Provided are an information recording object and a reading device devised so that embedded information is difficult to guess. The information recording object 30 provided with a combined image comprising an image C1 printed in a lustrous layer 31 and an image C2 formed on the image C1 and printed in a transparent layer 32 is characterized in that: the image C1 and the image C2 are each printed with an ink for which the amount of reflected light differs according to viewing angle; for the combined image, one image is visible depending on the viewing angle; the image C2 is an image in which there is a regularity in feature points in a spatial frequency domain F2; and the image C1 is an image in which the feature points in a spatial frequency domain F1 are disposed at positions that block said regularity.

A hybrid document includes a document having visible markings, one or more light-controlling elements embedded in or on the document, and a controller including a circuit having a non-volatile memory. The controller is embedded in or on the document and electrically connected to the one or more light-controlling elements for controlling the one or more light-controlling elements. A power input connection is electrically connected to any one or all of the controller, the circuit, the memory, or the one or more light-emitting elements. The memory stores a state and the circuit causes the one or more light-controlling elements to indicate the state. A hybrid document validation machine is adapted to accept one or more of the hybrid documents, change the state of the hybrid documents, and optionally display the state on a display.

The invention relates to a security element (1). The security element (1) has a viewing side and a back side that is opposite the latter. The security element comprises at least one luminous layer (2) that can provide light (20), and at least one mask layer (4) that, when the security element (1) is viewed from the viewing side, is arranged in front of the at least one luminous layer (2). The at least one mask layer (4) has at least one opaque region (5) and at least two transparent openings (41, 42). The at least two transparent openings (41, 42) has a substantially higher transmittance than the at least one opaque region (5) in respect of light (20) provided by the at least one luminous layer (2), preferably a transmittance that is at least 20% higher, particularly preferably a transmittance that is at least 50% higher.

The invention relates to a security element (1). The security element (1) has a viewing side and a back side that is opposite the latter. The security element comprises at least one luminous layer (2) that can provide light (20), and at least one mask layer (4) that, when the security element (1) is viewed from the viewing side, is arranged in front of the at least one luminous layer (2). The at least one mask layer (4) has at least one opaque region (5) and at least two transparent openings (41, 42). The at least two transparent openings (41, 42) has a substantially higher transmittance than the at least one opaque region (5) in respect of light (20) provided by the at least one luminous layer (2), preferably a transmittance that is at least 20% higher, particularly preferably a transmittance that is at least 50% higher.

According to examples, an article may include a base layer that extends along a first dimension and a second dimension, in which the second dimension is orthogonal to the first dimension. The article may also include reflective ribbons provided on an upper surface of the base layer, in which the reflective ribbons positioned along a common plane extending in the second dimension have dihedral angles that change as a function of distance across the common plane.

According to examples, an article may include a base layer that extends along a first dimension and a second dimension, in which the second dimension is orthogonal to the first dimension. The article may also include reflective ribbons provided on an upper surface of the base layer, in which the reflective ribbons positioned along a common plane extending in the second dimension have dihedral angles that change as a function of distance across the common plane.

A control device for controlling a printer includes a conveyer and a print head. The control device performs: acquiring first image data representing a first image and second image data representing a second image; determining, based on the first image, a plurality of head positions of the print head relative to the first image; and determining a relative position of the second image relative to the first image such that, when the number of partial printings for printing the first image and the second image is increased from the number of partial printings for printing the first image, the relative position can minimize the increment.

Aspects described herein may allow for a payment card assembly including a payment card having a first surface, an opposed second surface, and an aperture extending through the payment card from the first surface to the second surface. An insert may be removably received in the aperture. Each of a plurality of identification elements may be configured to be removably received in the aperture and have an identification characteristic different than an identification characteristic of each of the other identification elements.

Aspects described herein may allow for a payment card assembly including a payment card having a first surface, an opposed second surface, and an aperture extending through the payment card from the first surface to the second surface. An insert may be removably received in the aperture. Each of a plurality of identification elements may be configured to be removably received in the aperture and have an identification characteristic different than an identification characteristic of each of the other identification elements.

A secure lens sheet or layer suitable for use in a micro-optic system, which is made up of a plurality of joined fine lens arrays (e.g., joined fine lenticular and/or joined fine non-cylindrical lens arrays), is provided. Each array has a lens pitch different from adjacent or contiguous arrays and/or is orientated in a direction different from adjacent or contiguous arrays. A micro-optic security device, which utilizes the inventive secure lens sheet and one or more overlying or underlying arrangements of micro-sized image icons (e.g., line data), is also provided. The image icon arrangement(s) and the secure lens layer are configured such that one or more synthetic images are projected by the security device. These projected images may show a number of different optical effects. With such a combination lens layer, some regions could be optically active when the device is tilted in one direction, some could be active when tilted in the opposite direction, and some areas could be active when the device is tilted in either (or any) direction. The inventive micro-optic security device may be partially embedded in and/or mounted on a surface of a security article (e.g., paper or polymer security document, label, card), or integrated therein.