Abstract: A spiral slot stacker has a two-part stripper 2 for stripping out sheet material from a stacker wheel 1. The two parts 2a, 2b of the stripper are movable. A first part 2a of the stripper is moved out of the stacker wheel together with the last bank note 100 to be stacked in such a way, that only the last bank note is stripped out and the next bank note 101 remains in the stacker wheel. The second part 2b of the stripper at this stage rotates along with the stacker wheel and will not be locked in the strip-out position until the spiral slot stacker is prepared for stacking a next bank-note stack. The bank notes, in the meanwhile supplied to the stacker wheel, are stripped out from the stacker wheel by the second part 2b of the stripper, while the first part 2a of the stripper is moved back to the strip-out position. By this method a collision of the first part of the stripper with the bank notes located in the stacker wheel is prevented.

Abstract: This invention relates to an object of value with a security element having a thermochromic layer and disposed completely on the surface of the object of value. The thermochromic layer is combined with an effect layer having visually and/or machine testable properties.

Abstract: The invention relates to a transport apparatus for a bank note processing machine wherein bank notes are supplied via a guiding element to a transport diverter in order to be diverted to a stacking pocket or stacking wheel. According to the invention an end area of the guiding element facing the transport diverter has a width decreasing in the transport direction. As a result, the bank note to be diverted leaves the guiding element successively so as to prevent the trailing bank note edge from hitting the surface of the diverter and reduces noise.

Abstract: The invention relates to a security system especially for security documents, wherein a security element is provided in a carrier plane, that under incident light holographically reconstructs a pattern outside the carrier plane, in which concealed information is stored and having a flat transparent verification element which on flat contact with the security element makes the information stored therein visible. The invention further relates to a security element and a verification element for use in the security system and a security document fitted with the security system. The invention additionally relates to an apparatus and a method for reading out the concealed information which is stored holographically in the pattern reconstructed on the security element under incident light.

Abstract: The invention relates to a data carrier with a security printed image produced by intaglio printing. The security printed image consists of a plurality of contrasting structural elements disposed in exact register. A first part of the structural elements is designed to be relieflike and tactile and a second part of the structural elements flat and nontactile.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a data carrier, especially a value document, such as a banknote, an identification card or the like, having a security element (20) that exhibits a print image (22) and a laser marking (24) at least partially overlapping the print image (22). According to the present invention, the security element (20) further exhibits, at least partially overlapping the print image (22), a laser modification area (26) that is in register with the laser marking (24) and in whose overlap area (28) with the print image (22) the visual appearance of the print image (22) is modified by the action of a laser beam.

Abstract: An operand stack (10) permits optimization of memory space and a continuous check of operand type by creating a type memory (20) which stores type information for each operand, said information comprising information about the length of the operand. This length information available for each single operand permits the operands to be stored extremely densely, while the prior art uses uniform length stack elements for each operand, their length depending on the longest operand.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a security element (20) for securing security papers, value documents and the like, having a substrate (22). According to the present invention, the substrate (22) is provided with an authenticating mark (24, 26) that, in transmitted light, imparts a first optical impression and, in reflected light, against a predefined and easily accessible background, imparts a second optical impression that differs significantly from the first optical impression.

Abstract: A data carrier has stored thereon a secret code and a user's biometric data. In using the data carrier, a data carrier terminal is first authenticated for access to data stored in the data carrier by reading a secret code from the data carrier in a manner known only to an authorized terminal, and then displaying the read secret on the data carrier terminal. If the user determines that the displayed secret code is correct, the user then presents a biometric feature which is read and compared to the biometric data stored on the data carrier. If the read biometric data matches the stored biometric data, then the user is authorized for further use of the data carrier on the data carrier terminal.

Abstract: The present invention relates to devices and a method for biometric authentication by means of reference data stored in a memory of a portable data carrier. For biometric authentication methods to make their final breakthrough with respect to more widespread use, there is a need for standardized generation of reference data for the particular biometric features used for authentication. Different suppliers of methods and devices for biometric authentication have hitherto used algorithms for generating the reference data which normally lead to different reference data which are not interchangeable. This limits the employability of biometric methods to the supplier's particular system. The present invention avoids this problem by storing several sets of biometric reference data, thereby increasing the likelihood of the evaluation of at least one set of stored biometric reference data being possible. Thus, the desired system-independent authentication can be attained.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a security element for securing valuable articles, having an optically variable layer (20) that imparts different color impressions at different viewing angles. According to the present invention, in a covering area (32), a semi-transparent ink layer (34) is disposed on top of the optically variable layer (20), the color impression of the optically variable layer (20) being coordinated with the color impression of the semi-transparent ink layer (34) in the covering area (32) when viewed under predefined viewing conditions.

Abstract: A data carrier printed by line intaglio having a halftone image represented by irregular line structures in the manner of an engraving. The line structures are superimposed at least partly by fine structures rendered in positive or negative representation. Methods are provided for generating and processing irregular line structures as digital image data on a computer following individual specifications by an operator. The line structures are transferred to a line intaglio printing plate. The digital image data is used for controlling an engraving apparatus. In the alternative, other printing processes may be involved wherein the digital image data is superimposed at least partly with fine structures rendered in positive or negative representation.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method and apparatus for processing sheet material, in particular papers of value such as bank notes, checks, etc., wherein different groups of sheet material are processed one after the other, the different groups of sheet material being separated for processing by separation means. In order to avoid mixing of sheet material, it is provided to restrain the singling of separation means and bank notes until release.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for producing a data carrier having a laser-markable layer and a transparent optically variable layer overlapping therewith at least in certain areas, wherein visually visible markings that at least partly overlap with the optically variable layer are produced in the laser-markable layer after the application of the optically variable layer. The invention further includes a data carrier produced by the method and a semifinished product, such as a data carrier blank, that is provided for processing by the method.

Abstract: Method for producing an exposed substrate, which has at least two different image areas. The substrate is provided with at least two photoresist layers, which are adjusted to the type of image areas to be produced.

Abstract: The invention relates to a cryptographic method with at least one computing step containing a modular exponentiation E according to E=xd(mod p·q), with a first prime factor p, a second prime factor q, an exponent d and a number x, whereby the modular exponentiation E is calculated according to the Chinese Remainder Theorem.

Abstract: An areal security element for security papers, documents of value and the like, with at least two different areal security features (20, 22) disposed one above the other, which each are recognizable upon viewing the security element from opposite sides, wherein the first security feature (20) has a thin-layer element (42) provided with an areal diffraction structure (46) with color shift effect, which contains a first reflection layer (40) with a first color effect, the second security feature (22) has a second reflection layer (44) provided with an areal diffraction structure (46) for producing a diffractive image, which shows a second color effect different from the first color effect, and wherein the thin-layer element (42) of the first security feature (20) and the reflection layer (44) of the second security feature (22) are provided with the same areal diffraction structure (46).

Abstract: A method for producing a security document having printed image 1 produced by steel intaglio printing and embossed microstructures 2 of an order of magnitude of less than 100 microns is carried out by one printing plate 8 on which both the steel intaglio structures and the microstructures are present. The parts of the microstructures closest to printing plate surface 9 are located 20 to 100 microns below the printing plate surface so that they are not touched and destroyed by the wiping cylinder. Alternative methods for producing a steel intaglio printing plate with integrated microstructures are provided. The microstructures can be used for embossing a diffractive relief or a blind embossing.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for through-contacting flexible substrates 1, in particular circuit boards, having electrically conductive contact zones 4, 41 present on two opposing surfaces 1a, 1b of the substrate provides that a cut 11 is produced obliquely to the surfaces of the substrate in the area of the contact zones, and the two substrate areas 20, 30 adjoining the oblique cut are moved past each other until they lock behind each other. Moving them past each other is effected by a ram 12, by the action of compressed air 13, by applying a vacuum 14 or by a driving hook 15 fixed to the cutting tool. The two steps of producing the cut and moving the two substrate areas adjoining the cut past each other are effected in a common processing station, preferably in a single operation.

Abstract: Proposed is a device actuated by a transponder for the generation of a switch signal. The device is based on an oscillating circuit (10) with a capacitance (C1), an identification coil (L1) and an oscillator amplifier (12). Connected to the oscillating circuit (10) is a frequency observer (20) which evaluates the frequency (f1) tuned in the oscillating circuit (10) and which when finding a change emits a switch signal (S). A change of the frequency in the oscillating circuit (10) is effected by the approach of a transponder (60). The device permits a nearly loadless transponder identification.