Data Carrier With Security Element And Method For The Production Thereof

• US 20070274559A1
• Filed: 07/28/2005
• Published: 11/29/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 08/06/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Giesecke & Devrient GmbH
• Original Assignee: Giesecke & Devrient GmbH
• Inventors: Mayer, Karlheinz, Depta, Georg
• Granted Patent: US 8,251,404 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 382/100
• CPC Class Codes: B41J 2/442 using lasers
• CPC Class Codes: B41J 2/471 using dot sequential main scanning by means of a light deflector, e.g. a rotating polygonal mirror
• CPC Class Codes: B41M 1/06 Lithographic printing
• CPC Class Codes: B41M 1/10 Intaglio printing ; Gravure printing
• CPC Class Codes: B41M 1/12 Stencil printing; Silk-screen printing
• CPC Class Codes: B41M 3/14 Security printing securities B42D25/29
• CPC Class Codes: B41M 5/26 Thermography B41M5/20, B41M5/24 take precedence; Marking by high energetic means, e.g. laser otherwise than by burning, and characterised by the material used B23K takes precedence; thermographic or photothermographic systems using noble metal compounds G03C1/494
• CPC Class Codes: B42D 25/29 Securities; Bank notes
• CPC Class Codes: B42D 25/41 using electromagnetic radiation B42D25/435 takes precedence

Abstract

The present invention relates to a data carrier, especially a value document, such as a banknote, an identification card or the like, having a security element (20) that exhibits a print image (22) and a laser marking (24) at least partially overlapping the print image (22). According to the present invention, the security element (20) further exhibits, at least partially overlapping the print image (22), a laser modification area (26) that is in register with the laser marking (24) and in whose overlap area (28) with the print image (22) the visual appearance of the print image (22) is modified by the action of a laser beam.

Claims

1. A data carrier, especially a value document, such as a banknote, identification card or the like, having a security element that exhibits a print image and a laser marking at least partially overlapping the print image, characterized in that the security element exhibits, at least partially overlapping the print image, a laser modification area that is in register with the laser marking and in whose overlap area with the print image the visual appearance of the print image is modified by the action of a laser beam.

2. The data carrier according to claim 1, characterized in that the laser modification area forms a contour of predefined width surrounding the edge of the print image.

3. The data carrier according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that a characteristic dimension of the laser modification area, especially the predefined width of the surrounding contour, is matched to the size of the register variations between the print image and the laser marking.

4. The data carrier according to at least one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the print image is imprinted by means of screen printing, offset printing, relief printing, digital printing, or ink-receptive or relief-embossing intaglio printing.

5. The data carrier according to at least one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that the print image is an effect layer.

6. The data carrier according to claim 5, characterized in that the effect layer consists of metal, a metallic ink or an ink containing interference layer pigments.

7. The data carrier according to claim 5 or 6, characterized in that the effect layer is bronze, copper, silver or gold colored.

8. The data carrier according to at least one of claims 1 to 7, characterized in that the print image is designed as an oval or circle, especially in the form of a coin likeness.

9. The data carrier according to at least one of claims 1 to 8, characterized in that the print image forms a pattern, especially a line pattern, such as a Guilloché

pattern.

10. The data carrier according to at least one of claims 1 to 9, characterized in that the laser marking is designed in the form of patterns, characters or codes.

11. The data carrier according to at least one of claims 1 to 10, characterized in that, in the overlap area of the laser marking and the print image, the visual appearance of the print image is modified by the action of a laser beam.

12. The data carrier according to at least one of claims 1 to 11, characterized in that in at least one of the overlap areas of the laser marking and the laser modification area with the print image, the printing ink of the print image is partially or completely ablated by the action of a laser beam.

13. The data carrier according to claim 12, characterized in that the print image is lightened or bleached in at least one of the overlap areas.

14. The data carrier according to claim 12 or 13, characterized in that the optical properties of the print image are irreversibly changed in at least one of the overlap areas.

15. The data carrier according to at least one of claims 1 to 14, characterized in that the data carrier is not visually changed outside of the overlap area of the laser modification area and the print image.

16. The data carrier according to at least one of claims 1 to 15, characterized in that, outside and/or within the overlap area of the laser modification area and the print image, the data carrier exhibits a tangible marking having a relief structure.

17. The data carrier according to at least one of claims 1 to 16, characterized in that below the print image is provided an ink layer, especially a security ink layer, that is exposed, activated or deactivated in at least one of the overlap areas by the action of the laser beam.

18. A method for manufacturing a data carrier having a security element, in which

a) a print image is imprinted on a data carrier substrate,

b) a laser marking at least partially overlapping the print image is produced by the action of a laser beam, and

c) by the action of a laser beam is produced, in register with the laser marking, a laser modification area at least partially overlapping the print image and in whose overlap area with the print image the visual appearance of the print image is modified.

19. The method according to claim 18, characterized in that the laser modification area is produced in the form of a surrounding contour of predefined width around the edge of the print image.

20. The method according to claim 18 or 19, characterized in that the laser marking is produced in step b) having certain register variations between the print image and the laser marking, and the laser modification area is produced in step c) having a characteristic dimension that is matched to the size of the register variations, especially a predefined width of the surrounding contour that is matched to the size of the register variations.

21. The method according to at least one of claims 18 to 20, characterized in that the print image is imprinted by means of screen printing, offset printing, relief printing, digital printing, or ink-receptive or relief-embossing intaglio printing.

22. The method according to at least one of claims 18 to 21, characterized in that the laser marking and the laser modification area are produced in the same operation with the same laser marker.

23. The method according to at least one of claims 18 to 22, characterized in that the laser marking and/or the laser modification area are produced with varying laser beam parameters such that different effects or different effect intensities are achieved.

24. The method according to at least one of claims 18 to 23, characterized in that the laser modification area is first produced, and the laser marking is then produced at least partially within the laser modification area.

25. The method according to at least one of claims 18 to 24, characterized in that the laser marking and the laser modification area are produced for a plurality of individual ups of data carriers on a sheet or a roll.

35. The method according to at least one of claims 18 to 34, characterized in that, to produce the laser marking and/or the laser modification area, an infrared laser in the wavelength range from 0.8 μ

m to 3 μ

m, especially a Nd;

YAG laser, is used.

36. The method according to at least one of claims 18 to 35, characterized in that, for marking, the laser beam is guided across the data carrier material at a speed of more than 1000 mm/s, preferably of more than 2000 mm/s, particularly preferably of 4000 mm/s or more.

26. A method for manufacturing a data carrier having a security element, in which

a) a first print image is imprinted on a data carrier substrate,

b) a second print image is imprinted on the data carrier substrate, the two print images exhibiting certain register variations, and

c) by the action of a laser beam, a laser modification area at least partially overlapping the two print images is produced in whose overlap area with the print images the visual appearance of each print image is modified.

27. The method according to claim 26, characterized in that the laser modification area is produced in step c) having a shape and size that is matched to the size of the register variations.

28. A method for manufacturing a plurality of individual ups of data carriers on a sheet or a roll, in which

a) on the sheet or the roll is imprinted an overall print image that comprises the print images of multiple individual ups,

b) the position of the print images on the sheet or the roll is detected, and

c) based on the detected position of the print images, laser markings are produced in the individual ups by the action of a laser beam.

29. The method according to claim 28, characterized in that, in step a), on the sheet or the roll are printed, together with the print images, register marks whose positions are detected in step b) as a gauge for the position of the print images.

30. The method according to claim 29, characterized in that, with every print image, an associated register mark is printed whose position is detected in step b) as a gauge for the position of the associated print image.

31. The method according to claim 29, characterized in that, for each of a group of print images, an associated register mark is printed whose position is detected in step b) as a gauge for the position of the print images of the associated group.

32. The method according to at least one of claims 29 to 31, characterized in that the positions of the register marks are detected in step b) by imaging sensors, especially line scan cameras or area scan cameras.

33. The method according to claim 28, characterized in that the positions of the print images are detected in step b) by imaging sensors, especially line scan cameras or area scan cameras.

34. The method according to claim 33, characterized in that, additionally in step b), data of the print images is read by the imaging sensors, the information content of the laser marking is defined based on this data, and in step c), laser markings having information content defined in this way are produced in the individual ups.