Optical Effect Layer Process for Bright Nested Magnetic Indicia

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing processes for producing optical effect layers (OELs) with nested dynamic effects are inefficient, difficult to implement, and result in poorly reflecting layers with a dark appearance, lacking brightness and resolution.

Innovation Solution

A process involving the application of a coating composition with platelet-shaped magnetic or magnetizable pigment particles on a substrate, exposed to a magnetic field generated by a soft magnetic plate with voids and dipole magnets, allowing the particles to orient and fix their positions, forming multi-loop-shaped effects.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Measurement precision

If conventional magnetic field devices are used to transfer indicia into coating composition, then high-resolution patterns can be produced, but the optical effect layers have poor reflection and dark appearance

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvepattern resolutionVSAvoidlayer brightness

Core Design Contradiction:

Measurement precisionVSIllumination intensity

Solution Approach 1:

A soft magnetic plate is introduced as an intermediary component between the permanent magnet and the coating composition. This soft magnetic plate concentrates and directs the magnetic field lines, improving particle orientation and pattern resolution while the optical properties of the coating are enhanced through controlled particle alignment that improves light reflection

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The magnetic field strength and distribution are modified by using a soft magnetic plate with specific permeability properties. This changes the magnetic field parameters to achieve better particle orientation without compromising the optical reflection properties of the final coating layer

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

2Adaptability or versatility

If multiple permanent magnets are used to produce nested dynamic effects, then complex optical patterns are achieved, but the device becomes cumbersome and difficult to implement

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveoptical effect complexityVSAvoidmagnetic assembly structure

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The magnetic assembly is segmented into a permanent magnet component and a soft magnetic plate component. The soft magnetic plate is then segmented into multiple regions with different magnetic permeability or thickness, allowing each region to contribute to different nested dynamic effects. This segmentation achieves complex optical patterns while keeping the overall device structure manageable

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The soft magnetic plate is designed with dynamic magnetic properties that allow it to respond to the permanent magnet's field in a way that creates nested dynamic effects. The plate's magnetic characteristics can be varied spatially to produce different optical effects in different regions, achieving versatility without requiring multiple separate permanent magnets

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

3Productivity

If existing processes are used to produce optical effect layers, then production can proceed, but the process is inefficient and difficult to implement industrially

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveproduction efficiencyVSAvoidprocess implementation difficulty

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The soft magnetic plate is pre-configured with specific geometric features (varying thickness, density, or permeability regions) before the coating process. This preliminary preparation of the magnetic assembly simplifies the overall manufacturing process by eliminating the need for complex in-process adjustments, making the process more efficient and easier to implement industrially

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

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

Produces high-quality, bright, and well-resolved optical effect layers with dynamic nested effects, suitable for security documents and decorative elements, using reliable and efficient industrial processes.

Implementation Method 1

exposing the coating layer (x10) to a magnetic field of a magnetic assembly (x30) comprising i) a soft magnetic plate (x31)

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectMagnetic field: Magnetic Field

Implementation Method 2

Magnetic or magnetizable pigment particles in printing inks or coatings allow for the production of magnetically induced images, designs and/or patterns through the application of a correspondingly structured magnetic field, inducing a local orientation of the magnetic or magnetizable pigment particles in the not yet hardened (i.e. wet) coating

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectMagnetic orientation: Magnetism

Implementation Method 3

hardening the coating composition to a second state so as to fix the platelet-shaped magnetic or magnetizable pigment particles in their adopted positions and orientations

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectHardening:

Data Source

PatentEP3829784B1Processes for producing optical effects layers

Publication Date: 2026.01.14 SICPA HOLDING SA

Figure 1A~3D
Figure 4A~5F
Figure 6A~7A

AI summary

The invention relates to the field of the protection of security documents such as for example banknotes and identity documents against counterfeit and illegal reproduction. In particular, the present invention provides processes for optical effect layers (OEL) exhibiting two or more nested indicia using a magnetic assembly comprising i) a soft magnetic plate (x31) comprising a) one or more voids (V) and b) one or more indentations (I) and/or one or more protrusions (P), and ii) one or more dipole magnets (x32).