EP3261064B1 - Authentication document - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to an authentication document and a document reading device which can be authenticated with the authentication document.

The disclosure document WO 2006/056089 A2 describes a security document.

The disclosure document DE 10 2007 000 881 A1 describes a document with an integrated display device.

The disclosure document DE 2006 017 256 A1 describes a device and a method for the optical examination of documents of value.

The disclosure document WO 2011/130843 A1 describes a security document.

A document such as an identification document or a bank note usually has a large number of security features which are intended to prove the authenticity of the document and to make forgery of the document more difficult. The security features usually have characteristic properties which can be checked when the document is authenticated. The security features can include electronic circuits which are read out when the document is authenticated.

A document reading device can be used to authenticate the document, for example to check the authenticity of the document. An authenticity of the document reading device is usually assumed. Authentication of the document reading device, in particular mutual authentication of the document and of the document reading device, is not possible with most authentication methods.

In common authentication methods, data is exchanged between the document reading device and the document mostly via contactless, digital communication protocols. Digital encryption methods such as the Transport Layer Security Protocol and / or the RSA cryptosystem can be used.

However, these digital encryption protocols can be decrypted by particularly powerful computer systems, for example quantum computers. Furthermore, a processor, for example in the form of a computer chip, is usually required in the document to carry out the authentication method, which additionally increases the production costs of the document.

It is therefore the object of the present invention to create an efficient concept for authenticating a document reading device with an authentication document, which in particular does not require a processor or microchip in the authentication document.

This object is achieved by subjects having the features according to the independent claims. Advantageous embodiments of the invention are the subject matter of the figures, the description and the dependent claims.

According to a first aspect, the invention relates to an authentication document for authenticating a document reading device, with a document body, a light guide structure which is formed in the document body, a light source which is designed to emit a first light to the document reading device, the first light at least partially in the light guide structure can be irradiated, and a molecular layer which is arranged on the document body, the molecular layer being designed to spectrally change a second light irradiating into the light guide structure, wherein the light guide structure is designed to spectrally the first light with the spectrally changed second light overlay to generate an overlay light for the authentication of the document reader. This has the advantage that the document reading device can be authenticated efficiently based on the overlay light. The superimposed light has, for example, a light color which results from the spectral superimposition of the spectrally changed second light and the first light. Successful authentication of the document reading device takes place, for example, when the light color of the generated overlay light corresponds to an authentication light color, for example red, green or blue.

The authentication document can be an ID card or a smart card. The authentication document can also be one of the following identification documents: identity document, such as identity card, passport, access control card, authorization card, company ID, tax code or ticket, birth certificate, driver's license or vehicle ID, means of payment, for example a bank card or credit card. The authentication document can also comprise an electronically readable circuit, for example an RFID chip. The authentication document can have one or more layers or be paper and / or plastic-based. The authentication document can be constructed from plastic-based foils, which form a card body by means of gluing and / or lamination are joined together, the films preferably having similar material properties.

The document reading device is authenticated by the authentication of the document reading device. The authentication of the document reading device can include an identification of the document reading device and / or a verification of the authenticity or authenticity of the document reading device.

The molecular layer can comprise or form a security feature of the authentication document. The molecular layer can also form a physically unclonable function (PUF). The molecular layer can spectrally alter the second light when it shines through the molecular layer in a unique and difficult to falsify or imitate manner. The spectral change of the second light can depend on a structure or a state, in particular an excited state, of the molecular layer. The spectral change of the second light can take place due to light absorption in the molecular layer.

The molecular layer can be transilluminated with the second light radiating into the light guide structure, the molecular layer being designed to spectrally change the second light when transilluminating the molecular layer, in particular to change it spectrally by means of light absorption in the molecular layer. This has the advantage that a light spectrum of the second light can be changed efficiently with the molecular layer, so that the superimposed light is created when the spectrally changed second light is superimposed on the first light.

According to one embodiment, the authentication document has an electrode device to which an electrical voltage can be applied in order to generate a stimulation field, the molecular layer with the stimulation field being able to be put into an excitation state which at least partially defines the spectral change of the second light. This has the advantage that the spectral change of the second light can be controlled in a targeted manner by exciting the molecular layer.

The electrode device may include a first electrode and a second electrode. The electrodes can be arranged on two opposite sides of the molecular layer. Alternatively, a carrier layer of the molecular layer can be formed as one of the electrodes. The second electrode can be arranged next to the molecular layer. Furthermore, the carrier layer of the molecular layer can also comprise both electrodes.

The stimulation field can be an electrical stimulation field which is created when the electrical voltage is applied between the two electrodes. The stimulation field can furthermore be an electrostatic stimulation field, a magnetic stimulation field or an electromagnetic stimulation field.

The electrical voltage can be generated by the document reading device, in particular a communication interface of the document reading device, which can be electrically connected to the electrode device. The electrical voltage can have a voltage value, in particular a voltage amplitude. The excited state of the molecular layer can depend on the voltage value.

According to one embodiment, the molecular layer has a plurality of polymer chains or oriented molecules, which are arranged on a carrier layer and are each chemically or physically bonded to the carrier layer at one end. This has the advantage that a molecular layer can be created which is particularly difficult to copy or forge. Furthermore, a molecular layer, which is made up of orientable molecules or polymer chains, can be efficiently put into an excited state with the stimulation field.

The oriented molecules and / or polymer chains can each be anchored to the carrier layer at one end. The oriented molecules and / or polymer chains can be arranged randomly on the carrier layer.

The carrier layer can be transparent or partially transparent. The light guide structure can be illuminated with the first light through the transparent or partially transparent carrier layer. The carrier layer can be a metal layer, in particular a gold or silver layer, a conductive oxide layer, a dielectric layer, a plastic layer, in particular a polycarbonate layer, or a semiconductor layer.

According to one embodiment, the oriented molecules or polymer chains can be deflected from a rest position in response to the stimulation field, the spectral change of the second light being at least partially determined by the deflection of the oriented molecules or polymer chains. This has the advantage that the deflection of the oriented molecules or polymer chains and thus the spectral change of the second light can be controlled via the stimulation field.

The light spectrum of the second light can be influenced in a characteristic way by the deflection of the polymer chains or oriented molecules. For example, the deflected, oriented molecules or polymer chains have a characteristic absorption spectrum which depends on the deflection and thus on the stimulation field or the applied electrical voltage. When the molecular layer is transilluminated, the light spectrum of the second light can be changed due to the characteristic absorption in the excited molecular layer.

The absorption spectrum of the molecular layer in the excited state can depend on a number of factors, in particular the type of molecules or polymer chains, the length of the molecules or polymer chains and the density or distribution of the plurality of molecules or polymer chains on the carrier layer. Due to the large number of molecules or polymer chains on the carrier layer, this can result in a unique absorption spectrum that is difficult to copy, which is a characteristic property of the molecular layer and changes the light spectrum of the second light.

According to one embodiment, the light source comprises at least one LED and / or laser diode. This has the advantage that the first light can be generated efficiently.

According to one embodiment, the light source is designed to generate the first light in a random light spectrum. This has the advantage that the authentication of the document reading device is particularly secure against forgery.

In order to obtain the overlay light in the correct light color when the first light is superimposed with the second light, the spectrally changed second light must have a light spectrum that is complementary to the light spectrum of the first light. However, if the light spectrum of the first light is a random light spectrum, the light spectrum of the second light must be spectrally changed anew with each authentication process, in particular by moving the molecular layer into a new excited state. This makes the authentication of the document reading device particularly forgery-proof by means of light superimposition in the authentication document. The light source can comprise a random generator or can be connected to a random generator. The random generator can generate a random current and / or voltage signal with which the light source can be controlled in order to generate the first light in the random light spectrum.

The light guide structure has an optical output, the light guide structure being designed to emit the superimposed light from the optical output. This has the advantage that the overlay light can be made available for authentication of the document reading device. According to one embodiment, the optical output is formed as a transparent or partially transparent window in the document body.

According to one embodiment, the light guide structure is formed as a cavity in the document body. The light guide structure can form a beam path in the document body which runs largely parallel to a surface of the document body and which is open to an underside of the molecular layer or carrier layer, to the light source and to the optical output. According to one embodiment, the light guide structure comprises at least one mirror element for spectrally superimposing the first light with the second light.

This achieves the advantage that the first light and the second light can be efficiently superimposed. The mirror elements can also be arranged to guide the resulting superimposed light onto the optical output.

According to a second aspect, the invention relates to a document reading device according to claim 9 for an authentication document, wherein the authentication document comprises a document body, a molecular layer which is arranged on the document body, and a light guide structure which is formed in the document body, the molecular layer being formed to spectrally change a second light irradiating into the light guide structure, the authentication document further comprising a light source which is designed to emit a first light to the document reading device, the first light being at least partially irradiating into the light guide structure, the light guide structure being designed, to spectrally superimpose the spectrally changed second light with the first light in order to generate an overlay light, on the basis of which the document reading device can be authenticated. The document reading device comprises a light sensor which is designed to receive the first light emitted by the authentication document, the light sensor being designed to detect a light spectrum of the first light, a processor which is designed to measure a voltage value of an electrical voltage on the basis of the to determine the detected light spectrum of the first light, a communication interface which is electrically connectable to the authentication document and designed to generate the electrical voltage with the voltage value and to apply the generated electrical voltage to the authentication document, and a lighting device, which is designed, the second To radiate light through the molecular layer into the light guide structure of the authentication document in order to spectrally change the second light and to spectrally overlap the spectrally changed second light with the first light in the light guide structure gladly. This has the advantage that a document reading device is created which can be authenticated with an authentication document. The authentication document can be an authentication document according to the first aspect of the invention.

The document reading device is authenticated by the authentication of the document reading device. The authentication of the document reading device can be an identification of the document reading device and / or a verification of the authenticity or authenticity of the document reading device.

The communication interface of the document reading device can comprise a voltage source, in particular a DC or an AC voltage source, for generating the electrical voltage. The electrical voltage can have a voltage value, in particular a voltage amplitude. The voltage source can be electrically connectable to the authentication document, in particular to electrodes of the authentication document. The communication interface can also comprise a wireless interface, in particular a Bluetooth interface or a WLAN interface, or an RFID reader.

The processor can be designed as a microprocessor in the document reading device. The processor can also be integrated into a data processing device, for example a computer or a laptop, which is connected to the document reading device.

According to one embodiment, the processor is designed to detect a light spectrum of the second light emitted by the light source, the processor being designed to determine the voltage value of the electrical voltage on the basis of the light spectrum of the second light and the light spectrum of the first light, the Communication interface is designed to apply the determined voltage value to the authentication document in order to generate a stimulation field which puts the molecular layer in an excited state, the excited state at least partially defining the spectral change of the second light. This has the advantage that a suitable voltage value for the electrical voltage can be determined. With the determined voltage value, the molecular layer can be put into an excited state which changes the light spectrum of the second light when it shines through the molecular layer in such a way that the superposition of the spectrally changed second light and the first light results in the superimposed light in the correct light color. The document reading device can be successfully authenticated if the light color of the overlay light corresponds to an authentication light color such as red, green or blue.

The processor can be connected to the lighting device in order to detect the light spectrum of the second light emitted by the lighting device. Furthermore, the light spectrum of the second light can be stored in a memory of the document reading device to which the processor can be connected.

According to one embodiment, the lighting device comprises at least one light source, in particular an LED and / or a laser diode. This has the advantage that the second light can be generated efficiently.

According to one embodiment, the light sensor has at least one photodiode or a photodiode layer or a transistor layer. This has the advantage that the first light can be detected efficiently.

According to one embodiment, the light sensor comprises a spectrometer device which is designed to detect the light spectrum of the first light. This has the advantage that the first light spectrum can be captured efficiently.

According to one embodiment, the spectrometer device comprises a prism spectrometer, a grating spectrometer, a Fourier transform spectrometer or a laser spectrometer. The spectrometer device can be designed as a microspectrometer and integrated into the document reading device.

The invention can be implemented in software and / or hardware.

Fig. 1

eine schematische Darstellung eines Authentifikationsdokuments zum Authentifizieren eines Dokumentenlesegeräts;

Fig. 2a

eine schematische Darstellung einer Molekularschicht, welche durch eine Vielzahl von auslenkbaren Molekülen gebildet ist, im Ruhezustand;

Fig. 2b

eine schematische Darstellung der Molekularschicht aus Fig. 2a nach Anlegen eines Stimulationsfeldes; und

Fig. 3

ein Flussidagramm eines Verfahrens zum Authentifizieren eines Dokumentenlesegeräts.

Further embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings. Show it:

Fig. 1

a schematic representation of an authentication document for authenticating a document reading device;

Fig. 2a

a schematic representation of a molecular layer, which is formed by a plurality of deflectable molecules, in the resting state;

Figure 2b

a schematic representation of the molecular layer Fig. 2a after applying a stimulation field; and

Fig. 3

a flow chart of a method for authenticating a document reading device.

Fig. 1 shows a schematic representation of an authentication document 100 for authenticating a document reading device 101 according to an embodiment.

The authentication document 100 comprises a document body 103, a light guide structure 107 which is formed in the document body 103, a light source 113 which is designed to emit a first light 109 to the document reading device 101, the first light 109 being at least partially radiant into the light guide structure 107 and a molecular layer 105 which is arranged on the document body 103, the molecular layer 105 being designed to spectrally change a second light 111 irradiating into the light guide structure 107, the light guide structure 107 being designed to spectrally change the first light 109 second light 111 to superimpose spectrally in order to generate an overlay light 117 for the authentication of the document reading device 101.

The overlay light 117 has, for example, a light color which results from the spectral superposition of the spectrally changed second light 111 and the first light 109. Successful authentication of the document reading device 101 takes place, for example, when the light color of the generated overlay light 117 corresponds to an authentication light color, for example red, green or blue.

The authentication document 100 can be an ID card or a smart card. The authentication document 100 can also be one of the following identification documents: identity document, such as ID card, passport, access control ID, authorization ID, company ID, tax code or ticket, birth certificate, driver's license or vehicle ID, means of payment, for example a bank card or credit card. The authentication document 100 can furthermore comprise an electronically readable circuit, for example an RFID chip. The authentication document 100 can have one or more layers or can be paper and / or be plastic-based. The authentication document 100 can be constructed from plastic-based foils which are joined together to form a card body by means of gluing and / or lamination, the foils preferably having similar material properties.

The document reading device 101 is authenticated by the authentication of the document reading device 101. The authentication of the document reading device 101 can comprise an identification of the document reading device 101 and / or a verification of the authenticity or authenticity of the document reading device 101.

The molecular layer 105 can comprise or form a security feature of the authentication document 100. The molecular layer 105 can also form a physically unclonable function (PUF). The molecular layer 105 can spectrally alter the second light 111 when it shines through the molecular layer 105 in a unique and difficult to forge or imitate manner. The spectral change of the second light 111 can depend on a structure or a state, in particular an excited state, of the molecular layer 105. The spectral change of the second light 111 can take place due to light absorption in the molecular layer 105.

The molecular layer 105 may have a plurality of polymer chains or oriented molecules. The polymer chains or oriented molecules can be arranged on a carrier layer 121, which is formed on or in the authentication document 100. The polymer chains or oriented molecules can each be chemically or physically bonded or anchored to the carrier layer 121 at one end. The oriented molecules and / or polymer chains can furthermore be arranged randomly on the carrier layer 121.

The carrier layer 121 can be transparent or partially transparent. The light guide structure 107 can be illuminated with the first light 109 through the transparent or partially transparent carrier layer 121. The carrier layer 121 can be a metal layer, in particular a gold or silver layer, a conductive oxide layer, a dielectric layer, a plastic layer, in particular a polycarbonate layer, or a semiconductor layer.

According to one embodiment, the authentication document 100 has an in Fig. 1 Electrode device, not shown, to which an electrical voltage can be applied. When the electrical voltage is applied to the electrode device, a stimulation field can be generated. The stimulation field can put the molecular layer 105 in an excited state. This excited state of the molecular layer 105 can at least partially cause, influence or define the spectral change of the second light when it shines through the molecular layer 105.

The electrode device may include a first electrode and a second electrode. The electrodes can be arranged on two opposite sides of the molecular layer 105. Alternatively, a carrier layer 121 of the molecular layer 105 can be formed as one of the two electrodes. The second electrode can be arranged next to the molecular layer 105. Furthermore, the carrier layer 121 of the molecular layer 105 can also comprise both electrodes.

The stimulation field can be an electrical stimulation field that is created when the electrical voltage is applied between the two electrodes. The stimulation field can furthermore be an electrostatic stimulation field, a magnetic stimulation field or an electromagnetic stimulation field.

According to one embodiment, the electrical voltage is generated by the document reading device 101. The electrical voltage can have a voltage value, in particular a voltage amplitude. The excited state and the optical property of the molecular layer 105 defined by the excited state can depend on the voltage value.

The oriented molecules or polymer chains of the molecular layer 105 can be deflectable from a rest position in response to the stimulation field. The spectral change of the second light 111, in particular the light spectrum of the second light 111 after shining through the molecular layer 105 in the excited state, can be determined at least partially by the deflection of the oriented molecules or polymer chains.

For example, the light spectrum of the second light 111 is influenced in a characteristic way by the deflection of the polymer chains or oriented molecules. The deflected, oriented molecules or polymer chains can have a characteristic absorption spectrum which depends on the deflection and thus on the stimulation field or the applied electrical voltage. When the molecular layer 105 is transilluminated, the light spectrum of the second light 111 can be changed due to the characteristic absorption in the excited molecular layer 105.

According to one embodiment, the absorption spectrum of the molecular layer 105 in the excited state depends on a multitude of factors, in particular the type of molecules or polymer chains, the length of the molecules or polymer chains and the density or distribution of the plurality of molecules or polymer chains on the carrier layer 121 Because of the large number of molecules or polymer chains on the carrier layer 121, this can result in a unique absorption spectrum which is difficult to copy and which represents a characteristic property of the molecular layer 105 and changes the light spectrum of the second light 111.

The light source 113 of the authentication document 100 can comprise at least one LED and / or laser diode for emitting the first light 109.

The light source 113 can further be designed to generate the first light 109 in a random light spectrum. In order to obtain the overlay light 117 in the correct light color when the first light 109 is superimposed with the second light 111, the second light 111 must be modified to form the spectrally changed second light 112 in order to generate a light spectrum complementary to the light spectrum of the first light 109 . The modification from the light spectrum of the second light 111 to the second light spectrum of the changed second light 112 is ensured by the absorption of the molecular layer 105. However, if the light spectrum of the first light 109 is random, the light spectrum of the second light 112 has to be spectrally changed anew with each authentication process, in particular by means of Setting the molecular layer 105 into a new excited state and / or by varying the light spectrum of the second light 111. This makes the authentication of the document reading device 101 particularly forgery-proof.

The light source 113 can comprise a random generator or can be connected to a random generator. The random generator can generate a random current and / or voltage signal with which the light source 113 can be controlled in order to generate the first light 109 in the random light spectrum.

The light guide structure 107 can be formed as a cavity in the document body 103 and can comprise a beam path in the document body 103 which runs largely parallel to a surface of the document body 103.

The light guide structure 107 has an optical output 19. The superimposed light 117 can be emitted from the optical output 119.

The beam path of the light guide structure 107 can be opened to an underside of the molecular layer 105 or carrier layer 121, to the light source 113 and to the optical output 119. This enables the second light 111 and the first light 109 to be irradiated into the beam path and the superimposed light 117 to be emitted from the beam path.

The optical output 119 can be formed as a transparent or partially transparent window in the document body 103.

The light guide structure 107 can furthermore comprise a plurality of mirror elements 115. The mirror elements 115 can be arranged in the light guide structure 107, in particular in the beam path of the light guide structure 107, in such a way that they guide the irradiated first and second light 109, 111 into the beam path where the first light 109 and the modified second light 112 spectrally superimpose and form the superposition light 117.

The mirror elements 115 in the light guide structure 107 can furthermore be designed to guide the superimposed light 117 to the optical output 119.

Fig. 1 furthermore comprises a schematic representation of the document reading device 101, which can be authenticated with the authentication document 100, according to one embodiment.

The document reading device 101 comprises a light sensor 123, which is designed to receive the first light 109 emitted by the authentication document 100, the light sensor 123 being designed to detect a light spectrum of the first light 109, a processor 125, which is designed, a voltage value to determine an electrical voltage on the basis of the detected light spectrum of the first light, a communication interface 127 which is electrically connectable to the authentication document 100 and is designed to generate the electrical voltage with the voltage value and the authentication document 100 with the generated electrical voltage for generating the To apply stimulation field, and a lighting device 129, which is designed to radiate the second light 111 through the molecular layer 105 into the light guide structure 107 of the authentication document 100 to the first light 109 with the modified second To superimpose light 112 in the light guide structure 107 spectrally.

The communication interface 127 of the document reading device 101 can comprise a voltage source, in particular a DC or an AC voltage source, for generating the electrical voltage. The electrical voltage can have a voltage value, in particular a voltage amplitude. The voltage source can be electrically connectable to the authentication document 100, in particular to electrodes of the authentication document 100. The communication interface 127 can furthermore comprise a wireless interface, in particular a Bluetooth interface or a WLAN interface, or an RFID reader.

The processor 125 can be designed as a microprocessor in the document reading device 101. The processor is designed to work on an analog, digital or optical basis. The processor 125 can furthermore be integrated into a data processing device, for example a computer or a laptop, which is connected to the document reading device 101.

The processor 125 can furthermore be designed to detect a light spectrum of the second light 111. For this purpose, the processor 125 can be connected to the lighting device 129 in terms of communication technology. Furthermore, the light spectrum of the second light 111 can be stored in a memory of the document reading device 101 to which the processor 125 can be connected.

The processor 125 can further be designed to determine the voltage value of the electrical voltage on the basis of the light spectrum of the first light 109 and the light spectrum of the second light 111.

The communication interface 127 can be designed to apply the determined voltage value to the authentication document 100 in order to put the molecular layer 105 into the excited state. With the determined voltage value, the molecular layer 105 can be put into an excited state which changes the light spectrum of the second light 111 when it shines through the molecular layer 105 such that when the spectrally changed second light 112 and the first light 109 are superimposed, the superimposed light 117 has the correct light color is produced. The document reading device 101 can be successfully authenticated when the light color of the overlay light 117 corresponds to an authentication light color such as red, green, or blue.

The lighting device 129 can comprise at least one light source, in particular an LED and / or a laser diode.

The light sensor 123 can have at least one photodiode or a photodiode layer or a transistor layer.

The light sensor 123 can furthermore have a spectrometer device which is designed to detect the light spectrum of the first light 109. The spectrometer device can be a prism spectrometer, a grating spectrometer, a Fourier transform spectrometer or a laser spectrometer. The spectrometer device can be designed as a microspectrometer and integrated into the document reading device 101.

Figures 2a and 2b show a schematic representation of the molecular layer 105, which is formed by a plurality of deflectable molecules 201, according to one embodiment in the resting state and after the stimulation field has been applied.

The deflectable molecules 201 can form elongated polymer chains and / or can be arranged as self-assembled monolayers (SAM) on the carrier layer 121.

The deflectable molecules 201 can be electrically charged. The deflectable molecules 201 can also be mechanically flexible or stiff. In particular, the mechanical flexibility of the deflectable molecules 201 can depend on their length, steric side groups, aromatic rings or spiro structural elements and / or their electrical charge. The deflectable molecules 201 can include synthetic molecules, for example alkyl chains with further functional groups, or biomolecules, for example DNA. The deflectable molecules 201 can be designed as electrical monopoles, dipoles or quadrupoles.

The deflectable molecules 201 can be anchored on the carrier layer 121 by means of covalent bonds, ionic bonds, van der Waals bonds, hydrogen bonds or adsorption. Furthermore, the deflectable molecules 201 can include linker molecules, in particular thiols, which are arranged at one end of the deflectable molecules 201 and which anchor the respective molecules 201 on the carrier layer 121. The end of the deflectable molecules 201 that is not anchored on the carrier layer 121 can, as in FIG Figures 2a and 2b shown protrude from the carrier layer 121.

The deflectable molecules 201 are in Fig. 2a in a rest position, for example because the authentication document 100 is not subjected to any electrical voltage (U = 0 V). The deflectable molecules 201 in the rest position protrude, for example, perpendicularly from the carrier layer 121, due to mutual repulsion of the molecules 201 with the same charge.

Figure 2b shows the molecular layer 105 from Fig. 2a by applying the stimulation field according to one embodiment.

The stimulation field is in Figure 2b by applying the electrical voltage U = U _L to the carrier layer 121, which forms a second electrode, and generates a first electrode, not shown. The stimulation field is, for example, an electrical field between the two electrodes.

The deflectable molecules 201, which for example carry a negative electrical charge, are shown in Figure 2b deflected in response to the application of the electrical voltage (U = U _L ) or the generation of the stimulation field from the rest position.

The excited state of the molecular layer 105 can be determined by this deflection of the deflectable molecules 201 from the rest position. The deflection of the molecules 201 can thereby characteristically change the absorption properties of the molecular layer 105, in particular an absorption spectrum of the molecular layer 105. The change in the absorption properties can be directly related to the deflection of the molecules 201 and the applied voltage.

An induction of a movement, in particular a collective movement, of a molecular layer on a surface by means of an electric field and the macroscopic detection of this movement is for example in Lahann, Joerg, et al. "A reversibly switching surface." Science 299 (5605), p. 371-374, 2003 disclosed.

According to one embodiment, the electrical voltage that can be applied to the authentication document 100 to generate the stimulation field is designed as direct voltage or as alternating voltage. The generated stimulation field can be a constant field or an alternating field in response to the type of electrical voltage. If the stimulation field is a constant field, the deflectable molecules 201 can remain in the deflected state after the stimulation field has been applied until the stimulation field is deactivated again. If, on the other hand, the stimulation field is an alternating field, the deflectable molecules 201 can be excited by the alternating field to vibrate, in particular to vibrate collectively, on the carrier layer 121. In this case, the excited state of the molecules 201 is determined by the molecular vibration.

The molecular layer 105, in particular the deflectable molecules 201, can furthermore have an electrical moment, in particular an electrical dipole or quadrupole moment, or a magnetic moment, in particular a magnetic dipole or quadrupole moment.

According to one embodiment, the stimulation field causes a change in the electrical or magnetic moments of the molecular layer 105. The change in the electrical or magnetic moments can determine the characteristic change in the absorption properties of the molecular layer 105.

Furthermore, the change in the electric or magnetic moments of the molecular layer 105 may cause a characteristic change in a dielectric function of the molecular layer 105. For example, the dielectric function of the molecular layer 105 is dependent on the alignment of the deflectable molecules 201. According to one embodiment, the application of the stimulation field causes phonon excitation in the molecular layer 105.

Fig. 3 shows a flowchart of a method 300 for authenticating the document reading device 101 according to an example which does not fall under the subject matter of the claims.

The method 300 comprises emitting 301 the first light 109 from the authentication document 100, wherein the first light 109 has a light spectrum E _K (λ), detecting 303 the light spectrum, in particular with the light sensor 123 of the document reading device 101, determining 305 a required Light spectrum F (λ) 112, which, when superimposed with the light spectrum E _K (λ) of the first light, results in the superimposed light 117. Method step 305 of determining the required light spectrum also includes determining the voltage value of the electrical voltage U _K which, when applied to the authentication document 100, puts the molecular layer 105 in an excited state, the molecular layer 105 in the excited state shedding the second light 111 through Molecular layer 105 spectrally changed in such a way that it has the required light spectrum F (λ, U _K ) 112. The method 300 further comprises a switching 307 of the molecular layer 105 by applying the electrical voltage U _K with the Voltage value to put the molecular layer 105 into the excited state, generating 309 a light with the required light spectrum F (λ, U _K ) by irradiating the molecular layer 105 with the second light 111. The method 300 further comprises an interference 311 or superimposition of the spectrally changed second light 112 with the light spectrum F (λ) and of the first light 109 with the light spectrum E _K (λ) in order to generate the superimposed light 117. The method 300 finally comprises a successful authentication 313 of the document reading device 101 if the light color of the overlay light 117 corresponds to the authentication light color, for example red, green or blue, or an unsuccessful authentication 315 of the document reading device 101 if the light color of the overlay light 117 does not correspond to the authentication light color. The light color of the overlay light 117 can be determined by a light spectrum Z (λ) of the overlay light 117.

According to one example, the authentication method 300 does not include a digitized encryption method, as a result of which the present method 300 cannot be decrypted with the aid of quantum computers, in contrast to, for example, RSA cryptosystems.

According to a further example, the document reading device 101 can also be used to authenticate the authentication document 100. The document reading device 101 authenticates the authentication document 100, for example by means of the molecular layer 105, which can be a security feature for the authentication of the authentication document 100.

According to a further example, mutual authentication of the document reading device 101 and the authentication document 100 can take place, in which in particular the document reading device 101 is authenticated by the authentication document 100 and the authentication document 100 by the document reading device 101. This mutual authentication can take place as part of a common authentication process.

List of reference symbols

100

Authentication document

101

Document reader

103

Document body

105

Molecular layer

107

Light guide structure

109

first light

111

second light

112

spectrally altered second light

113

Light source

115

Mirror element

117

Overlay light

119

optical output

121

Carrier layer

123

Light sensor

125

processor

127

Communication interface

129

Lighting device

201

deflectable molecules

300

Method for authenticating a document reading device

301

Emit

303

Detected

305

Determine

307

Switching

309

to generate

311

Interfering

313

successful authentication

315

unsuccessful authentication

Claims (13)

1. An authentication document (100) to authenticate a document reader (101), including:

   a document body (103);

   a light guide structure (107), which is formed in the document body (103);

   a light source (113), which is configured to radiate a first light (109) to the document reader (101), wherein the first light (109) can be at least partially radiated into the light guide structure (107); and

   a molecular layer (105), which is arranged on the document body (103), wherein the molecular layer (105) is configured to spectrally change a second light (111) that is radiating into the light guide structure (107);

   wherein the light guide structure (107) is configured to spectrally overlay the first light (109) with the spectrally changed second light (112), to generate an overlay light (117) to authenticate the document reader (101),

   wherein the molecular layer (105) can be transilluminated with the second light (111) that is irradiating into the light guide structure (107), wherein the molecular layer (105) is configured to spectrally change the second light (111) when the molecular layer (105) is transilluminated, in particular spectrally change the second light (111) by means of light absorption in the molecular layer (105),

   wherein the light guide structure (107) comprises an optical output (119), wherein the light guide structure (107) is configured to radiate the overlay light (117) from the optical output (119).
2. The authentication document (100) of claim 1, wherein the authentication document (100) comprises an electrode device that can be charged with an electrical voltage to generate a stimulation field, wherein the molecular layer (105) can be brought with the stimulation field into a state of excitation which at least partially determines the spectrally change of the second light (111).
3. The authentication document (100) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the molecular layer (105) comprises a plurality of polymer chains or oriented molecules which are arranged on a carrier layer (121), wherein each of the plurality of polymer chains or oriented molecules is tied physically or chemically with one end to the carrier layer (121).
4. The authentication document (100) of claim 2 and 3, wherein the oriented molecules or polymer chains are deflectable from a rest position in response to the stimulation field, wherein the spectrally change of the second light (111) is at least partially determined by the deflection of the oriented molecules or polymer chains.
5. The authentication document (100) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the light source (113) comprises at least one LED and/or a laser diode.
6. The authentication document (100) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the light source (113) is configured to generate the first light (109) in a random light spectrum.
7. The authentication document (100) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the light guide structure (107) is shaped as a cavity in the document body (103).
8. The authentication document (100) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the light guide structure (107) comprises at least one mirror element (115) for spectrally overlaying the first light (109) with the second light (112).
9. A document reader (101) for an authentication document (100), wherein the authentication document (100) comprises a document body (103), a light guide structure (107), which is formed inside the document body (103), a light source (113), which is configured to radiate a first light (109) to the document reader (101), wherein the first light (109) can be at least partially irradiated into the light guide structure (107), and a molecular layer (105) which is arranged on the document body (103), wherein the molecular layer (105) is configured to spectrally change a second light (111) that is radiating into the light guide structure (107), wherein the light guide structure (107) is configured to spectrally overlay the first light (109) with the spectrally changed second light (112) to generate an overlay light (117) to authenticate the document reader (101), wherein the molecular layer (105) can be transilluminated with the second light (111) that is irradiating into the light guide structure (107), wherein the molecular layer (105) is configured to spectrally change the second light (111) when the molecular layer (105) is transilluminated, in particular spectrally change the second light (111) by means of light absorption in the molecular layer (105), wherein the light guide structure (107) comprises an optical output (119), wherein the light guide structure (107) is configured to radiate the overlay light (117) from the optical output (119),
   wherein the document reader (101) comprises the following features:

   a light sensor (123), which is configured to receive the first light (109) that is radiated from the authentication document (100), wherein the light sensor (123) is configured to capture a light spectrum of the first light (109);

   a processor (125), which is configured to determine a voltage value of an electrical voltage based on the captured light spectrum of the first light (109);

   a communication interface (127), which is electrically connectable to the authentication document (100) and configured to generate the electrical voltage with the voltage value and to charge the authentication document (100) with the generated electrical voltage; and

   a lighting device (129), which is configured to irradiate the second light (111) through the molecular layer (105) into the light guide structure (107) of the authentication document (100) to spectrally change the second light (111) and to overlay the spectrally changed second light (112) with the first light (109) in the light guide structure (107).
10. The document reader (101) of claim 9, wherein the processor (125) is configured to capture a light spectrum of the second light (111) that is radiated from the light source (113), wherein the processor (125) is configured to determine the voltage value of the electrical voltage based on the light spectrum of the second light (111) and the light spectrum of the first light (109), wherein the communication interface (127) is configured to charge the authentication document (100) with the determined voltage value to generate a stimulation field, which puts the molecular layer (105) in a state of excitation, wherein the state of excitation at least partially determines the spectrally change of the second light (111).
11. The document reader (101) of claim 9 or 10, wherein the lighting device (129) comprises at least one light source, in particular an LED and/or a laser diode.
12. The document reader (101) according to one of claims 9 to 11, wherein the light sensor (123) comprises at least one photodiode or a photodiode layer or a transistor layer.
13. The document reader (101) according to one of claims 9 to 12, wherein the light sensor (123) comprises a spectrometer device, which is configured to capture the light spectrum of the first light (109).

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