Laminated Information Recording Medium with Laser-Developed Color Authentication

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional information recording media with diffraction structures are prone to counterfeiting due to the ease of duplicating common motifs, making it difficult to distinguish authentic from falsified personal information, and lack effective methods for easy authentication.

Innovation Solution

The information recording medium incorporates a diffraction structure layer and a second reflective layer with specific refractive index differences, along with a colored layer that changes color upon laser irradiation, creating a complex pattern that is difficult to reproduce, and is laminated between a base material and a transparent protective layer to prevent physical alteration.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If a common diffraction structure motif is used for information recording media, then the manufacturing process is simplified and production efficiency is improved, but the media becomes vulnerable to counterfeiting and falsification

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveproduction efficiencyVSAvoidanti-counterfeiting capability
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies local quality by making each information recording medium have a unique diffraction structure motif specific to that medium, rather than using a common motif across all media. This uniqueness is achieved through individualized design of the diffraction structure for each medium, creating local differentiation that prevents counterfeiting while maintaining standardized manufacturing processes for the overall medium structure.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

2Strength

If the diffraction structure is integrated into the base material through encapsulation, then resistance to chemical damage and abrasion is improved, but the ability to detect falsification through physical separation becomes more difficult

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveresistance to chemical damage and abrasionVSAvoiddetection of falsification
Core Design Contradiction:
StrengthVSDifficulty of detecting and measuring

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies preliminary action by pre-encoding unique identification information into the diffraction structure motif during the manufacturing process, before the medium is put into service. This unique motif is integrated into the base material through encapsulation, and its presence and characteristics can later serve as a preliminary check for authenticity, making it difficult for counterfeiters to replicate without detection.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

3Adaptability or versatility

If laser engraving is used to record personal information, then the ability to store variable information is improved, but the complexity of the authentication process increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveability to store variable informationVSAvoidauthentication process complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent merges multiple authentication features into a single integrated system. The diffraction structure motif, the laser-engraved personal information, and the unique identification characteristics are combined into one unified authentication mechanism. This allows variable personal information to be stored through laser engraving while the overall authentication process remains relatively simple, as all features work together as a coordinated whole rather than requiring separate verification steps.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

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 renders it extremely difficult to falsify or counterfeit the media, as the complex light patterns and color development patterns make reproduction challenging, and the integrated structure prevents physical separation or substitution of the base material, facilitating easy detection of any falsification attempts.

Implementation Method 1

light that is incident on the diffraction structure from the transparent protective layer side develops diffracted light in an observable arbitrary pattern, such as characters or motifs, in a predetermined angular range of the diffraction structure layer

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectDiffraction: Diffraction

Implementation Method 2

when a laser beam is applied from the transparent protective layer side via the intermediate layer, the laser beam passes through the diffraction structure and instantaneously destroys the first reflective layer having no optical transparency

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectLaser ablation: Laser Ablation

Implementation Method 3

the base material is permitted to develop color in a color development pattern conforming to personal verification information

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectPhotochromism: Photochromism

Data Source

PatentEP3851291B1Information recording medium, label, card and method of authentication
Publication Date: 2023.09.13 TOPPAN HOLDINGS INC
  • EP3851291B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3851291B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3851291B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

An information recording medium (10a) formed by laminating a transparent protective layer (40) and a base material (20) having laser color-developing properties is provided. The information recording medium (10a) includes an intermediate layer (30) that is disposed between the transparent protective layer (40) and the base material (20). In the information recording medium (10a), the intermediate layer (30) includes a diffraction structure layer (32) that has a diffraction structure, and a first reflective layer (36) that reflects visible light and is destroyed when irradiated with a laser beam. Light, when incident from a transparent protective layer (40) side, causes a diffracted light pattern to appear in the diffraction structure layer (32) so as to be observable from the transparent protective layer (40) side. A laser beam, when applied from the transparent protective layer (40) side, passes through the diffraction structure layer (32), destroys the first reflective layer (36), and develops color in the base material (20).