Optically Deriving Information from Security Element
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing optically readable security elements maintain consistent excitation-emission relationships, which can make them vulnerable to security breaches due to their reliability and consistency, as the design aims to replicate isolated performance in situ, but this consistency can be exploited.
Innovation Solution
The method involves optically readable structures interacting with proximal structures in a way that alters their excitation-emission relationships, allowing for different excitation and emission properties when read, making it difficult to replicate the element's behavior and enhancing security through unique interactions and energy transfers.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If optically readable structures are designed to maintain consistent excitation-emission relationships when incorporated into security elements, then reading consistency and reliability are improved, but security vulnerability increases due to ease of replication
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the excitation-emission relationship parameters by introducing interactions between optically readable structures and proximal structures. This creates variable optical properties that differ from isolated structure behavior, maintaining reliability through controlled interaction while preventing replication by counterfeitors who cannot reproduce the complex interaction dynamics.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces proximal structures as intermediaries that mediate between the excitation source and the optically readable structures. These proximal structures modify the excitation-emission relationship, creating a layered interaction system that maintains reading consistency while adding security complexity that prevents easy counterfeiting.
2Object-affected harmful factors
If optically readable structures interact with proximal structures to alter excitation-emission relationships, then security is improved through unique interactions, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the security element into distinct functional components: optically readable structures and proximal structures. This segmentation allows each component to have a specific function while their controlled interaction creates security. The segmentation makes the system manageable despite the complexity of interactions, as each segment can be optimized independently.
3Measurement precision
If multiple reading methods are used to detect interaction effects, then measurement precision is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs reading apparatus that can perform multiple functions: exciting the optically readable structures, detecting emission, and measuring interaction effects. This multi-functionality improves measurement precision by using the same device for multiple measurement tasks, while avoiding the need for separate specialized devices for each measurement type.
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 approach increases the security and functionality of optically readable security elements by making it difficult to spoof or counterfeit, as the interaction between structures reveals complex quantum behavior, providing a richer identifier and additional data for authentication.
Implementation Method 1
one or more optically readable structures, optically readable in response to excitation of the one or more optically readable structures
Implementation Method 2
the one or more optically readable structures being arranged to interact with one or more proximal structures of the optically readable security element, the interaction being such that an excitation-emission relationship for the one or more optically readable structures interacting with the one or more proximal structures is different
Data Source
AI summary
According to a first aspect of the invention, there is provided a method of deriving information from an optically readable security element, the method comprising: optically reading the optically readable security element, the optically readable security element comprising one or more optically readable structures, optically readable in response to excitation of the one or more optically readable structures, the one or more optically readable structures being arranged to interact with one or more proximal structures of the optically readable security element, the interaction being such that an excitation-emission relationship for the one or more optically readable structures interacting with the one or more proximal structures, is different to an excitation-emission relationship for the one or more optically readable structures and the one or more proximal structures in isolation; the reading comprising: determining data indicative of an optical property of the optically readable security element using first emission electromagnetic radiation, emitted in response to first excitation of the one or more optically readable structures; and deriving the information from the determined data.