EP3875283A1 - Method and device for personalizing a document template with a graphic - Google Patents

Abstract

The invention relates to a method for personalizing a document blank with a graphic for producing a document by means of an irradiation device, the document blank having a photosensitive layer, with at least one optically detectable parameter of the photosensitive layer changing when exposed to electromagnetic radiation, the change in the parameter scaled with the energy entered into the photosensitive layer, the irradiation device providing electromagnetic radiation, the energy of the radiation provided by the irradiation device being adjustable, with the following steps: providing a monochrome output graphic, reducing the brightness values of the monochrome output graphic to at least two brightness levels To obtain a reduced output graphic, • Subdivide the reduced output graphic into partial graphics, with each of the partial graphics only having the same image points each has a complete mapping of the individual partial graphics on the document blank by exposing the photosensitive layer to electromagnetic radiation, with each brightness level being assigned an energy to be introduced into the photosensitive layer and with the photosensitive layer having the brightness level of the partial graphics when mapping a partial graphics assigned energy to be introduced is applied.

Description

The invention relates to a method for personalizing a document blank with a graphic for producing a document by means of an irradiation device and a device for personalizing a document blank.

Various methods for personalizing a document are known in the prior art. For example, a graphic such as a portrait of the document owner can be applied to the document for this purpose. For applying a graphic The technique of laser engraving has proven itself on a document. Color pigments are generated in the document blank by bombarding a photosensitive material with laser light. A material conversion takes place in the photosensitive material, whereby individual pixels can be generated at the point of impact of the laser. For example, a graphic can first be rasterized, with the individual pixels of the graphic then being transferred to the document by individual laser pulses. For this purpose, for example, a polycarbonate layer or a polyvinyl chloride can be applied to the documents, to which an additive, which essentially consists of carbon chains, is added. If this layer is bombarded with a laser pulse, individual molecular chains can break open and carbon can be released. This manifests itself in a blackening of the layer in the area of the region hit by the laser pulse. In general, the gray level generated depends on the pulse energy.

Graphics are usually applied to a document line by line or column by column by means of laser engraving. This can lead to strong fluctuations in brightness between neighboring pixels within a row or column. For a laser that generates the pixels, this means that the pulse energy emitted must be varied greatly from pixel to pixel. In the case of inexpensive fiber lasers, for example, this can lead to the contours of the generated graphics being smeared, since the laser system cannot follow the rapid jumps in the required pulse energy during the engraving of a line.

Known solutions to this problem consist, for example, either in the use of expensive solid-state laser systems or highly lossy fiber laser systems with downstream Q-switches, which can provide a rapidly changing pulse energy, or in a slowing down of the imaging process so that there is enough time to correctly set the laser system to the required pulse energy is. While the former solution means a significant increase in the cost of a laser engraving device, causes the second solution mentioned a considerable extension of the imaging time.

There is therefore a need for a method for personalizing a blank document with a graphic, which, in addition to a short process duration, is characterized in that a device for performing the method can also be formed with inexpensive laser systems that have a slow energy switch.

This object is achieved in each case with the features of the independent patent claims. Embodiments of the invention are specified in the dependent claims. Unless expressly stated otherwise, embodiments of the invention can be freely combined with one another.

A "document" can be a value or security document. According to the invention, a document is understood to mean paper-based and / or plastic-based documents, such as ID documents, in particular passports, ID cards, VISA and driver's licenses, vehicle registration documents, vehicle documents, company ID cards, health cards or other ID documents as well as chip cards, means of payment, in particular banknotes, bank cards and Credit cards, bills of lading or other proof of authorization. According to embodiments, a data memory for storing at least one attribute can be integrated into this.

A “document” is also understood here to mean, in particular, a portable electronic device which has at least one data memory for storing an attribute and a communication interface for reading out the attribute. The document preferably has a secure memory area for storing the at least one attribute in order to prevent the attribute stored in the memory area from being changed in an unauthorized manner or from being read without the authorization required for this.

In one aspect, the invention relates to a method for personalizing a document blank with a graphic for producing a document by means of an irradiation device. The document blank has a photosensitive layer which is designed such that at least one optically detectable parameter of the photosensitive layer changes when the photosensitive layer is exposed to electromagnetic radiation. This can be, for example, a blackening or lightening of the photosensitive layer when exposed to laser light. The change in the parameter, for example the lightening or blackening, is scaled here with the energy introduced into the photosensitive layer by the electromagnetic radiation.

The electromagnetic radiation is provided by an irradiation device, the intensity of the radiation provided by the irradiation device being adjustable. The irradiation intensity can be set continuously or in clearly defined steps.

In a first step of the process, a monochrome output graphic is provided. The output graphic can be, for example, a portrait of the later document owner, or a logo or another identification feature. In addition to providing an output graphic that is already monochrome, it would also be possible according to the invention to monochromatize an initially polychrome output graphic in a preceding process step. It should be noted here that the term “monochrome” in this case can mean that the monochrome output graphic only has gray values or else different brightness values of a defined color. For example, an output graphic can also consist of a large number of brightness values of one shade of blue. An information content of one byte can be assigned to a single pixel, which corresponds to 255 different brightness values.

In a subsequent process step, the brightness values of the monochrome output graphic are now reduced to at least two brightness levels. Using the example of a grayscale image, this process is known as grayscale reduction. A uniform brightness value is assigned to all brightness values within a defined interval. The result of this process step is a reduced output graphic which only contains pixels whose brightness value corresponds to one of the uniform brightness values of the brightness levels.

In a next process step, this reduced output graphic is divided into partial graphics, each of the partial graphics only having pixels of the same brightness. If, for example, five brightness levels were selected in the previous process step, then five partial graphics are obtained accordingly.

These individual partial graphics are then each completely depicted on the document blank by applying electromagnetic radiation to the photosensitive layer of the document blank. Each brightness level is assigned an energy to be introduced into the photosensitive layer by the electromagnetic radiation. Since each partial graphic only contains pixels of the same brightness, i.e. pixels of a single brightness level, when a partial graphic is displayed, the photosensitive layer of the document blank is only exposed to the energy to be introduced which is assigned to the brightness level of the partial graphic.

The method described above could have the advantage that the output power of the irradiation device does not have to be changed while an individual partial graphic is being applied. This eliminates the waiting times that are usually necessary, which arise as a result of the change in the energy of the electromagnetic radiation emitted by the irradiation device. At the same time, irradiation devices can also be used to implement the method according to the invention, which react only very slowly to a necessary change in the emitted energy, since such a change is only necessary once, namely only before the start of the display of a partial graphic. The entire partial graphic can then be applied to the document blank with one and the same setting of the irradiation device.

At the same time, the method according to the invention could prevent a smearing effect from occurring in the event of a jump in the brightness level from one pixel to an adjacent pixel due to the irradiation device reacting too slowly to a necessary change in the output power. Thus, overall, by using the method according to the invention, a sharper image could be generated when using an inexpensive irradiation device.

It should be noted at this point that a partial graphic does not necessarily have to be all pixels of a brightness level that are present in the entire reduced output graphic. A partial graphic can, for example, also consist of all image points of a brightness level in a line of the reduced output graphic. In this case, the irradiation device runs through an image line several times in succession when imaging the partial graphics, with only image points of a partial graphic, that is to say a brightness level, being applied during a pass through the image line.

According to a preferred embodiment of the invention, the irradiation device can be a laser source. The laser source is preferably configured in such a way that it can emit laser pulses of defined energy. For example, a laser pulse can be a light pulse with a pulse energy between 0.01 mJ and 1 mJ and a pulse width of approximately 3 ns to 250 ns. Such a pulse has peak powers of approx. 10 kW to 50 kW. The wavelength of the light emitted here must be adapted to the requirements of the photosensitive layer. In laser engraving processes, wavelengths in the near infrared, around 1064 nm, are common. When using a pulsed laser source, each pixel of an applied graphic can then be generated by applying a laser pulse of defined energy to the photosensitive layer.

Alternatively or additionally, depending on which photosensitive material is applied to the document blank, it is also possible to direct several pulses of the same energy onto an image point instead of a single pulse of defined energy. The product of the number of pulses and the energy of a single pulse must be adapted to the energy to be introduced into the photosensitive material in order to generate the desired brightness level. If, for example, 5 levels were selected when defining the brightness levels, a single laser pulse would be required to generate a pixel of the first brightness level, while three laser pulses would be required to obtain a pixel of the desired brightness level for a pixel of the third brightness level. The output power of the laser can remain constant with each pulse, regardless of the brightness level to be generated. Different numbers of laser pulses would only have to be emitted to a pixel at different brightness levels. However, since the blackening of photosensitive material is not additive in some cases, i.e. does not increase uniformly for every absorbed laser pulse, this is not possible with all photosensitive materials.

According to one embodiment, the laser source can be a fiber laser which consists, for example, of a pulse source and a downstream fiber amplifier. Such systems are known in the art as the MOPA (Master Oscillator Power Amplifier) system. When using such a fiber laser, the pump power with which the fiber amplifier is pumped can be kept constant during the complete imaging of a partial graphic. In order to generate a pixel of defined brightness at a certain point within a graphic, the pulse source only has to be made to emit a single laser pulse. This is then amplified to the power level defined by the pump power, which is kept constant, and generates a pixel of defined brightness when it hits the photosensitive layer. The use of such a fiber laser could thus have the advantage that the control of a device for carrying out the method according to the invention can be made very simple, since the fiber amplifier used is used during the mapping of a partial graphic remains untouched and only the pulse source and the alignment of the laser radiation on the document blank have to be controlled.

According to one embodiment, the at least two brightness levels of the reduced output graphic are individually defined for each graphic to be applied or are selected to be the same for each graphic. The decision whether to adapt the brightness levels to the graphics to be applied or to keep them constant over a large number of graphics depends on the graphics to be applied. If, for example, it is a graphic in which the different brightness values of the individual pixels are evenly distributed over the entire spectrum of possible brightness values, the brightness levels can be selected in such a way that the number of pixels of the applied graphic is evenly distributed over the brightness level. If, for example, it is a graphic of 1000 pixels and four brightness levels were selected, then in this embodiment the limits of the brightness levels would have to be selected such that 250 pixels fall into each brightness level. As an alternative to this, according to one embodiment, the brightness levels can also be selected such that each brightness level contains the same number of brightness values. As has already been explained above, a pixel can assume, for example, 255 different brightness values (1 byte). If, following this embodiment, one were to define four brightness levels, these would have to be selected such that 64 or 63 brightness values are contained within each brightness level.

The two aforementioned options for defining the brightness levels would be particularly suitable if a number of brightness levels are to be retained for several graphics. This could reduce the process time for generating a graphic, since the brightness levels do not have to be defined individually for each graphic.

However, it can also happen that the brightness values of the pixels of a graphic are not evenly distributed over all available brightness values, but that, for example, certain brightness values of the individual pixels accumulate. In this case it can according to an embodiment of the invention It may be advantageous to first create a brightness spectrum of the graphic, the number of pixels present in the output graphic per brightness value being mapped in the brightness spectrum. A clustering method can then be applied to this brightness spectrum in order to determine clusters in the brightness spectrum. Subsequently, the later used brightness levels can be adapted to precisely these ascertained clusters of brightness values, for example by centering the interval of the brightness values that are assigned to a brightness level around an cluster and choosing the brightness value that is assigned to the brightness level according to the maximum of the clustering will. Alternatively, the choice of the limits of a brightness level, as well as the choice of the brightness value assigned to the brightness level, can also be otherwise adapted to the shape of the accumulations of the image points. This could be necessary, for example, if clusters do not follow a symmetrical distribution (Gaussian distribution), but are designed to be highly asymmetrical.

According to a further embodiment, the reduced output graphic can be prepared by dithering and / or posterization before it is divided into partial graphics. As a result of the previously performed reduction to the at least two brightness levels, edges of the graphic that occurred between the partial images of the brightness levels can be smoothed, so that an improvement in the image quality is achieved compared with the original on which the graphic is based.

According to a further embodiment, the applied graphic is the negative of the underlying output graphic. For this purpose, for example, a photosensitive layer can be used which, when exposed to electromagnetic radiation, does not become darker but rather lighter. This could have the advantage that after the graphic has been generated, no further changes can be made to the graphic by blackening individual pixels. For example, a darker pixel can always be added to a graphic in a positive, but it is not possible to blacken an already faded pixel in a negative.

Subsequent to the aforementioned embodiment, a further embodiment provides that those areas of the photosensitive layer which lie outside the edges of the applied graphic are exposed to electromagnetic radiation so that they are bleached. In this way it can be prevented that changes can be made subsequently in these edge areas.

According to one embodiment of the invention, in addition to the negative of the graphic, a positive of the graphic can also be applied to the document blank. This could further increase the security of the document against forgery, since it can be checked at any time whether the negative matches the positive shown or whether discrepancies between the two graphics can be determined.

According to a further embodiment, the document blank has a multilayer document body, it being possible for the layers to be plastic and / or paper and / or metal and / or polymer layers. In particular, according to one embodiment of the invention it is provided that the document blank has a chip with a memory area and an interface in one of the layers, the interface enabling access to the memory area of the chip. The output graphic applied to the document can be stored in this memory area of the chip as part of the method, with the stored output graphic being able to be read out via the interface, for example, when the document is checked. In this way, the security of the document against forgery can be further increased, since the negative, the positive and the original of the graphic can be compared with one another when the authenticity of the document is checked.

• die Helligkeitswerte der monochromen Ausgangsgrafik auf mindestens zwei Helligkeitsstufen zu reduzieren um eine reduzierte Ausgangsgrafik zu erhalten
• die reduzierte Ausgangsgrafik in Teilgrafiken zu unterteilen, wobei jede der Teilgrafiken nur Bildpunkte gleicher Helligkeit aufweist
• die Steuerungseinrichtung der Bestrahlungseinrichtung so anzusteuern, dass die einzelnen Teilgrafiken jeweils vollständig auf dem Dokumentenrohling durch Beaufschlagen der fotosensitiven Schicht mit elektromagnetischer Strahlung durch die Bestrahlungseinrichtung abgebildet werden.

In a further aspect, the invention relates to a device for personalizing a document blank with a graphic for producing a document with an irradiation device for providing electromagnetic radiation. The irradiation device is assigned a control device through which the intensity of the radiation provided by the irradiation device can be adjusted. The irradiation device is in turn designed to apply electromagnetic radiation to a document blank with a photosensitive layer. The exposure to electromagnetic radiation changes at least one optically detectable parameter of the photosensitive layer, the change in the parameter being scaled with the energy introduced into the photosensitive layer. Furthermore, the device comprises a data processing device with processor means, storage means and an interface, the interface being designed to read in a monochrome output graphic. The processor means of the device are designed for this purpose

• to reduce the brightness values of the monochrome output graphic to at least two brightness levels in order to obtain a reduced output graphic
• to subdivide the reduced output graphic into partial graphics, each of the partial graphics only having pixels of the same brightness
• to control the control device of the irradiation device in such a way that the individual partial graphics are each completely imaged on the document blank by applying electromagnetic radiation to the photosensitive layer by the irradiation device.

The storage means contain an assignment of the brightness levels to an energy to be introduced into the photosensitive layer. Before mapping a partial graphic, the processor means access the storage means in order to determine the energy to be introduced assigned to the brightness level of a partial graphic and then to control the control device of the irradiation device in such a way that the photosensitive layer is supplied with the energy to be introduced assigned to the brightness level.

According to one embodiment, the device further includes a feeding device and a stacking device, wherein the feeding device contains a plurality of document blanks and is designed to feed the document blanks to the irradiation device for exposure to electromagnetic radiation and wherein the stacking device is designed to receive personalized document blanks.

According to a further embodiment, the stacking device is also designed to receive faulty documents separately from the personalized document blanks.

Fig. 1

ein Blockdiagramm einer Vorrichtung zur Personalisierung eines Dokumentenrohlings mit einer Grafik;

Fig. 2

eine beispielhafte Darstellung der erfindungsgemäßen Bildbearbeitungsschritte;

Fig. 3

schematische Darstellungen möglicher Verteilungen von Bildpunkten auf verschiedene Helligkeitswerte und die resultierende Einteilung in Helligkeitsstufen; und

Fig. 4

ein Blockdiagramm eines erfindungsgemäßen Dokuments.

In the following, preferred embodiments of the invention are explained in more detail with reference to the drawings. Show it:

Fig. 1

a block diagram of an apparatus for personalizing a blank document with a graphic;

Fig. 2

an exemplary representation of the image processing steps according to the invention;

Fig. 3

schematic representations of possible distributions of pixels to different brightness values and the resulting division into brightness levels; and

Fig. 4

a block diagram of a document according to the invention.

In the following, elements that are similar to one another are identified by the same reference symbols.

the Fig. 1 FIG. 3 shows a block diagram of a device 100 for personalizing a blank document 102 with a graphic. The device 100 consists essentially of an irradiation device 104 and a conveying device 106. The irradiation device 104 contains a laser source 108, the laser source 108 being operatively connected to a laser control 110. Furthermore, the irradiation device 104 contains processor means 112 as well as storage means 114 and an interface 116. The laser control 110 furthermore contains a program module 118 which contains machine-readable code, through the execution of which the laser control 110 controls the laser source 108. The laser source 108 is connected to a processing head 122 via coupling means, such as, for example, a fiber coupling 120.

The processing head 122 is designed to decouple the laser radiation generated by the laser source 108 and fed to the processing head 122 via the fiber coupling 120, so that a targeted beam 124 can be emitted onto the card blank 102. The beam 124 can be aligned, for example, by an arrangement of deflecting mirrors, the alignment of which is controlled by piezoelectric or electro-actuator elements. For example, the light deflection system used in the processing head 122 can be a galvanometer scanner. In addition to deflecting the beam 124, it is also possible to move the entire processing head 122 in the plane of the document blank 102, as is customary, for example, with an xy plotter (plotter). In addition to a displacement of the processing head 122, the document blank 102 can also be displaced relative to the processing head 122.
It should be noted at this point that the processor means 112, the storage means 114 and the interface 116 do not necessarily have to be part of the irradiation device 104. It is also possible to outsource these elements as long as they are operatively connected to the irradiation device 104. For example, the processor means 112, the storage means 114 and the interface 116 can be part of a separate computer system which is connected to the irradiation device in a wired or wireless manner.

In order to personalize the document blank 102 with the device 100 by applying a graphic, the initial graphic is first displayed via the interface 116 read in. The output graphic can be both a monochrome output graphic and an initially polychrome output graphic, which is subsequently monochromatized. In the Fig. 2a such an output graphic 202 is shown as an example. The output graphic 202 read in via the interface 116 is initially stored in the storage means 114. The output graphic 202 is then prepared by the processor means 212 by executing a corresponding program so that it can be applied to the blank card 102. For this purpose, at least two brightness levels of the monochrome output graphic 202 are first defined. This can be done, for example, either by the processor means 112 accessing the storage means 114 and calling up parameters stored there for the brightness levels to be used, or the processor means 112 analyzing the stored output graphic and making an individual definition of brightness levels for the output graphic to be applied. Such a selection of brightness levels is described below with reference to FIG Fig. 3 are explained in more detail.

After the brightness levels have been determined, all pixels of the output graphic 202 are then assigned to one of the brightness levels on the basis of their brightness value, and a fixed new brightness value is assigned to all pixels of a brightness level. This process is known as grayscale reduction in the context of a grayscale image. The result of this process is a graphic in which only pixels of a defined number of brightness values are present. An example is in Figure 2b a graphic 204 reduced in gray level is shown. The graphic 204 was also subjected to an image improvement after the gray level reduction had been carried out by means of dithering.

The in Figure 2b In the case shown, a total of five shades of gray are defined.

In a subsequent method step, the reduced gray level graphic 204 is converted into partial graphics by the processor 112, which are shown in FIG Figure 2c are exemplarily shown, disassembled. Each of the partial graphics 206, 208, 210 and 212 only contains Pixels of one and the same brightness level. For example, the partial graphic 206 contains only pixels with a very light gray tone, the partial graphic 208 only pixels with a medium gray tone, the partial graphic 210 only pixels with a dark gray tone, while the partial graphic 212 only contains pixels that are black. The partial graphic which only contains white pixels is not shown here.

The partial graphics 206, 208, 210 and 212 generated in this way are then stored in the memory 114. By executing the program module 118, the partial graphics 206, 208, 210 and 212 are successively transferred to the card blank 102 in that the laser control 110 controls the laser source 108 accordingly. To this end, it is first determined which energy has to be applied to the photosensitive layer of the card blank in order to generate pixels of the gray level of the partial graphic 206 to be applied. For example, if the laser source 108 delivers pulse energies between 0.01 mJ and 1 mJ, a light gray could correspond to a pulse energy of 0.1 mJ watt.

Subsequently, the processing head 122 aligns the beam 124 one after the other with the positions of the pixels to be generated on the card blank 102 and a laser pulse is emitted at the targeted image point on the card blank 102 by controlling the laser source 108 via the fiber coupling 120 and the processing head 122. As a result, an image point of the desired gray level is generated at the point of incidence of the laser pulse on the photosensitive layer. This is carried out one after the other for all image points of the partial graphic to be mapped. Only when the partial graphic is completely mapped on the card blank 102 is the next partial graphic loaded and mapped analogously on the card blank. Since the next partial graphic is a graphic with a different gray level, the output power of the laser source is first adapted to the gray level of the pixels to be generated. If, for example, a partial graphic with darker pixels is to be generated after the previously applied partial graphic, the output power of the laser must be increased accordingly will. By transferring all partial graphics 206, 208, 210 and 212, the reduced graphic 204 can be transferred to the blank card 102 in this way.

After the imaging of a graphic on the blank card 102 has been completed, the document generated can be removed from the processing area by the conveyor device 106. Subsequently, a new document blank 102 can be positioned under the processing head 122 of the irradiation device 100 by the conveying device 106, so that the personalization process can be run through again. The conveying device 106 can feed the documents that have already been processed to a stacking device (not shown). The conveying device 106 can be designed in such a way that, in the event of an incorrect mapping of the output graphic, it feeds the processed document blank 102 to a different tray than the document blank 102 on which the mapping of the output graphics was correctly carried out.

In the Figures 3a and 3b two possible brightness spectra of a graphic to be displayed are shown as an example. For example, in Fig. 3a a brightness spectrum 302 of a graphic is shown in which the number of pixels which have a certain brightness value is evenly distributed over all brightness values. The brightness values of the individual pixels are shown in the brightness spectrum 302 on the x-axis, while the number of pixels per brightness value is plotted on the y-axis. Since this is an exemplary representation, no further axis labeling has been used. To the the Fig. 3a To transfer the underlying graphic to a document blank within the scope of the method according to the invention, brightness levels must now first be defined. As already stated above, this can be done, for example, by dividing the brightness spectrum into subregions of equal size.

In Fig. 3a four intervals are shown as an example, each corresponding to a brightness level. According to the invention, the brightness value assigned to the corresponding interval is assigned to each pixel whose brightness value falls within one of the intervals assigned. For example, the brightness value H1 is assigned to all pixels whose brightness values lie in interval A, while all pixels whose brightness values lie in interval C receive the brightness value H3: The choice of brightness values H1, H2, H3 and H4 can be adjusted so that an optimized contrast of the generated image results. Is like in Fig. 3a If the number of pixels is shown evenly distributed over the brightness values, the brightness value H1 of the interval A can be selected centered within the interval A, for example.

In some cases, however, the number of pixels is very inhomogeneously distributed over the various brightness values. This is exemplified in Figure 3b shown. For example, the brightness spectrum 304 in Figure 3b be the spectrum of a three-color flag. In this case, it can make sense not to select the brightness levels or the intervals for the brightness values to be equidistant, but to adapt them to accumulations in the brightness spectra. Using the example of Figure 3b it can be useful to choose the intervals E, F, and G so that each of the intervals contains one of the accumulation areas, which are represented by the strong increase in the number of pixels per brightness value. When choosing the brightness value which is to be assigned to all image points within the interval, care would then have to be taken to ensure that this brightness value corresponds to the one around which the accumulation of the image points is to be observed. This is indicated by way of example by the brightness values H5, H6 and H7.

Like in the Figure 3b indicated, it is entirely possible that the individual intervals differ greatly in their width and that the brightness value assigned to an interval is also not centered within the interval. In principle, the selection of the intervals on which the brightness levels are based can always be adapted to the underlying output graphics in such a way that the contrast and the image quality of the graphics generated on the document blank are optimized.

the Fig. 4 shows a block diagram of a document 400 generated by the method according to the invention. The document 400 includes a negative 402 as well as a Positive 404 of an initial graphic to be applied to the document. For example, the graphic can be a portrait of the document owner. The document 400 also contains a chip 406 with a memory area 408 and an interface 410. Via the interface 410, for example, the image on which the positive 402 and negative 404 are based can be stored in the memory area 408 of the chip 406 or read from it. For example, during a validity check of the document 400, the negative 402 can be compared with the positive 404 and the original of the graphic stored in the memory area 408.

1. 1. Verfahren zur Personalisierung eines Dokumentenrohlings mit einer Grafik zur Herstellung eines Dokuments mittels einer Bestrahlungseinrichtung, wobei der Dokumentenrohling eine fotosensitive Schicht aufweist, wobei sich bei Beaufschlagung mit elektromagnetischer Strahlung mindestens ein optisch detektierbarer Parameter der fotosensitiven Schicht verändert, wobei die Veränderung des Parameters mit der in die fotosensitive Schicht eingetragenen Energie skaliert, wobei die Bestrahlungseinrichtung elektromagnetische Strahlung bereitstellt, wobei die Energie der durch die Bestrahlungseinrichtung bereitgestellten Strahlung einstellbar ist, mit folgenden Schritten:
   • Bereitstellen einer monochromen Ausgangsgrafik,
   • Reduzieren der Helligkeitswerte der monochromen Ausgangsgrafik auf mindestens zwei Helligkeitsstufen um eine reduzierte Ausgangsgrafik zu erhalten,
   • Unterteilen der reduzierten Ausgangsgrafik in Teilgrafiken, wobei jede der Teilgrafiken nur Bildpunkte gleicher Helligkeit aufweist,
   • Jeweils vollständiges Abbilden der einzelnen Teilgrafiken auf dem Dokumentenrohling durch Beaufschlagen der fotosensitiven Schicht mit elektromagnetischer Strahlung,
     wobei jeder Helligkeitsstufe eine in die fotosensitive Schicht einzubringende Energie zugeordnet ist und wobei bei Abbilden einer Teilgrafik die fotosensitive Schicht mit der der Helligkeitsstufe der Teilgrafik zugeordneten einzubringenden Energie beaufschlagt wird.
2. 2. Verfahren nach Anspruch 1, wobei es sich bei der Bestrahlungseinrichtung um eine Laserquelle handelt, wobei die Laserquelle Laserpulse definierter Energie bereitstellt.
3. 3. Verfahren nach Anspruch 2, wobei jeder Bildpunkt der aufgebrachten Grafik durch Beaufschlagen der fotosensitiven Schicht mit einem Laserpuls definierter Energie erzeugt wird.
4. 4. Verfahren nach Anspruch 2 oder 3, wobei es sich bei der Laserquelle um einen Faserlaser handelt und wobei während der vollständigen Abbildung einer Teilgrafik die Pumpleistung mit der der Faserlaser gepumpt wird konstant bleibt..
5. 5. Verfahren nach einem der vorhergehenden Ansprüche, wobei die mindestens zwei Helligkeitsstufen der reduzierten, monochromen Ausgangsgrafik für jede aufgebrachte Grafik individuell definiert werden oder wobei die mindestens zwei Helligkeitsstufen der monochromen Ausgangsgrafik für jede Grafik gleich sind.
6. 6. Verfahren nach einem der vorhergehenden Ansprüche, wobei die Helligkeitsstufen so gewählt sind, dass sich die Zahl der Bildpunkte der aufgebrachten Grafik gleichmäßig auf die Helligkeitsstufen verteilen.
7. 7. Verfahren nach einem der vorhergehenden Ansprüche 1-5, wobei die Helligkeitsstufen so gewählt sind, dass jede Helligkeitsstufe die gleiche Anzahl an Helligkeitswerten beinhaltet.
8. 8. Verfahren nach einem der vorhergehenden Ansprüche 1-5, wobei das auswählen der Helligkeitsstufen beinhaltet:
   • Ermitteln eines Helligkeitsspektrums, wobei das Helligkeitsspektrum die Zahl der in der Ausgangsgrafik vorhandenen Bildpunkte je Helligkeitswert abbildet,
   • Anwenden eines Clusteringverfahrens um Häufungen in dem Helligkeitsspektrum zu ermitteln,
   • Einteilen der Helligkeitsstufen, sodass jede Helligkeitsstufe eine Häufung umfasst.
9. 9. Verfahren nach einem der vorhergehenden Ansprüche, wobei vor dem Unterteilen der reduzierten Ausgangsgrafik in Teilgrafiken die reduzierte Ausgangsgrafik durch Dithering und/oder Posterisation aufbereitet wird.
10. 10.Verfahren nach einem der vorhergehenden Ansprüche, wobei es sich bei der aufgebrachten Grafik um das Negativ der Ausgangsgrafik handelt.
11. 11.Verfahren nach Anspruch 10, wobei sich die fotosensitive Schicht über eine größere Fläche des Dokumentenrohlings erstreckt als die aufgebrachte Grafik, wobei das Verfahren ferner das Beaufschlagen jener Bereiche der fotosensitiven Schicht mit elektromagnetischer Strahlung beinhaltet, welche au-βerhalb der Ränder der aufgebrachten Grafik liegen.
12. 12. Verfahren nach einem der vorhergehenden Ansprüche, wobei die Veränderung optisch detektierbarer Parameter der fotosensitiven Schicht nichtlinear mit der eingetragenen Energie skaliert.
13. 13. Verfahren nach einem der vorhergehenden Ansprüche 10-12, wobei zusätzlich zu dem Negativ der Grafik auch ein Positiv der Grafik auf den Dokumentenrohling aufgebracht wird.
14. 14. Verfahren nach einem der vorhergehenden Ansprüche, wobei der Dokumentenrohling einen mehrschichtigen Dokumentenkörper aufweist, wobei es sich bei den Schichten um Kunststoff- und/oder Papier- und/oder Metall- und/oder Polymer-Schichten handelt.
15. 15. Verfahren nach einem der vorhergehenden Ansprüche, wobei der Dokumentenrohling einen Chip mit einem Speicherbereich, sowie eine Schnittstelle aufweist, wobei die Schnittstelle einen Zugriff auf den Speicherbereich des Chips ermöglicht, wobei das Verfahren ferner die Speicherung der Ausgangsgrafik in dem Speicherbereich des Chips beinhaltet.
16. 16.Vorrichtung zur Personalisierung eines Dokumentenrohlings mit einer Grafik zur Herstellung eines Dokuments mit einer Bestrahlungseinrichtung zur Bereitstellung elektromagnetischer Strahlung, mit einer Steuerungseinrichtung für die Bestrahlungseinrichtung, wobei die Intensität der durch die Bestrahlungseinrichtung bereitgestellten Strahlung durch die Steuerungseinrichtung einstellbar ist, wobei die Bestrahlungseinrichtung dazu ausgebildet ist einen Dokumentenrohling mit einer fotosensitiven Schicht mit elektromagnetischer Strahlung zu beaufschlagen, wobei sich bei Beaufschlagung mit elektromagnetischer Strahlung mindestens ein optisch detektierbarer Parameter der fotosensitiven Schicht verändert, wobei die Veränderung des Parameters mit der in die fotosensitive Schicht eingetragenen Energie skaliert, wobei die Vorrichtung ferner eine Datenverarbeitungseinrichtung mit Prozessormitteln, Speichermitteln und einer Schnittstelle umfasst, wobei die Schnittstelle dazu ausgebildet ist eine monochrome Ausgangsgrafik einzulesen, wobei die Prozessormittel dazu ausgebildet sind:
    • die Helligkeitswerte der monochromen Ausgangsgrafik auf mindestens zwei Helligkeitsstufen zu reduzieren um eine reduzierte Ausgangsgrafik zu erhalten,
    • die reduzierte Ausgangsgrafik in Teilgrafiken zu unterteilen, wobei jede der Teilgrafiken nur Bildpunkte gleicher Helligkeit aufweist,
    • die Steuerungseinrichtung der Bestrahlungseinrichtung so anzusteuern, dass die einzelnen Teilgrafiken jeweils vollständig auf dem Dokumentenrohling durch Beaufschlagen der fotosensitiven Schicht mit elektromagnetischer Strahlung durch die Bestrahlungseinrichtung abgebildet werden,
      wobei die Speichermittel eine Zuordnung der Helligkeitsstufen zu einer in die fotosensitive Schicht einzubringenden Energie beinhalten, und wobei vor Abbilden einer Teilgrafik die Prozessormittel durch Zugriff auf die Speichermittel die der Helligkeitsstufe der Teilgrafik zugeordnete einzubringende Energie ermitteln und die Steuerungseinrichtung der Bestrahlungseinrichtung so ansteuern, dass die fotosensitive Schicht mit der der Helligkeitsstufe zugeordneten einzubringenden Energie beaufschlagt wird.
17. 17.Vorrichtung nach Anspruch 16 mit einer Zuführeinrichtung und einer Stapeleinrichtung, wobei die Zuführeinrichtung eine Vielzahl von Dokumentenrohlingen beinhaltet und dazu ausgebildet ist, die Dokumentenrohlinge der Bestrahlungseinrichtung zur Beaufschlagung mit elektromagnetischer Strahlung zuzuführen und wobei die Stapeleinrichtung dazu ausgebildet ist personalisierte Dokumentenrohlinge aufzunehmen.
18. 18. Vorrichtung nach Anspruch 17, wobei die Stapeleinrichtung ferner dazu ausgebildet ist fehlerhafte Dokumente separat von den personalisierten Dokumentenrohlingen aufzunehmen.

Advantageous embodiments include, for example, the following features:

1. 1. A method for personalizing a document blank with a graphic for the production of a document by means of an irradiation device, the document blank having a photosensitive layer, at least one optically detectable parameter of the photosensitive layer changing when exposed to electromagnetic radiation, the change of the parameter with the Energy introduced into the photosensitive layer is scaled, the irradiation device providing electromagnetic radiation, the energy of the radiation provided by the irradiation device being adjustable, with the following steps:
   • Providing a monochrome output graphic,
   • Reduction of the brightness values of the monochrome output graphic to at least two brightness levels in order to obtain a reduced output graphic,
   • Subdivide the reduced output graphic into partial graphics, each of the partial graphics only having pixels of the same brightness,
   • Each complete mapping of the individual partial graphics on the document blank by exposing the photosensitive layer to electromagnetic radiation,
     each brightness level being assigned an energy to be introduced into the photosensitive layer, and the photosensitive layer when a partial graphic is being displayed Layer is acted upon with the energy to be introduced which is assigned to the brightness level of the partial graphic.
2. 2. The method according to claim 1, wherein the irradiation device is a laser source, the laser source providing laser pulses of defined energy.
3. 3. The method according to claim 2, wherein each pixel of the applied graphic is generated by applying a laser pulse of defined energy to the photosensitive layer.
4. 4. The method according to claim 2 or 3, wherein the laser source is a fiber laser and wherein the pump power with which the fiber laser is pumped remains constant during the complete mapping of a partial graphic.
5. 5. The method according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the at least two brightness levels of the reduced, monochrome output graphic are individually defined for each applied graphic or wherein the at least two brightness levels of the monochrome output graphic are the same for each graphic.
6. 6. The method according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the brightness levels are selected so that the number of pixels of the applied graphic is evenly distributed over the brightness levels.
7. 7. The method according to any one of the preceding claims 1-5, wherein the brightness levels are selected such that each brightness level contains the same number of brightness values.
8. 8. The method according to any one of the preceding claims 1-5, wherein the selection of the brightness levels includes:
   • Determination of a brightness spectrum, the brightness spectrum representing the number of pixels present in the output graphic per brightness value,
   • Applying a clustering method to determine clusters in the brightness spectrum,
   • Division of the brightness levels so that each brightness level comprises an accumulation.
9. 9. The method according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein before the reduced output graphic is divided into partial graphics, the reduced output graphic is prepared by dithering and / or posterization.
10. 10. The method according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the applied graphic is the negative of the original graphic.
11. 11. The method of claim 10, wherein the photosensitive layer extends over a larger area of the blank document than the applied graphic, the method further including exposing those areas of the photosensitive layer to electromagnetic radiation which are outside the edges of the applied graphic .
12. 12. The method according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the change in optically detectable parameters of the photosensitive layer is scaled non-linearly with the entered energy.
13. 13. The method according to any one of the preceding claims 10-12, wherein in addition to the negative of the graphic, a positive of the graphic is also applied to the document blank.
14. 14. The method according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the document blank has a multilayer document body, wherein it is the layers are plastic and / or paper and / or metal and / or polymer layers.
15. 15. The method according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the document blank has a chip with a memory area, as well as an interface, wherein the interface enables access to the memory area of the chip, wherein the method further includes the storage of the output graphic in the memory area of the chip.
16. 16. Device for personalizing a blank document with a graphic for producing a document with an irradiation device for providing electromagnetic radiation, with a control device for the irradiation device, the intensity of the radiation provided by the irradiation device being adjustable by the control device, the irradiation device being designed for this purpose to apply electromagnetic radiation to a document blank with a photosensitive layer, wherein at least one optically detectable parameter of the photosensitive layer changes when exposed to electromagnetic radiation, the change in the parameter being scaled with the energy entered into the photosensitive layer, the device also having a data processing device with processor means, storage means and an interface, the interface being designed for this purpose an m to read in onochrome output graphics, the processor means being designed to:
    • to reduce the brightness values of the monochrome output graphic to at least two brightness levels in order to obtain a reduced output graphic,
    • to subdivide the reduced output graphic into partial graphics, each of the partial graphics only having pixels of the same brightness,
    • to control the control device of the irradiation device in such a way that the individual partial graphics are in each case completely on the document blank by applying the photosensitive layer electromagnetic radiation are imaged by the irradiation device,
      wherein the storage means contain an assignment of the brightness levels to an energy to be introduced into the photosensitive layer, and wherein, before mapping a partial graphic, the processor means determine the energy to be introduced assigned to the brightness level of the partial graphic by accessing the storage means and control the control device of the irradiation device in such a way that the photosensitive Layer is acted upon with the energy to be introduced assigned to the brightness level.
17. 17.Vorrichtung according to claim 16 with a feeding device and a stacking device, wherein the feeding device contains a plurality of document blanks and is designed to feed the document blanks to the irradiation device for exposure to electromagnetic radiation and wherein the stacking device is designed to receive personalized document blanks.
18. 18. The device according to claim 17, wherein the stacking device is further designed to receive defective documents separately from the personalized document blanks.

List of reference symbols

100

contraption

102

Document blank

104

Irradiation facility

106

Conveyor

108

Laser source

110

Laser control

112

Processor means

114

Storage

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interface

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Program module

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Fiber coupling

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Machining head

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laser beam

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Output graphic

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reduced graphics

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Partial graphic

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Partial graphic

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Partial graphic

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Partial graphic

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Brightness spectrum

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Brightness spectrum

400

document

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negative

404

positive

406

chip

408

Storage area

410

interface

Claims (15)

A method for personalizing a document blank with a graphic for the production of a document by means of an irradiation device, the document blank having a photosensitive layer, at least one optically detectable parameter of the photosensitive layer changing when exposed to electromagnetic radiation, the change in the parameter being changed with the The energy applied to the photosensitive layer is scaled, the irradiation device providing electromagnetic radiation, the energy of the radiation provided by the irradiation device being adjustable, with the following steps: • Providing a monochrome output graphic, • Reduction of the brightness values of the monochrome output graphic to at least two brightness levels in order to obtain a reduced output graphic, • Subdivide the reduced output graphic into partial graphics, whereby each of the partial graphics only has pixels of the same brightness, • Each complete mapping of the individual partial graphics on the document blank by exposing the photosensitive layer to electromagnetic radiation,
wherein each brightness level is assigned an energy to be introduced into the photosensitive layer and wherein when a partial graphic is displayed, the photosensitive layer is acted upon with the energy to be introduced which is assigned to the brightness level of the partial graphic,
The applied graphic is the negative of the original graphic. Method according to claim 1, wherein the irradiation device is a laser source, the laser source providing laser pulses of defined energy,
where optional: - Each pixel of the applied graphic is generated by applying a laser pulse of defined energy to the photosensitive layer, and / or - The laser source is a fiber laser and the pump power with which the fiber laser is pumped remains constant during the complete mapping of a partial graphic. Method according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the at least two brightness levels of the reduced, monochrome output graphic are defined individually for each applied graphic, or wherein the at least two brightness levels of the monochrome output graphic are the same for each graphic. Method according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the brightness levels are selected such that the number of pixels of the applied graphic is evenly distributed over the brightness levels. Method according to one of the preceding claims 1-3, wherein the brightness levels are selected such that each brightness level contains the same number of brightness values. Method according to one of the preceding claims 1-3, wherein the selection of the brightness levels includes: • Determination of a brightness spectrum, with the brightness spectrum representing the number of pixels per brightness value in the output graphic, • Applying a clustering method to determine clusters in the brightness spectrum, • Subdivide the brightness levels so that each brightness level comprises an accumulation. Method according to one of the preceding claims, wherein before the reduced output graphic is subdivided into partial graphics, the reduced output graphic is prepared by dithering and / or posterization. A method according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the photosensitive layer extends over a larger area of the blank document than the applied graphic, the method further including exposing those areas of the photosensitive layer to electromagnetic radiation which are outside the edges of the applied graphic. Method according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the change in optically detectable parameters of the photosensitive layer scales non-linearly with the energy introduced. Method according to one of the preceding claims, wherein in addition to the negative of the graphic, a positive of the graphic is also applied to the document blank. Method according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the document blank has a multilayer document body, the layers being plastic and / or paper and / or metal and / or polymer layers. Method according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the document blank has a chip with a memory area and an interface, the interface enabling access to the memory area of the chip, the method further including the storage of the output graphic in the memory area of the chip. Device for personalizing a blank document with a graphic for producing a document with an irradiation device for providing electromagnetic radiation, with a control device for the irradiation device, the intensity of the radiation provided by the irradiation device being adjustable by the control device, the irradiation device being designed for a document blank to apply electromagnetic radiation to a photosensitive layer, with at least one optically detectable parameter of the photosensitive layer changing upon exposure to electromagnetic radiation, the change in the parameter scaling with the energy entered into the photosensitive layer, the device also having a data processing device with processor means , Storage means and an interface, wherein the interface is designed to be a mono to read in chrome output graphics, the processor means being designed to: • to reduce the brightness values of the monochrome output graphic to at least two brightness levels in order to obtain a reduced output graphic, • to subdivide the reduced output graphic into partial graphics, whereby each of the partial graphics only has pixels of the same brightness, • to control the control device of the irradiation device in such a way that the individual partial graphics are each completely depicted on the document blank by applying electromagnetic radiation to the photosensitive layer by the irradiation device,
wherein the storage means contain an assignment of the brightness levels to an energy to be introduced into the photosensitive layer, and wherein, before mapping a partial graphic, the processor means determine the energy to be introduced assigned to the brightness level of the partial graphic by accessing the storage means and control the control device of the irradiation device in such a way that the photosensitive Layer with the the energy to be introduced assigned to the brightness level is applied,
The applied graphic is the negative of the original graphic. Apparatus according to claim 13 with a feeding device and a stacking device, wherein the feeding device contains a plurality of document blanks and is designed to feed the document blanks to the irradiating device for exposure to electromagnetic radiation and wherein the stacking device is designed to receive personalized document blanks. Apparatus according to claim 14, wherein the stacking device is further designed to receive defective documents separately from the personalized document blanks.

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