Security Element with Segmented Dielectric Spacer for Anti-Counterfeiting
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing security elements with color-shifting thin-film effects lack high protection against counterfeiting and fail to provide an attractive visual appearance, as they can be reproduced using modern copiers and lack effective interlocking of information.
Innovation Solution
A security element with a dielectric spacer layer composed of two partial layers, where one partial layer is present in both color-shifting areas and the other only in one area, creating different color shift effects, combined with an embossing lacquer layer and a reflective layer, allowing for complementary patterns or codes that interlock visually.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a single uniform dielectric spacer layer is used in the thin-film element, then the manufacturing process is simple, but the security protection level is insufficient and visual appearance is unattractive
Solution Approach 1:
The dielectric spacer layer is divided into two distinct partial layers (first and second partial layers) with different optical properties and thicknesses. This segmentation creates multiple color-shifting zones within the same thin-film element, making counterfeiting difficult while maintaining a relatively simple overall structure that can be manufactured using standard processes.
Solution Approach 2:
Different regions of the thin-film element are assigned different dielectric spacer layer configurations - some areas have both first and second partial layers while other areas have only the second partial layer. This local variation creates diverse color-shifting effects in different zones, enhancing security and visual appeal without requiring complete restructuring of the entire element.
2Reliability
If multiple color-shifting zones are created in the thin-film element, then security protection and visual appearance improve, but the manufacturing precision requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
By segmenting the dielectric spacer layer into two separately manufacturable partial layers, the patent enables precise control over the thickness of each layer independently. This segmentation allows manufacturers to optimize each layer's thickness for its specific function, reducing overall manufacturing precision requirements compared to creating a single complex uniform layer with multiple functions.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies the dielectric spacer layer structure selectively - full two-layer construction in some areas and single-layer construction in others. This partial application approach allows the security-critical regions to have the enhanced two-layer structure while other regions use the simpler single-layer structure, balancing security requirements with manufacturing feasibility and precision capabilities.
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 provides a high degree of protection against counterfeiting and an attractive visual appearance by creating distinct color shift effects that complement each other, making reproduction difficult and enhancing the security of data carriers like banknotes.
Implementation Method 1
the color-shift effect is based on viewing-angle-dependent interference effects due to multiple reflections in the various sub-layers of the element
Implementation Method 2
multiple reflections in the various sub-layers of the element
Implementation Method 3
an absorber layer arranged over the dielectric spacer layer
Data Source
Figure 1~3
Figure 4
AI summary
The invention relates to a security element (12) for securing valuable objects, comprising a substrate (20) and a thin-film element (30) arranged on the substrate (20). The thin-film element has a reflection layer (32) arranged over the substrate, a dielectric spacing layer (34) arranged over the reflection layer (32), and an absorber layer (36) arranged over the dielectric spacing layer (34). According to the invention, the thin-film element (30) has two partial regions (22, 24) having different color-shifting effect and a partial region (26) without color-shifting effect, each of which partial regions forms patterns, characters, or a coding. The partial region (26) without color-shifting effect is formed by holes (44) in the reflection layer (32) in the form of patterns, characters, or a coding. In a first (22) of the two color-shifting partial regions, the dielectric spacing layer (34) consists of first and second dielectric partial layers (40, 42) arranged one over the other and produces a partial region (22) having a first color-shifting effect. In a second (24) of the two color-shifting partial regions, the dielectric spacing layer (34) consists only of the second dielectric partial layer (42) and produces a partial region (24) having a second, different color-shifting effect.