MXPA00010973A - Holographic security device - Google Patents

Holographic security device

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Publication number
MXPA00010973A
MXPA00010973A MXPA/A/2000/010973A MXPA00010973A MXPA00010973A MX PA00010973 A MXPA00010973 A MX PA00010973A MX PA00010973 A MXPA00010973 A MX PA00010973A MX PA00010973 A MXPA00010973 A MX PA00010973A
Authority
MX
Mexico
Prior art keywords
holographic
holographic image
regions
image
images
Prior art date
Application number
MXPA/A/2000/010973A
Other languages
Spanish (es)
Inventor
Brian William Holmes
Kenneth John Drinkwater
Original Assignee
La Rue International De Limited
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by La Rue International De Limited filed Critical La Rue International De Limited
Publication of MXPA00010973A publication Critical patent/MXPA00010973A/en

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Abstract

A holographic security device comprising first and second holographic generating structures (2, 3) recorded in respective sets of substantially non-overlapping regions of a record medium. The regions of one set are interleaved with regions of the other set, whereby both interleaved line structures are substantially non-visible to the unaided eye, whereby the holographic security device generates two or more holographic images (A, B) viewed from separate viewing directions around the device and normally seen by tilting the device. Each particular holographic image in a viewing direction is generated in whole or part by the holographic structure associated with one set of interleaved lines.

Description

HOLOGRA ICO SAFETY DEVICE DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION Nowadays security documents such as banknotes often carry optically variable devices (OVDs) such as diffraction gratings or optical holographic microstructures as security features against imitation and forgery. This has been motivated by progress in the fields of computing based on office editing and analysis leading to conventional security printing technologies such as printing by engraving or offset increasingly accessible to counterfeiting. A particularly good way to reinforce security documents against counterfeiting is to combine security printing with optically variable diffraction devices whose structures can not be copied by scanners and which can exhibit optically variable effects such as diffraction color changes, runs Apparent and movement effects and different parameters between images. A particularly advantageous effect is where the OVD produces a distinct clear parameter between two or more overlapping images that provide a clear effect that can not be simulated by printing. There are different kinds of diffractives based on safety devices. Two common types, both based on beams of surface diffraction gratings, are the "Exelgram" developed by CSIRO (Common Scientific and Industrial Research Organization), Australia and the Kinegram, developed by Landis and Gyr, Switzerland. These are described in O-A- 93/18419, WO-A-95/04948 and O-A-95/0220 for the Exelgram and US-A-4761253 and EP-A-0105099 for the Kinegram. Both of these techniques use surface diffraction gratings located directly printed, written in the case of the Exelgram by a process of direct inscription by electron beam and in the case of a Kinegram by the process of repetition and recombination stage indicated in the US. -A-4761253. Both techniques allow a precise diffraction grating to be written in a particular area. In the case of WO-A-95/02200, a device is described by deploying two angularly but diffracted overlapping images made from two completely superimposed grating grating areas while WO-A-95/04948 details a diffraction grating device made from a series of diffraction grating structures spaces exhibiting a clearly commuted image where the separated images may occupy overlapping areas. These devices have been used for applications in security documents such as banknotes. Another type of device that can exhibit optical switching effects is a holographic structure fabricated using ancient holographic techniques. A typical example of such a device used as a security device on a banknote is the multi-redundant hologram described in EP-A-0558574 where in order to maintain a holographic effectiveness, the hologram uses spatially separated switching image. Now for application in a security document such as a banknote, the microscopically rough surface of the paper can have a severely detrimental effect on a given diffractive image that is typically applied as a thin layer of patterned lacquer applied using the known printing process of hot stamping. This is because the roughness of the surface and intrusion of paper fiber severely impairs the integrity of the thin layer of lacquer that carries the diffractive structure, thus severely degrading its optical effectiveness. Therefore it is very important that the optical effectiveness of the diffractive structure is maximized which has been inclined to result in the use of diffraction devices, such as the Exelgram, where there is a device to achieve an optically variable effect defined by a parameter between two or more overlapping images. This is due to the "direct inscription" controlled style organization technique of an Exelgram or Kinegram that allows closed control of the diffraction grating areas allowing the overlapping switching images to be created from two sets of interlaced spaces (WO 95/04948) so that each microscopic area consists only of a diffraction grating that, when locking on the rough surface of a paper document, maintain its diffraction effectiveness reasonably well as it is possible to maximize the simple grid modulation since a switching device structure to overlap the diffraction grating areas that would have a lower complete refractive effectiveness due to the complicated nature of the overlapping microstructures. According to one aspect of the invention, a holographic security device comprises first and second holographic image generation structures based on principles prepared using an H1 / H2 process, the structures are recorded in respective sets of substantially non-overlapping regions of a medium of registration, the regions of one set are intertwined with regions of the other set, so that both interlaced structures are substantially not visible to the unaided eye, so the holographic security device generates two or more holographic images seen from two separate viewing directions around the device and normally viewed by panning the device, and with this each particular holographic image in a viewing direction is generated in part or completely by the holographic image that generates the structure associated with a set of interlaced lines. By means of the holographic structures, this description implies' that the structures that generate graphic images by the light diffraction mechanism where the original pattern has been generated by a holographic process of optical interference so that within the manufacturing stage of this source process, at least one component of the image may contain a rainbow hologram and where optionally at least one holographic intermediate hologram or Hl is used, which allows at least one component of the resulting image to optionally contain effects of actual holographic depths if desired (as associated with 2D / 3D or 2D rainbow holograms known in the art). This description also applies to the 2D surface structures generated by the previous holographic process although forced to lie substantially on the image plane of the image device and with the preferred option being forced in the range of spatial frequencies contained therein ( that is, viewing angle of reproduction). This forms in the latter case of extreme inhibition a substantially similar holographic structure in visual realization for a pure but subtly different diffraction structure in that at a microscopic level, the structure will have been formed by a holographic projection process and may contain evidence of structures of stain pattern generated by laser engraving. This development refers to the method to improve the visibility and effectiveness of a security hologram particularly for application to paper security documents such as banknotes where the roughness and intrusion of paper from paper fibers severely damages the effectiveness of a hologram. This development also allows the creation of a microstructure that with illumination generates two or more superimposed images that can be observed by the eye from at least two directions of separate views around the device. Although this is possible using conventional holographic techniques by recording superimposed holographic images with the optical microstructure that belongs to each superimposed image simply in the overlapping area, the resulting composite microstructure will always reproduce each component of the image with reduced effectiveness or brightness compared to a simple diffractive structure. In fact, the presence of superimposed diffractive microstructures will always result in a structure with a reduced optical diffraction efficiency compared to a simple diffractive structure due to the presence of superposed microstructure and always tends to witness the presence of the "phantom" image in the superimposed area due to the saturation of the medium and a reduction in the optical effectiveness. This is due to the presence of the overlapping areas of two very different holographic structures with different orientations towards the grid frequency carrier. This limits the overall optical effectiveness and observed brightness of the holographic image which is particularly disadvantageous in banknote holograms where there is a severe reduction in the perceived brightness after application of the hot stamp sheet to the banknote. For this reason, this type of hologram is rarely used in a banknote application and instead an image based diffraction grating is preferred because of the retention of a greater refractive effectiveness after application. This aspect of the invention thus allows the creation of a holographic security device (as opposed to an image-based diffraction grating) in two or more overlapping holographic images of bright and very clear graphics located in the same device area but visible in different orientations, which importantly retains a high diffraction effectiveness when applied as a hot stamping foil on a bank note despite discontinuity in the microstructure caused by paper roughness and fiber intrusion. This allows the effectiveness and apparent brightness of each of the overlapping images observed to be comparable to that of a simple holographic image device. The images also seem "solid" to the eye. This is achieved by ensuring that each small area of the device contains only the holographic microstructure that belongs to a graphic image allowing a much larger holographic grid modulation to be achieved without visibly damaging the second holographic image by the appearance of a "ghost image". of the first graph that would otherwise appear due to the saturation of the medium in areas of superimposed microstructures. Significantly, this allows the holographic master stamping diaphragms and the holographic hot stamping foil to be overmodulated to compensate for the expansion of the structure and degradation due to the roughness of the paper on the application, so that the final optical microstructure is in peak diffraction effectiveness. Preferably, this is achieved by subdividing the two or more graphic images into an interlaced grid of fine lines, whose structure can be regulated although preferably it is more complex and at a scale size of 25-100 μm (although longer line thicknesses are possible for larger graphics images although at 250 μm, the line thicknesses are becoming expressly perceptible to the eye without help). The use of very thin line thicknesses of size 25-50 μm or 25-75 μm ensures that the line patterns within the images are not perceptible to the eye without help (the limiting resolution of the eye is around 20 μm, for image high contrast, reduced by a factor of 3 or 4 for a lower contrast pattern up to c.80-100 μm). Another useful aspect of this invention is because each image is truly a projected holographic image containing a random patterned pattern in etching, the apparent contrast of the fine line structure is significantly reduced by overlaying with it a pattern of Granular spots within each diffracted image, providing significant contrast resolution in fine line patterns and thus effectively hiding line of sight patterns by reducing the limiting resolution of the eyes without help. Any point on the image surface contains microstructures that belong to only a graphic image, this microstructure is a holographic diffractive microstructure, which is created by the interference of a diffuse wavefront that recreates the graphic image and a coherent second beam. A very important property of this structure is that this area is truly a holographic structure that contains a small range of spatial frequencies of microstructure and also contains a patterned pattern characteristic of a holographic microstructure and also where a small area of the device reproduces a predetermined solid center controlled by ray angles, despite the militated viewing angle, as opposed to a Pure diffraction grating where each point of the image can reproduce a reproduction of pure points. A particularly important aspect of this invention is that each graphic or component of a graphic can therefore reproduce a controlled beam cone allowing considerably closed control of viewing angle and parallax and viewing angle. A particularly important aspect of this invention over other purely reproducing diffraction grating techniques of multiple graphics such as the work of CSIRO and Landis & amp;; Gyr is that this entanglement technique allows a purely holographic image to reproduce two or more superimposed switching holographic images with effectiveness comparable to conventional pure diffraction grating devices. These conventional devices generally require a complicated and extremely difficult direct inscription range for the formation of the master diffraction grating structure to ensure that the master structure contains only a simple pure diffraction grating in any area. The new technique allows a comparable optical brilliance, effectiveness and appearance of change that is obtained from a pure hologram and holographic technique with an equivalent brightness when applied on the rough paper surface of a banknote or similar document. This non-overlapping of images can be obtained by dividing the image field into a set of fine interlacing line apertures with each interlaced line aperture defining a directional component of holographic / diffractive patterns to ensure that each small area contains only one carrier frequency of dominant diffraction grating to ensure that a high diffraction effectiveness is obtained for the image after stamping the rough paper. A simple dominant diffraction grating in each area will be less affected by degradation due to margin competition and will also have a wide latitude in the development / layout and reproduction of the pattern that allows the structure to be 'overmodulated' in slot depth in the Master diaphragm and over the stamped sheet to compensate for expansion and degradation due to surface roughness. As a result, each holographic image seen separately a appears substantially independent of any degradation or disturbance or saturation effects of the medium from the other images. Another important aspect is that the fine line apertures are typically one line thickness size below the resolution limit of the normal eye and thus are essentially invisible to an observer. A preferred embodiment of this device is where the holographic structure is formed as a surface enhancement for manufacturing by the molding and stamping processes and for application to valuable documents as a surface enhancement structure. This can be, for example, in the form of a label or applied as a hot stamping foil or substantially directly stamped onto a layer on the surface of a document where this technique will provide a greater improvement in performance for such devices when be created holographically. However, other forms of holographic engraving known in the art, such as reflection hologram, can also be used. In a typical device, the interlaced thin-line based structures are of a size below the normal size resolution of the human eye without assistance. Also in a typical device, the interlaced graphics image components are located in the surface plane of the hologram as 2D rainbow holograms of surface enhancement. A typical security hologram such as a typical 2D / 3D hologram as known in the art (eg G. Saxby, Practical Holography, Publisher Prentice Hall) can be created from various holographic components, these will consist of different graphical subdivisions recorded normally with possibly different spatial frequencies possibly orientations and possibly rainbow hologram carrier frequency grid to provide for example different viewing directions and / or different relative colors by scattering. This is a common technique for the 2D / 3D image stamped holograms, where to produce relative holographic color effects, a work piece will divide into separate graphic areas each one recorded on a different hologram and rainbow carrier grid spatial frequency to provide different areas of different reproduction angles and dispersions, using the different dispersions to provide relative color effects, and each separate work piece subdivision recorded with a different carrier grid spatial frequency and / or different address can be described as a "holographic component" of any particular holographic image, with the The sum of the reproductions of these holographic components constitutes the complete holographic image observed. In some embodiments of the device at least one interlaced holographic image component may contain real holographic depth. In certain embodiments of the device, at least one interlaced holographic image component may contain a 3D effect from a model. In certain device modalities both interlaced holographic image components can be used to display real holographic depth effects or in certain device modalities both interlaced holographic image components can contain real 3D holographic images and 3D effects from models. A useful aspect of this development is the potential to alter the line thicknesses attributed to each diffractive channel to achieve the relative brightness required between the views while retaining the ability to completely saturate both grids to achieve optimum effectiveness and depth of groove, in contrast to a normal hologram where it would not be possible to completely saturate both grids due to the saturation of the medium ("consumed") and the use of relative brightness to achieve the desired brightness balance between the viewing channels. This range allows a double channel hologram to be overmodulated in terms of grid slot depth thereby allowing a double banknote or hologram of more channels, to obtain the same degree of grid overmodulation as can be produced by a device. diffraction grid written purely written. In this way this technique provides a method to produce the complete final diffractive structure simultaneously using holographic transfer techniques that uses separate holograms engraved in non-overlapping areas by using a very thin line grid pattern well of the resolution of the eye. This is in contrast to the other "direct written techniques" that can often only write a simple grid structure in one area or obtain counterfeit grids in the overlapping spaces (eg CSIRO electron beam techniques) and therefore needs to leave spaces, these holographic structures are deliberately counterpoised together and can overlap slightly as degradation in a hologram structure overlapping that is much less than two diffraction gratings written directly overlapping as in the overlapping areas there is a lower diffraction effectiveness due to the change in angle between the two spaces that generate noise grids. This allows for a small overlap between the interlaced line structures to allow more effective use of the recording medium. At a microscopic level (x 50), these structures according to the invention contain a characteristic random patterning pattern. The only way to create this type of image would be by highly sophisticated holographic projection techniques involving closed control of reproduction forms, Bragg and holographic parameters in excess of that normally available from a standard holographic laboratory. These devices can therefore at a microscopic level, by the structure of spots, be obviously different from a diffraction grating device, so under a microscope the size being reproduced would contain a characteristic granular pattern. Another advantage of using a holographic technique and recording a granular spot pattern on the image is that This granular pattern is a major factor in reducing the visibility of the interlaced line grid structure which can be made completely invisible to the naked eye and modestly unassisted (x 10). There are other useful aspects to this development when applied to 3D holographic images made of real 3D models or flat arts planes (3D / 2D techniques) and also for techniques such as holographic stereograms in which and increase the effectiveness of diffraction (brightness) and the signal for noise ratios (clarity) using these techniques can be advantageous. Considering the case of normal rainbow holograms with depth, typically in a holographic image made of two or more viewing channels each consisting of a 3D superimposed model designed to provide a switching effect overlapping areas between models that exhibit significant noise and medium saturation. These areas of overlap and saturation of the medium limit all the brilliance obtainable. In this way a particularly advantageous technique can be to record the two or more 3D models using a conventional Hl technique (see for example, G Saxby, "Practical Holography", publisher Prentice Hall) although engraved through the interlacing thin line masks. With the projection of each Hl to record the final hologram (either done sequentially or in parallel) the fine line masks can be focused on the image plane of the final hologram H2 thus ensuring that the diffractive optical structures corresponding to the hologram of each 3D model are located in different areas of the medium, reducing image disturbances and mutual degradation due to the saturation of the medium. An important aspect of this is that home 3D hologram can record its image at a particular localized address to provide an optical switching effect of two overlapping images and that the fine interlacing thinners used can contain line weights below the normal resolution of the human eye which therefore can not be visible to a normal observer (requiring the separation of the masks of approximately the line thickness sizes indicated above). An alternative way to achieve this result may be to record the relevant H1 for each 3D model without any fine line mask in the recording stage HI but to introduce the fine line masks in the transfer stage H2. This is a fairly common masking technique similar to that used in certain 2D / 3D techniques. However, these prior masking techniques generate a surface rainbow hologram using some form of lenticular or real diffuser to generate the rainbow division and a mask over the photoprotection H2 being located to define the recorded graphic patterns. The technique proposed herein is different in that a real Hl of a 3D model (or similar) is used to project an image onto the H2 region that forms a real image close to the plane of the photoprotection (or other enhancement recording material). of surface) that is used to record the H2. The fine line opening mask corresponding to a recording can then be placed in front of the recording material H2, in close proximity thereto. The function of the aperture mask is to spatially locate the recording within the particular areas of the recording material H2 thus locating within a set of fine line areas of the optical microstructure corresponding to a switching image design channel. The subsequent aperture mask or other, interlocked with the first then, may similarly be used to isolate the recordings H2 from the subsequent projected HL channel corresponding to the viewing channels in different areas especially different from the recording material. The function of this can be to isolate the optical microstructure corresponding to the 3D image in the second and subsequent viewing channels within the spatially separated regions of the final material using an aperture mask of non-resolvable line weights for the eye without help. A particular advantage of the linked projection technique in an aperture masking technique near the H2 plane is that this may allow the 3D image to be placed on both sides of the plane and may contain portions in front of and below the surface plane of the plane. H2 final. It should be appreciated from the above description that this is a particularly useful technique to ensure high-fidelity reproduction of two or more channel holograms of 3D model structure of flat art planes (2D / 3D techniques), or of the final image holograms containing combinations of real 3D images and diffractive structures made from flat art graphics, or even structures not holographically produced for example made using direct written copying techniques (eg recombination or electron beam) , two typical trademark techniques can be Kinegram and the Exelgram) and for this to provide an effective way to produce a new kind of diffractive safety device that contains two or more superimposed diffractive images, one of a real holographic 3D image or work combinations of flat art and the other a diffractive surface enhancement device not produced holographically. This leads to a second aspect of the present invention in which a security device is provided comprising a holographic image generation structure based on an origin prepared using a H1 / H2 process, and a diffraction grating structure recorded in sets respective regions of substantially non-superimposed regions of a recording medium, the regions of one set are interlaced with regions of the other set, whereby both interlaced line structures are substantially not visible to the unaided eye, by means of which the security device holographic generates a holographic image and a diffractive effect seen from separate viewing directions around the device and normally seen paranoramicizing the device, and with this each particular image or effect in a viewing direction is generated in part or completely by the structure associated with a set of interlaced lines. An additional use of this technique may be in the creation of holographic stereograms, a common technique used to create three apparent dimensional holograms from many views of a subject (c.20-200) (for example see "Practical Holography", for G Saxby). In a conventional holographic stereogram, many different views (20-200) of a subject are recorded together to provide a composite 3D view of a real subject. However, this technique usually results in severe saturated and burned media being visible due to the many different superimposed images. A useful application of the masking technique can be to divide a viewing channel into several separate mask openings (so to say 3 or 4) to reduce the range of spatial frequencies in any particular area of the device to increase brightness. Thus, for example, an area of the device can only contain the views of the left side of the subject over a certain angle, so to say 10 or 20 views, all of which can have similar carrier grid separations and orientations to reduce the saturation of the medium ("burned") and to increase brilliance. In this way, this technique can be applied to holographic stereograms to reduce the number of images superimposed in each area of the medium and to increase the image brilliance, again the key is to use masks and curvilinear line patterns below the normal resolution of the eye human. The invention thus provides a method for improving the brightness and clarity of multi-channel holographic images and particularly for reducing the surface roughness effects by producing holograms via two or more high-clarity overlapping holographic switching images containing 3D models or 2D / 3D holographic images or 2D graphs located in the same area of the device that the different orientations are visible by dividing the image field into a number of discrete interlaced areas using aperture line masks each of a size below the eye resolution normal to allow the recording of only one or ideally a limited number of spatial frequencies d grid of diffraction to maximize the effectiveness and apparent brightness of each of the observed images and to avoid the "phantom" effects of one image over another normally seen in multiple channel images. A further advantage of the interlaced hologram structure is to provide an improvement in the recording affectivity and to improve the brightness of the image above and below which may be possible from a purely sinusoidal diffraction grating structure. In interlaced approach it allows the structure to be applied to each channel of a multi-channel image superimposed to be stored in a spatial area substantially independent of the substrate. This reduces the margin competition in these areas as set forth in the above, thus producing optical components of substantially superior effectiveness for the image. Nevertheless, this also allows non-sinusoidal grid structures to be recorded in these areas, (for example, structures having substantially different diffraction efficiencies between the diffracted orders +1 and -2, in contrast to sinusoidal grid structures having a equal effectiveness between the diffracted orders). A particular type of useful structure is one where the desired diffractive order is improved over the unwanted order thereby producing an improvement in the optical brightness of the observed image. Such a structure is typically known as a "glowing" diffractive order, this is known in the field of the production of pure diffraction gratings for spectroscopy (eg M.Hutley, "Diffraction Gratings", Academic Press 1982) but not in holographic structures of images that record graphic images, particularly where the holographic image commutes between two superimposed graphics, the images where normally they can not be accessed with improved effectiveness due to the nature of the holographic processes of image and margin competition. In a typical geometry, a holographic image resplendent structure is achieved for a preferential effectiveness improvement by recording an interference pattern between a reference beam, and an object beam with both beams hitting the recording material from the same side of the normal geometric. Note that the interlaced process combined with the preferred origin process H1-H2 allows each component of an interlaced hologram to be recorded with an individually different glowing angle to differentially improve the diffraction effectiveness in the desired order of vision for this component. This is a substantive improvement over the two previous known systems designed by Landis &; Gyr and CSIRO mentioned above. The Landis & Gyr stamped small areas of linear grids at different angles that can only use substantially the same sinusoidal structure for any particular spatial frequency, the CSIRO system can not produce a profiled glow grid structure and can not improve the desired commands, the structure advantage interlaced combined with a masking production process or H1-H2 is each individual element of the interlaced hologram is automatically glowing in the correct orientations in the recording geometry. In this way, one or both structures can comprise glowing holographic structures to improve the diffraction effectiveness of each structure. The holographic security devices according to the invention can be used for a wide variety of purposes to add security to documents and articles. As already mentioned, they are particularly suitable for use with document or articles having a relatively rough surface but made of paper and the like although they can also be used with other materials such as plastics. Examples of items that can be secured using such devices are passports, savings passbooks, tickets, permits, licenses, financial transaction cards that include check guarantee cards, debit cards, credit cards, cash withdrawal cards, cards transfer of electronic funds, title cards for service, identification cards for articles or personnel, prepaid cards, telephone cards, exchangeable cards for example value-reduction cards, bonuses, fiscal documents, bank notes, checks including checks traveler, vouchers, new brand identification labels, indication labels or resistant to alteration. The device is conventionally constructed in the form of a transfer assembly such as a hot stamping sheet that allows it to be transferred onto a document or article to be secured. In this situation, the device typically carries a heat sensitive adhesive (or pressure sensitive adhesive) on its exposed surface. The additional security of an item, such as a document of value, to which the device will be applied is achieved by including the device in a generic pattern with a plurality of the devices. Some examples of holographic security devices according to the invention together with methods for their manufacture will now be described with reference to the accompanying schematic drawings, in which: BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS Figure IA illustrates a first example of an arrangement device with the invention; Figure IB illustrates the appearance of the device from two different viewing angles; Figures IC and ID illustrate the two holographic generation structures in greater detail; Figure 1E illustrates the line patterns used by the two holographic structures in elongated form; Figures 1F and 1G illustrate the different color separations used to create the structure shown in Figures IC and ID respectively; Figure 1H illustrates the displacement between the line patterns, in more detail; Figures 2A and 2B illustrate the holograms generated by the two holographic generation structures of the second example; Figure 2C illustrates the second example of the device; Figure 2D and 2E illustrate a line structure superimposed on the two holographic structures respectively; Figure 2F illustrates the line structures in elongated form; Figures 3A and 3B illustrate a first example of a method for constructing a holographic security device; Figures 4A and 4B illustrate a first step in a second example of a method for manufacturing a security device; Figures 5A and 5E illustrate a second stage in the process. Figure 6A illustrates the holographic device formed using the process illustrated in Figures 4 and 5; Figure 6B illustrates a portion of the first holographic structure in elongated form; and Figures 6C and 6D illustrate the appearance of the device at two different viewing angles. Figure 1 shows a two-channel holographic device 1 with two image channels showing overlapping switching graphs A and B (Figure IA), each channel being recorded as a set of very thin lines 2,3 (illustratively shown in FIGS. Figures IC and ID as if these line structures were below the normal visual resolution and usually not visible in this way) so that each area of the image only contains a diffractive structure with, for example, switching images from left to right in panoramic (Figure IB). An elongation of these non-overlapping image channels is shown in Figure IB showing the same area of the two image channels A and B increased to a scale where a line typically corresponds between 20 and 120 microns depending on the individual example, which show schematically how the two areas containing each image channel are intertwined, while Figure 1H again shows an enlarged view on a large scale of each pattern, further illustrating two especially separate areas contrasted together to show how the lines 6 of a structure they are displaced from the lines 5 of the other structure, so that the optical microstructures corresponding to the individual diffractive elements occupy essentially independent areas and do not substantially overlap. Figures 1F and 1G illustrate the manner in which the art work for each channel can be further subdivided into different diffractive structures to provide different optical effects such as color changes. It should also be appreciated that being a holographic image, graphs A and B do not necessarily need to be located on the surface, although they may have real depth, but that the fine line masking patterns that define each separate diffractive area can certainly be located on the surface. Figure 2 shows a similar two-channel device 9 (Figure 2C) but this time consisting of two models 7.8 3D (Figures 2A, 2B) where the holographic image switching between an image of a cube 7 and a bird 8 ( for example) to the left or to the right in panoramic. In this case, each image is that of a real 3D model recorded as a holographic generation structure in defined areas separated from a surface enhancement structure using fine interlacing line patterns as shown in the enlargements (illustratively shown in the drawings). Figures 2D, 2E as if these structures as if these line structures were below the normal visual resolution and usually in this way not visible). Figure 2F shows a large-scale enlarged view of a small area of the pattern showing how, on a microscopic scale, the lines of each structure are relatively displaced and substantially non-superimposed, so that substantially only a simple refractive structure occupies any small area Of the device. This can be advantageous by reducing the effects of saturation of the medium and disturbance to provide very high quality and high-clarity switching images, with the working line patterns in which the two images are divided being selected to be as fine as be below the normal resolution of the human eye. It should be understood that the lines will not normally be visible to the naked eye so that the images will appear solid, with Figures 2D, 2E showing the lines only in illustrative form and Figure 2F showing an enlargement on a microscopic scale. Figure 3 shows a first method for producing a double switching or more channel images using master art works consisting of fine line arrangements. Initially, the art work 17 is prepared from a distance that has the appearance of a letter A although in close inspection that is formed by a series of curvilinear lines. This art work 17 is exposed through a diffuser 16 on a recording medium 14 together with a reference beam 15 to form an exposure Hl. A similar H1 is formed by exposing a second image of graphics as a B (not shown). The arrangement shown is for recording the first component image A. For the similar B 1 H image it is formed by a similar process exposing the graphic image art work for the B image. The processed Hl 19 is then used with a conjugate reference beam 20 to project an actual 2D / 3D multicolored hologram image complex for recording an H2 21 with a second reference beam being added (not shown) also known in the art to form an image plane substantially of hologram or H2 transfer. The lines of the first image A are interwoven with the lines of the second image B. Figures 4 and 5 show an alternative manufacturing technique that can be applied using 3D models. In a first step (Figure 4), an HL 22 is formed by the arrangement or a 3D model 24 together with a reference beam 23 (Figure 4A). This hologram is engraved in a top section 12 of the Hl, the lower section 13 is masked. The lower section 13 is then unmasked and the upper section 12 is masked (Figure 4B) and a second object 27 is recorded using a reference beam 26. The upper section 12 of the processed HL 28 then processed is then exposed to a conjugate reference beam 29 producing a projected image 30 which is formed in an image plane 31 containing a mask carrying many separate curvilinear lines shown in more detail in FIG. placed in close proximity to a recording medium 32. In this way, the original object 24 is holographically recorded in a series of closely spaced lines 37 in the engraving means 32. This produces a series of localized diffractive structures. The lower section 13 of the Hl is then exposed using a conjugate reference beam 34, the resulting image is formed in an image plane 35 containing a second thin line mask shown in more detail at 38, the lines of the mask 38 are interlaced with the lines of the mask 37 the resulting image is engraved on the engraving means 32. The masks 37, 38 constitute amplitude masks. The two images will be recorded to define right and left channels respectively while the lines of the masks 37, 38 will be below the normal resolution of the eye and therefore will not be discernible to the normal observer. Figure 6A illustrates the finished device 39 under white light illumination 40. Figure 6B illustrates an enlargement of a small area of the holographic structure formed from the model 24 and the fine line structure can be observed. A view to the left of device 39 is shown at 42 in Figure 6C and a view to the right at 43 in Figure 6D.

Claims (20)

  1. CLAIMS 1. A holographic security device characterized in that it comprises first and second holographic image generation microstructures, each structure having been originated by the creation of a first intermediate hologram from a respective object and a first reference beam the first two intermediate holograms then they have been illuminated with respective transfer beams which were the combinations of the first corresponding reference beams to reconstruct their respective objects as holographic images which were then used to record the first and second holographic image generation structure on a common holographic recording media through an optical interference process with a second light beam, wherein the microstructures are recorded in respective sets of substantially non-superimposed regions of the recording medium, the regions of one set are intertwined with regions of the other set, or so that the dimensions and patterns of the entanglement are substantially non-resolvable to the unaided eye, the holographic security device thereby generates two visually distinct holographic images seen from separate viewing directions around the device and normally viewed by panning the device, and thereby each particular holographic image in a viewing direction is generated in part completely by the holographic image generation structure associated with one or another set of interlaced regions.
  2. 2. The device according to claim 1, characterized in that the regions are linear; 3.
  3. The device according to claim 2, characterized in that the linear regions are curvilinear.
  4. The device according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that the holographic image generation structures are formed as a surface enhancement.
  5. 5. The device according to claim 4, when dependent on claim 2 or claim 3, characterized in that each region has a thickness in the range of 25-75 microns.
  6. The device according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that each holographic image generation structure generates only a holographic image.
  7. The device according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that each holographic image generated by the first and second holographic image generation structures are visible at different viewing angles.
  8. 8. The device according to claim 7, characterized in that the first and second holographic image generation structures generate holographic images that define different views of the same object.
  9. The device according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that at least one of the holographic image generating structures generates a holographic image structure of a number of graphic image components.
  10. 10. The device according to claim 9, characterized in that the graphic image components are located in the surface plane of the device as 2D rainbow holograms of surface enhancement.
  11. The device according to claim 9 or claim 10, characterized in that at least one holographic image component contains real holographic depth.
  12. The device according to any of claims 9 to 11, characterized in that at least one holographic image component contains a 3D effect of a model.
  13. 13. The device according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that the holographic image generation structures generate holographic images that exhibit real holographic depth effects.
  14. 14. The device according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that at least one of the holographic image generating structures is in the form of a glowing holographic image generation structure.
  15. The transfer assembly characterized in that it comprises a carrier and a holographic security device according to any of the preceding claims interchangeably secured to the carrier.
  16. 16. The assembly according to claim 15, characterized in that the carrier can be joined from the holographic safety device by the application of heat.
  17. 17. The document or other item characterized in that it carries a holographic security device according to any of claims 1 to 14.
  18. 18. A method for manufacturing a transfer hologram, the method is characterized in that it comprises creating a pair of first intermediate holograms from respective objects and first reference beams; illuminating the first two intermediate holograms with respective transfer beams which are the conjugates of the first corresponding reference beams to reconstruct their respective objects as holographic images; using the holographic images to record first and second holographic image generation microstructures in a common holographic recording medium through the optical interference process with a second reference beam, wherein the microstructures are respectively recorded respective of substantially non-overlapping regions of the recording medium, the regions of one set are intertwined with regions of the other set, whereby the dimensions and patterns of the interlace are substantially not resolvable to the eye without help, so that the transfer hologram generates two visually distinct holographic images views from separate viewing directions around the hologram and typically viewed by panning the hologram, and whereupon each particular holographic image in a viewing direction is generated in part or completely by the holographic image generation structure associated with one or another set d e interlaced regions.
  19. 19. The method for manufacturing a holographic security device, the method is characterized in that it comprises manufacturing a transfer hologram using a method according to claim 18; and using the transfer hologram to transfer the holographic image generation structures onto an additional recording medium. The method according to claim 19, for manufacturing a device according to any of claims 1 to 17.
MXPA/A/2000/010973A 1998-05-14 2000-11-08 Holographic security device MXPA00010973A (en)

Applications Claiming Priority (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
GB9810399.7 1998-05-14

Publications (1)

Publication Number Publication Date
MXPA00010973A true MXPA00010973A (en) 2002-02-26

Family

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