Identification Card Moiré Security Pattern

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing identification cards lack effective security measures to ensure the integrity of variable data specific to the card holder, particularly on the backside, which is crucial for documents like driving licenses, and fail to immediately detect tampering attempts.

Innovation Solution

Incorporating a moiré pattern in combination with writable information using elongate cylinder lenses and a laser-light sensitive layer, where the line pattern is positioned below the written information, creating a visible moiré effect only when the card is tilted, indicating any alteration or tampering.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If variable data is attached to identification cards, then the cards can be personalized for different holders, but the security against tampering is weakened

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvepersonalization capabilityVSAvoidsecurity against tampering
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

A moiré pattern is pre-printed on the card before the variable data is attached. This pattern serves as a built-in security feature that will automatically reveal any tampering. The pattern is positioned and oriented such that it creates a specific visual effect that disappears or changes when the card is altered, providing preliminary protection against future tampering attempts.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The moiré pattern utilizes optical interference effects that create visible changes in the card's appearance under different viewing angles. When the card is tilted, the moiré pattern produces a characteristic visual effect that is immediately noticeable. Any alteration to the card disrupts this pattern, causing a detectable change in the visual appearance that signals tampering.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #32Color changes

2Reliability

If security features are added to identification cards, then tampering detection is improved, but the complexity of the card structure increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvetampering detectionVSAvoidcard structure complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The moiré pattern is created by superimposing two line patterns that are already part of the card's design. Rather than adding a completely separate security layer, the security feature is generated by the interaction of existing structural elements. This approach provides effective tampering detection while minimizing additional structural complexity, as the security pattern emerges from the arrangement of conventional card components.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #26Copying

3Loss of information

If the moiré pattern is positioned below the written information, then the written text remains visible, but the moiré effect may be obscured

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvevisibility of written textVSAvoiddetectability of moiré effect
Core Design Contradiction:
Loss of informationVSDifficulty of detecting and measuring

Solution Approach 1:

The line patterns creating the moiré effect are designed with specific local characteristics - they are positioned in regions where they will not interfere with the readability of written information. The patterns use spacing, orientation, and density variations that allow the moiré effect to be clearly visible in certain areas while keeping the written text legible in other areas. This localized optimization ensures both information visibility and effect detectability.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

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 solution provides an immediate visual cue of tampering by altering the moiré pattern when the card is tilted, ensuring the integrity of the information and making it difficult to alter the data without being detected.

Implementation Method 1

a moiré pattern is used in combination with the writable information. Because this individual input information does not meet the requirements met by a pattern providing a moiré pattern, the user will immediately notice, on tilting the relevant portion of an identification card, the occurrence of the moiré effect of the pattern present at all times during the substantial non-alteration of the position of the individually attached information.

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectMoiré effect: Moiré Effect

Data Source

PatentEP1894169B1Identification card
Publication Date: 2012.08.08 SDU IDENTIFICATION
  • EP1894169B1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP1894169B1 patent drawingFigure 3~4
  • EP1894169B1 patent drawingFigure 5

AI summary

Identification card, in particular a driving licence. On the back thereof, where the categories of vehicles to be driven are recorded, an additional security means is provided to prevent said categories from being imperceptibly ^altered. This security means consists of a series of cylindrical lenses located next to one another. Therebelow is provided a laser- writable layer wherein the relevant categories may be written. Below said laser-writable layer or at the same level there is attached a series of lines. The lines are attached with a frequency equal to, or a whole number of times less or greater than, the lens diameter. On tilting of the card thus obtained and, more particularly, the back thereof and the portion configured in the above-described manner, a moire pattern of the relevant lines is produced for the user but the information relating to the category of vehicles to be driven remains in the stationary position.