Gonioluminescent Security Element Angle-Dependent Verification

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative Solutions
Generate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

Current security features in documents lack a reliable and easy-to-check angle-dependent mechanism for verification, limiting their effectiveness in preventing forgery and ensuring authenticity.

Innovation Solution

A gonioluminescent security element is created by combining a luminescent first element with an optical interference structure in the second element, which changes transmittance or reflectance in a specific wavelength range when the orientation changes, allowing for a visible and reliable verification through excitation of luminescence.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If conventional security features are used, then basic security is provided, but they lack reliable and easy-to-check angle-dependent verification mechanisms

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveverification reliabilityVSAvoidverification ease
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The patent employs luminescent materials that exhibit angle-dependent luminescence properties. When the security element is tilted, the luminescence intensity or spectral composition changes in a visually perceptible manner, providing a simple and reliable verification mechanism that does not require complex equipment or trained personnel.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #32Color changes

Solution Approach 2:

The security feature utilizes dynamic optical effects that change with viewing angle. The luminescence characteristics are not static but vary dynamically as the observer changes the angle of observation, creating a verification effect that is both reliable and easy to check through simple tilting movements.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

2Reliability

If complex verification mechanisms are implemented, then verification reliability improves, but the complexity of the security element increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveverification reliabilityVSAvoidsecurity element complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The security element performs self-verification through its intrinsic angle-dependent luminescence properties. The element itself provides the verification mechanism without requiring external complex devices or systems, thereby maintaining simplicity while ensuring reliability.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

Solution Approach 2:

The luminescence color or intensity changes with orientation, providing a built-in verification mechanism that is simple in structure but reliable in function. This eliminates the need for complex verification equipment while maintaining high security standards.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #32Color changes

3Reliability

If angle-dependent optical effects are added to security features, then verification capability improves, but the manufacturing complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveverification capabilityVSAvoidmanufacturing ease
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The patent combines luminescent materials with angle-dependent optical properties into a single integrated security element. This merging of functions allows the verification capability to be built into the base layer structure, simplifying the overall manufacturing process compared to adding separate verification components.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The security element utilizes composite materials that inherently possess both luminescence and angle-dependent optical properties. By selecting materials with these combined characteristics, the patent avoids complex multi-layer structures or additional manufacturing steps, thereby maintaining ease of manufacture while achieving superior verification capability.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #40Composite materials

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 solution provides a simple visual inspection method for verifying the security feature, enabling untrained individuals to confirm the authenticity of documents by observing changes in luminescence intensity or spectral composition when tilting, enhancing security against forgery.

Implementation Method 1

the first element (3) comprises first luminescent means (luminescence means), which emit luminescence light in a designated wavelength range

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectLuminescence: Luminescence

Implementation Method 2

the second element (5) comprises at least one optical interference structure which has an orientation-dependent transmittance or reflectivity in a distinct wavelength range

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectOptical interference: Interference

Data Source

PatentEP2307206B1Gonioluminescent security element and method for producing it
Publication Date: 2012.01.04 BUNDESDRUCKEREI GMBH
  • EP2307206B1 patent drawingFigure 1a~3b
  • EP2307206B1 patent drawingFigure 4
  • EP2307206B1 patent drawingFigure 5a~5c

AI summary

The invention relates to a gonioluminescent security element (1) and to a method for producing such a security element, which is preferably embodied as a security document. The security element (1) comprises a first element (3) and a second element (5), which at least partly overlaps the first element (3), wherein the second element (5) faces an observation side (4) of the security element (1), wherein the first element (3) comprises first luminescence means and the second element (5) comprises at least one optical interference structure which has an orientation-dependent transmittance (11, 12) and/or reflectance (11, 12) in a distinguished wavelength range (14) wherein the first element (3) and the second element (5) are coordinated with one another in such a way that an optical change can be perceived in the case of observation during excitation of luminescence of the luminescence means depending on an orientation of the observation and/or a direction of incident radiation of excitation light through the second element (5), wherein the at least one interference structure changes its transmittance and/or reflectance in the distinguished wavelength range for precisely one orientation or in a delimited orientation range.