Taggent flakes for covert security applications having a selected shape

• US 8,658,280 B2
• Filed: 10/28/2011
• Issued: 02/25/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 09/13/2002
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Viavi Solutions, Inc. (Lumentum Holdings Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Viavi Solutions, Inc. (Lumentum Holdings Inc.)
• Inventors: Argoitia, Alberto, Delst, Cornelis Jan
• Primary Examiner(s): LE, HOA VAN
• Application Number:
  US13/284,689
• Publication Number:
  US 20120107738A1
• Time in Patent Office: 851 Days
• Field of Search: 428/402
• US Class Current: 428/402
• CPC Class Codes: C01P 2004/03 obtained by SEM
• CPC Class Codes: C01P 2004/61 Micrometer sized, i.e. from 1-100 micrometer
• CPC Class Codes: C01P 2004/62 Submicrometer sized, i.e. from 0.1-1 micrometer
• CPC Class Codes: C01P 2006/60 Optical properties, e.g. expressed in CIELAB-values
• CPC Class Codes: C09C 1/0015 Pigments exhibiting interference colours, e.g. transparent platelets of appropriate thinness or flaky substrates, e.g. mica, bearing appropriate thin transparent coatings
• CPC Class Codes: C09C 2210/60 Interference with laser-light, laser markable pigments
• CPC Class Codes: C09D 11/322 Pigment inks
• CPC Class Codes: G03G 9/0825 characterised by their structure; characterised by non-homogenuous distribution of components microcapsular toners G03G9/093
• CPC Class Codes: G03G 9/0837 Structural characteristics of the magnetic components, e.g. shape, crystallographic structure
• CPC Class Codes: G03G 9/08795 characterised by their chemical properties, e.g. acidity, molecular weight, sensitivity to reactants
• CPC Class Codes: G03G 9/08797 characterised by their physical properties, e.g. viscosity, solubility, melting temperature, softening temperature, glass transition temperature
• CPC Class Codes: G03G 9/0902 Inorganic compounds
• CPC Class Codes: G03G 9/0926 characterised by physical or chemical properties
• CPC Class Codes: G03G 9/09708 Inorganic compounds
• CPC Class Codes: G03G 9/09716 treated with organic compounds
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/2982 Particulate matter [e.g., sphere, flake, etc.]

Abstract

A plurality of flakes are provided that can be used in ink or paint wherein the flakes are of a size that requires magnification to see their shape, in the form of polygons, such as squares, triangle or rectangles. A breaking or grinding process is used to break a foil into these shaped flakes and frames or walls are provided within the foil sheet so as to delineate the shapes and these lines provided by frames or walls will facilitate breakage in a preferred manner such that the flakes break into selected shaped polygons. Remnants are typically present along flake edges due to the grinding and breakage process however with magnification, one can see the resultant regular polygonal shape. To clearly see the remnants one requires increased magnification and the remnant itself provides a type of signature. It can be seen as a taggent within a taggent.

Claims

1. A plurality of shaped flakes, wherein each flake has a same general polygonal shape, each flake having a thickness greater than or equal to 0.01 μ

m and less than or equal to 10 μ

m, and wherein each flake has a remnant in the form of a protruding wall segment on one side of each of the flake wherein the remnant is result of breaking or grinding to form the shaped flakes, and wherein a width of the remnant is less than 20% of a major dimension of the flake so that the general polygonal shape of each flake is distinguishable.

2. A plurality of shaped flakes as defined in claim 1, wherein one surface of the flake is substantially planar and wherein another opposite surface of the flake is not entirely planar due to the presence of one or more remnants, and wherein the flake is of a size such that the polygonal shape can only be seen with magnification.

3. A plurality of shaped flakes as defined in claim 2 wherein edges of each of the flakes are jagged as a result of a breaking or grinding process.

4. A plurality of shaped flakes as defined in claim 3 comprising a binder.

5. A plurality of shaped flakes wherein the shaped flakes as defined in claim 1 wherein the flakes have indicia thereon.

6. A plurality of shaped flakes as defined in claim 1 wherein a remnant has a width and length in the plane of the flake, and a height.

7. A plurality of shaped flakes as defined in claim 1 wherein the shaped flakes comprise bright flakes.

8. A plurality of shaped flakes of claim 7 wherein the shaped flakes have a grating pattern, the selected shape being visible at a first magnification and the grating pattern not being visible at the first magnification, wherein the grating pattern is visible at a second magnification, the second magnification being greater than the first magnification.

9. A plurality of shaped flakes of claim 1 wherein the shaped flakes include a grating pattern which can only be seen with magnification.

10. A plurality of shaped flakes of claim 2 wherein the flakes have a reflective layer, a spacer layer, and an absorber layer.

11. A plurality of shaped flakes as defined in claim 1, wherein the shaped flakes include single-layer inorganic dielectric taggent flakes.