A security element for a security and/or valuable document includes a matrix based on an organic polymeric material and at least one electrically conductive pigment dispersed in the matrix and at least one organic luminescent substance dispersed in the matrix. In the presence of the conductive pigment the luminescent substance is capable of non-contact excitation of light emission where the particle size is less than 200 nm. The luminescent substance is not encapsulated and is directly surrounded by the matrix and is embedded therein.

A combination comprising a document having an image applied thereto and a security device affixed to a surface of the document. The security device comprising a first layer applied on the image. The first layer comprising a first and a second portion in communication with a first and second image area of the image, respectively. The first layer comprising a coating composition comprising fully exfoliated single sheets of graphene. The first portion comprises: a first detectable property having a first value correlated with the fully exfoliated single sheets of graphene; a first X-ray diffraction pattern; and a first electrical conductivity. The second portion comprises a second detectable property comprising: a second value correlated with the fully exfoliated single sheets of graphene; a second X-ray diffraction pattern; and a second electrical conductivity. The first and second detectable properties are not equal and together create a distinctive signature.

The present invention relates to the field of the protection of value documents and value commercial goods against counterfeit and illegal reproduction. In particular, the present invention relates to security threads or stripes to be incorporated into or onto security documents. The security threads or stripes comprise i) an optically variable layer; ii) a magnetic code; and iii) a non-metallized substrate, wherein the magnetic code has a color matching the color impression of the optically variable layer at one viewing angle and wherein the optically variable layer and the magnetic code are jointly visible from one side of the security thread or stripe.

The present invention relates to a layer structure having improved properties for laser engraving, to particular embodiments of said layer structures in the form of co-extrusion films, and to security documents, preferably identification documents having said layer structures.

A security device comprises a transparent, colored element in a first region of the device and in a surface of which a first optically variable effect generating relief structure is formed. A reflection enhancing layer extends over the first optically variable effect generating relief microstructure and follows the contour of the relief, the reflection enhancing layer also being provided in a second region of the device laterally offset from the first region.

An image display that is to be transferred from a support onto a substrate and displays an image including personal information, according to a possible embodiment, includes: a base layer releasably supported by the support, having a light-transmitting property, a first pattern including a hologram and/or diffraction grating and transferred onto a main surface of the base layer, the first pattern displaying a first image including at least a piece of the personal information, the first pattern including dot-shaped portions, each center of the dot-shaped portions being located on a lattice point of a virtual planer lattice; and a second pattern displaying a second image, comprising an ink, and transferred onto the main surface of the base layer. At least a part of the first pattern and at least a part of the second pattern are juxtaposed on a same plane parallel to the main surface of the base layer.

An image display is to be transferred from a support onto a substrate and displays an image including personal information. The image display includes a base layer releasably supported by the support and having a light-transmitting property, and an image display layer including a hologram and/or diffraction grating and transferred onto the base layer by a thermal transfer method using a thermal head. The image display layer displays an image including at least a piece of the personal information. An individual authentication medium including the image display, and manufacturing methods of the image display and individual authentication medium are also described.

A display includes a first optical effect layer including a first interface part, the first interface part being provided with recesses or protrusions arranged two-dimensionally at the minimum center-to-center distance in a range of 200 nm to 500 nm, each of the recesses or protrusions having a forward-tapered shape; a reflective material layer covering at least a part of the first interface part; and a second optical effect layer including, at a position of a first portion of the first interface part that is covered with the reflective material layer, a portion that faces the reflective material layer with the first optical effect layer interposed therebetween or faces the first optical effect layer with the reflective material layer interposed therebetween, the second optical effect layer containing at least one of a cholesteric liquid crystal, a pearl pigment and a multilayer interference film.

The application discloses apparatus and systems for authenticating physical object, identification documents and security documents. Some such methods and apparatus involve signal encoding or digital watermarking.

The present invention relates to the field of the protection of value documents and value commercial goods against counterfeit and illegal reproduction. In particular, the present invention relates to security threads or stripes to be incorporated into or onto security documents. The security threads or stripes comprise i) an optically variable layer; ii) a magnetic code; and iii) a non-metallized substrate, wherein the magnetic code has a color matching the color impression of the optically variable layer at one viewing angle and wherein the optically variable layer and the magnetic code are jointly visible from one side of the security thread or stripe.