Data carrier with optically variable color

• US 6,183,018 B1
• Filed: 09/21/1998
• Issued: 02/06/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 11/27/1995
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Giesecke & Devrient (Giesecke & Devrient GmbH)
• Original Assignee: Giesecke & Devrient GmbH
• Inventors: Plaschka, Reinhard, Braun, Eckhard
• Primary Examiner(s): Wellington, A. L.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Henderson, Mark T.
• Application Number:
  US09/068,984
• Time in Patent Office: 869 Days
• Field of Search: 427/7, 283/86, 283/91, 283/94, 283/109, 283/114
• US Class Current: 283/114
• CPC Class Codes: B41M 3/14 Security printing securities B42D25/29
• CPC Class Codes: B42D 25/23 Identity cards
• CPC Class Codes: B42D 25/337 Guilloche patterns
• CPC Class Codes: B42D 25/351 Translucent or partly translucent parts, e.g. windows
• CPC Class Codes: B42D 25/378 Special inks
• CPC Class Codes: B42D 25/43 by removal of material

Abstract

A data carrier with an optically variable element. The optically variable element includes a first structured print which is overlaid with a second print, at least in partial areas. The second print is applied to a document with an ink which contains an optically variable pigment having little or no body color of its own.

Claims

1. A data carrier for paper of value comprising:

an optically variable security element having at least one piece of information and one transparent, optically variable layer containing optically variable pigments;

the at least one piece of information being represented in a color contrasting with the data carrier, and the optically variable layer disposed at least in partial areas over the at least one piece of information; and

wherein the at least one piece of information has a structure selected from the group consisting of a fineness and line width, each of which is thinner than that which can be created by using the optically variable pigments.

2. The data carrier of claim 1, wherein the at least one piece of information has a gap.

3. The data carrier of claim 1, wherein the at least one piece of information has a uniform color and uniform color tone.

4. The data carrier of claim 1, wherein the at least one piece of information has different colors.

5. The data carrier of claim 1, wherein the at least one piece of information is at least in part dark, in particular black.

6. The data carrier of claim 1, wherein the optically variable layer includes one or more interference layer pigments produced by liquid-crystal polymers.

7. The data carrier of claim 1, wherein the at least one piece of information is selected from the group consisting of a half-tone image, a line screen, a dot screen, a portrait, a picture motif, a logo, a character and a text.

8. The data carrier of claim 1, wherein the optically variable layer is applied flat in a geometric shape.

9. The data carrier of claim 1, wherein a plurality of optically variable layers which can each contain different optically variable pigment are disposed on the information.

10. The data carrier of claim 1, wherein the optically variable element is combined with a print on a side of the data carrier opposite the optically variable element in such a way that total information becomes recognizable in an area of the optically variable element by transmitted light.

11. The data carrier of claim 1, wherein the information is printed.

12. The data carrier of claim 1, wherein the at least one piece of information has a plurality of gaps.

13. The data carrier of claim 1, wherein the at least one piece of information has different color tones.

14. The data carrier of claim 1, wherein the optically variable layer is applied flat in character form.

15. The data carrier of claim 1, wherein the optically variable layer is printed.

16. The data carrier of claim 8 wherein the optically variable layer is overprinted with a print which represents information.

17. An optically variable security element comprising:

at least one piece of information and one transparent, optically variable layer containing optically variable pigments, the information being represented in a color contrastable with a data carrier and the optically variable layer being disposed at least in partial areas over the information,

and wherein the at least one piece of information has a structure selected from the group consisting of fineness and line width, each of which is thinner than that which can be created by using the optically variable pigments.

18. The optically variable security element of claim 17, wherein the optically variable security element is disposed on a transfer band.

19. The optically variable security element of claim 17, wherein the information is at least in part a dark color.

20. The optically variable security element of claim 17, wherein the optically variable layer is an optically variable film.

21. The optically variable security element of claim 19, wherein the dark color is black.