Registers – Records – Particular code pattern
Reexamination Certificate
2003-07-23
2004-12-07
Le, Thien M. (Department: 2876)
Registers
Records
Particular code pattern
Reexamination Certificate
active
06827283
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The invention relates to a security element, a security product, a method for its personalization and/or its individualization and also an apparatus for its production and an apparatus for its personalization according to the preamble of the relevant independent claim.
2. Description of the Related Art
For the personalization of data carriers, such as identity cards or ID cards, laser labeling, that is blackening by laser radiation, of the surface of the data carrier or the card body is a method which is established and used widely because of the high protection against forgery.
In order to improve the protection against forgery, the patent applications DE 42 43 987 A1 and EP 0 219 011 A2 propose personalized laser labeling or blackening by laser radiation of at least two layers arranged one above another in a data carrier. In this form of laser labeling, an item of security information in the form of an image or text is distributed to two or more planes.
The disadvantage with personalization information produced in such a manner is that this cannot readily be distinguished from a simple, forged imprint of a different item of personalization information likewise in a black color.
Another variant for increasing the protection against forgery is disclosed by EP 0 105 099 A1. This European laid-open specification proposes the provision of an integrated optically variable element on each of the valuable documents to be secured thereby. The optically variable element is a diffraction structure or a diffraction grating. When tilted or rotated, it appears to the observer as though a predefined pattern moves quasi-continuously over the element. The production of such an element and its introduction into the valuable document is complicated and therefore expensive. The personalization or individualization of such an element for improving the protection against forgery is certainly desirable but falls down on the higher production costs, in particular in the case of a mass-produced article to be protected.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The invention is based in particular on the object of providing a security element with high protection against forgery or counterfeiting.
The object is respectively achieved by the features specified in the independent patent claims. Advantageous refinements of the invention are specified in the independent claims.
The first substantial aspect of the invention comprises the provision of an element that is secured against forgery and/or counterfeiting, that is to say a security element, which has at least two layers of different color arranged above one another. Because each of the layers is provided with part of an item of personalization and/or individualizing information, the result is a multicolored item of personalization information and/or individualization information which is distributed to two or more planes and, without aids, as a result of tilting or rotation of the security element or a security product provided with the security element, can be distinguished from a simple, correspondingly colored imprint.
A second substantial aspect of the invention consists in equipping each of the at least two layers lying above one another in such a way that their color can be changed in each case, partially or at some points. This permits the production of a large number of security elements or security products according to the invention in a mass-production process, in this case each provided with a security element according to the invention. Each security element according to the invention and/or security product which has a security element according to the invention can subsequently be personalized or individualized in a separate, later step. This permits both the cost-effective production and the cost-effective personalization of a security element or security product with high security against forgery or counterfeiting. Its authenticity can additionally be checked simply and quickly by visual means.
A third substantial aspect of the invention comprises forming the personalization information or the individualized information by image points. Each image point is preferably formed at least by a first colored region of a first layer of the layers whose color can be changed and a second colored region of a second layer of the layers whose color can be changed. According to the invention, these regions are preferably arranged above one another with a vertical offset, in such a way that the second colored region of the second layer of the layers whose color can be changed wholly or partly covers the first colored region of the first layer of the layers whose color can be changed in a (vertical) plan view of the colored regions. The first and the second colored region preferably have largely the same dimensions and are merely offset vertically in relation to each other, but largely not offset laterally in relation to each other. In this case, it is advantageous that each of the image points exhibits an easily visible tilting effect or color change as a security feature when the security element or security product is tilted or rotated.
In a preferred embodiment of the invention, a largely transparent layer or film is in each case provided between the layers whose color can be changed, it being possible for the distance between the layers whose color can be changed to be set by choosing the thickness of the layer or film. By means of a suitable choice of the distance between the layers whose color can be changed, the tilting effect or color change can be set in the desired form.
A fourth substantial aspect of the invention is to configure the layers whose color can be changed in such a way that their color can be changed partially or at some points by means of laser radiation and, by means of such a color change, to produce an item of personalization information and/or individualizing information. Both the data carrier which has a security element according to the invention and the security element according to the invention itself can be personalized or individualized by means of laser radiation. For this purpose, all that is needed is a personalization apparatus which provides a suitable laser radiation or suitable laser radiations and guides the laser radiation over the data carrier and the security element in order to produce the item of personalization information.
For this purpose, it will generally be necessary to match the laser radiation in each case to the material of the data carrier, such as the material of the card body, and to the layers whose color can be changed. It is necessary in particular to match the wavelength or the wavelength range and/or the intensity or radiation power of the laser radiation.
If cost-effective layers of different colors which can be processed easily and whose color can be changed partially by one and the same laser radiation are available, the personalization information or individualizing information can advantageously be written into the security element according to the invention in only one step. This can then be done simultaneously, for example, image point by image point, in all the layers whose color can be changed.
The fact that laser radiation is required to personalize or individualize the security element according to the invention ensures that the personalization information or the individualizing information does not bleach or fade during normal use of the data carrier or under the action of artificial light and/or daylight. A fifth substantial aspect of the invention consists in providing the security element according to the invention with layers whose color can partially be changed and whose color can be changed independently of one another by different laser radiations, in particular with regard to the wavelength or wavelength range and/or radiation intensity. In this way, if an appropriate personalization apparatus is used, each layer or plane of the security element can be provided individually with part of the personalization information or ind
Fannasch Lothar
Fischer Dirk
Hennemeyer-Schwenker Michael
Kappe Frank
Schumacher Mathias
Caputo Lisa M.
Le Thien M.
Orga Kartensysteme GmbH
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