Value Document Substrate Embossing and Hologram Integration

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative Solutions
Generate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

Current methods for producing value document substrates lack a simplified process that combines high security features with an attractive visual appearance, particularly in integrating tactile and micro-optic structures effectively.

Innovation Solution

A streamlined process for manufacturing value document substrates involves generating both tactile substrate embossing and micro-optic structures, such as holograms, in a single work step using a steel pressure cylinder, with the option to apply pre-gelack or pigments that adapt to these structures for enhanced security and visual effects.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If multiple separate production steps are used for tactile embossing and micro-optic structures, then manufacturing precision can be maintained, but productivity decreases and production time increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveproduction speedVSAvoidregister accuracy
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

The patent combines tactile embossing and micro-optic structure formation into a single production step using one printing plate with integrated relief structures. This merging eliminates multiple production steps while maintaining register accuracy through the unified plate design, directly resolving the contradiction between productivity improvement and precision maintenance.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The printing plate is designed with multi-functionality, serving both to create tactile embossing patterns and micro-optic relief structures simultaneously. This universal tool enables a single operation to achieve what previously required multiple specialized steps, thereby increasing productivity without sacrificing the precision needed for both structure types.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

2Ease of manufacture

If multiple production steps are used for creating security features, then manufacturing precision is maintained, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveprocess simplicityVSAvoidproduction process complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of manufactureVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

By merging the creation of tactile embossing and micro-optic structures into a single production step using one printing plate, the patent simplifies the overall manufacturing process. This reduces the number of devices and operations needed, making production easier while maintaining the complexity of the security features themselves through integrated plate design.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

3Productivity

If separate production steps are used for embossing and hologram creation, then manufacturing precision can be ensured, but loss of time increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveproduction efficiencyVSAvoidproduction time
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The patent merges embossing and hologram creation into a single simultaneous operation using one printing plate with integrated relief structures. This eliminates the sequential time required for separate steps, directly reducing production time while maintaining precision through the unified plate that ensures proper registration of both feature types in one pass.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

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

This approach enhances security by creating complex, difficult-to-replicate patterns and reduces production costs and time, while ensuring high-quality, register-accurate combinations of embossing and holographic structures, resulting in improved mechanical properties and visual appeal.

Implementation Method 1

generating both tactile substrate embossing and micro-optic structures, such as holograms, in a single work step using a steel pressure cylinder

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectPressure: Pressure Increase

Implementation Method 2

The safety elements are equipped with optically variable elements, which give the viewer a different image impression under different viewing angles

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectDiffraction: Diffraction

Implementation Method 3

the color tilt effect is based on viewing angle -dependent interference effects due to multiple reflections in the various sub -layers of the element

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectInterference: Interference

Implementation Method 4

the color tilt effect is based on viewing angle -dependent interference effects due to multiple reflections in the various sub -layers of the element. The difference in the light reflected on the various layers depends on the one hand on the optical thickness of a dielectric layer

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectOptical interference: Interference

Implementation Method 5

apply pre-gelack or pigments that adapt to these structures for enhanced security and visual effects

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectFlow adaptation:

Data Source

PatentEP3468811B1Security element, value document substrate, value document equipped therewith, and production method
Publication Date: 2022.10.12 GIESECKE & DEVRIENT CURRENCY TECHNOLOGY GMBH
  • EP3468811B1 patent drawingFigure 1~5
  • EP3468811B1 patent drawingFigure 6~8
  • EP3468811B1 patent drawingFigure 9

AI summary

The invention relates to a method for producing a value document substrate, or a security element suitable for protecting value documents, comprising a) the provision of a substrate; b1) the printing of the substrate with metallic pigment flakes suitable for forming a reflective layer in a first substrate region, and the printing of the substrate with effect pigments that assume a different hue depending on the viewing angle in a second substrate region; b2) the step of embossing the first substrate region and the second substrate region such that (i) the substrate in the first substrate region has a relief structure that forms a diffractive structure, and the substrate in the second substrate region has a relief structure that forms a micro-mirror arrangement, or (ii) the substrate in the first substrate region has a relief structure that forms a micro-mirror arrangement, and the substrate in the second substrate region has a relief structure that forms a diffractive structure.