The invention relates to a method for fabricating electronic cards by A) forming a plurality of card bodies in the form of a thick sheet with a plurality of electronic units or modules embedded in the sheet; B) printing a plurality of first patterns on a first face of the thick sheet in a printing station where ink is applied on the first face; C) applying a first at least partially transparent coating on each printed first pattern, that adheres to the card body. The method can also include printing a plurality of second patterns on the inner surface of a film forming the first coating. Preferably, the printing of the first patterns is carried out in an offset type station for printing high definition patterns, essentially of the security type. The second patterns define personal data. The printed thick sheet defines an intermediate product according to the invention.

A document contains a security element that combines a correlation mark and pantograph mark. The pantograph mark includes a dot pattern, part of which is printed to correspond to foreground pixels of the correlation mark, and another part of which is printed to correspond to background pixels of the correlation mark.

A document contains a security element that combines a correlation mark and pantograph mark. The pantograph mark includes a dot pattern, part of which is printed to correspond to foreground pixels of the correlation mark, and another part of which is printed to correspond to background pixels of the correlation mark.

A hybrid currency banknote includes a banknote having visible markings. One or more light-controlling elements and a controller are embedded in or on the banknote. The controller is electrically connected to the one or more light-controlling elements to control the one or more light-controlling elements. A power input connection is electrically connected to the controller, or one or more light-controlling elements, or both. A power source can be connected to the power input connection, for example a piezoelectric or photovoltaic power source. In response to applied power, the controller causes the one or more light-controlling elements to emit light. A value can be stored in a memory in the controller and displayed by the light-controlling elements. The value can be assigned or varied by a hybrid currency teller machine.

A hybrid currency banknote includes a banknote having visible markings. One or more light-controlling elements and a controller are embedded in or on the banknote. The controller is electrically connected to the one or more light-controlling elements to control the one or more light-controlling elements. A power input connection is electrically connected to the controller, or one or more light-controlling elements, or both. A power source can be connected to the power input connection, for example a piezoelectric or photovoltaic power source. In response to applied power, the controller causes the one or more light-controlling elements to emit light. A value can be stored in a memory in the controller and displayed by the light-controlling elements. The value can be assigned or varied by a hybrid currency teller machine.

A hybrid high-security document includes a document and one or more independent light-emitting modules disposed on or embedded in the document. Each module comprises an antenna with multiple turns, an electronic circuit, and a light emitter mounted and electrically connected on a substrate separate from the document. The electronic circuit is responsive to electrical power provided from the antenna to control the light emitter to emit light. The electronic circuit can include a memory storing information relevant to the hybrid high-security document or its use. The information can be accessed by external readers providing electromagnetic energy to the hybrid high-security document. The hybrid high-security document can be a hybrid banknote.

A hybrid high-security document includes a document and one or more independent light-emitting modules disposed on or embedded in the document. Each module comprises an antenna with multiple turns, an electronic circuit, and a light emitter mounted and electrically connected on a substrate separate from the document. The electronic circuit is responsive to electrical power provided from the antenna to control the light emitter to emit light. The electronic circuit can include a memory storing information relevant to the hybrid high-security document or its use. The information can be accessed by external readers providing electromagnetic energy to the hybrid high-security document. The hybrid high-security document can be a hybrid banknote.

A system and method are disclosed for providing integrated circuit (IC) chip modules for inclusion in payment objects. IC chip modules may be received from a supplier of IC chip modules, wherein the IC chip modules are supportably interconnected to a flexible substrate and transport key data is encoded in the IC chip modules. Each IC chip module may be encoded with personalization data and issuer key data. Encoding of IC chip modules may be completed utilizing either a contact IC chip interface device or a non-contact IC chip interface device. Encoding the IC chip modules may be completed with the IC chip modules supportably interconnected to the flexible substrate as supplied by the supplier of the IC chip modules, free from fixed interconnection of the IC chip modules and carrier to another support structure.

A system and method are disclosed for providing integrated circuit (IC) chip modules for inclusion in payment objects. IC chip modules may be received from a supplier of IC chip modules, wherein the IC chip modules are supportably interconnected to a flexible substrate and transport key data is encoded in the IC chip modules. Each IC chip module may be encoded with personalization data and issuer key data. Encoding of IC chip modules may be completed utilizing either a contact IC chip interface device or a non-contact IC chip interface device. Encoding the IC chip modules may be completed with the IC chip modules supportably interconnected to the flexible substrate as supplied by the supplier of the IC chip modules, free from fixed interconnection of the IC chip modules and carrier to another support structure.

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.