Security document with electrically-controlled display element

• US 8,387,886 B2
• Filed: 09/15/2005
• Issued: 03/05/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 09/17/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: OVD Kinegram AG (Leonhard KURZ Stiftung & Company KG)
• Original Assignee: OVD Kinegram AG (Leonhard KURZ Stiftung & Company KG)
• Inventors: Tompkin, Wayne Robert, Schilling, Andreas, Peters, John Anthony
• Primary Examiner(s): Lee, Michael G
• Assistant Examiner(s): ELLIS, SUEZU Y
• Application Number:
  US11/575,240
• Publication Number:
  US 20080035736A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,728 Days
• Field of Search: 235/487, 235/488, 235/492, 283/72, 283 83- 89, 283/94, 430/1, 430/2, 359/1, 359/2, 359/15, 359/558, 359/566, 359/569, 359/572, 359/573, 359/576
• US Class Current: 235/488
• CPC Class Codes: B42D 2033/46 with electrical circuitry
• CPC Class Codes: B42D 25/23 Identity cards
• CPC Class Codes: B42D 25/29 Securities; Bank notes
• CPC Class Codes: B42D 25/328 Diffraction gratings; Holograms
• CPC Class Codes: G02F 1/157 Structural association of cells with optical devices, e.g. reflectors or illuminating devices
• CPC Class Codes: G02F 1/167 by electrophoresis
• CPC Class Codes: G02F 1/1677 Structural association of cells with optical devices, e.g. reflectors or illuminating devices
• CPC Class Codes: G07D 7/01 Testing electronic circuits therein
• CPC Class Codes: G07D 7/207 Matching patterns that are created by the interaction of two or more layers, e.g. moiré patterns

Abstract

The invention concerns a security document comprising a flexible carrier and a multi-layer flexible film body which is applied to the flexible carrier and which provides one or more optical security features. The flexible multi-layer film body has an electrically controller display element for generating an optical security feature with associated electrical current source for operation of the display element in combination with an optically active diffractive structure.

Claims

1. A security document, comprising:

a carrier; and

a multi-layer flexible film body applied to the carrier, the multi-layer flexible film body including, apart from the carrier, an electrically controlled display element for generating an optical security feature, an electrical current source for operation of the display element and an optically active diffractive structure, wherein the display element has a plurality of differently coloured and differently charged particles which are arranged between two electrode layers, wherein at least one of the optically active diffractive structure and a microstructure is arranged in overlapping relationship with the electrically controlled display element, wherein an optical appearance of an optical effect produced by at least one of the optically active diffractive structure and the microstructure is controlled by the electrically controlled display element, the multi-layer flexible film body having a replication lacquer layer with the optically active diffractive structure shaped therein for producing an optical-diffraction feature, wherein the security document has an adhesive layer securing the multi-layer flexible film body to the carrier, the optically active diffractive structure being arranged at least region-wise substantially overlapping the entire electrical current source, and

wherein the electrical current source is a solar cell, and

wherein at least one of the two electrode layers affords the function of an electrode to the display element, an electronic circuit and the solar cell.

2. A security document according to claim 1, wherein at least one of the diffractive structure and a microstructure feeds light from a surface region surrounding the solar cell to the solar cell or increases the efficiency of the solar cell.

3. A security document according to claim 2, wherein the diffractive structure feeds light to the solar cell and further provides an optically recognisable security feature.

4. A security document according to claim 1, wherein the solar cell is shaped in the form of a pattern or image and surrounded by a print design of the carrier.

5. A security document according to claim 1, wherein the solar cell is partially overprinted in pattern form.

6. A security document according to claim 1, wherein the flexible multi-layer film body and an adjacent region of the security document are provided with a common, substantially opaque overprint in a pattern form.

7. A security document according to claim 6, wherein the overprint in a pattern form contains individualized information.

8. A security document according to claim 1, wherein the display element is partially overprinted in pattern form, wherein the overprinting contains individualised information.

9. A security document according to claim 1, wherein the display element is provided with individualised information by means of laser ablation.

10. A security document according to claim 1, wherein the security document has a transparent window and the display element is arranged in the transparent window.

11. A security document according to claim 10, wherein at least one of the two electrode layers comprising an organic semiconductor material.

12. A security document according to claim 10, wherein the display element is visible from two opposed sides of the security document through the transparent window.

13. A security document according to claim 12, wherein the two electrode layers comprise a transparent, conductive material, wherein the positively charged particles have a first colour and the negatively charged particles have a second colour being in contrast to each other.

14. A security document according to claim 1, wherein the diffractive structure is arranged at least region-wise over an electronic circuit which is made up of organic semiconductor elements and which controls the display element.

15. A security document according to claim 1, wherein the multi-layer film body has a battery or a capacitor for energy storage.

16. A security document according to claim 1, wherein the carrier comprises a paper material.

17. A security document according to claim 1, wherein the multi-layer film body is applied as a transfer layer arrangement of a transfer film to the carrier.

18. A security document according to claim 1, wherein an upper electrode layer of the two electrode layers includes a thin partially transparent metal layer.

19. A security document according to claim 1, wherein at least one of the two electrode layers is transparent and conductive.

20. A security document according to claim 1, wherein the security document has a transparent window and the display element is arranged in the transparent window, the multi-layer film body having a battery or a capacitor for energy storage.