle, ensuring a binary tilting effect that masks the color tone of the color layer and enhances the visibility of the effect layer, using pigments like Iriodin and Colorcrypt to create a strong, perceivable color shift.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Illumination intensity
If a highly translucent effect layer is used to achieve strong light transmission, then the color impression visible to the viewer is enhanced, but the visibility of the color change is weak and requires dark backgrounds
Solution Approach 1:
A color layer is introduced as an intermediary between the translucent effect layer and the substrate. This color layer has a color that is complementary to the effect layer's color at the effect angle, creating a strong visual contrast that enhances the visibility of the color change without requiring dark backgrounds
Solution Approach 2:
The patent utilizes optically variable pigments (such as Iriodin pigments) that exhibit color-shifting effects and goniochromatic properties. These pigments change their apparent color or transparency based on the viewing angle, providing a reliable and visually striking color change that is difficult to replicate
2Reliability
If optically variable colors are used for security elements, then authenticity verification is enabled, but counterfeiters can replicate these colors using substances like nail polish
Solution Approach 1:
The security element combines multiple layers with different optical properties: a translucent effect layer containing optically variable pigments and a color layer with complementary colors. This composite structure creates a specific visual effect at different angles that is difficult to replicate with simple substances like nail polish
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies different optical properties to different layers: the effect layer provides angle-dependent transparency and color shift, while the color layer provides a stable complementary color background. This local differentiation of optical qualities creates a complex visual effect that enhances security
3Reliability
If multiple adjacent strips of optically variable color are used to improve visibility, then the overall perceptibility of color impressions increases, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of using multiple adjacent strips, the patent uses a single continuous effect layer with optically variable pigments that exhibit strong color-shifting effects. The complementary color layer enhances the visual contrast, providing high perceptibility without requiring multiple separate strips
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the optical parameters of the effect layer by using pigments with specific goniochromatic properties and selecting complementary colors for the color layer. This parameter optimization achieves high visibility with a simpler single-layer structure rather than multiple strips
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 binary tilting effect significantly improves the authenticity verification and protection against forgery by ensuring that only the effect layer's color is visible at the designated angle, making it difficult for counterfeiters to replicate the precise color shift and contrast, thereby enhancing the security of data carriers.
Implementation Method 1
optical interference layers can be present either over the entire surface or in pigment form. Such interference layers typically have a thin-film structure and, for example, in the case of a multilayer thin-film structure, include a reflection layer, an absorber layer and one or more dielectric spacer layers
Implementation Method 2
Such interference layers are referred to as single-layer or multi-layer depending on the number of dielectric layers
Implementation Method 3
include a reflection layer, an absorber layer and one or more dielectric spacer layers
Data Source
Figure 1~3b
Figure 3c~4
Figure 5~7
AI summary
The invention relates to a security element for a data carrier, comprising a color layer (1) and an effect layer (2), which is substantially transparent when observed at a first angle (A) and shows a color shade when observed at at least a second, so-called effect angle (B), wherein the color shade of the effect layer produces a complementary contrast to the color shade of the color layer (1) at least in a first section (2a).