Laser-Engraved Security Feature on Textile Passport Connecting Element

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional passport book constructions are not sufficiently secure against data page exchange and manipulation, making it difficult to detect forgery.

Innovation Solution

A data carrier system featuring a textile or flexible connecting element with a laser-engraved security feature that integrates information components on both the data page and the connecting element, ensuring that the security feature is destroyed when the data page is exchanged, thereby making counterfeiting visible.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If a data page is inserted into a passport book using a textile or flexible connecting element, then the data page can be turned over like a normal page, but the construction is not sufficiently secure against data page exchange and manipulation

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveturnability of data pageVSAvoidsecurity against data page exchange
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent merges the security feature directly into the connecting element by laser-engraving it onto the textile or flexible material. This integration ensures that the security feature cannot be separated from the connecting element, and thus cannot be transferred to a counterfeit data page. The security feature becomes an inherent part of the mechanical connection structure.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The security feature is laser-engraved onto the connecting element during the manufacturing process, before the data page is inserted into the passport book. This preliminary creation of the security feature ensures it is permanently associated with the original data page and connecting element combination, making any subsequent manipulation or exchange detectable.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

2Ease of manufacture

If conventional constructions are used without integrated security features in the connecting element, then manufacturing is simpler, but it is difficult to detect forgery when data pages are exchanged

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesimplicity of constructionVSAvoiddetectability of forgery
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of manufactureVSDifficulty of detecting and measuring

Solution Approach 1:

The laser-engraving process creates visual changes in the connecting element through color variations, burning patterns, or material transformation. These visual changes form the security feature that can be easily detected by inspectors during verification, allowing them to identify whether a data page has been exchanged or manipulated.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #32Color changes

Solution Approach 2:

The connecting element acts as an intermediary carrier of the security feature. Instead of placing security features directly on the data page (which could be copied), the security feature is placed on the connecting element that physically attaches the data page to the passport. This intermediary position makes the security feature difficult to replicate without the original connecting element.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Applied Scientific Principles

This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.

Function Achieved in This Case

The system significantly enhances security against data page replacement by creating a seamless security feature that is difficult to replicate, thus preventing forgery and ensuring the authenticity of the data carrier.

Implementation Method 1

An overlapping area between the data page and the connecting element can be processed with a laser and laser-engraved according to the invention

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectLaser ablation: Laser Ablation

Data Source

PatentEP3291996B1Data carrier for inserting into a notebook- or book-shaped object and method for producing the same
Publication Date: 2019.10.16 BUNDESDRUCKEREI GMBH
  • EP3291996B1 patent drawingFigure 1a~1c
  • EP3291996B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3291996B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

The invention relates to a data carrier (1) suitable for inserting into a notebook- or book-shaped object, wherein the data carrier (1) comprises a data page (2) and a connecting element (3), and the data page (2) and the connecting element (3) are connected to one another in an overlap region (4). In the overlap region (4), a security feature (14) is formed by means of laser processing, and the information components (15) of the security feature (14) are in part developed in the data page (2) and in part in the connecting element (3). The invention further relates to the corresponding method.