Valuable or security product and method for producing the same

Description

[0001] The present invention relates to a valuable or security product, in particular an identity card, and a method for its production. Such valuable or security documents can be, for example, an identity document, a check card, a non-personalized authorization card such as a ticket or a means of payment, or a valuable or security element intended for product security.

[0002] Valuable or security products, in particular valuable or security documents, are used to verify the identity of a person or thing or a claim, for example to payment of a sum of money or to the return of an item or the provision of a service. To this end, it must be ensured that the valuable or security product cannot be imitated, counterfeited, or falsified, or can only be done so with considerable effort. The valuable or security product therefore contains security elements or security features that are extremely difficult or even practically impossible to imitate. For example, the valuable or security product, such as banknotes, is made of a material that is not readily available.Additionally or alternatively, security features can be formed by special colors, for example luminescent or optically variable colors, optical elements such as holograms, tilting images, kinegrams, lens or prism arrays, guilloches, mottled fibers, security threads and others.

[0003] Despite the existence of many security features and elements, many counterfeits of valuables or security products are still successful, particularly those in which a portrait affixed to the valuables or security product has been subsequently forged or falsified. Partial or complete manipulation of the existing portrait occurs by subsequently painting over a thin film that is applied over the valuables or security product to make the counterfeit—at least largely—invisible to the human eye.

[0004] One possibility for securing the portrait image of an identity card can be found in the applicant's unpublished DE 10 2019 124 762 A1. This has proven to be very effective. DE 10 2018 106 430 A1, the applicant's patent application, discloses a valuable or security product according to the preamble of claim 1, which comprises a security element with a micro- or nanostructure whose structure is formed depending on the personal data present on the document. This security document has proven to be very effective and is highly forgery-proof.

[0005] US 2018 / 186164 A1 describes techniques for embedding graphic identifiers in a ghost image within a laminate layer of an identification document.

[0006] US 2009 / 315318 A1 discloses a security feature for an identification document comprising a document substrate, a first security feature applied to the document substrate, and an image of a carrier of the identification document transmitted via the first security feature.

[0007] From DE 195 41 064 A1 a security document in the form of a banknote is known which has a linearly embossed, optically variable element.

[0008] DE 10 2010 050 031 A1 shows a security element which has a pattern area consisting of one or more design elements, the shape of which provides a first optically perceptible information.

[0009] US 2006 / 138243 A1 discloses a security feature for an identification document and a method for producing it. The security feature is produced by printing a first material representing first information onto a core layer of the document. This first material at least partially covers the core layer. Subsequently, a second material representing second information is applied, at least partially covering the first material, and the second material is cured. Finally, a laminate layer is applied to the core layer. The laminate layer covers the first and second materials. The first and second materials adhere differently to the laminate and core layers, so that removing the laminate layer from the core layer separates the first and second materials. The relief pattern serves to impart a tactile feel to the document and create optically variable effects.

[0010] DE 10 2010 025044 A1 discloses a method and a device for producing a security document, as well as a security document itself, in which information is or will be encoded using holes in a substrate. Holes are made on the surface of a security document substrate to apply ink. This creates a security document that allows for the individualization of an otherwise finished security document blank in such a way that the individualization information is stored in the security document with high contrast, preferably in color.

[0011] It is the object of the present invention to provide a valuable or security product and a method for its production which lead to an improvement in resistance and increased security against counterfeiting.

[0012] This object is achieved with a valuable or security product having the features of claim 1 and a method having the features of claim 5. Advantageous embodiments with expedient further developments of the invention are specified in the dependent claims.

[0013] The valuable or security product according to the invention, in particular the identity card, has a multilayer structure comprising at least one printed layer with personal data in the form of text elements and / or graphic elements and / or laser markings, as well as at least one micro- or nanostructured security element with a structure selected depending on at least one piece of information from the personal data. Furthermore, the structure itself and / or a shape of the structure of the security element is selected depending on at least one further parameter.

[0014] Due to the selected structure, formed from two different parameters, the resistance of the valuable or security product, especially its surface, is improved, since the combination of a first basic structure and a further personalized and / or non-personalized basic structure allows areas with a high density of structural elements to be limited. Furthermore, the perceptibility and inspectability of the security element formed by the micro- or nanostructure is improved.

[0015] The valuable or security product is preferably in ID 1, ID 2, ID 3, or some other format, for example, in booklet form, similar to a passport-like item. The valuable or security product is generally a laminate of multiple document layers that are precisely bonded together under heat and increased pressure. These products should meet standardized requirements, for example, ISO 10373, ISO / IEC 7810, and ISO 14443.

[0016] The product layers preferably consist of a carrier material suitable for lamination. However, the valuable or security product can preferably be formed from a polymer selected from a group comprising polycarbonate (PC), in particular bisphenol A polycarbonate or a polycarbonate formed with a geminal disubstituted bis(hydroxyphenyl)cycloalkane, polyethylene terephthalate (PET), derivatives thereof, such as glycol-modified PET (PETG), polyethylene naphthalate (PEN), polyvinyl chloride (PVC), polyvinyl butyral (PVB), polymethyl methacrylate (PMMA), polyimide (PI), polyvinyl alcohol (PVA), polystyrene (PS), polyvinylphenol (PVP), polypropylene (PP), polyethylene (PE), thermoplastic elastomers (TPE), in particular thermoplastic polyurethane (TPU), acrylonitrile-butadiene-styrene copolymer (ABS) and derivatives thereof, and / or paper and / or cardboard and / or glass and / or metal and / or ceramic.Furthermore, the valuable or security product can also be made from several of these materials. It is preferably made from PC, PVC, and PET. The polymers can be either filled or unfilled. In the latter case, they are preferably transparent or translucent. If the polymers are filled, they are opaque. The above information refers both to films to be bonded together and to liquid formulations that are applied to a precursor product, such as a protective or topcoat. The valuable or security product is preferably made from three to twelve, preferably four to ten, films. The films can also carry printed layers. A laminate formed in this way can then be coated on one or both sides with the protective or topcoat or with a film.The film can, in particular, be a volume hologram, a film with a surface hologram (e.g., a cinematic element), or a scratch-resistant film. Overlay layers formed in this way protect a security feature arranged underneath and / or provide the document with the required abrasion resistance.

[0017] It is advantageous for the security element to be formed in a planar manner with a high density of structural elements of more than 500 DPI ("dots per inch"), preferably of at least 900 DPI to 1200 DPI. The structure is present, in particular, as a hatching pattern with a very precise design. This allows the creation of areas with a very high density of structural elements, which can, however, be sharply defined by overlaying the information from at least one additional parameter.

[0018] This limitation can be caused, for example, by the structure of the security element being determined from the logical combination of the personal data and at least one other parameter.

[0019] Advantageously, a large part of the document surface is provided with the structure of the security element. This can be achieved, for example, by a sinusoidal or sine-wave-shaped, in particular planar, design in the form of a beat provided according to the invention as the result of an algorithm, in particular an algorithm with at least two parameters. According to the invention, the security against forgery is further increased by not only using personal text elements to secure the valuable or security document with the structural element, but also by incorporating at least one piece of information from a graphic element originating from the portrait image, in particular the portrait image of the holder of the valuable or security product, into the structure. Preferably, the complete facial image, or alternatively just the shape of the head, can also be used as the basis for forming the structure of the security element.

[0020] According to the invention, improved protection against counterfeiting of the valuable or security product can also be achieved by forming the additional parameter incorporated into the structure by additional personal information from the at least one printed layer and / or laser markings. Thus, when defining the structure of the security element, there is an overlay of at least two pieces of personal information of the owner, which makes counterfeiting the valuable or security product even more difficult.

[0021] Advantageously, the security element is incorporated into a cover layer in such a way that the structured areas contrast strongly with the structure-free areas when viewed in reflected light, particularly when reflected at a glancing angle, and thus the incorporated structures are clearly visible.

[0022] In addition, there is the advantageous possibility of embedding the security element in a cover layer in such a way that the structured areas contrast strongly with the unstructured areas when viewed with transmitted light, thus making the incorporated structures clearly visible. This improves the visibility and verifiability of the security feature.

[0023] The valuable or security document can also contain a series of multiple micro- or nanostructured security elements. Thus, the structure or a portion of the structure of the security element is continued, resulting in increased visibility and greater coverage or protection of the document surface.

[0024] The advantages, advantageous designs, and effects mentioned in connection with the valuable or security product according to the invention apply equally to the method according to the invention for producing such a valuable or security product. It comprises, in particular, the following steps: A) Providing a carrier material, B) Applying one or more printing layers and forming personal data in the form of text elements and / or graphic elements on the carrier material, C) Forming or calculating a micro- or nanostructured security element with a structure that is selected depending on at least one piece of information from the personal data and depending on at least one further parameter, D) Applying, applying or incorporating the security element on, onto or into one of the printing layers or a cover layer covering the printing layers.

[0025] Consequently, in the method according to the invention, personalized data are also linked with data of another structure in such a way that the resulting security element produced by micro- or nanostructuring retains the resistance of the affected document surface and the visibility and verifiability of the security element or security feature is improved.

[0026] The security element is preferably formed in a planar manner with a high structural element density of more than 500 DPI ("dots per inch"), with the structure of the security element preferably being determined from a logical combination of the personal data and the at least one further parameter. To this end, the invention provides that the personal data and the at least one further parameter are run through an algorithm by which a beat is formed from the personal data and the at least one further parameter, which forms the basis for the structure of the security element. The resulting "envelope" thus forms a "sharp" boundary between a structured area and an unstructured area. However, the structure is preferably present as a hatching that is designed very precisely and thus covers a larger area.

[0027] Improved security can be achieved according to the invention in that the information incorporated into the structure is a graphic element in the form of a portrait image, in particular a portrait image of the owner. Counterfeit security is further increased according to the invention in that the additional parameter incorporated into the structure is formed by additional personal information from the at least one print layer and / or laser markings, for which purpose, for example, personal data from a text element can be used. Thus, personal text elements such as the date of birth, name, place of residence, or the like can be used for the additional parameter.

[0028] To improve the verification of valuable or security products, it is advisable to enclose the security element in a cover layer. This allows the structured surfaces to exhibit a stronger contrast compared to the unstructured areas when viewed in reflected light, particularly when reflected at a glancing angle, thus making the incorporated structures clearly visible. Furthermore, there is the advantage of having the structured surfaces exhibit a stronger contrast compared to the unstructured areas when viewed in transmitted light, thus making the incorporated structures clearly visible. The logical linking of the personalized data and the additional parameter also creates a "sharp" boundary between the structured and unstructured areas, which simplifies the verification of the security feature.

[0029] A laser can be used to create the structure. A frequency-multiplied solid-state laser, for example, is a suitable laser, although excimer lasers and fiber lasers can also be used. These lasers are characterized by their positive property of being able to operate over a very wide range of possible power levels, so that the desired energy input into the irradiated material can be specified or freely selected. Using a pulsed laser mode, powerful but short-duration energy pulses can be introduced into the material, so that it is ablated without burning and without leaving any traces of soot. For the introduction of powerful laser pulses with low heat input into the material, the use of a picosecond laser or a femtosecond laser is particularly preferred.

[0030] The present invention is explained in more detail below with reference to figures, whereby the illustrated examples are merely exemplary and do not represent a limitation with regard to the scope of the described invention. They show in detail: Fig. 1 shows a schematic isometric representation of a valuable or security product in the form of an identity card; Fig. 2 shows a schematic sectional view of the identity card along line II; Fig. 3 shows an illustration of the process for producing the security element, which is engraved, for example, with a laser; and Fig. 4 shows an illustration of a process for verifying the authenticity of the security element and thus of the valuable or security product.

[0031] In Figure 1A valuable or security product 100 provided with a security element 500 is shown. The valuable or security document 100 can be a personal document, such as a passport, an identity card, an access pass, or the like, a check card, a banknote, or another document. All subsequent examples are described using such a card as a representative of other document types.

[0032] In the Figures 1 and 2The valuable or security product 100 is depicted in the form of an identity card, which, for example, has been assembled as a laminate of several internal polymer layers 140. For example, the polymer layers can be made of PC and / or PET. The individual layers can be unfilled or filled with fillers. In the latter case, they are opaque; otherwise, they are transparent. The layers can preferably be bonded together in such a way that they form a monolithic block that is practically impossible to split.

[0033] In Figure 2For illustrative purposes only, the layers separated prior to lamination are shown visible. In the finished laminate, the interfaces are no longer visible. The optional outer layers 150 of the card can be formed as a final plastic protective film or consist of a protective varnish that was applied to the card after lamination. The plastic protective film or the protective varnish are transparent, so that underlying information is visible from the outside. In particular, however, one or more print layers 142, for example of a portrait image 110, remain visible, which is / are preferably arranged directly next to or behind the optional outer layer 150.

[0034] The valuable or security product 100 has a top side 101 and a bottom side 102. The top side 101 contains the facial or portrait image 110 of the cardholder, as well as data fields, namely, for example, a first data field 120 and a second data field 130 containing card and cardholder data in plain text. The data in the first and second data fields 120, 130 are created by printing layers and / or laser markings located on an outer layer of the document, but directly beneath the optional outer protective layer 150.

[0035] It can be seen that the portrait image 110 is assigned a security feature or security element 500 to protect it. This security element comprises a micro- or nanostructured structure 502, which was introduced, for example, using a laser. This security element 500 is formed in the present case in a planar manner with a high structure density of more than 500 DPI ("dots per inch"). In particular, this planar construct is preferably present with a structure element density of 900 dpi to 1200 dpi. An even higher resolution is also possible.

[0036] The structure 502 of the security element 500 has the special feature that, on the one hand, it is selected depending on at least one piece of information from the personal data. Furthermore, the structure 502 itself and / or a shape of the structure 502 of the security element 500 is selected depending on at least one further parameter, so that there is an overlay of information that influences the shape and / or dimensions of the structure 502, resulting in increased counterfeit security for the valuable or security product 100. In other words, the structure 502 has been determined from a logical combination of the personal data and the at least one further parameter.

[0037] Figure 3illustrates this overlay even more clearly. Accordingly, for example, on the one hand, personal information from a graphic element in the form of the portrait image 110 flows into the structure 502. On the other hand, at least one further piece of information flows into the structure 502, for example in the form of an overlay structure 506 obtained from further personal data of the value or security product 100. This further personal information can be, for example, the date of birth, place of residence, name, etc. of the holder of the identity card. In the present case, for example, an algorithm is used which generates the structure 502 in the form of a beat from the portrait image 110 and the at least one further parameter, which then forms the security element 500, which can subsequently be applied or which is then introduced into the cover layer 150 with a laser.Through this logical linking (overlay) of a first personalized basic structure and another personalized or non-personalized basic structure, areas with a high density of structural elements can not only be created but also delimited. The structure is preferably represented as a very precise hatching, which thus essentially forms a surface.

[0038] From the bottom illustration of Figure 3It can be seen that the security element 500 is incorporated into or attached to a cover layer 150 in such a way that the structured areas contrast strongly with the structure-free areas when viewed with transmitted light and thus the incorporated structures are clearly recognizable. The structured areas also contrast strongly with the structure-free areas when viewed with reflected light, especially when reflected at a glancing angle, and are thus clearly recognizable as incorporated structures. In other words, in the example shown, the portrait image 110 is more clearly visible in the areas provided with structure 502 than is the case for areas that are not provided with structure 502. For improved protection of the value or security document 100, the Figure 3Furthermore, there is the possibility that the security element 500 can also be continued in the form of a floating element, and thus the continuation 504 covers or secures a large part of the surface.

[0039] In Figure 4Disclosed—merely by way of example—is a method for verifying the authenticity of the security element 500 and thus of the valuable or security product 100. The structure 502 to be tested is overlaid with a control structure 602, which also results from the (adapted) algorithm for generating the structure 502. It can also be a "negative" of the structure 502 to be tested. If the structure 502 to be tested is unaltered, the logical combination of the structure 502 with the control structure 602 of the test element 600 results in a surface without residues (shown bottom left). If the structure 502 to be tested is a forgery or modification, the overlay with the control structure 602 results in clearly recognizable residues (shown bottom right).Like the structure 502 of the security element 500 to be checked, the control structure 602 can also be formed by individualizing, personal data, thereby further increasing the security against forgery. LIST OF REFERENCE SYMBOLS

[0040] 100Value or security product 101Upper substrate surface, upper card surface, top side 102Lower substrate surface, lower card surface, bottom side 110Portrait image 120First data field 125Further data field 130Second data field 135Further data field 140Inner polymer layers 142Print layer 150Outer protective layer / cover layer 160Counterfeit value or security product 500Security element 502Structure / floating 504Continuation / series 506Overlay structure 600Test element 602Control structure

Claims

1. A value or security product (100), in particular an identity card, which has a multilayer structure comprising at least one print layer (142) with personal data in the form of text elements and / or graphic elements and / or laser markings and at least one micro- or nanostructured security element (500) with a structure (502) which is selected as a function of at least one piece of information from the personal data, the structure (502) itself and / or a shaping of the structure (502) of the security element (500) being selected as a function of at least one further parameter, which is selected as a function of at least one piece of information from the personal data, the structure (502) itself and / or a shaping of the structure (502) of the security element (500) being selected as a function of at least one further parameter, the information flowing into the structure (502) being a graphic element in the form of a portrait image (110); characterized in that the further parameter flowing into the structure (502) is formed by further personal information from the at least one print layer and / or laser markings (142), the structure (502) being determined from a logical combination of the personal data and the at least one further parameter, and the structure (502) being formed from a beat as the result of an algorithm.

2. The value or security product (100) according to claim 1, characterized in that the security element (500) is formed in a sheet-like manner with a high structural element density of more than 500 DPI.

3. The value or security product (100) according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the security element (500) is introduced into a cover layer (150) in such a way that the structured areas (502) have a stronger contrasting effect compared with the structure-free areas when viewed as reflected light, or in such a way that the structured areas (502) have a stronger contrasting effect compared with the structure-free areas when viewed as transmitted light.

4. The value or security document (100) according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that a row (504) of a plurality of micro- or nanostructured security elements (500) is present.

5. A method of manufacturing a value or security product (100) according to any one of claims 1 to 4, characterized by the steps of: A) providing a carrier material (140), B) application of one or more print layers (142) and formation of personal data in the form of text elements and / or graphic elements on the carrier material, C) forming or calculating a micro- or nanostructured security element (500) having a structure (502) which is selected as a function of at least one piece of information from the personal data and as a function of at least one further parameter, the piece of information flowing into the structure (502) being a graphic element in the form of a portrait image (110), the further parameter flowing into the structure (502) being formed by a further piece of personal information from the at least one print layer and / or laser markings (142) the structure (502) being determined from a logical combination of the personal data and the at least one further parameter, the personal data and the at least one further parameter being run through an algorithm by means of which a beat (504) is formed from the personal data and the at least one further parameter, which forms the basis for the structure (502) of the security element (500), and D) attaching, applying or inserting the security element (500) to, on or in one of the print layers (142) or a cover layer (150) covering the print layers (142).

6. The method according to claim 5, characterized in that the security element (500) is formed in a sheet-like manner with a high structural element density of more than 500 DPI.

7. The method according to claim 5 or 6, characterized in that the security element (500) is introduced into a cover layer (150), as a result of which the structured surfaces (502) contrast more strongly with respect to the structure-free areas when viewed as reflected light and / or the structured surfaces (502) contrast more strongly with respect to the structure-free areas when viewed as transmitted light.