Authentication label and authenticating pattern incorporating diffracting structure and method of fabricating them

Abstract

A light diffracting structure 10 in an authenticating pattern 20 especially for an authentication label 30 is used for authenticating and protecting against forgery various valuable objects. The light diffracting structure 10 has unique parameters generating a uniquely colored pattern. The unique parameters are randomly defined by anisotropic process steps during the manufacturing of the diffracting structure and are not under full control of the producer. This prevents copying or creating an exact replica thereof. The authenticating pattern 20 comprises an integrated structure of a substrate layer 21 and a transparent overcoat layer 22 and the viewable interface therebetween includes the light diffracting structure 10. The uniquely colored authenticating pattern can be verified by simple observation with the naked eye which is a prerequisite for ubiquitous verification.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.