Covert variable information on identification documents and methods of making same

• US 7,063,264 B2
• Filed: 12/24/2002
• Issued: 06/20/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 12/24/2001
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: L-1 Secure Credentialing, LLC (Advent International Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Digimarc Corporation
• Inventors: Jones, Robert, Bi, Daoshen
• Primary Examiner(s): Frech, Karl D.
• Application Number:
  US10/330,032
• Publication Number:
  US 20030173406A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,274 Days
• Field of Search: 235/380, 235/382, 235/382.5, 235/487, 235/462.04, 235/491
• US Class Current: 235/487
• CPC Class Codes: B41M 3/144 using fluorescent, luminescent or iridescent effects
• 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 25/309 Photographs
• CPC Class Codes: B42D 25/382 absorbing or reflecting infrared light
• CPC Class Codes: B42D 25/387 absorbing or reflecting ultraviolet light
• CPC Class Codes: B42D 25/41 using electromagnetic radiation B42D25/435 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/32133 on the same paper sheet, e.g. a facsimile page header
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/32144 embedded in the image data, i.e. enclosed or integrated in the image, e.g. watermark, super-imposed logo or stamp
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/3233 of authentication information, e.g. digital signature, watermark
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/3236 Details of authentication information generation
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/327 which are undetectable to the naked eye, e.g. embedded codes
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/3271 Printing or stamping

Abstract

In one embodiment, a method for manufacturing an identification document is provided. A substrate is provided that is constructed and arranged to receive printing thereon. A first variable indicium is printed on the substrate, where the first variable indicium is not visible to the human eye in ambient light but is visible to the human eye when viewed using a first type of light.

Claims

1. A method for manufacturing an identification document, comprising:

providing a thermal transfer printing medium comprising a first panel, the first panel comprising a color component that is not visible to the human eye in ambient light but is visible to the human eye when viewed using a first type of light, and wherein the first color component comprises a thermally diffuseable dye dissolved in a resin; and

applying heat to a portion of the first panel so as to form a first variable indicium on a substrate, where the first variable indicium is not visible to the human eye in ambient light but is visible to the human eye when viewed using the first type of light,

wherein the first variable indicium comprises a false two color image.

2. A method for manufacturing an identification document, comprising:

providing a thermal transfer printing medium comprising a first panel, the first panel comprising a color component that is not visible to the human eye in ambient light but is visible to the human eye when viewed using a first type of light;

applying heat to a portion of the first panel so as to form a first variable indicium on a substrate, where the first variable indicium is not visible to the human eye in ambient light but is visible to the human eye when viewed using the first type of light, and wherein the first variable indicium is a least partially superimposed over the second variable indicium,

wherein the thermal transfer printing medium further comprises a second thermal transfer panel, the second thermal transfer panel comprising a colorant visible to the human eye in a second type of light, the second type of light being different than the first type of light, and wherein the second thermal transfer panel further comprises a covert colorant that is invisible to the human eye in ambient light;

printing a second variable indicium on the substrate using the second thermal transfer panel, the second variable indicium being visible when viewed using the second type of light, wherein the second variable indicium is viewable in both ambient light and in the first type of light,

wherein the second variable indicium comprises a substantially black indicium, whereby the substantially black indicium appears to glow in a first color when viewed using the first type of light.

3. An identification document, comprising:

substrate;

a first variable indicium printed to the substrate using a thermal transfer printing medium comprising a first panel, the first panel comprising a color component that is not visible to the human eye in ambient light but is visible to the human eye when viewed using a first type of light, wherein the first variable indicium is not visible to the human eye in ambient light but is visible to the human eye when viewed using the first type of light; and

wherein the substrate further comprises a second variable indicium, the second variable indicium being visible to the human eye in a second type of light, and

wherein the first variable indicium conveys substantially the same information as the second variable indicium.

4. The identification document of claim 3, wherein the first variable indicium comprises substantially the same indicium as the second variable indicium.

5. An identification document comprising:

a substrate; and

a first variable indicium printed to the substrate using a thermal transfer printing medium comprising a first panel, the first panel comprising a color component that is not visible to the human eye in ambient light but is visible to the human eye when viewed using a first type of light, wherein the first variable indicium is not visible to the human eye in ambient light but is visible to the human eye when viewed using the first type of light;

wherein the substrate further comprises a second variable indicium, the second variable indicium being visible to the human eye in a second type of light, and

wherein the first variable indicium overlays at least a portion of the second variable indicium.

6. An identification document, comprising:

a substrate; and

a first variable indicium printed to the substrate using a thermal transfer printing medium comprising a first panel, the first panel comprising a color component that is not visible to the human eye in ambient light but is visible to the human eye when viewed using a first type of light wherein the first variable indicium is not visible to the human eye in ambient light but is visible to the human eye when viewed using the first type of light;

wherein the substrate further comprises a second variable indicium, the second variable indicium being visible to the human eye in a second type of light, and

wherein the first variable indicium is printed in registration with the second variable indicium.

7. A thermal transfer medium comprising a carrier layer having formed thereon a first thermal transfer panel, the first thermal transfer panel comprising a first layer, the first layer comprising a first colorant that is capable of printing an image that is substantially invisible to the human eye when viewed in ambient light, the first colorant comprising at least one of an ultraviolet dye, an ultraviolet pigment, an ultraviolet ink, an infrared dye, an infrared pigment, and an infrared ink,

wherein the first thermal transfer panel further comprises a second layer including a second colorant adapted to image substrates by the thermal layer being disposed adjacent to the first layer, wherein the second colorant comprises a colorant that is capable of printing an image that is substantially visible to the human eye when viewed in ambient light, and

wherein the first and second layers are constructed and arranged to be substantially miscible with each other.