Gaming Chip Internal IR Marking for Anti-Counterfeit Authentication

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing gaming chips face challenges in authenticating their legitimacy due to the potential for counterfeiting, with existing technologies relying on surface markings that can be visually confirmed or easily altered, and there is a need for a more secure and reliable method to determine the authenticity and value of gaming chips.

Innovation Solution

The gaming chip is designed with a multilayer structure incorporating a colored layer and light color layers laminated on both sides, featuring internal printing using infrared absorbing material for authenticity recognition marks, along with an RF tag for additional verification, and a management system utilizing infrared and visible light cameras to read these markings and RF tag information.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If surface markings are used for authentication, then ease of reading is improved, but reliability of authentication deteriorates due to easy counterfeiting

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveease of readingVSAvoidauthentication reliability
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent moves authentication from the surface dimension to the internal dimension by embedding infrared absorbing material within the gaming chip. The infrared camera captures images from the opposite side of the chip, creating a depth-based authentication layer that cannot be easily replicated on the surface, thus resolving the contradiction between ease of reading and authentication reliability

Inventive Principle:
Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

Solution Approach 2:

The infrared absorbing material acts as an intermediary element embedded within the chip structure. This material mediates between the visible surface and the authentication system by absorbing infrared radiation and creating a distinct image pattern that verifies authenticity without compromising the visual appearance or ease of reading surface markings

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Reliability

If internal printing with infrared absorbing material is used, then reliability of authentication is improved, but difficulty of detecting and measuring increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveauthentication reliabilityVSAvoiddetection difficulty
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDifficulty of detecting and measuring

Solution Approach 1:

The patent utilizes infrared absorbing material that creates a distinct optical response in the infrared spectrum. This material appears different under infrared illumination compared to visible light, allowing the authentication system to detect internal patterns through infrared imaging while maintaining visual appearance under normal lighting conditions

Inventive Principle:
Principle #32Color changes

Solution Approach 2:

The patent replaces complex mechanical or chemical authentication methods with optical detection using infrared cameras. The infrared absorbing material creates detectable patterns that can be read remotely and non-contactly, substituting physical inspection mechanisms with optical field-based detection that simplifies the measurement process

Inventive Principle:
Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

3Reliability

If multilayer structure with colored layer is used, then reliability of authentication is improved, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveauthentication reliabilityVSAvoidchip structure complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The colored layer in the multilayer structure serves multiple functions: it provides visual identification of chip value or type, contributes to the overall aesthetic design, and works in conjunction with the infrared absorbing material to enable authentication. This multi-functionality reduces the need for separate authentication components, thereby managing complexity while enhancing reliability

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

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

This configuration enhances the difficulty of visually confirming internal prints, making counterfeiting harder, and allows for accurate authentication through a combination of infrared and visible light imaging, ensuring the authenticity and type of the gaming chip are reliably determined.

Implementation Method 1

an authenticity recognition mark is printed on the surface of the gaming chip and printed more inwardly than the printing of the representation of the type of the gaming chip by an infrared absorbing material, and the authenticity recognition mark is irradiated with infrared rays from a side printed with the representation of the type of the gaming chip printed on the outer side of the representation plastic layer by an infrared camera to allow the authenticity recognition mark to be recorded and discriminated by the infrared absorbing material

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectInfrared absorption: Absorption (EM radiation)

Data Source

PatentEP4325457B1Gaming chip and management system
Publication Date: 2026.03.25 ANGEL PLAYING CARDS CO LTD
  • EP4325457B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP4325457B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP4325457B1 patent drawingFigure 3A

AI summary

A gaming chip, wherein a representation of a type of the gaming chip is printed on a surface of the gaming chip, and an authenticity recognition mark is printed more inwardly than the printing of the representation of the type of the gaming chip, wherein the authenticity recognition mark is printed by an infrared absorbing material. The authenticity recognition mark is irradiated with infrared rays from a side printed with the representation of the type of the gaming chip printed on the surface of the gaming chip by an infrared camera to allow an infrared absorbing material printed more inwardly than the printing of the representation of the type of the gaming chip to record and discriminate the authenticity recognition mark. A management system comprises an infrared camera generating an infrared image by photographing the infrared image indicated by an internal printing of the authenticity recognition mark inside the gaming chip; and an inspection device determining authenticity of the gaming chip based on the infrared image.