Abstract: Non-continuous reflective holograms or diffraction gratings are provided in various forms for authenticating documents and things, and for decorative and product packaging applications. In one specific authentication application, such a hologram or diffraction grating is firmly attached to a surface that contains visual information desired to be protected from alteration. Examples of such information include written personal data and photograph on a passport, driver's license, identity card and the like. The reflective discontinuous hologram is formed in a pattern that both permits viewing the protected information through it and the viewing of an authenticating image or other light pattern reconstructed from it in reflection. In another specific authentication application, a non-transparent structure of two side-by-side non-continuous holograms or diffraction patterns, each reconstructing a separate image or other light pattern, increases the difficulty of counterfeiting the structure.

Abstract: Non-continuous reflective hologram or diffraction grating devices are provided in various forms for authenticating documents and things, such as those that contain visual information desired to be protected from alteration. Examples of such information include written personal data and photograph on a passport, driver's license, identity card, transportation pass, and the like. The reflective discontinuous hologram or diffraction device is formed in a pattern that both permits viewing the protected information through it and the viewing of an authenticating image or other light pattern reconstructed from it in reflection. The same master hologram or diffraction grating is made into distinct authenticaton devices by forming replicas thereof that have different patterns of reflective material which form distinct indicia, such as a different alpha-numeric character.

Abstract: An optical recording medium of the present invention has on a substrate information recording patterns (2) and (3) distinguishable by a difference in light reflectivity, and is characterized in that said information recording pattern (2) is comprised of a portion (2a) of high reflectivity and a portion (2b) of low reflectivity and at least a part of said information recording patterns is formed by a diffraction grating or hologram (3). Since such plural types of information can be formed at the same time and at high density, the present invention has a merit of its having excellent fake-proofness and its manufacturing process being simplified.

Abstract: Non-continuous reflective holograms or diffraction gratings are provided in various forms for authenticating documents and things, and for decorative and product packaging applications. In one specific authentication application, such a hologram or diffraction grating is firmly attached to a surface that contains visual information desired to be protected from alteration. Examples of such information include written personal data and photograph on a passport, driver's license, identity card and the like. The reflective discontinuous hologram is formed in a pattern that both permits viewing the protected information through it and the viewing of an authenticating image or other light pattern reconstructed from it in reflection. In another specific authentication application, a non-transparent structure of two side-by-side non-continuous holograms or diffraction patterns, each reconstructing a separate image or other light pattern, increases the difficulty of counterfeiting the structure.

Abstract: A credit document with improved protection against forgery comprises a film which is attached to a local portion of a surface of the credit document. The film includes at least one security mark. The security mark comprises a micro-relief structure for optically diffracting incident light. A protection profile in the form of a macro-relief structure is also embossed into the surface of the credit document. The security mark and the protection profile overlap in part. The relief lines of the protection profile macrostructure are bent away from the plane of the surface of the credit document sufficiently to provide visible gloss effects due to the reflection of incident light. When this arrangement is utilized one or more visible breaks in the security mark occur when the security mark is removed from the credit document. In addition, the security mark is so deformed by the protection profile, that the deformation is easily visible if the security mark is attached to a second (i.e. a forged) credit document.

Abstract: An interlaminar sandwich comprises first and second lacquer layers, a diffraction structure embedded between the first and second lacquer layers, a heat activated adhesive layer disposed one one of the lacquer layers, and a transparent stabilization layer disposed over the other lacquer layer, the stabilization layer distributing heat evenly through the interlaminar sandwich so that when heat is applied to the stabilization layer, the adhesive layer will bond the interlaminar sandwich to a substrate. Preferably, the interlaminar sandwich also contains an intermediary layer between the stabilization layer and the first lacquer layer which bonds these layers together. At temperatures below 170.degree. C., the adhesive layer is bonded so intimately to the substrate that the interlaminar sandwich cannot be removed from the substrate without tearing it. At temperatures above 150.degree. C., the lacquer layers soften, thus destroying the diffraction structure.

Abstract: A method and system for replicating microstructure surface relief patterns, such as diffraction patterns including holograms, by casting. A liquid casting resin is held between a surface relief master of the microstructure to be replicated and a substrate while the resin is hardened by actinic radiation curing. Application of resin to edges and discontinuities of the master is avoided in order to reduce undesirable build-up of resin on these areas of the master. The hardened resin surface relief replica may optionally be coated with a discontinuous graphical pattern of a clear or colored paint that eliminates the effect of the surface relief pattern in the regions so coated.

Abstract: A method and system for replicating microstructure surface relief patterns, such as diffraction patterns including holograms, by casting. A liquid casting resin is held between a surface relief master of the microstructure to be replicated and a substrate while the resin is hardened by actinic radiation curing. Application of resin to edges and discontinuities of the master is avoided in order to reduce undesirable build-up of resin on these areas of the master. The hardened resin surface relief replica may optionally be coated with a discontinuous graphical pattern of a clear or colored paint that eliminates the effect of the surface relief pattern in the regions so coated.

Abstract: A laminar structure, for example an identity card, comprises a photograph and a supported hologram. A moisture-impermeable barrier layer and an adhesive layer are disposed between the hologram and the photograph, so that the photograph can be secured to the hologram while the former is still wet. The supported hologram, the barrier and adhesive layers and the photograph are sandwiched between first and second sheets. The hologram is sufficiently adhered to the photograph that, if an attempt is made to separate the supported hologram from the photograph, fracture will occur within the hologram or between the hologram and its support sheet, so that at least part of the hologram will remain attached to the photograph, so that it is not possible to detach the hologram from the photograph, leaving the hologram attached to the first sheet, and thus substitute a different photograph in the laminar structure.

Abstract: Non-continuous reflective hologram or diffraction grating devices are provided in various forms for authenticating documents and things, such as those that contain visual information desired to be protected from alteration. Examples of such information include written personal data and photograph on a passport, driver's license, identity card, transportation pass, and the like. The reflective discontinuous hologram or diffraction device is formed in a pattern that both permits viewing the protected information through it and the viewing of an authenticating image or other light pattern reconstructed from it in reflection. The same master hologram or diffraction grating is made into distinct authentication devices by forming replicas thereof that have different patterns of reflective material which form distinct indicia, such as a different alpha-numeric character.

Abstract: A hologram game card having a laminate of(i) at least one hologram-containing layer containing at least one hologram,(ii) a backing layer on which the hologram-containing layer(s) are mounted, and(iii) a covering layer covering a side of the hologram-containing layer(s) opposite the backing layer, wherein(a) the covering layer is opaque with respect to wavelengths of visible light usable to view the hologram(s) such that no image represented by the hologram(s) is viewable with the naked eye while the covering layer is present in an opaque state over the hologram(s),(b) the covering layer is at least partially removable by scratching, rubbing or pulling off by hand to allow any image represented by the hologram(s) to be viewed with the naked eye or the covering layer can be treated to render it non-opaque thereby allowing any image represented by the hologram(s) to be viewed with the naked eye.

Abstract: A certification card such as ID card or the like includes a hologram and an optical recording portion. Hologram is such that an amplitude and a phase of a light wave emitted from an object are recorded and an image of the object is rebuilt by emitting light to reproduce of an amplitude and a phase of the thus emmited light. An optical recording technique for use with the card employs data pits which are formed on an optical reflective surface of an optical recording layer. The thus formed data pits are detected by difference in optical reflectivity from the data pits when the object is illuminated by laser beam so that data are read. The card is constituted by adhering a card front substrate to a card rear substrate, and hologram and optical recording portion are formed between the card front substrate and the card rear substrate. The certification card is difficult to falsify and alter and, therefore, has high safety.

Abstract: The method for creating a hologram film laminated product comprises the steps of: applying a thermoplastic adhesive material to one side of a hologram film; feeding a substrate to a heat activated dry film thermo laminator and simultaneously feeding the hologram film with the thermoplastic adhesive coated side thereof facing the substrate into the laminator with the substrate; and heat activated dry film thermo laminating the hologram film material to the substrate. The method for applying an adhesive to a hologram film includes the steps of: passing the hologram film between electrical corona treatment rollers; then passing the hologram film past a priming or sizing station; and next passing the hologram film past an adhesive applicator for applying melted adhesive to the hologram film. The hologram laminated product formed by the methods includes a substrate layer, an intermediate adhesive layer, and a hologram film layer.

Abstract: For issuance of travelers' checks, the checks themselves are provided, as is a record sheet containing validation stamps, in serial number order, corresponding to the serial numbers on the issued travelers' checks. In order for a check to be negotiable, a matching validation stamp must be affixed to the check. Removal of each validation stamp from the record sheet provides a tally of unused checks.

Abstract: The invention relates to marking of industrial products or individual parts thereof by burnt-in alphanumeric symbols and/or company symbols. To be able to apply in a space-saving and cost effective way a machine-readable, informationally identical additional coding, this additional coding is applied, integrated in the symbol, in such a way that distinctly deeper burnt-in locations, which are in themselves machine-detectable, are arranged along the trace of each and every symbol at several predetermined places distributed in a manner individual to the symbol. The deeper burnt-in locations may take the form of a blind hole, for example in the case of cast workpieces, or of a through-hole, for example in the case of sheet metal components. The additional coding can be applied in the same operation as the basic marking without noticeable time loss and without requiring additional space.

Abstract: A replica hologram structure wherein an information carrying relief pattern on one surface of the hologram is not metallized for reflection, as is the usual case, but rather air between the hologram and a supporting substrate causes incident light to be reflected from the surface relief pattern, thereby to form a reconstruction of an image or other light pattern. The surface relief pattern may be positioned immediately against the substrate, or, alternatively, held apart from it by spacers. The hologram and substrate are held together by any of a wide variety of mechanisms, including adhesive, welding and static electricity, in a manner that does not interfere with the reconstruction or viewing of the image or other light pattern from the hologram. Such a hologram structure has a use in product packaging and other applications where it is desired to be able to look through the hologram as well as be able to view the image or other light pattern reconstructed from it by reflection.

Abstract: A security document comprising a flat support; one or more portions having identification codes; and a hologram; which hologram presents reference means along the edge, and a protective coating for preventing the hologram from being removed or damaged.

Abstract: A transparent-type hologram comprising a transparent hologram-forming layer and a holographic effect-enhancing layer comprising a thin transparent film, the holographic effect-enhancing layer being laminated on the hologram-forming portion of the transparent hologram-forming layer. The holographic effect-enhancing layer has a refractive index different from that of the transparent hologram-forming layer.

Abstract: Holograms, including diffraction gratings, and methods of making them, that reconstruct an image which changes as the hologram is tilted with respect to the viewer and in a manner that images reconstructed from copies made of the hologram in monochromatic light do not have that motion. The hologram is a valuable security device for authenticating documents or objects to which it is attached since it is extremely difficult to duplicate.

Abstract: A security card blank comprises a plurality of superposed layers (5,5',6,7,8,9) including a metallic layer (5,5'). The metallic layer comprises any radiation absorbent, metal, metalloid, or their alloys or derivatives, such as oxides or sulphides. The metallic layer (5,5') is positioned within the card blank and is imageable only under the influence of high intensity radiation to produce a security card. After imaging, at least part of the imaged metallic layer is detectable from outside the card.

Abstract: A deck of playing cards wherein part or all of the indicia indicating the value of each card is formed of a holographic image which is clearly viewable from one range of angles, such as angles at or near an axis perpendicular to the surface of each card, and is obscured at other angles outside of or oblique to such range of angles. In one form the entire front surface of each playing card is formed with holographic images, and in another form only images adjacent to the periphery of each card are formed holographically. Cards constructed in accordance with the disclosure render difficult or impossible the viewing of a player's hand by persons standing or sitting near the holder.

Abstract: The invention relates to microcircuit cards, used for electronic transactions or other purposes, and concerns a process for mass producing electronic modules to be used in these cards and the modules obtained according to this process. According to the invention, there are fabricated, on the one hand, a metal grid with a plurality of openings into which there penetrate tongues attached to the frame of this grid and intended to form the modules' contact areas, and, on the other hand, pellets of plastics material which have a generally flat front face, a rear face in which there is a hollow and, between this hollow and the front face, windows so arranged that they can be positioned opposite the grid tongues.

Abstract: A method and apparatus is disclosed for embossing 2 and 3 dimensional holograms upon the metalized surface of a thermoplastic film.

Abstract: An information bearing credit or identification card in which pieces of a diffraction grating, preferably an embossed hologram, are randomly distributed in a plastic or paper card so that light reflecting therefrom uniquely and visually differentiates the grating and hence the card. The pieces may be mixed in the plastic pig or with the paper prior to rolling or sprinkled in the plastic or other substrate during rolling.

Abstract: In a security blank which includes a substrate which has two major surfaces, a thermoplastic layer which has a predetermined refraction index and is suitable for embossing thereon a machine-readable authenticity feature in the form of an optical microstructure, and a transparent layer which has a prearranged refraction index for covering and protecting the microstructure, and wherein the prearranged refraction index has a value different from the predetermined refraction index, and the microstructure generates a characteristic diffraction effect from light incident thereonto, the improvement includes a surface of the substrate facing the thermoplastic layer, which has within a region of the microstructure diffuse reflection characteristics of a predetermined magnitude, and wherein the thermoplastic layer is transparent, and wherein the difference between the refraction indexes is sufficiently small, and the magnitude of the diffuse reflection characteristics is sufficiently large, so that the characteristic d