EP2911887B1 - Apparatus and method of producing a security feature and a security feature - Google Patents

Description

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

Lens codes are used to denote optically hidden security features that are difficult or impossible to see for the naked eye. The hidden feature can only be made visible to the human eye after an aid, such as a decoder film, has been put on.

The font US 2007/029 394 A1 discloses a method for the protection of documents which are provided with, preferably printed, information which is not recognizable to the human eye and can only be recognized by a special device. The information may take the form of lines, dots, images, and the like, and is rotated at an angle to the printed background information.

The DE 10 2010 053 679 A1 relates to a security element for insertion into a card-shaped data carrier. The security elements serve to secure goods by allowing the authenticity of the data carrier to be checked. In addition, they also serve as protection against unauthorized reproduction. A reproduction by simply photocopying the security element is in the in the DE 10 2010 053 679 A1 disclosed so-called shake images hardly or not at all. Wobble images are characterized by two or more interlaced raster images, which can either be of different types or represent views of the same 3D object from different directions. An adapted, rasterized lens film is placed over these rastered, merged images, and depending on the viewing angle of the lens film, either one or the other image can be recognized. With appropriate An arrangement can create a three-dimensional image by looking into one image with one eye and looking at the same image from a different perspective direction with the other eye.

In the WO 2003/095221 A2 a banknote with an optical security area is disclosed. Here is a first optical periodic structure, e.g. B. a parallel grating provided and an inserted security sign with a second optical structure, which is arranged offset from the first optical structure. The recognizability of the security sign is increased by viewing with a decoding element.

The US 2011/0157183 A1 relates to a security paper in which a target image is also divided into two partial images, the overall motif being composed of the partial motifs by viewing with a decoding element.

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

From the US 2012/006 2917 A1 the production of cards with different motifs is known, the motifs being made available by the customer, the motifs being digitized and printed and glued firmly over the motif with a lens film. The disadvantage of this is that the mass production of simple variable codes is complex.

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

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

The device is preferably a computer or another data processing device. The invention makes use of the idea of providing a device which makes it possible to generate variable security features by using a set of security feature modules which can preferably be put together in any order or arrangement. An individual motif is preferably embedded in each of the security feature modules, and is optically hidden in that the individual motif is filled in by a single motif grid and the single motif grid is embedded in a single background grid. There is a slight contrast between the single background grid and the single motif grid, which is not recognizable to the human eye through simple observation. The motif is as it were hidden in the background. The recognizability of the motif can, however, be improved by viewing with a decoding means. The decoding means is preferably a lens film with a raster adapted to the single background raster and / or the single motif raster. The lenticular screen preferably has elongated, periodically arranged lenses or, for example, hexagonal lenses arranged in arrays. However, other configurations of the decoding means, such as punched tape or perforated array films, are also 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 insert and can be assembled to form the security feature.

The selection means can be an input device, for example a keyboard, a touchscreen or the like. act that conveniently enables manual user input to select from various security feature modules and to assemble the security feature.

The selection means can also be designed as a program that randomly generates security features algorithmically or reads selection information from a database or file and assembles the variable security feature according to 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 the optical representation of the variable security feature. The printing device can be designed as a printer such as a laser printer or ink printer or also as a printing press, in particular a digital printing press or offset or flexographic printing press, in which an individualization unit, for example an inject head, is installed.

The device according to the invention makes it possible, for example, to compile a security word such as a code from security letters and to print it out on the printing device. This enables a very inexpensive, fast and, in particular, very variable generation of security features of all kinds.

The variable security feature comprises a motif formed from the individual motifs of the security feature modules, the recognizability of which is also increased for the human eye when viewed with the decoding means. The decoding means is preferably identical for each security feature module, and this decoding means is preferably 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, which inexpensively prints out color pigments on paper as security features.

In a particularly preferred embodiment of the invention, the security feature module is provided as a font, preferably a digital font, and is stored in a computer as a file, which various programs, such as writing or graphic programs, access to generate characters. The font can be a font, preferably a standard such as e.g. B. TrueType Font (.ttf), Post Script Font or Open Type Font. The font is preferably stored as a vector file, so that when the characters are scaled, for example by printing in different sizes 11 pt, 12 pt, 13 pt etc., the edges of the characters are always smooth and not, as is the case for bitmap files, the character edges when enlarged assume a step-like character and therefore do not have to deal with aliasing errors when resizing.

The storage as a font advantageously enables pixel-precise printing of the security feature modules, since it allows the image processing operations and smoothing algorithms stored in the driver or in the hardware in most printer devices to be bypassed. This means that even very fine lines can be printed.

In a further advantageous embodiment of the invention, each of the security feature modules is a single character, and each of the characters contains a letter, a number, a punctuation mark, etc. as a single motif In their print, security feature modules have a preferably rectangular, particularly preferably the same rectangular outer outline.

The individual motif of the character, that is to say the letter or the number etc., is in each case preferably completely stored with the individual motif grid, while the rest of the background of the security feature module is preferably completely stored with a single background grid.

Single background grids and single motif grids can be designed in different ways. The single background and the single motif grid repeat in the grid of the decoding means in order to be recognizable. The rasters have lines arranged parallel to one another, preferably a small line width with a small line spacing. The lines of the single background grid are of constant thickness over the entire single background area, and the line spacing is also constant everywhere. The individual motif grid is offset parallel to the single background grid, preferably offset by exactly half a lens spacing. The line width and the line spacing of the single motif grid as well as of the single background grid are constant over the entire single motif or the entire single background. However, it is also conceivable to design the raster in the form of an array, for example with pentagonal and / or hexagonal lenses, and to arrange points in the individual background or individual motif accordingly.

The lines advantageously have a line thickness of b = 42 μm +/- 10 μm, preferably b = 42 μm and a line spacing of d = 170 μm. With a commercially available 600 dpi ink or laser printer, the diameter of a dot created by the printer is approximately 42 µm, so that a line width of approximately b = 42 µm can be produced. Higher resolution printers of 1200 dpi or more also produce correspondingly thinner lines.

Commercial decoding foils have narrow long lenses arranged next to one another in parallel. Among others, 70 LPI (Lins per Inch) foils are common.

A decoding film with a higher resolution is advantageously chosen. To increase the security against counterfeiting, the resolution should be so high that the representation of the security feature with the described pixel-precise printing must be done. If the characters are not stored as a font, the printing of the characters becomes too imprecise due to the smoothing algorithms, and the individual motif can no longer be recognized even with the decoding film

Sufficiently high-resolution decoding foils with 150 LPI (lines per inch) or 150 Ipi (lines per inch) are advantageously chosen for the invention, in which the lenses or the line lenses are arranged at a line spacing of d = 170 μm. With such foils, the line spacing of both the individual background raster and the single motif raster should also be approximately d = 170 μm. However, it is also conceivable that foils with a different Ipi number are used, so that the line spacing of the grid in the print is then adapted accordingly to the security features.

The font is preferably designed as a lenticular font. Each individual lenticular character is automatically displayed with a preferably rectangular single background line grid and a single motif line grid according to the letter on the screen and printed out encrypted when printed on the printer.

In its second aspect, the object is achieved by a method having the features of claim 8. The method according to the invention can be carried out on one of the devices mentioned at the beginning.

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

Individual security feature modules are selected from the security feature module insert, and the selected security feature modules are combined to form a variable security feature, and the variable security feature is in turn displayed optically. The optical representation of the security feature can be done by simply printing out 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 viewing with the decoding element.

A constant background grid, which is only interrupted by individual motifs and possibly random points, is formed over the overall extent of the security feature, and a motif grid remains constant over the overall extent of the security feature, the background grid partially matching the respective individual background grids of the security feature modules and the motif grid partially matching the individual motif grids.

The single background raster is formed from lines parallel to one another and the single motif raster is also formed from lines parallel to one another, and a single motif line raster and a single background line raster are offset parallel to one another, and the single background lines of adjacent security feature modules merge into one another, and the single motif lines of neighboring security feature modules can just be extended into one another . This makes it possible to recognize both the entire motif and the individual motifs with a single decoding means such as a lenticular sheet.

In a particularly preferred development of the method according to the invention, each security feature module is overlaid 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 can be designed the same for each character or individually 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 can only be superimposed on the security feature modules during printing. Additional information can be encoded in the distribution of the points and / or holes. The information can be recognized or recorded using aids such as magnifying glasses or cameras and decoded using evaluation programs. The decoding is preferably only known to selected people. The authenticity certification based on the decoding can be carried out by machine without being disclosed to the user of the method.

In its third aspect, the object is achieved by a security feature with the features of claim 19, which is produced in one of the above-mentioned methods with one of the above-mentioned machines.

The security feature according to the invention comprises a background grid filling a background and a motif grid filling a motif, wherein the background grid and the motif grid are arranged offset from one another and the motif grid and the background grid are optically represented by printed color lines and the recognizability of the motif for the human eye by viewing with the decoding means is increased.

Advantageously, the line width of all lines of the grid is approximately b = 42 μm and the line spacing d is for a lens period corresponding to the lenticular film.

Both the background dash grid and the motif dash grid are preferably overlaid with a random dot pattern. The random point pattern further complicates the recognition of the security feature. In another preferred embodiment of the security feature, the background stroke pattern and the motif stroke pattern are provided with a random hole pattern. This random hole pattern also increases the recognizability of the security feature.

Fig. 1a

ein als Buchstabe K ausgebildetes Einzelmotiv,

Fig. 1b

das Einzelmotiv der Fig. 1a als Lentikularbuchstabe,

Fig. 2

eine schematische Zeichnung zur Wirkungsweise einer Lentikularfolie,

Fig. 3a

eine schematische Ansicht des Lentikularbuchstabens aus der Fig. 1b mit überlagerter Lentikularfolie,

Fig. 3b

eine Funktionsansicht bei Betrachtung des Lentikularbuchstabens durch die Lentikularfolie hindurch,

Fign. 4a, 4b

eine Gegenüberstellung des Lentikularbuchstabens in Fig. 1b mit einem Lentikularbuchstaben mit Zufallspunktmuster,

Fig. 5

einen viermal hintereinander ausgedruckten Lentikularbuchstaben,

Fig. 5b

den Lentikularbuchstaben gemäß Fig. 5 in d/4 Strichstärke,

Fig. 5c

den Lentikularbuchstaben aus Fig. 5b mit überlagertem Zufallspunktmuster,

Fig. 5d

den Lentikularbuchstaben in Fig. 5b mit einem gegenüber Fig. 5c verschiedenen überlagerten Zufallspunktmuster,

Fig. 5e

einen Lentikularbuchstaben mit gegenüber Fig. 5b dünnerer Strichstärke,

Fig. 6

das Foto der Figuren 5 bis 5e mit über das Foto gehaltener Lentikularfolie,

Fig. 7

eine symbolische Darstellung von Buchstaben einer Standardschriftart,

Fig. 8

Buchstaben einer aus der Schriftart in Fig. 7 erzeugten Lentikularschriftart,

Fig. 9

Buchstaben einer gepunkteten Lentikularschriftart,

Fig. 10

Buchstaben einer gelöcherten Lentikularschriftart,

Fig. 11

Sicherheitsetiketten mit Lenscodes,

Fig. 12

Sicherheitsetiketten mit Lenscodes und aufgelegten Lentikularfolien,

Fig. 13

Sicherheitsetiketten mit Lenscodes und aufgelegten Lentikularfolien,

Fig. 14

Sicherheitsetiketten mit Lenscodes und aufgelegten Lentikularfolien und mit zusätzlich aufgedruckten gleichen Seriennummern,

Fig. 15

Sicherheitsetiketten mit randomisierten Lenscodes mit aufgelegten Lentikularfolien und mit zusätzlich aufgedruckten Seriennummern.

The invention is described on the basis of several exemplary embodiments in twenty-two figures. Show:

Fig. 1a

a single motif designed as letter K,

Fig. 1b

the single motif of Fig. 1a as a lenticular letter,

Fig. 2

1 shows a schematic drawing of the mode of operation of a lenticular film,

Fig. 3a

a schematic view of the lenticular letter from the Fig. 1b with overlaid lenticular sheet,

Fig. 3b

2 shows a functional view when looking at the lenticular letter through the lenticular sheet,

Fig. 4a, 4b

a comparison of the lenticular letter in Fig. 1b with a lenticular letter with random dot pattern,

Fig. 5

a lenticular letter printed four times in a row,

Fig. 5b

according to the lenticular letters Fig. 5 in d / 4 line width,

Fig. 5c

the lenticular letter Fig. 5b with superimposed random dot pattern,

Fig. 5d

the lenticular letter in Fig. 5b with one opposite Fig. 5c different superimposed random point patterns,

Fig. 5e

a lenticular letter with opposite Fig. 5b thinner stroke width,

Fig. 6

the photo of the Figures 5 to 5e with lenticular film held over the photo,

Fig. 7

a symbolic representation of letters of a standard font,

Fig. 8

Letters one from the font in Fig. 7 generated lenticular font,

Fig. 9

Letters of a dotted lenticular font,

Fig. 10

Letters of a perforated lenticular font,

Fig. 11

Security labels with lens codes,

Fig. 12

Security labels with lens codes and applied lenticular films,

Fig. 13

Security labels with lens codes and applied lenticular films,

Fig. 14

Security labels with lens codes and lenticular foils and with the same serial numbers printed on them,

Fig. 15

Security labels with randomized lens codes with attached lenticular films and with additionally printed serial numbers.

Lens code 1 here denotes a hidden motif 3 that cannot be recognized by the human eye without aids. Lenscodes 1 are among others in the Figures 5 - 5e and in the Figures 11-15 shown. The motif 3 is only visible to the human eye after the application of a decoding film designed here as lenticular film 20. The motif 3 can be a single motif 4, for example a single letter, or a motif 3, for example a word, composed of several individual motifs 4

Fig. 1a shows the letter K in a conventional standard typeface, but greatly enlarged. One possibility used and described here to make the individual motif 4, here the letter K, difficult to recognize, consists in the background of the individual motif 4 with a single background line grid 5 according to Fig. 1b to be filled in completely. The individual background lines 5a are kept in a dark color, have a straight shape and are arranged parallel to one another. They all have the same line width b, and adjacent single background lines 5a always have the same line spacing d apart from one individual motif area. The single motif 4 stands out from the single background line grid 5. The individual motif 4 is itself completely filled with a single motif line grid 6. The individual motif line grid 6 has individual motif lines 6a arranged parallel to one another, which likewise have the same line spacing d from one another and the same line spacing d as the lines 5a of the single 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 the same and constant line width b along their entire length. However, the individual motif line grid 6 is shifted relative to the single background line grid 5 by half a line spacing d / 2 perpendicular to the direction of the lines 5a, 6a of the two grids 5, 6. The line spacing d is the central spacing 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 typeface.

The letter in Fig. 1a is called the standard character of a standard font. The character in Fig. 1b is referred to as lenticular letter 7 of a lenticular font.

The lenticular letter 7, here the letter K, is in size Fig. 1b still quite recognizable for the human eye, but the lenticular letter 7 blurs visibly as it is further reduced. The single motif 4 of the lenticular letter 7 in Fig. 1b can no longer be recognized when the line spacing d falls below the resolution of the human eye. The resolution of the eye at a distance of 25 cm is approximately 80 µm. The line spacing d and the line width b are chosen for the characters of the lenticular font such that the line width is less than 42 µm ± 10 µm, preferably 42 µm or less, and the line spacing is also less than 170 µm ± 10 µm. The line width and the line spacing are therefore close to the resolution of the human eye and are therefore difficult to recognize.

In order to make the individual motif 4 hidden in the lenticular letter 7 recognizable for the human eye, a decoding foil in the form of a lenticular foil 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 mutually parallel, over an entire in Fig. 2 Strip-shaped lenticular lenses 21 extending perpendicular to the plane of the drawing and extending in the longitudinal direction L of the lenticular film 20, which in cross section perpendicular to the longitudinal direction L according to Fig. 2 have a lenticular arch shape. The strip-shaped lenticular lenses 21 can be introduced into the lenticular film 20, which is largely transparent to visible light, so that the lenticular lenses 21 are spaced from the lenticular letter 7 printed on the surface approximately at the focal length of the lenticular lens 21 when the lenticular film 20 is placed on the lenticular letter 7.

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

The lenticular sheet 20 here has 150 lpi (lines per inch), which corresponds to a lens period of 170 μm, which results in the line spacing d = 170 μm. Depending on the adjustment, either only the individual motif lines 6a or only the background lines 5a can thus lie below the lenticular lenses 21. In Fig. 2 the individual motif lines 6a lie under the lenticular lenses 21. The distance between single background line 5a and single motif line 6a is d / 2 = 85 µm according to Fig. 2 .

If the lines 5a, 6a are printed with a 600 dpi printer as in this exemplary embodiment, the individual dots have a dot width of approximately 42 μm, therefore the line width b of both the individual motif lines 6a and the individual background lines 5a should each be between b = 42 μm and b = 85 µm.

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

Fig. 3a schematically shows 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 screen 5a and the motif line screen 6a. The lenticular lenses 21 of the lenticular sheet 20 are shown by the dashed lines in FIG Fig. 3a shown. However, in Fig. 3a not yet to recognize the effect of the lenticular sheet 20.

Really, the viewer is offered when placing the lenticular sheet 20 on the lenticular letter 7 Fig. 3b shown image. When the lenticular film 20 is correctly adjusted, the viewer sees only the individual motif lines 6a lying directly below the lenticular lenses 21. The individual background lines 5a remain hidden by the lenticular film 20. The action of the lenticular sheet 20 creates between the individual motif 4 and the background have a clearly increased contrast compared to the lenticular letter 7, so that the individual motif 4 can be recognized by the viewer.

The Fig. 4a and 4b show the lenticular letter 7 on the one hand in the Fig. 4a in the lenticular font and on the other hand in the Fig. 4b in a dotted lenticular font.

In the direct comparison of the lenticular letter 7 with the dotted lenticular letter it becomes clear that the recognizability of the individual motif 4 'K' is further obscured. Compared to the lenticular letter 7 according to Fig. 4a a random dot pattern is placed on the lenticular letter 7. The random point pattern is selected such that the points have different lengths in the longitudinal direction L of the individual motif lines 6a and the individual background lines 5a and are each arranged in contact with one of the lines 5a, 6a.

The Fig. 5 to 5e show a photo of a lens code 1 in the form of four lenticular letters 7 printed one behind the other. The individual motifs 4 each form the letter K here. can be.

The individual lenticular letters 7 are available as letters of the lenticular font, preferably as a font, preferably TrueType Font (.ttf). Like other fonts (Arial, Calibri, etc.), the lenticular font can be conveniently saved or copied on a commercially available 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 single background line grid 5 and the single motif line grid 6 of the individual lenticular letters 7 of the lenticular font are the same, so that when printing a plurality of lenticular letters 7 one after the other Fig. 5 the single background lines 5a of the single background line grid 5 merge into the single background line 5a of the adjacent lenticular letter 7 with no offset and with the same line width b with respect to each individual background line 5a. The Individual motif lines 6a of the individual motifs 4 also exactly transition into the individual motif lines 6a of the adjacent lenticular letter 7 in their imaginary extension. This makes it possible to form words, codes or the like formed from successive printed lenticular letters 7. recognizable by a single adjustment of the lenticular sheet 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 to the lens period, that is to say the distance between the lenticular lenses 21 and the lenticular film 20.

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

Fig. 5d shows the lenticular letter 7 in Fig. 5b with one compared to Fig. 5c other superimposed random dot patterns.

Fig. 5e shows the letter in Fig. 5b with a line thickness of less than d / 4. It becomes clear that, in particular by overlaying the lenticular letter 7 with a random point pattern, the human eye can already be recognized in the significantly enlarged state according to FIGS Fig. 5c and 5d compared to the lenticular letter 7 in the Fig. 5b and 5e is reduced.

Fig. 6 shows the letter arrangement of the Fig. 5 to 5d with adjusted lenticular sheet 20. The lenticular sheet 20 is placed over the lens code 1 formed from four lenticular letters 7 and over three of the individual lenticular letters 7 and is already adjusted to make the four individual motifs 4, K 'recognizable Fig. 5 is significantly increased by the lenticular sheet 20. In fact, the original size is the Fig. 5 the individual motifs 4 'K' can hardly be seen with the naked eye. The Fig. 5c and 5d show that by overlaying the lenticular letters 7 with a random point pattern, the motif 3 is hidden 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 point pattern selected, such as a comparison of the Fig. 5c and 5d with the lenticular sheet 20 on.

The Figures 7 to 10 show in a schematic view first in Fig. 7 a symbolic representation of a standard font, such as Arial, Calibri and. 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 common under Windows®. In principle, fonts, ie the sum of the individual letters and numbers, can also be stored as a bitmap, but scaling problems then arise. In contrast, the individual letters and numbers of a TrueType font are stored as vector-based files, so that even when the letters are enlarged and reduced, i.e. printed under 11 pt, 12 pt, 14 pt etc., print images are generated without anti-aliasing or aliasing. The storage as a TrueType font is particularly suitable for printing fine lines, such as serifs, and for displaying and printing letters and numbers in any size without loss.

Most printers also have image editing features built into the driver or hardware to improve the print quality of the printed image. These image processing functions are difficult or impossible to switch off. The lenticular letters 7 are also implemented as a font in order to avoid smoothing in particular very fine lines by means of the internal image processing function. Irrespective of the resolution of the printer, consistently good results are achieved when printing the lenticular letters 7, even with very small font sizes. The implementation of the lenticular letters 7 as a font makes it possible, in particular, to display variable individual codes at a sufficient speed and to have them ready for serial printing. The implementation as a font also ensures that the lenticular letters 7 are placed at the same height without gaps. There is no offset in the printed image of the letters, which would require readjustment of the decoding film 20.

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

Fig. 9 shows the lenticular letters 7 of the lenticular font of the Fig. 8 with superimposed random dot pattern.

Fig. 10 shows the lenticular letters 7 of the lenticular font of the Fig. 8 with superimposed random hole pattern. The recognizability of the individual lenticular letters 7 is further reduced both by overlaying each lenticular letter 7 with a random dot pattern and with a random hole pattern.

The Fig. 11 to 15 show different exemplary 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. 11 shows three security labels 41, schematically represented next to one another, each with a lens code 1, the motif 3 of which cannot be recognized by the human eye.

Fig. 12 shows the security tags 41 of FIG Fig. 11 with adjusted lenticular foils 20. An individual code of the individual security labels 41 can be seen. In this example, the codes are numbered serially, authentication takes place by reading serial number 40.

Fig. 13 shows the security labels 41 with the lenticular sheet 20 placed on them, an individual code becoming visible. In the example according to Fig. 13 the individual code is randomized and rare, ie only certain of the serial numbers 40 are valid. The valid serial numbers 40 are stored in a database, so that when a product is authenticated by reading the lens code 1 using the lenticular film 20, the serial number 40 is recognized and compared with the serial numbers of a database. If the recognized serial number 40 is stored in the database, the product is authenticated. Otherwise, it is a forgery, so an additional security against the security label 41 is the Fig. 12 available.

Fig. 14 shows a security label 41 with likewise randomized and rare code and applied lenticular film 20, the serial number 40 being hidden in the lens code 1 and being printed on the security label 41 in plain text as the serial number 42. Authentication is carried out by comparing the serial numbers 42 of the plain text and the serial numbers 40 of the lens code 1.

Fig. 15 shows a security label 41 with lens code 1 and also attached lenticular sheet 20. The individual code of 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. Another code is also printed in plain text on the security label 41. This code is also randomized and rare. Only certain serial numbers 42 are valid and these are also stored in a database. The link between the two codes is also saved in the database. Authentication is carried out by comparison with the database.

Reference symbol list

1

Lens code

3rd

motive

4th

Single motif

5

Single background line grid

5a

Single background line

6

Single motif line grid

6a

Single motif line

7

Lenticular letter

20th

Lenticular sheet

21st

striped 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 (26)

1. Apparatus for producing variable optical security features (1), comprising:

   a set of security feature modules (7), which are stored in a file and the optical individual representation of which in each case has an individual background line grid (5), into which in each case an individual motif (4) including an individual motif line grid (6) is embedded, and

   a selection means with which individual security feature modules (7) are selectable from the security feature module set and are able to be composed to form the security feature (1),

   a printing device for optically representing the variable security feature (1) with a resolution of at least 300 dpi (dots per inch),

   wherein

   the individual background line grid (5) is embodied as a line grid and the individual motif line grid (6) is embodied as a line grid,

   characterized

   in that the individual background line grid (5) and the individual motif line grid (6) have an identical line spacing (d) and an identical line thickness (b) and are arranged parallel with respect to one another and with an offset of half a line spacing (d) so that the recognizability for the human eye increases by viewing with a lens foil (20) with a grid, which is adapted to the individual background line grid (5) and/or the individual motif line grid (6), of at least 70 lpi (lines per inch) .
2. Apparatus according to Claim 1, characterized in that the selection means is configured as an input device.
3. Apparatus according to Claim 1, characterized in that the selection means is a program that retrieves selection information stored in a database or a file and composes the security feature (1) in accordance with the selection information.
4. Apparatus according to Claim 1, 2 or 3, characterized in that the security feature (1) is able to be composed from security feature modules (7) and comprises a motif (3) formed from the individual motifs (4) .
5. Apparatus according to at least one of Claims 1 to 4, characterized in that the security feature modules are lenticular letters (7) of a text type.
6. Apparatus according to Claim 5, characterized in that the security feature modules are lenticular letters (7) of a font.
7. Method for producing variable optical security features (1) for being performed on an apparatus according to at least one of Claims 1 to 6 by providing a set of security feature modules (7),
   an optical representation of the security feature modules (7) in each case having an individual background line grid (5) that is embodied as a line grid and into which in each case an individual motif (4) is embedded, into which an individual motif line grid (6) embodied as a line grid is inserted and the individual motif line grid (6) being embodied as a line grid, wherein the individual background line grid (5) and the individual motif line grid (6) have an identical line spacing (d) and an identical line thickness (b) and extend parallel with respect to one another and with an offset of half a line spacing (d),
   individual security feature modules (7) being selected from the security feature module set,
   the selected security feature modules (7) being composed to form one of the variable security features (1),
   and the variable security feature (1) being printed with a printer device with a resolution of at least 300 dpi (dots per inch),
   so that the recognizability of the security feature (1) for the human eye is increased by viewing with the lens foil (20) and is read with at least 70 lpi.
8. Method according to Claim 7, characterized in that the security feature modules (7) are stored as letters of a text type.
9. Method according to Claim 8, characterized in that the text type is provided as a font.
10. Method according to Claim 7, 8 or 9, characterized in that the individual background lines (5a) of the individual background line grids (5) of adjacent security feature modules (7) transition rectilinearly into one another and the individual motif lines (6a) of the individual motif line grids (6) of adjacent security feature modules (7) can be extended rectilinearly into one another.
11. Method according to at least one of Claims 7 to 10, characterized in that each security feature module (7) is overlaid with a random dot pattern.
12. Method according to at least one of Claims 7 to 11, characterized in that each security feature module (7) is overlaid with a random hole pattern.
13. Method according to at least one of Claims 11 and 12, characterized in that random hole patterns and/or random dot patterns are stored in each case in a further text type.
14. Method according to Claim 13, characterized in that the random hole pattern and/or random dot pattern is/are overlaid with the security feature module (7) during printing.
15. Method according to Claim 12, 13 or 14, characterized in that further information is coded in the random dot pattern and/or random hole pattern.
16. Method according to at least one of Claims 7 to 15, characterized in that the variable security features (1) are printed with a printer device with a resolution of at least 600 dpi and are read with the decoder means (20) with at least 150 lpi.
17. Method according to at least one of Claims 7 to 16, characterized in that valid motifs (3) are stored in a database that is accessible for authentication and the valid motifs (3) are printed in a variable security feature (1).
18. Security feature, produced in a method according to one of Claims 7 to 17, having a background grid filling a background and a motif grid filling a motif (3),
    wherein the background grid and the motif grid are arranged to be offset with respect to one another and the motif grid and the background grid are optically represented by printed colour lines,
    so that the recognizability of the motif (3) for the human eye is increased by viewing with the decoding means (20) .
19. Security feature according to Claim 18, 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 grids (5) of the security feature modules (7).
20. Security feature according to Claim 18 or 19, characterized in that the motif grid is composed of individual motif line grids (6).
21. Security feature according to at least one of Claims 18 to 20, characterized in that the individual background lines (5a) of adjacent security feature modules (7) transition rectilinearly into one another and the individual motif lines (6a) of adjacent security feature modules (7) are able to be extended rectilinearly into one another.
22. Security feature according to at least one of Claims 18 and 21, characterized in that each security feature module (7) is overlaid with a random dot pattern.
23. Security feature according to at least one of Claims 18 to 22, characterized in that each security feature module (7) is overlaid with a random hole pattern.
24. Security feature according to at least one of Claims 22 and 23, characterized in that information is coded in the distribution of the dots and/or holes.
25. Security feature according to at least one of Claims 18 to 24, characterized in that a line thickness (b) is b = 42 µm - 85 µm, preferably b = 42 µm, and a line spacing (d) is d = 170 µm.
26. Security feature according to at least one of Claims 18 to 25, characterized in that the motif (3) comprises a randomized and rare serial number (40) which is able to be compared for authentication to a serial number stored in a database and/or to a serial number (42) applied on the decoding means (20) in cleartext.

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