An optical security feature has pixels with faceted microstructures supporting nano-patterned optical filters. Each of the pixels includes a substrate and a nanostructure. The substrate is configured to emit light of at least a first wavelength and a second wavelength different than the first wavelength. The microstructure includes a first facet, a second facet non-parallel to the first facet, a first nano-patterned optical filter disposed on the first facet, and a second nano-patterned optical filter disposed on the second facet. The first nano-patterned optical filter includes a first stopband that includes the first wavelength and excludes the second wavelength. The second nano-patterned optical filter includes a second stopband that includes the second wavelength and excludes the first wavelength. For each pixel, the first nano-patterned optical filter inhibits emission of light at the first wavelength from the pixel via the first facet.

The present invention firstly relates to a security feature for a security or value document. The security feature comprises a zinc sulfide luminophore in the form of particles. The zinc sulfide luminophore has the general chemical formula ZnS: Cu.sub.x, M.sub.y, X.sub.z; here, M represents one or more elements from a group comprising the chemical elements Co, In and Ni; X represents one or more elements from a group comprising the halides F, Cl, Br and I; and the following applies: 0<x<0.002 and 0?y<0.00015 and 0?z<0.00050. The particles each have cubic phase portions and hexagonal phase portions. When excited by an electrical field, the zinc sulfide luminophore emits a first radiation in the range of the light spectrum between 580 nm and 780 nm. When excited by heating the luminophore to a temperature between 100? C. and 150? C., the zinc sulfide luminophore emits a second radiation in the light spectrum. Furthermore, the invention relates to a security and value document, which may for example be a bank note or a passport, an identity card, a driving license or a postage stamp. The invention also relates to a method for detecting and/or verifying the security feature according to the invention.

The present invention firstly relates to a security feature for a security or value document. The security feature comprises a zinc sulfide luminophore in the form of particles. The zinc sulfide luminophore has the general chemical formula ZnS: Cu.sub.x, M.sub.y, X.sub.z; here, M represents one or more elements from a group comprising the chemical elements Co, In and Ni; X represents one or more elements from a group comprising the halides F, Cl, Br and I; and the following applies: 0<x<0.002 and 0?y<0.00015 and 0?z<0.00050. The particles each have cubic phase portions and hexagonal phase portions. When excited by an electrical field, the zinc sulfide luminophore emits a first radiation in the range of the light spectrum between 580 nm and 780 nm. When excited by heating the luminophore to a temperature between 100? C. and 150? C., the zinc sulfide luminophore emits a second radiation in the light spectrum. Furthermore, the invention relates to a security and value document, which may for example be a bank note or a passport, an identity card, a driving license or a postage stamp. The invention also relates to a method for detecting and/or verifying the security feature according to the invention.

A printed security feature for a security document including a substrate, the security feature comprising: a first functional effect ink printed on a first surface of the substrate, and a second functional effect ink printed on the first and/or a second surface of the substrate, at least partially overlapping the first functional effect ink, wherein the first and the second functional effect inks in combination create an imagery feature which resembles an appearance of a security thread.

A method of cast curing microstructures of a micro-optic security device includes jetting a first volume of a first radiation-curable resin directly onto a casting master to form a layer of the first radiation-curable resin having a first thickness, bringing the casting master into contact with a substrate along a squeeze line to transfer the first radiation-curable resin to the substrate and applying curing radiation to the transferred first radiation-curable resin.

A method of cast curing microstructures of a micro-optic security device includes jetting a first volume of a first radiation-curable resin directly onto a casting master to form a layer of the first radiation-curable resin having a first thickness, bringing the casting master into contact with a substrate along a squeeze line to transfer the first radiation-curable resin to the substrate and applying curing radiation to the transferred first radiation-curable resin.

The present invention relates to a method for unique marking and to a method for the identification of products by identifying production inaccuracies in the spectral range of up to 3000 nm and to the use of said method for the unique identification of products/documents in serialization systems and/or track and trace systems and for document authentication. In order to increase the number of production inaccuracies up to a spectral range of up to 3000 nm, photoluminescent materials which, under photon excitation, emit radiation in the range of up to 3000 nm, preferably in the range of 750 to 1800 nm, most preferably in the range of 800 to 1100 nm, can be used. Said photoluminescent materials make it possible for production inaccuracies to be sensed from the spectral range of visible light (380 to 750 nm), via the near-infrared (NIR) range, to a spectral range of up to 3000 nm.

A full-color protected document, and methods and systems for making same, secured by a removable Scratch-Off Coating, where the protection against document alteration and/or copy type attacks is provided by digitally imaging Benday patterns and/or digital imaged background patterns around the variable indicia. By printing Benday patterns and/or imaged background using the same process color imagers, usability and integrity of the protected document are achieved relative to the consumer's perspective while at the same time providing a more secure, less expensive, and more aesthetically pleasing document design.

A full-color protected document, and methods and systems for making same, secured by a removable Scratch-Off Coating, where the protection against document alteration and/or copy type attacks is provided by digitally imaging Benday patterns and/or digital imaged background patterns around the variable indicia. By printing Benday patterns and/or imaged background using the same process color imagers, usability and integrity of the protected document are achieved relative to the consumer's perspective while at the same time providing a more secure, less expensive, and more aesthetically pleasing document design.

A method is provided for producing a luminescent security marking on a substrate of a predetermined substrate type. The security marking includes a layer sequence applied on top of the substrate in a part region and formed from a diffuse reflectance printing ink applied on top of the substrate and from a luminescent printing ink applied on top of the diffuse reflectance printing ink, or a mixture of a diffuse reflectance printing ink and a luminescent printing ink. The layer sequence or the mixture exhibit visible luminescence after excitation. The layer sequence or the mixture are printed with a chosen layer thickness onto a substrate of the predetermined substrate type, in order to obtain a luminescent security marking, the luminescent spectrum of which matches the calculated combination spectrum in the part region on illumination with the excitation light. The invention also relates to an associated luminescent security marking.