Directed Self-Assembled Security Pattern for Anti-Counterfeiting
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional anti-counterfeiting techniques for high-value documents are expensive and can be easily manipulated or replicated, lacking a unique proprietary pattern that is difficult to detect and verify, especially with rudimentary technology.
Innovation Solution
A Directed Self-Assembly (DSA) pattern is created using unique polymer chains, produced by a production circuit, transferred onto a strip, and embedded into documents, with an analysis and verification circuit to assign and verify a unique identifier, making it difficult for counterfeiters to replicate or manipulate the pattern without advanced equipment.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If false pigments are used that are not visible under normal optical wavelengths, then the anti-counterfeiting measure becomes more sophisticated, but the pigments remain detectable with an optical microscope and specific radiation source at minimal expense
Solution Approach 1:
The patent transitions from 2D printed patterns to 3D self-assembled nanoscale structures. The DSA process creates three-dimensional polymer chains and micellar structures that organize molecules in space, making the pattern detectable only through specialized imaging techniques that can resolve nanoscale 3D arrangements, thereby increasing detection difficulty while maintaining manufacturing feasibility
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the physical and chemical parameters of the anti-counterfeiting feature by using self-assembling block copolymers with specific molecular weights, compositions, and phase separation characteristics. These parameter changes create structures with unique nanoscale dimensions and optical properties that require advanced imaging equipment to detect, addressing both the cost and detectability issues
2Adaptability or versatility
If design features based on issuing mint or document are used, then the anti-counterfeiting measure is customized, but the ability to replicate and duplicate these features has been done in the past by counterfeiters
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs self-assembling block copolymers that automatically organize into unique patterns through spontaneous phase separation during film formation. This self-service mechanism eliminates the need for complex manufacturing processes or human intervention, ensuring that each document receives a customized nanoscale pattern while the complexity of self-assembly prevents replication by counterfeiters
Solution Approach 2:
The patent creates asymmetric and unique nanoscale patterns through the self-assembly process, where slight variations in deposition conditions, polymer composition, or environmental factors result in distinctly different patterns for each document. This asymmetry ensures customization while making replication extremely difficult, as counterfeiters cannot reproduce the exact unique pattern without access to the proprietary polymer formulations and controlled self-assembly process
3Reliability
If conventional anti-counterfeiting techniques are used, then the implementation cost is high, but the probability of manipulation is high due to low difficulty in detection and replication
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces complex mechanical verification systems with a simplified optical or electromagnetic detection approach. The unique nanoscale DSA patterns have distinctive optical properties (such as light scattering, absorption, or fluorescence characteristics) that can be verified using relatively simple imaging equipment, thereby maintaining high security while reducing verification system complexity and cost
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 DSA pattern provides a sophisticated and secure anti-counterfeiting system that is unique to each document, requiring high magnification to view, and is embedded throughout the document, making it highly resistant to counterfeiting and replication, with a cognitive verification system that learns and improves over time.
Implementation Method 1
a polymer solution including a block copolymer and a selective solvent for the block copolymer is dropped onto a substrate, and the polymer solution is dried to form a self-assembled pattern
Implementation Method 2
the block copolymer forms a self-assembled pattern through phase separation of hydrophilic and hydrophobic polymer chains
Implementation Method 3
a polymer solution including a block copolymer and a selective solvent for the block copolymer
Implementation Method 4
phase separation of hydrophilic and hydrophobic polymer chains in a selective solvent
Data Source
AI summary
An anti-counterfeiting method, system, and non-transitory computer readable medium including a transfer circuit configured to transfer a Directed Self-Assembly (DSA) pattern including a unique and randomized pattern onto a strip, an embedding circuit configured to embed the strip on a document, and a verification circuit configured to verify that the unique and randomized pattern embedded on the document corresponds to the document.