Anti-Counterfeit Card With Laser-Reactive Invisible Pattern

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing personalized supports, particularly those using laser-type graphic personalization, are vulnerable to falsification due to the high precision of laser technology, making it difficult to detect fraudulent alterations by visual inspection.

Innovation Solution

Incorporating an invisible graphic printing pattern as anti-tampering means on the card surface, which reacts to laser personalization by changing its appearance when fraudulent attempts are made, thereby revealing visible defects that can be easily detected.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Manufacturing precision

If laser personalization is used to transfer information on the card surface, then manufacturing precision and information clarity are improved, but the card becomes vulnerable to falsification by overloaded laser personalization

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvepersonalization precisionVSAvoidanti-falsification capability
Core Design Contradiction:
Manufacturing precisionVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

An invisible graphic printing pattern is pre-applied to the card surface before personalization. This pattern serves as a preliminary anti-falsification layer that will react to subsequent laser personalization attempts, revealing tampering before the card is actually falsified.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The invisible graphic printing pattern changes its appearance (becomes visible) when subjected to laser personalization. The pattern is designed to react to the laser beam by changing its optical properties, making tampering detectable through color or transparency changes.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #32Color changes

2Strength

If the card surface is made transparent to protect personalization information, then protection against physical damage is improved, but detection of laser falsification becomes more difficult

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveprotective layer integrityVSAvoidfalsification detection difficulty
Core Design Contradiction:
StrengthVSDifficulty of detecting and measuring

Solution Approach 1:

The invisible graphic printing pattern on the transparent protective layer changes its optical properties when subjected to laser personalization. This allows detection of falsification attempts through visual inspection of the pattern's reaction, even on transparent surfaces.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #32Color changes

Solution Approach 2:

The invisible graphic printing pattern acts as an intermediary layer between the transparent protective coating and the personalization information. It provides a detectable response to laser attempts without interfering with the transparency or protection function.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

3Reliability

If an anti-tampering pattern is added to the card surface, then anti-falsification capability is improved, but the pattern must remain invisible to avoid affecting card appearance

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveanti-falsification capabilityVSAvoidpattern application complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The pattern is designed to be invisible under normal conditions but changes its appearance when subjected to laser personalization. This dual-state property allows the pattern to remain aesthetically pleasing while providing security functionality.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #32Color changes

Solution Approach 2:

The invisible graphic printing pattern automatically reacts to laser personalization attempts without requiring external activation. The pattern self-activates when exposed to the laser beam, providing passive security verification.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

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 anti-tampering pattern effectively prevents fraudulent overloading of personalization information by making tampering attempts visible, enhancing the security and detectability of the card.

Implementation Method 1

The personalization information can for example be written on the surface 3 of the card body by means of a laser beam, by burning the surface of the card body. Such personalization is illustrated by reference 4 to the figure 1. The resulting local discoloration of the surface depends on the energy available, the writing time and the card body material used.

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectLaser heating: Laser

Implementation Method 2

the graphic printing pattern is designed to react to the support personalization means used, that is to say to the laser beam in the context of laser personalization, so that it is revealed by changing its appearance and therefore modifying the external appearance of the support, in the event of an attempt at fraudulent personalization of the support at the locations where the pattern is present.

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectLaser-induced optical change: Laser

Data Source

PatentEP1926605B1Personalized support such as identification card comprising Anti-counterfeit means
Publication Date: 2014.08.06 THALES DIS FRANCE SA
  • EP1926605B1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP1926605B1 patent drawingFigure 3a~3c

AI summary

The invention concerns a support (1) comprising a surface (3) provided with personalizing data (4, 4 bis), characterized in that it includes anti-counterfeit means (8), arranged on at least part of said surface (3), said anti-counterfeit means being configured to be modified in appearance under the effect of an additional personalization of said part and appear as defects visible at the surface of the card.