Abstract: A security document comprises a substrate (1) and an optical waveguide (7). Couplers (10a, 10h) are provided in the waveguide (7) for coupling light into and out of the waveguide. The couplers (10a, 10b) can e.g. by gratings, scattering objects, holograms, luminescent dyes or perforations. The authenticity of the document can be verified using methods based on the properties of the waveguide.

Abstract: The disclosure relates to the field of graphical elements and is directed to an optical effect layer (OEL), a device and a method for producing same. The disclosure provides an optical effect that is easy to detect as such and exhibits a viewing-angle dependent apparent motion of image features over an extended length if the viewing angle with respect to the OEL changes. An OEL includes a binder material being at least partially transparent and a plurality of particles dispersed within the layer. Each particle has a non-isotropic reflectivity and may be magnetic or magnetizable. The orientation of the particles forms an orientation pattern extending over a length within an extended surface of the OEL, such that the local average of an angle between (i) a straight line along an observed longest dimension within the corresponding cross-section shape, and (ii) said first direction x varies according to a function (?) of a position (P) along said first direction.

Abstract: A document and an Anti-counterfeiting method for use in such documents are described. Said document and Anti-counterfeiting method include introducing a plurality of raised nanoscopic to microscopic structures, here referred to as reconfigurable structures, formed over a polymer substrate to induce optical changes, such as structural color and/or optical fuzziness. Dynamic changes using liquids provide the anti-counterfeiting measures.

Abstract: A method and an apparatus for forming a surface relief microstructure, especially an optically variable image on a paper substrate are provided, the method comprising the steps of: A) applying a curable composition to at least a portion of the frontside of the paper substrate; B) contacting at least a portion of the curable composition with surface relief microstructure, especially optically variable image forming means; C) curing the composition by using at least one UV lamp (1, 2, 3) which is arranged on the backside of the paper substrate; D) optionally depositing a layer of a transparent high refractive index material and/or a metallic layer on at least a portion of the cured composition, wherein the lamp (1, 2, 3) having emission peak(s) in the UV-A and near VIS range and the curable composition comprises at least a photoinitiator which absorbs in the UV-A region and preferably in the near VIS range.

Abstract: The invention relates to a security element for security papers, value documents and the like with at least one microstructure which has a visual appearance that is viewing angle-dependent in transmission, whereby the at least one microstructure is formed from an arrangement of a multiplicity of structure elements with a characteristic structure spacing of 1 ?m or more. According to the invention it is provided that the security element contains at least one motif image which, through the viewing angle-dependent visual appearance of the microstructure, is visible in transmission from certain viewing angles, and invisible in transmission from other viewing angles, and that the microstructure and the motif image together have a thickness of 50 ?m or less.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a security element (20) for security papers, value documents and the like, having a feature region (24) that selectively influences incident electromagnetic radiation (30). According to the present invention, it is provided that the feature region (24) includes metallic nanopatterns (28) in which volume or surface plasmons are excited and/or resonance effects are caused by the incident electromagnetic radiation (30).

Abstract: An optical security component intended to be checked in reflection in a checking spectral band includes a layer that is reflective in the checking spectral band. The layer exhibits a structured zone that includes microstructures distributed spatially in a uniform manner over a whole of the structured zone so as to form an optical structure that is at least partially scattering in the checking spectral band. The microstructures have heights that are distributed according to a random function, modulated over the structured zone by a modulation function so as to form, after illumination of the optical security component at a given angle, an image identifiable by observation in reflection.

Abstract: An identification film and pattern having high transparency and a reflectance spectrum with respect to a particular wavelength and including photonic crystals patterned into a particular shape and an anticounterfeiting product including the same are disclosed. A highly transparent colloidal photonic crystal film is easily manufactured using photocurable colloidal suspensions. Even though a plurality of patterns (including sub-patterns) is formed in plural films, there is no reduction in optical characteristics such as transparency, reflectance spectra, and the like. Thus, a film patterned into a desired shape is manufactured and thus usability thereof is enhanced, and a plurality of reflectance spectra with various wavelength ranges is provided and thus identification capability or security is enhanced.

Abstract: A method of manufacturing a security document comprising the steps of providing a transparent plastics substrate, applying a radiation curable ink directly to at least side of the substrate and simultaneously embossing and curing with radiation different regions in the same area of the ink on one side of the substrate with at least two different embossed relief structures, each forming a different type of diffractive security element integrated within the same area to form a composite security device.

Abstract: An optical security device (10; 700) is provided which includes a transparent or translucent substrate (15; 705), at least one first array of repeating elements (20; 720) in or on a first side (16; 706) of the substrate (15; 705), at least one second array of repeating elements (30; 730) on a second side of the substrate. The second array of repeating elements (20; 720) is substantially in register with the first array of elements (30; 730), whereby a first image (130; 725) is visible when viewing the device from the first side, and a second image (200; 735) is visible when viewing the device from the second side. The brightness or colour levels of repeating image elements (30; 720, 730) on at least one side of the substrate may be modulated region-wise to produce a greyscale or coloured image.

Abstract: The present invention relates to aluminium flakes having a thickness between 7 and 9 nm, coating compositions containing them and the use of the coating compositions for forming (security) products. When the compositions of the present invention are used in coating a hologram the obtained products show an extremely bright OVD image and extremely strong rainbow effect, high purity and contrast.

Abstract: An optical multilayer (1) comprising textured surfaces suitable for use in anti-counterfeiting and/or security applications is described.

Abstract: Methods and systems for optical effects in pigments, inks, and on media. One aspect of this disclosure involves a pigment particle which includes a core, having a fluorescent material and having a spherical shape, and a shell surrounding the core; the shell includes a photochromic material which has a first optical property in a first light source and a second optical property in a second light source which includes a set of wavelengths not sufficiently present in the first light source. The second optical property attenuates an emitted radiation from the fluorescent material. Other aspects are also described.

Abstract: Method of providing an authenticated printed document including generating a message image by applying conversion parameters to text, the message image being defined by pixels and including converted text in a first color and a background in a second color; generating a first pixel array of the same pixel size as the image by selecting a sub-pixel configuration for each pixel of the first array; generating a second pixel array corresponding to the first array.

Abstract: A security device comprises a substrate having a region provided with an antireflective grating, and is configured to generate a security image when visible light is incident on the grating to provide authentication for an observer, wherein the grating comprises a combined broadband antireflective and narrowband reflective structure, the structure is antireflective for visible light between 400 and 700 nm which is incident within ±45° of a normal to the grating and the structure produces a narrowband reflection of light having a wavelength of less than 550 nm at glancing angles to the grating when visible light is incident at an angle greater than ±45° from the grating normal, wherein the security device is configured to generate the security image from the narrowband reflection.

Abstract: A security element and a method of printing a security element using a rotary printing process, the security element including a plurality of image elements, the method including: providing a transparent or translucent substrate having a printing side; and printing an image layer onto at least a portion of the printing side of the substrate, wherein the image layer is contiguous and includes an extended edge region and an image region, wherein at least a portion of the extended edge region is printed before the image region, and wherein the image region includes unprinted and printed areas.

Abstract: A document includes an authenticity-indicating feature configured such that a reproduction of the document renders the printed feature visually distinctive from an original rendering of the document. The printed feature includes printed elements arranged on the substrate in a latent image region and a background region. The printed elements in the latent image region include a plurality of regularly spaced printed shapes arranged with a spatial frequency less than about 50 per inch. The printed elements are printed with a carbon-based ink, toner, or dye, and separated from one another by contrasting regions that do not include the carbon-based ink, toner, or dye. The printed elements in the background region are at least partially surrounded by the latent image region such that, in the original rendering of the document, the plurality of regularly spaced printed shapes is not readily distinguishable from the background.

Abstract: Moiré-type magnification systems are disclosed. The moiré magnification systems can comprise a surface and a periodic array of image relief microstructures having a periodic surface curvature disposed on or within the surface. The image relief microstructures can have a first image repeat period along a first image reference axis within the array, and the periodic surface curvature can have a first curvature repeat period along a first curvature reference axis within the array. Transmission of light through the array, reflection of light from the array, or a combination thereof forms a magnified moiré image.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method of forming color laser images. The latent image made up or color subpixels (2) and of non-colored zones is personalized by a laser beam (8) that acts in the laserable layer (3) situated under the color subpixels (2) and the non-colored zones to cause a final personalized color laser image to appear. The invention is applicable to identity documents.

Abstract: A security element for manufacturing value documents, such as banknotes, checks or the like, has an upper side making available several micro images, in particular for a lens magnification arrangement. Each micro image is formed by a micro cavity structure having a multitude of micro cavities disposed side by side, the micro cavities have an extension of 0.5 to 3 ?m respectively in a spatial direction disposed parallel to the upper side. The micro cavity structure is optically reflective or highly refractive on its surface, so that on the surface at least partial reflection takes place, and for each micro image micro cavities of at least a first and a second type are present, which differ by an aspect ratio of the micro cavities, whereby each micro image is structured by the at least two different types of micro cavities.

Abstract: The invention relates to an optically variable element as well as a method for the production thereof. In a first area the optically variable element has at least one first color region which in the event of illumination generates a color dependent on the angle of observation and/or angle of illumination. The first color region has two or more zones (41 to 47) arranged next to each other. The two or more zones arranged next to each other have in each case a width and/or length dimension of less than 300 ?m. In at least one first zone (41) of the zones (41 to 47) of the first color region a thin-film interference filter (15) is provided with at least one interference layer (17). The interference layer (17) of the thin-film interference filter (15) has a first average thickness (d1) in the first zone (41).

Abstract: A security device for authenticating bank notes, documents and other items, comprises a luminescent material for producing luminescent radiation of first and second wavelengths. The security device includes an optically variable structure for controlling emission of luminescent radiation of at least one of the first and second wavelengths from the security device, the security device being arranged to permit, from an area of the optically variable structure, emission of luminescence of the first and second wavelengths from the security device. The optically variable structure causes the relative emissivity of the security device for luminescent radiation of the first and second wavelengths to change with a change m emission angle, so that the security device produces an angle-dependent color shift m the emitted luminescent radiation.

Abstract: A method is described for producing a character, pattern, symbol and/or image (8) on a substrate (2) by way of pigment particles (1) which are arranged thereon and lose their color effect under the action of a laser (23), wherein different pigment particles (1) with at least three different color effects are arranged on and/or in the substrate (2). The invention is distinguished by the following method steps: (a) production of a color chart (14), in which the individual color effect of individual pigment particles (1) or individual clusters of pigment particles is contained as a function of their spatial coordinate on and/or in the substrate (2); (b) spatially resolved irradiation, which changes the color effect of only individual pigment particles (1) or individual clusters of pigment particles, by way of a laser (23) at a single frequency on the basis of the color chart (14) in order to produce a resulting color effect.

Abstract: A document with a security marker includes a substrate comprising an optical brightener; a background comprising an ultraviolet (UV) absorbing material arranged in a first pattern of lines having a first frequency and a first orientation; and a security mark comprising the UV material arranged in a second pattern of lines having a second frequency and a second orientation.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method and product resulting from application distortion security images in an anti-copy document, printed on demand, which may be variable and use laser printers or printer/copiers and/or ink-jet printers and/or digital presses.

Abstract: A security document having a first side (11) and a second side (12), the security document comprising a first pattern (31) and a second pattern (32) located closer to the second side (12) than the first pattern (31), the first pattern (31) and the second pattern (32) overlapping such that the overlapping area defines a shape of a security pattern (40).The first pattern (31) comprises first single fluorescent substance adapted to emit first visible light (61), and the second pattern (32) comprises second single fluorescent substance adapted to emit second visible light (62).When the security pattern (40) is irradiated from the direction of the first side (11) the first visible light (61) dominates the second visible light (62) at the first excitation radiation (51) and the second visible light (62) dominates the first visible light (61) at the second excitation radiation (52).

Abstract: The purpose of the invention is to obtain an anti-counterfeiting marker sheet that is inexpensive and with which authenticity can be assessed easily. The invention uses an anti-counterfeiting marker sheet (1) characterized in being provided with a substrate (3), and multiple markers (5), which are formed directly on the substrate (3) and the contour shape of which can be recognized by magnified examination. It is preferable that: the markers are not unevenly distributed but are irregularly disposed on the substrate; there are multiple marker (5) colors; and there are multiple types of shapes for the marker (5) contour shapes. It is also preferable that the minimum radius of curvature of the corners of the shapes formed when the markers (5) are viewed in plan view is 250 nm to less than 10 ?m.

Abstract: The invention relates to a security feature having a luminescent component and a component camouflaging the luminescent component. The invention starts out from a security feature having a luminescent component having at least one luminophore consisting of at least one doped host lattice, and a component camouflaging the luminescent component, wherein the camouflaging component has chemical elements that have similar structure-chemical properties to the chemical elements of the luminescent component, wherein the chemical elements of the camouflaging component and the chemical elements of the luminescent component are formed by different chemical elements.

Abstract: A security paper for manufacturing value documents has a planar substrate equipped on one surface with an anti-forgery means based on a carrier foil having an optically variable security feature. The anti-forgery means and a partial substrate area surrounding the anti-forgery means is furnished with a dirt-repellent radiation-curing first lacquer substantially not influencing the perceptibility of the optically variable security feature. The layer thickness of the lacquer lying is in a range of 0.7 to 2 micrometers. The radiation-curing first lacquer is may be a UV-cross-linking lacquer which after cross-linking is high-gloss. The substrate can be furnished on its surface lying outside the anti-forgery means with a dirt-repellent second lacquer and optionally partly overlaps the first lacquer in the region of the partial substrate area surrounding the anti-forgery means.

Abstract: An optical security device, including a substrate (102) having a first surface and a second surface; and a metallic nanoparticle ink (104) provided intermittently in at least one area on the first surface (102) to produce a reflective or partially reflective patch or patches; wherein a high refractive index coating (106) is applied over the area or areas (108) in which the metallic nanoparticle ink is provided, the high refractive index coating (106) adhering to the first surface (102) where the metallic nanoparticle ink is not present, thereby retaining the metallic nanoparticle ink (104) between the first surface (102) and the high refractive index coating (106).

Abstract: A method and security device, including: a semi-transparent layer exhibiting a first pattern of regions having high optical density and/or raised surface profile relative to layer intervening regions; and a colour layer exhibiting a second pattern of elements of at least one colour. First and second patterns partially overlap and are configured so the device, appearance varies at different viewing angles. First pattern has colour layer following the contours of raised regions. Security device includes: a photosensitive film exhibiting pattern of regions of relatively high and low optical density, the pattern arising from photosensitive film exposure to radiation of a responsive predetermined wavelength from the photosensitive film; and a colour layer overlapping the pattern exhibited by photosensitive film, which exhibits increase in optical density upon radiation exposure of a predetermined wavelength and concurrent or subsequent heating.

Abstract: The invention relates to a security element (1). The security element (1) has a viewing side and a back side that is opposite the latter. The security element comprises at least one luminous layer (2) that can emit light (20), and at least one mask layer (4) that, when the security element (1) is viewed from the viewing side, is arranged in front of the at least one luminous layer (2). The at least one mask layer (4) has at least one opaque region (5) and at least two transparent openings (41, 42). The at least two transparent openings (41, 42) has a substantially higher transmittance than the at least one opaque region (5) in respect of light (20) emitted by the at least one luminous layer (2), preferably a transmittance that is at least 20% higher, particularly preferably a transmittance that is at least 50% higher.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an object comprising a region of its surface suitable for showing a plurality of images. Each of these images is observable from a different direction such that upon observing one of the images the other images stop being observable and do not interfere in the viewing of the observed image. The configuration which allows generating the region of surfaces suitable for showing the plurality of images allows for mass production by means of stamping or minting techniques and complicates the reproduction by unauthorized manufacturers. A method which allows obtaining the object having a region suitable for showing a plurality of images is also an object of the present invention.

Abstract: A method of manufacturing a security device including: conveying a substrate web including a photosensitive film along a transport path; exposing the photosensitive film to radiation of a predetermined wavelength through a mask, wherein the mask includes a predetermined pattern of regions which are substantially opaque to radiation of the predetermined wavelength and at least semi-transparent to radiation of the predetermined wavelength, respectively; during the exposure, moving the mask alongside the substrate web along at least a portion of the transport path at substantially the same speed as the substrate web, such that there is substantially no relative movement between the mask and the substrate web; and heating the substrate web including the exposed photosensitive film. In this way, regions of the photosensitive film exposed to the radiation of the predetermined wavelength undergo an increase in optical density such that the photosensitive film displays a reproduction of the predetermined pattern.

Abstract: The invention relates to a security feature having a luminescent component and a component camouflaging the luminescent component. The invention starts out from a security feature having a luminescent component having at least one luminophore consisting of a doped host lattice, and a component camouflaging the luminescent component, in which the camouflaging component has at least two substances, the first substance of the camouflaging component having an X-ray diffractogram which hides the X-ray diffractogram of the luminescent component, and the second substance of the camouflaging component having at least one cationic element of the luminescent component and at least one cationic element of the first substance of the camouflaging component, with the luminescent component and the first substance of the camouflaging component being formed of different cationic elements.

Abstract: A composite security device is provided that is made up of a first polymer film that constitutes or embodies a security feature in the form of at least one high value material, and a second polymer film that constitutes, embodies, or is coated with one or more additional security features. The first polymer film is positioned on and adhered to a surface of the second polymer film, which has a width or diameter greater than the width or diameter of the first polymer film By way of the present invention, the high value material is applied to only a part of the security device, leaving remaining parts of the device available for one or more additional materials that do not impact upon the effect of the high value material.

Abstract: A printed matter includes: a first sub image embedded in the main image which has the same color as a color of the main image in a human visual sense, and is printed with an ink to absorb light of an infrared wavelength band by a first absorption coefficient; and a second sub image embedded in the main image which has the same color as the color of the main image in a human visual sense, and is printed with an ink to absorb the light of the infrared wavelength band by a second absorption coefficient.

Abstract: This invention relates to a printed matter which visualizes a latent image pattern by periodically formed raised image lines when observed in a tilted state, and provides an anti-counterfeit printed matter which allows latent images having different densities to be observed from a plurality of observation angles. In the anti-counterfeit printed matter, a region serving as a shade of a latent image is formed in addition to image lines forming a latent image portion and those forming a background portion, or at least one of the latent image portion, the background portion, and the shade portion is divided into a plurality of regions, and image lines formed in the divided regions are arranged at different angles, thereby forming a three-dimensional latent image observed from a plurality of directions.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an element comprising a surface area with a specific, optically effective surface relief microstructure (12). The surface relief microstructure has a surface modulation of top regions (13) and bottom regions (14), wherein in a first lateral direction of the surface area there is in average at least one transition from a top to a bottom region or vice versa within every 20 micrometer, and in a second lateral direction of the mask, which is perpendicular to the first direction, there is in average at least one transition from a first to a second zone or vice versa within every 200 micrometer. In the microstructure, (i) in the first direction the lateral arrangement of the transitions is non-periodic, and (ii) the top regions substantially lie in the same top relief plateau (15) and the bottom regions substantially lie in the same bottom relief plateau (16).

Abstract: An article may include a flexible hinge comprising a first optical feature. The article also may include a biodata page comprising a second optical feature. The flexible hinge may be attached to a surface of the biodata page, and the second optical feature is substantially aligned with the first optical feature. The combination of the first optical feature and the second optical feature provides an optical effect, which may be destroyed or damaged if the flexible hinge is moved relative to the biodata page, e.g., if the flexible hinge is separated from the biodata page.

Abstract: Provided is a method for applying a security marking to an object and a hyper-spectral imaging device to readout the embedded information in the security marking to verify the object's authenticity. The present invention relates generally to the field of security markings and anti-counterfeiting technologies. More particularly to optical product authentication methods, which are based on photoactive nanoparticles emitting in visible and near-infrared wavelengths when excited with ultra violet or near infrared light.

Abstract: Security documents often incorporate security devices to prevent or hinder counterfeiters. Disclosed herein are security devices that include a fluid or fluids within the devices. Such devices, and security documents that include them, afford new techniques to check whether a security document is a legitimate or counterfeit copy.

Abstract: One aspect of the invention relates to an optical security component (10) comprising at least one diffractive element (7) formed by at least one annular diffractive grating (111, 113, 115, 117, 131, 133, 135) characterized by a minimum radius (Rmin), a maximum radius (Rmax) and a period (d). According to the invention, using a polychromatic light-emitting object, the aforementioned diffractive element can form a plurality of images at different observation distances from the component, the spectral characteristics of said images varying as a function of the observation distance from the component.

Abstract: A security element includes an optically variable structure having a multiplicity of first embossed structures each including at least two flanks which converge at at least one certain angle. In at least one first partial region of the optically variable structure, at least one flank of the first embossed structures respectively has at least one additional embossed structure which is mounted on the flank of the first embossed structures or inserted into the flank of the first embossed structures. The geometry of the at least one additional embossed structure is executed to be at least near-inverse to the geometry of that flank of the first embossed structure on which the at least one additional embossed structure is mounted or inserted.

Abstract: Various examples are provided for creating encoded security images that are formed by embedding a multi-shade hidden or latent image into a visible image. The multi-shade latent image may include image content having a wide range of tonal values. An article of manufacture is provided having a surface with image elements thereon, the image elements include characteristics that correspond to a relative color or a relative shade of a source image for a polychromic or multiple shade latent image. The latent image is visible when the surface is viewed at glancing angles.

Abstract: An optically variable security element for securing valuable articles has an optically variable color layer. The optically variable color layer includes a plurality of microcapsules, each of which exhibits a capsule shell, a carrier liquid enclosed in the capsule shell, and at least one optically variable and magnetically alignable pigment that is substantially freely rotatable in the microcapsule and reversibly alignable by an external magnetic field, and that is developed to be multilayer having at least one magnetic layer and having at least one non-magnetic layer.

Abstract: Laser-personalizable security articles include multi-layer security documents. The multi-layer security document includes an optically transparent cover layer, a composite image and an imagable layer adjacent to the cover layer. The first surface of the cover layer is at least partially a microstructured surface, where the microstructured surface forms microlenses or a lenticular surface. The composite image is made by a collection of complete or partial images viewed through the microstructured surface of the cover layer. The composite image is located on or within the second surface of the cover layer. The imagable layer is a laser imagable layer. When imaged, a personalized second composite three dimensional image is created on or in the imagable layer.

Abstract: A multilayer structure incorporating at least one security element. The multilayer structure includes a substrate made of a thermoplastic material with at least one non-opaque region. The multilayer structure further includes an external layer. An internal layer is disposed between the substrate and the external layer. The external and internal layers are made of a thermoplastic material. An opening in the internal layer defines a security region. An insert having a non-opaque security element is at least partially disposed within the security region. The security element and the non-opaque region of the substrate at least partially overlap.

Abstract: A security device has a lenticular device including an array of lenticular focusing elements; a corresponding array of image strips sets, the sets having substantially the same periodicity as, or an integral multiple of the periodicity of, the array of focusing elements. The strips are formed and the focusing elements located relative to the strips such that at each of a plurality of viewing angles, a respective one strip from each set is viewed in response to incident light falling on a respective focusing element. The strips are constructed such that the device presents a cyclically repeating sequence of images as the device is viewed at successive viewing angles, the image sequence including a change in form of an image between a first and second form and then a reversal of the sequence back to the first form, the combined image sequences presenting a contiguous variation in the image form.

Abstract: Method for the production of an iridescent image (II) from a reference image (IR) is described. The iridescent image (II) comprises an optical selector (SO) selected from an array of cylindrical lenses, an array of spherical lenses and a parallax barrier. The method includes creating a period adapted to the optical selector (SO) and to the reproduction system used; creating a periodic image (IP) filled in a repetitive manner according to said period; creating a dispersed image by applying a dispersion filter to the periodic image (IP), in which the geometric position of the pixels of the periodic image (IP) is modified as function of the values of the corresponding pixels in the reference image (IR); and associating the created dispersed image (ID) with the optical selector (SO). The invention also relates to the iridescent dispersed images obtained using the method, a device comprising said images and an associated program.