RU2725667C1 - Optical protective device (versions), method of manufacturing of the specified device and method of verification of the protected object containing the specified optical protective device - Google Patents

Abstract

FIELD: protection of valuable documents.SUBSTANCE: invention relates to counterfeit protection and validation of valuable documents, in particular to an optical security device, a method of making said device and a method of verifying a protected object comprising said optical protection device. Optical protection device comprises a transparent polarization-optical protective element comprising at least two layers of thin-film linear polarizers uniformly directed in the direction of the optical axis, and at least two optically transparent anisotropic birefringent layers with at least one polarized image formed on each of them and two optically transparent isotropic lacquer layers applied on both sides of the protective element; wherein one of said at least two optically transparent anisotropic birefringent layers is disposed between said layers of thin-film linear polarizers uniformly directed in the direction of the optical axis, and the other of said at least two optically transparent anisotropic birefringent layers is disposed between one of at least two layers of thin-film linear polarizers uniformly directed towards the optical axis and one optically transparent isotropic lacquer layer.EFFECT: disclosed is an optical security device for valuable documents.66 cl, 4 dwg

Description

FIELD OF TECHNOLOGY

The invention relates to the field of protection against falsification and authentication of valuable documents, in particular, to the manufacture of polarized optical security elements that carry both visually visible images and images that are not visible to the naked eye in natural light, visualized when observed with simple optical linear or circular polaroid filters or currently widely used display devices based on the use of liquid crystal screens. In the latter case, the possibility of forming an animation of the movement of protective images.

BACKGROUND

The objective of the present invention is to provide an optical protective device with a high degree of protection against counterfeiting, which is also evidence of the authenticity of the protected object. The device is intended for protection against counterfeiting and as a sign of authenticity of banknotes, passports and other valuable documents, plastic cards and other similar objects, hereinafter - valuable documents. One of the ways to use the inventive protective agent is in the form of a transparent window in a protected valuable document.

Currently, for protection against counterfeiting and as authentication marks, (in addition to various means of printing protection) security means and authentication signs are used, which are built into the protected product in the form of a transparent or translucent window that carries one or more security features, such as various visible images , color-changing effect in transmitted and reflected light, diffraction, holographic and other optical effects. Among the protective elements with variable optical properties, the most difficult to reproduce are elements containing latent images that are visible only in certain lighting conditions or when using special filters.

In the Eurasian patent EA 013395, publ. 04/30/2010, IPC B42D 15/10 (D1), an optical security element is proposed that is used to form a transparent window in a protected object, containing a carrier that is transparent in the visible and ultraviolet regions of the spectrum, as well as latent images arranged independently on each side of the carrier from each other and / or in a predetermined coordinated position relative to each other with the possibility of forming a complex latent image during visualization, while the latent images on one side of the carrier are formed by a UV absorber with a red absorption spectrum in the range of 370–400 nm, and latent images on the other formed by the UV absorber with the red edge of the absorption spectrum in the range 270–360 nm; and a protective layer transparent in the ultraviolet region of the spectrum and formed on both sides of the carrier, the refractive index of the protective layer essentially coinciding with the refractive index of the carrier material and latent images, providing invisibility to the boundaries of the formation of latent images with the naked eye.

The disadvantage of this invention is the complexity of the process of verification due to the need to use selective sources of UV radiation.

In the international publication WO 2007137334, publ. December 6, 2007, IPC B42D 15/20 (D2), a protective device (1) is proposed, which includes one or more optical components. Each component includes at least one orientation layer (5), preferably a photo-oriented polymer network (PPN), and at least one layer (6) of liquid crystal polymer (LCP), and any or both of the orientation layers and layers LCPs include a crosslinking agent to increase the reliability of the document or device without compromising the required optical properties. Such a document or device can be authenticated using an external polarizer or using a polarizer (67) integrated into the device itself. However, the specified protective device provides only one level of protection, because only one latent image is provided for, which is not enough to provide forgery protection at the current level of technical development in this area.

In the patent EA 011838 B1, publ. 06/30/2009, IPC G09F 3/02 (D3), a method for forming an invisible hidden polarized image using direct printing with a colorless liquid composition on a thin transparent layer, which, however, has only one level of hidden protection and a standard two-element imaging device, is proposed.

The concept of using a polarized latent image in a transparent window (with both one and two independent latent images) of a valuable document was first proposed in patent US 6124970, publ. 09/26/2000, IPC G02B 27/28 (D4). However, the described tool consists of three polymer layers, has a significant thickness and, in addition, effective methods of image visualization are not proposed.

An analogue of the proposed method is an optically color-variable security element and the method for its preparation described in WO 2003006261 A1, publ. 01/23/2003, IPC B44F 1/12 (D5), which proposed a document in the form of a banknote (1), which includes a rectangular polymer sheet (2) having two opposite surfaces (3, 4) for transferring relevant information. In this case, a rectangular protective window (5) is located on the polymer sheet (2) for accommodating an optically variable device (6), including a protective element configured to form two independent latent polarized images and a method for manufacturing a protective element containing two independent polarized hidden images and how to visualize it.

The disadvantages of the method include the three-layer structure and the associated significant thickness of the protective agent, making it difficult to use the proposed tool as a protective window in a banknote or document page; a two-element visualization device, which is not applicable for machine verification, as well as self-verification, while a single-element visualization device allows machine verification, and in the case of a single-element visualization device built into the protected product, and self-verification. In addition, in the cases presented, latent polarized images are formed in a specially prepared transparent polymer layer, and then placed on both sides of the polarizer, resulting in a thick, more than 100 microns, mechanically unstable element - this is the main disadvantage that does not allow practical use this invention.

Closest to the claimed method is the method described in the Eurasian patent EA 014380 B1, publ. 10/29. 2010, IPC G07D 7/20 (D6), in which a transparent carrier is proposed, which is a thin-film linear or circular polarizer having two working sides, on each of which is initially direct printing from a number of flexographic, intaglio or screen printing using colorless liquid compositions in the form of a polymer solution or emulsion, or a photocurable liquid crystal composition are imprinted by transparent independent isotropic latent images, which are converted into latent polarized birefringent images by structuring in a preliminary direction at a predetermined depth of at least one portion on the second working side of the carrier carrying the latent image, To ensure optical anisotropy in the indicated area, a latent polarized image is obtained, which remains invisible when observed with the naked eye and is clearly contrasted in polarized light by the mechanical It can be processed using rolls or thermomechanical impact with applying strokes in the direction of movement of the tape using a plotter direct image output or thermal printer.

At the same time, the authenticity of the document is verified using an external reflective element, alternately located on one side of the security element and separately and independently visualizing one of the two polarized latent images embedded in the structure of the valuable document and located between the polarizer and the reflecting element or using two reflective elements located on a valuable document with the possibility of combining with a transparent window to provide visualization of the latent image on one of the specified working sides of the transparent medium, provided that the image on the other back of the specified transparent medium remains invisible.

The disadvantages of this invention are:

a) the significant thickness of the security element used in the patent (at least from 50 microns to 70 microns or more) significantly limits the possibility of its use as part of the design of such valuable documents as banknotes, passport pages, etc .;

b) the impossibility of obtaining at the verification stage multi-color, including dynamically changing images;

c) the impossibility at the stage of verification of the protective element of simultaneous observation of two spatially spaced or spatially combined independent or located in a predetermined coordinated position relative to each other images located on different sides;

d) the impossibility of obtaining high-resolution (less than 50 microns) color images with modulation of the polarization vector, which is due to the technology of surface structuring using thermal printing.

Currently known methods of verification of polarization protective elements associated with the use of:

- the simplest traditional polymer film dichroic linear or circular polarizers (RU 65255 “Latent image identifier”, G02F 1/13)], traditionally widely used in science and technology (Sherkliff, Polarized light. Production and application, Translated from English. Under edition of ND Zhevandrova, Publishing house "Mir", M. 1965, p. 9) or

- using a linearly polarized directional light beam, obtained by reflection from the surface of the dielectric layer at the Brewster angle of the initially unpolarized (A. Shishlovsky, Applied Physical Optics, State Publishing House Fiz-Mat Lit., Moscow, 1961, pp. 497–500, 822 p.).

The disadvantages of these methods is the need for a real polaroid for the case of verification in real time and the complexity of its implementation in the second case.

However, at present, these problems can be successfully solved using household electronic equipment, such as smartphones or other industrial display electronic equipment, in which liquid crystal screens are used to visualize information, the necessary element of which are linear dichroic polarizers with uniform transmittance, in which providing, a high, uniform, linear polarization of the screen glow is not taken into account and is considered only as a useless side effect.

However, in the proposed method for verifying the authenticity of a document with a protective optical polarizing element made using anisotropic cured LCD materials, standard electronically controlled LCD screens (household smartphones, televisions, computers, monitors, etc.) are successfully used to visualize hidden polarized images in them. .).

Moreover, any other electrically controlled devices with displays such as self-luminous electroluminescent (LED) or plasma panels equipped with anti-reflective anisotropic polarized filters, uniform in orientation, can be applicable.

For brevity, all such devices in the proposed application are called "LCD displays."

A number of patent publications are known from the prior art, disclosing methods for determining the authenticity of valuable documents, for example, RU 2530274 C2, publ. 08/27/2013; RU 2528252C2, publ. 09/10/2014; RU 2285954C2, publ. 20.10.2006. These publications disclose authentication methods using reading computing devices, for example, a smartphone or mobile phone with a built-in camera, through which a unique code is extracted from the object to be verified, which is then sent to the verification center (see, for example, RU 2530274 C2). However, in the claimed method, verification, verification of the protected object on which the protective device according to the present invention is applied, is carried out promptly, directly on the spot, by the user himself, provided he has a smartphone or tablet with an LCD screen, with instructions on how to conduct the verification process visualized directly in images formed by the protective device.

The objective of the present invention is to provide an optical protective device containing a transparent polarizing-optical protective element configured to form at least one polarized image that is visible when observed in unpolarized natural light, and at least one latent polarized image that is invisible when observed in non-polarized natural light, and in this case, the obtained polarized images of each of the layers making up the specified transparent polarization-optical protective element are in a predetermined mutually agreed position relative to each other and / or complement each other with the possibility of forming a common image when illuminated by linearly polarized light . The objective of the invention is to create a method of manufacturing the specified optical protective device and a method of verifying the authenticity of the protected object with an optical protective device, using visualization of latent polarized images verification tool, which is one of a smartphone, mobile phone and personal computer with an electronically controlled LCD screen, equipped with a uniform polarization filter in orientation and transmittance, which provides on-line verification using a smartphone with an LCD screen or any other similar device at the user's disposal. The combination of the above features significantly increases the level of protection against counterfeiting and copying and significantly increases the efficiency and accessibility of the verification process of any protected objects, for example, valuable documents.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

According to a first aspect of the invention, there is provided an optical security device comprising: a transparent polarization-optical security element comprising at least two layers (5, 6) of thin-film linear polarizers uniformly oriented along the optical axis and at least two optically transparent anisotropic birefringent layers ( 7, 8) with at least one polarized image formed on each of them, and two optically transparent isotropic varnish layers (9, 10), deposited on both sides of the protective element; wherein one of the at least two optically transparent anisotropic birefringent layers (7) is located between these layers (5, 6) of thin-film linear polarizers uniformly oriented along the optical axis, and the other of the at least two optically transparent anisotropic birefringent layers ( 8) is located between one of at least two layers (6) of thin-film linear polarizers uniformly oriented along the optical axis and one optically transparent isotropic varnish layer (9); wherein at least one polarized image formed in one optically transparent anisotropic birefringent layer (7) is visible when observed in unpolarized natural light, and at least one other polarized image formed in the specified optically transparent anisotropic birefringent layer (7), is a latent image when observed in unpolarized natural light;

each of at least one polarized image formed in another optically transparent anisotropic birefringent layer (8) located in close proximity to one of the optically transparent varnish layers (9) is a latent image when observed in unpolarized natural light, while these polarized images of each of the optical transparent anisotropic birefringent layers (7, 8) are in a predetermined mutually agreed position relative to each other and / or complement each other with the possibility of forming a common image when illuminated by linearly polarized light.

In this device, at least two layers (5, 6) of thin-film linear polarizers uniformly oriented along the direction of the optical axis are made so that their planes are parallel to each other and their polarization vectors are mutually orthogonal or parallel to each other.

In addition, in the specified device, at least two layers (5, 6) of uniformly oriented thin-film linear polarizers are made of anisotropic materials, which include anisotropically absorbing substances in the ultraviolet and / or visible spectral region from 300 to 750 nm that exhibit nematic lyotropic or thermotropic liquid crystal properties in predefined organic solvents and / or in a predetermined temperature range, as well as containing, if necessary, oriented dichroic dye molecules that absorb in a certain RGB region of the spectrum.

Moreover, each of at least two layers (5, 6) of thin-film linear polarizers uniformly oriented in the direction of the optical axis is continuous and uniformly oriented in the direction of the optical axis over the entire area occupied by this layer on the protective element.

In addition, each of at least two layers (5, 6) of thin-film linear polarizers uniformly oriented in the direction of the optical axis, and each of the transparent transparent anisotropic birefringent layers (7, 8) contains at least one isotropic region of a predefined geometric shape.

Moreover, the layers (5, 6) of thin-film linear polarizers uniformly oriented along the direction of the optical axis have a thickness ranging from 0.5 to 1.5 μm.

In addition, at least two optically transparent anisotropic birefringent layers (7, 8) with polarizing images are made of the same composition or different anisotropic optical material, which includes anisotropic transparent in the visible spectral region from 400 to 750 nm substances exhibiting nematic thermotropic or lyotropic liquid crystal properties in a predetermined temperature range or in predefined organic solvents.

Moreover, the thickness of each of these optically transparent anisotropic birefringent layers (7 and 8) is from 0.5 to 2.0 μm and is uniform over the entire area of each of these layers, but differs for each of the layers (7, 8).

In addition, each of the at least two optically transparent anisotropic birefringent layers (7, 8) has a phase delay value that ranges from a quarter-wave to a half-wave and is the same over the entire area of each layer (7, 8), but differs for each of these layers (7, 8),

and the spatial distribution of the directions of the optical axis within the area of each of at least two optically transparent anisotropic birefringent layers (7, 8) changes picturewise in each of the RGB subpixels making up the polarization images, according to a predefined law ranging from 0º to 180º angular degrees relative to the orientation of the transmission vector of one of the at least two layers (5, 6) of thin-film linear polarizers uniformly oriented in the direction of the optical axis.

In this case, at least one polarization image formed in each of at least two optically transparent anisotropic birefringent layers (7, 8) differs arcs from each other.

In addition, in the specified device, the generated polarization images of each of at least two optically transparent anisotropic birefringent layers (7, 8) constitute a logic element containing encoded information to be decoded using a verification tool with an electronically controlled LCD screen in the form of one of: smartphone, mobile phone and personal computer.

And polarized images formed in optically transparent anisotropic birefringent layers (7, 8) when superimposed on each other represent moire images or moire patterns.

At the same time, polarized images formed in optically transparent anisotropic birefringent layers (7, 8) are periodically rasterized images and have local spatial differences in the raster direction and local changes in the orientation of the optical axes in these polarized images.

In this case, polarized images formed in optically transparent anisotropic birefringent layers (7, 8), when observed in linear polarized light using a polarizing filter, are visualized in the form of a color-variable Moire pattern, which varies depending on the observation angle and illumination and the orientation of the polarization vector incident polarizing light.

The security device according to the first aspect of the invention is adapted to be used in the form of a transparent window in at least part of the valuable document to be protected or in the form of a translucent region in at least part of the valuable document to be protected.

Moreover, the specified protective device is configured to be placed on the basis of the media of the protected object or a valuable document to be protected.

In addition, the specified protective device is made with the possibility of its transfer to the protected object, which is carried out, optionally, on either side of the protective device from the corresponding carrier substrate provided on at least one of the sides of the protective device using the corresponding isotropic separation layer deposited on the specified basis carrier.

Moreover, the resulting general image additionally contains a visually visible security feature in the form of a text indication confirming the authenticity of the specified object.

According to a second aspect of the invention, an optical protective device is provided, comprising: a transparent polarizing-optical protective element comprising at least two layers (5, 6) of thin-film linear polarizers uniformly oriented along the optical axis and at least two optically transparent anisotropic birefringent layers ( 7, 8) with at least one polarized image formed on each of them, and two optically transparent isotropic varnish layers (9, 10), deposited on both sides of the protective element; wherein one of the at least two optically transparent anisotropic birefringent layers (7) is located between these layers (5, 6) of thin-film linear polarizers uniformly oriented along the optical axis, and the other of the at least two optically transparent anisotropic birefringent layers ( 8) is located between one of at least two layers (6) of thin-film linear polarizers uniformly oriented along the optical axis and one optically transparent isotropic varnish layer (9);

each of at least two layers (5, 6) of thin-film linear polarizers uniformly oriented along the direction of the optical axis contains at least one isotropic region of a predetermined geometric shape, and each of the optical transparent anisotropic birefringent layers (7, 8) contains at least one isotropic region of a predetermined geometric shape,

wherein at least one polarized image formed in one optically transparent anisotropic birefringent layer (7) is visible when observed in unpolarized natural light, and at least one other polarized image formed in the specified optically transparent anisotropic birefringent layer (7), is a latent image when observed in unpolarized natural light;

each of at least one polarized image formed in another optically transparent anisotropic birefringent layer (8) located in close proximity to one of the optically transparent varnish layers (9) is a latent image when observed in unpolarized natural light, while these polarized images of each of the optical transparent anisotropic birefringent layers (7, 8) are in a predetermined mutually agreed position relative to each other and / or complement each other with the possibility of forming a single common image when illuminated by linearly polarized light.

In this device, at least two layers (5, 6) of thin-film linear polarizers uniformly oriented along the direction of the optical axis are made so that their planes are parallel to each other and their polarization vectors are mutually orthogonal or parallel to each other.

In addition, in the specified device, at least two layers (5, 6) of uniformly oriented thin-film linear polarizers are made of anisotropic materials, which include anisotropically absorbing substances in the ultraviolet and / or visible spectral region from 300 to 750 nm that exhibit nematic lyotropic or thermotropic liquid crystal properties in predefined organic solvents and / or in a predetermined temperature range, as well as containing, if necessary, oriented dichroic dye molecules that absorb in a certain RGB region of the spectrum.

Moreover, each of at least two layers (5, 6) of thin-film linear polarizers uniformly oriented in the direction of the optical axis is continuous and uniformly oriented in the direction of the optical axis over the entire area occupied by this layer on the protective element.

Moreover, the layers (5, 6) of thin-film linear polarizers uniformly oriented along the direction of the optical axis have a thickness ranging from 0.5 to 1.5 μm.

In addition, at least two optically transparent anisotropic birefringent layers (7, 8) with polarizing images are made of the same composition or different anisotropic optical material, which includes anisotropic transparent in the visible spectral region from 400 to 750 nm substances exhibiting nematic thermotropic or lyotropic liquid crystal properties in a predetermined temperature range or in predefined organic solvents.

Moreover, the thickness of each of these optically transparent anisotropic birefringent layers (7 and 8) is from 0.5 to 2.0 μm and is uniform over the entire area of each of these layers, but differs for each of the layers (7, 8).

In addition, each of the at least two optically transparent anisotropic birefringent layers (7, 8) has a phase delay value that ranges from a quarter-wave to a half-wave and is the same over the entire area of each layer (7, 8), but differs for each of these layers (7, 8),

and the spatial distribution of the directions of the optical axis within the area of each of at least two optically transparent anisotropic birefringent layers (7, 8) changes picturewise in each of the RGB subpixels making up the polarization images according to a predefined law ranging from 0º to 180º angular degrees relative to the orientation of the transmission vector of one of the at least two layers (5, 6) of thin-film linear polarizers uniformly oriented in the direction of the optical axis.

In this case, at least one polarization image formed in each of at least two optically transparent anisotropic birefringent layers (7, 8) differs arcs from each other.

In addition, in the specified device, the generated polarization images of each of at least two optically transparent anisotropic birefringent layers (7, 8) constitute a logic element containing encoded information to be decoded using a verification tool with an electronically controlled LCD screen in the form of one of: smartphone, mobile phone and personal computer.

According to a second aspect of the invention, polarized images formed in optically transparent anisotropic birefringent layers (7, 8) when superposed on each other are moire images or moire patterns.

At the same time, polarized images formed in optically transparent anisotropic birefringent layers (7, 8) are periodically rasterized images and have local spatial differences in the raster direction and local changes in the orientation of the optical axes in these polarized images.

In this case, polarized images formed in optically transparent anisotropic birefringent layers (7, 8), when observed in linear polarized light using a polarizing filter, are visualized in the form of a color-variable Moire pattern, which varies depending on the observation angle and illumination and the orientation of the polarization vector incident polarizing light.

The security device according to the first aspect of the invention is adapted to be used in the form of a transparent window in at least part of the valuable document to be protected or in the form of a translucent region in at least part of the valuable document to be protected.

Moreover, the specified protective device is configured to be placed on the basis of the media of the protected object or a valuable document to be protected.

In addition, the specified protective device is made with the possibility of its transfer to the protected object, which is carried out, optionally, on either side of the protective device from the corresponding carrier substrate provided on at least one of the sides of the protective device using the corresponding isotropic separation layer deposited on the specified basis carrier.

Moreover, the resulting general image additionally contains a visually visible security feature in the form of a text indication confirming the authenticity of the specified object.

In this device, at least two layers (5, 6) of thin-film linear polarizers uniformly oriented along the optical axis are made so that their planes are parallel to each other and their polarization vectors are mutually orthogonal or parallel to each other.

In addition, in the specified device, at least two layers (5, 6) of uniformly oriented thin-film linear polarizers are made of anisotropic materials, which include anisotropically absorbing substances in the ultraviolet and / or visible spectral region from 300 to 750 nm that exhibit nematic lyotropic or thermotropic liquid crystal properties in predefined organic solvents and / or in a predetermined temperature range, as well as containing, if necessary, oriented dichroic dye molecules that absorb in a certain RGB region of the spectrum.

Moreover, each of at least two layers (5, 6) of thin-film linear polarizers uniformly oriented in the direction of the optical axis is continuous and uniformly oriented in the direction of the optical axis over the entire area occupied by this layer on the protective element.

In addition, each of at least two layers (5, 6) of thin-film linear polarizers uniformly oriented in the direction of the optical axis, and each of the transparent transparent anisotropic birefringent layers (7, 8) contains at least one isotropic region of a predefined geometric shape.

Moreover, the layers (5, 6) of thin-film linear polarizers uniformly oriented along the direction of the optical axis have a thickness ranging from 0.5 to 1.5 μm.

In addition, at least two optically transparent anisotropic birefringent layers (7, 8) with polarizing images are made of the same composition or different anisotropic optical material, which includes anisotropic transparent in the visible spectral region from 400 to 750 nm substances exhibiting nematic thermotropic or lyotropic liquid crystal properties in a predetermined temperature range or in predefined organic solvents.

Moreover, the thickness of each of these optically transparent anisotropic birefringent layers (7 and 8) is from 0.5 to 2.0 μm and is uniform over the entire area of each of these layers, but differs for each of the layers (7, 8).

In addition, each of the at least two optically transparent anisotropic birefringent layers (7, 8) has a phase delay value that ranges from a quarter-wave to a half-wave and is the same over the entire area of each layer (7, 8), but differs for each of these layers (7, 8),

and the spatial distribution of the directions of the optical axis within the area of each of at least two optically transparent anisotropic birefringent layers (7, 8) changes picturewise in each of the RGB subpixels making up the polarization images according to a predefined law ranging from 0º to 180º angular degrees relative to the orientation of the transmission vector of one of the at least two layers (5, 6) of thin-film linear polarizers uniformly oriented in the direction of the optical axis.

In this case, at least one polarization image formed in each of at least two optically transparent anisotropic birefringent layers (7, 8) differs arcs from each other.

In addition, in the specified device, the generated polarization images of each of at least two optically transparent anisotropic birefringent layers (7, 8) constitute a logic element containing encoded information to be decoded using a verification tool with an electronically controlled LCD screen in the form of one of: smartphone, mobile phone and personal computer.

And polarized images formed in optically transparent anisotropic birefringent layers (7, 8) when superimposed on each other represent moire images or moire patterns.

At the same time, polarized images formed in optically transparent anisotropic birefringent layers (7, 8) are periodically rasterized images and have local spatial differences in the raster direction and local changes in the orientation of the optical axes in these polarized images.

In this case, polarized images formed in optically transparent anisotropic birefringent layers (7, 8), when observed in linear polarized light using a polarizing filter, are visualized in the form of a color-variable Moire pattern, which varies depending on the observation angle and illumination and the orientation of the polarization vector incident polarizing light.

The security device according to the second aspect of the invention is adapted to be used in the form of a transparent window in at least part of the valuable document to be protected or in the form of a translucent region in at least part of the valuable document to be protected.

Moreover, the specified protective device is configured to be placed on the basis of the media of the protected object or a valuable document to be protected.

In addition, the specified protective device is made with the possibility of its transfer to the protected object, which is carried out, optionally, on either side of the protective device from the corresponding carrier substrate provided on at least one of the sides of the protective device using the corresponding separation isotropic layer deposited on the specified basis carrier.

Moreover, the resulting general image additionally contains a visually visible security feature in the form of a text indication confirming the authenticity of the specified object.

According to a third aspect of the invention, there is provided a method for manufacturing an optical protective device, which according to the first and second embodiments of the protective device is practically identical and consists in performing the following steps, according to which:

a) provide a carrier base, on one side of which a separation layer is applied;

b) apply an adhesive isotropic layer on top of the separation layer;

c) an optically transparent isotropic solid-state lacquer layer is applied to the adhesive isotropic layer (9)

g) carry out spatial-local microrelief structuring of the surface of the optically transparent isotropic varnish layer (9) in the form of an optical diffraction-grating image with a predetermined spatial picture of the orientation of the directions of the strokes,

e) a optically transparent layer with anisotropic substances transparent in the visible spectrum in a liquid-like isotropic state is applied locally onto predefined structured regions of an optically transparent isotropic varnish layer (9) with a microrelief structured surface;

g) the optically transparent layer with anisotropic substances transparent in the visible region of the spectrum is transferred, which is in a liquid-like isotropic state into an oriented mesomorphic state, while the optically transparent isotropic varnish layer (9) with a microrelief structured surface is made so as to provide a transparent layer with transparent in the visible region of the spectrum by anisotropic substances in the mesomorphic state, a predefined picture of the spatial distribution of the directions of the optical molecular axes and optical anisotropy corresponding to a predefined spatial picture of the orientation of the strokes in the microrelief structured surface of an optically transparent isotropic varnish layer (9);

h) a optically transparent layer of an anisotropic material in a mesomorphic state is cured with the formation of a cured optically transparent anisotropic birefringent layer (8) with at least one polarized latent image with a predetermined spatial distribution pattern of the optical anisotropy axis in accordance with the spatial orientation pattern strokes in the microrelief structured surface of the optically transparent isotropic varnish layer (9), while providing at least one isotropic region of a predetermined geometric shape in said layer (8);

i) a solid-state isotropic polymer layer is applied having a flat surface on the surface of the cured optically transparent anisotropic birefringent layer (8) with at least one latent polarized image, which is a latent image when observed in unpolarized natural light;

j) carry out spatial-local microrelief structuring of the surface of the isotropic polymer layer in the form of an optical diffraction-grating image with a predetermined pattern of unidirectional strokes

k) an isotropic liquid crystal composition is applied locally to predefined structured regions of the isotropic polymer layer, followed by its transfer to an oriented mesomorphic liquid crystal state based on absorbing anisotropic substances in the visible and UV spectral regions, and then to a solid-state amorphous molecular-oriented state, providing a layer (6) of a thin-film linear polarizer uniformly oriented in the direction of the optical axis, while providing at least one isotropic region of a predetermined geometric shape in said layer (6);

m) a polymer isotropic layer having a flat surface is applied to the surface of the layer (6) of a thin-film linear polarizer uniformly oriented in the direction of the optical axis;

m) carry out spatial-local microrelief structuring of the surface of a polymeric isotropic layer having a flat surface in the form of another optical diffraction-grating image with a predetermined spatial pattern of orientation of the strokes;

o) an optically transparent layer with anisotropic substances transparent in the visible and UV spectral regions is applied locally to predefined structured regions of the polymer isotropic layer;

o) an optically transparent layer with anisotropic substances transparent in the visible and UV spectral regions is transferred, which is in a liquid-like isotropic state to a mesomorphic state, while the polymer isotropic layer with a microrelief structured surface is made so as to provide an optically transparent layer with transparent in visible and UV the spectral region of the anisotropic substances in the mesomorphic state, a predefined picture of the spatial distribution of the directions of the optical molecular axes and optical anisotropy, corresponding to a predefined spatial picture of the orientation of the strokes in the microrelief structured surface of the polymer isotropic layer;

p) an optically transparent layer of anisotropic material in a mesomorphic state is cured with the formation of a cured optically transparent anisotropic birefringent layer (7) with at least one polarized latent image with a predetermined spatial distribution pattern of the optical anisotropy axis in accordance with the spatial orientation pattern strokes in the microrelief structured surface of an optically transparent isotropic layer; at the same time, at least one isotropic region of a predetermined geometric shape is provided in said layer (7);

c) a polymer isotropic layer having a flat surface is applied to the surface of the optically transparent anisotropic birefringent layer (7) with at least one polarized latent image

r) carry out spatial-local microrelief structuring of the surface of the polymer isotropic layer in the form of another optical diffraction-grating image with a predetermined spatial picture of the unidirectional orientation of the strokes;

s) an isotropic layer of a liquid crystal composition is applied locally to predefined structured regions of the isotropic polymer layer, followed by its transfer to an oriented mesomorphic liquid crystal state based on anisotropic substances absorbing in the visible and UV regions, and then to a solid-state amorphous molecular-oriented state, providing a layer (5) of a thin-film linear polarizer uniformly oriented in the direction of the optical axis, while providing at least one isotropic region of a predetermined geometric shape in said layer (5);

f) optionally, repeat steps c) –y) with the formation of a given number of layers with at least one polarized latent image and layers of a thin-film linear polarizer uniformly oriented in the direction of the optical axis,

x) apply an isotropic transparent varnish layer (10) uniformly oriented along the optical axis of the thin-film linear polarizer onto the layer (5), on top of which an additional adhesive isotropic adhesive layer is applied

h) apply an isotropic transparent varnish layer (10) to an additional isotropic adhesive isotropic adhesive layer, onto which an additional separation layer is applied, on which an additional substrate is provided;

wherein at least one polarized latent image formed in the optically transparent anisotropic birefringent layer (7) is visible when observed in unpolarized natural light;

wherein at least one polarized latent image formed in the optically transparent anisotropic birefringent layer (7) is different from at least one polarized latent image formed in the optically transparent anisotropic birefringent layer (8); and said polarized latent images of each of the optically anisotropic birefringent layers (7, 8) are formed in such a way that they are in a predetermined mutually agreed position with respect to each other and / or each other with the possibility of forming a single common image when illuminated by linearly polarized light.

It should be noted that isotropic regions (white spaces) of a predetermined geometric shape are formed during the manufacture of anisotropic layers (5–8) in the form of sections of thin isotropic polymer layers not subjected to local roll embossing for diffraction-lattice structuring of the surface of the corresponding polymer layer.

Moreover, the optical diffraction-grating image obtained at steps d), k), n), and t) with a predefined spatial picture of the orientation of the directions of the strokes is a rainbow hologram.

In addition, the separation layer is made of wax, and the adhesive isotropic layer is made with the possibility of ensuring the strength of the fastening of the protective device on the protected object.

At the same time, each of the isotropic transparent varnish layers (9, 10) is made with the possibility of protecting the protective device from mechanical, physical and chemical influences.

And the isotropic layer of the liquid crystal composition is made of lyotropic or thermotropic LC material.

Moreover, in the method in steps g) and p) and l) and y), the isotropic layer is transferred from the liquid crystal composition to an oriented mesomorphic state by drying at a temperature in the range of 50–90 degrees, and

at stages g) and n) and l) and y), the transfer of the LC layer, which is a lyotropic LC layer, from the oriented mesomorphic liquid crystalline state to the solid-state amorphous molecular-oriented state is carried out by complete evaporation of the solvent from the LC layer in the oriented mesomorphic liquid crystal state which is pre-added to the specified LCD layer.

In addition, at steps g) and p) and l) and y), the transfer of the LC layer, which is a thermotropic LC layer, from the oriented mesomorphic liquid crystal state to the solid-state amorphous molecular-oriented state is carried out by photo-curing or thermal curing.

It should be noted that the manufacture of the protective device is carried out in a single technological “Roll – to – Roll” cycle in accordance with steps a) –h); and

the manufacturing of the protective device is carried out in a form divided into constituent technological parts, in which layers (5, 6) of a thin-film linear polarizer uniformly oriented along the optical axis and optically transparent anisotropic layers (7, 8) with at least one polarized latent image are made separately and then combined together using isotropic adhesive isotropic layers.

At the same time, spatially local microrelief structuring of the surfaces of the layers (5–8) according to steps d), k), n), t) is carried out by mechanical embossing of the indicated layers using rolls with relief-structured surfaces with predefined directions and periods of strokes and the depths of the relief in them, while the microrelief structure is a collection of parallel grooves with a depth of about 1–10 nm and with a spatial period of not more than 300 nm, and the shafts used for embossing rainbow relief holograms are used as shafts.

It should be noted that the transfer of the optical protective device to the protected object or the protected product is carried out, optionally, on either side of the protective device from the corresponding carrier substrate using the corresponding dividing isotropic layer, and the protective device with the combination of layers (5-10) is separated from the base –Carrier and its transfer to other carriers with isotropic regions is carried out by hot stamping with the preservation of anisotropic layers.

According to a fourth aspect of the invention, there is provided a method for verifying a protected object with an optical security device disclosed above, using verification means for visualizing latent polarized images, which is one of a smartphone, a mobile phone and a personal computer with an electronically controlled LCD screen equipped with a uniform orientation and transmittance polarized filter, containing stages in which:

a) observe the protected object with the protective device with the naked eye on each side of the protective device in transmitted unpolarized natural light; wherein:

when viewing the specified protected object with a protective device, at least one visually visible image is formed on each surface on the surface of the protective device, formed in an optically transparent anisotropic birefringent layer (7);

each of these images formed in an optically transparent anisotropic birefringent layer (7) is visualized as a geometric-constant color-variable image or a set of images that form a given image picture, hue or color saturation, which changes depending on changes in the direction of observation or lighting of the protected object; wherein the resulting picture of the images optionally further contains a visually visible security feature in the form of a text indication confirming the authenticity of the indicated object and an indication of the need for the user to conduct additional authentication of the protected product using the verification tool;

b) alternately illuminate each of the sides of the protective device with linearly polarized light emitted by an electronically controlled LCD screen equipped with a polarized filter of an appropriate verification means uniform in orientation and transmittance,

they perform mutual rotation relative to each other, parallel to each other, of the protected object and the verification means with the LCD screen until a dark background is obtained on the irradiated side of the protected object, with at least one latent polarized image appearing in it formed in each of the optically transparent anisotropic birefringent layers (7, 8) on the corresponding surface of the protected object, while simultaneously preserving on the indicated surface a visible picture of the images visualized in step a) when observed with the naked eye of the user, while the images obtained in steps a) and b) are preliminarily a predetermined mutually agreed position relative to each other and / or complement each other with the possibility of forming a common image, while the specified common image optionally further contains a visually visible security feature in the form of a text indication, confirming authenticating the specified object.

In this case, the linearly polarized light used to illuminate the protected object with a protective device is light that is uniform in intensity and linearly polarized with a radiation wavelength in the range 450–650 nm.

At the same time, at least one polarization image formed in each of at least two optically transparent anisotropic birefringent layers (7, 8) differs arcs from each other, and the generated polarization images in each of at least two optically transparent anisotropic birefringent layers (7 , 8), which are spatially superimposed on each other, form a common image that is multi-color or constitute a logical element containing encoded information to be decoded when using a verification tool with an electronically controlled LCD screen in the form of one of a smartphone, a mobile phone and a personal computer .

In addition, polarized images formed in optically transparent anisotropic birefringent layers (7, 8) when superimposed on each other are moire images when observed in linearly polarized light, or polarized images formed in optically transparent anisotropic birefringent layers (7, 8 ) are periodically rasterized images and have local spatial differences in the direction of the raster and local changes in the orientation of the optical axes in these polarized images.

In addition, polarized images formed in optically transparent anisotropic birefringent layers (7, 8), when observed in polarized light, are visualized as a color-variable Moire pattern, which varies depending on the observation angle and illumination and the orientation of the polarization vector of the incident polarizing light.

At the same time, the protected object is one of: banknotes, licenses, passport pages, plastic cards, vouchers, promotions, check books, excise stamps, identification documents.

In the proposed method for verifying the authenticity of a document with a protective optical polarizing element made using anisotropic cured LCD materials, standard electronically controlled LCD screens (household smartphones, televisions, computers, monitors, etc.) are successfully used to visualize hidden polarized images in them. )

Moreover, any other electrically controlled devices with displays such as self-luminous electroluminescent (LED) or plasma panels equipped with anti-reflective anisotropic polarized filters, uniform in orientation, can be applicable. For brevity, all such devices in the proposed application are called "LCD displays."

DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

Signs, elements and advantages of the invention result from the following description of two embodiments of the invention with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which are shown:

FIG. 1 is a schematic top view of a product to be protected with an optical protective device placed thereon;

figure 2 - schematic representation of the structure of a transparent polarizing-optical protective element according to the present invention for the first variant of its implementation;

figure 3 - schematic representation of the structure of a transparent polarizing-optical protective element according to the present invention for the second variant of its implementation;

4 is a schematic view of a verification structure of a transparent polarization-optical security element using a smartphone according to an embodiment of the present invention.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT OF THE INVENTION

A description of the design of the optical security device will now be presented with reference to FIG. 1 ÷ 3.

Figure 1 shows a schematic view of a protected object (product), for example, a valuable document 1 (protected object) to be protected, which has a carrier-base 2 of a valuable document 1 and an optical protective device (not shown), comprising: a transparent polarizing-optical protective an element 3 located in a transparent section (window) 4 of the base carrier 2 of the valuable document 1. The transparent section 4 may be, for example, a transparent window or a partially transparent (translucent) region of the valuable document 1 to be protected.

If you look at the protected product 1 (valuable document) with the naked eye in the unpolarized natural light passing through it, then at least one polarized image is observed in the transparent polarizing-optical protective element (3), observed as a constant color-variable image and / or a set of spatially separated images in the form of numbers. letters, symbols, etc., forming a single overall image, the hue or color saturation of which varies depending on the direction of observation or illumination of the transparent polarization-optical security element (3) and text information, which is an alphanumeric character set confirming the authenticity of the observed security element and proposed to be contacted using any available mobile phone, smartphone, etc. with an LCD screen to illuminate this protective element “white” ie unpolarized natural light in order to obtain from him additional information about its authenticity.

Figure 2 shows the structure of the first embodiment of a transparent polarizing-optical protective element (3), containing at least two layers (5, 6) of thin-film linear polarizers uniformly oriented along the direction of the optical axis, which are the same or different in their optical-technical and anisotropic characteristics. It should be noted that in the framework of the present disclosure, a uniform orientation in the direction of the optical axis is understood to mean providing the same direction of the optical axis of the polarizer over its entire area. Moreover, these at least two layers (5, 6) are spatially spaced from each other and are layers (5, 6) of anisotropic dichroic neutral (“gray” - polychromic) or spectrally selective (color - monochrome) absorption in the visible RGB (R - red, G - green, B - blue) regions of 400–750 nm uniformly oriented along the direction of the optical axis of thin-film linear polarizers.

Images (not shown in FIG. 2) located in the layer (7) between the indicated crossed (or parallel) polarizers (5 and 6) are constantly visually visible in unpolarized natural light, while at least one polarized image formed in an optically transparent anisotropic birefringent layer (8) in direct adhesive contact on the other side of the layer (6) of a thin-film linear polarizer uniformly oriented along the optical axis is visually invisible in unpolarized natural light, i.e. is a hidden image.

Layers 5 and 6 of thin-film linear polarizers uniformly oriented along the direction of the optical axis are the same or different in their optical-technical and anisotropic characteristics. In this case, a uniform orientation in the direction of the optical axis is understood to mean providing the same direction of the optical axis of the polarizer over its entire area,

The indicated at least two layers (5, 6) of thin-film linear polarizers uniformly oriented in the direction of the optical axis are made so that their planes are parallel to each other and their polarization vectors are mutually orthogonal or parallel to each other.

The thickness of each of these layers (5, 6) is in the range from 0.5 to 1.5 μm.

The indicated at least two layers (5, 6) of thin-film linear polarizers uniformly oriented along the direction of the optical axis are made of anisotropic materials, which include anisotropically absorbing substances in the ultraviolet and / or visible spectral region that exhibit nematic lyotropic or thermotropic liquid crystal properties in predefined organic solvents, for example, dimethylformamide, water, alcohols, etc. and / or in a predefined temperature range, for example, from –20 to +60 degrees Celsius, and also containing oriented, if necessary, dichroic dye molecules that absorb in a specific RGB region of the spectrum.

Examples of compositions of anisotropic materials are disclosed in patent publications:

RU 2,114,884 C1; US 7,381,348 B2; US 6,962,734 B2.

In this case, each of at least two layers (5, 6) of thin-film linear polarizers uniformly oriented in the direction of the optical axis of the protective element is continuous and uniformly oriented in the direction of the optical axis over the entire area occupied by this layer on the protective element (3).

In addition, each of at least two layers (5, 6) of thin-film linear polarizers uniformly oriented along the direction of the optical axis can contain at least one isotropic (gap) region with a predetermined geometric shape (not shown in FIG. 2).

The transparent polarization-optical protective element 3, in addition, contains at least two optically transparent anisotropic birefringent layers (7, 8), which are different in information structure, each of which contains at least one polarized digital image, rasterized in the form of a spatial grid structure of subpixels (not shown in FIG. 2).

The indicated optically transparent anisotropic layers (7 and 8) with phase (birefringent) polarized images are made of the same or different (in composition) transparent anisotropic material from 400 to 750 nm transparent in the visible spectrum, which includes anisotropic substances exhibiting nematic lyotropic or thermotropic liquid crystal properties in certain solvents, for example, toluene, dioxane, water, alcohols, etc., or in a predefined temperature range, for example, from –30 to +70 degrees Celsius.

Examples of these materials are disclosed, for example, in patent publications US 6,562,259 B1; US 6,806,930 B2; US 6,144,428A.

Moreover, the thickness of each of these optically transparent anisotropic birefringent layers (7, 8) is from 0.5 to 2.0 μm and is uniform over the entire area of each of these layers, but differs for each of the layers (7, 8).

In addition, each of the at least two optically transparent anisotropic birefringent layers (7, 8) has a phase delay value that ranges from a quarter-wavelength to half-wavelength and higher, and is the same over the entire area of each of these layers (7, 8) with polarized images, but different for each of these layers (7, 8).

However, the spatial distribution of the directions of the optical axes in each of the subpixels (not shown in FIG. 2) within the area of each of at least two optically transparent anisotropic birefringent layers (7, 8) constituting polarized images (not shown in FIG. 2), being discretely or continuously rasterized, it can vary from 0º to 180º according to a predefined law relative to the orientation of the transmission vector of the layers of contacting them (5, 6) of thin-film linear polarizers of a transparent polarizing-optical protective element uniformly oriented in the direction of the optical axis (3).

In addition, like layers (5, 6) of thin-film linear polarizers uniformly oriented along the optical axis, one or both optically transparent anisotropic layers (7 and 8) with phase (birefringent) polarized images can include an isotropic region with a given geometric a form that separates these polarized images within these (7 and 8) layers of a transparent polarized-optical protective element (3).

At the same time, at least one polarized image formed in each of at least two optically transparent anisotropic birefringent layers (7, 8) differs arcs from each other. And the obtained polarized images in each of the layers (5, 6) of thin-film linear polarizers uniformly oriented along the direction of the optical axis constitute a logical element containing encoded information to be decoded when using a verification device with an electronically controlled LCD screen in the form of one of: smartphone, mobile phone and personal computer.

Polarized images formed in layers (7 and 8) when superimposed on each other represent moire images.

In addition, polarized images formed in optically transparent anisotropic birefringent layers (7, 8) are periodically rasterized images rasterized in the form of a spatially grid subpixel structure and have local spatial differences in the raster direction and local changes in the orientation of the optical axes in these polarized images .

In this case, when observing polarized images formed in optically transparent anisotropic birefringent layers (7, 8) in polarized light using a polarizing filter, these polarized images are visualized in the form of a color-changing Moire pattern that varies depending on the observation angle and illumination and the orientation of the polarization vector of the incident polarizing Sveta.

Optically transparent isotropic varnish layers (9 and 10) are deposited on each side of a transparent polarizing-optical protective element (3), respectively, which perform the following functions: layer (9) ensures the formation of a polarized latent image in an optically transparent anisotropic birefringent layer (8) on its inner side, and the fastening of all subsequent layers of a transparent polarizing-optical protective element (3) to the protected product (1) and, together with the layer (10), protecting the entire optical protective device with the protected product (1) from mechanical, physical and chemical impacts.

In FIG. 3 shows the structure of the second embodiment of a transparent polarizing-optical protective element (3), in which each of at least two layers (5, 6) of thin-film linear polarizers uniformly oriented along the direction of the optical axis contains at least one isotropic region (white space) of a predetermined geometric forms. Moreover, the indicated at least two layers (5, 6) of thin-film linear polarizers uniformly oriented along the direction of the optical axis are the same or different in their optical-technical and anisotropic characteristics.

In contrast to the first embodiment of the transparent polarization-optical protective element 3, in the second embodiment, each of these layers (5, 6 and 7, 8) contains at least one whitespace (transparent) isotropic region (11 and / or 12) in the layer (5) and (13 and / or 14) in the layer (6), (15 and / or 16) in the layer (7) and (17 and / or 18) in the layer (8) (in FIG. 3 conventionally shown in two white spaces). Moreover, the number of indicated whitespace areas, their shape and sizes in each of the listed layers may vary depending on the predefined parameters of the latent images formed in them.

The indicated optically transparent anisotropic birefringent layers (7, 8) with polarized images, as well as layers (5 and 6) of thin-film linear polarizers uniformly oriented along the optical axis, are made of the same composition or different anisotropic optical material, which includes anisotropic, substances that are transparent in the visible spectral region from 400 to 750 nm, exhibiting nematic, thermotropic or lyotropic liquid crystal properties in a predetermined temperature range or in predefined organic solvents.

Examples of these materials are disclosed, for example, in patent publications.

US 6,562,259 B1; US 6,806,930 B2; US 6,144,428A.

In this case, the thickness of each of these optically transparent anisotropic layers (7 and 8) is from 0.5 to 2.0 μm and is uniform over the entire area of each of these layers, but may vary for each of the layers (7, 8).

In addition, each of the at least two optically transparent anisotropic birefringent layers (7, 8) has a phase delay value that ranges from a quarter-wave to a half-wave and is the same over the entire area of each of these layers (7, 8), but can vary for each of these layers (7, 8).

In this case, the phase delay values of these layers are equal to the product of the birefringence of the material of optically transparent anisotropic layers (7, 8) by their thickness.

It should be noted that the spatial distribution of the directions of the optical axes within the area of each of at least two optically transparent anisotropic birefringent layers (7, 8) changes picturewise in each of the RGB subpixels (not shown in Fig. 3) constituting polarizing images (not shown figure 3), according to a predefined law ranging from 0º to 180º angular degrees relative to the orientation of the transmission vector of one of at least two layers (5, 6) of thin-film linear polarizers uniformly oriented in the direction of the optical axis.

At the same time, at least one polarized image formed in each of at least two optically transparent anisotropic birefringent layers (7, 8) differs arcs from each other.

The resulting polarized images in each of the optically transparent anisotropic birefringent layers (7, 8) constitute, for example, a logic element containing encoded information to be decoded using a verification device with an electronically controlled LCD screen in the form of one of a smartphone, a mobile phone, and a personal computer .

Polarized images formed in optically transparent anisotropic birefringent layers 7 and 8 when superposed on each other are Moire images. In addition, polarized images formed in optically transparent anisotropic birefringent layers (7, 8) are periodically rasterized images rasterized in the form of a spatially grid subpixel structure (not shown in Fig. 2 and Fig. 3) and have local spatial differences in the direction of the raster and local changes in the orientation of the optical axes in the specified polarized images.

In this case, when observing polarized images formed in optically transparent anisotropic layers (7, 8) in polarized light using a polarizing filter, these polarized images are visualized in the form of a color-changing Moire pattern that varies depending on the observation angle and illumination and the orientation of the polarization vector of the incident radiation from LCD screen smartphone.

This design of the optical security device of FIG. 3 allowed to significantly expand its functionality according to security features, allowing both sides to be used for verification purposes.

The proposed structure options of the optical protective device 3 provide the following possibilities for the formation of visible and latent images forming various versions of the visualization patterns during verification of the protected object, on which the specified protective device is applied with a transparent polarizing-optical protective element (3):

- images formed in an optically transparent anisotropic layer (7) of a transparent polarizing-optical protective element (3) are visualized in transmitted (from either side) unpolarized natural light in the form of an optical image, in the form of a color-changing image that is constantly geometric in shape or a set of images, shade or whose color saturation changes depending on the change in the direction of observation or illumination of the protective element (3) of the protective device provided for the protected object; - polarized images formed in at least two optically transparent anisotropic layers (7 and 8), which are spatially superimposed on each other, and form a common image, which is multicolor of two initially invisible polarization images formed in each of the optically transparent anisotropic birefringent layers ( 7, 8), spatially not superimposed on each other in the multilayer structure of the protective element (3) and functionally independent of each other in the plot,

- or two other reconstructed polarized images formed in optically transparent anisotropic layers (7, 8), one of which can also be initially visible in unpolarized light, which are spatially superimposed on each other, forming a common multicolor polarized image or constitute a logical element containing encoded information to be decoded when illuminated by linearly polarized light using a verification tool with an electronically controlled LCD screen in the form of one of: a smartphone, mobile phone and personal computer.

At the same time, the indicated logical element implements, for example, the algebraic operation “Exclusive OR” (Chorus)) (see D. E. Knut “The Art of Programming”, vols. 1-3, 3rd ed.: Transl. From English . - M.: Williams Publishing House, 2000 ISBN 5–8459–0080–8 (Russian), stenographic control (see Gribunin V.G., Okov I.N., Turintsev I.V. Digital steganography., M.: Solon-Press, 2002. 272 pages, illustrations), or the formation of a moire pattern from two rasterized images and the like.

In this case, information actually encoded in the reading stage of the security element encoded in one latent image, for example, in an optically transparent anisotropic birefringent a layer (7) farther from the LCD screen is subjected to its decoding using another, visually invisible polarized image located on another optically transparent anisotropic birefringent layer (8) closer to the LCD screen of a verification tool, for example, a smartphone;

- polarization images spatially located in each of at least two optically transparent anisotropic birefringent layers (7, 8) of the protective element (3) are spatially located above or below the isotropic regions or polarization images of another optically transparent anisotropic birefringent layer (7, 8) , respectively. In the latter case, plot overlay images can functionally be independent of each other or be part of each other;

- the structure of the protective element (3) provides its identification in the form of a Moire image that occurs when two (coding and decoding) transparent anisotropic (birefringent) gratings are combined in optically transparent anisotropic birefringent layers (7 and 8), each of which is made in in the form of one- or two-dimensional periodic structures such as solid lines or in the form of rectilinear or picture-oriented spatial icons of a size of tens of microns.

Indeed, in the latter case, the security element (3) contains one latent and one constantly visible image. A constantly visible image can be incomplete and only if an external verification tool with an electronically controlled LCD screen is located on the side of the latent image, the observer will see the full picture. According to the invention, the location of one, for example, visually visible part of such a combined polarized image is located in a specific area on one (7) of the optically transparent anisotropic birefringent layers 7 or 8, and the other part invisible in unpolarized natural light is located in a specific area of the other (8 ) from optically transparent anisotropic birefringent layers 7 or 8 located above or below layer 7. These parts are superimposed or complement each other territorially to form a single common image.

According to a third aspect of the invention, there is provided a method for manufacturing an optical protective device, which according to the first and second embodiments of the protective device is practically identical and consists in performing the following steps, according to which:

a) provide a carrier base, on one side of which a separation layer is applied;

b) apply an adhesive isotropic layer on top of the separation layer;

c) an optically transparent isotropic solid-state lacquer layer is applied to the adhesive isotropic layer (9)

g) carry out spatial-local microrelief structuring of the surface of the optically transparent isotropic varnish layer (9) in the form of an optical diffraction-grating image with a predetermined spatial picture of the orientation of the directions of the strokes,

e) a optically transparent layer with anisotropic substances transparent in the visible spectrum in a liquid-like isotropic state is applied locally onto predefined structured regions of an optically transparent isotropic varnish layer (9) with a microrelief structured surface;

g) the optically transparent layer with anisotropic substances transparent in the visible region of the spectrum is transferred, which is in a liquid-like isotropic state into an oriented mesomorphic state, while the optically transparent isotropic varnish layer (9) with a microrelief structured surface is made so as to provide a transparent layer with transparent in the visible region of the spectrum by anisotropic substances in the mesomorphic state, a predefined picture of the spatial distribution of the directions of the optical molecular axes and optical anisotropy corresponding to a predefined spatial picture of the orientation of the strokes in the microrelief structured surface of an optically transparent isotropic varnish layer (9);

h) a optically transparent layer of an anisotropic material in a mesomorphic state is cured with the formation of a cured optically transparent anisotropic birefringent layer (8) with at least one polarized latent image with a predetermined spatial distribution pattern of the optical anisotropy axis in accordance with the spatial orientation pattern strokes in the microrelief structured surface of the optically transparent isotropic varnish layer (9), while providing at least one isotropic region of a predetermined geometric shape in said layer (8);

i) a solid-state isotropic polymer layer is applied having a flat surface on the surface of the cured optically transparent anisotropic birefringent layer (8) with at least one latent polarized image, which is a latent image when observed in unpolarized natural light;

j) carry out spatial-local microrelief structuring of the surface of the isotropic polymer layer in the form of an optical diffraction-grating image with a predetermined pattern of unidirectional strokes

k) an isotropic liquid crystal composition is applied locally to predefined structured regions of the isotropic polymer layer, followed by its transfer to an oriented mesomorphic liquid crystal state based on absorbing anisotropic substances in the visible and UV spectral regions, and then to a solid-state amorphous molecular-oriented state, providing a layer (6) of a thin-film linear polarizer uniformly oriented in the direction of the optical axis, while providing at least one isotropic region of a predetermined geometric shape in said layer (6);

m) a polymer isotropic layer having a flat surface is applied to the surface of the layer (6) of a thin-film linear polarizer uniformly oriented in the direction of the optical axis;

m) carry out spatial-local microrelief structuring of the surface of a polymeric isotropic layer having a flat surface in the form of another optical diffraction-grating image with a predetermined spatial pattern of orientation of the strokes;

o) an optically transparent layer with anisotropic substances transparent in the visible and UV spectral regions is applied locally to predefined structured regions of the polymer isotropic layer;

o) an optically transparent layer with anisotropic substances transparent in the visible and UV spectral regions is transferred, which is in a liquid-like isotropic state to a mesomorphic state, while the polymer isotropic layer with a microrelief structured surface is made so as to provide an optically transparent layer with transparent in visible and UV the spectral region of the anisotropic substances in the mesomorphic state, a predefined picture of the spatial distribution of the directions of the optical molecular axes and optical anisotropy, corresponding to a predefined spatial picture of the orientation of the strokes in the microrelief structured surface of the polymer isotropic layer;

p) an optically transparent layer of anisotropic material in a mesomorphic state is cured with the formation of a cured optically transparent anisotropic birefringent layer (7) with at least one polarized latent image with a predetermined spatial distribution pattern of the optical anisotropy axis in accordance with the spatial orientation pattern strokes in the microrelief structured surface of an optically transparent isotropic layer; at the same time, at least one isotropic region of a predetermined geometric shape is provided in said layer (7);

c) a polymer isotropic layer having a flat surface is applied to the surface of the optically transparent anisotropic birefringent layer (7) with at least one polarized latent image;

r) carry out spatial-local microrelief structuring of the surface of the polymer isotropic layer in the form of another optical diffraction-grating image with a predetermined spatial picture of the unidirectional orientation of the strokes;

s) an isotropic layer of a liquid crystal composition is applied locally to predefined structured regions of the isotropic polymer layer, followed by its transfer to an oriented mesomorphic liquid crystal state based on anisotropic substances absorbing in the visible and UV regions, and then to a solid-state amorphous molecular-oriented state, providing a layer (5) of a thin-film linear polarizer uniformly oriented in the direction of the optical axis, while providing at least one isotropic region of a predetermined geometric shape in said layer (5);

f) optionally, repeat steps c) –y) with the formation of a given number of layers with at least one polarized latent image and layers of a thin-film linear polarizer uniformly oriented in the direction of the optical axis,

x) apply an isotropic transparent varnish layer (10) uniformly oriented along the optical axis of the thin-film linear polarizer onto the layer (5), on top of which an additional adhesive isotropic adhesive layer is applied

h) apply an isotropic transparent varnish layer (10) to an additional isotropic adhesive isotropic adhesive layer, onto which an additional separation layer is applied, on which an additional substrate is provided;

wherein at least one polarized latent image formed in the optically transparent anisotropic birefringent layer (7) is visible when observed in unpolarized natural light;

wherein at least one polarized latent image formed in the optically transparent anisotropic birefringent layer (7) is different from at least one polarized latent image formed in the optically transparent anisotropic birefringent layer (8); and said polarized latent images of each of the optically anisotropic birefringent layers (7, 8) are formed in such a way that they are in a predetermined mutually agreed position with respect to each other and / or each other with the possibility of forming a single common image when illuminated by linearly polarized light.

It should be noted that isotropic regions (white spaces) of a predetermined geometric shape are formed during the manufacture of anisotropic layers (5–8) in the form of sections of thin isotropic polymer layers not subjected to local roll embossing for diffraction-lattice structuring of the surface of the corresponding polymer layer.

Moreover, the optical diffraction-grating image obtained at steps d), k), n), and t) with a predefined spatial picture of the orientation of the directions of the strokes is a rainbow hologram.

In addition, the separation layer is made of wax, and the adhesive isotropic layer is made with the possibility of ensuring the strength of the fastening of the protective device on the protected object.

At the same time, each of the isotropic transparent varnish layers (9, 10) is made with the possibility of protecting the protective device from mechanical, physical and chemical influences.

And the isotropic layer of the liquid crystal composition is made of lyotropic or thermotropic LC material.

Moreover, in the method in steps g) and p) and l) and y), the isotropic layer is transferred from the liquid crystal composition to an oriented mesomorphic state by drying at a temperature in the range of 50–90 degrees, and

at stages g) and n) and l) and y), the transfer of the LC layer, which is a lyotropic LC layer, from the oriented mesomorphic liquid crystalline state to the solid-state amorphous molecular-oriented state is carried out by complete evaporation of the solvent from the LC layer in the oriented mesomorphic liquid crystal state which is pre-added to the specified LCD layer.

In addition, at steps g) and p) and l) and y), the transfer of the LC layer, which is a thermotropic LC layer, from the oriented mesomorphic liquid crystal state to the solid-state amorphous molecular-oriented state is carried out by photo-curing or thermal curing.

It should be noted that the manufacture of the protective device is carried out in a single technological “Roll – to – Roll” cycle in accordance with steps a) –h); and

the manufacturing of the protective device is carried out in a form divided into constituent technological parts, in which layers (5, 6) of a thin-film linear polarizer uniformly oriented along the optical axis and optically transparent anisotropic layers (7, 8) with at least one polarized latent image are made separately and then combined together using isotropic adhesive isotropic layers.

At the same time, spatially local microrelief structuring of the surfaces of the layers (5–8) according to steps d), k), n), t) is carried out by mechanical embossing of the indicated layers using rolls with relief-structured surfaces with predefined directions and periods of strokes and the depths of the relief in them, while the microrelief structure is a collection of parallel grooves with a depth of about 1–10 nm and with a spatial period of not more than 300 nm, and the shafts used for embossing rainbow relief holograms are used as shafts.

It should be noted that the transfer of the optical protective device to the protected object or the protected product is carried out, optionally, on either side of the protective device from the corresponding carrier substrate using the corresponding dividing isotropic layer, and the protective device with the combination of layers (5-10) is separated from the base –Carrier and its transfer to other carriers with isotropic regions is carried out by hot stamping with the preservation of anisotropic layers.

In FIG. Figure 4 shows the verification scheme of the protected object (1) in the form of a valuable document or product with an optically protective device coated with a transparent polarizing-optical protective element (3). The protected object (1) is placed on an optical protective device with a transparent polarizing-optical protective element (3).

The observer looks at the protected object (1), for example, a valuable document with a protective device that includes a protective element (3) from either side in transmitted unpolarized natural light; wherein:

when viewing this valuable document with the naked eye, at least one visually visible image is formed on each surface on the surface of the protective device, which is formed in an optically transparent anisotropic birefringent layer (7);

at the same time, each of these images formed in an optically transparent anisotropic birefringent layer (7) is visualized as a geometric-constant color-variable image or a set of images that form a given image picture, hue or color saturation, which changes depending on the change in the direction of observation or lighting of the protected object; at the same time, the resulting picture of the images optionally additionally contains a visually visible security feature in the form of a text indication confirming the authenticity of the indicated object and an indication of the need for the user to carry out additional authentication of the protected product using the verification tool (20), for example, a smartphone with an LCD screen ( 21).

If the user does not reveal the corresponding visually visible security feature on the received image, then the authentication of the specified valuable document should not be carried out further, since the specified document did not pass the authentication check.

If a visually-visible security feature is found in the received image in the form of a text indication confirming the authenticity of the specified object and an indication of the need for the user to conduct additional verification of the authenticity of the protected product using the verification tool. The user continues to verify the authenticity of the valuable document.

Further, following the instructions contained in the visually visible sign, the observer or user using a smartphone (20) or any other indicator means available with an LCD screen (21), which in this case acts as a means of verification, alternately illuminates each side of the valuable document with a protective device linearly polarized light (19) emitted by the LCD screen (21) of the corresponding verification means, equipped with a uniform polarization filter and orientation and transmission.

Next, the user places a smartphone (20) or other means of verification (20) parallel to the valuable document (1) and begins to mutually rotate them relative to each other until a dark background is achieved on the irradiated side of the valuable document (protected object) with at least manifestation on it. one latent polarized image formed in each of the optically transparent anisotropic birefringent layers (7, 8) on the corresponding surface of the valuable document. At the same time, on the indicated surface, the previously visualized picture pattern obtained earlier when observed with the naked eye of the user is simultaneously stored, while the obtained images are in a predetermined mutually agreed position with respect to each other and / or complement each other with the possibility of forming a common image, while the general image, optionally, additionally contains a visually visible security feature in the form of a text indication, which confirms the authenticity of the verified valuable document.

Industrial applicability

The claimed invention can be used in the field of protection against counterfeiting and authentication of objects to be protected, including valuable documents, which are one of: banknotes, licenses, passport pages, plastic cards, vouchers, stocks, checkbooks, excise stamps, identification documents .

Claims (98)

1. An optical protective device containing a transparent polarizing-optical protective element (3), containing at least two layers (5, 6) of thin-film linear polarizers uniformly oriented along the optical axis and at least two optically transparent anisotropic birefringent layers (7, 8) with at least one polarized image formed on each of them and two optically transparent isotropic varnish layers (9, 10) deposited on both sides of the protective element, while one of the at least two optically transparent anisotropic birefringent layers (7 ) is located between the said layers (5, 6) of thin-film linear polarizers uniformly oriented along the direction of the optical axis, and the other of the at least two optically transparent anisotropic birefringent layers (8) is located between one of the at least two layers (6) of uniformly oriented in the direction of the optical axis linear polarizers and one optically transparent isotropic lacquer layer (9), while at least one polarized image formed in one optically transparent anisotropic birefringent layer (7) is visible when observed in unpolarized natural light and at least one other polarized the image formed in the specified optically transparent anisotropic birefringent layer (7) is a latent image when observed in unpolarized natural light, each of at least one polarized image formed in another optically transparent anisotropic birefringent layer (8) located in close proximity to one of the optically transparent varnish layers (9) is a latent image when observed in unpolarized natural light, while these polarized images of each of the optically transparent anisotropic birefringent layers (7, 8) are in a predetermined mutually agreed position relative to each other and / or complement each other with the possibility of forming a common image when illuminated by linearly polarized light. 2. The device according to claim 1, in which at least two layers (5, 6) of thin-film linear polarizers uniformly oriented in the direction of the optical axis are made so that their planes are parallel to each other and their polarization vectors are mutually orthogonal or parallel to each other to a friend. 3. The device according to claim 1, in which at least two layers (5, 6) of uniformly oriented thin-film linear polarizers are made of anisotropic materials, which include anisotropically absorbing in the ultraviolet and / or visible spectral region from 300 to 750 nm substances exhibiting nematic lyotropic or thermotropic liquid crystal properties in predefined organic solvents and / or in a predetermined temperature range, as well as containing, if necessary, oriented molecules of dichroic dyes that absorb in a certain RGB region of the spectrum. 4. The device according to claim 1, in which each of at least two layers (5, 6) of thin-film linear polarizers uniformly oriented in the direction of the optical axis is continuous and uniformly oriented in the direction of the optical axis over the entire area occupied by this layer on the protective element . 5. The device according to claim 1, in which each of at least two layers (5, 6) of thin-film linear polarizers uniformly oriented in the direction of the optical axis contains at least one isotropic region of a predetermined geometric shape. 6. The device according to claim 1, in which each of the optically transparent anisotropic birefringent layers (7, 8) contains at least one isotropic region of a predetermined geometric shape. 7. The device according to claim 1, in which the layers (5, 6) of thin-film linear polarizers uniformly oriented along the direction of the optical axis have a thickness ranging from 0.5 to 1.5 microns. 8. The device according to claim 1, in which at least two optically transparent anisotropic birefringent layers (7, 8) with polarizing images are made of the same composition or different anisotropic optical material, which includes anisotropic transparent in the visible spectral region from 400 up to 750 nm substances exhibiting nematic thermotropic or lyotropic liquid crystal properties in a predetermined temperature range or in predefined organic solvents. 9. The device according to claim 1, in which the thickness of each of these optically transparent anisotropic birefringent layers (7 and 8) is from 0.5 to 2.0 μm and is uniform over the entire area of each of these layers, but varies for each of the layers (7, 8). 10. The device according to claim 1, in which each of the at least two optically transparent anisotropic birefringent layers (7, 8) has a phase delay value that ranges from a quarter-wave to a half-wave and is the same over the entire area of each of the layers (7 , 8), but differs for each of the indicated layers (7, 8). 11. The device according to claim 1, in which the spatial distribution of the directions of the optical axis within the area of each of at least two optically transparent anisotropic birefringent layers (7, 8) changes picturewise in each of the RGB subpixels constituting polarizing images according to a predefined law in the range from 0 to 180 angular degrees relative to the orientation of the transmission vector of one of the at least two layers (5, 6) of thin-film linear polarizers uniformly oriented in the direction of the optical axis. 12. The device according to claim 1, in which at least one polarizing image formed in each of at least two optically transparent anisotropic birefringent layers (7, 8) is different from the other. 13. The device according to claim 1, in which the generated polarization images of each of at least two optically transparent anisotropic birefringent layers (7, 8) constitute a logic element containing encoded information to be decoded using a verification tool with an electronically controlled LCD screen in as one of: smartphone, mobile phone and personal computer. 14. The device according to claim 1, in which the polarized images formed in optically transparent anisotropic birefringent layers (7, 8), when superimposed on each other, are Moire images. 15. The device according to one of paragraphs. 1–14, in which polarized images formed in optically transparent anisotropic birefringent layers (7, 8) are periodically rasterized images and have local spatial differences in the raster direction and local changes in the orientation of the optical axes in these polarized images. 16. The device according to one of paragraphs. 1–15, in which polarized images formed in optically transparent anisotropic birefringent layers (7, 8), when observed in polarized light using a polarizing filter, are visualized as a color-variable Moire pattern that varies depending on the viewing angle and illumination and the orientation of the polarization vector of the incident polarizing light. 17. The device according to one of paragraphs. 1-16, made with the possibility of using in the form of a transparent window at least in part of the protected object in the form of a valuable document to be protected. 18. The device according to one of paragraphs. 1-16, made with the possibility of using in the form of a translucent region in at least part of the protected object in the form of a valuable document to be protected. 19. The device according to one of paragraphs. 1-16, which is made with the possibility of placement on the basis of the media of a protected object or product. 20. The device according to one of paragraphs. 1-16, where the protective device is made with the possibility of its transfer to the protected object, which is carried out, optionally, on either side of the protective device from the corresponding carrier substrate provided on at least one of the sides of the protective device using the corresponding dividing isotropic layer, deposited on a specified base carrier. 21. The device according to one of paragraphs. 1-16, in which the specified received general image additionally contains a visually-visible security feature in the form of a text indication confirming the authenticity of the specified object. 22. An optical protective device containing a transparent polarization-optical protective element (3), containing at least two layers (5, 6) of thin-film linear polarizers uniformly oriented along the optical axis and at least two optically transparent anisotropic birefringent layers (7 , 8) with at least one polarized image formed on each of them and two optically transparent isotropic varnish layers (9, 10), deposited on both sides of the protective element, while one of the at least two optically transparent anisotropic birefringent layers ( 7) is located between the said layers (5, 6) of thin-film linear polarizers uniformly oriented along the optical axis, and the other of the at least two optically transparent anisotropic birefringent layers (8) is uniformly located between one of the at least two layers (6) oriented in the direction of the optical axis night linear polarizers and one optically transparent isotropic varnish layer (9), each of at least two layers (5, 6) of thin-film linear polarizers uniformly oriented along the direction of the optical axis contains at least one isotropic region of a predetermined geometric shape and each of the optically transparent anisotropic birefringent layers (7, 8) contains at least at least one isotropic region of a predetermined geometric shape, wherein at least one polarized image formed in one optically transparent anisotropic birefringent layer (7) is visible when observed in unpolarized natural light and at least one other polarized image formed in said optically transparent anisotropic birefringent layer (7), is a latent image when observed in unpolarized natural light, each of at least one polarized image formed in another optically transparent anisotropic birefringent layer (8) located in close proximity to one of the optically transparent varnish layers (9) is a latent image when observed in unpolarized natural light, while these polarized images of each of the optically transparent anisotropic birefringent layers (7, 8) are in a predetermined mutually agreed position relative to each other and / or complement each other with the possibility of forming a single common image when illuminated by linearly polarized light. 23. The device according to p. 22, in which at least two layers (5, 6) of thin-film linear polarizers uniformly oriented along the direction of the optical axis are made so that their planes are parallel to each other and their polarization vectors are mutually orthogonal or parallel to each other to a friend. 24. The device according to p. 22, in which at least two layers (5, 6) of uniformly oriented thin-film linear polarizers are made of anisotropic materials, which include anisotropically absorbing in the ultraviolet and / or visible spectral region from 300 to 750 nm substances exhibiting nematic lyotropic or thermotropic liquid crystal properties in predefined organic solvents and / or in a predetermined temperature range, as well as containing, if necessary, oriented molecules of dichroic dyes that absorb in a certain RGB region of the spectrum. 25. The device according to p. 22, in which each of at least two layers (5, 6) of thin-film linear polarizers uniformly oriented in the direction of the optical axis is continuous and uniformly oriented in the direction of the optical axis over the entire area occupied by this layer on the protective element . 26. The device according to p. 22, in which the layers (5, 6) of thin-film linear polarizers uniformly oriented along the direction of the optical axis have a thickness ranging from 0.5 to 1.5 microns. 27. The device according to p. 22, in which at least two optically transparent anisotropic birefringent layers (7, 8) with polarizing images are made of the same composition or different anisotropic optical material, which includes anisotropic transparent in the visible spectral region from 400 up to 750 nm substances exhibiting nematic thermotropic or lyotropic liquid crystal properties in a predetermined temperature range or in predefined organic solvents. 28. The device according to p. 22, in which the thickness of each of these optically transparent anisotropic birefringent layers (7 and 8) is from 0.5 to 2.0 μm and is uniform over the entire area of each of these layers, but varies for each of the layers (7, 8). 29. The device according to p. 22, in which each of the at least two optically transparent anisotropic birefringent layers (7, 8) has a phase delay value that ranges from a quarter-wave to a half-wave and is the same over the entire area of each of the layers (7 , 8), but differs for each of the indicated layers (7, 8). 30. The device according to p. 22, in which the spatial distribution of the directions of the optical axis within the area of each of at least two optically transparent anisotropic birefringent layers (7, 8) changes picturewise in each of the RGB subpixels constituting polarizing images according to a predetermined law in the range from 0 to 180 angular degrees relative to the orientation of the transmission vector of one of the at least two layers (5, 6) of thin-film linear polarizers uniformly oriented in the direction of the optical axis. 31. The device according to p. 22, in which at least one polarizing image formed in each of at least two optically transparent anisotropic birefringent layers (7, 8) is different from the other. 32. The device according to p. 22, in which the generated polarization images of each of at least two optically transparent anisotropic birefringent layers (7, 8) constitute a logic element containing encoded information to be decoded using a verification tool with an electronically controlled LCD screen in as one of: smartphone, mobile phone and personal computer. 33. The device according to p. 22, in which polarized images formed in optically transparent anisotropic birefringent layers (7, 8), when superimposed on each other, are Moire images. 34. The device according to one of paragraphs. 22–33, in which polarized images formed in optically transparent anisotropic birefringent layers (7, 8) are periodically rasterized images and have local spatial differences in the raster direction and local changes in the orientation of the optical axes in these polarized images. 35. The device according to one of paragraphs. 22–34, in which polarized images formed in optically transparent anisotropic birefringent layers (7, 8), when observed in linearly polarized light using a polarizing filter, are visualized as a color-variable Moire pattern, which varies depending on the viewing angle and illumination and the orientation of the polarization vector of the incident polarizing light. 36. The device according to one of paragraphs. 22–35, configured to be used as a transparent window in at least part of the protected object in the form of a valuable document to be protected. 37. The device according to one of paragraphs. 22–36, configured to be used as a translucent region in at least a portion of the protected object as a valuable document to be protected. 38. The device according to one of paragraphs. 22–36, which is arranged to be placed on the basis of the media of the protected object in the form of a valuable document to be protected. 39. The device according to one of paragraphs. 22–36, where the protective device is arranged to be transferred to the protected object, which is optionally carried out on either side of the protective device from the respective carrier substrate provided on at least one of the sides of the protective device using an appropriate isotropic separation layer, deposited on a specified base carrier. 40. The device according to one of paragraphs. 22–36, in which the specified received general image additionally contains a visually-visible security feature in the form of a text indication confirming the authenticity of the specified object. 41. A method of manufacturing an optical protective device according to one of paragraphs. 22-40, containing stages in which: a) provide a carrier base, on one side of which a separation layer is applied; b) apply an adhesive isotropic layer on top of the separation layer; c) an optically transparent isotropic solid-state lacquer layer is applied to the adhesive isotropic layer (9); d) carry out spatial-local microrelief structuring of the surface of the optically transparent isotropic varnish layer (9) in the form of an optical diffraction-grating image with a predetermined spatial picture of the orientation of the directions of the strokes; d) an optically transparent layer with anisotropic substances transparent in the visible spectral region, which is in a liquid-like isotropic state, is applied locally to predefined structured regions of an optically transparent isotropic varnish layer (9) with a microrelief structured surface; g) transfer the optically transparent layer with anisotropic substances transparent in the visible spectral region, which is in a liquid-like isotropic state, into the oriented mesomorphic state, while the optically transparent isotropic varnish layer (9) with a microrelief structured surface is made so as to provide an optically transparent layer with anisotropic substances transparent in the visible region in the mesomorphic state, a predefined picture of the spatial distribution of the directions of the optical molecular axes and optical anisotropy, corresponding to a predefined spatial picture of the orientation of the strokes in the microrelief structured surface of an optically transparent isotropic varnish layer (9); h) a optically transparent layer of an anisotropic material in a mesomorphic state is cured with the formation of a cured optically transparent anisotropic birefringent layer (8) with at least one polarized latent image with a predetermined spatial distribution pattern of the optical anisotropy axis in accordance with the spatial orientation pattern strokes in the microrelief structured surface of the optically transparent isotropic varnish layer (9), while at least one isotropic region of a predetermined geometric shape is provided in said layer (8); i) a solid-state isotropic polymer layer having a flat surface is applied to the surface of the cured optically transparent anisotropic birefringent layer (8) with at least one latent polarized image, which is a latent image when observed in unpolarized natural light; j) carry out spatial-local microrelief structuring of the surface of the isotropic polymer layer in the form of an optical diffraction-grating image with a predetermined pattern of unidirectional orientation of the strokes; k) an isotropic layer of a liquid crystal composition is applied locally to predefined structured regions of the isotropic polymer layer, followed by its transfer to an oriented mesomorphic liquid crystal state based on absorbing anisotropic substances in the visible and UV spectral regions, and then to a solid-state amorphous molecular-oriented state with a layer (6) uniformly oriented along the direction of the optical axis of the thin-film linear polarizer, while providing in the specified layer (6) at least one isotropic region of a predefined geometric shape; m) a polymer isotropic layer having a flat surface is applied to the surface of the layer (6) of a thin-film linear polarizer uniformly oriented in the direction of the optical axis; m) carry out spatial-local microrelief structuring of the surface of a polymeric isotropic layer having a flat surface in the form of another optical diffraction-grating image with a predetermined spatial pattern of orientation of the strokes; o) an optically transparent layer with anisotropic substances transparent in the visible and UV spectral regions is applied locally to predefined structured regions of the polymer isotropic layer; o) the optically transparent layer with anisotropic substances transparent in the visible and UV spectral regions, which is in a liquid-like isotropic state, is transferred into a mesomorphic state, while the polymer isotropic layer with a microrelief structured surface is made so as to provide an optically transparent layer with transparent in visible and UV region of the spectrum by anisotropic substances in a mesomorphic state a predefined picture of the spatial distribution of the directions of the optical molecular axes and optical anisotropy, corresponding to a predefined spatial picture of the orientation of the strokes in the microrelief structured surface of the polymer isotropic layer; p) an optically transparent layer of anisotropic material in a mesomorphic state is cured with the formation of a cured optically transparent anisotropic birefringent layer (7) with at least one polarized latent image with a predetermined spatial distribution pattern of the optical anisotropy axis in accordance with the spatial orientation pattern strokes in the microrelief structured surface of the optically transparent isotropic layer, while providing at least one isotropic region of a predetermined geometric shape in said layer (7); c) a polymer isotropic layer having a flat surface is applied to the surface of the optically transparent anisotropic birefringent layer (7) with at least one polarized latent image; r) carry out spatial-local microrelief structuring of the surface of the polymer isotropic layer in the form of another optical diffraction-grating image with a predetermined spatial picture of the unidirectional orientation of the strokes; s) an isotropic layer of a liquid crystal composition is applied locally to predefined structured regions of an isotropic polymer layer with its subsequent transfer to an oriented mesomorphic liquid crystal state based on absorbing anisotropic substances in the visible and UV spectral regions, and then to a solid-state amorphous molecular-oriented state with a layer (5) uniformly oriented along the direction of the optical axis of the thin-film linear polarizer, while providing in the specified layer (5) at least one isotropic region of a predefined geometric shape; f) optionally, repeat steps c) –y) with the formation of a given number of layers with at least one polarized latent image and layers of a thin-film linear polarizer uniformly oriented along the optical axis; x) apply an isotropic transparent varnish layer (10) uniformly oriented along the optical axis of the thin-film linear polarizer onto the layer (5), on top of which an additional adhesive isotropic adhesive layer is applied; h) apply an isotropic transparent varnish layer (10) to an additional isotropic adhesive isotropic adhesive layer, onto which an additional separation layer is applied, on which an additional carrier base is provided; wherein at least one polarized latent image formed in the optically transparent anisotropic birefringent layer (7) is visible when observed in unpolarized natural light, wherein at least one polarized latent image formed in the optically transparent anisotropic birefringent layer (7) is different from at least one polarized latent image formed in the optically transparent anisotropic birefringent layer (8), and said polarized latent image of each of the optically the anisotropic birefringent layers (7, 8) are formed in such a way that they are in a predetermined mutually agreed position relative to each other and / or complement each other with the possibility of forming a single common image when illuminated by linearly polarized light. 42. The method of claim 41, wherein the optical diffraction-grating image obtained in steps d), k), n) and t) with a predetermined spatial picture of the orientation of the directions of the strokes is a rainbow hologram. 43. The method according to p. 41, in which the separation layer is made of wax. 44. The method according to p. 41, in which the adhesive isotropic layer is made with the possibility of ensuring the strength of the fastening of the protective device on the protected document. 45. The method according to p. 41, in which each of the isotropic transparent varnish layers (9, 10) is configured to protect the protective device from mechanical, physical and chemical influences. 46. The method of claim 41, wherein the isotropic layer of the liquid crystal composition is made of lyotropic LC material. 47. The method of claim 41, wherein the isotropic layer of the liquid crystal composition is made of thermotropic LC material. 48. The method according to p. 41, in which at stages g), and p), and l), and y) the transfer of the isotropic layer from the liquid crystal composition to the oriented mesomorphic state is carried out by drying at a temperature in the range of 50–90 degrees Celsius. 49. The method according to claim 46, wherein in step g), and p), and l), and y) the LC layer, which is a lyotropic LC layer, is converted from an oriented mesomorphic liquid crystal state to a solid-state amorphous molecular-oriented state by complete evaporation of the solvent from the LC layer, which is in the oriented mesomorphic liquid crystal state, which is previously added to the specified LC layer. 50. The method according to p. 47, in which, in steps g), and p), and l), and y), the conversion of the LC layer, which is a thermotropic LC layer, from an oriented mesomorphic liquid crystal state to a solid-state amorphous molecular-oriented state is carried out by photo curing or thermosetting. 51. The method according to p. 41, wherein the manufacture of the protective device is carried out in a single technological “Roll-to-Roll” cycle in accordance with steps a) to h). 52. The method according to p. 41, in which the manufacture of the protective device is carried out in a form divided into constituent technological parts, in which the layers (5, 6) of a thin-film linear polarizer uniformly oriented in the direction of the optical axis and the optically transparent anisotropic layers (7, 8) at least one polarized latent image is made separately, and then combined together using isotropic adhesive isotropic layers. 53. The method according to p. 41, in which spatial-local microrelief structuring of the surfaces of the layers (5-8) according to steps d), k), n), t) is carried out by mechanical embossing of these layers using shafts with relief-structured surfaces with predefined directions and periods of strokes and relief depths in them. 54. The method according to p. 53, in which the microlef structure is a combination of parallel grooves with a depth of about 1-10 nm and with a spatial period of not more than 300 nm. 55. The method according to p. 53, where the shafts are used shafts used for embossing rainbow relief holograms. 56. The method according to p. 41, in which the transfer of the optical protective device according to one of paragraphs. 21–38 per protected document is carried out, optionally, on either side of the security device from the respective carrier substrate using the appropriate separation isotropic layer. 57. The method according to p. 41, in which the separation of the protective device with a plurality of layers (5-10) from the carrier substrate and its transfer to other carriers with isotropic sections is carried out by hot stamping to ensure the preservation of anisotropic layers. 58. The method according to p. 41, in which isotropic regions of a predetermined geometric shape are formed during the manufacture of anisotropic layers (5-8) in the form of sections of thin isotropic polymer layers not subjected to local roll embossing for diffraction-lattice structuring of the surface of the corresponding polymer layer. 59. The method of verification of the protected object with an optical protective device according to one of paragraphs. 22–40, using a verification tool (20) for visualizing latent polarized images, which is one of a smartphone, a mobile phone, and a personal computer with an electronically controlled LCD screen (21) equipped with a polarized filter that is uniform in orientation and transmittance, comprising the steps , in which: a) observe the protected object with a protective device with the naked eye on each side of the protective device in transmitted unpolarized natural light, while when viewing the specified protected object with a protective device from each side on the surface of the protective device, at least one visually visible image is formed in an optically transparent anisotropic birefringent layer (7), each of these images formed in an optically transparent anisotropic birefringent layer (7) is visualized as a geometric-constant color-variable image or a set of images that form a given picture image, the hue or color saturation of which varies depending on the change in the direction of observation or illumination of the protected object, while the resulting picture of the images optionally contains a visually visible security feature in the form of a text indication confirming the authenticity of the specified object and an indication of the need for the user to carry out additional authentication of the protected product using the verification tool; b) alternately illuminate each side of the protective device with linearly polarized light (19) emitted by an electronically controlled LCD screen (21) equipped with a polarized filter of uniform verification orientation and transmittance of the corresponding verification means, they perform mutual rotation relative to each other, parallel to each other, of the protected object and the verification means with the LCD screen until a dark background is obtained on the irradiated side of the protected object, with at least one latent polarized image appearing in it formed in each of the optically transparent anisotropic birefringent layers (7, 8) on the corresponding surface of the protected object, while simultaneously preserving on the indicated surface a visible picture of the images visualized in step a) when observed with the naked eye of the user, while the images obtained in steps a) and b) are in a predetermined mutually agreed position relative to each other and / or complement each other with the possibility of forming a common image, while the specified common image optionally further contains a visually visible security feature in the form of a text indication, confirming giving the authenticity of the specified object. 60. The verification method according to claim 59, wherein the linearly polarized light is a light uniform in intensity and linearly polarized with a radiation wavelength in the range of 450-650 nm. 61. The verification method according to claim 59, wherein the at least one polarizing image formed in each of the at least two optically transparent anisotropic birefringent layers (7, 8) is different from the other. 62. The verification method according to claim 59, wherein the generated polarization images of each of at least two optically transparent anisotropic birefringent layers (7, 8) that are spatially superimposed on each other form a common image that is multi-color, or constitute a logical element, containing encoded information to be decoded when using a verification tool with an electronically controlled LCD screen in the form of one of: a smartphone, a mobile phone and a personal computer. 63. The verification method according to claim 59, in which polarized images formed in optically transparent anisotropic birefringent layers (7, 8), when superimposed on each other, are Moire images when they are observed in polarized light. 64. The verification method according to claim 59, in which the polarized images formed in optically transparent anisotropic birefringent layers (7, 8) are periodically rasterized images and have local spatial differences in the raster direction and local changes in the orientation of the optical axes in these polarized images . 65. The verification method according to claim 59, in which polarized images formed in optically transparent anisotropic birefringent layers (7, 8), when observed in polarized light, are visualized as a color-variable Moire pattern, which varies depending on the viewing angle and illumination and the orientation of the polarization vector of the incident polarizing light. 66. The verification method according to one of paragraphs 59–65, in which the protected object is one of: banknotes, licenses, passport pages, plastic cards, vouchers, stocks, check books, excise stamps, identification documents.

Images