SECURITY FEATURE FOR A VALUABLE DOCUMENT, VALUABLE DOCUMENT, METHOD FOR PRODUCING A SECURITY FEATURE AND METHOD FOR CHECKING A SECURITY FEATURE

Abstract

A security feature for a valuable document, includes at least one unit of information, a luminescent material designed to emphasize the unit of information being provided in the region of said unit of information.

Claims

1.-11. (canceled)

12. A security feature for a value document having at least one information unit, wherein a luminescent substance is provided in the region of the information unit configured for highlighting the information unit.

13. The security feature according to claim 12, wherein the luminescent substance is a photoluminescent substance.

14. The security feature according to claim 11, wherein the luminescent substance is a white, fluorescent substance.

15. The security feature according to claim 11, wherein the luminescent substance is arranged behind the information unit in a viewing direction of the security feature.

16. The security feature according to claim 11, wherein the luminescent substance is printed on as an ink.

17. The security feature according to claim 11, wherein the luminescent substance is arranged on a film insert.

18. The security feature according to claim 11, wherein the information unit comprises personal data, and a portrait.

19. The security feature according to claim 11, wherein the information unit comprises data relating to the value document, a card number, and information about the issuing authority.

20. Value document such as a bank note, passport and identification documents, with a security feature according to claim 11.

21. A method for producing a security feature for a value document, having the steps of: providing an information unit, and introducing a luminescent substance in the region of the information unit such that it is configured to highlight the information unit.

22. The method for checking a security feature of a value document, having the features of: irradiating the value document with a light source, highlighting the security feature by means of a luminescent substance of the value document which is being or has been excited by the light source, and checking the highlighted security feature.

Description

[0028] The present invention is described by way of example below with reference to the accompanying drawings. In the drawings:

[0029] FIG. 1: shows a plan view of a value document;

[0030] FIG. 2: shows a sectional illustration of the value document from FIG. 1 according to the line I-I;

[0031] FIG. 3: shows a sectional view of a security feature or of a value document;

[0032] FIG. 4: shows a sectional view of a security feature or of a value document;

[0033] FIG. 5: shows a sectional view of a security feature or of a value document;

[0034] FIGS. 6a, 6b: show a plan view of a value document with a highlighted security feature;

[0035] FIG. 7: shows a method for producing a security feature for a value document; and

[0036] FIG. 8: shows a method for checking a security feature of a value document.

[0037] FIG. 1 shows a plan view of a value document 10 in a schematic view. The value document 10 can be a bank note, a passport and identification document or the like. In the example shown in FIG. 1, the value document 10 is an identification document.

[0038] The value document 10 contains a security feature 11 in the form of a portrait of the card-holder as well as further personal data 12 such as, for example, the first and last names of the owner. In addition, the identification card may include further data 13 such as date of birth, nationality, issuing authority, date of issue and the like.

[0039] The security feature 11 contains an information unit 14 here in the form of the portrait. In this example, the visible part of the security feature 11 is formed by the information unit 14. It is also possible for the information unit 14 to occupy only a part of the visible surface of the security feature 11. The information unit 14 occupies only a part of the surface or main surface of the value document 10.

[0040] The basic design of the security feature 11 with the information unit 14 will now explained in more detail with reference to FIG. 2 which shows a section through the value document 10 along the line I-I of FIG. 1.

[0041] FIG. 2 shows a sectional illustration of the value document 10 or of the security feature 11 of FIG. 1 according to the line I-I.

[0042] The value document 10 consists of a sequence or a stack of different layers such as, for example, films. These individual films are joined together in a production process to form the value document 10, for example by lamination. The security feature 11 can also consist of such a stack of individual layers or films. It is also possible for the security feature 11 to consist of a single film or a few films which then form the information unit 14.

[0043] In the example shown in FIG. 2, a centrally arranged design film 15 is provided as the information unit 14. The design film 15 can be opaque or transparent. It is also possible for the design film 15 to be transparent only in sections while being opaque in the other sections. The term film is used below for reasons of clarity. The term film naturally also includes any form of layer such as, for example, a printed-on ink layer. The information unit 14 can be formed in the design film 15 and on at least one of the two surfaces.

[0044] A film 16, which can likewise be opaque or transparent, is arranged on a first, in this case upper side of the design film 15. The film 16 can contain additional information or design elements. Furthermore, the film 16 can contain security features which can be visible or invisible within the visual range. The film 16 can also be an adhesive layer or adhesive film for an outer film 17. The outer film 17 is transparent, so that the film 16 and/or the design film 15 can be seen through the outer film 17. In addition, adhesives or the like can be provided between the films shown here for connecting the films to one another.

[0045] Two additional films 18 and 19 are arranged on a second opposite side of the design film 15, which corresponds to an underside in the illustration of FIG. 1. The film 18 can correspond to the film 16. The film 19 can correspond to the film 17.

[0046] A luminescent substance 20 is introduced between the design film 15 and the film 16. With luminescence, the substance is brought into an excited state by externally supplied energy and emits light as it transitions to its basic state while emitting photons. In particular, photoluminescence in the form of fluorescence or phosphorescence is considered here. The luminescent substance can be integrated, for example, as white fluorescence. The luminescent substance 20 can also be referred to as a luminescent layer or as a luminescent region.

[0047] The luminescent substance 20 by intention highlights defined regions of the security feature 11 or the value document 10. This is exactly the region in which the luminescent substance 20 is arranged. This enables easy recognition of the information unit 14, for example for border guards or police during a passport check or a driver's license check by means of a UV lamp or another light source, for example an IR lamp or a laser source. The activation of the luminescent material 20 results in indirect illumination of the information unit 14. Similarly, daylight can activate the luminescent material 20 when, for example, a passport is removed from a case or pocket during an outdoor inspection and is then exposed to daylight.

[0048] The luminescent substance 20 can be printed onto the design film 15 as an ink. Alternatively, the luminescent substance 20 can comprise individual pigments or consist thereof. Similarly, the luminescent material 20 can be formed as an independent film.

[0049] The value document 10 can contain a plurality of security features 11 with one or more information units 14 in each case.

[0050] The value document 10 can comprise additional films or layers, for example one or more protective layers or functional layers provided with other security elements. The films 16 and 18 or 17 and 19 can be optional.

[0051] The luminescent substance 20 can also be arranged at different locations on the value document 10 or the security feature 11. In particular, the luminescent substance 20 can be arranged between other layers or films than shown in FIG. 2. In particular, the luminescent substance 20 can be arranged below, i.e. behind, the design film 15 in the viewing direction. The luminescent substance 20 then acts like a backlight.

[0052] Different arrangements of the luminescent substance 20 in the value document 10 or the security feature 11 will be discussed with reference to the following figures.

[0053] FIG. 3 shows a sectional view of a security feature 11 or of a value document 10. The central design film 15 and the additional films 16, 17, 18 and 19 are in a sequence identical to the sequence shown in FIG. 2. The luminescent substance 20 is now arranged on an upper side of the film 16. The luminescent substance 20 can also be arranged on an underside of the film 16. It is also possible for the luminescent substance 20 to be arranged on an upper side or underside of the film 18.

[0054] As shown in FIG. 3, the information unit 14 can be formed in or on the film 16. It is also possible for the information unit to be formed within the design film 15. The two films 15 and 16 can also jointly form the information unit 14. As described above, the luminescent substance 20 highlights the information unit 14 when it is being or has been illuminated.

[0055] FIG. 4 shows a sectional view of a security feature 11 or of a value document 10, which corresponds structurally to the security feature 11 or to the value document 10 in FIG. 1. The arrangement of the luminescent substance 20 in the sequence of the films also corresponds to the arrangement shown in FIG. 1.

[0056] In contrast to FIG. 1, here in FIG. 4 the luminescent substance 20 is not formed over the entire surface of the security feature 11 but only in a section. Accordingly, during and/or after activation of the luminescent substance 20 by an external light unit, only that part of the information unit 14 is highlighted or illuminated which is located directly under the luminescent substance 20 or in the immediate vicinity thereof. The remaining part of the information unit, which here is located within the design film 15, is correspondingly not emphasized. It is therefore possible to not only selectively highlight a certain region of the value document of 10 but also a certain region of the security feature 11.

[0057] FIG. 5 shows a sectional view of a security feature 11 or of a value document 10. The general arrangement or sequence of the different films again corresponds to the sequence shown in the preceding figures.

[0058] In this example, the luminescent substance 20 does not extend as previously shown parallel to the films, but perpendicular to the films, i.e. parallel to a viewing direction. The luminescent substance 20 can be formed here, for example, as an insert within a window of the security feature 11 or of the value document 10. This arrangement of the luminescent substance 20 can enable a depth effect and/or a lateral illumination.

[0059] FIGS. 6a and 6b show a plan view of a value document 10 with a highlighted security feature (FIG. 6a) and non-highlighted security feature (FIG. 6b).

[0060] In FIG. 6a, the value document 10 is shown in a dormant state or a non-activated state of the luminescent material 20 in the form of a fluorescent material. The illumination is, for example, conventional room lighting which cannot put a fluorescent substance into an excited state. Accordingly, it is apparent that the security feature 11 of the value document 10 with the information unit 14 does not stand out visually from the other components or regions of the value document 10. In a darker environment, the information unit 14 in the form of the portrait is difficult to recognize.

[0061] In FIG. 6b, the value document 10 is shown when the luminescent substance 20 is in an activated state. The illumination is, for example, a fluorescent lamp that puts the luminescent substance, such as a fluorescent substance, into an excited state. Accordingly, it is apparent that the security feature 11 of the value document 10 with the information unit 14 stands out visually from the other components or regions of the value document 10. The information unit 14 in the form of the portrait appears illuminated and therefore easy to recognize.

[0062] FIG. 7 shows a method for producing a security feature 11 for a value document 10.

[0063] In a first step 100, an information unit 14 is provided. The information unit 14 can be achieved, for example, by joining one or more films or layers together.

[0064] In a second step 110, a luminescent substance 20 is introduced in the region of the information unit 14 such that it is configured to highlight the information unit 14. In this way, a security feature 11 can be produced as shown in the figures.

[0065] The sequence of the steps is not necessarily limited to this sequence. For example, the luminescent substance 20 can also be introduced first.

[0066] For the production of a value document 10, the security feature 11 produced in this way can be integrated into a value document or formed into a value document 10 by means of additional components such as a substrate or films.

[0067] FIG. 8 shows a method for checking a security feature 11 of a value document 10.

[0068] In a first step 200, the value document 10 is irradiated with a light source. For example, a florescent lamp can serve as the light source or illumination. The light source is suitable for putting the luminescent substance 20, such as a fluorescent substance, into an excited state.

[0069] In a second step 210, the security feature 11 is highlighted by a luminescent substance of the value document 10 which is being excited or has been excited by the light source. The luminescent substance 20 now emits light in the transition to its basic state while emitting photons. Accordingly, it is apparent that the security feature 11 of the value document 10 with the information unit 14 stands out visually from the other components or regions of the value document 10. The information unit 14 in the form of the portrait appears illuminated and therefore easy to recognize.

[0070] The two steps 200 and 210 can also be carried out simultaneously.

[0071] In a third step 220, the highlighted security feature 11 is checked. The now highlighted security feature 11 or its information unit 14 can now be checked visually in a simple manner and without confusion since it is illuminated or backlit by the luminescent material 20.

[0072] All three steps 200, 210 and 220 can also be carried out simultaneously.