Patent Application
20200130396
The present invention relates to security devices suitable for use in security documents such as banknotes, identity documents, passports, certificates and the like, as well as methods for manufacturing such security devices.
To prevent counterfeiting and to enable authenticity to be checked, security documents are typically provided with one or more security devices which are difficult or impossible to replicate accurately with commonly available means such as photocopiers, scanners or commercial printers.
One well known type of security device is one which uses a colour shifting element to produce an optically variable effect that is difficult to counterfeit. Such a colour shifting element generates a coloured appearance which changes dependent on the viewing angle. Examples of known colour shifting structures include photonic crystals, liquid crystals, interference pigments, pearlescent pigments, structured interference materials or thin film interference structures including Bragg stacks.
It is also known in the art that the optical effect produced by a colour shifting element can be modified by introducing a film comprising a surface relief over the colour shifting element, wherein the surface relief comprises a plurality of angled facets that refract the light incident to, and reflected from, the colour shifting element so as to provide a different optical effect to the viewer. For example, such an additional “light control layer” may produce colour shifting effects which are visible closer to a normal angle of viewing with respect to the device, and may enable more colours to be viewed on tilting the device as compared to the colour shifting element in isolation.
However, although such devices provide authentication capability and are difficult to counterfeit, there is the ever-continuing requirement to further increase the security of such devices.
According to a first aspect of the invention there is provided a security device comprising: a colour shifting element that exhibits different wavelengths of light at different viewing angles, and; an at least partially transparent light control layer covering at least a part of the colourshifting element and comprising a surface relief adapted to modify the angle of light from the colour shifting element, wherein; a first region of the light control layer comprises a first optical characteristic, whereby light at a first viewing angle from the first region of the light control layer is perceived to have a resultant optical effect that is the resultant of the wavelength of light exhibited at that viewing angle due to the combination of the colour shifting element and the surface relief of the light control layer, and the first optical characteristic, and; a second region of the light control layer either: (i) is substantially colourless such that light at the first viewing angle from the second region is perceived to have a resultant optical effect exhibited at that viewing angle due to the combination of the colour shifting element and the surface relief of the light control layer, or; (ii) comprises a second optical characteristic different from the first optical characteristic, whereby light at the first viewing angle from the second region of the light control layer is perceived to have a resultant optical effect that is the resultant of the wavelength of light exhibited at that viewing angle due to the combination of the colour shifting element and the surface relief of the light control layer, and the second optical characteristic.
The inventors have realised that they can provide a security device that provides a striking visual effect to a viewer through the combination of optical effects provided by the colour shifting element and the light control layer having a first optical characteristic. The first and/or second optical characteristic may be any of: a visible colour, fluorescence, luminescence and phosphorescence.
Typically, the first and/or second optical characteristic is a visible colour, and the resultant optical effect to a viewer of the device is a perceived colour which is the resultant (or “mixing”) of the wavelength of light exhibited by the colour shifting element with the visible colour of the light control layer. It is envisaged that at least at one viewing angle, under illumination by visible light, the wavelength of light exhibited by the colour shifting element will be in the visible light range and therefore seen by the naked human eye as a visible colour.
The resultant optical effect exhibited to a viewer of the device may be a perceived colour which may be a colour exhibited at least in part by fluorescence, luminescence and/or phosphorescence effects. This is particularly advantageous as the resultant optical effect may be exhibited to a viewer of the device only under illumination of the device by non-visible light, such as infra-red or ultraviolet illumination. This is particularly beneficial for security applications.
Throughout this specification, the term “visible colour” means a colour which can be seen by the naked human eye under the stated illumination conditions. This includes achromatic hues such as black, grey, white, silver etc., as well as chromatics such as red, blue, yellow, green, brown etc. “Substantially the same” colours are those which appear the same as one another in a cursory inspection (by the naked human eye) although they may not be an exact match under close examination. By the same logic, “different” colours are those which clearly present a contrast to one another that is visible to the naked human eye even without a close inspection. The difference might be in terms of the colour's hue or tone or both.
For example, in preferred embodiments, two colours will be considered substantially the same as one another if the Euclidean distance ΔE*ab between them in CIELAB colour space (i.e. the CIE 1976 L*a*b* colour space) is less than 3, more preferably less than 2.3. The value of ΔE*ab is measured using the formula
ΔE*ab=√{square root over ((ΔL*)2+(Δa*)2+(Δb*)2)}
Where ΔL*, Δa* and Δb* are the distance between the two colours along the L*, a* and b* axes respectively (see “Digital Color Imaging Handbook” (1.7.2 ed.) by G. Sharma (2003), CRC Press, ISBN 0-8493-0900-X, pages 30 to 32). Conversely, if ΔE*ab is greater than or equal to 3 (or, in more preferred embodiments, greater than or equal to 2.3), the two colours will be considered different. The colour difference E*ab can be measured using any commercial spectrophotometer, such as those available from Hunterlab of Reston, Va., USA.
Throughout this specification, the term “light” refers to both visible light (see below) and non-visible light outside the visible spectrum, such as infra-red and ultraviolet radiation. “Visible light” refers to light having a wavelength within the visible spectrum, which is approximately 400 to 750 nm. It is most preferable that the visible light is white light, i.e. contains substantially all the visible wavelengths in more or less even proportion. The ultra-violet spectrum typically comprises wavelengths from about 200 nm to about 400 nm, and the infra-red spectrum typically comprises wavelengths from about 750 nm to 1 mm.
Although it will be understood by the skilled person that the resultant optical effect of the device may include a contribution from fluorescence, luminescence and/or phosphorescence effects, for ease of understanding and explanation, the following description will focus on the scenario where the optical characteristic(s) are a visible colour, such that the resultant optical effect is the result of a combination, or “mixing” of the colour exhibited by the colour shifting element at a certain wavelength with the visible colour of the light control layer.
Typically the optical characteristic will be such that the respective region of the light control layer absorbs a particular wavelength, or range of wavelengths, of visible light such that it appears coloured to a viewer (and therefore may be referred to an “optical absorption characteristic”). However, the light control layer remains at least partially transparent, here meaning that visible light is able to pass through it such that light from the colour shifting element passes through the light control layer and reaches the viewer. The term “partially transparent” may also include “translucent”. The optical characteristic may also determine the level of transparency of the light control layer, as will be explained below. For the purposes of this discussion, and for ease of explanation, we shall refer to regions of the light control layer having an optical characteristic of a visible colour as having a coloured tint.
The expression “surface relief” is used to refer to a non-planar part of the outwardly facing surface of light control layer. The surface relief typically has a plurality of facets so as to define a plurality of elevations and depressions. Light from the colour shifting element is refracted at the interface between the angled facets of the surface relief and air, and in this way the light control layer interacts with light from the colour shifting element to modify the angle of light from the colour shifting element. The surface relief of the invention typically has a pitch (e.g. the distance between adjacent elevations) in the range of 1-100 μm, more preferably 5-70 μm, and structure depth (e.g. the height of an elevation) in the range of 1-100 μm, more preferably 5-40 μm. The surface relief also refracts light incident upon its facets, modifying the angle of light incident on the colour shifting element.
This means that the resultant colour exhibited to a viewer is a combination of the colours exhibited by the colour shifting element and the coloured tint of the light control layer, and advantageously enables a number of striking effects to be exhibited by the device, utilising the effects of the colour shifting element, the surface relief of the light control layer and the tinting of the light control layer.
The light control layer covers at least a part of the colour shifting element and is typically positioned between the light control layer and the observer of the security device.
In particular, the security device of the first aspect comprises a light control layer having first and second regions with different optical characteristics, such that the different regions will exhibit different colours to a viewer. Furthermore, each region may change colour upon tilting the device due to the effect of the colour shifting element. Here “tilting” refers to tilting of the security device so as to change the viewing angle.
The second region of the light control layer may be substantially colourless. In other words, the second region does not comprise a “tint” as described above, and the exhibited effect from the second region at a particular viewing angle is due to the combination of the colour shifting element and the surface relief of the second region. In other words, there is no “mixing” of colours as with the first region of the light control layer.
Alternatively, the second region of the light control layer may comprise a second optical characteristic different to the first optical characteristic. In some embodiments the first optical characteristic is such that the first region exhibits a first visible colour and the second optical characteristic is such that the second region exhibits a second, different visible colour. For example, the first region of the light control layer may exhibit a yellow tint and the second region of the light control layer may exhibit a red tint. When combined with a colour shifting element that exhibits a red to green colour shift upon tilting (i.e. red at a normal angle of viewing, green when tilted), at a first (normal) viewing angle, the first region will appear orange due to a combination of red and yellow light, and the second region will appear dark red, due to a combination of the red light from the colour shifting element and the red tint of the second region of the light control layer.
When considering the exhibited effect upon tilting the device, it is first helpful to consider what the exhibited effect would be without the tinting of the light control layer. Upon tilting, blue light from the colour shifting element that would normally be totally internally reflected and not visible to a viewer is now in fact visible to a viewer due to the presence of the light control layer. Therefore, the presence of the light control layer causes a red to green to blue colour shift to be exhibited rather than simply a red to green colour shift that would be observed from such a colour shifting element in isolation. Combining this with the tinting of the first and second regions of the light control layer, we can see that the exhibited effect on tilting the device will be that the first region appears turquoise (a mixing of blue and yellow light), and the second region appears purple (a mixing of blue and red light).
In some embodiments, the first optical characteristic is such that the first region and the second region exhibit substantially the same visible colour, wherein a level of transparency of the first region is different to a level of transparency of the second region such that the resultant perceived colours exhibited by the first and second regions are different. For example, both the first and second regions of the light control layer may exhibit a yellow colour, but the tint concentration in the first region is greater than that in the second region. This would mean that the first region is less transparent (lower transparency level) than the second region, meaning that that the ratio of colour shifting element colour to tint colour is lower in the first region than in the second region. As a result, the resultant colours exhibited to a viewer from the first and second regions differ.
The first and second optical characteristics may be such that the first region and second region exhibit substantially the same wavelength of fluorescence, luminescence or phosphorescence emission, wherein a concentration of fluorescent, luminescent or phosphorescent material differs between the first and second regions.
Typically, due to the effect of the colour shifting element, at a first viewing angle, the light from the first region of the light control layer is perceived to have a first resultant colour and, at a second viewing angle, the light from said first region of the light control layer is perceived to have a second resultant colour different from the first resultant colour. Similarly, at a first viewing angle, the light from the second region of the light control layer is perceived to have a first resultant colour and, at a second viewing angle, the light from the second region of the light control layer is perceived to have a second resultant colour different from the first resultant colour.
A particularly striking effect can be exhibited if the device is configured such that at at least one viewing angle, the first and second regions of the light control layer exhibit substantially the same resultant colour, and at a second viewing angle, the first and second regions exhibit different resultant colours. For example, the colour shifting element may exhibit a red to green (and to blue when in combination with the light control layer) colour shift, as described above. If the first region has an optical characteristic such that it exhibits a red tint, and the second region is substantially colourless, then, at a normal angle of viewing, the resultant colour exhibited by both regions will be red. However, upon tilting, the first region will exhibit a purple colour (a combination of blue light from the colour shifting element and red from the light control layer), and the second region will exhibit a blue colour as the blue light from the colour shifting element will be visible through the colourless region. This “hidden image” effect is particularly striking, and improves security of the device. A similar effect may be achieved when the second region comprises a second optical characteristic, with both the first and second regions having different levels of transparency.
In preferred embodiments, the first and/or second regions define indicia, and this is particularly advantageous in “hidden image” applications as described above. Typically such indicia comprises at least a digit, letter, geometric shape, symbol, image, graphic or alphanumerical text
The first and second regions of the light control layer may substantially abut each other or may be spaced apart. In the case where they are spaced apart, the region between the first and second regions of the light control layer may be described as a “non-functional” region of the light control layer in that is does not substantially modify the angle of light from the colour shifting element. The non-functional region may therefore comprise a substantially planar portion of light control layer material substantially parallel with the plane of the colour shifting element (i.e. does not comprise a surface relief), or may comprise no light control layer material, such that the colour shifting element is exposed between the first and second regions. In this second case the first and second regions are still part of the same light control layer. The use of first and second regions spaced apart by a non-functional region provides the ability to exhibit further coloured effects.
For further striking effects exhibited by the security device, the light control layer may further comprise a third region that either: (i) is substantially colourless such that light at the first viewing angle from the third region is perceived to have a resultant optical effect exhibited at that viewing angle due to the combination of the colour shifting element and the surface relief of the light control layer, or; (ii) comprises a third optical characteristic different from the first and second optical characteristics, whereby light at the first viewing angle from the third region of the light control layer is perceived to have a resultant optical effect that is the resultant of the wavelength of light exhibited at that viewing angle due the combination of the colour shifting element and the surface relief of the light control layer, and the third optical characteristic.
According to a second aspect of the invention, there is provided a security device comprising: a colour shifting element that exhibits different wavelengths of light at different viewing angles; an at least partially transparent light control layer covering at least a part of the colour shifting element and comprising a surface relief adapted to modify the angle of light from the colour shifting element, and; an optical characteristic layer positioned between the colour shifting element and the light control layer, or positioned on a distal side of the colour shifting element with respect to the light control layer, wherein at least a first region of the optical characteristic layer comprises a first optical characteristic such that it exhibits a first optical effect at substantially all viewing angles; whereby light at a first viewing angle from the first region is perceived to have a first optical effect that is the resultant of the wavelength of light exhibited at that viewing angle due to the combination of the colour shifting element and the surface relief of the light control layer, and the first optical characteristic.
The second aspect of the invention utilises the same inventive principles of the first aspect, in that the final resultant optical effect exhibited to a viewer is the resultant of the wavelength of light exhibited at a particular viewing angle due to the combination of the colour shifting element and the surface relief of the light control layer, and a further element comprising an optical characteristic. In this case, rather than the material of the light control layer comprising a first optical characteristic, the device comprises an at least partially transparent optical characteristic layer, at least a first region thereof exhibiting a first optical effect at substantially all viewing angles. In other words, the first region of the optical characteristic layer may be seen to exhibit a “uniform” or “homogenous” optical effect, for example the same colour at all viewing angles.
The optical characteristic layer typically at least partially covers (at least partially overlaps with) with the colour shifting element. In other words, the optical characteristic layer typically covers at least a first region of the colour shifting element.
In a similar manner to the first aspect, although the first optical characteristic may be any of: a visible colour, fluorescence, luminescence and phosphorescence, for ease of description and explanation, we shall focus on the first optical characteristic being a visible colour (and thus an “optical absorption characteristic”).
In some embodiments, the colour shifting element is at least partially transparent (for example a liquid crystal element) and the optical characteristic layer is positioned between the colour shifting element and the light control layer, or on a distal side of the colour shifting element with respect to the light control layer. In the case where the colour shifting element is at least partially transparent, the optical characteristic layer may be substantially opaque or at least partially transparent. Where the optical characteristic layer is substantially opaque, it is positioned on a distal side of the colour shifting element with respect to the light control layer such that the resultant optical effect exhibited to a viewer will still be the resultant of the optical effects exhibited by the optical characteristic layer and the combination of the colour shifting element and surface relief at that viewing angle.
The optical characteristic layer may comprise an ink layer, or comprise a polymer layer such as polycarbonate, PET or BOPP. Examples of materials used to effect the optical characteristic(s) in order to provide tinted regions of the optical characteristic layer include conventional dyes or pigments which are applied to the polymer resin. Such methods for tinting/colouring polymer materials are well known in the art. One example range of colourants would be the BASF Orasol® product range.
A substrate of the security device (for example a polycarbonate, PET or BOPP substrate) may act as the optical characteristic layer. Examples may include at least partially transparent polycarbonate with a coloured “tint”, or a deep-dyed PET or BOPP film, such as from CPFilms Inc, a subsidiary of Eastman Chemical Company.
Typical substrate thicknesses that may be used in the invention are in the range of 10-200 microns, more preferably 15-100 microns and even more preferably 15-40 microns.
The term “partially transparent” here has the same meaning as described above, in that visible light is able to pass through the coloured layer. The term “partially transparent” may include “translucent”. The term “substantially opaque” here means that visible light cannot pass through the opaque layer.
In other embodiments, the colour shifting element is substantially opaque (for example an optically variable pigment), and the optical characteristic layer is at least partially transparent and positioned between the colour shifting element and the light control layer.
In some embodiments, the optical characteristic layer comprises a second region having a second optical characteristic such that the second region exhibits a second optical effect at substantially all viewing angles different to the first optical effect.
Similarly to the description of the first and second regions of the light control layer described above, the use of an optical characteristic layer comprising first and second regions having different optical characteristics provides a striking effect to a viewer, in that the device will exhibit different regions having different optical effects. This is particularly advantageous when the first region and/or second region of the optical characteristic layer define indicia.
Similarly to as described above in relation to the first aspect of the invention, in some embodiments where the optical characteristic layer is at least partially transparent, the second region comprises a transparency level that is different to a transparency level of the first region of the optical characteristic layer. In such a case, the first and second regions will exhibit different resultant colours due to the different levels of “mixing” of colour from the colour shifting element and the coloured layer resulting from the differing transparency levels.
The first and second optical characteristics may be such that the first region and second region exhibit substantially the same wavelength of fluorescence, luminescence or phosphorescence emission, wherein a concentration of fluorescent, luminescent or phosphorescent material differs between the first and second regions.
Further striking visual effects, and increased security levels, can be achieved by using a light control layer having an optical characteristic similarly to as described in the first aspect of the invention. Accordingly, in some embodiments, the light control layer comprises at least a first region comprising a light control layer optical characteristic. Preferably, the first region of the light control layer corresponds to the first region of the optical characteristic layer; whereby light at a first viewing angle from the first region of the light control layer is perceived to have a resultant optical effect that is the resultant of the wavelength of light exhibited at that viewing angle due to the combination of the colour shifting element and the surface relief of the light control layer, the first optical characteristic of the optical characteristic layer and the light control layer optical characteristic.
In other embodiments, the light control layer may comprise further regions having different light control layer optical characteristics that may cooperate with the optical characteristic layer and/or the colour shifting element in order to generate further visual effects. In some embodiments, the light control layer may comprise a region having a light control layer optical characteristic that does not overlap with a region of the optical characteristic layer—for example the optical characteristic layer may have comprise “non-functional” or “gap” regions. The visual effect from such a region will be the combination of the colour shifting element and the surface relief of the light control layer, and the light control layer optical characteristic.
The light control layer optical characteristic may be any one of: a visible colour, fluorescence, luminescence and phosphorescence.
In the case where the optical characteristics of the optical characteristic layer and the light control layer are a visible colour, the resultant optical effect exhibited to a user is a combination (or “mixing”) of three different effects: the colour exhibited by the combination of colour shifting element and light control layer, the “tint” of the light control layer, and the colour of the coloured layer. This advantageously allows fine control of the visual effect exhibited by the device, together with enhanced security as would-be counterfeiters would have difficulty in determining the exact colour ratios that combine to form the resultant colours exhibited at various angle of tilt.
Here, where the first region of the light control layer corresponds to the first region of the optical characteristic layer, it is typically meant that the first region of the light control layer at least partially overlaps with the first region of the optical characteristic layer such that light from the optical characteristic layer travels through the first region of the light control layer before being observed by the viewer.
Preferably, at least the first region of the at least partially transparent optical characteristic layer defines indicia.
According to a third aspect of the present invention there is provided a security device comprising: a colour shifting element that exhibits different wavelengths of light at different viewing angles; an at least partially transparent light control layer covering at least a part of the colour shifting element and comprising a surface relief adapted to modify the angle of light from the colour shifting element, and; a substantially opaque layer having a first optical characteristic positioned between the colour shifting element and the light control layer and covering a first region of the colour shifting element, wherein; a first region of the light control layer comprises a second optical characteristic, whereby light at a first viewing angle from the first region of the light control layer is perceived to either: (i) have a resultant optical effect that is the resultant of the first optical characteristic and the second optical characteristic, when the first region of the light control layer overlaps with the opaque layer, or; (ii) have a resultant optical effect that is the resultant of the wavelength of light exhibited at that viewing angle due to the combination of the colour shifting element and the surface relief of the light control layer, and the second optical characteristic, when the first region of the light control layer does not overlap with the opaque layer.
The first optical characteristic may be any one of: a visible colour, fluorescence, luminescence and phosphorescence. Similarly the second optical characteristic may be any one of: a visible colour, fluorescence, luminescence and phosphorescence.
The term “substantially opaque” here means that visible light cannot pass through the opaque layer. Therefore, in the case where the first region of the light control layer overlaps with the opaque layer, light from the colour shifting element cannot pass through the opaque layer and the resultant optical effect exhibited to the viewer is the resultant (or “mixing”) of the optical characteristics of the opaque layer and the first region of the light control layer.
Where the substantially opaque layer does not overlap with the colour shifting element, the resultant optical effect is the resultant of the wavelength of light exhibited at that viewing angle due to the combination of the colour shifting element and the surface relief of the light control layer, and the second optical characteristic. This effect can be advantageously used so that the substantially opaque region covers a first part of the colour shifting element so as to define indicia. Preferably the indicia is/are exhibited to a viewer of the security device as regions of different colour as a result of the overlap between the substantially opaque region and the colour shifting element.
In some embodiments, a second region of the light control layer is substantially colourless such that light at the first viewing angle from the second region is perceived to either: (i) have a resultant optical effect that is the resultant of the first optical characteristic, when the second region of the light control layer overlaps with the opaque layer, or; (ii) have a resultant optical effect that is the resultant of the wavelength of light exhibited at that viewing angle due to the combination of the colour shifting element and the surface relief of the light control layer, when the second region does not overlap with the opaque layer. The first and second regions of the light control layer may both overlap with the same part of the opaque layer and/or may both overlap with the same part of the colour shifting element.
Preferably, the substantially opaque layer covers a first part of the colour shifting element so as to define indicia, and typically the indicia is exhibited to a viewer of the security device as regions of different optical effects as a result of the overlap between the substantially opaque layer and the colour shifting element.
Typically, the optical characteristic of the opaque layer is exhibited at substantially all viewing angles.
In some preferred embodiments, the first optical characteristic of the substantially opaque layer is a visible colour substantially corresponding to the wavelength of light exhibited by the colour shifting element at a first viewing angle such that, at said first viewing angle, the device exhibits a substantially uniform colour and at a second viewing angle different to the first viewing angle, the device exhibits different regions of colour corresponding at least to the first region of the colour shifting element covered by the opaque layer. The feature advantageously uses the variable nature of the colour shifting element to allow the device to reveal a “hidden image” upon tilting. For example if, at a first viewing angle, the colour shifting element exhibits a red colour, then the opaque layer may be made to have substantially the same red colour. Subsequently, with a first region of the light control layer covering both the opaque layer and the exposed colour shifting element, the resultant colour exhibited to a viewer from both areas of the device will be the same, giving rise to a uniform colour. However, upon tilting of the device, the colour shifting element will exhibit a different colour, meaning that the exposed region of the colour shifting element will exhibit a different resultant colour to that exhibited by the opaque layer region (as light from the colour shifting element cannot pass through the opaque region). In this manner, if the opaque layer is provided so as to define indicia, the indicia will only be revealed upon tilting the device, providing a striking visual effect to a viewer.
The substantially opaque layer may comprise an ink layer, or comprise a polymer layer such as polycarbonate, PET or BOPP. Examples of materials used to effect the optical characteristic(s) in order to provide the required opacity of the opaque layer include conventional dyes or pigments, and such methods for colouring polymer materials are well known in the art. One example range of colourants would be the BASF Orasol® product range.
A substrate of the security device may act as the substantially opaque layer.
In any of the first, second and third aspects described above, the expression “colour shifting element” is used to refer to any material which can selectively reflect or transmit incident light to create an optically variable effect, in particular an angularly dependent coloured reflection or transmission. It is envisaged that at least at one viewing angle, under illumination by visible light, the wavelength (or range of wavelengths) of light exhibited by the colour shifting element will be in the visible light range and therefore seen by the naked human eye as a visible colour. Under non-visible light illumination, the wavelength (or range of wavelengths) of light exhibited by the colour shifting element may be in the non-visible light range.
Examples of such a colour shifting element include photonic crystals, liquid crystals, interference pigments, pearlescent pigments, structured interference materials or thin film interference structures including Bragg stacks. A particularly suitable material for the colour shifting element is a liquid crystal film. The colour shifting element is typically a layer of a security device.
In general the colour shifting element may be substantially opaque or partially transparent (with various examples having been described above). A partially transparent colour shifting element (for example a liquid crystal film) transmits at least some of the light that is incident upon it as well as providing an optical effect in reflection. An example of a substantially opaque colour shifting element is an optically variable pigment. Optically variable pigments having a colour shift between two distinct colours, with the colour shift being dependent on the viewing angle, are well known. The production of these pigments, their use and their characteristic features are described in, inter-alia, U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,434,010, 5,059,245, 5,084,351, 5,135,812, 5,171,363, 5,571,624, EP-A-0341002, EP-A-0736073, EP-A-668329, EP-A-0741170 and EP-A-1114102. Optically variable pigments having a viewing angle-dependent shift of colour are based on a stack of superposed thin-film layers with different optical characteristics. The hue, the amount of colour-shifting and the chromaticity of such thin-film structures depend inter alia on the material constituting the layers, the sequence and the number of layers, the layer thickness, as well as on the production process. Generally, optically variable pigments comprise an opaque totally reflecting layer, a dielectric layer of a low refractive index material (i.e. with an index of refraction of 1.65 or less) deposited on top of the opaque layer and a semi-transparent partially reflecting layer applied on the dielectric layer.
The security device may be viewed in reflection or transmission. If the device is intended to be viewed in reflection and comprises a partially transparent colour shifting element such as a liquid crystal film, it is preferable that the security device further comprises an absorbing element positioned on a distal side of the colour shifting element with respect to the light control layer (i.e. such that the colour shifting element is positioned between the light-absorbing material and the viewer) and operable to at least partially absorb light transmitted through the colour shifting element. Such a light-absorbing element positioned under the colour shifting element substantially absorbs light that is transmitted through the colour shifting element and light reflected from the colour shifting element dominates. In the case where a substantially opaque colour shifting element is used, such an absorbing element is not required. In some embodiments, such an absorbing element may be provided in the form of indicia, such that, when viewed in reflected light, the colour shifting element is visible in the form of the indicia.
The first, second and third aspects described above all refer to a light control layer comprising a surface relief. The light control layer may be formed in a single step, for example by an embossing, extrusion or cast curing process. An embossing die is typically provided having a surface structure corresponding to the desired light control layer. The light control layer typically comprises a UV curable material. Suitable UV curable materials may comprise a polymeric material which may typically be of one of two types of polymeric resin, namely:
a) Free radical cure resins, which are typically unsaturated resins or monomers, pre-polymers, oligomers etc. containing vinyl or acrylate unsaturation for example and which cross-link through use of a photo initiator activated by the radiation source employed e.g. UV.
b) Cationic cure resins, in which ring opening (e.g. epoxy types) is effected using photo initiators or catalysts which generate ionic entities under the radiation source employed e.g. UV. The ring opening is followed by intermolecular cross-linking.
The radiation used to effect curing is typically UV radiation but could comprise electron beam, visible, or even infra-red or higher wavelength radiation, depending upon the material, its absorbance and the process used. Examples of suitable curable materials include UV curable acrylic based clear embossing lacquers or those based on other compounds such as nitro-cellulose. A suitable UV curable lacquer is the product UVF-203 from Kingfisher Ink Limited or photopolymer NOA61 available from Norland Products. Inc., New Jersey.
The curable material could be elastomeric and therefore of increased flexibility. An example of a suitable elastomeric curable material is aliphatic urethane acrylate (with suitable cross-linking additive such as polyaziridine).
A number of different surface reliefs of the light control layer are envisaged. For example, the surface relief may comprise two or more arrays of linear microprisms, wherein the long axes of one array are angularly offset from the axes of the other array. A light control layer comprising such a surface structure would provide a rotational optical effect as well as the colour shifting effect dependent on a tilt angle of the security device, wherein the rotational effect is dependent on the azimuthal angle of viewing with respect to the arrays of linear microprisms. The optical effect due to the presence of a microprism array will be more readily observed when the device is viewed in an azimuthal direction perpendicular to the long axes of the array rather than in an azimuthal direction parallel to the long axes of the array.
Other forms of microprismatic structures are envisaged, for example structures comprising microprisms having an asymmetrical structure or a repeating faceted structure.
The microstructure may be a one dimensional microstructure. By “one dimensional” it is meant that optical effect provided by the microstructure is primarily observed in one rotational viewing direction with respect to an individual microstructure, typically perpendicular to a long axis of the microstructure. However, a surface relief comprising a two dimensional microstructure is also envisaged wherein the optical effect due to the presence of the microstructure is readily observed at two or more rotational viewing directions. Examples of such a two-dimensional microstructure include corner cubes and pyramidal structures. The surface relief may alternatively comprise a lenticular array having a curved surface structure.
Examples of materials used to effect the optical characteristic(s) in order to provide tinted regions of the light control layer include conventional dyes or pigments which are applied to the polymer resin. Such methods for tinting/colouring polymer materials are well known in the art. One example range of colourants would be the BASF Orasol® product range.
In a similar manner, suitable fluorescent, luminescent or phosphorescent materials may be applied to the light control layer material (and where appropriate the optical characteristic layer or opaque layer) in order to effect the desired fluorescent, luminescent or phosphorescent material optical characteristic.
In accordance with a fourth aspect of the present invention there is provided a security article comprising a security device according to any of the first, second or third aspects, wherein the security article is preferably a security thread, strip, patch, label, transfer foil or a polymer substrate. In embodiments, a polymer substrate such as polycarbonate, PET or BOPP could act as the optical characteristic layer or substantially opaque layer in a similar manner to as described above. Typical substrate thicknesses that may be used in the invention are in the range of 10-200 microns, more preferably 15-100 microns and even more preferably 15-40 microns.
In accordance with a fifth aspect of the present invention there is provided a security document comprising a security article according to the fourth aspect, or a security device according to any of the first, second or third aspects. The security device or article may be located in a transparent window region of the document, or inserted as a window thread, or affixed to a surface of the document. Where the security article is a polymer substrate, the polymer substrate is typically a laminate for a data page of security document such as a passport or identification card. Another scenario is that the polymer substrate could be the substrate of a polymer banknote i.e. the security device is formed directly on the polymer banknote substrate. The security document preferably comprises a banknote, identity document, passport, cheque, visa, licence, certificate or stamp.
In accordance with a sixth aspect of the invention there is provided a method of manufacturing a security device, the method comprising: providing an at least partially transparent light control layer so as to cover at least a part of a colourshifting element that exhibits different wavelengths of light at different viewing angles, wherein; the light control layer comprises a surface relief adapted to modify the angle of light from the colour shifting element, and further wherein; a first region of the light control layer comprises a first optical characteristic, whereby light at a first viewing angle from the first region of the light control layer is perceived to have a resultant optical effect that is the resultant of the wavelength of light exhibited at that viewing angle due to the combination of the colour shifting element and the surface relief of the light control layer, and the first optical characteristic, and; a second region of the light control layer either: (i) is substantially colourless such that light at the first viewing angle from the second region is perceived to have a resultant optical effect exhibited at that viewing angle due to the combination of the colour shifting element and the surface relief of the light control layer, or; (ii) comprises a second optical characteristic different from the first optical characteristic, whereby light at the first viewing angle from the second region of the light control layer is perceived to have a resultant optical effect that is the resultant of the wavelength of light exhibited at that viewing angle due the combination of the colour shifting element and the surface relief of the light control layer, and the second optical characteristic.
In accordance with a seventh aspect of the invention there is provided a method of manufacturing a security device, the method comprising: providing an at least partially transparent light control layer covering at least a part of a colour shifting element that exhibits different wavelengths of light at different viewing angles, wherein; the light control layer comprises a surface relief adapted to modify the angle of light from the colour shifting element, and wherein the method further comprises; providing an optical characteristic layer positioned between the colour shifting element and the light control layer, or positioned on a distal side of the colour shifting element with respect to the light control layer, wherein at least a first region of the optical characteristic layer comprises a first optical characteristic such that it exhibits a first optical effect at substantially all viewing angles; whereby light at a first viewing angle from the first region is perceived to have a first optical effect that is the resultant of the wavelength of light exhibited at that viewing angle due to the combination of the colour shifting element and the surface relief of the light control layer, and the first optical characteristic.
In accordance with an eighth aspect of the invention there is provided a method of manufacturing a security device, the method comprising: providing an at least partially transparent light control layer covering at least a part of a colour shifting element that exhibits different wavelengths of light at different viewing angles, wherein; the light control layer comprises a surface relief adapted to modify the angle of light from the colour shifting element, and wherein the method further comprises; providing a substantially opaque layer having a first optical characteristic positioned between the colour shifting element and the light control layer and covering a first region of the colour shifting element, wherein; a first region of the light control layer comprises a second optical characteristic, whereby light at a first viewing angle from the first region of the light control layer is perceived to either: (i) have a resultant optical effect that is the resultant of the first optical characteristic and the second optical characteristic, when the first region of the light control layer overlaps with the opaque layer, or; (ii) have a resultant optical effect that is the resultant of the wavelength of light exhibited at that viewing angle due to the combination of the colour shifting element and the surface relief of the light control layer, and the second optical characteristic, when the first region of the light control layer does not overlap with the opaque layer.
The resulting devices of the methods of the sixth, seventh and eighth aspects provide the benefits already described above.
In each of the sixth, seventh and eighth aspects, the colour shifting element may comprise one of: a photonic crystal structure, a liquid crystal material, an interference pigment, a pearlescent pigment, a structured interference material, or a thin film interference structure such as a Bragg stack.
Typically, the light control layer is provided by one of embossing, extrusion or cast curing.
Examples of the invention will now be described with reference to the attached drawings, in which:
As outlined above in the summary of the invention section, the optical characteristic of the light control layer, optical characteristic layer or substantially opaque layer may be one of a visible colour, fluorescence, luminescence and phosphorescence. In the following description, we shall focus on the optical characteristic being a visible colour for ease of description, although the skilled person will understand the possibility of use of fluorescence, luminescence and/or phosphorescence effects.
When light strikes the colour shifting element 10, some of the light is reflected. The wavelength of the reflected light depends on the structure and composition of the colour shifting material 10 and the reflected light will appear coloured to the viewer 50. The wavelength of the reflected light is also dependent on the angle of incidence, which results in a colour change perceived by the viewer 50 as the colour shift layer is tilted.
The optical effects of the colour shifting element 10 are illustrated schematically in
The colour shifting element 10 can be viewed either in reflection or transmission. In the case of viewing in reflection, it is desirable to place a dark absorbing layer or element (shown at 12) beneath the colour shifting element 10 in order to absorb the transmitted light. This is particularly beneficial if the colour shifting element is partially transparent to visible light (for example a cholesteric liquid crystal layer). If a substantially opaque colour shifting element (such as a printed ink comprising an optically variable pigment) is used, such an absorbing layer 12 is not required for viewing in reflected light.
The light modification properties of the light control layer are most noticeable when the device is viewed in a direction perpendicular to the long axes of the microprisms of the light control layer, and tilted about an axis substantially parallel to the long axes of the microprisms.
The light control layer 20 comprises a plurality of linear microprisms 20a, 20b, 20c, 20d, 20e, 20f, 20g defining a surface relief as described in
The visual effect exhibited by the device 100 will be explained with reference to two viewing angles Θ1 and Θ2, shown in
The visual effect exhibited to a viewer by the device 100 at viewing angle Θ1 is schematically illustrated in
On tilting the device (i.e. viewing at viewing angle Θ2), region C will exhibit a green colour as a result of the green colour exhibited by the colour shifting element 10. However, as explained above with reference to
Moreover, it will be appreciated that throughout the figures the number of microprisms in each region is for illustrative purposes only, and in reality the number of microprisms or other structures within a region will be greater than shown herein.
As can be appreciated, there is a striking visual effect exhibited to a viewer upon tilting the device due to the changes in colour. A particularly interesting effect is that regions A1, A2 and C would not be distinguishable at normal viewing, but exhibit different colours on tilting the device. Such an effect would be particularly effective if at least one of regions A1 and A2 defined indicia (such as a digit, letter, geometric shape, symbol, image, graphic or alphanumerical text). Such indicia would then only be revealed upon tilting of the device from a normal angle of viewing to a more acute angle.
In the example described above, the microprisms of regions A1 and A2 were substantially colourless such that the light from the colour shifting element was viewable through said prisms without any substantive change in colour. However, the microprisms of regions A1 and A2 may comprise an optical characteristic such that they exhibit a coloured tint. For example, the microprisms of regions A1 and A2 may exhibit a red tint. In such a case, at viewing angle Θ1, regions A1 and A2 will appear dark red. However, upon tilting the device, regions A1 and A2 will exhibit a purple colour due to the combination of blue light and red light. Of course, the microprisms of regions A1 and A2 may comprise different optical characteristics such that they exhibit different coloured tints (or one region being substantially colourless and the other region having a coloured tint).
In the examples shown in
In this example, suppose the colour shifting element exhibits infrared (IR) light at a normal angle of viewing Θ1 (i.e. appears black) and exhibits red light upon tilting and viewing at a viewing angle Θ2, and each functional region of the light control layer 20 exhibits a blue tint but with the transparency of region A being greater than region B and the transparency of region B being greater than that of region C. At a normal angle of viewing Θ1, as shown in
The effect of tilting the device and viewing at Θ2 is schematically illustrated at
In the case where the colour shifting element is at least partially transparent (such as a cholesteric liquid crystal layer), the absorbing layer 12 may be advantageously patterned so as to define indicia. This effect is illustrated in
As illustrated in
In the above embodiments, the microprismatic structures of the light control layer comprise an optical characteristic that makes them appear to have a coloured tint. However, as schematically illustrated in
Each of the regions 14a, 14b is at least partially transparent, meaning that light from the colour shifting layer is able to pass through. The regions may exhibit the same colour, or may exhibit different colours and/or transparency levels. For ease of description, let us suppose that both regions 14a and 14b have the same optical characteristic such that they exhibit the same yellow colour at all viewing angles, and have the same transparency level. Let us also suppose that the colour shifting element 10 exhibits a red to green colour shift upon tilting, which is modified to a red to green to blue colour shift due to the presence of the light control layer in device 140. Therefore, at a normal angle of viewing Θ1, region A will exhibit an orange colour (resultant of red and yellow light), region B will exhibit a red colour (visible through gap region 16) and region C will exhibit an orange colour in the same manner as region A. However, upon tilting of the device and viewing at an angle Θ2, regions A and C will exhibit a turquoise colour (a resultant of blue and yellow light), and region B will exhibit a blue colour. Typically, this difference in exhibited appearance of the device at regions A, B and C is utilised such that the device exhibits indicia defined by the different coloured regions, with the form (i.e. shape) of the indicia defined by the tinted coloured layer.
Here, the tinted coloured layer has been provided to define simple indicia, for example suitable colours could be used to exhibit a national flag. However, it will be appreciated that more complex indicia such as alphanumeric text or images can be generated through the provision of a coloured layer in a suitable form.
Furthermore, in the embodiments described in
The structure of device 155 is similar to that of device 140 seen in
In this example, the partially transparent tinted coloured layer has a yellow tint, and microprisms 20a, 20b, 20g and 20h also have an optical absorption characteristic such that they exhibit a yellow tint. Microprisms 20c, 20d, 20e and 20f are substantially colourless. The colour shifting element 10 is a red to green colour shifting element in that in isolation it exhibits a red colour for normal viewing and a green colour on tilting. Therefore, at normal viewing Θ1 of the device 155, region A of the device appears red-orange due to a combination of the red colour from the colour shifting element and the yellow tint of the microprisms 20a, 20h; region B appears yellow-orange due to the combination of the red colour from the colour shifting element and the yellow tint from both the layer 14 and microprisms 20b, 20g; region C appears red-orange due to a combination of the red colour from the colour shifting element and the yellow tint of the layer 14, and region D appears red as no yellow tint is present in region D.
Upon tilting of the device and viewing from viewing angle Θ2, region A will appear blue-green as a result of the blue colour exhibited by the combination of the colour shifting layer and the surface relief of the light control layer, and the yellow tint of the microprisms 20a, 20h; region B will appear yellow-green as a result of the blue colour exhibited by the combination of the colour shifting layer and the surface relief of the light control layer, and the yellow tint of both the light control layer and microprisms 20b, 20g; region C will appear blue-green as a result of the blue colour exhibited by the combination of the colour shifting layer and the surface relief of the light control layer, and the yellow tint of the layer 14; and region D will appear blue.
In this example, both the tinted coloured layer 14 and the tinted microprisms have the same colour tint. However, in other embodiments, the tinted coloured layer and tinted microprisms may have different colours of tint.
In the present example a partially transparent colour shifting element is used and a corresponding absorbing layer is provided such that the device is intended to be viewed in reflection. However, it will be appreciated that a substantially opaque colour shifting element could alternatively be used.
In the present example, each of the microprisms of the light control layer has the same optical characteristic such that they each exhibit a red tint. The substantially opaque coloured layer exhibits a red colour at substantially all viewing angles, and the colour shifting element exhibits a red to green colour shift, modified to a red to green to blue colour shift due to the presence of the surface relief of the light control layer.
At a normal angle of incidence (Θ1), region B of the device exhibits a red colour due to the resultant of the red colour exhibited by the colour shifting element and the red tint of the light control layer. Region A of the device exhibits a dark red colour due to the resultant of the red colour exhibited by the opaque coloured region and the red tint of the light control layer. Region A appears darker than region B due to the greater opacity of the coloured layer 18 as compared to the colour shifting element 10. Even so, the circle at region B is not easily discernible to a viewer at a normal angle of viewing Θ1. (It is envisaged that the colour of the opaque layer 18 may be determined such that the exhibited colour effects of the different regions substantially match at least at one angle of view.) This difference is illustrated in the different density of hatching in regions A and B in
Upon tilting the device 160 and viewing at viewing angle Θ2, region A will remain substantially the same colour (as the variable colour effect from the colour shifting device is “blocked” by the opaque coloured layer). However, light from the colour shifting element 10 is able to pass through gap region 18b in the opaque coloured layer and therefore a colour change is exhibited in region B. Specifically, at a viewing angle Θ2, region B appears purple against a dark red background (region A). The purple colour derives from the resultant of blue light from a combination of the colour shifting element and the surface relief of the light control layer, and the red tint of the light control layer. This colour difference is schematically represented by the different shading in
Therefore, region B becomes more easily discernible to a viewer upon tilting the device, providing a striking optical effect to a viewer.
In the above example described with reference to
More complex effects may be generated by providing tinted and non-tinted regions of the light control layer overlapping with a same region of the opaque layer, as will be explained below with reference to
In the present example a partially transparent colour shifting element is used and a corresponding absorbing layer is provided such that the device is intended to be viewed in reflection. However, it will be appreciated that a substantially opaque colour shifting element could alternatively be used.
Only some of the linear microprisms of the light control layer 20 are tinted in the present example. Specifically, microprisms 20a and 20h (in region A), and microprisms 20b and 20g (in region B) have an optical characteristic such that they exhibit a coloured (in this case red) tint. The remainder of the microprisms are substantially transparent and colourless. As tinted prism 20b and colourless prism 20c both overlap with opaque coloured region 18a (and similarly with microprisms 20f and 20g), the annular region defined by the opaque coloured layer is split into two annular regions B and C due to the difference in resultant colour exhibited by these regions. The device can therefore be seen to exhibit four coloured regions A, B, C and D as shown in
Suppose that the opaque coloured layer exhibits a yellow colour at substantially all viewing angles and that the colour shifting element, in combination with the surface relief of the light control layer, exhibits a red to blue colour shift, then we can consider the resultant colours exhibited by the device 170. At a normal angle of viewing Θ1, region A will exhibit a dark red colour, region B will exhibit an orange colour, region C will exhibit a yellow colour and region D will exhibit a red colour (slightly discernible from the dark red of region A). Upon tilting and viewing the device at viewing angle Θ2, regions B and C will remain substantially the same colour due to the presence of the substantially opaque layer. However, regions A and D will exhibit a colour shift as light from the colour shifting element is able to pass through gap regions 18b and 18c in the opaque coloured layer. Therefore, at viewing angle Θ2, region D will appear blue and region A will appear purple (resultant of red and blue light). The different shadings in
Due to the partially transparent nature of the colour shifting element 10, light from the opaque coloured regions is able to pass through the colour shifting element, thereby meaning that the resultant colour exhibited to a viewer is affected by the opaque coloured regions.
Suppose that the colour shifting element and the surface relief of the light control layer combine to exhibit a red to blue colour shift, that each of the microprisms of the light control layer is substantially transparent and colourless, and that regions 18a and 18b exhibit red and yellow colours respectively at all viewing angles. Therefore, at a normal angle of viewing Θ1, regions A and C will exhibit a red colour, region B will exhibit dark red and region D will exhibit orange. Upon tilting of the device and viewing at viewing angle Θ2, regions A and C will exhibit a blue colour, region B will exhibit purple (a resultant of red and blue light) and region D will appear turquoise.
In order to manufacture a security device according to the invention, each of the required layers of the absorbing layer, tinted coloured layer, opaque coloured layer and colour shifting element are first laid down on a suitable polymeric carrier substrate, such as a PET or BOPP foil, or polycarbonate. Here, all printing methods that are suitable for application of the various layers may be used, such as intaglio printing, gravure, flexo printing, inkjet printing, knife coating, curtain or blade techniques. Subsequently the light control layer is applied, as will be described below with reference to
In other embodiments, the substrate itself may form the tinted coloured layer or opaque coloured layer as described above; for example tinted polycarbonate could be used as a substrate, or a deep-dyed PET or BOPP film such as from CPFilms Inc, a subsidiary of Eastman Chemical Company. Typical substrate thicknesses are in the range of 10-200 microns, more preferably 15-100 microns and even more preferably 15-40 microns. For example the security device may be incorporated into a thread for a polymer banknote, where the polymer banknote may typically have a thickness of about 75 microns.
For ease of description, we will consider the manufacture of device 100 (illustrated in
The device substrate 100a is then introduced to a nip 315 defined between the casting cylinder 310 and first impression roller 320, such that the material on the casting cylinder is transferred to the device substrate 100a. Having been formed into the correct surface relief structure, the curable material is cured by exposing it to appropriate curing energy such as radiation R from a source 350. This preferably takes place while the curable material is in contact with the surface relief of the casting cylinder although if the material is already sufficiently viscous this could be performed after separation. In the example shown, the material is irradiated through the device substrate 100a, although the source 350 could alternatively be positioned above the device substrate 100a, e.g. inside cylinder 310 if the cylinder is formed from a suitable transparent material such as quartz.
The device substrate, now comprising the cured light control layer material, passes through second nip 316 defined by second impression roller 330, and the light control layer, now affixed to the colour shifting element of the device, separates from the casting cylinder such that device 100 is formed. It will be appreciated that an appropriate registering of the applicators 331, 332, and the provision of the device substrate 100a is required in order to provide the desired regions A1, A2 and B of the light control layer. It will also be appreciated that in embodiments where a uniform light control layer is provided (e.g. all colourless or all tinted), only one applicator is required.
The device substrate 100a passes through first nip 415 defined by impression roller 441 and casting cylinder to form the surface relief of the light control layer in the curable material, wherein subsequently the curable material is cured by radiation R in the same manner as described above in relation to
The device substrate, now comprising the cured light control layer material, passes through second nip 416 defined by second impression roller 442, and the light control layer, now affixed to the colour shifting element of the device, separates from the casting cylinder such that device 100 is formed.
In both examples described above, the different curable materials of the light control layer are cured substantially simultaneously. However, it is envisaged that in some embodiments, a first curable material is applied and cured, and then subsequently a second curable material is applied and cured.
The radiation used to effect curing is typically UV radiation but could comprise electron beam, visible, or even infra-red or higher wavelength radiation, depending upon the material, its absorbance and the process used. Examples of suitable curable materials include UV curable acrylic based clear embossing lacquers or those based on other compounds such as nitro-cellulose. A suitable UV curable lacquer is the product UVF-203 from Kingfisher Ink Limited or photopolymer NOA61 available from Norland Products. Inc., New Jersey.
The curable material could be elastomeric and therefore of increased flexibility. An example of a suitable elastomeric curable material is aliphatic urethane acrylate (with suitable cross-linking additive such as polyaziridine).
Examples of materials used to effect the optical characteristic(s) in order to provide tinted regions of the light control layer or optical characteristic layer include conventional dyes or pigments which are applied to the polymer resin used to form the light control layer or included directly in the polymer film during the manufacturing process. Such methods for tinting/colouring polymer materials are well known in the art. One example range of colourants would be the BASF Orasol® product range.
Additionally or alternatively, the curable material may comprise at least one substance which is not visible under illumination within the visible spectrum and emits in the visible spectrum under non-visible illumination, preferably UV or IR. In preferred examples, the materials used to effect such optical characteristic(s) include: luminescent, phosphorescent, fluorescent, magnetic, thermochromic, photochromic, iridescent, metallic, optically variable or pearlescent pigments.
Subsequent to the manufacturing of the device, the polymer carrier substrate may be removed, if not being used as the tinted or opaque coloured layer of the device.
Security devices of the sort described above can be incorporated into or applied to any article for which an authenticity check is desirable. In particular, such devices may be applied to or incorporated into documents of value such as banknotes, passports, driving licences, cheques, identification cards etc.
The security device or article can be arranged either wholly on the surface of the base substrate of the security document, as in the case of a stripe or patch, or can be visible only partly on the surface of the document substrate, e.g. in the form of a windowed security thread. Security threads are now present in many of the world's currencies as well as vouchers, passports, travellers' cheques and other documents. In many cases the thread is provided in a partially embedded or windowed fashion where the thread appears to weave in and out of the paper and is visible in windows in one or both surfaces of the base substrate. One method for producing paper with so-called windowed threads can be found in EP-A-0059056. EP-A-0860298 and WO-A-03095188 describe different approaches for the embedding of wider partially exposed threads into a paper substrate. Wide threads, typically having a width of 2 to 6 mm, are particularly useful as the additional exposed thread surface area allows for better use of optically variable devices, such as that presently disclosed.
The security device or article may be subsequently incorporated into a paper or polymer base substrate so that it is viewable from both sides of the finished security substrate. Methods of incorporating security elements in such a manner are described in EP-A-1141480 and WO-A-03054297. In the method described in EP-A-1141480, one side of the security element is wholly exposed at one surface of the substrate in which it is partially embedded, and partially exposed in windows at the other surface of the substrate.
Base substrates suitable for making security substrates for security documents may be formed from any conventional materials, including paper and polymer. Techniques are known in the art for forming substantially transparent regions in each of these types of substrate. For example, WO-A-8300659 describes a polymer banknote formed from a transparent substrate comprising an opacifying coating on both sides of the substrate. The opacifying coating is omitted in localised regions on both sides of the substrate to form a transparent region. In this case the transparent substrate can be an integral part of the security device or a separate security device can be applied to the transparent substrate of the document. WO-A-0039391 describes a method of making a transparent region in a paper substrate. Other methods for forming transparent regions in paper substrates are described in EP-A-723501, EP-A-724519, WO-A-03054297 and EP-A-1398174.
The security device may also be applied to one side of a paper substrate so that portions are located in an aperture formed in the paper substrate. An example of a method of producing such an aperture can be found in WO-A-03054297. An alternative method of incorporating a security element which is visible in apertures in one side of a paper substrate and wholly exposed on the other side of the paper substrate can be found in WO-A-2000/39391.
Examples of such documents of value and techniques for incorporating a security device will now be described with reference to
The opacifying layers 2103a and 2103b are omitted across an area 2101 which forms a window within which the security device 100 is located. As shown best in the cross-section of
If desired, several different security devices 100 could be arranged along the thread, with different optical effects displayed by each. In one example, a first window could contain a first security device, and a second window could contain a second security device, both devices having light control layer surface reliefs comprising linear microprisms, with the linear microprisms of each device arranged along different (preferably orthogonal) directions, so that the two windows display different effects upon tilting in any one direction. For instance, the central window may be configured to exhibit a colour change effect when the document 100 is tilted about the x axis whilst the devices in the top and bottom windows remain uniform in colour, and vice versa when the document is tilted about the y axis. The light control layers of the security devices may have different arrangements (e.g. optical characteristics) such that different windows appear different colours upon tilting.
In
A further embodiment is shown in
In
In the examples of
Therefore, at a normal angle of viewing Θ1, region A (comprising the colour shifting element and a colourless region of the light control layer) exhibits a red colour and region B exhibits an orange colour. Upon tilting the banknote about an axis parallel with the x axis and viewing at angle Θ2, region A exhibits a blue colour, and region B exhibits a turquoise colour. This colour change is illustrated by the different shading.
In this example, the device 190 comprises a colour shifting element and contiguous absorbing layer as described above in relation to
Therefore, at a normal angle of viewing Θ1, surrounding area 195 appears red, as do stars 192 and 194. Stars 191 and 193 appear orange. Therefore, at Θ1, only two stars are discernible to a viewer, specifically stars 192 and 194 appearing orange against a red background.
However, upon tilting the passport page (and therefore the device) about the x axis, background region 195 exhibits a green colour, stars 191 and 193 exhibit a green-turquoise colour (mixture of blue and yellow light), and stars 192 and 194 appear blue. Therefore, at Θ2, the device exhibits two blue stars 192 and 194 against a green background as the stars 191 and 193 are not easily discernible against the background at this viewing angle. This is a particularly striking visual effect as not only does the device appear to change colour, but the locations of the indicia appear to move upon tilting the device.
The light control layer is provided in the outwardly facing surface of the uppermost outer layer 2100a, typically by embossing by a casting cylinder 310, similar to as seen in
Alternatively, as seen in
The above embodiments have been described with respect to the light control layer comprising a microprismatic structure comprising a plurality of linear microprisms.
Opposing end faces of an individual microprism are substantially parallel, and such a microprism is known as a “one-dimensional” microprism. The microprismatic structure 820 shown in
The optical effect exhibited by the light control layer is therefore anisotropic. If the security device comprising the light control layer is rotated within its plane, the exhibited optical effect due to the combination of colour shifting element and light control layer is seen most readily when the device is tilted with the viewing direction perpendicular to the long axes of the microprisms (i.e. along Y-Y′). If the device is rotated such that the viewing direction is parallel with the long axes of the microprisms (i.e. along X-X′), the effect is seen to a lesser extent.
A variety of different surface relief structures can be used for a security device according to the present invention, as will be highlighted with reference to the following
It is envisaged that a light control layer may comprise a plurality of regions offset from each other can be used, as shown in
The light control layer may comprise a series of multi-faceted microprisms (i.e. having more than two facets), as shown in the surface relief 1120 of
To obtain more isotropy in the optical properties of the light control layer, a “two-dimensional” microprismatic structure may be used comprising microprisms that are not as rotationally dependent as the linear microprisms of
Any of the security devices described above may preferably further comprise a magnetic layer or another functional substance such as a fluorescent, phosphorescent or luminescent material. These can be incorporated into existing layers or added as separate layers.
In all of the embodiments described above, the security level can be increased further by incorporating a magnetic material into the device. This can be achieved in various ways. For example an additional layer may be provided which may be formed of, or comprise, magnetic material. The whole layer could be magnetic or the magnetic material could be confined to certain areas, e.g. arranged in the form of a pattern or code, such as a barcode. The presence of the magnetic layer could be concealed from one or both sides, e.g. by providing one or more masking layer(s).
| Number | Date | Country | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1710499.3 | Jun 2017 | GB | national |
| Filing Document | Filing Date | Country | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|
| PCT/GB2018/051794 | 6/27/2018 | WO | 00 |
