EP2911887A1

EP2911887A1 - Device and method for producing security features and security feature

Info

Publication number: EP2911887A1
Application number: EP13780327.6A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Steffen Scheibenstock; Steffen Noehte; Stefan BORGSMÜLLER
Original assignee: Tesa Scribos GmbH
Current assignee: Scribos GmbH
Priority date: 2012-10-24
Filing date: 2013-10-11
Publication date: 2015-09-02
Anticipated expiration: 2033-10-11
Also published as: DE102012219473A1; CN104736347B; WO2014063932A1; CN104736347A; EP2911887B1

Abstract

The invention relates to a device for producing variable optical security features (1), comprising: a set of security feature components (7), which are stored in a file and the optical individual representation of which has an individual background line pattern (5), into which pattern a respective individual motif (4) is embedded that has an individual motif line pattern (6), the recognizability of the motif to the human eye being increased by viewing with a decoding means (20); a selecting means, with which individual security feature components (7) can be selected from the set of security feature components and combined to form the security feature (1); and a printing device for optical representation of the variable security feature (1), the recognizability of which to the human eye is increased by viewing with the decoding means (20).

Description

description

DEVICE AND METHOD FOR PRODUCING SAFETY FEATURES

AND SECURITY FEATURE

The invention relates to an apparatus for producing variable optical security features, to a method for producing the variable optical security features and to the security features produced in this way.

Lens codes are optically hidden security features that are not or very difficult to see the naked eye. Only after placing an aid, such as a decoder, the hidden feature can be made visible to the human eye.

DE 10 2010 053 679 A1 relates to a security element for insertion in a card-shaped data carrier. The security elements serve to secure goods by allowing verification of the authenticity of the data carrier. In addition, they also serve as protection against unauthorized reproduction. A reproduction by simply photocopying the security element is hardly or not at all possible with the so-called wobbly images disclosed in DE 10 2010 053 679 A1. Wiggly images are characterized by two or more nested rasterized images, which can be either different in nature or represent views of the same 3D object from different directions. These rastered interlaced images are overlaid with an adapted rasterized lens sheet, and depending on the viewing angle of the lens sheet, either one or the other image becomes visible. With a suitable arrangement, a three-dimensional image can be created by looking into one image with one eye and looking at the same image from another perspective direction with the other eye.

In WO 2003/095221 A3, a banknote with an optical security area is disclosed. Here is a first optical periodic structure, eg. B. a parallel grating provided and an inserted security mark with a second optical structure, which is arranged offset to the first optical structure. The recognizability of the security mark is increased by viewing with a decoding element.

The US 201 1/0157183 A1 relates to a security paper, in which also a target image is divided into two sub-images, wherein the overall motif composed by viewing with a decoding element of the sub-motives.

The mentioned security features have the disadvantage that the fine periodic structures can only be produced relatively expensive. This makes mass production considerably more difficult.

From US 2012/006 2917 A1, the production of cards with different motif is known, the motives are provided by the customer, the motifs are digitized and printed and glued with a lens film over the subject. The disadvantage of this is that the mass production of simple variable codes is expensive.

It is an object of the present invention, an apparatus, a method and a security feature to provide, which avoids the disadvantages mentioned above.

In its first aspect, the object is achieved by a device having the features of claim 1.

The device is preferably a computer or other data processing device. The invention makes use of the idea of providing a device which makes it possible to generate variable security features by resorting to a set of security feature components that can be assembled in preferably any order or arrangement. In preferably each of the security feature blocks, a single motif is embedded, which is optically hidden by the single motif is filled by a single motif grid and the single motif grid is embedded in a single background grid. In the process, a small contrast is formed between the individual background grid and the individual motif grid, which is not recognizable to the human eye by simple observation. The motive is hidden in the background. However, the recognizability of the motif can be improved by observation with a decoding means. The decoding means is preferably a lens film with a grid adapted to the individual background grid and / or the individual motif grid. The lenticular preferably has elongate, periodically arranged lenses or arranged in arrays, for example, hexagonal lenses. However, other embodiments of the decoding means, such as perforated tape or Locharrayfolien conceivable.

The device according to the invention has a selection means with which individual security feature modules can be selected from the security feature module set and can be combined to form the security feature.

The selection means may be an input device, for example a keyboard, a touch screen or the like. that conveniently allows manual user input to select from various security feature building blocks and to assemble the security feature.

The selection means can also be designed as a program which generates security features algorithmically randomly or reads selection information from a database or file and composes the variable security feature in accordance with the selection information. This embodiment of the device according to the invention is particularly suitable for the mass production of security features.

The device according to the invention comprises a printing device for optically displaying the variable security feature. The printing device can be embodied as a printer, such as a laser printer or ink printer, or else as a printing machine, in particular a digital printing press or an offset or flexographic printing press, into which an individualizing unit, for example an inject head, is installed.

The device according to the invention makes it possible, for example, to assemble a security word such as a code from security letters and to print this out on the printing device. This allows a very cost-effective, fast and in particular very variable generation of security features of various kinds. The variable security feature comprises a motif formed from the individual motifs of the security feature modules whose recognizability also increases for the human eye by viewing with the decoding means. Preferably, the decoding means is identical for each security feature module, and preferably this decoding means is also identical to the decoding means with which the security feature composed of the individual security feature modules can be recognized.

Conveniently, the printer is a commercially available 300/600/1200/1800 dpi (dots per inch) printer that prints color pigments on paper as security features at low cost.

In a particularly preferred embodiment of the invention, the security feature block set is provided as a font, preferably a digital font, and is stored in a computer as a file to which various programs, such as writing or graphics programs, access to generate characters. It may be the font to a font, preferably a standard such. For example, TrueType Font (.ttf), Post Script Font, or Open Type Font. The font is preferably stored as a vector file, so that when scaling the characters, for example, by printing in different sizes 1 1 pt, 12 pt, 13 pt etc., always smooth font margins are printed and not, as for example in bitmap files, the character borders Magnification step-like character and therefore do not have to cope with aliasing errors in size changes.

Depositing as a font advantageously allows pixel-accurate printing of the security feature building blocks, as it allows the evasion of the image processing operations and smoothing algorithms stored in most printer devices in the driver or in the hardware. As a result, even very fine lines are printable.

In a further favorable embodiment of the invention, each of the security feature blocks is a single character, and each of the characters contains as a single motif a letter, a number, a punctuation mark, etc. Die Security feature modules have in their printing on a preferably rectangular, more preferably the same rectangular outer contour.

The single motif of the character, that is, the letter or the number, etc., is preferably completely deposited with the individual motif grid, while the rest of the background of the security feature module is preferably completely backed by a single background grid.

Single background grid and individual motif grid can be designed in various ways. The single background and single motif grids repeat in the decoder's raster to become recognizable. The rasters preferably have lines of low line width arranged parallel to one another with a small line spacing. The lines of the individual background grid are of constant strength over the entire single background area, and the line spacing is also constant everywhere. The single motif grid is offset parallel to the individual background grid, preferably offset by exactly half a lens distance. The line width and the line spacing of the individual motif grid as well as the individual background grid are constant over the entire individual motif or the entire individual background. However, it is also conceivable to form the grid array-shaped, for example with five- and / or hexagonal lenses, and to arrange corresponding points in the individual background or single motif.

Conveniently, the lines have a line thickness of b = 42 μι +/- 10 μηη, preferably b = 42 μηη and a line spacing of d = 170 μηη on. With a commercial 600 dpi ink or laser printer, the diameter of a point generated by the printer is about 42 μηη, so that a line thickness of about b = 42 μηη can be generated. Higher resolution printers of 1200 dpi or more also produce correspondingly thinner lines.

Customary Dekodierfolien have parallel juxtaposed, narrow long lenses. Common among other things 70 LPI (Lins per Inch) foils.

Advantageously, a decoding film with a higher resolution is chosen. The resolution should be so high that the representation of the security feature with the described pixel-accurate printing to increase the security against counterfeiting must be done. If the characters are not stored as a font, the printing of the characters is too imprecise due to the smoothing algorithms, and the single motif is no longer recognizable even with the decoding film

Conveniently, sufficiently high-resolution decoding films with 150 LPI (lines per inch) or 150 lpi (lines per inch) are selected for the invention, in which the lenses or the line lenses are arranged at a line spacing of d = 170 μm. In such films, the line spacing of both the individual background grid and the individual motif grid should also be at about d = 170 μηη. However, it is also conceivable that films are used with other Ipi number, so that then the line spacing of the grid is adapted in print the security features accordingly.

The font is preferably designed as a lenticular font. Each individual lenticular typeface is automatically displayed recognizably on the screen with a preferably rectangular single background grid and a single motive grid in correspondence with the letter and printed encrypted when printed on the printer.

The object is achieved in its second aspect by a method having the features of claim 10. The inventive method can be carried out on one of the aforementioned devices.

According to the invention, a set of security feature modules is provided, wherein an optical representation of the security feature modules each has a single background grid, in each of which a single motif is embedded, which is filled by a single motif grid and its visibility is increased for the human eye by viewing with a decoding means.

From the security feature building block set, individual security feature building blocks are selected, and the selected security feature building blocks are assembled into a variable security feature, and the variable security feature is again displayed optically. The visualization of the security feature can be done by simply printing the security feature with a printer on paper. The recognizability of the motif of the security feature for the human eye is also increased by consideration with the decoding element. Preferably, over the entire extent of the security feature, a uniform background grid interrupted only by individual motifs and possibly random points and a motif grid that remains the same over the entire extent of the security feature are formed, with the background grid partially coinciding with the respective individual background grids of the security feature modules and the motif grid with the individual motif grids.

Preferably, the single background grid is formed from lines parallel to each other and the single motif grid is also formed from mutually parallel lines, and a single motif line grid and a single background grid are offset in parallel, and the single background lines of adjacent security feature building blocks are just merging, and the individual motif lines of adjacent security feature building blocks can be extended straight into each other , This makes it possible to recognize both the entire motif and the individual motifs with a single decoding agent such as a lenticular foil.

In a particularly preferred development of the method according to the invention, each security feature module is superimposed with a random point pattern and / or a random-hole pattern. Both patterns further reduce the visibility of the hidden lenticular letter. The random point pattern as well as the random hole pattern may be the same for each character, or individually formed for some or each character. It is even conceivable to assign different random patterns to a single letter and to assign different language versions in the .ttf to the characters provided with different random patterns.

The random-hole patterns and / or random-point patterns can be stored as further fonts and superimposed on the security feature blocks only during printing. Further information can be coded in the distribution of the dots and / or holes. The information can be recognized or recorded with aids such as magnifying glasses or cameras and decoded with evaluation programs. The decoding is preferably known only to selected people. The certification of authenticity due to the decoding can be performed by machine without being disclosed to the user of the method. In its third aspect, the object is achieved by a security feature having the features of claim 18, which is manufactured in one of the above-mentioned methods with one of the above-mentioned machines.

The inventive security feature comprises a background grid filling in a background and a motif grid filling the motif, wherein the background grid and the motif grid are staggered and the motif grid and the background grid are visually displayed by printed color lines and the recognizability of the motif to the human eye by viewing the decoding means is increased.

Conveniently, the line thickness of all lines of the grid is at about b = 42 μηη and the line spacing d at a lens period corresponding to the lenticular sheet.

Preferably, both the background bar and the subject bar are overlaid with a random dot pattern. The random point pattern further complicates the recognizability of the security feature. In another preferred embodiment of the security feature, the background bar and the motif bar screen are provided with a random-hole pattern. This random hole pattern additionally increases the recognizability of the security feature.

The invention will be described with reference to several embodiments in twenty-two figures. Showing:

1 a is designed as a letter K single motif,

1 b the single motif of FIG. 1 a as a lenticular letter, FIG.

2 is a schematic drawing of the operation of a lenticular sheet,

3a shows a schematic view of the lenticular letter from FIG. 1b with superposed lenticular foil, FIG. FIG. 3b is a functional view when the lenticular letter is viewed through the lenticular sheet; FIG.

FIGS. 4a, 4b, a comparison of the lenticular letter in Fig. 1 b with a

Lenticular letters with random point patterns,

5 shows a lenticular letter printed out four times in succession,

5b shows the lenticular letter according to FIG. 5 in d / 4 line width,

Fig. 5c, the lenticular letters of Fig. 5b with superimposed

Random dot pattern,

FIG. 5d shows the lenticular letter in FIG. 5b with a random point pattern superimposed on FIG. 5c, FIG.

5e a lenticular letter with respect to FIG. 5b thinner line width,

6 shows the photograph of FIGS. 5 to 5e with the lenticular sheet held over the photo, FIG.

7 is a symbolic representation of letters of a standard font,

8 letters of a lenticular font generated from the font in FIG. 7, FIG.

9 letters of a dotted lenticular font,

Fig. 10 ^ letters of a perforated lenticular font,

11 security labels with lens codes,

12 safety labels with lens codes and applied lenticular films,

13 safety labels with lens codes and applied lenticular films, 14 security labels with lens codes and applied lenticular films and with additionally printed same serial numbers,

Fig. 15 security labels with randomized lens codes with launched

Lenticular films and additionally printed serial numbers.

As Lenscode 1 here is a hidden to the human eye without aids hidden motif 3 referred to. Lens codes 1 are shown inter alia in FIGS. 5 to 5e and in FIGS. Only after placing a trained here as a lenticular sheet 20 Dekodierfolie the motif 3 is visible to the human eye. The motif 3 may be a single motif 4, for example a single letter, or a motif 3 composed of a plurality of individual motifs 4, for example a word

Fig. 1a shows the letter K in a conventional standard typeface, but greatly enlarged. One possibility used and described here, to make the single motif 4, here the letter K, difficult to recognize consists of completely filling in the background of the single motif 4 with a single background grid 5 according to FIG. 1 b. The individual background lines 5a are held in a dark color, formed straight and arranged parallel to each other. They all have the same line thickness b, and adjacent individual background lines 5a always have the same line spacing d from each other except for a single motif area. The Einzelmotiy 4 stands out from the single background grid 5. The single motif 4 is completely filled even with a single motif line grid 6. The single motive line grid 6 has mutually parallel individual motive lines 6a, which likewise have the same line spacing d to one another and the same line spacing d as the lines 5a of the individual background line grid 5. The individual motif lines 6a of the single motif line grid 6 and the lines 5a of the single background line grid 5 have along their entire length the mutually equal and respectively constant line width b. However, the single motive line grid 6 is shifted from the single background line grid 5 by a half line spacing d / 2 perpendicular to the direction of the lines 5a, 6a of the two screens 5, 6. The line spacing d is the central distance of adjacent lines of both the single background line grid 5 and - the single motif line grid 6, it is identical over the entire letter font. The letter in Fig. 1a is referred to as the standard font of a standard font. The character in Fig. 1b is called a lenticular letter 7 of a lenticular font.

The lenticular letter 7, here the letter K, in the size shown in FIG. 1 b for the human eye still quite good to recognize, however, the lenticular character 7 blurs visibly when it is further reduced. The single motif 4 of the lenticular letter 7 in FIG. 1 b can no longer be recognized when the line spacing d drops below the resolution of the human eye. The resolution of the eye is at a distance of 25 cm at about 80 μηη. The line spacing d and the line width b are selected for the characters of the lenticular font such that the line width is less than 42 μηη ± 10 μηη, preferably 42 μηη or less, and the line spacing is also less than 170 μηη ± 10 μηη. The line width and the line spacing are thus close to the resolution of the human eye and therefore difficult to recognize.

In order to make the individual motif 4 hidden in the lenticular letter 7 recognizable to the human eye, a decoding film in the form of a lenticular sheet 20 is used. The lenticular sheet 20 is placed on the lenticular letter 7. Fig. 2 shows the arrangement described schematically. The lenticular sheet 20 has strip-shaped lenticular lenses 21 extending parallel to each other and extending over an entire lengthwise direction L of the lenticular sheet 20 in FIG. 2, which have a lenticular arc shape in cross-section perpendicular to the longitudinal direction L of FIG. The strip-shaped lenticular lenses 21 may be incorporated into the substantially visible-light lenticular sheet 20 so that when the lenticular sheet 20 is placed on the lenticular sheet 7 approximately at the focal length of the lenticular lens 21, the lenticular sheets 21 are spaced from the lenticular sheet 7 printed on the surface.

Fig. 2 shows the line thickness b of the lines of FIG. 1 b. The line width b of each of the single motive lines 6a and the single background lines 5a is identical over the entire line length and for each line 5a, 6a. The line thickness b is between 42 μηη to 85 μηη, preferably it is b = 42 μηη, so that it is below the resolution of the eye. The line spacing d of adjacent single motive lines 6a in this exemplary embodiment is d = 170 μm. FIG. 2b shows five individual motif lines 6a of the single motif 4 and one with respect to the individual motif lines 6a by d / 2 = 85 μηη parallel shifted single single background line 5a.

The lenticular sheet 20 has here 150 Ipi (lines per inch), which corresponds to a lens period of 170 μηη, resulting in the line spacing d = 170 μηη results. Thus, depending on the adjustment, either only the individual motif lines 6a or only the background lines 5a can lie beneath the lenticular lenses 21. In FIG. 2, the individual motif lines 6a are located under the lenticular lenses 21. The distance between the individual background line 5a and the individual motif line 6a is d / 2 = 85 μm as shown in FIG. 2.

When the lines 5a, 6a are printed with a 600 dpi printer as in this embodiment, the individual dots have a dot width of about 42 μm, therefore, the line width b of each of the single motive lines 6a and the single background lines 5a should be between b = 42μηη and b = 85 μηη lie.

When viewing the lenticular letter 7 through the lenticular sheet 20, the viewer (not shown) then sees either only the background lines 5a of the single background line grid 5 or only the single motif lines 6a of the single motif line grid 6 with correct adjustment of the lenticular sheet 20. The correct adjustment of the lenticular sheet 20 on the a flat surface printed lenticular letter 7 is made by simply rotating the lenticular sheet 20 on the lenticular letter 7th

3a shows schematically the lenticular sheet 20 placed on the lenticular letter 7. The line spacing d of the lenses of the lenticular sheet 20 corresponds to the line spacing of both the background line grid 5a and the motif line screen 6a. The lenticular lenses 21 of the lenticular sheet 20 are shown by the dashed lines in FIG. 3a. However, the effect of the lenticular sheet 20 can not yet be seen in FIG. 3 a.

Real offers the viewer when placing the lenticular sheet 20 on the lenticular 7, the image shown in Fig. 3b. When the lenticular sheet 20 is correctly adjusted, the viewer sees only the individual motif lines 6a lying directly beneath the lenticular lenses 21. The individual background lines 5a remain hidden by the lenticular sheet 20. Due to the effect of the lenticular foil 20 arises between the individual motif 4 and the background a contrast to the lenticular 7 significantly increased contrast, so that the single motif 4 is visible to the viewer.

The Fign. 4a and 4b show the lenticular letter 7 in Fig. 4a in the lenticular font and in Fig. 4b in a dotted lenticular font.

In the direct comparison of the lenticular letter 7 with the dotted lenticular letter it is clear that the recognizability of the single motif 4, Κ 'is further obscured. Compared with the lenticular letter 7 according to FIG. 4 a, a random point pattern is placed on the lenticular letter 7. The random point pattern is selected such that the dots have different lengths in the longitudinal direction L of the single motive lines 6a and the single background lines 5a and are respectively arranged in contact with one of the lines 5a, 6a.

The Fign. 5 to 5e show a photograph of a lens code 1 in the form of four consecutively printed lenticular letters 7. The individual motifs 4 here each form the letter K. The result is a motif 3 which, in the case of a different choice of letter, contains a meaningful word, a code or the like. can be.

The individual lenticular letters 7 are available as letters of the lenticular font, preferably as a font, preferably TrueType Font (.ttf). The lenticular font, like other fonts (Arial, Calibri, etc.) can be conveniently stored or copied on a commercial computer or printer. Since the lenticular letters 7 are available as letters of a lenticular font, almost any lens code with different letter sequences and number sequences can be printed in a very simple, inexpensive and time-saving manner.

The individual background line grid 5 and the individual motif line grid 6 of the individual lenticular letters 7 of the lenticular font are the same, so that when printing multiple lenticular letters 7 successively as shown in FIG. 5, the individual background lines 5a of the individual background line grid 5 with respect to each individual background line 5a straight without offset and with the same line thickness b in the single background line 5a of the adjacent lenticular letter 7 pass over. The Individual motive lines 6a of the individual motifs 4 likewise go exactly into the individual motive lines 6a of the adjacent lenticular letter 7 in their imaginary extension. This makes it possible, formed from consecutive printed lenticular letters 7 words, codes o. Ä. to recognize by a single adjustment of the lenticular foil 20.

FIG. 5b shows one of the lenticular letters 7 according to FIG. 5 with a line thickness of d / 4, where d also corresponds here to the lens period, that is to say the distance of the lenticular lenses 21 of the lenticular sheet 20.

Fig. 5c shows the lenticular letter 7 in Fig. 5 with a superimposed random point pattern.

FIG. 5 d shows the lenticular letter 7 in FIG. 5 b with a random point pattern superimposed on another in comparison to FIG. 5 c.

Fig. 5e shows the letter in Fig. 5b with a stroke thickness of less than d / 4. It is clear that, in particular, by overlaying the lenticular letter 7 with a random point pattern, the recognizability to the human eye is already significantly increased in accordance with FIGS. 5c and 5d opposite to the lenticular 7 in Figs. 5b and 5e is reduced.

Fig. 6 shows the letter arrangement of Figs. 5 to 5d with adjusted lenticular sheet 20. The lenticular sheet 20 is placed over the lenticular formed from four lenticular 1 and three of the individual lenticular 7 and already adjusted The recognizability of the four individual motifs 4, Κ 'of Fig. 5 by the lenticular sheet 20 clearly increased. In fact, with the original size of Fig. 5, the individual motifs 4, Κ 'with the naked eye is not or hardly recognizable. Die- Fign. 5c and 5d show that the superimposition of the lenticular letters 7 with a random point pattern hides the motif 3 even more in the background, but possibly at the expense of recognizability after decoding with the lenticular sheet 20. The recognizability depends strongly on the type of random pattern selected as a comparison of Figs. 5c and 5d with applied lenticular sheet 20, FIGS. 7 to 10 show, in a schematic view, first in FIG. 7, a symbolic representation of a standard font, for example Arial, Calibri u. Ä., As it is stored on a conventional computer, for example. The individual letters are usually stored as a font. As a rule, the font is designed as a vector-based font, for example as a TrueType font with the file extension .ttf customary under Windows®. Basically, fonts, ie the sum of the individual letters and numbers can also be stored as a bitmap, but then scale problems arise. In contrast, the individual letters and numbers of a TrueType font are stored as vector-based files, so that print images without anti-aliasing or aliasing are produced even when enlarging and reducing the letters, ie printing under 1 1 pt, 12 pt, 14 pt etc. The deposit as a TrueType font is particularly suitable for printing fine lines, such as serifs, and to represent and print the letters and numbers in any size without loss.

Most printers also have image enhancement features anchored in the driver or hardware to improve the print quality of the printed image. These image enhancement features are difficult or impossible to turn off. Also, to avoid smoothing especially very fine lines through the internal image editing function, the lenticular letters 7 are implemented as a font. Consistently good results are achieved when printing the lenticular letters 7, regardless of the resolution of the printer, even with very small font sizes. The implementation of the lenticular letters 7 as a font also makes it possible, in particular, to display variable individual codes at a sufficient speed and to keep them ready for the mail merge. The implementation as a font also ensures that the lenticular letters 7 are placed on the same level without gaps. There is no offset in the printed image of the letters which would require readjustment of the decoding film 20.

8 shows individual lenticular letters 7 of the lenticular font in a schematic view. The term font here also refers to numbers, special characters, etc.

Fig. 9 shows the lenticular letters 7 of the lenticular type of Fig. 8 superimposed random point pattern. Fig. 10 shows the lenticular letters 7 of the lenticular type of Fig. 8 superimposed random-hole pattern. Both the superposition of each lenticular letter 7 with a random point pattern and with a random hole pattern further reduces the recognizability of the individual lenticular letters 7.

The Fign. FIGS. 1 to 15 show different embodiments of a security label 41. Each security label 41 has a lens code 1 with a plurality of lenticular letters 7 forming a motif 3. Fig. 1 1 shows three side by side schematically illustrated security labels 41, each with a lens code 1, the motif 3 is not visible to the human eye.

FIG. 12 shows the security labels 41 of FIG. 11 with inserted adjusted lenticular sheets 20. An individual code of the individual security labels 41 can be recognized. In this example, the codes are serially numbered, authentication is done by reading the serial number 40.

FIG. 13 shows the security labels 41 with applied lenticular foil 20, wherein an individual code is visible. In the example of Fig. 13, the individual code is randomized and rare, i. H. only certain of the serial numbers 40 are valid. The valid serial numbers 40 are stored in a database, so that when authenticating a product by reading the lens code 1 using the lenticular sheet 20, the serial number 40 is recognized and compared with the serial numbers of a database. If the detected serial number 40 is stored in the database, the product is authenticated. Otherwise, it is a forgery, thus an additional safeguard against the security label 41 of FIG. 12 is present.

Fig. 14 shows a security label 41 also with randomized and rare code and applied lenticular sheet 20, wherein the serial number 40 hidden in the lens code 1 and is printed as a serial number 42 on the security label 41 in plain text. Authentication takes place by comparison between the serial numbers 42 of the plaintext and the serial numbers 40 of the lens code 1. FIG. 15 shows a security label 41 with lens code 1 and likewise applied lenticular sheet 20. The individual code of the lens code 1 is visible under the lenticular sheet 20. The individual code is also randomized. Only certain serial numbers 40 of the code are valid. The valid serial numbers 40 are stored in a database. On the security label 41 is additionally printed another code in plain text. Again, this code is randomized and rare. Only certain serial numbers 42 are valid, and these too are stored in a database. In addition, the combination of the two codes is stored in the database. The authentication is done by comparison with the database.

LIST OF REFERENCE NUMBERS

1 lens code

3 motif

4 single motif

5 single background line grid

5a single background line

6 single motive line grid

6a single motif line

7 lenticular letter

20 lenticular foil

21 strip-shaped lenticular lenses

40 Serial number of the lens code

41 security label

42 Serial number of the plain text b Line width

d line spacing

L longitudinal direction

Claims

claims

1 . Apparatus for producing variable optical security features (1) comprising: a set of security feature modules (7) stored in a file, the individual optical representation of which each has a single background grid (5) in which a single motif (4) is embedded, which has a single motif line grid (6 ) and

whose visibility increases for the human eye by viewing with decoding means (20),

a selection means with which individual security feature modules (7) can be selected from the security feature module set and can be combined to form the security feature (1),

a printing device for optically displaying the variable security feature (1), the visibility of which increases for the human eye by viewing with the decoding means (20).

2. Apparatus according to claim 1,

characterized in that the selection means is designed as an input device.

3. Apparatus according to claim 1,

characterized in that the selection means is a program which extracts selection information stored in a database or a file and assembles the security feature (1) according to the selection information.

4. Apparatus according to claim 1, 2 or 3,

characterized in that the security feature (1) off

Security feature blocks (7) is composable and one of the

Single motifs (4) formed motif (3).

5. Device according to at least one of claims 1 to 4,

characterized by the decoding element (20), which increases the recognizability of the optical representation of all the individual motifs (4) of the motif (3).

6. Device according to at least one of claims 1 to 5,

characterized in that the security feature modules

Lenticular letters (7) are a font.

7. Apparatus according to claim 6,

characterized in that the security feature modules

Lenticular letters (7) of a font are.

8. Device according to at least one of claims 1 to 7,

characterized in that the printing device has a resolution of at least 300 dpi.

9. Device according to at least one of the preceding claims,

characterized in that the decoding means comprises a lenticular sheet (20) and / or lens array sheet and / or strip sheet,

10. Device according to at least one of the preceding claims,

characterized in that the decoding means comprises a lens sheet having at least 70 lpi (lines per inch), preferably 150 lpi (lines per inch).

1 1. Device according to at least one of the preceding claims,

characterized in that the single background line grid (5) as a

Line grid is formed and the single motif line grid (6) is designed as a line grid and the single background line grid (5) and the

Single motif line grid (6) have a same line spacing (d) and an equal line thickness (b) and parallel to each other and are arranged offset by a half line spacing (d) parallel to each other.

12. Device according to at least one of the preceding claims,

characterized by a database in which valid motifs (3) are stored, which is accessible for authenticating the motif (3) decrypted with the decoding means (20).

13. A method for producing variable optical security features (1) for

Implementation on a device according to at least one of claims 1 to 9, by doing

a set of security feature blocks (7) is kept ready,

an optical representation of the security feature modules (7) each one

Single background grid (5), in each of which a single motif (4) is embedded, in which a single motif line grid (6) is inserted and its recognizability to the human eye by viewing with a

Decoder (20) is increased,

from the security feature block set individual security feature blocks (7) are selected and

the selected security feature modules (7) are combined to form one of the variable security features (1) and the variable security feature blocks (7)

Security feature (1) is printed and

the recognizability of the security feature (1) to the human eye is increased by observation with the decoding element (20).

14. The method according to claim 13,

characterized in that the security feature modules (7) as

Letters of a font are stored.

15. The method according to claim 14,

characterized in that the font is provided as a font.

16. The method according to claim 13, 14 or 15,

characterized in that the individual background grid is formed from mutually parallel lines (5a) and the single motif grid is also formed from mutually parallel lines (6a) and a single motive line grid (6) and a single background grid (5) are offset parallel to one another and the individual background lines (5a) adjacent security feature modules (7) just merge into each other and the individual motif lines (6a) adjacent

Security feature blocks (7) can be extended each other straight.

17. The method according to at least one of claims 13 to 16,

characterized in that each security feature module (7) is superimposed with a random point pattern.

18. The method according to at least one of the claims 13 to 17,

characterized in that each security feature module (7) is superposed with a random hole pattern.

19. The method according to at least one of claims 17 or 18,

characterized in that random-hole patterns and / or random-point patterns are each stored in another font.

20. The method according to claim 19,

characterized in that the random hole pattern and / or random point pattern are superimposed during printing with the security feature module (7).

21. Method according to claim 18, 19 or 20,

characterized in that further information is encoded in the random point and / or random hole pattern.

22. The method according to at least one of claims 13 to 21,

characterized in that the variable security features (1) are printed with a printer device with a resolution of at least 300 dpi, preferably at least 600 dpi and read with a decoding means (20) with at least 70 lpi, preferably at least 150 lpi.

23. The method according to at least one of claims 13 to 22,

characterized in that valid motifs (3) are stored in a database accessible for authentication and the valid motifs (3) are printed in a variable security feature (1).

24. Security feature produced in a method according to one of claims 13 to 17 with

a background grid filling in a background,

and a motif grid filling a motif (3),

wherein the background grid and the motif grid are offset from each other,

and the motif grid and background grid are visually represented by printed color lines, and the recognizability of the subject (3) to the human eye is increased by observation with a decoding means (20).

25. Security feature according to claim 24,

characterized in that the motif (3) is composed of individual motifs (4) of individual security feature modules (7) and the background grid is composed of individual background line screens (5) of the security feature modules (7).

26. Security feature according to claim 24 or 25,

characterized in that the motif grid is composed of Einzelmotivlinienrastern (6)

27. Security feature according to at least one of claims 24 to 26,

characterized in that a single background grid is formed from mutually parallel single background lines (5a) and

a single motif grid is formed from mutually parallel individual motif lines (6a) and a single motif line grid (6) and a single background line grid (5) are printed offset in parallel to one another and the individual background lines (5a)

adjacent security feature modules (7) just merge into each other and the individual motif lines (6a) of adjacent security feature modules (7) are just extendable into each other.

28. Security feature according to at least one of claims 24 or 27,

29. Security feature according to at least one of claims 24 to 28,

30. Security feature according to at least one of claims 28 or 29

characterized in that in the distribution of points and / or holes information is encoded. Security feature according to at least one of claims 24 to 30, characterized in that a line thickness (b) at b = 42 μηη - 85 μηη, preferably at b = 42 μηη and a line spacing (d) at d = 170 μηη.

Security feature according to at least one of claims 24 to 31, characterized in that

the motif (3) comprises a randomized and rare serial number (40) comparable to a serial number stored in a database and / or a serial number (42) applied to the decoding means (20) for authentication.