WO2010091518A1

WO2010091518A1 - Security document with window

Info

Publication number: WO2010091518A1
Application number: PCT/CH2009/000062
Authority: WO
Inventors: Ulrich Morf
Original assignee: Orell Füssli Sicherheitsdruck Ag
Priority date: 2009-02-13
Filing date: 2009-02-13
Publication date: 2010-08-19

Abstract

The security document comprises a non-transparent substrate (10) having a window-like opening (7). The substrate (10) is enclosed between a first and a second transparent foil (11, 12), which extend over opening (7). A security element (8) is embedded between the foils (11, 12) at the location of the opening (7). The security element (8) is therefore well protected and difficult to access. The security document can e.g. form part of a passport.

Description

i Security document with window

Technical Field

The invention relates to a security document having a window-like opening and a first and a second foil laminated to its surfaces. The invention also relates to a passport with such a security document.

Background Art

It has been known to embed security documents in transparent foils, in particular for protective purposes . FR 2767091 describes a document having a window-like opening. Two foils are laminated to opposite sides of the document and extend over the window.

Disclosure of the Invention

The problem to be solved by the present invention is to provide a security document, and in particular a passport with such a security document, with increased security.

This problem is solved by the security document of claim 1. Accordingly, the security document comprises a substrate with an opening, i.e. a window. A first and a second foil are laminated to opposite sides of the substrate and extend over the opening. The foils are at least partially transparent, such that the opening is visible. A security element is located in the opening and arranged between the foils.

Therefore, the invention is based on the con- cept that a security element can be embedded between the foils inside the window. Thus, the security document is well visible but protected on both sides by the foils, which renders the document more secure.

The term "security element" designates an element, or an assembly of several elements, that is visible when viewing the window. It can e.g. comprise an imprinted pattern, in particular printed with an optically variable ink, or a diffractive structure. Further examples for such security elements are given below.

Advantageously, the first and the second foil are joined to each other at the location of the opening, which makes it more difficult to separate the foils.

The security document can advantageously be incorporated in a passport, e.g. by forming a page of said passport. In another application, the security docu- ment may also be a bank note.

Brief Description of the Drawings

The invention will be better understood and objects other than those set forth above will become apparent when consideration is given to the following detailed description thereof. Such description makes reference to the annexed drawings, wherein: Fig. 1 shows a passport with a security document,

Fig. 2 shows an example of a single security document,

Fig. 3 is a sectional view of the opening, Fig. 4 is an enlarged sectional view through a first type of security elements,

Fig. 5 is an enlarged sectional view through a security element formed by optically birefringent or optically active particles, Fig. 6 is an enlarged sectional view through a security element formed by a diffractive grating, Fig. 7 is an enlarged sectional view through a security element formed by an electronic circuit or light source, and

Fig. 8 is an alternative to the embodiment of ₅ Fig. 3.

Modes for Carrying Out the Invention

Fig. 1 shows a passport 1 having a pluralityo of pages 2 bound in a cover 3. At least one of the pages is formed by a security document 4 as described below. .Advantageously, the page formed by security document 4.is a personalized page of the passport, i.e. a page carrying individualized information about the passport's bearer,s because that page has to be particularly protected against counterfeit.

The security document 4 is shown in more detail in Fig. 2. It carries individualized information about the bearer, such as his name 5 and further informa-o tion, such as gender, age, etc. (not shown), and a photograph 6.

As can further be seen from Fig. 2, at least one window or opening 7 is provided in security document 4. A security element 8 is arranged in opening 7. 5 The structure of security document 4 will be better understood when viewing Fig. 3, which shows a sectional view through the document at the location of opening 7. As can be seen, security document 4 comprises a substrate 10 arranged between a first foil 11 and a sec-0 ond foil 12.

Substrate 10 is substantially non-transparent and can e.g. be of paper. Opening 7 is formed by window 13 that has e.g. be cut or punched into substrate 10. Substrate 10 is advantageously flexible and has a thick-5 ness in the range between 50 μm and 200 μm.

The foils 11, 12 are laminated to opposite sides of substrate 10. At least one of them advanta- geously covers the personalized information, such as name 5 and photograph 6, protecting them from counterfeit.

Both foils extend over opening- 7 and are joined to each other at the location of opening 7. Secu- rity element 8 is arranged between them.

Advantageously, first foil 11 is thicker than second foil 12. For example, first foil 11 may have a thickness between 100 and 300 μm, thereby providing mechanical stability to security document 4. Second foil 12 advantageously has a thickness between 10 μm and 100 μm, which makes tampering difficult because such a thin foil tears or distorts easily when being manipulated. For that reason, security element 8 is advantageously directly affixed to thinner foil 12, thus that a counterfeiter try- ing to remove one of the foils will likely destroy security element 8.

Both foils may e.g. be made of transparent PVC. Each foil may also be formed by several individual foil layers . In a first embodiment, security element 8 may e.g. comprise an ink 14 printed to one or both foils 11, 12. This is illustrated in Fig. 4, where security element 8 is shown as an optically perceptible ink structure affixed to second foil 12. The ink 14 is advantageously an optically variable ink (OVI), which changes it appearance depending on viewing angle. Inks of this type are known to the skilled person. Their authenticity can be verified eas- ily. As further illustrated in Fig. 4, the two foils 11, 12 are advantageously joined to each other by means of an intermediate layer 15, the purpose of which is to create a non-releasable connection between them. Advantageously, intermediate layer 15 is a hot-melt layer, i.e. it is formed by a hot-melt material that has originally been applied to one or both foils 11, 12 and that was molten or softened while the foils 11, 12 were laminated to substrate 10 and to each other.

Security element 8 can also comprise a fluorescent or phosphorescent element arranged between the first and the second foil. For example, in the embodiment of Fig. 4, a fluorescent or phosphorescent ink 14 may be used. Thus, the authenticity of the security element can easily be verified by exciting the fluorescent or phos^¬ phorescent element and by observing the light generated thereby.

Instead of or in addition to an ink, security element 8 can comprise at least one birefringent or optically active element, which e.g. can also be designed in the manner shown in Fig. 4. For example, an ink compris- ing birefringent or optically active particles can be applied. When viewing opening 7 between crossed polarizers, such birefringent or optically active particles will appear as bright regions in an otherwise black background. Also, security element 8 can comprise an op- tically polarizing element, e.g. a patch of polarizing foil. The polarizing properties of such a foil can easily be verified by means of a second polarizer held against opening 7.

Similarly, at least one or both of the foils 11, 12 may be an optical polarizer, thus authenticity can again be verified easily. This design is particularly advantageous in combination with a security element 8 comprising at least one birefringent or optically active element because it allows to verify the presence and in- tegrity of the security element with a single second polarizer held against opening 7.

Such a device is shown in Fig. 5, where first foil 11 comprises a polarizing layer 17 and security element 8 comprises birefringent or optically active parti- cles 18.

In a further embodiment, as illustrated in Fig. 6, security element 8 comprises a diffractive sur- face grating 16 formed in the surface of at least one of the foils 11, 12, advantageously in the surface of the thinner foil 12. A diftractive grating is a grating hav^¬ ing periodic structures with a periodicity comparable to ₅ the wavelength of visible light, thereby giving rise to diffraction effects. In order to be protected, surface grating 16 should be formed on the surface (or close to the surface) facing the other foil such that it is being- embedded between the foils. o In yet a further embodiment as illustrated in

Fig. 7, security element 8 can comprise an electronic circuit 19, e.g. integrated on a small semiconductor chip 20. For example, electronic circuit 19 may form an RF-ID circuit that is able to exchange data in wireless manners with an external reader device. RF-ID circuits, also called RF-ID tags, are known to the skilled person.

Also, electronic circuit 19 may e.g. comprise a light source 21 together with a capacitive or inductive antenna 22 for feeding a supply current to the lighto source 21. Or, part 20 of Fig. 7 may be formed of an electroluminescent material that can be caused to emit light by applying an electrical field.

Suitable light sources are e.g. described in WO 2006/056089. 5 In all of the above embodiments, security element 8 is protected by the foils 11, 12. The protection is a mechanical protection against wear and environmental effects, such as humidity. Also, as mentioned, an attempt to remove one of the foils is likely to damage0 security element 8.

The security document of the present invention is advantageously manufactured using lamination technologies .

In a first step, substrate 10 is prepared5 e.g. by applying photograph 6 and printing the bearer's name 5. The foil on the side of document 4 opposite pho- tograph 6 and printed personalization (name 5) may be applied prior or after this step.

Afterwards, the foil coming to lie on top of photograph 6 and name 5 is laminated to substrate 10, ad- vantageously using hot melt technologies. Prior to this, security element 8 has to be applied, to foil 11 and/or foil 12. The application of security element 8 can take place right before the lamination process, or at an earlier manufacturing step. It must be noted that the present invention is not limited to security documents the outmost surfaces of which are formed by the foils 11, 12. In particular, a multilayer structure such as e.g. shown in Fig. 8 can be used as well. Here, second foil 12 is embedded between two paper layers 23, 24, one of which is forming the the substrate 10 described above. In other words, at least one of the foils 11, 12 can be partially covered by a substantially non-transparent cover-layer, in this case paper layer 24. The device of Fig. 8 can e.g. be manufactured by first preparing the assembly of paper layers 23, 24 with second foil 12 between them, then personalizing one side of this assembly, and finally covering the personalized surface with first foil 11 and laminating the same to paper layer 23 and, within opening 7, to second foil 12, thereby enclosing security element 8.

While there are shown and described presently preferred embodiments of the invention, it is to be distinctly understood that the invention is not limited thereto but may be otherwise variously embodied and practiced within the scope of the following claims.

Claims

1. A security document comprising a substrate (10) ,

₅ an opening (7) arranged in said substrate

(10), a first at least partially transparent foil

(11) connected to a first side of said substrate (10) and extending over said opening (7), 0 a second at least partially transparent foil

(12) connected to a second side of said substrate (10) and extending over said opening (7), a security element (8) located in said opening (7) and arranged between said first and said seconds foil (11, 12) .

2. The security document wherein in said opening (7) said first and said second foil (11, 12) are joined to each other.

3. The security document of claim 2 wherein0 said first and said second foil (11, 12) are joined to each other by means of an intermediate layer (15), in particular a hot-melt layer.

4. The security document of any of the preceding claims wherein said first foil (11) is thicker₅ than said second foil (12) .

5. The security document of any of the preceding claims wherein said first foil (11) has a thickness of between 100 and 300 μm and/or said second foil (12) has a thickness between 10 μm and 100 μm. o

6. The security document of any of the preceding claims wherein said first foil (11) and/or said second foil (12) are of PVC.

7. The security document of any of the preceding claims wherein said security element (8) comprises5 a surface grating (16) on a surface of at least one of said foils (11, 12), wherein said surface is facing the other foil (12, 11) .

8. The security document of any of the preceding claims wherein said security element (8) comprises an ink (14), in particular an optically variable ink, arranged between said first and said second foil (11, 12) .

9. The security document of any of the preceding claims wherein said security element (8) comprises at least one birefringent , optically active and/or optically polarizing element arranged between said first and said second foil (11, 12) .

10. The security document of any of the preceding claims wherein at least one of said foils (11, 12) forms an optical polarizer.

11. The security document of any of the pre^¬ ceding claims wherein said security element (8) comprises an electronic circuit (19) arranged between said first and said second foil (11, 12).

12. The security document of any of the preceding claims wherein said security element (8) comprises a fluorescent or phosphorescent element (14) arranged be- tween said first and said second foil (11, 12) .

13. The security document of any of the preceding claims wherein said security element (8) comprises a light source (21) arranged between said first and said second foil (11, 12) .

14. The security document of any of the preceding claims wherein said substrate (10) is non- transparent .

15. The security document of any of the preceding claims wherein at least one of said foils (11, 12) is partially covered by a non-transparent cover-layer (24) .

16. A passport comprising a security document of any of the preceding claims.

17. The passport of claim 16 wherein said se- curity document forms a personalized page of said passport, and in particular wherein said first and/or said second foil covers personalized information (5, 6) on said personalized page.