Device for verifying at least one security feature on identity, valuable or security documents

Abstract

Device (20) for verifying at least one security feature (13) on an identity, value or security document (9), comprising a laser pointer (1) whose emitting end is located in an at least translucent, in particular transparently frosted, form (2), wherein the form (2) is open in the direction of the laser light of the laser pointer (1), and a receiving chamber (3) for receiving the identity, value or security document (9) that is spaced apart from or adjacent to the form (2) in the direction of the laser light, wherein the receiving chamber (3) is housed in a part of an opaque housing (4) which encloses the form (2), wherein the housing (4) has at least one viewing opening (5) such that a user of the device (13) can see onto an outer surface (17) of the form (2).

Description

[0001] The invention relates to a device for verifying at least one security feature on identification, valuables or security documents, comprising a laser pointer, the emitting end of which is located in an at least translucent, in particular a transparently frosted, form, wherein the form is open in the direction of the laser light of the laser pointer, and a receiving space for receiving the identification, valuables or security document, which is spaced away from or adjacent to the form in the direction of the beam, wherein the receiving space is housed in a part of an opaque housing which encloses the form, wherein the housing has at least one viewing opening such that a user of the device can see an outer surface of the form.

[0002] Testing devices for verifying security features using scattered light were previously sold with laser class 2, but due to new security regulations in Germany, they are now only offered with the less luminous laser class 1, which also differs slightly in the wavelength range of the laser light. The classification of laser classes is defined by the standard DIN EN 60825-1 (dated July 1, 2022). With the currently offered laser class 1, the expected reflection points for machine-testable features (MPM) in hologram film and security thread can only be generated with insufficient clarity and can no longer be reliably observed. Therefore, this type of testing application is not feasible with any new device currently available on the market.

[0003] JP 2020-079860A describes a device for testing safety features using a laser pointer. US 2005 / 211914A1 describes a testing device shaped like a laser pointer, with a mold attached to the free end of the laser pointer. However, this mold has a cutout that would allow a user to look directly into the laser beam, which violates the increased safety requirements.

[0004] It is therefore the object of the present invention to provide an improved device that enables the use of a laser with sufficiently high luminous intensity and specific wavelength while complying with safety regulations.

[0005] This problem is solved by a device having the features of claim 1. Advantageous embodiments with expedient further developments of the invention are specified in the dependent claims.

[0006] The invention mentioned above makes it possible to use a laser whose beam intensity exceeds that specified by the safety regulations, while still complying with the safety regulations.

[0007] Within the scope of this application, a laser pointer is a device that emits a laser beam. This device comprises, in particular, a housing containing a laser diode (or a semiconductor laser) and preferably a collimator lens, as well as an electrical circuit configured to control the laser diode. The power supply for the circuit and the laser diode is provided, for example, centrally via the power supply for the entire verification device or by a battery, which is also housed in the laser pointer's casing.

[0008] The laser pointer can emit light at different wavelengths. It is preferably equipped with a red laser diode, as these are inexpensive to obtain. These emit light with a wavelength of 635 nanometers (nm) to 750 nm. Depending on the security feature to be verified, other wavelengths can also be used. For example, a green laser diode can be used, with wavelengths ranging from 490 nm to 575 nm. It is also possible to use a laser diode that emits orange to yellow light, with a wavelength of 575 nm to 635 nm. Furthermore, a blue laser diode can be used, emitting light with wavelengths ranging from 405 nm to 490 nm.

[0009] The housing of the device preferably has a through-hole for the laser pointer, so that a shaft of the laser pointer protrudes from the housing. A means (e.g., a switch) for turning the laser pointer on and off is attached to this shaft. This arrangement places the means for turning the laser pointer on and off outside the housing and allows it to be operated from outside the housing. This enables the device to be put into operation and taken out of service safely and easily.

[0010] To determine or fix the position of the laser pointer, a fixing device can also be arranged on the housing. Besides ensuring test resistance, this fixing offers an additional safety feature, as the laser pointer is firmly aligned within the housing and its beam direction cannot be arbitrarily changed.

[0011] In one embodiment of the device, the receiving space can be delimited by an intermediate layer with a recess, the recess being dimensioned such that the form can pass through it and be placed directly onto the identification, security, or other document. The intermediate layer prevents unwanted scattering reflections within the receiving space, and the laser beam is forced to pass through the form before being reflected at the security feature being tested, thus further enhancing the user's safety. The recess also serves to precisely position the form when it is placed onto the identification, security, or other document with one of its edges.

[0012] In another embodiment, the receiving area is delimited by an intermediate tray with an at least translucent, and in particular transparent, section onto which an edge of the form can be placed. This allows the laser beam to pass through to the identification, valuables, or security document to be checked without the form itself having to be lowered to the bottom of the receiving area. This speeds up the document alignment process.

[0013] Furthermore, the intermediate tray can be at least translucent, and in particular transparent, and have a recess so that the form can pass through the recess and be placed directly onto the identification, security, or other document. In this embodiment, the at least translucent, and in particular transparent, part of the intermediate tray allows the positioning of the form on the identification, security, or other document to be visually monitored in order to prevent incorrect positioning.

[0014] The inside of the housing is preferably colored dark, so that stray light is reduced and the reflection pattern on the surface of the mold is more clearly visible.

[0015] To simplify the positioning of the identification, value or security document, the reception room may have a template for positioning the identification, value or security document.

[0016] To further ensure the correct positioning of the identification, valuables or security document, a second fixing device for the identification, valuables or security document may be installed in the reception room.

[0017] The receiving compartment is accessible, for example, via a feed slot in the housing. LED lights can be integrated into the receiving compartment to illuminate it. These features further facilitate the positioning of the identification, valuables, or security document.

[0018] The housing may be equipped with a means for switching the LED lights on and off; this facilitates operation. This means could be, among other things, an on / off button or a switch. It is also possible to position the switch separately from the housing, for example, in a remote control.

[0019] The device is designed in a dome shape according to the invention; a dome-shaped form makes positioning the form on the identification, value or security document easy, and at the same time the reflection pattern is easier to recognize.

[0020] The mold is preferably made of acrylic glass. This makes the mold more robust and less susceptible to damage that can occur when lowering the mold onto a platform or intermediate layer.

[0021] Furthermore, it is advantageous if the shape is matte, as this makes the reflection patterns of the identification, value or security document even more visible and avoids direct reflection into the eye of the testing device user.

[0022] The features and combinations of features mentioned above in the description, as well as those subsequently mentioned in the figure description and / or shown in the figure alone, can be used not only in the combinations specified, but also in other combinations or on their own, without departing from the scope of the invention. Thus, embodiments that are not explicitly shown or explained in the figure, but which can be derived and generated from the explained embodiments by separate combinations of features, are also to be considered as encompassed and disclosed by the invention. Fig. 1 is a schematic representation of a device according to the invention, in which a side wall of the housing has been removed to allow a view into the housing.

[0023] Figure 1A device 20 for verifying at least one security feature 13 on identification, valuables, or security documents 9 is shown, comprising a laser pointer 1 whose emitting end is located in an at least translucent form 2, wherein the form 2 is open in the direction of the laser light beam of the laser pointer 1. In other words, the form 2 is open at its free end. A receiving chamber 3 for receiving the identification, valuables, or security document 9 is located in an opaque housing 4, spaced apart from or adjacent to the form 2 in the direction of the laser beam. The receiving chamber 3 is housed in a portion of the opaque housing 4 that completely encloses the form 2. The housing 4 has at least one viewing opening 5 such that a user of the device 20 can view an outer surface of the form 2 to verify a reflection pattern 14 of the security feature 13.This allows a laser pointer 1 with high beam intensity to be put into operation without violating any safety regulations.

[0024] The housing 4 has a feedthrough 12 for the laser pointer 1. A fixing device 10 for determining the position of the laser pointer 1 is also arranged on the housing 4. In the present embodiment, the fixing device 10 is arranged on the feedthrough 12 of the housing 4. This prevents arbitrary changes in the position of the laser pointer 1, which could, for example, be caused by unintended external influences.

[0025] A shaft 15 of the laser pointer 1 protrudes from the housing 4, on which a means 6 for switching the laser pointer 1 on and off is located. This facilitates the operation of the device 20 and also contributes to user safety, since the housing 4 of the device 20 can remain closed during switching on and off. The means 6 for switching on and off can be, among other things, an on / off button or an on / off switch, and in this embodiment it is designed as an on / off button.

[0026] The present embodiment shows a receiving space 3, which is delimited by an intermediate layer 7 with a recess 8, wherein the recess 8 is dimensioned such that the form 2 can pass through the recess 8 and be placed directly onto the identification, security, or other document 9. Undesired scattering reflections can thus be contained within the receiving space 3. Furthermore, this arrangement increases user safety, since the laser beam must necessarily pass through the form 2 before being reflected at the security feature 13 being tested.

[0027] In an embodiment not shown in detail, the intermediate layer 7 can be delimited by an at least translucent, and in particular transparent, section located in the area of ​​the recess 8, onto which the rim 16 of the form 2 can be placed. The intermediate layer 7 can be entirely at least translucent, and in particular transparent, allowing the user to see inside and thus aiding in the positioning of the form 2 on the identification, security, or other document 9. Furthermore, the verification process can be optimized because lowering the form 2 onto the transparent section of the intermediate layer 7 takes less time, and because the positioning of the identification, security, or other document 9 cannot be influenced by the form 2.

[0028] The inside of the housing 4 is colored dark to dampen unwanted scattering reflections and thereby make the reflection pattern 14 on the outer surface 17 of the shape 2 more visible.

[0029] In the illustrated embodiment, the receiving compartment 3 has a template to facilitate the positioning of the identification, security, or other document 9. Furthermore, the receiving compartment 3 has a second fixing device for temporarily securing the position of the identification, security, or other document 9. This ensures the positioning of the identification, security, or other document 9 within the receiving compartment 3.

[0030] The identification, security, or other document 9 can be inserted into the receiving compartment 3 via a feed slot 11 in the housing 4. For the same purpose, the receiving compartment 3 in this embodiment has schematically arranged LED lights 18 for illumination. Furthermore, a means for switching the LED light on and off is attached to the housing 4. This means can be, for example, an on / off button or an on / off switch.

[0031] Form 2 is designed in a dome shape. This simplifies the positioning of Form 2 on the identification, value, or security document 9.

[0032] In the present embodiment, the form 2 is made of acrylic glass. Furthermore, in the present embodiment, the form 2 is frosted, which makes the reflection patterns 14 of the identification, value, or security document 9 more visible. REFERENCE MARK LIST

[0033] 1 Laser pointer 2 Shape 3 Receiving chamber 4 Housing 5 Viewing opening 6 On / off switch 7 Intermediate layer 8 Recess 9 Identification, security, or valuable document 10 Fixing device 11 Feed slot 12 Feedthrough 13 Security feature 14 Reflective pattern 15 Shaft 16 Edge 17 Surface 18 LED light 20 Device

Claims

1. A device (20) for verifying at least one security feature (13) on an identity, value or security document (9), comprising a laser pointer (1) whose emitting end is located within an at least translucent, in particular transparent-frosted, mould (2), wherein the mould (2) is open in the direction of the laser beam from the laser pointer (1), and a receiving chamber (3) for holding the identity, security or valuable document (9), which is spaced apart from or adjacent to the mould (2) in the direction of the beam, wherein the receiving chamber (3) is housed in a part of an opaque housing (4) which encloses the mould (2), wherein the housing (4) has at least one viewing opening (5) such that a user of the device (13) can see an outer surface (17) of the mould (2), characterised in that the mould (2) is dome-shaped.

2. The device (20) according to claim 1, characterised in that the housing (4) comprises a feed-through (12) for the laser pointer (1).

3. The device (20) according to claim 2, characterised in that a fixing unit (10) for securing the position of the laser pointer (1) is arranged on the housing (4).

4. The device (20) according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterised in that a means for switching the laser pointer (1) on and off (6) is attached to its shaft (15), and that the means for switching the laser pointer (1) on and off (6) is located outside the housing (4).

5. The device (20) according to any one of claims 1 to 4, characterised in that the receiving space (3) is delimited by an intermediate layer (7) with a recess (8), wherein the recess (8) is dimensioned such that the mould (2) can pass through the recess (8) and be placed directly onto the identity, value or security document (9).

6. The device (20) according to any one of claims 1 to 4, characterised in that the receiving chamber (3) is delimited by an intermediate shelf (7) having at least one translucent section onto which an edge (16) of the mould (2) can be placed.

7. The device (20) according to any one of claims 1 to 6, characterised in that the inner surface of the housing (4) is dark in colour.

8. The device (20) according to any one of claims 1 to 7, characterised in that the receiving chamber (3) comprises a positioning template for positioning the identity, valuable or security document (9).

9. The device (20) according to any one of claims 1 to 8, characterised in that the receiving chamber (3) comprises a second fixing unit for the identity, valuable or security document (9).

10. The device (20) according to any one of claims 1 to 9, characterised in that the receiving chamber (3) is accessible via a feed slot (11) in the housing (4).

11. The device (20) according to any one of claims 1 to 10, characterised in that the receiving chamber (3) comprises at least one LED light (18) for illuminating the receiving chamber (3).

12. The device (20) according to claim 11, characterised in that a means for switching the LED light (18) on and off is mounted on the housing (4).

13. The device (20) according to any one of claims 1 to 12, characterised in that the mould (2) is made of acrylic glass.

14. The device (20) according to any one of claims 1 to 13, characterised in that the mould (2) is frosted.

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