Covert UV IR Security Marks Blending with Object Texture

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing security features for valuable objects are often visible and can be easily detected, lacking covertness and robustness against counterfeiting and forgery.

Innovation Solution

A security feature that blends into the object's inherent characteristics, using additional marks that are randomly distributed, small, and similar in size, shape, and color to pre-existing marks, which are only visible under UV or IR light, and encoded with machine-readable information using channel coding and error correction algorithms, ensuring covertness and high security.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Difficulty of detecting and measuring

If visible security features are used, then detection capability is improved, but covertness deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedetection capabilityVSAvoidcovertness
Core Design Contradiction:
Difficulty of detecting and measuringVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent uses marks that are invisible under normal visible light but become detectable under UV or IR illumination. The marks have different optical properties under different wavelengths, allowing them to remain covert in normal conditions while being detectable during authentication. This resolves the contradiction by enabling the security feature to adapt its visibility based on the detection conditions.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #32Color changes

2Object-affected harmful factors

If security features are made covert, then covertness is improved, but detection capability deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:
ImprovecovertnessVSAvoiddetection capability
Core Design Contradiction:
Object-affected harmful factorsVSDifficulty of detecting and measuring

Solution Approach 1:

The patent introduces UV or IR light as an intermediary medium to enable detection of the covert marks. The marks themselves remain invisible under normal conditions, but the intermediary illumination reveals them during authentication. This allows the security feature to maintain covertness while still providing reliable detection capability when needed.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

3Reliability

If additional marks are added to the object, then security against counterfeiting is improved, but visual complexity deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesecurity against counterfeitingVSAvoidvisual complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent uses marks with specialized optical properties that are invisible under normal viewing conditions. This allows additional security marks to be added to the object without increasing visual complexity, as the marks only become visible under specific UV or IR illumination during authentication processes.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #32Color changes

4Reliability

If marks are made smaller and more numerous, then security robustness is improved, but manufacturing precision requirements deteriorate

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesecurity robustnessVSAvoidmarks placement precision
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces traditional mechanical positioning methods with optical detection methods. Instead of relying on precise mechanical placement of visible marks, the system uses UV or IR illuminated detection to identify and verify the covert marks. This substitution reduces the stringency of manufacturing precision requirements while maintaining security robustness.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical 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 security feature remains undetectable to the naked eye, providing robust and secure authentication even at high transport speeds, with redundancy ensuring data integrity and resistance to counterfeiting.

Implementation Method 1

The additional marks are only visible under UV or IR light

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectFluorescence: Fluorescence

Implementation Method 2

The additional marks are only visible under UV or IR light

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectInfrared Radiation: Infrared Radiation

Data Source

PatentEP2790133B1Security feature and object with security feature
Publication Date: 2019.02.20 EUROPEAN CENTRAL BANK
  • EP2790133B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP2790133B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP2790133B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

The invention relates to a security feature representing predetermined machine readable data and being adapted to an inherent characteristic of an object to which the security feature is applied. The invention also relates to an object comprising the security feature.