Patent Application
20230166555
The present invention relates to a data carrier according to claim 1, to a security document comprising such a data carrier according to claim 13, and to a method of producing a data carrier according to claim 15.
Data carriers used in security documents such as identity cards or passports generally comprise information on the holder. For example, it is very common to provide the data carrier with the name, nationality, date of birth or an image of the holder. To this end, various ways are known by means of which said information can be added to or generated in the data carrier. Often, this so-called personalization is performed by choosing a material of the data carrier that is sensitive to laser radiation. In this case, the information can simply be written into the material of the data carrier by irradiating laser radiation, whereby laser marks constituting the information are generated. However, this laser-added information is typically not protected against an alteration based on a subsequent, additive laser marking. That is, a forger could simply add information such as a beard on a man's face if needed for imposter. Another example of forgery could be an overwriting of a light laser engraved picture, e.g. from a person with a light skin tone and blond hair, with a darker picture corresponding to another person.
It is an object of the present invention to provide a data carrier that has an increased protection against forgery.
This object is achieved with a data carrier according to claim 1. In particular, a data carrier is provided, which comprises a card body. The card body is configured to interact with impinging electromagnetic radiation such, that a laser marking having a first appearance is previously generated in the card body in the region of impingement in the absence of a protection element. The data carrier further comprises at least one protection element. The at least one protection element is configured to interact with impinging electromagnetic radiation such, that a laser marking having a second appearance is generated in the card body, wherein said second appearance differs from the first appearance.
That is to say, the card body comprises a radiation sensitive material such that a laser marking having a first appearance is generated upon irradiation of the card body with electromagnetic radiation. In this way original information such as a name, nationality, a date, a flag, a national coat of arms, an image or photograph, etc., can be written into the data carrier. If a forger then tries to manipulate this original information by irradiating electromagnetic radiation onto the data carrier, the protection element interacts with said electromagnetic radiation in a way that a laser marking having a different appearance than the appearance of the original laser marking is generated. Because of this different appearance the forgery becomes readily apparent. Consequently, the protection element according to the invention confers an increased protection against forgery.
The card body preferably corresponds to a card body as it is known in the art. Hence, the card body can comprise one or more layers, wherein at least one of which is configured to interact with electromagnetic radiation under the generation of a laser marking. Such a layer is herein referred to as processing layer. Conceivable layers are transparent layers, preferably plastic layers, particularly preferably thermoplastic layers such as polycarbonate (PC), polyvinyl chloride (PVC), amorphous polyester (A-PET), co-polyester (PET-G) polyethylene terephthalate (PET), or biaxially-oriented polyethylene terephthalate (boPET).
An irradiation of electromagnetic radiation will result in a blackening of the irradiated layer at the location of irradiation. The blackening is typically based on a material carbonization mainly in the transparent layers, often reinforced by laser additives when plastic layers are used in the data carrier. This technique is a standard process and widely used in the plastics industry. In the absence of at least one protection element according to the invention said blackening will be of a precise and/or well-defined shape. This precise shape can be understood in the context of the present invention as a laser marking having a first appearance. However, in the presence of the protection element, it is no longer possible for a forger to generate a laser marking that has this precise and/or well-defined shape. Instead, and as will be explained in greater detail further below, a disturbed, blurry or imprecise darkening results, which is herein referred to as a laser marking having a second appearance. The card body can comprise one or more further layers, such as an opaque layer that is arranged below the at least one processing layer mentioned above with respect to an extension direction. The one or more opaque layers can correspond to opaque plastic layers, for example an opaque polycarbonate layer. Any further layers as they are known in the state of the art are of course likewise conceivable.
The at least one protection element is preferably provided on the card body, particularly preferably on top, i.e. on an uppermost surface of the card body. The arrangement of the protection element on the card body, in particular on top of the card body, brings the advantage of a simple application. In fact, it could simply be added on top of a data carrier that has already been provided with the original laser marking.
The at least one protection element can be configured to generate one or more gases upon an interaction with electromagnetic radiation. In this case, if a forger irradiates electromagnetic radiation onto the data carrier, the protection element will interact with the irradiated electromagnetic radiation under the generation of gas. The generated gas can lead to bubbles, bulges, strong blackening, striking color shades, bleeding, blurry or fuzzy laser markings.
The at least one protection element can be configured to diffract and/or scatter and/or deflect impinging electromagnetic radiation. Hence, if a forger irradiates electromagnetic radiation onto the data carrier, the protection element will interact with the irradiated electromagnetic radiation such that it is diffused or partly reflected, for example. As a result, a blurry and imprecise laser marking is achieved.
The at least one protection element can be configured to absorb electromagnetic radiation, preferably electromagnetic radiation being in the ultraviolet region and/or in the infrared region of the electromagnetic spectrum. Upon irradiation of electromagnetic radiation by a forger, such a protection element will at least partly block the irradiated electromagnetic radiation. Consequently, a blurry and imprecise laser marking is achieved. Additionally or alternatively the at least one protection element can be configured to exhibit an adhesive force. However, it is likewise conceivable that the protection element does not exhibit any adhesive force. To this end, it is preferred to provide the protection element as a combination of a composition being configured to absorb electromagnetic radiation as well as a composition being configured to establish an adhesive force that is lower, or not even present, as compared to an adhesive force established in its surroundings. Such a combination leads to the bleeding-effect mentioned earlier. In fact, the bleeding-effect results because of weak adhesion properties established between e.g. two successive layers in combination with strong absorption properties. Because of the strong absorption properties an increased local heating of the material and a resulting material combustion is achieved. This in turn results in gas formation and blackening, which spreads in the regions with weak adhesion or no adhesion (“bleeding”), whereby a subsequent laser marking is made obvious. Examples of conceivable chemical compositions are given further below.
The at least one protection element preferably comprises at least one of a laser reactive pigment, laser reactive additive, and laser reactive colorant. If these components are irradiated with electromagnetic radiation gases are produced that result in the bubbles or bulges mentioned above. These components are commercially available, wherein a conceivable component is the red UV fluorescent ink provided by the company Sicpa with the item code 3Z0U13F, for example.
The data carrier can further comprise at least one personalization item such as an alphanumeric character and/or an image, and wherein the personalization item comprises the at least one protection element and an ink, preferably an inkjet ink.
That is to say, it is conceivable to simply add the protection element, preferably a laser reactive pigment and/or a laser reactive additive and/or a laser reactive colorant and/or a particle being configured to diffract and/or scatter and/or deflect impinging electromagnetic radiation, to an ink such as an inkjet ink that is used in inkjet personalization. Such a personalization is preferably printed on the top of the card body, i.e. on the uppermost surface of the card body. In this case an undetected removal of the protection element, e.g. of the reactive medium, from the card body surface is rendered impossible as the personalization would be damaged and is thus made visible.
The at least one protection element preferably comprises at least one of waxes, silicone-containing materials, UV absorbers such as 2-hydroxyphenyl-s-triazines and their derivatives, IR absorbers, and thermosets, preferably curable thermosets such as a compound comprising UV-curable [meth]-acrylates, epoxides and/or vinylethers.
These components are likewise commercially available. For example, spectraCARD IRB, MSD4800 and MSC3600 could be used as IR absorber. Conceivable UV absorbers are based on the 2-hydroxyphenyl-s-triazine derivative which is known as Tinuvin® 1600 from the company BASF, or are hydroxyphenyl benzotriazole class UV absorbers such as Tinuvin® 360 from the company BASF or are benzoxazinone based UV absorbers such as Cyasorb® UV-3638F from the company Solvay. Particularly preferably a combination between one or more of the waxes and silicone-containing materials on the one hand side and one or more of the UV absorbers, the IR absorbers and the thermosets on the other hand side are used for providing the protection element. That is, it is particularly preferred to provide the protection element as a combination of chemically different materials. In this case local adhesion weaknesses between the layers (artificial bonding weaknesses) can be created by introducing chemically different compositions. Against this background such an adhesion weakness can be provided in the form of a foreign layer being based on one or more waxes or silicon-comprising materials which exhibit an adhesion-inhibiting effect, wherein the binding agents are based on the UV absorbers, the IR absorbers and the thermosets, respectively.
The least one protection element can be provided in the form of a dot grid on the card body, wherein the dots constituting the grid preferably comprise a varnish and the at least one protection element.
That is to say, the protection element can be provided intermittent on the card body and is preferably combined, in particular dispersed in a varnish or an ink layer. This is in contrast to a full-surface application of the protection element on the card body. A dot grid corresponds to individual drops that are arranged next to one another so as to produce a regular or irregular pattern. The varnish is preferably a commercially available varnish known in the state of the art, for example an inkjet varnish for plastic cards.
The data carrier can comprise one or more cover layers that are arranged on the card body, and wherein the at least one protection element is provided in the one or more cover layers and/or on the one or more cover layers.
Hence, instead of providing the protection element in the form of drops it is likewise conceivable to provide the protection element in a layer or layers and/or on a layer or layers, respectively. If these one or more layers are arranged on the card body, in particular on the uppermost surface of the card body, these one or more layers are referred to as cover layer.
The one or more cover layers preferably comprise at least one of a varnish, an ink layer, polycarbonate, polyvinyl chloride, polyester, in particular amorphous polyester and/or co-polyester and/or semi-crystalline polyester. These components are again commercially available components known in the state of the art.
The at least one protection element can provided as an imprint in a surface of the one or more cover layers and/or as one or more particles that are incorporated into the one or more cover layers.
The imprint serves the purpose of diffracting impinging electromagnetic radiation such, that a subsequent laser marking has no defined shape but appears blurry or fuzzy, see above. Likewise, the one or more particles result in a diffraction of impinging electromagnetic radiation in the event of a subsequent laser marking. The one or more particles preferably are nanoparticles, particularly preferably silicon dioxide and/or titanium dioxide.
The at least one protection element can be provided between at least two subsequently arranged cover layers in one or more regions, wherein the adhesive force exerted by the at least one protection element to the at least two subsequently arranged cover layers in said one or more regions is smaller than an adhesive force exhibited between other regions between the at least two subsequently arranged cover layers where no protection element is present. Instead of an adhesive force exerted by the protection element being lower than an adhesive force exerted by its surroundings it is likewise possible that the protection element does not exert any adhesive force at all.
The at least one protection element preferably comprises at least one of waxes, silicone-containing materials, UV absorbers such as 2-hydroxyphenyl-s-triazines and their derivatives, IR absorbers, and thermosets, preferably curable thermosets such as a compound comprising UV-curable [meth]-acrylates, epoxides and/or vinylethers as mentioned above. That is, it is preferred to generate artificial bonding weaknesses between the cover layers.
A surface of the card body facing the one or more cover layers can comprise one or more elevations and recesses. These elevations and recesses can be seen as an anchorage that improves the attachment of the cover layer(s) to the card body. Said elevations and recesses could be produced during a lamination process that is performed upon the generation of the card body. Additionally or alternatively one or more diffractive elements could be provided in one or more of the cover layers.
Said diffractive elements are preferably generated in an uppermost surface of the cover layer facing towards an outside of the data carrier. The provision of diffractive elements likewise render a removal of the protection element for counterfeiting purposes more obvious. The diffractive elements can correspond to diffractive structures as they are known in the art. For example, a diffractive structure could be generated which produces rainbow colors or other visual effects when the data carrier is observed under daylight or upon illumination. Additionally or alternatively one or more visual elements, preferably one or more colour images, particularly preferably one or more inkjet colour images, could be provided in one or more of the cover layers. These one or more visual elements preferably comprise a protection element such as the laser reactive medium or the one or more particles mentioned above.
It should be noted that the data carrier can comprise only one protection element or two or more protection elements. Said two or more protection elements can be of the same type or of different types.
In a further aspect a security document is provided, wherein the security document comprises a data carrier as described above. The security document preferably is an identity card, a passport, a credit card, a bank note or the like. At this point it should be understood that the data carrier per se can correspond to a security document. This is the case if the data carrier is provided in the form of an identity card, for example. However, it is likewise conceivable to introduce or incorporate the data carrier into a security document. In the case of a passport for example the data carrier could correspond to a page of the passport, within which the card body with protection element(s) are arranged.
In a further aspect a method of producing a data carrier, preferably a data carrier as described above is provided. The method comprises the steps of i) providing a card body and ii) providing at least one protection element. The card body is configured to interact with impinging electromagnetic radiation such, that a laser marking having a first appearance is previously generated in the card body in the region of impingement in the absence of a protection element. The at least one protection element is configured to interact with impinging electromagnetic radiation such, that a laser marking having a second appearance is generated in the card body, wherein said second appearance differs from the first appearance.
In use, the originator such as passport authorities or banks preferably generates the laser marking having the first appearance, i.e. the original laser marking, in the card body in a first step. In a subsequent second step, one or more protection elements as described above are added to the card body. As the protection element alters the appearance of any further laser manipulations, a subsequent laser marking by a forger becomes readily apparent.
In particular, the at least one protection element could be added to at least one of a varnish, an ink layer, polycarbonate, polyvinyl chloride, and polyester, in particular amorphous polyester and/or co-polyester and/or semi-crystalline polyester, so as to form a mixture, and wherein said mixture is applied onto the card body. Additionally or alternatively at least one of a varnish, an ink layer, polycarbonate, polyvinyl chloride, and polyester, in particular amorphous polyester and/or co-polyester and/or semi-crystalline polyester are applied onto the card body so as to form one or more cover layers, and wherein the at least one protection element is formed as an imprint in a surface of the one or more cover layers, and/or wherein at least one of a varnish, an ink layer, polycarbonate, polyvinyl chloride, and polyester, in particular amorphous polyester and/or co-polyester and/or semi-crystalline polyester can be applied onto the card body so as to form two or more cover layers, and wherein the at least one protection element is provided between at least two subsequently arranged cover layers in sections.
Preferred embodiments of the invention are described in the following with reference to the drawings, which are for the purpose of illustrating the present preferred embodiments of the invention and not for the purpose of limiting the same. In the drawings,
That is,
The data carrier 1 according to
The data carrier 1 according to
The data carrier 1 depicted in
The data carriers 1 discussed to this end in each case comprise a protection element 3 that is added onto or provided within a cover layer 4a, 4b, wherein the cover layer 4a, 4b is a layer that extends over an entire surface of the card body 2, in particular over the entire top surface 8 of the processing layer 13. However, it is likewise conceivable that said layer 4a, 4b extends only partly over the surface 8 of the card body 2. Moreover, instead of on or within a cover layer 4a, 4b, the protection element 3 could also be provided in a patterned manner, i.e. in a discontinuous manner. For example, the protection element 3 in the form of a laser reactive medium and/or perturbing particles could be mixed with a varnish that is then distributed over the uppermost surface 8 of the card body 2, in particular the top surface 8 of the processing layer 13, see
| Number | Date | Country | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|
| 20169033.6 | Apr 2020 | EP | regional |
| Filing Document | Filing Date | Country | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|
| PCT/EP2021/059337 | 4/9/2021 | WO |
