Patents by Inventor Thomas Happ

Thomas Happ 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: 12626557
    Abstract: A sensor element for checking the authenticity of a planar data carrier, in particular a banknote, has a spin resonance feature. The sensor element contains a magnetic core having an air gap, into which the planar data carrier can be inserted for authentication and which defines an axial direction extending between the adjoining surfaces of the magnetic core, a polarization device for generating a static magnetic flux in the air gap, a modulation device for generating a time-varying magnetic modulation field in the air gap, and a resonator for exciting the spin resonance feature of the data carrier to be checked. The modulation device is formed by at least one planar coil arranged in the air gap, which planar coil has one or more turns about the axial direction of the air gap in one plane. The disclosure also relates to a checking device having such a sensor element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 22, 2022
    Date of Patent: May 12, 2026
    Assignee: GIESECKE+DEVRIENT CURRENCY TECHNOLOGY GMBH
    Inventors: Stephan Huber, Thomas Happ
  • Patent number: 12578292
    Abstract: A sensor element for testing a planar data carrier having a spin resonance feature. The sensor element comprises a magnetic core having an air gap, and at least one dividing gap, along which the magnetic core is divisible into two or more parts. The sensor element includes a polarization device for generating a static magnetic flux in the air gap. The magnetic core has at least one magnetic potentiometer switchable between two states. A first state has a first magnetic reluctance and, in the first state of the magnetic potentiometer, the sensor element is set up for a measurement on a spin resonance feature of a data carrier introduced into the air gap, A second state has a second, different magnetic reluctance and, in the second state of the magnetic potentiometer, the sensor element is set up for a division of the magnetic core along the dividing gap.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 19, 2022
    Date of Patent: March 17, 2026
    Assignee: GIESECKE+DEVRIENT CURRENCY TECHNOLOGY GMBH
    Inventors: Stephan Huber, Christian Schuller, Thomas Happ
  • Publication number: 20250356715
    Abstract: A sensor element is for testing a planar data carrier with a spin resonance feature. The sensor element includes a magnetic core having an air gap into which the planar data carrier can be inserted for testing purposes, a polarization device for generating a static magnetic flux in the air gap, and a resonator device for exciting the spin resonance feature of the data carrier to be tested in the air gap. The resonator device has at least two stripline resonators positioned at different positions in the air gap. The polarization device generates an in-homogeneous magnetic flux in the air gap so that the static magnetic flux has a first field strength at the position of a first stripline resonator and a second, different field strength at the position of a second stripline resonator.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 5, 2023
    Publication date: November 20, 2025
    Inventors: Stephan HUBER, Thomas HAPP
  • Publication number: 20250303774
    Abstract: A flat document of value has a surface area having a longitudinal direction and a transverse direction and which is provided with a luminescence feature in the surface area. The luminescence feature includes a first luminescence marker in a first subarea and a second luminescence marker in a second, different subarea. The first and second luminescence markers are able to be excited to luminesce at the same wavelength and luminesce, after excitation, essentially in the same emission band in the infrared spectral range. The first and second luminescence markers have spectrally similar infrared emission spectra, namely infrared emission spectra that have a spectral difference between 0.5% and 15%. The first and second subarea are arranged so as to overlap one another in the surface area in projection onto the longitudinal direction and/or in projection onto the transverse direction.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 10, 2023
    Publication date: October 2, 2025
    Inventors: Thomas HAPP, Wolfgang DECKENBACH
  • Patent number: 12403717
    Abstract: A method for producing a data carrier includes a luminescent security element having at least two subregions, which at least do not completely overlap one another.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 22, 2022
    Date of Patent: September 2, 2025
    Assignee: GIESECKE+DEVRIENT CURRENCY TECHNOLOGY GMBH
    Inventors: Thomas Giering, Thomas Happ, Stephan Steinlein, Johann Kecht, Kai Uwe Stock, Sina Scholz-Riecke
  • Publication number: 20250201047
    Abstract: A method for producing value documents and a sensor system for quality control during the production of value documents, wherein a first optical radiation emanating from a first semi-finished product is captured with a first sensitivity and a first resolution and is tested on the basis of a first test criterion. If the first test criterion is satisfied, the following steps are carried out: introducing and/or applying at least one feature substance into and/or onto the first semifinished product, wherein a value document or a second semifinished product is obtained; capturing a second optical radiation emanating from the value document or the second semifinished product with at least one second sensitivity and at least one second resolution; and testing the second optical radiation on the basis of at least one second test criterion.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 7, 2023
    Publication date: June 19, 2025
    Inventors: Thomas GIERING, Thomas HAPP
  • Patent number: 12266233
    Abstract: A sensor and a method for checking value documents are provided, each having a luminescent sheet-like substrate and a luminescent feature applied to a partial surface of the substrate, and to a value document processing apparatus. From the spectral vectors obtained for a plurality of measurement points and characterizing the intensity of the luminescent radiation of the value document detected in at least two spectral ranges, substrate intensity values and feature intensity values are determined, based on which a pure substrate mask is determined, which contains only those measurement points which reliably lie outside the feature. From the spectral vectors of the measurement points contained in the pure substrate mask, a mean substrate vector is determined, based on which corrected substrate intensity values and corrected feature intensity values and/or a spectral signature of the substrate and/or of the feature are or is, respectively, determined from the spectral vectors.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 8, 2021
    Date of Patent: April 1, 2025
    Assignee: GIESECKE+DEVRIENT CURRENCY TECHNOLOGY GMBH
    Inventors: Wolfgang Rauscher, Wolfgang Deckenbach, Julia Danhof, Thomas Happ
  • Publication number: 20240402105
    Abstract: A sensor element for testing a planar data carrier having a spin resonance feature. The sensor element comprises a magnetic core having an air gap, and at least one dividing gap, along which the magnetic core is divisible into two or more parts. The sensor element includes a polarization device for generating a static magnetic flux in the air gap. The magnetic core has at least one magnetic potentiometer switchable between two states. A first state has a first magnetic reluctance and, in the first state of the magnetic potentiometer, the sensor element is set up for a measurement on a spin resonance feature of a data carrier introduced into the air gap, A second state has a second, different magnetic reluctance and, in the second state of the magnetic potentiometer, the sensor element is set up for a division of the magnetic core along the dividing gap.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 19, 2022
    Publication date: December 5, 2024
    Inventors: Stephan HUBER, Christian SCHULLER, Thomas HAPP
  • Patent number: 12159504
    Abstract: A method for checking value documents involves the steps of: irradiating, by an excitation device, a first side of the value document with excitation radiation for exciting luminescence of a luminescent substance on the value document, such that the first side is a back side of the value document, capturing luminescence radiation which was excited by excitation of the luminescent substance at a front side of the value document by at least a part of the excitation radiation after transmission through the substrate of the value document and exits the value document at least partly at the back side of the value document after transmission through the value document, by a capture device, and checking the value document in dependence on at least one property of the captured luminescence radiation by means of an evaluation device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 7, 2020
    Date of Patent: December 3, 2024
    Assignee: GIESECKE+DEVRIENT CURRENCY TECHNOLOGY GMBH
    Inventors: Wolfgang Deckenbach, Thomas Giering, Thomas Happ
  • Publication number: 20240391271
    Abstract: A method for producing a data carrier includes a luminescent security element having at least two subregions, which at least do not completely overlap one another.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 22, 2022
    Publication date: November 28, 2024
    Inventors: Thomas GIERING, Thomas HAPP, Stephan STEINLEIN, Johann KECHT, Kai Uwe STOCK, Sina SCHOLZ-RIECKE
  • Publication number: 20240177555
    Abstract: A sensor element for checking the authenticity of a planar data carrier, in particular a banknote, has a spin resonance feature. The sensor element contains a magnetic core having an air gap, into which the planar data carrier can be inserted for authentication and which defines an axial direction extending between the adjoining surfaces of the magnetic core, a polarization device for generating a static magnetic flux in the air gap, a modulation device for generating a time-varying magnetic modulation field in the air gap, and a resonator for exciting the spin resonance feature of the data carrier to be checked. The modulation device is formed by at least one planar coil arranged in the air gap, which planar coil has one or more turns about the axial direction of the air gap in one plane. The disclosure also relates to a checking device having such a sensor element.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 22, 2022
    Publication date: May 30, 2024
    Inventors: Stephan HUBER, Thomas HAPP
  • Patent number: 11830329
    Abstract: A method for testing a value document having a luminescence feature involves guiding the value document past a test sensor in a transport direction. A scanning sequence occurs that repeats itself multiple times upon guiding the value document past the test sensor. The method involves irradiating a test region of the test sensor such that the test radiation is arranged to be remitted by the value document at least partially in a detection spectral range of the test sensor. Excitation radiation is arranged to cause an emission radiation of the luminescence feature in the detection spectral range. The method further involves scanning at least one location-dependent remission spectral value in the test region in the first irradiation phase, irradiating the test region only with the excitation radiation in a second irradiation phase, and scanning at least one location-dependent emission spectral value in the test region after the first irradiation phase.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 2016
    Date of Patent: November 28, 2023
    Assignee: GIESECKE+DEVRIENT CURRENCY TECHNOLOGY GMBH
    Inventors: Erich Kerst, Thomas Happ
  • Patent number: 11823522
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a method, a sensor, a sensor unit and a bank-note processing machine for checking the completeness and/or authenticity of value documents. A value document comprises at least one machine-readable feature substance in at the least two locations. According to the method, the value document is excited at least locally at measuring locations. Furthermore, a feature intensity with respect to the machine-readable feature substance is captured location-resolved at several different locations of the value document. The location-based feature intensities are classified location-based with the help of a threshold value. Furthermore, location-based limits of a location distribution to be expected of the machine-readable feature substance are determined. Finally, a location-based distribution of the classified feature intensities is assessed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 2016
    Date of Patent: November 21, 2023
    Assignee: GIESECKE+DEVRIENT CURRENCY TECHNOLOGY GMBH
    Inventors: Wolfgang Rauscher, Erich Kerst, Thomas Happ
  • Publication number: 20230274599
    Abstract: A sensor and a method for checking value documents are provided, each having a luminescent sheet-like substrate and a luminescent feature applied to a partial surface of the substrate, and to a value document processing apparatus. From the spectral vectors obtained for a plurality of measurement points and characterizing the intensity of the luminescent radiation of the value document detected in at least two spectral ranges, substrate intensity values and feature intensity values are determined, based on which a pure substrate mask is determined, which contains only those measurement points which reliably lie outside the feature. From the spectral vectors of the measurement points contained in the pure substrate mask, a mean substrate vector is determined, based on which corrected substrate intensity values and corrected feature intensity values and/or a spectral signature of the substrate and/or of the feature are or is, respectively, determined from the spectral vectors.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 8, 2021
    Publication date: August 31, 2023
    Inventors: Wolfgang RAUSCHER, Wolfgang DECKENBACH, Julia DANHOF, Thomas HAPP
  • Publication number: 20220277607
    Abstract: A method for checking value documents involves the steps of: irradiating, by an excitation device, a first side of the value document with excitation radiation for exciting luminescence of a luminescent substance on the value document, such that the first side is a back side of the value document, capturing luminescence radiation which was excited by excitation of the luminescent substance at a front side of the value document by at least a part of the excitation radiation after transmission through the substrate of the value document and exits the value document at least partly at the back side of the value document after transmission through the value document, by a capture device, and checking the value document in dependence on at least one property of the captured luminescence radiation by means of an evaluation device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 7, 2020
    Publication date: September 1, 2022
    Inventors: Wolfgang DECKENBACH, Thomas GIERING, Thomas HAPP
  • Publication number: 20210213771
    Abstract: A security transfer element includes a security element layer composite with a functional layer arranged to develop an optically variable effect for a viewer. On the opposite side of the functional layer with respect to the viewer, the security element layer composite has at least one luminescent substance. The luminescent substance has a primary emission wavelength and can be excited by an excitation radiation. The functional layer is configured to be opaque to the emission radiation of the luminescent substance. The security transfer element comprises a carrier film, and the security element layer composite is arranged on the carrier film in a detachable manner. The security element layer composite comprises a functional layer and an adhesive layer. The functional layer has an embossing lacquer with an embossed structure. The embossing lacquer is coated with a metallization. The adhesive layer comprises several luminescent substances.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 6, 2019
    Publication date: July 15, 2021
    Inventors: Wolfgang DECKENBACH, Thomas GIERING, Stephan STEINLEIN, Johann KECHT, Thomas HAPP
  • Publication number: 20210019976
    Abstract: A method for testing a value document having a luminescence feature involves guiding the value document past a test sensor in a transport direction. A scanning sequence occurs that repeats itself multiple times upon guiding the value document past the test sensor. The method involves irradiating a test region of the test sensor such that the test radiation is arranged to be remitted by the value document at least partially in a detection spectral range of the test sensor. Excitation radiation is arranged to cause an emission radiation of the luminescence feature in the detection spectral range. The method further involves scanning at least one location-dependent remission spectral value in the test region in the first irradiation phase, irradiating the test region only with the excitation radiation in a second irradiation phase, and scanning at least one location-dependent emission spectral value in the test region after the first irradiation phase.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 21, 2016
    Publication date: January 21, 2021
    Inventors: Erich KERST, Thomas HAPP
  • Publication number: 20200273279
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a method, a sensor, a sensor unit and a bank-note processing machine for checking the completeness and/or authenticity of value documents. A value document comprises at least one machine-readable feature substance in at the least two locations. According to the method, the value document is excited at least locally at measuring locations. Furthermore, a feature intensity with respect to the machine-readable feature substance is captured location-resolved at several different locations of the value document. The location-based feature intensities are classified location-based with the help of a threshold value. Furthermore, location-based limits of a location distribution to be expected of the machine-readable feature substance are determined. Finally, a location-based distribution of the classified feature intensities is assessed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 21, 2016
    Publication date: August 27, 2020
    Inventors: Wolfgang RAUSCHER, Erich KERST, Thomas HAPP
  • Patent number: 10657750
    Abstract: The invention relates to an apparatus and a method for checking value documents marked with feature substances, and to the corresponding feature substances. The feature substances are detected on the basis of Raman or SERS spectroscopy also at high transport speeds with a spatial resolution in the low millimeter region or better and reliably identified.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 29, 2019
    Date of Patent: May 19, 2020
    Assignee: Giesecke+Devrient Currency Technology GmbH
    Inventors: Martin Clara, Thomas Giering, Johann Kecht, Wolfgang Rauscher, Martin Stark, Thomas Happ
  • Patent number: 10417856
    Abstract: The invention relates to an apparatus and a method for checking value documents marked with feature substances, and to the corresponding feature substances. The feature substances are detected on the basis of Raman or SERS spectroscopy also at high transport speeds with a spatial resolution in the low millimeter region or better and reliably identified.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 16, 2015
    Date of Patent: September 17, 2019
    Assignee: GIESECKE & DEVRIENT GMBH
    Inventors: Martin Clara, Thomas Giering, Johann Kecht, Wolfgang Rauscher, Martin Stark, Thomas Happ