Abstract: A security document such as a credit card or the like carries an automatically, machine-sensed material adapted to generate reproducible signals unique to such document. The material is arranged randomly along a line-like track and sensed by a scanning head having a transverse sensing slot of much greater length than the track width, whereby reproducibility of the scanning signals is assured. A system for testing the authenticity of such documents includes sensing means for detecting the material of the line-like track and converting it into a corresponding electric signal and a comparator means in which the electric signal is tested as to its identity relative to a signal generated in the same manner during the previous sensing. The electric signal is derived from a verification characteristic of the card which may intrinsic property of the card material.

Abstract: A security document such as a credit card or the like carries an automatically, machine-sensed material adapted to generate reproducible signals unique to such document. The material is arranged randomly along a line-like track and sensed by a scanning head having a transverse sensing slot of much greater length than the track width, whereby reproducibility of the scanning signals is assured. A system for testing the authenticity of such documents includes sensing means for detecting the material of the line-like track and converting it into a corresponding electric signal and a comparator means in which the electric signal is tested as to its identify relative to a signal generated in the same manner during the previous sensing. The electric signal is derived from a verification characteristic of the card which may be intrinsic property of the card material.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an antifalsification document having an embedded secutiry thread, and to a method for producing the same. This security thread is transparent and has a printed pattern on one side and, on the opposite side, a lenticular structure coordinated with the printed pattern. Such threads change their appearance when the viewing angle changes. To produce the security threads, a transparent film impressed with the desired lenticular relief is directed to a printing apparatus in exact register via guide elements having a relief structure that is negative with respect to the film impression, and then divided in a cutting apparatus into individual threads.

Abstract: In order to increase the protection of security documents such as ban notes, etc., against forgery, security threads are embedded in the document which have at least two areas extending in the longitudinal direction of the thread and differing in their physical properties. The thread is preferably a coextruded multicomponent synthetic thread whose individual components contain additives such as dyes or fluorescent substances and/or particles having electrical or magnetic properties. The testing of the authenticity of the security thread is directed toward the presence of these additives and their mutual geometrical distribution in certain areas of the security thread.

Abstract: The invention relates to a printed security with a hallmark in the form of a coating applied in a vacuum to the surface of the security. This coating is so thin that it is almost invisible even as a metal layer, while at the same time permitting accurate automatic examination. The absorption characteristics of the security are preferably measured in a certain range of the wavelength of the spectrum.

Abstract: A method for examining the degree of wear of banknotes containing printing translucent with respect to light in the invisible spectral range. The method comprises irradiating the bank note with light containing portions of the invisible spectral range, such as infrared light; collecting the reflected portion of the applied light; and evaluating same for determining the wear condition of the banknote.

Abstract: Security paper with luminescing authenticity characteristics which after excitation with invisible light emit exclusively invisible light of different wavelengths as authenticity signal. The luminophores can be included in the printing ink used or they can be added to the paper material in the manufacture of the paper material. A corresponding test apparatus makes it possible to check the authenticity of the security paper in the presence of customers but unnoticed by them; thereby the invisibility of the test signal and the authenticity signal are taken advantage of and the test device is hidden behind a plate non-transmissive for visible light which however is transmissive for the test signal and for the authenticity signal.

Abstract: This invention relates to a security paper with a hallmark in the form of a coating applied by vacuum deposition techniques to the surface of a paper substrate. The coating is very thin and almost invisible to the naked eye even as a metal layer, although permitting accurate automatic or machine examination for verification purposes. the absorption of the hallmarks in a certain range of the wavelength of the spectrum, the exiting spcetrum of luminescence, the photoconductivity and/or the electrical conductivity of the hallmarks are characteristics used during the automatic examination of the authenticity of the security paper.

Abstract: Security paper with narrow band luminescing authenticity characteristics which can only be excited in substantially the same wavelength region in which it also emits. With these authenticity characteristics therefore the authenticity signal is overlapped or covered by the test signal of several orders of magnitude stronger. The authenticity of the security papers cannot accordingly be tested with the normal processes or devices for determining of luminescence. The test devices used take advantage of the decay behavior of the luminescence emission for detection. The authenticity characteristics can be added to the paper material, the printing ink used, further mottling fibres or security threads.

Abstract: A security document such as a credit card or the like has material adapted to be optically scanned arranged along a line in the document. A modulating structure such as a document paper thickness is disposed within the document so as to be positioned between the line and an optically scanning, light sensing device. Accordingly, light emitting material in the line of the card upon being scanned will have the light thereof modulated so as to produce a reproducible authenticating variable when said line is scanned by the light sensing device.

Abstract: A method of determining the degree of wear of bank-notes 1, in which testing is carried out along edge 2 with a photodiode row 30 arranged perpendicular to the direction of transport. Depending on the skew of the note, whichever photodiode of the row completely covering the edge of the note is used for testing. The selection of a diode and the testing are independent of each other and are carried out along predetermined sections of the bank-note edge, controlled by a pulse coupled with the movement of the note. The photodiode ascertained during a selection section 4 is maintained during the entire following test section 3, so that testing is not affected by disturbing changes of the measuring diode. Selection sections 4 can be selected so as to be so short that the test sections 3 succeed each other practically continuously.

Abstract: A data carrier having excitable marking materials to record information in code and further materials to camouflage them, as well as a method of producing this type of data carrier. The coded information is given in the form of the local presence or absence of the excitable marking materials, and is read by detecting the state of excitation, which can only be done with difficulty. The camouflage materials have the function of preventing the detection of the marking material pattern indirectly by means of a chemical laboratory analysis; this camouflage is successful when materials are used which are very similar chemically to the marking materials, and in particular yield the same results as these in a chemical laboratory analysis, but are not excitable with the same means or in the same manner.

Abstract: Security papers with luminescing authenticity characteristics built in or printed thereon which absorb in the visible region of the optical spectrum but in the infrared have a transparent region in which the luminophore also emits. By the absorption in the visible undesired parasitic emissions are suppressed which would make the luminophore visually evident on corresponding excitation. For testing the authenticity of the document the emission is investigated in the infrared. Suitable luminophores are rare earth metal luminophores in suitable host lattices, particularly in ferrite lattices or garnet lattices, which contain transition metal ions as absorbing elements.

Abstract: Security paper with luminescing authenticity characteristics which after excitation with invisible light emit exclusively invisible light of different wavelengths as authenticity signal. The luminophores can be included in the printing ink used or they can be added to the paper material in the manufacture of the paper material. A corresponding test apparatus makes it possible to check the authenticity of the security paper in the presence of customers but unnoticed by them; thereby the invisibility of the test signal and the authenticity signal are taken advantage of and the test device is hidden behind a plate non-transmissive for visible light which however is transmissive for the test signal and for the authenticity signal.

Abstract: Security papers with luminescing authenticity features worked into them or printed on them. The authenticity features used consist of a luminophore and one or more absorbing materials by which the emission and/or the excitation spectrum of the luminophore is changed in detectable fashion. The dyestuff can be present as an admixture to the luminophore, as a coating of a luminophore layer or as a coating on luminophore powder grains. For checking the authenticity of documents the emission spectrum of the luminophore is not used but the change generated by the technology used in the emission or excitation spectra.

Abstract: Security paper with authenticity characteristics embodied therein or printed thereon which are both ferrimagnetic and also only slightly absorbed in the infrared spectral region.The presence of both properties at the same position on the security paper is tested, wherein both tests can preferably be carried out simultaneously. Materials which show this rare combination of properties are some ferrites, ferrimagnetic garnet compounds and the so-called green ferromagnetic compounds.

Abstract: Security paper with narrow band luminescing authenticity characteristics which can only be excited in substantially the same wavelength region in which it also emits. With these authenticity characteristics therefore the authenticity signal is overlapped or covered by the test signal of several orders of magnitude stronger. The authenticity of the security papers cannot accordingly be tested with the normal processes or devices for determining of luminescence. The test devices used take advantage of the decay behavior of the luminescence emission for detection. The authenticity characteristics can be added to the paper material, the printing ink used, further mottling fibres or security threads.

Abstract: The valuable papers, such as the securities and the like, have safeguard elements against forgery or falsification and which can be mechanically examined using light of the visible, ultraviolet or infrared spectral regions and which are effective, particularly, against erasure. The paper is provided with a homogeneous protective coating which is applied either prior to or following the application of an information print by an ink impression. The paper, the protective coating and the printing ink have respective reflectance or fluoroescence properties such that, any damage to the protective coating, such as an attempted erasure, is detectable either at the wavelength of light serving to read the information print or at a special test wavelength.

Abstract: The paper carries, at one or more points, materials which, in the excited condition, fluoresce in the visible, ultraviolet, or infra-red spectral range in the characteristic emission spectra. The device includes a light source for exciting fluorescent substances, a condenser lens concentrating the light emitted by the paper, a narrow band interference filter, a focusing lens, and a series of photocells arranged in the focal plane of the focusing lens. The geometric arrangement of the photocells is chosen appropriately to identify an emission-line doublet. The outputs of the photocells are fed to a pre-amplifier and then to a comparator which may effect a subtraction of the amplified photocell output to provide an output signal. In a variation, the quotient of the photocurrents of two photocells is compared to establish the authenticity of the paper.

Abstract: In the method, light from an ultraviolet light source is directed alternately through a neutral filter, uniformly damping the radiation of the light source, and through a partially absorbing filter damping only the wavelengths necessary to excite the fluorescence of a selected flourescent material, the partially absorbing light filter including the selected fluorescent material. The light passing through the filters is then directed through a first blocking filter onto a sample to be checked for the presence of a selected fluorescent material. Only the radiation from the sample is directed through a second blocking filter onto a photodetector or the like. The respective intensities of radiation of the sample, effected by the neutral filter and by the partially absorbent filter, are measured and converted into output signals indicative of the presence or absence of the selected fluorescent material.