Security Element Optical Effect Layer
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current security elements for securities and security papers lack sufficient protection against counterfeiting and stability, as they rely on static reflective structures that do not provide a high variety of combinations and designs, making them vulnerable to forgery.
Innovation Solution
Incorporating an optical effect layer that covers or embeds achromatic, reflective structures, such as micromirrors, to create a moving image motif with varying optical effects, enhancing security against forgery and stabilization by combining motion with optical effects, and using thin-layer elements with absorber, spacer, and reflection layers, along with color-shifting pigments and liquid crystals.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If static reflective structures are used in security elements, then manufacturing is simpler, but security against counterfeiting is insufficient and design variety is limited
Solution Approach 1:
The patent transforms static reflective structures into dynamic ones by enabling the structures to change their optical properties based on viewing angle and light source position. The reflective structures are designed to display different images (first image at first viewing angle, second image at second viewing angle), creating a motion picture effect that dynamically responds to observer movement, thereby significantly enhancing security against counterfeiting.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent embeds multiple functional layers within the security element structure. The reflective structures are positioned within a substrate that includes additional layers such as optically active layers and encapsulating layers. This nested arrangement allows multiple security features to be integrated in a compact form, increasing design variety and security without proportionally increasing overall complexity.
2Reliability
If multiple optical layers are added to increase security, then protection against counterfeiting improves, but manufacturing complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The reflective structures serve multiple functions simultaneously: they reflect light to create images, they change appearance with viewing angle to provide security verification, and they can be integrated with additional optically active layers to enhance security further. This multi-functionality allows a single structural element to provide multiple security features, reducing the need for separate components and simplifying manufacturing.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent utilizes changes in optical parameters (viewing angle, light source position, wavelength) to generate different security effects from the same physical structure. The reflective structures are designed to exhibit different optical properties under different conditions, allowing a single manufacturing process to produce multiple security features that respond dynamically to parameter changes, thereby avoiding the need for multiple separate manufacturing steps.
3Ease of operation
If reflective structures are made visible without covering layers, then observation is easier, but security against forgery is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs dynamic optical effects where the reflective structures are partially obscured by optically active layers that respond to viewing angle and light source position. At certain angles, the structures become visible to allow verification, while at other angles they remain obscured to prevent copying. This dynamic visibility control maintains ease of visual inspection for legitimate users while enhancing security against forgery.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces optically active layers as intermediary elements between the reflective structures and the observer. These intermediary layers modulate the visibility of the reflective structures based on external conditions (viewing angle, illumination), acting as a mediator that controls information disclosure. This allows the system to provide security verification when needed while maintaining obscurity to prevent counterfeiting.
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 increases security against counterfeiting by providing a high variety of combinations and designs, allowing for quick visual authentication without aids, while improving structural stability and brilliance of the motif.
Implementation Method 1
the structures are designed as achromatic, reflective structures
Implementation Method 2
the optical effect layer designed as a thin-layer element has at least one absorber layer
Implementation Method 3
the optical effect layer contains color-shifting pigments, in particular interference pigments
Implementation Method 4
an array of micromirrors that receive ambient light and responsively display an image in a plane that is spaced a distance from the surface of the substrate, the image comprising a plurality of pixels and the array of micromirrors for each of the pixels includes a set of the micromirrors each having a reflective surface oriented to reflect ambient light to a point on the plane corresponding to one of the pixels
Data Source
Figure 1
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Figure 4~5
AI summary
The invention relates to a security element (1) with increased counterfeit protection, which has at least a first area (2) with structures (4) which are designed as achromatic, reflective structures and wherein a group is formed by means of several structures (4) whose orientations are coordinated such that a view (6) of an image motif (9) is depicted by the structures (4) in an observation space, wherein the security element (1) has different views (6) of the image motif (9) as a movement effect of the image motif (9) depending on a viewing angle and/or a light source (10), wherein in each view (6) the structures (4) of a group are designed to be illuminating and the groups are pairwise disjoint.Furthermore, an optical effect layer (7) is provided, wherein the structures (4) are fully or partially covered by the optical effect layer (7) and/or embedded in the optical effect layer (7) so that they are surrounded by the optical effect layer (7).