WO2011154112A1

WO2011154112A1 - Data carrier comprising feature region

Info

Publication number: WO2011154112A1
Application number: PCT/EP2011/002724
Authority: WO
Inventors: André Gregarek; Manfred Heim; Patrick Renner
Original assignee: Giesecke & Devrient Gmbh
Priority date: 2010-06-08
Filing date: 2011-06-01
Publication date: 2011-12-15
Also published as: BR112012030608A2; CA2801794C; EP2580069B1; EP2580069A1; PL2580069T3; RU2520073C1; DE102010022990A1; CN103068584B; ES2727274T3; HK1182363A1; CA2801794A1; CN103068584A

Abstract

The invention relates to a data carrier, more particularly a valuable document, such as a banknote, identity card and the like, comprising a substrate (20), in which a feature region (12) is formed by a set of curves made from a plurality of curved and/or diverging sectional lines (22), wherein a visually detectable and/or machine-detectable identification (30) in the form of a pattern, of characters or of a coding is arranged within the feature region (12).

Description

Data carrier with feature area

The invention relates to a data carrier, in particular a value document, such as a banknote, identity card and the like, with a feature area and a method for producing such a data carrier.

Data carriers, such as security, value or identity documents, but also other valuables, are often provided with security features for securing purposes, which permit verification of the authenticity of the data carrier and at the same time serve as protection against unauthorized reproduction. Increasingly transparent security features, such as transparent windows in banknotes, are becoming increasingly attractive. For window production, for example, a film provided with an adhesive layer on one side is applied to a banknote in order to close a previously produced through opening of the banknote.

Based on this, the object of the present invention is to further improve data carriers of the type mentioned above with regard to their imitation security and their visual appearance.

This object is achieved by the data carrier and the production method having the features of the independent claims. Further developments of the invention are the subject of the dependent claims.

According to the invention, a generic data carrier, in particular a value document, such as a banknote, identity card and the like, contains a substrate in which a feature region is formed by a family of curves of a plurality of curved and / or divergent cutting lines, wherein within this feature region a visual and or by machine detectable marking in the form of a pattern, is arranged by characters or a coding.

The curvature of the cut lines may be constant, such as a circular arc, decreasing or increasing along the cut lines, or even undulating, as in a wave pattern. Divergent straight cutting lines have no constant, but an increasing distance from each other, wherein the direction in which the distance increases, in the invention is arbitrary. Curved lines of intersection can be equidistant, can be di- vergent, or can also run with varying distances in different areas.

Preferably, the marking is formed by a family of curves from a plurality of curved and / or divergent cutting lines, so that the cutting lines of the marking form first cutting lines and the cut lines of the feature area lying outside the marking form second cutting lines, wherein the first and second cutting lines adjoin one another and have different cutting width. Due to the different cutting widths of the first and second cutting lines and the resulting different area coverage, the marking within the surrounding see-through area in transmitted light and / or reflected light is visually recognizable, or in the case of a cover by opaque cover layers can be detected by machine. The width of the first cutting lines can be both larger and smaller than the width of the second cutting lines. In particular, the wider cut lines are at least 10%, at least 20%, at least 50% or even more than 100% wider than the narrower cut lines. The cutting width of the first and second cutting lines is in advantageous shape each substantially constant. The phrase "substantially constant" takes into account the fact that the cutting width of laser cutting in practice, even with the same settings vary slightly and therefore can not be completely constant.

In a preferred variant of the invention, the substrate is provided with a laser-modifiable marking substance in the feature area, and at least the sectional lines of the feature area located outside the marking have an edge area modified by the action of laser radiation. If there are also cutting lines within the marking, then these also advantageously have an edge region modified by the action of laser radiation. In other embodiments, the area of the marking is uncut, in particular provided only with marking lines or marking contours, as explained below. The substrate may in particular be provided with a marking substance whose visible color can be changed by the action of the laser radiation. The sectional lines of the feature area lying outside the marking and optionally also the cutting lines present within the marking then have a colored border area.

Alternatively or additionally, the substrate may be provided with a marking substance whose infrared-absorbing, magnetic, electrical or luminescent properties can be changed by the action of the laser radiation. The cut-off lines of the feature area lying outside the marking and, if appropriate, also the cutting lines present within the marking then have an edge area with infrared-absorbing, magnetic, electrical or luminescent properties which are changed with respect to their surroundings. Such Ges- tions allow a simple supplementary machine authenticity check of the feature area. Of course, variants are conceivable that allow an authenticity check with the naked eye or simple aids, such as a UV lamp.

As a marker, laser-modifiable effect pigments can advantageously be used. Such effect pigments are available to the person skilled in the art with different properties, in particular with regard to their body color, the color change under laser action, the threshold energy and the required laser wavelength. Also, effect pigments which do not (only) change their visible color upon laser irradiation but their infrared-absorbing, magnetic, electrical or luminescent properties are known to the person skilled in the art. The modification of the effect pigments can be made with laser radiation in the ultraviolet, visible or infrared spectral range, for example, a CO ₂ laser of a wavelength of 10.6 μπι.

In another likewise advantageous variant of the invention, a pigment-free laser-modifiable marker is used. Pigment-free marking substances can also be applied to the substrate or introduced into the substrate volume, for example as a spot or printing ink. With pigment-free marking materials, a coating of high transparency can be produced, into which a permanent and high-contrast marking can be introduced by laser action at high speed. Pigment-free marking substances can be modified by laser radiation in the ultraviolet, visible or infrared spectral range, for example with the 10.6 μιη radiation of a C0 ₂ laser. Concrete, non-limiting examples of pigment-free laser-modifiable marking substances are described in the publications WO 02/101462 A1, US Pat. No. 4,343,885 and US Pat EP 0290 750 B1. As marking substances that can be modified with a C0 ₂ cutting laser, in particular also the laser-markable compositions given in the publication EP 1 648 969 B1 can be used.

In a further likewise advantageous variant of the invention, the identification is formed by an uncut area of the substrate. The marking is then clearly visible against the background of the rasterized feature area, especially in transmitted light.

In accordance with a further advantageous variant of the invention, the marking is formed by an uncut area of the substrate with a marking curve group consisting of a plurality of marking lines which adjoin the cutting lines outside the marking. In general, the term "marking lines" in the context of this description always means uncut, only marked lines. Lines which have both an inner cut area and an outer mark area are also possible and are referred to as (color) bordered cut lines or cut lines with (colored) borders.

In this variant of the invention, the marking can be easily recognized as an uncut part of the substrate in transmitted light and can be clearly seen through the marking lines even in the top view. The substrate is preferably provided with a marking substance whose visible color is changeable by the action of the laser radiation, so that the marking lines of the marking are colored. Alternatively or additionally, the substrate may also be provided with a marker whose infrared-absorbing, magnetic, electrical or luminescent properties can be changed by the action of the laser radiation, so that the marking lines of the marking relative to their environment have changed infrared-absorbing, magnetic, electrical or luminescent properties. As markers, the abovementioned substances are also suitable here.

With suitable laser parameters, a colored marking line can also be produced without additional marking substance, for example by the paper fibers becoming discolored by combustion processes or by the opacity of a polymer substrate changing.

In a further advantageous variant of the invention, the marking is formed by an uncut area of the substrate with a plurality of mutually contiguous marking contours of decreasing size. The marking contours expediently follow the form of the marking, whereby with increasing reduction no longer all details of the outer contour of the marking must be displayed. Even with such a design, the marking with the illustrated marking motif in reflected light is clearly visible.

As in the case of the preceding variant of the invention, the substrate can also be provided in this variant with a marking substance whose visible color and / or its infrared-absorbing, magnetic, electrical or luminescent properties can be changed by the action of the laser beam, so that the marking contours have correspondingly changed properties.

In all designs, a continuous motif opening in the form of a pattern, of characters or an encoding can be used within the identification. be ordered. In advantageous embodiments, the shape of the motif opening is in a meaningful relationship with the shape of the marking. Such a context of meaning may in particular consist in that the motif opening represents the same motif as the marking, wherein the spatial position and / or the size of the two motifs shown may differ. The context of meaning can also consist in the fact that the first and second motif shown only form parts of the motif that complement each other, or that the first and second depicted motifs complement each other to form a conclusive overall picture.

The feature area itself can also be embodied in all designs in the form of a pattern, of characters or of an encoding, wherein the shape of the feature area can be meaningful with the form of the marking and / or an optionally existing motif opening. The forms of feature area, marking and motif opening, however, can also be selected independently of each other and each represent independent motifs.

In a further development of the invention, the feature area in addition to the family of curves from the plurality of curved and / or diverging cut lines and a Markierungskurvenschar from a plurality of marking lines, preferably from a plurality of curved and / or divergent marking lines. The cutting lines and the marking lines can include any angle to each other. The marking is advantageously formed in this development by an uncut area of the carrier with two marker curves from each of a plurality of marking lines, wherein the marking lines of a Markingskurschar connect to the cutting lines outside the label and the marking lines connect the other marker set to the mark lines outside the mark.

According to a further advantageous variant of the invention, the outline of the marking is provided with a marking contour, in particular a colored marking contour, in order to increase the recognizability of the marking in incident light.

In all configurations, the cutting lines are preferably formed with a width between 0.05 mm and 1 mm. The center-to-center distance is preferably between 0.05 mm and 3 mm, in particular between 0.5 mm and 1.5 mm, wherein the center-to-center distance is constant (equidistant cut lines) or variable (divergent cut lines ) can be. In the case of cutting lines with edge regions, the width of the edge region on each side is preferably between 0.02 mm and 1 mm, and pure marking lines without a cutting region preferably have a width between 0.05 mm and 3 mm.

In an advantageous variant of the invention, the set of curves of the feature area is formed from a plurality of curved, equidistant cut lines. In another likewise advantageous variant of the invention, the family of curves of the feature area is formed from a plurality of straight, divergent cutting lines. In an expedient development of the invention, the relative arrangement of intersection curves and marking forms another authenticity feature in which different relative arrangements of intersection curves and marking can be selected for different copies of the data carrier. The feature area of the data carrier is advantageously reinforced by a film element. The film element may contain a family of curves that generates a moire effect with the family of curves of the feature area. For example, the center-to-center distance of the family of curves of the film element may slightly deviate (eg, a few percent) from the center-to-center distance of the family of curves of the feature area, and / or the two families of curves may be slightly (eg, a few degrees) be turned against each other. However, it is also possible to use a feature area without additional foil element as a security element. The data carrier can in particular be a security element, a security paper or a value document. In an advantageous variant of the invention, the feature area forms a see-through area, in which the marking in reflected light and / or transmitted light produces a visual appearance which is changed in relation to the remaining feature area. According to another likewise advantageous variant of the invention, the feature area on one or both data carrier sides is covered with a cover layer of low light transmittance, so that the marking is essentially invisible in incident light and emerges only when viewed in transmitted light.

Finally, according to a further advantageous variant of the invention, the feature area on both data carrier sides can be covered with an opaque cover layer, so that the marking is not visually visible, but can be detected mechanically, for example by ultrasound. The invention also includes a method for producing a data carrier of the above-mentioned type. A feature region is formed in the substrate by generating a family of curves from a plurality of curved and / or divergent cutting lines by laser cutting, wherein within the feature region a visual and / or or machine-detectable identification in the form of a pattern, a character or an encoding is generated.

The marking is preferably formed by a family of curves consisting of a plurality of curved and / or diverging first cutting lines, which are generated by the same cutting laser beam as the second cutting lines of the feature area lying outside the marking and in that the first and second cutting lines are formed by a variation of the laser parameters, in particular Laser power and / or the cutting speed, with different cutting width can be generated.

In an advantageous variant of the method, the substrate is provided in the feature area with a laser-modifiable marking substance, so that the cutting lines lying outside the marking are modified by the action of the laser radiation in its edge area. Preferably, the cutting lines lying within the marking are modified by the action of the laser radiation in its edge region.

According to a further advantageous process control, the marking is formed by an uncut area of the substrate, preferably the marking is formed by an uncut area of the substrate with a marker array consisting of a plurality of marking lines which are cut by the same laser beam as the lines of intersection of the marking Transparency area generated are generated, and there are the off-label cutting lines and the marking lines of the marking by a variation of the laser parameters, in particular the laser power and / or the cutting speed generated.

Further exemplary embodiments and advantages of the invention are explained below with reference to the figures, in the representation of which a representation in terms of scale and proportions has been dispensed with in order to increase the clarity.

Show it:

1 is a schematic representation of a banknote having a feature area according to the invention,

FIG. 2 shows a detail view of the feature area of the banknote of FIG. 1, FIG.

Fig. 3 in (a) is a sketch for explaining the change of

Cutting width for cutting laser beams with different maximum powers and in (b) a detail of FIG. 2 at the edge of the marking,

4 is a plan view of a see-through area according to another embodiment of the invention,

5 is a plan view of a see-through area according to another embodiment of the invention, FIG. 7 is a schematic representation of the spatial energy distribution of a cutting laser beam to explain the formation of the edge effect; FIG.

8 shows a detailed representation at the edge of a marking according to a further exemplary embodiment of the invention,

9 is a detail view at the edge of a marking according to yet another embodiment of the invention,

Fig. 10 in (a) and (b) two copies of a banknote, which is characterized by the relative arrangement of cutting line curves and

Identify marking, and

11 shows a data carrier according to a further exemplary embodiment of the invention, the marking of which is visually invisible and can only be detected by machine.

The invention will now be explained using the example of a banknote. FIGS. 1 and 2 show a schematic representation of a banknote 10 which has a feature area according to the invention in the form of a see-through area 12 shown more precisely in FIG.

With reference to the plan view of FIG. 2, the see-through region 12 is formed by a family of curves consisting of a plurality of straight diverging cutting lines 22 which are deflected into the banknote by the action of laser radiation. ten paper 20 were cut. In the exemplary embodiment, the family of curves of the cutting lines 22 has a cutting width of 0.15 mm and the center-to-center spacing of the cutting lines is between 0.4 mm at the lower edge and 1.0 mm at the upper edge of the see-through region 12. The flat end Thus, the cut lines are between 15% and 37.5%, so that the viewing area 12 can be seen both in a plan view and in a transparent view.

The see-through region 12 is in the form of a geometric pattern, for example of the oval shown in FIG. 2. Its outline is indicated in the figure by the dashed line border 24 and serves only the graphic illustration of the formed shape. Within the see-through area 12, a marking 30 is arranged, which, compared to the surrounding see-through area 12, in the reflected light and / or transmitted light has a changed visual appearance and is therefore recognizable to a viewer. The marking 30 is generally in the form of a pattern, formed by characters or an encoding and in the exemplary embodiment has the shape of a maple leaf. The dashed line outline 34 of the marking 30 is merely a graphic illustration of their shape and does not necessarily correspond to an actually existing contour on the banknote. In the embodiment of FIG. 2, the marking 30 is formed by a family of curves from a plurality of straight, diverging cutting lines 32, wherein the cutting lines 32 of the marking 30 perfectly matched to connect to the outside of the marking cut lines 22 of the see-through area 12. The cutting lines 32 inside half of the marking 30 are, however, formed with a cutting width of 0.3 mm and thus much wider than the outside of the marking present cutting lines 22. Due to the lower area coverage of the paper in the area of the marking 30 is the motif formed by the label "maple leaf" ever clearly visible according to the lighting conditions and the background in reflected light and / or transmitted light.

The perfect registration of the differently wide cutting lines 22, 32 is ensured by the fact that the cutting lines 22, 32 cut by laser with the same cutting laser beam are generated in the same operation. The different cutting widths are generated by a variation of the laser parameters, in particular a variation of the laser power and / or the cutting speed during the cutting process.

By way of illustration, FIG. 3 (a) shows the substantially Gaussian spatial distribution of the power W of a cutting laser beam. At a constant cutting speed and high maximum power (distribution 40), the energy input of the laser radiation into the paper exceeds the threshold energy needed to cut the paper 20 in a wide cutting area 42. In a distribution 44 with a lower maximum power, the threshold energy needed to cut the paper 20 becomes In contrast, exceeded only in a narrower cutting area 46, so that a smaller cutting width results. In this way, the cutting width of the laser beam along the laser beam guidance can be varied as desired at a constant cutting speed due to the virtually instantaneous possible variation of the laser power. With reference to Figure 2 and the detail of Figure 3 (b), contiguous cut lines 22, 32 can be created in this manner in a single operation as continuous and thus perfectly matched cut lines. During the transition from the see-through area 12 (cutting lines 22) in the area of the marking 30 (cutting lines 32), the laser power and thus the cutting width is increased and the transition from the area of the marking 30 (cutting lines 32) in the see-through area 12 (section lines 22) Laser power and thus the cutting width again lowered. This can be seen particularly well in the detail section of FIG. 3 (b), which shows the transition from a broad cutting line 32 within the marking 30 (width 42, here 0.3 mm) to a narrow cutting line outside the marking (width 46, 0.15 mm here) exactly at the edge 34 of the marking 30 shows. The change in the cutting width 42, 46 can also be achieved by changing the cutting speed at a constant laser power. At a high cutting speed, the laser radiation acts only relatively briefly on the paper, so that the energy input into the paper is low. Accordingly, the threshold energy needed to cut the paper is exceeded only in a narrow cutting area with high laser power. At a lower cutting speed, the laser radiation acts longer on the paper, resulting in a higher energy input into the paper. Accordingly, there is a wider cutting area in which the threshold energy needed to cut the paper is exceeded. The two parameters laser power and cutting speed can of course also be changed together and simultaneously to have a wider range of variation available. The exemplary embodiment of FIG. 4 shows a see-through region 50 in which the cutting lines 52 lying outside the marking 54 have been produced by laser cutting as in FIG. 2. In contrast to FIG. 2, the family of curves of the see-through region 50 is formed by curved, equidistant cutting lines 52. Further, within the tag 54, the laser power of the cutting laser was lowered below the cutting threshold of the paper 20, so that no cutting lines were produced there. The marking 54 thus remains as an uncut piece of paper and can be seen clearly against the background of the rastered viewing area 50, especially in transmitted light.

FIG. 5 shows a further exemplary embodiment of the invention with a see-through region 60, in which the family of curves of the cutting lines lying outside the marking 64 is formed by curved and divergent cutting lines 62. Fig. 5 further illustrates the optional marking of the outer contour 66 of the marker 64 using the laser radiation. For this purpose, as described in more detail below, the banknote paper 20 is provided with a laser-modifiable marking substance whose visible color is changeable by the action of the laser radiation. In order to generate the outer contour 66, the laser parameters were then adjusted such that the laser energy lies above the cutting threshold of the paper over the entire beam diameter, but still above the reaction threshold of the laser-modifiable marking substance in an inner region, thus causing a desired color change.

FIG. 6 shows in a detail view like FIG. 3 (b) an exemplary embodiment of an advantageous variant of the invention in which the see-through region 70 and the marking 80 are both formed by a plurality of curved and / or divergent cutting lines 72 and 82. The cut lines 72, 82 adjoin each other at the edge 86 of the registration in perfect register, whereby, as in the embodiment of FIG. 2, the cutting width of the cutting lines 72 outside the marking 80 is smaller than the cutting width of the cutting lines 82 within the marking 80 by suitable variation of the laser parameters is selected. In addition, both the cut lines 82 within the tag and the cut lines 72 outside the tag are each surrounded on both sides by a perfectly matched colored edge 74 and 84, respectively. In order to produce such a colored edge 74, 84 perfectly matched to the cutting lines, the banknote paper 20 was provided with a laser-modifiable feature substance, for example with laser-modifiable effect pigments, before the laser cutting in a certain environment of the see-through region 70 to be produced show a desired color change, such as from colorless to red.

The principle of simultaneous and perfectly matched generation of the cut lines 72, 82 and the colored edges 74, 84 is illustrated in FIG. 7 where the spatial power distribution 90 of FIG

Cutting laser beam is shown. In an inner region, the cutting region 92, the laser energy exceeds the threshold energy Ei needed to cut the paper 20. E ₂ denotes the reaction energy of the effect pigments in FIG. 7, at which point the desired color change takes place. As can be seen directly from the figure, in an outer region of the laser beam profile, the marking region 94, the laser energy lies between the energy E ₂ needed for the color change and the energy Ei required for cutting, so that a change in color of the effect pigments occurs in the marking region 94 is induced, but the carrier is not cut. The banknote paper 20 provided with the laser-modifiable effect pigments is therefore cut by the laser beam 90 in a central region 72 or 82 corresponding to the cutting region 92 of FIG. 7 and additionally in an edge region 74, 84 in perfect registration with the cutting line. 72 or 82 colored. The width of the colored edge region 74, 84 corresponds to the width of the marking region 94 and depends on the beam profile, the reaction energy of the effect pigments used and the material properties of the paper. Outside the cutting region 92 and the marking region 94, the laser energy is below the reaction threshold of the effect pigments, so that the paper is not changed there.

In order to make the outline of a marking more easily recognizable in incident light, the outer contour 66 of the marking 64 can be marked by means of the laser radiation, as illustrated in FIG. 5. For this purpose, the laser parameters are adjusted so that the laser energy is above the cutting threshold of the paper over the entire beam diameter, but still above the reaction threshold of the effect pigments in an inner region, for example by selecting a laser energy between Ei and E ₂ in FIG.

FIG. 8 shows a further exemplary embodiment of a see-through region 100 in which the cut lines 102 lying outside the marking 110 are produced, as in FIG. 6, by laser cutting of a banknote paper 20 provided with a marking material together with a matched colored edge 104. In contrast to the exemplary embodiment of FIG. 6, however, the laser parameters of the cutting laser were changed during the transition into the region of the marking 110 such that the energy input into the paper is below the cutting threshold of the paper 20, but still above the reaction threshold of the marking. is located. In this way, the laser beam generated within the marking 110 no longer cutting lines with colored edge, but only colored marking lines 112, the perfectly aligned to match the boundary 116 of the marking 110 to the cutting lines 102. Such a transition from colored marking lines to color-edged cutting lines is visually appealing, easy to prove and, moreover, represents a technical hurdle that is difficult to overcome for a counterfeiter.

Another design variant is shown in detail in FIG. 9. The exemplary embodiment shown there includes a see-through region 120, which has, outside a marking 130, both a family of curves consisting of cutting lines 122 with a colored edge 124 and a marker curve group of colored marking lines 126 without a cutting region. Both the cutting lines 122 and the marking lines 126 may be curved and equidistant, curved and diverging, or straight and divergent in the game. At the edge of the marking 130, both the colored marking lines 126 and the color-edged cutting lines 122 in perfect registration pass over into colored marking lines 132. In the exemplary embodiment shown, the two types of lines 122, 126 of the see-through region 120 are arranged alternately, but other sequences, for example of two cutting lines 122 and one marking line 126, are also conceivable. Since the marker set does not contain cut lines, it can also be arranged at any angle to the set of curves of the cut lines.

In all the embodiments shown, the relative arrangement of the cut-line curve family and the marking can form a further authenticity feature. For this purpose, the cutting line family of curves for different explosion emplare of the data carrier relative to the identification differently arranged and correlated this different arrangement with another characteristic of the data carrier, such as the serial number. For illustration, Fig. 10 shows in (a) and (b) two copies of a banknote, in which a see-through area 140 is formed by curved, equidistant cut lines 142, as already explained in principle in connection with FIG. In the area of a marking 144, which here is designed in the form of the denomination "10" of the banknote, the laser power of the cutting laser was lowered below the cutting threshold of the paper so that no cutting lines were produced there.

The two banknote specimens of FIGS. 10 (a) and (b) now differ in the phase relationship of the curved cutting lines 142 relative to the marking 144. While in FIG. 10 (a) the curvature bellies of FIGS

Cut lines 142 at the top of the label 144 to the left (arrangement 1, reference numeral 146), they show in Fig. 10 (b) there to the right (arrangement 2, reference numeral 148). The phase position of the cutting lines 142 can now be selected, for example, according to the serial number of the respective banknote copy, for example arrangement 1 for the serial number range 0000001 to 0100000, arrangement 2 for the serial number range 0100001 to 0200000, then again arrangement 1 for the serial number range 0200001 until 0300000, and so on. By a visual or mechanical examination of the phase position of the cut lines 142 and a comparison with the assignment to the serial numbers, the authenticity of the note can then be verified. In practice, a complicated association between serial numbers and relative arrangement is advantageously chosen, so that as long as the assignment of the serial numbers kept secret is, for a potential counterfeiter not comprehensible, which arrangement is assigned to which serial numbers.

Instead of a different phase position, other features of the cut-line curves can be used for coding, for example the slope (rising / falling), the divergence (opening up / down or right / left opening) or the radius of curvature (increasing / decreasing). If the feature area is covered on one or both sides of the data carrier with a cover layer of low light transmittance, then the identification in reflected light is virtually undetectable, but becomes clear when the data carrier is viewed in transmitted light. The feature area can also be designed so that the marking is visually completely invisible and can only be detected by machine. FIG. 11 shows in cross-section a data carrier according to the invention in which a transparent film 150 is covered on both sides by opaque cover layers 152. The film 150 includes a feature area 154 having a plurality of curved and / or diverging cut lines 156 and an indicia 158 disposed within the feature area. The indicia 158 may be formed by an uncut portion of the film 150, as in FIG be formed in other embodiments, for example, by an area with cut lines of different widths.

Since the film 150 is covered on both sides by opaque cover layers 152, the cutting lines 156 and thus also the marking 158 can not be visually recognized. However, the marking 158 can be detected by machine, for example by an ultrasonic sensor 160. It lends itself to the only to combine automatically detectable markings with a coding by the relative arrangement of cutting line curve family and marking, as already explained in principle in connection with FIG.

LIST OF REFERENCE NUMBERS

10 banknote

12 see-through area

20 banknote paper

22 cutting lines

24 border

30 motif area

32 cutting lines

34 outline

40 distribution

42 cutting area

44 distribution

46 cutting area

50 see-through area

52 cutting lines

54 Marking

60 see-through area

62 cutting lines

64 Marking

66 outer contour

70 see-through area

72 cutting lines

74 colored border

80 Marking

82 cutting lines

84 colored border

86 edge of the marking

90 energy distribution 92 cutting area

94 marking area

100 see-through area

102 cutting lines

104 colored border

110 marking

112 marking lines

116 edge of the marking

120 see-through area 122 cutting lines

124 colored border

126 marking lines

130 Labeling

132 marking lines

140 see-through area

142 cutting lines

144 Marking

146, 148 Curvature bellies

150 film

152 top layers

154 feature area

156 cutting lines

158 Marking

160 ultrasonic sensor

Claims

Patent claims

1. Data carrier, in particular value document, such as banknote, ID card and the like, with a substrate in which a feature area is formed by a family of curves of a plurality of curved and / or divergent cutting lines, wherein within the feature area a visually and / or machine detectable marking in the form of a pattern, is arranged by characters or a coding.

2. A data carrier according to claim 1, characterized in that the marking is formed by a family of curves of a plurality of curved and / or diverging cut lines, so that the cut lines of the marking form first cut lines and lying outside the marking cut lines of the feature area second

Forming cut lines, wherein the first and second cut lines adjoin one another and have different cutting width.

3. A data carrier according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the substrate is provided in the feature area with a lasermodif izierbaren marker, and that the outside of the marking lying cut lines of the feature area have a modified by the action of laser radiation edge region, preferably, that the substrate with a marking substance is provided, whose visible color is changeable by the action of the laser radiation, and that the lying outside the marking cut lines of the feature area have a colored edge region.

4. A data carrier according to claim 3, characterized in that the marking is formed by a family of curves from a plurality of curved and / or diverging cut lines, so that the cut lines of the marking form first cut lines and lying outside the marking cut lines of the feature area second

Forming cut lines, wherein the first and second cutting lines adjoin one another and the first cutting lines and preferably also the second cutting lines have a modified by the action of laser radiation edge region.

5. Data carrier according to at least one of claims 1, 3 or 4, characterized in that the marking is formed by an uncut portion of the substrate.

The data carrier according to at least one of claims 3 or 4, characterized in that the marking is formed by an uncut area of the substrate with a marker curve group of a plurality of marking lines which adjoin the cut lines outside the marking.

7. A data carrier according to at least one of claims 3 or 4, characterized in that the marking is formed by an uncut portion of the substrate with a plurality of nested marking contours decreasing size.

8. A data carrier according to at least one of claims 1 to 7, characterized in that within the marking a continuous motif opening in the form of a pattern, of characters or a coding is arranged.

9. A data carrier according to at least one of claims 1 to 8, characterized in that the feature area in addition to the family of curves of the plurality of curved and / or diverging cutting lines has a Markingskurvenschar of a plurality of marking lines, preferably from a plurality of curved and / or divergent marking lines ,

10. A data carrier according to at least one of claims 3 to 9, characterized in that the outline of the marking is provided with a marking contour, in particular a colored marking contour.

11. A data carrier according to at least one of claims 1 to 10, characterized in that the cutting lines have a width between 0.05 mm and

1 mm, in particular between 0.1 mm and 0.4 mm and a constant or variable center-to-center distance between 0.05 mm and 1 mm, in particular between 0.3 mm and 0.7 mm.

12. A data carrier according to at least one of claims 1 to 11, characterized in that the family of curves of the feature area is formed from a plurality of curved, equidistant cut lines.

13. A data carrier according to at least one of claims 1 to 11, characterized in that the family of curves of the feature area is formed from a plurality of straight, diverging cut lines.

14. A data carrier according to at least one of claims 1 to 13, characterized in that the feature area is in the form of a pattern, of characters or a coding.

15. A data carrier according to at least one of claims 1 to 14, characterized in that the relative arrangement of cutting line family of curves and marking forms another authenticity feature in which different relative orders of cut line curve family and marking can be selected for different copies of the data carrier ,

16. A data carrier according to at least one of claims 1 to 15, characterized in that the feature area is reinforced by a film element.

17. A data carrier according to at least one of claims 1 to 16, characterized in that the feature area forms a see-through area, in which the marking in reflected light and / or transmitted light produces a changed visual appearance.

18. A data carrier according to at least one of claims 1 to 16, characterized in that the feature area is covered on one or both data carrier pages with a cover layer of low light transmittance, so that the label is substantially invisible in reflected light and emerges when viewed in transmitted light.

19. A data carrier according to at least one of claims 1 to 16, characterized in that the feature area is covered on both sides of the volume with an opaque cover layer, so that the label is not visually visible, but can be detected by machine.

20. A data carrier according to at least one of claims 1 to 19, characterized in that the data carrier is a security element, a security paper or a document of value.

21. A method of manufacturing a data carrier according to any one of claims 1 to 20, comprising a substrate into which the feature region is to be introduced, wherein the method in the substrate, a feature area is formed by a family of curves of a plurality of curved by laser cutting and / or divergent cutting lines is generated, wherein within the feature area a visually and / or machine-detectable marking in the form of a pattern, a character or an encoding is generated.

22. The method according to claim 21, characterized in that the marking is formed by a family of curves from a plurality of curved and / or divergent first cutting lines, which are generated by the same cutting laser beam as lying outside the marking second cutting lines of the feature area, and that the First and second cutting lines by a variation of the laser parameters, in particular laser power and / or the cutting speed, are produced with different cutting width.

23. The method according to claim 21 or 22, characterized in that the substrate is provided in the feature area with a laser-modifiable marking material, so that the cutting lines lying outside the marking are modified by the action of the laser radiation in its edge region, preferably that the Cutting lines lying within the marking can be modified by the action of the laser radiation in its edge region.

24. A method according to claim 23, characterized in that the marking is formed by an uncut area of the substrate, preferably that the marking is formed by an uncut area of the substrate with a marker array of a plurality of marking lines defined by the same laser beam Out of the label cutting lines of the see-through area are generated, and that the off-label cutting lines and the marking lines of the marking are generated by a variation of the laser parameters, in particular the laser power and / or the cutting speed.