Method of producing an identification card

• US 4,735,670 A
• Filed: 08/25/1986
• Issued: 04/05/1988
• Est. Priority Date: 12/23/1980
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: GAO Gesellschaft Fur Automation und Organisation mbH
• Original Assignee: GAO Gesellschaft Fur Automation und Organisation mbH
• Inventors: Maurer, Thomas, Holbein, Hans J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Cashion, Jr., Merrell C.
• Application Number:
  US06/899,915
• Time in Patent Office: 589 Days
• Field of Search: 156/272.2, 156/272.8, 156/277, 156/292, 156/299, 156/300, 156/208.4, 346/108, 346/76 L, 283/70, 283/72, 283/75, 283/147, 283/86, 283/94, 283/97, 283/110, 283/111, 219/121 L, 219/121 LA, 219/121 LM, 427/53.1
• US Class Current: 156/272.8
• CPC Class Codes: B41M 3/14 Security printing securities B42D25/29
• CPC Class Codes: B42D 2033/30 Plastic material
• CPC Class Codes: B42D 2035/02 Nature of the markings
• CPC Class Codes: B42D 2035/06 Picture of the user
• CPC Class Codes: B42D 2035/08 Alphanumerical data
• CPC Class Codes: B42D 2035/26 Halftone or interference patterns
• 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 25/337 Guilloche patterns
• CPC Class Codes: B42D 25/41 using electromagnetic radiation B42D25/435 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 1/126 by photographic or thermographic registration recording apparatus for measuring instruments G01D15/00
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 19/083 Constructional details
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 156/1092 All laminae planar and face to face

Abstract

The disclosure concerns an identification card containing information such as name, account number, photograph of the card owner, etc. The card is protected by a superjacent printed security pattern, such as a guilloche, or other pattern which is difficult to imitate, or a homogeneous printed surface. The information is inscribed into the identification card material through the printed security pattern by a laser beam recorder. The energy of the laser and the colors of the printed security pattern are coordinated with each other in such a way that the laser light is not absorbed by the printed security pattern and the latter is not destroyed by the laser light.

Claims

1. A method of producing identification documents having identification information in the form of letters, numbers, images and combinations thereof comprising:

covering a base card with a visible security pattern in areas to be protected;

applying the identification information to said base card through said security pattern by means of a laser recorder, and

controlling the radiation of said laser recorder during application of said identification information to avoid visibly changing said visible security pattern.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein said security pattern is printed on said base card.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein said security pattern is printed over the entire face of said base card.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein said printed security pattern covers only partial areas of said base card.

5. The method of claim 2 wherein said security pattern is printed in a continuous pattern.

6. The method of claim 3 wherein said security pattern is printed in a continuous pattern.

7. The method of claim 4 wherein said security pattern is printed in a continous pattern.

8. The method of claim 2 wherein said security pattern is printed in a guilloche pattern.

9. The method of claim 3 wherein said security pattern is printed in a guilloche pattern.

10. The method of claim 4 wherein said security pattern is printed in a guilloche pattern.