Communications: electrical – Condition responsive indicating system – Specific condition
Reexamination Certificate
1998-12-01
2001-07-03
Lee, Benjamin C. (Department: 2736)
Communications: electrical
Condition responsive indicating system
Specific condition
C340S572100, C340S870030, C194S213000, C283S082000, C283S083000, C428S209000, C428S381000, C428S389000, C428S399000, C428S457000, C428S916000, C235S449000, C235S451000, C235S452000, C235S493000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06255948
ABSTRACT:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to security devices and in particular, to a security device or element having multiple security features for use with valuable merchandise or items.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Counterfeiting and tampering with secure documents or instruments, such as bank notes, checks, tickets, credit cards and the like, and other valuable merchandise or items is a common problem in many fields or enterprises. To prevent counterfeiting, many secure documents and other items of value include a security device or element, such as a security thread, disposed on or in the document. The security device typically includes one or more security features, such as metallic security features, magnetic security features, or luminescent security features, that authenticate the document and prevent counterfeiting and/or tampering.
To authenticate the document, many conventional security devices merely require that the existence of a single security feature be detected. Thus, counterfeiters need only recognize the security feature in a document or item and reproduce that one security feature in a counterfeit document or item such that the security feature is detectable to authenticate the counterfeit document. Advances in technology have brought even new and easier ways of identifying these security features and reproducing the valuable documents or instruments with the security device. Thus, a need exists for more covert security features that are not easily identified and reproduced.
One type of security thread includes metallic features, such as metallic graphic indicia, disposed on a carrier substrate. According to conventional chemical etching techniques, a chemical resist is printed on a metallic layer in the form of the graphical indicia, either positively or negatively, and de-metalization of the areas of the metallic layer not covered by the chemical resist causes the graphic indicia to be formed either negatively or positively by the remaining metallic layer. Security threads having only a metallic security feature, formed according to this method, do not provide adequate protection because the counterfeiter can easily recognize and reproduce the metallic graphic indicia.
Attempts have been made to combine multiple security features, such as metallic and magnetic features, to make counterfeiting more difficult. In one example, magnetic ink is used to print graphic indicia that can be read by MICR detectors. However, if magnetic ink is used to print graphic indicia on or with metallic security features, the magnetic features and metallic features are easily distinguishable and identified. A counterfeiter could recognize that both magnetic and metallic security features have been used and need to be reproduced.
Other types of security threads have also used hybrid metals or alloys to form graphic indicia having both magnetic and metallic security features. However, the hybrid metals and the process for depositing or applying the hybrid metals to form the graphic indicia is costly. Also, using hybrid metals limits the ability to vary the magnetic properties that can be used.
Accordingly, a need exists for a security device having multiple security features, such as metallic and magnetic security features, that are not easily distinguishable and recognizable upon observing the security device. A need also exists for a security device in which the security feature(s) is capable of providing machine readable encoded data, e.g., pertaining to the security device or document, in addition to detectable features for authentication of the security document. What is also needed is a method of making a magnetic/metallic security device using existing chemical etching or de-metalization techniques.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention features a magnetic/metallic security device for use with an item to provide multiple security features. The security device includes a carrier substrate, a metallic layer disposed on the carrier substrate, for providing metallic security features, and a magnetic layer disposed on and in substantially identical registration with at least a portion of some of the metallic layer, for providing magnetic security features. The metallic layer and the magnetic layer together form graphic indicia on the carrier substrate, either positively or negatively. In one embodiment, a coating layer is disposed over the graphic indicia formed by the metallic layer and the magnetic layer.
The magnetic/metallic security device has different embodiments in which the magnetic layer provides magnetic security features. In one embodiment, the graphic indicia is formed as magnetic characters readable by MICR detectors. In another embodiment, the magnetic layer includes a hard magnetic substance capable of being magnetized for recording data on the magnetic layer.
In a further embodiment, the magnetic layer includes at least one type of magnetic substance having at least one predetermined magnetic characteristic that is detectable, for authenticating an item having said security device. In one example, the magnetic substance is a soft magnetic pigment capable of holding a level of magnetism for a limited period of time.
In a further embodiment, the magnetic layer includes at least first and second types of magnetic substances having at least first and second predetermined magnetic characteristics respectively. The first and second types of magnetic substances are arranged in the magnetic layer in a predetermined pattern representing data encoded with the magnetic layer such that the first and second predetermined characteristics are detectable to read the predetermined pattern and decode the data. In one example, the first and second predetermined magnetic characteristics represent binary integers, and the predetermined pattern of the first and second types of magnetic substances represents data in a binary coded format. One example of the first and second types of magnetic substances include first and second soft magnetic pigments having first and second predetermined magnetic decay rates and/or predetermined levels of magnetism.
The magnetic/metallic security device also has different embodiments in which the metallic layer provides metallic security features. In one embodiment, at least a portion of the metal layer includes at least one predetermined characteristic that is detectable, for authenticating an item having the security device.
In another embodiment, the metal layer forms a plurality of conductive regions on the substrate. The conductive regions are separated by non-conductive regions and have at least two different predetermined lengths forming a predetermined pattern for representing encoded data. The predetermined lengths of the conductive regions are detectable to read the predetermined pattern and decode the data. In one example, the conductive regions include first and second predetermined lengths representing binary integers, and the predetermined pattern of the first and second lengths of the conductive regions encodes the data in a binary coded format.
The present invention also features a magnetic security device for use with an item. The magnetic security device comprises a carrier substrate, and a plurality of magnetic regions disposed on the carrier substrate. The plurality of magnetic regions have different predetermined magnetic characteristics and are arranged in a predetermined pattern representing data encoded by the magnetic regions. The first and second predetermined characteristics are detectable to read the predetermined pattern and decode the data.
The present invention also features a metallic security device for use with an item. The metallic security device comprises a carrier substrate, and a plurality of conductive regions disposed on the carrier substrate. The conductive regions are separated by non-conductive regions and have at least two different predetermined lengths forming a predetermined pattern for representing encoded data. The predetermined lengths of the conductive regions are detectable t
Cote Paul F.
Curdo Stephen B.
Gartner Gerald J.
Wolpert Gary R.
Bourque & Associates P.A.
Lee Benjamin C.
Technical Graphics Security Products, LLC
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