Security element for a card-shaped data carrier or for a value document and method for producing a security element

Abstract

The invention relates to a security element (10) for a card-shaped data carrier (1) or for a value document (1). The security element (10) comprises a portrait region (20) that has image information (22) relating to an image (24) of a person (26). The security element (10) further comprises a feature region (30) containing a character string (32) that is arranged so as to at least partially overlap the portrait region (20). The character string (32) is, for example, a microtext and has a multiplicity of characters with a respective maximum character size (H) that is selected in such a way that the character string (32) cannot be identified with the naked eye when the portrait region (20) is viewed by an observer. The invention also relates to a method for producing a security element (10) for a card-shaped data carrier (1) or for a value document (1). A lens arrangement (40) can be provided in the portrait region.

Description

[0001] Security element for a card-shaped data carrier or for a value document and method for producing a security element

[0002] Field of the invention

[0003] The present invention relates to the representation of personal information on card-shaped data carriers. In particular, the invention relates to a security element for a card-shaped data carrier or for a valuable document, as well as a method for producing a security element.

[0004] Background of the invention

[0005] Security elements designed to reduce the risk of counterfeiting card-shaped data storage devices or valuable documents are used today in a wide variety of applications. For example, such security elements are found on card-shaped data storage devices for cashless payment of goods or services, for personal identification, or for access to internet-based applications. Accordingly, there are card-shaped data storage devices in the form of chip cards in general, payment cards such as credit cards or debit cards, and personal identification or identity cards equipped with one or more security elements.

[0006] Security elements can be provided, for example, in the form of holograms. However, security features can also be linked to a person's portrait, with the person's portrait visible to a viewer of the card-shaped data carrier. Data carriers also contain personal information that allows the data carrier to be assigned to a specific person and enables associated functions. However, such data carriers are constantly exposed to the risk of manipulation and forgery.

[0007] Description

[0008] It is an object of the present invention to further improve the security against forgery of card-shaped data carriers or value documents.

[0009] This object is achieved by the subject matter of the independent claims. Exemplary embodiments emerge from the dependent claims and the following description.

[0010] According to one aspect, a security element is provided for a card-shaped data carrier or for a value document. The security element comprises a portrait region having image information relating to an image of a person. The security element further comprises an identification region having a character string arranged at least partially overlapping the portrait region. The character string has a plurality of characters with a respective maximum character size, which can be selected such that the character string is not recognizable to the naked eye when a viewer views the portrait region. In particular, the character string can only be detected by means of a detection device designed for this purpose. This can be an optical detection device.

[0011] The security element according to the invention can increase the forgery security of card-shaped data carriers or valuable documents, and also facilitate the assignment of the card-shaped data carrier or valuable document to a person. By integrating or incorporating the above-mentioned character string into the portrait of a person, hidden personal information relating to a person or other information can be advantageously provided in the security element, which cannot be recognized by a viewer with the naked eye, i.e., without optical aids.

[0012] The security element can thus comprise various sub-elements which interact in such a way that the observer only perceives the image of the person in the portrait area, but does not perceive any other information, such as the character string, which is additionally contained in the portrait area, in particular in the image of the person.

[0013] The image of the person can be a portrait view or a portrait photo of the person, for example of a card or security document holder. The portrait view can, for example, include an image of a front view or a side view of the person. In particular, the image can depict facial features or contours of the person as they appear in reality. The image can be a black and white image or a color image. The portrait area can be defined by the outlines of the image of the person, for example limited by an outer contour of the view of the person. However, the portrait area can also be defined by a larger area around the image of the person, so that background elements around the image or view of the person are also included in the portrait area.The image information belonging to the image can be provided in one or more layers of the security element or in one or more layers of a card-shaped data carrier or value document into which the security element is integrated.

[0014] The identification area can form an area that overlaps with the portrait area, in particular with the image of the person. In other words, the image of the person can be superimposed on the identification area. The term "overlap" can be understood to mean that the information belonging to the identification area, such as the reproduction of the character string, is incorporated into the security element as additional information in addition to the image information, and that both pieces of information spatially overlap. This can mean that, from the viewer's perspective, the character string is provided on top of the image information or below the image information of the image, whereby in any case the character string is not visible or recognizable to the viewer with the naked eye.

[0015] The fact that the character string or the characters in the character string are not recognizable with the naked eye when a viewer looks at the portrait area may be due to the fact that the viewer could still recognize the character string due to its size given sufficient contrast, but the character string is so blurred with the image information of the person's image that the character string is no longer recognizable with the naked eye. This may mean that a comparatively low contrast between the character string and the overlapping image information of the person's image, together with the comparatively small size of the character string, no longer allows the character string to be recognized by the viewer. The size of the characters in the character string may be chosen such that it is below the resolution limit of the unaided human eye.Viewing with the naked or unarmed eye means that the observer looks at the security element only with his or her own eyes and without any technical aids.

[0016] The additional effect created by the overlapping or superimposing of the character string with the image information of the person's portrait can also render the character string unrecognizable, so that the viewer cannot even determine the position of such a character string within the portrait area. The character string can represent a sequence or chain of characters, whereby the characters can include letters, numbers, and other punctuation and special characters.

[0017] One example specifies a card-shaped data carrier with the security element described herein. The card-shaped data carrier can, for example, be an identification document, such as a driver's license, an identity card, a passport, a smart card, an ID card, etc. The card-shaped data carrier can also be a payment card, a bank card, a debit card, or a credit card. One example specifies a value document with the security element described herein. A value document can be banknotes or identification documents, but also shares, certificates, postage stamps, checks, ID cards, or the like, as well as labels, seals, packaging, or other elements. The term "value document" also includes security paper for the production of banknotes.

[0018] According to one embodiment, the characters of the character string have a respective character size of maximum 400 pm, preferably maximum 300 pm.

[0019] As a result, the size of the characters is below the resolution limit of the unaided human eye, meaning that the character string cannot be deciphered without technical (optical) aids. In another example, the characters in the character string can be smaller than 200 pm, smaller than 100 pm, or even smaller than 50 pm. It can also be provided that the entire character string, which may represent a sequence or chain of characters, does not exceed a maximum size of 400 pm or a maximum of 300 pm. The character string can therefore only be captured using a capture device designed for this purpose. This can be an optical capture device with a high resolution, so that the aforementioned size ranges of the character string can be captured and the character string can thus be made readable.

[0020] According to one embodiment, the character string is a microtext with text information.

[0021] The microtext can contain text such as a name, for example the first and last name of the person represented by the image in the portrait area. The microtext can be straight, curved, or spiral or twisted. For example, the microtext can run along an outer contour of the image of the person or follow the outer contour. The microtext can contain a sequence of characters, such as numbers or letters, whose respective sizes can vary. For example, the characters of the microtext become larger or smaller in the reading direction. This size variation can be combined with a curved or spiral arrangement of the microtext.

[0022] According to one embodiment, the license plate area is arranged to overlap at least part of an outer contour of the image of the person.

[0023] For example, the image or view of the person can be delimited by an outline of the person's head, i.e., by an outline of a portrait of the person. The outer contour can run along this outline, which in turn is overlaid with the character string of the license plate area. The character string can thus be formed only along the outline of the image of the person or the face portrait of the person, which further complicates the recognition of the character string. However, the character string can also be overlaid with other body parts or facial features of the image of the person, such as the eye(s), mouth, nose, eyebrow(s), etc.

[0024] According to one embodiment, the security element has an image information layer, wherein the image information is incorporated into the image information layer and wherein the character string is incorporated into the image information layer or is applied to the image information layer.

[0025] This allows the character string to be advantageously incorporated into the security element together with the image information of the person's depiction in a single process step. For example, if the image information is lasered into the image information layer, the character string can also be lasered into the image information layer, particularly simultaneously. However, the character string can also be incorporated before or after the image information is incorporated into the image information layer. The image information layer can be a so-called recording layer of the security element. It can also be provided that the image information is incorporated into the image information layer and the character string is incorporated into a further layer adjacent to the image information layer.

[0026] According to one embodiment, the image information comprises grayscale information which is introduced into the image information layer, wherein the grayscale information is preferably introduced into the image information layer by means of a laser.

[0027] The image of the person can be a grayscale or black-and-white image. Preferably, the character string is then overlaid with the portrait area as grayscale information. Using a laser, a material, such as a plastic material, can be carbonized into the image information layer, so that areas of the material are colored dark, which in turn incorporates the grayscale information into the portrait area.

[0028] According to one embodiment, the image information comprises color information which is incorporated into the image information layer, wherein the color information is preferably incorporated into the image information layer or applied thereto by means of a printing process.

[0029] A color material can be printed into or onto the image information layer to provide the color information, which in turn creates the image of the person in the portrait area. The color information can be incorporated into the image information layer using an IR (infrared) ink or a luminescent ink. For example, magnetic inks or bifluorescent inks can be used.

[0030] According to one embodiment, the character string is introduced into the image information layer or applied to the image information layer using a laser. Alternatively or additionally, the character string is introduced into the image information layer or applied to the image information layer using a printing process. When using a laser, the character string can be lasered into the material of the image information layer within the identification area overlaid with the image of the person. Here, too, material areas can be colored dark, which in turn introduces further grayscale information into the portrait area, which, however, does not provide the image of the person itself, but now additionally provides the character string. A printing process can also be used to imprint the character string into the image information layer or to print the character string onto the image information layer.A combination of printing and laser processes for the overlapping insertion of the character string into the portrait area of ​​the security element is also possible.

[0031] The character string can also contain color information. The color information for the character string can be provided in the form of an IR (infrared) color or a luminescent color. For example, magnetic inks or bifluorescent inks can be used.

[0032] According to one embodiment, the security element comprises a lens arrangement provided in or on the portrait area, wherein the image information of the portrait area and the character string of the identification area are provided in an image information layer of the lens arrangement, for example in the image information layer explained above, wherein the character string at least partially covers the image information.

[0033] A lens structure of the lens arrangement can be located in front of the image information layer as seen from the viewer. The image information relating to the image of the person as well as the character string can be provided in the image information layer. The lens structure can be arranged above the image information layer so that the viewer perceives the image information through the lens structure. In addition, a portion of the image information relating to the image of the person can be provided on the lens structure. This can mean that a first portion of the image information relating to the image of the person is provided in the image information layer, where the character string is also provided, and a second portion of the image information relating to the image of the person is provided on the lens structure.The first part of the image information relating to the image of the person can then comprise, in particular, grayscale information, whereas the second part of the image information comprises color information relating to the image of the person. The lens arrangement or lens structure can comprise a series of adjacent semi-cylindrical lenses.

[0034] In one example, the security element can be part of a so-called CLIP ID (Color Laser Image Protected ID) of the card-shaped data carrier or can comprise such a CLIP ID. The CLIP ID can have the lens structure described above with semi-cylindrical lenses or so-called rod lenses onto which ink or printing ink is printed. When the ink is applied, the printing ink can enter grooves formed by the lens structure.

[0035] The security element according to the invention can alternatively be arranged in a window area of ​​a card-shaped data carrier or value document. The window area can comprise a transparent window in the card body or in the value document substrate, beneath which the security element can be arranged.

[0036] The security element can be arranged in a so-called MLI (Multiple Laser Image) area of ​​a card-shaped data carrier or comprise such an MLI area. Furthermore, the security element can be arranged in a so-called CLI (Cross Laser Image) area or in a so-called DLI (Direct Laser Image) area of ​​a card-shaped data carrier or comprise such a CLI or DLL area.

[0037] For example, the aforementioned semi-cylindrical lenses or rod lenses can be arranged vertically or horizontally along a surface of the card-shaped data carrier relative to the portrait area or portrait photo. According to one embodiment, the character string is detectable at a first detection angle relative to a security element surface and not detectable at a second detection angle relative to the security element surface, which differs from the first detection angle.

[0038] In other words, the character string or microtext can be combined with a tilt effect, whereby the character string is only optically detectable at certain tilt angles. For example, the character string is not detectable when detected vertically, but is detectable when detected tilted relative to the surface of the lens arrangement described above, e.g., at approximately 20° to 70°, at 40° to 50°, or at 45°. Detection of the character string at the respective tilt angles can be enabled by an optical detection device, whereas, as explained above, the character string may always be unrecognizable or invisible to a viewer with the naked eye.

[0039] According to one aspect, a method for producing a security element for a card-shaped data carrier or for a value document is provided. In one step of the method, a portrait region containing image information relating to an image of a person is introduced into a base substrate. In a further step, an identification region with a character string comprising a plurality of characters is introduced into the base substrate such that the identification region is arranged at least partially overlapping with the portrait region and the characters each have a maximum character size selected such that the character string is not recognizable with the naked eye when a viewer views the portrait region. The steps can be carried out in the specified order.

[0040] The base substrate may be a card material, such as a plastic material, or a security document material, such as a security document paper.

[0041] Brief description of the figures Fig. 1 shows a card-shaped data carrier with a security element.

[0042] Fig. 2 shows image information relating to an image of a person for a portrait area of ​​the security element of Fig. 1.

[0043] Fig. 3 shows a section of the image of the person shown in Fig. 2 for the portrait area.

[0044] Fig. 4 shows another section of the image of the person shown in Fig. 2 for the portrait area.

[0045] Fig. 5 shows an overlap of a portrait area with a license plate area containing a character string.

[0046] Fig. 6 shows an overlap of another portrait area with a license plate area containing a character string.

[0047] Fig. 7 shows a cross-sectional view through a security element with a lens structure and an image information layer.

[0048] Fig. 8 shows a character string for a license plate area.

[0049] Fig. 9 shows a flow chart for a method for producing a security element.

[0050] Detailed description of exemplary embodiments

[0051] The illustrations in the figures are schematic and not to scale. Where the same reference symbols are used in different figures in the following description, they refer to identical or similar elements. Identical or similar elements may also be designated by different reference symbols.

[0052] Fig. 1 shows a card-shaped data carrier 1 or a value document 1 with a security element 10. Although the security element 10 according to the invention described herein is equally intended for use in card-shaped data carriers 1 or value documents 1, the security element 10 is described below in connection with a card-shaped data carrier 1 for the sake of simplicity.

[0053] The card-shaped data carrier 1 can have a base substrate 2, for example a plastic material. The security element 10 can be applied to the base substrate 2 or embedded in the base substrate 2. The security element 10 has a portrait area 20 containing image information 22 relating to an image 24 of a person 26. The security element 10 also has an identification area 30 with a character string 32 arranged at least partially overlapping the portrait area 20. Although the portrait area 20 can extend beyond the outline of the image 24 of the person 26, the identification area is preferably arranged overlapping or superimposed on the image 24 of the person 26, as shown in Fig. 1.The character string 32 is provided in the license plate area 30. It can consist of a plurality of characters. The characters have a respective maximum character size (H) selected such that the character string 32 is not recognizable when a viewer views the portrait area 20 with the naked eye, i.e., without technical aids. The card-shaped data carrier 1 can have further areas, such as an identification area 40, in which, for example, personal information or the like is displayed.

[0054] Fig. 2 shows the image information 22 relating to the image 24 of a person 26 in the portrait area 20 of the security element 10 from Fig. 1. In this case, the image 24 is a view of a head or a portrait of a female person 26. A section B is shown, which represents an image of an eyebrow of the person 26. Likewise, a section C is shown, which represents an image of the person's mouth.

[0055] Fig. 3 shows section B of the image 24 shown in Fig. 2 of the person 26 in the portrait area 20 (see also Fig. 1). As can be seen, a first character string 32a and a second character string 32b, which form the characteristic area 30, are arranged overlapping the eyebrow of the person 26. Both character strings 32a, 32b form a microtext here, with both character strings 32a, 32b being aligned at an angle to each other to essentially follow the contour of the eyebrow. It should be noted that the character string is decipherable only for explanatory purposes; however, the character string is not actually recognizable to a viewer with the naked eye, as explained above.

[0056] The same applies to Fig. 4, which shows the further section C of the image 24 of the person 26 shown in Fig. 2 in the portrait area 20 (see also Fig. 1). As can be seen, the first character string 32a and the second character string 32b, which form the identification area 30, are arranged overlapping to the mouth of the person 26. Both character strings 32a, 32b here again form a microtext, with both character strings 32a, 32b being arranged separately or at a distance from each other.

[0057] Fig. 5 shows an overlap of a portrait area 20 with a license plate area 30 having a character string 32 (see also Fig. 1). The character string 32 extends at least partially along an outline 23 or an outer contour 23 of the image 24 of the person 26. In particular, a first character string 32a extends partially along a left-hand boundary of the image 24, a second character string 32b extends partially along a lower boundary of the image 24, and a third character string 32c extends partially along a right-hand boundary of the image 24. Each of the character strings 32a, 32b, and 32c extends over the portrait area 30, in particular over the image 24 of the person 26, or is superimposed with the image 24 of the person 26. Fig. 6 shows another example of an overlap of a portrait area 20 with a license plate area 30 having a character string 32 (see also Fig. 1). As shown in Fig.5, the character strings 32a, 32b and 32c also extend at least partially along an outline 23 or an outer contour 23 of the image 24 of the person 26. It can be provided that the character strings 32a, 32b and 32c extend along the entire outline 23 or the entire outer contour 23 of the image 24 of the person 26.

[0058] Fig. 7 shows a cross-sectional view through a security element 10 with a lens arrangement 40, which has a lens structure 41 and an image information layer 21. In particular, Fig. 7 shows the sectional view of section AA through the security element 10 from Fig. 1. The security element 10 has a lens structure 41 consisting of semi-cylindrical lenses 42, which is provided in the portrait area 20. As can be seen, the characteristic area 30 is provided within a partial section of the portrait area 20. In other words, the characteristic area 30 at least partially overlaps or superimposes the portrait area 20. The image information 22 of the portrait area 20 and the character string 32 of the characteristic area 30 are provided in this example in an image information layer 21 of the lens arrangement 40, wherein the image information layer 21 can also be referred to as a recording layer.The image information 22 and / or the character string 32 can be lasered into the image information layer 21. In the example shown in Fig. 7, the character string 32 at least partially covers the image information 22. The character string 32 can be captured through the lens structure 41 using an optical capture device.

[0059] It can be provided that the lens structure 41 is printed in such a way that the character string 32 or the microtext is only recognizable from certain angles relative to a surface of the lens structure 41. For example, the character string 32 can be applied to only one half of one or more semi-cylindrical lenses 42. With reference to the illustration shown in Fig. 7, this means that only the left curved half of one or more of the illustrated semi-cylindrical lenses 42 is printed with the character string 32, so that a detection device detects the character string when viewing the lens arrangement 40 only from an angle from the top left, whereas the detection device could not detect the character string if the lens arrangement 40 were viewed from an angle from the top right.Depending on where the character string 32 is superimposed with the portrait area 20, one or more semi-cylindrical lenses 42 can be only partially printed with the corresponding printing ink for the character string 32.

[0060] This allows character string 32 or microtext to be combined with a tilt effect, whereby character string 32 is only detectable at certain tilt angles. For example, character string 32 is not visible when viewed vertically, but is visible when viewed tilted relative to the surface of lens array 40, e.g., at approximately 20° to 70°, 40° to 50°, or 45°.

[0061] Fig. 8 shows a character string 32 for the identification area 30 of the security element 10 from Fig. 1. A maximum size or height H of the character string 32 or of a character of the character string 32 is shown. The maximum height H can be 400 pm, preferably a maximum of 300 pm.

[0062] The character string 32 may contain an intentional error (so-called deliberate error). In particular, a letter of the text shown in Fig. 8 may be intentionally swapped to provide increased security against forgery. For example, one letter in a name may be swapped with another letter, etc.

[0063] Fig. 9 shows a flow chart for a method for producing a security element, in particular a method for producing the security element 10 from Fig. 1. In a step S1 of the method, a portrait region 20, which has image information 22 relating to an image 24 of a person 26, is introduced into a base substrate 2. In a step S2 of the method, a characteristic region 30 with a character string 32 comprising a plurality of characters is introduced into the base substrate 2, so that the characteristic region 30 is arranged at least partially overlapping with the portrait region 20 and the characters have a respective maximum character size H, which is selected such that the character string 32 is not recognizable with the naked eye when a viewer views the portrait region 20.

[0064] In addition, a computer program product can be provided which is adapted to carry out the method described with reference to Fig. 9. An algorithm can be provided by means of which the character string 32 or the microtext is created before the identification region 30 with the character string 32 is introduced into the base substrate 2 (see step S2). This algorithm can further be designed to read the identification region 30 with the character string 32 introduced into the base substrate 2, for example, as part of a forgery check.

Claims

Patent claims 1. A security element (10) for a card-shaped data carrier (1) or for a value document (1), comprising: a portrait area (20) which has image information (22) relating to an image (24) of a person (26); an identification area (30) with a character string (32) which is arranged at least partially overlapping with the portrait area (20); wherein the character string (32) has a plurality of characters with a respective maximum character size (H) which is selected such that the character string (32) is not recognizable with the naked eye when a viewer views the portrait area (20).

2. Security element (10) according to claim 1, wherein each of the characters of the character string (32) has a respective character size of a maximum of 400 pm, preferably a maximum of 300 pm.

3. Security element (10) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the character string (32) is a microtext with text information.

4. Security element (10) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the identification region (30) is arranged to overlap with at least part of an outer contour (23) of the image (24) of the person (26).

5. Security element (10) according to one of the preceding claims, comprising: an image information layer (21); wherein the image information (22) is incorporated into the image information layer (21); and wherein the character string (32) is incorporated into the image information layer (21) or applied to the image information layer (21).

6. The security element (10) according to claim 5, wherein the image information (22) comprises grayscale information incorporated into the image information layer (21), wherein the grayscale information is preferably incorporated into the image information layer (21) by means of a laser; and / or wherein the image information (22) comprises color information incorporated into the image information layer (21), wherein the color information is preferably incorporated into the image information layer (21) by means of a printing process.

7. The security element (10) according to one of claims 5 to 6, wherein the character string (32) is introduced into the image information layer (21) by means of a laser or is applied to the image information layer (21); and / or wherein the character string (32) is introduced into the image information layer (21) by means of a printing process or is applied to the image information layer (21).

8. Security element (10) according to one of the preceding claims, comprising: a lens arrangement (40) provided in the portrait area (20); wherein the image information (22) of the portrait area (20) and the character string (32) of the identification area (30) are provided in an image information layer (21) of the lens arrangement (40); wherein the character string (32) at least partially covers the image information (22).

9. Security element (10) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the character string (32) is detectable at a first detection angle with respect to a security element surface; wherein the character string (32) is not detectable at a second detection angle with respect to the security element surface, which differs from the first detection angle.

10. Method for producing a security element (10) for a card-shaped Data carrier (1) or for a value document (1), comprising: Introducing a portrait area (20) which has image information (22) relating to an image (24) of a person (26) into a base substrate (2, S1); Introducing a license plate area (30) having a plurality of Character string (32) having characters into the base substrate (2), so that the identification region (30) is arranged at least partially overlapping with the portrait region (20) and the characters of the character string (32) have a respective maximum character size (H) which is selected such that the character string (32) is not recognizable with the naked eye when the portrait region (20) is viewed by a viewer (S2).

Images