Magnetic Security Element with Multi-Coercivity Inks

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current magnetic security elements for data carriers and documents have limited information content and are difficult to produce efficiently, making them vulnerable to forgery and requiring complex designs.

Innovation Solution

A security element with machine-readable features using magnetic materials of different coercive field strengths (K1, K2, and K3) applied in various areas on a carrier substrate, where each area is formed by a distinct printing ink, allowing for multiple coding levels and increased security without complex production processes.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Loss of information

If magnetic materials with different coercive field strengths are used to increase information content, then the security and information capacity improve, but the production complexity and cost increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveinformation contentVSAvoidproduction complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Loss of informationVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent combines multiple magnetic materials with different coercive field strengths (K1, K2, K3) into a single printing ink formulation. This allows multiple magnetic properties to be integrated into one printing step, increasing information content while avoiding the complexity of multiple sequential printing processes. The magnetic materials are mixed in specific ratios to create distinct magnetic signatures in different areas.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent varies the coercive field strength parameter by selecting different magnetic materials (with coercivities K1, K2, and K3) and adjusting their concentrations in the printing ink. This enables the creation of multiple distinguishable magnetic areas with different magnetic properties, thereby increasing the information content and security without requiring complex structural designs.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

2Reliability

If complex magnetic area designs are used to increase information content, then the security improves, but the manufacturing effort and cost increase significantly

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesecurity against forgeryVSAvoidmanufacturing effort
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The patent uses composite printing inks containing multiple magnetic materials with different coercive field strengths. By formulating inks with specific combinations of magnetic particles (with coercivities K1, K2, and K3), the system achieves high security through complex magnetic signatures while maintaining relatively simple printing manufacturing processes. The composite nature of the ink allows for differentiated magnetic areas without requiring complex manufacturing steps.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #40Composite materials

3Loss of information

If multiple magnetic materials are applied in separate areas to increase coding capacity, then the information content increases, but the production process becomes more complex

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecoding capacityVSAvoidproduction efficiency
Core Design Contradiction:
Loss of informationVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent merges multiple magnetic materials into a single printing ink that can be applied in one printing operation. The ink contains magnetic materials with different coercive field strengths (K1, K2, K3) in specific ratios, allowing the creation of multiple magnetic areas with different properties during a single printing pass. This maintains high production efficiency while achieving increased coding capacity through the varied magnetic characteristics of different areas.

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

The solution significantly enhances the information content and security of magnetic coding, making it difficult to reproduce while simplifying the production process, thereby improving authenticity verification.

Implementation Method 1

security element with machine-readable security features in the form of magnetic materials with different coercive field strengths

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectMagnetism: Magnetism

Implementation Method 2

magnetic materials with different coercive field strengths, which are present in several printing inks in several areas of the same and/or different remanence

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectMagnetic Hysteresis: Magnetic Hysteresis

Data Source

PatentEP4000942A1Security element having machine readable security features
Publication Date: 2022.05.25 HUECK FOLIEN GMBH & CO KG
  • EP4000942A1 patent drawingFigure 1~4
  • EP4000942A1 patent drawingFigure 5~6
  • EP4000942A1 patent drawing

AI summary

In a security element with machine-readable security features in the form of magnetic materials of different coercive field strengths, which are present in several printing inks in several areas of the same and/or different remanence on a substrate, wherein each area is formed from a printing ink comprising at least one magnetic material selected from magnetic materials having coercive field strength K1, K2 or K3, at least three different areas are provided, each formed from different printing inks, wherein at least two of the printing inks of the at least three areas each comprise only one of the magnetic materials having coercive field strength K1, K2 or K3, and wherein at least one printing ink comprises a mixture of at least two magnetic materials having coercive field strength K1, K2 or K3.The security feature is difficult to reproduce, but allows for easy verification of authenticity.