Method for producing a multi-layer body, and multi-layer body

• US 8,367,277 B2
• Filed: 07/12/2007
• Issued: 02/05/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 08/09/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: OVD Kinegram AG (Leonhard KURZ Stiftung & Company KG)
• Original Assignee: OVD Kinegram AG (Leonhard KURZ Stiftung & Company KG)
• Inventors: Brehm, Ludwig, Staub, Rene, Hansen, Achim, Seitz, Mathias, Wild, Heinrich
• Primary Examiner(s): Lee, Michael G
• Assistant Examiner(s): Mikels, Matthew
• Application Number:
  US12/310,035
• Publication Number:
  US 20090317595A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,035 Days
• Field of Search: None
• US Class Current: 430/5
• CPC Class Codes: B42D 2033/26 Liquid-crystal material
• CPC Class Codes: B42D 2035/16 Bars or lines
• CPC Class Codes: B42D 2035/24 Colours
• CPC Class Codes: B42D 25/324 Reliefs
• CPC Class Codes: B42D 25/328 Diffraction gratings; Holograms
• CPC Class Codes: B42D 25/364 Liquid crystals
• CPC Class Codes: B42D 25/45 Associating two or more layers
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/24612 Composite web or sheet

Abstract

Described are various processes for the production of multi-layer bodies having at least one partially shaped functional layer and at least one further partially shaped layer and the multi-layer bodies produced in that way. The multi-layer body has at least one partially shaped functional layer in register relationship with at least one further partially shaped layer, which preferably supplement each other to provide a geometric, alphanumeric, pictorial, graphic or figurative colored representation.

Claims

1. A process for the production of a multi-layer body having at least one partially shaped functional layer in register relationship with at least one further partially shaped layer, wherein a first layer in the form of a first photoresist lacquer layer is formed on a carrier layer and partially exposed, the exposed first layer is developed and structured and then using the structured first layer as a mask layer the at least one partially shaped functional layer and/or the at least one further partially shaped layer is formed.

2. A process as set forth in claim 1, wherein the at least one partially shaped functional layer or the at least further partially shaped layer is formed by a procedure whereby a second positive or negative photoresist lacquer layer mixed with coloring agent is applied, the second photoresist lacquer layer is exposed through the structured first layer and structuring of the exposed second photoresist lacquer layer is effected.

3. A process as set forth in claim 1, wherein the first and/or the second photoresist lacquer layer forms the at least one partially shaped functional layer.

4. A process as set forth in claim 1, wherein subsequently the carrier layer is produced partially by diffusion therein of a coloring agent in the form of a partially shaped functional layer or further layer, wherein at least the first and/or second structured photoresist lacquer layer functions as a diffusion barrier.

5. A process as set forth in claim 1, wherein a material is raked into exposed regions of the carrier layer, which viewed perpendicularly to the plane of the carrier layer are surrounded by a partially shaped functional layer or further partially shaped layer, and at least one further partially shaped functional layer or further partially shaped layer is formed.

6. A process as set forth in claim 1, wherein the at least one partially shaped functional layer is in the form of a lacquer layer or a polymer layer.

7. A process as set forth in claim 1, wherein the at least one partially shaped functional layer is produced with the addition of one or more, non-metallic functional layer materials.

8. A process as set forth in claim 1, wherein the at least one partially shaped functional layer is produced with the addition of one or more multicolored functional layer materials, and/or at least one partially shaped functional layer is in the form of a hydrophobic or hydrophilic layer.

9. A process as set forth in claim 1, wherein the at least one further partially shaped layer is formed by the first layer and/or at least one colored positive or negative photoresist lacquer layer and/or by at least one optically variable layer with an optical effect which differs in dependence on viewing angle and/or by at least one metallic reflection layer and/or by at least one dielectric reflection layer.

10. A process as set forth in claim 9, wherein the optically variable layer is such that it includes at least one substance with an optical effect which is different in dependence on the viewing angle and/or is formed by at least one liquid crystal layer with an optical effect which is different in dependence on the viewing angle and/or by a thin film reflection layer stack with a viewing angle-dependent interference color effect.

11. A process as set forth in claim 1, wherein the structured first layer is at least partially removed and replaced by the at least one partially shaped functional layer and/or the at least one further partially shaped layer.

12. A process as set forth in claim 11, wherein complete removal of the structured first layer is effected.

13. A process as set forth in claim 1, wherein the at least one partially shaped functional layer viewed perpendicularly to the plane of the replication layer or carrier layer is arranged in coincident relationship above or beneath the at least one further partially shaped layer.

14. A process as set forth in claim 1, wherein the at least one partially shaped functional layer viewed perpendicularly to the plane of the replication layer or carrier layer is arranged alternately or with a uniform spacing relative to the at least one further partially shaped layer.

15. A process as set forth in claim 1, wherein at least one first transparent spacer layer is arranged between the at least one partially shaped functional layer and the at least one further partially shaped layer.

16. A process as set forth in claim 1, wherein at least one second transparent spacer layer is arranged between at least two further partially shaped layers.

17. A process as set forth in claim 15, wherein the first and/or the second spacer layer is formed locally in at least two different layer thicknesses.

18. A process as set forth in claim 15, wherein the first and/or the second spacer layer is formed locally with a layer thickness in the range of between 2 and 50 μ

m.

19. A process as set forth in claim 1, wherein the first layer is applied over the full surface area to the replication layer or the carrier layer in a thickness at which the first layer is opaque to the human eye, and involves an optical density in the range of greater than 1.5.

20. A process as set forth in claim 19, wherein the first layer is applied in a thickness at which the first layer involves an optical density in the range of between 2 and 7.

21. A process as set forth in claim 1, wherein the at least one partially shaped functional layer and the at least one further partially shaped layer are such that viewed perpendicularly to the plane of the replication layer or the carrier layer they supplement each other to afford a decorative and/or informative geometrical, alphanumeric, pictorial, graphic or figurative representation, comprising at least two lines including different functional layer material.

22. A process as set forth in claim 1, wherein the at least one partially shaped functional layer and the at least one further partially shaped layer are respectively provided at least region-wise in line form, wherein the lines merge into each other without lateral displacement and/or form a concentric circular line pattern.

23. A process as set forth in claim 22, wherein the lines are adapted to merge into each other with a continuous color configuration.

24. A process as set forth in claim 22, wherein the lines viewed perpendicularly to the plane of the replication layer or carrier layer are produced with a width in the range of between 0.5 and 50 μ

m.

25. A process as set forth in claim 1, wherein the at least one partially shaped functional layer is colored with at least one opaque and/or at least one transparent coloring agent which at least in a wavelength range of the electromagnetic spectrum is brightly multi-colored or brightly multi-color-producing, and a coloring agent is contained in the at least one partially shaped functional layer, which can be excited outside the visible spectrum and produces a visually discernible colored impression.

26. A process as set forth in claim 25, wherein the at least one partially shaped functional layer and the at least one further partially shaped layer are produced in complementary colors.

27. A process as set forth in claim 25, wherein the at least one coloring agent is selected from the group of pigments or dyestuffs.

28. A process as set forth in claim 1, wherein the replication layer is arranged on a carrier layer.

29. A process as set forth in claim 1, wherein the carrier layer is adapted to be detachable from the multi-layer body formed.

30. A multi-layer body as set forth in claim 1, wherein the at least one partially shaped functional layer and/or the at least one further partially shaped layer is backed with a diffractive relief structure and presents a holographic or kinegraphic optically variable effect.

31. A multi-layer body comprising at least one partially shaped functional layer in register relationship with at least one further partially shaped layer, wherein a first layer in the form of a first photoresist lacquer layer is produced structured in pattern form on a carrier layer and using the structured first layer as a mask layer the at least one partially shaped functional layer and/or the at least one further partially shaped layer is formed.

32. A multi-layer body as set forth in claim 31, wherein the at least one partially shaped functional layer and the at least one further partially shaped layer supplement each other to provide a decorative and/or informative geometrical, alphanumeric, pictorial, graphic or figurative colored representation.

33. A multi-layer body as set forth in claim 31, wherein at least the at least one partially shaped functional layer and/or at least the at least one further partially shaped layer is in the form of at least one line of a line width in the range of between 0.5 and 10 μ

m, and/or is in the form of at least one pixel with a pixel diameter in the range of between 0.5 and 10 μ

m.

34. A multi-layer body as set forth in claim 31, wherein the at least one partially shaped functional layer is an in particular opaque metal layer and the at least one further partially shaped layer is a colored lacquer layer or vice-versa.

35. A multi-layer body as set forth in claim 31, wherein the at least one partially shaped functional layer is a layer containing liquid crystals and the at least one further partially shaped layer is a colored lacquer layer or vice-versa.

36. A multi-layer body as set forth in claim 31, wherein the at least one partially shaped functional layer is formed by a thin film reflection layer stack with a viewing angle-dependent interference color effect and the at least one further partially shaped layer is a colored lacquer layer or vice-versa.

37. A multi-layer body as set forth in claim 31, wherein the at least one partially shaped functional layer is a first colored lacquer layer and the at least one further partially shaped layer is a further differently colored lacquer layer.

38. A multi-layer body as set forth in claim 31, wherein the at least one partially shaped functional layer is a first colored lacquer layer and the at least one further partially shaped layer is a dielectric reflection layer.

39. A multi-layer body as set forth in claim 34, wherein the lacquer layer is colored with at least one opaque and/or at least one transparent substance.

40. A multi-layer body as set forth in claim 34, wherein the colored lacquer layer is colored with at least one coloring agent of the color yellow, magenta, cyan or black (CMYK) or the color red, green or blue (RGB) and/or at least one partially shaped functional layer is provided with at least one red-, green- and/or blue-fluorescing radiation-excitable pigment or dyestuff and thereby produces an additive color upon irradiation.

41. A multi-layer body as set forth in claim 31, wherein the at least one partially shaped functional layer and the at least one further partially shaped layer are produced in complementary colors, at least at a given viewing angle or under a given kind of radiation.

42. A multi-layer body as set forth in claim 31, wherein the at least one partially shaped functional layer and the at least one further partially shaped layer are respectively of line form in such a way that the lines merge into each other without lateral displacement.

43. A multi-layer body as set forth in claim 41, wherein the lines merge into each other with a continuous color configuration.

44. A multi-layer body as set forth in claim 31, wherein the at least one partially shaped functional layer and/or the at least one further partially shaped layer at least region-wise forms/form a raster image made up of pixels, image points or lines which cannot be individually resolved by the human eye.

45. A multi-layer body as set forth in claim 31, wherein there are at least two further partially shaped layers.

46. A multi-layer body as set forth in claim 31, wherein a first transparent spacer layer is provided between the at least one partially shaped functional layer and the at least one further partially shaped layer.

47. A multi-layer body as set forth in claim 31, wherein a second transparent spacer layer is provided between at least two further partially shaped layers.

48. A multi-layer body as set forth in claim 46, wherein the at least one partially shaped functional layer and the at least one further partially shaped layer are such that there is at least one optical superpositioning effect which is possibly viewing angle-dependent.

49. A multi-layer body as set forth in claim 31, wherein the multi-layer body is in the form of a film element.

50. A multi-layer body as set forth in claim 49, wherein the film element has an adhesive layer on at least one side.

51. A security element for security or value-bearing documents, having a multi-layer body as set forth in claim 31.

52. A security element as set forth in claim 51, wherein the security or value-bearing document is a pass, passport, a bank card, an identity card, a bank note, a security bond, a ticket or a security packaging.

53. An electronic component having a multi-layer body as set forth in claim 31.

54. A process for the production of a multi-layer body having at least one partially shaped functional layer in register relationship with at least one further partially shaped layer, the process comprising the steps of:

providing a first photoresist lacquer layer on a carrier layer;

partially exposing the first photoresist lacquer layer with radiation to form exposed regions of the first photoresist lacquer layer and unexposed regions of the first photoresist lacquer layer;

removing one of the exposed regions or the unexposed regions of the first photoresist lacquer layer from the carrier layer to form a structured first photoresist lacquer layer;

providing a second photoresist lacquer layer on the carrier layer;

using the structured first photoresist lacquer layer as a mask layer to partially expose the second photoresist lacquer layer with radiation to form exposed regions of the second photoresist lacquer layer and unexposed regions of the second photoresist lacquer layer; and

removing one of the exposed regions or the unexposed regions of the second photoresist lacquer layer from the carrier layer to form a structured second photoresist lacquer layer in register relationship with the structured first photoresist lacquer layer.