Layered Security Element With UV Luminescent and Optical Effects
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing security features lack sufficient counterfeit protection, as they often rely on single effects that can be easily replicated, leading to vulnerabilities in securities such as banknotes and identity cards.
Innovation Solution
Combining relief structures with an optical effect layer and a luminescent coating, where the luminescent substances are invisible under visible light but emit visible light under UV radiation, creating unique and coordinated effects that enhance security.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If single security features are used, then manufacturing is simple, but counterfeit protection is insufficient
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines three distinct security features (relief structures, optical effect layer, and luminescent coating) into a single integrated security element. The relief structures provide tactile and visual depth, the optical effect layer produces color-shifting effects under visible light, and the luminescent coating emits visible light under UV radiation. This merging of multiple features into one element significantly enhances counterfeit protection while maintaining manufacturing efficiency through a unified production process.
Solution Approach 2:
The security element employs composite material construction with multiple functional layers: a carrier layer with relief structures, an optical effect layer with color-shifting properties, and a luminescent coating with fluorescent or phosphorescent materials. Each layer contributes distinct optical and physical properties that work synergistically to create a security feature that is difficult to counterfeit while remaining manufacturable through established multi-layer deposition techniques.
2Reliability
If multiple security features are combined, then counterfeit protection increases, but manufacturing complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The security element is divided into distinct functional segments or layers: the carrier layer with relief structures, the optical effect layer, and the luminescent coating layer. Each segment can be manufactured and quality-tested independently using specialized equipment, then combined in a controlled sequence. This segmentation allows for optimized manufacturing processes for each feature type while maintaining overall production efficiency and reducing the complexity of simultaneous multi-feature fabrication.
3Illumination intensity
If luminescent coating is applied, then UV visibility is enhanced, but visible light transparency is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The luminescent coating is applied with spatially varying properties: in areas where strong UV emission is required, the coating contains higher concentrations of luminescent materials; in areas where visible light transmission is prioritized, the coating is thinner or contains lower luminescent material concentrations. This local quality variation allows different regions of the security element to optimize for their specific functional requirements, achieving both strong UV visibility and adequate visible transparency where needed.
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 combination of structures, optical effect layers, and luminescent coatings provides enhanced counterfeit protection by creating novel and recognizable effects under different lighting conditions, making it difficult for counterfeiters to replicate.
Implementation Method 1
the luminescent substances are fluorescent substances, in particular fluorescent pigments and/or fluorescent dyes
Implementation Method 2
the optical effect layer contains photoluminescent pigments and/or photoluminescent materials that exhibit emission in the IR range when excited by electromagnetic radiation
Implementation Method 3
an optical effect layer, in particular with a layer that produces at least one optically variable effect, for example a color-shifting layer
Implementation Method 4
relief structures in the form of diffractive, reflective, or refractive structures
Implementation Method 5
relief structures in the form of diffractive, reflective, or refractive structures, creating effects such as movement, simulation of a 3D impression, hologram effect
Data Source
Figure 1~3
Figure 4~5
AI summary
The invention relates to a security element (1) for securities, security papers or security items (2), and to a security, security paper or security item (2). The security element (1) has a first side (3) and a second side (4), as well as a carrier layer (5). A region is provided with structures (6), an optical effect layer (7), and a layer (8) of a lacquer containing a luminescent substance and at least one binder, wherein the structures (6), the optical effect layer (7), and the layer (8) of a lacquer containing a luminescent substance and at least one binder at least partially overlap.