Security Element With IR Substances For Interference-Free Verification

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing security elements with both optically variable and machine-readable features face interference issues, where magnetic materials used for machine-checking are visible in light and disrupt optically variable features, and vice versa, compromising authenticity verification.

Innovation Solution

A security element utilizing at least two different IR substances arranged in defined areas, ensuring transparency in visible light and distinct IR absorption patterns for machine-readable coding, preventing interference between visual and machine-readable features.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If magnetic materials are used for machine-readable security features, then machine-checkability is improved, but visibility in light increases which impairs optically variable security features

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvemachine-checkabilityVSAvoidvisibility interference

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces magnetic materials with infrared-absorbing materials for the machine-readable security feature. This substitution eliminates the visibility problem caused by magnetic materials in light while maintaining machine-checkability through infrared detection. The infrared-absorbing materials are invisible in visible light, thus preserving the appearance and visual effects of optically variable security features.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent uses materials that are invisible in the visible spectrum but absorb infrared radiation. This creates a form of optical invisibility for the machine-readable code in visible light, allowing optically variable security features to maintain their visual appearance without interference from the machine-readable security feature.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #32Color changes

2Reliability

If optically variable security features are used, then visual security is improved, but machine-readability is impaired due to interference with magnetic security features

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvevisual securityVSAvoidmachine-readable code readability

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSLoss of information

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces magnetic security features with infrared-absorbing materials for the machine-readable security feature. This substitution eliminates the interference between magnetic materials and optically variable security features, allowing both visual security and machine-readability to function without mutual impairment.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

3Reliability

If a single security element contains both optically variable and machine-readable features, then security verification is improved, but interference between features increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveauthenticity verificationVSAvoidfeature interference

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSObject-generated harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces magnetic materials with infrared-absorbing materials, which are invisible in the visible spectrum. This substitution allows the machine-readable security feature to coexist with optically variable security features in the same security element without causing visual interference, while both features remain fully functional for their respective verification purposes.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

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 high forgery resistance with both visual and machine-checkable authenticity, maintaining the appearance of optically variable features while enabling reliable machine-readable coding without interference.

Implementation Method 1

A machine-readable security feature that forms a code using at least two mutually different IR substances which are arranged in a defined manner in the security element. Two different IR substances are understood to be two substances that absorb in different IR wavelength regions.

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectIR absorption: Absorption (EM radiation)

Data Source

PatentUS12128703B2Security element having machine-readable IR code

Publication Date: 2024.10.29 GIESECKE & DEVRIENT CURRENCY TECHNOLOGY GMBH

AI summary

The invention relates to a security element having an optically variable security feature and a machine-readable security feature, which are at least partially arranged one above the other, wherein the security element is transparent or translucent in the region of the visible light and the machine-readable security feature forms a code. The machine-readable security feature is a combination of at least two different substances, a first IR substance and a second IR substance, wherein the first IR substance is arranged in a first areal region of the security element and the second IR substance is arranged in a second areal region of the security element, and wherein the first IR substance absorbs in a first IR wavelength region and the second IR substance absorbs in a second IR wavelength region. The invention also relates to a value document which has such a security element.