Optical Security Component Personalization via Laser Ablation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing security documents struggle to securely authenticate personal data while maintaining high visibility and difficulty in reproduction, as the variable optical effects are often carried by background layers rather than personalization data, leading to reduced security and visibility issues.
Innovation Solution
An optical security component where personalization data itself carries the variable optical effect, achieved through a structured metallic layer that is transparent or opaque depending on laser ablation, allowing personalization information to appear on a neutral background, enhancing security and authentication.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of information
If a metallic layer is ablated to reveal background structures for personalization, then personalization data can be marked, but the variable optical effect is carried by the background rather than the personalization data itself
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of ablating the metallic layer to reveal background structures (conventional approach), the patent inverts the approach by depositing the metallic layer AFTER the optically active structure is already present. This ensures the personalization data itself carries the variable optical effect rather than merely revealing the background.
Solution Approach 2:
The optically active structure is prepared in advance on the substrate before the metallic layer is deposited. This preliminary action ensures that when personalization data is later ablated from the metallic layer, the underlying optically active structure remains intact and carries the visual effect of the personalization information.
2Productivity
If laser ablation is performed on a metallic layer to personalize documents, then marking can be done with low energy consumption and high speed, but the ablated parts cannot be reintegrated making falsification resistance dependent on other factors
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines the metallic layer with the optically active structure in a single integrated component rather than using separate layers. This merging ensures that when the metallic layer is ablated, the personalization data permanently alters the optical properties of the entire component, making falsification extremely difficult while maintaining high processing speed.
3Reliability
If two diffractive structures are arranged one above the other for personalization, then security can be enhanced, but visibility is reduced due to superposition of two layers exhibiting varying optical effects
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the variable optical effect function from a separate diffractive layer and integrates it directly into the personalization data layer itself. By removing the need for a separate optically active layer, the patent eliminates the visibility reduction caused by layer superposition while maintaining enhanced security through the integrated optical effects.
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 increases the security of documents by ensuring personalization data is easily authenticable with the naked eye while being difficult to reproduce, and the ablated parts cannot be reintegrated, thus providing a high level of resistance to falsification.
Implementation Method 1
achieved through a structured metallic layer that is transparent or opaque depending on laser ablation
Implementation Method 2
Authentication is intended to be performed by reflection, for example, with the naked eye
Implementation Method 3
a layer or set of layers to form an optically active structure
Data Source
Figure 1~3
Figure 4A~5B
Figure 6A~7C
AI summary
According to one aspect, the disclosure concerns the use of an optical security component (100, 200, 300, 500, 600) for customising a security document according to customisation data, the component being intended to be authenticated according to an observation face (Fobs), in a given spectral observation band, the component comprising: an opaque metal layer (104), structured to form a diffusing optical structure (20) in the spectral observation band, and customisable by laser ablation; and a layer or a set of layers forming an optically active structure (30), said layer or set of layers being arranged on the side of the structured metal layer opposite the observation face.