Discrimination Medium with Cholesteric Liquid Crystal and Print Layer
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing anticounterfeiting techniques, such as those using cholesteric liquid crystals with holograms, are limited in information capacity, unsuitable for small-scale production due to high costs, and expensive production blocks, making them inefficient for redesigning at low costs.
Innovation Solution
A discrimination medium combining a cholesteric liquid crystal layer with a print layer, where the print layer's pattern can be easily modified at low cost, allowing for the display of various information such as characters, patterns, or combinations, without altering the cholesteric liquid crystal layer, enabling high information capacity and cost-effective small-scale production.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a hologram is used for anticounterfeiting, then the authenticity determination capability is improved, but the information capacity is limited and the production cost is high
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines a hologram layer with a print layer to create a composite discrimination medium. The hologram provides authenticity verification while the print layer adds information capacity through patterns, characters, and figures. This merging allows both functions to coexist without interfering with each other, resolving the contradiction between limited information capacity and high reliability.
Solution Approach 2:
The discrimination medium is designed to serve multiple functions simultaneously: the hologram provides optical authentication, while the print layer conveys additional information such as product details, batch numbers, and verification codes. This multi-functionality increases the overall information capacity while maintaining the authenticity determination capability.
2Reliability
If a hologram production block is used, then the authenticity determination capability is improved, but the production cost increases and small-scale production becomes unsuitable
Solution Approach 1:
The discrimination medium is segmented into separate functional layers: a hologram layer for authenticity verification and a print layer for information display. This segmentation allows the hologram to be applied once using a block, while the print layer can be customized through conventional printing methods, reducing the cost for small-scale production and redesigns.
Solution Approach 2:
Instead of creating new hologram blocks for each design variation, the patent uses a single hologram block to create the authentication element, while varying the print layer patterns and content. This copying approach allows multiple design variations to be produced at low cost without requiring expensive new hologram blocks for each variation.
3Loss of information
If the hologram figure is changed, then the information capacity is improved, but the production cost increases due to expensive blocks
Solution Approach 1:
The discrimination medium separates the authentication function (hologram) from the information display function (print layer). This segmentation allows the print layer to be redesigned independently to convey different information without requiring changes to the expensive hologram block, thus reducing redesign costs while maintaining information capacity.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses the same hologram block for multiple design variations, copying its use across different applications. The information capacity is enhanced by varying the print layer content (patterns, characters, figures) rather than changing the hologram itself, allowing cost-effective redesigns with increased information display capability.
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 solution allows for the production of a discrimination medium that can display multiple contents at a low cost, suitable for small-scale production, with the ability to redesign the display content without increasing costs, enhancing authenticity determination through the combination of hologram and print layer displays.
Implementation Method 1
a cholesteric liquid crystal layer (302) having a hologram formed thereon
Implementation Method 2
when the hologram can be observed via the right circular polarization filter, the hologram cannot be observed via the left circular polarization filter
Data Source
Figure 1~2
Figure 3A~3E
Figure 4A~4C
AI summary
A discrimination medium, which can have much information, can be produced on a small scale at low cost, and enables change of a sticker design at low cost, is provided. A cholesteric liquid crystal layer 302, having a fine asperity for forming a hologram, is formed on a transparent first substrate 301. A print layer 305 composed of a black ink is formed on a transparent second substrate 304. The substrates are affixed to each other via a bond layer 308, so that a discrimination medium 310 is obtained. In the discrimination medium 310, the display content obtained by the print layer is changed, so that the display content for discrimination can be changed at low cost.