Tamper-Resistant Scratch-Off Coating With Capacitive Trace

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Solution Overview

Problem

Scratch-off coatings on gift cards and similar items are susceptible to tampering, allowing unauthorized individuals to expose and record the hidden codes, making it difficult to detect if the coating has been inappropriately modified during the supply chain.

Innovation Solution

Integration of conductive traces that define a capacitive code under, over, or through the scratch-off coating, which can be read by a capacitive sensor, changing its conductive characteristics when the coating is removed, allowing for detection of tampering.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If scratch-off coating is used to hide codes, then code security is improved, but tamper detection capability deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecode securityVSAvoidtamper detection capability

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDifficulty of detecting and measuring

Solution Approach 1:

A capacitive sensor acts as an intermediary between the scratch-off coating and the detection system. The sensor detects changes in capacitance caused by the removal or alteration of the coating, enabling tamper detection without compromising the hiding function of the coating itself.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent replaces visual inspection methods with capacitive sensing technology. Instead of relying on human observation to detect tampering, an electrical field-based capacitive sensor automatically detects changes in the coating's physical state, providing more reliable and objective tamper detection.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

2Device complexity

If conductive trace is integrated with scratch-off coating, then manufacturing complexity is reduced, but manufacturing precision requirement increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvemanufacturing complexityVSAvoidconductive trace placement precision

Core Design Contradiction:

Device complexityVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

The conductive trace and scratch-off coating are merged into a single integrated component rather than being separate layers. This integration reduces the number of manufacturing steps and materials required, simplifying the overall manufacturing process while maintaining functional performance.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

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 capacitive sensor can quickly and accurately determine if the scratch-off coating has been replaced or modified, preventing unauthorized use of the card by detecting changes in the conductive characteristics, thus enhancing security.

Implementation Method 1

the at least one conductive trace defines a capacitive code configured to be read by a capacitive sensor

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectCapacitance: Capacitance

Data Source

PatentUS11593576B1Scratch-off design for tamper identification

Publication Date: 2023.02.28 TOUCHCODE HLDG LLC

AI summary

An article is described herein which comprises a substrate, a character sequence disposed on the substrate, a scratch-off coating disposed at least in part over at least one portion of the character sequence, and at least one conductive trace disposed at least in part over the at least one portion of the character sequence.