Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
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CARD-TYPE DATA CARRIER
[0001] The present invention relates to a card-shaped data carrier having a
planar card
body of multilayer construction.
[0002] It is known to employ as a security feature for paper-like value
documents, such
as bank notes or the like, security threads from different materials which are
not copyable
and can be forged only with disproportionate effort. For example, holographic
security
threads are applied in the form of diffractive surface elements on suitable
plastic foils or
are incorporated into these and integrated into security paper upon the paper
manufacture which is then further processed to bank notes.
[0003] While the employment of security threads has proved useful in
particular in the
bank-note sector, card-shaped data carriers and identity cards from plastic
are as a rule
not equipped with security threads, because the optical effects known from the
bank-note
sector cannot readily be brought about in plastic cards.
[0004] In this respect, it is the object of the present invention to increase
the anti-forgery
security of card-shaped data carriers with the help of security threads.
[0005] This object is achieved by a card-shaped data carrier having the
features of the
independent claim. In the claims dependent thereon there are stated
advantageous
embodiments and developments of the invention.
[0006] A data carrier according to the invention comprises a planar card body
of
multilayer construction having a planar upper side and a planar underside. The
data
carrier is card-shaped and preferably configured as a plastic card, for
example as a bank
card or credit card, smart card, identity document or travel document or the
like. The
card body comprises several layers lying over each other, preferably plastic
layers,
among others, the combination according to the invention of a hologram strip
and a
planarly configured strip foil layer which has alternating or alternately
arranged,
transparent and substantially opaque strip-shaped regions. Seen from the upper
side of
the card body, the strip foil layer is arranged in front of the hologram
strip, so that the
hologram strip when viewed from the upper side in incident light is visible
only through
the transparent regions of the strip foil layer, while the substantially
opaque regions of
the strip foil layer cover the hologram strips in certain portions.
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[0007] Particulars about the relative location or position of the individual
layers of the
card body are as a rule stated starting out from the upper side or underside
of the card
body. A layer which upon viewing the upper side of the data carrier lies in
front of
another layer thus lies over or above this other layer with regard to a
sectional view or
side view of the card body. A layer which upon viewing the underside of the
data carrier
lies in front of another layer therefore lies under or below the other layer
with regard to a
sectional view or side view of the card body.
[0008] The substantially opaque regions of the strip foil layer are neither
completely
opaque, thus impervious to light, nor are they transparent. Rather they have a
perceptible
translucency which, however, can be low. The level of opacity of the
substantially opaque
strips thus is such that in incident light, structures of the card body lying
behind or under
the substantially opaque regions are not visible, while such structures in
transmitted light
are visible diffuse, shadowlike or clouded due to a light-scattering and,
where applicable,
also reflective effect of the substantially opaque regions. The transmission
(T) of the
substantially opaque regions in this connection is smaller than one (T <1),
preferably
distinctly smaller than one, for example, T <0.8 or T <0.5.
[0009] The alternating strip-shaped regions of the strip foil layer can extend
in parallel
running over the entire area of the strip foil layer, thus cover this
completely. Likewise
the strip-shaped regions can be present only in a certain planar section of
the strip foil
layer, while the remainder of the strip foil layer is transparent, translucent
or opaque.
Important for the invention is merely that the strip-shaped regions of the
strip foil layer
stand in planar relation to the hologram strip, thus cover this, so that the
optical effect
according to the invention comes about that the transparent and the
substantially opaque
strip-shaped regions cover and uncover the hologram strip in incident light
alternatingly
in certain portions.
[0010] Preferably the strip foil layer is arranged in the card body relative
to the hologram
strip such that the parallel alignment of the alternating, strip-shaped
regions and the
alignment of the hologram strip form an angle large enough, so that the
hologram strip is
visible through several of the transparent regions of the strip foil layer and
is covered
therebetween by several of the substantially opaque regions, so that the
hologram strip
when viewed from the upper side of the card body in incident light is visible
merely in
certain portions.
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[0011] In this manner, upon viewing the upper side of the card body, the
impression of a
hologram strip arises which passes to the surface of the data carrier multiple
times in
certain portions and thereupon again disappears in the card body. The user of
an
inventive data carrier, such as a plastic identity document in ID-1 or ID-3
format
according to ISO/IEC7810, knows this optically complex impression as an
important
security feature from the bank-note sector, which increases his or her
confidence in the
authenticity of the identity document. The design of the hologram strips can
follow those
of hologram security threads in the bank-note sector and be configured in
particular
between 1 and 2 mm wide and as a diffraction structure, where applicable,
supplemented
by demetalizations, metallic or color imprints, or other applications which
bring about
optically variable tilt or color change effects.
[0012] Preferably the card body above the strip foil layer and/or below the
hologram
strip comprises one, where applicable, also several transparent cover foil
layers which
form the upper side or underside of the card body. The hologram strip when
viewed
from the upper side of the card body in transmitted light is then distinctly
visible through
the transparent regions of the strip foil layer and is visible merely
shadowlike through
substantially opaque regions of the strip foil layer. As a result of this, the
anti-forgery
security of the data carrier is further increased because the different
optical impressions
in incident light and transmitted light no longer depend solely on the strip
foil layer and
the hologram strip alone, but additionally also on the further foil layers of
the planar card
body.
[0013] Such transparent cover layers on the upper side and/or the underside of
the card
body, which can be provided in all embodiments of the present invention,
protect the
arrangement of strip foil layer and hologram strip from wear and improve,
where
applicable, also the effect of the optical effects brought about. These cover
foil layers are
preferably made of a transparent plastic and can additionally be printed where
the
hologram strip is not visible, for example, with names, identification
numbers, biometric
or other security imprinting or the like.
[0014] In all embodiments of the present invention, the hologram strip is
integrated
preferably into a hologram foil layer, so that the data carrier according to
the invention
has a uniform thickness. The hologram foil layer is in this connection
preferably a
transparent plastic foil which comprises the hologram strip as a diffractive
surface
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element. The hologram foil layer can also comprise several hologram strips
which form a
provided geometrical arrangement or have a mutual relation in another way, for
example
by mutually coordinated, optically variable images. The hologram foil layer
can also
comprise further security features which can then likewise be visible in
certain portions
through the strip foil layer, for example text or graphic elements, or also
security features
which become visible only under certain illumination conditions, for example
under UV
or polarized light.
[0015] In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the card body
comprises a
further strip foil layer below the hologram strip in addition to the hitherto
described strip
foil layer arranged above the hologram strip. In this embodiment, the hologram
strip is
enclosed by the two strip foil layers. Also the further strip foil layer has
alternating,
transparent and substantially opaque strip-shaped regions.
[0016] The two strip foil layers are aligned to each other in the card body
preferably such
that, on the one hand, their strip-shaped regions point in the identical
direction and that,
on the other hand, the transparent strip-shaped regions of the one strip foil
layer, for
instance the strip foil layer arranged above the hologram strip, lie as nearly
as possible
exactly above or in the substantially opaque strip-shaped regions of the
respectively other
strip foil layer, for instance the strip foil layer arranged below the
hologram strip.
Preferably the coordination of the transparent regions of the one of the two
strip foil
layers is in exact register with the substantially opaque regions of the
respectively other
of the two strip foil layers.
[0017] In this manner the hologram strip is visible in certain portions when
viewed from
the upper side as well as the underside of the card body in incident light,
while the
hologram strips is visible alternatingly distinctly and shadowlike when viewed
from the
upper side as well as the underside of the card body in transmitted light. The
hologram
strip is distinctly visible in transmitted light namely through the
transparent strip-shaped
regions of the respectively viewed strip foil layer, while through the opaque
strip-shaped
regions of the respectively viewed strip foil layer those portions of the
hologram strip are
visible merely shadowlike which are in turn distinctly visible when viewed
from the
respectively other side of the card body through the transparent strip-shaped
regions of
the other strip foil layer.
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[0018] For the viewer thus the impression arises here of a hologram strip
which changes
alternatingly back and forth between the upper side and the underside of the
card body,
and when it is distinctly visible on the side facing away from the viewer, it
shines
through the card body and is nevertheless perceived shadowlike.
[0019] Starting out from the above-described embodiment with only one strip
foil layer,
in a modified embodiment of the invention a planar, substantially opaque layer
is
arranged below the hologram strip, so that the hologram strip when viewed from
the
upper side in incident light is visible alternatingly in certain portions and
is not visible
when viewed from the underside, because the substantially opaque layer hides
the view
from there of the hologram strip in any case in incident light. In transmitted
light the
hologram strip when viewed from the upper side is alternatingly in certain
portions
distinctly and in certain portions merely shadowlike visible, while the
hologram strips
when viewed from the underside is continuously visible as a shadowlike strip.
[0020] A further embodiment develops the above-described embodiment to the
effect
that below the substantially opaque layer a further hologram strips and
therebelow a
further strip foil layer are arranged. The sequence of these layers in the
card body when
viewed from the upper side is thus: strip foil layer, hologram strip,
substantially opaque
layer, further hologram strip, further strip foil layer.
[0021] In this embodiment, in incident light when viewed from the upper side
as well as
from the underside of the data carrier, one of the two hologram strips is
visible
alternatingly in certain portions, while the other hologram strip lying in
viewing
direction beyond the substantially opaque layer is not visible. In turn, in
transmitted light
when viewed from the upper side and the underside respectively one of the two
hologram strips is distinctly visible through the transparent regions of the
relevant strip
foil layer, while it is visible merely shadowlike through the substantially
opaque regions
of the relevant strip foil layer.
[0022] Also in the described embodiments having two hologram strips, these are
present
preferably in a hologram foil layer, so that the card body or data carrier has
a constant
thickness. Besides one or several hologram strips, these hologram foil layers
can
additionally have suitable security features which can also superimpose the
relevant
hologram strips.
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[0023] All described embodiments can have on the upper side and/or the
underside of
the card body respectively at least one transparent cover foil layer, possibly
even several.
Likewise, instead of the one substantially opaque layer described above, two
or more
substantially opaque layers lying one over each other can also be used, for
example to
suitably control the opacity of the entire layer. It is also possible to
arrange two or even
several hologram foil layers directly over each other in the card body, if
this has
advantages compared with an single hologram foil layer having two or more
hologram
strips, for example because a certain geometrical arrangement of the hologram
strips is
easier to realized in this manner.
[0024] In all embodiments, the extents of the described foil layers are such
that the
optical effects according to the invention are achieved. That is, the
described foil layers
are at least so large that the overlaps required according to the invention
are possible.
Preferably the foil layers have, however, the extents of the entire card body
or the card-
shaped data carrier.
[0025] Preferably the card-shaped data carriers according to the invention are
configured
according to ISO/IEC7810 as identity documents in the format ID-1, ID-2 or ID-
3 and can
in this respect supply all further security features and functions which are
usual for such
identity documents, for example magnetic strip, microchip, impressing,
printing or the
like. In case of an identity document in the format ID-3, the data carrier
according to the
invention can form a data page which is incorporated into the multi-page
identity
document.
[0026] Further features and advantages of the invention will result from the
following
description of embodiments according to the invention as well as further
alternative
embodiments in connection with the drawings, which show:
Figure 1 a first preferred embodiment of the invention in cross section;
Figure 2 a second preferred embodiment of the invention in cross section
(Fig. 2a)
as well as an illustration of individual foil layers (Fig. 2b);
Figure 3 a third preferred embodiment of the invention in cross section;
Figure 4 a fourth preferred embodiment of the invention in cross section;
and
Figure 5 a variant of the embodiment according to Figure 4 in cross
section.
[0027] Figure 1 shows the card body 1 of a card-shaped data carrier or
identity document
in sectional view, consisting of two transparent cover layers 4 as well as a
strip foil layer 3
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arranged therebetween having strip-shaped, transparent regions 3a and strip-
shaped,
substantially opaque regions 3b as well as a hologram strip 2.
[0028] The sectional view through the card body 1 of the data carrier shown in
Figures 1,
2a as well as 3 to 5 runs along the hologram strip 2 which, as is evident with
reference to
Figure 2b, is integrated into a hologram foil layer 20 which is transparent
outside of the
hologram strip 2. The format of the hologram foil layer 20, thus its planar
extent,
corresponds in this connection to that of the card body 1 as well as the
format of the
further layers, in particular of the strip foil layer 3 according to Figures
1, 3 and 5 or to the
strip foil layers 31, 32 according to Figures 2 and 4. The hologram foil layer
20 can in
principle have several hologram strips 2 which also do not necessarily have to
run in
parallel, but can, for example, enclose acute angles to increase the security
of the data
carrier by further optical effects.
[0029] The hologram strip 2 forms a hologram security thread of the data
carrier. It is
applied on the hologram foil layer 20 in the form of diffractive surface
elements or is
incorporated into this and can furthermore also have demetalizations and
further, where
applicable, hidden security features, for example machine-readable features
which utilize
the different physical effects such as magnetism, electrical conductivity,
fluorescence or
luminescence, or absorption properties or reflecting properties under UV
light, polarized
light or laser light. For the same reason the hologram foil layer 20 can also
have further
security features which can either be arranged in the transparent region of
the hologram
foil layer 20 or overlap or cross the hologram strip 2.
[0030] The card-shaped data carrier represented in the Figures is configured
in the
format ID-1 according to ISO/IEC 180 and represents a bank card, credit card,
debit card,
a driving license, an electronic identity card or the like. In this connection
the card body 1
can be equipped with further security features or identity features, for
example with
microchips which are capable of being read out contactlessly or using physical
contacts,
magnetic strips, biometric features or graphical elements such as security
imprinting or
the like.
[0031] The layer arrangement according to Figure 1 generates different optical
effects,
depending on whether the data carrier is viewed from the upper side 0 - thus
through
the upper transparent cover layer 4 onto the strip foil layer 3 and further
onto the
hologram strip 2 - or whether it is viewed from the underside U through the
lower cover
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layer 4 directly onto the hologram strip 2. When viewed from the upper side 0,
the
hologram strip 2 in incident light is visible through the transparent regions
3a of the strip
foil layer 3, while it is hidden through the substantially opaque regions of
3b. There thus
arises the impression of a hologram security thread visible in certain
portions. When
viewed from the underside U, the hologram strip 2 is, however, completely
visible in
incident light.
[0032] In transmitted light, a more differentiated picture results, namely
when viewed
from the upper side 0, the hologram strip 2 is distinctly visible through the
transparent
regions 3a and visible merely shadowlike through the substantially opaque
regions 3b.
Distinct differences thus result in transmitted light with regard to the
visibility of the
hologram strip 2, in fact, on the one hand, due to the optical density or
transmission
properties of the substantially opaque regions 3b and, on the other hand, due
to a light-
scattering or light-refractive effect of the substantially opaque regions 3b
which is
perceptible as a diffuse shadow effect.
[0033] When viewed in transmitted light from the underside U of the card body
1 the
hologram strip 2 is in turn completely visible, because the transparent cover
layer
forming the underside 4 does not, or merely negligibly, impair the visibility
of the
hologram strip 2.
[0034] Figure 2a shows an embodiment in which the hologram strips 2 of two
strip foil
layers 31, 32 are planarly enclosed. In this connection the hologram strip 2
when viewed
from the upper side 0 as well as from the underside U is visible in certain
portions in
incident light, namely, on the one hand, through the transparent regions 31a
of the strip
foil layer 31 and, on the other hand, through the transparent regions 32a of
the strip layer
32.
[0035] Figure 2b illustrates the layer sequence of the card body 1 according
to Figure 2a
in plan view. Accordingly, the strip foil layer 31 is arranged over the
hologram foil layer
20 and therebelow the strip foil layer 32 (symbolized by the plus signs). In
incident light,
there results on account of the interaction between the hologram foil layer 20
and the
strip foil layer 31 or the strip foil layer 32 (symbolized by the equals
signs) when viewed
from the upper side 0 of the data carrier the view 33 and when viewed from the
underside view U the view 34. In both incident light views 33, 34, the
hologram strip 2 is
merely visible alternatingly in certain portions through the respective
transparent strips
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31a, 32a, while it is covered in certain portions by the substantially opaque
strips 31b, 32b
(represented by dash lines) and is not visible there.
[0036] The alignment of the hologram strip 2 in the hologram foil layer 20, on
the one
hand, and the alignment of the strip-shaped regions 31a, 31b, 32a, 32b of the
strip foil
layers 31, 32, on the other hand, is preferably mutually perpendicular, so
that hologram
strip 2 running in horizontal direction in Figure 2b is hidden in certain
portions by the
parallel, substantially opaque regions of 31b, 32b running in vertical
direction. The angle
which the hologram strip 2 and the strip-shaped regions 31a, 31b, 32a, 32b
enclose can
deviate arbitrarily far from the represented right angle, as long as the
hologram strip 2 is
visible through the transparent regions 31a, 32a multiple times in certain
portions and is
covered by the substantially opaque regions of 31b, 32b multiple times in
certain
portions.
[0037] As is evident from Figures 2a and 2b, the two strip foil layers 31, 32
are arranged
relative to each other such that respectively the transparent regions 31a, 32a
of each strip
foil layer 31, 32 lie as nearly as possible exactly over or under the
substantially opaque
regions 32b, 31b of the respectively other strip foil layer 32, 31. Preferably
the alignment
of the strip-shaped regions 31a relative to the strip-shaped regions 32b or
the alignment
of the strip-shaped regions 31b relative to the strip-shaped regions 32a are
as nearly as
possible in exact register, so that the hologram strip 2 is visible at every
point of the card
body 1 either from the upper side 0 or from the underside U.
[0038] The optical effect resulting therefrom is that of a hologram security
thread
switching back and forth alternatingly between upper side 0 and underside U
which is
particularly difficult for counterfeiters to reproduce due to the arrangement
of the strip
film layers 31, 32 in exact register.
[0039] In transmitted light, the hologram strip 2 according to the embodiment
according
to Figure 2a is distinctly visible on both sides through the respective
transparent regions
31a, 32a and is visible merely shadowlike through the substantially opaque
regions of
31b, 32b. The effect perceptible on the upper side 0 of the card body 1
according to
Figure 1 is therefore perceptible in the card body 1 according to Figure 2a
from the upper
side 0 as well as from the underside U.
[0040] Figure 3 shows a further embodiment of the invention in which a
substantially
opaque layer 5 is arranged between the transparent cover layers 4 below the
hologram
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strip 2, so that when viewed from the upper side 0 of the card body 1 in
incident light,
the same optical effect results as in the embodiment according to Figure 1,
whereas when
viewed from the underside U the hologram strip 2 is not visible in incident
light. In turn
in transmitted light the hologram strip 2 when viewed from the underside U is
visible
continuously shadowlike.
[0041] The embodiment of Figure 4 in turn combines the layer arrangements
according to
the embodiments according to Figure 2a and Figure 3. In this connection, in
the card
body 1, a substantially opaque layer 5 is incorporated between both hologram
strips 21,
22, which are present respectively within a separate hologram foil layer 20.
Between each
of the two hologram strips 21, 22 and the corresponding transparent cover
layer 4
forming the upper side 0 or underside U of the card body 1, respectively a
strip foil layer
31, 32 is located which covers the respective hologram strip 21, 22 in the
direction of the
relevant side of the card body 1.
[0042] Seen from the upper side 0 as well as from the underside U of the card
body 1,
the respective hologram strip 21, 22 appears in incident light in certain
portions
interrupted, because it is visible merely though the transparent regions 31a,
32a, while the
substantially opaque regions of 31b, 32b cover the view of the hologram strip
21, 22.
Depending on how the transparent regions 31a, 32a and the substantially opaque
regions
of 31b, 32b of the two strip foil layers 31, 32 are aligned to each other,
further effects can
result in transmitted light. If, as is represented in Figure 4, the
transparent regions 31a,
32a of the one strip foil layer 31, 32 and substantially opaque regions 31b,
32b of the other
strip foil layer 32, 31 lie over each other, the relevant hologram strip 21,
22 can be visible
shadowlike in transmitted light when viewed from both sides of the card body
through
the relevant, substantially opaque regions of 31b, 32b, if the transmission
properties of the
substantially opaque layer 5 and the respective, substantially opaque regions
31b, 32b are
accordingly mutually coordinated.
[0043] Figure 5 finally shows a variant of the embodiment according to Figure
3 in which
the cover foil layers 4 consist respectively of several foil layers 41, 42.
Also the
substantially opaque foil layer, as it is used in the embodiments according to
Figure 3 or
Figure 4, consists here of several substantially opaque foil layers 50, so
that the
transmission properties of the substantially opaque foil stack 50 can be
adapted to the
desired optical effects in transmitted light.
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[0044] Likewise, as for the substantially opaque regions 3b, 31b, 32b of the
strip foil
layers 3, 31, 32, also the substantially opaque layers 5, 50 according to
Figures 3, 4 and 5
have a perceptible translucency and light-scattering properties in transmitted
light. By
varying the thickness of individual substantially opaque layers 5 or using
several
substantially opaque layers 50, certain transmission properties perceivable in
transmitted
light can be achieved.
[0045] The described foil layers 20, 3, 31, 32, 4, 41, 42, 5, 50 are
preferably made from
plastic. In addition, regions or layers of other materials can also be
incorporated into the
card body, for example from paper, provided that this is expedient for the
anti-forgery
security or employment of the data carrier as an identity card. Furthermore,
any further
embodiment of the data carrier according to the invention is possible which
requires its
employment as an identity card.
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