EP4330050A2

EP4330050A2 - Security feature for a valuable document, valuable document and method of producing a security feature

Info

Publication number: EP4330050A2
Application number: EP22725362.2A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Cristina Fabian; Klaus Kohl; Günter Endres
Original assignee: Giesecke and Devrient ePayments GmbH
Current assignee: Giesecke and Devrient ePayments GmbH
Priority date: 2021-04-27
Filing date: 2022-04-26
Publication date: 2024-03-06
Also published as: WO2022228729A2; WO2022228729A3; DE102021002214A1; US20240217260A1

Abstract

The invention relates to a security feature (11) for a valuable document (10), into which markings (19, 20) are introduced by at least one laser beam, having at least one laser-sensitive recording layer (16) which is transparent in the visible spectral range, light-diffracting or light-refracting structures (18) arranged on a first side of the recording layer (16), at least one first marking (19) which is introduced into the at least one recording layer (16) by a laser beam from at least one direction (21, 22) through the light-diffracting or light-refracting structures (18) into the at least one recording layer (16) and is visible when viewed from the same direction (21, 22) from a second side, at least one second marking (20) which is introduced into the at least one recording layer (16, 17) with a laser beam from the second side of the recording layer (16) and is visible when viewed from the first and the second side.

Description

Security feature for a document of value, document of value and method for producing a security feature

The invention relates to a security feature for a document of value, a document of value and a method for producing a security feature.

Documents of value or data carriers, such as passport and ID documents, ID cards, credit cards, bank cards and the like are being used to an increasing extent in public areas, but also in the internal area.

It has long been known to provide such documents of value or also banknotes with lens grids, for example in the form of lenticular lenses. Such structures provide the value documents with optically variable effects such as tilting images, which are also intended to offer protection against reproduction.

Structures of this type offer insufficient protection of images against falsification or image manipulation through morphing. It is not possible to check two images that merge into one another with 100% certainty.

It is therefore the object of the present invention to better protect these security features against image manipulation by morphing.

This object is achieved by a security feature for a document of value, a document of value or a method for producing a security feature according to the independent patent claims. Refinements and developments of the invention are specified in the dependent claims.

A security feature according to the invention for a document of value into which identifiers are introduced by at least one laser beam at least one laser-sensitive recording layer that is transparent in the visible spectral range, a light-diffractive or light-refractive structure arranged on a first side of the recording layer, at least one first identifier, which is introduced into the at least one recording layer with a laser beam from at least one direction through the light-diffractive or light-refractive structure and is recognizable when viewed from the same direction and from a second side, at least one second marking which is introduced into the at least one recording layer with a laser beam from a second side of the recording layer and when viewed from the first and the second side is recognizable.

A basic idea of the present invention is that the security feature comprises a combination of a first marking introduced by light-diffracting or light-refracting structures and thus dependent on the viewing angle, and a second marking that is independent of the viewing angle.

The changes in the optical properties of the recording layer or the security feature can be visible in transmitted and/or reflected light. Furthermore, the identifiers can be present in a rasterized form, with the raster elements being able to be formed by, for example, rod-shaped pixels. The at least one identifier also includes multiple identifiers such as individual numbers or letters, but also biometic features such as a portrait or a fingerprint.

The security feature proposed here therefore has the advantage that simplified identifiability and/or verification of the authenticity of the security feature is made possible. The check is simplified because the so-called dynamic image or the image tilting away under the lens very easily overlaps with the static image brought in from below and for a match between the recognition-relevant images Features can be checked. This even allows verification with a standard card reader.

Provision can be made for a further, laser-sensitive recording layer which is transparent in the visible spectral range to be provided, with the at least one first marking being introduced into one recording layer and the at least one second marking being introduced into the further recording layer. Thereby a separation of the two characteristics can be achieved. In addition, different layers or dopings can be used and thus different effects can be realized.

Provision can also be made for a luminescent substance to be introduced between the first marking and the second marking. This allows the security feature to be highlighted. In particular, the photoluminescence in the form of fluorescence or phosphorescence is considered here. For example, if white fluorescence is used, when viewed under a UV light, an effect can be achieved as if a light is switched on, or a beam of light is focused on the security feature. It is thus possible to achieve simpler and clearer recognition and identifiability, as well as increased security against counterfeiting.

Provision can be made for the at least one first identifier to be a dynamic representation and for the at least one second identifier to be a static representation. The static image or representation will be introduced from the side facing away from the lens, the dynamic image or representation from the lens side. The static image can be a main image.

Provision can also be made for one of the two markings to be a positive of a representation and for the other of the two markings to be a negative of this representation. The dynamic image can be a negative of the static one main image or vice versa. A combination with CLIP-ID, as disclosed for example in DE 102018007207 B4, is also possible.

It can be provided that one of the two identifiers is a biometric representation and that the other of the two identifiers is an outline of this biometric representation. The dynamic image can be the contour or outline of the main image, which can be a photo, for example, or vice versa. A combination with CLIP-ID is also possible.

Provision can also be made for the identifiers to include personal data, such as a signature, a date of birth, a portrait or the like. In principle, all graphically displayable elements can be displayed from individual pixels, which are activated by laser irradiation.

Provision can be made for the identifiers to include data related to the document of value, such as a period of validity, a card number, information about the issuing authority or the like. In principle, all graphically displayable elements can be displayed from individual pixels that are activated by laser irradiation.

Provision can also be made for the light-diffracting or light-refracting structures to include a surface relief in the form of a lenticular grid. A good optical representation and a smooth movement between the markings can be achieved by means of a lenticular grid with a number or multitude of individual lenses such as spherical lenses, rod lenses and/or cylindrical lenses.

A document of value according to the invention, such as a banknote, ID card or the like, comprises a substrate with an opening in which a data carrier as described above is at least partially arranged as a security element. The data carrier can be arranged completely in the opening. The opening with the data carrier located therein can be covered, for example, by means of one or more foils. Otherwise, the same advantages and modifications as previously described apply.

A method according to the invention for producing a security feature comprises the steps:

-Providing at least one laser-sensitive recording layer that is transparent in the visible spectral range with light-diffracting or light-refractive structures on a first side of the recording layer,

- introducing at least one first marking with a laser beam from at least one direction through the light-diffracting or light-refracting structures into the at least one recording layer, so that the first marking can be recognized when the security feature is later viewed from the same direction and from a second side, and

- Introducing at least one second marking with a laser beam from a second side of the recording layer into the at least one recording layer, so that the second marking can be recognized when the security feature is later viewed from the first and the second side.

The same advantages and modifications as previously described apply.

The present invention is described below with reference to the accompanying drawings by way of example. show in it

1: a plan view of a document of value;

FIG. 2 shows a sectional representation of the document of value from FIG. 1 along the line II;

Figs. 3a, 3b, 3c: a basic representation of a security feature with a positive front side provided with a contour and a negative back side; Figs. 4a, 4b: a basic representation of a security feature with a positive front side and a negative back side; and

Fig. 5: a method for producing a security feature for a document of value.

1 shows a plan view of a document of value 10 in a schematic representation. The document of value 10 can be a bank note, a passport and identification document or the like. In the example shown in FIG. 1, the document of value 10 is an identity document.

The document of value 10 contains a security feature 11 in the form of a portrait of the cardholder and other personal data 12 such as the first and last name of the owner. In addition, the ID card can contain additional data 13, such as date of birth, nationality, issuing authority, date of issue and the like. The security feature 11 is at least partially arranged in an opening 10a of the document of value 10 .

A tilting image 14 is arranged in the security feature 11 in the form of a portrait of the document of value 10, which contains two different pieces of information written in each case by means of a laser beam in the form of a first identification and a second identification. In this example, the two identifiers are part of the security feature 11 or the two identifiers form the security feature 11.

In contrast to the graphic representation of FIG. 1, the two markings are not recognizable simultaneously when viewing the document of value 10, but only by tilting the document of value 10 at a different tilting angle in each case. The basic structure of the tilted image 14 will now be explained in more detail with reference to FIG. 2, which shows a section through the document of value 10 along the line II-II of FIG.

The document of value 10 contains a transparent card body 15 and at least one, preferably two, laser-sensitive recording layers 16 and 17. The card body 15 can be transparent or partially transparent. The card body 15 can also be opaque, in which case a transparent or partially transparent window is provided in the area of the two laser-sensitive recording layers 16 and 17 .

The recording layers 16 and 17, like the substrate or the card body 15, are transparent or partially transparent in the visible spectral range. The recording layers 16 and 17 can be a part of the card body 15 or separate layers.

The document of value 10 here comprises a surface relief in the form of a lens raster 18 on an upper side or front side. The lens raster 18 is arranged above the recording layer 16 and can be arranged directly on the recording layer 16 . The recording layer 16 is thus located between the lenticular grid 18 and the recording layer 17. The surface relief in the form of the lenticular grid 18 can also be arranged on an underside or rear side of the recording layers 16 and 17. Then the lenticular grid 18 is located inside the card body 15.

In this example, a lenticular grid 18 with individual lenses such as spherical lenses, rod lenses and/or cylindrical lenses is used. Instead of the lenses, light-diffracting and/or light-refracting structures can also be used.

A first identifier 19 is introduced into the recording layer 16, which can be referred to as the first recording layer. In the recording layer 17, which may be referred to as the second recording layer, is a second Identification 20 introduced. The two recording layers 16 and 17 run parallel to a main surface of the document of value 10 and can directly adjoin one another.

The markings 19 and 20 introduced into the tilting image 14 contain personal information and are only written into the recording layers 16 and 17 after the lens grid 18 has been applied, for example by means of a pulsed infrared laser. This applies at least to the first marking 19 in the recording layer 16.

For this purpose, the laser beam is directed onto the lenticular grid 18 from different directions 21 or 22 . The individual lenses of the lens grid 18 focus the laser beam on different small sub-areas 23 or 24 of the recording layer 16, depending on the direction of irradiation.

The effect of the laser radiation changes the optical properties of the recording layer 16 locally, for example the layer is locally blackened. When the document of value 10 is later viewed from the direction 21, the blackened sub-areas 23 can be seen precisely because of the focusing effect of the individual lenses, and they combine to form an image for the viewer. Correspondingly, the partial areas 24 written from this direction can be seen from the viewing direction 22 and form an image for the viewer.

The document of value 10 can comprise additional layers, for example one or more protective layers or functional layers provided with other security elements. The transparency of the document of value 10 in the area of the inscribed markings 19, 20 should be retained.

The recording layer 17 is described similarly to the recording layer 16. FIG. Analogous to the recording layer 16 also includes the Recording layer 17 has a plurality of small sub-areas 25 and 26. The various sub-areas 25 and 26 are arranged in the recording layer 17 in a matrix-like arrangement.

The second indicia 20 is also written into the recording layer 17 by means of a laser such as a pulsed infrared laser. In this case, the information is introduced into the recording layer 17 from an underside by means of the laser beam. The underside is that side of the document of value 10 which is opposite the lenticular grid 18 . In this way, the second marking 20 is introduced into the recording layer 17 in an undistorted manner.

Thus, when a viewer looks at the document of value 10 from the front, he sees the viewing angle-dependent first marking 19 of the recording layer 16 and the viewing angle-independent second marking 20 of the recording layer 17. While, as described, the first marking 19 is viewing angle selectively from the two directions 21 and 22, the second identification 20 can be seen from all directions, including both directions 21 and 22. A forgery-proof tilting image 14 can thus be generated, which has additional information underneath. In this example, the two recording layers 16 and 17 are designed as two recording layers. It is also possible to provide a single recording layer in which the first identification 19 is written through the lenticular lens 18 and the second identification 20 is written from the back.

This allows the combination of a static with a dynamic image or representation. The static image corresponds to the second marking 20 and the dynamic image corresponds to the first marking 19. Checking this security feature is simplified since the dynamic image tilting away under the lens can very easily overlap with the static image. It is therefore easy to check whether identification-relevant features match and can be carried out with an automated card reader. A luminescent substance can be introduced between the first marking 19 and the second marking 20 . In the case of luminescence, the substance is brought into an excited state by energy supplied from outside and emits light when it transitions to its ground state, emitting photons. In particular, the photoluminescence in the form of fluorescence or phosphorescence is considered here. The luminescent substance can be integrated either by printing or by means of a film or an insert, preferably as white fluorescence. The luminescent substance allows the information to be easily recognized by border officials or police officers, for example, during passport control or a driver's license check using a UV lamp.

If only one marking 19 or 20 is provided, the luminescent material can be arranged under or over the marking.

FIGS. 3 show a basic representation of a security feature 11 with a positive front side provided with a contour and a negative back side.

In FIG. 3a, the security feature 11 is shown with its front side, ie the first marking 19. The first marking 19 includes a positive representation 28 here. The positive representation 28 consists of a large number of image points or pixels, which are introduced by means of a laser beam, as described above. Since the first marking 19 was introduced by the lenticular grid, the first marking 19 is dependent on the viewing angle.

FIG. 3b also shows a representation of the first marking 19 with a contour 29 which surrounds the positive representation 28 from FIG. 3a. For example, the positive representation 28 shown in FIG. 3a of the first marking 19 can be shown from the viewing angle or the direction 21. Accordingly, the representation of Figure 3b from the perspective or the Direction 22 be shown. Depending on the viewing angle or direction 21 or 22, the positive representation 28 or the contour 29 is emphasized.

FIG. 3c shows a view of the back of the security feature 11 or of the second identification 20. The second marking 20 includes here a negative representation 30 of the positive representation 28 from FIG. 3a. Since the negative representation 30 of the second marking 20 was not applied by the lenticular screen, the second marking 20 is a static representation. The first marking 19, more precisely the positive representation 28 and the contour 29, on the other hand, are dependent on the viewing angle. Thus, in this example in FIG. 3, the security feature 11 is formed by the first marking 19 with a positive depiction 28 and a contour 29 and the second marking 20 with a negative depiction 30 .

Figures 4 show a basic representation of a security feature 11 with a positive front and negative back. FIG. 4a shows a first identification 19 with a positive depiction 28. FIG. 4b shows the second identification 20 with a negative depiction 30. FIG. The negative depiction 30 corresponds to the negative of the positive depiction 28 from FIG. 4a. Again, the first marking 19 shown in FIG. 4a is dependent on the viewing angle, while the second information 20 shown in FIG. 4b is independent of the viewing angle. Accordingly, the first piece of information 19 can only be recognized from a specific viewing angle, for example the direction 21 . The second piece of information 20, on the other hand, can be seen from all viewing angles or directions.

All combinations of positive representation 28, contour 29 and negative representation 30 in the first identification 19 and the second identification 20 are possible. A combination with a color extract as a CLIP ID is also possible. In the above examples, the marks 19 and 20 are shown as portrait representations and as parts thereof, respectively. One or both markings 19, 20 can include any personal data, such as a signature, a date of birth or the like. In addition, the identifiers 19 or 20 can include data related to the document of value 10, such as a period of validity, a card number, information about the issuing authority or the like.

Figure 5 shows a method for producing a security feature 11 for a document of value 10.

In a first step 100, at least one laser-sensitive recording layer 16, 17 that is transparent in the visible spectral range is provided with a surface relief in the form of a finned grid 18 on a first side of the recording layer 16.

In a second step 110, at least one first identification 19 is introduced with a fiber beam from at least one direction 21, 22 through the finned grid 18 into the recording layer 16, so that the first identification 19 when the security feature 11 is viewed later from densel ben direction 21, 22 can be seen.

In a third step 120, at least one second marking 20 is introduced with a fiber jet from a second side of the recording layer 17 into the recording layer 17, so that the second marking 20 can be recognized from all directions when the security feature 11 is viewed later.

The order of the steps is not necessarily limited to this order. For example, the introduction of the second identification 20 can also take place as a first or second step.

Claims

patent claims

1. A security feature (11) for a document of value (10) into which identifiers (19, 20) are introduced by at least one laser beam, having at least one laser-sensitive recording layer (16) that is transparent in the visible spectral range, on a first side of the recording layer ( 16) arranged light-diffractive or light-refractive structures (18), at least one first marking (19), which structures (18) with a laser beam from at least one direction (21, 22) through the light-diffractive or light-refracting structures and into the at least one recording layer ( 16) is introduced and is recognizable when viewed from the same direction (21, 22) and from a second side, at least one second marking (20) which is engraved with a laser beam from the second side of the recording layer (16) into the at least one recording layer (16, 17) is introduced and can be seen when viewed from the first and the second side.

2. The security feature (11) according to claim 1, characterized in that a further, laser-sensitive recording layer (17) that is transparent in the visible spectral range is provided, the at least one first marking (19) being introduced into the one recording layer (16) and the at least one second marking (20) is introduced into the further recording layer (17).

3. The security feature (11) according to claim 1, characterized in that a luminescent substance is introduced between the first marking (19) and the second marking (20).

4. Security feature (11) according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the at least one first identifier (19) is a dynamic Representation and that the at least one second identifier (20) is a static cal representation.

5. Security feature (11) according to any one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that one of the two markings (19, 20) is a positive of a representation (28) and that the other of the two markings (19, 20) is a negative of this representation (30).

6. Security feature (11) according to one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that one of the two identifiers (19, 20) is a biometric representation and that the other of the two identifiers (19, 20) has a contour (29) this biometric representation.

7. Security feature (11) according to any one of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that the identifiers (19, 20) include personal data (12), such as a signature, a date of birth, a portrait or the like.

8. Security feature (11) according to one of claims 1 to 7, characterized in that the markings (19, 20) on the document of value (10) related data (13), such as a period of validity, a card number, information on the issuing authority or the like.

9. Security feature (11) according to one of claims 1 to 8, characterized in that the light-diffracting or light-refracting structures (18) comprise a surface relief in the form of a lenticular grid.

10. Document of value (10), such as a banknote, passport and ID documents or the like, with a substrate having an opening (10a), in which a security feature (11) according to any one of claims 1 to 9 is at least partially arranged.

11. A method for producing a security feature (11) for a document of value (10), with the steps:

- providing (100) at least one laser-sensitive recording layer (16, 17) which is transparent in the visible spectral range with light-diffracting or light-refracting structures (18) on a first side of the recording layer (16, 17),

- Introduction (110) of at least one first marking (19) with a laser beam from at least one direction (21, 22) through the light-diffractive or light-refractive structures (18) and into the at least one recording layer (16, 17), so that the first Marking (19) can be seen from the same direction (21, 22) and from a second side when the security feature (11) is viewed later, and

- introducing (120) at least one second marking (20) with a laser beam from a second side of the recording layer (16, 17) into the at least one recording layer (16, 17), so that the second marking (20) when viewed later of the security feature (11) can be seen from the first and the second side.