A desktop plastic card printer that is configured to allow installation of a smart card cartridge within an interior space of the printer housing through an opening, for example an opening in a side wall, in the printer housing. Both the mechanical installation and electrical installation of the smart card cartridge occurs via the opening. This allows the desktop plastic card printer to be quickly and easily retrofitted to have the ability to electronically read data from and/or electronically program data on an integrated circuit chip of a plastic card. The retrofitting can take place without using any mechanical tools and without having to remove the entire, or a substantial portion of, the printer housing.

A desktop plastic card printer that is configured to allow installation of a smart card cartridge within an interior space of the printer housing through an opening, for example an opening in a side wall, in the printer housing. Both the mechanical installation and electrical installation of the smart card cartridge occurs via the opening. This allows the desktop plastic card printer to be quickly and easily retrofitted to have the ability to electronically read data from and/or electronically program data on an integrated circuit chip of a plastic card. The retrofitting can take place without using any mechanical tools and without having to remove the entire, or a substantial portion of, the printer housing.

Techniques are described in which articles (e.g., security documents, traffic signage and personal protective equipment) are formed to include an infrared absorptive material. In some instances, the infrared absorptive material includes a reduced tungsten oxide, such as cesium tungsten oxide, calcium tungsten oxide, potassium tungsten oxide, or the like, and exposed to radiation such that one or more regions of the security document has a modified appearance, thereby providing a visual marking or information on the article. Example articles include at least one layer including a polymer and an infrared absorptive material including a reduced tungsten oxide. The layer includes a radiation-treated region that exhibits a first appearance under visible light and at least one non-radiation-treated region that exhibits a second, different appearance under visible light. The at least one radiation-treated region may be formed by exposing the at least one radiation-treated region to infrared light to change at least one property of the reduced tungsten oxide in the radiation-treated region compared to the reduced tungsten oxide in the non-radiation-treated region. The first appearance may be whiter than the second appearance.

Techniques are described in which articles (e.g., security documents, traffic signage and personal protective equipment) are formed to include an infrared absorptive material. In some instances, the infrared absorptive material includes a reduced tungsten oxide, such as cesium tungsten oxide, calcium tungsten oxide, potassium tungsten oxide, or the like, and exposed to radiation such that one or more regions of the security document has a modified appearance, thereby providing a visual marking or information on the article. Example articles include at least one layer including a polymer and an infrared absorptive material including a reduced tungsten oxide. The layer includes a radiation-treated region that exhibits a first appearance under visible light and at least one non-radiation-treated region that exhibits a second, different appearance under visible light. The at least one radiation-treated region may be formed by exposing the at least one radiation-treated region to infrared light to change at least one property of the reduced tungsten oxide in the radiation-treated region compared to the reduced tungsten oxide in the non-radiation-treated region. The first appearance may be whiter than the second appearance.

The use of a modified reduced indium tin oxide to provide a security image wherein the modified reduced indium tin oxide is obtained by heating indium tin oxide in a reducing atmosphere at a temperature of from 300 to 500° C.; and contacting the reduced indium tin oxide with an organophosphorus compound.

The use of a modified reduced indium tin oxide to provide a security image wherein the modified reduced indium tin oxide is obtained by heating indium tin oxide in a reducing atmosphere at a temperature of from 300 to 500° C.; and contacting the reduced indium tin oxide with an organophosphorus compound.

The security document, such as a passport, comprises a lightguide having an incoupler structure and in outcoupler structure. The outcoupler structure is sparse in the sense that any part of the protective area is close to a part of the outcoupler structure. However, to secure a large protective area with a limited amount of incoupled light, outcoupler structure covers no more than 20% of the protective area. This allows to protect a large area of the security document, such as a photograph or other personalized information, by means of the lightguide.

A security element, called a security dome, intended to be glued onto an electronic board. The security element includes at least: a metal part intended to be in contact with at least one electrical circuit of the electronic board; and a protective part covering the metal part and having a first face comprising an adhesive portion intended to ensure the gluing of the security element on the electronic board by an automatic assembly method having at least one reflow step. The metal part and protective part are resistant to temperatures used during the reflow step.

A security element including: a first layer having a first surface; an array of image regions across the surface, each region including at least first and second sub-regions; a first diffractive optically variable effect generating structure in or on the surface across the first sub-regions; and a second diffractive optically variable effect generating structure in or on the surface across the second sub-regions; wherein the surface is arranged so each first sub-region has a first average inclination and each second sub-region has a second average inclination different from the first, wherein the first structure and inclination provide that the first effect is exhibited across the first sub-regions at least at a first viewing angle and the second structure and inclination provide that the second effect is exhibited across the second sub-regions at least at a second viewing angle different from the first. Also, a method of manufacturing the security element.

A security device is provided, comprising: a colour shifting element that exhibits different wavelengths of light at different viewing angles, and; an at least partially transparent light control layer covering at least a part of the colour shifting element and comprising a surface relief adapted to modify the angle of light from the colour shifting element, wherein; a first region of the light control layer comprises a first optical characteristic, whereby light at a first viewing angle from the first region of the light control layer is perceived to have a resultant optical effect that is the resultant of the wavelength of light exhibited at that viewing angle due to the combination of the colour shifting element and the surface relief of the light control layer, and the first optical characteristic, and; a second region of the light control layer either: (i) is substantially colourless such that light at the first viewing angle from the second region is perceived to have a resultant optical effect exhibited at that viewing angle due to the combination of the colour shifting element and the surface relief of the light control layer, or; (ii) comprises a second optical characteristic different from the first optical characteristic, whereby light at the first viewing angle from the second region of the light control layer is perceived to have a resultant optical effect that is the resultant of the wavelength of light exhibited at that viewing angle due to the combination of the colour shifting element and the surface relief of the light control layer, and the second optical characteristic. Methods of manufacture thereof are also disclosed.