Ultrafine Laser Pattern Processing

Enlarged view of ultrafine pattern for forgery prevention
Enlarged view of ultrafine pattern for forgery prevention

 

The Ministry of Science, ICT & Future Planning announced on February 15 that senior researcher Roh Ji-hwan at the Korea Institute of Machinery & Materials and his research team developed a technique for ultrafine laser pattern processing that allows an encrypted serial number to be engraved by means of laser and in the form of an ultrafine pattern on the surface of a metallic product such as golf clubs, watches and gold bars.

Most existing anti-forgery techniques adopt serial number engraving or attachment of a hologram pattern placed on a sticker-type thin film to a product surface. These techniques are vulnerable to forgery because the sticker is removable. QR codes, which are in wide use these days, are more for data storage than for forgery prevention as well because they allow image duplication based on simple copying.

The research team made a unique pattern that has a size of 10 micrometers and cannot be tampered with by using high-peak power laser emitting a laser beam in a pulse form. This pattern, in which stripes are engraved in a micro size, defies forgery by simple image duplication equipment. When the angle of this pattern is adjusted for a certain number, information such as a serial number can be stored in it.

With this technique, an anti-forgery mark can be directly made on a product surface and thus the risk of forgery can be reduced. In addition, the unique pattern functions as a serial number and thus the length of time required for forgery detection can be reduced.

The research team also came up with a technique for processing more than 100 such patterns every 0.1 second by making use of its original optical design using laser interference. Previously, processing of such a fine pattern was rarely available because of the diffraction limit of laser beams. In addition, the team developed a detector that can be manufactured at a cost of 100,000 won to one million won so that it can be placed anywhere for immediate forgery detection.

Patents for the technique have been registered in South Korea and applied for the United States. At present, Dukin, a small and medium-sized enterprise in South Korea, is working on the commercialization of the technique.

 

 

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