Abstract: A security document has a first region and an adjacent second region, the regions defining a security device. Opposite sides of the first region are provided with first and second, complementary indicia registered with respect to one another, the first region being sufficiently transparent that both the first and second indicia are viewable from either side of the document under reflected light. Third indicia are provided on the second region on the same side of the document, registered with, and complementary to, the first indicia, and fourth indicia are provided on the second region on the same side of the document, registered with, and complementary to, the second indicia, the third and fourth indicia also being complementary to and registered with respect to one another.

Abstract: A document upon which a data sequence is placed, the data sequence comprising identification data (1) and verification data (3) in combination. The verification data (3) is physically distinguished from said identification data (1) within the data sequence in addition to any differences due to a difference in data between the identification data and verification data.

Abstract: The invention relates to improvements in security substrates and in particular to fibrous security substrates, such as paper, incorporating a watermark. The security substrate comprises a fibrous base layer, having a normal base fiber density, said base layer incorporating a watermark consisting of a plurality of alphanumeric characters. Each character comprises dark and/or light regions, the dark regions being formed by more densely deposited fibers than the normal base fiber density and the light regions being formed by less densely deposited fibers than the normal base fiber density. The density of the fibers in any region is substantially uniform such that there is no gradual change of tone between the light and dark regions. Each dark and light region adjoins at least one light and dark region respectively and an area of normal fiber density.

Abstract: Methods of manufacturing a security element for a security document include: a first portion of the security document, the first portion of the security document having at least one aperture therethrough, the or each aperture being defined by an internal surface of the first portion of the document; and either printing through the first portion of the security document such that ink is deposited onto at least a part of the internal surface of the at least one aperture, or printing through the first portion of the security document onto a second portion of the security document provided behind the first portion of the security document, such that ink is deposited onto at least a part of the second portion of the security document aligned with the at least one aperture.

Abstract: A method of forming a film of photonic crystal material. A first process is performed upon a material capable of having a photonic crystal structure, this process causing deformation of the material so as to form a film in which incident light received by the material is selectively reflected or transmitted to generate a first optical effect in the film. A second process is performed upon substantially all of the film which applies a shear stress to the film. This causes a change in the material structure so as to generate a second optical effect in the film, different from the first optical effect, in response to incident light. Security films, devices, articles and documents formed using the method are also discussed.

Abstract: A method of processing a plurality of articles of value within a cash processing centre comprising sorting a plurality of articles of value according to one or more predetermined criteria, recording data corresponding to the sorted articles of value, physically associating the sorted articles of value with a radio frequency identification device, and electronically associating the data corresponding to the sorted articles of value with data corresponding to the radio frequency identification device.

Abstract: A security device is disclosed having a region of piezochromic material and an integrated relief structure. The security device is arranged such that when a stress is generated in the piezochromic material and relief structure, an optical effect is generated in the piezochromic material.

Abstract: A strapping apparatus (100) is provided for strapping a stack (S) of sheet documents. The apparatus comprises: a strap feeder (160) adapted to feed a length of strap material (M) into the strapping apparatus; a guide channel (110) arranged to receive the leading edge of the strap material from the strap feeder, to guide the leading edge around a stack receipt zone (101) and to overlap the leading edge with an upstream portion of the strap material, resulting in overlapping portions of strap material in an overlap region of the guide channel, so as to form a closed loop of strap material around the stack receipt zone, the stack receipt zone being configured to accommodate a stack of sheet documents in use; a sealing unit (120) adapted to join the overlapping portions of the strap material to one another at a joining point; and a cutting unit (130) for cutting the strap material upstream of the joining point. The invention also provides a stacking apparatus (50) for forming stacks of sheet documents.

Abstract: A security device comprises a substrate having a viewing region. A first pattern of a first color and a second pattern of a second color are printed on one side of the viewing region. A third pattern of the first color and a fourth pattern of the second color are printed on the other side of the viewing region. The first and second patterns on the one side of the viewing region overlap the fourth and third patterns respectively on the other side of the viewing region whereby a) when each side of the viewing region is viewed in reflected light, the patterns on that side can be distinguished by at least their colors, and b) when the viewing region is viewed in transmitted light, from either side of the substrate, the viewing region is sufficiently transparent that subtractive color mixing between the overlapped different colors results in a perceived single resultant color being visible.

Abstract: A method is provided of detecting a region of raised material on a document surface. A surface of the document is illuminated with at least one angled radiation beam such that any raised material on the document surface reflects the radiation. The surface containing the raised material is imaged using at least one radiation detector. The image is then processed to detect the existence on the document surface of the raised material. The illuminating step causes a reflection and/or shadow to be generated from at least one edge of the raised material. The processing step detects the location of the material using the said reflection and/or shadow from the at least one edge.

Abstract: A method of manufacturing a security document is provided, comprising: providing a first security element article having a corresponding predetermined first unique identification code which is detectable from the first security element article; incorporating the first security element article into a document; generating a machine-readable security feature containing document data representative of the first unique identification code corresponding to the first security element article and of at least a second unique identification code corresponding to a second security element applied to the document; and applying the machine-readable security feature to the document.

Abstract: A document handling apparatus is disclosed which is particularly well adapted for counting documents of value, such as banknotes. The document handling apparatus comprises an input module for receiving a stack of documents and feeding them one by one into the apparatus, a detector box which houses a series of detectors for detecting characteristics of the documents, a transport system for conveying documents within the apparatus, a doubles detector for sensing the passage of each document therethrough and a stacker module for stacking the output documents and presenting them to the user. The apparatus is based on a metal framework in a plastics housing.

Abstract: A method of manufacturing a soil or wear test feature on a document of value is provided. The method comprises designating an area of the document of value for soil or wear testing and measuring an optical characteristic which is affected by the presence of soil or wear of the designated area on the document of value, or of the same area on an identical document of value. The measured optical characteristic is encoded to generate corresponding optical characteristic data and the encoded optical characteristic data is associated with the document of value by means of a machine readable element provided on the document of value.

Abstract: A security device including a transparent base layer having a surface provided with an optically variable relief microstructure; a transparent high refractive index layer on the surface of the base layer, the high refractive index layer conforming to the surface relief microstructure; and a reflective metal layer printed on the transparent high refractive index layer. The metal layer is printed in the form of a pattern. The thickness of the transparent high refractive index layer is selected so as to achieve constructive interference of light with a wavelength ? in the range 450-650 nm reflected at each surface of the high refractive index layer.

Abstract: A security device comprises a substrate having an array of microlenses on one side and one or more corresponding arrays of microimages on the other side. The microimages are located at a distance from the microlenses substantially equal to the focal length of the microlenses. The substrate is sufficiently transparent to enable light to pass through the microlenses so as to reach the microimages. Each microimage is defined by an anti-reflection structure on the substrate formed by a periodic array of identical structural elements, light passing through a substrate and impinging on the microimages being reflected to a different extent than light which does not impinge on the microimages thereby rendering the microimages visible.

Abstract: A document of value is provided comprising a soil or wear level test feature for determining whether the document of value is soiled. The soil or wear level test feature comprises: a reference area comprising a first region of the document; and a measurement area comprising a second region of the document. The reflectance of the measurement area is affected differently by the presence of soil or wear to that of the reference area, such that the difference in reflectance between the reference area and the measurement area provides an indicator of the degree of soiling or of the degree of wear of the document of value. Also provided is a method for detecting the soil or wear level of a document of value.

Abstract: A method of manufacturing a security article (10) is provided, comprising applying an first adhesive layer to a substrate (11), the first adhesive layer comprising an additive which is responsive to at least a selected wavelength of laser radiation (12); and applying a laminate over the first adhesive layer, the laminate comprising a second adhesive layer which adheres to the first adhesive layer. Prior to applying the laminate over the first adhesive layer, data is printed onto the first and/or second adhesive layer, such that on applying the laminate over the first adhesive layer, the printed data is incorporated between the first and second adhesive layers.

Abstract: A method of determining the authenticity of a document of value provided with a watermark pattern, the method comprising determining whether the watermark pattern exhibits a discontinuity.

Abstract: A security document is provided comprising a first RFID tag readable only within a first range, and a second RFID tag readable within a second range, the first RFID tag containing data pertaining to the owner of the security document and an identification code, and the second RFID tag containing the same or a related identification code, and wherein the second range is longer than the first range. Also provided is a method and system for controlling access to a region, each person seeking access carrying a detectable unique identifier.

Abstract: A security device comprises a substrate having an array of microlenses on one side and one or more corresponding arrays of microimages on the other side. The microimages are located at a distance from the microlenses substantially equal to the focal length of the microlenses. The substrate is sufficiently transparent to enable light to pass through the microlenses so as to reach the microimages. Each microimage is defined by an anti-reflection structure on the substrate formed by a periodic array of identical structural elements, light passing through a substrate and impinging on the microimages being reflected to a different extent than light which does not impinge on the microimages thereby rendering the microimages visible.