Metalized Relief Functional Elements for Stable Golden Optical Effects
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing functional elements face challenges in providing visually distinct and secure optical effects that are difficult to replicate, suffer from register tolerance issues, and are susceptible to forgery, limiting their design possibilities and brand recognition.
Innovation Solution
A functional element with a metalized relief structure that generates a stable golden or coppery color impression through plasmon resonance, featuring asymmetrical profiles and specific grating periods and depths, which is resistant to tilting and rotation, and is integrated into a transparent polymeric layer, ensuring unique optical effects that are difficult to imitate.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Illumination intensity
If holograms or computer-generated diffraction gratings are used to generate optically variable effects, then the optical effect is achieved, but the elements appear only as reflective surfaces in direct reflection and lack visual appeal
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines a relief structure with a colorant layer to merge the optical diffraction effect with color generation capability. The relief structure provides the optically variable effect while the colorant layer imparts color to the zero-order reflection, achieving both functions in a single integrated element rather than separate components.
Solution Approach 2:
The functional element uses a composite structure combining a relief structure (which may be metallic or dielectric) with a colorant layer. This composite approach allows the element to simultaneously provide optical modulation through the relief structure and coloration through the colorant, resolving the contradiction between optical effect and visual appeal.
2Illumination intensity
If interference filters with multiple conductive and dielectric layers are used to generate color effects, then color effects in direct reflection are achieved, but the structure becomes complex and difficult to manufacture
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the color generation function from the complex multilayer interference filter structure and implements it through a simpler colorant layer applied over the relief structure. This separates the optical function (relief structure) from the color function (colorant layer), simplifying the overall manufacturing process while maintaining color effects.
Solution Approach 2:
The colorant layer can be applied using cost-effective printing or coating techniques rather than requiring expensive precision manufacturing of multiple thin dielectric layers. This approach uses simpler, more economical materials and processes to achieve the same color effect.
3Illumination intensity
If functional elements combine color print with metallic mirror and relief structures, then optical effects are achieved, but register tolerance between layers restricts design possibilities and protection against forgery
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the colorant layer with the relief structure in a single integrated functional element, eliminating the need for separate color printing layers. This integration ensures perfect register alignment by definition, as there are no separate layers that could be misaligned, thereby removing the register tolerance constraint.
4Illumination intensity
If mirror surfaces are used underneath color print, then reflective properties are achieved, but the element lacks color tilt effect and design possibilities are limited
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs an asymmetric relief structure that interacts with incident light to produce angle-dependent optical effects. The asymmetric geometry of the relief features creates a color tilt effect where the observed color changes with the angle of incidence, providing versatility and adaptability while maintaining strong reflective properties.
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 provides a visually striking, lightfast, and secure optical effect that is resistant to forgery, offering enhanced brand recognition and protection against imitation, while being cost-effective to produce and difficult to replicate using existing technologies.
Implementation Method 1
The light incident at least at a first angle of incidence and directly reflected by the at least one metal layer, having the relief structure, or directly transmitted through the at least one metal layer is altered, in particular altered by plasmon resonance of the at least one metal layer.
Data Source
AI summary
A functional element 2 including at least one first relief structure 13 in at least one first area 21 and at least one metal layer 12 arranged in at least one subarea of the at least one first relief structure 13 and optionally a preferably polymeric dielectric layer on the side of the metal layer 12 which faces the observer, wherein the at least one first relief structure 13 has a periodic variation of elevations and depressions in the x- and y-direction, wherein the elevations succeed each other with a grating period A which is smaller than a wavelength of the light visible to the human eye, wherein the minima of the depressions define a base surface and wherein the at least one first relief structure 13 has a relief depth t. Further, a method for producing or modifying a surface and a product 1 having such a functional element 2.