A laser marking system for marking a predetermined pattern on a workpiece may include a first light source structured to emit first light at a first wavelength; a second light source structured to emit second light at a second wavelength different from the first wavelength and selected to mark a marking surface of the workpiece; beam shaping optics structured to adjust a focal length of the second light; beam steering optics structured to aim the first laser light and the second laser light; a controller configured to control the first light source to emit the first light at the marking surface of the workpiece and control the beam steering optics to aim the second light so as to mark the marking surface of the workpiece and create the first predetermined pattern; and a camera structured to detect first light reflected from the marking surface and record an image.

A laser device according to one embodiment of the present disclosure includes a light source and a reflection-type polarizer. The light source causes laser light to oscillate. The reflection-type polarizer is disposed on an optical path of the laser light and has a transmission axis coinciding with a polarization direction of the laser light.

A compounded polymer material that can be laser marked is provided. The compounded polymer material includes an enhancer of nitrides, carbides, silicides, or combinations thereof. Upon forming the compounded polymer material into an article and exposing it to laser radiation, the irradiated portion of the compounded polymer material absorbs the laser radiation, increases in temperature, and forms a mark in the article. A lightness value difference (L) between the mark and the non-irradiated portion of the article has an absolute value of at least 5, and the lightness value difference between the mark and the non-irradiated portion is greater than if the polymer material did not include the enhancer.

A medium includes a base member; and a coating layer that covers at least a portion of the base member, wherein the coating layer includes a binder and thermally distensible particles, and wherein a thickness of the coating layer is smaller than a maximum-distension particle diameter of the thermally distensible particles.

A thermosensitive recording medium including a base and a recording layer including a photothermal conversion material and disposed on the base, wherein the thermosensitive recording medium is configured to record information in the thermosensitive recording medium through laser light irradiation, and wherein a color difference delta E between a color tone A of a background observed through the thermosensitive recording medium in which information is not recorded and a color tone B of the background directly observed without the thermosensitive recording medium in which information is not recorded is 20 or less, and a film thickness D of an area of the recording layer irradiated with laser light after information recording performed by laser light irradiation is 140% or greater but 250% or less relative to a film thickness C of the recording layer of the thermosensitive recording medium in which information is not recorded.

A security document may include a laserizable first layer including a grayscale image formed by laserizing; a color pattern that is in alignment with the grayscale image; and a second layer arranged between the first layer and the pattern, such that the first layer is above the second layer, and the pattern is below the second layer. The second layer may be more opaque than the first layer, such that when observing the security document from the top, the grayscale image appears to be colored by the color pattern only when the bottom of the security document is being illuminated.

A method for producing a security device (1) comprising a first colour pattern (A) visible along an associated viewing axis () and at least one second colour pattern (B) visible along an associated viewing axis (), comprising the following steps:assembling an image layer (4) suitable for forming at least one colour pattern (A, B) by laser etching, on a support (3),laser etching the first colour pattern (A) in the image layer (4), along the associated viewing axis () of same, in such a way that it can be seen through a lens array (7),for each of said at least one second colour pattern (B), laser etching said at least one second colour pattern (A) in the image layer (4), along the associated viewing axis () of same, in such a way that it can be seen through a lens array (7). A security device (1) obtained by said method.

A security document may include a laserizable first layer including a grayscale image formed by laserizing; a color pattern that is in alignment with the grayscale image; and a second layer arranged between the first layer and the pattern, such that the first layer is above the second layer, and the pattern is below the second layer. The second layer may be more opaque than the first layer, such that when observing the security document from the top, the grayscale image appears to be colored by the color pattern only when the bottom of the security document is being illuminated.

A computer-implemented method for marking an object on an aligner. The aligner surface is modeled. The method includes calculating a normal for each tile in a tessellated surface and disqualifying a tile from being selected. For tiles not disqualified, a patch is identified that produces a markable area. The method includes selecting an object to be marked, calculating a location of the object in the markable area, and providing the location of the object to a marking device. Disqualifying includes comparing an angle between a normal and an orientation of the beam to an origin of the calculated normal on each tile. Disqualifying includes disqualifying the at least one tile when the angle is outside of a range of 90 to +90. Identifying the patch includes separating the patch into at least two smaller patches, and one of the two smaller patches of tiles is the markable area.

The present invention provides improved methods for making a multiple layer thermoplastic security document having a window using CO.sub.2 laser cutting and engraving in combination with a vision system for precision registration of cut windows of each layer and layer to layer registration and further provides application and registration of security features between layers within the security document body including an embedded gray scale watermark.