Optically Variable Security Element Tricolor Relief
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing visually variable safety elements lack enhanced counterfeiting resistance and visual attractiveness, particularly in terms of color change effects when viewed from different angles, which are also cost-effective to produce.
Innovation Solution
A visually variable safety element featuring a tricolor area created by combining two micro-level arrangements with directed micro-mirrors, where the color impressions change when viewed from different angles due to the additive mixing of color coatings and micro-level orientations.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If multiple color coatings and micromirror arrangements are combined to create tricolor effects, then visual appeal and counterfeit resistance are improved, but device complexity and manufacturing difficulty increase
Solution Approach 1:
The security element is divided into multiple relief structure areas at different height levels, each with its own micromirror arrangement and color coating. This segmentation allows independent optimization of each layer while creating complex overall effects that are difficult to counterfeit.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces vertical height differences between relief structure areas, creating a multi-layered three-dimensional structure. This dimensional addition enables color mixing effects from different levels to be visible from the front surface, enhancing visual complexity without requiring proportionally complex lateral structures.
2Manufacturing precision
If multiple relief structure areas at different height levels are used, then color mixing effects are enhanced, but manufacturing precision requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The micromirrors are designed with specific orientations that dynamically reflect light at different viewing angles. This dynamic optical behavior allows precise color control through the interaction of multiple layers, where the apparent precision is achieved through optical geometry rather than rigid mechanical precision.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent controls the apparent color by changing the viewing angle parameter. Different micromirror orientations in different relief structure areas reflect different colors at different angles, creating precise color mixing effects that are controlled by geometric parameters rather than material composition.
3Adaptability or versatility
If micromirror arrangements with specific orientations are implemented, then viewing-angle-dependent color effects are improved, but production cost and complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
Multiple relief structure areas with different micromirror orientations are essentially copies of the same basic structure, just rotated or angled differently. This modular copying approach allows standardized manufacturing processes to be used across different orientations, reducing overall production complexity despite the variety of 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
The solution achieves a visually appealing and secure tricolor effect that is difficult to reproduce, enhancing the authenticity and security of data carriers while being relatively inexpensive to manufacture.
Implementation Method 1
The micromirrors are formed, in particular, by non-diffractive mirrors and do not produce color separation. Preferably, flat mirrors, concave mirrors, and/or Fresnel-type mirrors can be used.
Implementation Method 2
The color impression of the first color coating and the color impression of the second color coating are different, so that these two color impressions and the color impression of the additive mixed color result in three different color impressions and thus a tricolor range.
Data Source
Figure 1~2
Figure 3(a)~3(e)
Figure 4(a)~4(f)
AI summary
The invention relates to an optically variable security element (30) for protecting valuable items, the surface extent of which element defines a z-axis perpendicular thereto, comprising a multicolour reflective surface region (40). According to the invention, the multicolour reflective surface region (40) contains two relief structures (44, 54) which are arranged in the z-direction at different heights and form a lower-lying relief structure and a higher-lying relief structure, the lower-lying relief structure (44) is provided with a first colour coating (46) that follows the course of the relief and the higher-lying relief structure is provided with a second colour coating (56) that follows the course of the relief, wherein the colour coatings (46, 56) produce a different colour effect, the two relief structures overlap in a feature region, the second colour coating (56) in the feature region is formed, at least in regions, as a uniform or non-uniform grid (70) having grid elements (72) and intermediate grid-spaces (74), the dimensions of the grid elements (72) and/or intermediate grid-spaces (74) are below 140 µm at least in one direction, and therefore, in the first feature region, the first colour coating (46) appears through the intermediate grid-gaps (74) of the second colour coating (56), at at least some viewing angles, and the feature region contains at least one tricolour region, which appears from a first viewing angle (60-C) with the colour effect of the first colour coating, from a second viewing angle (60-A) with the colour effect of the second colour coating, and from a third viewing angle (60-B) with a mixed colour effect that occurs as a result of additively mixing the colours of the colour effects of the first and second colour coating (46, 56).