Optically variable surface element for a card-shaped data carrier and card-shaped data carrier

Abstract

The invention relates to an optically variable surface element (10) for a card-shaped data carrier (12). The optically variable surface element (10) comprises a data field (14) containing personal information (16) and an optical information visualization unit (18) arranged adjacent to the data field (14). The personal information (16) includes a first personal partial information (20) and a second personal partial information (22). The first personal partial information (20) includes image information relating to a first view (26) of a person (28). The second personal partial information (22) includes image information relating to a second view (30) of the person (28), which differs from the first view (26) of the person (28).The optical information visualization unit (18) is designed to make the first personal information part (20) of the data field (14) optically perceptible from a first viewing angle (31) and to make the second personal information part (22) optically perceptible by tilting the optically variable surface element (10) when reaching a second viewing angle (32).

Description

Field of the invention

[0001] The present invention relates to the representation of personal information on card-shaped data carriers. In particular, the invention relates to an optically variable surface element for a card-shaped data carrier and a card-shaped data carrier. Background of the invention

[0002] Card-shaped data storage devices are used in a wide variety of applications today. For example, card-shaped data storage devices can be used for cashless payment of goods or services, for personal identification, or for access to internet-based applications. Accordingly, card-shaped data storage devices exist, for example, in the form of chip cards in general, payment cards such as credit cards or debit cards, and personal identification or identity cards. Such data storage devices typically contain personal information that allows a person to be assigned to a data storage device and enables associated functions. However, such data storage devices are constantly exposed to the risk of manipulation and forgery. Description

[0003] It is an object of the present invention to increase the security against counterfeiting of card-shaped data carriers.

[0004] This object is achieved by the subject matter of the independent claims. Exemplary embodiments emerge from the dependent claims and the following description.

[0005] According to one aspect, an optically variable surface element is specified. The optically variable surface element comprises a data field with personal information and an optical information visualization unit arranged adjacent to the data field, such that the personal information contained in the data field can be optically captured, in particular visualized, by means of the optical information visualization unit. The personal information comprises a first piece of personal information and a second piece of personal information. The first piece of personal information contains image information relating to a first view of a person. The second piece of personal information contains image information relating to a second view of the person, which differs from the first view of the person.The optical information visualization unit is designed to make the first personal partial information of the data field optically detectable at a first viewing angle and to make the second personal partial information optically detectable by tilting the optically variable surface element when a second viewing angle is reached.

[0006] The optically variable surface element can, for example, be part of an identification document, an identity document, a chip card or a payment card.

[0007] The optically variable surface element according to the invention makes it possible, on the one hand, to increase the security against counterfeiting of card-shaped data carriers by differently reproducing or displaying two pieces of information assigned to one and the same person, and, on the other hand, to facilitate the assignment of the respective card-shaped data carrier to the respective person. Because the two pieces of information are contained in one data field and can be made optically detectable by tilting the optically variable surface element at a respective viewing angle, combined information content relating to a person can be stored in a single data field.

[0008] The information density relating to a person within the data field can therefore be increased. In other words, it can often be difficult to assign a passport or profile photo to a person. The human body is a three-dimensional object which is often difficult to represent comprehensively as a 2D projection in the form of an image. In addition, the human body is changeable and therefore often cannot be depicted correctly in a single image, meaning that part of the information is missing. With the approach described here, the missing part of the information about a person is represented by arranging a second piece of image information, or several further pieces of image information next to a first piece of image information in a data field, wherein the image information can be perceived successively by the viewer by changing the viewing angle on this data field.The optically variable surface element thus makes it possible to provide a more forgery-proof, personalized document, which allows a clearer assignment to a person.

[0009] When viewing the optically variable surface element, a viewer can, for example, perceive a front view of a person's portrait when looking at the surface element from the first viewing angle. When looking at the surface element from the second viewing angle, the viewer can, for example, perceive a side view of the person's portrait. In other words, two different portraits of a person can be made visible using a tilt effect.

[0010] The data field is an area from which optical information can be obtained. The data field can comprise an information layer with printed or lasered information, which ultimately represents the personal information. The first piece of personal information can be incorporated with the second piece of personal information in the form of nested image data in the data field. In other words, a viewer sees a uniform image area in the data field, with different information, for example different images, becoming visible at the first viewing angle and the second viewing angle. The information layer, which comprises the personal information, can be incorporated into the data field, for example, using a drop-on-demand (DoD) process.

[0011] It is also possible to modify the absorption, reflection, or transmission properties of material already present in the data field, for example, using a laser, to incorporate the corresponding image information into the data field. The information layer can be configured to include a first image of a front view of the person (so-called CLIP ID), a second lasered image of a side view of the person, and a third lasered image of another side view of the person.The first image of the front view of the person becomes visible when the information layer is viewed from a substantially vertical perspective, i.e. at the first viewing angle, the second image of the side view of the person becomes visible when the information layer is viewed at an angle, i.e. at the second viewing angle, and the third image of the other side view of the person becomes visible when the information layer is viewed at a different angle, i.e. at a third viewing angle.

[0012] The optically variable surface element or the data field can be designed such that it can be applied as a film to a carrier material or is part of the carrier material itself. The data field can be incorporated or embedded into the optically variable surface element. The data field can be made at least partially of a light-transparent material. Likewise, the data field can have a laser layer and / or a printed layer containing the personal information.

[0013] The personal information may, for example, include information relating to a person’s visible external appearance, in particular information that is perceptible to a human observer with the naked eye.

[0014] For example, the personal information may include image information relating to a front view of a person's head or face, image information relating to a side view of the person's head or face, and / or image information relating to a rear view of the person's head.

[0015] The optical information visualization unit can be an optical layer that extends partially or completely over or covers the data field. The optical information visualization unit can be translucent and / or have light-diffractive or light-refracting properties. The optical properties of the information visualization unit can enable different reproduction of optical information in different spatial directions. Interactions with electromagnetic waves can occur, which then carry different information depending on their exit angle from the optically variable surface element. The optical information visualization unit can be designed such that it has different regions with different refractive indices.

[0016] In one example, the optical information visualization unit is made of a transparent layer or film applied to the data field. The information visualization unit can be glued or printed onto the data field, for example. The information visualization unit can also be applied or pressed onto the data field using a lamination process.

[0017] The first view of the person can describe a visually perceivable appearance of the person, and the second view of the person can describe a different visually perceivable appearance of the person. The corresponding image information of the first view of the person can comprise a grayscale representation or a color representation of the person's view. Analogously, the corresponding image information of the second view of the person can also comprise a grayscale representation or a color representation of the person's view.

[0018] The first piece of personal information and the second piece of personal information can be reproduced by the optical information visualization unit in such a way that they are only visible to the viewer at a specific viewing angle. Light waves carrying the first and second pieces of personal information can therefore have different propagation directions. The first and second pieces of personal information are thus transmitted to the viewer one after the other in the form of image information or images by tilting the optically variable surface element. The optically variable surface element can be tilted in all possible spatial directions. The first viewing angle and / or the second viewing angle can, for example, be measured relative to the surface element, relative to the data field, or relative to a surface normal of the surface element.In addition to the first piece of personal information and the second piece of personal information, a multitude of further pieces of personal information may be present, each of which can be inferred from associated viewing angles. In this way, the forgery security of the optically variable surface element or a card-shaped data carrier comprising the optically variable surface element can be further increased.

[0019] For example, a name field can be provided as partial personal information. In addition to the person's actual name, an additional name can be inserted or lasered into the data field. It is possible to make a person's portrait visible with a lens provided by the optical information visualization unit and to make an additional name field visible with the same lens. Similar to the person's portrait, the person's name can then be changed by tilting the lens. In this way, two different identities of one and the same person can be represented.

[0020] The phrase "making optically detectable" can be understood to mean that the image information from the optically variable surface element can be visually captured with the human eye. It can also be understood to mean the possibility of capturing the image information from the optically variable surface element with an electronic device, such as a light wave detector, for example, a CCD chip, or another image generator.

[0021] According to one embodiment, the first personal partial information comprises image information relating to a first perspective view of the person and the second personal partial information comprises image information relating to a second perspective view of the same person, wherein the first perspective view of the person differs from the second perspective view of the person.

[0022] The first perspective view may, for example, comprise a portrait of the person. In particular, the first perspective view may comprise a front view of the person's face, specifically as it was created during optical capture or recording using a capture device, for example, a camera. The second perspective view may, for example, comprise another portrait of the same person. In particular, the second perspective view may comprise a side view of the person's face or head, specifically as it was created during optical capture or recording using a capture device, for example, a camera.

[0023] Additional perspective views can be provided, each comprising a further view of the person's face or head. In this way, multiple perspective views of one and the same person can be contained in the data field, which can be optically captured from respective viewing angles or directions relative to the surface element.

[0024] The perspective view can also depict different lighting conditions under which the image information regarding the person was captured by the detection device. This advantageously results in a more lifelike image of the person through the optically variable surface element.

[0025] According to a further embodiment, the image information relating to the first view of the person defines a first state of the person and the image information relating to the second view of the person defines a second state of the person.

[0026] In such a case, it can be provided that the person is shown in a front view in both the first view and the second view, but the person is shown in different states, i.e. with different appearances. In this way, a change in the person or the person's external appearance can be depicted. For example, a scar on the person may be visible in the first view but not in the second view. Likewise, the person may have a beard in the first view and be shown without a beard in the second view. The optically variable surface element can therefore be used to capture the image information for the first state at the first viewing angle, whereas the image information for the second state is able to be captured at the second viewing angle.In this way, even more information about one and the same person can be stored in the data field of the optically variable surface element, which further increases the security against counterfeiting.

[0027] According to a further embodiment, the image information relating to the second view of the person comprises, compared to the image information relating to the first view of the person, additional person information defining an additional person characteristic.

[0028] For example, the image information relating to the second view of the person may include male person information, while the image information relating to the first view of the person may include female person information. The additional person characteristic may, for example, be expressed in female or male facial features within the respective view. Likewise, the additional person characteristic may include a representation of the person's hair, so that the image information relating to the first view of the person includes a representation of the person without hair, and the image information relating to the second view of the person includes a representation of the person with hair.

[0029] According to a further embodiment, the additional personal characteristic is associated with a physical characteristic of at least one part of the person.

[0030] For example, a person can have another person part or several other person parts. The person parts have, for example, different physical characteristics that are represented by the person's external appearance. The person's physical characteristics can, for example, be gender-specific characteristics. As mentioned above, different facial features, different hairstyles, different eye colors, etc. can be considered as additional person characteristics. When using the optically variable surface element on identification or ID documents, gender-neutral representations of the person can also be provided. In this way, a person's gender can be changed, which can be reflected in changes to that person's external, visible characteristics.These changes in external characteristics are reflected, for example, by changes in facial features and / or facial shape and / or body shape. Thus, the first piece of personal information can define a female identity of the person, and the second piece of personal information can define a male identity, with the identities being represented by the corresponding image information in the first and second views, respectively. Such changes can advantageously be reproduced by the optically variable surface element according to the invention.

[0031] According to a further embodiment, the first personal partial information comprises image information that is identical to image information of the second personal partial information.

[0032] Thus, a first perspective view of a person's face can contain features that are also included in the second perspective view. Accordingly, the features of the first perspective view can advantageously be complemented with features of the second perspective view.

[0033] According to a further embodiment, the image information of the first personal partial information is defined by a first partial area of ​​the data field and the image information of the second personal partial information is defined by a second partial area of ​​the data field, wherein the first partial area is arranged relative to the second partial area such that under the first viewing angle only the first personal partial information of the data field is optically detectable and under the second viewing angle only the second personal partial information of the data field is optically detectable.

[0034] The image information of the first and second personal information pieces can be nested within the data field, so that the viewer sees a complete first view or a complete first portrait of the person when viewing the surface element from the first viewing angle, and so that the viewer sees a complete second view or a complete second portrait of the person when viewing the surface element from the second viewing angle. It can therefore be provided that only one view of the person is visible at each viewing angle.

[0035] According to a further embodiment, the optical information visualization unit comprises an array of lens elements.

[0036] The lens elements can be spherical lenses, rod lenses, or cylindrical lenses. The lens elements can be provided, for example, by embossing or printing a transparent plastic layer on the data field of the optically variable surface element. The shape, arrangement, and / or size of the lens elements can advantageously be tailored to the image information contained in the data field.

[0037] According to a further embodiment, the first personal partial information and / or the second personal partial information is introduced into the data field by means of a laser process.

[0038] The laser process enables the precise insertion of image information into the data field. In one example, the data field comprises a so-called multiple laser image (MLI). The MLI can be part of an identity document that includes the optically variable surface element according to the invention.

[0039] According to one aspect, a card-shaped data carrier with the optically variable surface element described herein is provided. The card-shaped data carrier can have a transparent plastic layer arranged adjacent to the data field and forming or containing at least part of the information visualization unit.

[0040] The card-shaped data carrier can, for example, be an identification document such as a driver's license, an identity card, a passport, a smart card, an ID card, etc. The card-shaped data carrier can also be a payment card, a bank card, a debit card or a credit card.

[0041] The optically variable surface element can be applied to a surface of the card-shaped data carrier, for example, by gluing, printing, or lamination. However, the optically variable surface element can also be embedded in the card-shaped data carrier, in particular in a card body or in a material layer of the card-shaped data carrier.

[0042] Furthermore, the optically variable surface element can be arranged in a window area in the card-shaped data carrier. The window area can have a transparent window in the card body, beneath which the optically variable surface element can be arranged.

[0043] As already indicated above, the optically variable surface element can be arranged in an MLI area of ​​the card-shaped data carrier or form an MLI area.

[0044] In another example, the optically variable surface element can be part of a so-called CLIP ID of the card-shaped data carrier or form a CLIP ID. The CLIP ID has a lens structure with ink or printing ink introduced into its grooves. The lens structure can be part of the optical information visualization unit, which enables the tilting effect explained above. Short description of the characters Fig. 1 shows a schematic representation of a card-shaped data carrier with an optically variable surface element. Fig. 2 shows a schematic representation of different tilt angles of an optically variable surface element for displaying different image information. Detailed description of exemplary embodiments

[0045] The representations in the figures are schematic and not to scale. Where the same reference symbols are used in different figures in the following description, they refer to identical or similar elements. Identical or similar elements may also be designated by different reference symbols.

[0046] Fig. 1 shows a schematic representation of a card-shaped data carrier 12 with an optically variable surface element 10. The optically variable surface element 10 is provided in the area of ​​a surface of the card-shaped data carrier 12 and comprises a data field 14 with personal information 16 and an optical information visualization unit 18, which is arranged adjacent to the data field 14, so that the personal information 16 contained in the data field 14 can be optically detected by means of the optical information visualization unit 18. The information visualization unit 18 can be in the form of a Fig. 1 not shown in detail, which is located on the data field 14.

[0047] The personal information 16 comprises a first piece of personal information 20 and a second piece of personal information 22, each of which is incorporated into the data field 14 in the form of image information. For example, the data field comprises a laser layer into which the image information is lasered.

[0048] The first personal partial information 20 contains image information relating to a first view 26 of a person 28 and the second personal partial information 22 contains image information relating to a second view 30 of the person 28, which differs from the first view 26 of the person 28. The optical information visualization unit 18 is designed to make the first personal partial information 20 of the data field 14 optically detectable or visually recognizable at a first viewing angle 31 and to tilt it (indicated by a curved double arrow in Fig. 1) of the optically variable surface element 10, upon reaching a second viewing angle 32, to make the second personal partial information 22 optically detectable or visually recognizable. Fig. 1, the optical information visualization unit 18 is further designed to make a third personal partial information of the data field 14 optically detectable or visually recognizable at a third viewing angle 33, so that a third view 34 of the person 28 becomes visible to a viewer at the third viewing angle 33.

[0049] As in Fig. 1, at the first viewing angle 31, a front view 26 of a portrait of the person 29 becomes visible on the optically variable surface element 10. At the second viewing angle 32, a left side view 30 of a portrait of the person 28 becomes visible on the optically variable surface element 10. And at the third viewing angle 33, a right side view 34 of a portrait of the person 28 becomes visible on the optically variable surface element 10. In particular, it is provided that at each of the viewing angles 31, 32, 33 only one view 26, 30, 34 is visible. All three views 26, 30, 34 or portraits can become visible at the respective viewing angle 31, 32, 33 in the form of planar or spatial representations on the surface element 10. The first viewing angle 31 can be approximately 90° relative to a surface of the optically variable surface element 10.The second viewing angle 32 can be between 0° and 90°, for example between 30° and 60°, relative to the surface of the optically variable surface element 10. The third viewing angle 33 can be between 0° and -90°, for example between -30° and -60°, relative to the surface of the optically variable surface element 10.

[0050] The image information of the first personal partial information 20 and the image information of the second personal partial information 22 are nested in the data field 14, so that the entire display area of ​​the data field 14 shows a uniform display of the respective view 26, 30, 34.

[0051] It is possible to view the optically variable surface element 10 from an opposite side of the card-shaped data carrier 12 and to obtain the same effects as in the Fig. 1 under the first viewing angle 31, the second viewing angle 32 and the third viewing angle 33. In other words, the optically variable surface element 10 can be Fig. 1 may be arranged on a front side of the card-shaped data carrier 12, but may also be visible when viewed from the rear side of the card-shaped data carrier 12, with the same effects as those seen when viewed from the front side. For this purpose, for example, an opening in the card-shaped data carrier 12 and / or a transparent section in the card-shaped data carrier 12 may be provided, through which the optically variable surface element 10 becomes visible when viewed from the rear.

[0052] The card-shaped data carrier 12 is, for example, an identity document, a payment card, a driving license, etc. The card-shaped data carrier 12 comprises the optically variable surface element 10 and can further comprise a transparent plastic layer (in Fig. 1 not shown) which is arranged adjacent to the data field 14 and forms at least part of the information visualization unit 18. The optically variable surface element 10 can also be designed as a window in a recess of the card-shaped data carrier 12.

[0053] Fig. Figure 2 shows a schematic representation of various tilt angles or viewing angles 31, 32 of an optically variable surface element 10 including the image information generated thereby. The optically variable surface element 10 can be the optically variable surface element 10 of Fig. 1, so that the designation of the components shown on Fig. 1. In Fig. 2, the data field 14 is formed in the form of a laser layer. This means that the personal information is stored in the optically variable surface element 10 by the laser layer. Fig. Figure 2 also shows that the optical information visualization unit 18 includes or consists of an array of lens elements 54. The lens elements can be arranged on the data field 14 or above the laser layer.

[0054] Fig. 2 now illustrates different types of reproduced image information depending on the viewing angle 31, 32 of the optically variable surface element 10. The first personal partial information 20 comprises image information relating to a first view 26 or a first perspective view 36 of the person 28 (middle illustration in Fig. 2) and the second personal partial information 22 comprises image information relating to a second view 30 or a second perspective view 38 of the same person 28 (right illustration in Fig. 2). The first perspective view 36 of the person 28, which appears at the first viewing angle 31, is a front view of a face or head of the person 28. It differs from the second perspective view 38 of the person 28, which appears at the second viewing angle 32 and represents a side view of the face or head of the person 28.

[0055] Fig. Figure 2 shows a further example of the observation of the optically variable surface element 10 at the two viewing angles 31, 32. In particular, Fig. 2 that the image information relating to the first view 26 of the person 28, which appears at the first viewing angle 31, represents a first state 40 of the person 28 (middle illustration in Fig. 2) and the image information relating to the second view 30 of the person 28, which appears at the second viewing angle 32, defines a second state 42 of the person 28 (left illustration in Fig. 2) is defined.

[0056] Also in Fig. 2 shows that the image information regarding the second view 30 of the person 28 (left illustration in Fig. 2) compared to the image information regarding the first view 26 of the person 28 (middle representation in Fig. 2) comprises additional personal information 44, which defines an additional personal characteristic 46. In addition, in the left illustration of Fig.2 shows that the additional personal characteristic 46 is associated with a physical characteristic of at least one personal part 50 of the person 28. The additional personal characteristic 46 in the second view 30 is represented in the example shown in the form of long hair, which is not present in the first view 26.

Claims

[1] Optically variable surface element (10) for a card-shaped data carrier (12), comprising: a data field (14) containing personal information (16); an optical information visualization unit (18) arranged adjacent to the data field (14) so ​​that the personal information (16) contained in the data field (14) can be optically detected by means of the optical information visualization unit (18); wherein the personal information (16) comprises a first piece of personal information (20) and a second piece of personal information (22); wherein the first personal partial information (20) includes image information relating to a first view (26) of a person (28); wherein the second personal partial information (22) includes image information relating to a second view (30) of the person (28) which differs from the first view (26) of the person (28); and wherein the optical information visualization unit (18) is designed to make the first personal partial information (20) of the data field (14) optically detectable at a first viewing angle (31) and to make the second personal partial information (22) optically detectable by tilting the optically variable surface element (10) when a second viewing angle (32) is reached. [2] Optically variable surface element (10) according to claim 1, wherein the first personal partial information (20) comprises image information relating to a first perspective view (36) of the person (28) and the second personal partial information (22) comprises image information relating to a second perspective view (38) of the same person (28), wherein the first perspective view (36) of the person (28) differs from the second perspective view (38) of the person (28). [3] Optically variable surface element (10) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the image information relating to the first view (26) of the person (28) defines a first state (40) of the person (28) and the image information relating to the second view (30) of the person (28) defines a second state (42) of the person (28). [4] Optically variable surface element (10) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the image information relating to the second view (30) of the person (28) comprises, in comparison to the image information relating to the first view (26) of the person (28), additional person information (44) which defines an additional person feature (46). [5] Optically variable surface element (10) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the additional personal characteristic (46) is associated with a physical characteristic of at least one personal part (50) of the person (28). [6] Optically variable surface element (10) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the first personal partial information (20) comprises image information which is identical to image information of the second personal partial information (22). [7] Optically variable surface element (10) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the image information of the first personal partial information (20) is defined by a first partial area of ​​the data field (14) and the image information of the second personal partial information (22) is defined by a second partial area of ​​the data field (14); wherein the first partial area is arranged relative to the second partial area such that under the first viewing angle (31) only the first personal partial information (20) of the data field (14) is optically detectable and under the second viewing angle (32) only the second personal partial information (22) of the data field (14) is optically detectable. [8] Optically variable surface element (10) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the optical information visualization unit (18) comprises an arrangement of lens elements (54). [9] Optically variable surface element (10) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the first personal partial information (20) and / or the second personal partial information (22) is introduced into the data field (14) by means of a laser process. [10] Card-shaped data carrier (12) with an optically variable surface element (10) according to one of the preceding claims.

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