Optically Variable Security Element Segment Breakdown
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing optically variable security elements struggle to provide unique and easily recognizable effects, especially in tilting movements, which can be difficult to individualize and are prone to counterfeiting due to limitations in variety and resolution, particularly with magnetically aligned reflective pigments requiring magnets for alignment.
Innovation Solution
A security element featuring a motif with a curve representation that breaks down into multiple segments when tilted, utilizing optically active elements like reflective facets or grating fields, arranged to deflect light in specific directions, creating a dynamic and recognizable visual effect that can be both reflective and transmissive, enhancing individualization and authenticity verification.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Illumination intensity
If magnetically aligned reflective pigments are used to achieve bright optically variable effects, then brightness is improved, but device complexity increases due to requiring magnets for alignment
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts and removes the magnets from the security element structure. Instead of using magnetically aligned reflective pigments that require magnets, the invention uses optically active elements (prisms, gratings, or lens arrays) that achieve the same optically variable effect through their geometric structure alone, eliminating the need for magnetic components.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces the magnetic alignment system with an optically active structural system. The mechanical/magnetic field-based alignment is substituted by geometric optical structures (prisms, gratings, lens arrays) that inherently direct light without requiring external magnetic fields or alignment mechanisms.
2Ease of manufacture
If conventional optically variable effects are used, then ease of manufacture is improved, but adaptability decreases due to difficulty in individualization
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by varying the orientation, shape, and arrangement of optically active elements in different regions of the security element. Each region can have customized optical properties (different tilting behaviors, different visible effects) while using the same basic manufacturing process, enabling easy individualization for different denominations or security levels.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces dynamic optically variable effects where the visual appearance changes with viewing angle and tilting motion. The optically active elements are arranged to create segment breakdown effects, moving images, or color shifts that dynamically respond to observer movement, providing adaptable security features that can be customized for different applications.
3Adaptability or versatility
If negative text through selective demetallization is used for individualization, then adaptability is improved, but visibility decreases making counterfeiting easier
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses optically variable color effects and brightness changes to create visible individualization features. Instead of inconspicuous negative text, the security element displays bright, dynamically changing visual effects (color shifts, segment breakdown, moving images) that are easily observable and difficult to counterfeit, while still providing unique identification for different denominations.
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 conspicuous and easily memorized optically variable effect that significantly enhances the security element's authenticity and individualization, making it more difficult to counterfeit, as the dynamic movement of segments creates a unique visual impression that is hard to replicate.
Implementation Method 1
a plurality of optically active elements which each direct incident light in a preferred direction
Data Source
Figure 1~2(e)
Figure 3~5
Figure 6~8
AI summary
The invention relates to an optically variable security element (12) for the protection of valuable items, which, depending on the viewing angle, shows a motif having at least one curve representation (14A, 14B), which from a first viewing direction is visible as output curve having two or more contiguous, non-collinear segments (18), and which, upon tilting the security element (12), breaks up about a pre-defined axis into the individual segments (18) in that the segments (18) of the output curve alternately move away from the output curve in different directions. The security element comprises a planar motif region (20) having a plurality of optically active elements (30, 32, 34, 36), which in each case steer incident light in a preferred direction. One motion segment (22) in form of a partial region of the planar motor region (20) is assigned to the segments (18) of the output curve of the planar motif region (20), in which the optically effective elements (30, 32, 34, 36) are arranged and oriented such that from the first viewing direction the optically effective elements show the output curve together with the contiguous segments (18), and from viewing directions tilted around the pre-defined axis, the optically effective elements show curve representations, in which the segments (18) are alternately situated in different directions, and at an increasing tilting angle, are increasingly situated further away from the output curve.