Claims:CLAIMS

We claim:
1. A multi-level authentication label comprising of atleast one base layer, atleast one overt layer; and atleast one covert layer;

wherein,
said multi-level authentication includes authentication using overt features, covert features and microscopic features;

said base layer is a metalized coated layer;

said overt layer is a registered demetallized layer; and

said covert layer is a registered coated or printed layer with a specialty ink and at least one taggant.

2. The label as claimed in claim 1, wherein the overt features are either embossed or printed or coated on said label and include, butnot limited to holograms and the microscopic featuresincluding but not limited to dots, lines, hidden texts, images.

3. The label as claimed in claim 1, wherein, said base layer is prepared by metallization done using the metals including but not limited to zinc, aluminium, copper and chrome.

4. The label as claimed in claim 1, wherein, said covert layer is prepared by printing done by a printing process including but not limited to offset printing, gravure, screen, flexo and inkjet printing.

5. The label as claimed in claim 1, wherein, the specialty ink includes but not limited to thermo chromic ink, fluorescent ink, photonic ink, invisible fluorescent ink.

6. A method for preparing a multi-level authentication label comprising the steps of:
preparing atleast one base layer;

preparing atleast one overt layer;and

preparing atleast one covert layer;

wherein,
said method of preparing the base layer comprises the steps of:

(a) release coating on a carrier film or PET/BOPP to form a coated carrier film or coated PET/BOPP;

(b) metalizing the coated carrier film or coated PET/BOPP as obtained in step (a) to form a metalized film or metalized PET/BOPP; and

(c) embossing a hologram with registered customized images on the metalized film or metalized as obtained in step (b) to form a base layer;

said method of preparing the overt layer comprises of registered demetalizing on the base layer;

said method of preparing the covert layer comprises of registered printing or coating of the base layer with a specialty ink;

preparing a second layer metallization optionallybetween said overt layer and base layer; and

preparing an adhesive coating optionally onthe hologram.
7. The method as claimed in claim 6, wherein, the metallization is done using the metals including but not limited to zinc, aluminium, copper and chrome.

8. The method as claimed in claim 6, wherein, the printing is done by a printing process including but not limited to offset printing, gravure, screen, flexo and inkjet printing.

9. The method as claimed in claim 6, wherein, the specialty ink includes but not limited to thermo chromic ink, fluorescent ink, photonic ink, invisible fluorescent ink.

10. The method as claimed in claim 6, wherein, the registered printing is either done on a substrate or a carrier film.

11. The method as claimed in claim 10, the registered printing done on the substrate is transferred to the carrier film by the process including but not limited to hot stamping, cold foiling and hot transferring.

12. The method as claimed in claim 10, wherein, the registered printing done on the carrier film is transferred to the substrate by the process including but not limited tohot stamping, cold foiling and hot transferring.

13. The method as claimed in claim 10, wherein, the substrate includes but not limited to a coated paper, uncoated paper, film, plastic cards, boards.
, Description:FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to ananti-counterfeit multi-level authentication label for securing a variety of products. More particularly, the present invention relates to an anti-counterfeit multi-level label with various security features i.e. overt, covert and microscopic features that offers different levels of authentication and high level of security and a method thereof.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
There are many anti-counterfeit technologies available to secure different products such as valuable documents, labels, medicines, money, packaging components etc. The purpose of an anti-counterfeit feature is to enable the authentication. The anti-counterfeit features are broadly classified as overt, covert, forensic and serialization features.
The anti-counterfeit features are intended to enable users to verify the authenticity of products. Overt features are prominently visible and identifiable such as holograms, optically variable devices etc. Covert features are invisible and not easily detected or copied without specialist knowledge such as invisible printing, embedded image etc. The most secure covert features come under the heading of forensic features. The forensic features include chemical taggants, biological, DNA taggants which have high security against copying thereby providing positive authentication. The serialization technique is also one of the tools used for authentication of products. It offers number of functions such as tracking an item through the supply chain, provide traceability on the history of item and enable authentication of data at any time. This feature is capable of remote authentication and eliminates dispensing errors and also combats theft and fraud.
The overt, covert and forensic features can be used individually or together for the authentication of the product. The technique in which multiple features of authentication are provided to a system and the system is verified by more than one authentication process is known as layered authentication. Such layered authentication is implemented in an environment that has high exposure to risk and fraud. There are many types of layered authentication such as two layer authentication, three layer authentication etc. The two layer authentication is also referred as two-step verification in which the user provides two different authentication features to protect the product and make it harder for attackers to gain access to person’s accounts and devices.Similarly three layers or more than three layers authentication improves security.
US10050976B2 discloses a frictionless multi-factor authentication system and method (“FMFA system”) that facilitates verification of the identity of a website user, registrant or applicant. The FMFA system reduces or removes the burden on the user by eliminating the additional manual second step traditionally required by two-factor authentication methods and replacing the second step with an automated authentication step based on the location of a mobile device that is associated with the user. The FMFA system may be utilized for authenticating users to access sensitive data on online accounts, applications and websites, download files, perform online transactions, store information through websites or data stores, or the like. The FMFA system allows registration information obtained from a previously-registered user to authenticate the user on subsequent visits or logins to the website. The main drawback of the invention is that the verification is confined to only global positioning system.
US1022715B2discloses an enhanced multi factor authentication. In one embodiment, a network element comprises one or more processors and a memory module communicatively coupled to the processor. The memory module comprises logic instructions which when executed by the processor, configure the processor to receive via a first communication channel, a primary authentication request transmitted from a user from a first device, process the primary authentication request to determine whether the user is authorized to access one or more resources, in response to a determination that the user is authorized to access one or more resources, initiate, a secondary authentication request, and transmit the secondary authentication request from the network element to the user via a second communication channel, different from the first communication channel. The main drawback of the invention is that the system for multi factor authentication is complex.
WO2003037979A2discloses a security element. It relates to optical security elements and their use for identifying and authenticating objects. It also relates to the methods and devices for identifying and authenticating objects on the basis of optical security elements. The main drawback of the invention is that the security element is optical in nature.
Therefore, there is a need to develop a simple secure multilevel authentication technology system which offers high level of authentication with multiple features.

OBJECT OF THE INVENTION
The main object of the invention is to provide a multi-level authentication label with overt, covert and microscopic features for securing a variety of products and a method thereof.
Another main object of the present invention is to provide a multi-level authentication label having multiple layers for offering different levels of authentication.
Yet another object of the present invention is to provide a method of preparing the multi-level authenticationlabelwith overt, covert and microscopic features for securing different products.
Still another object of the present invention is to provide a multi-level authentication label with holographic and non-holographic features including but not limited to registered de-metallization, taggants etc.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a multi-level authentication label for securing different products. More particularly, the present invention relates to a multi-level label with overt, covert and microscopic features that offers different levels of authentication and high level of security and a method thereof.
In a most preferred embodiment, the present invention provides a multi-level authentication label with overt, covert and microscopic features comprising of atleast one base layer, atleast one overt layer and atleast one covert layer; wherein, said base layer is a metalized coated layer, said overt layer is a registered demetallized layer to be identified visually and said covert layer is a registered coated or printed layer that is coated or printed with a specialty ink and taggantswhich are identified and read by devices, detectors and microscopes. The multi-level authentication label has multiple levels for producing authentication. The multiple levels include layers but not limited to overt, covert layer having features not limited to overt, covert and microscopic features. The microscopic features are added to the covert layer and are only visible through microscope.
Here, the overt features include but not limited to holograms and the microscopic features are either embossed or printed or coated on said label which includes but not limited to dots, lines, hidden texts, images. The specialty inks include but not limited to thermo chromic ink, fluorescent ink, photonic ink, invisible fluorescent ink. The overt layer is a registered demetallized layer that aids the visual determination of product authenticity. The overt layer is obtained by removing selective metallization of the base layer by process such as including but not limited to chemical etching, laser etching and using metal die. The covert layer is a registered coated or printed layer that is coated or printed with a specialty ink to give specialty effect identified and read by devices, detectors and microscopes. The specialty effect includes but not limited to thermo shift effect, photonic effect, invisible fluorescent effect, veritag effect, visible fluorescent effect and forensic feature. The thermo shift effect is observed with the raise in temperature and sensitive to change in temperature. Photonic effect is observed when exposed to light as it changes the color from colorless to color and returns to normal transparency with removal of light. The invisible fluorescent effect is added to the label by adding hidden feature such as logo, image or security thread that is invisible to naked eye but visible under specific UV light. The veritag effect is microscopic, traceable and indestructible which is used for high level of security. Itis observed or identified by user by generating a beep sound or audio message. The visible fluorescent effect is observed to be illuminated with UV light as it glows in bright fluorescent color. The forensic feature is microscopic in nature and appears like dot, line, micro texts, micro images.
In another main embodiment, the present invention provides a method of preparing a multi-level authentication label comprising the steps of: preparing atleast one base layer, preparing atleast one overt layer and preparing atleast one covert layer. The method of preparing the base layer comprises of release coating on a carrier film, metalizing and hologram embossing on the carrier film or PET/BOPP film. Said method of preparing the overt layer comprises of registered demetalizing on the base layer. Said method of preparing the covert layer comprises of registered printing or coating the base layer with a specialty ink. Optionally second layer metallization is done between said overt layer and base layer and optionally adhesive coating is done on the hologram embossed base layer.
Here, in said base layer the metallization is done using the metals including but not limited to zinc, aluminium, copper and chrome and done by the process not limited to vacuum metallization process. In said covert layer, the registered coating or printing is done by printing processes including but not limited to offset printing, gravure, screen printing, flexo and inkjet printing. The specialty inks include but not limited to thermo chromic ink, fluorescent ink, photonic ink, invisible fluorescent ink. The registered coating or printing is either done on asubstrate or a carrier film. The registered coating or printing in one embodiment if done on the carrier film is transferred to the substrate by process but not limited to hot stamping, cold foiling, hot transferring and label applicator.The registered coating or printing in another embodiment, if done on the substrate is transferred to the carrier film by process but not limited to hot stamping, cold foiling, hot transferring and label applicator.The substrate includes but not limited to a coated paper, uncoated paper, film, plastic cards and boards.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
The object of the invention may be understood in more details and more particularly description of the invention briefly summarized above by reference to certain embodiments thereof which are illustrated in the appended drawings, which drawings form a part of this specification. It is to be noted, however, that the appended drawings illustrate preferred embodiments of the invention and are therefore not to be considered limiting of its scope, for the invention may admit to other equally effective equivalent embodiments.
Fig.1is the side view of a multi-level authentication label in accordance to an embodiment of the present invention.
Fig. 2is the top view of a multi-level authentication label in accordance to an embodiment of the present invention.

DETAILEDDESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
The present invention will now be described hereinafter with reference to the accompanying drawings in which a preferred embodiment of the invention is shown. This invention may, however, be embodied in many different forms and should not be construed as being limited to the embodiment set forth herein. Rather, the embodiment is provided so that this disclosure will be thorough, and will fully convey the scope of the invention to those skilled in the art.
The present invention provides a multi-level authentication label for securing different products. More particularly, the present invention provides a multi-level label with overt, covert and microscopic features that offers different levels of authentication and high level of security and a method thereof.
In a most preferred embodiment, the present invention provides a multi-level authentication label with overt, covert and microscopic features comprising of atleast one base layer, atleast one overt layer and atleast one covert layer; wherein, said base layer is a metalized coated layer; said overt layer is a registered demetallized layer to be identified visually; and said covert layer is a registered coated or printed layer with a specialty ink and taggants to be identified and read by devices, detectors and microscopes. The multi-level authentication label has multiple levels for producing authentication. The multiple levels include layers but not limited to overt, covert layer having features not limited to overt, covert and microscopic features. The microscopic features are added to the covert layer and are only visible through microscope.
Here, the overt features include but not limited to holograms and the microscopic features are either embossed or printed or coated on said label which includes but not limited to dots, lines, hidden texts, images. The specialty ink includes but not limited to thermo chromic ink, fluorescent ink, photonic ink, invisible fluorescent ink. The overt layer is a registered demetallized layer that aids the visual determination of product authenticity. The overt layer is obtained by removing selective metallization of the base layer by process such as but not limited to chemical etching, laser etching and using metal die. The covert layer is a registered coated or printed layer that is coated or printed with a specialty ink to give specialty effect identified and read by devices, detectors and microscopes. The specialty effect includes but not limited to thermo shift effect, photonic effect, invisible fluorescent effect, veritag effect, visible fluorescent effect and forensic feature. The thermo shift effect is observed with the raise in temperature and sensitive to change in temperature. Photonic effect is observed when exposed to light as it changes the color from colorless to color and returns to normal transparency with removal of light. The invisible fluorescent effect is added to the label by adding hidden feature such as logo, image or security thread that is invisible to naked eye but visible under specific UV light. The veritag effect is microscopic, traceable and indestructible which is used for high level of security. It is observed or identified by user by generating a beep sound or audio message. The visible fluorescent effect is observed to be illuminated with UV light as it glows in bright fluorescent color.The forensic feature is microscopic in nature and appears like dot, line, micro texts, micro images.In another preferred embodiment, the present invention provides a method of preparing a multi-level authentication label with overt, covert and microscopic features comprising the steps of: a) preparing atleast one base layer; b) preparing atleast one overt layer; and c) preparing atleast one covert layer; whereinsaid method of preparing the base layer comprising the steps of:(a) release coating on a carrier film to form a coated carrier film; (b) metalizing the coated carrier film with a metal as obtained in step (a) to form a metalized film; and (c) embossing a hologram with a registered customized image on the metalized film as obtained in step (b) to form a base layer; said method of preparing the overt layer comprises of registered demetalizing on the base layer for creating overt features; said method of preparing the covert layer comprises of registered printing or coating the base layer with a pluralityof specialty ink; optionally a second layer metallization is done between said overt layer and base layer; and optionally an adhesive coating is done on the hologram embossed base layer.
Here, in said base layer the metallization is done by using the metals including but not limited to zinc, aluminium, copper and chrome; wherein said covert layer, the registered coating or printing is done by printing process but not limited to offset printing, gravure, screen printing, flexo and inkjet printing. The specialty ink includes but not limited to thermo chromic ink, fluorescent ink, photonic ink, invisible fluorescent ink. The registered coating or printing is either done on the substrate or the carrier film. In one embodiment, if the registered coating or printing is done on the carrier film, it is transferred to the substrate by process but not limited to hot stamping, cold foiling, hot transferring and label applicator. In another embodiment, if the registered coating or printing is done on the substrate, it is transferred to the carrier film by process but not limited to hot stamping, cold foiling, hot transferring and label applicator. The substrate includes but not limited to a coated paper, uncoated paper, film, plastic cards and boards.
In an exemplary embodiment, the present invention provides a method of preparing the multi-level authentication label comprising steps of:a) release coating on the PET/BOPP or carrier film to obtain a coated film; b) metalizing the coated film as obtained in step a) with a metal preferably zinc to form a metalized film; c)embossing the hologramon the metalized film as obtained in step b) with a registered customized image to form a base layer; d) coating the hologram embossed film as obtained in step c) with an adhesive to form a coated hologram embossed film to form the adhesive coated base layer; e) metalizing the adhesive coated base layer as obtained in step (d) with copper or aluminium or chrome to form the double metalized base layer; f)registered demetalizing the double metalized base layer as obtained in step e) with text, logo or art to form the overt layer; g) registered coating or printing the overt layer as obtained in step f) with thermo chromic ink, fluorescent ink, photo chromic ink and taggants to form the covert layer; h) applying the covert layer as obtained in step g) to a substrate by hot stamping, cold foiling, hot transferring etc to obtain the multi-level authentication label.
In another exemplary embodiment, the present invention provides a method of preparing a multi-level authentication label comprising steps of:a) release coating on the PET/BOPP or carrier film to obtain a coated film; b) metalizing the coated film as obtained in step a) with metal preferably zinc to form a metalized film; c) hologram embossing with registered customized images on the metalized film as obtained in step b) to form a base layer; d) metalizing the base layer as obtained in step c) again with copper or aluminium or chrome to form the double metalized base layer; e) registered demetalizing the double metalized base layer as obtained in step (d) with text, logo or art to form the overt layer; f) hologram embossing with a required artwork on the overt layer obtained in step e) to form hologram embossed overt layer; g) coating the hologram embossed overt layer as obtained in step c) with an adhesive to form an adhesive coated overt layer; h) registered printing on substrate with thermo chromic ink, fluorescent ink, photo chromic ink and taggants to form the covert layer; and i) applying the overt layer as obtained in step g) to a substrate by hot stamping, cold foiling, hot transferring etc to obtain the multi-level authentication label.
In yet another exemplary embodiment, the present invention provides a method of preparing a multi-level authentication label comprising steps of:a) registered printing on a substrate with thermo chromic ink, fluorescent ink, photo chromic ink and taggants to form a covert layer; b) release coating on the PET/BOPP or carrier film to obtain a coated film; c) metalizing the coated film as obtained in step b) to form a metalized film; d) hologram embossing with a required artwork on the metalized film as obtained in step c) to form a hologram embossed film; e) coating the hologram embossed film as obtained in step d) with an adhesive to form an adhesive coated base layer A; e) repeating steps b) to e) to form another adhesive coated base layer B; f) transferring the base layer B followed by A on thecovert layer obtained in step a) by hot stamping or cold foiling or hot transferring to obtain the multi-level authentication label.
The thermo chromic ink is sensitive to changes in temperature and heat. As the temperature changes, the reversible color change effect is observed. The photo chromic effect is sensitive to normal and UV light. The ink undergoes color changes from colorless to color when exposed to light. The invisible fluorescent ink is invisible to naked eye but visible under specific wavelength or UV light. The image made by this ink is hidden in nature for security purposes. The visible fluorescent ink illuminates and glows in bright fluorescent color with a UV light.
Now referring to Fig.1 and Fig.2, the side view and top view of multi-level authentication label is shown. The multi-level label with overt, covert and microscopic features comprising of a base layer (3), an overt layer (4) and a covert layer. The base layer (3) is prepared by metalizing the carrier film (2) or PET/BOPP with customized image. The overt layer (4) is prepared by registered demetalizing the base layer (3). The covert layer is prepared by registered printing the overt layer with the specialty ink on a printing area (5). The covert layer is finally coated with adhesive (6) and transferred to a substrate by hot foiling, hot transferring to form the multi-level authentication label.
Therefore the present invention provides a secure label with multiple levels of security and several authentication features that prevent the label from counterfeiting for further production.
The multi-level authentication label has a multiple level of authentication and plurality of security features such as overt, covert and forensic feature. The overt feature is an easy and reliable way to authenticate a product and is done by applying an overt layer to said label. The overt layer includes a registered demetallization for visual determination of authenticity. The registered demetallization is obtained by removing selective metallization of the film by either chemical etching or laser etching or by using metal die. The covert feature is verified using special tools and is not easily copied or duplicated and is done by applying a covert layer to said label. The covert feature include authenticating the product using thermo shift effect, photonic effect, invisible fluorescent effect, veritag, visible fluorescent effect and the covert layer is applied to the label using printing or coating process with a specialty ink. The thermo shift effect is incorporated to the label and is sensitive to changes in temperature. A reversible color change effect is observed with raise in temperature. The label changes color from colorless to color when exposed to light and return to normal transparency with the removal of light. The invisible fluorescent effect is added to the label using hidden images, logos or security threads which are invisible to naked eye but visible under specific UV light. The veritag is added to the label which are traceable microscopic and indestructible. This feature is machine readable and generates a beep sound or audio message for identification of reader. The visible fluorescent effect is printed with a special ink which is non copyable and is illuminated with a UV light. The forensic feature includes the microscopic features such as micro texts and images which appear like a dot, line. The printing process or coating process includes process such as but not limited to offset printing, gravure, screen printing, flexo printing and inkjet printing.
The embodiments of multi-level authentication label namely label-1, label-2 and label-3 has overt layer, covert layer for authentication. The label-1has an overt and a covert layer with overt, covert and microscopic features. The label-2 has an overt and a covert layer having overt, covert and dual microscopic features. The label-3 has dual covert layer having covert features and dual microscopic features. The dual microscopic features are features applied to the label such as hidden images, logos or artwork twice. The various embodiments of multi-level authentication have been shown with the help of examples.

EXAMPLE 1
MULTI-LEVEL AUTHENTICATION LABEL-1
The method of preparing the multi-level authentication label-1 comprising the steps of:
a) release coating on the carrier film to form a coated film;
b) zinc metalizing on the coated film as obtained in step (a) to form a metalized film;
c) embossing the metalized film as obtained in step (b) with hologram with registered customized image to from an embossed film;
d) second layer metalizing by copper, aluminium, chrome on the embossed film as obtained in step (c) to form a second metalized film;
e) registered de-metalizing the second metalized film as obtained in step (d) with texts, logos or art to form a demetallized film;
f) registered coating or printing of the demetallized film as obtained in step (e) with thermo chromic ink, photo chromic ink, fluorescent ink and taggant to form a registered film;
g) coating the registered film as obtained in step (f) with adhesive to form an adhesive based film; and
h) transferring the adhesive based film as obtained in step (g) to a substrate using hot stamping, cold foiling, hot transferring, through label applicator to form a multi-level authentication label-1.

EXAMPLE 2
MULTI-LEVEL AUTHENTICATION LABEL-2
The method of preparing the multi-level authentication label-2 comprising the steps of:
a) release coating on the carrier film to form a coated film;
b) zinc metalizing on the coated film as obtained in step (a) to form a metalized film;
c) embossing the metalized film as obtained in step (b) with hologram with registered customized image to from an embossed film;
d) second layer metalizing by copper, aluminium, chrome on the embossed film as obtained in step (c) to form a second metalized film;
e) registered de-metalizing the second metalized film as obtained in step (d) with texts, logos or art to form a demetallized film;
f) embossing the demetallized film as obtained in step (e) with hologram to form a hologram film;
g) coating the hologram film as obtained in step (f) with adhesive to form an adhesive based film;
h) registered coating or printing of the desired substrate like coated paper, uncoated paper, film, plastic cards, boards etc. with thermo chromic ink, photo chromic ink, fluorescent ink and taggant; and
i) transferring the registered film as obtained in step (g) to a substrate obtained in step (h) using hot stamping, cold foiling, hot transferring, through label applicator to form a multi-level authentication label.

EXAMPLE 3
MULTI-LEVEL AUTHENTICATION LABEL-3
The method of preparing the multi-level authentication label-3 comprising the steps of:
a) release coating on the carrier film A to form a coated film A;
b) zinc metalizing on the coated film A as obtained in step (a) to form a metalized film A;
c) embossing the metalized film A as obtained in step (b) with hologram with registered customized image to from an embossed film A;
d) coating the embossed film A as obtained in step (c) with adhesive to form an adhesive based film A;
e) release coating on the carrier film B to form a coated film B;
f) metalizing copper, aluminum, chrome on the coated film B as obtained in step (e) to form a metalized film B;
g) embossing the metalized film B as obtained in step (f) with hologram with registered customized image to from an embossed film B;
h) coating the embossed film B as obtained in step (g) with adhesive to form an adhesive based film B;
i) registered coating or printing of the desired substrate like coated paper, uncoated paper, film, plastic cards, boards etc. with thermo chromic ink, photo chromic ink, fluorescent ink and taggant;
j) registered transferring the adhesive based film B as obtained in step (h) withtexts, logos or art to a printed substrate obtained in step (i) using hot stamping, cold foiling, hot transferring to form a substrate based label; and
k) registered transferring the adhesive based film A as obtained in step (d) to the substrate obtained in step (j) using hot stamping, cold foiling, hot transferring, through label applicator to form a multi level authentication label 3.
The variants of multi-level authentication label have been designed for increasing authentication of a product. The features added to the labels are easily verified, adds artistic look to the product and provides challenges to the counterfeits.
The multi-level authentication label has a combination of overt, covert and forensic features that adds to the aesthetic look of the product with the presence of both holographic and non-holographic features. Said label is flexible and versatile. The overt layer is designed to be identified by a common man without any special skills or specially designed security devices such as bar code readers or detectors. The covert layer is designed to be inspected by devices and detectors with covert features and forensic features. In this way, the multi-level authentication label is verified by multiple levels having layers of overt, covert and forensic.
Many modifications and other embodiments of the invention set forth herein will readily occur to one skilled in the art to which the invention pertain having the benefit of the teachings presented in the foregoing descriptions and the associated drawings. Therefore, it is to be understood that the invention is not to be limited to the specific embodiments disclosed and that modifications and other embodiments are intended to be included within the scope of the appended claims. Although specific terms are employed herein, they are used in a generic and descriptive sense only and not for purposes of limitation.