Shadow image security feature

• US 10,112,434 B2
• Filed: 12/29/2008
• Issued: 10/30/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 05/16/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Entrust Corp.
• Original Assignee: Entrust Datacard Corporation (Entrust Corp.)
• Inventors: Tappij-Gielen, Michael
• Primary Examiner(s): Lewis, Justin V
• Application Number:
  US12/988,690
• Publication Number:
  US 20110037247A1
• Time in Patent Office: 3,592 Days
• Field of Search: 283 72, 283 74, 283 75, 283 77, 283 82, 283 83, 283 86
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 2255/10 on synthetic resin layer or on natural or synthetic rubber layer
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 2255/205 Metallic coating
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 2307/402 Coloured
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 2307/412 Transparent
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 2307/414 Translucent
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 2307/75 Printability
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 2425/00 Cards, e.g. identity cards, credit cards
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 27/08 of synthetic resin
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 27/304 comprising vinyl halide (co)polymers, e.g. PVC, PVDC, PVF, PVDF
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 27/36 comprising polyesters
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 27/365 comprising polycarbonates
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 5/142 Variation across the area of the layer
• CPC Class Codes: B41M 3/14 Security printing securities B42D25/29
• CPC Class Codes: B41M 5/24 Ablative recording, e.g. by burning marks; Spark recording marking by high energetic means, e.g. by laser otherwise than burning or ablative removal B41M5/26; materials or methods for recording or reproduction by optical means G11B7/00
• CPC Class Codes: B42D 2035/50 Corresponding markings appearing in different shapes or at different places
• CPC Class Codes: B42D 25/00 Information-bearing cards or sheet-like structures characterised by identification or security features; Manufacture thereof printing processes to produce identification or security features B41M3/14
• CPC Class Codes: B42D 25/21 for multiple purposes
• CPC Class Codes: B42D 25/309 Photographs
• CPC Class Codes: B42D 25/318 Signatures
• CPC Class Codes: B42D 25/373 Metallic materials
• CPC Class Codes: B42D 25/41 : using electromagnetic radiation B42D25/435 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B42D 25/435 : using electromagnetic radiation, e.g. laser

Abstract

A security document created by laminating a metalized foil between transparent layers, and modifying the outside of the foil to form a base color of the document, while leaving a window area formed by an unmodified portion of the foil. A laser is then used to ablate at least a portion of the unmodified portion of the foil in the window area to create an image. The window area includes the laser ablated image formed therein. The resulting image is transparent, with the image being visible from a front of the security document and visible from a rear of the security document.

Claims

1. A security document comprising:

a core;

a portrait image of an intended holder of the security document applied to the core, the portrait image is visible on the security document;

a window area in the core, the window area includes a metalized foil layer disposed between two transparent layers;

a laser ablated image formed in the metalized foil layer in the window area, the laser ablated image is separate from the portrait image, the laser ablated image is of the intended holder of the security document, the laser ablated image being transparent, and the laser ablated image is visible from a front of the security document and visible from a rear of the security document.

2. The security document of claim 1, wherein the security document is an identification card or a passport.

3. The security document of claim 1, further comprising additional information on the document at a location spaced from the window area.

4. The security document of claim 3, wherein the additional information comprises one or more of a name, unique document number, birth date, citizenship, and a signature.

5. A security document comprising:

a visible portrait image of an intended holder of the security document;

a window area spaced from the portrait image, the window area includes a metalized foil layer;

a laser ablated image of the intended holder of the security document formed in the metalized foil layer in the window area, the laser ablated image is separate from the portrait image, the laser ablated image is visible and is formed by transparent areas in the foil layer resulting from metal being removed from the metalized foil layer by a laser; and

a transparent protective layer covering a top of the window area.

6. The security document of claim 5, wherein the security document is an identification card or a passport.

7. The security document of claim 5, further comprising a second transparent protective layer covering a bottom of the window area.