Security Element with Dual-Angle Color Shift

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing security elements that utilize micro-mirror structures and magnetically oriented pigments to create color shift effects when tilted can be vulnerable to forgery, as an observer might overlook imitations using a single technology.

Innovation Solution

A security element comprising two distinct areas on a substantially flat substrate, where the first area displays a first motif with a color movement effect within a first angular tilting range, and the second area displays a second motif with a color effect within a second angular tilting range, both areas utilizing micro-mirrors or magnetically oriented pigments to create these effects.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of manufacture

If a single technology (either magnetically-oriented pigments or micro-mirrors) is used to generate color shift effects, then the security element can be manufactured with simpler processes, but the forgery protection is reduced because the effect can be imitated by a single technology

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvemanufacturing process simplicityVSAvoidforgery protection

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of manufactureVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The security element is divided into at least two distinct areas on the substrate: a first area with a first motif generated by micro-mirrors, and a second area with a second motif generated by magnetically oriented pigments. Each area operates independently with its own angular tilting range, preventing forgery by single-technology replication while maintaining separate manufacturing processes for each area

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The security element combines two different technologies (micro-mirrors and magnetically oriented pigments) into a single composite security feature. This multi-technology composite approach ensures that neither area can be replicated by the other technology, enhancing forgery protection while allowing each area to be manufactured using its optimized process

Inventive Principle:

Principle #40Composite materials

2Reliability

If two different technologies (micro-mirrors and magnetically oriented pigments) are combined to generate color shift effects, then the forgery protection is increased, but the device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveforgery protectionVSAvoidsecurity element structure

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

Two separate security features (micro-mirror structure and magnetically oriented pigment print) are merged into a single security element on one substrate. The merging is achieved by coordinating their angular tilting ranges so they operate in sequence without significant overlap, creating a unified security feature that leverages both technologies while maintaining manageable complexity through functional integration

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

3Reliability

If the two angular tilting ranges are made distinct and non-overlapping, then the forgery protection is enhanced as each area operates independently, but the visual continuity of the color movement effect may be interrupted

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveforgery protectionVSAvoidvisual effect continuity

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The color movement effect operates in periodic stages: the first area is active during a first angular tilting range, then the second area becomes active during a second angular tilting range. This periodic activation of different areas creates a sequential visual display that enhances forgery protection through independent operation while maintaining overall visual interest through the staged color movement effects

Inventive Principle:

Principle #19Periodic action

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 security element provides enhanced forgery protection and a prominent visual effect by ensuring that the color movement effects in each area are only visible within specific angular tilting ranges, making it difficult to replicate the effect using a single technology.

Implementation Method 1

If Snell's Law is fulfilled, a facet reflects light from an illumination light source towards the observer. This condition is fulfilled for each facet for a particular tilt of the substrate (or orientation of illumination light and viewing direction).

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectLight reflection: Reflection

Implementation Method 2

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectLight reflection: Reflection

Implementation Method 3

With a color-shift layer, the color is not only changed by the bright spots or sub-areas moving laterally when the substrate is tilted, but also due to the effect that color-shift layers produce different colors depending on the viewing angle, i.e. the tilt.

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectColor shift effect: Iridescence

Data Source

PatentUS12275265B2Security element

Publication Date: 2025.04.15 SICPA HOLDING SA

AI summary

It is disclosed a security element comprising a substantially flat substrate including first and second areas, wherein the first area displays a first motif and generates a first color movement effect to be seen in the first motif while the substrate gets tilted over a first angular tilting range, the second area displays a second motif and generates a second color effect to be seen in the second motif and within a second angular tilting range, the first and second angular tilting ranges are different, and the first area comprises either a micro-mirror structure or a print of magnetically oriented pigments and the second area comprises the other one of the micro-mirror structure and the print of magnetically oriented pigments.