Radiation-Modified Security Document Pattern

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current security and valuable documents face challenges in providing invisible security features that are difficult to forge and achieve high data density, with existing machine-readable features either visible to humans or aesthetically disturbing, and complex infrastructure requirements for production and verification.

Innovation Solution

The document incorporates partial areas with non-radiation-modified and radiation-modified components, where radiation-induced structural differences are used to create patterns that are invisible to the human eye but detectable by apparatus-based means, allowing for high data density and secure verification.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If machine-readable security features are introduced into the document, then security against forgery is improved, but the features become visible to the human eye which is aesthetically disturbing

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesecurity against forgeryVSAvoidvisibility to human eye
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSIllumination intensity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies parameter changes by modifying the physical and chemical properties of colorants through radiation exposure. Different absorbed dose rates create distinct radiation-induced structural differences in the colorant molecules, which are undetectable by human vision but measurable by instrumental methods. This transforms visible color differences into invisible molecular-level differences that encode security information.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

The patent introduces an intermediary measurement system that detects radiation-induced structural differences in colorants. Instead of relying on human visual perception, the verification process uses instrumental measurement means to detect subtle molecular changes caused by radiation, thereby encoding security features that are invisible to humans but detectable by machines.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Illumination intensity

If invisible markings are introduced using fluorescent colors, then security features become invisible to the human eye, but the data density remains low and verification requires complex OCR reading units

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvevisibility to human eyeVSAvoiddata density
Core Design Contradiction:
Illumination intensityVSLoss of information

Solution Approach 1:

The patent uses parameter changes by exposing colorants to radiation with different absorbed dose rates, creating continuous variations in radiation-induced structural differences. This allows encoding of high-density information through subtle molecular changes that are invisible to humans but detectable by instrumental measurement, achieving both invisibility and high data density.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

3Reliability

If tags with machine-readable patterns are applied to the document, then security features become machine-readable, but complex infrastructure is required for production and verification

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvemachine-readabilityVSAvoidinfrastructure complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies self-service by embedding the security verification capability directly into the document through radiation-modified colorants. The document itself contains the means for verification through its unique radiation-induced structural differences, eliminating the need for external tags or complex centralized databases. The verification system simply needs to measure the inherent molecular properties of the colorant.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

4Loss of information

If 2D barcodes are attached to the document, then data density is increased, but the features become visible and aesthetically disturbing to the human eye

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedata densityVSAvoidvisibility to human eye
Core Design Contradiction:
Loss of informationVSIllumination intensity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent achieves high data density in invisibility by changing the molecular structure of colorants through controlled radiation exposure. Different absorbed dose rates create distinct radiation-induced structural differences that encode information at the molecular level, allowing high-density data storage that is completely invisible to human vision but detectable by instrumental measurement.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

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 enables secure verification of documents without visible security features, maintaining aesthetic appeal while achieving high data density and preventing forgery through radiation-induced structural differences detectable only by apparatus-based methods.

Implementation Method 1

differences arose from a radiation modification selected from the Group consisting of fading of a color, photochemical splitting, photo-induced reactions and photophysical processes

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectRadiation-induced structural differences: Photodissociation

Implementation Method 2

photochemical splitting

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectPhotochemical splitting: Photodissociation

Implementation Method 3

photo-induced reactions

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectPhoto-induced reactions: Photosynthesis

Implementation Method 4

photophysical processes

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectPhotophysical processes: Fluorescence

Data Source

PatentEP2050046B1Security and/or valuable document with a pattern of radiation-modified components and manufacturing method
Publication Date: 2020.07.22 BUNDESDRUCKEREI GMBH
  • EP2050046B1 patent drawingFigure 1a~1b
  • EP2050046B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP2050046B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

The invention relates to a security and/or valuable document (1) with a substrate (2) and with a printed layer (3a, 3b) arranged on the substrate (2). It is characterized in that first partial regions (7a-d) of the document (1) have a component which is not radiation-modified or is slightly radiation-modified, and in that second partial regions (8a-d) of the document (1) contain a radiation-modified component or relatively strongly radiation-modified component, with the radiation-modified component differing from the component which is not radiation-modified only in terms of radiation-induced structural differences, wherein the first partial regions (7a-d) cannot be distinguished from the second partial regions (8a-d) with the human eye and wherein the first partial regions can be distinguished from the second partial regions by means of measuring apparatus.