Laser etched security features for identification documents and methods of making same

• US 20040011874A1
• Filed: 12/24/2002
• Published: 01/22/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 12/24/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: MorphoTrust USA LLC (Advent International Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Digimarc Corporation
• Inventors: Jones, Robert, Theodossiou, George
• Granted Patent: US 7,207,494 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 235/488
• CPC Class Codes: B41M 3/14 Security printing securities B42D25/29
• CPC Class Codes: B41M 3/148 Transitory images, i.e. images only visible from certain viewing angles
• CPC Class Codes: B41M 3/16 Braille printing typewriters or selective printing mechanisms for Braille printing B41J3/32
• 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 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 25/23 Identity cards
• CPC Class Codes: B42D 25/24 Passports
• CPC Class Codes: B42D 25/285 Gift cards
• CPC Class Codes: B42D 25/29 Securities; Bank notes
• CPC Class Codes: B42D 25/309 Photographs
• CPC Class Codes: B42D 25/318 Signatures
• CPC Class Codes: B42D 25/43 by removal of material
• CPC Class Codes: B42D 25/435 using electromagnetic radiation, e.g. laser
• CPC Class Codes: B42D 25/455 using heat
• CPC Class Codes: B42D 25/46 using pressure
• CPC Class Codes: B42D 25/47 using adhesives

Abstract

The invention provides a method of producing a security feature in an identification document. A core including a top surface and a bottom surface is provided. A first laminate is laminated in contact with the top surface. A second laminate is laminated in contact with the bottom surface, the laminated core comprising the identification document, the identification document having a top side and a bottom side respectively corresponding to the core'"'"'s top and bottom side. A pattern is laser etched into the top surface of the identification document.

Claims

1. A method of producing a security feature in an identification document comprising the steps of:

providing a core including a top surface and a bottom surface;

laminating a first laminate in contact with the top surface; and

laminating a second laminate in contact with the bottom surface, the laminated core comprising the identification document, the identification document having a top side and a bottom side respectively corresponding to the core'"'"'s top and bottom side; and

laser etching a pattern into the top surface of the identification document.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the pattern uniquely alters the identification so as to be personalized to a document holder.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the pattern includes visual properties.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein the visual properties comprise a characteristic of not being visible when viewed straight on.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein the visual properties comprise a characteristic of resisting image capture.

6. The method of claim 5, where in the image capture is one of photocopying and optical sensor capture.

7. The method of claim 3, wherein the visual properties comprise a characteristic of including reflecting surfaces that are not parallel to the top surface of the document, so as to be apparent in reflected light.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein in the top surface of the document comprises one of the core'"'"'s top surface and a top surface of the first laminate.

9. The method of claim 3, wherein the pattern comprises tactile properties.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein the pattern includes a sequence of holes.

11. The method of claim 10, where said laser etching step further comprises selecting a predetermined focus point so as to produce the sequence of holes at a predetermined diameter, depth and spacing.

12. The method of claim 10, wherein the laser etching step is performed by a CO₂ laser.

13. The method of claim 1, wherein the pattern comprises an Optically Variable Device (OVD).

14. A verification method of an identification document produced according to claim 1, wherein the pattern is examined to verify the authenticity of the card.