JP2000331212A - Security product, object with security information, method for judging truth or falsehood and manufacture of security product - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To recognize multi-color display character or image in the case of observation through a polarizing plate or observation by means of a radiation with a linear polarized light through the character or the image cannot be recognized at the time of observation under a natural light. SOLUTION: A security product 10 is constituted by providing a base material 11, three-layered dichroic coloring matters 13, 15 and 17 being mutually different in color, which are formed on the material 11, and optical activated molecular layers 12, 14 and 16 formed among the three layered coloring matters. The anisotropically oriented dichroic coloring matters are patterned in each dichroic coloring layer. Though the character or the image cannot be recognized by observation under the natural light, each patterned part is differently colored and recognized since a deviation exists in the polarizing components of a transmissive light when the security product 10 is observed through the polarizing plate placed in a horizontal or vertical direction.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a security product, an article with security information, an authenticity judgment method, and a method for manufacturing a security product, which are low in cost and have a high anti-counterfeiting effect.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Valuables such as cash vouchers, securities, and prepaid cards, certificates of title, and certificates such as ID cards may suffer various damages due to forgery. In addition, for software, music software, video software and the like to be protected by copyright, various measures have been taken to prevent forgery, falsification or duplication.

In such ID cards and music software, methods for preventing forgery can be roughly classified into the following three types.

[0004] The first method uses a sophisticated printing technique represented by a watermark, a micro-character, and a hologram, and is used for banknotes, gift certificates, stock certificates, credit cards, music CDs, and the like.

The second method is to prevent forgery by recording encryption information on a magnetic recording medium, an IC, an optical recording medium or the like, and is used for a prepaid card, a ticket, a commuter pass and the like.

The third method is a method of deforming a punch hole or the like by a physical force so that it cannot be repaired, and is used for a telephone card or the like.

However, in the first method, it is becoming difficult to determine the authenticity of a copy due to the development of copy technology, and a more sophisticated printing technique is required for the countermeasure. However, there is a problem that is increased.

The second method not only requires an expensive dedicated reader for reading the encrypted information, but also
Once the encryption is broken, there is a danger that unlimited forgery or duplication is possible.

In the third method, for example, in the case of a punched hole, there is a problem that the hole can be easily modified by using a method of physically closing the hole.

In contrast to the above-described conventional forgery prevention method, for example, as described in JP-A-9-183287, a photoactive molecular layer and a dichroic dye layer are provided, and the dichroic dye layer is polarized. A method has been proposed in which information is recorded and the recorded portion is irradiated with polarized light or observed through a polarizing plate to determine authenticity.

[0011]

However, in the forgery prevention method described in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 9-183287, the dichroic dye layer for recording information is a single layer, and complicated information cannot be recorded. In addition to being unable to record, since the polarization information that can be observed is monochrome, there is a problem that the difficulty of duplication is not high.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made in view of the above-mentioned conventional problems, and is a security product and an article with security information which can keep the difficulty of forgery, falsification and duplication high at low cost. It is another object of the present invention to provide an authenticity determination method using the above, and a method for manufacturing the security product.

[0013]

According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a security product comprising a photoactive molecular layer whose surface orientation is controlled by irradiation of linearly polarized light, and a photoactive molecular layer which is in contact with the photoactive molecular layer. As a set of alignment-controlled dichroic dye layers, at least two sets of different colors are laminated on the substrate, and each dichroic dye layer has a background region. The above object is achieved by a security product characterized by forming information recording areas with orientations in different directions.

The orientation direction of the dichroic dye layer in each of the background regions may be different from each other.

Further, the orientation directions of the dichroic dye layers in each of the background regions may be the same as each other.

A second aspect of the present invention is a security product.
A pair of a photoactive molecular layer whose surface orientation is controlled by linearly polarized light irradiation and a dichroic dye layer whose orientation is controlled by contacting this photoactive molecular layer In different colors, at least two sets are laminated, and in each set, the dichroic dye layer is an information recording area that has been subjected to an alignment treatment in a certain direction,
In addition, the above object is achieved by a security product having a non-oriented background area surrounding the information recording area.

The background area in each of the sets includes a non-oriented dichroic dye layer surrounding the information recording area, and the non-oriented dichroic dye layer changes its surface alignment state by the linearly polarized light irradiation. It may be configured in contact with a non-oriented photoactive molecular layer in which the orientation surrounding the controlled photoactive molecular layer is not controlled.

Further, the background area in each of the sets may be a non-dichroic dye layer surrounding the information recording area.

The orientation of the dichroic dye layers in each of the information recording areas may be different from each other.

Further, the orientation directions of the dichroic dye layers in the respective information recording areas may be the same as each other.

In the security product, the dichroic dye layers may have different spectral characteristics.

The color of the dichroic dye in the plurality of dichroic dye layers may be any one of yellow, magenta, and cyan.

Further, the dichroic dye layer may be made water-soluble.

Further, the photoactive molecular layer may be oriented by any one of photoisomerization, photodimerization, photocyclization, photocrosslinking, and photodecomposition by irradiation of linearly polarized light.

Further, the substrate may be in the form of a seal having an adhesive layer provided on the back surface thereof.

Further, the invention of an article with a security product,
According to a fifteenth aspect, the above object is achieved by an article with a security product having the security product as described above on a part of its surface.

[0027] The goods may be cash vouchers, securities, title documents,
Any of certificates, tickets, or cards may be used.

According to a seventeenth aspect of the present invention, a security product is irradiated with linearly polarized light, and at least color information recorded in the information recording area is observed from the reflected light to determine whether the product is genuine. An object of the present invention is to achieve the above object by an authenticity determination method characterized by determining whether or not the authentication is true or false.

Further, at least the color information recorded in the information recording area of the security product may be observed through a polarizing plate to determine whether the product is genuine.

According to the invention of a method of manufacturing a security product, a step of coating photoactive molecules on a substrate and irradiating the entire surface with linearly polarized light having a wavelength at which the photoactive molecules cause a photochemical reaction. Irradiating a linearly polarized light having the wavelength not parallel to the polarization axis of the linearly polarized light through a photomask to pattern the orientation state of the surface;
Applying a dichroic dye, and repeating these steps for at least two types of dichroic dye molecules of different colors, to each dichroic dye layer, to the background region The above object is achieved by a method of manufacturing a security product, wherein information recording areas are formed with orientations in different directions.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, there is provided a method of manufacturing a security product, comprising the steps of: coating a photoactive molecule on a substrate; and photomasking the linearly polarized light having a wavelength at which the photoactive molecule causes a photochemical reaction. And a step of applying a dichroic dye by irradiating through the step (a), and a step of applying a dichroic dye.
Manufacture of security products characterized by forming a non-oriented background area and an oriented information recording area on each dichroic dye layer by repeating for each dichroic molecule of a different color The above object is achieved by a method.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, there is provided a method of manufacturing a security product, comprising the steps of: coating a photoactive molecule on a substrate; and converting the linearly polarized light having a wavelength at which the photoactive molecule causes a photochemical reaction. A step of irradiating through a mask to pattern the orientation of the surface, and a step of applying a dichroic dye.
The dichroic dye layers of different colors are repeated for each dichroic dye layer, and each dichroic dye layer is subjected to an alignment treatment to form an information recording area. The above object is achieved by a security product manufacturing method characterized by providing a ground area.

In the method of manufacturing a security product, the spectral characteristics of the dichroic molecular layers may be different.

Further, in the method of manufacturing a security product, the color of the dichroic dye in the plurality of dichroic molecular layers may be any one of yellow, magenta, and cyan.

In the method of manufacturing a security product, the dichroic dye may be water-soluble.

Further, in the method of manufacturing a security product, the active molecular layer is oriented by one of photoisomerization, photodimerization, photocyclization, photocrosslinking, and photodecomposition by irradiation with linearly polarized light. You may do so.

In the method of manufacturing a security product, the active molecule may be insoluble in water and soluble in an organic solvent.

[0038]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS A security product according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described below in detail with reference to the drawings.

As shown in FIG. 1, a security product 10 according to an embodiment of the present invention comprises a base material 11 and three photoactive molecular layers 12, 1 formed on the base material 11.
4, 16 and the outermost (upper in FIG. 1) photoactive molecular layers 16 between these photoactive molecular layers 12, 14, 16
Dichroic dye layers 13, 15, 1
7 and a protective layer 18 further laminated on the outside of the outer dichroic dye layer 17.

The photoactive molecular layers 12, 14, 16 are anisotropically irradiated in a specific direction by irradiating ultraviolet or visible linearly polarized light as disclosed in, for example, JP-A-7-261024. Dichroic dye layer 1 which is oriented in a uniform manner and thereby applied to the photoactive molecular layers 12, 14, 16.
3, 15, 17 are anisotropically oriented perpendicular or parallel to the molecular axis of the oriented photoactive molecule or at a specific angle.

The photoactive molecule can be, for example, a substance described in JP-A-7-261024 described above, or a photoisomerization, a photodimerization, a photocyclization, or the like by irradiation of linearly polarized light in an ultraviolet region or a visible region. It is a molecule that is oriented by a reaction of photocrosslinking or photodecomposition. These are azo, coumarin, cinnamoyl,
It is a polymer having a chalcone group in the molecule, a styrylpyridine polymer, polyvinyl cinnamate, or the like, and is preferably water-insoluble.

The photoactive molecular layer 1 made of such a substance
As described in the above-mentioned Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. Hei 7-261024, an alignment treatment (patterning) is performed in an arbitrary direction by, for example, mask exposure using linearly polarized light.
By applying a dichroic dye thereto, the dichroic dyes in the respective dichroic dye layers 13, 15, and 17 are used for patterning in the alignment direction of the corresponding photoactive molecular layers 12, 14, and 16. It will be oriented accordingly. That is, a large number of regions having different polarization directions are formed according to the patterning of the alignment directions in the photoactive molecular layers 12, 14, and 16.

Here, as the dichroic dye forming the dichroic dye layer, for example, the dichroic dye layer 13 closest to the base material 11 (the lowermost one in FIG. 1) has a yellow color. Using a dichroic dye to be presented, the intermediate dichroic dye layer 15
For example, the dichroic dye exhibiting a magenta color and the dichroic dye exhibiting a cyan color are used as the outermost dichroic dye layer 17, for example.

The dichroic dye is a dye having a large difference in absorbance between the major axis direction of the molecule and the direction perpendicular thereto. When the dichroic dye is anisotropically oriented, After passing through the chromatic dye layer, the ratio of the linearly polarized light component parallel to the molecular long axis direction and the linearly polarized light component perpendicular to the molecular long axis direction is greatly different.

Specific dichroic dyes include C.I. I. D
direct Blue 67, C.I. I. Direct
Yellow 12, C.I. I. Direct Green
n59, C.I. I. There are direct dyes such as Direct Red 79. These are water-soluble.

The material of the substrate 11 is desirably transparent when the security product 10 is of a transmission type. In addition to inorganic materials such as glass and quartz, polyester such as cellulose acetate, polyethylene terephthalate and polyethylene naphthalate, and polyimide are preferable. And various plastics such as polyethylene.

When the security product is of a reflection type (described later), it may be opaque, so that the base material surface of the above-mentioned material is coated with a metal oxide or a metal thin film having high reflectivity, or the metal material itself. And so on.

The protective layer 18 formed on the uppermost surface is preferably transparent and has low light reflection. For example, an acrylic or epoxy curable resin film is used.

The dichroic dye layer 13 composed of the yellow dichroic dye has a square shape as a whole, for example, as shown in FIG. In the recording area 13A, it is anisotropically oriented in the vertical direction in FIG. 2A, and in the background area 13B as the background, it is anisotropically oriented in the horizontal direction.

In the intermediate dichroic dye layer 15, FIG.
As shown in (B), a circular information recording area 15A is provided at two corners of a square, and is oriented in the same vertical direction as the above-described information recording area 13A, and the remaining background area 15B is The dichroic dye is oriented in a direction perpendicular to the information recording area 15A.

Further, in the dichroic dye layer 17 on the outermost side, as shown in FIG. 2C, four circular information recording areas 17A are provided inside the center of each side of the square.
The orientation direction of the dichroic dye here is vertical as in the case of the information recording areas 13A and 15A, and the remaining background area 17B is oriented in a horizontal direction orthogonal to this.

The security product 10 includes a step of applying photoactive molecules on the base material 11, a step of irradiating the entire surface with linearly polarized light having a wavelength at which the photoactive molecules cause a photochemical reaction, and a step of applying a photomask. A step of irradiating a linearly polarized light of the wavelength not parallel to the polarization axis of the linearly polarized light to pattern the orientation of the surface, and a step of applying a dichroic dye to the three dichroic colors. The information recording areas 13A, 15A, 17A are formed in the dichroic dye layers 13, 15, 17 by repeating for each dye molecule, with the information recording areas 13A, 15A, 17A oriented in different directions with respect to the background areas 13B, 15B, 17B. .

At this time, if the photoactive molecule is water-insoluble and the dichroic dye is water-soluble, the two do not dissolve, so that lamination is easy.

When the security product 10 as described above is irradiated with natural light from the side of the base material 11, the transmitted light becomes
Although the polarization components are biased, the sum of the transmitted light amounts is the same, and the information recording areas 13A, 15A, 17A
Shape and color cannot be recognized.

However, the above security product 1
In the same manner as described above, when light is observed through a polarizing plate placed in a direction (horizontal direction) horizontal to the orientation direction of the information recording area and the background area while irradiating natural light from the side of the base material 11 as described above, Since there is a bias in the polarization component of light, three blue (B) circles are used in the information recording area 13A, two green (G) circles are used in the information recording area 15A, and red is used in the information recording area 17A. Each of the four circles of (R) can be observed (see FIG. 3).
When observed through a polarizing plate in a direction (longitudinal direction) orthogonal to the above, as shown in FIG. 3, yellow (Y), which has a complementary color relationship with B, G, and R,
The colors of magenta (M) and cyan (C) can be respectively recognized.

In the security product 10 as described above, when the polarizing plate is placed in the horizontal direction and the vertical direction, the color of the background area changes to black (horizontal direction) and white (vertical direction). By omitting the step of irradiating the entire surface with linearly polarized light having a wavelength at which the active molecule causes a photochemical reaction, and by making it non-aligned, the color can be prevented from being changed even when the direction of the polarizing plate is changed. At this time, the color of the background area is gray.

Further, the background area may be formed without providing any photoactive molecules, as long as it allows the information recording area to be relatively recognized. For example, photoactive molecules may be applied only to the information recording area.

The information recording area and the background area are relative to each other. Even if the inside of the pattern is not necessarily the information recording area, for example, the outside of the circular pattern area may be the information recording area and the inside of the circular pattern may be the area. It may be a background area.

Further, the security product 10 as described above
In the above, the dichroic dye layers 13, 15, and 17 have the same dichroic dye orientation direction, but they may be oriented in different directions, and the information recording areas 13 A, 15 A, and 17 A may be oriented in different directions.
Also, polarization information of various colors can be recorded as a latent image in the background area.

The dichroic dye layers 13, 15, and 17 in the above-described embodiment have yellow, magenta, and cyan colors as coloring materials. The colors are blue, green, and red, which are complementary colors of the material colors.
The colors 3, 15, and 17 are not limited to the above, and the respective spectral characteristics may be different so that different colors may be observed.

Further, the security products in the above embodiments are all transmissive types and irradiate natural light from the base material 11 side. For example, the security products of the present invention shown in FIG. As in the case of the security product 20 according to the second example of the embodiment, a reflection type may be used.

This security product 20 is such that a reflective layer 22 made of a metal thin film or the like is formed on the base material 11 of the security product 10 shown in FIG. 1 on the side of the photoactive molecular layer 12. Since it is the same as that of the security product 10 shown in FIG. 1, the description will be omitted by giving the same reference numerals to the same parts.

In the case of the reflective security product 20, for example, as shown in FIG. 5, by observing through the polarizing plate 28, the information recording areas 13A, 15A,
17A can be observed.

The above-mentioned transparent security product 1
0 is used by attaching it to an article such as a transparent optical recording medium, film, credit card, telephone card, or the like.

The reflection type security product 20
For example, as shown in FIG. 6, an opaque article is attached to a resin ID card 30 for use.

The ID card 30, which is an article with security information, normally has the information recording areas 13A, 15A, 17 in the part of the security product 20 affixed.
Although A is not observed, the circular three-color information recording areas 13A, 15A, and 17A emerge when observed through the polarizing plate 28.

Accordingly, it is possible to determine whether the ID card 30 is genuine. When the polarizing plate 28 is not used, the authenticity of the security product 20 can be determined by irradiating the security product 20 with linearly polarized light and observing the reflected light with the naked eye.

The security product 20 is the same as that shown in FIG.
If the adhesive layer 21 is provided on the back surface (lower surface) of the base material 11 in advance as shown by a two-dot chain line in FIG.

The authentication method will be described in more detail.

Different polarization information is recorded on the dichroic dye layers formed on the base material. The human eye recognizes brightness and color based on the total amount of transmitted or reflected light, but cannot recognize whether the light is natural light or polarized light.

In the security product according to the present invention, the total amount of light transmitted or reflected on the entire surface is equal,
Polarization information is recorded in each layer such that a certain portion has a large amount of polarization component in the vertical direction and another portion has a large amount of polarization component in the horizontal direction.

Accordingly, by observing through a polarizing plate or irradiating with linearly polarized light, only linearly polarized light in a certain direction can reach human eyes. That is, the polarization information recorded as the latent image can be recognized.

If a security product utilizing this principle is attached to a part of a cash voucher, a securities, a title certificate, a certificate, a ticket or a card like the ID card 30, observation through a polarizing plate can be performed. It is possible to easily determine the authenticity by irradiating the linearly polarized light.

As described above, the security product provided with the adhesive layer 21 and sealed can be used as a proof that the product is not an imitation product by attaching it to computer software, video software, music CD, or the like. is there.

[0075]

The present invention will be described in more detail with reference to the following examples, but the present invention is not limited to these examples.

Example 1 A solution consisting of 10 parts by weight of the following azobenzene polymer and 90 parts by weight of toluene was applied to glass by a spin coater, and air-dried to a thickness of 30%.
nm of a photoactive molecular layer was formed.

[0077]

Embedded image

Then, visible light having a wavelength of 436 nm was extracted using a filter using an ultrahigh pressure mercury lamp as a light source, and the entire surface of the photoactive molecular layer was irradiated with linearly polarized light through a polarizing plate.
Next, information to be recorded on the first dichroic dye layer was recorded by irradiating linearly polarized light having a polarization axis orthogonal to the previously irradiated linearly polarized light through a photomask on which a circular pattern was formed. The irradiation dose of each irradiated light is 100 mJ /
cm2.

Next, the dichroic dye C.I. I. Direct
10 parts by weight of Blue 67 and 1 part by weight of a nonionic surfactant Emulgen 108 (manufactured by Kao Corporation) were added, and 89
A weight part of pure water is added to make an aqueous solution.

This was formed on the substrate and coated on the oriented photoactive molecular layer by a spin coater and naturally dried at room temperature to obtain a circular information as shown in FIG. The first dichroic dye layer 42 including the recording area 42A and the surrounding background area 42B is completed. The thickness of the formed dichroic dye layer is about 1 μm.

On the first dichroic dye layer 42,
Further, a photoactive molecular layer made of an azobenzene polymer was prepared, and after similarly irradiating the entire surface with linearly polarized light, information to be recorded in the second dichroic dye layer was recorded through a photomask having a square pattern. The irradiation dose of the irradiated light was 100 mJ / cm 2.

Next, the dichroic dye C.I. I. Direct
10 parts by weight of Yellow 12 and 1 part by weight of a nonionic surfactant Emulgen 108 (manufactured by Kao Corporation) were added.
89 parts by weight of pure water was added to make an aqueous solution.

This is applied on the second photoactive molecular layer formed on the substrate by a spin coater and naturally dried at room temperature, and as shown in FIG. The square information recording area 44A and the surrounding background area 4
The second dichroic dye layer 44 of 4B is completed.
The thickness of the formed dichroic dye layer is about 1 μm.

The polarizing element thus obtained has a gray color as shown in FIG. 8A under natural light. However, when the polarizing element is observed through the polarizing plate P or is irradiated with linearly polarized light, a circular information record is obtained. When the polarization axis is in the horizontal direction, the portion 42A, the rectangular information recording portion 44A, and the overlapped background regions 42B, 44B become blue, yellow, and black, respectively, as shown in FIG. When P or the polarization axis of the irradiation polarized light is in the vertical direction, as shown in FIG. 8C, the color becomes yellow, blue, and white, respectively, and the information recorded in each dichroic dye layer is It can be recognized by presenting the color used for.

Example 2 Example 2 is different from Example 1 in the wavelength of the photoactive molecule and the irradiation light, and the other conditions are the same.

The following styrylpyridine polymer-10
A solution consisting of 90 parts by weight of toluene and 90 parts by weight of toluene was applied on glass by a spin coater, and air-dried to form a photoactive molecular layer having a thickness of 30 nm.

[0087]

Embedded image

Then, ultraviolet light having a wavelength of 313 nm was extracted using a filter using an ultra-high pressure mercury lamp as a light source, and the entire surface of the photoactive molecular layer was irradiated with linearly polarized light through a polarizing plate. Next, the information to be recorded in the first dichroic dye layer was recorded by irradiating, through a photomask, the linearly polarized light whose polarization axis was perpendicular to the linearly polarized light previously irradiated. The irradiation dose of the irradiated light was 100 mJ / cm 2.

Next, the dichroic dye C.I. I. Direct
10 parts by weight of Blue 67 and 1 part by weight of a nonionic surfactant Emulgen 108 (manufactured by Kao Corporation) were added, and 89
A weight part of pure water is added to make an aqueous solution.

This is applied on the photoactive molecular layer formed on the substrate by a spin coater and naturally dried at room temperature.
As shown in FIG. 7A, the circular information recording area 42
A and the first dichroic dye layer 42 composed of A and the surrounding background area 42B are completed. The thickness of the formed dichroic dye layer is about 1 μm.

On this dichroic dye layer 42, a photoactive molecular layer made of the above styrylpyridine polymer was formed.
Similarly, after irradiating the entire surface with linearly polarized light, information to be recorded in the second dichroic dye layer was recorded through a photomask. The irradiation dose of the irradiated light was 100 mJ / cm 2.

Dichroic dye C.I. I. Direct Yel
10 parts by weight of low 12 and 1 part by weight of nonionic surfactant Emulgen 108 (manufactured by Kao Corporation)) were added, and 89
A weight part of pure water is added to make an aqueous solution.

This was applied on the photoactive molecular layer formed on the substrate by a spin coater and dried naturally at room temperature.
As shown in FIG. 7B, a rectangular information recording area 4
The second dichroic dye layer 44 composed of 4A and the surrounding background area 44B is completed. The thickness of the formed dichroic dye layer is about 1 μm.

As shown in FIGS. 8A to 8C, the polarizing element thus obtained has a gray color under natural light, as shown in FIGS. Alternatively, when illuminated with linearly polarized light and observed, the information recorded in each dichroic dye layer can be recognized by presenting the color used in each dichroic dye layer.

Example 3 Dichroic Dye I. IRE
ct Green 59, 5 parts by weight, C.I. I. IRE
1 part by weight of nonionic surfactant Emulgen 108 (manufactured by Kao Corporation) was added to 5 parts by weight of ct Red 79,
89 parts by weight of pure water was added to obtain an aqueous solution, whereby a dichroic dye aqueous solution 1 having a yellow color was obtained.

Next, the dichroic dye C.I. I. Direct
5 parts by weight of Blue 67, C.I. I. Direct R
One part by weight of nonionic surfactant Emulgen 108 (manufactured by Kao Corporation)) was added to 5 parts by weight of ed 79, and 89 parts by weight of pure water was added to form an aqueous solution. A dichroic dye aqueous solution 2 having a magenta color was obtained. Obtained.

Dichroic dye C.I. I. Direct Blu
e 67, 5 parts by weight, C.I. I. Direct Green
1 part by weight of a nonionic surfactant Emulgen 108 (manufactured by Kao Corporation)) was added to 5 parts by weight of n59, and 89 parts by weight of pure water was added to form an aqueous solution. Obtained.

Using the styrylpyridine polymer used in Example 2 as the photoactive molecule, forming a photoactive molecular layer, irradiating the entire surface with polarized ultraviolet light, and circular as shown in FIGS. 9A to 9C. Information recording by mask exposure in which a square, triangular or triangular pattern is formed, dichroic dye layers 46, 4
The formation of 8, 50 was repeated for the dichroic dye aqueous solutions 1 to 3 to prepare a multilayer polarizing element. At this time, in each of the dichroic dye layers 46, 48, and 50, the dichroic dye molecules in the background regions 46B, 48B, and 50B are oriented in the horizontal direction, and the dichroic dyes in the information recording regions 46A, 48A, and 50A are aligned. The orientation direction of the dye molecules was the vertical direction.

The polarizing element thus obtained is shown in FIG.
As shown in FIG. 9 (B), the color is gray under natural light, but when observed through a polarizing plate P arranged in the horizontal direction or by irradiating with linearly polarized light in the horizontal direction, as shown in FIG. Then, the polarization information recorded in the dichroic dye layers of the information recording areas 46A, 48A and 50A is reproduced in three primary colors of blue, green and red, and the background area is displayed in black.

Observation using a polarizing plate P or linearly polarized light in a direction (longitudinal direction) perpendicular to the above becomes as follows.
As shown in FIG. 9C, the three colors, yellow, magenta, and cyan, which are complementary to the above colors, are reproduced, and the background area is displayed in white.

Example 4 Using the styrylpyridine polymer used in Example 2 as a photoactive molecule, formation of a photoactive molecular layer, polarization information recording by mask exposure in the same pattern as in Example 3, FIG. The dichroic dye layers 52, 54, and 56 shown in (C) to (C) are formed by the dichroic dye aqueous solution 1
The above steps were repeated to prepare a multilayer polarizing element. At this time, since the irradiation of the polarized ultraviolet light to the entire surface of the photoactive molecular layer was omitted, the dichroic dye molecules in the background regions 52B, 54B, and 56B in the dichroic dye layers 52, 54, and 56 were not oriented. Information recording areas 52A, 54A, 56
The orientation direction of the dichroic dye molecules of A was the vertical direction.

The polarizing element thus obtained is shown in FIG.
As shown in (A), it is gray under natural light,
Observation through the polarizing plate P arranged in the horizontal direction or irradiation with linearly polarized light in the horizontal direction observed the dichroic dye layers in the information recording areas 52A, 54A and 56A as shown in FIG. 12B. The polarization information is reproduced in three primary colors of blue, green and red, and the background area is displayed in gray.

Observation using a polarizing plate P or linearly polarized light in a direction (longitudinal direction) perpendicular to the above becomes as follows.
As shown in FIG. 12C, the color is reproduced in three primary colors of yellow, magenta, and cyan which are complementary to the above-mentioned color, but the background area is displayed in gray because it is not oriented.

(Example 5) Using the styrylpyridine polymer used in Example 2 as a photoactive molecule, formation of a photoactive molecular layer, irradiation of polarized ultraviolet light to the entire surface, and mask exposure in the same pattern as in Example 3 Polarization information recording, FIG. 13 (A)
The formation of the dichroic dye layers 58, 60, and 62 shown in (C) to (C) was repeated for the dichroic dye aqueous solutions 1 to 3 to prepare a multilayer polarizing element. At this time, each dichroic dye layer 58, 6
Background areas 58B, 60 at 0, 62
The orientation direction of the dichroic dye molecules B and 62B is set such that the background region 58B of the first layer is in the horizontal direction, and the background regions 60B and 62B of the second and third layers are each rotated by 60 °. , Each information recording area 58A, 60
The orientation directions of the dichroic dye molecules of A and 62A were orthogonal to the orientation directions of the dichroic dye molecules of the background regions 58B, 60B and 62B.

The polarizing element thus obtained is shown in FIG.
As shown in (A), each of the dichroic dye layers has a gray color under natural light when observed through a polarizing plate P arranged in a horizontal direction and a vertical direction or irradiated with linearly polarized light. The recorded polarization information and background area are reproduced in various colors of blue, green, red, yellow, magenta, cyan, and intermediate colors, as shown in FIGS.

(Embodiment 6) The dichroic dye layers 59, 61 and 63 of this embodiment 6 (see FIGS. 15A to 15C) are the same as those of the dichroic dye layers 58 and 58 of the embodiment 5. While the directions of the polarization axes of the background areas 58B, 60B, and 62B in 60 and 62 are orthogonal to the polarization axes of the information recording areas 58A, 60A, and 62A, respectively.
The directions of the polarization axes of the background regions 59B, 61B, and 63B are the same in the horizontal direction. However, the selection is made so as not to coincide with the direction of the polarization axis of the information recording areas 59A, 61A, 63A.

The other constructions, manufacturing steps, and materials are the same as those of the fifth embodiment, so that the description will be omitted.

When the multilayer polarizing element of Example 6 was observed through natural light, linearly polarized light irradiation or a linear polarizing plate, the reproduced colors of the information recording areas 59A, 61A and 63A were the same as those of Example 5, and the background was Regions 59B, 61B, 63
The reproduction state of B is the same as in Examples 1 to 3.

Example 7 Using the styrylpyridine polymer used in Example 2 as the photoactive molecule, formation of a photoactive molecular layer, polarization information recording by mask exposure in the same pattern as in Example 3, FIG. The formation of the dichroic dye layers 64, 66, and 68 shown in FIGS.
The above steps were repeated to prepare a multilayer polarizing element.

At this time, since the irradiation of the entire surface of the photoactive molecular layer with the polarized ultraviolet light was omitted, each of the dichroic dye layers 64, 66, and 68 was used.
, Background areas 64B, 66B, 68
The dichroic dye molecule of B is non-oriented, and the information recording area 64
A, 66A, 68A dichroic dye molecules are oriented in the first direction.
The information recording area 64A of the second layer is the vertical direction, and the information recording areas 66A and 68A of the second layer and the third layer are 60
゜ rotated each time.

The polarizing element thus obtained is shown in FIG.
As shown in (A), although it is gray under natural light, when observed through a polarizing plate P or irradiated with linearly polarized light, the polarization information recorded in each dichroic dye layer is shown in FIG. As shown in FIGS. 17 (B) and 17 (C), the image is reproduced in various colors of blue, green, red, yellow, magenta, and cyan, but the background area is always displayed in gray because it is not oriented.

Example 8 A multilayer polarizing element was prepared in the same manner as in Example 3 except that a film was obtained by depositing aluminum on polyethylene terephthalate having a thickness of 25 μm on a substrate.
This was cut into a square of 1 cm and embedded in a plastic ID card like the ID card 30 in FIG. Under natural light, the entire surface looks gray, but when viewed through a polarizing plate, a pattern consisting of three colors of blue, green, and red appeared.

Example 9 The ID card having the security product created in Example 8 was copied by a color copying machine. There is almost no difference when observed with the naked eye,
The pattern consisting of three colors of blue, green, and red emerged and was not visible when observed through a polarizing plate or irradiated with linearly polarized light.

[0114]

According to the present invention, since the security product is configured as described above, characters and images cannot be recognized when observed under natural light, but when observed through a polarizing plate or when irradiated with linearly polarized light, observation is performed. Sometimes, there is an excellent effect that characters and images of multi-color display can be recognized. or,
Security products and articles with security information can be kept at low cost and the difficulty of forgery, falsification, and duplication is high.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a schematic cross-sectional view showing a security product according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a plan view showing each dichroic dye layer recorded with polarization information in the security product.

FIG. 3 is a plan view showing a color image of the security product when irradiated with polarized light.

FIG. 4 is a schematic sectional view showing a security product according to a second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a plan view showing a state in which the security product is observed through a polarizing plate.

FIG. 6 is a plan view showing an ID card to which the security product is attached.

FIG. 7 is a plan view showing each dichroic dye layer on which polarization information is recorded in the security products of Examples 1 and 2 of the present invention.

FIG. 8 is a plan view showing a color image when the security product is irradiated with natural light and polarized light.

FIG. 9 is a plan view showing each dichroic dye layer on which polarization information is recorded in the security product according to the third embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 10 is a plan view showing a color image of the security product when irradiated with polarized light.

FIG. 11 is a plan view showing each dichroic dye layer on which polarization information is recorded in the security product of Example 4 of the present invention.

FIG. 12 is a plan view showing a color image of the security product when irradiated with polarized light.

FIG. 13 is a plan view showing each dichroic dye layer on which polarization information is recorded in the security product according to the fifth embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 14 is a plan view showing a color image of the security product when irradiated with polarized light.

FIG. 15 is a plan view showing each dichroic dye layer on which polarization information is recorded in the security product according to the sixth embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 16 is a plan view showing each dichroic dye layer on which polarization information is recorded in the security product according to the seventh embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 17 is a plan view showing a color image of the security product when irradiated with polarized light.

[Explanation of symbols]

10, 20: Security products 11: Base material 12, 14, 16 ... Photoactive molecular layer 13, 15, 17, 42, 44, 46, 48, 50, 5
2, 54, 56, 58, 59, 60, 61, 62, 6
3, 64, 66, 68 ... dichroic dye layers 13A, 15A, 17A, 42A, 44A, 46A, 4
8A, 50A, 52A, 54A, 56A, 58A, 59
A, 60A, 61A, 62A, 63A, 64A, 66
A, 68A ... information recording area 13B, 15B, 17B, 42B, 44B, 46B, 4
8B, 50B, 52B, 54B, 56B, 58B, 59
B, 60B, 61B, 62B, 63B, 64B, 66
B, 68B: Background area 18: Protective layer 21: Adhesive layer 22: Reflective layer 30: ID card

Claims (26)

[Claims] A photoactive molecular layer whose surface orientation is controlled by irradiation with linearly polarized light, and a dichroic dye layer whose orientation is controlled by contacting the photoactive molecular layer as a set,
At least two sets of different colors are laminated on a substrate, and information recording areas are formed in each dichroic dye layer in different orientations with respect to a background area. And security products. 2. The security product according to claim 1, wherein the orientation directions of the dichroic dye layers in each of the background areas are different from each other. 3. The security product according to claim 1, wherein the orientation directions of the dichroic dye layers in each of the background areas are the same. 4. A photoactive molecular layer whose surface orientation is controlled by irradiation with linearly polarized light, and a dichroic dye layer whose orientation is controlled by contacting the photoactive molecular layer as a set,
On the substrate, at least two sets of different colors are laminated, and in each set, the dichroic dye layer is an information recording area that has been subjected to orientation processing in a certain direction,
In addition, a security product is provided with a non-oriented background area surrounding the information recording area. 5. The apparatus according to claim 4, wherein the background area in each set includes a non-oriented dichroic dye layer surrounding the information recording area, and the non-oriented dichroic dye layer is irradiated with the linearly polarized light. A security product comprising a non-oriented photoactive molecular layer whose orientation state is not controlled surrounding a photoactive molecular layer whose surface orientation state is controlled. 6. The security product according to claim 4, wherein the background area in each set is a non-dichroic dye layer surrounding the information recording area. 7. A security product according to claim 1, wherein the orientation directions of the dichroic dye layers in each of the information recording areas are different from each other. 8. The security product according to claim 1, wherein the dichroic dye layers have the same orientation in each of the information recording areas. 9. A security product according to claim 1, wherein said dichroic dye layers have different spectral characteristics. 10. The security product according to claim 1, wherein the color of the dichroic dye in the plurality of dichroic dye layers is one of yellow, magenta, and cyan. 11. The method according to claim 1, wherein
The security product, wherein the dichroic dye is water-soluble. 12. The method according to claim 1, wherein
The security product, wherein the photoactive molecular layer is oriented by any one of photoisomerization, photodimerization, photocyclization, photocrosslinking, and photodecomposition by irradiation of linearly polarized light. 13. The method according to claim 1, wherein
A security product, wherein the photoactive molecule is insoluble in water and soluble in an organic solvent. 14. The method according to claim 1, wherein
A security product, wherein the substrate has a seal shape provided with an adhesive layer on a back surface thereof. 15. An article with a security product, comprising the security product according to claim 1 on a part of its surface. 16. The article according to claim 15, wherein the article is a cash voucher, a security, a title document, a certificate, a ticket, or
An article with a security product, which is one of a card. 17. A security product according to claim 1, wherein the security product is irradiated with linearly polarized light, and at least color information recorded in the information recording area is observed from the reflected light to determine whether the security product is a genuine product. A method of determining authenticity, comprising determining. 18. A security device according to claim 1, wherein at least color information recorded in said information recording area of said security product is observed through a polarizing plate to determine whether the product is genuine. Judgment method. 19. A step of coating photoactive molecules on a substrate, a step of irradiating the entire surface with linearly polarized light having a wavelength at which the photoactive molecules cause a photochemical reaction, and a step of applying a polarization axis of the linearly polarized light via a photomask. Irradiating non-parallel linearly polarized light of the above-mentioned wavelength to pattern the orientation state of the surface, and applying a dichroic dye, wherein these steps are performed in at least two different colors. A method of manufacturing a security product, comprising forming an information recording area in each dichroic dye layer in a different orientation with respect to a background area in each dichroic dye layer. 20. A step of coating photoactive molecules on a substrate, and irradiating, via a photomask, linearly polarized light having a wavelength at which the photoactive molecules cause a photochemical reaction to pattern the orientation of the surface. And a step of applying a dichroic dye, and repeating these steps for at least two types of dichroic molecules of different colors to form a non-oriented dye on each dichroic dye layer. A method for manufacturing a security product, comprising forming a background area and an information recording area on which an orientation process has been performed. 21. A step of coating photoactive molecules on a substrate, and irradiating, via a photomask, linearly polarized light having a wavelength at which the photoactive molecules cause a photochemical reaction to pattern the orientation of the surface. And a step of applying a dichroic dye.These steps are repeated for at least two types of dichroic molecules of different colors, and each dichroic dye layer is subjected to an alignment treatment. A method for producing a security product, wherein a background area surrounding the information recording area and containing no dichroic dye is provided. 22. The method of manufacturing a security product according to claim 19, wherein the dichroic dye layers have different spectral characteristics. 23. The security product according to claim 19, wherein the color of the dichroic dye in the plurality of dichroic dye layers is any one of yellow, magenta, and cyan. Method. 24. The method according to claim 19, wherein the dichroic dye is water-soluble. 25. The photoactive molecular layer according to claim 19, wherein the photoactive molecular layer is oriented by any one of photoisomerization, photodimerization, photocyclization, photocrosslinking, and photolysis by irradiation with linearly polarized light. A method of manufacturing a security product. 26. The method according to claim 19, wherein the photoactive molecule is insoluble in water and soluble in an organic solvent.