EP2379339A1

EP2379339A1 - Data media having inspection area

Info

Publication number: EP2379339A1
Application number: EP09799020A
Authority: EP
Inventors: André Gregarek; Ralf Liebler
Original assignee: Giesecke and Devrient GmbH
Current assignee: Giesecke and Devrient Currency Technology GmbH
Priority date: 2008-12-22
Filing date: 2009-12-09
Publication date: 2011-10-26
Anticipated expiration: 2029-12-09
Also published as: BRPI0918341A2; WO2010072329A1; DE102009011424A1; CA2748091A1; BRPI0918341B1; ZA201105340B; ES2897514T3; RU2011129698A; RU2508203C2; EP2379339B1

Abstract

The invention relates to a data medium, especially a value document, such as a banknote, identification card, and the like, having a carrier (20) in which an inspection area (12) is formed by a line raster made of a plurality of parallel cut lines (22), wherein a motif area (30) having a visual impression that changes in direct and/or transmitted light is disposed within the inspection area (12), said motif being designed in the form of a pattern, symbol, or code.

Description

Disk with transparency

The invention relates to a data carrier, in particular a value document, such as a banknote, identity card and the like, with a see-through area and a method for producing such a data carrier.

Data carriers, such as security, value or identity documents, but also other valuables, are often provided with security features for securing purposes, which permit verification of the authenticity of the data carrier and at the same time serve as protection against unauthorized reproduction. Increasingly transparent security features, such as transparent windows in banknotes, are becoming increasingly attractive. For window production, for example, a film provided with an adhesive layer on one side is applied to a banknote in order to close a previously produced through opening of the banknote.

Based on this, the object of the present invention is to further improve data carriers of the type mentioned above with regard to their imitation security and their visual appearance.

This object is achieved by the data carrier and the production method having the features of the independent claims. Further developments of the invention are the subject of the dependent claims.

According to the invention, a generic data carrier, in particular a value document such as a banknote, identification card and the like, contains a carrier in which a see-through area is formed by a line grid of a plurality of parallel cut lines. Within the see-through range, according to the invention, a motive region with an incident light and / or or transmitted light changed visual impression formed in the form of a pattern, a character or a coding.

In a preferred variant of the invention, the motif area is formed by a line grid of a plurality of parallel cut lines, so that the cut lines of the motif area form first cut lines and the cut lines of the see-through area outside the motif area form second cut lines, the first and second cut lines adjoining one another and have different cutting width. Due to the different cutting widths of the first and second cutting lines and the resulting different area coverage of the carrier, the motif area within the surrounding see-through area in the transmitted light and / or incident light is visually recognizable. The width of the first cutting lines can be both larger and smaller than the width of the second cutting lines. The wider cut lines are in particular at least

10%, at least 20%, at least 50% or even more than 100% wider than the narrower cut lines. The cutting width of the first and second cutting lines is in each case substantially constant in advantageous configurations. The phrase "substantially constant" takes into account the fact that the cutting width in laser cutting in practice, even with the same settings vary slightly and therefore can not be completely constant.

In advantageous embodiments of the invention, the support is provided with a laser-modifiable marking substance in the see-through region, and at least the cutting lines of the see-through region lying outside the motif region have an edge region modified by the action of laser radiation. If there are also cut lines within the motif area, these also have an advantage due to the fact that kung laser radiation modified edge region. In other embodiments, the motif area is uncut, in particular provided only with marking lines or marking contours, as explained below.

In particular, the carrier can be provided with a marking substance whose visible color can be changed by the action of the laser radiation. The cut lines of the see-through area lying outside of the motif area and optionally also the cutting lines present within the motif area then have a colored border area.

Alternatively or additionally, the carrier can be provided with a marking substance whose infrared-absorbing, magnetic, electrical or luminescent properties can be changed by the action of the laser radiation. The cut lines of the see-through region lying outside the motif area and, if appropriate, also the cutting lines present within the motif area then have an edge area with infrared-absorbing, magnetic, electrical or luminescent properties which have been changed with respect to their surroundings. Such designs allow a simple supplemental machine authenticity check of the see-through area.

As a marker, laser-modifiable effect pigments can advantageously be used. Such effect pigments are available to the person skilled in the art with different properties, in particular with respect to their body color, the color change under laser action, the threshold energy and the required laser wavelength. Also, effect pigments which on laser irradiation are not (only) their visible color but their infrared-absorbing, magnetic, electrical or luminescent properties are known to those skilled in the art. The modification of the effect pigments can be carried out with laser radiation in the ultraviolet, visible or infrared spectral range, for example with a CCh laser of a wavelength of 10.6 microns.

In another likewise advantageous variant of the invention, a pigment-free laser-modifiable marker is used. Pigment-free marking substances can also be applied to the carrier or introduced into the carrier volume, for example as a stitch or printing ink. With pigment-free marking materials, a coating of high transparency can be produced, into which a permanent and high-contrast marking can be introduced by laser action at high speed. Pigment-free marking substances can be modified by laser radiation in the ultraviolet, visible or infrared spectral range, for example with the 10.6 μm radiation of a CO 2 laser. Concrete, non-limiting examples of pigment-free laser-modifiable marking substances are given in the publications WO 02/101462 A1, US Pat. No. 4,343,885 and EP 0290 750 B1. As marking substances that can be modified with a CO2 cutting laser, in particular also the laser-markable compositions indicated in the publication EP 1 648 969 B1 can be used.

In a further likewise advantageous variant of the invention, the motif region is formed by an uncut region of the carrier. The motif area is then clearly visible as an uncut part of the wearer against the background of the screened-through area, especially in transmitted light. According to a further advantageous variant of the invention, the motif area is formed by an uncut area of the carrier with a marking line grid of a plurality of parallel marking lines which adjoin the cutting lines outside the motif area. The motif area is clearly visible as an uncut part of the wearer in transmitted light and clearly visible through the marking lines even in the top view.

In this variant of the invention, the carrier is preferably provided with a marking substance whose visible color can be changed by the action of the laser radiation so that the marking lines of the motif area are colored. Alternatively or additionally, the support may also be provided with a marking substance whose infrared-absorbing, magnetic, electrical or luminescent properties can be changed by the action of the laser radiation, so that the marking lines of the motif area have infrared-absorbing, magnetic, have electrical or luminescent properties. As markers, the abovementioned substances are also suitable here.

In a further advantageous variant of the invention, the motif region is formed by an uncut region of the carrier with a plurality of nested marking contours of decreasing size. The marking contours expediently reproduce the shape of the motif area, whereby with increasing reduction, not all details of the outer contour of the motif area have to be displayed. Even with such a design, the motif area with the illustrated marking motif in incident light is clearly recognizable.

As in the case of the preceding variant of the invention, the support can also be provided in this variant with a marking substance whose visible Color and / or its infrared-absorbing, magnetic, electrical or luminescent properties can be changed by the action of the laser radiation, so that the marking contours have correspondingly changed properties.

In all designs, a continuous motif opening in the form of a pattern, of characters or of an encoding can be arranged within the motif area. In advantageous embodiments, the shape of the motif opening is in a context of meaning with the shape of the motif area. Such a context of meaning may in particular consist in that the motif opening represents the same motif as the motif area, wherein the spatial position and / or the size of the two motifs shown may differ. The context of meaning can also consist in the fact that the first and second motif shown only form parts of the motif that complement each other, or that the first and second depicted motifs complement each other to form a conclusive overall picture.

Also, the see-through area itself may be formed in all designs in the form of a pattern, characters or a coding, wherein the shape of the see-through area with the shape of the motif area and / or any existing motif opening may be in a sense context. However, the shapes of the viewing area, the motif area and the motif opening can also be chosen independently of each other and each represent independent motifs.

In a development of the invention, the see-through region also has a marking line raster of a plurality of parallel marking lines in addition to the line grid of parallel cut lines. The cut lines and the marking lines can be parallel or any Include angle. In this development, the motif area is advantageously formed by an uncut area of the carrier with two marking line grids each consisting of a plurality of parallel marking lines, the marking lines of one marking line grid adjoining the cutting lines outside the motif area and the marking lines of the other marking line grid adjoining the marking lines outside the motif area connect.

According to a further advantageous variant of the invention, the outline of the active area is provided with a marking contour, in particular a colored marking contour, in order to increase the recognizability of the motif area in incident light.

In all designs, the cutting lines are preferably made with a width between 0.05 mm and 1 mm, in particular between 0.1 mm and 0.4 mm and with a distance (center-center) between 0.05 mm and 1 mm. At a typical spacing of 0.5 mm, the width of the cut line is preferably between 0.10 and 0.35 mm.

The see-through area of the data carrier is advantageously reinforced by a film element. The film element may be formed as a patch or as a strip. Alternatively, the film element can also cover the entire surface of the data carrier. The film element may be laminated or coextruded onto the backing, either only on one surface of the backing or on both surfaces, ie front and / or back. The sheet element can comprise, in particular a line screen which produces a moire with the line screen of the viewing area, insbesonde- ^"ic ^~: i_i ^t, ^J v ^a, ^{J cj.ilw:} IE period of Linierirasters of Fulienelements slightly from the PE differs period of the line grid of the see-through range and / or the two line grids are rotated against each other.

In a further embodiment, the film element is frosted. The matting causes the visual impression of the motif area arranged in the see-through area to change more strongly in reflected light and / or transmitted light than without matting. In particular, the subject area in transmitted light is very good, in reflected light as good as no longer visible. The matting of the film can be achieved by applying a matting coating. The coating is preferably a pressure-accepting layer. The pressure-receiving layer usually comprises a binder and silica gel as main components. The silica content depends on the desired thickness of the matting. The more silica is contained, the dull the layer becomes.

As an alternative to applying a matting layer, the film element itself may also be matt. For example, polyethylene terephthalate (PET) or polypropylene (PP) films are used.

In further embodiments, the film element is provided with a metallic layer at least in the area of the motif area arranged in the see-through area. Preferably, the metallic layer is vapor-deposited. The thickness of the metallic layer is dimensioned such that it appears opaque to a viewer in incident light and at least partially transparent in transmitted light. In incident light, the observer can thus not recognize the motif area covered by the metallic layer, but very well in transmitted light. In a metallic view of aluminum, the thickness is preferably between 30 nm and 40 nm. However, it is also possible to use the screened viewing area without additional film element as a security element. The data carrier can in particular be a security element, a security paper or a value document.

The invention also includes a method for producing a data carrier of the type mentioned above. In the carrier, a see-through region is formed by laser scanning a line grid of a plurality of parallel cutting lines is generated, wherein within the see-through range a subject area with a in incident light and / or transmitted light modified visual impression is formed, which is in the form of a pattern, a character or a coding.

The motif area of the data carrier is preferably formed by a line grid of first parallel cut lines, which are generated by the same cutting laser beam as the second cut lines of the see-through area lying outside the motif area. The first and second cutting lines are generated by a variation of the laser parameters, in particular the laser power and / or the cutting speed, with different cutting widths.

In advantageous embodiments, the carrier is provided with a laser-modifiable marking substance before the laser cutting in the see-through range, so that the cutting lines lying outside the motif range are modified by the action of the laser radiation in its edge region. If cut lines are present within the motif area, then these too are advantageously modified by the action of the laser radiation in their edge area. To provide the carrier with a marker, the carrier is coated in an advantageous variant of the invention on its surface with the marker, for example by a printing process. According to another advantageous variant of the invention, the marker is introduced into the volume of the carrier. Depending on the carrier material, different methods are available. If the carrier is formed from paper, the marker can advantageously be mixed with the sheet formation of the paper pulp. A further advantageous possibility is to introduce the marking substance into the volume of the paper substrate in a dipping bath or to impregnate the paper substrate in a size press with the marking substance. If the carrier is formed from a plastic film, the marking substance can likewise be introduced into the volume of the film during the production of the film or subsequently by means of an impregnation step.

In an advantageous variant of the method, the motif area is formed by an uncut area of the carrier. In particular, the motif area can be formed by an uncut area of the carrier with a marking line grid with parallel marking lines, which are generated by the same laser beam as the cut lines of the see-through area lying outside the motif area. The cut lines lying outside the motif area and the marking lines of the motif area are generated by a variation of the laser parameters, in particular the laser power and / or the cutting speed.

According to a further advantageous variant of the invention, the motif region is formed by an uncut region of the carrier with a plurality of marking elements of decreasing size arranged one inside the other. In the generation of the line grid from the plurality of parallel cut lines generally arise very thin paper webs. Surprisingly, however, it has been found that the paper webs are at least so stable that they hold up to a foil application of the see-through range. After the film application of the see-through area, the paper webs are stabilized by the film. The see-through areas according to the invention are therefore particularly suitable for security elements or value documents with film elements or a film composite document. In some cases, the paper webs are even so stable that they can be used without a stabilizing film.

Further exemplary embodiments and advantages of the invention will be explained below with reference to the figures, in the representation of which a representation true to scale and proportion has been dispensed with in order to increase the clarity.

Show it:

1 shows a schematic representation of a banknote with a see-through area according to the invention,

FIG. 2 shows a detail view of the see-through region of FIG. 1, FIG.

3 shows in (a) a sketch for explaining the change in the cutting width in cutting laser beams with different maximum powers and in (b) for explaining the change in the cutting width by a change in the cutting speed at a constant maximum laser power, 4 is a plan view of a see-through area according to another embodiment of the invention,

5 is a plan view of a see-through area according to a further embodiment of the invention,

6 shows a detailed detail of FIG. 5 at the transition of the motif area and the see-through area, FIG.

7 schematically shows the spatial energy distribution of a cutting laser beam to explain the formation of the edge effect,

8 is a plan view of a see-through area according to another embodiment of the invention,

9 is a plan view of a see-through area according to yet another embodiment of the invention,

10 shows a detailed detail of FIG. 9 at the transition from the motif area to the see-through area, FIG.

11 to 14 are plan views of see-through areas according to further embodiments of the invention, and

15 shows a detailed detail of FIG. 14 at the transition from the motif area and the see-through area.

The invention will now be explained using the example of a banknote. 1 and 2 show a schematic representation of a banknote 10, which NEN in Fig. 2 has shown in detail through-view region 12. To stabilize the see-through area 12 can be reinforced on the banknote 10 with a transparent film element, not shown.

With reference to the plan view of FIG. 2, the see-through area 12 is formed by a line grid of a plurality of parallel cut lines 22 which have been cut into the banknote paper 20 by the action of laser radiation. In the exemplary embodiment, the line grid of the cutting lines 22 has a period length of 0.5 mm at a cutting width of the cutting lines 22 of 0.15 mm, so that the area coverage of the line grid is 30%. The viewing area is therefore visible both in supervision and in review.

The see-through area 12 is in the form of a geometric pattern, for example of the oval shown in FIG. 2. The outline of the see-through area is indicated in the figure by the dashed line border 24 and serves only the graphic illustration of the formed shape.

Within the see-through area 12, a motif area 30 is arranged, which has a changed visual impression compared to the surrounding see-through area 12 in reflected light and / or transmitted light and is thus recognizable to the viewer. The motif area 30 is generally in the form of a pattern, formed by a character or a coding and in the exemplary embodiment has the shape of a maple leaf. The dashed line outline 34 of the motif area 30 is merely a graphical illustration of the shape of the motif area 30 and corresponds not necessarily an actual contour on the banknote.

Although the see-through area and the subject area in this and the exemplary embodiments described below are shown by way of example in the form of an oval or a maple leaf, these special forms merely serve to provide a clear representation of the various exemplary embodiments and are by no means to be understood as limiting.

In the exemplary embodiment of FIG. 2, the motif area 30 itself is also formed by a line grid of a plurality of parallel cut lines 32 which, when perfectly matched, connect to the cut lines 22 of the see-through area 12 lying outside the motif area 30. However, the cutting lines 32 of the motif area 30 are formed with a cutting width of 0.3 mm and thus substantially wider than the cutting lines 22 present outside the motif area. Due to the lower areal coverage of the paper in the motif area 30, the motif "maple leaf" formed by the latter is It is understood that numerical values other than those given by way of example can be used for the period lengths and cutting widths, for example, with a period length of 0.5 mm, the cutting width The cutting lines 22 lie outside the motif area 30 between 0.10 mm and 0.20 mm and the cutting width of the cut lines 22 within the motif area 30 are between 0.25 mm and 0.35 mm be lowered.

The perfect registration of the differently wide cutting lines 22, 32 is ensured by the fact that the cutting lines 22, 32 by laser cutting with the same cutting laser beam are generated in the same operation. The different cutting widths are generated by a variation of the laser parameters, in particular the laser power and / or the cutting speed, during the cutting process.

By way of illustration, FIG. 3 (a) shows the substantially Gaussian spatial distribution of the power W of a cutting laser beam. At a constant cutting speed and high maximum power (distribution 40), the energy input of the laser radiation into the paper exceeds the threshold energy needed to cut the paper 20 in a wide cutting area 42. In a distribution 44 with a lower maximum power, the threshold energy needed to cut the paper 20 becomes In contrast, exceeded only in a narrower cutting area 46, so that a smaller cutting width results. In this way, the cutting width of the laser beam along the laser beam guidance can be varied as desired at a constant cutting speed due to the virtually instantaneous possible variation of the laser power.

With reference to FIG. 2, adjoining cutting lines 22, 32 can be produced in this way in one operation as continuous and thus perfectly adjusted cutting lines. In the transition from the viewing area 12 (cutting lines 22) in the subject area 30 (cutting lines 32) to the laser power and thus the cutting width is increased and the transition from the subject area 30 (cutting lines 32) in the see-through 12 (section lines 22), the laser power and thus the Cutting width again lowered.

3 (b) illustrates the change in the cutting width by a change in the cutting speed at a constant maximum laser power (distribution). ment 50). At a high cutting speed, the laser radiation acts only relatively briefly on the paper, so that the energy input into the paper is low. Accordingly, the threshold energy required to cut the paper is exceeded only in a narrow cutting area 52 with high laser power. At a lower cutting speed, the laser radiation acts longer on the paper, resulting in a higher energy input into the paper. Accordingly, there is a wider cut area 54 in which the threshold energy needed to cut the paper is exceeded.

With reference to FIG. 2, adjoining cut lines 22, 32 can therefore also be produced in one operation as continuous and therefore perfectly adjusted cut lines, so that the cutting speed during the transition from the see-through region 12 (cut lines 22) into the motif region 30 (cut lines 32) is reduced and thus the cutting width is increased and that during the transition from the motif area 30 (cutting lines 32) into the see-through area 12 (cutting lines 22), the cutting speed is increased again and thus the cutting width is lowered.

For the sake of simplicity, the effects of the change of the laser parameters power and cutting speed have been separately explained in FIG. 3, respectively. It is understood, however, that the two parameters can also be changed together and simultaneously to have a wider range of variation available.

4 shows a further exemplary embodiment of a see-through area 60 designed according to the invention, in which the parallel cut lines 22 lying outside the motif area 64, as in FIG. 2, were produced by laser cutting. In contrast to the design of FIG. 2 was within of the motif region 64, the laser power of the cutting laser is lowered below the cutting threshold of the paper 20, so that no cutting lines were generated there. The motif area 64 thus remains as an uncut piece of paper and can be seen clearly against the background of the screened viewing area 60, especially in transmitted light.

In the embodiment of FIG. 5, the see-through area 70 and the motif area 80, as in FIG. 2, are each formed by a line grid of a plurality of parallel cut lines 72 and 82, the cut lines 72, 82 adjoining each other and the cut width of the cut lines 72 is selected outside the motif area 80 by appropriate variation of the laser parameters is smaller than the cutting width of the cut lines 82 within the motif area 80.

In addition, both the cut lines 72 and the cut lines 82 are each surrounded on both sides by a perfectly matched colored edge 74 and 84, respectively, as shown in more detail in the detail of Fig. 6, the transition of a cutting line 72 in a section line 82 at the edge 86 of the motif area 80 shows.

In order to produce such a colored edge 74, 84 which has been perfectly matched to the cutting lines, the banknote paper 20 was provided with laser-modifiable effect pigments before the laser cutting of a certain environment of the see-through region 70 to be generated, which upon exposure to laser radiation produces a desired color change, for example of colorless to red, show.

The principle of simultaneous and perfectly matched generation of cut lines 72, 82 and colored edges 74, 84 is illustrated in FIG again schematically the spatial power distribution 55 of the cutting laser beam is shown. In an inner region, the cutting region 56, the laser energy exceeds the threshold energy E ₁ required to cut the paper 20. E ₂ denotes the reaction energy of the effect pigments in FIG. 7, at which point the desired color change takes place. As can be seen directly from the figure, in an outer region of the laser beam profile, the marking region 58, the laser energy lies between the energy E ₂ required for the color change and the energy E ₁ required for cutting, so that in the marking region 58 a color change of Effect pigments is induced, but the carrier is not cut.

The banknote paper 20 provided with the laser-modifiable effect pigments is therefore cut by the laser beam 55 in a central region 72 or 82 corresponding to the cutting region 56 of FIG. 7 and additionally in an edge region 74, 84 in perfect registration with the cutting line 72 or 82 colored. The width of the colored edge region 74, 84 corresponds to the width of the marking region 58 and depends on the beam profile, the reaction energy of the effect pigments used and the material properties of the paper. Outside the cutting region 56 and the marking region 58, the laser energy is below the reaction threshold of the effect pigments, so that the paper is not changed there.

The laser-modifiable effect pigments can be applied to the banknote paper 20, for example printed on it, or can be introduced into the volume of the banknote paper 20. This can already be done in papermaking by admixture of the effect pigments to paper pulp in the biassing or also subsequently in one Dip or by impregnation in the size press. Curtain coating and brushing are also possible.

Instead of the effect pigments exemplified, a pigment-free laser-modifiable marker can also be used. Such pigment-free marking substances can also be printed on the respective carrier or introduced into the volume of the carrier, for example as a stitch or printing ink. Non-pigmented, laser-modifiable coatings can have a very high transparency in the unlabeled state. By the action of laser radiation, for example, a CO 2 laser at 10.6 microns, can be produced at high speed permanent and high-contrast edge markings.

In addition to the modification of the effect pigments or of the pigment-free marking substance by the laser radiation itself, a modification of the effect pigments by the heat generated during laser beam cutting is also suitable. In this way, the modified edge area of the cut lines may even be larger than the beam extent.

In order to make the outline 86 of the motif region 80 more easily recognizable in incident light, the outer contour 88 of the motif region 80 can be marked by means of the laser radiation, as shown in FIG. 8. To generate the outer contour 88, the laser parameters are adjusted so that the laser energy is above the entire beam diameter below the cutting threshold of the paper, but in an inner region still above the reaction threshold of the effect pigments. This can be achieved, for example, by the choice of a laser energy E between E ₁ and E ₂ in FIG. 7 or also by an adaptation of the cutting speed. The color effect of the outer contour 88 can also be designed so that the effect pigments or the pigment-free marking agent is removed in the middle of the line and the underlying layer or paper surface is revealed.

9 shows a further embodiment of a see-through region 90 in which the parallel cut lines 92 lying outside the motif region 100, as in FIG. 5, were produced by laser cutting a marker paper 20 provided with a marker together with a matched colored edge 94. In contrast to the design of FIG. 5, the laser parameters of the cutting laser during the transition into the motif region 100 were varied so that the energy input into the paper is below the cutting threshold of the paper 20, but still above the reaction threshold of the marking substance. In this way, the laser beam within the motif area 100 no longer produces any intersection lines with colored edges, but only colored marking lines 102 which adjoin the intersection lines 92 and are perfectly matched to them.

The appearance of the cutting lines 92 with colored edge 94 and the subsequent marking lines 102 in the region of the outline 106 of the active region is shown in greater detail in the detail section of FIG. Such a smooth transition from colored marking lines to color-edged cutting lines is visually attractive, easy to detect and also represents a technical obstacle that is difficult to overcome for a counterfeiter already explained in connection with FIG.

In the variant of the design of FIG. 9 shown in FIG. 11, a further region 110 is provided within the motif region 100, in which the marker 102 again go into color-bordered cut lines 92, 94. In this case, the shape of the further region 110 may be meaningful with the shape of the motif region 100 and, for example, represent the same motif, as shown by way of example in FIG. 11. Such a design can also be considered as a see-through area with an annular motif area 112.

It goes without saying that a plurality of transitions between marking lines 102 and color-bordered cutting lines 92, 94 can also be provided along the laser beam guidance in a viewing area. Such designs can generally be regarded as a see-through region with a motif region that is not necessarily continuous or convex, that is, for example, consists of several non-contiguous subregions with holes. Even in such embodiments, the contour of the motif area or its subareas can be marked with laser radiation, as already explained in FIG. 8.

The further embodiment of FIG. 12 shows a see-through area 120 according to the invention, in which the parallel cut lines 122 found outside the motif area 130 have been produced by laser cutting a banknote paper 20 provided with a marker having a matched colored edge 124, as in FIG , In the motif area 130, the cut lines 122, 124 were interrupted so that the motif area 130 forms an uncut paper area within the see-through area 120.

Then, the laser laser subject area 130 having a laser energy that lies between the reaction threshold of the marker and the cutting threshold of the paper 20 has concentric marker contours 132 provided whose shape of the contour of the motif area is modeled. The concentric marking contours do not necessarily represent exact, miniaturized copies of the outer contour of the motif region 130, but, as shown in FIG. 12, may expediently contain fewer and smaller details of the outer contour as the size decreases.

In all embodiments shown, a continuous motif opening in the form of a pattern, of characters or an encoding may additionally be provided within the motif area. By way of example, FIG. 13 shows a modification of the exemplary embodiment of FIG. 2, in which a continuous motif opening 140, here also in the form of a maple leaf, is arranged within the motif area 30. The shape of the motif opening 140 may in particular, as in FIG. 13, be in a sense context with the shape of the motif area 30 and / or the shape of the see-through area 12.

An embodiment according to an embodiment of the invention, which is related to the design described in FIG. 9, is shown in FIG. 14 in plan view and in FIG. 15 in a detail area at the transition from the motif area to the see-through area.

The exemplary embodiment of FIGS. 14 and 15 includes a see-through area 150 which has both a cut-line grid of parallel cut lines 152 with a colored border 154 outside the motif area 160 and a mark line grid of parallel marking lines 156 that are parallel to the cut lines 152 of the cut line grid. Within the uncut motif region 160, both the marking lines 156 and the cutting lines 152 in perfect registration pass over into pure marking lines 162, as already explained in connection with FIG. 9. In the exemplary embodiment shown, the two line types 152, 156 of the see-through area are arranged alternately, but other sequences, for example of two cut lines 152 and one marking line 156, are also conceivable. Since the marker line grid contains no cut lines, it can also be arranged at any angle to the cut line grid.

Claims

Patent claims

1. Data carrier, in particular document of value, such as banknote, identity card and the like, with a carrier in which a see-through area is formed by a line grid of a plurality of parallel cut lines, wherein within the see-through area a subject area with a changed in incident light and / or transmitted light visual impression arranged in the form of a pattern, a character or a coding.

2. Data carrier according to claim 1, characterized in that the motif area is formed by a line grid of a plurality of parallel cut lines, so that the intersection lines of the motif area form first cut lines and lying outside of the motif area intersecting lines of the see-through area form second cut lines, the first and Connect second cut lines together and have different cutting width.

3. A data carrier according to claim 2, characterized in that the cutting width of the first and second cutting lines is each substantially constant.

4. Data carrier according to at least one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the carrier is provided in the see-through range with a lasermodizierbaren marker, and that the lying outside of the motif area cutting lines of the see-through region have a modified by the action of laser radiation edge region.

5. A data carrier according to claim 4, characterized in that the carrier is provided with a marking substance, the visible color of which is changeable by the action of the laser radiation, and in that the lying outside of the motif area cutting lines of the see-through area have a colored edge region.

6. A data carrier according to claim 4 or 5, characterized in that the carrier is provided with a marking substance, the infrared absorbing, magnetic, electrical or luminescent properties are changed by the action of the laser radiation, and that lying outside the motive area intersecting lines of the see-through area an edge region have infrared-absorbing, magnetic, electrical or luminescent properties that are altered relative to their surroundings.

7. A data carrier according to claim 4, characterized in that the motif area is formed by a line grid of a plurality of parallel cut lines, so that the cut lines of the motif area form first cut lines and the cut lines of the see-through area outside the motif area form the second Forming cut lines, wherein the first and second cutting lines adjoin one another and the first cutting lines and preferably also the second cutting lines have a modified by the action of laser radiation edge region.

8. A data carrier according to at least one of claims 1, 4 to 6, characterized in that the motif area is formed by an uncut area of the carrier.

9. Data carrier according to at least one of claims 4 to 6, characterized in that the motif area is formed by an uncut area of the carrier with a Marklinienlinienraster of a plurality of parallel marking lines, which connect to the cut lines outside the motif area.

10. A data carrier according to claim 9, characterized in that the carrier is provided with a marking substance whose visible color is changeable by the action of the laser radiation and that the marking lines of the motif area are colored.

11. A data carrier according to claim 9 or 10, characterized in that the carrier is provided with a marker whose infrared absorbing, magnetic, electrical or luminescent properties are changed by the action of the laser radiation and that the marking lines of the subject area relative to their environment changed infrared-absorbing , magnetic, electrical or luminescent properties.

12. A data carrier according to at least one of claims 4 to 6, characterized in that the motif area is formed by an uncut area of the carrier with a plurality of nested marking contours decreasing size.

13. A data carrier according to claim 12, characterized in that the carrier is provided with a marking substance whose visible color is changeable by the action of the laser radiation and that the marking contours of the motif area are colored.

14. A data carrier according to at least one of claims 1 to 13, characterized in that within the motif area a continuous motif opening in the form of a pattern, of characters or a coding is arranged.

15. A data carrier according to at least one of claims 1 to 14, characterized in that the see-through area next to the line grid of parallel cut lines has a Marklinienlinienraster of a plurality of parallel marking lines.

16. A data carrier according to claim 15, characterized in that the motif area is formed by an uncut area of the carrier with two Markierungslinienrastern from each of a plurality of parallel marking lines, of which connect the marking lines of a Markungs- rungslinienr asters to the cutting lines outside the motif area and the marking lines of the other marker line grid to the marker lines outside the scene area.

17. A data carrier according to at least one of claims 4 to 16, characterized in that the outline of the motif area is provided with a marking contour, in particular a colored marking contour.

18. A data carrier according to at least one of claims 1 to 17, characterized in that the cutting lines have a width between 0.05 mm and 1 mm, in particular between 0.1 mm and 0.4 mm and a center-to-center distance between 0.05 mm and 1 mm, in particular between 0.3 mm and 0.7 mm.

19. A data carrier according to at least one of claims 1 to 18, characterized in that the see-through area in the form of a pattern, of characters or a coding is formed.

20. A data carrier according to at least one of claims 1 to 19, characterized in that the see-through area is reinforced by a film element.

21. A data carrier according to claim 20, characterized in that the film element contains a line grid, which generates a moire effect with the line grid of the see-through area.

22. The data carrier according to claim 1, wherein the data carrier is a security element, a security paper or a value document.

23. A method for producing a data carrier according to one of claims 1 to 22, comprising a carrier, in which a see-through region is to be introduced, wherein in the carrier a see-through region is formed by a line grid is generated by a plurality of parallel cutting lines by laser cutting in which, inside the see-through area, a motif area is produced with a visual impression which changes in reflected light and / or transmitted light and which is formed in the form of a pattern, a sign or an encoding.

24. The method according to claim 23, characterized in that the motif area is formed by a line grid of first parallel cut lines, which generates by the same cutting laser beam as lying outside the motif area second cutting lines of the see-through range be, and that the first and second cutting lines are generated by a variation of the laser parameters, in particular laser power and / or the cutting speed, with different cutting width.

25. The method according to claim 23 or 24, characterized in that the carrier is provided in the see-through range with a laser-modifiable marker, so that the lying outside the subject area cutting lines are modified by the action of the laser radiation in its edge region.

26. The method according to claim 24 and 25, characterized in that also lying within the subject area cutting lines are modified by the action of the laser radiation in its edge region.

27. The method according to claim 23 or 25, characterized in that the motif area is formed by an uncut portion of the carrier.

28. Method according to claim 27, characterized in that the active area is formed by an uncut area of the carrier with a marking line grid with parallel marking lines which are generated by the same laser beam as the lines of intersection of the see-through area lying outside the area of the subject of the motif area lying cut lines and the marking lines of the motif area by a variation of the laser parameters, in particular the laser power and / or the cutting speed, are generated.

29. The method according to claim 27, characterized in that the motif area through an uncut area of the carrier with a plurality formed in adjacent marking contours of decreasing size.

30. The method according to at least one of claims 23 to 29, characterized in that within the motif area a continuous motif opening in the form of a pattern, of characters or a coding is generated.

31. The method according to at least one of claims 25 to 30, characterized in that the outline of the motif area is provided with a marking contour, in particular a colored marking contour.