EP0618084A1 - Identification carrier - Google Patents

Abstract

Identification carrier, made in particular from paper, board or plastic, having a first identification which is directly visually perceptible in the case of illumination with visible light and a second identification not directly visually perceptible by the human eye without auxiliary means in the case of illumination with visible light, the first and the second identification having coincident geometric elements, the latter essentially forming the outlines or surface elements of the first identification, while they are contained in the second identification in a holographic image. <IMAGE>

Description

The invention relates to a label carrier according to the preamble of claim 1.

Such label carriers are introduced in a variety of designs. So are credit or customer cards known, the identifiable with the naked eye, printed, embossed or also incorporated into the material of the card and next to it an area - usually a strip - with the magnetic recording of additional information including the information already contained in the legible identification (to facilitate data processing and increase the security against counterfeiting).

The labels denoting their value are generally applied to banknotes several times with different labeling methods, so that a counter-check can be carried out even if the first label is worn or falsified.

Furthermore, in order to increase the security against counterfeiting, it is known - for example from FR 2 187 994 - to provide securities or banknotes with a colored identification reflecting under illumination in a specific spectral range, which is intended to enable genuine banknotes to be counterfeited by means of a color copier differentiate, since the latter do not show the characteristic reflectivity.

From US 3 842 088 a method for marking documents with special colors is known which, when making copies in copying machines of a certain type, delivers copies with characteristic features which clearly distinguish them from copies of unmarked documents or parts of documents (which are subsequently added) changed or inserted) distinguish.

Also known is a method for applying identification signs to securities in accordance with FR 2 588 509, which is based on the effect of the aberration of laser radiation by special substances which have been introduced into the paper. The process of forming the marking marks takes place in the following way: The laser radiation is directed onto the paper, which contains special substances, with the aid of a deflection mirror, which is regulated by a special processor. These substances had to be introduced into the paper during the sizing process. As a result, the absorption of the energy of the laser radiation by the special material leads to local heating of the paper, and thus to arching and the formation of a relief-like structure. The relief formed in this way can take the form of letters, numbers and other characters.

However, all known identification carriers of the generic type have the disadvantage that substantial damage to the carrier in the area of the marking is synonymous with the loss of the information carried by the marking (s) in this part of the carrier. This damage can be deliberately caused in the event of a forgery or falsification intention, since the geometrical extent of the marking is immediately recognizable.

Thus, in the case of label holders in which the not immediately perceptible label (also) has the function of guaranteeing or increasing the security against forgery, this function is impaired accordingly, so that the intended improved security cannot be achieved.

The invention is therefore based on the object of specifying a label carrier of the type mentioned at the outset which, even if a part is damaged or lost, essentially still contains the entire information content of this label, and at the same time to provide a label carrier with improved counterfeit protection.

This object is achieved by a label carrier with the features of claim 1.

The invention includes the idea of duplicating or multiplying the essential information content of the first identification in the second label, which is not directly readable in normal lighting in everyday life, in such a way that this entire essential information content is present on a plurality of surface elements of the carrier , with the information in the form of geometric elements in the holographically generated image being present so many times that a small remnant of the identifier is sufficient to be able to recognize and thus read out the geometric elements (in the form of characters or other signs or emblems).

On the one hand, the information as such is retained if parts of the original surface of the carrier are missing or are so significantly damaged that those on them located first and / or second identification is no longer complete.

Security is two-stage to the extent that, by comparing the first and second license plates, the authenticity of the first license plate can be checked as long as it still exists completely. Since the second mark is invisible to the human eye, its presence is not obvious. Attempts to destroy or falsify will initially affect the first indicator. Falsification can therefore be detected at any time. Because the correspondence consists of geometric elements, the comparison can also be made by automatic means without tapping into the information content.

In a second security level, however, even if the first label is removed to the point of illegibility, the second label with its full information content is still present, so that the information contained in its geometric elements is at least reproducible. Since this information is contained several times in the second identification, it only needs to be retained except for a small remainder in order to enable identification.

If, according to a particularly advantageous development, the first and second identification coincide geometrically, they can be attached in a single operation. It can be generated in a uniform process and thus represents a manufacturing technology Unity. Since both identifiers appear externally as a single identifier, the outline or surface parts of which contain the identifying information, the information redundancy contained therein cannot be seen. In the event of tampering, the holographic properties of the "second" marking within the "first" will not remove or change at least part of it, so that the tampering remains recognizable. Even if an attempt is made to remove the label, a small remnant still contains the complete information, although such an attempt at removal will generally not be carried out with such care because of the "invisible" redundant information that both labels are actually removed completely, if this is possible at all.

The security against counterfeiting is also increased by the fact that the second identification in visible light with a broad frequency spectrum (i.e. with normal use of the identification carrier) is not recognizable as such.

Examples of geometric elements of markings that can be duplicated on a carrier so that they are invisible and damage-proof are passport pictures (for identification documents), official stamps and / or processing symbols (for identification, freight, vehicle documents and the like), signatures or signatures (for ID or similar documents and for example also art objects) or company identification (for high-quality products).

In a preferred embodiment, for example, the signature on an identification card can contain its geometric image in holographic form, so that the original signature can also be reconstructed if it is partially deleted or falsified. In a variant, the first identification can also be applied by means of inscription which can only be read under UV lighting, so that the "comparison signature" is not immediately visible. Even if it is found by lighting with UV light and modified with fraudulent intent - for example by means of color that is only visible under UV light - the counterfeiter can still be transferred at any time by the holographic information. If the same signature is also visibly applied to camouflage, there is a total of three levels of security.

The term "label carrier" is to be understood in a broad sense, so that items to be labeled themselves, such as works of art and other cultural assets or high-quality technical devices that are to be immediately labeled, are also included.

An embodiment which is particularly suitable for preventing loss of information in the event of loss or damage to a part of the identification carrier is that the holographic image takes up substantially the entire area of the identification carrier. In this way, the identification information can still be detected in any remaining part of sufficient size of a carrier that has otherwise been destroyed.

A configuration such that the holographic image is an image that can only be read in ultraviolet light of a predetermined frequency range is particularly suitable for increasing the security against forgery.

The security against forgery is further increased in an embodiment in which the holographic image is optically impressed on the material of the carrier, in particular by generating a stable molecular excitation state over time by means of high-energy exposure.

In the case of the last-mentioned configurations, it is particularly advantageous that neither the material surface of the object to be treated nor its structure are changed in a visible or perceptible manner.

On the one hand, this has the advantage that high-quality objects such as works of art are not damaged and therefore do not suffer any loss in value.

On the other hand, because of the undamaged surface, the presence or location of the marking cannot be determined, for example, by taking a closer look at the surface structure - such as its gloss or roughness.

The marking formed in accordance with the last-mentioned embodiment is advantageously generated by means of an illumination system with the light wavelength close to the resonance absorption wavelength of the molecules of the marked material and later made visible by means of irradiation with UV light. With such an execution destruction of the second label is almost inevitably associated with the destruction of the entire label, because the molecular excitation "image" is practically indelible. Overwriting can only be done by adding geometric structures, whereby the original structure is always preserved - and thus verifiable. Even if only a part of the hologram remains, the relevant information of the second identification can be reproduced, since it is contained several times within it and even if only a part of the area of the identification carrier containing it is retained - albeit in reduced resolution.

In particular, both markings can be applied in a single laser marking process of this type, so that double security against counterfeiting or falsification is provided by the fact that the marking as a whole cannot be recognized without aids. In the case of UV irradiation, the geometric elements of the first identification are then visible, so that the information content can be read or evaluated. The readable or evaluable geometric elements match the outer contours of the lettering. So they form the characters or picture elements. The surfaces of these geometric elements now form holograms, in which the same geometric elements that form the contours of the hologram are inscribed again as "geometric information" of the hologram (second identification). Since this holographic information is area redundant, the information contained therein is retained even if the first number plate is partially lost. If the geometric elements of the first identification are not directly readable by the human eye when illuminated with visible light, the geometric elements of this first identification can also be displayed visibly, so that in many cases only the immediately visible identification changes in the event of an attempt at forgery or falsification will be, so that the information of this label is also preserved in a two-stage security.

In addition, the security against forgery can be increased in an embodiment in which the holographic image is a synthetic hologram generated and readable using an integral transformation carried out in an electronic computer.

In this case, the second identification alone using optical means, such as are used in a "classic" manner for generating and reading holograms, is neither producible nor readable, but production and reading require control of the lighting device by means of a (and basically a and the same) program of an electronic data processing device that realizes the integral transformation.

Preferred uses of the label carrier according to the invention are, in particular, the use as an identification document (ID card, freight document, vehicle registration document) for a person or an object as a means of payment or security and its use as a credit or customer card.

The first identification will in particular be an imprint or part of an imprint, but may also have an embossing or cutouts in stacked and interconnected layers of material.

• Figur 1 eine schematische Blockdarstellung des Vorgangs der Erzeugung des erfindungsgemäßen Kennzeichnungsträgers entsprechend einem zweiten Ausführungsbeispiel,
• Figur 2 ein Detail, bezogen auf das Ausführungsbeispiel gemäß Figur 1 sowie
• Figur 3 die Darstellung des Details A gemäß Figur 2.

Further features and advantages of the invention result from the subclaims and from the following description of exemplary embodiments with reference to the drawings. From the figures show:

• FIG. 1 shows a schematic block diagram of the process of producing the identification carrier according to the invention in accordance with a second exemplary embodiment,
• Figure 2 shows a detail based on the embodiment of Figure 1 and
• 3 shows the representation of the detail A according to FIG. 2.

In Figure 1, an embodiment of the invention is illustrated as a schematic diagram, which relates to the identification of an identification card 1. Such identification cards are used as identification documents in the form of check or credit cards.

Of the identification information A, B, C - consisting of the legible original signature of the card holder, a signature hologram and one only under UV light Readable signature - via the person P, the readable signature is directly applied by the person to a surface of the raw ID card 1 'as the first, visible identification K1.

These carriers of the identification information IA, IB and IC about the person P are - either directly from the person or by means of electronic data storage and electronically controlled labeling means such as laser markers or devices that transfer ink - as the first, visible identification K1 on a surface of a raw ID card 1 'applied. In the following illustration, it is assumed that the original signature - after it has been generated by person P - is scanned photomechanically and then (on a device to be described further below) visibly attached to the identification carrier.

Furthermore, they are transferred to a device 2 for generating the second, invisible identification information K2 on the raw ID card 1 'which is also supplied to the device 2.

The device 2 for labeling 2 essentially consists of a unit 3A, 3B and 3C for processing the three identification information IA, IB and IC supplied as image information in digital form. The digitized identification information is supplied to a memory 4A, 4B and 4C, from which it can be called up by a processing unit 5. A first processing unit 5 subjects the labeling information IA, IB and IC one after the other an integral transformation and thereby wins from the labeling information Transform F (IA), F (IB) and F (IC), which as the control signals of the control unit 6 one of the surface of the raw identification card 1 'of cardboard or plastic material irradiate , Excimer laser 7 working in the deep UV range are supplied.

The radiation from the laser 7 is split into two partial beams by a beam splitter (not shown), one of which serves as a reference beam for generating a surface hologram and the other via the control unit 6 as a pseudo-object beam with the transformed F (IA), F ( IB) and F (IC) is intensity-modulated, the beam intensity being in such a range that a latent image is imprinted on the material of the card as a result of resonance absorption by the molecules of the material, without the surface of the card being visible or otherwise shows noticeable changes.

The inscription generated on the identification carrier has the identifications, as shown in the basic illustration in FIGS. 3 and 4, a cross being chosen here as a simple geometric element to simplify the illustration. In the example previously selected, the cross is to be thought of as being replaced by the signature to be displayed.

Here, the marking K3 is thus made visible by means of the laser marker 7 (possibly on a specially prepared part of the marking carrier) Signature of the person to be identified. The same signature is applied as identification K2 at a different position on the identification carrier than the inscription that can only be read under UV light. This marking forms a hologram, the outer contour of which corresponds to that of the signature. The area covered by the signature train simultaneously forms a holographic representation of the signature train, in which it is shown redundantly. In the event of a forgery or falsification of the visible signature, this can still be checked by means of the duplicate that can be read using UV light. If this is also omitted (at least partially due to destruction or covering), the geometric elements of the signature can still be made visible, even if the hologram is only partially preserved, so that there is a triple certainty with regard to the identification representation in this regard.

After completing this procedure, an ID card was created that visibly bears the passport, fingerprint and signature markings on an area and inherently contains an invisible duplicate of these markings in the ID material, which, due to the holographic recording, has the peculiarity that in each exposed area element, in principle, the whole Information of the markings is contained, the reconstruction of the record only having a lower resolution if only a part of the carrier is available for this.

In addition, the recording is stamped on the carrier in such a way that its removal is at best by "overwriting" would be possible by means of a device which corresponds exactly to the device for the original registration. Even with this, however, a second, different identification could not easily be made.

This provides an identity document that is both highly forgery-proof and damage-proof.

The reading of the second identification stamped therein, which is invisible under normal observation, is carried out by illumination with, in principle, the same device and at the same UV wavelength that were used for writing in the information, the hologram being carried out by performing the inverse integral transformation by means of the counterpart of the one used for writing Computer program is reconstructed.

In addition to or instead of one of the identification information items mentioned in the example, additional or different duplicates in the form of the second identification can be embossed on the identification card, for example "stamp", identification number or notes of the exhibitor or the like.

The second markings can also be present as readable holograms generated with coherent visible light, which are phototechnically exposed to the identification in a conventional manner.

Furthermore, they become a device 2 for applying the second, invisible identification information K2 (signatures) to the device 2, which is also supplied Raw ID card 1 'transported. The subsequent work stages correspond essentially to those mentioned for the first embodiment of the invention.

When checking the identity of a person, the ID card is irradiated with coherent UV light of the corresponding wavelength, which makes the signature hologram visible again and the presence and agreement of the two labels can be determined. A subsequent change (violent removal and / or overwriting) of the signature hologram is recognized immediately by the fact that fractions of the original hologram that have not been overwritten by the counterfeit hologram can be recognized.

In Figures 3 and 4 markings are shown in a schematic form. The mark 8 in the form of a cross contains a plurality of geometric elements within its mark contour 10, which have essentially the same shape as the mark 8 formed by them. This relationship is shown in FIG. 4 as a schematic representation of the detail A according to FIG. If the cross-shaped elements 9 are provided in a holographic image, this advantageously results in the possibility of reproducing these elements 9 to prove a certain identification even if, when this hologram identifier is "overwritten" with another hologram, a large number of the elements 9 would be destroyed. Irradiating the "remnants" of the original identification with light of the appropriate wavelength enables the reproduction of the same and leads - even if with reduced resolution - to the disclosure of a forgery.

In addition to the specified exemplary embodiments and their modifications mentioned, a large number of further variants are conceivable, which make use of the claimed solution even in the case of other details.

Claims (10)

Labeling media, in particular made of paper, cardboard or plastic, with a first label that is immediately visually perceptible when illuminated and a second label that is not directly visually perceptible by the human eye without aids when illuminated with visible light,
characterized in
that the first and the second identification have matching geometric elements, these essentially forming the contours or surface parts of the first identification, while they are contained in the second identification in a holographic illustration such that even if a part of the second identification is lost, the geometric elements - even if with reduced resolution - are reproducible. Identification holder according to claim 1, characterized in that said first marking is applied at least partially overlapping with the second marking or is part of the second marking. Identification holder according to claim 2, characterized in that the first and the second marking occupy matching surfaces and / or are produced by a uniform manufacturing process. Identification holder according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the first or the first and second identification means readable ultraviolet light (are). Identification holder according to one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the holographic image the material of the marking carrier - is impressed - in particular by high-energy exposure and associated excitation of the molecules of the material. Labeling medium according to one of the preceding claims, characterized by its use as an identification document for a person or an object or its use as a means of payment or security or its use as a credit or customer card. Identification holder according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the holographic image transformation integral-a using an application in an electronic computer generated and evaluable synthetic hologram. Identification holder according to one of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that the first and / or second marking an imprint or forms a part of an imprint. Identification holder according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the holographic image to the material of the wearer - is stamped - in particular by producing a time-stable molecular excitation state by means of a high-energy exposure. Identification holder according to claim 9, characterized in that the second and / or first and second marking is produced by means of an illumination system having the light wavelength close to the resonance absorption wavelength of the molecules of the labeled material.

Images