Multilayer identification card

• US 4,119,361 A
• Filed: 08/09/1976
• Issued: 10/10/1978
• Est. Priority Date: 08/14/1975
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Landis+Gyr Inc. (Landis+Gyr Group AG)
• Original Assignee: Landis+Gyr Inc. (Landis+Gyr Group AG)
• Inventors: Greenaway, David Leslie
• Primary Examiner(s): Evans, F. L.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Lee, John D.
• Application Number:
  US05/712,750
• Time in Patent Office: 792 Days
• Field of Search: 350/1, 350/3.5, 283/7, 40/2.2
• US Class Current: 283/88
• 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 25/45 Associating two or more layers
• CPC Class Codes: G03H 1/0236 Form or shape of the hologram when not registered to the substrate, e.g. trimming the hologram to alphanumerical shape substrates bearing a hologram G03H1/0272
• CPC Class Codes: G03H 1/2286 Particular reconstruction light G03H1/24 takes precedence; Beam properties
• CPC Class Codes: G03H 2001/2231 Reflection reconstruction
• CPC Class Codes: G03H 2001/2234 Transmission reconstruction
• CPC Class Codes: G03H 2222/16 Infra Red [IR]
• CPC Class Codes: G03H 2250/34 Colour layer
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 19/14 the marking being sensed by radiation
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 19/16 the marking being a hologram or diffraction grating
• CPC Class Codes: G07D 7/12 Visible light, infrared or ultraviolet radiation
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 283/901 Concealed data

Abstract

A multi-ply identification card for storage of machine-readable information includes optical markings disposed between protective layers. At least one of the protective layers can be penetrated by infrared light, and both are opaque to light of lesser wavelengths. The optical markings have a fine structure with at least 300 lines per mm and the protective layers are so connected to the optical markings that the markings are destroyed if one of the protective layers is removed.

Claims

1. A card for storing information for optical reading comprising:

optical marking means indicative of said information;

a protective layer on each side of said optical marking means, both of said layers being opaque to light of shorter wavelength than infrared light and at least one of said protective layers being penetratable by infrared light;

said optical marking means being provided at the inner face of one of said protective layers and having a cellular surface structure with at least 300 lines per mm to inhibit photographic copying of said information with the use of infrared light; and

said protective layers being so connected to said optical marking means that removal of either of said protective layers therefrom will destroy said optical marking means to inhibit copying or viewing of said information.

2. A card for storing information for optical reading comprising:

an information layer including optical marking means indicative of said information;

a protective layer on each side of said information layer, at least one of said protective layers being penetratable by infrared light and opaque to light of shorter wavelength than infrared light;

a layer reflective to infrared light on the side of said information layer opposite said at least one protective layer;

the markings of said optical marking means being formed of a line structure with at least 300 lines per mm to inhibit photographic copying of said information with the use of infrared light;

said protective layers being so attached with said information layer that removal of either of said protective layers therefrom will destroy said optical marking means to inhibit viewing or copying of said information.

3. A card as recited in claim 2 wherein a porous reflective layer is interposed between said information layer and one of said protective layers, said one of said protective layers being bonded to said information layer by way of the pores of said reflective layer.

4. A card for storing information for optical reading comprising:

a first protective layer of plastic material;

optical marking means indicative of said information impressed at one side of said first protective layer, said optical marking means having a structure with at least 300 lines per mm to inhibit photographic copying of said information with the use of infrared light;

a metal reflective layer covering said optical marking means;

a second protective layer; and

means chemically bonding said one side of said first protective layer, said reflective layer, and one side of said second protective layer together in such manner that said optical marking means will be destroyed if said protective layers are separated to inhibit viewing or copying of said information; and

said first protective layer being penetratable by infrared light and opaque to light of shorter wavelength than infrared light.

5. A card for storing information for optical reading comprising:

first and second protective layers joined together;

one said protective layer having an inner face of cellular surface structure with alternate punctiform contact zones and recesses, both of said protective layers being opaque to light of shorter wavelength than infrared light and at least one of said layers being penetratable by infrared light;

optical marking means indicative of said information disposed at the surface of one of said protective layers adjacent a surface of said other protective layer at locations corresponding to at least some of said punctiform contact zones or recesses, said optical means having a structure with at least 300 lines per mm to inhibit photographic copying of said information with the use of infrared light.

6. A card for storing information for optical reading comprising:

first and second protective layers joined together;

one of said protective layers having a substantially planar inner surface and the other of said protective layers having an inner surface structue with alternate punctiform contact zones and recesses, both of said protective layers being opaque to light of shorter wavelength than infrared light and at least one of said protective layers being penetratable by infrared light; and

optical marking means indicative of said information disposed in said recesses in the inner surface of said other of said protective layers, said optical means having a structure with at least 300 lines per mm to inhibit photographic copying of said information with the use of infrared light.