WO2007121726A2

WO2007121726A2 - Security and/or value document

Info

Publication number: WO2007121726A2
Application number: PCT/DE2007/000709
Authority: WO
Inventors: Heiko Popp
Original assignee: Bundesdruckerei Gmbh
Priority date: 2006-04-25
Filing date: 2007-04-20
Publication date: 2007-11-01
Also published as: WO2007121726A3; EP2010398A2; EP2010398B1; DE102006019616A1

Abstract

The invention relates to a security and/or value document (1), comprising a graphical element (2), the graphical element (2), being formed from a number of lines (4) which are essentially parallel at least in a partial region (3). The invention is characterised in that the lines (4) are arranged in the partial region (3) with regard to width (B) and/or separation (A) of the lines (4) such that a sequence of lines (4) in the partial region codes for figure or a sequence of figures.

Description

Security and / or value document

Field of the invention

The invention relates to a value and / or security document having a security element, which is embodied as a graphic representation formed from a plurality of lines, as well as a machine-readable security element, a method for producing such a document, and a method for reading the machine-readable security element.

Prior art and background of the invention.

Basically, various methods of securing a value and / or security document against counterfeiting in practice are known. These include on the one hand security features that are not or only with relatively high cost reproducible, such as graphical representations, which are formed from a variety of fine lines. These include, in particular, guilloche patterns. On the other hand, security features are known which are exclusively machine-readable. For example, it is known from the document WO 03/051643 A1 to control individual pixels within the scope of an ink jet printing with the proviso that a secret pattern of dots which can not be recognized by the naked eye is produced. This pattern can be recognized with the aid of suitable devices, such as enlargers. The machine reading may be coded with the pattern Information consuming and uncertain, since an exact orientation of the pattern compared to a readout unit is required. In addition, a special control of the individual nozzles of an inkjet printhead is required and probably other printing methods than

Inkjet printing not or only with considerable effort applicable.

In practice, machine-readable codes are known from other technological contexts, which consist of a plurality of adjacent lines, the number of adjacent lines, their widths and / or their distances coding for defined characters. A widely used variant of such a machine-readable code is the so-called barcode. A barcode is a relatively broad line that is easily recognized by the human eye. The reading of a barcode takes place in that a scanner scans the sequence of adjacent lines in directions orthogonal to the longitudinal extent of the lines and converts the read-out optical pattern into a character string according to a predetermined algorithm.

Basically, there is a constant need for improved machine-readable security features, the security features with the human eye are not or only very difficult to see. Also, the reproduction accuracy of conventional reproduction equipment, especially photocopiers, should not be sufficient for adequate reproduction.

Technical problem of the invention. The invention is therefore the technical problem of specifying a security feature, which is on the one hand equipped with high security, especially not visible to the naked eye, and on the other hand is easily readable by machine. Also, the security feature should be produced with all the usual printing techniques.

Broad features of the invention.

To solve this technical problem, the invention teaches that the lines arranged in the subarea are designed with respect to the width and / or spacing of the lines, with the proviso that a sequence of the lines in the

Subarea encoded for a character or a first string.

With the invention, a security feature is created, which on the one hand can be designed so that it is not readily apparent to the naked eye, since the graphic element is perceived as an image and not as a plurality of lines. Here are modulations of width and / or distance of the lines as brightness sub-. different, whereby the sequence of lines in the sub-area can be integrated into the overall graphic design and thus hidden from the human eye.

The invention is based on the finding that the smallest differences in width and / or spacing of a sequence of lines are detected by means of machine read-out instructions relative to the human eye, and thus a modulation these quantities can be used for coding information, in particular a character or a string.

Furthermore, the invention teaches a method for producing a value and / or

Security document, characterized by the following procedural steps: a) the value and / or security document is assigned a character or a string, b) the character or string is converted into a series of adjacent lines whose width and / or distance for the C) a graphic element is created from a plurality, in particular a multiplicity, of lines, wherein in a partial area of the graphical element the sequence of adjacent lines according to step b) is set up, d ) the value and / or security document is printed with the graphic element of ^"' stage c), wherein the graphic element and thus the partial area of the same relative to a reference edge of the value and / or security document is arranged and aligned in position and orientation.

The invention further teaches a method for reading a machine-readable first character string from a value and / or security document according to the invention, characterized by the following method steps: a) the value and / or security document is applied with a reference edge to a stop of a read-out device, b) with a scanner, a sequence of adjacent lines in a subregion of one on the value and / or

C) scanned in step b) sequence of adjacent lines is analyzed in terms of width and / or distance of the lines in a Äuswerteeinheit and converted according to a predetermined algorithm into a character or string, d) the character obtained in step c) or the string is connected to one connected to the evaluation unit Display unit displayed and / or stored in a connected to the evaluation unit storage unit.

definitions

The term value and / or security document includes in particular identity cards, passports, ID cards, access control cards, visas, control characters, tickets, driver's licenses, motor vehicle papers, banknotes, checks, and postage stamps.

A substrate of a value and / or security document is a carrier structure to which information, images and the like are applied, in particular printed. After that, the surface of the substrate can be provided with a usually transparent cover layer. Suitable materials for a substrate are all customary materials based on paper and / or plastic in question.

In the context of the invention, the term "machine readability" means that a security feature is not or not clearly perceptible to the naked eye in order to recognize information represented by the security feature. Rather, apparatus aids are required for the detection. For the detection of the by the Security feature represented or coded information may also be necessary equipment.

A graphic element denotes a surface or partial surface on the surface of a value and / or

Security document which is printed by means that the pressure to the human eye is a pattern or image.

Lines are substantially parallel when the angle between adjacent lines is less than 20 °, preferably less than 10 °, most preferably less than 5 °. Parallel lines do not necessarily have to be rectilinear, it is even preferable if the lines are curved lines. Then it is necessary that

Parallelism in the above sense, at least in the sub-area is guaranteed.

A partial area denotes a partial area of the graphic element, within which the lines essentially. run parallel. In this case, a number of lines that is required to code the character or the first character string fall into the subarea.

The term coding refers to a one-to-one correlation between the variables width ^'of the lines and distance of the lines with a character or a string. A typical coding is the known barcode. A conversion of a linestring into a character or a string occurs by means of an algorithm which comprises the one-unambiguous correlation. In particular, a character can be a letter or a number. A string can contain both letters and numbers.

A (first and / or second) string is individualizing if unique to a particular value and / or security document, i. attached to no other document.

A string is a spatial and / or temporal sequence of individual characters with a given reading direction.

Strings are identical if both strings match at the beginning, in the order, and at the end; in particular, identical strings have the same number of characters. A string is partially identical to another string if at least two consecutive characters of one string match a substring of the other string. Otherwise, the strings may have different lengths.

A guilloche pattern is a protective line entwined according to defined geometric rules. For example, the lines may be undulating, arcuate, or circular.

The term line density refers to the number of different lines that can be counted within a unit area. A plurality of lines includes the numbers 2 to 10. A plurality of lines includes the numbers of 11 to 10,000, particularly 50 or 100 to 10,000 lines.

Preferred embodiments of the invention

An embodiment of a value and / or security document according to the invention is characterized in that the graphic element is a guilloche pattern.

A guilloche pattern was conventionally prepared by a guilloche, for example, by engraving a surface _^. The engraving tool can be moved and controlled in all three spatial directions. The actual pattern is created by movements parallel to the surface. The line width can be generated by movements orthogonal to the surface, since the engraving tool is typically provided with a tapered cutting edge. By suitable control of the guilloche machine, typically by computer control, line width and / or distance in the subarea can thus be modulated in accordance with the characters to be coded. When making a film or slide copy, it can be reduced and transferred to a glass or metal plate used for printing.

The guilloche print can be monochrome or multicolor, for example by intaglio printing. Nowadays, the guilloche pattern is generated on a computer, whereby the width and / or spacing of the lines in the subregion are modulated in accordance with the characters to be coded. The pattern can then be printed or exposed on a film, for example be, by means of which, using phototechnical etching, a transfer of the pattern takes place on the surface of a printing plate. Still alternatively, the guilloche pattern generated in the computer may be used to control a laser, moving the laser and printing plate relative to each other, thus introducing the pattern into the surface of a printing plate, eg, by the Computer to Plate Process, also called CTP Process). The laser evaporates the material of the plate, creating a linear depression. The width of the lines can be modulated by modulation of the focus and / or the intensity of the laser beam.

It is preferred if the width of the lines in the subregion is between 0.01 and 1 mm, in particular between 0.01 and 0.2 mm. Within these limits, the width may vary or be modulated in the above sense.

It is further preferred if the line density in the partial region is between 1 line per mm ² to 100 lines per mm ² , in particular between 10 lines per mm ² and 100 lines / mm ² .

The partial area has a defined position and / or orientation with respect to a reference edge of the security and / or security document. As a result, a readout can only take place by abutment of the reference edge against a stop edge of the read-out device, since the sub-region is then readily positioned in the read-out region, the read-out device. It will be recommended that the positioning of the document in relation to the Read-out device in two dimensions, based on the surface of the document takes place.

The value and / or security document may additionally carry a second and readable second character string, which is correlated with the character or the first character string. The second string may be, for example, a serial number or another individualizing string. In a particularly simple variant of the invention, the character or the first character string is then a checksum of a second character string attached to the value and / or security document. The first string can also be identical or partially identical to the first string. Then it is further preferred if the first string for the value and / or security document is also individualizing. By reading the second string, for example by means of a scanner, a check can then be made for the appropriate correlation between the second string and character or first string and thus the validity or invalidity of the value and / or security document are checked, preferably automatically by means of the read-out device ,

In the context of the method according to the invention, it is preferred that the graphic element is printed on the security and / or security document or on a substrate of the security and / or security document. Suitable printing methods are, for example: offset printing, screen printing, inkjet printing, gravure printing, (steel or copper) intaglio printing, flexographic printing, gravure printing and letterpress printing In the following, the invention will be explained in more detail with reference to figures showing only embodiments. Show it:

1 shows a passport with a security feature according to the invention,

2 shows a partial detail of the article of FIG. 1

In the figure 1 it can be seen first that the passport 1 is provided with a graphic element 2, wherein the graphic element 2 is formed of a plurality of at least in a partial region 3 substantially parallel lines 4, to which a comparative consideration with the Figure 2 is referenced. The graphic element 2 is formed with a guilloche pattern 2. The guilloche pattern is oversized for reasons of clarity. In fact, the width of the lines is less than a maximum of 0. 1 mm and the line density is higher than 10 lines per mm ² .

In particular, it can be seen in FIG. 2 that lines 4 arranged in the subregion 3 are formed with respect to widths B1, B2, B3, B4 of the lines 4, with the proviso that the sequence of the lines 4 in the subregion 3, viewed from below upwards, coded for one character. The widths B1, B2, B3, B4 of the lines 4 in the subregion 3 are in this case between 0.01 and 0.1 mm, modulated in accordance with the character to be coded.

Again, the figure 1 it can be seen that the portion 3 opposite two reference edge 5a, 5b of the value and / or Security document 1 has a defined position and orientation. In addition, a machine-readable and second character string 6, a serial number 6, is set up, which correlates with the character. The character is a checksum of the serial number 6 attached to the value and / or security document 1.

Such a value and / or security document 1 can be produced by generating a character as a checksum from the serial number 6 of the value and / or security document 1 and assigning it to the value and / or security document 1. Then, the character or string is converted into the sequence of adjacent lines 4 whose width B (in the embodiment) and / or spacing for the character are coded according to a predetermined code, for example analogous to a barcode. Then, a graphical element 2 of a plurality, in particular a plurality, of lines 4 is created on a computer, wherein in a partial region 3 of the graphic element 2 the sequence of adjacent lines 4 according to step b) is established. By means of the computer, the graphic element 2 is transferred to a printing plate. The value and / or security document 1 or its substrate is then printed with the graphic element 2 from stage c), wherein the graphic element 2 and thus the

Partial area 3 of the same with respect to a reference edge 5 and two reference edges 5a, 5b of the value and / or security document 1 is arranged and aligned defined in position and orientation. This is easily done by aligning the substrate with respect to the printing plate. The character can be read out by applying the value and / or security documentary with a reference edge 5a to a stop of a read-out device and b) scanning the sequence of adjacent lines 4 in the sub-region 3 with a scanner. The sequence of adjacent lines (4) scanned in step b) is analyzed in a step c) with respect to width B of the lines 4 in an evaluation unit and converted into the character according to a predetermined algorithm, for example analogous to the barcode. The character obtained in step c) is displayed in a step d) on a display unit connected to the evaluation unit and / or stored in a memory unit connected to the evaluation unit. In addition, a scanner can read the serial number 6 and calculate the checksum therefrom. The result of a

Comparison of the checksum with the stored character can then be displayed (match / mismatch), whereby the validity is checked.

Claims

Claims:

1. value and / or security document (1) with a graphic element (2), wherein the graphic element (2) is formed from a plurality of lines (4) running essentially in parallel at least in a partial area (3),

characterized,

in that the lines (4) arranged in the partial area (3) are formed with regard to width (B1, B2, B3, B4) and / or distance (A) of the lines (4), with the proviso that a sequence of the lines (FIG. 4) in the partial area for a character or a first string.

2. Value and / or security document (1) according to claim 1, characterized in that the graphic element (2) is a guilloche pattern (2).

3. security and / or security document (1) according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the width

(B1, B2, B3, B4) of the lines (4) in the partial area (3) is between 0.01 and 1 mm, in particular between 0.01 and 0.2 mm.

4. security and / or security document (1) according to one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the Partial region (3) relative to a reference edge (5a) or two reference edges (5a, 5b) of the value and / or security document (1) has a defined position and / or orientation.

5. Wert- and / or Sicherheitsdokurαent (1) according to one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that it additionally carries a machine and / or person-read ^' second string, which is correlated with the character or the first string.

6. security and / or security document (1) according to claim 5, characterized in that the character or the first

String a checksum of a value attached to the value and / or security document! second 'string (6).

7. value and / or security document (1) according to one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that the first string for the value and / or security document is individualizing.

8. A method for producing a value and / or security document (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 7, characterized by the following process steps:

a) the value and / or security document (1) is assigned a character or a string, b) the character or string is converted into a sequence of adjacent lines (4) whose width (B) and / or distance (A) codes for the character or string according to a given code; c) it becomes a graphic element (2) from a

Plurality, in particular a plurality, of lines (4), wherein in a partial area (3) of the graphic element (2) the sequence of adjacent lines (4) according to step b) is set up, d) the value and / or security document is printed with the graphic element (2) from step c), wherein the graphic element (2) and thus the partial area (3) thereof relative to a reference edge (5a) or two reference edges (5a, 5b) of the security and / or valuable document (1) Defined and aligned in position and orientation.

9. A method for reading a character or string from a value and / or

Security document (1) according to one of Claims 1 to 7, characterized by the following process stages:

a) the value and / or security document with a reference edge (5a) to a stop a

B) a sequence of adjacent lines (4) is scanned in a subregion (3) of a graphic element (2) attached to the value and / or security document (1) by means of a scanner, c) which in step b) sampled _. Sequence of adjacent lines (4) is in terms of width (B) and / or Distance (A) of the lines (4) analyzed in an evaluation and converted according to a predetermined algorithm into a character or a string, d) the character obtained in step c) or the string is displayed on a connected to the evaluation unit display unit and / or stored in a memory unit connected to the evaluation unit.