EP2681055B1 - Method and security element for storing information by means of microchannels in a substrate - Google Patents

Description

The invention generally relates to security elements for value and / or security documents, in particular to a method for producing a security element, which comprises at least one light-opaque substrate in a continuous area, in which information is stored by means of microchannels. Furthermore, the invention relates to a corresponding security element for a value and / or security document.

A security element is an entity that includes at least one security feature intended to protect an imitation, falsification, copy or manipulation of the security element itself or an article in or on which the security element is mounted. Documents which have at least one security feature and / or one security element are referred to as security documents. As a rule, security documents comprise a multiplicity of different security features and / or security elements. Security documents include, for example, ID documents, passports, visas, identity cards, identity cards, driver's licenses, vehicle registration documents, vehicle registration documents, registration certificates, company identity cards, access cards, bank cards or credit cards, but also labels protected against adulteration, tickets or the like, to name only a few.

A subset of the security documents, which additionally embody a value, is also referred to as a group of value documents. The group of value documents includes i.a. Banknotes, postage stamps, tax stamps, stocks, securities, waybills and the like, just to name a few.

From the prior art, a variety of security features and security elements is known in which information is encoded, which is to be protected by the security feature or security element against copying, duplicating or against tampering. Increased security against falsification and manipulation is obtained by the fact that the information which is protected by the security feature or security element is selected individually for the respective security element or security document in which the security element is or is integrated. For each security element to be forged is This then individually for the respective security document or security element to fake.

A group of security elements is formed by inserting recesses or perforations into a substrate.

From the FR 2 564 622 A1 For example, there is known a method of producing identification documents having indicia that enable identification or identification of at least one owner. The method described therein comprises transmitting such indicia to a solid support in the form of at least a set of points distributed as pits or bumps at discrete intervals. For example, a first set of such points represents a passport photograph of the owner. For example, a second set of points may include various symbols, such as letters, numbers, or other graphical symbols, indicating the identity, an address, or other information about the user. The dots may be formed by controlled penetration of a tool into the medium of the substrate or via an interaction with a laser. For example, the dots are arranged as pits at regular intervals. In order to obtain contrasts between lighter and darker sections, it is proposed to vary their cross-section with constant spacing of the points. Another embodiment provides that depressions of uniform depth are produced and the density of the dots is varied. The dots may also be formed as through holes through the substrate.

A similar security feature is from the EP 0 936 975 B1 It is known to protect a document against counterfeiting by comprising a security feature in the form of a perforation pattern and the perforation pattern comprising holes of different sizes, the perforation pattern extending over a closed surface of the document and representing a passport photograph. The perforation pattern is generated by means of laser light.

In these described embodiments, the information can be verified immediately by viewing the perforation pattern, for example in transmitted light. It is disadvantageous that the stored information can be changed significantly by adding or changing individual holes in the perforation patterns.

From the DE 199 34 434 A1 are a value and security document with perforations known in which microchannels are arranged as additional security and authenticity. Embodiments are described in which the microchannels are introduced at different angles to the surface of the value and / or security document. Embodiments are described in which the different inclinations of the microchannels relative to a surface normal are to be achieved so that different viewing directions exist and from the respective viewing directions only the microchannels of the microperforation are recognizable whose channel axis is substantially aligned with a viewing direction. Also in the DE 199 34 434 A1 described embodiments can be partially subsequently manipulated by adding additional microperforations under the corresponding necessary inclination to the surface normal.

Also from the WO 00/43216 A1 If a security document with a perforation pattern is known, further from the WO 2012/046213 A1 , which is state of the art under Article 54 (3) EPC, discloses a security document which does not disclose that the perforation pattern formed on surfaces of the opaque substrate does not directly represent the information content of the stored information.

The invention is based on the technical object to provide a novel security element and a method for its production, which accomplishes an information storage in other ways, preferably well protected against subsequent unnoticed manipulations, yet reliably allows verification without too much effort.

Basic idea of the invention

The invention is based on the idea to encode the information in the form of light beam directions which occur in an optical imaging process, wherein the light propagation directions are "formed" in the form of transparent channels in an at least extensively extended opaque substrate. The transparent channels formed in the otherwise opaque substrate or opaque volume region of a substrate thus define light propagation directions which in their entirety store information which can be converted into a graphically perceptible representation by means of imaging optics, from which the information content is visual or, if one Illustration of the graphical representation is captured, can be detected by machine.

An advantage of the form of storage is that the perforation pattern itself, which is produced on surfaces of the substrate, does not directly store the stored one Information or its information content and thus a manipulation on adding more transparent channels is much more difficult. For manipulation or counterfeiting, it is necessary to know at least the imaging geometry necessary for the verification and to take this into consideration when introducing additional transparent channels, if that is even possible. In order to be able to form additional transparent channels in the substrate, a volume region of the substrate must exist for the corresponding channel inclination which is free of the already existing differently inclined transparent channels.

definitions

A security element is any physical entity that includes at least one security feature.

A security feature is a feature that at least complicates or prevents mimicking, duplicating, falsifying or the like of an article.

Security documents are documents which comprise at least one, preferably several, in particular different, security features and / or elements. According to the above definition of a security element, each security document itself also constitutes a security element.

Value documents are a group of security documents that embody a value. A precise distinction between value documents and those security documents that are not value documents is difficult in some areas, since, for example, bank or credit cards often themselves do not embody immediate value, but allow for the possibility of having large sums of money. A precise delimitation is not essential to the invention.

An object or a spatial area is referred to as transparent, which transmits light, ie electromagnetic radiation, a wavelength or a wavelength range in the form of directed radiation. Directed radiation has an intensity distribution which has a high intensity only in a coherent limited solid angle range. Among the other solid angles is the Intensity substantially, usually by several orders of magnitude, weaker, preferably close to zero. If such a directed radiation passes through a transparent material, the property is maintained that the intensity is concentrated in a limited solid angle range. Although the solid angle range can increase, a significant diffuse scattering does not occur. However, a weakening with respect to an intensity of the radiation passing through the transparent region or the transparent spatial region can occur. Through a transparent material through an image according to the geometric appearance is possible.

In contrast, a material is referred to as translucent in which the described property of preserving the directional characteristic is no longer present. Mainly due to diffuse scattering, an originally directed radiation, a radiation whose intensity distribution in a large solid angle range has a clearly perceptible intensity. An increase in intensity in or around the angular range which can be associated with the original direction of propagation of the directed radiation is possible, but is no longer several orders of magnitude.

As opaque is meant the property which is a passage of light, i. electromagnetic radiation, at least for one wavelength or one or more wavelength ranges. For indicating whether an object or a spatial area is transparent or opaque, it is important to specify the wavelength or wavelength range for which these properties are being studied or applied. There are a variety of materials which are transparent, for example in the visible wavelength range, but opaque in the ultraviolet wavelength range.

A channel in the sense of the invention is understood to mean a space area which has at least one axis which runs straight through the space area. A transparent channel formed in an opaque substrate constitutes in the substrate a space region penetrating the substrate which is transparent to light of at least one wavelength or wavelength range for which the substrate is otherwise opaque, the space region being geometrically formed to have one Light passage along a straight line through the space area direction or a narrow spatial angle range around this straight through the Spaces favored spatial area and makes other propagation directions of light through the channel difficult or impossible.

An opaque substrate, at least in a contiguous volume range, is a substrate comprising a contiguous volume region having a finite non-zero extent parallel to the surface normal of the substrate and at least its entrance and exit surfaces for light of at least one wavelength or wavelength range , which impinges on the volume area parallel to surface normal, are opaque. The entrance and exit surfaces are the boundary surfaces of the volume region which intersects an imaginary straight line along which directed light would propagate through the volume region, provided that volume region were transparent. Preferably, the volume area is opaque in its entire volume. A substrate layer designed as a coextruded film, which is made opaque on plane-parallel surfaces and transparent in an inner volume region lying between them, thus represents a substrate that is opaque in a coherent volume region in the sense of the definition given here. Also in their entire volume opaque films represent an opaque substrate at least in a contiguous volume range.

Information may be represented or stored in a variety of different ways. For example, a term such as the word "house" may be represented and stored over the printed letters house in the form of ink on a white paper. It is also possible to code the same information as Braille, ie in the form of individual circular elevations over an otherwise smooth surface. Other possible forms of representation consist in a binary coding of the individual characters, for example according to the ASCII code or the university code. Even if the configuration of the storage is different, all these have in common that they contain the same information content, namely the meaning of the term house. In the representation in which this term is represented by the characters house with printing ink on a white background, for example, this information content is displayed visually for a human being or, after acquisition of an image, for example via pattern recognition, as implemented in various OCR programs. to recognize and evaluate.

Light is electromagnetic radiation of a predetermined wavelength range, for example the visible wavelength range. However, light can also be UV radiation, IR radiation or comprise a combination of radiation of different wavelength ranges.

A direction vector is a vector indicating an orientation in three-dimensional space.

If a point is also assigned to a direction vector in three-dimensional space, then this resulting mathematical object is referred to here as a space vector. Mathematically defined in the space vector a distance and a direction in three-dimensional space. Each space vector can be assigned exactly one straight line in three-dimensional space. This is the line on which the space vector lies. A length of the space vector is insignificant, so that space vectors that are on the same straight line are considered equal.

By way of illustration, a space vector may be an object which is characterized by a point in space, for example a point in the surface plane of a substrate, and a direction vector.

A characterization of a transparent channel via a space vector takes place, for example, such that the point in space in an entry surface of the substrate determines the position of an entry opening and the direction vector indicates the orientation of a channel axis.

Preferred embodiments

A method for producing a security element, which according to a preferred embodiment is designed as a security document, is proposed, which comprises the steps: providing a substrate that is opaque to light at least in a continuous volume range, providing information to be stored in the form of a Set of orientations or direction vectors, storing the information in the substrate by forming transparent channels in the opaque substrate within the contiguous volume region such that each of the orientations or each of the directional vectors at least one of the transparent channels is assigned, preferably each of the orientations or each of the direction vectors are each associated with a plurality of the transparent channels, each of the channels each favoring passage of light along a space vector associated with the respective channel, preferably exclusively along the associated channel Space vector which is collinear with the orientation or direction vector to which the respective transparent channel is assigned. As a direction vector, a vector indicating an orientation in three-dimensional space is considered. A space vector is considered to be an object which, in addition to an orientation determined for example by a direction vector, additionally indicates a point in space, for example a passage point of a straight line coincident with the direction vector through a predetermined plane, for example a surface of the opaque substrate. Channels formed, for example, in the opaque substrate and having the same orientation with respect to the surface or normal to the substrate and thus having the same orientation, ie collinear with a directional vector indicating the orientation in space, are distinguished by the passage points of straight lines , which coincide with the corresponding space vectors in terms of their orientation. Without limiting the generality, it is assumed below that the space vectors are each characterized by a point in the surface plane of the opaque substrate and the respective orientation, ie a direction vector. A security element produced according to the proposed method for a security document comprises at least one substrate that is opaque to light in at least one contiguous volume area, wherein transparent channels for storing information are formed within the opaque volume area of the substrate, wherein it is provided that the transparent ones Channels are formed so that each of the channels each favors passage of light along a space vector associated with the transparent channel, preferably exclusively along the space vector associated with the transparent channel, the channels being formed such that along the space vectors through the transparent channels of the space vector Substrate passing through light by means of a predetermined imaging optics on a arranged in a predetermined orientation to the imaging optics screen is mapped into a graphical representation, so that an Infor content of the stored information from the graphical representation can be detected. An advantage of the invention is that the inlet and / or outlet openings of the transparent channels represent patterns, if they are perceptible, which do not graphically represent the stored information. Rather, the stored information is visually discernible only when light is made available, so that it passes through the opaque substrate along the directions predetermined by the space vectors of the individual transparent channels and is imaged onto a screen by means of a predetermined imaging optics. This results in a graphic representation whose informational content is recorded by a human user. Alternatively, an image of the graphical representation can be detected and evaluated by machine, for example by means of a pattern recognition and a comparison with predetermined data.

Preferably, the transparent channels are formed by means of laser radiation in the form of microchannels in the opaque substrate region. This means that material is removed from the opaque substrate by laser ablation. As a result, through holes are created in the opaque substrate or a flatly extended opaque area, which no longer contain any opaque substrate material. Channels are designated as microchannels whose cross-sectional areas are dimensions in the micrometer range, preferably in the range between 30-500 μm, more preferably between 30-100 μm and most preferably between 75-300 μm. Particularly preferably, the microchannels have circular or elliptical cross-sectional areas. The details with regard to a dimensioning of the microchannels always relate to their state before the lamination is carried out. In general, a directional selection increases the smaller a cross-sectional area of the one microchannel is perpendicular to its longitudinal extent relative to the length of the channel along this longitudinal extent. For a given material thickness of the opaque volume range, the angle selection thus increases with the decrease of the diameter. At the same time, the intensity of the light passing through this channel at given illumination diminishes. However, this loss of intensity can be compensated for by adding microchannels having the same orientation.

Alternatively to shaping by laser radiation, mechanical methods, e.g. Punching, possible.

An advantage of the formation of the transparent channels as microchannels is that these in their entirety when viewed in both reflected and transmitted light are virtually imperceptible at the same time, since they are formed under different directions in the substrate. From a viewing direction which corresponds to one of the orientations, ie one of the direction vectors, contained in the set of orientations or direction vectors, only the transparent channels or microchannels to which a space vector is assigned, that is to say by a space vector, are observable which is collinear with the respective orientation. However, the stored information is only revealed through the entirety of the orientations formed in the document.

In a preferred embodiment, therefore, the transparent channels are formed as a micro-perforation, wherein the individual perforation holes represent the transparent channels and these are formed under different directions in the substrate and penetrate it. Preferably, the substrate is provided as an opaque film, which is preferably formed opaque, at least in a volume region below a planar region by the entire material thickness. Particularly preferably, a film which has been made opaque completely in the entire volume is used as the substrate. To produce the security element or a security document, the opaque or at least in a volume region opaque film, which is the substrate, laminated with other films to a document body. Since large pressures are exerted during the lamination on the film composite in the heated state, it is advantageous to fill the transparent channels with a transparent material prior to lamination. This can be done, for example, by the fact that the material which has a sufficient viscosity is, for example, doctored into the transparent channels.

Other method steps for filling the transparent channels may also be used. For example, screen printing or other methods could be used as long as there is sufficient filling with transparent material having sufficient incompressibility to prevent the microperforations from laminating due to pressure acting across the directional vector to which the corresponding microchannel is associated is closed during the lamination process.

For further processability, it may be helpful to fix the material. This can be done, for example, via a UV or thermally reactive filling material that is appropriately fixed after filling by means of UV radiation or thermally.

In preferred embodiments of the security element, the transparent channels are thus filled with a transparent material at least partially, preferably completely.

An entrance side and an exit side can be assigned to the transparent channels, and lens elements are formed on an exit surface, which is the surface of the document body or the substrate adjacent to the exit sides of the transparent channels, in one embodiment along the space vectors associated with the respective microchannels light passing through the microchannels is imaged on a screen which is arranged at a predetermined distance and in a predetermined orientation relative to the exit surface such that on the screen the information content stored by means of the microchannels is perceptible in a graphical representation. It is thereby achieved that the security element or the security document already comprises the imaging optics necessary for the verification of the information content of the stored information. For a verification, it is now only necessary to provide a suitable light source on the surface of the substrate or security document facing the entrance sides of the channels, which is capable of providing light, so that light is emitted through all the channels in accordance with the Channels associated space vectors falls, in order then on an additional necessary screen, which is preferably arranged in a predetermined distance parallel to the exit surface of the security element or value document to obtain a graphical representation.

Preferably, providing the information to be stored in a set of orientations comprises providing the information content to be stored in the form of a graphical representation and calculating an orientation for each of the pixels necessary to represent the graphically perceptible information content, each pixel being a dot in a focal plane of a convergent lens of predetermined focal length is understood. The orientation resulting for a pixel represents a spatial direction under which light from an infinite light source in the form of parallel light rays would fall on the imaging optics embodied as a converging lens and in the focal plane of the condenser lens Focusing on a point would form the corresponding pixel. In the opaque substrate, the transparent channels thus ideally represent, for each pixel, the rays of an infinite point light source represented by the corresponding orientation. Each pixel thus corresponds to an orientation, so that one obtains a set of orientations or direction vectors which represent these orientations. In order to obtain the greatest possible light intensity in the imaging, it is therefore advantageous to form for each of the orientations a plurality of transparent microchannels whose spatial vectors are collinear to the corresponding orientation.

It is understood that the dimensions of the cross-sectional areas of the microchannels are preferably selected to be smaller than a material thickness of the opaque substrate in order to obtain the highest possible angular selectivity or directional selectivity of the light passing through the microchannels. The smaller the cross section of the microchannels in relation to their length through the substrate, the higher is a directional selection of the corresponding transparent channel. In return, however, reduces the amount of light transmitted through the corresponding channel, so that a compromise in terms of directional selectivity and transmitted amount of light must be found. It should be noted that the amount of light transmitted for orientation increases with the number of microchannels associated with this orientation and their associated directional vectors are thus collinear with the orientation or direction vector indicating the orientation.

In a preferred embodiment, the substrate is or is laminated with at least one further substrate layer to form a document body and the predetermined imaging optics are formed in the at least one further substrate layer.

In a preferred embodiment, the imaging optics is or is formed in the form of lens elements, the lens elements jointly providing the imaging property of a condenser lens. Each lens element formed on the surface of the further substrate layer thus deflects the light passing through the further substrate layer in the region of the lens element in the same way as a surface element of the condenser lens would do. Preferably, the lens elements are formed so that they together represent an imaging characteristic of a converging lens whose central plane parallel to an exit surface of the other Substrate layer is oriented and whose central axis is in the region of a surface center of a projection of the at least one extended opaque volume region on the entrance surface of the substrate layer. If the projection of the volume region in which the transparent channels are formed does not extend over an entire surface of the security element or security document, the central axis preferably extends through a center or geometric center of gravity of the volume region in which the transparent channels are formed. The orientation of the central axis here is preferably collinear to a surface normal of the opaque substrate or the security element or security document.

In order to provide light of sufficient luminous intensity and under the required orientations which correspond to the spatial directions predefined by the direction vectors, in one embodiment of the invention it is provided that the substrate, which is opaque at least in a volume region, is integrated into a document body such that it is mounted on a substrate Entry sides of the transparent channels facing side of the opaque substrate at least one light source is arranged in the security document. The light source can be designed, for example, as a light-emitting diode, for example organic light-emitting diode, as a light-emitting diode array or in the form of a differently designed display. In yet another embodiment, it may be provided that luminescent dyes are disposed in a substrate layer facing an entrance surface of the substrate, wherein the entrance surface of the substrate in which the transparent channels are formed is the surface facing the entrance sides of the transparent channels are.

In some embodiments, it may be provided that the light source, which may comprise a plurality of light sources, or light sources are concealed towards an outer surface by an opaque layer. As a result, it is not possible to visually perceive the light source inside the document from the outside. This complicates further forgery or manipulation, since an introduction of additional transparent channels in the substrate from the outside in such a way that they are oriented towards one of the inside, for example, formed as a point light source bulb out, is further difficult.

Fig. 1

eine schematische Ansicht einer ersten Ausführungsform eines Sicherheitselements in einer Verifikationssituation;

Fig. 1a

eine schematische perspektivische Ansicht eines Ausschnitts des Substrats des Sicherheitselements;

Fig. 2

eine schematische Ansicht einer weiteren Ausführungsform eines Sicherheitselements in einer Verifikationssituation, wobei das Sicherheitselement eine zur Verifikation benötigte Abbildungsoptik umfasst;

Fig. 3

eine schematische Ansicht einer Ausführungsform eines Sicherheitsdokuments in einer Verifikationssituation, wobei das Sicherheitsdokument eine Lichtquelle umfasst;

Fig. 4

eine schematische Ansicht noch einer weiteren Ausführungsform eines Sicherheitsdokuments in einer Verifikationssituation, wobei das Sicherheitsdokument einer Lichtquelle mit mehreren Leuchtmitteln umfasst, und

Fig. 5

ein schematisches Ablaufdiagramm eines Herstellungsverfahrens.

The invention will be explained in more detail with reference to a drawing. Hereby show:

Fig. 1

a schematic view of a first embodiment of a security element in a Verificationssituation;

Fig. 1a

a schematic perspective view of a section of the substrate of the security element;

Fig. 2

a schematic view of another embodiment of a security element in a Verificationssituation, wherein the security element comprises a required for verification imaging optics;

Fig. 3

a schematic view of an embodiment of a security document in a Verificationssituation, wherein the security document comprises a light source;

Fig. 4

a schematic view of yet another embodiment of a security document in a Verificationssituation, wherein the security document comprises a light source with a plurality of bulbs, and

Fig. 5

a schematic flow diagram of a manufacturing process.

In Fig. 1 schematically a substrate 1 is shown. This is in the illustrated example in its entire volume opaque for light in a predetermined wavelength range, for example, formed in the visible wavelength range. In the substrate 1 transparent channels 2.1 to 2.n are formed, which completely penetrate the opaque substrate as through holes. The substrate is preferably a plastic material. The transparent channels are formed in a preferred embodiment by means of a laser as microchannels. Each of the transparent channels 2.1 to 2.n is assigned a space vector 4.1 to 4.n. A space vector 4.1 to 4.n indicates on the one hand a direction of the microchannel, for example in the form of a solid angle, which is indicated by the angle components α, p, with respect to a surface normal 9 of the substrate 1. In addition, includes a Room vector 4.1 to 4.n an indication which, for example, a base point 10.1 to 10.n of the space vector in a plane of an entrance surface 11 of the substrate 1 indicates. A space vector 4.1 to 4.n thus characterizes a position and orientation of the transparent channel 2.1 to 2.n, to which this space vector 4.1 to 4.n is assigned.

The transparent channels 2.1 to 2.n are each assigned an inlet side 12.1 to 12.n at the inlet surface 11 of the substrate 1 and an outlet side 13.1 to 13.n at an outlet surface 14 of the substrate 1. The transparent channels 2.1 to 2.n are designed so that they favor a passage through the substrate 1 of light, which passes through the substrate 1 along the space vector 4.1 to 4.n, which corresponds to the corresponding transparent channel 2.1 to 2.n assigned. A passage of light here deviating directions is prevented by the transparent channels 2.1 to 2.n as far as possible. This means that each of the transparent channels 2.1 to 2.n preferably only permits light along a spatial direction which is predetermined by the space vector 4.1 to 4.n assigned to the transparent channel 2.1 to 2.12. It is understood that, due to a finite extent transversely to the direction predetermined by the corresponding space vector 4.1 to 4.n in relation to the length of the corresponding transparent channel 2.1 to 2.n parallel to the predetermined by the associated space vector 4.1 to 4.n direction An angular selectivity of the corresponding transparent channel 2.1 to 2.n only more or less strong. The larger the ratio of the length of the transparent channel to the cross-sectional area of the transparent channel, the greater the directional selectivity of the corresponding transparent channel.

About the entirety of the transparent channels 2.1 to 2.n is stored in the substrate 1 information. In order to be able to verify or detect this, the substrate 1 is illuminated with a suitable light source 6, so that light passes through the opaque substrate 1 as far as possible through all the transparent channels 2.1 to 2.n along the respectively assigned space vector 4.1 to 4.n. , The light thus enters the transparent channels 2.1 to 2.n via the inlet surface of the substrate and thus to the inlet channels 12.1 to 12.n into the corresponding channels 2.1 to 2.n and to the outlet sides 13.1 to 13.n from the Exit surface 14 of the substrate 1 again. For verification, the exiting light or the light rays 15.1 to 15.n are guided onto a converging lens 7 serving as imaging optics. In a focal plane of the converging lens 7, a screen 8 is arranged, which is preferably parallel to the Exit surface 14 of the substrate 1 is oriented. Light rays 15.1 to 15.n which have the same orientation, ie whose transparent channels are characterized by space vectors 4.1 to 4.n, which are collinear with one another, are imaged on the screen 8 in the same pixel 16.1 to 16.k. At least one transparent channel 2.1 to 2.n must therefore exist for each pixel 16.1 to 16.k whose orientation, ie its angular coordinates α, β, corresponds with that orientation of light with respect to a surface normal 9 of the entrance surface 11 of the substrate 1 the pixel in the focal plane is mapped. In other words, this means that exactly one orientation or one direction vector 3.1 to 3.k exists for each pixel 16.1 to 16.k on the screen 8. Light or light rays 15.1 to 15.n, which emerges or emerge from the substrate collinearly or parallel to the corresponding directional vector 3.1 to 3.k, is imaged by the converging lens 7 onto the corresponding pixel 16.1 to 16.k. This means that, irrespective of the arrangement, ie a position of the foot point 10.1 to 10.n of the corresponding transparent channel 2.1 to 2.n, only its orientation has an influence on which pixel 16.1 to 16.k through this transparent channel 2.1 to 2.n light passing through 15.1 to 15.n is displayed on the screen. An information content predetermined on the screen 8 by the pixels 16.1 to 16.k is thus completely characterized by a set of orientations, which are indicated for example by direction vectors 3.1 to 3.k. The number of transparent channels 2.1 to 2.n assigned to an orientation defines only a quantity of light and thus a brightness of the corresponding pixel, provided that for each of the transparent channels the associated transmission value is identical. The substrate 1 thus represents a security element 20.

In Fig. 1a is a schematic section of a substrate 1 similar to that after Fig. 1 shown in perspective. The same technical features are identified in all figures with the same reference numerals. Shown is a channel 2.n, which is defined by an associated space vector 4.n. A coordinate system 24 is coupled to the substrate 1. The x-direction and the y-direction of the Cartesian coordinate system 24 are located in the entrance surface 11 of the substrate layer 1. The z-direction points into the substrate layer. The channel is characterized by the coordinates x _n , y _{n of} the root point 10.n of the space vector 4.n in the entrance surface 11 and the angles α _n and ρ _n . The angle α _n indicates the angle of a central axis 25 of a channel projection 26 measured in the xz plane against the z direction. Correspondingly, ρ _n gives the angle of a Central axis 27 of a channel projection 28 measured in the yz plane against the z-direction. It is noted that, unlike the other figures, the xy plane of the coordinate system 24 here coincides with the entrance surface of the substrate 1, while in the other figures the xy plane coincides with the image plane. It turns out that the determination can be chosen arbitrarily.

In Fig. 2 a further embodiment of a security element 20 is shown, in which the imaging optics is already integrated into the security element 20. The same technical features are provided in all figures with the same reference numerals.

The embodiment according to Fig. 2 differs in that the substrate 1 is connected at the exit surface 14 with a further substrate layer 21. The compound is formed, for example, in a lamination step. In this case, an outer surface 22 of the further substrate layer which is remote from the exit surface 14 is structured such that these portions of the lens element 23 follow a converging lens analogous to the convergent lens 7 Fig. 1 includes. The individual lens elements 23 together represent the imaging optics, which images the light beams 15.1 to 15.n emerging from the transparent channels 2.1 to 2.n onto the pixels 16.1 to 16.k on the screen 8. A main plane 17 (cf. Fig. 1 ) of the lens is in this case oriented parallel to the entry or exit surface 14 of the substrate 1. A central axis 18 of the imaging optics is preferably oriented centrally with respect to that region 19 in which the transparent channels 2.1 to 2.n are formed in the substrate 1. In embodiments where the substrate is not opaque along its entire areal extent, the substrate is opaque at least in the area 19 in which the channels are formed along the entire extent perpendicular to the entrance surface 11.

The embodiment according to Fig. 2 offers the advantage that no separately formed imaging optics is needed for verification. For verification, only a suitable light source and a screen are necessary, which is arranged in the focal plane, which is defined by the trained in the form of lens elements 23 imaging optics.

In Fig. 3 an embodiment of a security document 30 is shown schematically, in which a substrate 1 according to Fig. 1 is integrated. Adjacent to the entrance surface 11 of the substrate 1, an additional substrate layer is arranged, which is transparent or diffused. In this additional substrate layer 31 or at an interface to yet another substrate layer 32, a light source 6 is formed in the security document 30. This may, for example, be a light-emitting diode, for example an organic light-emitting diode. If it is a point light source, then it is advantageous if the additional substrate layer 31 is designed to be diffusely scattering, since this ensures that in each of the transparent channels 2.1 to 2.n light is incident parallel to the space vector 4.1 to 4.n, which is assigned to the corresponding channel 2.1 to 2.n. The still further substrate layer 32 is opaque in preferred embodiments, so that verification of the security feature, which is formed by the information stored in the transparent channels, can only be verified if the light source 6 is activated. For this purpose, leads to the light source 6 and electrical contacts may be formed in the security document at a suitable location, for example through the still further substrate layer 32, which are not shown here for reasons of simplification.

In Fig. 4 Yet another embodiment of a security document 30 is similar to that of FIG Fig. 3 shown. The embodiment differs in that the light source is designed with a plurality of light sources in the form of an array, for example a light-emitting diode array. As a result, a better illumination of the microchannels can be achieved. With a suitable configuration, it can be achieved that, in an extension of the passage direction of each of the transparent channels 2.1 to 2.n of the illuminating means 33 predetermined by the respective space vector 4.1 to 4.n. As a result, the amount of light which is transmitted through the transparent channels 2.1 to 2.n, be significantly increased, which significantly simplifies a verification.

The in the Fig. 1 . 3 and 4 Embodiments shown can be most easily verified with a verification device, which comprises an imaging optics, for example in the form of the converging lens 7, and a screen 8 arranged in the focal plane thereof. Preferably, the converging lens 7 is formed so that a top 41 can serve as a support surface for the security document 30 and the security element 20. For a verification of an embodiment according to Fig. 1 the verification device 51 additionally comprises a light source 6 Spot light source may be formed or comprise a plurality of lighting means and / or a light scatterer to provide a surface possible light source.

At the in Fig. 1 to 4 illustrated embodiments are of course only exemplary embodiments. Thus, embodiments may be provided in which the security document also the imaging optics similar to the embodiment according to Fig. 2 includes. Furthermore, a number of films and the configuration of which a document body is formed can be varied.

According to the embodiments 3 and 4 For example, the verification device may comprise an excitation / activation unit 52 which excites the light source 6 formed inside the security document and, if appropriate, its light source 33 for generating light. This can, depending on the design of the light source by means of electromagnetic radiation (in the case of a Lumineszenslichtquelle or with an antenna formed LED or OLED arrangement) or by providing a voltage to contacts, not shown, for example, in an electrically operated light source, in particular in a Contacted LED or OLED are just a few examples.

A production of an exemplary security element designed as a security element is based on Fig. 5 again explained as an example. First, information to be stored is provided 61. This may be, for example, a so-called personalizing information, ie information that provides an indication of a person to whom the security element or security document produced is assigned. Subsequently, the pixels required for representing the information to be stored in a graphic representation are converted into orientations or direction vectors 62. These method steps together represent the method step "providing the information in the form of a set of orientations" 63. Furthermore, an opaque substrate, for example in the form of a film, provided 64. In this opaque substrate then microchannels are preferably introduced as transparent channels by means of laser radiation 65. To avoid unwanted contamination of the microchannels and / or (as in the embodiment shown here) in a lamination with further substrate layers a document body to avoid deformation of the trained micro-channels, in particular those which are not vertical oriented to the surface of the opaque substrate, it is advantageous to fill the microchannels with a non-compressible material, such as transparent polymeric material 66. This can be done for example by doctoring or by a screen printing process or other methods, such as an ink jet printing, which allow to fill the microchannels with a suitable material. In order to integrate the security feature which is formed into a security document, it is, as already mentioned, advantageous if the opaque substrate is joined together with further films to form a document body. For this purpose, further substrate layers are provided 67. Subsequently, the opaque substrate, in which the microchannels are formed, which are filled with a transparent material, joined together with the other films or substrate layers. For this purpose, the substrate layers are first collected 68, wherein, for example, a light source with one or more bulbs can be inserted 69. Then the assembly is completed by laminating the substrate layers together using temperature and pressure to a document body 70. This or subsequently For example, lens elements which form an imaging optics can be formed in an outer substrate layer 71.

It goes without saying for the person skilled in the art that only an exemplary method is described here. Individual process steps, for example joining with further substrate layers, for integrating a light source or forming lens elements can be omitted in order to produce simple embodiments of the security element.

The features described in the individual embodiments may be used in any combination to practice the invention.

LIST OF REFERENCE NUMBERS

1

substratum

2.1 - 2.n

transparent channels

3.1 - 3.k

direction vectors

4.1 - 4.n

space vectors

6

light source

7

converging lens

8th

umbrella

9

surface normal

10.1 - 10.n

Footpoints of the space vectors

11

entering surface

12.1 - 12.n

entry pages

13.1 - 13.n

exit pages

14

exit surface

15.1 - 15.n

light rays

16.1 - 16.k

pixels

17

Main plane of the condenser lens

18

Central axis of the condenser lens

19

Area in which transparent channels are formed

20

security element

21

another substrate

22

outer surface

23

lens elements

24

coordinate system

25

central axis

26

Channel projection (x-z-plane)

27

central axis

28

Channel projection (y-z plane)

30

The security document

31

additional substrate layer

32

even more substrate layer

33

Lamp

41

top

51

verification device

52

Excitation / activation unit

61 - 71

steps

Claims (10)

1. Method for producing a security element (20), in particular for a security document (30), comprising the steps:

   providing a substrate, which is opaque to light at least in one continuous three-dimensional zone,

   providing information to be stored in the form of a set of orientations,

   storing the information in the substrate (1), by forming transparent channels (2.1 to 2.n) in the opaque substrate (1) within the opaque three-dimensional zone,

   such that at least one of the transparent channels (2.1 to 2.n) is associated with each of the orientations, preferably that in each case a plurality of the transparent channels (2.1 to 2.n) are associated with each of the orientations,

   wherein each of the channels (2.1 to 2.n) facilitates the travel of light along one spatial vector (4.1 to 4.n) associated with the respective channel,

   preferably allowing light to travel exclusively along the spatial vector (4.1 to 4.n) associated with the respective channel and running collinear to the orientation with which the respective channel is associated, wherein the transparent channels are formed in such a way that these light propagation directions, which in their entirety store the information which is to be stored,

   and can be transferred to by means of imaging optics into a graphically perceptible representation, from which the information content of the stored information can be acquired, wherein the perforation pattern occurring at surfaces of the opaque substrate (1) does not directly represent the information content of the stored information.
2. Method according to claim 1, characterised in that the transparent channels (2.1 to 2.n) are formed by means of laser radiation in the form of microchannels in the opaque three-dimensional zone of the substrate (1).
3. Method according to claim 1 or 2, characterised in that the opaque substrate (1) being opaque at least in one three-dimensional zone is provided as a film, and the substrate (1) is laminated with further films to form a document body.
4. Method according to any one of the preceding claims, characterised in that the transparent channels (2.1 to 2.n) are filled before the lamination with a transparent material.
5. Method according to any one of the preceding claims, characterised in that an inlet side (12.1 to 12.n) and an outlet side (13.1 to 13.n) are to be associated with the transparent channels (2.1 to 2.n), and lens elements (23) are formed at an outlet surface (14), which is the surface of the document body or the substrate (1) adjacent to the outlet sides (13.1 to 13.n), which are formed jointly along the spatial vectors (4.1 to 4.n) associated to the respective microchannels (2.1 to 2,n), such as to project the light passing through the microchannels on a screen (8), which is arranged at a predetermined orientation relative to the outlet surface (14), and are to be formed in such a way that the information content stored by means of the microchannels (2.1 to 2.n) in the graphic representation can be observed on the screen (8).
6. Method according to any one of the preceding claims, characterised in that the provision of the information to be stored comprises a calculation of an orientation for each of the imaging points (16.1 to 16.n), which is necessary for the representation of the graphically observable information, wherein each image point (16.1 to 16.n) is acquired as a point in a focal plane of a collector lens of predetermined focal width.
7. Security element (20) for a security document (30) comprising:

   a substrate (1), which is formed to be opaque to light at least in a cohesive three-dimensional zone;

   wherein transparent channels (2.1 to 2.n) for the storage of information are formed within the opaque three-dimensional zone of the substrate (1),

   characterised in that

   the transparent channels (2.1 to 2.n) are formed in such a way that each of the channels (2.1 to 2.n) in each case facilitates a passage of light along a spatial vector (4.1 to 4.n) associated to the transparent channel (2.1 to 2.n),

   preferably allowing light to travel exclusively along the spatial vector (4.1 to 4.n) associated with the transparent channel (2.1 to 2.n), wherein the channels (2.1 to 2.n) are formed in such a way that light which is passing along the spatial vectors (4.1 to 4.n) through the transparent channels (2.1 to 2.n) of the substrate (1) can be reproduced by means of predetermined imaging optics on a screen (8) arranged at a predetermined orientation to the imaging optics into a graphic representation, such that an information content of the stored information can be acquired from the graphic representation,

   wherein the perforation pattern occurring at surfaces of the opaque substrate (1) does not directly represent the information content of the stored information.
8. Security element (20) according to claim 7, characterized in that the transparent channels (2.1 to 2.n) are formed as microchannels.
9. Security element (20) according to claim 7 or 8, characterized in that the substrate (1) is laminated with at least one further substrate layer (2) to form a document body, and the predetermined imaging optics are formed in the at least one further substrate layer (21).
10. Security element (20) according to claim 7, characterized in that the imaging optics are presented in the form of lens elements (23).

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