Laser etched security features for identification documents and methods of making same

• US 7,661,600 B2
• Filed: 04/19/2007
• Issued: 02/16/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 12/24/2001
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Morphotrust USA Incorporated (Advent International Corporation)
• Original Assignee: L-1 Identity Solutions Incorporated (Advent International Corporation)
• Inventors: Jones, Robert L., Theodossiou, George
• Primary Examiner(s): Frech; Karl D.
• Application Number:
  US11/737,533
• Publication Number:
  US 20070187515A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,034 Days
• Field of Search: 235/380, 235/382, 235/487, 235/488, 235/492
• US Class Current: 235/492
• CPC Class Codes: B41M 3/14 Security printing securities B42D25/29
• CPC Class Codes: B41M 3/148 Transitory images, i.e. images only visible from certain viewing angles
• CPC Class Codes: B41M 3/16 Braille printing typewriters or selective printing mechanisms for Braille printing B41J3/32
• CPC Class Codes: B41M 5/24 Ablative recording, e.g. by burning marks; Spark recording marking by high energetic means, e.g. by laser otherwise than burning or ablative removal B41M5/26; materials or methods for recording or reproduction by optical means G11B7/00
• 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 25/21 for multiple purposes
• CPC Class Codes: B42D 25/23 Identity cards
• CPC Class Codes: B42D 25/24 Passports
• CPC Class Codes: B42D 25/285 Gift cards
• CPC Class Codes: B42D 25/29 Securities; Bank notes
• CPC Class Codes: B42D 25/309 Photographs
• CPC Class Codes: B42D 25/318 Signatures
• CPC Class Codes: B42D 25/43 by removal of material
• CPC Class Codes: B42D 25/435 using electromagnetic radiation, e.g. laser
• CPC Class Codes: B42D 25/455 using heat
• CPC Class Codes: B42D 25/46 using pressure
• CPC Class Codes: B42D 25/47 using adhesives

Abstract

Identification documents employing laser-etched or -engraved features are detailed, together with methods for their manufacture. Tactile effects produced by the laser-processed features may be felt by touch, helping confirm the authenticity of such documents.

Claims

1. An identity document comprising an outer top laminate layer and at least one interior layer, the document conveying both invariant and personalized information, the personalized information particularly corresponding to a particular person to whom the document is issued, wherein at least some of the personalized information is defined by voids that extend into, but not through, the laminate layer, said voids providing a feature that can be felt by touch.

2. The identity document of claim 1 in which said voids define a visually-perceptible image of said person.

3. The identity document of claim 1 in which at least one layer comprises a polycarbonate.

4. The identity document of claim 1 that further comprises a bar code and a semiconductor device.

5. An identity document comprising at least one interior layer and a laminate layer, an outer surface of the laminate layer defining a top surface of the document, the document conveying both invariant and personalized information, the personalized information particularly corresponding to a particular person to whom the document is issued, wherein at least some of the personalized information is defined by laser-ablated voids that extend through the top surface of the document, and wherein at least some of said voids are defined by sidewalls that are angled obliquely, rather than perpendicularly, relative to said top surface.

6. The identity document of claim 5 wherein said voids define a feature that can be felt by touch.

7. A method of manufacturing an identification document for a person, comprising:

printing information, including invariant information, on a document core;

applying a laminate layer atop the printed core; and

laser-ablating the laminate layer to impart a tactile feature thereto, without ablating the document core, said tactile feature being personalized to correspond to said person.

8. An identification document comprising at least one layer of material, the top surface of the document including a laser-formed void pattern creating an indicia, the document characterized by raised features that are also laser-formed, said raised features comprising foamed material, the raised features extending above a nominal top surface level of the document to provide a tactile effect that aids in verifying the authenticity of the document.