Abstract: An identification medium is provided in which latent image having plural colors can be observed even when the identification medium is spaced away from a polarization filter. A cholesteric liquid crystal layer is provided as a specific polarization light reflection layer which reflects light having a specific polarized condition. An optical anisotropic layer having an optical anisotropy is provided at an upper position overlapping with the specific polarization light reflection layer. An image A formed by an area having an optical anisotropy different from that of surroundings is formed at the optical anisotropic layer. When the identification medium is directly viewed, the influence of the optical anisotropy cannot be seen. When the identification medium is observed via a circular polarization filter, the image can be seen to have a specific color by the influence of the optical anisotropy.

Abstract: An identifying medium comprises a nematic liquid crystal layer for forming a latent image with gradation, and the nematic liquid crystal layer has a thickness distribution corresponding to the gradation.

Abstract: An identification medium provided with a laminated structure comprises laminated layers of a magnetically controllable layer, in which magnetic microcapsules are dispersed, and a color shifting layer.

Abstract: A discrimination medium cannot be easily falsified. Since the visibility of the discrimination medium is unique, the discrimination medium is superior in determination of the authenticity. The discrimination medium is structured such that a cholesteric liquid crystal layer 106 and a multilayer film 103 having plural light transparent films which are laminated and are different from each other in refraction index are laminated. The reflection light reflected by the discrimination medium includes circular polarization lights which are different in polarization direction, and the discrimination medium has unique optical characteristics. A discrimination method using the above unique optical characteristics, an article to be discriminated by the discrimination medium, and a discrimination apparatus using the above unique optical characteristics are provided.

Abstract: A thermosensitive ink layer 102 is composed of a thermochromic material which changes from black to a transparent state and is formed on a substrate 101 made from a PET film by heating. A cholesteric liquid crystal layer 103 on which a hologram 105 of an appropriate form is formed on the cholesteric liquid crystal layer is mounted thereon. At ordinary temperature, the thermosensitive ink layer 102 exhibits a property of light absorption and a property of selective reflection and a color shifting of the cholesteric liquid crystal layer 103 are observed. The thermosensitive ink layer 102 becomes transparent by heating and the figure 104 on the substrate 101 is also visible. The determination of the authenticity thereof is performed by utilizing the change of view. Therefore, the anticounterfeiting effects are superior to those of the discrimination techniques using conventional techniques, and this enables articles to be distinguished easily and reliably.

Abstract: A discrimination medium, which can have much information, can be produced on a small scale at low cost, and enables change of a sticker design at low cost, is provided. A cholesteric liquid crystal layer, having a fine asperity for forming a hologram, is formed on a transparent first substrate. A print layer composed of a black ink is formed on a transparent second substrate. The substrates are affixed to each other via a bond layer, so that a discrimination medium is obtained. In the discrimination medium, the display content obtained by the print layer is changed, so that the display content for discrimination can be changed at low cost.

Abstract: An identifying medium comprises an optical functional layer that is optically identifiable and comprises a layer containing microcapsules. The microcapsule contains a material that occurs color change by breaking the microcapsule.

Abstract: A discrimination medium on which printing can be freely performed, which cannot be easily falsified, in which the authenticity can be easily discriminated by unique appearance, and which can be produced at low cost, is provided. A cholesteric liquid crystal layer 10, and a breakable print recording layer are laminated in the discrimination medium. The cholesteric liquid crystal layer 10 has plural light transparent films, which are laminated and are different from each other in refraction index. Therefore, the discrimination medium has unique optical characteristics such that a character, a symbol, a pattern, a figure formed by printing by a thermal printer or the like changes in color depending on the viewing angle. A discrimination method using the above optical characteristics of the discrimination medium is provided.

Abstract: An embroidery 202 is formed by sewing a polarizing fiber onto a suitable cloth 201. The polarizing fiber is composed of a polymer to which a polarization developing material is added and which is stretched after spinning. The embroidery 202 has seams arranged in a predetermined direction. The polarizing fiber exhibits different optical characteristics for a linearly polarized light having an electric field component in the stretched direction of the polymer (the extending direction of the fiber) and for a linearly polarized light having an electric field component perpendicular to that of the above linearly polarized light. Therefore, when a discrimination medium 200 is viewed through a polarization plate, the appearance of the embroidery 202 changes depending on the direction (rotation position) of the polarization plate, so that a discriminating function can be obtained.

Abstract: An identification medium is to be observed via a linearly polarizing filter and includes a first liquid crystal layer that changes the wavelength of light according to the rotational angle of the linearly polarizing filter, a cholesteric liquid crystal layer, and a light absorbing layer that is provided below the cholesteric liquid crystal layer.

Abstract: An identifying medium comprises an optical functional layer that is optically identifiable and comprises a layer containing microcapsules. The microcapsule contains a material that occurs color change by breaking the microcapsule.

Abstract: An identifying medium comprises a nematic liquid crystal layer for forming a latent image with gradation, and the nematic liquid crystal layer has a thickness distribution corresponding to the gradation.

Abstract: A discrimination medium for objects by which counterfeiting can be prevented, authenticity of the article can be easily and reliably determined, and the production cost can be reduced is provided. In the discrimination medium, the support body 31 and the pattern 20 appear to be the same color when viewed from a specific angle (for instance, viewing from the front). On the other hand, when the viewing angle is increased, the color of the pattern 20 composed of a multilayer thin film changes by color shift, whereby the pattern 20 becomes a color different from the support body 31.

Abstract: An embroidery 202 is formed by sewing a polarizing fiber onto a suitable cloth 201. The polarizing fiber is composed of a polymer to which a polarization developing material is added and which is stretched after spinning. The embroidery 202 has seams arranged in a predetermined direction. The polarizing fiber exhibits different optical characteristics for a linearly polarized light having an electric field component in the stretched direction of the polymer (the extending direction of the fiber) and for a linearly polarized light having an electric field component perpendicular to that of the above linearly polarized light. Therefore, when a discrimination medium 200 is viewed through a polarization plate, the appearance of the embroidery 202 changes depending on the direction (rotation position) of the polarization plate, so that a discriminating function can be obtained.

Abstract: An identification medium provided with a laminated structure comprises laminated layers of a magnetically controllable layer, in which magnetic microcapsules are dispersed, and a color shifting layer.

Abstract: An object of the present invention is to provide a discrimination medium which has high discrimination ability, and which is more difficult to counterfeit than conventional discrimination mediums. A discrimination medium comprises: a cholesteric liquid crystal layer; and a liquid crystal layer acting as a half-wave plate and provided on the cholesteric liquid crystal layer in a predetermined pattern.

Abstract: A discrimination medium 10a includes a first double layered body 101 having a right-handed circular polarization polymer cholesteric liquid crystal layer 11 and a left-handed circular polarization polymer cholesteric liquid crystal layer 12 which are stacked. The right-handed circular polarization polymer cholesteric liquid crystal layer 11 reflects a specific right-handed circular polarization light, and the left-handed circular polarization polymer cholesteric liquid crystal layer 12 reflects a specific left-handed circular polarization light. The discrimination medium 10a is applied to the article 30, and is viewed via a simple determination tool 20 having a filter 21 allowing only right-handed circular polarization light to pass therethough and a filter 22 allowing only left-handed circular polarization light to pass therethough.

Abstract: A breakable seal can be discriminated more easily than the conventional one. The discrimination medium 100 has a cholesteric liquid crystal layer 104, a substrate layer 105, an adhesive layer 102, and a partial peeling layer 103. The discrimination medium 100 has an adhesion strength XA between the adhesive layer 102 and the partial peeling layer 103, an adhesion strength XB between the partial peeling layer 103 and the cholesteric liquid crystal layer 104, and an adhesion strength XC between the cholesteric liquid crystal layer 104 and the substrate layer 105. The relationships XA<XB and XA<XC are satisfied at areas 106, 108, and 110. The relationships XC<XA and XC<XB are satisfied at areas 107 and 109. In the above manner, when the discrimination medium 100 is peeled from the article 101, the discrimination medium 100 is separated into a discrimination medium 116 and a discrimination medium 117.

Abstract: An identification medium 100 comprises an adhesive layer 102, an ink displaying layer 103, a cholesteric liquid crystal layer 106 including a hologram 107, and a transparent protective layer 108. The ink displaying layer 103 comprises a printed layer 104 formed by printing with an ink which includes cholesteric liquid crystals, and a printed layer 105 formed by an ordinary ink. When the printed layer 104 and the printed layer 105 are observed from the front side, the printed layer 104 and the printed layer 105 are formed so as to have the same color. Thus, when the identification medium is tilted, a visual effect is produced in which a figure formed by the printed layer 105 appears.

Abstract: An identification medium 101 has a stacked structure comprising a fabric 102, an ordinary printed layer 103 of an ordinary black ink, and an identification layer 104 of an ink including cholesteric liquid crystals. A predetermined printed character is formed by the identification layer 104, whereby a print display utilizing optical characteristics of cholesteric liquid crystals is formed. The ordinary printed layer 103 functions as a flattening layer to smooth the asperity of the fabric 102, whereby optical characteristics of the identification layer 104 is effectively performed. Thus, the identification medium 101 is comprised of the fabric 102 as a substrate, whereby the design of articles such as garments and accessories is not spoiled and discomfort is not caused.