Abstract: A web having phosphor particles uniformly distributed on at least one outer surface of the web, the phosphor particles being substantially white or colorless under ambient room light illumination and which upon excitation by ultraviolet light phosphoresces to emit visible radiation having a wavelength between about 400 nanometers and about 500 nanometers for a detactable period after ultraviolet excitation.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a photocopy prevention film applied to a document to be protected that comprises either a volume holographic refraction grating or a surface holographic refraction grating. The refraction grating is bonded to a document and either causes normally scattered light to be focused toward the photoreceptors of a photocopy machine or causes light normally reflected toward the receptors to be scattered away from the receptors. The film is created by splitting a coherent laser beam into a reference beam and a target beam. The target beam reflects off of a special target and onto a photographic emulsion. The reference beam is also incident to the photographic emulsion. The beam reflected from the target and the reference beam create interference planes within the emulsion which can be developed to create differing refractive index planes within the emulsion or etched away to create a surface grating.

Abstract: There is provided a process for preparing a film positive sheet for a forging-by-copying-proof print in which a first background image sheet is placed on a first latent image sheet, an unexposed film having a photosensitive membrane on the undersurface is placed on the background sheet to provide a primary three-layer film structure, the three-layer film structure is illuminated to partially expose the film, the first latent image and background sheets are replaced by second latent image and second background sheets, respectively, to provide a secondary three-layer film structure, the secondary three-layer film structure is illuminated to completely expose the partially exposed film and the second latent image and background sheets are removed from the secondary three-layer structure to thereby provide a film positive sheet for a forging-by-copying-proof print.

Abstract: Thin film optically variable article having substantial color shift with varying angle of light incidence and viewing and including an optically thick, substantially transparent element carrying a colorant and having first and second surfaces. A multilayer interference coating is carried on one of said first and second surfaces. The colorant serves to modify in essentially a subtractive mode the color at normal incidence and the color shift with angle of the multilayer interference coating as seen by reflection or transmission.

Abstract: An object of this invention is to provide a method of producing printing with a hidden image which cannot be observed with the unaided eye but which can be observed by use of a tool to determine the authenticity of a document.In accordance with the invention, the lithographic printing process is used in conjunction with tints or halftones to produce a printed document having an image therein which is not detectable with the unaided eye, but which may be observed when the print is viewed through a tint screen. The hidden image is produced by making a composite negative comprising an exposure through a negative containing the image and a tint oriented at a first angle onto a piece of film, and then making a second exposure through a positive containing the image and a tint oriented at a second angle onto the same piece of film. The composite negative is enlarged and dots in the area of the intersection of the image and background are blended to hide the image.

Abstract: A document has information appearing thereon, with at least a portion of the information being located on a front face of a portion of the document. The front face portion has a color with a sufficiently low reflection spectral response to render the document portion substantially incapable of being photocopied in an information-readable manner. The document portion is capable of transmitting visible light from the rear face to the front face to cause sufficient contrast between the relatively non-translucent information and the transmitted light to enable the information to be read by a human eye viewing the front face of the document when visible light is transmitted through the document from the rear face to the front face.

Abstract: A mounting structure for a flat, narrow, metallic strip for mounting the strip on a sheet of paper which includes a piece of paper to which the metallic strip is adhered by an adhesive carried on one surface of the adhesive. The piece of paper is dimensioned to provide a border with adhesive that extends about the periphery of the metallic strip. The structure can be stored on Kraft paper to which adhesive does not permanently adhere.

Abstract: A protected document includes background printed background matter and line pattern printed warning indicia. The warning indicia is slurrable upon copying to become visible.

Abstract: A composite film for protecting documents from being reproduced comprising a colored transparent film and a transparent adhesive layer applied to the back of the transparent film.

Abstract: A reflective-diffractive coating layer, situated at the interface between a substrate layer and an overcoat layer of the device, is divided into a set of small, slightly separated regions. This allows a direct bond of the overcoat layer to the substrate layer within the separation areas, which direct bond provides a more secure bond than that provided by a bond of the coating layer to the substrate and overcoat layers.

Abstract: Confidential information is printed, typed or otherwise applied to paper with a color having a reflection spectral response or less than about 10% for light with a wave-length below about 600 millimicrons. The color is sufficiently contrasting with the information to enable the information to be read by the human eye when the document is viewed under white light, but the document cannot be successfully photocopied.

Abstract: A data carrier, in particular check paper, having a picture theme printed on by the dot screen, grain screen, line-halftone combination or special screen techniques or as a line copy, which is printed over by a security pattern serving the purpose of protecting the data carrier. The picture theme is interrupted by a negative security pattern adapted to the security pattern, into which negative security pattern the security pattern is printed congruently. The lines of the negative security pattern are preferably wider than the lines of the security pattern, so that the lines of the security pattern integrated into the picture theme are at a certain distance from the lines of the negative security pattern in the entire picture area and do not touch the picture theme.

Abstract: A variable index-of-refraction optical medium of certain minimum thickness and periodicity with respect to the wavelength of incident light--if it meets certain specified constraints with respect to (1) relative indices-of-refraction of both its internal structure and that of its surroundings and (2) relative values of incident wavelength to periodicity and the relative indices-of-refraction--operates to produce both angularly-dependent subtractive-color filter reflection spectra and subtractive-color filter transmission spectra in accordance with its physical parameters. Such filters are suitable for use as authenticating devices for sheet-material authenticated items.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for recording and displaying genelogical or pedigree information on humans or animals are provided, wherein data on individuals is recorded on a plurality of interconnectable discrete patterns imprinted on transparent, self-adhesive material, the appropriate pattern being selected on the basis of the individual's gender, marital status, and status as a direct or collateral descendant, and then completed patterns are arranged on a display means to illustrate familial or blood-line relationships.

Abstract: A data carrier, in particular check paper, having a picture theme printed on by the dot screen, grain screen, line-half-tone combination or special screen techniques or as a line copy, which is printed over by a security pattern serving the purpose of protecting the data carrier. The picture theme is interrupted by a negative security pattern adapted to the security pattern, into which negative security pattern the security pattern is printed congruently. The lines of the negative security pattern are preferably wider than the lines of the security pattern, so that the lines of the security pattern integrated into the picture theme are at a certain distance from the lines of the negative security pattern in the entire picture area and do not touch the picture theme.

Abstract: A color-copier resistant document is disclosed which includes a repeated invalidating phrase printed on a document, together with a background tone. In addition to having an overlay camouflage tone printed over the entire surface of the document, each of the invalidating images is formed of irregular, smooth-shaped letters which further advance their hiding characteristics. Overall sizes are suggested for the use of the invalidating word VOID, and stroke sizes for each of the letters are also disclosed.