Security Document Ink Penetration via Microstructured Recesses

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Solution Overview

Problem

Decentralized production of security documents lacks the high level of security against falsification due to removable protective layers, which can be replaced or reapplied, resulting in lower security against subsequent counterfeiting.

Innovation Solution

A method involving a lamination body with microstructured indentations on its surface, where individualization information is printed such that it penetrates into these depressions, making manipulation difficult and ensuring that new information cannot completely overwrite the original, thereby enhancing security against counterfeiting.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If individualization information is printed on the outer surface of a security document blank in a decentralized manner, then productivity and ease of operation are improved, but reliability and security against falsification deteriorate because protective layers can be removed and reapplied

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedecentralized production capabilityVSAvoidsecurity against falsification
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies preliminary action by creating microstructured indentations on the outer surface of the lamination body before printing the individualization information. These pre-formed recesses ensure that the printed information penetrates into the substrate structure, making it impossible to remove and reapply without detection. This preliminary structural preparation resolves the contradiction by enabling decentralized production while maintaining high security against falsification.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

2Reliability

If individualization information is stored on an inner layer with good connection between plastic layers, then security against manipulation is improved, but device complexity and manufacturing difficulty increase requiring large production facilities

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesecurity against manipulationVSAvoidproduction facility requirements
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies local quality by creating microstructured indentations only in the specific marking areas where individualization information will be printed, rather than requiring complete monolithic lamination throughout the entire document. This localized approach provides enhanced security at the critical information storage locations while avoiding the complexity and cost of centralized monolithic production facilities.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

3Reliability

If a lamination body is formed to make manipulation difficult, then security is improved, but ease of manufacture deteriorates as it requires centralized production facilities

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesecurity against falsificationVSAvoidproduction decentralization
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies segmentation by dividing the lamination body into multiple substrate layers that can be separately prepared and then assembled. The microstructured indentations are created on the outer surface of the assembled lamination body, allowing decentralized production while achieving the security benefits of a monolithic structure. This segmented approach resolves the contradiction between security and ease of manufacture.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

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 significantly enhances the security of individualized security documents by making it difficult to manipulate or overwrite the embedded information, providing improved protection against falsification and counterfeiting.

Implementation Method 1

Printing is carried out in such a way that part of the printed ink penetrates into the indentations

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectCapillary action: Capillary Action

Data Source

PatentEP3057802B1Methof of pmanufacturing an individualised security document having recessed portions
Publication Date: 2018.02.21 BUNDESDRUCKEREI GMBH
  • EP3057802B1 patent drawingFigure 1~3
  • EP3057802B1 patent drawingFigure 2a~2b
  • EP3057802B1 patent drawingFigure 4a~4e

AI summary

The invention relates to a method for producing an individualized security document (90), comprising the steps: providing a plurality of substrate layers; assembling the substrate layers into a substrate layer stack; laminating the substrate layers assembled in the substrate layer stack into a lamination body; providing a digital printing apparatus; printing at least one marking region of an outer surface (19) of the lamination body (11) by means of the digital printing apparatus to save individualization information (18); wherein a micro-structure having a plurality of recesses (14) is imprinted into the lamination body (11) before printing into the outer surface (19) in the at least one marking region (7) and the printing occurs such that a portion of the printed ink penetrates into the recesses (14).