Security element for value documents and other documents

Abstract

The invention relates to a security element (100) having a pattern layer (10) and an effect layer, in particular for documents (200) such as value documents, identity documents, security papers or card-like data carriers. The effect layer (20) is arranged over the pattern layer (10) and has an optical effect when viewed under light in the visible range. The effect layer (20) is transparent to infrared light and the pattern layer (10) is reflective or absorptive to infrared light such that the pattern layer (10) is visible through the effect layer (20) when viewed under infrared light. The pattern layer (10) is designed to display at least one first pattern (30). The invention further relates to a document (200) having a corresponding security element (100) and to a method (300) for producing such a document (100).

Description

TECHNICAL FIELD

[0001] The invention relates to a security element for documents, in particular for value documents, identity documents, security paper or card-like data carriers, which combines an optical effect in the visible with a pattern visible in the infrared. BACKGROUND

[0002] Value documents such as banknotes, but also identity documents (e.g. identity cards, passports, etc.) and other security paper or card-like data carriers are often also equipped with a plurality of security features in order to reliably identify forgeries. For example, security elements are used on banknotes which have a color-shifting effect, an optical effect based on the polarization of light, an optical effect based on birefringence, a hologram or other optical effects (collectively referred to as "optical effects"). Furthermore, there are also security elements which make certain contents of such security elements visible or collectable only under the use of light in the infrared range (IR light), for example in such a way that the specific contents of such security elements are only visible or collectable under the use of such IR light. Color-shifting effects and effects based on the polarization or birefringence of light can be realized, for example, by means of liquid-crystal elements, while in the case of security features or security elements using IR light, for example, specific contents are applied on the respective carrier medium (e.g. value document) using IR-absorbing or IR-reflecting colors. SUMMARY

[0003] The invention is to solve the technical problem of providing a security element, for example for value documents, identity documents, security documents or card-like data carriers, which provides further improved security against forgery.

[0004] The above-mentioned technical problem is solved by the subject matter of the independent claims. Exemplary embodiments result from the dependent claims and the following description.

[0005] According to a first aspect, a security element is provided, which has a pattern layer and an effect layer. The effect layer is arranged above the pattern layer and has an optical effect when viewed under light in the visible range. The effect layer is transparent to infrared light (IR light), while the pattern layer is reflective or absorptive to infrared light, so that the pattern layer is visible through the effect layer when viewed under infrared light. The pattern layer is designed to display at least one first pattern.

[0006] Such a security element can in particular be used as an anti-forgery for documents such as value documents, identity documents, security paper or card-like data carriers, but in principle for all other conceivable documents. It combines the advantages of security elements based purely on optical effects for visible light with the advantages of security elements based on IR light. In particular, the individual security element has not only an optical effect in the visible spectrum (visible to the human user), but also an effect in the infrared spectrum (not visible to the human user without additional auxiliary means). The anti-forgery security is thereby increased. In general, the security element is a multilayer construction, for example in the form of a strip or a patch. Here, the strip can be not only an applied foil strip, but also a security thread embedded in the document. In the case of banknotes (or any other carrier medium to be protected with the security element), the strip can for example extend in one direction over the entire extent of the banknote. The patch can be placed arbitrarily in the plane of the banknote. In general, it should be noted that here the security element is described primarily with respect to value documents such as banknotes. However, the corresponding explanations apply of course to all other documents or objects provided with a security element or which can be provided with a security element.

[0007] The pattern layer is based on an anti-forgery using IR light. In particular, the pattern layer can be provided as the bottommost active layer of the security element, and the pattern layer is covered by all the further layers provided. Here, however, as will be described below, one or more possibly provided adhesive layers and / or adhesive layers (which are generally installed below the pattern layer, but can also be arranged between the individual layers, which here can not be explicitly mentioned for the sake of clarity) are not considered to be active layers, since such layers are primarily used to connect the security element to the carrier material or to connect the individual layers to one another, even if these layers themselves of course also have a certain reflection and absorption capacity. Furthermore, it is also conceivable to arrange a further optional continuous layer below the pattern layer, which is completely reflective for IR light. This can in particular be advantageous when the pattern layer is designed as an absorbing layer for IR light, since the reflection capacity of the area around the first pattern for IR light is thereby increased, and a negative image of the first pattern displayed by the pattern layer can thus be produced under IR radiation by the pattern layer together with such an optional reflective layer for IR light. In general, when the pattern layer is made of a material that is reflective for IR light, a positive or negative image of the first pattern is produced by the pattern layer under IR light (depending on whether the surrounding area or the area of the pattern itself is printed).

[0008] Here, IR light preferably means short-wave IR-A radiation in particular in the wavelength range of 780 to 1400 nanometers (nm). However, other IR light wavelength ranges can also be covered.

[0009] In order for the pattern layer to be able to function, all layers located above the pattern layer should be transparent / transmissive for IR light in both directions, so that the absorption and / or reflection of the pattern layer (and possibly of an optional layer located thereunder which is reflective for IR light) is not adversely affected by these layers, or at least not significantly adversely affected. However, at least one of these layers located above the pattern layer is substantially non-transparent for light in the visible wavelength range (when more than one layer is provided; otherwise, obviously the only layer is non-transparent for visible light), so that the pattern layer or the pattern displayed by the pattern layer is not recognizable under daylight, i.e. light in the visible wavelength range. However, the layers located above the pattern layer can also be transparent for visible light at least in sections, or at least have corresponding cutouts in certain locations, so that transparent locations can be produced in the security element.

[0010] The effect layer is located above the pattern layer and is overall, i.e. as will be described below when the effect layer itself is constructed to be multilayered, this applies to at least one of these layers, transmissive for IR light and at least substantially non-transmissive for daylight. When viewed under daylight, the effect layer produces an optical effect such as a color flip effect, a polarization effect, a birefringence effect or any other possible effect which can be produced by selecting the materials which match the effect layer. As will be described below with reference to embodiments, the effect layer preferably produces a color flip effect.

[0011] The first pattern displayed by the pattern layer can comprise text, a motif (Muster), a symbol or all other conceivable structures. Because the layers located above the pattern layer are transparent for IR light, the first pattern can then be recognized by, for example, illuminating with IR light in reflected light and capturing the reflection with a corresponding infrared camera.

[0012] The pattern layer and the effect layer can for example be built up from corresponding pigments which correspondingly overprint one another. Here, a desired motif can be printed for each of these layers. These layers can here be printed full-surface according to the embodiment, or can be printed only in sections, so as to form the desired pattern. In particular in the case of security threads, full-surface printing is generally employed. For example, when the pattern layer has IR reflectivity and text is to be displayed, the text itself is printed with a pigment having IR reflectivity, i.e. the pattern layer is applied with a corresponding structure, or the area around the text is printed with a pigment having IR reflectivity. When the effect layer is to produce a full-surface effect, the effect layer is printed / applied on the pattern layer in a full-surface manner (or under the pattern layer when printing, since the security element is manufactured / printed on the carrier foil from top to bottom in the reverse order). In the simplest variant, the effect layer forms a continuous layer which lies above the pattern layer and covers the pattern layer in a full-surface manner, while the pattern layer forms a discontinuous layer in which, in plan view, only the structures of the first pattern (or a negative thereof) are covered by the corresponding material of the pattern layer. However, the effect layer can also not be printed full-surface, and may, for example, display a desired pattern which is to have an optical effect such as a color flip effect. The effect layer can also be applied in advance on a semi-finished product and laminated together in register with the pattern layer which is printed on another carrier foil, so that the effect layer and the pattern layer overlap in the desired manner. The carrier foil of the effect layer is then peeled off.

[0013] According to one embodiment, the effect layer comprises a contrast layer and a liquid crystal layer. The contrast layer is arranged between the liquid crystal layer and the pattern layer. The contrast layer forms a bottom contrast for the liquid crystal layer.

[0014] The liquid crystal layer may, for example, comprise one of a cholesteric liquid crystal material, a nematisk liquid crystal material and / or a smektisk liquid crystal material, which may, for example, be present as a solution or in the form of a coating embedded in a binder matrix. Variants of the coating in a binder form an applicable "pigment" and are preferred, since such a coating is easier to print and has less stringent requirements on the smoothness of the underlying layer. Here, for the printing technique for the liquid crystal layer (but also for the pattern layer and the contrast layer), in particular intaglio printing (Tiefdruck), screen printing (Siebdruck), offset printing (Offsetdruck), flexographic printing (Flexodruck), knife coating (Knifecoating) or curtain coating (Curtaincoating) can be considered. The liquid crystal layer is transparent to IR light. For visible light, the liquid crystal layer is generally transmissive.

[0015] For example, in order to produce a color flip effect (e.g. red to green or blue to green) or other optical effects, the liquid crystal layer requires a dark, preferably black, background. This background is formed by a contrast layer which is located below the liquid crystal layer. The contrast layer is transparent for IR light, so that the effect layer does not have any influence on the IR light as a whole. When the contrast layer is present in a full-surface manner below the liquid crystal layer, the entire surface of the liquid crystal layer can thus produce optical effects such as the color flip effect. Alternatively or additionally, in principle the pattern layer itself can also be used as a background for the liquid crystal layer, since the material of the pattern layer is likewise visible in daylight. However, in the case of using only the pattern layer as a background, the image visible with the optical effect will coincide with the IR image.

[0016] Nematic liquid crystal materials produce a polarization effect. That is, in addition to the areas in which an additional pattern should appear which is only visible with a polarization filter, a large part of the area of the liquid crystal layer can be made of, for example, a cholesteric liquid crystal material (which can produce an effect which is independent of polarization (e.g. a color flip effect)). These areas can then include nematic liquid crystal material. Thereby, the pattern formed by the nematic liquid crystal material in the optical effect is only visible with a polarization filter, which constitutes an additional security feature.

[0017] According to another embodiment, the contrast layer comprises a printed pigment which is transparent for infrared light.

[0018] This printed pigment can in principle be any dark printed pigment. However, it is preferred that the printed pigment is black in order to produce the greatest contrast.

[0019] According to another embodiment, the security element further has a structured special lacquer layer which is arranged between the contrast layer and the liquid crystal layer. This special lacquer layer is transparent for infrared light. When the liquid crystal layer is observed in visible light, the special lacquer layer is revealed by the liquid crystal layer in areas in which the material of the special lacquer layer is located above the material of the contrast layer and / or the pattern layer.

[0020] The special lacquer layer in particular comprises a color material which is partially transparent (translucent) in the visible light and has a white pigment and which is transparent for IR light. When the special lacquer layer is arranged over the areas of the printed pigments of the pattern layer 10 and / or of the contrast layer 20, the special lacquer layer appears in silver / grey. Since the special lacquer layer in these areas also separates the liquid crystal layer from the pattern layer and the contrast layer and the liquid crystal layer requires a dark background in the visible light in order to exert its effect, otherwise it is essentially transparent, the silver color of the special lacquer layer appears in these areas, thus producing a further third pattern in the daylight view. Furthermore, in the areas in which neither the printed pigments of the pattern layer nor the printed pigments of the contrast layer are present, the security element appears transparent not only in the reflected light but also in the transmitted light. Thereby a further security feature can be achieved.

[0021] According to another embodiment, the contrast layer comprises at least one cut-out which is arranged in an area outside the first pattern formed by the pattern layer, so that the carrier material arranged underneath the security element is visible through the at least one cut-out, thereby forming a second pattern visible in the visible light by the at least one cut-out.

[0022] Since the liquid crystal layer is essentially transparent for the visible light and only produces an optical effect (for example a color flip effect) in the presence of a corresponding background, no optical effect occurs in positions in which neither the material of the contrast layer nor the material of the pattern layer is present underneath the liquid crystal layer. Thereby, by correspondingly structuring the cut-outs in the contrast layer, a second pattern can be produced which has no optical effect.

[0023] According to another embodiment, at least one first pattern of the pattern layer comprises a machine-readable pattern for machine authenticity verification.

[0024] Such a machine-readable pattern can for example be a specific geometric pattern, a bar code, a QR code or other machine-readable pattern or other machine-readable code. Furthermore, the machine-readable pattern can for example also have a magnetism, so that the pattern can be recognized by a magnetic sensor and / or an IR sensor. When the machine-readable pattern is recognized by a corresponding device (for example by a point counting machine using IR light and an IR camera or generally an IR sensor technology), on the one hand the authenticity can be verified automatically and on the other hand the value of the banknote can be identified.

[0025] According to another embodiment, the optical effect of the effect layer comprises at least one of a color flip effect, birefringence and polarization.

[0026] The optical effect is preferably a color flip effect, in which the security element appears in different colors depending on the viewing angle when viewed in the visible light.

[0027] According to another embodiment, the pattern layer includes colored pigments that are reflective or absorptive to infrared light.

[0028] According to the second aspect, a document is provided that includes a carrier material and at least one security element according to one of the embodiments described above, the security element being mounted on the carrier material and used to verify the authenticity of the document, thereby serving as an anti-counterfeiting measure for the document.

[0029] According to one embodiment, the document is one of a valuable document, an identity document, a product security element, security paper, or a card-like data carrier. Furthermore, in addition to the security element, holographic effects / matte finishes or other optical effects can be applied to other areas of the document.

[0030] In the public sense, valuable documents specifically include banknotes, stocks, bonds, certificates, coupons, checks, high-value tickets, etc. Identity documents are easily forged pieces of paper such as passports and other identification documents. Product security elements include labels, seals, and packaging. Security paper represents a preparatory stage for valuable documents not yet in circulation; in addition to security elements, it may possess other authenticity features, such as luminescent material embedded in its volume. Security paper typically exists in a nearly seamless form and undergoes further processing at a later point in time. Card-like data carriers include, for example, chip cards or other card-like documents.

[0031] According to the fourth aspect, a security element according to one of the embodiments described herein is provided for use as an anti-counterfeiting measure on valuable documents, identity documents, security paper, or card-like data carriers. Attached Figure Description

[0032] Figure 1 The security element, with an effect layer and a pattern layer beneath it, is shown in views under visible light (left) and infrared light (right), where the pattern layer forms the first pattern that serves as text.

[0033] Figure 2 It shows Figure 1 The security element in the design layer has a machine-readable pattern in addition to the first pattern.

[0034] Figure 3 It shows what happens after it's applied to the file. Figure 1 and Figure 2 The layered structure of safety components in the system.

[0035] Figure 4 Shows the process before it was applied to the file. Figure 3 The layered structure.

[0036] Figure 5 It shows the relationship withFigure 1 A similar security element with an effect layer and a pattern layer, wherein additionally a second pattern is present which is visible under visible light.

[0037] Figure 6 The layer structure of the security element in Figure 5 is shown before being applied to a document.

[0038] Figure 7 A document in the form of a banknote with two security elements is shown.

[0039] Figure 8 A security element similar to Figure 5 and Figure 6 is shown, wherein additionally a third pattern in silver color in daylight view is provided, which is formed by an additional special paint layer.

[0040] Figure 9 The layer structure of the security element of Figure 8 is shown schematically.

[0041] Figure 10 Another security element is shown, which has a polarization pattern that is only visible under a polarization filter. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0042] The illustrations in the drawings are schematic and not drawn to scale. If in the following description of the drawings the same reference signs are used in different drawings, these refer to the same or similar elements. However, the same or similar elements can also be indicated by different reference signs.

[0043] Figure 1 A security element 100 in a first design variant is shown. This security element 100 is shown in daylight view Figure 1 and in infrared light view Figure 2 (IR light view Figure 2 ). Here, daylight view Figure 1 means observation under visible light, i.e. in the wavelength range visible to humans. IR light view Figure 2 means observation under infrared light (IR light), i.e. illumination with IR light and acquisition of the reflected IR light, for example with an infrared camera. The security element 100 has an effect layer 20, which has an upper liquid crystal layer 23 and a contrast layer 21 (cf. Figure 3 and Figure 4The effect layer 20 covers the pattern layer 10, which has a first pattern 30, here in the form of text. The first pattern 30 is only visible when viewed under IR light. For this purpose, the effect layer 20 is at least partially transparent (i.e., translucent) to infrared light, preferably completely transparent to infrared light, but opaque to sunlight.

[0044] In sunlight Figure 1 In this design, as described herein, the safety element 100 exhibits a full-surface optical effect (in the illustrated configuration, a color-flipping effect). However, other optical effects are equally possible. In IR light... Figure 2 In this configuration, pattern layer 10 is visible. In the illustrated configuration, the first pattern 30 is the text "PL25," which is printed in pattern layer 10 using IR reflective pigment, thus making it visible under IR light. However, any other first pattern 30 may be provided.

[0045] Figure 2 A slightly modified form is shown. Figure 1 Safety element 100. In sunlight... Figure 1 middle, Figure 2 Safety element 100 and Figure 1 The security elements are the same. However, in addition to the first pattern 30, the pattern layer 10 also has a machine-readable pattern 31 in the form of a square, thus making the machine-readable pattern 31 also visible under IR light. The machine-readable pattern 31 can also have other suitable forms, such as barcodes, QR codes, geometric shapes, etc., which can be identified and evaluated by machines using corresponding sensing technologies.

[0046] Figure 3 and Figure 4 It shows Figure 1 and Figure 2 A schematic layered structure of the safety element 100. Here, Figure 3 The installation of the corresponding safety element 100 in document 200 (not shown, see document 200) is illustrated. Figure 7 The previous layer structure. Figure 4The layer structure after mounting the security element 100 on the document 200, i.e. on the carrier material 210 of the document 200, is shown. The security element 100 has as the uppermost layer the effect layer 20, which in turn has the liquid crystal layer 23 and the contrast layer 21 described above. Both the liquid crystal layer 23 and the contrast layer 21 are transparent for IR light. In addition, the contrast layer 21 is not transparent for visible light. The liquid crystal layer 23 is transparent for visible light. The contrast layer 21 serves as a sublayer for the liquid crystal layer 23, because, as described above, the liquid crystal layer 23 has a color flipping effect only in the presence of a dark sublayer, preferably black. Because in Figure 1 and Figure 2 the full-surface color flipping effect is realized, both the liquid crystal layer 23 and the contrast layer 21 are printed full-surface. In addition, the liquid crystal layer 23 is preferably printed at least slightly wider than the contrast layer 21, so that in daylight, without the liquid crystal layer 23, the contrast layer 21 cannot be recognized, because the liquid crystal layer 23 has no color flipping effect in the absence of a dark sublayer. The pattern layer 10 is located below the contrast layer 21, which forms a pattern visible under IR light. The pattern layer 10 preferably comprises a black color pigment, which is designed to be reflective or absorptive for IR light. If the color pigment of the pattern layer 10 is reflective, this color pigment in the pattern layer 10 is printed according to the first pattern 30 ( Figure 1 ) and / or the machine-readable pattern 31 ( Figure 2 ) and the positive image (Positivbild) of these patterns is visible under IR light. The color pigment in the pattern layer 10 can be printed according to the negative image (Negativbild) and / or the positive image of the first pattern 30 and / or the machine-readable pattern 31.

[0047] In Figure 3 , the security element 100 has been applied on the document 200. To this end, an adhesion promoter layer 50 (primer layer 50) for better connection to the adhesive layer 60 has been applied beforehand below the pattern layer 10, and the adhesive layer 60 (e.g. a bonding layer such as a heat seal lacquer layer 60) has been applied below the adhesion promoter layer 50. Then, the security element 100 is fixed on the carrier material 210 of the document 200 with the adhesive layer 60. In addition, a carrier foil (not shown), e.g. a PET carrier foil, can also be provided between the pattern layer 10 and the adhesion promoter layer 50 or between the effect layer 20 and the pattern layer 10.

[0048] In Figure 4In the middle, the security element 100 is not yet mounted on the document 200. Here, a carrier foil 220 (e.g. a Polyethylenterephthalat carrier foil 220, i.e. a PET carrier foil 220) is present above the liquid crystal layer 23. In production, the security element 100 is printed in the reverse order, starting with the carrier foil 220, in layers 23, 21, 10, after which the layers 50 and 60 are applied. Thus, in production, the security element 100 is upside down as shown in Figure 4 . Subsequently, the security element 100 is mounted on the carrier material 210 by means of the adhesive layer 60, and the carrier foil 220 is removed / peeled off.

[0049] Figure 5 and Figure 6 An alternative configuration of the security element 100 is shown. In Figure 5 , the security element is again shown in a plan view in daylight Figure 1 and IR light view Figure 2 . Figure 6 Again, the layer structure of the security element 100 is shown. Here, the layer structure is again shown before mounting on the document 200, i.e. with the carrier foil 220, but without the carrier material 210 of the document 200. For the sake of brevity, features in common with Figure 5 are not repeated. Unlike Figure 1 to Figure 4 , Figure 1 to Figure 4 , Figure 5 and Figure 6 , the contrast layer 21 has cutouts 22, which are arranged outside the area printed on the pattern layer 10. Since the liquid crystal layer 23 only produces an optical effect (e.g. a color flip effect) in the presence of a dark underlying layer, in the area of the cutouts 22, no such optical effect is visible in daylight Figure 1 . The cutouts 22 are shaped such that a second pattern 40 (the letter "PL" in Figure 5 ) is formed by the area without optical effect, which is visible in daylight. The first pattern 30 (the number "25" in Figure 1 ) of the pattern layer 10 is again only visible in the IR light view Figure 2 .

[0050] Figure 7 A document 200 in the form of a banknote 200 is shown. The banknote 200 comprises a first security element 100 in the form of a patch-like security element 110 and a second security element 100 in the form of a strip-like security element 120. The security elements 110, 120 are arranged on a carrier material 210 of the banknote 200, which is paper of the banknote 200. The strip-like security elements 100, 120 extend over the entire range in the height direction. The patch-like security elements 100, 110 can be placed arbitrarily on the carrier material 210.Figure 7 In this, the patch-like security element 110 is designed according to the embodiment of Figure 5 While this stripe-like security element 120 is shown as a security element having three areas (e.g. a security line introduced into a document or a foil stripe as an application) comprising an effect layer 20 and a (not shown) pattern layer 10 located thereunder, it is to be appreciated that the security element 100 in principle can have any number of such areas, in particular also a continuous such area comprising any number of patterns 30, 40 over the entire extension. Further, it is to be appreciated that the security element 100 can have any shape. Here, the foil or patch as well as the additional security line can have the same color flop effect or can correspondingly have different color flop effects. In general, a plurality of security elements 100 can be provided on the document 200, which can be designed identically or differently. Further, other security elements, e.g. having a holographic effect / matt structure or any other optical effect, can additionally be provided on the document 200.

[0051] Further, the shown banknote 200 is merely exemplary for a document 200 equipped with the security element 100, which in principle can be used on any other suitable document 200.

[0052] Figure 8 and Figure 9 An alternative configuration of the security element 100 is shown.

[0053] Figure 8 Again, the security element 100 (here in two variants) is shown in daylight view Figure 1 and in IR light view Figure 2

[0054] Figure 9 The corresponding layer structure before being mounted on the document 200 is shown schematically. The shown configuration is similar to the configuration of Figure 5 and Figure 6 However, here, the security element 100 additionally comprises a special lacquer layer 70, which is arranged between the liquid crystal layer 23 and the contrast layer 21 of the effect layer 20 and comprises a color material which is also transparent or at least partially transparent (translucent; i.e. partially light-transmissive) for IR light. Thus, as in the security element 100 of Figure 1 to Figure 6 , all layers 23, 70, 21 arranged above the pattern layer 10 are transparent for IR light. Accordingly, the first pattern 30 as well as the machine-readable pattern 31 according to the alternative shown in Figure 8 may be read in the same way as with reference to Figure 1 to Figure 6 ​The same is formed in the described manner, in particular by applying color pigments which are reflective or absorptive for IR light accordingly.

[0055] In addition to the transparency / halftone of the special lacquer layer 70 under IR light, the special lacquer layer 70 is also halftone under visible light and has a white or silvery color tone as such.

[0056] The liquid crystal layer 23 is transparent as such also under visible light and shows a color flop effect only if a dark ground color or a dark ground layer, for example the contrast layer 21 or the pattern layer 10, is located below the liquid crystal layer 23 without further intermediate layers, for example the special lacquer layer 70.

[0057] The special lacquer layer 70 has overlap regions with both the pattern layer 10 and the contrast layer 21 (all regions outside the region 80 in which neither the pattern layer 10 nor the contrast layer 21 is present). In these overlap regions, a silvery color tone is obtained overall for the observer in the visible wavelength range. The printing pigments / color pigments of the pattern layer 10 and / or of the contrast layer 21 are located behind the color material of the special lacquer layer 70 in the line of sight in the overlap regions. There, by interaction of the special lacquer layer 70 with the contrast layer 20 and / or the pattern layer 10, a silvery color tone is obtained overall for the observer in the visible wavelength range of the electromagnetic radiation or visually.

[0058] Here, the expression "the printing pigments / color pigments 'as such' have a certain color tone" means in the sense of the present disclosure that the respective printing pigments have this color tone as such, i.e. without interaction with other printing pigments. That is to say, if only one of the respective printing pigments / color pigments is arranged on a substrate, this printing pigment / color pigment would have this color tone. That is to say, in the sense of the present disclosure, the expression "as such" relates to the color tone of the printing pigments / color pigments in the absence of other printing pigments / color pigments. Figure 8 and Figure 9 Two printing pigments which are transparent for IR light are combined with one another in which the first printing pigment is opaque and the second printing pigment is halftone in the wavelength range which is visually visible, and in which the printing pigment of the special lacquer layer 70 having a white color tone is applied in the line of sight above the dark or black printing pigment of the contrast layer 21 and / or of the pattern layer 10. By combining the two printing pigments, a silvery color tone is obtained overall for the observer in the daylight view Figure 1 (see Figure 8 ) in the overlap region, since the liquid crystal layer 23 is also essentially transparent for visible light in this region without a dark ground layer and has no color flop effect or at least a significantly reduced color flop effect. Thereby, a further or third pattern 41 having a silvery color tone is thus formed in the daylight view Figure 1 ​

[0059] Furthermore, since both the liquid crystal layer 23 and the special paint layer 70 require a dark underlayer to achieve their respective effects, areas 80 can be provided in which neither the contrast layer 21 nor the pattern layer 10 exists (or in which the corresponding printing pigments for these layers do not exist). These contrast layers 21 and the pattern layer 10 are visible under daylight. Figure 1 It is essentially transparent under both reflected and transmitted light (essentially transparent because the special paint layer 70 itself is "only" translucent, and the carrier material 210 of the document 200 on which the safety element 100 is applied is not completely transparent either. However, the area 80 is still well identifiable).

[0060] Figure 10 Showing sunlight Figure 1 Another design for the safety element includes a polarization pattern 42, here in the form of the number "25". This polarization pattern 42 can be generated, for example, by the region surrounding the polarization pattern 42 formed from a cholesteric liquid crystal material, or by the region formed from a nematic liquid crystal material. Thus, as described above, the polarization pattern 42 is only visible under a polarizing filter.

[0061] List of reference numerals

[0062] 1 Daylight View

[0063] 2. Infrared light view (IR light view)

[0064] 10 pattern layers

[0065] 20 effect layers

[0066] 21 contrast layers

[0067] 22 gaps

[0068] 23 liquid crystal layers

[0069] 30 First Pattern

[0070] 31 machine-readable patterns

[0071] 40 Second Pattern

[0072] 41 Third Pattern

[0073] 42 polarization pattern

[0074] 50 Adhesion enhancer layer (primer layer)

[0075] 60 Adhesive layer, heat-sealing coating layer

[0076] 70 special paint layers

[0077] 80 area

[0078] 100 security element

[0079] 110 patch-like security element

[0080] 120 strip-like security element

[0081] 200 document, value document, banknote

[0082] 210 carrier material

[0083] 220 carrier foil, polyethylene terephthalate carrier foil (PET carrier foil)

Claims

1. A security element (100), the security element comprising: a pattern layer (10); and an effect layer (20); wherein the effect layer (20) is arranged above the pattern layer (10) and has an optical effect when viewed under light in the visible range; wherein the effect layer (20) is transparent for infrared light, whereas the pattern layer (10) is reflective or absorptive for infrared light, so that the pattern layer (10) is visible through the effect layer (20) when viewed under infrared light; and wherein the pattern layer (10) is designed for displaying at least one first pattern (30). The effect layer (20) comprises a contrast layer (21) and a liquid crystal layer (23); 2. The security element (100) according to claim 1, wherein wherein the contrast layer (21) is arranged between the liquid crystal layer (23) and the pattern layer (10), wherein the contrast layer (21) forms a bottom contrast for the liquid crystal layer (23), thus enabling the optical effect. The contrast layer (21) comprises color pigments that are transparent for infrared light.

3. The security element (100) according to claim 2, wherein 4. The security element (100) according to any one of claims 2 or 3, further having a structured special lacquer layer (70) arranged between the contrast layer (21) and the liquid crystal layer (23); the special lacquer layer (70) being transparent for infrared light; and wherein wherein the special lacquer layer (70) is visible through the liquid crystal layer (23) in areas where the material of the special lacquer layer (70) is located above the material of the contrast layer (21) and / or the pattern layer (10) when the liquid crystal layer is viewed under visible light. The contrast layer (21) comprises at least one cut-out (22) arranged in an area outside the first pattern (30) formed by the pattern layer (10), so that a carrier material (210) arranged below the security element (100) is visible through the at least one cut-out (22), whereby a second pattern (40) visible under visible light is formed by the at least one cut-out (22).

5. The security element (100) according to any one of claims 2 to 4, wherein The at least one first pattern (30) of the pattern layer (10) comprises a machine readable pattern (31) for machine authenticity verification.

6. The security element (100) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein The optical effect of the effect layer comprises at least one of a color flip effect, birefringence and polarization.

7. The security element (100) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein The pattern layer (10) comprises color pigments that are reflective or absorptive for infrared light.

8. The security element (100) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein 9. A document (200), the document comprising: a carrier material (210); and at least one security element (100) according to any one of the preceding claims, the security element being mounted on the carrier material (210) and being used for verifying the authenticity of the document (200), thus for the security of the document. The document (200) is one of a value document, an identity document, a security paper or a card-shaped data carrier. ​ 10. The file (200) according to claim 9, wherein ​

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