Optical Laminate Structure With Switched Hologram and Grating Authentication

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative Solutions
Generate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

Existing security documents lack sufficient security measures, particularly in light diffractable holograms and optically variable effects, making them vulnerable to forgery and authenticity verification difficult.

Innovation Solution

A laminate structure comprising a base material with embedded optical elements, including a hologram and diffraction grating, where the hologram image is visible under normal lighting and the diffraction grating is visible under intense lighting, providing a switching mechanism for authentication.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If a light diffractable hologram is used in security documents, then optical variable effects are provided, but security is insufficient and forgery is possible

Engineering Contradiction:
ImprovesecurityVSAvoidstructure complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The optical element is divided into multiple functional layers: a hologram layer for normal viewing and a diffraction grating layer for verification viewing. This segmentation allows each layer to perform its specific function independently, enhancing security through multiple optical effects while maintaining manageable structural complexity

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The diffraction grating structure is embedded within the hologram layer, with the grating lines formed by varying the thickness of the hologram layer itself. This nesting approach integrates multiple optical functions into a single unified structure, providing enhanced security without proportionally increasing overall structural complexity

Inventive Principle:
Principle #7Nested doll (Nesting)

2Measurement precision

If multiple optical layers are combined to enhance security, then authentication capability is improved, but difficulty in detecting and measuring increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveauthentication accuracyVSAvoidverification complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSDifficulty of detecting and measuring

Solution Approach 1:

The optical element utilizes dynamic optical effects where the hologram displays different images depending on the viewing angle and lighting conditions. The diffraction grating similarly varies its appearance based on incident light angle, providing multiple verification states that enhance authentication accuracy while remaining observable with simple visual inspection

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The diffraction grating is designed to exhibit color variations when illuminated, with different wavelengths being diffracted at different angles. This color-changing property provides a visually distinct verification mechanism that enhances authentication accuracy while being easily detectable through simple visual observation or basic color analysis

Inventive Principle:
Principle #32Color changes

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

Enhances security by making it difficult for unauthorized individuals to recognize the diffraction grating, thereby preventing forgery and allowing easy authenticity verification through lighting state changes.

Implementation Method 1

a light diffractable hologram

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectDiffraction: Diffraction

Implementation Method 2

diffraction grating having a large number of grating lines

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectDiffraction: Diffraction

Data Source

PatentEP3534221B1Optical element, laminate body, and book form
Publication Date: 2026.03.18 DAI NIPPON PRINTING CO LTD
  • EP3534221B1 patent drawingFigure 1A
  • EP3534221B1 patent drawingFigure 1B
  • EP3534221B1 patent drawingFigure 2

AI summary

Provided are an optical element, a laminate body, and a book form having improved security. The optical element 40 is equipped with a hologram layer 41 on which a hologram image 41b is recorded, and a diffraction grating layer 50 laminated under the hologram layer 41. The diffraction grating layer 50 is equipped with a diffraction grating 52a having recesses and protrusions in the thickness direction. In addition, a card 1 is equipped with this optical element 40.