Dynamic, high impact micro-optic security films using automated, high precision alignment between micro-lenses and micro-images

据估计，大约7%的世界贸易(按价值计算为1.2万亿美元)是假冒商品。根据世界卫生组织的说法，假药在全球流通的数量非常大。处理假药问题的一个方法是使用“公开的”标签，这种标签具有“容易识别但不可能复制”的视觉效果，对普通消费者来说非常明显，不需要任何验证。Micro-Optics提供了这样的效果，具有醒目的3D/运动色彩特征。创建这些效果本身就需要制造非常精细的透镜(间距50微米)以及超精细的线条图形(线宽和线宽；在过去的3年里，Optrical已经成功地开发并商业化了这种具有惊人的3D/运动效果、两个安全层和内置篡改证据(因为篡改破坏了光学效果)的超薄、“容易识别且不可能复制”的微型光学薄膜。然而，我们意识到，在每个透镜下精确地对准印刷线条的能力可以为可实现的特征增加新的维度，并产生更复杂的东西，目前项目的目标是开发和实施一种新的自动化技术，用于在未来15个月内在卷筒纸上以5+/-5微米的精度移动卷筒纸时精确对准和配准精细透镜和微型印刷线。该项目的产出将是一种自动化的、高产量的微光学薄膜制造工艺，远远超过目前的技术水平。Optrical将与一家精密机器的专业制造商“Double R Consulting”合作，后者在全息、微光学和光学镀膜制造等广泛行业的精密机器自动化方面拥有超过40年的专业经验。拟议的易识别和不可复制的功能将对多个行业具有巨大价值，如安全文件(身份证/护照、税章)、货币和高价值产品流动、电子和零部件、营养食品、食品和饮料(特别是酒精饮料)、时尚和奢侈品以及工业商品。此外，该项目开发和实施的技术也将转移到多种高价值产品的精密制造中，特别是在印刷和柔性电子产品方面。

It is estimated that about 7% of world trade (or $1.2Trillion in value terms) is that of counterfeit goods. As per the WHO, very large quantities of fake medicines are in circulation globally.One way to deal with the issue of fake medicines could be to use "overt" labels with "easy to recognise but impossible to copy" visual effects which are very obvious for a common consumer and do not need any verification. Micro-optics offers such effects with striking 3D/ motion features in colour. Creation of these effects inherently requires manufacturing of very fine lenses (pitch <50microns) as well as ultra-fine line graphics (linewidth <5microns)- which working in consonance creates these dynamic effects.Optrical has successfully developed and commercialised such ultra-thin, "easy to recognise and impossible to copy" micro-optic film with striking 3D/ motion effect, two security layers and inbuilt tamper evidence (as tampering destroys the optical effect) over the past 3 years.We however, realise that the ability to register the printed line precisely under each lens can add a new dimension to achievable features and create much more complex, sophisticated and clear visual effects.The objective of the current project is to develop and implement a novel automation technology for precision alignment and registration of fine lenses and micro-printed lines in moving web to a precision of 5 +/- 5 Microns across the web, over the next 15 months. The project output will be an automated, high throughput manufacturing process for micro-optic films far exceeding the current state of the art. Optrical will work with an expert manufacturer of precision machines- "Double R Consulting" who bring over 40 years expertise in automation of such precision machines in wide range industries such as holographic, micro-opitc and optical coating manufacturing.The proposed, easy to recognise and impossible to copy features will be of immense value for multiple industries, such as security documents (ID cards/passports, tax stamps), currency and high value products movement, electronics and spares, nutraceuticals, food and beverages (especially alcoholic drinks), fashion and luxury and industrial goods. Further the techniques developed and implemented in this project will also be transferable to precision manufacturing of multiple high value products, especially in printed and flexible electronics.