Security documents with visible and invisible markings

• US 20030035131A1
• Filed: 12/21/2001
• Published: 02/20/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 06/21/1999
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: InkSure Ltd.
• Original Assignee: InkSure Ltd.
• Inventors: Landman, Avi, Dukler, Shlomo
• Application Number:
  US10/027,214
• Publication Number:
  US 20030035131A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 358/1.14
• CPC Class Codes: B41M 3/144 using fluorescent, luminescent or iridescent effects
• CPC Class Codes: B42D 2035/06 Picture of the user
• CPC Class Codes: B42D 2035/50 Corresponding markings appearing in different shapes or at different places
• CPC Class Codes: B42D 25/21 for multiple purposes
• CPC Class Codes: B42D 25/29 Securities; Bank notes
• CPC Class Codes: B42D 25/309 Photographs
• CPC Class Codes: B42D 25/387 absorbing or reflecting ultraviolet light

Abstract

A difficult-to-counterfeit document comprising, together with data printed in visible form, invisible indicia that are personalized in nature, and which cannot be seen without the cooperation of an external factor. The invisible indicia are printed with a luminescent ink or toner, and becomes visible by the application of irradiaton, such as UV light. The luminescent ink or toner may comprise fluorescent materials. The same type of document may bear different invisible indicia for different bearers or documents, and may be printed by conventional digital printing methods.

Claims

1. A difficult-to-counterfeit document comprising, together with data printed in visible form, invisible indicia that are personalized in nature, and which cannot be seen without the cooperation of an external factor.

2. A document according to claim 1, wherein the invisible indicia are printed with a luminescent ink or toner.

3. A document according to claim 2, wherein the invisible indicia becomes visible by the application of irradiation.

4. A document according to claim 2, wherein the luminescent ink or toner comprises fluorescent materials.

5. A document according to claim 3 or 4, wherein the irradiation is UV light.

6. A document according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein the same type of document bears different invisible indicia for different bearers or documents, and is printed by conventional digital printing methods.

7. A document according to claim 6, which has been printed by a laser printer.

8. A document according to claim 6, which has been printed by a liquid ink printer.

9. A document according to claim 8, which has been printed by a bubble-jet or ink-jet printer.

10. A document according to any one of claims 1 to 9, wherein the invisible indicia that can be printed by the luminescent toner or ink comprise an image of the bearer, a signature, one- or two-dimensional barcode label, text matter or any other mark that can be printed in order to differentiate one document from the others.

11. A document according to any one of claims 1 to 10, which is selected from among an ID document, a passport, a driving license, banknotes, stocks, bonds, security papers, and any other document requiring protection against counterfeiting.

22. A method according to any one of claims 1 to 21, wherein the document to be printed is selected from among an ID document, a passport, a driving license, banknotes, stocks, bonds, security papers, and any other document requiring protection against counterfeiting.

23. Laminates, comprising documents according to any one of claims 1 to 11.

12. A method for generating a difficult-to-counterfeit document, comprising printing on the document, by conventional digital printing processes, together with data printed in visible form, invisible indicia that are personalized in nature, and which cannot be seen without the cooperation of an external factor.

13. A method according to claim 12, wherein the invisible indicia are printed with a luminescent ink or toner.

14. A method according to claim 13, wherein the invisible indicia becomes visible by the application of irradiation.

15. A method according to claim 13, wherein the luminescent ink or toner comprises fluorescent materials.

16. A method according to claim 14 or 15, wherein the irradiation is UV light.

17. A method according to any one of claims 12 to 16, wherein documents of the same type are printed with different invisible indicia for different bearers or documents.

18. A method according to claim 17, wherein the document is printed by a laser printer.

19. A method according to claim 17, wherein the document is printed by a liquid ink printer.

20. A method according to claim 19, wherein the document is printed by a bubble-jet or ink-jet printer.

21. A method according to any one of claims 12 to 20, wherein the invisible indicia that can be printed by the luminescent toner or ink comprise an image of the bearer, a signature, one- or two-dimensional barcode label, text matter or any other mark that can be printed in order to differentiate one document from the others.

24. A difficult-to-counterfeit document, substantially as described and illustrated.