See-through register printing for security document personalization

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Solution Overview

Problem

Security documents, such as passports, face challenges in securing personalized data and biometric information, as determined forgers can manipulate the data and encrypted information by tampering with the page structure and content.

Innovation Solution

A method is developed to generate a personalized output image on security documents by acquiring image information, determining color values of pixels, and performing registration between a fixed image and a personalized input image, ensuring the personalized image is visible only when both sides of the page are viewed in transmission, using a see-through register technique with ink quantities calculated to compensate for the opposite side's ink amounts, enhancing security with a third layer or watermark.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If personalized data and biometric information are included in security documents, then the document provides better identification and security functionality, but the document becomes more vulnerable to tampering and forgery

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesecurity functionalityVSAvoidtampering vulnerability
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The personalized image is segmented into two separate components: a first image formed on one side of the page and a second image formed on the opposite side. These segments only reconstruct the complete personalized information when viewed together in transmission mode, preventing forgery of individual components

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The page acts as an intermediary medium that separates and protects the personalized image data. By distributing the image across two sides of the page and requiring transmission viewing, the system creates a physical barrier that prevents direct copying or tampering with the complete image

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Ease of operation

If the personalized image is made visible on the document page, then the information is easily accessible and readable, but the document becomes easier to forge and tamper with

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveinformation accessibilityVSAvoidforgery ease
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The visibility of the personalized image varies by location and viewing mode. The first image on one side of the page and the second image on the opposite side each appear as incomplete patterns locally, but combine to form the complete readable image only when viewed together in transmission mode

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

Solution Approach 2:

The image utilizes transmission viewing to create a visual effect where the personalized information appears to change from invisible or patterned when viewed from one side to a complete coherent image when viewed in transmission mode through the page

Inventive Principle:
Principle #32Color changes

3Object-affected harmful factors

If a see-through register technique with calculated ink quantities is used, then the personalized image is concealed under reflection and visible only in transmission, but the printing process becomes more complex

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveanti-forgery capabilityVSAvoidprinting process complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Object-affected harmful factorsVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The system pre-calculates the ink quantities for both the first and second images before printing. The color values are determined in advance based on the desired transmitted image appearance, allowing the printing process to directly apply the correct ink amounts without requiring complex real-time adjustments during printing

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The printing process utilizes changes in optical parameters (reflection vs. transmission viewing modes) to achieve different visual effects from the same printed structure. By controlling ink quantity and distribution parameters, the system creates an image that appears concealed in reflection mode but reveals the personalized information in transmission mode

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

Data Source

PatentEP4358032A1Method of generating a personalized output image for a security document
Publication Date: 2024.04.24 TOPPAN SECURITY SAS
  • EP4358032A1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP4358032A1 patent drawingFigure 3~5
  • EP4358032A1 patent drawingFigure 6~8

AI summary

A method of generating a personalized output image for a security document includes obtaining image information of a first image (16) formed on one side of a page of the security document (10), and a personalized input image showing a portrait of a holder of the security document (10). On the basis of the two images, a personalized output image (15) is calculated such that, when the personalized output image (15) and the first image (16) are viewed in transmission, the portrait of the holder of the security document appears. It is particularly advantageous to use a camouflage pattern, a broken-line pattern or a random pixel pattern as the first image (16) in order to obscure the portrait of the holder as much as possible.