Superimposed Security Signs for Banknote Authentication

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current security features on banknotes and documents are vulnerable to fraudulent reproduction due to advancements in counterfeiting technology, making it difficult for the general public to distinguish authentic from counterfeit documents.

Innovation Solution

A set of security signs are designed where each sign forms a unique authentication mark, and their superposition creates an additional authentication mark unrelated to the individual signs, making it difficult to reproduce without proper alignment, thereby enhancing security and simplifying detection of counterfeits.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If traditional two-part security signs are used on banknotes, then the security level is moderate and easy to recognize by the public, but fraudulent reproduction becomes easier with advanced counterfeiting machines

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesecurity levelVSAvoidcomplexity of security feature
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The security feature is divided into multiple independent parts (first security sign on front, second security sign on back) that must be precisely aligned to form the complete authentication mark. This segmentation increases security because counterfeiting requires accurate reproduction and positioning of multiple separate elements, not just a single image.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The security feature extends across three dimensions: the front surface, the back surface, and the thickness dimension of the banknote. The first and second security signs are positioned on opposite faces, requiring precise spatial alignment along the thickness axis. This multi-dimensional arrangement makes fraudulent reproduction significantly more difficult as it requires accurate copying in multiple spatial dimensions simultaneously.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

2Reliability

If security signs are made more complex to prevent counterfeiting, then security improves, but detection by the general public becomes more difficult

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesecurity levelVSAvoidease of detection
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The security signs utilize color properties and optical effects that are visible to the naked eye under different lighting conditions. The authentication mark formed by superposition displays distinct color characteristics that are easy for the public to observe and verify, while the underlying multi-part structure maintains high security against counterfeiting.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #32Color changes

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 creates multiple authentication marks that are difficult to reproduce and easy to verify, significantly increasing the security of documents and simplifying detection of fraudulent reproductions by the general public.

Implementation Method 1

the different signs of security being shaped to jointly form by superposition of the N security signs, an N+1-th authentication mark unrelated to the N other authentication marks

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectSuperposition:

Data Source

PatentEP3548298B1Two security features that together form a third security feature
Publication Date: 2021.11.10 BANQUE DE FRANCE
  • EP3548298B1 patent drawingFigure 1~4
  • EP3548298B1 patent drawingFigure 5~6
  • EP3548298B1 patent drawingFigure 7~8

AI summary

The invention concerns a set of N security features (105, 106, 110), each security feature forming, alone, an authentication feature different to those formed by the other security features, the different security features being shaped such that, when the N security features are superimposed, they together form an N+1th authentication feature (112) unrelated to the N other authentication features (107, 108, 111) each formed respectively by one of the N security features.