SHADOW IMAGE SECURITY FEATURE

• US 20110037247A1
• Filed: 12/29/2008
• Published: 02/17/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 05/16/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Entrust Corp.
• Original Assignee: Datacard Corp. (Entrust Corp.)
• Inventors: Tappij-Gielen, Michael
• Granted Patent: US 10,112,434 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 283/77
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 2255/10 on synthetic resin layer or on natural or synthetic rubber layer
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 2255/205 Metallic coating
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 2307/402 Coloured
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 2307/412 Transparent
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 2307/414 Translucent
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 2307/75 Printability
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 2425/00 Cards, e.g. identity cards, credit cards
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 27/08 of synthetic resin
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 27/304 comprising vinyl halide (co)polymers, e.g. PVC, PVDC, PVF, PVDF
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 27/36 comprising polyesters
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 27/365 comprising polycarbonates
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 5/142 Variation across the area of the layer
• CPC Class Codes: B41M 3/14 Security printing securities B42D25/29
• 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 2035/50 Corresponding markings appearing in different shapes or at different places
• 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 25/309 Photographs
• CPC Class Codes: B42D 25/318 Signatures
• CPC Class Codes: B42D 25/373 Metallic materials
• CPC Class Codes: B42D 25/41 : using electromagnetic radiation B42D25/435 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B42D 25/435 : using electromagnetic radiation, e.g. laser

Abstract

A security document created by laminating a metalized foil between transparent layers, and modifying the outside of the foil to form a base color of the document, while leaving a window area formed by an unmodified portion of the foil. A laser is then used to ablate at least a portion of the unmodified portion of the foil in the window area to create an image. The window area includes the laser ablated image formed therein. The resulting image is transparent, with the image being visible from a front of the security document and visible from a rear of the security document.

Claims

1. A process of creating a security document, comprising:

laminating a metalized foil between transparent layers;

modifying the outside of the foil to form a base color of the document while leaving a window area formed by an unmodified portion of the foil; and

using a laser to ablate at least a portion of the unmodified portion of the foil in the window area to create an image, the image being transparent, and the image is visible from a front of the security document and visible from a rear of the security document.

2. The process of claim 1, wherein the image is an image of the intended holder of the security document.

3. The process of claim 1, wherein the security document is an identification card or a passport.

4. The process of claim 1, further comprising applying additional information to the security document at a location spaced from the window area.

5. The process of claim 4, wherein the additional information comprises one or more of a photograph, name, unique document number, birth date, citizenship and a signature.

6. The process of claim 1, wherein modifying comprises printing the outside of the foil.

7. The process of claim 6, wherein printing comprises lithographic or screen printing.

8. A security document comprising:

a metalized foil between transparent layers, a major portion of an outside area of the foil is modified to form a base color of the document;

a window area formed by an unmodified portion of the foil;

a laser ablated image formed in the window area, the image being transparent, and the image is visible from a front of the security document and visible from a rear of the security document.

9. The security document of claim 8, wherein the image is an image of the intended holder of the security document.

10. The security document of claim 8, wherein the security document is an identification card or a passport.

11. The security document of claim 8, further comprising additional information on the document at a location spaced from the window area.

12. The security document of claim 11, wherein the additional information comprises one or more of a photograph, name, unique document number, birth date, citizenship, and a signature.