The present invention provides a method and apparatus for the production and labeling of objects in a manner suitable for the prevention and detection of counterfeiting. Thus, the system incorporates a variety of features that make unauthorized reproduction difficult. In addition, the present invention provides an efficient means for the production of labels and verification of authenticity, whereby a recording apparatus which includes a recording medium, having anisotrophic optical domains, along with a means for transferring a portion of the recording medium to a carrier, wherein a bulk portion of the recording medium has macroscopically detectable anisotrophic optical properties and the detecting apparatus thereon.

Authentication method and system

Light reflection from computer monitors, car dashboards and any other optical surface can impair the legibility of displays, degrade transmission of optical components and in some cases may even pose safety hazards. Antireflective coatings are therefore widely used, but existing antireflection technologies often perform sub-optimally or are expensive to implement. Here we present an alternative approach to antireflection coatings, based on an extension of our photo-aligning and photo-patterning technology for liquid-crystal displays (LCDs) and liquid-crystal polymer films with smooth surfaces to optical polymer films with controlled surface topologies. Nano- and micro-corrugated topologies are shown to result from optically induced monomer phase-separation on the polymer surfaces. The properties of the resulting films make them suitable high-performance and low-cost antireflection coatings for optical components of virtually any size, shape and material. Moreover, the approach can be used to form a wide range of other functional polymer thin films with isotropic as well as anisotropic topologies. For example, films can be produced whose optical birefringence exceeds that of the birefringence of the polymer material itself. These new films can also be used as diffractive thin films, diffusers, and directional reflectors which preserve light polarization, or as substrates for aligning liquid crystals to produce bright, low-power-consumption LCDs with integrated optical functions and memory.

Optical polymer thin films with isotropic and anisotropic nano-corrugated surface topologies

J.d.B. acknowledges the MINECO, the FSE, and the FEDER for funding through projects RYC‐2015‐18471 (Ramon y Cajal program) and CTQ2017‐84087. C.S.‐S. thanks the Spanish MICINN projects BIO2017‐84246‐C2‐1‐R, Gobierno de Aragon, and FEDER (EU).

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Light to Shape the Future: From Photolithography to 4D Printing

A method and apparatus for drug product tracking (or other pharmaceutical, health care or cosmetics products, and/or the packages or containers they are supplied with) using diffraction grating-based encoded optical identification elements (8) includes an optical substrate (10) having at least one diffraction grating (12) disposed therein. The grating (12) has one or more colocated pitches A which represent a unique identification digital code that is detected when illuminated by incident light (24). The incident light (24) may be directed transversely from the side of the substrate (10) (or from an end) with a narrow band (single wavelength) or multiple wavelength source, and the code is represented by a spatial distribution of light or a wavelength spectrum, respectively, or a combination thereof. The encoded element (8) may be used to label any desired item, such as drugs or medicines, or other pharmaceutical or health care products or cosmetics. The label may be used for many different purposes, such as for sorting, tracking, identification, verification, authentication, anti-theft/anti-counterfeit, security/anti-terrorism, or for other purposes. In a manufacturing environment, the elements (8) may be used to track inventory for production information or sales of goods/products. Such labeling provides product identification at the pill or liquid medicine level, which provides traceability of these products to their manufacturer, thereby reducing counterfeit products in the marketplace. Also, the elements (8 )may be incorporated into a film, liquid, coating or adhesive tape at attached to the product package.

Method and apparatus for drug product tracking using encoded optical identification elements

A genuineness detecting film (10) includes at least a reflecting film (11) having a circularly polarized light selectivity such that it reflects only a left-handed or right-handed circularly polarized light out of incident lights and generates a reflected light. On the reflecting film (11), a hologram forming portion (11a) is provided. The hologram forming portion (11a) reflects the same circularly polarized light as the reflected light in a direction different from the direction in which the reflected light travels and thereby to form a hologram image. Sensors disposed in different positions sense the reflected light from the reflecting film (11) and the hologram image from the hologram forming portion (11a), respectively.

Genuineness detecting system and method for using genuineness detecting film

An optical component in the form of an identification element (such as for counterfeit protection or copy protection) includes an optically anisotropic layer comprising regions of different optical axes that is arranged over a reflector The anisotropic layer may be implemented with a liquid crystal polymer in which the orientation of the liquid crystals is different in different areas Such an orientation pattern is initially hidden from a viewer, but becomes visible by means of an additional polariser To improve the visual appearance of the identification element, a white light hologram may be used for the reflector

Optical identification element

With linear photo polymerization (LPP) ROLIC has developed a new photo-patternable technology which enables to align not only conventional liquid crystals bu also LCP. ROLICs optical security device technology derives from its LPP/LCP technology. LPP/LCP security devices are crated by structured photo-alignment of an LPP layer through photo- masks, thus generating a high resolution, photo-patterned aligning layer which carries the aligning information of the image to be created and which is machine readable. The subsequent LCP layer transforms the aligning information into an optical phase image. Among a large number of possible LPP/LCP optical effects that lead to LPP/LCP security devices - all of them with distinct optical appearance - we will concentrate on the following LPP/LCP security elements: Reflective and transmissive LPP/LCP security devices for 2nd level inspection applications. LPP/LCP images are invisible when viewed with the naked eye but becomes visible when viewed through a polarizer. Rotation of the polarizer leads to contrast inversion: i.e. the image changes from 'positive' to 'negative' which is an additional unique security feature. Other types of LPP/LCP security devices are based on cholesteric films. We will present 2nd level cholesteric LPP/LCP devices which can be sued as overlays and superimposed on printed information which remains visible through the overlay.© (2000) COPYRIGHT SPIE--The International Society for Optical Engineering. Downloading of the abstract is permitted for personal use only.

Optical LPP/LCP devices : A new generation of optical security elements

With linear photo-polymerization (LPP) ROLIC has invented a photo-patternable technology enabling to align not only conventional liquid crystals but also liquid crystals polymers (LCP). ROLIC's optical security device technology derives from its LPP/LCP technology. LPP/LCP security devices are created by structured photo-alignment of an LPP layer through phot-masks, thus generating a high resolution, photo-patterned aligning layer which carries the aligning information of the image to be created. The subsequent LCP layer transforms the aligning information into an optical phase image with low and/or very high information content, such as invisible photographic pictures. The building block capability of the LPP/LCP technology allows the manufacturing of cholesteric and non-cholesteric LPP/LCP devices which cover 1st and/or 2nd level applications. Apart from black/white security devices colored information zones can be integrated. Moreover, we have developed an LPP/LCP security device which covers all three- 1st, 2nd and 3rd- inspection levels in one and the same authentication device: besides a color shift by tilting the device (1st level) and the detection of normally hidden information by use of a simple sheet polarizer (2nd level) the new device contains encrypted hidden information which can be visualized only by superimposing an LPP/LCP inspection tool (key) for decryption (3rd level). This optical key is also based on the LPP/LCP technology and is itself a 3rd level security device.

New colored optical security elements using Rolic's LPP/LCP technology: devices for first- to third-level inspection

The unbroken global increase of forgery and counterfeiting of valuable documents and products steadily requires improved types of optical security devices. Hence, the "security world" is actively seeking for new features which meet high security standards, look attractively and allow easy recognition. One special smart security device created by ROLIC's technology represents a cholesteric device combined with a phase image. On tilting, such devices reveal strong color shifts which are clearly visible to the naked eye. The additional latent image is invisible under normal lighting conditions but can be revealed to human eyes by means of a simple, commercially available linear sheet polarizer. Based on our earlier work, first published in 1981, we now have developed phase change guest-host devices combined with dye-doped cholesteric material for application in new security features. ROLIC has developed sophisticated material systems of cross-linkable cholesteric liquid crystals and suitable cross-linkable dyes which allow to create outstanding cholesteric color-shifting effects not only on light absorbing dark backgrounds but also on bright or even white backgrounds preserving the circularly polarizing state. The new security devices combine unambiguously 1st and 2nd level inspection features and show brilliant colors on black as well as on white substrates. On tilting, the security devices exhibit remarkable color shifts while the integrated hidden images can be revealed by use of a sheet polarizer. Furthermore, due to its very thin material layers, even demanding applications, such as on banknotes can be considered.

Franco Moia

Papers

Optical identification element

Optical LPP/LCP devices : A new generation of optical security elements

New colored optical security elements using Rolic's LPP/LCP technology: devices for first- to third-level inspection

New color-shifting security devices