Multiple image security features for identification documents and methods of making same

• US 6,817,530 B2
• Filed: 12/18/2002
• Issued: 11/16/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 12/18/2001
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: L-1 Secure Credentialing, LLC (Advent International Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Digimarc ID Systems
• Inventors: Jones, Robert, Batey, Danielle, Anderson, Joseph, Labrec, Brian
• Primary Examiner(s): Le, Thien M.
• Assistant Examiner(s): TRAIL, ALLYSON NEEL
• Application Number:
  US10/325,434
• Publication Number:
  US 20030183695A1
• Time in Patent Office: 699 Days
• Field of Search: 235/487, 235/492, 235/488, 359/15, 359/20, 359/31, 359/35
• US Class Current: 235/487
• CPC Class Codes: B42D 2033/24 Reliefs or indentations
• 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 25/23 Identity cards
• CPC Class Codes: B42D 25/425 by deformation, e.g. embossing
• CPC Class Codes: B42D 25/45 Associating two or more layers
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 19/00 Record carriers for use with machines and with at least a part designed to carry digital markings
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 19/06 characterised by the kind of the digital marking, e.g. shape, nature, code
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 19/08 using markings of different kinds or more than one marking of the same kind in the same record carrier, e.g. one marking being sensed by optical and the other by magnetic means
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 19/10 at least one kind of marking being used for authentication, e.g. of credit or identity cards verification of coded identity or credit cards in mechanisms actuated by them G07F7/12
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 19/18 Constructional details

Abstract

A method for making a secure identification document with multiple images is provided. Information is provided to an information bearing layer, the information constructed and arranged to be capable of providing multiple images when the printed information is viewed at different predetermined angles through an appropriate lens. At least a portion of the information is covered with a layer of a substantially a transparent film material. A lens profile is embossed onto a first portion of the substantially transparent film material, wherein the first portion of the substantially transparent film material comprises an area that is less than the entire layer of substantially transparent film material and wherein the first location substantially coincides with the location of the information. The lens profile forms a lens on a portion of the substantially transparent film material, the lens enabling the information viewed through the lens to display multiple images when the information is viewed at different predetermined angles.

Claims

1. A method for making a secure identification document with multiple images comprising:

providing information on an information-bearing layer, the information constructed and arranged to be capable of providing multiple images when the information is viewed at different predetermined angles through an appropriate lens;

covering the information with a layer of a substantially transparent film material;

embossing a lens profile onto a first portion of the substantially transparent film material at a first location, wherein the first portion of the substantially transparent film material comprises an area that is less than the entire layer of substantially transparent film material and wherein the first location substantially coincides with the location of the information provided on the information-bearing layer, the lens profile forms a lens on a portion of the substantially transparent film material, and the lens enables the information viewed through the lens to display multiple images when the information is viewed at different predetermined angles.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein the information comprises information in at least one color.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein the information comprises a full color image.

4. The method of claim 1 wherein at least one of the multiple images comprises variable information.

5. The method of claim 1 wherein providing information on the information bearing layer comprises at least one of printing the information and laser engraving the information.

6. The method of claim 1 wherein the embossed lens profile comprises a lenticular lens.

7. The method of claim 1 further comprising laminating the information bearing layer to the layer of film material.

8. The method for making secure identification document of claim 1, wherein the lens profile is embossed onto the substantially transparent film after the substantially transparent film has covered the first portion of the data.

9. The method of claim 8 wherein the embossing occurs after the data is provided to the information-bearing layer.

10. The method for making secure identification document of claim 1, wherein the lens profile is embossed onto the substantially transparent film before the substantially transparent film covers the first portion of the variable data.

11. The method for making a secure identification document of claim 1, wherein the information comprises a first image interlaced with a second image such that the first image becomes visible when the information is viewed through the lens at a first angle and the second image becomes visible when the information is viewed through the lens at a second angle.

12. The method of claim 1 wherein at least two of the multiple images comprise variable information, and each of the at least two multiple images comprise variable information that has a substantially different appearance than the appearance of the other of the at least two multiple images.

13. An information bearing document comprising:

a core layer;

an interlaced image formed on the core layer, the interlaced image comprising first and second images, the interlaced image constructed and arranged to permit the first and second images to be visible at a first and second respective predetermined angles when the first and second images are viewed through a predetermined lenticular lens; and

a substantially transparent layer operably coupled to the core layer, the substantially transparent layer comprising a least a first portion with no lenticular lens formed thereon and at least a second portion having a lenticular lens formed thereon, the lenticular lens being located at a predetermined location selected to overlay at least a portion of the interlaced image when the substantially transparent layer is coupled to the core layer, and wherein the lenticular lens is constructed and arranged be operable with the interlaced image to enable the first and second images in the interlaced image to be viewable through the lenticular lens at two different respective angles.

14. The information bearing document of claim 13, wherein at least one of the first and second images of the interlaced image comprises personalized information.

15. The information bearing document of claim 13, wherein the interlaced image includes at least one color image.

16. The information bearing document of claim 13, wherein the lenticular lens is formed into the substantially transparent layer by embossing the lens onto the substantially transparent layer.

17. The information bearing document of claim 13, wherein the interlaced image is formed such that the arrangement of the interlacing is dependent on at least one parameter associated with at least one of the first and second images being interlaced.

18. The information bearing document of claim 17, wherein the parameter comprises at least one of image type, image size, data type, lenticular lens size, lenticular lens arrangement, font size, font color, image color, image dimensions, and starting location for interlacing.

19. The method of claim 13 wherein at least one of the first and second images comprise variable data.

20. The information-bearing document of claim 13, wherein the lenticular lens is formed on the substantially transparent layer prior to coupling the substantially transparent layer to the core layer.

21. The information bearing document of claim 13, wherein the lenticular lens is formed on the substantially transparent layer after the substantially transparent layer is coupled to the core layer.

22. An information bearing document, the information bearing document comprising:

a core layer;

means for providing an indicium formed on the core layer at a first location, the indicium comprising at least two images that are selectively visible at the first location dependent on the angle of viewing of the indicium when the indicium is viewed through a lenticular lens, wherein at least one of the two images comprises personalized data; and

means for providing after the indicium has been formed on the core layer, a lenticular lens that overlays at least a portion of the indicium but which does not overlay the entire core layer.

23. The information bearing document of claim 22, wherein the indicium comprises a variable indicium.

24. The information bearing document of claim 22, wherein the indicium comprises an image having at least two different colors.

25. The information bearing document of claim 22 further comprising a substantially transparent layer coupled to the core layer, where the lenticular lens is formed in the substantially transparent layer.

26. The information bearing document of claim 25 further comprising means for forming the lenticular lens into the substantially transparent layer prior to coupling the substantially transparent layer to the core layer.

27. The information bearing document of claim 25 further comprising means for forming the lenticular lens into the substantially transparent layer after the substantially transparent layer is coupled to the core layer.