Optical structure, manufacturing method thereof, and code forming method
AssigneeToppan Holdings Inc.
InventorsTerumine Iino, Tomomi Kawahara
Life of this patent
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Abstract
There is provided an optical structure that can form a code that is difficult to counterfeit and compatibly has both a high readability and a fine appearance. The optical structure of the present invention includes a reflecting layer having regular reflectivity, and a print layer stacked on at least a part of the reflecting layer, the print layer functioning as a scattering reflector having scattering reflectivity, wherein an image part, which is recognizable when viewed from a stack direction, is formed on the print layer, and the image part includes a pale-color level area that is printed, and a non-pale-color level area interposed between the pale-color level areas.
Claims15
An optical structure comprising:
- a reflecting layer having regular reflectivity;
- and
- a print layer stacked on at least a part of the reflecting layer, the print layer functioning as a scattering reflector having scattering reflectivity, wherein
- an image part, which is recognizable when viewed from a stack direction, is formed on the print layer, and
- the image part includes a pale-color level area that is printed, and a non-pale-color level area interposed between the pale-color level areas.
An optical structure comprising:
- a reflecting layer having regular reflectivity;
- and
- a plurality of pale-color level areas that are printed, the pale-color level areas being disposed on at least a part of the reflecting layer,
- wherein a machine-readable code formed by a combination of the pale-color level areas is disposed.
A manufacturing method of manufacturing an optical structure by:
- preparing a reflecting layer that regularly reflects incident light;
- stacking a spacer layer having light-transmissivity or transparency on the reflecting layer;
- stacking, on at least a part of the spacer layer, a print layer including an image part including a machine-readable code formed by a pale-color level area that is a printed part, and a non-pale-color level area interposed between the pale-color level areas;
- and
- covering the spacer layer and the print layer with a protection layer.
A code forming method of forming a machine-readable code by utilizing a ground color of a product and a color of a background of a label covering the product, the method comprising:
- forming a plurality of pale-color level areas with one of the ground color and the color of the background;
- forming a plurality of non-pale-color level areas with the other of the ground color and the color of the background;
- and
- forming the machine-readable code by a combination of the pale-color level areas.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.