FR3021252A1 - DISSOLVED SAFETY DEVICE - Google Patents

Abstract

Safety device (1) comprising at least one inner layer (2) adapted to receive an inscription (7) by means of an inscription radiation (5) and at least one outer layer (3), transparent to said radiation of inscription (5) disposed above the inner layer (2), the outer layer (3) being opaque to visible radiation (10) by a human eye (8). Identity document comprising such a security device (1). Microcircuit card comprising such a safety device (1).

Description

The present invention relates to a safety device. It is known to employ a security device to secure a document, such as an identity document: passport, identity card, etc., a bank card, a social insurance card, etc., or any other document of which we want to ensure origin and / or authenticity. For this, a security device must be difficult to reproduce, and sensitive to an attempt to modify and / or alteration and advantageously associated by personalization to its holder / holder. It is known, to achieve personalization, to use an inscription radiation in order to make an inscription on the surface or at the heart of a layer. For this purpose it is appropriate that a component or constituent of the layer capable of receiving the inscription is reactive to the inscription radiation. The inscription radiation can be directed to activate said reactive component and thus achieve an inscription on the surface or heart of said layer. Said inscription may include text, such as, for example, the name of the holder, or a drawing, such as, for example, an identity photograph of the holder. Such an inscription can be made even in an inner layer, buried, provided that all the outermost layers, situated above the inner layer capable of receiving the inscription, are transparent to the inscription radiation. It is thus known to use an inscription radiation capable of making an inscription in an inner layer, through an outer layer that is transparent to the radiation visible to a human eye, in order to activate a component of the inner layer to create an inscription intrinsically and therefore potentially visible by a human eye and thus visible to a human eye from outside the device, through the outer layer, provided that said outer layer is transparent to visible radiation by a human eye . Such an embodiment has the disadvantage, for some applications, that the inscription is visible by a human eye. The present invention overcomes this disadvantage by providing a security device whose registration is hidden from view. It may be interesting for an inscription of a security device to be hidden from view. Thus a hidden inscription may go unnoticed by a forger who can "forget" to reproduce it, in the case of a counterfeit device by producing a new device, or "forget" to modify it, in the case of a device. 10 counterfeit by alteration of an existing (authentic) device. The verification of such a security device may require a revealing means, able to make appear, to reveal, said hidden inscription. This is referred to as a level 2 security device: a security device that requires equipment to reveal it. The object of the invention is to provide such a concealed security device. The subject of the invention is a safety device 20 comprising at least one inner layer capable of receiving an inscription by means of an inscription radiation and at least one outer layer, transparent to said inscription radiation, disposed above the inner layer, the outer layer being opaque to visible radiation by a human eye. According to other characteristics: the inscription reflects at least one non-visible radiation by a human eye; the outer layer is made of plastic material, dyed or painted with at least one pigment which is opaque to radiation visible by a human eye, transparent at least to the inscription radiation and transparent to at least one radiation reflected by the inscription ; The device comprises an inscription forming a first pattern inscribed on the inner layer by means of the inscription radiation and a second printed pattern inscribed or etched on the outer layer, the first pattern and the second pattern being associated; the device comprises a coating layer on which the second pattern is made; the coating layer absorbs a portion of the energy emitted by the inscription radiation, so as to be radiated and so as to allow unabsorbed radiation to mark the inner layer. The invention also relates to an identity document 10 comprising such a security device. The invention also relates to a microcircuit card comprising such a safety device. The invention also relates to a method of manufacturing a device and a microcircuit card according to the invention. Other features, details and advantages of the invention will become more clearly apparent from the detailed description given hereinafter by way of indication in relation to drawings in which: - Figure 1 shows, in sectional view, a mode 20 embodiment of a safety device according to the invention, - Figure 2 shows, in front view, an embodiment of a safety device according to the invention seen by a human eye, - Figure 3 shows the safety device of FIG. 2 seen by a suitable optical reader; FIG. 4 shows, in front view, an embodiment of a security device in the form of a module according to the invention as seen by an eye; FIG. 5 shows the module of FIG. 4 seen through a suitable optical reader; FIGS. 6 and 7 show, in front view, an alternative embodiment of the module seen by a human eye and seen by a reader; adapted optics. As illustrated in FIG. 1, a security device 35 1 comprises at least one inner layer 2 capable of receiving an inscription 7 by means of an inscription radiation 5 and at least one outer layer 3, transparent to said radiation 5, disposed above the inner layer 2.

The assembly can be assembled on a substrate 4. According to one characteristic of the invention, the outer layer 3 is opaque to the visible radiation 10 by a human eye 8. It follows that the inscription radiation 5 is not 5 visible by a human eye 8, because covered by the outer layer 3 opaque to visible radiation. The inscription radiation 5 is advantageously focused, in order to write / write / draw with precision. In known manner a beam from a laser 18 10 is advantageously used. This registration technique which performs a localized transformation of the inner layer 2, typically photosensitive or thermosensitive, in order to change its visibility state, is conventionally called "laser engraving". The inscription radiation 5 changes the state of at least one reactive component 6 of the inner layer 2 from an invisible state to a visible state. The inscription radiation 5 typically carries out a local carbonization which creates a black inscription 7 in or on the inner layer 2. Said inscription 7 is visible by a human eye 8. It is possible to obtain a more or less dark inscription thanks to adjusting the power of the radiation device. According to the invention, it is desired that the inscription 25 be concealed at the simple glance. Also, in order to mask the inscription 7 from the view, the outer layer 3 disposed above and / or below the inner layer 2 and the inscription 7 comprises at least one area that is opaque to visible radiation 10. a human eye 8 and disposed at least at the right of the inscription 7. According to a feature of the invention, the inscription 7 is made by any means on the inner layer 2 only. Then, the outer layer 3 is disposed on and assembled with the inner layer 2 so as to mask the inscription 35 7. According to another characteristic of the invention, the inscription 7 is made through the outer layer 3 placed on the outside. placed on the inner layer 2 prior to the realization of the inscription 7. For this purpose, a method of manufacturing the device according to the invention comprises the following steps: assembly of the outer layer on the inner layer, emission of the radiation of inscription on the device on the side of the outer layer, the inscription radiation being adapted to pass through the outer layer and to mark the inner layer. Since the outer layer 3 is opaque to the radiation visible by a human eye 8, the inscription radiation 5 should be located outside the visible spectrum by a human eye 8, and the outer layer 3 should be transparent to the inscription radiation. 5. The inscription 7 thus produced reflects at least one non-visible radiation 11 by a human eye 8. A verification of the presence and / or the content of the inscription 7 is possible through the outer layer 3, leaving said external layer 3 in place on the inner layer 2 and thus without modifying or damaging the device 1. To perform such verification, an optical reader 9, sensitive to at least one of the radiation not visible 11 by a human eye 8 reflected by the inscription 7 is advantageously used. The radiation reflected by the inscription 7 passes through the outer layer 3, from the inner layer 2 to the outside. The outer layer 3 must be transparent to this reflected radiation 11. In order to be able to "see" the inscription 7, a lighting radiation of the inscription 7 is necessary. This illumination radiation is typically provided by wide-spectrum ambient illumination 19 and passes through the outer layer 3 from the outside to the inner layer 2. The outer layer 3 must be transparent to this illumination radiation. Also such an inscription 7 is invisible to a human eye 8 but is visible to such an optical reader 9, including through the outer layer 3. A verification of the presence and / or content of the inscription 7 is always possible by first removing the outer layer 3 to directly access the inscription 7 in the visible. It is appropriate according to the invention that the inner layer 2 comprises a reactive component 6 activatable by the inscription radiation 5 in order to produce an inscription 7 capable of reflecting at least one radiation 11. Here, activable means the fact, for said reactive component 6, to go from a state where it is invisible at all wavelengths, to a state where it is visible according to at least one radiation 11. The activation of the reactive component 6 by the radiation of inscription 5 is confused here with the inscription proper. According to a particular illustrative embodiment, the reactive component 6 is titanium oxide. This titanium oxide 6 is advantageously used in conjunction with an inscription radiation 5 emitted by a laser 18 of wavelength 1024 nm, capable of effecting the activation of titanium oxide 6. Said activation radiation 5 wavelength 1024 nm is located and emits in the infrared, not visible by a human eye 8, but is able to pass through an outer layer 3 opaque to radiation visible by a human eye 8 and transparent at least to said inscription wavelength 5 of 1024 nm. The interaction between the 1024 nm wavelength activation radiation and the titanium oxide 6 alters the state of the titanium oxide 6 to make it reflective at a range of wavelengths covering a portion of the wavelength. of the infrared spectrum and part of the visible spectrum by a human eye 8. The fact that the activated reactive component 6 is reflective at least one wavelength 11 in the infrared allows the inscription 7 thus realized to be visible by an infrared camera 9, including through the outer layer 3. The camera comprises a lighting 35 comprising at least one infrared wavelength able to pass through the outer layer 3 to be reflected by the 7. The fact, for the reactive component 6 activated, to be reflective according to at least one wavelength in the visible for a human eye 8, allows the inscription 7 thus produced to be visible by a human eye 8, after a withdrawal of the outer layer 3, opaque to radiation visible by a human eye 8. Other reactive components 6 are possible. Activating radiation 5 is associated with a reactive component 6 and may be located in the infrared or the ultraviolet or other wavelengths. The reflected radiation 11, its wavelength and its spectral extent also depend on the reactive component retained. In order to achieve the characteristics of the outer layer 3, said outer layer 3 may, for example be made of an unfilled plastic material, such as polycarbonate, PC, polyethylene terephthalate, PET, or polyvinyl chloride, PVC. Such a material is, in its initial state, transparent, and this substantially to all the radiation, both visible and non-visible by a human eye 8. A dyeing, made in the mass, or a painting / printing, carried out on the surface, at medium of a hue, paint or ink, comprises at least one pigment capable of achieving an opacity covering at least the visible spectrum by a human eye 8. Outside the spectrum visible by a human eye 8 said at least one pigment may be transparent . At least, said at least one pigment is transparent to the inscription radiation 5 as well as to at least one of the radiation 11 reflected by the inscription 7. It is important for a security device 1 to associate with one another its various constituents. to allow detection of fraud or attempted fraud by replacing one of the components. For this purpose, according to a first embodiment, such as, for example, illustrated in FIGS. 2 and 3, a first pattern 12 is inscribed on the inner layer 2 by means of the inscription radiation 5 as described previously, the inscription radiation 5 being used to selectively activate a reactive component 6 disposed in the inner layer 2, and a second pattern 13 is printed, inscribed or etched on or in the outer layer 3, the first pattern 12 and the second pattern 13 being associated. Here the term "associates" means any means of association between the two patterns 12, 13 to verify their pairing during a control. Thus, the first pattern 12 and the second pattern 13 may be graphically associated: they may be identical, symmetrical to one another, reduction / enlargement of one another, negative of each other, figure and its outline, etc. The association can still use paired patterns, such as a key and lock, a leaf and a flower, and so on. The association can still be between an image and its name written in text: the first pattern 12 represents a mallard and the second pattern 13 includes the text "mallard". The association can still be encoded by means of a correspondence table, matching first pattern 12 and second pattern 13, known only to the body in charge of the control. A safety device 1 thus provided with two 12,13 associated patterns and allows to bind together the inner layer 2 and the outer layer 3 and check their proper pairing. In FIGS. 2 and 3, FIG. 2 represents a safety device 1 as seen by a human eye 8 and FIG. 3 represents the same security device 1 as seen by an optical reader 9, sensitive to at least one radiation 11 reflected by the first pattern 12. According to a second embodiment, illustrated in Figures 4 and 5, the inner layer is formed in the body 30 of a bank format card for example, that is to say ID-1 format, as specified in IS07810 and 7816. The card body is machined to provide a cavity. The bottom of the cavity is then marked after emission of the inscription radiation on the bottom of the cavity. The outer layer 3 is formed by a sticker 14 which once mounted in the cavity, is flush with the face of the card body having a substrate of plastic material, such as PET, stained or printed. Preferably the sticker has dimensions smaller than that of the map. Preferably, the length and width of the thumbnail are smaller, respectively, than half the length and width of the card. According to an alternative embodiment illustrated in FIGS. 4 and 5, the sticker comprises a microcircuit and other electronic components and forms an assembly called module 14. This module is mounted on a microcircuit card body. Such a module 14 made of plastic, as illustrated in FIGS. 4 and 5, comprises zones occupied by the functional components that are the contact pads 15 and the antenna tracks 16, but also comprises at least one free zone 17 or released. The occupied areas 15, 16 typically include metal inserts and are opaque to all radiation. The free zones 17 may advantageously be painted or dyed according to the invention and a module 14 may then act as an outer layer 3.

A first pattern 12 can then advantageously be inscribed in or on an inner layer 2, formed by the card body or, more precisely, by the bottom of the cavity, located below the module 14 at least in line with the free zone 17. Said first pattern 12 is then masked by the opacity of the module 14, as shown in FIG. 4, which shows what a human eye 8 sees, but can be revealed by a suitable optical reader 9, as illustrated by FIG. FIG. 5 shows what such an optical reader 9 sees, for example an infrared camera.

The use of a second pattern 13, made on the module 14 and directly visible by the human eye, advantageously associated with the pattern 12 made in the inner layer 2, then allows to link the module 14 with the card body.

The second pattern 13 is for example produced by pad printing, screen printing or inkjet printing directly on the outer layer 3. According to an alternative embodiment illustrated in FIGS. 6 and 7, the outer layer 3, formed for example by the sticker or the module, comprises a coating layer 30 on which the second pattern 13 is made totally or partially.

Figures 6 and 7 illustrate a card provided with a module comprising such a coating layer 30 respectively seen in the visible spectrum and infrared. The marking is performed so that the laser makes the second pattern 13 on the coating layer 30 and the first pattern 12 through the substrate of the module not covered by the coating. It is thus possible to couple a module with a card body. Advantageously, the first and second patterns 12, 13 are associated to form a continuous image. The image is thus partially produced on the coating layer 30 and partially on the inner layer. The infrared verification makes it possible to control the continuity of the contours of the patterns 12, 13 forming the image. In infra-red, it is then possible to see the image in its entirety.

According to another variant, the coating layer 30 has the properties of absorbing part of the energy emitted by the inscription radiation. Thus the coating 30 of the outer layer 14 is marked by the absorbed inscription radiation. The unabsorbed radiation then passes through the coating 30 and the outer layer 14 and marks the inner layer. The ink used to make the coating comprises pigments that are activated by the radiation, for example by the IR laser, and it is sufficiently transparent to radiation so that they come to mark the inner layer. The ink used is semitransparent. The image is thus marked in its entirety on the outer layer, formed here by the bottom of the cavity. With these provisions, the registration process is made easier, because the two patterns are made in a single step of continuous marking by the inscription radiation. When checking the card with an infra-red reader, the user sees only one second pattern 13, because the inscription on the coating 30 and the inscription located below the coating, on the bottom of the cavity, forming the inner layer 2, are identical and superimposed, because they are performed simultaneously. The method of manufacturing such a device comprises the following steps: assembling the outer layer on the inner layer, applying a coating layer on the outer layer, emitting the inscription radiation so as to inscribe the second pattern on the coating layer and the first pattern on the inner layer through the outer layer, the inscription of the first pattern and the second pattern being continuously performed by the inscription radiation. Advantageously, the coating is arranged in line with the part of the inner layer intended to receive the inscription. The printed coating layer delimits an area whose dimensions are smaller than that of the outer layer 3, the sticker or the module. For example, the coating layer has a rectangular shape of constant thickness.

Thus, it is possible to engrave the same laser pattern on the module and on the card simultaneously. The second pattern being visible to the naked eye and the first pattern on the inner layer formed by the bottom of the cavity being visible in infrared radiation.

According to an alternative embodiment, the first pattern 12, hidden from view, and inscribed in an inner layer 2, may contain a code for access to a function of the microcircuit, and thus enable the microcircuit associated with its module 14 to be linked. , to the inner layer 2 and to the substrate board and to make it possible to verify that the microcircuit is the one initially associated during manufacture with the substrate board. The various embodiments described above are advantageously applicable to an identity document, such as a passport or an identity card.

The various embodiments described above are advantageously applicable to a microcircuit card.

Claims (14)

REVENDICATIONS1. Safety device (1) comprising at least one inner layer (2) on which is made an inscription (7) by means of an inscription radiation (5) and at least one outer layer (3), transparent to said radiation of inscription (5), disposed above the inner layer (2), characterized in that the outer layer (3) is opaque to visible radiation (10) by a human eye (8). 2. Device (1) according to claim 1, wherein the inscription (7) reflects at least one radiation (11) not visible by a human eye (8). 3. Device (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the outer layer (3) is made of plastic material, dyed or painted with at least one pigment opaque to visible radiation (10) by a human eye ( 8), transparent at least to the inscription radiation (5) and transparent to at least one radiation (11) reflected by the inscription (7). 4. Device (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, comprising an inscription (7) forming a first pattern (12) inscribed on the inner layer (2) by means of the inscription radiation (5) and a second motif. (13) printed, inscribed or etched on the outer layer (3), the first pattern (12) and the second pattern (13) being associated. 5. Device according to the preceding claim, comprising a coating layer (30) on which the second pattern (13) is formed. 6. Device according to the preceding claim, wherein the coating layer (30) absorbs a portion 13 of the energy emitted by the inscription radiation, so as to be marked by the radiation and so as to allow radiation not ' absorbed to mark the inner layer. 5 7. A microcircuit card characterized in that it comprises a safety device (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 6. 10 The microcircuit card according to claim 7, wherein the inner layer (2) is formed by the bottom of a cavity made in the card body and the outer layer is formed by the substrate of a thumbnail (14) disposed. in the cavity so as to be flush with the surface of the card body. 9. A microcircuit card according to claim 8, wherein the sticker comprises electronic components and forms an electronic module of a microcircuit card. 10. Microcircuit card according to the preceding claim, wherein the module has a clear zone of electronic components through which the inscription radiation is applied. 11. Identity document characterized in that it comprises a security device (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 6. 30 12. A method of manufacturing a device according to one of claims 1 to 6 characterized in that it comprises the following steps: - Assembly of the outer layer and the inner layer 35 - emission of radiation inscription on the device on the side of the outer layer, the inscription radiation being adapted to pass through the outer layer and to mark the inner layer. 13. The method according to the preceding claim, wherein the radiation is a radiation emitting in the infra-red. 14. The method of manufacturing the device according to one of claims 5 to 6, characterized in that it comprises the following steps: - assembly of the outer layer and the inner layer, - application of a coating layer on the outer layer, - emission of the inscription radiation so as to inscribe the second pattern on the coating layer and the first pattern on the inner layer through the outer layer, the inscription of the first pattern and the second pattern being carried out continuously by the inscription radiation.20