A secure device for securing an article that includes at least one connection element, at least one data carrier, and at least one security element. The connection element is configured to be connected to the article, and the data carrier is in connection with the connection element and is configured to be connected to the article via the connection element. The connection element is configured to interact with impinging electromagnetic radiation such, that at least one marking element is generated in the connection element upon the impingement of the electromagnetic radiation. The data carrier is configured to interact with impinging electromagnetic radiation such, that at least one further marking element is generated in the data carrier upon the impingement of the electromagnetic radiation. The security element comprises or consists of the marking element of the connection element and of the further marking element of the data carrier.

A secure device for securing an article that includes at least one connection element, at least one data carrier, and at least one security element. The connection element is configured to be connected to the article, and the data carrier is in connection with the connection element and is configured to be connected to the article via the connection element. The connection element is configured to interact with impinging electromagnetic radiation such, that at least one marking element is generated in the connection element upon the impingement of the electromagnetic radiation. The data carrier is configured to interact with impinging electromagnetic radiation such, that at least one further marking element is generated in the data carrier upon the impingement of the electromagnetic radiation. The security element comprises or consists of the marking element of the connection element and of the further marking element of the data carrier.

The invention relates to a security feature for a security and/or value document which comprises a mixture of electrically conductive field displacement elements which are electrically insulated within the security or value document, and a zinc sulfide luminophore in the form of particles, which mixture is applied to a security and/or value document by means of a printing technology. 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; 0<x0.002; 0<y0.00015; and 0z0.00050. The particles each have cubic phase fractions and hexagonal phase fractions, the zinc sulfide luminophore emitting a first luminescent radiation in the spectral range between 580 nm and 780 nm in the event of excitation by an electrical field, and the zinc sulfide luminophore emitting a second luminescent radiation in the visible spectral range in the event of thermal stimulation and preceding excitation by means of UV radiation. Furthermore, a security and/or value document having a security feature and a method for detection and/or verification of a security feature having a luminophore are provided.

The invention relates to a security feature for a security and/or value document which comprises a mixture of electrically conductive field displacement elements which are electrically insulated within the security or value document, and a zinc sulfide luminophore in the form of particles, which mixture is applied to a security and/or value document by means of a printing technology. 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; 0<x0.002; 0<y0.00015; and 0z0.00050. The particles each have cubic phase fractions and hexagonal phase fractions, the zinc sulfide luminophore emitting a first luminescent radiation in the spectral range between 580 nm and 780 nm in the event of excitation by an electrical field, and the zinc sulfide luminophore emitting a second luminescent radiation in the visible spectral range in the event of thermal stimulation and preceding excitation by means of UV radiation. Furthermore, a security and/or value document having a security feature and a method for detection and/or verification of a security feature having a luminophore are provided.

An identification patch having a plasmonic resonance structure may be used to ensure that an article is counterfeit-proof. The identification patch may be formed by a printing process, such as roll-to-roll printing or nanoimprinting, to create a distinctive ordered pattern of resonance elements. When the plasmonic resonance structure is irradiated, the ordered pattern of resonance elements produces a unique spectral response that is associated only with the counterfeit-proof article. The counterfeit-proof article may be a metal component or an integrated circuit. The resonant absorption of the plasmonic resonance structure may be measured to verify the authenticity of the article before use of the article.

An identification patch having a plasmonic resonance structure may be used to ensure that an article is counterfeit-proof. The identification patch may be formed by a printing process, such as roll-to-roll printing or nanoimprinting, to create a distinctive ordered pattern of resonance elements. When the plasmonic resonance structure is irradiated, the ordered pattern of resonance elements produces a unique spectral response that is associated only with the counterfeit-proof article. The counterfeit-proof article may be a metal component or an integrated circuit. The resonant absorption of the plasmonic resonance structure may be measured to verify the authenticity of the article before use of the article.

An information recording medium according to one embodiment includes a substrate, a first image, and a second image. The first image is provided on the substrate, emits light when irradiated with first excitation light having a first wavelength, and includes phase-modulated first information. The second image is provided on the substrate, emits light when irradiated with second excitation light having a second wavelength different from the first wavelength, and includes phase-modulated second information.

A method of illumating an item is disclosed. The method includes applying adhesive to the item, interspersing a taggant in the adhesive, illuminating the item with an excitation signal, sensing luminescence emitted by the taggant in response to illumination by the excitation signal, and determining the authenticity of the item based on the sensed emitted luminescence. The item can include any item benefited by authentication, and can include a postage stamp. A method of customizing an item is disclosed. This can include the steps of preparing a substrate, applying a security feature to the substrate, printing non-customized information on the substrate, receiving image information, and printing the image information on the substrate.

A method of illumating an item is disclosed. The method includes applying adhesive to the item, interspersing a taggant in the adhesive, illuminating the item with an excitation signal, sensing luminescence emitted by the taggant in response to illumination by the excitation signal, and determining the authenticity of the item based on the sensed emitted luminescence. The item can include any item benefited by authentication, and can include a postage stamp. A method of customizing an item is disclosed. This can include the steps of preparing a substrate, applying a security feature to the substrate, printing non-customized information on the substrate, receiving image information, and printing the image information on the substrate.

There is described a printed security feature (10) provided onto a printable substrate, which printed security feature includes a printed area (11) with at least a first printed section consisting of a multiplicity of geometric elements (GE, 15) printed with a given distribution over the printed area. The geometric elements are printed with at least first and second inks which exhibit the same or substantially the same optical appearance when illuminated with visible white light, such that the printed security feature produces a first graphical representation (A1) when illuminated with visible white light. At least the first ink is an ink which responds to non-visible light excitation by producing a characteristic optical response differentiating the first ink from the second ink. The printed security feature produces a second graphical representation (B1) when illuminated with non-visible light, which exhibits a distinctive two-dimensional graphic element (B) which is revealed only when the printed security feature is illuminated with non-visible light. The first printed section is subdivided into at least first and second printed portions (P1, P2), adjacent to the distinctive two-dimensional graphic element, and a third printed portion (P3), inside boundaries (200) of the distinctive two-dimensional graphic element. In the first, respectively second printed portion, the geometric elements are printed with the first, respectively second ink. In the third printed portion, the geometric elements are sub-divided into first and second contiguous portions (GE_a, GE_b) which are respectively printed with the first and second inks. The first and second inks are printed in register one with respect to the other so that the boundaries of the distinctive two-dimensional graphic element are not visible when the printed security feature is illuminated with visible white light and the distinctive two-dimensional graphic element only becomes visible when the printed security feature is illuminated with non-visible light.