PL187653B1 - Document protecting element as well as apparatus for and method of checking documents incorporating such element for their authenticity - Google Patents

Abstract

1. Document security element in the form of an electrically conductive fractional-optical metallic reflective layer having the shape of beam, mesh, arcuate and/or circular structures which are placed in documents, characterized in that the electrically conductive structures they have characteristic, differing electrical conductivities as electrical encoding of specific information, with electroconductive, metallized structures (2, 7) with sharp edges being separated at different levels by non-metallic structures (3, 8, 9), and the arrangement of metalized structures (2, 7) with variable electrical conductivity is electrically encoded in the form of a special electrical code, and the line width of the smallest controlled metalized structures (2, 7) is less than and/or equal to 5 mm. Fig. 1 PL PL PL PL PL PL PL

Description

The invention relates to a security element for documents and a device for checking documents, the security element being used in accountancy documents, preferably securities and / or banknotes, the reliability of which is checked by machine in the device according to the invention.

187 653

Hitherto, documents with optical diffractive-active security elements have been inspected using an expensive optical checking technique. Carrying out a document test with diffractively active security elements or so-called OVDs (optically variable device) are not possible with document processing machines as they operate at high speeds. Thus, in US 4,255,652 a device is described for showing the recognition features of documents with electrically conductive regions. The charge is transferred to one of the electrically conductive areas by means of a first capacitive element extending the entire width of the document to be checked and placed over it. During the further transport of the test document, the charged, electrically conductive area is transferred to the second capacitive element, by means of which the charge is discharged. The computing and decoding circuitry processes the received signals. Both the device and the applied principle of functionality emanate from relatively large, electrically conductive areas extending across the width of the inspected documents, because the amount of cargo transported in smaller areas is greatly reduced. Simultaneous checking of multiple conductive areas is as impossible as determining their geometrical shape and size, especially a drawing with fine, fine detail.

Next, EP 0 097 570 describes a device for testing the dielectric properties of sheet materials, in which the material to be tested is passed between the pairs of claddings of one row to capacitors having a specific configuration. Changing the dielectric properties causes a voltage change at the receiving electrodes. The signals are amplified and processed individually.

In this device, which is based on the study of the dielectric properties of the sheet material, especially watermarks, all capacitors are simultaneously energized at the oscillator frequency, as a result of which coupling can occur between adjacent channels. If a larger capacitor spacing is chosen to avoid this disadvantage, the achievable geometric recognition is reduced. So only thick structures can be captured. In order to tackle the vibration problems in the capacitor receiving facings, only one relatively low switching frequency is allowed, so that the checking speed is kept within low limits. Also for design reasons such a device cannot be used in high-speed processing machines.

DE 27 47 156 describes a method and an inspection device for authenticating holographically secured identification cards. The OVD system is reproduced and visually inspected. This method is not suitable for rapid, efficient and independent visual checking.

EP 0 042 946 describes a device for reproducing read patterns which are checked with lasers, mirror and lens systems as well as a photo detector. The economic outlay in this case is very high. The runs may be higher if unsorted material is to be checked. In order to prevent presorting, a multiple layout of the authentication or authentication system is required. multiple checking. EP 0 042 691 A1 describes a device for detecting guard bands in bubbles. The absorbent strips of the plastic locking strip are measured by means of two light channels in the infrared region at wavelengths of approx. 5 mm. Checking the authenticity and quality of diffractive-optically active security elements that reflect metallically, such as, for example, reflective holograms or cinematic images, is not described in the cited EP, as it would not be possible with this device.

From GB 21 60 644 A it is known to irradiate banknotes with a line-scan camera, while from CH-PS 652 355 it is known to check cards with a special layer by means of an exposure or an exposure method. translucent. In both cases, a checking method is described in which the obtained image information is compared with the originals. The big disadvantages of both methods are the occurring reflections and traces of wear. The automatic examination of the authenticity of hologram information is described in DE-OS 38 11 905.

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The arrangement described in this DE-OS provides, for the hologram x-ray examination, a directly opposite positioning of the transmitter and the receiver in order to enable the analysis of the hologram information. This opposite arrangement of transmitters and receivers has a detrimental technical oversteer oversteer and in a given case may even damage the collecting elements by direct light entry into the intermediate spaces between the consecutively displaced banknotes. When inspecting used banknotes, crumpled folds due to accidental reflections make this inspection practically impossible.

According to the above-described known method, it is necessary to precisely position the test object and therefore high-speed machining machines cannot be used.

In DE 196 04 856 A1 it is suggested that the condition, quality or adjusting the optical security features in the form of metallic reflecting layers, such as cinematic images, holograms or the like, on securities, in particular banknotes, such that the metallic reflecting security feature of the security is read in known per se by at least one electronic camera, preferably a CCD line scan camera, and the actual values determined in this process are compared by known image processing methods in order to identify banknotes with defective security features or Separate used banknotes. The device described in DE 196 04 856 A1 has a transport device for moving securities in the area of the electronic camera and an infrared radiation source located on the side of the security under test, facing away from this camera, the optical axis of which is at an angle of 180 ° to the optical axis of the exposure device. , the transport apparatus consisting of transport belts which are spaced apart transversely to the transport direction. This device or the method has the disadvantage that especially used banknotes with crumpled folds or also banknotes that have damaged or contaminated kinegram foil on their surface will not be recognized as valid banknotes. Furthermore, the described method and the associated device are automated, but are not suitable for high-speed banknote counting machines in operation with a capacity of 1,200 pieces per minute.

Diffractive-optically active security features or OVDs on securities, such as the German DM 100 and 200 banknotes, are currently checked manually or visually for damage, accuracy of fit, exact embossing of edges or the like. The checking takes place visually both in the production of banknotes and, where appropriate, in the necessary sorting of withdrawn banknotes. However, this method is time-consuming and costly. Moreover, the checking is imprecise because, for example, in the diffraction-optically active security elements, according to the hitherto practice, demetallized structures are produced, for example, by chemical etching processes. As is well known, these processes do not allow the exact course of the desired structures to run. As a rule, "jagged" edges are produced at the periphery. As is known from US 5,248,544 as well as US 5,388,862, optically variable security elements for documents have metal layers in the shape of so-called holograms and security fibers, the metal layers in the holograms being reflective. Diffractive-optically active security features or OVDs are only used to achieve optical effects and may only be checked by optical checking methods or by visual inspection. Other checking methods, especially for use in high-speed machining machines, are not known. DE 195 42 995 A1 describes, inter alia, a method for checking the authenticity of a data carrier by aligning the various data available. The application of the method according to DE 195 42 995 A1 offers the following possibilities:

- comparison of a standard hologram image with a memory unit,

- comparison of the hologram data with the data in a specific area of the data carrier and / or in its memory unit,

- comparison of the hologram data with the data that is available to the input unit,

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- comparison of the individual hologram image with the data of the memory input unit and / or Unoymi zkrtelzotrz zhsonzn.

This type of work is conspchłzooy and kzsotzwoy. S-rawUonoit onstę-uit he UzzUot z-tycooti -roto -zzówonoit zhznon about nzoyzouitm pUcoytgsiming and this snmly oit dnUnjt be Uz soyhkρh and other mnsoyo zhzóhcoych and connected.

In EP 330 733 A1, there are features onhtonitconiąct umitsocozot on epknmtdtach, which include mttnliozwnot inserts, they reveal lumiotsctocySot suhstnocst, hzlzgznmy and tltmtoty ztfltksySot. The tt layers are nz-zoteoitlnot ditmttalicode layers and are the z-tycooit reads in the mtchnoitdies s-rnwUons.

In WO 95/26884 Al p-isadp -zStmoik about the hundredths of Uzmpditpzpwndia fioycoych and chtmicooych ctchs in oim chtmiknlii. Stoszz me, oasiladit, n -zStmoik mzżt, lecture on mttnlu luh o iootrz mattzinłu. Ttgz ty-u -zStmoiki are stpspwndt Uz skłnUpwadin chtmikalii sensitive he ntmpsftzycodt and he c / as -rotchpwywndin.

In the theory of US 5,388,862 pnisndp tltmtot onhto-itchanting umitsoconds on hnokoztnch, in each of them, and in various and different Uρkumtdtach. Eltmtot tto Stst p-tyczdit lectures in tradsmitpwadym ewittlt. Me with witlt -zotozpcleych -pwitzzchdO -ρnzotUoitladych dit-rotz.

In DE 195 12921 Al z-isnoz nzoąUotdit Uz s-rawUonoin hndkdptów. UzoąUotoit me z-tycoot and mnrdttyczdt conSdikO zrao. cznSdiki -nsmzwt Uz s-rawUondia ctch hnokozts -zotchpUoTo tz usoUotdit. Fnlsyfikaty and hnokozty odisocoPdt opstają zUrouczot. UzoąUotdit mn tltktrzUy Uz iUtotyfikncSi -rncuSt o szabkpecią zU 500 Uz 1800 hnokozt he mioutę rno, it may be upstpspwadt Uz s-rnwUznoin haϋkdych kłs.

In DE 44 05 860 A1 - rotatitipdp s-zsóh s-raweoadin ctch mttaliopwndych umitsocozoych on hndkdptnch and on -n-itrnch waztpecipwych. S-zsóh -zltrn on zmitrztdίn -zln tltktrpmardttycodtrp hndkdptn nmitsocopdtrp -pmięzyzy -nrami Uwóch tlklrzU, -zrówondin ttgz -zln o wozrctm i on ttS -pSet sproztpw ^nd.

Zonot s-rawezndt ctchy, iUtdtyfikacySdt structures Snk also mttzUy and nroąUotdin s-rawUoaSąct Uln ttstów nnttdtycodpeci ρbits, -n-yttrs of ntpecip, oh -tpecipecipes, oh -tpecipts, mttzuy, are the main insects. Jtst tz witUoa zżliwinSącn fnłsztropm, mttzUy's referring and uroąuotoin haeawcot took their ezinładit, uditzuchpmitdit hnUndych ctch, strtf and bnUnwcze structures. Hence, he published, so he made the question, uotdin ou-tmt dpwtrp s-raw, uonoin phitkts, -n-yerts, especially hndkdpts, which must be associated with -h-he-quit, hacked, zhitc łntwtmu odaltoitdin kpen infprmacySdtrp and Stgz skp-ipwndiu.

Ctltm wy ^ nlnoku Stst nsndięcit wnU stnou ttchdiki, n owłasocon p-racpwndit tltmtoty oabto-itcoa -zsóh istptdy utruUduU luh instantly unitmtdit fnłsotrozm uditruchpmitdit fgokciodpwaoia mttzU hnUnwcoach n this snmym product of falsifiers, which are tnk -pUphdtZ pryridnłów,

Dnlsoym ctltm wyonlnoku Stst pnracpwadit UyfrakcySdP-p-tycomt clean tltmtoty and ctch oabto-itconSwl. OVD's, which can be -recyoySmt s-raweoadt soyhkz, ditoaltżdit zU zsóh and -roy oitwitlkim dakłaeoit. Proadaltżdt Uz ttgz gzoąeotdit Uz s-rnwUoadia ctch oabto-itcoaS npwiddp hyć stpspwadt onrówdp in several mnsoyonch Uz phróhki Upknmtdtów Snk and in -royroąUnch cpdtrplnych. Nnstę-oit onUnmtm wadalazkn Stst ρ-racpwadit nroąeztdia, which mzżt s-raveznæ pkrtelpda licohę witl tltmtoty wogl. ctch onhto-itcoaSacach nmitszcopdych on Upknmtdcit, -roy coym licohn s-ravezadych onhto-ittots of the accompanying me y devices.

Eltmtot znhto-itconServing Uzkumtots wtUług wy ^ nlnoku w ^ stn ^ -rotwpUząctS tltktrycooit Uafractcyjdp-p-tyczdtS, mttalicodtS rtfltxySdtSmnSąctSmxotn, including htkmtnScnts, htpmtnhs, htkmtnh, żt structures tltktrρ-rztwpUząct will resist chnrakttrystycoot, different

187 653 electrical conductivity as electrical coding of specific information, where the electrically conductive, metallized structures with sharp edges are separated at different levels by non-metallic structures, and the location of the metallized structures with variable electrical conductivity is electrically coded in the form of a special electrical code, and the width of the smallest controlled metallized structure is less than and / or equal to 5 mm.

The at least two structures preferably have different coating thicknesses within the security feature and the width of the electrically conductive structure with constant electrical conductivity most preferably corresponds to the width of the at least two electrodes of the monitoring device.

The distance between two electrically conductive structures with the same and / or different electrical conductivity is preferably at least 0.1 mm.

Additionally, the applied electrically conductive structures are preferably inks and / or paints.

A device for checking documents with diffractive-optical security elements with a metallic reflective layer, having a capacitive scanner with transmitting and receiving electrodes with a width greater than the largest document width with electrically conductive structures and an electronic device for receiving signals from scanned documents and comparing them with encoded signals, is characterized by in that the surface and arrangement of the transmitting electrodes correspond to the area and arrangement of the electrically conductive structures, these electrodes being connected to a control device.

The area of the at least two transmitting electrodes preferably corresponds to the area of the electrically conductive feature, and the smallest spacing between the two transmitting electrodes most preferably is less than 0.5mm, and the spacing between the transmitting and receiving electrode is most preferably at least 0.5mm.

The device is preferably housed in high-speed document processing machines and / or hand-held devices.

The construction of the security elements with a metallic reflective layer for the documents to be inspected according to the invention comprises a new configuration, marking or drawing, checked by a test method and not by visual effect. This configuration, marking or drawing - hereinafter referred to as functional marking - is a combination of conductive or insulating structures of equal or different size, in the same or differently positioned planes, and is produced from metallized structures and / or conductive inks or printing inks. A functional configuration, marking or drawing contains in its multiformity and different composition in all distinguishable security elements a code function and is thus encrypted and verifiable. According to the invention, the functional identification may be a diffractive-optically active security element or may consist of electrically conductive inks or inks. It is a diffractive-optically active security element that can coincide with an optical, and therefore visually readable, sign or image and even be based on its optical marking or image. The security elements are marked by capacitive coupling in the shape of dashes, dots and figures of the metallization structure and electrically conductive inks and inks. Such security elements are applied to documents individually or in combinations.

The security feature consists of at least one security element, or a particularly large collection of security elements of the same or different configuration, size, color shade and / or conductivity.

Instead of demetalizing individual structures according to known methods, the diffractive-optically active security elements are produced according to the invention from metallized structures. As high-quality inspection security elements, the invention produces metallized security elements with a very high similarity to the desired metallized structure and with steep edges to adjacent non-metallic insulating structures. The steepness of these edges makes it

187 653 can be fabricated and checked for microstructures. As mentioned above, in the known diffraction-optically active security elements, the demetallized structures are produced, for example, by chemical etching processes. As is known, steep edges and the exact course of the desired structures are not achieved in these processes. As a rule, "frayed" edges are formed. These fringes at the periphery do not allow them to be used as functional signs or images of demetallized structures with area widths of tenths of a millimeter. In order to achieve accurate trajectories of the periphery of a functional sign or image, another manufacturing technology must be used. According to the invention, certain non-metallized zones are metallized in known high-vacuum vaporization installations. For counterfeiters, this means an increase in financial resources in the production of counterfeits. According to the invention, the diffractive-optically active security elements have in the inspection structures in addition to the more or less planar structures known per se, at least one testable beam, mesh, hook-shaped and / or circular security element with a line thickness <5 mm. These security elements simultaneously represent the coding of information which is recognized and processed by the devices according to the invention.

The device for checking the described security elements according to the invention has a capacitive scanner. The scanner has a plurality of transmitting electrodes placed side by side in one or more lines, and one receiving electrode arranged parallel to the plurality of transmitting electrodes.

A scanner with small electrode surfaces has the advantage over sensors with large electrode surfaces that a small capacitive coupling is created between the individual electrodes. In the document processing machine, the scanner is arranged in such a way that the optical or mechanical sensors present in conventional document processing machines activate the device according to the invention. In order to reduce detection and measurement errors, a sensor carrier on which all the test sensors are placed is preferably used. The spacing between the sensors is minimized.

This minimization of the spacing between the sensors is necessary to reduce the effect of changing the length of the examined documents, since during the course of the documents their position changes due to the condition of the documents, the degree of wear of the machine as well as the environmental conditions, in particular air temperature and humidity. Their mutual spacing changes due to improper entering of documents. The oblique course of the documents can also be caused by the wear of the transport rollers and bearings, which also means that the document has been pulled straight and twisted during transport. This undesirable change of position causes the predetermined time to be disrupted and thus false rejects to arise. while the security elements are smaller, their detection is more problematic. The device according to the invention has a pressing device which guides the document parallel to the transmitting and receiving electrodes or presses the document to be checked against the scanner. The axles of the transport rollers are then connected to the ground with the help of sliding contacts. Thanks to these additional screens and a pressure device, repeatable testing operations with an even spacing or even distance are guaranteed. contact between documents, the functional capability of the sensor being greatly improved. The control of the individual transmitting electrodes takes place in a time-varying manner by means of an electronic control device with switchable frequency in the range of kHz and above. The electronic control device has, in addition to the power supply, as main components a multiplexer, an oscillator for energy preparation for the transmitting electrodes and an oscillator for controlling the multiplexer.

The energy of the controlled transmitting electrode is, in the case of electrical conductivity between this transmitting and receiving electrode, capacitively coupled. The signal waveform to the receiving electrode is converted into the corresponding image signal. The signal image is dependent on the metallized structure of the diffractive-optically active security element. An electronic computing device connected to the receiving electrode compares the signal image of the test document with the corresponding reference signals. The computing electronic device basically consists of an amplifier, demodulator, comparator,

187 653 microprocessor with memory as well as filters for suppressing extraneous and interfering signals. In the memory, apart from the microprocessor software, reference images are stored which, depending on the security elements checked, are compared with the image signal of the examined document. As the scanner traverses the full width of the document, each electrically conductive security element is inspected by the device of the invention. Comparison with reference images provides a signal that classifies it for further processing. Accordingly, for example, a document recognized as a counterfeit can be sorted out, the checking device being stopped or the transport route of the documents changed. In order to reduce the interference effects, the sensor carrier is integrated into the board on which the control and calculation electronic device is placed. The modification of the electrode arrangement according to the invention consists in placing a longitudinally extended transmitting electrode parallel to a large number of receiving electrodes aligned one after the other. In this case, the received signals are processed by the multiplexer.

The design of the transmitting and receiving electrodes is characterized in that it has a plurality of transmitting and receiving electrodes arranged next to each other and / or in series. Both the control and the reception of signals takes place through a multiplexer and a demultiplexer. The handheld devices used include similarly suitable document transport devices or a scanner whose function is equal to that of transport devices in copiers, optical imaging scanners or facsimile devices. According to the invention, these devices are provided with a device which determines the position of the capacitive scanner in the checking device by means of stop elements. For the targeted checking of a certain number of document security elements, the device has a different number of transmitting electrodes or electrodes arranged next to each other. receiving. As a result, many security features and difficulty codes are controllable. The simple hand tools in everyday use are easy to manipulate and cheap to produce, and make it possible to check the presence of individual security elements, for example a single security fiber. Devices with a higher degree of solution allow additional security elements to be checked, but without the possibility of recognizing all security elements. This is done by simple microprocessor software which is programmed with specific security features and is not generally available. A higher-level solution with properly prepared software for the microcontroller allows you to check all security elements. This high testing effort is used, for example, by the manufacturers of safety components with a very high safety standard and their users in order to obtain the best possible inspection results. As a result, also different conductivities can be reliably detected.

It is also possible to carry out presumptive recognition and check the condition of the documents in the entire system of applying the described security elements and document checking devices. Presumptive recognition by coding is possible by means of electrically conductive security elements, and this can be coded independently or supported by aids for sorting purposes, coded to determine the degree of value and coded to establish authenticity. With self-coding, no further security element exists and the electrically conductive security element has to be uniquely identified, for example its position on the document, whereby false phrases are minimized. Further features are included in the assistance coding as an aid, so that the coding then serves as the reference factor in the case where a false phrase has been recognized. The condition check is carried out by means of the device according to the invention, in a form in which the conductivity of the security element is disruptive to the state of the document, since a badly worn document leads, according to experience, to the wear of electrically conductive structures and thus a change in the electrical conductivity. The individual degrees of wear are classified using the software. Thus, documents with a certain degree of wear are finally withdrawn.

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This degree of wear is manifested, for example, by partially damaging the OVD, scratching the document and thereby damaging the security element, or when the document is excessively crumpled and broken or torn inside the security element. This gives rise to the possibility of many-sided combinations between authentication, suspicion and condition checking. In addition to the optical design of the security features on the document to be checked, the security elements are - as described above in more detail - provided with codings which mathematically relate to each other - for example as an overall picture - form the main code which in turn by means of a signal or code with simultaneous authentication of the metallic security fiber and / or also simultaneous OVD checking determines the authenticity, condition or grade of a specific document.

An embodiment of the invention is shown in the drawing in which Fig. 1 is a schematic representation of a document with a meandering metallized security feature; Figures 2, 3 is a schematic representation of documents with banded metallized security features; Fig. 4 is a schematic representation of a document with a mesh metallized security feature; Fig. 5 is a schematic view of a document with multiple security features; 6 shows a block diagram of a monitoring device; Figures 7 to 9 are schematic views of the various scanners; Fig. 10 is a schematic side view of the scanner and the inspected document; Fig. 11 is a schematic section through metallized security elements; Fig. 12 is a voltage-time plot of the evaluation signal and Figs. 13 to 15 are schematic views of the scanners and the structure of the security feature.

The examples shown in FIGS. 1 to 5 show documents with security elements which each contain targeted electrical coding. This coding is not so simple by storing any information, but this information in the form of electrically conductive structures is separated by non-conductive structures, so that ultimately electrically conductive control features are placed, the electric decoding of which causes a specific signal in the control device according to the invention, which the signal is compared to an existing, memory-encoded reference signal. As a result, the desired high checking speed is achieved. The capacitive scanner of the device according to the invention is also shown schematically in the drawing.

1 shows schematically the structure of the security feature 1 with a metallized structure 2. The metallized structures 2 are separated by a non-metallic structure 3. In the plan view, the non-metallic structure 3 has the form of a meander. The width of the meandering non-metallic structure 3 is thereby greater than the smallest distance between two electrodes. The capacitive scanner 4 comprises a plurality of transmitting electrodes 5 arranged next to each other and one receiving electrode 6 arranged parallel to this row. FIG. 2 shows schematically the structure of the security feature 1, in which the strip-shaped metallized structures 7 and the insulating, non-metallized, strip-shaped structures 8 are arranged parallel to each other. The strip-shaped structures 7, 8, seen from above, here run parallel or perpendicular to the transport direction of the documents. The last case is shown in Fig. 3. The distance between two structures with the same electrical conductivity is between 0.2 mm and 1.0 mm. The widths of structures with the same electrical conductivity vary. Various conductive structures with different widths are also possible.

The combination of the features of Figs. 2 and 3 is shown in Fig. 4. Parallel to the direction of transport of the documents, alternating strip-like metallized structures 7 and insulating, strip-shaped, non-metallic structures 8 are arranged. The metallized structures 7 are interrupted by a strip-shaped insulating non-metallic that runs perpendicularly to them. structure 9.

Figure 5 shows a document with multiple security features. The resulting combination causes further coding. Thus, the certainty of control is increased.

Figures 6 to 9 show a wiring diagram as well as various embodiments of a capacitive scanner 4.

Figure 6 shows a circuit block of a control device according to the invention consisting of an electronic control device operating in a capacitive manner

187 653 scanner 4 and electronic calculating device. In principle, the electronic control device has, in addition to the power supply, a demultiplexer 10 connected to an oscillator 11 for preparing e ^^^ gii for the transmitting electrodes and 12 for controlling the demultiplexer.

The electronic computing device mainly consists of an amplifier 13 connected to a demodulator 14, a comparator 15 and a microprocessor 16 with memory as well as filters for suppressing extraneous and interfering signals.

The transmitting and receiving electrodes are embedded in the sensor carrier. They form a scanner 4 that works capacitively across the entire document path. The strip-shaped receiving electrode extends transversely to the document path. The transmitting electrodes are placed parallel to the receiving electrode. The distance between the transmitting and receiving electrodes is determined by electrically conductive security elements, typical of the respective documents. By aligning a plurality of transmitting electrodes, it is possible that the longitudinal axis of the capacitive scanner 4 can simultaneously capture a plurality of electrically conductive features. This solution depends on the number of transmitting electrodes used. In this embodiment, the solution is to read points at a distance of mm in both the longitudinal and transverse directions. The smallest distance between adjacent transmitting electrodes is limited by mutual capacitive interference coupling. In order to prevent this and to reduce the interference effects of the adjacent transmitting electrodes, they are sequentially controlled by the multiplexer 10. Due to the arrangement of the transmitting electrodes, the documents are checked in a neutral position across their entire width. This means that there is no need to pre-sort more documents on the document handling machine.

Figure 7 shows a schematic view of a scanner 4 with a plurality of transmitting electrodes 5 and one receiving electrode 5. Control and processing are performed according to the circuit block arrangement shown in Figure 6.

Figure 8 shows a schematic view of an embodiment of a capacitive scanner with one transmitting electrode 17 and a plurality of receiving electrodes 18. In contrast to the circuit block arrangement of Figure 6, the transmitting electrode 17 is controlled by an oscillator. The signals of the receiving electrodes 18 are processed with a multiplexer. The electronic processing device, consisting of a demodulator, comparator, microprocessor with memory as well as filters for suppressing extraneous and interfering signals, is comparable to the block circuit of Fig. 6.

Figure 9 shows a schematic view of a further embodiment of a capacitive scanner with a plurality of transmitting electrodes 19 and a plurality of receiving electrodes 20. These are alternately arranged in a row. Accordingly, both the control signals of the transmitting electrodes 19 and the processing signals of the receiving electrodes 20 are processed by multi- and demultiplexing.

Figure 10 shows a schematic view of a capacitive scanner and inspected document in a side view. The security feature 1 comprises metallized lines 21 as well as an electrically insulating support foil 22.

Figure 11 schematically shows a cross section through a security feature with a carrier layer 23 and a partially metallized layer 24. The partially metallized layer 24 comprises a greater number of insulating segments 25. The partially metallized layer 26 has a different electrical conductivity than the partially metallized layer 24. Schematically, the edges of the metallized layers 24 ; 26 are situated at right angles to the supporting layer 23. Such rims or edges. the edges are not produced similarly to conventional chemical processes, such as etching, as this results in "jagged" edges in the longitudinal direction as well as edges with acute to obtuse angles with respect to the backing layer 23. To achieve the characteristic signal waveforms, metallized layers 24; 26 are therefore produced with a constant longitudinal course and with edges which strike the support layer 23 approximately at right angles. Electrochemical or electrochemical materials are preferably suitable for this purpose. electroerosive methods of demetalization. 12 shows the associated processing signal in a voltage-time diagram.

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Figures 13 to 15 show schematic views of the scanners 33, 34, 35 and the structural security feature 36. The structure of the security feature 36 consists of a ring metallized security feature 37, a strand metallized security feature 38 and two rectangular metallized security features 39, 40. The control security is then removed. achieved by the visible, high steepness of the metallization, since the detectability of counterfeits is greatly increased thanks to this. The individual hand instruments have a scanner 33 according to FIG. 13 which can only check the metallized security element 38 in a band. Hand instruments of this type are suitable for everyday use because they are simple, easy to handle and inexpensive to manufacture.

The higher-stage devices of FIG. 14 have a scanner 34 and allow, in addition to checking the band-metallized security element 38, the inspection of additional security elements, in this case ring-metallized security element 37. The rectangular security elements 39, 40 are not checked. This is accomplished by simple microprocessor software that only acts on specific security features. The rectangular security elements 39,40 are not stored as signal reference images.

The higher-level solution with appropriately shaped microcontroller software is shown in Fig. 15. It allows all security features to be monitored, i.e. also rectangular security elements 39, 40. To obtain good quality optically active security features, the microstructures are ultimately produced by metallization. This results in steep edges compared to non-metallized structures.

In order to explain the basic object of the invention in more detail, the following use of security elements will be explained when the method and devices according to the invention are applied appropriately.

In order to apply the invention widely, it is necessary to establish groups of controllers who receive the targeted messages of the control system and, by means of the control technique described above, perform in particular the authenticity check as well as the imaginary recognition and the usability check.

The application of the control system will be explained on the basis of groups A, B, C.

Group A:

State-owned banks are known to publish on the current security features of the banknotes so that the user can check himself according to the relevant instructions. These publications concern both control methods that can be carried out without adjuvants and methods that require the use of adjuvants. The scanner sensor is built into the hand-held device. The electrical conductivity of certain safety elements is checked using this handheld device and special software.

The software is so modified that when the banknotes are pulled through the optical sensors, the scanner is activated and then the length of the security features is measured. The electrical conductivity of the protection element must be established with a permanent, unchanging value. The end of the banknote is determined by means of optical sensors and the scanner then switches off. Thereby, the position of the electrically conductive security element on the test object can be determined. By means of the controller, the data is compared with the stored and processed data.

Group B:

Group B has machines for processing banknotes. These machines are equipped with special sensors to detect various characteristics. Currently, these machines are equipped with sensors for the optical range and / or for the display of magnetic properties and / or for checking with a capacitive sensor the measurement of moving lengths. The existence of electrically conductive features larger than 6 mm can be detected with these capacitive sensors. They do not allow the detection of multiple electrically conductive safety elements across the width of the passage. In addition, it is not possible to detect different electrical conductivities in the safety features. Structures inside

Security features 187 653 also cannot be detected. However, these checks are possible with the scanner sensor described so that this group B can carry out a higher level check.

The software for group B is designed such that the scanner sensor is activated by means of optical sensors and then the ring-metalized security element 37 and the band-metalized security element 38 are recognized. The conductivity is thereby determined. Deviations of more than or less than 30% are rejected.

Group C:

The software is designed so that all security features are recognized. The scanner sensor is activated by optical sensors. The run length and the run width of the security feature 36, the ring metallized security feature 37, the strip metallized security feature 38 and the rectangular security features 39, 40 are then recognized. The electrical conductivity is maintained and deviations greater than and less than 30% are rejected.

Especially when used in groups B and C, the whole control system is variable and especially when checking EUROs at their origins, depending on the country. Since the security mark to be checked, for example at EURO, is the same in all countries, depending on the country and according to the center of gravity, both the method of control and the control devices may be modified and successively changed over time.

The use of security elements and monitoring devices as described above is introduced as follows: presumptive recognition can take place by means of target-coded metallizations. This supposed recognition can be used for various purposes, most notably sorting and determining value or authenticity. A further advantage of this checking method is the condition control of the tested materials. Measurement of electrical conductivity allows returns due to the condition of paper banknotes. Very worn paper also greatly reduces the electrical conductivity.

In the present invention, the structure of security elements and a device for checking such elements have been explained, based on specific exemplary embodiments. It is mentioned, however, that the present invention is not limited to the details of the described embodiments, as changes and modifications may be made within the scope of the invention. The targeted combination of diffractive and optically active security elements with other electrically conductive features results in further coding. At the same time, further electrically conductive testing features, such as, for example, security fibers, can be classified by means of the testing device according to the invention.

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Publishing Department of the UP RP. Circulation of 50 copies

Price PLN 4.00.

Claims (11)

Patent claims 1. A security element for documents in the form of an electrically conductive, diffractive-optical metallic reflective layer in the shape of beam, mesh, arcuate and / or circular structures, which are included in documents, characterized in that the electrically conductive structures have characteristic electrical conductivities that differ as electrical coding specific information, the electrically conductive metallized structures (2, 7) with sharp edges are separated at different levels by non-metallic structures (3, 8, 9), and the distribution of metallized structures (2, 7) with variable electrical conductivity is electrically encoded in the form special electrical code, and the width of the bar of the smallest controlled metallized structures (2, 7) is less than and / or equal to 5 mm. 2. An element according to claim The method of claim 2, characterized in that the at least two structures have different coating thicknesses within the security feature. 3. An element according to claim The method of claim 1, characterized in that the width of the electrically conductive structure with constant electrical conductivity corresponds to the width of at least two electrodes (5) of the monitoring device. 4. An element according to claim The method of claim 1, characterized in that the spacing between two electrically conductive structures with the same and / or different electrical conductivity is at least 0.1 mm. 5. An element according to claim The process of claim 1, characterized in that the additionally applied electrically conductive structures are inks and / or paints. 6. Device for checking documents with diffractive-optical security elements with a metallic reflective layer, having a capacitive scanner with transmitting and receiving electrodes with a width greater than the largest document width with electrically conductive structures, and an electronic device for receiving signals from scanned documents and comparing them with encoded signals , characterized in that the surface and arrangement of the transmitting electrodes (5) correspond to the area and arrangement of the electrically conductive structures, said electrodes being connected to a control device The device according to claim 1 7. The method of claim 7, characterized in that at least two transmitting electrodes (5) have a surface corresponding to the surface of the electrically conductive feature. 8. The device according to claim 1 7. The method of claim 7, characterized in that the smallest distance between the two transmitting electrodes (5) is less than 0.5 mm. 9. The device according to claim 1 The device of claim 7, characterized in that the distance between the transmitting electrode (5) and the receiving electrode (6) is at least 0.5 mm. 10. The device according to claim 1 The device of claim 7, characterized in that it is housed in high-speed document processing machines. 11. The device according to claim 1 The device of claim 7, characterized in that it is housed in the hand tool.