Method for creating electronic document including concealed magnetic strip, and electronic document obtainable by the method

Abstract

To provide a method for creating an electronic document containing concealed magnetic strip.SOLUTION: A method for creating an electronic document that includes a concealed magnetic strip, comprising: providing a surface of the electronic document body; applying a magnetic strip to at least a portion of the surface of the electronic document body, wherein a visible surface formed by the surface of the body at least partially covered by the magnetic strip has a Delta E contrast of 15 or less; and applying decoration that covers the surface of the body over the magnetic strip, wherein the decoration has a thickness of at most 10 μm and an opacity of at least 70% in the visible wavelength range.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 4

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a method for creating an electronic document, and more particularly to a method for creating an electronic document that includes a concealed magnetic strip. The present invention also relates to an electronic document obtained by such a method. [Background technology]

[0002] Conventionally, to create an electronic document containing a concealed magnetic strip, the magnetic strip (usually black) is applied to a backing (usually white), and then a concealing layer is applied over the magnetic strip to reduce the contrast between the black of the magnetic strip and the white of the backing, which often corresponds to a gray layer, such as a layer created by printing a silver ink.

[0003] Document DE102006023084A1 describes a document, such as a credit card, which is provided on one of its surfaces with a magnetic layer and a reflective, non-conductive layer arranged on top of the magnetic layer.

[0004] However, decorations are generally created on the surface of the document.

[0005] Additionally, decorations often include a background layer, typically white, upon which a pattern or illustration is created.

[0006] Therefore, the magnetic strip is not only located under the concealment layer, but also under the decoration.

[0007] However, the more the magnetic strip is covered, the lower the quality of the magnetic strip's response.

[0008] One possibility to remedy this drawback is to use wider magnetic strips, which can be obtained, for example, by a particular physical structure.

[0009] Typically, to properly conceal such a magnetic strip, it is preferred to apply at least one concealing layer having a total thickness that is at least 4 μm.

[0010] In such an enhanced magnetic strip, all the layers applied one above the other (i.e. the concealing layer(s) and the decoration) therefore generally present a thickness comprised between about 7 μm and 12 μm.

[0011] However, even with enhanced magnetic strips, it is very difficult to obtain a product whose magnetic strip efficiency complies with the requirements of the ISO standard.

[0012] Thus, the effectiveness of a magnetic strip within an electronic document depends not only on the width of the magnetic strip, but also on the thickness of the various layers covering the magnetic strip. Summary of the Invention

[0013] In this context, the object of the present invention is to at least partially overcome the aforementioned drawbacks while also being able to bring about other advantages.

[0014] To this end, according to a first aspect, there is provided a method for creating an electronic document including a concealed magnetic strip, comprising: - providing a surface of an electronic document body; - applying a magnetic strip to at least a portion of the surface of the body of an electronic document, such that the visible surface formed by the surface of the body at least partially covered by the magnetic strip has a Delta E contrast of 15 or less, or even 10 or less; - applying a decoration covering the surface of the body onto the magnetic strip, the decoration having a thickness of at most 10 μm and an opacity of at least 70% in the visible wavelength range; A method is provided, comprising:

[0015] The magnetic strip is therefore located between the surface of the body and the decoration.

[0016] According to the invention, the magnetic strip conceals at least part of the surface of the body, so that the part of the surface of the body that is not masked is the complementary part of the part that is masked.

[0017] The visible surface is thus formed by the magnetic strip and the complementary portion.

[0018] Thus, Delta E contrast relates to the boundary between the color of the magnetic strip, then called the first color, and the color of the surface of the electronic document body to which the magnetic strip is applied, called the second color.

[0019] In certain embodiments, the magnetic strip covers the entire surface of the body.

[0020] In other words, the step of applying the magnetic strip to at least a portion of the surface of the body then includes applying the magnetic strip to the entire surface of the body.

[0021] In this case, the visible surface is formed only by the magnetic strip, so the Delta E contrast is 0 (zero).

[0022] It then becomes more difficult, if not impossible, to identify the boundary between the magnetic strip and the unmasked portion of the body surface.

[0023] Delta E contrast, as used herein, is advantageously a measure of color deviation defined by the International Committee on Illumination (CIE), for example as described in the 1976 CIE standard: ISO 11664.

[0024] Thus, for example, Delta E, dE, or even ΔE, is defined as a measure of the Euclidean distance between two colors considered in a color space. For example, the following formula was established by the CIE in 1976:

number

[0025] During the ceremony, -L1 * , a1 * , b1 * are the coordinates in the CIELAB color space of the first color to be considered, -L2 * , a2 * , b2 * are the coordinates of the second color.

[0026] However, other formulas exist for calculating Delta E (CIE 1976, CIE 1994, CIE 2000, CMC).

[0027] In this specification, wavelengths in the visible region refer to wavelengths of approximately 380 nm to 780 nm.

[0028] In this specification, a decoration is considered to be opaque if it has an opacity, i.e., ability to obscure, masking power under medium intensity lighting, of at least 70%, or even 75%, or even 80%, or even 85%, or even 90%, or even 95%.

[0029] The decoration is therefore designed to appear opaque in the visual field so that under normal lighting, i.e., natural light or general lighting within a building, the boundary between the backing and the magnetic strip is concealed or it is very difficult, if not impossible, to discern whether the magnetic strip covers the entire surface.

[0030] The magnetic strip can be visually detected by two effects: contrast with the surface of the body, or brightness difference.

[0031] Therefore, reducing the contrast is often not enough to conceal the magnetic strip, and if the magnetic strip covers the entire surface, the absence of decoration will at least be noticeable.

[0032] Thus, the opacity and Delta E contrast of the decoration form a tunable pair herein to obtain the desired concealment of the magnetic strip.

[0033] In fact, the higher the Delta E contrast, the more opaque the decoration needs to be.

[0034] Conversely, the lower the Delta E contrast, the less opaque the decoration needs to be, in other words, it can therefore have a relatively low opacity, for example 75% or even 70%.

[0035] It is therefore possible to reduce the total thickness of the layers applied over the magnetic strip of an electronic document having a concealed magnetic strip, particularly by reducing the Delta E contrast.

[0036] This therefore allows for better compliance with the magnetic strip width criteria set out in the standard.

[0037] At the same time, the permissible layer thickness above the magnetic strip can be expanded to a greater extent, which allows a greater variety of possibilities to be envisaged for creating the decoration.

[0038] The decoration herein can be formed in one or more layers.

[0039] According to an exemplary implementation, applying decoration includes at least one step of printing at least one decoration layer.

[0040] In certain exemplary embodiments, the decoration may thus be silver or gold, for example formed with a silver or gold color print, and may also be white print (or another color).

[0041] According to an interesting embodiment, the step of applying the decoration comprises applying a decorative background on the surface of the body and above the magnetic strip.

[0042] Thus, the magnetic strip is disposed between the decorative background and the surface of the body.

[0043] The decorative background is for example a plain layer, for example white.

[0044] According to another embodiment, the decorative background may include a pattern and / or may be of several colors (multicolored or monochrome with several levels).

[0045] According to an interesting embodiment, the step of applying decoration comprises a step of applying an illustration layer on top of a decorative background, if there is one.

[0046] Thus, the magnetic strip is disposed between the illustration layer and the surface of the body.

[0047] Thus, in effect, the decorative background is contained between the magnetic strip and the illustration layer.

[0048] According to another interesting embodiment, the step of applying the decoration also comprises the step of applying a protective layer on top of the decorative background and / or on top of the illustration layer.

[0049] The protective layer is, for example, a varnish, such as a clear varnish.

[0050] Thus, decoration may include, for example, a decorative background, an illustration layer, and / or a protective layer.

[0051] According to a first option, the decorative background, the illustration layer and / or the protective layer are pre-assembled, i.e. superimposed, and the decoration thus formed is applied onto the magnetic strip.

[0052] Or, according to a second option, a decorative background is applied to the magnetic strip, then an illustration layer is applied to the decorative background, and / or a protective layer is applied to the illustration layer or directly to the decorative background.

[0053] Therefore, in an interesting embodiment, the decoration is designed to fit the final image.

[0054] Thus, for example, the inks used to achieve the desired final image depend on the decorative background and illustration layers.

[0055] Considering a decorative background formed from white ink, if the decorative background is highly opaque, the inks of the illustration layer can be selected for printing that is considered "on a white background."

[0056] On the other hand, if the decorative background is not very opaque, it will give a "gray effect" (for example, it is taken into account that the decorative background is formed by white ink but is not very opaque, while the magnetic strip is entirely black), so the choice of ink color for the illustration layer is modified to obtain the final image, i.e., the desired opacity of the decoration.

[0057] In an exemplary implementation, applying the decoration includes screen printing from a fabric having a mesh of at least 100 LPI (Lines Per Inch), or even 120 LPI.

[0058] The unit LPI (Lines Per Inch) or LPC (Lines Per cm) is a standard unit of measurement in the field of screen printing that defines the number of threads per inch or centimeter of fabric used in this type of printing.

[0059] According to an exemplary implementation, applying the magnetic strip to at least a portion of the surface of the body includes printing ink onto at least a portion of the surface of the body, the ink being designed to form the magnetic strip.

[0060] The ink is, for example, magnetic ink. According to another exemplary implementation, applying the magnetic strip to at least a portion of the surface of the body includes providing a tape including the magnetic strip, the tape including a backing and the magnetic strip applied to the backing, and transferring the magnetic strip from the tape backing to the surface of the body.

[0061] Thus, the magnetic strip is, for example, located between the surface of the body and the tape backing.

[0062] The tape backing is, for example, a plastic sheet, such as a sheet made of PET (poly(ethylene terephthalate), also called polyethylene terephthalate), the surface on which the magnetic strip is provided.

[0063] For example, transferring the magnetic strip from the tape to the surface may include laminating the tape to the surface of the body.

[0064] Lamination can be done at high or low temperatures with the aid of an adhesive.

[0065] According to an exemplary implementation, the method includes providing a substrate including a surface of any color, and then applying a layer of a second color to the surface of the substrate of any color, the second layer of color forming the surface of the body of the document.

[0066] For example, applying a layer of a second color to the surface of a substrate of any color may include printing an ink of the second color onto the surface of the substrate of any color.

[0067] For this purpose, all types of printing methods may be suitable, such as for example lithography, screen printing, flexography, inkjet, etc.

[0068] According to another exemplary implementation, the method includes providing a substrate that is colored with a second color from a top surface throughout at least a portion of its thickness, the top surface of the overall colored substrate forming a surface of the body of the second color.

[0069] A second aspect also proposes an electronic document comprising a concealed magnetic strip, obtained by the method described above.

[0070] Specifically, such electronic documents: a body including a surface; a magnetic strip applied to at least a portion of the surface of the body of the electronic document, such that the surface of the body at least partially covered by the magnetic strip forms a visible surface having a Delta E contrast of 15 or less, or even 10 or less; a decoration applied to the surface of the body and covering the magnetic strip, the decoration having a thickness of at most 10 μm and an opacity of at least 70% in the visible wavelength range; Includes.

[0071] Such electronic documents therefore have the same advantages as those presented above as part of the present method.

[0072] In an exemplary embodiment, the magnetic strip covers the entire surface of the body.

[0073] The visible surface is thus formed by the magnetic strip.

[0074] Therefore, the Delta E contrast is 0 (zero).

[0075] In an exemplary embodiment in which the magnetic strip covers only a portion of the surface of the body, the Delta E contrast is determined between a first color of the magnetic strip and a second color of the surface of the body.

[0076] In an exemplary embodiment, the decoration includes a decorative background.

[0077] For example, a decorative background may be applied to the surface of the body and cover the magnetic strip.

[0078] The decorative background is for example a plain layer, for example white.

[0079] According to another embodiment, the decorative background may include a pattern and / or may be of several colors (multicolored or monochrome with several levels).

[0080] According to one embodiment, the decoration comprises an illustration layer.

[0081] For example, an illustration layer may be applied to a decorative background.

[0082] In an exemplary embodiment, the decoration comprises a protective layer applied to a decorative background or illustration layer.

[0083] The protective layer is, for example, a varnish, such as a clear varnish.

[0084] According to one embodiment, the body of the electronic document includes a substrate having a surface of any color and a layer of a second color applied to the surface of the substrate of any color, the layer of the second color forming the surface of the body of the document to which the magnetic strip is applied.

[0085] According to another embodiment, the body of the electronic document includes a substrate that is colored with a second color from its top surface through at least a portion of its thickness, the top surface of the overall colored substrate forming the surface of the body of the document to which the magnetic strip is applied. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0086] According to exemplary embodiments, the invention will be better understood and its advantages better shown by reading the following detailed description, given by way of non-limiting example with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: [Figure 1] 1 shows a schematic of the main steps of a conventional method for producing a document containing a concealed magnetic strip; [Figure 2] 1 schematically illustrates a method for creating an electronic document including a concealed magnetic strip, according to an exemplary implementation of the present invention. [Figure 3] 10 is a diagram that schematically illustrates a method for creating an electronic document that includes a hidden magnetic strip covering the entire surface of the body, according to another exemplary implementation of the present invention. [Figure 4] 1 illustrates a cross-sectional view of an electronic document including a concealed magnetic strip, according to one embodiment of the present invention. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0087] Identical features shown in the above figures are identified by identical reference numbers.

[0088] FIG. 1 shows the main steps of a method 10 for creating an electronic document containing a concealed magnetic strip according to the prior art.

[0089] Such a method 10 typically includes the step 11 of assembling at least one magnetic strip onto the surface of the body of the electronic document.

[0090] Conventionally, the magnetic strip is black, or sometimes grey, while the body of the electronic document, and more importantly the surface to which the magnetic strip is applied, is white.

[0091] Thus, there is a significant contrast between the magnetic strip and the body.

[0092] To conceal the magnetic strip, the method typically includes step 12 of applying a silver layer (i.e., considered gray, e.g., by screen printing), which thus represents the first step in breaking up the contrast between the white of the body and the black of the magnetic strip. To achieve sufficient coverage, the silver layer generally has a thickness of at least 4 μm.

[0093] The method then generally includes step 13 of applying a white layer (also called a "white layer"), for example also by screen printing, which thus represents a second step of reducing the contrast between the white color of the body and the black color of the magnetic strip, but in addition this white layer serves as a background for applying decoration to the surface of the electronic document, as shown here in steps 14 and 15.

[0094] Thus, for example, the method includes a step 14 of applying an illustration, for example by lithography, to the background formed by the white layer, and then the method includes a step 15 of applying a varnish, for example by screen printing, to protect the illustration.

[0095] Thus, in such a method, the resulting electronic document comprises, above the magnetic strip, at least two so-called "hiding" layers: a silver layer (applied here in step 12) and a white layer (applied here in step 13), followed by an illustration layer (applied here in step 14), and a varnish layer (applied here in step 15).

[0096] The assembly of layers applied during steps 12 to 15 generally presents a thickness of 7 μm to 12 μm, and this assembly tends to reduce the performance of the magnetic strip.

[0097] Thus, a method 20 according to an exemplary implementation of the present invention is illustrated schematically in FIG.

[0098] A method 20 for creating an electronic document including a concealed magnetic strip according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention then includes step 23 of applying a magnetic strip 33 of a "first" color, e.g., black here, to a portion of surface 310 (here shown in step 22) of the electronic document body, surface 310 being of a "second" color, e.g., black.

[0099] In this exemplary embodiment, the electronic document is cut from a board that may contain several columns (eg, 24 columns) of electronic document format.

[0100] Here, for purposes of illustration, the figures represent boats which may include some formats with three rows and therefore the presence of three magnetic strips 33.

[0101] The body of the document then has a visible surface 34 formed by the uncovered surface 310 of the body and by one of the magnetic strips 33 .

[0102] Thus, a Delta E contrast is determined between the second color of the unmasked body surface 310 and the first color of the magnetic strip 33 .

[0103] Considering that they are both black, the Delta E contrast is herein less than 10, or even substantially close to zero (0).

[0104] In addition, the method includes steps 24 , 25 , 26 of applying decorations 35 , 36 , 37 onto the magnetic strip 33 , for example.

[0105] The decorations 35, 36, 37 have a thickness of at most 10 μm and are opaque to wavelengths in the visible range.

[0106] This decoration is applied by conventional printing methods such as offset printing and screen printing. In the context of this embodiment of the invention, the single color layer is produced by screen printing and the multicolor layer is produced by offset.

[0107] Thus, not only can the silver masking layer be omitted, but in addition fewer layers can be applied over the magnetic strip.

[0108] Herein, decoration includes, for example, a decorative background 35 , an illustration layer 36 , and a protective layer 37 .

[0109] The method therefore includes a step 24 of applying a decorative background 35 over the magnetic strip 33 .

[0110] The decorative background 35 may be, for example, a plain layer, for example white, as shown here by way of example only, or it may be otherwise. According to another embodiment, the decorative background may comprise a pattern and / or may be of several colors (multicolored or monochrome in several levels).

[0111] The magnetic strip 33 is therefore positioned between the decorative background 35 and the second color surface 310 of the body.

[0112] The method further includes a step 25 of applying an illustration layer 36 over the decorative background 35 .

[0113] Thus, the decorative background 35 is contained between the magnetic strip 33 and the illustration layer 36 .

[0114] Thus, illustration layer 36 now shows that three rows of electronic documents are formed in accordance with the three magnetic strips 33 created on surface 310 .

[0115] And finally, the method further includes step 26 here of applying a protective layer 37 over the illustration layer 36 .

[0116] The protective layer 37 is, for example, a varnish, such as a clear varnish.

[0117] For example, in this example shown in Figure 2, step 24 of applying a decorative background 35 over magnetic strip 33 is performed by screen printing. Step 25 of applying an illustration layer 36 over decorative background 35 is performed by offset, and step 26 of applying a protective layer 37 over illustration layer 36 here is preferably performed by screen printing.

[0118] Additionally, in the implementation of FIG. 2, the method includes step 21 of providing a substrate 31 including a surface of any color, herein white, and then step 22 of applying a second color layer to the surface of the substrate 31 of any color, the second color layer forming the surface 310 of the body of the document.

[0119] Thus, substrate 31 forms at least a part of the body of the electronic document. According to a not shown example, steps 21 and 22 can be grouped together, for example by making substrate 31 entirely colored in a second color, for example black.

[0120] In the exemplary embodiment of FIG. 3, the method steps are identical to those of FIG.

[0121] The example of FIG. 3 differs from the example of FIG. 2 in that the magnetic strip 33 is designed to cover the entire surface of the electronic document body.

[0122] In this case, a magnetic strip 33 covers the entire surface of the board, within which the electronic document is subsequently cut.

[0123] In this case, the Delta E contrast is 0 (zero).

[0124] This zero contrast makes it possible to dispense with the decorative background 35 (here, this step is shown similarly to FIG. 2, considering a pattern shown diagrammatically for illustrative purposes, but which is optional), thus increasing the possibilities for selecting the layers that make up the illustration layer 36 and the protective layer 37 to obtain new visual aesthetic effects.

[0125] An example of an electronic document 30 obtained at the end of a method such as that shown in FIG. 2 or FIG. 3 is shown diagrammatically in FIG.

[0126] In this figure, an electronic document 30 having a hidden magnetic strip is a body including a surface 310 of a second color; a magnetic strip 33 of a first color applied to at least a portion of the surface 310 of the body; a decoration 32 applied to the surface 310 of the body and covering the magnetic strip 33; Includes.

[0127] The surface 310 of the body is at least partially covered by the magnetic strip 33 and thus forms a visible surface 34 having a Delta E contrast of 15 or less, or even 10 or less.

[0128] In the case of the electronic document 30 obtained at the end of the method as shown in Figure 3, the magnetic strip 33 covers the entire surface 310, and the visible surface 34 is then formed by the magnetic strip 33. The Delta E contrast is therefore close to or equal to zero.

[0129] The decoration 32 has a thickness of at most 10 μm and is opaque to wavelengths in the visible range.

[0130] Here, decoration 32 includes a decorative background 35 , an illustration layer 36 applied to decorative background 35 , and a protective layer 37 applied to illustration layer 36 .

[0131] The protective layer 37 is, for example, a varnish, such as a clear varnish.

[0132] In the exemplary embodiment of FIG. 4, the body of electronic document 30 includes a substrate 31 having a surface of any color and a second color layer applied to the surface of substrate 31 of any color, the second color layer forming surface 310 of the body of document 30 to which magnetic strip 33 is applied.

[0133] However, the substrate 31 may be colored with a second color from the surface throughout at least a portion of its thickness to form a second-color surface 310 .

Claims

1. A method for creating an electronic document (30) containing a concealed magnetic strip, comprising: providing (22) a surface (310) of an electronic document body (30); applying a magnetic strip to at least a portion of the surface of the electronic document body, wherein a visible surface formed by the surface of the body at least partially covered by the magnetic strip has a Delta E contrast of 15 or less; applying (24, 25, 26) a decoration (32) covering the surface (310) of the body over the magnetic strip (33), the decoration (32) having a thickness of at most 10 μm and an opacity of at least 70% in the visible wavelength range; A method comprising:

2. 2. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of applying the magnetic strip to at least a portion of the surface of the body includes printing ink onto at least a portion of the surface of the body, the ink being designed to form the magnetic strip.

3. 3. The method of claim 1 or 2, wherein the step (23) of applying the magnetic strip (33) to at least a portion of the surface (310) of the body comprises applying the magnetic strip over the entire surface of the body.

4. 4. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of applying the magnetic strip to at least a portion of the surface of the body comprises providing a tape, the tape including a backing and the magnetic strip applied to the backing, and transferring the magnetic strip from the backing of the tape onto the surface of the body.

5. 5. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 4, comprising the steps of providing (21) a substrate (31) comprising a surface of any color, and then applying (22) a layer of a second color to the surface of the substrate (31) of any color, the layer of the second color forming the surface (310) of the body of the document.

6. 5. The method according to claim 1, further comprising providing a substrate (31) that is colored from a top surface thereof entirely through at least a portion of its thickness with a second color, the top surface of the entirely colored substrate (31) forming the surface (310) of the body of the second color.

7. 7. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein the step (24, 25, 26) of applying a decoration (32) comprises the step (24) of applying a decorative background (35) to the surface (310) of the body above the magnetic strip (33) and / or the step (25) of applying an illustration layer (36).

8. An electronic document (30) including a concealed magnetic strip, a body including a surface (310); a magnetic strip (33) applied to at least a portion of the surface (310) of the body, wherein the surface (310) of the body at least partially covered by the magnetic strip (33) forms a visible surface (34) having a Delta E contrast of 15 or less; a decoration (32) applied to the surface (310) of the body and covering the magnetic strip (33), the decoration (32) having a thickness of at most 10 μm and an opacity of at least 70% in the visible wavelength range; Electronic documentation, including:

9. 9. The electronic document (30) of claim 8, wherein the magnetic strip (33) covers the entire surface (310) of the body.

10. 10. An electronic document (30) according to claim 8 or 9, characterized in that the decoration (32) comprises a decorative background (35), the decorative background (35) being applied to the surface (310) of the body and covering the magnetic strip (33) and / or the illustration layer (36).

11. 11. An electronic document (30) according to any one of claims 8 to 10, characterized in that the body of the electronic document (30) comprises a substrate (31) comprising a surface of any color and a layer of a second color applied to the surface of the substrate of any color, the layer of the second color forming the surface (310) of the body of the document to which the magnetic strip (33) is applied.

12. 12. An electronic document (30) according to any one of claims 8 to 11, characterized in that the body of the electronic document (30) comprises a substrate (31) that is colored with a second color from its top surface throughout at least a portion of its thickness, the top surface of the overall colored substrate (31) forming the surface (310) of the body of the document to which the magnetic strip (33) is applied.

Images