Identification card with embedded halftone image security feature perceptible in transmitted light
First Claim
1. An information-bearing assembly comprising:
- a first layer, the first layer having an imagewise halftone pattern of microholes formed therein, each microhole penetrating at least partially through a thickness of the first layer such that light transmissivity of the first layer within said half-tone pattern is imagewise differentiated at each microhole; and
a second layer coupled to the first layer, the second layer covering the imagewise half tone pattern of microholes in a manner that permits transmitted light to reach the microholes;
wherein the second layer comprises a material that is substantially optically clear in the visible spectrum;
wherein the microholes have sufficiently small structural dimensions such that, under unassisted visual inspection, the imagewise halftone pattern is (a) substantially imperceptible when the information-bearing assembly is viewed in reflection, and (b) substantially perceptible when the information-bearing assembly is viewed in transmission.
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Accused Products
Abstract
An information-bearing laminar assembly, suitable for use as an identification card, is disclosed. The assembly is characterized by the provision therein of an embedded halftone image security feature that becomes visible essentially only when the assembly is view in transmitted light. The information-bearing laminar assembly comprises an inner information-bearing layer interposed between a first and a second light-transmissive protective outer layer. The inner layer contains both visible information-bearing indicia and an imagewise halftone pattern of laser-ablated microholes. The light-transmissivity of the information-bearing inner layer within said half-tone pattern is imagewise differentiated at each microhole as a function of the microhole'"'"'s penetration depth. Sandwiched between the protective outer layers, the halftone pattern is imperceptible when the information-bearing laminar assembly is viewed in reflections and perceptible when the information-bearing laminar assembly is viewed in transmission.
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Citations
30 Claims
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1. An information-bearing assembly comprising:
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a first layer, the first layer having an imagewise halftone pattern of microholes formed therein, each microhole penetrating at least partially through a thickness of the first layer such that light transmissivity of the first layer within said half-tone pattern is imagewise differentiated at each microhole; and a second layer coupled to the first layer, the second layer covering the imagewise half tone pattern of microholes in a manner that permits transmitted light to reach the microholes;
wherein the second layer comprises a material that is substantially optically clear in the visible spectrum;wherein the microholes have sufficiently small structural dimensions such that, under unassisted visual inspection, the imagewise halftone pattern is (a) substantially imperceptible when the information-bearing assembly is viewed in reflection, and (b) substantially perceptible when the information-bearing assembly is viewed in transmission. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. An information-bearing assembly comprising:
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a first layer, the first layer having an imagewise halftone pattern of microholes formed therein, each microhole penetrating at least partially through a thickness of the first layer such that light transmissivity of the first layer within said half-tone pattern is imagewise differentiated at each microhole; and a second layer coupled to the first layer, the second layer covering the imagewise half tone pattern of microholes in a manner that permits transmitted light to reach the microholes; wherein the microholes have sufficiently small structural dimensions such that, under unassisted visual inspection, the imagewise halftone pattern is (a) substantially imperceptible when the information-bearing assembly is viewed in reflection, and (b) substantially perceptible when the information-bearing assembly is viewed in transmission wherein the imagewise halftone pattern comprises a gray scale pattern. - View Dependent Claims (12)
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13. An information-bearing assembly comprising:
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a first layer, the first layer having an imagewise halftone pattern of microholes formed therein, each microhole penetrating at least partially through a thickness of the first layer such that light transmissivity of the first layer within said half-tone pattern is imagewise differentiated at each microhole; and a second layer coupled to the first layer, the second layer covering the imagewise half tone pattern of microholes in a manner that permits transmitted light to reach the microholes; wherein the microholes have sufficiently small structural dimensions such that, under unassisted visual inspection, the imagewise halftone pattern is (a) substantially imperceptible when the information-bearing assembly is viewed in reflection, and (b) substantially perceptible when the information-bearing assembly is viewed in transmission;
wherein the imagewise halftone pattern is constructed and arranged such that an attempt to decouple the first and second layers results in a disruption of the imagewise halftone pattern. - View Dependent Claims (14)
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15. An information-bearing assembly comprising;
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a first layer, the first layer having an imagewise halftone pattern of microholes formed therein, each microhole penetrating at least partially through a thickness of the first layer such that light transmissivity of the first layer within said half-tone pattern is imagewise differentiated at each microhole; and a second layer coupled to the first layer, the second layer covering the imagewise half tone pattern of microholes in a manner that permits transmitted light to reach the microholes; wherein the microholes have sufficiently small structural dimensions such that, under unassisted visual inspection, the imagewise halftone pattern is (a) substantially imperceptible when the information-bearing assembly is viewed in reflection, and (b) substantially perceptible when the information-bearing assembly is viewed in transmission wherein the second layer comprises at least one of amorphous polyethylene terephthalate (PET), polyester, and a polyester that is the reaction product of the polymerization of ethylene glycols with polycarboxylic acid.
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16. A method of manufacturing an information-bearing assembly comprising:
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providing a first layer comprising material capable of having microholes formed therein; forming in said planar material an imagewise halftone pattern of microholes, the microholes having sufficiently small structural dimensions such that under unassisted visual inspection, the halftone pattern is substantially imperceptible when the information-bearing laminar assembly is viewed in reflection and substantially perceptible when the information-bearing laminar assembly is viewed in transmission, wherein the imagewise halftone pattern comprises at least one of fixed and variable data; and coupling a second layer to the first layer, the second layer covering the imagewise half tone pattern of microholes in a manner that permits transmitted light to reach the microholes. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 26)
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25. A method of manufacturing an information-bearing assembly comprising:
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providing a first layer comprising material capable of having microholes formed therein; forming a visually perceptible information-bearing indicium formed on the first layer; and forming in said planar material an imagewise halftone pattern of microholes, the microholes having sufficiently small structural dimensions such that under unassisted visual inspection, the halftone pattern is substantially imperceptible when the information-bearing laminar assembly is viewed in reflection and substantially perceptible when the information-bearing laminar assembly is viewed in transmission, wherein the imagewise halftone pattern comprises at least one of fixed and variable data wherein the visually perceptible information is formed on the first layer after the imagewise halftone pattern of microholes is formed on the first layer.
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27. A method of manufacturing an information-bearing assembly comprising:
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providing a first layer comprising material capable of having microholes formed therein; and forming in said planar material an imagewise halftone pattern of microholes, the microholes having sufficiently small structural dimensions such that under unassisted visual inspection, the halftone pattern is substantially imperceptible when the information-bearing laminar assembly is viewed in reflection and substantially perceptible when the information-bearing laminar assembly is viewed in transmission, wherein the imagewise halftone pattern comprises at least one of fixed and variable data;
wherein the imagewise halftone pattern comprises a gray scale pattern.
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28. An identification document, comprising:
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an information-bearing layer having a visually perceptible indicium formed thereon; means for providing an imagewise halftone pattern of microholes within the identification document, the microholes being substantially imperceptible when the identification document is viewed in reflection, and substantially perceptible when light is transmitted through the identification document; and
means for disrupting the imagewise halftone pattern of microholes if an attempt is made to alter the identification document.
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29. An identification document, comprising:
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an information-bearing layer having a visually perceptible indicium formed thereon; means for providing an imagewise halftone pattern of microholes within the identification document, the microholes being substantially imperceptible when the identification document is viewed in reflection, and substantially perceptible when light is transmitted through the identification document; and
means for associating the imagewise halftone pattern of microholes with the visually perceptible indicium. - View Dependent Claims (30)
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Specification