BE1027353B1 - DOCUMENT CONTAINING A SAFETY CHARACTERISTIC - Google Patents

Abstract

Method for producing a physical document (1) comprising a security feature, comprising the step of illustrating the document (1) with two images (10, 20) representing the same subject. The two images (10, 20) are produced using two different techniques, respectively. The two images (10, 20) are arranged to cover the same image area on the document (1) and to overlap correspondingly on top of each other. This corresponding superposition is difficult to achieve and still very easy to verify with the naked eye, which thereby improves the security of the document (1) as well as the verification of its authenticity.

Description

DOCUMENT CONTAINING A SECURITY CHARACTERISTIC Field of the invention The invention relates to a method for producing a physical document comprising a security characteristic. The invention also relates to a physical document comprising a security feature. By physical document is meant a document that exists in the real world, as opposed to a virtual document, for example.

Description of the prior art Documents having security characteristics of this type are known, for example, from document number WO 2015/030575. According to this disclosure, an identity document includes three images of the face of the rightful owner of the identity document. A first and a second image of the rightful owner's face are arranged on two different image surfaces on a planar substrate, and a third image of the rightful owner's face is arranged on an adjacent surface which is hingedly attached to the substrate. The authenticity of the identity document is verified by visually checking the correspondence between the three images.

While these security features work well, the skill of counterfeiters continues to improve, so there is a need to further improve these security features.

Summary of the invention An object of the invention consists in providing a method for producing a physical document comprising an improved security feature. An object of the invention is also to provide a physical document comprising an improved security feature.

By improved security feature is meant a security feature which makes forgery of said document more difficult and / or which makes the visual verification of the authenticity of said document easier, and / or a

> BE2019 / 5608 security feature which can be applied to a wider variety of physical documents.

The invention is defined by the independent claims. The dependent claims define advantageous embodiments.

According to the invention, the latter discloses a method of producing a physical document comprising a security characteristic in the form of images, said document comprising a planar and monolithic substrate which has a front face and a separate rear face. by a thickness t, said method comprising the following steps: producing a first image representing a first subject on said substrate, said first image being visible when looking at the front face and said first image extending over a first surface of image, and producing a second image representing the first subject on said substrate, said second image being visible when looking at the front face and said second image being in the form of a perforation pattern which displays shades of gray when viewed from the front face. 'viewed against a light background, characterized in that the second image extends above the first image surface, in corresponding superimposition te with the first image.

By monolithic substrate which has a front face and a rear face separated by a thickness t, is meant a substrate which forms a single piece having a total thickness t, such as for example a single sheet of paper of thickness t or a multilayer laminate of total thickness t or more generally a substrate produced by bonding together two or more sheets by their surfaces and having a total thickness t.

Producing two images of the same subject in corresponding superposition on a substrate is indeed more difficult to achieve than producing these two images at different places. A document comprising a security characteristic obtained with a method according to the invention is consequently more difficult to counterfeit. The authenticity of such a document is also easier to verify because the person performing the visual verification only needs to verify one place on the document, namely the first image surface. In addition, a method according to the invention is also equally suitable for documents consisting of a single substrate (whether monolayer or multilayer), such as current Belgian identity cards, for example, as for documents made up of several sheets of paper and / or other flat substrates, such as the current Belgian passports, for example. Indeed, a single substrate is sufficient to produce the security feature.

Preferably, the first image represents an actual subject. By real subject is meant a subject that physically exists in the real world. An example of a real subject is a flower that can be found in nature. An imaginary flower, in other words a flower that does not exist in nature but only in someone's imagination, does not constitute a real subject. Indeed, this makes the verification of the authenticity of the document by a human being more reliable. More preferably, the first image represents a human face. Preferably, the physical document is a personal identity document and the first image comprises an image of the face of the legitimate owner of the personal identity document. Preferably, the physical document is an identity card or a passport or a driving license and the first image includes or is an image of the face of the rightful owner of the identity card, passport or driving license.

A method according to the invention is in fact particularly suitable for producing a security feature on documents of this type.

Preferably, the perforation pattern consists of a plurality of holes, each hole having an average diameter between 50 microns and 200 microns.

These holes are so small that they hardly interfere with the visual appearance of the first image.

In one example, the perforation pattern includes a plurality of blind holes.

In another example, the perforation pattern includes a plurality of through holes.

In yet another example, the perforation pattern comprises a mixture of blind holes and through holes.

Each hole is preferably produced by perforating the substrate with a laser beam.

Preferably, the method according to the invention further comprises the step of producing a third image on said substrate, said third image being visible when looking at the rear face, said third image extending over a projection of the first image surface on the rear face, in corresponding superposition with the first image, and said third image being an inverted image of the first image.

With this additional step, we indeed obtain a document which is even more difficult to counterfeit.

Preferably, the step of producing the first image on the substrate is a step of printing the first image on said substrate.

Preferably, the step of producing the first image on the substrate is a step of laser engraving the first image on said substrate.

Preferably, the step of producing the first image on said substrate precedes the step of producing the second image on said substrate.

The inventors have in fact observed that such an order of preference makes it possible to obtain a better final visual result than the reverse order.

Preferably, the physical document is a personal identity document and the first image comprises an image of the face of the legitimate owner of the personal identity document. Preferably, the physical document is an identity card or a passport or a driving license, or the like. The invention also relates to a physical document comprising a planar and monolithic substrate which has a front face (4) and a rear face (5) separated by a thickness t, said planar substrate comprising: a first image representing a first subject , said first image being visible when looking at the front face (4) and extending over a first image surface, a second image representing the first subject, said second image being in the form of a pattern of perforation which displays shades of gray when viewed against a light background, characterized in that the second image extends above the first image surface and is arranged in corresponding superposition with the first image.

Brief Description of the Drawings These and other aspects of the invention will be explained in more detail by way of example and with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 shows schematically a general example of a document according to the invention: Figure 2 is a cross section along line AA of a first illustrative embodiment of the document shown in Figure 1; Figure 3 is a cross section along line A-A of a second illustrative embodiment of the document shown in Figure 1; Figure 4 is a cross section along line A-A of a third illustrative embodiment of the document shown in Figure 1; Figure 5 is a cross section along line A-A of a fourth illustrative embodiment of the document shown in Figure 1;

Figure 6 schematically shows another example of a document according to the invention, in a perspective view; Figure 7 schematically shows the document shown in Figure 6, in a front view; Figure 8 schematically shows another example of a document according to the invention, in a perspective view; and Figure 9 schematically shows the document shown in Figure 8, in a front view.

The designs in the figures are not drawn to scale or proportionate. In general, similar or identical components are designated by the same reference numerals in the figures.

Detailed description of embodiments of the invention The invention relates primarily to a method for producing a physical document (1) comprising a security feature in the form of images, in which said document (1) comprises a flat and monolithic substrate (2) which has a front face (4) and a rear face (5) separated by a thickness t. By monolithic substrate which has a front face and a rear face separated by a thickness t, is meant a substrate which forms a single piece having a total thickness t, such as for example a single sheet of paper of thickness t or a multilayer laminate of total thickness t, or more generally a substrate produced by bonding together two or more sheets or layers by their surfaces and having a total thickness t.

The method comprises the step of producing a first image (10) representing a first subject on said substrate (2), said first image (10) being visible when looking at the front face (4) and said first image ( 10) extending over a first image surface (8).

The first image (10) can be produced using various known methods, such as printing or laser engraving, for example. The method used to produce the first image (10), however, will be different from the method used to produce the second image (20) and which will be described below.

The first subject can be any subject, concrete or abstract. Preferably, the first subject is a real subject and Preferably a human face.

The method further comprises the step of producing a second image (20) representing said first subject on said substrate (2), said second image (20) being visible when looking at the front face (4) of the substrate ( 2), and said second image (20) being in the form of a perforation pattern which displays shades of gray when viewed against a light background.

What is specific to the invention is that the second image (20) is produced so as to extend over the first image surface (8), in corresponding superposition with the first image (10).

The visual appearance of a document (1) produced by employing a method according to the invention will therefore be such as that shown for example in Figure 1 (when the subject is a human face) or in Figure 7 (when the subject is a line segment) or in Figure 9 (when subject is a capital letter “A”).

Techniques for producing the second image (20) by perforating a substrate (2) are well known in the art and are for example described in the patent applications published under the numbers PCT / NL95 / 00119 and US 2002/0027359.

The perforation pattern preferably consists of a plurality of holes, each hole having an average diameter of between 50 microns and 200 microns. Preferably, the perforation pattern comprises a plurality of blind holes.

Alternatively or additionally, the perforation pattern comprises a plurality of through holes.

Preferably, each hole is produced by perforating the substrate (2) with a laser beam. To produce through holes, the laser beam can be directed in the direction of the front face (4) or in the direction of the rear face (5) of the substrate (2). Preferably, said laser beam is directed towards the rear face (5) of the substrate (2). Since the holes obtained with this process are generally conical in shape, this preferred position and orientation of the laser beam relative to the substrate (2) results in smaller openings at the front face (4) than 'at the rear face (5), which therefore interfere less with the appearance of the first image (10) than if the laser had been directed in the direction of the front face (4).

Preferably, the method further comprises the step of producing a third image (30) on said substrate (2), said third image (30) being visible when looking at the rear face (5), said third image (30) extending over a projection of the first image surface (8) on the rear face (5), in corresponding superposition with the first image (10), and said third image (30) being an inverted image of the first image (10). The third image (30) can be produced using different methods, such as printing or laser engraving, for example. The method used to produce the third image (30), however, will be different from the method used to produce the second image (20) which is described above. Preferably, the method used to produce the third image (30) is the same as the method used to produce the first image (10).

Preferably, the step of producing the first image (10) on said substrate (2) precedes the step of producing the second image (20) on said substrate (2). The inventors have in fact observed that such an order of preference makes it possible to obtain a better final visual result than the reverse order.

In the case where the method comprises the step of producing the third image (30) on the substrate (2), this step as well as the step of producing the first image (10) on the substrate (2) precedes preferably both the step of producing the second image (20) on said substrate (2).

Preferably, the physical document (1) is a personal identity document (1) and the first image (10) comprises an image of the face of the legitimate owner of the personal identity document (1). Preferred examples of an identity document of this type (1) are for example an identity card, a passport, or a driving license.

According to the invention, the latter also discloses a physical document (1) comprising a security characteristic in the form of images.

Figure 1 schematically shows a general example of a physical document (1) according to the invention. This document (1) comprises a planar and monolithic substrate (2) which has a front face (4) and a rear face (5) separated by a thickness t.

The substrate (2) comprises: a first image (10) representing a first subject, said first image (10) being visible when looking at the front face (4) and extending over a first image surface (8). ), and a second image (20) representing the first subject, said second image (20) being in the form of a perforation pattern which displays shades of gray when viewed against a light background.

What is specific to a document (1) according to the invention is that the second image (20) extends above the first image surface (8) and is arranged in corresponding superposition with the first image (10 ).

Preferably, the first image (10) represents an actual subject, Preferably a human face, as shown in the example shown in Figure 1. The perforation pattern preferably consists of a plurality of holes, each hole having an average diameter of between 50 microns and 200 microns. Figure 2 is a cross section along the line A-A of a first illustrative embodiment of the document (1) shown in Figure 1. This figure provides a better view of the features of the invention. We can for example see: the front face (4) and the rear face (5) of the substrate (2), the thickness t of the substrate (2) the width of the first image surface (8), the cutting of the first image (10), and a cutout of the holes in the perforation pattern which forms the second image (20). In this example, all of the holes punched in the substrate (2) to form the second image (20) are through holes.

Figure 3 is a cross section along line AA of a second illustrative embodiment of the document (1) shown in Figure 1. It is similar to the embodiment shown in Figure 2, except that the second image (20) is formed by a perforation pattern comprising a mixture of through holes and blind holes. The blind holes can for example correspond to parts of the first image (10) which are darker.

Figure 4 is a cross section along line AA of a third illustrative embodiment of the document (1) shown in Figure 1. It is similar to the embodiment shown in Figure 2, except that the substrate ( 2) is a multilayer substrate (2) comprising three layers (2a, 2b,

2c) which are glued to each other. In this example, all of the holes punched in the substrate (2) to form the second image (20) are through holes. In other examples, some of the holes may alternatively be blind holes, as is the case with the example shown in Figure 3. The substrate (2) may also be composed of more than three layers. Figure 5 is a cross section along line AA of a fourth illustrative embodiment of the document (1) shown in Figure 1. It is similar to the embodiment shown in Figure 2 except that the substrate (2 ) comprises a third image (30) which is visible when looking at the rear side (5), said third image (30) extending over a projection of the first image surface (8) on the rear side ( 5), in corresponding superposition with the first image (10), and said third image (30) being an inverted image of the first image (10).

Figure 6 schematically shows another example of a document (1) according to the invention, in a perspective view. It is similar to the example shown in Figure 1 and Figure 2, except the subject is a thick line segment in this case. In this example, a straight line which extends in a first image surface (8) is printed on the front face (4) of the substrate (2), and this straight line defines the first image (10). A plurality of through holes (21) are further made in the substrate (2) so as to form the second image (20). As can be seen, these through holes (21) extend over the first image surface (8) and are aligned with the straight line such that the second image (20) is in corresponding superposition with the first image. (10). The objective of Figure 6 is to better illustrate the principle of the corresponding superposition.

Figure 7 schematically shows the document (1) shown in Figure 6, in a front view. When looking at this front view, we see a thick line segment as well as a corresponding image under the effect of light passing through the through-hole pattern.

Figure 8 schematically shows another example of a document (1) according to the invention, in a perspective view.

In this example, the first image (10) represents a capital letter “A” which is for example produced by printing said capital letter “A” on the front face (4) of the substrate (2). In this case, the second image (20) will represent the same capital letter “A” and will be produced by perforating the substrate (2) where the first image (10) was printed or will be printed and so that the two images are in corresponding superposition, as shown in Figure 8. It should be noted that in Figure 8 the capital letter “A” shown in light gray and which is designated by numeral 20 is a schematic representation of 'a sectional view of the perforations, somewhere through the core of the substrate (2). Figure 9 schematically shows the document (1) shown in Figure 8, in a front view.

When inspecting a document (1) comprising such a substrate (2), it will be visually checked whether the two capital letters “A” coincide as to their shape, size and position when looking at the front face (4 ) of the substrate (2). If there is a match, this will indicate that document (1) is most likely genuine.

If the two capital letters “A” do not overlap, for example if a first capital letter “A” is off-center or turned relative to the other capital letter “A”, or if a first capital letter “A” has a larger dimension compared to the other capital letter “A”, then this will indicate that document (1) is most likely not genuine and has been forged.

In the case where the first subject is a human face, the inventors have found that the following imaging characteristics give good results: Case 1:

Dimensions of the image of the human face: 13.5mm X 18mm. Number of perforations for the second image (20): 30 X 40 perforations. Distance between the perforations: 0.45 mm Case2: Dimensions of the image of the human face: 16.2mmX21.8mm. Number of perforations for the second image (20): 36 X 48 perforations. Distance between the perforations: 0.45 mm Case3: Dimensions of the image of the human face: 16.4 mm X 22 mm. Number of perforations for the second image (20): 41 X 55 perforations. Distance between the perforations: 0.40 mm Preferably, the document (1) according to the invention is a personal identity document (1), such as an identity card, or a passport, or a driving license. for example.

The present invention has been described in terms of specific embodiments, which are illustrative of the invention and which should not be interpreted as constituting a limitation. More generally, those skilled in the art will appreciate the fact that the present invention is not limited to what has been particularly shown and / or described above.

Reference numbers in the claims in no way limit the scope of protection.

The use of the verbs "to understand", "to include", "to be composed of", or of any other variant as well as their respective conjugated forms, does not exclude the presence of elements other than those indicated.

The use of the articles "a", "a" or "the / the" in front of an element does not exclude the presence of a plurality of these elements.

The invention can also be described as follows: a method of producing a physical document (1) comprising a security characteristic comprises the steps of illustrating the document (1) with two images

(10, 20) representing the same subject.

The two images (10, 20) are produced using two different techniques, respectively.

The two images

(10, 20) are arranged to cover the same image area on the document (1) and to overlap correspondingly on top of each other.

This corresponding superposition is difficult to achieve and still very easy to verify with the naked eye, which thereby improves the security of the document (1) as well as the verification of its authenticity.

Claims (14)

Claims 1. A method of making a physical document (1) comprising a security feature in the form of images, said document (1) comprising a planar and monolithic substrate (2) which has a front face (4) and a rear face (5) separated by a thickness t, said method comprising the following steps: producing a first image (10) representing a first subject on said substrate (2), said first image (10) being visible when looking at the front face (4) and said first image (10) extending over a first image surface (8), and producing a second image (20) representing the first subject on said substrate (2), said second image ( 20) being visible when looking at the front side (4) and said second image (20) being in the form of a perforation pattern which displays gray tones when viewed against a light background , the second image (20) extending above the first image surface (8), sup corresponding erposition with the first image (10), characterized in that the method further comprises a step of producing a third image (30) on said substrate (2), said third image being visible when looking at the rear side (5), said third image extending over a projection of the first image surface (8) on the rear face (5), in corresponding superposition with the first image (10), and in that said third image is a mirror image of the first image. 2. Method according to claim 1, characterized in that the first image (10) represents a real subject, preferably a human face. 3. Method according to any one of claims 1 or 2, characterized in that the perforation pattern consists of a plurality of holes, each hole having an average diameter between 50 microns and 200 microns. 4. Method according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the perforation pattern comprises a plurality of blind holes. 5. Method according to any one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that the perforation pattern comprises a plurality of through holes. 6. Method according to any one of claims 3 to 5, characterized in that each hole is produced by perforating the substrate (2) using a laser beam. 7. Method according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the step of producing the first image (10) on said substrate (2) is a step of printing the first image (10) on said substrate. (2). 8. Method according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the step of producing the first image (10) on said substrate (2) is a step of laser engraving the first image (10) on said. substrate (2). 9. Method according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the step of producing the first image (10) on said substrate (2) precedes the step of producing the second image (20) on said substrate. (2). 10. Method according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the physical document (1) is a personal identity document (1), preferably an identity card or a passport or a driving license, and wherein the first image (10) comprises an image of the face of the rightful owner of the personal identity document (1). 11. Physical document (1) comprising a flat and monolithic substrate (2) which has a front face (4) and a rear face (5) separated by a thickness t, said flat substrate (2) comprising: a first image (10) representing a first subject, said first image (10) being visible when looking at the front face (4) and extending over a first image surface (8), and a second image ( 20) depicting the first subject, said second image (20) being in the form of a perforation pattern which displays shades of gray when viewed against a light background, the second image (20) being extends above the first image surface (8) and is arranged in corresponding superposition with the first image (10), characterized in that said substrate (2) further comprises a third image (30), said third image (30) being visible when looking at the rear face (5), said third image (30) extending over a projection of the first image surface (8) on the rear face (5), in corresponding superposition with the first image (10), and in that said third image (30) is an inverted image of the first image (10). . 12. Physical document (1) according to claim 11, characterized in that the first image (10) represents a real subject, preferably a human face. 13. Physical document (1) according to claim 11 or 12, characterized in that the perforation pattern consists of a plurality of holes, each hole having an average diameter of between 50 microns and 200 microns. 14. Physical document (1) according to any one of claims 11 to 13, characterized in that it is a personal identity document (1), preferably an identity card or a passport or a driving license.