Identification card with embedded halftone image security feature perceptible in transmitted light
First Claim
1. An information-bearing assembly comprising:
- a first layer, the first layer having an imagewise halftone pattern of microholes formed therein, each microhole penetrating at least partially through the thickness of the first layer such that the light transmissivity of the first layer within said half-tone pattern is imagewise differentiated at each microhole; and
a second layer coupled to the first layer, the second layer covering the imagewise half tone pattern of microholes in a manner that permits transmitted light to reach the microholes;
wherein the microholes have sufficiently small structural dimensions such that, under unassisted visual inspection, the imagewise halftone pattern is (a) substantially imperceptible when the information-bearing assembly is viewed in reflection, and (b) substantially perceptible when the information-bearing assembly is viewed in transmission.
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Accused Products
Abstract
An information-bearing laminar assembly, suitable for use as an identification card, is disclosed. The assembly is characterized by the provision therein of an embedded halftone image security feature that becomes visible essentially only when the assembly is view in transmitted light. The information-bearing laminar assembly comprises an inner information-bearing layer interposed between a first and a second light-transmissive protective outer layer. The inner layer contains both visible information-bearing indicia and an imagewise halftone pattern of laser-ablated microholes. The light-transmissivity of the information-bearing inner layer within said half-tone pattern is imagewise differentiated at each microhole as a function of the microhole'"'"'s penetration depth. Sandwiched between the protective outer layers, the halftone pattern is imperceptible when the information-bearing laminar assembly is viewed in reflections and perceptible when the information-bearing laminar assembly is viewed in transmission.
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Citations
33 Claims
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1. An information-bearing assembly comprising:
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a first layer, the first layer having an imagewise halftone pattern of microholes formed therein, each microhole penetrating at least partially through the thickness of the first layer such that the light transmissivity of the first layer within said half-tone pattern is imagewise differentiated at each microhole; and
a second layer coupled to the first layer, the second layer covering the imagewise half tone pattern of microholes in a manner that permits transmitted light to reach the microholes;
wherein the microholes have sufficiently small structural dimensions such that, under unassisted visual inspection, the imagewise halftone pattern is (a) substantially imperceptible when the information-bearing assembly is viewed in reflection, and (b) substantially perceptible when the information-bearing assembly is viewed in transmission. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16)
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17. A method of manufacturing an information-bearing assembly comprising:
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providing a first layer comprising material capable of having microholes formed therein; and
forming in said planar material an imagewise halftone pattern of microholes, the microholes having sufficiently small structural dimensions such that under unassisted visual inspection, the halftone pattern is substantially imperceptible when the information-bearing laminar assembly is viewed in reflection and substantially perceptible when the information-bearing laminar assembly is viewed in transmission, wherein the imagewise halftone pattern comprises at least one of fixed and variable data. - View Dependent Claims (18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29)
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30. An identification document, comprising:
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an information-bearing layer having a visually perceptible indicium formed thereon; and
means for providing an imagewise halftone pattern of microholes within the identification document, the microholes being substantially imperceptible when the identification document is viewed in reflection, and substantially perceptible when light is transmitted through the identification document. - View Dependent Claims (31, 32, 33)
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Specification