Safety document and method for creating such a safety document

Abstract

The invention relates to a method for manufacturing a personalized security document (10) comprising a step of manufacturing a booklet having at least one paper page (12) and a paper page, a step of forming a lenticular array (22), the lenticular array (22) being adapted to be positioned opposite an area (20) of the paper page (12) when the booklet is in a determined open position, a step of covering the area (20) of the paper page (12) with a radiation-sensitive metallic foil (28), a step of applying radiation (28) to the metallic foil, through the lenticular array (22), capable of locally modifying the metallic area so as to produce positioning marks (30) defining at least the first longitudinal direction and the second direction of the lens array (24), a printing step,in a printing area (31) included in the area (20) of the paper page (12) of a colored pattern formed of at least two printed halftones (32) observable alternately through the lenticular grating (22), the position of each halftone being referenced on the positioning marks (30), so that the halftones (32) are parallel along the first direction of the lenticular grating (22). [Fig. 2],

Description

Title of the invention: Security document and method of manufacturing such a security document

[0001] The invention relates to security documents formed of several pages such as passports. Traditionally, these security documents comprise a booklet formed of several paper pages, two cover pages and a data page on which data of the holder of the document are written. The data page is made of a rigid plastic, such as polycarbonate, and comprises at least one transparent area forming a window through which it is possible to view information written on the page preceding or following the data page.

[0002] Generally the assembly consisting of the booklet of paper pages, the data page and the covers are assembled together by means of a central seam, the data page being able to have a flexible hinge adapted to be sewn without being damaged.

[0003] It is apparent from this construction that the data page can be easily removed by detaching the seam and consequently replaced by another falsified data page. The present invention proposes a solution for detecting whether the data page is an authentic page, that is to say whether the data page is indeed the original data page of the security document, or on the contrary whether it is a falsified data page of a fraudulent document which can be used to give a false identity or which can be used to usurp the identity of a third party.

[0004] To this end, the present invention proposes linking the data page to the subsequent paper page by a security element consisting of a first part integrated into the data page and a second part integrated into the paper page. The two parts are intrinsically linked and their association forms a security element making it possible to generate information making it possible to authenticate the security document.

[0005] Document FR3112097 discloses a passport comprising a security element formed by a frame on a support page, the frame consisting of a series of alternating light and dark zones, the passport further comprising a lenticular network on a window of a data page, the lenticular network being superimposed on the frame to alternately display a first light image or a second dark image through the lenticular network.

[0006] Also known from document FR3084850 is a passport comprising two interlaced frames and a lenticular network adapted to be superimposed on the frames so that when the document passes from a first opening configuration to a second opening configuration, the lenticular network shifts to overlap a first part of the frame onto a second part of the frame to create a moiré effect.

[0007] Document EP2162295 discloses a security document comprising a page on which data is written and at least part of this data includes hidden information that is not discernible to the naked eye. A revealing means on an additional page makes it possible, by placing it against the first page, to reveal hidden information.

[0008] The production of the security elements linking the plastic page to the paper page requires perfect alignment between the lenticular network located on the plastic page and the printed frames produced on the paper page so that the lenses of the lenticular network can focus perfectly on the printed frames. However, this problem has not been resolved to date due to the successive stages of manufacturing such a security document. Indeed, the lenticular network is produced by embossing along an axis perpendicular to the short side of the plastic page, and the printing of the frames is carried out in a direction perpendicular to the short side of the paper page. Due to manufacturing tolerances, it is not certain that a print of the frames is obtained which is perfectly parallel to the direction of the lenses of the lenticular network.

[0009] In the event of misalignment, when the lens and the print are superimposed, a moiré effect appears since an angular offset is introduced between the lens array and the printed image. This produces an undesired visual effect which depends on the offset angle between the lenticular array and the printed screen array.

[0010] The present invention aims to improve the solutions of the prior art by proposing a security document improving the security elements integrated therein, to make the task of a potential counterfeiter more difficult while offering an alternative to the solutions of the prior art and offering greater simplicity of manufacture and a quality visual result.

[0011] To this end, the invention relates to a method for manufacturing a personalized security document comprising a step of manufacturing a booklet comprising at least one paper page and one consecutive plastic page connected together by a seam, the plastic page 14 being delimited by two faces, A step of forming, on the face opposite the paper page, a lenticular network extending in a first longitudinal direction and a second direction, the lenticular network being adapted to be arranged opposite an area of ​​the paper page when the booklet is in a determined opening position, a step of covering the area of ​​the paper page with a metal sheet sensitive to radiation so as to form a metallic zone, A step of applying to the metallic sheet, in the determined opening position, radiation, through the lenticular network, capable of locally modifying the metallic zone so as to produce positioning marks defining at least the first longitudinal direction and the second direction of the lens network, A step of printing, in a printing area included in the area of ​​the paper page, outside the metal area, a colored pattern formed of at least two printed screens observable alternately through the lenticular network, the position of each screen being referenced on the positioning marks, so that the screens are parallel along the first direction of the lenticular network.

[0012] Thanks to these arrangements, it is possible to perfectly align the screens of a printed pattern on the paper page with the lenticular network of the plastic page. The invention therefore makes it possible to avoid any deviation in the positioning of the printed pattern and to guarantee correct observation of the screens through the lenses.

[0013] Advantageously,

[0014] the lenticular array is an array of cylindrical lenses extending longitudinally in the first direction and having an array pitch,

[0015] the modification of the metal zone consists of a local ablation of the metal sheet,

[0016] the positioning marks have a dimension greater than the pitch of the lenticular network,

[0017] the metal area forms a frame surrounding the printing area,

[0018] the frame is rectangular and has four positioning marks located in each of the four corners,

[0019] the lenticular network has a pitch, each frame having the same pitch as the lenticular network.

[0020] The invention also relates to a personalized security document comprising a booklet comprising at least one paper page and one consecutive plastic page connected together by a seam, the plastic page being delimited by two faces a lenticular network extending in a first longitudinal direction and a second direction, the lenticular network being adapted to be arranged opposite an area of ​​the paper page when the booklet is in a determined open position, a metal sheet, on the area of ​​the paper page, sensitive to radiation so as to form a metal area, the metal sheet being modified locally so as to produce positioning marks defining at least the first longitudinal direction and the second direction of the lens network, a print, in a print area included in the area of ​​the paper page, outside the metallic area, of a colored pattern formed of at least two printed screens observable alternately through the lenticular network, the position of each screen being referenced on the positioning marks, so that the screens are parallel along the first direction of the lenticular network.

[0021] Other embodiments and advantages of the invention are described below with reference to the figures, in which:

[0022] [Fig. 1][Fig. 1] illustrates an identity document according to the invention before the personalization step

[0023] [Fig.2][Fig.2] describes an intermediate step in the production of the identity document

[0024] [Fig.3] [Fig.3] illustrates a first step in the personalization of the identity document security

[0025] [Fig.4][Fig.4] illustrates a second stage of the security document.

[0026] The present invention provides a solution for ensuring the alignment of the printed frames with the lenticular network of a security document and, in particular, it provides a method for manufacturing a security document. The description of the manufacturing method will be made with reference to the schematic representations of Figures 1 to 4.

[0027] A security document 10 according to the invention is for example a passport, but could correspond to any other type of security document 10 in the form of a booklet, such as a family record book.

[0028] First of all, the method consists of providing a notebook or booklet comprising several paper pages 12. Such a document 10 generally comprises a booklet of several paper pages 12 assembled with a front cover page and a back cover page. The cover pages are traditionally laminated or cardboard so as to make the document 10 or passport more robust to external stresses. Generally, the booklet of paper pages 12 comprises a first page, called the cover page, glued to the inside face of the cover page and a last page, glued to the inside face of the back cover page.

[0029] Then the method consists of providing a data page 14 made of a rigid plastic material, generally polycarbonate. All of the cover pages, the paper pages 12 of the booklet and the data page, also called plastic page, 14 are connected by means of a central seam 16 determining the folding axis of the document 10 such as a passport. A flexible hinge, for example made of PET or PVC, is assembled to the data page 14, for example by local welding, this hinge being adapted to be sewn with the other paper pages 12 of the booklet.

[0030] Thus the document 10 can be configured in several positions, around the folding axis formed by the seam 16, extending between a fully open position in which the angle formed between two consecutive pages is substantially equal to 180° and a closed position, in which the front cover page and the back cover page form an angle equal to 0°.

[0031] Furthermore, the document 10 can have a multitude of open positions, called intermediate positions, in which two consecutive pages form an angle greater than 0° and less than 180°, in practice: greater than 90°, so that a user can view the information entered on the page of said document 10. Figures 1 and 2 illustrate such an intermediate position.

[0032] As indicated above, the document 10 according to the invention comprises a plastic data page 14 on which data relating to the bearer are written. This data page 14 is illustrated in [Fig. 1] [Fig. 1]. Traditionally this data page 14 is made of a rigid substrate, such as opaque polycarbonate.

[0033] The data page 14 has at least one transparent zone forming a window 18, that is to say through which it is possible to observe a zone 20 of a paper page 12 consecutive to the data page. Thus the transparent window 18 of the data page 14 makes it possible to view, through this window 18, information from one or other of the paper pages which is consecutive to it. This window 18 is illustrated by a rectangular white zone in [Fig. 1] [Fig. 1], and the zone 20 of the consecutive paper page 12 which can be observed is delimited by a dotted rectangle in this same [Fig. 1] [Fig. 1]. The window 18 can be formed by techniques known to those skilled in the art. For example, it may be formed by not printing locally at the window area 18 or by inserting a transparent patch into a cutout of the data page substrate 14.

[0034] The transparent window 18 of the data page 14 further comprises, on part or all of its surface, a lenticular network 22 formed of cylindrical lenses 24 extending in a first longitudinal direction parallel to the axis of the seam 16 and in a second direction. According to a preferred embodiment, the second direction is perpendicular to the first longitudinal direction. By way of example, the parameters of this lens network 24 are as follows: pitch of approximately 400-450 pm, lens height between 40 and 60 pm and lens radius between 500 pm and 560 pm. The lenticular network 22 is formed on the face of the data page 14 by embossing or by local deformation by applying laser radiation 28. The formation of the lenticular network 22 is carried out prior to the assembly by sewing 16 of the data page 14 with the booklet.The lenticular network 22 is formed so that the longitudinal direction of the cylindrical lenses 24 extends perpendicular to the smallest edge of the data page 14. For this purpose the lenticular network will be produced on the face located on the side opposite the paper page 12 receiving the information to be observed through the lenticular network 22.

[0035] The lenticular network 22 of the window 18 is then arranged opposite the zone 20 of the paper page 12. In particular, when the booklet is in a determined opening position, the lenticular network 22 is arranged in a determined position relative to the zone 20 of the paper page 12. This position may vary depending on the opening angle of the identity document 10.

[0036] Then the data page 14 is positioned and assembled between two paper pages of the booklet, generally between the first paper page, called the cover page, and the second paper page and then assembled to these paper pages 12 by sewing 16. This assembly is carried out so that the smaller sides of the paper pages 12 and of the data page 14 are parallel to each other and aligned.

[0037] The method for manufacturing the identity document 10 further comprises a step of covering the area 20 of the paper page 12 with a very thin metal foil, for example between 10 and 50 nm. For example, the metal foil is an aluminum patch with a thickness of between 10 nm and 40 nm. Other materials may be used to make the patch, such as silver, copper, zinc sulfide, or a metal oxide such as titanium oxide. The area covered with the metal foil will be referred to in the remainder of the description as the metal area 26. Preferably, the deposition of this thin metal foil on the paper page 12 is carried out before the assembly by stitching 16 of the pages of the security document 10, but it could also be carried out after this assembly.

[0038] Preferably the metal zone 26 forms a frame in the zone 20 of the paper page 12 and delimits an interior space which will be described in the remainder of the description.

[0039] The material of the metal sheet is chosen to be sensitive to radiation 28 to be locally transformed under the action of such radiation 28. For example, the material is sensitive to radiation 28 from a YAG laser (1063nm)

[0040] The method for manufacturing the security document 10 then comprises a step of applying laser radiation 28 to the metal sheet, in a determined opening position, through the lenticular network 22. This radiation 28 is capable of locally modifying the metal sheet so as to produce positioning marks 30 defining at least the first longitudinal direction and the second direction of the lens network 24. This step is represented schematically by the appended [Fig.2][Fig.2].

[0041] The laser radiation 28 locally carries out a modification of the metal sheet, for example an ablation, in order to create positioning marks 30 on the frame formed by said metal sheet. The radiation 28 is configured to remove the metal sheet without burning the paper sheet located below the metal sheet. Preferably, three or even four positioning marks 30 are produced in order to correct possible transformations linked to the re-processing processes. printing. The positioning marks 30 then define the first longitudinal direction and the second direction of the lens array 24. Furthermore, the positioning marks 30 can have various shapes such as a cross, a triangle or a disc. The dimension of the positioning mark has a minimum dimension to be detected by the laser camera through the lens. For this purpose, this dimension must be greater than the pitch of the lens.

[0042] The method according to the invention further comprises a step of printing, by a printing device 36, in a printing zone 31 included in the zone 20 of the paper page 12, outside the part covered with the metal sheet, a colored pattern formed of at least two printed screens 32 observable alternately through the lenticular network 22, each screen being referenced on the positioning marks 30, so that the screens 32 are parallel along the first direction of the lenticular network 22.

[0043] For this purpose, the method comprises a step of detecting the positioning marks 30 present on the metal sheet of the paper page 12 by means of a camera 34 connected to the printing device 36. This is schematically represented in [Fig. 3] [Fig. 3]. When the positioning marks 30 are detected, their coordinates are sent to a processing system of the printer which will then take said positioning marks 30 as a reference to print the frames 32. This printing step is schematically illustrated by [Fig. 4] [Fig. 4].

[0044] Each frame comprises a series of printed parallel bands which, when viewed selectively through the lenticular network 22, form an overall image visible to the naked eye. For example, if two frames 32 are printed, each of the two frames 32 will generate, in association with the lenticular network 22, two distinct images (one image per frame). Indeed, when said lenticular network 22 is arranged opposite the set of two frames 32 and in particular when each lens focuses the incident light through the lens onto a band of one frame, it will be possible to observe the image associated with this frame and when each lens focuses the incident light through the lens onto a band of the other frame, it will be possible to observe the other image.

[0045] The security document 10 thus obtained is remarkable in that it allows one or more images to be observed through the lenticular network 22 clearly and without any blurring effect on the observed image thanks to the perfect alignment of the lenticular network 22 and the printed frames 32.

[0046] It is thus possible to observe one or the other image alternately by moving the point of convergence (or focus) of the lenticular network 22 relative to the overall frame.

[0047] According to a first variant, this movement can be a translation movement perpendicular to the direction of the bands of the overall frame obtained by modifying the opening angle between the data page 14 and the paper page 12.

[0048] According to a second variant, this relative displacement is obtained by modifying the angle of observation of the document 10 in a determined opening position. Indeed, the lenticular network 22 and the two frames 32 are arranged to allow, in an opening position of the document 10, the generation of the first image according to a first direction of observation of the document 10. By modifying this direction of observation, while keeping the opening position of the document 10, the lenticular network 22 in association with the two frames 32 will generate the other second image, observable according to a second direction of observation of the document 10. It is therefore possible for the user to alternately observe the first and second images by tilting the document 10 according to different angles of observation.

[0049] Thanks to the method according to the invention, it is made possible to align the frame strips 32 very precisely with the lenses 24 of the network. Thus each image will be seen clearly and distinctly. This avoids a “ghost” image effect seen through the lenticular network 22 when the latter mistakenly focuses on two different frames 32 due to poor alignment of the frames 32 and the present invention also makes it possible to avoid a blurring effect in the transition of the images.

Claims

Claims

1. A method of manufacturing a personalized security document (10) comprising a step of manufacturing a booklet comprising at least one paper page (12) and one consecutive plastic page connected together by a seam (16), the plastic page (14) being delimited by two faces, A step of forming, on the face opposite the paper page (12), a lenticular network (22) extending in a first longitudinal direction and a second direction, the lenticular network (22) being adapted to be arranged opposite an area (20) of the paper page (12) when the booklet is in a determined open position, a step of covering the area (20) of the paper page (12) with a metal sheet sensitive to radiation (28) so as to form a metal area (26), A step of applying radiation (28) to the metal sheet, in the determined open position, through the lenticular network (22),able to locally modify the metal zone so as to produce positioning marks (30) defining at least the first longitudinal direction and the second direction of the lens array (24), A step of printing, in a printing zone (31) included in the zone (20) of the paper page (12), outside the metal zone (26), a colored pattern formed of at least two printed frames (32) observable alternately through the lenticular array (22), the position of each frame being referenced on the positioning marks (30), so that the frames (32) are parallel along the first direction of the lenticular array (22).,

2. Manufacturing method according to the preceding claim, in which the lenticular array (22) is an array of cylindrical lenses (24) extending longitudinally in the first direction and having an array pitch.

3. Manufacturing method according to one of the preceding claims, in which the modification of the metal zone (26) consists of a local ablation of the metal sheet.

4. A manufacturing method according to claim 2, wherein the positioning marks (30) have a dimension greater than the pitch of the lenticular array (22).

5. Manufacturing method according to one of the preceding claims, in which the metal zone (26) forms a frame surrounding the printing zone (31).

6. A manufacturing method according to the preceding claim, wherein the frame is rectangular and has four positioning marks (30) located in each of the four corners.

7. A manufacturing method according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the lenticular network (22) has a pitch, each frame having the same pitch as the lenticular network (22).

8. Personalized security document (10) comprising a booklet comprising at least one paper page (12) and one consecutive plastic page connected together by a seam (16), the plastic page (14) being delimited by two faces a lenticular network (22) extending in a first longitudinal direction and a second direction, the lenticular network (22) being adapted to be arranged opposite an area (20) of the paper page (12) when the booklet is in a determined open position, a metal foil, on the area (20) of the paper page (12), sensitive to radiation (28) so as to form a metal zone (26), the metal foil being modified locally so as to produce positioning marks (30) defining at least the first longitudinal direction and the second direction of the lens network (24), A print, in a print area (31) included in the area (20) of the paper page (12),outside the metallic zone (26), a colored pattern formed of at least two printed frames (32) observable alternately through the lenticular network (22), the position of each frame being referenced on the positioning marks (30), so that the frames (32) are parallel along the first direction of the lenticular network (22).,

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