Abstract: A security device for use on identification cards, monetary documents, and the like using a reference pattern and a message pattern each having the appearance of a random pattern of dots. The reference pattern is a dense pattern of randomly positioned dots, and the message pattern is a modulated version of the reference pattern in which the dots of the reference pattern are slightly repositioned by an amount depending on the grey value or color value of a message image at each dot location. The message image is decrypted and becomes visible with a range of grey values when it is viewed through a film transparency of the reference pattern. The dot pattern may be printed, embossed or recorded as a photograph or a hologram. Decryption of the message image may be accomplished by viewing through a contact mask, superposition of images of the message pattern and reference pattern, by viewing the message pattern through a mask positioned at a real image of the reference pattern, or like means.

Abstract: A counterfeit-proof paper which discourages an attempt at reproduction of the print made thereon is disclosed. Since this paper has an apparently planar surface, the latent image contained therein escapes perception with unaided eyes. Once this paper is subjected to a copying action of a copying device, the latent image is made to appear clearly regardless of the type of copying device, the direction of scanning light, or the manner of placing the paper relative to the copying device. Specifically, either of a latent image and a background conferred upon the surface of a substratum paper is formed of mesh points of a 150-line 10% level and the remainder thereof is formed of concentric circular patterns. The thin lines forming the circles of the concentric circular patterns have a thickness of 1/10 mm and are spaced with an interval of about 1/2mm.

Abstract: An optical recording medium in which a recording layer (4) on which optically readable data are recorded is formed on a rectangular base material (1), a protective layer (5) is formed by roll coating on the recording layer (4) and wherein the base material (1) on which the recording layer (4) and the protective layer (5) have been formed is cut into a predetermined shape. The protective layer (5) provided on the recording layer (4) is formed of a material having a low Young modulus and a lower thermal conductivity as compared with the base material.

Abstract: An improved security document according to the present invention includes a substrate having a surface for carrying indicia. The document has background printed matter, consisting of a pattern of elements of a first size and frequency, printed at a first density on the surface. The document further has a cancellation term, consisting of a pattern of elements of a second size and frequency, printed at a second density on the surface. Elements of one of the first size or the second size are sufficiently small such that they are not reproduced by a color copier at a particular copier setting, and elements of the other of the first size or the second size are sufficiently large such that they are reproduced by the color copier at the particular copier setting. As a result, a copy of the security document made on a color copier displays the cancellation term. At least a portion of the security document surface is divisible into a plurality of bands extending across the surface.

Abstract: A security document that provides an indication it is a copy when copied by a photocopy machine has printed background pattern and warning printer matter interspersed with blank areas of a substrate to provide a distinct intermeshed pattern so that the warning printed matter is indistinguishable from the printed background by the human eye. The printed background comprises a number of parallel lines of a size such that they will be resolved by a photocopy machine, while the warning printed matter comprises geometric elements (typically circular dots) of a size less than that which can be resolved by a photocopy machine. The dots are disposed in a geometric continuation of at least some of the lines from the printed background, and are configured to form invalidating indicia of the document is copied by a photocopy machine. The printed background pattern and warning printed matter typically have a density of less than 20%, such as about 7-11%.

Abstract: An improved security document which protects documents from copying on color copying machines. The document has cancellation terms and background pattern in two tones. If the copier is adjusted to obscure the cancellation term on reproduced copies at one tone, the cancellation at the other tone will appear. In an alternative embodiment, the density of the cancellation term and the background pattern vary across the face of the document. In this case, the cancellation term will appear somewhere on the copy no matter what copier adjustments are made.

Abstract: A method and product resulting from application of the method for making the images in nonreplicable documents. Documents that cannot be replicated by known copying machines or other replicating devices are produced according to the invention method, as well as alternative methods. All of the methods disclosed herein are instructive for making the images and art work on such documents by forming lines into various patterns in a manner imitative of intaglio or gravure printing. The pitch of the lineations is deliberately selected so as to vary minutely from the pitch of the scanning trace of various copying machines such as photocopiers, video opticons, and the like. The variation in pitch may be obtained by deliberately manufacturing the document with the desired pitch or, subsequent to the image placement therein, altering the dimensions or geometry of the document so as to effectively skew the pitch parameter.

Abstract: A printed document, such as a lottery ticket, includes a thermochromic layer at least over the imprinted data region. The printed document can be authenticated by applying heat to the thermochromic material and observing the presence or absence of a reversible color change.

Abstract: An optically encoded information bearing label containing a two dimensional array of data cells includes a finder pattern comprising a plurality of spots arranged in a predetermined geometric pattern substantially analogous to the predetermined geometric pattern of said two dimensional array of data cells. The finder pattern is detected by first scanning the image area to detect spots. The locations of detected spots are compared to the known geometry of the finder pattern in order to provide for rapid and reliable finding of the finder pattern and the information bearing label. Additionally, the detected finder pattern spots provide information for decoding the two dimensional data array in order to compensate for label magnification, tilt and other distortions.

Abstract: The text discloses for use in printing valuable documents an allover pattern of warning indicia which is merged by human sensory perception with its background but is distinguished and reproduced by xerographic copying as a result of the employment of two different screen values for the indicia and the background which are respectively within and beyond the reproductive capability of the copier machine when used in the stated context. Adjunctively, document validating indicia are also printable on such documents in a screen value beyond the reproductive capability of xerographic copiers at the lighter settings at which the lesser screen value used for said warning indicia or background will reproduce.

Abstract: A multiple resolution optically encoded label is readable at two more optical resolutions, and is able to store two or more respective channels of optically encoded information. Low resolution information is encoded in a plurality of large cells arranged in a predetermined geometric pattern. Each of the large cells includes a plurality of smaller cells for storing high resolution information. Method and apparatus are disclosed for encoding both high resolution data, and low resolution data, as well as for finding and reading both high resolution and low resolution data.

Abstract: A security, information document for providing information to a reader from an information source organization includes a document substrate having a first area in which a half-tone warning image is printed, indicating that a copy of the document is an unauthorized document. A half-tone background image is printed in a second area on the substrate, with the second area surrounding the first area. A camouflage image extends over the document substrate for confusing the eye of an observer such that the warning image is not readily observed. One of the half-tone warning image and the half-tone background image is printed with a half-tone screen of such a line spacing that it is not readily reproducible by a copier. The camouflage image may contain an identification of the source of the information.

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: This invention is concerned with security paper for bank notes, cheques and like documents in a security strip of enhanced security which is more difficult to counterfeit than the present bank notes containing window threads.

Abstract: A copy-proof sheet having a longitudinal axis, and being constituted by a background and at least one latent mark, at least one of the background and the latent mark being formed of multi-line images of about 65-line 10% which are reproducible on a copy obtained from the sheet, the other of the background and the latent mark being formed of fine mesh images of about 150-line 10% which are not reproducible on a copy obtained from the sheet; the background and latent mark being distinguishable on the obtained copy due to a difference in color tone; the multi-line images being made up of longitudinal line-containing and lateral line-containing square areas each having sides of about 3 mm long; each longitudinal line-containing square area being made up of lines oriented parallel to the longitudinal axis of the sheet, and each lateral line-containing square area being made up of lines oriented normal to the longitudinal axis; and the longitudinal line-containing and lateral line-containing squares being juxtapose

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 method and product, resulting from application of the method, for making images on a document that will not be replicated properly by electro-optical scanning and copying devices. Documents that cannot be replicated by known copying machines or other replicating devices are produced according to the invention method, as well as alternative methods. All of the methods disclosed herein are instructive for making the images and art work on such documents by forming lines into various patterns in a manner imitative of intaglio or gravure printing. The pitch of the lineations is deliberately selected so as to vary minutely from the pitch of the scanning trace of various copying machines such as photocopiers, video opticons, and the like. The variation in pitch may be obtained by deliberately manufacturing the document with the desired pitch or, subsequent to the image placement therein, altering the dimensions or geometry of the document so as to effectively skew the pitch parameter.

Abstract: There is provided a process for preparing a film positive sheet for a forging-by-copying-proof print in which a first background image sheet is placed on a first latent image sheet, an unexposed film having a photosensitive membrane on the undersurface is placed on the background sheet to provide a primary three-layer film structure, the three-layer film structure is illuminated to partially expose the film, the first latent image and background sheets are replaced by second latent image and second background sheets, respectively, to provide a secondary three-layer film structure, the secondary three-layer film structure is illuminated to completely expose the partially exposed film and the second latent image and background sheets are removed from the secondary three-layer structure to thereby provide a film positive sheet for a forging-by-copying-proof print. Then, a forging-by-copying-proof print is prepared from the film positive sheet by a printing method such as offset or relief printing.

Abstract: A coded card for use in a melody playing apparatus. The coded card has four quadrants, each quadrant having a different melody therein. A synchronization code is encoded down the center of the card between alternates ones of the quadrants. By alternately rotating and turning the card over, each of the four quadrants with different melodies and the synchronization code will appear at a same predetermined quadrant position. Therefore, when playing on the melody playing apparatus, each of the melodies can be decoded thereby.

Abstract: An identity document has graphical information printed on a support and including uncoded alphanumerical information which is specific to a holder of the document or to the document. The surface of the support is broken down into a network of macropixels each having a predetermined average light absorption level. Each of the micropixels in turn consists of a dot pattern matrix of micropixels each having a light absorption level selected among at least two predetermined levels and distributed for the average absorption of each of the macropixels to be said predetermined average light absorption level and for constituting a screen which reproduces on a microscopic scale part at least of the uncoded specific information.

Abstract: There is provided a process for preparing a film positive sheet for a forging-by-copying-proof print in which a first background image sheet is placed on a first latent image sheet, an unexposed film having a photosensitive membrane on the undersurface is placed on the background sheet to provide a primary three-layer film structure, the three-layer film structure is illuminated to partially expose the film, the first latent image and background sheets are replaced by second latent image and second background sheets, respectively, to provide a secondary three-layer film structure, the secondary three-layer film structure is illuminated to completely expose the partially exposed film and the second latent image and background sheets are removed from the secondary three-layer structure to thereby provide a film positive sheet for a forging-by-copying-proof print.

Abstract: A sheet containing an integrated-directional, half-tone image. Each sheet may contain one or more such images. Also a method for forming such images in microlens sheetings comprising directly a highly collimated light through an interposed half-tone mask.

Abstract: Personal information is recorded on an information medium containing both visual images, such as a face image or fingerprint, and laser recorded data. The visual images are created on a piece of photographic material or eye readable laser recording material. The visual image material is adhered to a surface of a wallet-size card. A strip of laser recordable optical data storage material is also adhered to the card. After the strip is put on the card, a laser records personal information indicia on the strip in situ. The strip may be a reflective material of silver particles in a gelatin matrix, in which recording produces spots having a detectable difference in reflectivity. The card may be coated with a transparent protective laminate material.

Abstract: A secure and self-verifiable image is formed by an array of image dots 30 on one side of a pellucid stratum or film 10 and a corresponding array of light-transmitting apertures 21 in a dark screen 20 on the other side of film 10, with image dots 30 being offset from the axes of apertures 21 so that the image is viewable only by light passing obliquely through film 10 at an angle that intersects arrayed apertures 21 and dots 30. Both apertures 21 and dots 30 occupy up to about 15% of the total area and the array spacing is at least 40 dots per centimeter. The reflective density of the interaperture regions of dark screen 20 is at least 1.6, and pellucid film 10 is at least 0.05 mm thick.

Abstract: An object of this invention is to provide a method of producing printing with a hidden image which cannot be observed with the unaided eye but which can be observed by use of a tool to determine the authenticity of a document.In accordance with the invention, the lithographic printing process is used in conjunction with tints or halftones to produce a printed document having an image therein which is not detectable with the unaided eye, but which may be observed when the print is viewed through a tint screen. The hidden image is produced by making a composite negative comprising an exposure through a negative containing the image and a tint oriented at a first angle onto a piece of film, and then making a second exposure through a positive containing the image and a tint oriented at a second angle onto the same piece of film. The composite negative is enlarged and dots in the area of the intersection of the image and background are blended to hide the image.

Abstract: A secure and self-verifiable image is formed by an array of image dots 30 on one side of a pellucid stratum or film 10 and a corresponding array of light-transmitting apertures 21 in a dark screen 20 on the other side of film 10, with image dots 30 being offset from the axes of apertures 21 so that the image is viewable only by light passing obliquely through film 10 at an angle that intersects arrayed apertures 21 and dots 30. Both apertures 21 and dots 30 occupy up to about 15% of the total area and the array spacing is at least 40 dots per centimeter. The reflective density of the interaperture regions of dark screen 20 is at least 1.6, and pellucid film 10 is at least 0.05 mm thick.

Abstract: A printed substrate has areas printed in a screen of carbon black ink dots and other areas printed in a corresponding screen of infrared transparent ink dots, whereby, the presence of the carbon black ink dots is made visually undetectable but can readily be detected by an infrared emitter and detector.

Abstract: Teaching or amusement apparatus consists of a substrate bearing printed intelligence and a detector pen or unit for use therewith. The detector pen discriminates between areas on the printed substrate by means not visible to the naked eye e.g. by a difference in magnetic properties, infrared reflective properties or capacitative properties of different parts of the printing. Depending on the type of printing and the degree of complexity of detection, a wide variety of games and teaching aids may be produced using this basic approach. A typical example is a quiz game where a question may be followed by five printed answers, only one of which is correct, that correct one being printed in a detectably different way from the others.

Abstract: An identification card, in particular an all-plastic indentification card, written on by means of a laser, having user-related and user-neutral data such as a name, account number, etc. present on the surface of the indentification card in the form of local discolorations of the identification card material without any transition. Due to a local increase in tensile strength, these decolorized areas have greater resistance to mechanical changes and/or chemical solvents than the surrounding areas of the identification card made of the same identification card material. Thus attempted falsification by means of mechanical and chemical means is prevented in an especially effective way, since such attempts lead to destruction of the identification card in each case.

Abstract: A protected document includes background printed background matter and line pattern printed warning indicia. The warning indicia is slurrable upon copying to become visible.

Abstract: A protected document has a cancellation phrase, normally invisible to the human eye, which will appear if the document is copied on a color copier. The protection of these documents is improved in the following protected document. The document is made up of a substrate, first and second cancellation phrase images which form a combined cancellation phrase image printed on the substrate, first and second background images forming a combined background image printed on the substrate and a camouflage overlay image (merged with) the combined cancellation and combined background images. The first and second cancellation phrase images appear on the document when it is copied on a color copier. The two images extend the range of protection for color copy machines having multiple darkness settings.

Abstract: A black and white microfilm reproduction is made of a person or their photograph and accompanying text data. A sheet of multicolor photographic paper then is exposed to the black and white image carried on the microfilm and to another color film carrying a multicolor security pattern, mark or the like. The paper then is developed to produce the document having a black and white image of the person to be identified and accompanying text data together with overlying multicolor security pattern. The security pattern has lines that vary in color along their lengths independently of one another.

Abstract: A color-copier resistant document is disclosed which includes a repeated invalidating phrase printed on a document, together with a background tone. In addition to having an overlay camouflage tone printed over the entire surface of the document, each of the invalidating images is formed of irregular, smooth-shaped letters which further advance their hiding characteristics. Overall sizes are suggested for the use of the invalidating word VOID, and stroke sizes for each of the letters are also disclosed.

Abstract: The invention teaches means for detecting unauthorized tampering or substitutions of a device, and has particular utility when applied on a "seal" device used to secure a location or thing. The seal has a transparent body wall, and a first indicia, viz., a label identification is formed on the inside surface of this wall. Second and third indicia are formed on the outside surface of the transparent wall, and each of these indicia is transparent to allow the parallax angled viewing of the first indicia through these indicia. The second indicia is in the form of a broadly uniform pattern, viz, many small spaced dots; while the third indicia is in the form of easily memorized objects, such as human faces, made on a substrate by means of halftone printing. The substrate is lapped over the outside surface of the transparent wall.