Patents by Inventor Edgar Muller

Edgar Muller has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Patent number: 11707764
    Abstract: The invention relates to the field of the protection of security documents such as for example banknotes and identity documents against counterfeit and illegal reproduction. In particular, the present invention provides processes for magnetically transferring one or more indicia into a not yet hardened coating layer made of a coating composition including platelet-shaped magnetic or magnetizable pigment particles so as to produce optical effect layers (OELs) as anti-counterfeit means on security documents or security articles or for decorative purposes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 25, 2022
    Date of Patent: July 25, 2023
    Assignee: SICPA HOLDING SA
    Inventors: Neda Nikseresht Ghanepour, Evgeny Loginov, Mathieu Schmid, Claude-Alain Despland, Edgar Muller
  • Publication number: 20220143649
    Abstract: The invention relates to the field of the protection of security documents such as for example banknotes and identity documents against counterfeit and illegal reproduction. In particular, the present invention provides processes for magnetically transferring one or more indicia into a not yet hardened coating layer made of a coating composition including platelet-shaped magnetic or magnetizable pigment particles so as to produce optical effect layers (OELs) as anti-counterfeit means on security documents or security articles or for decorative purposes.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 25, 2022
    Publication date: May 12, 2022
    Inventors: Neda NIKSERESHT GHANEPOUR, Evgeny LOGINOV, Mathieu SCHMID, Claude-Alain DESPLAND, Edgar MULLER
  • Patent number: 11292027
    Abstract: The invention relates to the field of the protection of security documents such as for example banknotes and identity documents against counterfeit and illegal reproduction. In particular, the present invention provides processes for magnetically transferring one or more indicia into a not yet hardened coating layer made of a coating composition comprising platelet-shaped magnetic or magnetizable pigment particles so as to produce optical effect layers (OELs) as anti-counterfeit means on security documents or security articles or for decorative purposes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 14, 2017
    Date of Patent: April 5, 2022
    Assignee: SICPA HOLDING SA
    Inventors: Neda Nikseresht Ghanepour, Evgeny Loginov, Mathieu Schmid, Claude-Alain Despland, Edgar Muller
  • Patent number: 11065866
    Abstract: The apparatus and methods of the present disclosure relate to devices comprising spinning magnets driven by electric motors for use with printing or coating equipment. These devices and methods are for orienting magnetic or magnetisable pigment particles in an unhardened coating composition on a substrate. Specifically, these devices and methods are for producing optical effect layers. The apparatus comprises a holder, onto which is mounted a motor and a permanent magnet assembly. The motor is configured to spin the permanent magnet assembly. The holder is configured to be removably fixed to a base of a rotating magnetic cylinder (RMC) or a flatbed printing unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 19, 2015
    Date of Patent: July 20, 2021
    Assignee: SICPA HOLDING SA
    Inventors: Evgeny Loginov, Mathieu Schmid, Claude-Alain Despland, Pierre Degott, Edgar Muller
  • Patent number: 10610888
    Abstract: The invention relates to the field of the protection of security documents such as for example banknotes and identity documents against counterfeit and illegal reproduction. In particular, the present invention provides processes for magnetically transferring one or more indicia into a not yet hardened coating layer made of a coating composition comprising platelet-shaped magnetic or magnetizable pigment particles so as to produce optical effect layers (OELs) as anti-counterfeit means on security documents or security articles or for decorative purposes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 12, 2017
    Date of Patent: April 7, 2020
    Assignee: SICPA HOLDING SA
    Inventors: Neda Nikseresht Ghanepour, Evgeny Loginov, Mathieu Schmid, Claude-Alain Despland, Edgar Muller
  • Publication number: 20190314857
    Abstract: The invention relates to the field of the protection of security documents such as for example banknotes and identity documents against counterfeit and illegal reproduction. In particular, the present invention provides processes for magnetically transferring one or more indicia into a not yet hardened coating layer made of a coating composition comprising platelet-shaped magnetic or magnetizable pigment particles so as to produce optical effect layers (OELs) as anti-counterfeit means on security documents or security articles or for decorative purposes.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 12, 2017
    Publication date: October 17, 2019
    Inventors: Neda NIKSERESHT GHANEPOUR, Evgeny LOGINOV, Mathieu SCHMID, Claude-Alain DESPLAND, Edgar MULLER
  • Publication number: 20190217335
    Abstract: The invention relates to the field of the protection of security documents such as for example banknotes and identity documents against counterfeit and illegal reproduction. In particular, the present invention provides processes for magnetically transferring one or more indicia into a not yet hardened coating layer made of a coating composition comprising platelet-shaped magnetic or magnetizable pigment particles so as to produce optical effect layers (OELs) as anti-counterfeit means on security documents or security articles or for decorative purposes.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 14, 2017
    Publication date: July 18, 2019
    Inventors: Neda NIKSERESHT GHANEPOUR, Evgeny LOGINOV, Mathieu SCHMID, Claude-Alain DESPLAND, Edgar MULLER
  • Publication number: 20170305184
    Abstract: The present invention relates to the field of devices and processes for producing optical effect layers (OEL) comprising magnetically bi-axially oriented platelet-shaped magnetic or magnetizable pigment particles, in particular for producing said OELs as anti-counterfeit means on security documents or security articles or for decorative purposes. The process described herein comprises the step of a) applying on a substrate surface a radiation curable coating composition comprising platelet-shaped magnetic or magnetizable pigment particles, b) exposing the radiation curable coating composition to a dynamic magnetic field of a magnetic assembly comprising a Halbach cylinder assembly, and c) at least partially curing the radiation curable coating composition of step b) so as to fix the platelet-shaped magnetic or magnetizable pigment particles in their adopted positions and orientations, said step c) being carried out partially simultaneously or simultaneously with step b).
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 20, 2015
    Publication date: October 26, 2017
    Applicant: SICPA HOLDINGS SA
    Inventor: Edgar MULLER
  • Publication number: 20170232727
    Abstract: The apparatus and methods of the present disclosure relate to devices comprising spinning magnets driven by electric motors for use with printing or coating equipment. These devices and methods are for orienting magnetic or magnetisable pigment particles in an unhardened coating composition on a substrate. Specifically, these devices and methods are for producing optical effect layers. The apparatus comprises a holder, onto which is mounted a motor and a permanent magnet assembly. The motor is configured to spin the permanent magnet assembly. The holder is configured to be removably fixed to a base of a rotating magnetic cylinder (RMC) or a flatbed printing unit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 19, 2015
    Publication date: August 17, 2017
    Inventors: Evgeny LOGINOV, Mathieu SCHMID, Claude-Alain DESPLAND, Pierre DEGOTT, Edgar MULLER
  • Publication number: 20140008906
    Abstract: The invention concerns a device for magnetically transferring indicia, such as a design or an image, to a wet coating layer applied on a substrate, such as a sheet or a web, wherein the said coating layer comprises at least one type of magnetic or magnetizable particles; said device comprising a) at least one magnetized permanent-magnetic plate (2) carrying relief, engravings or cut-outs, mounted such that its relief surface remains accessible, b) at least one additional magnet (3), disposed below said at least one permanent-magnetic plate, facing the surface of the magnetic plate which is opposite to the relief, engraving or cut-out, and c) a holder (1), which has the mechanical function to hold the pieces together in fixed positions. A method for producing the device, the use of the device, and magnetically induced designs obtained with the device, which are useful for protecting currency, value—and identity documents, are disclosed as well.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 10, 2013
    Publication date: January 9, 2014
    Applicant: SICPA HOLDINGS S.A.
    Inventors: Mathieu SCHMID, Claude-Alain DESPLAND, Pierre DEGOTT, Edgar MULLER
  • Patent number: 8557403
    Abstract: The invention concerns a device for magnetically transferring indicia, such as a design or an image, to a wet coating layer applied on a substrate, such as a sheet or a web, wherein the said coating layer comprises at least one type of magnetic or magnetizable particles; said device comprising a) at least one magnetized permanent-magnetic plate (2) carrying relief, engravings or cut-outs, mounted such that its relief surface remains accessible, b) at least one additional magnet (3), disposed below said at least one permanent-magnetic plate, facing the surface of the magnetic plate which is opposite to the relief, engraving or cut-out, and c) a holder (1), which has the mechanical function to hold the pieces together in fixed positions. A method for producing the device, the use of the device, and magnetically induced designs obtained with the device, which are useful for protecting currency, value—and identity documents, are disclosed as well.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 18, 2007
    Date of Patent: October 15, 2013
    Assignee: SICPA Holding S.A.
    Inventors: Mathieu Schmid, Claude-Alain Despland, Pierre Degott, Edgar Muller
  • Publication number: 20130033032
    Abstract: The present invention concerns a security thread or stripe for the incorporation into or onto a value-document or currency substrate, as well as a method and means of making such thread or stripe. The thread or stripe comprises a plastic foil which carries a hardened coating comprising oriented magnetic or magnetizable pigment particles, the orientation of said pigment particles representing graphic information. Preferred are optically variable magnetic or magnetizable pigment particles. Said hardened coating may also be comprised between a first and a second plastic foil. Said graphic information is a repetitive seamless pattern of suitable repetition length, which is produced using a magnetic orienting cylinder having a corresponding repetitive seamless magnetic field pattern. A magnetic orienting cylinder and a process for process for producing such magnetic orienting cylinder are also disclosed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 3, 2011
    Publication date: February 7, 2013
    Applicant: SICPA HOLDING SA
    Inventors: Pierre Degott, Claude-Alain Despland, Mathieu Schmid, Edgar Muller, Gebhard Ritter
  • Patent number: 8159657
    Abstract: A method for marking and authenticating a security article, such as a banknote, a document, a ticket, a foil, a thread, a label, a card, or a commercial good, so as to provide for an easy authentication of said article by a machine, such as a currency acceptor, a ticket validator, or a hand-held authentication device. The security article is marked with a user-defined design, wherein said marking comprises dyes or pigments belonging to an extended, or hyperchromic color space which is not reproducible by commercially available, 4-color desktop reproduction equipment. The marking is authenticated by mathematically transforming crude spectral information to statistically independent hyper-color coordinates, and comparing selected hyper-color coordinates with corresponding reference values.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 27, 2010
    Date of Patent: April 17, 2012
    Assignee: SICPA Holding SA
    Inventors: Pierre Degott, Claude-Alain Despland, Edgar Muller
  • Patent number: 7892338
    Abstract: The invention discloses a method for marking and authenticating a security article, such as a banknote, a document, a ticket, a foil, a thread, a label, a card, or a commercial good, so as to provide for an easy authentication of said article by a machine, such as a currency acceptor, a ticket validator, or a hand-held authentication device. According to the disclosed method, the security article carries a marking in the form of a user-defined design, wherein said marking comprises dyes or pigments belonging to an extended, or hyperchromic color space which is not reproducible by commercially available, 4-color desktop reproduction equipment. The authentication of said marking includes the mathematical transformation of the crude spectral information to statistically independent hyper-color coordinates, and the comparison of selected hyper-color coordinates with corresponding reference values.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 5, 2003
    Date of Patent: February 22, 2011
    Assignee: SICPA Holding S.A.
    Inventors: Pierre Degott, Claude-Alain Despland, Edgar Muller
  • Publication number: 20100040845
    Abstract: The invention concerns a device for magnetically transferring indicia, such as a design or an image, to a wet coating layer applied on a substrate, such as a sheet or a web, wherein the said coating layer comprises at least one type of magnetic or magnetizable particles; said device comprising a) at least one magnetized permanent-magnetic plate (2) carrying relief, engravings or cut-outs, mounted such that its relief surface remains accessible, b) at least one additional magnet (3), disposed below said at least one permanent-magnetic plate, facing the surface of the magnetic plate which is opposite to the relief, engraving or cut-out, and c) a holder (1), which has the mechanical function to hold the pieces together in fixed positions. A method for producing the device, the use of the device, and magnetically induced designs obtained with the device, which are useful for protecting currency, value—and identity documents, are disclosed as well.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 18, 2007
    Publication date: February 18, 2010
    Applicant: SICPA HOLDING S.A.
    Inventors: Mathieu Schmid, Claude-Alain Despland, Pierre Degott, Edgar Muller
  • Publication number: 20090261572
    Abstract: Security document, such as a banknote, a value paper, an identification document, an access card, a security label or packaging, comprising an imprint-able substrate, chosen from the group of papers, cardboards, textiles and polymer sheets, as a first constituting part, and at least a second constituting part, chosen from the group of printing inks, security threads, windows, fibers, planchettes, foils, and decals, wherein a same security element is contained at least a first time in or on one of its constituting parts, and at least a second time in or on another of its constituting parts. Method for producing a security document, characterized in that a same security element is applied at least a first time in a first step to one constituting part of said document, and at least a second time in a second step to another constituting part of said document.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 15, 2009
    Publication date: October 22, 2009
    Applicant: SICPA Holding S.A.
    Inventors: Anton Bleikolm, Pierre Degott, Claude-Alain Despland, Edgar Muller
  • Patent number: 7478757
    Abstract: The invention discloses a method and a device for the authentication of a document, a valued good or a packaging, carrying a marking (M) exhibiting a viewing-angle dependent light reflection spectrum. The authentication method is based on a measurement of the intensity of light reflected by the marking at least at two different viewing angles in response to a sequential wide-angle illumination with light of different spectral characteristics, and the comparison of the measured intensity values with corresponding reference values. The authentication device (1) has at least two light sources (4) of different spectral characteristics, a wide-angle illumination optics (3), and at least two photodetectors (5) collecting light reflected by said markings at least at two different viewing angles.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 5, 2004
    Date of Patent: January 20, 2009
    Assignee: SIPCA Holding S.A.
    Inventors: Milan Vasic, Edgar Muller
  • Publication number: 20080241492
    Abstract: Pasty ink for the engraved steel die printing process, having a viscosity value above 3 Pa·s, preferably above 5 Pa·s at 40° C., and comprising an infrared absorbing material, wherein said infrared absorbing material is a transition element compound whose IR-absorption is a consequence of electronic transitions within the d-shell of transition element atoms or ions.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 16, 2006
    Publication date: October 2, 2008
    Applicant: SICPA Holding S.A.
    Inventors: Marlyse Demartin Maeder, Claude-Alain Despland, Edgar Muller, Pierre Degott
  • Patent number: 7402614
    Abstract: Re-dispersible pigmented printing ink compositions, preferably for the continuous ink jet printing process are obtained by the addition of a flocculating agent to the pigment dispersion in the printing liquid. The compositions do not form hard sediments and are easy to re-disperse on stopping and resuming the printing operations. Suitable flocculating agents bind the pigment particles in the sediment into three-dimensional “airy” structures, which are easy to break up. The ink compositions of the invention are furthermore characterized by a good printability in the dispersed state.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 29, 2002
    Date of Patent: July 22, 2008
    Assignee: SICPA Holding S.A.
    Inventors: Xavier Marguerettaz, Thomas Tiller, Edgar Muller, Frederic Gremaud, Sylvain Jaquier
  • Publication number: 20080107319
    Abstract: A set of image-space data is reconstructed from a set of k-space data. The set of image-space data is generated by minimizing a cost functional by an iterative non-linear conjugate gradient process. The iterative process may be accelerated by introducing k-space weighting to the cost functional. With proper choice of k-space weighting, a block-Toeplitz matrix is generated which permits use of Fast Fourier Transform techniques. An image is rendered from the set of image-space data.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 29, 2007
    Publication date: May 8, 2008
    Applicant: SIEMENS CORPORATE RESEARCH, INC.
    Inventors: Ti-chiun Chang, Jiayu Song, Tong Fang, Peter Speier, Edgar Muller