AU2011291010B2

AU2011291010B2 - Verification of security elements with window and other item of information

Info

Publication number: AU2011291010B2
Application number: AU2011291010A
Authority: AU
Inventors: Peter Schiffmann; Martina Staudigl
Original assignee: Giesecke and Devrient GmbH
Current assignee: Giesecke and Devrient Currency Technology GmbH
Priority date: 2010-08-20
Filing date: 2011-08-16
Publication date: 2015-02-12
Anticipated expiration: 2031-08-16
Also published as: DE102010035017A1; EP2606474B1; AU2011291010A1; WO2012022463A1; MX2013002009A; EP2606474A1

Abstract

The invention relates to a method for verifying value documents, such as bank notes, identification cards, payment cards, admission tickets, lottery tickets or the like, or other elements for product protection, said documents having a substrate with at least one translucent region. A first item of information lies in at least one translucent region of the substrate, a separate display being used through which a second item of information that correlates to the first item of information is shown at least in some regions. At least one other item of information is hidden in the first and/or second item of information, said other item of information not being detectable and/or readable to an observer without an aid. The substrate with the first item of information is laid over the second item of information that is shown on the separate display, and the hidden item of information can be detected and/or read under transmitted light as a moiré pattern and/or as metamerism. The invention further relates to a corresponding method for verifying or testing valuable objects that have a display, for example a computer, notebook, or laptop, a cash register of a cash register system, or a handheld device. According to the invention, at least a third item of information that is detectable and/or readable to the observer without an aid is additionally included in the first and/or second item of information.

Description

1 Verification of security elements with window and other item of information [0001] The invention relates to a method for verifying value documents, such as bank notes, identification cards, payment cards, admission tickets, lottery tickets or the like, or other elements for product authentication, which exhibit a substrate with at least one light-transmissive region, wherein a first item of information is arranged in at least one light-transmissive region of the substrate, wherein a separate display is employed, through the separate display there is displayed at least in certain regions a second item of information that correlates with the first item of information, in the first and/or second item of information there is hidden at least one further item of information that is not recognizable and/or readable for a viewer without auxiliary means, the substrate with its first item of information is laid over the second item of information that is displayed on the separate display, and the hidden item of information becomes recognizable and/or readable in transmitted light as a moir6 pattern and/or as a metamerism. The invention further relates to a corresponding method for verifying or for checking objects of value which exhibit a display, for example a computer, notebook, or laptop, a cash register of a cash register system, TV set, or a hand-held device. [0002] A generic method is known from WO 2009/019038 Al. Here the hidden item of information advantageously includes for example the emission value or the currency of a bank note and can thus serve for authenticity checking at a cash register terminal. Here, the bank note is laid over the display of the cash register terminal and the information hidden on the bank note shows up in clear lettering for the cash register personnel. [0003] In preferred embodiments, the present invention provides a generic method for checking the authenticity of value documents, such as bank notes, identification cards, payment cards, admission tickets, lottery tickets or the like, or other elements for product authentication in such a way that the protection from forgery and the attractiveness for the handler or user is further increased.

1A [0004] Any discussion of documents, acts, materials, devices, articles or the like which has been included in the present specification is not to be taken as an admission that any or all of these matters form part of the prior art base or were common general knowledge in the field relevant to the present disclosure as it existed before the priority date of each claim of this application. [0004A] Throughout this specification the word "comprise", or variations such as "comprises" or "comprising", will be understood to imply the inclusion of a stated element, integer or step, or group of elements, integers or steps, but not the exclusion of any other element, integer or step, or group of elements, integers or steps. [0004B] According to an embodiment of the present invention, there is provided a method for verifying value documents such as, or other elements for product authentication, which exhibit a substrate with at least one light-transmissive region, wherein a first item of information is arranged in at least one light-transmissive region of the substrate, wherein - a separate display is employed, - through the separate display there is displayed at least in certain regions a second item of information that correlates with the first item of information, - in the first and/or second item of information there is hidden at least one further item of information that is not recognizable and/or readable for a viewer without auxiliary means, wherein the first and second items of information are formed by a grid of line-shaped and/or dot shaped elements. - the substrate with its first item of information is laid over the second item of information that is displayed on the separate display, 1B - and the hidden item of information becomes recognizable and/or readable in transmitted light as a moir6 pattern and/or as a metamerism, wherein - in the first and/or second item of information there is contained at least a third item of information that is recognizable and/or readable for a viewer without auxiliary means, wherein the third item of information is formed by a grid of line-shaped and/or dot-shaped elements which, relative to the line shaped and/or dot-shaped elements of the grid of the first item of information, exhibit a different line of thickness or a different dot diameter.

2 [0005] In the preferred method, wherein at least a third item of information is recognizable and/or readable for a viewer without auxiliary means is additionally contained in the first and/or second item of information. [0006] The invention also relates to the subject matter of WO 2009/019038 Al, the entire subject matter and scope of protection of WO 2009/019038 Al being completely incorporated into this invention. This means, in particular, that any embodiments, embodiment examples and concretizations of WO 2009/019038 Al can also be applied to this invention. [0007] Particular advantage is that the first and/or second item of information, which is uninteresting for a viewer and which usually represents an unstructured, uniform area, is optically enhanced by the third, visible item of information. [0008] The third item of information preferably represents an alphanumeric text, for example a single letter or a numeral or any arbitrary sequence of letters and/or numerals, a symbol or an arbitrary graphic. [0009] The third item of information can be meaningfully related to the hidden item of information. Furthermore, the third item of information can contain a part of an item of information and the hidden item of information made visible can contain the total information. [0010] In a preferred embodiment, the first, second and third items of information are respectively formed by a grid of line-shaped and/or dot-shaped elements. [0011] Here, the line-shaped and/or dot-shaped elements of the grid of the third item of information are preferably arranged shifted relative to the line-shaped and/or dot-shaped elements of the grid of the first item of information and in addition or alternatively thereto exhibit a different line thickness or a different dot diameter. [0012] In a further preferred embodiment, at least one light-transmissive region of the substrate is formed by a transparent window.

3 [0013] A preferred embodiment example relates to a card having a verification grid, which is delivered together with a TV set or which a dealer encloses with a sold TV. Here, the grid of the card is coordinated to the pixel grid of the TV set. By placing the card onto the display of the TV set the customer can for example query a guarantee number or check whether the TV set is an original device or for example a forgery or a reimportation. [0014] Adding to WO 2009/ 019038 Al, a subsequent individualization can be incorporated in all of the items of information by modifying, for example by means of a laser, line thicknesses through ablation or addition by means of blackening. Likewise, the hidden item of information can be produced by means of laser in the first place. Possible application areas are in particular proofs of identification, such as passports or identification cards. [0015] In a further advantageous embodiment, the item of information printed on a transparent window is in addition colored or printed with one or several transparent inks, which can form a uniform coloring or a motif print. The coloring or the motif print can here be arranged within the window region or in overlapping fashion also partly outside the window region. The print motifs or colorings can both be visually visible or recognizable only after excitation by means of UV light. [0016] In a further advantageous embodiment, the grid is applied on the front side or on the back side or on both sides of the transparent window. In a special embodiment, the grid is applied in partial segments both on front and back side, which in transmission complement each other to total information. This embodiment is particularly advantageously suitable as a copy protection. [00171 The grid structure can be produced not only by printing methods, such as for example offset printing, gravure printing, flexographic printing, ink-jet printing, thermal transfer printing, laser printing or intaglio printing, but in accordance with a further advantageous embodiment also by indirect methods. An example of such an indirect method is in particular cold foil application, wherein first an adhesive or a special ink is printed and, subsequently, on the still tacky adhesive or the still tacky special ink a carrier foil having a metallization or a covering coating is pressed.

4 Subsequently, the foil is removed, the metallization or the covering coating being transferred to the substrate only in the region of the tacky adhesive or of the still tacky special ink. [0018] In a further advantageous embodiment, the applied grid structure additionally contains in partial regions a further hidden item of information in the form of the smallest line disruptions or line modulations, which is recognizable or identifiable as a code, for example a hidden bar code, only by means of microscope. Upon verification, these additional items of information are not conspicuous and are either misinterpreted as misprints or not visually perceived by a forger. [0019] In a further advantageous embodiment, a line of a grid or the part of a line of a grid is designed as a microtext which is recognizable or readable only by means of microscope or magnifying lens. [0020] In a further advantageous embodiment, the printed grid consists of a homogeneous structure of an ink absorbing in the infrared wavelength range and an ink transparent in the infrared wavelength range. Upon verification, the inks or regions which are differently absorbing in the infrared wavelength range and almost like colored in the visually visible wavelength range are indistinguishable. With a special sensor, however, this hidden feature is recognizable without problems and also machine-readable. Advantageously, with this embodiment a visually recognizable pattern, such as for example a picture motif or pattern, or a machine-readable code, such as for example a bar code, can be hidden. [0021] In a further advantageous embodiment, instead of the inks differently absorbing in the infrared wavelength range, magnetic and non-magnetic inks of the same color tone are combined with each other. [0022] In a further advantageous embodiment, the partial regions differ in their luminescence properties, such as their color tone or their excitation wavelength or are divided into luminescent and non-luminescent regions. [0023] With reference to the following examples and supplementary Figures, the advantages of the invention will be explained. The described single features and 5 embodiment examples hereinafter described are inventive taken alone, but are also inventive in combination. The examples represent preferred embodiments, but the invention should in no way be limited thereto. The proportions shown in the Figures do not correspond to the relations existing in reality and serve exclusively to improve clearness. The representations in the Figures are strongly schematized for the sake of better comprehension and do not reflect the actual conditions. For this purpose, the described embodiments are reduced to the substantial core information for the sake of clarity. In the practical implementation substantially more complex patterns or images in single-color or multicolor printing can be used. The items of information represented in the following examples can likewise be replaced by items of picture or text information as elaborate as desired. [0024] Further, the different embodiment examples are not limited to an employment in the described fonm, but can also be combined with each other for increasing the effects. In detail, the Figures show schematically: Fig. 1 a substrate according to the invention with a window and a first and a third item of information (Fig. la), a separate display with a second item of information (Fig. 1 b), as well as the superimposition of window and display in plan view (Fig. Ic), Fig. 2 a ten-fold magnification of three different details (Fig. 2a to Fig. 2c) of Fig. la, Fig. 3 an embodiment example with a window with four different grids, Fig. 4 the grids of Fig. 3 upon superimposition with a display, Fig. 5 a window with an item of see-through information in the form of the letter "E", Fig. 6 a superimposition of the window of Fig. 5 with a display, Fig. 7 to Fig. 9 a further embodiment of the invention.

6 [0025] Fig. 1 shows in Fig. Ia a value document which exhibits a substrate with at least one light-transmissive region, in at least one light-transmissive region of the substrate a first item of information being arranged. The first item of information shows a grid, which a viewer perceives as an unstructured light gray area in the form of a "keyhole". Within the first item of information a third item of information is arranged. The third item of information shows a grid which a viewer perceives as a dark gray area in the form of a bell. [0026] This light-transmissive region is now laid over a display which shows a second item of information in accordance with Fig. Ib, the second item of information consisting of a grid which a viewer perceives as an unstructured light gray area in the form of a "keyhole". The information hidden in the first item of information, which becomes visible by the superimposition, is shown in Fig. 1 c. Within the bell the letter "B" shows up and outside the bell a pattern in the form of sound waves emanating from the lower left edge of the "keyhole". [0027] This hidden information is hidden, according to Fig. 2, in the first item of information through a shift of neighboring line elements of the grid (Fig. 2a), a modulation of the line thickness of neighboring line elements of the grid (Fig. 2b), i.e. through lines of different thickness, and through a combination of line shift and different line thickness (Fig. 2c). In Fig. 2a to 2c, in the left drawing there is respectively indicated the region which is respectively represented in ten-fold magnification in the right drawing. [0028] In the preceding, first embodiment example, the pattern was coordinated, with respect to the grid structure, to a certain display having a certain pixel or grid spacing. In case of a high-resolution display, however, it is possible to scale down to a standard resolution, in order to decrypt the same pattern with different displays. Alternatively, it is also possible for a pattern to be provided with different grid widths, so as to make it possible for the patterns to be decrypted with different displays. [0029] A second embodiment example according to Fig. 3 shows four quadrants 3, 4, 5 and 6 in a window 2 in a substrate 1, which have grid widths for different displays. For example, quadrant 3 shows a grid with grid structures that exhibit a first 7 grid spacing, quadrant 4 a grid with grid structures that exhibit a smaller grid spacing relative to grid 3, quadrant 5 a grid with grid structures that exhibit a smaller grid spacing relative to grid 4, and quadrant 6 a grid with grid structures that exhibit a smaller grid spacing relative to grid 5. The grid structures are thus ever finer structured from grid 3 to grid 6. [0030] Depending on the employed display, one of the four quadrants shows a readable decrypted item of information. If the window 2 is laid over a display whose pixels exhibit a certain pixel spacing, for example the grid spacing of quadrant 4 matches the pixel spacing of the display, so that according to Fig. 4 the item of information "EU" shows up. [00311 A third embodiment example according to Fig. 5 shows a see-through info 9 in the form of the letter "E", which was produced with a grid having a greater line thickness than the line grid 8 of the environment of the see-through info "E". The line frequency is the same. As a result, in the region of the info "E" there shows up a greater opacity in transmission. 10032] According to Fig. 6, through a line shift upon a superimposition over a display there becomes visible an additional item of information 10 in the form of the text "50 Dollar 50" hidden in the line grids 8 and 9. [0033] If the grids are applied with an opaque black or colorful ink or a metallic coating (e.g. vacuum deposition in combination with demetallization) or a metallic ink, the plan-view info is identical with the see-through info. This means that the info "E" is recognizable both in plan view and in transmission. The contrast is dependent on the difference in opacity and density of the two regions. If the grids are printed with a white totally covering ink or are provided with a totally covering white transfer coating by means of transfer method (hot or cold stamping method), there shows up only a see-through info in addition to the info recognizable by means of display. [0034] In a fourth embodiment example, additionally a transparent interference layer is applied. Upon employment of an example printed in black ink, additionally a color- 8 shift color shows up, which is most intense in the field of the info "E", since this region exhibits the largest optically effective coverage. [0035] The interference ink can be both on the front and on the back side of the black grid. If the coating is on the black grid (front side), in the case of this pattern on black ground there shows up only the info of the interference ink (square in the example). If the pattern is placed on the back side, there shows additionally up in an intensity difference the region of the black grid in the environment of the info "E" and as a clear intensity difference in the region of the info "E". [0036] The other properties (display info and see-through info) are almost not disturbed. The interference layer can consist of a thin vapor deposition of metal or an interference ink which is preferably applied in screen printing. [0037] The pigments contained in the interference screen printing ink can consist of LCP, mica-based interference pigments, etc. [0038] In a fifth embodiment example, there is produced a pattern without see through info but with plan-view info. In this example, the environment of the info "E" is printed with an opaque-white grid and the info "E with a black grid. [0039] When the grid frequency and the line width of the employed grid lines are the same and both inks have the same opacity, in transmission no additional info shows up. Through adjustment of the line thickness it is also possible to compensate possible opacity differences of the inks. [0040] In a sixth embodiment example, there is additionally contained an interference layer. In comparison to the fourth embodiment example, the info "E" is recognizable more intensive in plan view, since on the opaque-white grid the interference ink is barely visually visible. [0041] A seventh embodiment example differs from the fifth embodiment example in that the line thicknesses of the regions with the info "E" and in the environment of the info "E" significantly differ and there thus arise regions with different opacity. Thus, there is, in addition to the plan-view info, an identical see-through info.

[00421 An eighth embodiment example corresponds to the seventh embodiment example, but additionally exhibits an interference coating. [0043] The ninth embodiment example constitutes according to Fig. 7 a further increase in complexity. Fig. 8 shows the view of the grids of Fig. 7 in transmission and Fig. 9 in plan view. This example consists, in the environment of the see-through info "8", of a grid 8 printed with opaque white with a small line thickness. In the region of the plan-view info "E", the grid consists of a black printed line grid 11 having the same line frequency but thicker lines, and in the region of the complement from info "E" to "8" in transmission consists of a grid 12 printed with opaque white and having the same grid spacing and line thickness as the black printed line grid 11. The opacity of the last two grids 11 and 12 is comparable, so that in transmission there is recognizable "i8"1. [0044] Through a line shift in the individual regions, it is also possible here again to additionally integrate display info. [0045] Through overprinting with an interference ink, i.e. an ink with interference pigments, in the region of the plan-view information there becomes visible a color shift or a color change upon tilting. At the same time it is possible to make visible the complete print information of the interference ink through placing the object to be verified on a black ground.

Claims

1. A method for verifying value documents, such as bank notes, identification cards, payment cards, admission tickets, lottery tickets or the like, or other elements for product authentication, which exhibit a substrate with at least one light-transmissive region, wherein a first item of information is arranged in at least one light-transmissive region of the substrate, wherein - a separate display is employed, - through the separate display there is displayed at least in certain regions a second item of information that correlates with the first item of information, - in the first and/or second item of information there is hidden at least one further item of information that is not recognizable and/or readable for a viewer without auxiliary means, wherein the first and second items of information are formed by a grid of line-shaped and/or dot shaped elements. - the substrate with its first item of information is laid over the second item of information that is displayed on the separate display, - and the hidden item of information becomes recognizable and/or readable in transmitted light as a moir6 pattern and/or as a metamerism, wherein - in the first and/or second item of information there is contained at least a third item of information that is recognizable and/or readable for a viewer without auxiliary means, wherein the third item of information is formed by a grid of line-shaped and/or dot-shaped elements which, relative to the line shaped and/or dot-shaped elements of the grid of the first item of information, exhibit a different line of thickness or a different dot diameter. 11

2. A method for verifying or for checking objects of value that exhibit a display, wherein - a separate verification element is provided, which exhibits at least one substrate with at least one light-transmissive region, wherein a first item of information is arranged in at least one light-transmissive region of the substrate, - wherein through the display there is displayed at least in certain regions a second item of information that correlates with the first item of information, - in the first and/or second item of information there is hidden at least one further item of information that is not recognizable and/or readable for a viewer without auxiliary means, wherein the first and second items of information are formed by a grid of line-shaped and/or dot shaped elements, - the substrate with its first item of information is laid over the second item of information that is displayed on the display and - the hidden item of information becomes recognizable and/or readable in transmitted light as a moir6 pattern and/or as a metamerism, wherein - in the first and/or second item of information there is contained at least a third item of information that is recognizable and/or readable for a viewer without auxiliary means, wherein the third item of information is formed by a grid of line-shaped and/or dot-shaped elements which, relative to the line shaped and/or dot-shaped elements of the grid of the first item of information, exhibit a different line thickness or a different dot diameter.

3. The method according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the third item of information represents an alphanumeric text, a symbol, or an arbitrary graphic. 12

4. The method according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the line shaped and/or dot-shaped elements of the grid of the third item of information, relative to the line-shaped and/or dot-shaped elements of the grid of the first item of information, - are arranged shifted.

5. The method according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein at least one light-transmissive region of the substrate is formed by a transparent window.

6. The method according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the at least one light-transmissive region of the substrate is combined with a transparent or at least translucent further security feature.

7. A method for verifying or for checking objects of value substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.