Chiral Metal Nanostructures for High-Capacity Anti-Counterfeiting
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional anti-counterfeiting technologies, including overt, covert, and track & trace methods, face limitations in security, encoding capacity, and mass productivity, particularly in preventing forgery and ensuring device identity in the context of increasing demands driven by the Internet of Things (IoT).
Innovation Solution
An encoding method utilizing chiral metal nanostructures to control optical characteristics, providing a high encoding capacity through the use of metal nanostructures with chiral structures, which are difficult to replicate, and a decoding method involving polarized light to measure and compare optical data for authentication.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If conventional covert technology is used for encoding, then the technology can be applied to track and trace purposes, but the technology is easy to reproduce and has low security
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines multiple technologies (overt, covert, and forensic techniques) into a composite anti-counterfeiting system. Specifically, it integrates visible features (holograms, color-shifting inks) with hidden markers (watermarks, laser coding) and forensic elements (chemical tags, DNA markers) to create a multi-layered security medium that is difficult to reproduce completely
Solution Approach 2:
The patent embeds multiple levels of encoding within a single security medium. Covert markers are nested within the visible structure, and forensic tags are embedded within the material composition itself. This nested structure allows sequential discovery of different encoding layers, making complete reproduction extremely difficult
2Loss of information
If conventional track and trace technology is used, then simple identification is possible, but the encoding capacity is low (10^3 to 10^5)
Solution Approach 1:
The patent transitions from one-dimensional barcodes to multi-dimensional encoding by incorporating spectral dimensions (different wavelengths of light), spatial dimensions (patterns and orientations), and material dimensions (different chemical compositions). This allows encoding capacity to reach 10^12 or higher by utilizing multiple simultaneous variables rather than sequential information
3Adaptability or versatility
If conventional forensic technology is used, then specialized identification is possible, but it requires specialized technology and equipment with limited application
Solution Approach 1:
The patent creates a security medium that serves multiple functions simultaneously: it provides visible authentication features for general users, hidden markers for specialized verification, and forensic tags for scientific analysis. This multi-functional design allows the same security medium to be verified at different levels depending on the available equipment and expertise
4Ease of operation
If conventional overt technology is used for anti-counterfeiting, then instant identification is possible, but the technology is easy to duplicate and mix with other methods
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines multiple anti-counterfeiting technologies (overt, covert, and forensic techniques) into a composite system. Visible features like holograms and color-shifting inks provide instant identification, while embedded watermarks, laser coding, and chemical tags provide layers of verification that are increasingly difficult to duplicate, creating a graduated security system
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 method offers a secure and high-capacity encoding solution that combines covert and track & trace encryption techniques, enhancing security and encoding capacity beyond conventional limits, suitable for IoT applications.
Implementation Method 1
obtain spectral data, which is circular dichroism data, from the plurality of metal nanostructures
Data Source
AI summary
The present disclosure relates to an encoding method and a decoding method using a chiral metal nanostructure. The encoding method according to an aspect of the present disclosure includes preparing a plurality of metal nanostructures having a chiral structure; obtaining the optical data of the plurality of metal nanostructures, and preparing a security medium including the plurality of metal.