Patent ID: 9592626
Date: 2017-03-14
CPC Classifications: B29C,B41M,Y10T

Claim:
1. A method for creating an imprint representing a predefined pattern on an article, wherein the method comprises: incorporating, in a body made of a first material having a first thermal expansion coefficient, a piece made from a second material having a second thermal expansion coefficient, lower than the first coefficient, the piece having the general shape of the predefined pattern and having contact surfaces with the body, said body defining first and second opposite outer faces, wherein the body is formed of a plurality of layers and during the incorporating step, the piece is interspersed between two layers of the body, and wherein the piece does not have electronic functions; heating the body and the piece to a predefined temperature to induce expansion of the first and second materials; exerting pressure on the heated body and the piece from one or both of the first and second faces of the body; and then cooling the body and the piece to induce shrinkage of the expanded first and second materials so as to produce mechanical stress in the body at an outer edge of the piece, the mechanical stress producing a surface deformation to one of the first and second outer faces located in correspondence with the position of the piece, wherein the cooling is performed by allowing the body and the piece to cool at room temperature, wherein the surface deformation is configured to be observed by light reflected at an angle less than a total reflection limiting angle with respect to a corresponding one of the first and second outer faces.