EP3693181B1 - Identification document and method for producing same - Google Patents

Description

The invention relates to an identification document. Furthermore, the invention relates to a method for producing an identification document.

Identification documents are an important part of modern societies. Identification documents allow people to be identified and/or their owners to have certain authorizations. For example, an identification document can be a passport, an identity card, a driver's license, a bank card such as a credit card or cash card, labels and/or access cards.

Due to their great importance for everyday life, for example for business interactions and access restrictions, the counterfeit security of identification documents is particularly important. For this purpose, identification documents can have one or more security features, by means of which the authenticity of the identification document can be checked and which make counterfeiting and/or manipulation of identification documents more difficult.

In the EP 2 308 687 A1 describes an identification document with a substrate and a laminating film connected to the substrate. In this context, it is proposed to provide at least two optical markings on the identification document, each as a security feature. With the first marking or with the one security feature, text, number and image data are provided in a first area on the laminating film, which can be seen with the naked eye when illuminated by daylight. For the For the second marking or for the second security feature, a fluorescent substance is arranged on the side of the substrate facing the laminating film. This means that the fluorescent substance is essentially arranged on or under the laminating film for an observer. In a second area spaced apart from the first area, the surface of the substrate is engraved or scratched in the manner of a gray scale image. When illuminated with UV light, however, the fluorescent substance arranged over the superficial engraving is excited to glow, depending on the gray level. Correspondingly, fluorescently luminous image data are then visible.

DE 10 2017 004055 A1 discloses the preamble of claim 1.

It is the object of the present invention to create a particularly tamper-proof identification document and a method for producing a particularly tamper-proof and forgery-proof identification document. Progress in the counterfeiting and manipulation of identification documents is counteracted in particular by improving the security against manipulation and counterfeiting compared to identification documents that are already known.

These objects are solved by the subject matter of the independent patent claims. Advantageous refinements and expedient developments of the invention are specified in the respective dependent claims.

The invention relates to an identification document. The identification document is described in claim 1. The identification document has a substrate. A security feature designed as an optical marking is provided on at least one side of the substrate.

That as a visual marker trained security feature can also be used as an optical Security feature are designated. The marking has at least one black component and at least one colored component. According to the invention, these two parts together form the optical marking or the security feature.

The black component is designed to be visible at least when illuminated with light having a normal spectral distribution. The colored portion is formed by a color that can be excited to glow under UV light, which is essentially only visible when illuminated with UV light. According to the invention, the colored portion is essentially only visible when illuminated with UV light.

This is based on the idea that a security feature formed from two parts is much more difficult to counterfeit and/or manipulate. For counterfeiting, the two parts must be matched to one another at least as well as the genuine security feature, so that a forgery or manipulation is not noticeable. In addition, there is the difficulty of manipulating or replicating each part yourself. This is made even more difficult by a partial overlap. In addition, UV-excitable ink is expensive and difficult to obtain. Also one color matching, in particular to the black component and/or different colors and combinations thereof with one another, is difficult. In addition, the colored portion is not or almost not visible in normal light. Accordingly, a counterfeiter or manipulator must first recognize that this additional colored portion is present in the security feature in order to also manipulate or forge it. Overall, the security against manipulation and counterfeiting is thus significantly increased. A forgery can be an unauthorized manufacture of a identification document. Manipulation can relate to the unauthorized alteration of an identification document that is genuine per se.

In the present case, visible can mean that something, in particular a respective portion, can be seen with the naked eye. Light with a normal spectral distribution can also be referred to as normal light. Light with a normal spectral distribution can be defined, for example, as daylight, white light and/or light with a spectral distribution mainly or with a predominant proportion in the visible wavelength range. Light with a smaller proportion of radiation in the wavelength range of UV light, as can be the case with daylight, is considered normal light and not UV light. For example, normal light can also correspond to the usual light for illuminating interior areas, such as produced by ceiling lamps of a building. Accordingly, UV light can be defined as light or radiation with a predominant proportion in the UV spectral range. UV light is also referred to as ultraviolet radiation or UV radiation, colloquially also black light. The UV light can in particular be artificially generated light with a high proportion in the UV wavelength range, preferably with a predominant proportion in the UV wavelength range, particularly preferably with a larger proportion in the UV wavelength range than is possible in daylight. UV light can be generated, for example, by a UV lamp or black light lamp.

Color that can be excited to glow with UV light is also referred to as UV color. The excitable color is excited to visible colored glow under irradiation with UV light. The excitable color then emits radiation or light with at least a proportion in the visible spectral or wavelength range. So the color can be a Act substance that can be stimulated to glow in color. For example, under UV light, the glow of color can be perceived by the human eye as blue, red, green, yellow, magenta, etc.

The substrate can have one or more layers, for example. In particular, the substrate can have or consist of a plastic layer. For example, the substrate can also have a carrier layer, for example made of plastic, and a cover layer, for example made of laminating film. The cover layer can protect the security feature from manipulation and wear and tear as well as environmental influences, but it can also have the colored portion. Preferably, a visible layer of the substrate, such as the base layer, is white and/or a cover layer, in particular without a printed color, is transparent.

The visual marker includes an image. According to the invention, the optical marking corresponds to a photo of the person who is to be identified by the identification document.

The optical marking can be a security feature for checking the authenticity of the identification document and/or for determining who is to be identified with the identification document. The optical marking can also have other security properties for checking the authenticity. For example, the optical marking can form a hologram, preferably already recognizable in daylight or only recognizable when illuminated with UV light.

The identification document can have other security features in addition to the optical marking. For example, the identification document can have a magnetic stripe and/or a Having a security element, such as a chip. The identification document can be designed to store data, in particular electronically, which can be read out, for example on an RFID chip and by means of an RFID reader. In this way, for example, authorizations, access data, identification data and/or data for checking the authenticity of the identification document can be stored.

The identification document can be designed as a card, in particular as a chip card. The identification document can also be referred to as an identification card. In this case, the substrate can be designed essentially in the form of a card. The identification document can be individually personalized with the optical security feature. The security feature can also not be personalized individually, but only contain access authorizations, for example. For example, a permitted access duration to an area or a duration of use of a ski lift can be represented by the optical security feature on the identification document. In this way, tamper-proof access authorization can be enabled without actually identifying the owner. However, the optical security feature is preferably designed for an individual owner or person to be identified, who can be clearly determined by the identification document. For example, the security feature can represent a photo of the owner of an identity card.

According to the invention, the colored component and the black component are matched to one another in such a way that together they form an image that people can recognize.

According to the invention, the optical security feature forms an essentially color-true reproduction of a photograph with the two parts under UV light. The coordination between the black and the colored portion is referred to as register-accurate. According to the invention, the colored portion and the black portion match one another in such a way that together they result in a colored image. According to the invention, the optical marking is colored only under UV light and is otherwise black and white.

According to the invention, the colored part of the optical marking or the UV color part is at least almost invisible when illuminated with light with normal spectral distribution. This means that the colored part is not or almost not visible in normal daylight. The colored portion can be formed, for example, by at least one color that fluoresces or phosphoresces under UV light. The color that can be excited to glow under UV light can preferably be excited under standard UV light (UVA) with a wavelength of 365 nm, for example, and/or under short-wave UV light (UV-C) with a wavelength of 254 nm, for example. Preferably, the black portion is still visible under UV light.

According to the invention, it is provided that the black portion is formed by an integrated engraving in the substrate. In this case, the black component is integrated in particular in the interior of the substrate in such a way that the surfaces of the substrate is mechanically unaffected. The integrated engraving is produced in particular by the fact that particles, which are designed to absorb energy from a laser beam, are introduced into the interior of the substrate during production of the substrate. The particles can be in the form of soot particles and/or metal oxide particles, for example. During the personalization of the identification document, the particles are then heated, preferably with a laser. The particles give off at least part of their heat energy to the surrounding substrate. The substrate changes color as a result of heating and becomes darker, especially black, and can thus represent the black component.

In particular, the substrate carbonizes in the area of heating during the integrated engraving and therefore takes on the black color there. An integrated engraved black component is particularly resistant to ageing, weathering and abrasion. An integrated engraving enables a particularly precise and consistent design of the black component. The integrated engraving of substrates is difficult to produce in a sufficient quality, ie not recognizable as fake, especially in the case of a manual forgery.

The integrated engraving is preferably introduced into the substrate by means of a laser; in particular, the integrated engraving can be an engraving according to the LPI principle (laser protected image). An LPI engraving is particularly precise and very durable.

In a further advantageous embodiment of the identification document, it is provided that the colored portion is applied to the substrate by means of D2T2, thermal transfer printing, INK-Jet printing and/or retransfer. However, the colored part is not formed with regular ink, but with color or ink that can be excited to glow under UV light. Other customary methods for printing or colored marking of identification cards can also be used, although color or ink that can be excited to glow under UV light is also used instead of normal ink or color. Accordingly, the colored portion can be produced inexpensively and with little effort and yet be particularly tamper-proof. The black component can also be created using one of the methods described above, but using normal black ink that is also visible in daylight. Thereby the two parts of the optical identification can easily be generated in one common step.

In a further advantageous embodiment of the identification document, it is provided that the black portion and the colored portion overlap at least in regions to form the optical marking. The overlapping can in particular be an overlapping that is preferably precisely registered for an observer who is looking at the surface of the substrate. By overlapping, a colored portion can be made darker or lighter with the black portion, for example, in order to achieve a wider range of color distribution. In addition, it is particularly easy to see whether the two parts match or whether the identification document has been forged or manipulated. In the case of integrated engraving, the two parts are in particular overlapping. The black component is then introduced, for example, into a carrier layer of the substrate and the colored component is applied to an overlying cover layer, for example in the form of a laminated transfer film.

In a further advantageous embodiment of the identification document, it is provided that the black component and the colored component adjoin one another at least in certain areas. The optical marking can thus form an essentially continuous surface with both parts. Correspondingly, both parts can simply be assigned to a single security feature. The adjoining also makes manipulation and counterfeiting more difficult.

In a further advantageous embodiment of the identification document, it is provided that the black portion includes shades of gray. Gray levels can be different densities or dark areas of the black component act. A gray level can also be understood, for example, as a partially transparent black component. The gray levels are preferably formed by different intensities of the laser when irradiating the absorbing particles in the substrate. The higher the intensity of the laser selected or the more energy the particles are irradiated with in a certain period of time, the darker the part of the substrate surrounding the particles becomes. Gray scales are particularly beneficial when the black and colored portions overlap. Differently dark, colored areas can then be formed with shades of gray. Grayscale also allows shades to be reproduced. In addition, the black portion can be particularly forgery-proof even without the colored portion and can be checked for manipulation well, since the gray levels can show more details in the black portion.

The colored portion can also be formed in that the substrate has respective layers with the respective color that can be excited to glow under UV light. These layers can be exposed in a targeted manner, for example by removing them using a laser. However, the colored portion is preferably imprinted in order to keep the quantity of and thus the costs for the color that can be excited to glow under UV light low.

In a further advantageous embodiment of the identification document, it is provided that the colored portion is formed by at least two, preferably three, colors that can be excited to glow under UV light, with the colors glowing in different colors under UV light. As a result, a particularly large number of details can be displayed and, in particular, a security feature in the manner of a color photo, the color photo, however, being recognizable only under UV light. In particular, colors of the CMYK color scheme can be used. The key color (black) is preferably not is formed by a color that can be excited to glow under UV light, but for example by an integrated engraving in the substrate. The CMY (Cyan, Magenta, Yellow) colors are preferably formed by UV-excitable color. For example, the optical marking can be easily produced using ink ribbons with a color that fluoresces under UV light, it being possible to use conventional color decomposition to control the printer. Preferably, a clear overlay and/or laminate is provided over the colored print, thereby providing protection of the security feature from wear and tear and tampering. The optical marking can be composed of the different components using normal methods, with the black component being visible even without UV light. According to customary methods, the decomposition of colored images into their different color components according to a color scheme, such as the CMYK scheme, is used here.

According to the invention, it is provided that the black portion and the colored portion together form an image with the correct hue when illuminated with UV light. The optical marking visible under UV light thus forms an image with the correct color shade. According to the invention, it can be seen under UV light that the optical marking corresponds to a color photograph, according to the invention of a person identifying himself through the identification document. According to the invention, without UV light, the optical marking can correspond to a black-and-white photograph.

A second aspect of the invention relates to a method for producing an identification document.

The method is described in claim 7. The method includes the step of providing a substrate. Furthermore, the method has the step of providing a template for a security feature recognizable as an optical marking from at least one side of the substrate, the template comprising a black portion and a colored portion. For example, the template can be provided electronically, for example as a print data set or a digitally stored photo. In addition, the method has the step of generating a black portion of the optical marking as a function of the black portion of the template in such a way that the black portion of the optical marking is visible at least when illuminated with light with normal spectral distribution. Furthermore, the method has the step of generating a colored portion of the optical marking as a function of the colored portion of the template in such a way that the at least one part of the colored portion of the optical marking is only visible when illuminated with UV light. As a result, an identification document that is particularly forgery- and manipulation-proof is produced.

The method according to the second aspect is particularly suitable for producing the identification document according to the first aspect. The preferred embodiments presented with reference to the respective method according to the invention and their advantages apply correspondingly to the identification document according to the invention. The method steps of the method according to the invention are each preferably designed to produce the respective physical components of the identification document.

The method preferably provides for the black component to be produced by engraving the substrate using a laser. The black component is preferably generated with gray levels. The method preferably provides for the colored portion to be formed at least partially by printing the substrate with a color that can be excited to glow under UV light.

The original is a colored image which, in a further process step, is broken down into a black component, optionally with shades of grey, and a colored component. The colored part can be broken down into individual colors, for example into the colored parts of the CYMK color model. The colored portion and the black portion are then generated accordingly. The decomposition can take place by means of a computing unit designed for this purpose, in particular using a digital template.

According to the invention, it is provided that a color photograph is provided as a template and the black component and the colored component together form a reproduction of the color photograph that is essentially true to color under UV light. The identification document can therefore form a copy of a photograph on it or a copy of a photograph is produced on the identification document or in and/or on the substrate. This copy is only recognizable as true to color under UV light. Otherwise, according to the invention, only a black-and-white image or a black-and-white print and/or black-and-white copy of the original can be seen, for example when illuminated with daylight.

The advantageous embodiments of the identification document can also be advantageous developments of the method and the advantageous embodiments of the method can also be advantageous developments of the identification document.

Further features of the invention result from the claims, the figures and the description of the figures. Exemplary embodiments of the invention are explained in more detail below with the aid of schematic drawings.

It shows:

1

in a schematic representation, an identification document when illuminated with daylight;

2

in a schematic representation the identification document according to 1 when illuminated with UV light;

3

in a schematic representation, an exemplary embodiment of the identification document in a side sectional view;

4

a schematic representation of a further exemplary embodiment of the identification document in a side sectional view.

1 shows a schematic representation of an identification document 10, which is designed, for example, as an identity card. In this case, the identification document 10 has a substrate 30 . For example, the identification document 10 is designed in the form of a credit card and as a card. The substrate 30 can be formed from one or more layers of plastic, for example.

A national emblem 12 is depicted on the identification document 10, which characterizes the issuing country and can be embodied as a security feature. For example, the national emblem 12 can form a kind of hologram when viewed.

Characters 14 are also formed on the identification document 10, for example in the form of printing. In this case, for example, the name of the ID card holder is shown.

In addition, the identification document 10 has, for example, a security element 16, in the present case in the form of a chip. The chip can be used to store data associated with the person, for example personal data that can be read electronically, such as the date of birth of the person identifying themselves, their social security number and/or an ID number. This data is preferably stored in encrypted form and the security element is designed to be protected against manipulation.

Furthermore, the identification document has an optical marking 18 as a security feature. The optical marking 18 is formed on a surface area of the identification document and essentially corresponds to a photograph of the ID card holder.

In 1 the optical marking is illustrated when illuminated with daylight. In daylight, only the respective black components 20 of the optical marking 18 can be seen or recognized by an observer. In the present case, the black portions 20 depict the contours of the photograph of the ID card holder. However, the black portions 20 can also depict a respective light-dark progression through gray levels. The black components preferably at least make it possible to identify the ID card holder.

2 illustrates the identification document 10 when illuminated with UV light, for example by a UV lamp. by the UV light special colors that can be stimulated by UV light, such as fluorescent colors, are stimulated to glow brightly. For example, a first colored portion 22 of the optical marking 18 is now visible to the viewer with the human eye, which is designed as an area and matches the color of an item of clothing of the ID card holder on the photo depicted by the optical marking 18 . Furthermore, a second colored portion 24 with a face color of the ID card holder can be seen on the photo. A third colored portion 26 glows with the ID card holder's eye color and a fourth colored portion 28 with his hair color. Each colored portion 22, 24, 26, 28 can glow with a different color and/or color gradients under UV light. Correspondingly, each colored portion 22, 24, 26, 28 can be formed by different colors and/or different color portions. The colors used for this are preferably fluorescent.

Under UV light, the optical identifier 18 can therefore display a UV image of the ID card holder with the correct color tone. In this context, correct color can mean in particular the substantially correct reproduction of the color of a photo of the ID card holder. However, the color can deviate from other representations, especially with regard to intensity and luminosity. This discrepancy may be similar to the discrepancy between a photograph displayed on a screen and the same photograph when printed.

The black components 20 and the colored components 22, 24, 26 and 28 are in particular matched to one another in register. The identification document 10 is therefore particularly secure against forgery and manipulation due to the optical identifier 18 . In addition, manipulations under UV light, which is already often available at checkpoints, easy to discover. Without UV light, for example in daylight, the colored parts 22, 24, 26 and 28 are hardly or not at all recognizable to the human eye. As a result, the colored portion of the photo or of the optical identifier 18 is initially unknown to the viewer, which makes it even more difficult to take it into account in the event of manipulations and forgeries.

The black portion 20 is preferably introduced into the substrate 30 of the identification document by means of integrated engraving and the colored portions 22, 24, 26, 28 are printed, in particular in a transfer film laminated on. Imitation is particularly difficult due to the combination of two methods for generating a common optical identifier 18 and thus the corresponding security feature. In addition, the black components 20 and the colored components 22, 24, 26, 28 can overlap or cover one another. For an observer, the luminosity and/or intensity of the colored portions 22, 24, 26, 28 under UV light can thus be changed by the darkness or gray level of the corresponding area of the black portion 20 compared to a color that is not superimposed and can be excited by UV light . This means that further color gradients and details can be displayed.

In principle, the colored parts 22, 24, 26, 28 can also have a color gradient and/or a color mixture. As is usual with prints, new shades can be combined from a number of basic colors, in the present case with colors that can be excited by UV light. As a result, the optical identifier 18 can be particularly detailed and lifelike and therefore also particularly secure. The CYMK color scheme is suitable, for example, with the CYM parts being formed by a color that can be excited with UV light and the K part being formed by an integrated engraving.

The resolution of the optical identifier 18 can be 300 dpi or more, for example. In this way, photos can be recreated with particular attention to detail, which makes it easier to check the authenticity of the identification document 10 and to identify the ID card holder, and makes counterfeiting more difficult.

The optical identifier 18 can have significantly more details, areas and gradations than illustrated schematically in the figures. In particular, color gradients and/or brightness gradients can also be provided as a colored component. The brightness of the same colors can also be different in different areas, in particular due to an at least partial overlay with the black component 20.

3 12 shows an exemplary embodiment of the identification document 10 in a schematic side sectional view with a preferred plan view direction 32. The plan view direction 32 is the direction in which a user preferably views the identification document 10. According to the exemplary embodiment, the colored portions 22, 24, 26, 28 are arranged next to one another when viewed from the top view direction 32. The colored portions 22, 24, 26, 28 can, however, also be arranged one above the other in an example that is not shown, as viewed from the plan view direction 32, that is to say in layers. Furthermore, the colored portions 22 , 24 , 26 , 28 are arranged in particular in register over the black portion 20 .

4 shows a further exemplary embodiment of the identification document 10 in a schematic lateral sectional view with the top view direction 32. According to the exemplary embodiment, the colored portions 22, 24, 26, 28 are arranged in layers one above the other. The colored parts 22, 24, 26, 28 can be viewed from the top view direction in an example that is not shown 32 but also be arranged one above the other. Furthermore, the colored parts 22, 24, 26, 28 are arranged partially overlapping over the black part 20.

According to the colored parts 22, 24, 26, 28 of the identification document 10 3 or 4 , that is to say in front of the colored portions 22, 24, 26, 28 as viewed from the top view direction 32, a cover layer can additionally be arranged or applied.

Claims (7)

1. An identification document (10) having a substrate (30) and having a security feature that is perceptible as an optical marking (18) at least from one side of the substrate (30), the marking (18) comprising at least one black fraction (20) and at least one colored fraction (22, 24, 26, 28), the black fraction (20) being visible at least when illuminated with light having a normal spectral distribution, and the colored fraction (22, 24, 26, 28) being formed by a color that can be excited to shine under UV light and that is visible substantially only when illuminated with UV light, the black fraction (20) being formed by an integrated engraving in the substrate (30),
   characterized in that
   the black fraction (20) and the colored fraction (22, 24, 26, 28) are formed to be in register with each other and together forming, under illumination with UV light, a orthochromatic image, namely a color photograph of a person.
2. The identification document (10) according to claim 1, the integrated engraving being formed by carbonizing the substrate (30) at least in some regions.
3. The identification document (10) according to claim 1 or 2, the colored fraction (22, 24, 26, 28) having been applied to the substrate (30) by means of D2T2, thermal transfer printing, inkjet printing and/or retransfer.
4. The identification document (10) according to one of the preceding claims,
   the black fraction (20) and the colored fraction (22, 24, 26, 28) overlapping at least in some regions to form the optical marking (18).
5. The identification document (10) according to one of the preceding claims,
   the black fraction (20) and the colored fraction (22, 24, 26, 28) adjoining one another at least in some regions.
6. The identification document (10) according to one of the preceding claims,
   the colored fraction (22, 24, 26, 28) being formed by at least two, preferably three colors that can be excited to glow under UV light, the colors glowing in different colors under UV light.
7. A method for manufacturing an identification document (10), comprising at least the following steps:

   - providing a substrate (30);

   - providing a template for a security feature that is perceptible as an optical marking (18) at least from one side of the substrate (30), a colored photograph that comprises a black fraction and a colored fraction being provided as the template, and the black fraction (20) and the colored fraction (22,24,26,28) being formed to be in register with each other and forming together under UV light a substantially orthochromatic display of the colored photograph;

   - producing a black fraction (20) of the optical marking (18) depending on the black fraction of the template in such a way that the black fraction (20) of the optical marking (18) is visible at least when illuminated with light having a normal spectral distribution;

   - producing a colored fraction (22, 24, 26, 28) of the optical marking (18) depending on the colored fraction of the template in such a way that the colored fraction (22, 24, 26, 28) of the optical marking (18) is visible only when illuminated with UV light.

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