Abstract: The invention relates to a system comprising a series of data carriers, in particular identity cards, papers of value or the like, whereby the data carriers belonging to the system exhibit diffraction structures containing standard information and parts of the series are changed by additional measures in the area of the diffraction structures or combined with other elements and they differ from the rest of the series in optically recognizable fashion, whereby the change in the diffraction structures and/or the combination with other elements convey an esthetic overall impression and the change and/or combination with the other elements cannot be undone without destruction of the diffraction structures.

Abstract: The invention relates to a system comprising a series of data carriers, in particular identity cards, papers of value or the like, whereby the data carriers belonging to the system exhibit diffraction structures containing standard information and parts of the series are changed by additional measures in the area of the diffraction structures or combined with other elements and they differ from the rest of the series in optically recognizable fashion, whereby the change in the diffraction structures and/or the combination with other elements convey an esthetic overall impression and the change and/or combination with the other elements cannot be undone without destruction of the diffraction structures.

Abstract: The invention relates to a system comprising a series of data carriers, in particular identity cards, papers of value or the like, whereby the data carriers belonging to the system exhibit diffraction structures containing standard information and parts of the series are changed by additional measures in the area of the diffraction structures or combined with other elements and they differ from the rest of the series in optically recognizable fashion, whereby the change in the diffraction structures and/or the combination with other elements convey an esthetic overall impression and the change and/or combination with the other elements cannot be undone without destruction of the diffraction structures.

Abstract: A multilayer data carrier is described which bears general printed data and furthermore has a transparent layer containing additives which are absorbent for a laser beam. The transparent layer is designed so that it exists in the card compound as a thin, nonself-supporting layer.

Abstract: A system for testing the authenticity of a data carrier determines the physical property of the data carrier from an irreversibly adjustable electric state of a circuit present separately on the integrated circuit, and uses the electric property of the circuit for establishing a characteristic value for the data carrier.

Abstract: A method for testing the authenticity of data carriers having integrated circuits, memory and logic means to determine physical properties of each circuit that are distinctive of this circuit and use them to obtain data characteristic of each circuit. According to the present invention, one preferably evaluates the different programming times of the memory cells of an E.sup.2 PROM memory, an evaluation which can be determined by various methods and processed as distinctive characteristics. Other individual properties that can be utilized are, for example, distinctive features of a memory input.

Abstract: A new method for producing substrates with a defined metallic surface form is provided which can be used advantageously in particular for producing reflection holograms on papers of value. The metallic planar elements are produced in detachable form on a master, e.g. a press roll, and then transferred directly from the master to the particular substrate.

Abstract: The invention relates to a security document, in particular a bank note, identity card or the like, having a security element which is provided with characters, patterns, etc., visually readable at least in transmitted light and which is electrically conductive and bears additional substances for machine testing, and to a method for producing such a security element. The security element preferably consists of a transparent film strip that bears negative writing readily capable of visual checking and is additionally provided with electrically conductive and magnetic substances.

Abstract: The invention relates to a system comprising a series of data carriers, in particular identity cards, papers of value or the like, whereby the data carriers belonging to the system exhibit diffraction structures containing standard information and parts of the series are changed by additional measures in the area of the diffraction structures or combined with other elements and they differ from the rest of the series in optically recognizable fashion, whereby the change in the diffraction structures and/or the combination with other elements convey an esthetic overall impression and the change and/or combination with the other elements cannot be undone without destruction of the diffraction structures.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for producing plastic chip cards and chip card blanks with a wall thickness considerably reduced in certain areas involves first injecting the plastic material into an initial mold space that has no reductions in wall thickness as yet. The distance between certain wall areas of the initial mold space is then reduced to the required reduced measure, displacing the plastic material into adjacent areas of the mold space.

Abstract: On a check card having a mini chip card disposed detachably in an adapted recess the mini chip card is fixed in position by at least one fastening element provided on the card surface. After a first punching operation in which the mini chip card is still connected with the card body by bridges the fastening element is preferably placed on the card in such a way that it bridges the areas between the mini chip card and the card body. In a second punching operation the bridges are removed, after which the mini chip card is held in its original position on the card body only by the fastening element.

Abstract: A method to generate a random number from certain input wherein at least parts of the input are modified by data that are independent of the generation of the random number and of the data included in the generation of the random number and a circuit configuration having a processing unit containing an encryption algorithm and a memory into which input is filed. Upon demand for a random number, the processing unit generates a random number using an encryption algorithm and input present in the memory, the current input then being changed by added data.

Abstract: The invention relates to a security document, in particular a bank note, identity card or the like, having a security element which is provided with characters, patterns, etc., visually readable at least in transmitted light and which is electrically conductive and bears additional substances for machine testing, and to a method for producing such a security element. The security element preferably consists of a transparent film strip that bears negative writing readily capable of visual checking and is additionally provided with electrically conductive and magnetic substances.

Abstract: The invention relates to a flat molding produced by the injection molding technique, in particular an identity card, chip card or the like, characterized in that it has different volume areas containing different plastic components and formed and disposed so as to be distinguishable from one another visually and/or by measuring technology.

Abstract: A method for producing a mini chip card out of a standard card having an embedded semiconductor chip uses a punching die with cutting edges defining the outer contour of the mini chip card. The punching die is adjusted relative to the standard card and with respect to contact surfaces of the embedded semiconductor chip so that the edges of the punching die are at a predetermined distance from the contact surfaces. The punching of the standard card is performed in this adjusted position so that the contact surfaces are in a reference position with respect to the outer contour of the mini chip card. The punching forms the mini chip card in the correct position in the standard card. The mini chip card may initially remain connected to the standard card by thin bars between the cards.

Abstract: A security element for use in a security document such as a bank note, identity card or the like includes at least a partial metallic coating on a substrate and wherein the metallic coating includes recesses in the forms of characters or patterns that are visually recognizable at least in transmitted light and a magnetic coating of soft-magnetic pigments disposed in overlying relationship with the metallic coating. A security document containing the security element is also described.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for incorporating a carrier element or module in a card body. The card body is provided with a recess shaped accordingly for incorporating the carrier element. The carrier element comprises a substrate on which an integrated circuit is disposed. Before the carrier element is incorporated a contact adhesive element is first introduced into the recess by means of a suitable tool. The carrier element can then be connected firmly and permanently with the card body with the aid of the contact adhesive element under the action of pressure.

Abstract: A security element that can be embedded in the form of a thread or strip in a security document, in particular a paper of value, is composed of two carrier sheets, each of which bears each of the marking substances allowing for detection of authenticity. The two carrier sheets are put together in such a way that the marking substances to be protected from mechanical abrasion and other external influences come to lie on the inside.The thread not only offers special protection for the marking substances, but can also be embedded in the paper substance easily due to its symmetrical structure and without showing any tendency to curl.

Abstract: In order to detect security documents irrespective of their individual graphic designs, a method and apparatus are provided in which the presence of certain structural elements common to a variety of different security documents are analyzed without analyzing the whole printed image or comparing it for identity with the stored printed image. For example, the structural elements may be curved colored lines present in a certain minimum density of a surface, or intertwined line structures known as guilloches. The document to be copied is scanned as in any normal copying operation and the structural elements identified by electronic pattern recognition in order to determine whether copying is to be permitted, without requiring additional detection elements.

Abstract: A method for printing identity cards having blind hole-shaped recesses involves filling the recess at least partly with an element at the moment of printing so that the bottom of the recess is pressed against the printing surface. The elements are either firmly mounted on the back pressure surface of the apparatus or movably mounted in this surface. In the second case the elements can disappear into the back pressure surface if necessary.