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 present invention relates to a micro-optic device for use in a micro-optic image presentation system. Specifically, the micro-optic device is formed as a single layer unitary structure arranged to generate various complex imagery effects.

A digitally printed security document includes: a security document substrate; a first digitally printed print working on a first surface of the substrate in a first region, the first print working including a first array of printed elements arranged according to a first grid of lattice points having a first pitch; and a second digitally printed print working on the first surface of the substrate in a second region, the second print working including a second array of printed elements arranged across a second grid of lattice points having a second pitch different from the first pitch.

A method for the interception-proof transmission of at least one cryptographic parameter from a user to an encrypted offline storage medium, comprising steps of: cloaking an upward portion of a substrate with an upper plate, characterized in that said upper plate comprises a multitude of indicia, wherein each indicium has a corresponding manipulation indicator; sequentially positioning a manipulation apparatus over one or more of the manipulation indicators; mechanically manipulating the substrate, after each sequential positioning of the manipulation apparatus, using said manipulation apparatus, characterized in that the manipulation indicator of the desired indicium overlaps with one mechanical manipulation unit of the substrate; and deconstructing said substrate in two or more complementary units, characterized in that said complementary units each comprises at least one mechanical manipulation unit administered by the manipulation apparatus.

A method for the interception-proof transmission of at least one cryptographic parameter from a user to an encrypted offline storage medium, comprising steps of: cloaking an upward portion of a substrate with an upper plate, characterized in that said upper plate comprises a multitude of indicia, wherein each indicium has a corresponding manipulation indicator; sequentially positioning a manipulation apparatus over one or more of the manipulation indicators; mechanically manipulating the substrate, after each sequential positioning of the manipulation apparatus, using said manipulation apparatus, characterized in that the manipulation indicator of the desired indicium overlaps with one mechanical manipulation unit of the substrate; and deconstructing said substrate in two or more complementary units, characterized in that said complementary units each comprises at least one mechanical manipulation unit administered by the manipulation apparatus.

A method for classifying a banknote has at least one luminescent feature, in which the following steps are carried out: a) exciting the luminescent feature; b) recording at least a first intensity value of the excited luminescent feature at a first time and a second intensity value at a second time that is different from the first time; c) determining a decay time of the luminescent feature by approximate integration over the intensity values between the first time and the second time; d) comparing the determined decay time with a reference decay time of the luminescent feature; and e) classifying the banknote based on the comparison.

A method for classifying a banknote has at least one luminescent feature, in which the following steps are carried out: a) exciting the luminescent feature; b) recording at least a first intensity value of the excited luminescent feature at a first time and a second intensity value at a second time that is different from the first time; c) determining a decay time of the luminescent feature by approximate integration over the intensity values between the first time and the second time; d) comparing the determined decay time with a reference decay time of the luminescent feature; and e) classifying the banknote based on the comparison.

The present invention is directed to display devices comprising a plurality of microcells. The plurality of microcells comprises different types of microcells having different Fill Factors. The devices have a watermark being formed by halftone images from the different types of microcells. The watermark aims to protect against counterfeiting or to be used for decoration purposes.

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.