Double-Sided Security Element With In-Register Patterns

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current security elements lack advanced features to effectively prevent forgery and provide both visual and machine-readable security measures, particularly in documents like banknotes and ID cards, with limited durability and visibility of security features.

Innovation Solution

A security element with a transparent film featuring patterns on both sides, a color-changing layer, and a magnetic material, where the patterns on both sides are in register, providing distinct visual effects in transmitted and reflected light, and a magnetic coding that is invisible in visual inspection but machine-readable, enhancing durability with protective and optically active coatings.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If multiple security features are added to enhance security, then security reliability is improved, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesecurity reliabilityVSAvoidstructure complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent combines multiple security features (transparent patterns, color-changing layer, magnetic coding) into a single integrated security element that can be applied to documents. This merging approach maintains high security reliability while avoiding the complexity of separate security components.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The security element serves multiple functions simultaneously: visual verification through transparent patterns, optical verification through color-changing effects, and machine verification through magnetic coding. This multi-functionality enhances security without requiring multiple separate devices.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

2Measurement precision

If invisible magnetic coding is added for machine reading, then measurement precision is improved, but ease of operation deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvemachine reading precisionVSAvoidvisual inspection ease
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The security element separates verification functions into distinct layers: visible patterns for human inspection and invisible magnetic coding for machine reading. This segmentation allows each function to operate independently without interfering with the other, maintaining both measurement precision and ease of operation.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

3Reliability

If color changing layer is applied to enhance visual security, then reliability is improved, but manufacturing precision requirements increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvevisual security reliabilityVSAvoidlayer alignment precision
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

The patent uses thin film structures for the color-changing layer and transparent patterns. These thin films can be applied flexibly to the substrate, reducing the need for complex alignment procedures and lowering manufacturing precision requirements while maintaining visual security effectiveness.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #30Flexible shells and thin films

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 provides enhanced security features with improved visibility of color changes and patterns in various lighting conditions, combined with machine-readable magnetic coding, significantly reducing forgery potential and increasing durability.

Implementation Method 1

The layer of polymeric liquid crystal material is optically active and develops a colour change or colour shift depending on the angle of observation

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectOptical activity:

Implementation Method 2

Magnetic codes based on different coercivity, patterns or the like are typical examples for such characteristics

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectMagnetism: Magnetism

Data Source

PatentEP3291998B1Double-sided security element
Publication Date: 2020.09.02 FEDRIGONI SPA
  • EP3291998B1 patent drawingFigure 1A~1B
  • EP3291998B1 patent drawingFigure 2A~2B

AI summary

The invention describes a security element having a transparent film (1), a pattern (2) of transparent (22) and non-transparent regions (21) on a first side A of the film, and a pattern (3) of transparent (32) and non-transparent regions (31) on a second side B of the film (1). The pattern (3) on the second side B of the film (1) matches or is in register with the pattern (2) on the first side A of the film (1). A colour changing layer (4) covers the pattern (2,3) on at least one side A, B of the transparent film (1).