Optical-Digital Encoding With Angle-Multiplexed RWGs
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing anti-counterfeiting systems lack integration of both optical and digital encoding-decoding approaches, leading to vulnerabilities such as fake look-alikes, high costs, and cyber-attack risks, and they struggle with angle-dependent hologram recognition and uniqueness.
Innovation Solution
An optical-digital encoding-decoding system using an encoded medium with resonant waveguide gratings (RWGs) that optically and semi-covertly transmit images, combining visible and hidden data for robust authentication, including angle-multiplexed images and QR codes.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If holograms are used for anti-counterfeiting, then visual authentication is provided, but fake look-alikes can be easily duplicated and digital template matching is difficult due to large color shifts
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines optical encoding (holograms) with digital encoding (QR codes and machine-readable data) into a single integrated security label. The holographic elements provide visual authentication while the digital elements provide machine-readable verification, creating a multi-layered security system that is difficult to counterfeit. The holographic QR code technology merges these two approaches by embedding digital information within holographic structures.
Solution Approach 2:
The security label uses composite structures combining different optical and digital encoding materials. The holographic layer, digital print layer, and substrate form a composite security feature that requires multiple authentication methods, making duplication more difficult while maintaining visual appeal and machine readability.
2Reliability
If digital encoding-decoding systems are used for anti-counterfeiting, then authentication is provided, but the systems are complex and expensive to implement
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses optical copying techniques where holographic elements create light field copies of authentication data that can be verified by simple optical means. The holographic QR codes store digital information that can be read by standard smartphone cameras, avoiding the need for complex dedicated readers while maintaining security through optical encryption and angle-dependent visualization.
3Ease of operation
If overt hologram features are used, then visual authentication is provided, but digital template matching is difficult due to large color shifts at different angles
Solution Approach 1:
The patent transitions from two-dimensional planar holograms to three-dimensional volumetric holographic structures. This allows the incorporation of depth encoding and angle-dependent optical paths that maintain consistent color appearance across viewing angles while embedding machine-readable digital information within the volumetric structure, enabling both visual appeal and precise digital matching.
4Reliability
If existing anti-counterfeiting systems are used, then authentication is provided, but they lack integration of both optical and digital encoding-decoding approaches
Solution Approach 1:
The security label is designed with multi-functionality, serving both visual authentication (holographic elements) and machine authentication (digital QR codes and machine-readable data). The same physical label structure supports multiple authentication modalities simultaneously, allowing flexible deployment scenarios where either visual inspection or digital verification can be performed, or both can be combined for enhanced security.
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
Provides robust authentication with enhanced security by allowing visible quick authentication, machine-readable data, and covert information, deterring adversaries through complex decoding processes.
Implementation Method 1
Each member RWG is configured to generate an outgoing light beam propagated along the outgoing-beam propagation direction
Implementation Method 2
resonant waveguide grating (RWG) that optically and semi-covertly transmit images
Data Source
AI summary
Anti-counterfeiting is benefited by integrating both optical and digital encoding-decoding approaches for spoof protection, e.g., in print anti-spoofing. An optical-digital encoding-decoding system uses an encoded medium, such as a security label, to display images encoded with digital data, and a decoding device to decode or decrypt the digital data for achieving stronger authentication in anti-counterfeiting or other security-related purposes. The images are encoded into resonant waveguide gratings (RWGs) in the encoded medium, enabling angle multiplexing of the displayed images and addressing different secrecy requirements in optically handling different groups of security-related data. Furthermore, aperiodic diffraction gratings instead of periodic ones are used in RWGs for selected images intended to be viewed by users, broadening beamwidths of outgoing light beams generated by these RWGs to allow the selected images to be more conveniently viewed by the users over a wider range of angle.