Identification documents with enhanced security

• US 20050269818A1
• Filed: 06/03/2004
• Published: 12/08/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 06/03/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Entrust Corp.
• Original Assignee: Datacard Corp. (Entrust Corp.)
• Inventors: Forde, James A.
• Granted Patent: US 7,594,680 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 283/74
• CPC Class Codes: B42D 25/328 Diffraction gratings; Holograms

Abstract

An identification document having enhanced security and replication deterrence, while providing a simple low cost solution to other verification and authentication technologies. In one implementation, the document is provided with a multi-layer, multi-axis diffractive optical variable image device (DOVID) that is based on specific data or information on the document. The result is that the DOVID is directly tied to data or information that is specific to the document. This DOVID security feature is verifiable by the human eye so that no high levels of technology are necessary to verify authenticity. In addition, this DOVID security feature has enhanced tamper detection.

Claims

1. An identification document, comprising:

a document surface having information relating to the intended holder of the identification document provided thereon; and

a diffractive optically variable image device on the document surface, wherein the image device is based on at least a portion of the information on the document surface.

2. The identification document of claim 1, wherein the image device overlays at least a portion of the information.

3. The identification document of claim 1, wherein the information comprises an image, and the diffractive optically variable image device overlays at least a portion of the image.

4. The identification document of claim 1, wherein the document surface comprises a surface of a card.

5. The identification document of claim 1, wherein the image device is a multi-layer image device having multiple axes of diffraction.

6. The identification document of claim 5, wherein each layer of the diffractive optically variable image device has an axis of diffraction that is different from the axis of diffraction of every other layer.

7. The identification document of claim 5, wherein each layer of the diffractive optically variable image device results from a pixel segmentation process.

8. The identification document of claim 3, wherein the diffractive optically variable image device is located in registration with the portion of the information that it is based on.

9. The identification document of claim 1, wherein the image device comprises material that is printed onto the document surface.

10. The identification document of claim 5, wherein the layers include an uppermost layer, and the uppermost layer comprises microprinting.

11. The identification document of claim 1, further comprising an overlay over the document surface and over the image device.

12. The identification document of claim 1, wherein the diffractive optically variable image device is offset from the information on which it is based.

13. An identification document, comprising:

a document surface having information relating to the intended holder of the identification document provided thereon; and

a multi-layer diffractive optically variable image device on the document surface, wherein the diffractive optically variable image device has multiple axes of diffraction and is formed on the document surface.

14. The identification document of claim 13, wherein the information comprises at least one of an image or text, and the image device overlays at least a portion of the image or the text.

15. The identification document of claim 13, wherein the document surface comprises an image, and the diffractive optically variable image device overlays at least a portion of the image.

16. The identification document of claim 13, wherein the document surface comprises a surface of a card.

17. The identification document of claim 13, wherein each layer of the diffractive optically variable image device has an axis of diffraction that is different from the axis of diffraction of every other layer.

18. The identification document of claim 13, wherein each layer of the diffractive optically variable image device results from a pixel segmentation process.

19. The identification document of claim 15, wherein the diffractive optically variable image device is located in registration with the image on the document surface.

20. The identification document of claim 13, wherein the image device comprises material that is printed onto the document surface.

21. The identification document of claim 13, wherein the layers include an uppermost layer, and the uppermost layer comprises microprinting.

22. The identification document of claim 13, further comprising an overlay over the document surface and over the image device.

23. The identification document of claim 13, wherein the diffractive optically variable image device is based on at least a portion of the information on the document surface, and the diffractive optically variable image device is offset from the information on which it is based.

24. An identification document, comprising:

a document surface having information printed thereon; and

a diffractive optically variable image device on the document surface, wherein the diffractive optically variable image device is created after the information is printed on the identification document and is based on at least a portion of the information.

25. The identification document of claim 24, wherein the information comprises at least one of an image or text, and the image device overlays at least a portion of the image or the text.

26. The identification document of claim 24, wherein the document surface comprises an image, and the diffractive optically variable image device overlays at least a portion of the image.

27. The identification document of claim 24, wherein the document surface comprises a surface of a card.

28. The identification document of claim 24, wherein the image device is a multi-layer image device having multiple axes of diffraction.

29. The identification document of claim 28, wherein each layer of the diffractive optically variable image device has an axis of diffraction that is different from the axis of diffraction of every other layer.

30. The identification document of claim 28, wherein each layer of the diffractive optically variable image device results from a pixel segmentation process.

31. The identification document of claim 26, wherein the diffractive optically variable image device is located in registration with the image on the document surface.

32. The identification document of claim 24, wherein the image device comprises material that is printed onto the document surface.

33. The identification document of claim 28, wherein the layers include an uppermost layer, and the uppermost layer comprises microprinting.

34. The identification document of claim 24, further comprising an overlay over the document surface and over the image device.

35. The identification document of claim 24, wherein the diffractive optically variable image device is offset from the information on which it is based.

36. A method of producing an identification document, comprising:

providing an identification document having a document surface with information, including information relating to the intended document holder, formed thereon; and

forming a diffractive optically variable image device on the document surface that is at least in part based on at least a portion of the information.

37. The method of claim 36, wherein the image device is based at least in part on at least a portion of the information relating to the intended document holder on the document surface.

38. The method of claim 37, comprising segmenting the information on which the image device is based into a plurality of pixel segments;

and

for each pixel segment, forming a diffraction grating layer, each diffraction grating layer having an axis of diffraction that is different from the other diffraction grating layers.

39. The method of claim 38, comprising forming the grating layers over the information that has been segmented.

40. The method of claim 36, comprising printing the diffractive optically variable image device on the document surface.

41. The method of claim 38, comprising printing the information that is segmented onto the document, and forming each diffraction grating layer comprises printing each diffraction grating layer.

42. The method of claim 41, comprising printing each diffraction grating layer such that the diffraction grating layers are registered with the printed information that has been segmented.

43. The method of claim 36, wherein providing an identification document comprises providing a card.

44. The method of claim 38, wherein each pixel segment comprises a range of pixel intensities of the information that has been segmented.

45. The method of claim 38, further comprising providing microprinting on an uppermost layer of the grating layers.

46. The method of claim 36, comprising forming the diffractive optically variable image device on the document surface offset from the information on which it is based.