Abstract: The invention provides an identification document comprising a substantially opaque polycarbonate core layer bearing at least one indicium thereon, two layers of substantially transparent polycarbonate fixed to the core layer on opposed sides thereof, and at least one image-receiving layer capable of being imaged by dye diffusion thermal transfer, the image-receiving layer being fixed to one of the layers of substantially transparent polycarbonate on the side thereof remote from the core layer.

Abstract: The present invention relates to identification documents and smart cards. In one implementation, we provide a smart identification document including a document core. The document core is printed and laminated. The laminated core is milled to create a cavity. An integrated circuitry module is provided in the cavity. In one implementation, the cavity includes an upper cavity and a lower cavity. A laminate layer houses the upper cavity while the lower cavity extends into the document core. The upper cavity's aperture exceeds the aperture of the lower cavity resulting in a ledge in the laminate layer. A portion of the module may rest on the ledge, while another portion of the module may extend into the lower cavity. In another implementation, we provide a contactless smart card including a multi-layered structure. The structure includes a carrier layer including the smart card electronics.

Abstract: The invention relates to identification documents, and in particular to pre-printing processing covert images, such as UV or IR images, provided on such identification documents. In one implementation, the invention provides a method of processing a digital image that is to be printed on a surface of an identification document as a fluorescing-capable image to improve the quality of the image. Edges or boundaries are detected within the image, the detected edges or boundaries forming an intermediate image. The edges or boundaries within the image are emphasized, and the emphasized image is used for printing the covert image. In some implementations of the invention, a digital watermark is embedded in the covert image.

Abstract: The present invention relates to assembling identification documents in an over-the-counter issuing environment. In one implementation of the present invention, we provide an ink jet printer-based assembling system. An identification document substrate receives ink jet printed information. The printed substrate is laminated. In another implementation, a carrier web carries lamination pieces. Both the carrier web and the document substrate include form feed holes or other registration notches. The holes or notches are used to align the substrate with the lamination pieces, and to align a laminated document substrate for final cutting.

Abstract: The present invention relates to assembling identification documents in an over-the-counter issuing environment. In one implementation of the present invention, we provide an identification document capable of being printed by an ink jet printer-based system in an over-the-counter environment. The identification document comprises a core layer and a first indicium. The core layer has a first surface, and the first indicium is printed directly onto at the first surface of the core layer. The first indicium is formed by a pigmented ink jet ink. The core material can have an affinity for a particular substance (e.g., water) and the pigmented jet ink can include that substance (e.g., an aqueous-based ink jet ink). An identification document substrate can receive pigmented ink jet ink from an ink jet printer without requiring a receiver layer or receiver coating on the substrate.

Abstract: The present invention relates to identification documents and smart cards. In one implementation, we provide a smart identification document including a document core. The document core is printed and laminated. The laminated core is milled to create a cavity. An integrated circuitry module is provided in the cavity. In one implementation, the cavity includes an upper cavity and a lower cavity. A laminate layer houses the upper cavity while the lower cavity extends into the document core. The upper cavity's aperture exceeds the aperture of the lower cavity resulting in a ledge in the laminate layer. A portion of the module may rest on the ledge, while another portion of the module may extend into the lower cavity. In another implementation, we provide a contactless smart card including a multi-layered structure. The structure includes a carrier layer including the smart card electronics.

Abstract: In one embodiment, a method for manufacturing an identification document is provided. A substrate is provided that is constructed and arranged to receive printing thereon. A first variable indicium is printed on the substrate, where the first variable indicium is not visible to the human eye in ambient light but is visible to the human eye when viewed using a first type of light.

Abstract: An imaging medium comprises a color change layer containing a leuco dye. An acidic developing layer comprising a polyhydroxystyrene reacts with said color change layer to produce a color upon the application of heat. The polyhydroxystyrene may be used alone or in combination with traditional leuco dye developers.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is an imaging medium comprising a substrate carrying a color-change layer which develops color upon heating. The addition of a novel block copolymer surfactant containing ethylene oxide (EO) and propylene oxide (PO) into the leuco dye dispersion prevents color pre-formation during the dispersion preparation stage, and in the final coating fluid in the presence of developers and acids. The pluronic may complex the acid developer as well as the final image dye.

Abstract: An imaging medium comprises a substrate carrying a color-change layer. This color-change layer comprises two layers or phases comprising two color-forming reagents which react upon heating to cause a change in the color of the layer. The color-change layer is deactivated by exposure to actinic radiation such that after deactivation it no longer undergoes its thermal color-change. The color-change layer is detachable from the substrate by heating to a temperature lower than required to cause the color change, so that upon contact of the imaging medium with a receiving sheet each individual pixel of the color-change layer may be left attached to the substrate, transferred to the receiving sheet but left uncolored, or transferred to the receiving sheet and colored to a color level determined by the energy used in the associated thermal print head element.

Abstract: An imaging medium comprises a substrate carrying a color-change layer. This color-change layer comprises two layers or phases comprising two color-forming reagents which react upon heating to cause a change in the color of the layer. The color-change layer is deactivated by exposure to actinic radiation such that after deactivation it no longer undergoes its thermal color-change. The color-change layer is detachable from the substrate by heating to a temperature lower than required to cause the color change, so that upon contact of the imaging medium with a receiving sheet each individual pixel of the color-change layer may be left attached to the substrate, transferred to the receiving sheet but left uncolored, or transferred to the receiving sheet and colored to a color level determined by the energy used in the associated thermal print head element.

Abstract: The present invention provides a lithographic printing plate precursor element capable of being used on a printing press immediately after imagewise exposure without the requirement of bath processing. A preferred embodiment has in order (a) a substrate; and (b) a photoresist photohardenable upon imagewise exposure to actinic radiation, the photoresist comprising (i) a macromolecular organic binder; (ii) a photopolymerizable ethylenically unsaturated monomer having at least one terminal ethylenic group capable of forming a high polymer by chain-propagated polymerization, and (iii) a polymerization initiator activatable by actinic radiation; and (c) an on-press removable polyphosphate-containing overcoat. The polyphosphate-containing overcoat imparts the plate with a non-tacky surface and an enhanced resistance to the adverse influence of ambient humidity.

Abstract: The present invention provides a lithographic printing plate comprising a substrate and a photocurable polymeric photoresist, such as those based on free-radical initiated photocuring mechanisms. To constrain detrimental and undesired activity of excess free radicals, an embodiment of the printing plate is further provided with a free-radical regulating system. In a particular embodiment, the free-radical regulating system is provided as an overcoat, the overcoat being a light-transmissive overcoat and comprising a polymer having a pendant free-radical trapping group. A particular polymer for the overcoat has the formula ##STR1## wherein, m is from approximately 20% by weight to approximately 95% by weight, and n is from approximately 0% by weight to approximately 75% by weight. Capable of deactivating free-radicals actinically generated in the photoresist subsequent to exposure, the polymer is soluble in fountain or ink solution and incompatible with the photoresist.