Abstract: A coating for an object having identifying indicia disposed thereon. An ink layer contacts at least a portion of the identifying indicia. The ink layer obscures the portion when exposed to light within a predetermined wavelength range, and the ink layer reveals a predetermined area of the portion when exposed to light outside of the predetermined wavelength range.

Abstract: A gaming machine has a display panel with permanent indicia and optionally also adapted for display of transient indicia which act with the permanent indicia as part of the gaming played on the machine. At least a portion of the permanent indicia may comprise an ink or other iridescent coating that glows in the presence of activating light, typically ultraviolet radiation. A source of the activating light is positioned to irradiate the permanent indicia portions. A controller is typically present for activating the activating light source in a predetermined manner which correlates with one or more events taking place in the particular game being played on the machine.

Abstract: An imaging device includes print media and a plurality of ink jets for ejecting drops of substantially clear ink onto the print media. One of the print media and the substantially clear ink has a fluorescent characteristic and the other of the print media and the substantially clear ink is substantially non-fluorescent. The imaging device includes a fluorescence sensor having (i) a light emitter for illuminating the print media and the drops of substantially clear ink ejected onto the media by the plurality of ink jets with light of an activating wavelength, and (ii) a light detector for detecting a fluorescence intensity of light received from the print media and the drops of substantially clear ink ejected onto the media in an emission wavelength. A controller is configured to modify an operating parameter of the imaging device based on the fluorescence intensity detected by the sensor.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a water-based fluorescent ink for the purpose of measurement or judgment of the fluorescence emission in a visible light region by an excitation wavelength in a predetermined ultraviolet range, containing water, a coloring material dissolved or dispersed in water, and an organic solvent, having a plurality of fluorescent groups in the coloring material structure of the coloring material, and using a water-soluble coloring material having a sulfonic acid group as the water-soluble group in the state of a free acid, capable of improving the water resistance and the light resistance, dramatically increasing the content of the fluorescent coloring material in the ink, which has conventionally been included only by a small amount in the ink due to the concentration quenching problem, obtaining preferable fluorescence emission and water resistance of the recorded image, and providing preferable adhesion resistance to the recording medium of the coloring material and reliability.

Abstract: Paper-based security devices having printed marks or indicia on one surface that are visible from that surface and from an opposing surface of the security device, are provided. The present invention further provides a method of making such paper-based security devices as well as security documents having at least one such security device embedded therein and/or mounted thereon.

Abstract: The teachings as provided herein relate to a watermark embedded in an image that has the property of being relatively indecipherable under normal light, and yet decipherable under UV light. This fluorescent mark comprises a substrate containing optical brightening agents, and a first colorant mixture pattern printed as an image upon the substrate. The colorant mixture pattern layer has as characteristics a property of strongly suppressing substrate fluorescence, as well as a property of low contrast under normal illumination against the substrate or a second colorant mixture pattern printed in close spatial proximity to the first colorant mixture pattern. The second colorant mixture pattern having a property of providing a differing level of substrate fluorescence suppression from the first such that the resultant image rendered substrate suitably exposed to an ultra-violet light source, will yield a discernable image evident as a fluorescent mark.

Abstract: The teachings as provided herein relate to a watermark embedded in an image that has the property of being relatively indecipherable under normal light, and yet decipherable under UV light. This fluorescent mark comprises a substrate containing optical brightening agents, and a first colorant mixture printed as an image upon the substrate. The colorant mixture layer has as characteristics a property of strongly suppressing substrate fluorescence, as well as a property of low contrast under normal illumination against the substrate or a second colorant mixture printed in close spatial proximity to the first colorant mixture, such that the resultant image rendered substrate suitably exposed to an ultra-violet light source, will yield a discernable image evident as a fluorescent mark.

Abstract: A method for creating a differential gloss image includes providing first and second anisotropic halftone structures. The first and second anisotropic structures have different orientations. One of the first and second anisotropic structures is applied to image data in a first region of an image to be halftoned. The other of the first and second anisotropic structures may be applied to image data in a second region of an image to be halftoned. A mixture of the first and second anisotropic structures is applied to image data in a third region of the image to be halftoned, whereby when printed, the three regions each have a gloss characteristic which differs from that of the other two regions.

Abstract: The invention relates to an enhanced security feature for identification document. For that, the identification document comprises at least two constitution layers, a first specific coating (15) inside the document, between two constitution layers, said coating being able to be revealed under predetermined lighting conditions. It comprises also an assembly of micro-holes (16) provided through at least one of the layers, in order to make possible the revelation of the first specific coating under said predetermined conditions, said assembly of micro-holes, together with said coating to be revealed through micro-holes, drawing said security pattern.

Abstract: Yellow and yellow-green fluorescent compounds are provided herein that can be incorporated into carriers (e.g., inks) and applied (e.g., printed) as security features on substrates (e.g., documents). The compounds can be selected based upon their resistance to humidity, and preferably exhibit a high initial fluorescence intensity, and a relatively high fluorescence intensity as well as a low relative intensity loss after prolonged humidity exposure.

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 colour shift m the emitted luminescent radiation.

Abstract: The present invention enables creating authenticable multi-ink luminescent continuous tone color halftone images offering means of verifying their authenticity. The invented luminescent color halftone image synthesizing techniques enable increasing the attractiveness and aesthetics of color images. The invention relies on daylight luminescent inks, color prediction models for daylight luminescent halftones, color gamuts of luminescent and non-luminescent inks, color separation into luminescent and non-luminescent ink layers, mapping of input gamuts into a luminescent target gamuts by gamut reduction and/or expansion strategies, and luminescent color halftone image generation. The basic authentication is performed by examining the excitation trace image of the synthesized luminescent color halftone image under an illuminant active within its excitation wavelength range.

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: The invention concerns a method for marking a material characterized in that it consists in incorporating into the material: either a phosphor capable of producing, following excitation, two light emissions whereof the respective wavelengths and the emission decay times are different, or several phosphors capable of producing, following excitation, a light emission whereof the wavelength and the emission decay time are different from the wavelength and emission decay time of the other or other phosphors. The material can in particular be of the paper, board, paint, textile, ink, glass or macromolecular material type.

Abstract: A document includes a paper substrate having an average surface roughness of at least about 0.5 microns, wherein the paper substrate includes encoded information printed thereon, and wherein the encoded information is printed with an ink comprised of light absorbing material that absorbs light only at wavelengths below 350 nm and an optional clear binder in a solvent. The encoded information is substantially not detectable to a naked human eye through differential gloss or exposure to light having wavelengths of 365 nm or more, and is only revealed upon exposing the document to light having a wavelength at which the light absorbing material absorbs light, which is less than 350 nm.

Abstract: The appearance of a color print viewed under UV illumination is predicted using a target comprising color patches each printed using a known coverage of printer colorant(s). In one case, the target is illuminated using a UV light source and an electronic image of the target is captured using a digital camera or the like. In another case, a spectrophotometer is used both with and without a UV cutoff filter to measure the target. The captured image data or the spectrophotometric measurements are used to derive a UV printer characterization model that relates any arbitrary combination of printer colorants to a predicted UV color appearance value. Metameric colorant mixture pairs for visible light and UV light viewing can be determined using the UV model together with a conventional visible light printer characterization model. A visual matching task is used to determine a correction factor for the UV printer characterization model.

Abstract: The invention relates to a machine-readable security element for security products, containing at least one particulate substance that has electroluminescent properties and a transparent, electrically conductive pigment. Also disclosed are a printing ink for producing such a security element and a security product comprising said security element.

Abstract: The present invention relates to printable security paper that includes a region capable of receiving printed indicia on the front side and on the reverse side which are observable in reflected light and form an image observable in transmitted light, as security element protecting against two-sided copying, characterized in that such region is a screened region having an average overall opacity less than the opacity of the vellum part of the rest of the paper, said screened region being made up from alternations of vellum miniregions, having an approximately constant thickness equal to that of the vellum part of the rest of the paper, and of miniregions of reduced opacity because of their smaller thickness compared with the vellum miniregions. The invention also relates to the security document obtained with this paper.

Abstract: The invention relates to a composition for coding having at least one pair of mutually associated luminescent substances having first and second luminescent substances which emit in a joint emission range located outside the visible spectral range. The emission spectra of the first and second luminescent substances overlap in at least a subrange of the stated emission range such that the emission spectrum of the first luminescent substance is complemented by the emission spectrum of the second luminescent substance.

Abstract: A particulate luminescent composition is disclosed that, when excited by electromagnetic radiation at a first frequency, emits electromagnetic radiation at a second frequency equal to or within 1500 cm?1 of the first frequency. The luminescent composition comprises substantially spherical particles having a weight average particle size of less than about 10 ?m and a particle size distribution such that at least about 90 weight percent of the particles are not larger than twice the average particle size.

Abstract: A method for encryption of a digital watermark by intelligent halftoning includes receiving image data that define at least a portion of a document to be printed in terms of at least three halftone images corresponding respectively to three printing colorants, each of the three halftone images comprising a plurality of halftone cells. The image data are modified by phase-shifting some of the halftone cells of at least one of the halftone images relative to the other halftone images to encode a watermark within the portion of the document such that the at least one phase-shifted halftone image includes a phase-shifted region and a non-phase-shifted region. The modified image data are used to print the portion of the document on a substrate that will fluoresce when subjected to UV illumination. The printed portion of the document includes a first printed pattern resulting from the phase-shifted region and a second printed pattern resulting from the non-phase-shifted region.

Abstract: The invention concerns a security document comprising, as security element against recto/verso copying, indicia present on both sides and capable of being viewed under reflected lighting and forming an image capable of being viewed under transmitted light. The invention is characterized in that said indicia comprise lines and form said image with 3D effect.

Abstract: A security feature for an identification document comprises a base document layer, including a first image printed with a covert ink, and a personalized image relating to a bearer of the document (such as a facial photo) printed over the first image. The personalized image is printed with an ink that is incompatible with the covert ink such that the first image becomes overt within the personalized image upon printing of the personalized image. This feature creates an interlocking relationship between the covert image, which may be pre-printed prior to personalization on card stock, and personalized information printed over the covert image. Variations of this feature can be made in which the first image is not covert, yet still creates an interlocking relationship due to ink incompatibilities. Further, the second image may depict information other than personal information.

Abstract: A method for identifying a product includes providing a solid body (10) fabricated from at least a molecularly imprinted polymer having molecular sized cavities (12) adapted to selectively receive and bind molecules (50) having a specific taggant molecular structure (51), the molecular sized cavities (12) disposed on a portion of an exterior surface (11) of the body (10), and applying to the surface of the body a composition containing indicator molecules (50) having a taggant moiety (51) at one end and a marking function group (53) tethered to the taggant moiety (51) by a molecular chain the taggant moieties (51) engaging and binding to the molecular sized cavities (12) so as to mark the portion of the surface (11) of the body (10) with the indicator molecules (50) bound thereto, the marking functional groups (53) rendering the marked portion of the surface (11) perceptible with or without detection instrumentation.

Abstract: The invention relates to a composition for a coding forming at least part of a coding system having a luminescent basic substance and at least one luminescent additive, the composition of the coding being formed by the presence or absence of a luminescent additive and/or the type of additives and/or the number of additives.

Abstract: A security sheet including an iridescent security mark observable on the surface of the sheet, said mark comprising at least one zone presenting an iridescent effect, said zone being colored in normal observation with the naked eye and including iridescent pigments that are practically colorless in normal observation and that present an iridescent effect visible only in oblique observation.

Abstract: A fluorescent ink composition comprising functionalized fluorescent nanocrystals, an aqueous-based ink carrier comprising water or a water-based solution, and a binder. Also provided are methods of providing an image or a security mark on a substrate for subsequent identification by applying a fluorescent ink composition onto the substrate.

Abstract: A method producing authenticatable documents by incorporating a fluorescent organometallic complex in the toner or in the paper in which the fluorescent organometallic complex gives off light with a characteristic spectrum when exposed to UV light.

Abstract: The present disclosure provides Benzoxazinone compounds represented by the formula: wherein each R1, R2, R3, and R4 is independently selected from hydrogen, alkyl of 1-12 carbon atoms, substituted alkyl, aryl of 6-12 carbon atoms, substituted aryl, halo, and alkoxy; and R5 is selected from alkyl of 1-12 carbon atoms, substituted alkyl, aryl of 6-12 carbon atoms, substituted aryl, halo, and alkoxy; wherein each of the substituted alkyl and the substituted aryl groups have a substituent selected from alkyl, aryl, halo, and alkoxy. The present disclosure provides a mark having a benzoxazinone compound, and a method for applying the mark onto an article. Also provided is a process for preparing benzoxazinone compounds.

Abstract: A particulate luminescent composition is disclosed that, when excited by electromagnetic radiation at a first frequency, emits electromagnetic radiation at a second frequency equal to or within 1500 cm?1 of the first frequency. The luminescent composition comprises substantially spherical particles having a weight average particle size of less than about 10 ?m and a particle size distribution such that at least about 90 weight percent of the particles are not larger than twice the average particle size.

Abstract: The invention relates to a printed document of value having at least one authenticity feature in the form of a luminescent substance on the basis of host lattices which are doped with one or a plurality of ions. By suitably doping host lattices with different ions, exchange interactions between clusters of ions occur which can lead to cooperative effects.

Abstract: Disclosed is security paper including a plurality of dyed security fibers having wavelength-dependent color changes embedded therein, in which each of the plurality of dyed security fibers is composed of fluorescent balls formed of a fluorescent substance producing a light-mission response at a predetermined wavelength, a security fiber containing the fluorescent balls, and a dyed layer formed on the outer surface of the security fiber using a material producing an light-mission response at a predetermined wavelength.

Abstract: Dispersion of particles of at least one oxide of at least one luminescent rare earth, disaggregated and stabilized in a hydrophobic liquid medium containing at least one surfactant, in which the said surfactant is a non-ionic surfactant having an HLB (hydrophilic-to-lipophilic balance) lower than 12. Method for preparing the dispersion. Varnish comprising the said disaggregated, stabilized and dispersed particles, and its method of preparation. Method for making substrates with the said varnish and substrate thereby marked. Method for identifying objects provided with a marking using the said varnish.

Abstract: The invention relates to a security device for security substrates, such as paper, used for making security documents, such as bank notes, having anti-counterfeitable features. The security device comprising a carrier (11) of an at least partially light transmitting polymeric material, said carrier bearing a plurality of fine opaque lines (13) separated by gaps (14). The appearance of the lines is varied at regions, said regions in neighbouring lines combining to provide identifying indicia which are visible to the human eye.

Abstract: The invention relates to a security element (1), comprising a first luminescent substance, for a security document (5), the latter (5) comprising a base body (51) consisting of a base material. The aim of the invention is to increase the protection against forgery. To achieve this: the security element is provided with a second luminescent substance; energy is transmitted between the first luminescent substance and the second luminescent substance, whereby the frequency range of the excitation of one of the luminescent substances corresponds to the emission frequency range of the other luminescent substance; and the first luminescent substance is thermally unstable at the ignition temperature of the base material and/or at a temperature of 185° C.

Abstract: A method for labeling an object such as a biological sample, including printing at least two different light-emitting species onto a substrate which are capable of displaying a unique optical signature when excited; and externally attaching the object to the printed at least two different light-emitting species.

Abstract: A fluorescent image-printed article including a substrate, and an image formed on the substrate, wherein the image is formed from a fluorescent ink containing a binder, and a fluorescent substance which is dispersed in the binder, is capable of emitting fluorescence when irradiated with ultraviolet rays, and is substantially transparent to visible light, the fluorescent substance being formed of a rare earth complex containing, as a ligand, a compound represented by the following formula (1):

Abstract: A method of identifying an object comprising providing an vehicle having on a surface thereof at least one layer of paint, such as a urethane-based paint. A unique alphanumeric identification is applied to the paint layer with a fluorescent material at a selected unrevealed location thereon. The fluorescent material is permitted to migrate into the at least one paint layer, while an excess amount of fluorescent material remains on the at least one paint layer. Thereupon, the excess amount of fluorescent material is removed from the at least one paint layer with a solvent. The unique discrete identification created by fluorescent material migrated into the at least one paint layer is visible at an acute angle to the object surface without use of an ultraviolet light, while being substantially invisible at an angle normal to the object surface.

Abstract: A luminescence sensing device, comprising a plurality of optical sensor subunits, each said subunit comprising UV-illumination means for illuminating a sample; digital camera means, comprising a camera head; mirror means for directing light emitted from said sample onto said camera head; and a digital signal processor unit (DSP), processing signals generated by said camera head.

Abstract: Photoluminescent phosphor powders and a method for making phosphor powders. The phosphor powders have a small particle size, narrow particle size distribution and are substantially spherical. The method of the invention advantageously permits the economic production of such powders. The invention also relates to improved devices, such as display devices and lighting elements, incorporating the phosphor powders.

Abstract: Vouchers and methods for providing vouchers configured to assist in distinguishing unauthorized duplicate or counterfeit vouchers are disclosed herein. In one embodiment, a voucher can include a substrate, a first indicia on the substrate, and a thermally responsive second indicia on the substrate. At least one of the first indicia and the second indicia can indicate a value of the voucher. A system which assists in detecting alteration of value documents or transmissions, such as a coin counter voucher is provided. Voucher information such as the voucher value is included in the voucher in an encrypted or otherwise modified form. When the voucher is presented for redemptions, the encrypted information is decrypted and compared to independently available voucher information. Failure of the information to match indicates that the voucher has been altered or should otherwise be further checked.

Abstract: The present disclosure provides Benzoxazinone compounds represented by the formula: wherein each R1, R2, R3, and R4 is independently selected from hydrogen, alkyl of 1-12 carbon atoms, substituted alkyl, aryl of 6-12 carbon atoms, substituted aryl, halo, and alkoxy; and R5 is selected from alkyl of 1-12 carbon atoms, substituted alkyl, aryl of 6-12 carbon atoms, substituted aryl, halo, and alkoxy; wherein each of the substituted alkyl and the substituted aryl groups have a substituent selected from alkyl, aryl, halo, and alkoxy. The present disclosure provides a mark having a benzoxazinone compound, and a method for applying the mark onto an article. Also provided is a process for preparing benzoxazinone compounds.

Abstract: The invention relates to a sheet-shaped document of value with luminescent feature substance and the manufacturing and checking of such a document of value. The invention starts out from the idea to provide a sheet-shaped document of value (BN) with a luminescent feature substance (20, 21), which is present all over with low concentration as well as at certain partial areas with higher concentration.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a water-based fluorescent ink for the purpose of measurement or judgment of the fluorescence emission in a visible light region by an excitation wavelength in a predetermined ultraviolet range, containing water, a coloring material dissolved or dispersed in water, and an organic solvent, having a plurality of fluorescent groups in the coloring material structure of the coloring material, and using a water-soluble coloring material having a sulfonic acid group as the water-soluble group in the state of a free acid, capable of improving the water resistance and the light resistance, dramatically increasing the content of the fluorescent coloring material in the ink, which has conventionally been included only by a small amount in the ink due to the concentration quenching problem, obtaining preferable fluorescence emission and water resistance of the recorded image, and providing preferable adhesion resistance to the recording medium of the coloring material and reliability.

Abstract: The invention relates to a document of value, in particular a bank note, with at least one pair of luminescent substances associated to each other having a first and a second luminescent substance, which emit in a joint emission region located outside the visible spectral region. According to the invention the emission spectra of the first and second luminescent substance overlap each other in at least a partial area of the said emission region in such a way, that the emission spectrum of the first luminescent substance is complemented by the emission spectrum of the second luminescent substance.

Abstract: This invention relates to a universal financial product and enables to use it for managing money resources, e.g., sums being on a personal account. The housing of the pay card may be made of a precious or rare metal, bone, finewood; the elements of the features of a pay system and an issuing bank as well as those of protection and personalization are also made of the said materials, including precious stones, by engraving and inlaying. A place is provided for a standard electronic chip, which may be replaced. Periods of use of the pay card and the reliability of its level of protection against imitating and counterfeiting are increased.

Abstract: A postage sheet includes a face sheet adhesively bonded to a release liner. The face sheet includes a removable internet stamp having a diecut perimeter. A visible security indicium is disposed on the front side of the stamp and has a different color than the face sheet, and is not reproducible by photocopying.

Abstract: In authenticity determinable printed matter according to this invention, a background image portion and at least one message image portion are printed on a surface of a base member. The background image portion has a first line drawing which is arrayed in a first direction and printed by an ink with a specular gloss to have an ink layer thickness. The message image portion has a second line drawing which is arrayed in a second direction and printed by the ink with the specular gloss to have the ink layer thickness.

Abstract: Sulfur-containing phosphor powders, methods for making phosphor powders and devices incorporating same. The powders have a small particle size, narrow particle size distribution and are substantially spherical. The method of the invention permits the continuous production of such powders. The invention also relates to products such as display devices incorporating such phosphor powders.

Abstract: Fluorescent pigment compounds comprising aryl-ureido benzoxazinone compounds of the general formula (I): wherein R1 is an substituted or unsubstituted aryl group, R2 and R3 are each independently selected from an H atom, an alkyl group, an alkoxy group, an alkylcarboxy group and a halogen atom, X is a carbon or sulfur atom and n is an integer of 1 or more. Many of the compounds of this class produce a yellow, generally deep yellow, emission at wavelengths of about 560 to about 585 nm when excited by an appropriate UV source. These compounds produce fluorescence making them useful as fluorescent pigments, those compounds providing emission wavelengths within the range of from about 560 to about 585 or higher when excited by a UV source are particularly useful. Those compounds having this emission spectra for the compounds makes these compounds particularly useful as pigments in security applications, particularly as pigments for use in security inks and fibers.