Optically Variable Data Carrier Tilt Effect Design
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing optically variable security elements on data carriers, such as banknotes and ID cards, have a narrow viewing angle range for the tilt effect, making them less suitable for fast visual verification and prone to production tolerances that dampen their antiforgery effectiveness.
Innovation Solution
The optically variable structure combines a print and an embossed structure with varying partial embossed structures, such as phase shifts, different orientations, or mutual shifts, to create a wider viewing angle range for the tilt effect, enhancing forgery-proofness and visual checkability by producing strong light-and-shadow contrasts.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If the line print is disposed on a flank of the embossed structure, then the reversal of contrast or tilt effect is very sharp, but the viewing angle range is very narrow
Solution Approach 1:
The data carrier surface is divided into multiple partial areas, each with embossed structures having different orientations or phase shifts. This segmentation allows different regions to contribute to the tilt effect at different viewing angles, thereby expanding the overall viewing angle range while maintaining sharp contrast reversal through the coordinated arrangement of segmented embossed elements.
Solution Approach 2:
The embossed structures in different partial areas are arranged with different orientations or phase shifts relative to the line print. This asymmetric arrangement creates multiple tilt effect reversal angles, transforming the symmetric single-angle contrast reversal into a multi-angle effect that maintains sharp contrast changes across a broader viewing angle range.
2Reliability
If the embossed structure is produced with high precision, then the antiforgery effect is improved, but production tolerances dampen the tilt effect
Solution Approach 1:
Different partial areas of the data carrier are provided with embossed structures having locally specific orientations or phase shifts. This local differentiation ensures that even with production tolerances, each region maintains its distinctive optical characteristics, thereby preserving the overall antiforgery effectiveness while being less sensitive to absolute precision requirements.
Solution Approach 2:
The embossed structures are designed with varying orientations and phase shifts that create a dynamic tilt effect across different viewing angles. This dynamic arrangement compensates for production tolerances by ensuring that the optical effect remains effective across a range of viewing conditions, reducing sensitivity to manufacturing precision variations.
3Ease of operation
If the viewing angle range for tilt effect is enlarged, then visual checkability is improved, but the structural complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The complex embossed structure is segmented into multiple partial areas with simpler individual patterns. Each segment has a relatively simple embossed structure (line patterns, dots, or geometric shapes) but the collective arrangement of segments creates the complex multi-angle tilt effect, thereby improving visual checkability while keeping individual structural elements simple.
Solution Approach 2:
Multiple embossed structures with different orientations and phase shifts are merged into a single integrated pattern on the data carrier. This merging creates a unified optical effect that provides broad viewing angle coverage while the combined structure itself forms a cohesive design element, balancing complexity with functional effectiveness.
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 solution significantly enlarges the viewing angle range for the tilt effect, making the security elements more easily producible and effective in preventing forgery while maintaining high contrast and visual recognition, even with production tolerances.
Implementation Method 1
at least partial areas of the coating are completely visible upon perpendicular viewing but concealed upon oblique viewing so that a tilt effect arises
Data Source
AI summary
The invention relates to a data carrier with an optically variable structure having an embossed structure and a coating contrasting with the surface of the data carrier. The embossed structure and the coating are so combined that at least parts of the coating are completely visible upon perpendicular viewing but concealed upon oblique viewing so that a tilt effect arises upon alternate perpendicular and oblique viewing. The coating is executed uniformly and the embossed structure is divided into partial areas where different partial embossed structures are provided.