Luminescent Security Inclusions for Multi-UV Color Authentication

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Solution Overview

Problem

Security documents face challenges in authentication due to the variability in light emission colors of luminescent materials under different ultraviolet wavelengths, making verification difficult and susceptible to counterfeiting.

Innovation Solution

Incorporation of security inclusions with luminescent regions that emit distinct colors under different ultraviolet wavelengths, providing a striking visual effect and simplifying authentication by observing color changes with wavelength shifts.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If luminescent materials are used in security documents to emit visible light under ultraviolet illumination, then the security feature becomes visible and detectable, but the color emitted varies with ultraviolet wavelength making verification problematic and susceptible to counterfeiting

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveauthentication reliabilityVSAvoidverification complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies color changes by using luminescent materials that emit different colors at different ultraviolet wavelengths. Specifically, the security feature contains materials that emit blue-cyan light at 380-420nm, green-yellow light at 420-480nm, and yellow-orange light at 480-530nm. This wavelength-dependent color emission provides a reliable authentication mechanism while maintaining simple verification procedures, as the color sequence serves as a distinctive fingerprint for genuine documents.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #32Color changes

2Reliability

If luminescent materials are used to provide security features, then authentication capability is enhanced, but the burden on counterfeiters is not sufficiently increased due to the ease of simulating single-color emission

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesecurity feature reliabilityVSAvoidcounterfeiting risk
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies parameter changes by utilizing multiple luminescent materials with distinct emission characteristics at different ultraviolet wavelengths. The security feature contains a combination of materials including strontium aluminate doped with europium and dopant deficiencies, calcium aluminate doped with europium and dopant deficiencies, and other phosphors that exhibit specific emission spectra. This multi-parameter approach (wavelength, color, intensity ratios) creates a complex authentication signature that is difficult for counterfeiters to replicate, thereby significantly increasing the burden on would-be counterfeiters while enhancing security reliability.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

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

Enhances authentication reliability and increases the burden on counterfeiters by creating a difficult-to-reproduce visual effect, ensuring robust and easier verification of security documents.

Implementation Method 1

the first luminescent region emitting visible light of (i) a first colour when viewed under ultraviolet light of a first wavelength and (ii) a second, different, colour when viewed under ultraviolet light of a second, different, wavelength

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectFluorescence: Fluorescence

Implementation Method 2

the second luminescent region emitting visible light of a different colour to the first luminescent region when viewed under ultraviolet light of the first wavelength and/or emitting visible light of a different colour to the first luminescent region when viewed under ultraviolet light of the second wavelength

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectFluorescence: Fluorescence

Data Source

PatentEP4656404A1Inclusions for use in security papers, method of manufacturing them and authenticatig method
Publication Date: 2025.12.03 SECURITY FIBERS UK LTD
  • EP4656404A1 patent drawingFigure 1(a)~1(b)
  • EP4656404A1 patent drawingFigure 2(a)~2(b)
  • EP4656404A1 patent drawingFigure 3(a)~3(b)

AI summary

An inclusion (2) for incorporation into a security paper substrate (92) is disclosed. The inclusion (2) comprises a substrate (4); a first luminescent region (6) on a first and/or second side of the substrate (4), the first luminescent region (6) emitting visible light of (i) a first colour when viewed under ultraviolet light of a first wavelength and (ii) a second, different, colour when viewed under ultraviolet light of a second, different, wavelength. The substrate (4) also comprises a second luminescent region (8) on the first and/or second side of the substrate, the second luminescent region (8) emitting visible light of a different colour to the first luminescent region (6) when viewed under ultraviolet light of the first wavelength and/or emitting visible light of a different colour to the first luminescent region (6) when viewed under ultraviolet light of the second wavelength. A security paper (90) and a security document comprising such an inclusion (2), and a method (150) of manufacturing such an inclusion (2) are also disclosed.