Optical Laminate for Concealed Infrared-Readable Patterns
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing AR markers and infrared light-based image methods are limited by visibility, transparency, and compatibility with various underlying surfaces, making them unsuitable for confidential information and design applications.
Innovation Solution
An optical stack comprising an optical filter layer that transmits infrared light and reflects visible light, combined with a diffusion layer to diffuse visible light, enabling the infrared-readable pattern to be read while maintaining design flexibility and concealment.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If toner absorbing or reflecting infrared light is used to form an image, then the image is not easily visually recognized by visible light, but the toner is not completely transparent and limits the graphical pattern to be included
Solution Approach 1:
The invention divides the optical system into two separate layers: an optical filter layer that selectively transmits infrared light while blocking visible light, and a diffusion layer that diffuses visible light. This segmentation allows the infrared-readable pattern to be visually concealed while maintaining complete transparency for infrared communication, thereby resolving the contradiction between visual concealment and pattern flexibility.
Solution Approach 2:
The optical filter layer acts as an intermediary between the infrared-readable pattern and the observer. It selectively filters visible light to conceal the pattern while allowing infrared light to pass through, enabling the pattern to be read by infrared light without visual recognition. This intermediary resolves the contradiction by controlling which wavelengths are transmitted.
2Ease of manufacture
If toner absorbing or reflecting infrared light is used to form an image, then the image is not easily visually recognized by visible light, but the method is not usable for an entirely white image
Solution Approach 1:
The optical filter layer provides universal functionality by selectively filtering visible light across all patterns regardless of their color or design. Whether the underlying pattern is black, white, or any other color, the optical filter layer ensures visual concealment while maintaining infrared transparency, thereby enabling the method to be used for entirely white images and any other graphical patterns.
3Adaptability or versatility
If a pattern is formed on surfaces with various underlying layers, then the pattern may be unreadable in the case where the underlying layer has certain reflectance properties, but the optical stack enables the pattern to be read by infrared light from various surfaces
Solution Approach 1:
The optical filter layer serves as an intermediary that compensates for variations in underlying layer properties. By selectively transmitting infrared light while blocking visible light, it ensures consistent infrared readability regardless of the underlying layer's reflectance characteristics, thereby resolving the contradiction between adaptability to various surfaces and reliable pattern readability.
4Ease of manufacture
If an optical filter layer transmitting infrared light and reflecting visible light is combined with a diffusion layer, then the pattern remains visually inconspicuous, but the device structure becomes more complex
Solution Approach 1:
The invention segments the optical system into two functional layers: an optical filter layer for wavelength-selective transmission and a diffusion layer for light scattering. While this segmentation increases structural complexity, it achieves superior visual concealment and infrared transparency. The modular structure allows each layer to be optimized independently, balancing the trade-off between complexity and performance.
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 optical stack allows infrared-readable patterns to be read from various surfaces while remaining visually inconspicuous, supporting diverse designs and confidential information conveyance.
Implementation Method 1
an optical filter layer transmitting infrared light and reflecting visible light
Implementation Method 2
a diffusion layer diffusing the visible light
Data Source
AI summary
This optical stack has a first main surface and a second main surface that is on the opposite side from the first main surface, wherein: the optical stack includes an optical filter layer that transmits infrared rays and reflects visible light, and a diffusion layer that diffuses visible light; the reflectivity with respect to infrared rays having a wavelength of 850 nm is 66%; and when the second main surface is disposed on a pattern that is readable using infrared rays, the pattern being formed on a foundation having a backscatter rate of 19%, the pattern can be read using infrared rays from the first-main-surface side.