Security device and its production method

• US 20050279235A1
• Filed: 11/06/2003
• Published: 12/22/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 12/04/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: De La Rue International Limited (De La Rue PLC)
• Original Assignee: De La Rue International Limited (De La Rue PLC)
• Inventors: Sugdon, Matthew Charles, Barthram, Anita
• Granted Patent: US 9,021,953 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 101/483
• CPC Class Codes: B41M 3/144 using fluorescent, luminescent or iridescent effects
• CPC Class Codes: B42D 25/351 Translucent or partly translucent parts, e.g. windows
• CPC Class Codes: B42D 25/378 Special inks
• CPC Class Codes: B42D 25/382 absorbing or reflecting infrared light
• CPC Class Codes: B42D 25/387 absorbing or reflecting ultraviolet light

Abstract

A security device comprises two or more regions (1, 2). Each region (1, 2) contains a material or combination of materials wherein the two or more regions exhibit substantially the same visible appearance under first viewing conditions and different visible appearances under second viewing conditions, the second viewing conditions. The second viewing conditions comprise a combination of a) visible light and b) substantially any UV wavelength.

Claims

1. A security device comprising two or more regions, each region containing a material or combination of materials wherein the two or more regions exhibit substantially the same visible colour under first viewing conditions as hereinbefore defined and different visible colours under second viewing conditions, the second viewing conditions comprising a combination of

a) visible light and

b) light of substantially any UV wavelength in the range 235-380 nm.

3. A device according to claim 1, wherein at least one region includes a material, for example an ink, which luminesces under UV irradiation.

4. A device according to claim 3, wherein at least two regions include a material or materials, for example an ink or inks, which luminesce under UV irradiation.

5. A device according to claim 1, wherein at least one region includes a material which is photochromic and which exhibits colour change under UV irradiation.

6. A device according to claim 5, wherein at least two regions include a material or materials which is photochromic and which exhibits a colour change under UV irradiation.

7. A device according to claim 5, wherein at least one region includes a material, for example an ink, which luminesces under UV irradiation and wherein one region includes material(s) which are luminescent and photochromic, and at least one other region includes a luminescent material, whereby under UV and visible light illumination each region initially exhibits a different visible colour while after extended combined illumination, the photochromic material changes colour so that the visible colour of the two regions is substantially the same.

9. A device according to claim 1, wherein at least one region includes a material which is thermochromic and which exhibits colour change under IR irradiation.

10. A device according to claim 9, wherein at least one region includes a material, for example an ink which luminesces under UV irradiation and wherein one region includes material(s) which are luminescent and thermochromic and another region a luminescent material, whereby under UV and visible light illumination each region exhibits a different appearance while after the application of heat in the presence of UV and visible light illumination the thermochromic material changes colour so that the colour of the two regions is substantially the same.

11. A device according to claim 1, wherein the first viewing conditions comprise visible light formed by any of at least north sky light, general indoor light, tungsten light, fluorescent tube light or tri-band fluorescent tube light.

12. A device according to claim 1, wherein each region exhibits the first colour under the first viewing conditions and different second colours under the second viewing conditions.

13. A device according to claim 1, wherein one region exhibits the same colour under the first and second viewing conditions.

14. A device according to claim 1, wherein the regions are spaced apart.

15. A device according to claim 1, wherein the regions are adjacent or partially overlap.

16. A device according to claim 15, wherein the regions abut one another.

17. A device according to claim 1, the device being provided with the regions on the same side of a substrate.

18. A device according to claim 1, wherein the regions are registered with respect to one another.

19. A device according to claim 1, wherein the regions can be viewed in reflection and transmission.

20. A device according to claim 1, wherein at least one of the regions includes a homogeneous mix of said materials.

21. A device according to claim 1, wherein the regions define one or more of graphical patterns, indicia, security patterns and images.

22. An article carrying a security device according to claim 1.

23. An article according to claim 22, the article comprising a security document or document of value such as a banknote, identity card, cheque, bond, certificate, fiscal stamp, tax stamp and voucher.

2. A security device comprising two or more regions, each region containing a material or combination of materials wherein the two or more regions exhibit different visible colours under first viewing conditions as hereinbefore defined and substantially the same visible colours under second viewing conditions, the second viewing conditions comprising a combination of

a) visible light and

b) light of substantially any UV wavelength in the range 235-380 nm.

8. A device according to claim 2, wherein at least one region includes a material, for example an ink, which luminesces under UV irradiation, wherein at least one region includes a material which is photochromic and which exhibits colour change under UV irradiation and wherein one region includes material(s) which are luminescent and photochromic, and at least one other region includes a luminescent material, whereby under UV and visible light illumination each region initially exhibits substantially the same visible colour while after extended combined illumination, the photochromic material changes colour so that the visible colours exhibited by the two regions are different.

24. A method of providing a security device, the method comprising printing materials on to two or more regions of a substrate, each region containing a material or combination of materials wherein the two or more regions exhibit substantially the same visible colour under first viewing conditions as hereinbefore defined and different visible colours under second viewing conditions, the second viewing conditions comprising a combination of

a) visible light and

b) light of substantially any UV wavelength in the range 235-380 nm.

26. A method according to claim 24 for providing a security device comprising two or more regions, each region containing a material or combination of materials wherein the two or more regions exhibit substantially the same visible colour under first viewing conditions as hereinbefore defined and different visible colours under second viewing conditions the second viewing conditions comprising a combination of

a) visible light and

b) light of substantially any UV wavelength in the range 235-380 nm.

25. A method of providing a security device, the method comprising printing materials on to two or more regions of a substrate, each region containing a material or combination of materials wherein the two or more regions exhibit different visible colours under first viewing conditions as hereinbefore defined and substantially the same visible colour under second viewing conditions, the second viewing conditions comprising a combination of

a) visible light and

b) light of substantially any UV wavelength in the range 235-380 nm.

27. A method according to claim 25 for providing a security device comprising two or more regions, each region containing a material or combination of materials wherein the two or more regions exhibit different visible colours under first viewing conditions as hereinbefore defined and substantially the same visible colours under second viewing conditions, the second viewing conditions comprising a combination of

a) visible light and

b) light of substantially any UV wavelength in the range 235-380 nm.

28. A security device comprising two or more regions, each region containing a material or combination of materials wherein the two or more regions exhibit substantially the same visible colour under first viewing conditions as hereinbefore defined and different visible colours under second viewing conditions, the second viewing conditions comprising a combination of

a) visible light and

b) infra-red radiation.

29. A security device comprising two or more regions, each region containing a material or combination of materials wherein the two or more regions exhibit different visible colours under first viewing conditions as hereinbefore defined and substantially the same visible colour under second viewing conditions, the second viewing conditions comprising a combination of

a) visible light and

b) infra-red radiation.

30. A method of providing a security device, the method comprising printing materials on to two or more regions of a substrate, each region containing a material or combination of materials wherein the two or more regions exhibit substantially the same visible colour under first viewing conditions as hereinbefore defined and different visible colours under second viewing conditions, the second viewing conditions comprising a combination of

a) visible light and

b) infra-red radiation.

31. A method of providing a security device, the method comprising printing materials on to two or more regions of a substrate, each region containing a material or combination of materials wherein the two or more regions exhibit different visible colours under first viewing conditions as hereinbefore defined and substantially the same visible colour under second viewing conditions, the second viewing conditions comprising a combination of

a) visible light and

b) infra-red radiation.