Abstract: An improved polymeric sheet material for use in making polymeric security documents such as banknotes is provided. The inventive polymeric sheet material has one or more integrated and/or applied optical security devices. Polymeric security documents made using these improved polymeric sheet materials are also provided.

Abstract: The invention relates to a security sheet or document having enhanced watermark(s). In one exemplary embodiment, the inventive security sheet or document is a single-ply paper that is made up of a paper layer including one or more watermarks, and a micro-optic security device (e.g., a patch or thread) that at least partially covers an upper or face portion of the watermark(s). The overlying patch or thread increases the durability of the watermark(s), thereby allowing for the watermark(s) as well as reduced fiber density areas therein to be made larger, and for the reduced fiber density areas to be made thinner. In a preferred embodiment, the micro-optic security device projects synthetic image(s) that coordinate or link in with the watermark design(s). In a more preferred embodiment, the micro-optic security device offers a machine detectable/readable feature in the form of enhanced IR-brightness, especially when measured in transmission.

Abstract: A secure lens sheet or layer suitable for use in a micro-optic system, which is made up of a plurality of joined fine lens arrays (e.g., joined fine lenticular and/or joined fine non-cylindrical lens arrays), is provided. Each array has a lens pitch different from adjacent or contiguous arrays and/or is orientated in a direction different from adjacent or contiguous arrays. A micro-optic security device, which utilizes the inventive secure lens sheet and one or more overlying or underlying arrangements of micro-sized image icons (e.g., line data), is also provided. The image icon arrangement(s) and the secure lens layer are configured such that one or more synthetic images are projected by the security device. These projected images may show a number of different optical effects.

Abstract: A composite security device is provided that is made up of a first polymer film that constitutes or embodies a security feature in the form of at least one high value material, and a second polymer film that constitutes, embodies, or is coated with one or more additional security features. The first polymer film is positioned on and adhered to a surface of the second polymer film, which has a width or diameter greater than the width or diameter of the first polymer film By way of the present invention, the high value material is applied to only a part of the security device, leaving remaining parts of the device available for one or more additional materials that do not impact upon the effect of the high value material.

Abstract: A secure lens sheet or layer suitable for use in a micro-optic system, which is made up of a plurality of joined fine lens arrays (e.g., joined fine lenticular and/or joined fine non-cylindrical lens arrays), is provided. Each array has a lens pitch different from adjacent or contiguous arrays and/or is orientated in a direction different from adjacent or contiguous arrays. A micro-optic security device, which utilizes the inventive secure lens sheet and one or more overlying or underlying arrangements of micro-sized image icons (e.g., line data), is also provided. The image icon arrangement(s) and the secure lens layer are configured such that one or more synthetic images are projected by the security device. These projected images may show a number of different optical effects.

Abstract: An improved polymeric sheet material for use in making polymeric security documents such as banknotes is provided. The inventive polymeric sheet material has one or more integrated and/or applied optical security devices. Polymeric security documents made using these improved polymeric sheet materials are also provided.

Abstract: The invention generally relates to a security sheet or document having one or more enhanced watermarks. In one exemplary embodiment, the inventive security sheet or document is a single-ply paper that is made up of a paper layer including one or more watermarks, and a micro-optic security device (e.g., a patch or thread) that at least partially covers an upper or face portion of the watermark(s). The overlying patch or thread increases the durability of the watermark(s), thereby allowing for the watermark(s) as well as reduced fiber density areas therein to be made larger, and further allowing for the reduced fiber density areas to be made thinner. In a preferred embodiment, the micro-optic security device projects one or more synthetic images that coordinate or link in with the watermark design(s). In a more preferred embodiment, the micro-optic security device offers a machine detectable/readable feature in the form of enhanced IR-brightness, especially when measured in transmission.

Abstract: The invention generally relates to a security sheet or document having one or more enhanced watermarks. In one exemplary embodiment, the inventive security sheet or document is a single-ply paper that is made up of a paper layer including one or more watermarks, and a micro-optic security device (e.g., a patch or thread) that at least partially covers an upper or face portion of the watermark(s). The overlying patch or thread increases the durability of the watermark(s), thereby allowing for the watermark(s) as well as reduced fiber density areas therein to be made larger, and further allowing for the reduced fiber density areas to be made thinner. In a preferred embodiment, the micro-optic security device projects one or more synthetic images that coordinate or link in with the watermark design(s). In a more preferred embodiment, the micro-optic security device offers a machine detectable/readable feature in the form of enhanced IR-brightness, especially when measured in transmission.

Abstract: A fast and reliable single or dual transfer process is provided. Unlike prior art foil transfer techniques, which rely on the very fragile nature of the transferred pattern and/or shape to obtain a clean break at the die edge, the present invention is directed toward relatively non-tearable or tear resistant materials that can be difficult or impossible to effectively transfer using these known foil transfer techniques. This problem is addressed by precision cutting, for example, patches in the relatively non-tearable or tear resistant material positioned on a carrier substrate and in one exemplary embodiment transferring areas surrounding the cut patches to a sacrificial carrier substrate. The resulting sharply defined, precision cut patches left on the carrier substrate may then be transferred to objects to be protected such as banknotes.

Abstract: The invention generally relates to a security sheet or document having one or more enhanced watermarks. In one exemplary embodiment, the inventive security sheet or document is a single-ply paper that is made up of a paper layer including one or more watermarks, and a micro-optic security device (e.g., a patch or thread) that at least partially covers an upper or face portion of the watermark(s). The overlying patch or thread increases the durability of the watermark(s), thereby allowing for the watermark(s) as well as reduced fiber density areas therein to be made larger, and further allowing for the reduced fiber density areas to be made thinner. In a preferred embodiment, the micro-optic security device projects one or more synthetic images that coordinate or link in with the watermark design(s). In a more preferred embodiment, the micro-optic security device offers a machine detectable/readable feature in the form of enhanced IR-brightness, especially when measured in transmission.

Abstract: A composite security device is provided that is made up of a first polymer film that constitutes or embodies a security feature in the form of at least one high value material, and a second polymer film that constitutes, embodies, or is coated with one or more additional security features. The first polymer film is positioned on and adhered to a surface of the second polymer film, which has a width or diameter greater than the width or diameter of the first polymer film By way of the present invention, the high value material is applied to only a part of the security device, leaving remaining parts of the device available for one or more additional materials that do not impact upon the effect of the high value material.

Abstract: A micro-optic security device that employs one or more planar arrangements of stitched icons and that projects at any given viewing angle one or more synthetically magnified images, is provided. The synthetically magnified image(s) constitutes either a single or multipart image(s) that optionally changes to a different image(s) as the security device is tilted, or as the viewing angle changes.