DE202012000806U1 - Value and / or security document with encoded information - Google Patents

Abstract

A value and / or security document (1) is formed with at least one line (3) with a line width (b), characterized in that at least one of the lines (3) is divided at least in a partial area (4), so that an intermediate space (Z) with a width (bZ) arises, a first piece of information being coded in the space (Z) and the space (Z) not being visible to the naked eye.

Description

Field of the invention

The invention relates to a value and / or security document with one or more lines, for example a guilloche pattern, which is characterized in that
at least a portion of at least one of the lines is designed such that
creates a space in which information is encoded
a method for producing such a document
and a method of reading the information from the line or lines.

Prior art and background of the invention.

Basically, various methods of securing a value and / or security document against counterfeiting in practice are known. These include on the one hand security features that are not or only with relatively high cost reproducible, such as graphical representations, which are formed from a variety of fine lines. These include, in particular, guilloche patterns. In the context of guilloche patterns, it is known to design these in such a way that they are formed, at least in part, from essentially parallel lines, the lines in the subarea being arranged so that they can code for characters (see FIG WO 2007/121726 ). On the other hand, security features are known which are exclusively machine-readable. For example, it is from the literature WO 03/051643 A1 It is known to control individual pixels within the scope of an ink-jet printing with the proviso that a secret pattern of dots which can not be recognized by the naked eye is produced. This pattern can be recognized with the help of suitable devices, such as enlargers. In this case, the machine reading of possibly encoded with the pattern information is complex and uncertain, since an exact orientation of the pattern compared to a read-out unit is required. In addition, a special control of the individual nozzles of an inkjet printhead is required and probably other printing methods than inkjet printing are not or only with considerable effort applicable.

In practice, machine-readable codes are known from other technological contexts, which consist of a plurality of adjacent lines, the number of adjacent lines, their widths and / or their distances coding for defined characters. A widely used variant of such a machine-readable code is the so-called barcode. A barcode is a relatively broad line that is easily recognized by the human eye. The reading of a barcode takes place in that a scanner scans the sequence of adjacent lines in directions orthogonal to the longitudinal extent of the lines and converts the read-out optical pattern into a character string according to a predetermined algorithm.

Basically, there is a constant need for improved machine-readable security features, the security features with the human eye are not or only very difficult to see. Also, the reproduction accuracy of conventional reproduction equipment, especially photocopiers, should not be sufficient for adequate reproduction.

Technical problem of the invention

The invention is therefore the technical problem of specifying a security feature for a document of value, which on the one hand is equipped with high security, especially not visible to the naked eye and thus difficult to discover. Also, the security feature with customary printing techniques to produce, but impossible (or at least difficult) to copy. On the other hand, the security feature is as easy as possible to machine read.

Broad features of the invention

To solve this technical problem, the present invention teaches a printed line ( 3 ) within a value document ( 1 ) in such a way that in at least one subarea ( 4 ) is divided such that a gap (Z) with a width b _z is formed, wherein in the space (Z) a first information is encoded and wherein the gap (Z) is not visible to the naked eye. Preferably, the line is part of a pattern, more preferably part of a guilloche pattern.

With the invention, a security feature is provided which can be designed so that it is not readily apparent to the naked eye, since the gap is so small that it is not resolvable with the human eye. Especially in the context of a guilloche pattern with its complex structure, the coded information can therefore be hidden from the human eye.

The invention is based on the finding that such a resolution can be achieved by means of machine read-out devices with respect to the human eye that the gap formed in the guilloche pattern can be detected and therefore used to encode information, in particular a character or a string.

• a) es wird dem Wert- und/oder Sicherheitsdokument (1) eine Information zugeordnet,
• b) die Information wird in einen Code, beispielsweise eine Folge von benachbarten Linien (2) umgewandelt, deren Breite (b_L) und/oder Abstand (A_L) für die Information nach einem vorgegebenen Code codiert,
• c) es werden eine oder mehrere Linien (3), beispielsweise ein Guillochenmuster aus einer Mehrzahl, insbesondere einer Vielzahl, von Linien (3) erstellt, mit jeweils einer Linienbreite (b) erstellt, wobei zumindest eine der Linien zumindest in einem Teilbereich (4) der Linie so ausgestaltet ist, so dass ein Zwischenraum (Z) gebildet wird, in dem die Folge der benachbarten Linien (2) gemäß Stufe b) untergebracht wird,
• d) das Wert- und/oder Sicherheitsdokument wird mit der oder den Linien (3) aus Stufe c) bedruckt, wobei die Linie oder die Linien (3) und somit der Zwischenraum (Z) desselben gegenüber mindestens einer Bezugskante (5) des Wert- und/oder Sicherheitsdokumentes (1) in Position und Ausrichtung definiert angeordnet und ausgerichtet ist.

Furthermore, the invention teaches a method for producing a value and / or security document according to the invention, characterized by the following method steps:

• (a) it is added to the value and / or security document ( 1 ) associated with information,
• b) the information is written in a code, for example a sequence of adjacent lines ( 2 ) whose width (b _L ) and / or distance (A _L ) for the information codes according to a predetermined code,
• c) one or more lines ( 3 ), for example a guilloche pattern of a plurality, in particular a plurality, of lines ( 3 ), each with a line width (b) created, wherein at least one of the lines at least in a partial area ( 4 ) of the line is formed so that a gap (Z) is formed in which the sequence of adjacent lines (Z) 2 ) is housed according to stage b),
• d) the value and / or security document is linked to the line or lines ( 3 ) from step c), wherein the line or the lines ( 3 ) and thus the intermediate space (Z) of the same against at least one reference edge ( 5 ) of the value and / or security document ( 1 ) is arranged and aligned in position and orientation.

• a) das Wert- und/oder Sicherheitsdokument wird mit einer Bezugskante (5) an einen Anschlag einer Auslesevorrichtung angelegt,
• b) mit einem Scanner wird eine oder mehrere Linien (2) in einem Zwischenraum (Z) einer auf dem Wert- und/oder Sicherheitsdokument (1) angebrachten Linie (3) abgetastet,
• c) die in Stufe b) abgetastete Folge von benachbarten Linien (2) wird in Hinblick auf Breite (b_L) und/oder Abstand (A_L) der Linien (3) in einer Auswerteeinheit analysiert und nach einem vorgegebenen Algorithmus in ein Zeichen oder eine Zeichenfolge umgewandelt,
• d) das in Stufe c) erhaltene Zeichen bzw. die Zeichenfolge wird auf einer mit der Auswerteinheit verbundenen Anzeigeeinheit zur Anzeige gebracht und/oder in einer mit der Auswerteeinheit verbundenen Speichereinheit abgespeichert.

The invention further teaches a method for reading out a machine-readable first character string from a value and / or security document according to the invention, characterized by the following method steps:

• a) the value and / or security document is printed with a reference edge ( 5 ) is applied to a stop of a read-out device,
• b) with a scanner one or more lines ( 2 ) in a space (Z) one on the value and / or security document ( 1 ) attached line ( 3 ),
• c) the sequence of adjacent lines (b) sampled in step b) 2 ) is determined in terms of width (b _L ) and / or distance (A _L ) of the lines ( 3 ) are analyzed in an evaluation unit and converted according to a predetermined algorithm into a character or a string,
• d) the character or the character string obtained in stage c) is displayed on a display unit connected to the evaluation unit and / or stored in a memory unit connected to the evaluation unit.

definitions

The term value and / or security document includes in particular identity cards, passports, ID cards, access control cards, visas, control characters, tickets, driving licenses, motor vehicle papers, banknotes, checks, postage stamps.

A substrate of a value and / or security document is a carrier structure to which information, images and the like are applied, in particular printed. After that, the surface of the substrate can be provided with a usually transparent cover layer. Suitable materials for a substrate are all customary materials based on paper and / or plastic in question.

In the context of the invention, the term "machine readability" means that a security feature is not or not clearly perceptible to the naked eye in order to recognize information represented by the security feature. Rather, apparatus aids are required for the detection. For the detection of the information represented or encoded by the security feature, apparatus may also be necessary.

A graphic element designates a surface or partial surface on the surface of a value and / or security document which is printed in such a way that the print represents a pattern or image to the human eye.

The term line refers to a printed object that appears one-dimensional to the viewer. For the understanding of the present invention, it is important that the individual lines each have (already for printing reasons) a certain width. The line width of lines in the sense according to the invention will usually be between 0.01 and 1 mm, in particular between 0.01 and 0.2 mm. A line according to the invention may be a printed subelement of a guilloche pattern. Such a pattern is an ornament of several interlaced and overlapping lines. The individual lines form a string, asymmetric, closed ellipses or circular paths.

The width of the above-mentioned lines makes it possible to divide the lines, at least in partial areas, so that a gap with a width b _z is formed. In this space information can be encoded. Due to the width of the gap, which according to the invention is between 5 and 50 .mu.m, in particular between 10 and 30 .mu.m, preferably between 15 and 25 .mu.m, most preferably about 20 .mu.m, this information can not be detected with the naked eye.

The term coding refers to a one-to-one correlation between the variables width of lines and spacing of lines with a character or a string. A typical coding is the known barcode or Morse code. A transformation of a linestring into a A character or a string is performed by means of an algorithm which includes the one-unique correlation.

In particular, a character can be a letter or a number. A string can contain both letters and numbers.

A (first and / or second) string is individualizing if it is unique to a particular value and / or security document, i. e. is attached to no other document, such as a serial number, personnel number, tax number or the like. A (first and / or second) string may also identify a group of value and / or security document in which all members of a group identical string attached, z. B. in the form of a batch number.

A string is a series of individual characters with a given reading direction.

Strings are identical if both strings match at the beginning, in the order, and at the end, in particular Identical Strings have the same number of characters. A string is partially identical to another string if at least two consecutive characters of one string match a substring of the other string. Otherwise, the strings may have different lengths.

A guilloche pattern is a protective line entwined according to defined geometric rules. For example, the lines may be undulating, arcuate, or circular. Other possible pattern types include any geometric patterns, such as polygons, circles, ellipses, etc. These may be arranged separately and / or overlapping.

A plurality of lines includes the numbers 2 to 10. A plurality of lines includes the numbers of 11 to 10,000, particularly 50 or 100 to 10,000 lines.

Preferred embodiments of the invention

The inventively preferred value and / or security document ( 1 ) is characterized in that a guilloche pattern is carried out such that at least one of the guilloche pattern forming lines ( 3 ) at least in a subarea ( 4 ), so that information may be encoded in the resulting space (Z). The guilloche pattern is generated on a computer. The coded first information in the intermediate space (Z) of a subregion ( 4 ) at least one line ( 3 ) can be represented in particular by a Morse code or barcode. To output the digitally generated guilloche pattern, a laser with at least a resolution of 5,000 dpi is used, which is able to image printing plates. The subregion of the line of a guilloche pattern in which the gap is formed can be widened compared to the original line, as it is in the 3 is shown. Such a broadened design has the advantage that it can be more easily recognized in the machine-readable scanning. However, it also has the disadvantage that it is more easily recognized, possibly even by the human eye, at least with the aid of magnifying vision aids (magnifying glasses, etc.).

Preference is therefore given to the embodiment in which the overall line width remains constant and the intermediate space is formed in the form of a recess ( 1 + 2 ). Such a configuration can also be created in such a way that the "recess" in different color spaces are applied, for example, an IR-absorbing ink on an IR-transparent color or a color is printed on a line, which naturally requires correspondingly precise printing techniques and so by the compression creates a third darker color with the information.

In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the subregion ( 4 ) with respect to at least one reference edge ( 5 ) of the value and / or security document ( 1 ) a defined position and / or orientation. This allows a read only by stopping the reference edge ( 5 ) to a stop edge of the read-out device, since the sub-region is then readily positioned in the read-out region, the read-out device. It will be appreciated if the positioning of the document relative to the readout device takes place in two dimensions relative to the surface of the document.

In an alternative embodiment of the invention, the subregion ( 4 ) at any position in any orientation of the value and / or security document ( 1 ). The security feature is thus particularly difficult to discover. However, the effort for the reading of the coding is increased accordingly. The exact location and / or angle coordinates of the subarea ( 3 ) may in turn constitute an encoding in this embodiment. For example, in a personal document of a person with the date of birth 16/05/1985 two security features could be present, which are positioned at the coordinates x ₁ : 16, y ₁ : 5 or x ₂ : 19, y ₂ : 85. The numerical values could express arbitrary units ( millimeters, for example) and a reference point (for example, origin = lower left corner of the security document). Such an embodiment of the invention, applied for example by the inkjet process, would make the counterfeiting dramatically more difficult.

The value and / or security document may additionally carry a second and readable second character string, which is correlated with the character or the first character string. The second string may be, for example, a serial number, a batch number or another individualizing string. In a particularly simple variant of the invention, the character or the second character string is then a checksum of a first character string attached to the value and / or security document. The first string can also be identical or partially identical to the second string. Then it is further preferred if the first string for the value and / or security document is also individualizing. By reading the second string, for example by means of a scanner, a check can then be made for the appropriate correlation between the second string and character or first string and thus the validity or invalidity of the value and / or security document are checked, preferably automatically by means of the read-out device ,

In the context of the method according to the invention, it is preferred that the graphic element is printed on the security and / or security document or on a substrate of the security and / or security document. Suitable printing methods are, for example: offset printing, screen printing, inkjet printing, gravure printing, (steel or copper) intaglio printing, flexographic printing, gravure printing and letterpress printing.

In the following, the invention will be explained in more detail with reference to figures showing only embodiments. Show it:

1 : A value document with a guilloche pattern and a greatly enlarged section of a line of the guilloche pattern with a division.

2 : a subregion of a line of a guilloche pattern with encoded information contained therein (here: Morse lines). The coding in this case is made by the areas A and B of the original line.

3 : a section of a line of a guilloche pattern with a division (with coded information contained therein, namely morse lines analogous to 2 ), broadening the original line.

In the 1 You can see a section of a line of a guilloche pattern with a section in which the line is divided. The line width in this figure is 30 microns, the width of the space formed (b _z ) is about 10 microns. in the 2 one recognizes the encoded information within the space. The coded information is formed by Morse lines, which in turn have a width of 10-20 microns, or twice thereof. The double line width, for example, can be used to specify separations between individual characters or words.

An inventive value and / or security document can be produced, for example, by generating a character from the serial number of the value and / or security document as a checksum and assigning it to the value and / or security document. Then, the character or string is converted into a series of adjacent lines in the manner of a Morse code or a bar code. Subsequently, a guilloche pattern is created from a plurality of lines each having a width on a computer, wherein in a partial region of at least one line of the guilloche pattern a division is made, so that a gap with a width b _z is formed, in which the information, so for example the barcode or Morse code is introduced. By means of the computer the guilloche pattern is imprinted in the inkjet process.

A reading of the character can take place in that the value and / or security document with at least one reference edge ( 5 ) is applied to a stop of a read-out device and b) with a scanner a series of lenses ( 3 ) is scanned in a space of a line of a Guilloche pattern attached to the value and / or security document, in a step c) the scanned sequence of adjacent lines ( 2 ) in the space in terms of width and / or distance of the lines ( 3 ) is analyzed in an evaluation unit and converted according to a predetermined algorithm into a character or a string. The character obtained in step c) is then displayed on a display unit connected to the evaluation unit and / or stored in a memory unit connected to the evaluation unit. In addition, a scanner can read out the serial number of the value and / or security document and calculate the checksum therefrom. The result of a comparison of the checksum with the stored character may then be displayed, where the match indicates validity, while a mismatch indicates a fake.

LIST OF REFERENCE NUMBERS

1

value document

2

Coded information by succession of adjacent lines, for example barcode or Morse code

3

line

4

Part of a line, which has a gap (Z)

5

reference edge

6

Optional additional coded information by sequence of adjacent lines, for example barcode or Morse code

Z

gap

b _Z

Gap width

A _L

Distance of the neighboring lines of the coding ( 2 )

b _l

Width of the adjacent lines of the coding ( 2 )

QUOTES INCLUDE IN THE DESCRIPTION

This list of the documents listed by the applicant has been generated automatically and is included solely for the better information of the reader. The list is not part of the German patent or utility model application. The DPMA assumes no liability for any errors or omissions.

Cited patent literature

• WO 2007/121726 [0002]
• WO 03/051643 A1 [0002]

Claims (9)

Value and / or security document ( 1 ) with at least one line ( 3 ) is formed with a line width (b), characterized in that at least one of the lines ( 3 ) at least in a subarea ( 4 ), so that a gap (Z) with a width (b _Z ) is formed, wherein in the space (Z) a first information is encoded and wherein the space (Z) is not visible to the naked eye. Value and / or security document ( 1 ) with at least one line according to claim 1, wherein at least one line ( 3 ) forms part of a guilloche pattern. Value and / or security document ( 1 ) according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the coded first information is coded by a Morse code or bar code. Value and / or security document ( 1 ) according to claim 1, 2 or 3, characterized in that the width (b) of the lines ( 3 ) is between 0.01 and 1 mm, in particular between 0.01 and 0.2 mm. Value and / or security document ( 1 ) according to any one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that the width of the intermediate space (b _Z ) is between 5 and 50 μm, in particular between 10 and 30 μm. Value and / or security document ( 1 ) according to one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that the subregion ( 4 ) with respect to at least one reference edge ( 5 ) of the value and / or security document ( 1 ) has a defined position and / or orientation. Value and / or security document ( 1 ) according to one of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that it additionally carries a machine and / or person readable second information which is correlated with the first information. Value and / or security document ( 1 ) according to claim 7, characterized in that the second encoded information ( 2 ) a checksum of a first information attached to the security and / or security document ( 6 ). Value and / or security document ( 1 ) according to one of claims 1 to 8, characterized in that the first or the second encoded information ( 2 ) for the value and / or security document ( 1 ) is individualizing or that the first or the second encoded information ( 2 ) for a group of value and / or security documents ( 1 ) is characteristic.

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