Classifications

• • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
  • B42—BOOKBINDING; ALBUMS; FILES; SPECIAL PRINTED MATTER
  • B42D—BOOKS; BOOK COVERS; LOOSE LEAVES; PRINTED MATTER CHARACTERISED BY IDENTIFICATION OR SECURITY FEATURES; PRINTED MATTER OF SPECIAL FORMAT OR STYLE NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; DEVICES FOR USE THEREWITH AND NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; MOVABLE-STRIP WRITING OR READING APPARATUS
  • B42D25/00—Information-bearing cards or sheet-like structures characterised by identification or security features; Manufacture thereof
  • B42D25/40—Manufacture
  • B42D25/405—Marking
  • B42D25/41—Marking using electromagnetic radiation
• • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
  • B42—BOOKBINDING; ALBUMS; FILES; SPECIAL PRINTED MATTER
  • B42D—BOOKS; BOOK COVERS; LOOSE LEAVES; PRINTED MATTER CHARACTERISED BY IDENTIFICATION OR SECURITY FEATURES; PRINTED MATTER OF SPECIAL FORMAT OR STYLE NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; DEVICES FOR USE THEREWITH AND NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; MOVABLE-STRIP WRITING OR READING APPARATUS
  • B42D25/00—Information-bearing cards or sheet-like structures characterised by identification or security features; Manufacture thereof
  • B42D25/30—Identification or security features, e.g. for preventing forgery
  • B42D25/351—Translucent or partly translucent parts, e.g. windows
• • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
  • B42—BOOKBINDING; ALBUMS; FILES; SPECIAL PRINTED MATTER
  • B42D—BOOKS; BOOK COVERS; LOOSE LEAVES; PRINTED MATTER CHARACTERISED BY IDENTIFICATION OR SECURITY FEATURES; PRINTED MATTER OF SPECIAL FORMAT OR STYLE NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; DEVICES FOR USE THEREWITH AND NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; MOVABLE-STRIP WRITING OR READING APPARATUS
  • B42D25/00—Information-bearing cards or sheet-like structures characterised by identification or security features; Manufacture thereof
  • B42D25/40—Manufacture
  • B42D25/405—Marking
  • B42D25/43—Marking by removal of material
  • B42D25/435—Marking by removal of material using electromagnetic radiation, e.g. laser
• • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
  • B42—BOOKBINDING; ALBUMS; FILES; SPECIAL PRINTED MATTER
  • B42D—BOOKS; BOOK COVERS; LOOSE LEAVES; PRINTED MATTER CHARACTERISED BY IDENTIFICATION OR SECURITY FEATURES; PRINTED MATTER OF SPECIAL FORMAT OR STYLE NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; DEVICES FOR USE THEREWITH AND NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; MOVABLE-STRIP WRITING OR READING APPARATUS
  • B42D25/00—Information-bearing cards or sheet-like structures characterised by identification or security features; Manufacture thereof
  • B42D25/40—Manufacture
  • B42D25/45—Associating two or more layers
  • B42D25/455—Associating two or more layers using heat
• • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
  • B42—BOOKBINDING; ALBUMS; FILES; SPECIAL PRINTED MATTER
  • B42D—BOOKS; BOOK COVERS; LOOSE LEAVES; PRINTED MATTER CHARACTERISED BY IDENTIFICATION OR SECURITY FEATURES; PRINTED MATTER OF SPECIAL FORMAT OR STYLE NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; DEVICES FOR USE THEREWITH AND NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; MOVABLE-STRIP WRITING OR READING APPARATUS
  • B42D25/00—Information-bearing cards or sheet-like structures characterised by identification or security features; Manufacture thereof
  • B42D25/40—Manufacture
  • B42D25/45—Associating two or more layers
  • B42D25/46—Associating two or more layers using pressure

Definitions

• the present invention relates to a document body, in particular for an individualized document, comprising a multilayer laminate with data inscribed therein, wherein a multicolored marking is formed inside the laminate, representing the inscribed data.
• the invention further relates to a method and a device for manufacturing such a document body.
• individualized, and especially personalized, documents such as those in card or book form
• book-like passport documents or individual pages thereof e.g., the so-called "passport holder's page” or paper pages
• identity cards e.g., the so-called "passport holder's page” or paper pages
• personalized chip cards such as bank cards, credit cards, ID cards, membership cards, access cards, etc., or personal (mostly card-shaped) labels
• security documents such as passports or identity cards (e.g., national identity cards or access identification cards)
• passports or identity cards e.g., national identity cards or access identification cards
• security mechanisms to protect against forgery is frequently required.
• Such security mechanisms can be achieved, in particular, through the use of special materials and their targeted arrangement within the document and/or special manufacturing or processing methods (e.g., offset printing).
• the document must usually also be aesthetically pleasing, as government-issued identity documents are often seen as a calling card for the respective country and are intended to reflect not only the individual's identity but also that of the country itself.
• a document of the aforementioned type e.g., identity card
• a document body for it such as a so-called data page of a passport document, which may additionally have, for example, further pages and a cover
• Documents are constructed from layers, especially films (usually made of polycarbonate), between which, particularly in the case of security documents, individual security features (such as holograms or offset printing) can be placed as protective mechanisms.
• films usually made of polycarbonate
• individual security features such as holograms or offset printing
• the individual layers are stacked on top of each other and bond together under pressure and temperature during a lamination process to form a document body, sometimes referred to in technical terms as a "monoblock".
• a security feature on the outside of a document is more easily accessible and therefore generally easier to tamper with than one located inside the document, which is more difficult to access.
• Internal security features are better protected against direct influences – such as liquid chemicals or extraction from the document – and thus contribute to greater document security.
• This basic principle is also usually applied to the personalization or individualization of security documents, in particular to provide a security document with personal data, such as a passport photo or biometric information about the document holder to whom the security document is or will be issued.
• the first phase involves the production of the blank, consecutively numbered document body by a document supplier, followed by a subsequent phase in which the document is personalized in a protected environment, usually under the supervision of government authorities in the case of government security documents.
• Such personalization is often achieved using a grayscale laser, for example, with a wavelength of 1064 nm (the so-called standard wavelength) or a wavelength of 355 nm (UV laser), or another wavelength suitable for the material being processed and the desired resolution.
• a grayscale laser for example, with a wavelength of 1064 nm (the so-called standard wavelength) or a wavelength of 355 nm (UV laser), or another wavelength suitable for the material being processed and the desired resolution.
• one or more layers of the security document are laser-reactive and turn black under the influence of the laser radiation.
• Personal data such as name, date of birth, or image thus become part of the monoblock and are therefore better protected against forgery and environmental influences.
• a data representation created in this way e.g., an image, or text, but is binary in color (e.g., black and white or black and transparent) or only exhibits several shades of gray. However, this is not a color representation of the data, i.e., not a representation with multiple colors,
• a well-known technique for creating color images in security documents involves printing a color image onto a film and inserting this film—as an insert—into the multi-layered security document or the document body before the lamination process. This means that customer-specific personalization is only possible before the document is produced. The process is therefore complex and feasible in only a few projects.
• color refers to any color other than black, white, and shades of gray obtained solely from mixing black and white.
• the color may be a color from a predefined color space, such as one of the well-known RGB (red/green/blue) or CMYK (cyan/yellow/magenta) color spaces.
• multicoloured as used herein, with regard to a multicoloured object, in particular a mark in the document body, is to be understood as having at least two colours or at least one colour (each as defined above) and in addition, white, black or at least one shade of grey.
• the term "energy input,” as used herein, refers to any form of energy being introduced into the document body that produces the aforementioned effect in the initial marking.
• the energy input may, in particular, comprise various components that differ in their nature (e.g., radiation, pressure, temperature, charge), duration of action, depth of penetration in the laminate, intensity, and/or, specifically in the case of radiation, in their wavelength or wavelength spectrum.
• the components may, in particular, comprise various components that differ in their nature (e.g., radiation, pressure, temperature, charge), duration of action, depth of penetration in the laminate, intensity, and/or, specifically in the case of radiation, in their wavelength or wavelength spectrum.
• only one component or a subset of the components causes the aforementioned color change in the initial marking, in particular, potentially a switching of the leuco dyes, while one or more other components of the energy input, depending on the embodiment of the process, additionally cause another change in the document body (e.g., blistering or carbonization, as described below).
• a condition A or B is satisfied by one of the following: A is true (or present) and B is false (or not present), A is false (or not present) and B is true (or present), and both A and B are true (or present).
• the device can have several predetermined configurations or operating modes, so that configuration can be done by selecting one of these configurations or operating modes.
• the proposed method allows for the creation of a document body, particularly for security-relevant documents, in which a colored marking is embedded within it, thus protecting it from direct access. Furthermore, the creation of the initial marking and the generation of the colored marking through energy input can be separated entirely or partially in time, enabling the document to be personalized at a later time and location than the production of the laminate (monoblock) including the embedded initial marking. Moreover, the achievable security standard can be increased because the ability to generate a wide variety of colors (i.e., a large color gamut) with high resolution within the colored marking drastically expands the range of personalization options compared to previous black-and-white or grayscale images.
• the energy input can be achieved, at least partially, by means of a locally selective application of electromagnetic radiation into the initial marking located within the laminate using a sub-surface laser processing method.
• laser radiation directed through the surface of the document body, selectively processes or ablates the dye present in the initial marking.
• the properties of the laser radiation can also be specifically adapted for this purpose. Such adaptation can relate in particular to the radiation intensity, the wavelength used, the irradiation duration, the beam diameter, and/or the irradiation angle.
• This method for material processing and/or material removal within a body using external laser irradiation is often referred to in technical terminology as sub-surface laser engraving (SSLE).
• SSLE sub-surface laser engraving
• the use of laser radiation for creating colored markings allows for a particularly high spatial resolution of the colored marking (target marking), since the laser beam can be applied with a very small cross-section, thus generating very small pixels in the colored marking. Furthermore, it allows for high processing speeds, which is especially relevant for the mass personalization of documents.
• an ultrashort pulse laser can be used, in particular, to effect the locally selective energy input into the initial marking.
• Such lasers typically have pulse durations in the picosecond or femtosecond range.
• the pulse width can also be very small, for example, only 0.3 ⁇ m.
• the ultrashort light input can vaporize the material at specific points, leading to highly precise structures, or, in the case of the leuco dyes mentioned below, causing their local switching at an energy input below the vaporization threshold.
• the temperature load in the immediate vicinity is minimized. This enables the processing of very thin (e.g., thicknesses in the range of one or a few micrometers) or heat-sensitive materials or material layers, and even transparent materials can often absorb such light pulses if the radiation intensity is sufficient.
• the focal length of a laser used to perform the sub-surface laser processing can be adjusted depending on the location of the initial marking or, in the case of layered construction, on the location of a selected sub-layer of the initial marking, such that a focal point corresponding to the focal length lies on or within the initial marking or its selected sub-layer.
• photochromic leuco dyes in particular are used as examples, since particularly fine and closely localized switching effects can be achieved in surfaces or volumes coated with leuco dyes by local irradiation, especially using laser light.
• the method can further include performing a distortion correction with respect to a locally selective first energy input pattern, in particular an irradiation pattern, intended as the target pattern for energy input, before or during the application of the energy, according to a second energy input pattern resulting from the distortion correction.
• the second energy input pattern is derived from the first energy input pattern as a function of correction information, which depends on a detected deviation of the actual shape of the generated pattern.
• Laminates are determined, or have been determined, by a target shape defined for the laminate.
• the correction information can, in particular, identify such deviations.
• the use of the aforementioned distortion correction can be used, in particular, to improve the reproduction quality of the target pattern in the colored marking to be produced and thus for quality assurance.
• the initial marking can be provided or produced, at least in sections, as a raster graphic consisting of pixels or line segments, wherein the raster graphic has at least two different colors, in particular color channels of a specific multidimensional color space.
• a raster graphic for the initial marking enables, in particular, a spatially homogeneous color supply within the initial marking and simplified control of the energy input required to produce the colored marking.
• this also allows the potentially colorless areas of the initial marking to be easily defined with a high degree of spatial homogeneity, which is advantageous with regard to uniform and thus reliable adhesion within the laminate.
• raster graphics suitable for this purpose are explained in the figure description.
• the initial marking can be provided or produced, in particular, as a raster graphic with at least three colors, using pixels as image points.
• Each pixel contains at least a subset of all colors present in the raster graphic from the set of colorants, and optionally, a subpixel not colored by any of the colorants.
• the latter can be advantageous in two respects: Firstly, it can serve as an additional color channel, for example, if this subpixel not colored by the colorants inherently possesses a color, such as white or black, that is not within the color space defined by the colorants of the raster graphic itself. Secondly, such a subpixel can also be advantageous with regard to the improved adhesion between the base substrate supporting the raster graphic and an adjacent substrate in the laminate, as mentioned previously.
• At least one of the groups can each contain line segments of all colors occurring in the raster graphic from the set of colorants and optionally a line not colored by any of the colorants.
• the initial marking can also be designed to contain at least one polymer material, in particular polycarbonate (e.g., opaque, transparent, or a partial combination of both), which is carbonizable by radiation.
• the locally selective energy input into the initial marking involves locally selective irradiation, in particular laser irradiation, of the initial marking, by means of which locally selective carbonization of the polymer material in the initial marking is effected.
• This can be used, in particular, to generate maximally dark, especially black, image components of the multicolored marking.
• a color space defined for the colored marking can be extended by an additional color channel, in particular a CMY color space to a CMY(K) color space, where "K” stands for "key” (black component).
• Carbonization can be used, in particular, to generate character or text components in the colored marking.
• carbonization refers in particular to at least partial local carbonization, i.e. an increase in the local content of elemental carbon in the material at the site of irradiation.
• Irradiation can be carried out, in particular, with variable irradiation intensity and/or duration, so that the degree of carbonization at the respective point of impact of the irradiation in the polymer material can be adjusted with respect to the degree of carbonization caused by the
• the proportions of the colored marker formed by irradiation can be varied in terms of tonal value, particularly grayscale value. This allows for different tonal values to be set even in the areas of the colored marker that are to be discolored by carbonization, thus further increasing the variety of possible marker variations and the achievable image quality.
• the colorants can be applied, at least partially, to the base substrate by printing on it and/or applying one or more additional substrates, each containing a corresponding colorant, in particular a film or plate containing or carrying the colorants, as a respective partial layer of the initial marking.
• the base substrate can contain a polymer material as a component or be entirely composed of it.
• at least one of the colorants can be a polymerizing colorant selected to form a polymer bond with the base substrate during lamination. This allows for particularly strong and durable adhesion of the colorants to the base substrate. Furthermore, good adhesion between the colorants and any additional substrate in contact with them can be optimized if the colorants are positioned between the base substrate and the additional substrate during lamination, thus forming a polymer bond on both sides.
• the polymer material can be opaque or transparent (e.g., polycarbonate, PC).
• the initial marking can be defined in such a way that the area or space occupied by the colorants after the initial marking has been created constitutes at least 51%, in particular at least 71%, and especially at least 91% of the area or space enclosed by the surface of the initial marking. These value ranges allow for a particularly favorable design with excellent adhesion.
• the initial marking can be produced, at least partially, as a prefabricated stack of layers consisting of several differently colored, each (especially in the visible range of the electromagnetic spectrum) opaque or semi-transparent layers, of which one or more layers contain one or more colored
• the layers may contain leuco dye in certain areas. It is also possible that one of these layers is not colored (i.e., white, black, or gray).
• the layers of the stack can be pre-bonded before lamination (e.g., by stapling, clamping, pre-lamination, or gluing) or simply stacked loosely on top of each other. By selectively switching the leuco dye and/or selectively removing one or more layers to expose an underlying layer of a different color, the multicolored marking can be achieved.
• the prefabricated layer stack can be selected with regard to its format and positioned relative to the base substrate before joint lamination such that a projection of the layer stack onto a virtual plane orthogonal to its stacking direction lies completely within a projection of the base substrate onto the same virtual plane. It can therefore be smaller than the base substrate with respect to its lateral extent.
• the prefabricated layer stack can be at least partially integrated into a cavity formed in the base substrate.
• the cavity can be formed, in particular, in an opaque base substrate or a section thereof, so that together with the layer stack, an opaque layer with an embedded color marking area is created. This integration saves space. Especially if the cavity does not penetrate the base substrate but has a bottom within it, the layer stack embedded in the cavity can be covered and thus protected on only one side with another substrate, allowing the document body to be made thinner overall.
• the cavity can be created, for example, using specially shaped laminating tools, particularly laminating sheets with a raised structure or an outwardly convex or bulged shape in the cavity area, during the production or lamination of the base substrate layers.
• This step can be performed, in particular, in a process preceding the actual lamination of the layer stack with the base substrate.
• the cavity can be completely filled and enclosed, particularly with a substrate that is heated during the lamination process and thus partially melted or becomes flowable. This allows the embedding to be made even stronger or more secure.
• a metal layer to a surface of the laminate—which, as the surface of a laminate layer, can be located partially or completely within the laminate structure—before generating the multicolored marking, and to create one or more selectively localized openings in the metal layer. Through at least one of these openings, selective energy can then be introduced into the laminate at the location of the initial marking. This process generates the multicolored marking representing the data from the initial marking by selectively processing or removing dye, and in particular, optionally, by switching a leuco dye.
• the metal layer selectively covers the underlying dye.
• the desired color can be selectively achieved by choosing the locations of the openings. This is done by selectively exposing the desired colors at each location while concealing unwanted colors.
• pixels with different colored subpixels so that at a given location of a pixel, for example, only one subpixel is selectively exposed (if only the color of the associated color channel is desired), or two or more subpixels are exposed, possibly only partially, to represent a mixed color depending on the respective exposed proportions.
• a line graphic can also be used as the initial marker, in which different colored lines are arranged next to each other, especially parallel to each other.
• Different colored pixels can then be represented by having a pixel extend section by section over several, in particular three, of the adjacent lines and locally-selectively at the location of this respective pixel, according to the desired color, one or more of the sections of the lines belonging to the pixel are exposed, while sections with unwanted colors remain covered or are only partially exposed to achieve a desired mixed color.
• the document body is designed in such a way that it has, at one or more points, a window area (or "clear window") enclosed by an opaque area, which is at least partially covered by the metal layer or at least partially contains the metal layer.
• a window area or "clear window” enclosed by an opaque area, which is at least partially covered by the metal layer or at least partially contains the metal layer.
• this layer can be used, as previously explained, to selectively expose colorants in the initial marking to create the colored marking, thus making them visible in transmitted light, and/or to selectively process or remove dyes located in the initial marking through the openings, in particular to selectively switch any leuco dyes that may be present.
• At least one of the additional substrates in the laminate contains a polymer material, particularly a transparent or semi-transparent one, such as polycarbonate, in which local bubble formation can be induced by a locally selective energy input.
• This energy input is effected, particularly in photonic form, such that it causes local bubble formation in the polymer material of the at least one additional substrate.
• one of the additional substrates can be designed as an optically variable layer whose color and/or transparency (especially in the visible range of the electromagnetic spectrum) can be locally modified, particularly bleached, by spatially selective energy input at the point of impact.
• This locally selective energy input is achieved by causing a local change in the color and/or transparency of the optically variable layer at the respective point of impact, thereby forming a locally selective mask of the initial marking, particularly opaque or semi-transparent, which contributes at least partially to defining the multicolored marking.
• the energy input can again be achieved in photonic and/or thermal form, particularly by means of laser radiation.
• one of the additional substrates which can coincide with the optically variable layer, can be formed as a metal layer that at least partially covers the initial marking.
• the metal layer can be, for example, a film or formed by deposition, e.g., by chemical vapor deposition (CVD).
• CVD chemical vapor deposition
• Another possible manufacturing method is based on hot stamping. This process is similar to that used for processing a hologram. A very thin layer of metal applied to a carrier material is transferred, using a preheated stamping tool and under high pressure, to the aforementioned additional substrate, which serves as a document layer and can consist, in particular, at least partially of transparent polycarbonate.
• a second aspect of the present solution concerns a document body, particularly for a security-relevant document.
• the document body comprises a multi-layered laminate with data inscribed therein.
• a multi-colored marking, representing the inscribed data, is formed within the laminate.
• the document body is obtainable by carrying out the method according to the first aspect, particularly according to one or more of its embodiments described herein.
• the marking device is configured to provide or produce the initial marking on the base substrate using the colorants, each of which is or is designed as a leuco-dye, wherein the respective leuco-dye can be switched between a colored and a differently colored or an opaque and an at least partially transparent state, or vice versa, by an energy input at the point of its action on the leuco-dye.
• Fig. 1 illustrates a process within the framework of an exemplary procedure for producing a document body having a multi-layer laminate under Generation of a data-representing multicolored marker inside the laminate.
• FIG. 1 Four different variants (a) - (d) of an initial marking 1 produced by the process in or on an extensively developed substrate, such as a film-like plastic substrate (e.g., made of polycarbonate, PC).
• the initial marking 1 is implemented as a raster graphic 9 and has several colored sub-areas 3 – hereinafter also referred to simply as "dots" – C, M, Y, such that the colors of at least two of the sub-areas (dots) 3 differ from each other.
• each of the raster graphics contains, according to the CMY color space, a cyan dot C, a magenta dot M, and a yellow dot Y.
• the various dots C, M, Y and, if applicable, W are combined to form a periodically repeating pattern 2 consisting of three dots C, M, Y, or, if W is present, four dots C, M, Y, W.
• the pattern 2 can take on different shapes (envelopes) and can be rectangular (especially square, see variants (a) and (c)), diamond-shaped (see variant (b)) or triangular (see variant (d)).
• the colored dots in this example dots C, M and Y, can be applied to the base substrate, in particular by means of a suitable printing process.
• the initial marker 1 can also be composed entirely or partially of other, i.e., non-circular, image elements.
• image elements include, in particular, polygonal, elliptical, or any other shaped dots or line segments.
• Fig. 2(a) shows an example of a raster graphic consisting of several (circular) dots, each forming a subpixel.
• Fig. 1(a) constructed pixel 4, which can in particular correspond to the associated pattern 2.
• Pixel 4 can be considered
• a pixel in a raster graphic can be understood as a subpixel, where the individual dots C, M, Y, and W of pixel 4 each form a subpixel of the corresponding color.
• the color of pixel 4 can be represented from a multitude of different colors in the CMY(W) color space.
• the respective raster graphic can be generated in particular by printing circular or square color areas (dots) 3 in the colors cyan (C), magenta (M) and yellow (Y), e.g. with a dot diameter d ⁇ 150 micrometers ( ⁇ m), onto a transparent or opaque, in particular white, substrate.
• Variant (d) uses almost exclusively cyan, magenta, and yellow. Therefore, to avoid adhesion problems during the subsequent lamination of the base substrate with a further substrate covering the dots 3 on the base substrate, it is advantageous to use a separate polymerizing color that bonds with the further substrate, which can be made of polycarbonate, during lamination. In the other variants, this can be achieved effectively using the white area W alone, although polymerizing colors for the colored dots C, M, and Y can optionally be used as well.
• the different colored dots 3, grouped into pixels 4 provide a variable basic arrangement of pixels 4, each of which can, for example, have a pixel diameter D ⁇ 363 ⁇ m.
• the arrangement of the different colored dots 3 in the raster graphic is variably selectable - e.g. CMY / YMC / MCY / etc.
• CMY / YMC / MCY / etc. By including the variant-dependent white component W in the possible arrangement variety in the raster, a large number of raster graphics can be realized as the respective starting mark 1.
• Fig. 2(b) As a further embodiment for designing the raster graphic, a different form of pixel 4 is shown, which instead of circular sub-areas 3 has adjacently arranged line segments. Otherwise, the above applies. Fig. 2A Said accordingly.
• Fig. 2(c) The entire raster graphic, shown here in the CMY color space, is constructed from parallel, differently colored parallel line segments, with pixel 4 of the raster graphic marked by its dashed perimeter for illustration purposes.
• Fig. 2(d) corresponds Fig. 2(c) by adding another color (white, W) to the color space, resulting in a CMYW color space in the given example.
• FIG. 3 This shows an example where two different raster graphics are placed side by side for comparison.
• the raster graphic from Fig. 3(a) or Fig. 4(a) shows according to a modification of variant (a) Fig. 1 Regarding the color sequence, a YM(W)C arrangement (color sequence clockwise starting with dot Y in the upper left) is used, thus including a white component W in addition to the primary colors CMY.
• a YM(W)C arrangement color sequence clockwise starting with dot Y in the upper left
• variant (d) shows Fig. 1 a CMY arrangement with alternating color sequence along the pixels of a row and therefore no white component W in addition to the basic colors CMY.
• the distances between the dots 3 are in the triangular arrangement made up of Fig. 3(b) or Fig. 4(b) constant (x) (similarly also in the parallelogram arrangement from variant (b) of the Fig. 1 ), whereas the distances in the square arrangement are made up of Fig. 3(a) or Fig. 4(a) (similarly also in the square arrangement from variant (c) of the Fig. 1 ) vary (y > x). Therefore, exchanging the colors in the square grids has a greater influence on the initial color tone. This is significant because, when the arrangements are changed, even the viewing angle of the initial marker 1 leads to a correspondingly different perception.
• the theoretically most homogeneous variant among those from Fig. 1 is variant (d) from Fig. 1 followed by variant (b) from Fig. 1 .
• a 2D representation 7 (a/b coordinates without brightness component L) of a color space and of variant-specific usable color space sections thereof.
• Variant (d) offers the largest usable color space section due to the increased color content and the associated color value boundaries a (green-red) and b (blue-yellow).
• These color boundaries a, b and the brightness component L (not in Fig. 5
• the parameters shown (in the diagram) together define the usable color space segment.
• the size of this color space segment is also referred to as the "gamut.” However, the higher the color coverage, the lower the peel strength typically is.
• the laminate is created by laminating the base substrate as the first laminate layer with at least one further, planar substrate as each subsequent laminate layer. This is done in such a way that the initial marking is located at least partially within the interior of the produced laminate.
• a raster graphic 9 (colored components, color matrix) is applied or incorporated directly onto or into a core substrate 10 of the document body to be formed to generate the initial marking 1.
• the core substrate 10 can be, in particular, completely or partially opaque, and may also include one or more transparent or semi-transparent windows (not shown). It can, in particular, be designed as a film. For example, it can be the core layer of a document body that is designed as the data page of an identity document. If a white component W is provided in the initial marking 1, this can thus be represented by the core substrate 10 itself, which is not covered by the colored components of the raster graphic 9 at the corresponding white component dots.
• the core substrate 10 may, in particular, have the same or greater thickness than the overlay substrates 11.
• the overlay substrates 11 are generally fully or partially transparent to allow the initial marking to be seen from outside the laminate, although the various possibilities for making the marking produced by the process visible inside the laminate 8, as explained below, may be used.
• the core substrate 10, marked with raster graphic 9, is or is in Fig. 6
• the laminate 8 is supplemented on both sides by two stacked overlay substrates 11.
• the lamination can be conveniently carried out by stacking the Substrates 9, 10 and 11, as in Fig. 6 depicted and subsequent lamination under pressure and/or temperature influence.
• a raster graphic 9 (colored components, color matrix) is not, or at least not completely, applied directly to the core substrate 10 of the document body to be formed. Instead, the raster graphic 9 (colored components) is applied to or embedded in one of the overlay substrates 11. Otherwise, it corresponds to Fig. 7 to which already Fig. 6 explained the structure.
• the base substrate 10 or the overlay substrate 11 such that it contains a polymer material as a component or is entirely composed of it, and that at least one of the colorants used in the production of the initial marking 1 is a polymerizing color that is selected in such a way that it forms a polymeric bond with the respective substrate 10 or 11 during lamination.
• a desired multicolored marking 15 (hereinafter also referred to as the "target marking") can be produced by spatially selective energy input into the initial marking 1.
• This energy input can be achieved, in particular, by means of a laser through laser radiation acting on the initial marking 1.
• Various process variants for producing the target marking from the initial marking 1 are described below as examples. These variants can be carried out either individually or in any combination (provided they are free of contradictions). For example, different sections of the initial marking 1 can be selectively and simultaneously or sequentially processed by different process variants to produce the target marking. Some of these combination possibilities are described in more detail in Section 3.7, although it should be understood that the possibility of combining process variants is not limited to these specific combinations.
• an ultrashort pulse (USP) laser can be used, in particular, to effect the locally selective energy input into the initial marking 1.
• the aim is to ensure that the radiation emitted by the laser, or a radiation pattern generated by locally varying the laser radiation, corresponds to the structures of the initial marking, especially to the arrangement of dots within it, in such a way that targeted dot-by-dot irradiation can be achieved.
• USP lasers typically have pulse durations in the picosecond or femtosecond range. The pulse width can thus be, for example, only 0.3 ⁇ m.
• a locally selective first energy input pattern intended as the target pattern for energy input, is modified before or during the energy input process so that the irradiation is based on a second energy input pattern resulting from the distortion correction.
• the second energy input pattern is derived from the first energy input pattern based on correction information determined by a deviation of the actual shape of the produced laminate from a target shape defined for the laminate, which is detected automatically, particularly by sensors.
• a compensation method of this type is described in the DE 10 2022 209 198.1 described by the applicant here.
• One or more of the colors can be caused, at least in part, by colorants that are or become leuco-dyes, which are formed by the energy input at the point of its action on the leuco-dye between a colored and is switchable to a differently colored state or to an opaque and at least partially transparent state, or vice versa.
• the energy input into the laminate 8 can thus be effected, in particular, by acting in a locally selective manner at the location of the initial marking 1, whereby the multicolored marking representing the data (target marking) is generated, at least partially, from the initial marking 1 by means of the locally selective switching of the leuco dye caused by the energy input into the initial marking 1. It is particularly possible that the creation of the target marking occurs solely through such a switching of the leuco dye in the initial marking 1, or in combination with one or more of the possibilities described below (from paragraph 3.2 onwards).
• Fig. 8 shows, by way of example, the respective chemical structural formulas 12 or 13 for two different states of the photochromic dye (leuco dye) oxazine, wherein the two forms 12 and 13 can be reversibly converted into each other by UV irradiation or heating.
• the depicted spiro form 12 of an oxazine is a colorless leuco dye.
• the conjugated system of oxazine and another aromatic part of the molecule is separated by an sp3 -hybridized "spiro" carbon.
• spiro sp3 -hybridized "spiro" carbon.
• the bond between the spiro carbon and the oxazine breaks, the ring opens, the spiro carbon achieves sp2 hybridization and becomes planar, the aromatic group rotates, aligns its ⁇ -orbitals with the rest of the molecule, and the structure shown in Figure 12 is formed.
• the conjugated system shown has the ability to absorb photons of visible light and therefore appears colored (colored form 13 of oxazine).
• the UV source is removed, the molecules gradually relax to their ground state, the carbon-oxygen bond reforms, the spiro carbon is re-hybridized to sp3 , and the molecule returns to its colorless state (see [1]).
• This particular class of photochromes is thermodynamically unstable in one form and reverts to its stable form in the dark unless cooled to low temperatures. Their lifespan can also be affected by exposure to UV light. Like most organic dyes, they are susceptible to degradation. for degradation by oxygen and free radicals. Incorporating the dyes into a polymer matrix, adding a stabilizer, or providing a barrier to oxygen and chemicals by other means extends their lifetime (see [1]).
• amine compounds nitrogen compounds
• nitrogen compounds that have the ability to change color by altering their state. However, this only occurs through external excitation, meaning that mechanical and/or thermal energy is required to trigger the color change.
• leuco dyes can be subdivided according to the type of external excitation as follows: • Halochrom ⁇ change in electric charge ⁇ Q e • Photochrom ⁇ Light irradiance - illuminance E • Piezochrom ⁇ Energy input through pressure change ⁇ p • Thermochrom ⁇ Temperature change ⁇ T
• Photochromic leuco dyes are particularly well-suited for the present solution. They allow a color change to be achieved through photonic energy input – for example, as already mentioned, using a laser.
• Fig. 9 Figure 14 illustrates an example of such a laser-induced color change ("switching") starting from an initial marking 1 designed as a raster graphic 9.
• a laser 16 can be used to process the colored areas of the raster graphic 9 in order to switch individual colored dots 3 (e.g. C, M or Y), i.e. selectively a true subset of the dots 3 coated with leuco dye ( Fig. 9(a) ) (Of course, in a limiting case, switching all dots is conceivable, but in real-world applications this is usually not practical).
• the selective switching of dots 3 thus takes place, at least primarily, inside the laminate 8, where in ( Fig.
• two different raster graphics 9 are shown side by side but at different depths within the laminate, each of which can be considered individually or cumulatively as the initial marker(s) 1.
• the same laser 16 can be used to process both raster graphics 9, but its focal length is advantageously adjusted to match the respective distance of the raster graphic 9 so that the focus of the laser beam is on the respective raster graphic 9.
• the leuco dye is applied to the selectively selected dots 3 (for marking in Fig. 9 (shown with a thick border) photonically excited from the outside to induce a molecular change in the dye, as described above, and thus a modified raster graphic corresponding to the target label 15 ( Fig. 9(c) ) to bring about.
• Fig. 8(a) If the energy input is large enough, the oxazine bond breaks, whereupon the molecular structure changes as in Fig. 8(b) The representation changes, and with it the absorption behavior also changes. In the leuco state 12 (colorless), the entire spectrum of spectral colors is absorbed.
• a laser 16 is used to process the colored areas of the raster graphic 9 of the starting mark 1 ( Fig. 10(a) ), in order to disintegrate individual colored dots 3 (e.g., C, M, or Y), i.e., selectively a true subset of the dots (in the limiting case, the disintegration of all dots 3 is also conceivable).
• individual colored dots 3 e.g., C, M, or Y
• Such selective disintegration 18 of dots 3 thus takes place, at least mainly, in the interior of the laminate 8.
• disintegration and “disintegrate”, as used herein, refer to a radiation-induced color-relevant transformation or removal of the dyes from affected color areas, which may in particular involve color abrasion or destruction of the dyes.
• the laminate 8 can, in particular, consist entirely or partially of transparent polycarbonate as a material to create the transparency.
• the laser radiation 17 can be used to For the purpose of disintegration, energy is selectively introduced to locally generate very high temperature peaks in the initial marking 1, thereby causing a locally limited dissolution or conversion of the dyes in the irradiated dots 3 of the initial marking 1.
• Such laser irradiation into the interior of a substrate here, a laminate
• SSLE sub-surface laser processing method
• the paint preferably has a defined layer thickness to simplify laser control and, in particular, to enable a constant irradiation time for each area to be treated (given a specific radiation energy).
• Disintegration, especially the complete or partial removal of the paint can be achieved using a microshort pulse (USP) laser.
• the ultrashort, intense light pulse can be used to vaporize the targeted material at specific points, which can be used to create high-precision structures.
• the high locality and short duration of the energy input minimize the temperature load in the immediate vicinity. This makes it possible, in particular, to process micrometer-thin or heat-sensitive materials, and even transparent materials absorb the high-intensity light pulses.
• the substrate i.e., the laminate layer, on or in which the color was applied to create the initial marking 1 (base substrate)
• the substrate becomes visible.
• the core substrate 10 which lies beneath the color layer of the raster graphic 9 and serves as the base substrate, becomes visible; this substrate may be opaque. This leads to visual changes at the respective location, so that the resulting target marking 15 is modified accordingly compared to the initial marking 1.
• the selective removal of the colors allows, in particular, the appropriate coloring of the immediately underlying substrate (10 in Fig. 6 or 11 in Fig. 7 ) also the representation of very bright color tones and thus expands the possible color spectrum.
• the colored areas (dots 3) of the initial marking 1 can be formed, in particular, on/in a transparent base substrate or a white/opaque base substrate and accordingly ablated locally and selectively by the laser radiation 17.
• the energy input can be focused on the colored layers in order to Disintegration of material is essentially limited to the color layers of the initial marking 1.
• the 19th part of the initial marking 1 is exemplified by the hiding of these parts.
• a chemical reaction can be triggered by the local energy input, which causes small bubbles or nodes 20 or similar features to form at the point of energy input, thereby changing the local refractive index of the material at that location (see Figure 1).
• Fig. 11 a chemical reaction can be triggered by the local energy input, which causes small bubbles or nodes 20 or similar features to form at the point of energy input, thereby changing the local refractive index of the material at that location (see Figure 1).
• Fig. 11 the initial marker 1 can be locally "hidden" for the viewer, i.e., its visibility can be selectively reduced or even eliminated.
• the section of the output marker 1 located below the point of energy input can be masked by bubble formation in such a way that only a white, or more specifically, a milky-looking dot is visible to the observer in place of the output marker 1.
• the working or focal plane of the laser is expediently placed at a location above the output marker 1, i.e., at a location between the laminate surface and the output marker 1.
• the previously presented possibilities for processing the initial marking 1 can be implemented in such a way that the processing (especially irradiation) of individual dots 3 is only partial, i.e., area-proportional per dot 3, at least for a subset of the dots 3.
• the initial marking 1, especially raster graphic 9 e.g., CMYW base matrix
• CMYW base matrix can be designed unchanged as described above (see especially Section 1 above).
• the locally selective energy input is implemented, for example, at least with regard to one or more dots 3, and in particular section by section for one or more sections of the output marking 1, each containing a plurality of dots 3 or pixels 4, such that only partial areas of a single dot 3 are irradiated by the laser radiation 17 and thereby, in particular, "switched”, “ablated”, or “blinded” (see sections 3.1 to 3.3 above). This is in Fig.
• Fig. 12 If you examine dot 3 under magnification, you can see a distinction between white (W) and yellow (Y). However, the human eye perceives dot 3 as a lighter shade.
• This method makes it possible, in particular, to represent different tint levels (hues) 23. Therefore, for example, in the CMY(W) color space, the color channels C, M, and Y can each be viewed as a tint level image (in the conventional black-and-white color space, this would be a grayscale image), such as an 8-bit grayscale image (e.g., from white to yellow).
• tint level 23 e.g. defined by a tone value from the value interval [0,...,255] spanned by 8 bits
• a method can be used that is particularly suitable for CMY(K) images (with or without a K component).
• CMY(K) images with or without a K component.
• Fig. 13 An example illustration shows that such an image consists of a dot matrix where the tonal levels are represented. or tonal values are determined via the spot size of the color points (upper part of the image in Fig. 13 , microscopic view).
• the unarmed human eye does not perceive the spots themselves at these typically small spot sizes, but only a homogeneous color tone overall (lower part of the image in Fig. 13 , macroscopic view) true.
• the first variant for color grading which builds upon this, is in Fig. 14 illustrated.
• the initial mark 1 contains a separate primary-colored dot matrix for each primary color (in the example CMYK color space, therefore, for each color C, M, Y, and K).
• These dot matrix patterns are additively combined to form the initial mark 1, whereby, however, in order to achieve a largely homogeneous color thickness, the individual dots (unlike in Fig. 14
• An alternative is shown where points may partially overlap, and in particular, where points may be arranged in groups of pixels 4 that do not overlap.
• Points C and MY can be understood as dots 3 of the initial marking 1, which in this example also contains points of color K.
• the desired color tones for C, M and Y can now be obtained from the initial marking 1 by a locally selective energy input using the laser radiation 17, whereby one or usually several of the dots 3 are in particular "switched”, “ablated” or “blinded” (see sections 3.1 to 3.3 above).
• the points of color K can be generated by locally selective carbonization of a material within the laminate 8 using laser radiation 17, particularly a polymer material.
• the carbonization can occur, in particular, on or within the layer of the laminate that carries the initial marking 1.
• the irradiation can be carried out with variable irradiation intensity and/or duration such that the degree of carbonization at the respective point of irradiation within the polymer material is variable with respect to the proportions of the initial marking 1 (and the derived target marking 15) formed by the irradiation, thus defining the tonal value for color K.
• a method can be used that is particularly suitable for RGB images.
• the image, or target marker 15 is constructed from individual tint level images 25 for each primary color (red (R), green (G), and blue (B)), where each primary color Starting from a classic assigned grayscale image 24, the color tone "black (S)" is replaced by the respective primary color (R, G, or B).
• RGB color space
• the different tint levels 23 can be defined by the variable area proportion of the sub-areas 22 to the total area of the respective dot 3, determined by the selectable irradiation.
• the upper part of the Fig. 15 The first part of the figure illustrates the principle of the second variant using a simple example 8 ⁇ 8 dot matrix, while the lower part of the figure shows a concrete example (with much higher resolution).
• a side-by-side arrangement of the color areas (e.g. Dots 3) of the different colors is useful, so that an overlap of the color areas is not necessary or can even be deliberately avoided, for example to ensure a largely homogeneous color layer thickness.
• the three primary colors C, M, and Y of the CMY color space are printed in the image area, particularly across the entire surface, in one of several possible configurations onto a core substrate 10.
• special printing inks that exhibit high cohesive or adhesive forces to the adjacent layers (core substrate 10, overlay substrate 11, or adjacent color layers), so that they meet the relevant application-specific requirements, especially standards, for peel strength.
• Such special printing inks can be designed, in particular, to... that they contain an adhesive as an additive, in addition to one or more dyes and possibly other components (e.g. a binder).
• the colors are, at least largely, opaque and therefore overlap each other in their overlapping areas. If the top/last color layer is magenta (M), for example, a magenta area, e.g., a rectangle, will be visible (see figure). Fig. 16 ). Due to a predefined, small thickness z of the color layers, it is possible to integrate the colored image area into the document body (laminate 8) without embedding/cavity in one or more adjacent laminate layers.
• M magenta
• a magenta area e.g., a rectangle
• a laser 16 can again be used for locally selective disintegration of the colors.
• the processing depth of the color disintegration is adjusted via the irradiation intensity, the irradiation wavelength(s) and/or the irradiation duration so that the desired color (i.e., the corresponding color layer) is exposed at the respective processed area.
• Fig. 17 This is illustrated in more detail below.
• local irradiation is applied to achieve a processing depth y1, thus exposing the cyan layer point by point. The same applies to yellow pixels at a processing depth y2.
• CMYW color space is available for generating a colored target marker 15 (viewed from above).
• each color layer (e.g., color film) of the layer stack 26 can have a thickness of ⁇ 100 ⁇ m.
• a locally selective energy input serves to disintegrate color at the respective location of the initial marking 1 in order to penetrate down to the desired color layer of the layer stack and expose this color layer.
• a locally selective energy input serves to disintegrate color at the respective location of the initial marking 1 in order to penetrate down to the desired color layer of the layer stack and expose this color layer.
• Fig. 20 illustrated.
• a white opaque layer may be provided, particularly as the bottom or top layer, which is part of the layer stack 26 itself or in addition to it, to extend by the white component.
• another color layer 27 can be applied above (as in the Figures 19 and 20 (shown) or provided below the layer stack 26. It can, for example, serve as a fourth colored layer, e.g., of the color white (W), thus extending the available color space (e.g., CMY) accordingly (towards CMYW).
• CMY color white
• a black layer could be provided instead or additionally to supplement the available color space accordingly (towards CMY(W)K).
• the additional color layer 27 can, however, be or may be formed as an optically variable layer, the color and/or degree of transparency of which can be locally changed by the spatially selective energy input at the point of impact of the energy input on the color layer 27.
• a locally selective masking of the (other) initial marking 1 can be formed, which can contribute proportionally to the definition of the target marking 15.
• the masking can, in particular, have opaque, semi-transparent and/or transparent sections.
• the layer stack 26 can extend only partially across the image area instead of covering the entire surface, as exemplified in Fig. 21 This is illustrated.
• the at least partially opaque core substrate 10 is provided with a cavity into which the layer stack 26, in particular as a pre-laminated film package, is inserted and welded. The result is a core substrate that is partially colored in the image area.
• the core substrate 10 itself can be, for example, white (W).
• a second core substrate 28 is additionally provided below the (first) core substrate 10. This is particularly advantageous if the cavity in the core substrate 10 extends through its entire thickness.
• the layer stack 26 can be locally disintegrated through its entire thickness during the production of the target marking 15 to create an opening through which the viewer can see either the first core substrate (if the layer stack 26 does not extend through the entire thickness of the core substrate 10) or the second core substrate 28 (if the layer stack 26 does extend through the entire thickness of the core substrate 10), and thus the color of the respective core substrate 10 or 28 (here, for example, W), thereby contributing to the expansion of the color space (here by the color W).
• the color removal (disintegration) process is analogous to the full-surface option.
• the order of the colors in this example differs with respect to color W compared to the previous option.
• Fig. 20 Changed (position at the bottom instead of the top). Embedding the layer stack 26 in the image area is regularly more space-saving than the full-surface variant, since, with the same color space, one layer (layer 27) can be saved and the laminate 8 can therefore be made thinner.
• layer 27 similar to what was described above, to cover, in particular mask, the underlying layer stack 26, as in Fig. 22 Illustrated.
• layer 27 it is possible, in addition to the direct laser treatment of the initial marking 1, to use layer 27 as a top layer (e.g., printing ink or film) on the image area and to apply this in a point-by-point and congruent manner (printing ink) over individual dots 3 or pixels 4, or to extend it over a large area (printing ink or film) over the entire surface of the initial marking 1.
• Energy can now be supplied to the top layer 27 in a locally selective manner, particularly by means of laser radiation 17, in order to trigger a chemical reaction locally within the layer 27, which results in a color change, e.g., from transparent to white ("bleaching").
• the layer 27 can be conveniently interpreted as a "bleach layer.”
• the colors located beneath the treated areas are thus locally covered (masked) as a result of the energy input, making them opaque or at least partially transparent.
• layer 27 changes its opaque structure to a transparent one.
• the underlying initial marking 1 thereby becomes partially visible at the point of energy input.
• Variable, and in particular continuously selectable, transparency can also be created in this way. In other words, additional shades or different hues of the underlying colors can be generated by means of "bleaching".
• the selective exposure of superimposed color layers can be used in various ways, especially in connection with leuco dyes (see section 3.1): Firstly, it is possible to use both techniques cumulatively in such a way that one of the two techniques is used only for one or more initial sub-areas of the initial marker 1 or the target marker 15 generated from it, and the other technique is used for one or more second sub-areas different from the initial sub-areas, i.e., spatially selectively side by side.
• sub-areas marked with leuco-dye can be dots 3 of a raster graphic (cf. Fig.
• the color of the base color layer on which the raster graphic is formed does not appear as a dot color in the raster graphic, since it can already be made visible by switching the leuco dyes to "transparent". For example, a yellow base color layer would thus result in a CM-(W) arrangement.
• advantages can be achieved in particular with regard to a simpler design of the initial marker 1 or reduced effort in the development and production of such initial markers.
• the leuco dyes in one or more of the superimposed color layers of the layer stack 26, so that by means of irradiation not only a corresponding The color layer is not only exposed, but its leuco color is also switched.
• the initial marking 1 is thus at least partially produced as a layer stack 26 consisting of several differently colored, each opaque or semi-transparent layers, of which in particular one or more layers may contain one or more leuco dyes.
• Layer 27 can also contain leuco dye, in particular, to enable it to switch between opaque and transparent (or vice versa).
• leuco dye in particular, to enable it to switch between opaque and transparent (or vice versa).
• the bottom (yellow) color layer Y in layer stack 26 can be made with conventional printing ink or colored foil, while the two color layers above it (C and M) contain switchable leuco inks.
• C and M two color layers above it
• top layer in particular a bleach layer
• layer 27 a top layer
• a bleach layer has already been explained above with reference to embodiments with a layer stack 26.
• Layer 27 can be designed as a metallized layer, in particular a layer made entirely of metal, instead of being a bleached layer (see above). It can be made of a white or silver-colored aluminum material, so that in this case the initial marking 1 appears as a white, colorless surface before its post-processing. Another metal, such as tin, can also be used instead of aluminum.
• a hot stamping process can be used, in particular, to apply the metal layer to the underlying initial marking 1.
• the procedure is the same as for processing a hologram.
• the metal, applied in an extremely thin layer to the substrate, is transferred to a layer for the laminate 8 – preferably a layer of transparent polycarbonate – using a preheated stamping tool and under high pressure.
• the metallized document layer produced in this way can then be used in different forms within the laminate to create a security document.
• the positioning of the cover layer 27 can take place directly on the initial marking. However, it is also possible to print the metallic cover layer 27 separately onto a separate substrate (e.g., film) in order to apply this substrate, coated with the cover layer 27, to the initial marking in a further step.
• a separate substrate e.g., film
• a pattern 2 (especially as a raster graphic 9) is first applied to a document layer (corresponding to a layer of the laminate) to produce the initial marking 1 from printing ink, in order to then be covered by the metallic layer 27 applied above it (cf. Fig. 22 ).
• a security feature can be created by selectively removing the metal through locally selective energy input and thereby exposing the underlying initial marking 1 - for example, a detailed pictorial representation of the document holder.
• one or more leuco dyes can be used, at least partially, to form the initial marking 1, which are then at least partially "switched", as explained in more detail in section 3.1 above.
• Fig. 23 Instead of a single-layer color matrix – as described in section 3.6.1 – leuco colors, as in Fig. 23 illustrated, also incorporated into the document structure in several layers below the metallic layer 27, in particular each across the entire surface (see above). Fig. 19 This allows for a particularly high degree of variability in image display. Switching between the superimposed leuco colors may require electromagnetic radiation, especially laser radiation 17, of different wavelengths.
• a "Clear Window” which in Fig. 24
• transparent and opaque substrates e.g., films
• a predefined geometric shape is cut into the opaque substrates as an opening 36, thereby exposing the transparent layers.
• this transparent area in the opaque substrates optically exposes all transparent layers of the multilayer structure, which would otherwise be covered by at least one opaque layer.
• the opening 36 can preferably be created using a punch.
• the material removed in this process can optionally be completely or partially replaced (compensated) by a transparent polymer, in particular polycarbonate. However, if the volume of the removed material does not exceed a certain threshold, such compensation is generally not required.
• a transparent window is formed in the area of the opening 36 or, optionally, in the overlap area of several such openings 36.
• the metallic layer 27 is used in conjunction with a clear window, it is possible to view the post-processed metal layer in transmitted light (illumination from the back). This can create an optical switching effect, which can be considered an additional security feature.
• Reflected light here refers to...
• Transmitted light refers to exposure from the viewing side, while “transmitted light” refers to exposure from the back.
• a black component is also desired in the image, this can be generated using a pulsed laser.
• a high-energy light beam (laser beam) strikes a laser-reactive substrate (e.g., film) and leads to a local blackening of the substrate at the point of irradiation. Individual particles incorporated into the substrate carbonize during irradiation, thus resulting in a blackening of the material.
• This type of processing for producing a black component can be implemented in multiple stages due to the variable radiation intensity/duration, making it particularly possible to create a detailed grayscale image.
• the black tone is expediently generated in a higher layer of laminate 8. If the initial marking is or will be printed on a transparent substrate, the blackening can also be applied in a lower layer of laminate 8.
• Fig. 27 This is shown as an example in the form of a schematic section of a target marker 15 to represent a complete color image.
• Fig. 1 (a) which are based on various The method was modified according to some of the possibilities presented herein.
• the dots 3 and spaces marked with arrows in Fig. 27 explained in more detail, although other parts of the target marker 15 were also changed compared to the initial marker during post-processing.
• Fig. 28 schematically shows an exemplary embodiment of a device 38 according to the third aspect of the present solution, which is configured to carry out the method according to the first aspect
• the device 38 comprises a marking device 39, a laminating device 40, and a power source 41, which may in particular contain or be provided by the laser 16, connected in series along a process flow. Additionally, the device 38 comprises a control device 42, which is configured to cause the device 38 to execute the method according to the first aspect in order to produce the document body with data inscribed therein.
• the marking device 39 is configured to produce an initial marking 1 on a planar base substrate, such as the core substrate 10, supplied to the device 38, using colorants.
• the marking device thus provides, as an intermediate process result, the base substrate with an initial marking 1 formed thereon.
• the colorants can, in particular, contain one or more leuco dyes 12 or 13.
• the laminating device 40 is for producing a laminate 8 from the base substrate 10 and at least one further planar substrate 11, in In the present example, four overlay substrates are formed.
• the laminate 8 is formed from the substrates 10, 11 by applying pressure and/or heat, thus bonding the substrates 10, 11.
• the energy source can be, in particular, the laser 16.
• the type of laser processing for producing the target marking 15 from the initial marking 1 has already been explained in detail in various variants.

Landscapes

• Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
• Manufacturing & Machinery (AREA)
• Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
• Health & Medical Sciences (AREA)
• Electromagnetism (AREA)
• General Health & Medical Sciences (AREA)
• Toxicology (AREA)
• Optics & Photonics (AREA)
• Credit Cards Or The Like (AREA)
• Thermal Transfer Or Thermal Recording In General (AREA)

Applications Claiming Priority (1)

Publications (1)

Family

ID=95744278

Family Applications (1)

Country Status (2)

Citations (6)

Family Cites Families (4)

• 2024
  • 2024-05-24 DE DE102024114735.0A patent/DE102024114735A1/de active Pending
• 2025
  • 2025-05-22 EP EP25178385.8A patent/EP4653206A1/fr active Pending

Patent Citations (6)

Non-Patent Citations (1)

Also Published As

Similar Documents

Legal Events