Security document with infrared light active security elements

Abstract

Security document (1) which has a base plate (1a) and an infrared light-transparent element (3) which is arranged in the plane of the base plate (1a) or above the plane of the base plate (1a), characterized in that an infrared light-absorbing element (2) is further arranged between the plane of the base plate (1a) and the infrared light-transparent element (3) in such a way that the infrared light-transparent element (3) at least partially covers the infrared light-absorbing element (2), and in that in addition the infrared light-transparent element (3) absorbs visible light with wavelengths of 380-700 nm.

Description

[0001] The subject matter of the present utility model relates to security documents with an infrared-active security element and an infrared-transparent security element.

[0002] Security documents must be provided with security features to make them difficult or impossible to counterfeit. The purpose of these security features is to make it difficult, if not impossible, to produce counterfeits without appropriate equipment and sufficient expertise. However, it is advantageous if the authenticity and / or integrity of the security features can be easily verified, either with the naked eye or with the help of readily accessible and applicable devices.

[0003] Patent document EP 3 078 503 B1 describes a security document containing materials in a transparent window that absorb infrared light but are colorless to the naked eye. When applied as markers, these materials support the machine processing of security documents containing the transparent window—such as banknotes. Such use of infrared-absorbing materials is not primarily intended for security purposes, but rather to enable the use of infrared sensors in machines that handle, dispense, receive, and process banknotes.

[0004] Patent document EP 1 403 333 A1 mentions narrowband absorption pigments in printing inks for color combinations that can be applied using offset or gravure printing processes and produce a distinguishable print when photocopied or scanned, although these can only be verified with complex instruments and with difficulty. Furthermore, the security document identified does not contain any digitally printed objects. At the same time, the solutions mentioned in the document do not allow the inclusion of variable information.

[0005] The solution according to patent document WO 2015 / 137995 A1 uses highly scalable printing inks to protect documents and relates to the production of these pigments. Such pigments are used in printing inks that are visible to the naked eye, allowing the prints to be read with a standard code reader.

[0006] Therefore, a security document is needed whose authenticity can be easily verified but is difficult to copy. Furthermore, the security element on the document can display variable information.

[0007] The purpose of this utility model is to create a security document that is difficult to counterfeit, can have variable information added to it, and whose authenticity is easy to verify.

[0008] This utility model is based on the finding that by placing an infrared-absorbing security element beneath an infrared-transparent but visible-light-absorbing security element of a security document, the infrared-absorbing security element will be invisible to the naked eye. While the IR-transparent security element can be read with a simple, commercially available code reader, the IR-absorbing security element can only be read with a dedicated reader.

[0009] According to the above, the present invention relates to a security document having a base plate and comprising an infrared light transparent element arranged above the plane of the base plate, characterized in that an infrared light absorbing element is further arranged between the plane of the base plate and the infrared light transparent element, such that the infrared light transparent element at least partially covers the infrared light absorbing element.

[0010] Some preferred embodiments of the utility model are defined in the dependent claims.

[0011] The utility model is described in detail below with reference to the attached figures, which show a preferred embodiment of the security document according to the utility model.

[0012] The figures show: Fig. 1 a plan view of a preferred embodiment of the security document according to the utility model; Fig. 2 a side view of a preferred embodiment of the security document according to the utility model; Fig. 3 a side view of another preferred embodiment of the security document according to the utility model. Detailed description of the utility model

[0013] The essence of the security document according to the utility model is that the security document has an infrared-transparent security element, which at least partially covers an infrared-absorbing security element. As a result, the infrared-absorbing security element is barely or not at all visible to the naked eye.

[0014] In the context of the present utility model, an infrared-transparent security element means that the security element in question is transparent to infrared light but not transparent to at least part of the visible light in the range of 380-700 nm, so that it is not transparent when viewed with the naked eye.

[0015] In the context of the present utility model, a security document is understood to mean any certificate or document that physically exists and whose forgery can profit counterfeiters, such as documents serving as proof of identity, certificates, diplomas, certified or authenticated documents, passports, birth certificates, customs documents, passports, concert tickets, airline tickets, banknotes, letterhead, envelopes, postage stamps, customs stamps, locks, etc. The security document according to the utility model can be made of paper, metal, plastic, fabric, or a combination of these materials.

[0016] In the context of the present utility model, an infrared-absorbing security element is understood to be an element arranged on a security document that contains a material that absorbs infrared light. Infrared light is defined as light in the wavelength range between 700 nm and 1100 nm.

[0017] In the context of the present utility model, variable information means information that can be changed for each printed copy of the security document in accordance with the utility model, such as a barcode, different identification codes, a serial number, an image, etc.

[0018] In the context of the present utility model, fluorescence is understood to mean the phenomenon whereby a fluorescent material emits light of a different wavelength when excited by light of a particular wavelength, in this case infrared light, when excited by visible light.

[0019] The Fig. 1 and Fig. 2 show a top view ( Fig. 1) and a side view ( Fig. 2) a preferred embodiment of the security document 1 of the utility model. Fig.Figure 2 shows that the security document 1 comprises an infrared light absorbing element 2 on a base plate 1a, above which an infrared light transparent element 3 is arranged.

[0020] The purpose of the infrared-transparent element 3 is to conceal all potentially visible parts of the infrared-absorbing element 2 from the human eye. Furthermore, the infrared-transparent element 3 is invisible when illuminated by infrared light and therefore does not obstruct the view of the underlying infrared-absorbing element 2. The infrared-transparent element 3 can be applied to a document already containing the infrared-absorbing element 2 using printing techniques (such as offset printing, screen printing, flexographic printing) or digital techniques such as laser printing. The infrared-transparent element 3 can be produced, for example, from printing inks containing perylene-like pigments.To increase safety, the infrared-transparent element 3 can also exhibit fluorescent properties, in which case it emits, for example, visible light in the infrared range (700 nm to 1100 nm wavelength), especially when illuminated with light with a wavelength between 450 nm and 610 nm. Examples of such materials include certain perylene-type pigments.

[0021] The infrared-transparent element 3 can cover the entire surface of the base plate 1a of the security document 1, but it can also be applied to only part of it. More than one infrared-transparent element 3 can be applied to the security document 1. Regarding positioning, it is important that the infrared-transparent element 3 at least partially covers the infrared-absorbing element 2, so that the infrared-absorbing element 2 is not completely visible to the naked eye. This makes counterfeiting the infrared-absorbing element 2 more difficult, as the counterfeiter will likely only copy the visible part. In the case of a completely covered infrared-absorbing element 2, the counterfeiter will not even detect the presence of the infrared-absorbing element 2 and is therefore unlikely to copy it.The infrared-transparent element 3 can be designed to represent a simple geometric shape, but it can also represent more complex shapes and concrete forms. For example, in security documents representing a specific country, such as passports, the infrared-transparent element 3 can have the shape of the country's coat of arms or other important symbols. In a driver's license, the infrared-transparent element 3 can even have the shape of the vehicle for which the license is valid. As can be seen from the above, the infrared-transparent element 3 can be shaped in any pattern that can be represented on the base plate 1a of the security document 1.

[0022] The purpose of the infrared-absorbing element 2 is to make counterfeiting more difficult and to ensure the identification of documents. Security features visible to the naked eye are easy to detect, and in the case of general security elements, the means to verify them are generally freely available commercially. However, an element that is not or barely visible to the naked eye, especially if it is concealed by another security element, makes it extremely difficult for counterfeiters to counterfeit. The infrared-absorbing element 2 can be digitally applied to the base plate 1a. The infrared-absorbing element 2 can be made from materials such as dyes with organo-nickel complexes or phthalocyanine derivatives.

[0023] When checking the infrared light-absorbing element 2, the authenticity or information content of the infrared light-absorbing element 2 can be verified using a special infrared light-emitting reader. A suitable device for reading the hidden information is, for example, an infrared barcode reader for barcodes or a device with an infrared light source and a camera for other graphic elements. When scanning the document 1 with a reader that does not emit infrared light, the infrared light-transparent element 3 obscures the infrared light-absorbing element 2 in the visible light range. Furthermore, if the infrared light-transparent element 3 emits light in the infrared range (infrared luminescence) when exposed to visible light, the security level of the document is further increased. The infrared light-absorbing element 2 is suitable for document identification by providing it with variable information, i.e.that a unique identifier is applied to the surface of the base plate 1a during digital printing, which distinguishes the security document 1 from similar security documents.

[0024] The infrared-absorbing element 2 can, for example, be a so-called QR code (short for "Quick Response," a two-dimensional code) or a barcode type. The idea is that the infrared-absorbing element 2, digitally recorded on the base plate 1a, contains information that can be read by a reader designed for this purpose. The possibility that the infrared-absorbing element 2 appears as a simple identifier cannot be ruled out. In this case, it could be a simple sequence of numbers whose value varies and is affixed to the base plate 1a of each security document 1.

[0025] The base plate 1a is the actual body of the security document 1, on which the information and the various security elements are affixed. In this context, the various security features are not only the security features as defined in this utility model, but also, where appropriate, some additional known security elements, such as metal strips, holograms, UV-fluorescent elements, and paper security additions. They are paper- or plastic-based and generally rectangular in shape with a small thickness relative to their length and width. For security documents 1 consisting of multiple plates, these plates are understood as separate base plates 1a, at least one of which contains the aforementioned infrared-transparent element 3 and the infrared-absorbing element 2.

[0026] The advantage of the utility model solution is that the authenticity of the document can be verified easily, but with a special tool, and that some of the security features are hidden and cannot be detected with the naked eye. QUOTES CONTAINED IN THE DESCRIPTION

[0000] This list of documents submitted by the applicant was generated automatically and is included solely for the convenience of the reader. This list is not part of the German patent or utility model application. The DPMA assumes no liability for any errors or omissions. Cited patent literature

[0000] EP 3 078 503 B1

[0003] EP 1 403 333 A1

[0004] WO 2015 / 137995 A1

[0005]

Claims

[1] Security document (1) comprising a base plate (1a) and an infrared light transparent element (3) arranged in the plane of the base plate (1a) or above the plane of the base plate (1a), characterized by that an infrared light absorbing element (2) is further arranged between the plane of the base plate (1a) and the infrared light transparent element (3), such that the infrared light transparent element (3) at least partially covers the infrared light absorbing element (2), and that in addition the infrared light transparent element (3) absorbs the visible light with wavelengths of 380-700 nm. [2] Security document (1) according to claim 1, characterized by that the infrared-transparent element (3) completely covers the infrared-absorbing element (2). [3] Security document (1) according to one of claims 1 to 2, characterized by that the infrared-transparent element (3) comprises a perylene-like pigment. [4] A security document (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized by that the infrared light absorbing element (2) comprises an organo-nickel complex or a phthalocyanine derivative. [5] A security document (1) according to one of claims 1 to 4, characterized by that the infrared light absorbing element (2) comprises variable information. [6] A security document (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 5, characterized by that the infrared light absorbing element (2) is a QR code or barcode.

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