The present invention relates to improvements of “demetallized” or “pattern metallized” holographic overlaminates well known in the anti-counterfeiting industry.
Traditional applications of demetallized holographic products and pattern metallized holographic products are limited in their effectiveness. Certain documents requiring a tamper-evident functionality and/or an anti-counterfeiting aspect contain information that must be unobstructed and readily viewable (or readable) upon inspection of the document, as is the case with personal identification cards, for example. Traditional demetallized and pattern metallized (hereinafter referred to as discontinuous metallized) holographic overlaminates or labels can obscure certain underlying printed information, thereby compromising the effectiveness of the document.
This problem is compounded if the pattern metallized area is designed to enhance the holographic element via increased metal coverage or density. Inversely, discontinuous metallized holographic products by their very nature reduce reflectivity by decreasing the amount of metal proximate to the holographic interface. The desired effect of increasing the transmission of impinging illumination through the holographic substrate thereby increasing viewability of the underlying document information is achieved at the expense of decreasing the amount of light that diffracts from the holographic substrate. This causes a reduced holographic effect. The usual method of dealing with this dilemma is to balance the transmission through the holographic substrate with the reflection from the diffracting surface so that a compromise between the viewability of the information-bearing and holographic elements is reached. Unfortunately many times, this is an undesirable compromise and would be avoided if there were a holographic overlaminate product that preserves certain areas of the holographic design and also allow relatively higher transmission through regions overlying certain other information-bearing areas of the underlying document.
The present invention avoids the above-described limitations through the use of multiple, coplanar regions of discontinuous metallization of dissimilar and varying transmittance. A range of transmittance values, from zero (full metallization) to nearly 100% (transparent), is used to obtain different effects within the same label or document overlay, the selection of which is determined in accordance with the underlying information-bearing regions. The discontinuous metallization pattern is applied in such a manner so as to provide the desired transparent and opaque regions, and varying degrees thereof, in spatial relation to particular information of interest within the information-bearing layer.
An object of the present invention is, therefore, to provide an improved and novel holographic overlay such that a compromise between the visibility of the hologram and the visibility of the underlying information is not necessitated.
Another object of the present invention is to generate documents with highly visible holographic features that diffract brightly and therefore offer a higher degree of counterfeit protection and ease of authentication.
A further object of the present invention is to provide the improved and novel holographic overlay as aforesaid without obstructing the critical underlying information, whether this information is viewable by a human eye or machine-readable, e.g., a printed bar code.
It is yet another object of the present invention to design, generate and apply the regions of the discontinuous metal layer to register with the underlying information on the document.
It is still another object of the present invention to design the holographic information layout to interact with both the discontinuous metallized layer and the underlying information-bearing layer, thereby enhancing the overall functionality or esthetic quality of the finished document. That is to say, certain document information-bearing areas are not only aligned to certain discontinuous metallized zones, but certain discontinuous metallized zones are aligned to features of the holographic design to provide an even higher degree of effectiveness.
The present invention applies to documents that utilize registered holographic patterns as well as to documents that utilize non-registered holographic patterns, or “wallpaper” patterns, as they are known in the industry.
In accordance with an embodiment of the present invention, the spatial configuration of the underlying document information prescribes the composition of the superjacent discontinuous metallized pattern. It is generally known beforehand which areas of the underlying document are to bear information of relatively higher value or significance. The locations of these high value information bearing areas influence the design of the discontinuous metallized pattern. In these high value information bearing areas of the discontinuous metallized pattern, the present invention uses as little average metal density as possible so as to fully expose the underlying information while still providing security from attempts to tamper with or otherwise modify this information. This can be achieved by any of several techniques. In accordance with an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, the screen density of a multiply connected array of metal dots can be decreased by decreasing dot size at a given frequency or alternatively by decreasing frequency at a given dot size. It is appreciated that this applies to screen motifs as well as multiply connected dot patterns. Alternatively, the area can be completely devoid of metal or contain minimal metal-bearing regions so as to provide the highest degree of transmittance possible. It is in these low metal density areas that the hologram layer will diffract incident illumination least efficiently. In areas of the document that contain little information or information of relatively low value, higher degrees of opacity in the metallized pattern can be used without fear of occluding information of interest. A high average metal density is incorporated in this area in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention, for example in the form of a relatively high gain dot or screen pattern. Alternatively, the high metal density area can be completely devoid of transparent regions in accordance with an aspect of the present invention so as to provide the highest degree of reflectance possible. It is in these high metal density areas that the hologram layer will diffract incident illumination most efficiently.
In accordance with an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, an attractive, highly functional and secure document can be generated by a creative application of varying screens, dot patterns, filigreed design, corporate logos, indicia, etc. Those areas of the document that contain information of importance are kept relatively free of overlying metal, and those areas of the document that do not contain such information can, but are not necessarily required to, exhibit relatively high degrees or even full opacity of the discontinuous metallized layer, thereby maximizing diffraction efficiency.
In accordance with an embodiment of the present invention, the holographic layer can be designed in accordance with both the underlying document layout and the discontinuous metallized layer. This technique allows for a further degree of creativity and design capability enabling the generation of rather complex and visually stunning documents that simultaneously exhibit a high degree of security. This type of design is also particularly effective in creating “zones of security,” where it becomes virtually impossible to alter information underlying certain holographic features that are deliberately located so as to be immediately superjacent to this information. The discontinuous metallized layer design is then composed so as to enhance this security effect. It is appreciated that the discontinuous metallized layer should be manufactured or applied in register to the holographic layer design. This is not the case with repeating or “wallpaper” holographic design; the discontinuous metallized layer need not be manufactured or applied in register to such a design for there is no set registration between them. In both cases, however, it is required that the discontinuous metallized layer-containing substrate itself be manufactured or applied in register to the information-bearing document, regardless of the registration, or lack thereof, of the holographic layer design to the information-bearing document.
In accordance with an embodiment of the present invention, a holographic overlay comprises a plurality of zones of varying transmittance to increase viewability of underlying information-bearing areas of a document and holographic design.
In accordance with an embodiment of the present invention, a method of generating holographic overlay comprises the steps of metallizing a holographic layer comprising a holographic design and demetallizing the metallized holographic layer with a discontinuous metallization pattern to provide the holographic overly comprising multiple zones of dissimilar transmittance.
In accordance with an embodiment of the present invention, a method of generating holographic overlay comprises the steps of applying a metallization-resistant image pattern to a holographic imaged layer comprising a holographic design and selectively metallizing the holographic imaged layer with a discontinuous metallization pattern to provide said holographic overly comprising multiple zones of dissimilar transmittance.
Various other objects, advantages and features of the present invention will become readily apparent from the ensuing detailed description, and the novel features will be particularly pointed out in the appended claims.
The following detailed description, given by way of example, and not intended to limit the present invention solely thereto, will best be understood in conjunction with the accompanying drawings in which:
Turning now to
The following examples are exemplary in nature and are not meant to limit the scope of the invention in any way.
In accordance with an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, a holographic overlaminate patch 107 is applied to a national identification card 101 (see
In accordance with an embodiment of the present invention, the holographic plate is generated using known holographic mastering techniques, and a nickel stamper is grown from its surface. The holographic nickel stamper is then mounted to a cylinder and replicated into a large web of base film material. It is appreciated that a holographic web can be manufactured using other known techniques, such as casting. In accordance with an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, the roll of holographic material 125 is then metallized with aluminum, chrome or other suitable material using standard vacuum metallizing techniques and then mounted on a demetallizing machine with register capabilities, such as a registered demetallizing machine 200 in
Alternatively, instead of demetallizing the metallized holographic web 120, in accordance with an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, the metallizer 500 of
Preferably, the amount or density of demetallization or selective metallization is sufficient to reconstruct the holographic image or design.
The process by which the holographic overlaminate patch 107 is produced using a laminating/printing/die cutting machine 300 in accordance with an exemplary embodiment of the present invention is now described in conjunction with
Turning now to
In accordance with an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, a holographic pressure-sensitive label is provided for use on a new software release or a pharmaceutical package (where text on the printed box must be visible) as an anti-counterfeiting measure. The label can be fixed to the software outer package with a labeling machine, so as to serve as a seal for the box top and simultaneously protect the encrypted regional issue code from modification. The issue code is printed on the individual outer package surfaces prior to affixing the holographic label. The manufacturer (i.e. the client) wants the label to diffract brightly in the region that carries their corporate logo, but wants the underlying encrypted issue code to be viewable by the retailers. The holographic label is designed in accordance with the client's wishes: the holographic layer design is made to coincide with the discontinuous metallized layer design so as to provide both the brightly diffracting logo and the clear area through which the issue code will be seen. A holographic origination is generated as described herein. A stamper is generated in the same way, and is mounted to a cylinder that is then used to impress the holographic microstructure into a liquid resin that has been coated on a polyester web. The resin is continuously cured in situ with a non-ionizing radiation source before it is separated from the nickel stamper. It is appreciated that a holographic web can be manufactured using other known techniques, such as embossing. The holographic web is metallized with aluminum as hereinabove, and is demetallized with the discontinuous metallization pattern specific to this application. The demetallized web is adhesive coated, applied to a release liner, die cut, slit, and wound into finished rolls. The finished rolls are mounted on a Label-Aire labeling machine and applied to the software boxes in register with the issue code and folded across the top seam, sealing the container. The discontinuous metallized layer allows unobstructed viewing of the issue code with simultaneous maximum diffraction of the corporate logo.
It is appreciated that the holographic overlay of the present invention can be applied any document, including but not limited to an identification card, a credit card, a note, an official document, a bill, a label and a package.
While the present invention has been particularly described with respect to the illustrated embodiment, it will be appreciated that various alterations, modifications and adaptations may be made based on the present disclosure, and are intended to be within the scope of the present invention. It is intended that the appended claims be interpreted as including the embodiment discussed above, those various alternatives which have been described and all equivalents thereto.
The application claims priority benefit under Title 35 U.S.C. §119(e) of provisional patent application Nos. 60/683,205 filed May 20, 2005 and 60/684,916 filed May 25, 2005, each of which is incorporated by reference in its entirety.
Number | Date | Country | |
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60683205 | May 2005 | US | |
60684916 | May 2005 | US |