Metallized Relief Functional Elements for Anti-Counterfeit Color Effects
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing functional elements, such as holograms and interference filters, suffer from register tolerance issues and are vulnerable to counterfeiting, limiting design options and security against imitation.
Innovation Solution
A functional element with a metallized relief structure that creates a stable golden or copper color impression in direct reflection, featuring a grating period and relief depth designed to produce a distinct, lightfast optical effect resistant to tilting and rotation, and resistant to reproduction by conventional methods.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If conventional functional elements (holograms, interference filters) are used, then optical effects are achieved, but register tolerance issues occur and security against counterfeiting is limited
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies color changes by using a metal layer with a relief structure that produces different color impressions (golden/copper in direct reflection, silver in diffraction) based on the viewing angle and lighting conditions. This angle-dependent color variation creates a visually detectable security feature that is difficult to counterfeit, directly addressing the security against counterfeiting requirement while avoiding register tolerance issues through intrinsic optical properties rather than layered registration.
2Adaptability or versatility
If a mirror surface is located beneath the color print, then visual appeal is enhanced, but the element does not exhibit a color-shift effect and design options are limited
Solution Approach 1:
The patent inverts the conventional approach by placing the relief structure directly on the metal layer without an intermediate color print or mirror surface combination. This inversion allows the relief structure itself to generate the optical effects, producing both the visual appeal and the color-shift effect simultaneously, thereby expanding design options while simplifying the manufacturing process.
3Reliability
If known functional elements are used, then optical effects are generated, but they are vulnerable to reproduction by dot matrix and Kinemax origination machines
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs asymmetry in the relief structure design, creating profiles that are not symmetric about the vertical axis. This asymmetric geometry produces specific optical interference patterns and color effects that are inherently difficult to reproduce with conventional symmetric printing methods like dot matrix and Kinemax machines, thereby enhancing security against imitation while maintaining manufacturing feasibility through standard relief printing techniques.
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 element provides a unique, lightfast, and secure optical appearance that is difficult to counterfeit, offering enhanced design flexibility and security against imitation.
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 modified, in particular modified by plasmon resonance of the at least one metal layer
Implementation Method 2
Such functional elements typically generate an optically variable effect through the targeted diffraction of the incident light into the first and/or one or more of the higher diffraction orders
Implementation Method 3
Through the interference filters, this type of functional element generates color effects in direct reflection
Data Source
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AI summary
The invention relates to a functional element 2 comprising at least one first relief structure 13 in at least one first region 21 and at least one metal layer 12 arranged in at least one sub-region of the at least one first relief structure 13, and optionally a preferably polymeric dielectric layer on the side of the metal layer 12 facing the viewer, wherein the at least one first relief structure 13 has a periodic variation in the x and y directions of raised areas and depressions, the raised areas being arranged with a lattice period Λ that is smaller than a wavelength of visible light, the minima of the depressions defining a base area, and wherein the at least one first relief structure 13 has a relief depth t. The invention further relates to a method for producing or modifying a surface and a product 1 comprising such a functional element 2.