Identification document and production method

Abstract

The invention relates to an identification document (10) for identifying a person by means of a coloured identification image (50) having a substrate (12) which has a personalisation area (14) for recording image information, the personalisation area comprising a recording layer (20) for recording first image information, a lens assembly (22) for viewing the first image information, and a semi-transparent print layer (26), formed on the lens assembly, for recording second image information. The first image information contains, as first partial image information, a monochrome positive image (54) of the person and, as second partial image information, a monochrome negative image (64) of the person. The positive image (54) and the negative image (64) are each formed from a plurality of portions (30, 32) which are arranged so convolutedly in the recording layer (20) that, when viewed through the lens assembly (22), the positive image (54) is reproduced only in a substantially perpendicular viewing direction (36), and the negative image (64) is substantially only reproduced in a predetermined oblique viewing direction (36). The second image information of the semi-transparent print layer (26) contains a colour separation (52) of the coloured identification image of the person, which colour separation is visible both in the perpendicular viewing direction (34) and in the oblique viewing direction (36). When viewed perpendicularly, the coloured identification image (50) of the person is visible due to the interaction of the monochrome positive image (54) with the colour separation (52) and, when viewed obliquely, a coloured control image (60) resulting from the interaction of the monochrome negative image (64) with the colour separation (52) is visible.

Description

[0001] Identification document and manufacturing process

[0002] The invention relates to an identification document for identifying a person with a colored identification image, as well as a manufacturing method for such an identification document.

[0003] Identification documents such as ID cards, credit cards or bank cards should, due to their legitimation function, offer the greatest possible security against forgery or counterfeiting and yet be comparatively simple and inexpensive to produce.

[0004] Publication WO 2020 / 156759 A1 discloses an identification document with biometric image information, in which a lens arrangement is provided above a recording layer through which the biometric image information is viewed. The biometric image information contains a base image and a derivative image derived from the base image, which shows or emphasizes a component of the base image that is essential for recognition, so that the perception of the combined image information from the base image and the derivative image creates a vivid overall impression of the content of the base image.

[0005] Based on this, the invention is based on the object of further improving an identification document of the type mentioned at the outset, in particular to provide an identification document with a high level of forgery security and an attractive visual appearance.

[0006] This object is achieved by the features of the independent claims. Further developments of the invention are the subject of the dependent claims. According to the invention, a generic identification document comprises a carrier having a personalization area for receiving image information. The personalization area has a recording layer for receiving a first piece of image information, a lens arrangement for viewing the first piece of image information, and a partially transparent printing layer formed on the lens arrangement for receiving a second piece of image information.

[0007] The first image information of the recording layer contains a black-and-white positive image of the person as a first piece of image information and a black-and-white negative image of the person as a second piece of image information. The positive image and the negative image are each formed from a plurality of sub-regions that are interleaved in the recording layer such that, when viewed through the lens arrangement, the positive image is reconstructed only in a substantially vertical viewing direction, and the negative image is reconstructed only in a predetermined, oblique viewing direction.

[0008] The second image information of the semi-transparent print layer contains a color extract of the person's colored identification image, which is visible both from the vertical and oblique viewing direction.

[0009] When viewed vertically, the identification document reveals the person's color identification image through the interaction of the black-and-white positive image of the recording layer and the color separation of the semi-transparent printing layer. When viewed from an oblique angle, a color control image is visible, created through the interaction of the black-and-white negative image of the recording layer and the color separation of the semi-transparent printing layer.

[0010] The recording layer is advantageously formed by a laser-modifiable layer that is modified, in particular blackened, by laser exposure in the partial areas forming the positive and negative images. For this purpose, the laser-modifiable layer advantageously contains an infrared absorber, such as soot particles, which, upon exposure to an IR laser, for example, an Nd:YAG laser or a CO2 laser, lead to local blackening of the recording layer.

[0011] In an advantageous embodiment, the identification image of the person is not recognizable from the predetermined, oblique viewing direction and the control image is not recognizable when viewed vertically.

[0012] According to an advantageous embodiment of the invention, the partially transparent print layer is formed by a screened print layer, in particular a screened print layer with opaque screen elements and transparent spaces. However, it is also possible to form the partially transparent print layer by a full-surface translucent print.

[0013] The partially transparent print layer is preferably applied directly to the lens arrangement. Furthermore, it is advantageously provided that the lens arrangement is formed by a relief structure with elevations and depressions located between the elevations. In the preferred case in which the partially transparent print layer is formed by a rasterized print layer, the raster elements of the partially transparent print layer are advantageously arranged at least partially, preferably predominantly, in the depressions of the relief structure. By being arranged partially or predominantly in the depressions of the lens arrangement, the raster elements of the partially transparent print layer are particularly well protected from environmental influences and mechanical damage. Typically, in a freshly produced identification document, raster elements of the partially transparent print layer are located both on the elevations and in the depressions of the relief structure.Due to wear, after prolonged use, for example, several years, the raster elements arranged in the recesses predominantly remain. The rasterized printing layer is therefore advantageously designed and applied to the relief structure in such a way that the raster elements arranged in the recesses alone have a high color density sufficient for reliable identification of the person.

[0014] In an advantageous development, the black-and-white negative image of the person in the recording layer is combined with alphanumeric information, which, when viewed through the lens arrangement, is also only reconstructed in the predetermined, oblique viewing direction and is not recognizable when viewed vertically. The alphanumeric information is advantageously in black and white, like the negative image. It can contain, for example, the person's name and / or date of birth, but also document-related information such as a document number, an issue date, country information, and the like.

[0015] The alphanumeric information of the black-and-white negative image is advantageously repeated on the identification document outside the personalization area, for example, in a bibliography area of ​​the identification document, in a window, or an applied patch or strip. The alphanumeric information of the black-and-white negative image can also be linked to information located outside the personalization area, for example, and together with it, they can be combined to form a single piece of information. These measures further increase protection against counterfeiting, since consistent changes to the information contained in the negative image and the information contained outside the personalization area represent a significant technical hurdle.

[0016] In an advantageous embodiment, the positive image and the negative image are each formed from a plurality of narrow stripes which are present alternately in the recording layer.

[0017] The color separation of the partially transparent printing layer is advantageously arranged in registration with the positive image and negative image of the recording layer formed by the plurality of partial areas. This ensures that the positive image of the recording layer and the color separation of the partially transparent printing layer complement each other from the perpendicular viewing direction to form the colored identification image of the person, and that the negative image of the recording layer and the color separation of the partially transparent printing layer complement each other from the predetermined oblique viewing direction to form the colored control image.

[0018] In a practical embodiment, the partial regions, in particular the strips of the positive image and the negative image, are spaced apart from one another in the recording layer. When viewing the identification document, a neutral viewing direction region lies between the vertical viewing direction and the predetermined oblique viewing direction, in which neither the positive image nor the negative image is reconstructed. The lens arrangement is advantageously formed by a plurality of parallel cylindrical lenses, in particular by cylindrical lenses with a width below the resolution limit of the human eye, preferably with a width of 165 μm or less, particularly preferably 100 μm or less.

[0019] The invention also includes a method for producing an identification document of the type mentioned, in which a color identification image of a person is provided and is separated into a color separation and a black-and-white portion, wherein the black-and-white portion of the identification image represents a black-and-white positive image of the person, the contrast of the black-and-white positive image of the person is inverted to obtain a black-and-white negative image of the person, a document blank is provided with a carrier having a personalization area with a laser-sensitive recording layer for recording a first image information and a lens arrangement for viewing the first image information of the recording layer, the document blank is exposed to laser radiation from a perpendicular exposure direction through the lens arrangement,in order to introduce the black-and-white positive image into first partial areas of the recording layer, the document blank is exposed to laser radiation from the predetermined oblique exposure direction through the lens arrangement in order to introduce the black-and-white negative image into second, different partial areas of the recording layer, and a partially transparent printing layer is formed on the lens arrangement, which contains the color separation of the identification image as second image information.

[0020] Further embodiments and advantages of the invention are explained below with reference to the figures, in which a true-to-scale and true-to-proportion reproduction has been omitted in order to increase clarity.

[0021] They show:

[0022] Fig. 1 shows schematically an identification card according to the invention in plan view,

[0023] Fig. 2 shows a cross-section of the identification card in the personalization area along the line II-II of Fig. 1,

[0024] Fig. 3 shows schematically the elements relevant for the appearance of the identification card in an exploded view, and

[0025] Fig. 4 in (a) and (b) the composition of the identification image and the control image from partial images.

[0026] The invention will now be explained using the example of identification cards. Figure 1 shows a schematic top view of an identification card 10, such as an identity card in credit card format. The identification card 10 contains a carrier 12, which has a partial area with a personalization area 14 for receiving image information that serves to identify the holder of the identification card 10. In addition to the personalization area 14, the identification card 10 typically also contains a bibliography area 16 for receiving further information, for example, about the cardholder and the identification card itself. In the personalization area 14, a vertical view of the identification card 10 shows a color passport photo of the holder, which is referred to below as identification image 50.In the figures, the letter "F" indicates the color of the identification image 50 and is not itself part of the identification image.

[0027] If the identification card 10 is viewed from an oblique viewing angle, for example at an angle of 30° to the vertical, a control image 60, described in more detail below, appears instead of the identification image 50, which also shows the holder of the identification card 10 in color, but which has a black and white portion that is inverted compared to the identification image 50 and which also shows additional alphanumeric information, for example the name and / or date of birth of the holder.

[0028] For a more detailed explanation of the structure, production and functioning of identification documents according to the invention, Fig. 2 shows a cross section of the identification card 10 in the personalization area 14 along the line II-II of Fig. 1, Fig. 3 shows schematically the elements relevant for the appearance of the card 10 in an exploded view, and Fig. 4 shows in (a) and (b) the composition of the identification image and the control image from partial images.

[0029] Referring first to Fig. 4(a), to produce the identification card 10, a color identification image 50 of the cardholder was created in the form of a color passport photograph and divided into a color separation 52 and a black-and-white portion 54. The letters "FA" indicate the color separation of a color image, and the letters "SW" indicate a black-and-white image. The black-and-white portion of the identification image 50 forms an independent, black-and-white positive image 54 of the cardholder.

[0030] In a further step, the contrast of the black-and-white portion 54 of the identification image 50 was inverted to obtain a black-and-white negative image of the cardholder. This negative image was then combined with the black-and-white alphanumeric information, such as the cardholder's name and date of birth, to create an enhanced black-and-white negative image 64 of the cardholder (Fig. 4(b)). The letters "INV-SW" indicate a black-and-white image with inverted contrast, and the letters "a-NUM" indicate the alphanumeric information contained therein.

[0031] By combining the enhanced black-and-white negative image 64 with the color separation 52 of the identification image, the color control image 60 is created upon subsequent viewing from the oblique viewing direction 36. The control image 60 shows the cardholder and their characteristic features, such as a beard or glasses, as well as moles, birthmarks, dimples, or scars. However, the overall appearance of the control image 60 is modified compared to the identification image 50 due to the inverted contrast of the black-and-white portion 64 and the added alphanumeric information.

[0032] Referring now to Fig. 2, the identification card 10 includes a carrier 12 having a laser-modified recording layer 20 in the personalization area 14, over which a lens arrangement 22 comprising a plurality of parallel cylindrical lenses 24 is applied. The cylindrical lenses 24 are narrow, cylindrical microlenses with a width below the resolution limit of the human eye, for example, a width of only 100 μm. An optical spacing layer can also be provided between the lens arrangement 22 and the recording layer 20. It is only important that the distance between the cylindrical lenses 24 and the recording layer 20 essentially corresponds to the focal length of the cylindrical lenses 24, as schematically indicated in Fig. 2.

[0033] The recording layer 20 is made laser-sensitive by the addition of an infrared absorber, for example carbon black pigments, and was provided with a desired first image information 30, 32 during the personalization of the identification card 10 by laser exposure.

[0034] Specifically, the black-and-white positive image 54 of the cardholder was introduced into the recording layer 20 by a perpendicular laser beam from direction 34 through the lens arrangement 22. Due to the focusing effect of the cylindrical lenses 24, a narrow strip 30 of the positive image is inscribed into the recording layer 20 beneath each lens. When viewed from the same perpendicular viewing direction 34, the inscribed positive image 54 is reconstructed from the strips 30 for a viewer 40. From oblique viewing angles, however, the viewer looks through the cylindrical lenses 24 at areas outside the strips 30, so that the positive image is not visible from these oblique viewing angles.

[0035] In order to be able to display a color identification image 50 with the identification card 10, a rasterized print layer 26 is additionally applied to the lens arrangement 22, which is partially transparent due to its rasterization. The rasterized print layer 26 contains, as second image information, the color separation 52 of the identification image 50, which is printed on the lens arrangement 22 in registration with the black and white positive image 54 formed by the stripes 30. As illustrated in the exploded view of Fig. 3, when viewed perpendicularly from direction 34, the viewer 40 sees both the black and white positive image 54 and the color separation 52 registered therewith due to the partial transparency of the rasterized print layer 26, so that the two images complement each other to form the color identification image 50 for the viewer 40.

[0036] To further increase the forgery security of the identification card 10, in addition to the black-and-white positive image 54, the extended, black-and-white negative image 64 of the holder was also inscribed into the recording layer 20 during personalization. The negative image 64 was generated by laser exposure from a predetermined, oblique direction 36, whereby a narrow strip 32 of the negative image is inscribed into the recording layer 20 due to the focusing effect of the cylindrical lenses 24 under each lens. When viewed from the same oblique viewing direction 36, the inscribed negative image 64 is reconstructed from the strips 32 for a viewer 42. From other oblique viewing angles and from the perpendicular viewing direction 34, however, the viewer looks through the cylindrical lenses 24 at areas outside the strips 32, so that the negative image is not visible from these viewing angles.

[0037] Due to the narrow width of the cylindrical lenses 24, the strips 32 and 30 introduced into the recording layer are located close to one another, so that the color separation 52 of the identification image 50, which is printed on the lens arrangement 22 in registration with the positive image 54, is also arranged in registration with the expanded negative image 64. As shown in the exploded view of Fig. 3, when viewed obliquely from the direction 36, the viewer 42 therefore sees both the expanded black-and-white negative image 64 and the color separation 52 registered therewith due to the partial transparency of the screened printing layer 26, so that the two images complement each other to form the color control image 60 for the viewer 42.

[0038] The inventive combination of a colored identification image 50 with a colored control image 60 visible from a different angle with inverted black and white contrast offers a number of advantages:

[0039] First, the color identification image 50 enables secure identification of the cardholder. The use of color printing for the rasterized print layer 26 and laser technology for generating the black-and-white information 30, 32 provides a high level of security against counterfeiting and results in a visual appearance with high attention value and high recognition.

[0040] The additionally provided colored control image 60 with inverted black-and-white contrast significantly increases the card's security against counterfeiting. To tamper with the card, it is then no longer sufficient to simply alter the positive image 54, for example, by adding a beard; inverse changes would have to be made to the negative image 64 at the same time. This represents a major hurdle, since while additional laser exposure might potentially create additional blackening (beard) in the stripes 30 of the positive image 54, it is practically impossible to create a corresponding lightening in the stripes 32 of the negative image 64 by laser exposure. The attempted tampering is therefore immediately recognizable when comparing the identification image 50 with the control image 60.

[0041] Both the identification image 50 and the control image 60 can occupy a relatively large area 14 on the identification card 10. This makes the security control image 60 easily recognizable, and the large identification image 50 is suitable for video identification procedures using a smartphone, such as Video-Ident.

[0042] The overlay of multiple security features in the same surface area 14 saves space, and the lens structure 22 is advantageously used multiple times. This leaves more room for additional information or security features on the limited surface of an identification document. Finally, the negative image 64, as described above, can accommodate further alphanumeric information, such as the name or date of birth of the holder, as well as card-related information, such as a card number, an issue date, and the like, providing an additional security effect. This alphanumeric information can be repeated or supplemented elsewhere in the identification document to further complicate or even prevent consistent manipulation.Due to the viewing angle dependence of the appearance, attempts at manipulation, such as overprinting with UV varnish or grinding down the lens arrangement with the partially transparent printing layer or the recording layer, are immediately recognizable as such.

[0043] List of reference symbols

[0044] 10 Identification card

[0045] 12 Carrier 14 Personalization area

[0046] 16 Bibliography section

[0047] 20 recording layer

[0048] 22 lens arrangement

[0049] 24 cylindrical lenses 30 strips of the positive image

[0050] 32 strips of the negative image

[0051] 34 vertical direction

[0052] 36 predetermined oblique direction

[0053] 40 Viewers from vertical direction 42 Viewers from oblique direction

[0054] 50 identification photos

[0055] 52 color separation

[0056] 54 black and white positive images

[0057] 60 control image 64 extended black and white negative image

Claims

P a t e n t a n s p r ü c h e 1. Identification document (10) for identifying a person with a colored identification image (50), with a carrier (12) which has a personalization area (14) for receiving image information, wherein the personalization area has a recording layer (20) for receiving first image information, a lens arrangement (22) for viewing the first image information and a semi-transparent printing layer (26) formed on the lens arrangement for receiving second image information, characterized in that the first image information of the recording layer contains as a first partial image information a black and white positive image (54) of the person and as a second partial image information a black and white negative image (64) of the person, the positive image (54) and the negative image (64) each consisting of a plurality of sub-areas (30;32) are formed, which are arranged in such a nested manner in the recording layer (20) that when viewed through the lens arrangement (22) the positive image (54) is reconstructed only in a substantially perpendicular viewing direction (34), and the negative image (64) is reconstructed only in a predetermined, oblique viewing direction (36), the second image information of the semi-transparent printing layer (26) contains a color extract (52) of the colored identification image (50) of the person, which is visible in both the perpendicular and the oblique viewing direction; so that when viewed vertically (34) the identification document, the colored identification image (50) of the person is recognizable through an interaction of the black and white positive image (54) of the recording layer (20) and the color separation (52) of the semi-transparent printing layer (26), and when viewed from the oblique viewing direction (36) a colored control image (60) is recognizable, which is created through an interaction of the black and white negative image (64) of the recording layer (20) and the color separation (52) of the semi-transparent printing layer (26).

2. Identification document according to claim 1, characterized in that the recording layer (20) is formed by a laser-modifiable layer which is modified, in particular blackened, by laser exposure in the sub-areas (30; 32) forming the positive image and the negative image.

3. Identification document according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the identification image (50) of the person is not recognizable from the predetermined, oblique viewing direction and the control image (60) is not recognizable when viewed vertically.

4. Identification document according to at least one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the semi-transparent printing layer (26) is formed by a rasterized printing layer, in particular a rasterized printing layer with opaque raster elements and transparent spaces.

5. Identification document according to at least one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that the semi-transparent printing layer (26) is applied directly to the lens arrangement (22).

6. Identification document according to at least one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that the lens arrangement (22) is formed by a relief structure with elevations and depressions located between the elevations, wherein, in the case that the semi-transparent printing layer (26) is formed by a rasterized printing layer, the raster elements of the semi-transparent printing layer are advantageously arranged at least partially, preferably predominantly, in the depressions of the relief structure.

7. Identification document according to at least one of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that the black and white negative image of the person in the recording layer (20) is combined with alphanumeric information which, when viewed through the lens arrangement (22), is also only reconstructed in the predetermined, oblique viewing direction and is not recognizable in the vertical viewing direction.

8. Identification document according to claim 7, characterized in that the alphanumeric information of the black and white negative image is repeated on the identification document outside the personalization area.

9. Identification document according to at least one of claims 1 to 8, characterized in that the positive image (54) and the negative image (64) are each formed from a plurality of narrow strips (30; 32) which are alternately present in the recording layer.

10. Identification document according to at least one of claims 1 to 9, characterized in that the color separation (62) of the semi-transparent printing layer (26) registers the color separation through the plurality of sub-areas The positive image and negative image of the recording layer (20) are arranged.

11. Identification document according to at least one of claims 1 to 10, characterized in that the sub-areas (30;32) , in particular the strips of the positive image and the negative image are spaced apart from each other in the recording layer (20), so that advantageously, when viewing, a neutral viewing direction area lies between the vertical viewing direction and the predetermined oblique viewing direction, in which neither the positive image nor the negative image is reconstructed.

12. Identification document according to at least one of claims 1 to 11, characterized in that the lens arrangement (22) is formed by a plurality of parallel cylindrical lenses (24), in particular by cylindrical lenses with a width below the resolution limit of the human eye, preferably with a width of 165 mm or less.

13. Method for producing an identification document according to any one of claims 1 to 12, wherein a color identification image (50) of a person is provided and is separated into a color extract (52) and a black-and-white portion, wherein the black-and-white portion of the identification image represents a black-and-white positive image (54) of the person, the black-and-white positive image is inverted in its contrast to obtain a black-and-white negative image (64) of the person, a document blank with a carrier is provided which has a personalization area with a laser-sensitive recording layer (20) for receiving first image information and a- a lens arrangement (22) for viewing the first image information of the recording layer (20), the document blank is subjected to laser radiation from a perpendicular direction (34) through the lens arrangement (22) in order to introduce the black and white positive image (54) into first sub-areas (30) of the recording layer, the document blank is subjected to laser radiation from the predetermined oblique direction (36) through the lens arrangement (22) in order to introduce the black and white negative image (64) into second, different sub-areas (32) of the recording layer (20), and a semi-transparent printing layer (26) is formed on the lens arrangement (22) which contains the color separation (52) of the identification image as second image information.

Images