Pattern metallized optical varying security devices
First Claim
1. A pattern metallized security device, comprising:
- a substrate, one surface of which includes a surface relief pattern; and
a metallic grid screen disposed thereon, the grid screen composed of a plurality of intersecting grid lines having a density and a line width selected to visually amplify the surface relief pattern and to be partially transparent to an observer, the line width being narrow enough not to disturb the observer,the metallic grid screen defining one region substantially opaque to electromagnetic radiation at a predetermined frequency, and a second region substantially transparent to electromagnetic radiation at the predetermined frequency, and a metallic pattern indicative of a code disposed in a position to lie under the second region.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
Security devices which are difficult to reproduce include a grid screen metallization pattern. The grid screen metallization pattern may be laid down over a hologram or diffraction grating formed as a surface relief pattern on a substrate, to form a visually identifiable, semi-transparent security device. Additionally, the metallization pattern may include resonant structures in which information about the security device is encoded. In some embodiments of these security devices, the metallization pattern is disposed in accurate registration with the underlying hologram or diffraction grating. These security devices are made by methods which include printing an oil pattern on the substrate. Areas on which oil is deposited do not receive metal during a metallization step. Since these methods do not use caustics, metallization patterns including features which would otherwise trap and hold caustics are possible.
63 Citations
20 Claims
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1. A pattern metallized security device, comprising:
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a substrate, one surface of which includes a surface relief pattern; and a metallic grid screen disposed thereon, the grid screen composed of a plurality of intersecting grid lines having a density and a line width selected to visually amplify the surface relief pattern and to be partially transparent to an observer, the line width being narrow enough not to disturb the observer, the metallic grid screen defining one region substantially opaque to electromagnetic radiation at a predetermined frequency, and a second region substantially transparent to electromagnetic radiation at the predetermined frequency, and a metallic pattern indicative of a code disposed in a position to lie under the second region. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13)
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14. A pattern metallized security device, comprising:
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a substrate, one surface of which includes a relief pattern at a predetermined location thereon; and a patterned metallic film disposed thereon in registration with the relief pattern whereby features defined in the relief pattern are precisely aligned with corresponding features defined in the patterned metallic film, the patterned metallic film pattern having a density and a line width selected to visually amplify the surface relief pattern and to be partially transparent to an observer, the line width being narrow enough not to disturb the observer, the patterned metallic film defining one region substantially opaque to electromagnetic radiation at a predetermined frequency, and a second region substantially transparent to electromagnetic radiation at the predetermined frequency, and a metallic pattern indicative of a code is disposed in a position to lie under the second region.
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15. A pattern metallized security device, comprising:
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a substrate, one surface of which includes a relief pattern at a predetermined location thereon; and a patterned metallic film disposed thereon in registration with the relief pattern, the patterned metallic film further comprising a grid screen, the grid screen composed of a plurality of intersecting grid lines having a density and a line width selected to visually amplify the surface relief pattern and to be partially transparent to an observer, the line width being narrow enough not to disturb the observers, the patterned metallic film defining one region substantially opaque to electromagnetic radiation at a predetermined frequency, and a second region substantially transparent to electromagnetic radiation at the predetermined frequency, and a metallic pattern indicative of a code is disposed in a position to lie under the second region. - View Dependent Claims (16)
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17. A pattern metallized security device, comprising:
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a substrate, on one surface of which is disposed a commercial hologram; and a metallic grid screen having a coverage substantially in a range of 5-80% and a resolution of greater than 50 grid lines per inch disposed thereon; and a region of a repeating pattern of metal other than a grid screen; wherein the repeating pattern of metal forming the region is arranged to form a resonant structure having a resonance frequency indicative of a code. - View Dependent Claims (18)
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19. A pattern metallized security device, comprising:
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a substrate, on one surface of which is disposed a commercial hologram; and a metallic grid screen having a coverage substantially in a range of 5-80% and a resolution of greater than 50 grid lines per inch disposed thereon; wherein the metallic grid forms a region substantially opaque to electromagnetic radiation at a predetermined frequency, wherein the metallic grid defines a window which is substantially transparent to electromagnetic radiation at the predetermined frequency, and wherein a metallic pattern indicative of a code is disposed in a position to lie under the window, when the device is applied to a document. - View Dependent Claims (20)
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Specification