Optical Security Printing with Variable Pigments and Raised Lines

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current methods for creating optical security features on printed products are either expensive to produce, such as holograms, or lack sufficient counterfeiting prevention and serialization capabilities, making it difficult to distinguish genuine from counterfeit products without additional tools.

Innovation Solution

A printed product with a latent image and optically variable color created using a laser or inkjet printing method, featuring a line structure with raised lines that change appearance based on light incidence and viewing angle, combined with optically variable pigments, allowing for easy verification and serialization.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If holograms are applied to labels or packaging for optical security features, then counterfeit-proof security is improved, but production cost and complexity increase significantly

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecounterfeit-proof securityVSAvoidproduction complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent uses inkjet or laser printing to create latent line structures that appear as visible images only under specific lighting conditions, replacing complex holographic structures with simpler printed patterns that achieve similar security verification

Inventive Principle:
Principle #26Copying

Solution Approach 2:

The patent employs pigments with optically variable color that change appearance based on viewing angle and light incidence, transforming static printed lines into dynamic security features without requiring complex holographic production processes

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

2Ease of manufacture

If traditional printing methods are used for product labeling, then production cost is reduced, but counterfeit detection capability and serialization ability deteriorate

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveproduction costVSAvoidcounterfeit detection capability
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of manufactureVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent creates dynamic visual effects through optically variable pigments that change color and appearance based on viewing angle and light conditions, allowing standard printing equipment to produce security features with variable characteristics that are difficult to counterfeit

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The patent utilizes pigments with optically variable color that exhibit different color impressions depending on the angle of light incidence and viewing direction, enabling cost-effective counterfeit detection through simple visual inspection without additional tools

Inventive Principle:
Principle #32Color changes

3Productivity

If the same solid printing form is used for all products via screen printing, then manufacturing efficiency is improved, but individualization and serialization capability are lost

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvemanufacturing efficiencyVSAvoidindividualization capability
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The patent employs inkjet or laser printing technology that can function both as a high-speed production method and as a serialization tool, allowing the same equipment to produce both bulk labeling and unique product identifiers without changing the printing process

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

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 solution provides a cost-effective, visually verifiable, and difficult-to-copy optical security feature that can be individually serialized, enhancing the security level of printed products by varying line structure and color impressions, thus preventing counterfeiting.

Implementation Method 1

when light falls, a shadow is cast due to the raised lines between the lines. This shadow is different depending on the viewing angle and incidence of light

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectShadow: Shadow

Implementation Method 2

The variation in the perceived color impression is essentially based on interference caused by special color pigments in the printing ink

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectInterference: Interference

Data Source

PatentEP3009272B1Printed matter having optical security feature and method for its manunfacture
Publication Date: 2018.09.26 SCHREINER GRP GMBH & CO KG
  • EP3009272B1 patent drawingFigure 1A~1B
  • EP3009272B1 patent drawingFigure 2A~2B
  • EP3009272B1 patent drawingFigure 3A~3B

AI summary

A printed product (10a, 10b) with an optical security feature comprises a substrate (100) and a line structure (200) consisting of a plurality of raised and spaced-apart lines (210) applied to the substrate (100) by means of an inkjet or laser printing process. The printing ink for the line structure (200) contains color pigments with a tilting effect. By varying the design of the lines (210) using the inkjet or laser printing process, different printed products (10a, 10b) can be produced.