(19) |
|
|
(11) |
EP 1 813 440 B1 |
(12) |
EUROPEAN PATENT SPECIFICATION |
(45) |
Mention of the grant of the patent: |
|
23.03.2011 Bulletin 2011/12 |
(22) |
Date of filing: 27.01.2006 |
|
(51) |
International Patent Classification (IPC):
|
|
(54) |
Electronic security means for security documents using a linear dynamo for power generation
Elektronisches Sicherheitsmittel für Sicherheitsdokumente mit linearem Dynamo für
Kraftgewinnung
Moyen de sécurité électronique pour documents de sécurité avec une dynamo linéaire
pour la génération de puissance
|
(84) |
Designated Contracting States: |
|
AT BE BG CH CY CZ DE DK EE ES FI FR GB GR HU IE IS IT LI LT LU LV MC NL PL PT RO SE
SI SK TR |
|
Designated Extension States: |
|
AL MK |
(43) |
Date of publication of application: |
|
01.08.2007 Bulletin 2007/31 |
(73) |
Proprietor: European Central Bank |
|
60311 Frankfurt am Main (DE) |
|
(72) |
Inventors: |
|
- Gore, Jonathan G.
QinetiQ Cody Technology Park
Hampshire, GU14 OLX (GB)
- Eaton, Stuart J.
QinetiQ Cody Technology Park
Hampshire, GU14 OLX (GB)
|
(74) |
Representative: Luderschmidt, Schüler & Partner |
|
Patentanwälte
John-F.-Kennedy-Strasse 4 65189 Wiesbaden 65189 Wiesbaden (DE) |
(56) |
References cited: :
EP-A- 0 310 707 WO-A-01/69523
|
EP-A- 1 148 440 WO-A-03/057502
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Note: Within nine months from the publication of the mention of the grant of the European
patent, any person may give notice to the European Patent Office of opposition to
the European patent
granted. Notice of opposition shall be filed in a written reasoned statement. It shall
not be deemed to
have been filed until the opposition fee has been paid. (Art. 99(1) European Patent
Convention).
|
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the invention
[0001] The present invention relates to electronic security means for security documents
such as banknotes, passports, chequebooks, etc, and more preferably to electronic
security means comprising display means (such as liquid crystals, or microencapsulated
electronic ink) to provide a visible display change when a voltage is generated in
a coil located on said security document by electromagnetic induction.
2. Description of the Related Art
[0002] The use of self-authenticating security features for producing documents serves for
protecting them against unauthorized reproduction by forgers. This is necessary, in
particular, for securities such as banknotes, checks, traveller's checks, stocks,
etc. There is also a need for securing papers which do not have a direct monetary
value, such as identification papers, passports etc., against unauthorized copying.
[0003] In particular, in the case of securities, which are circulated daily, for example,
banknotes, a forger may succeed in copying the optically recorded document contents,
for example, the optical printed image of the banknotes, in a deceptively precise
way. A protection against this is the authenticity feature contained in the safety
paper, used for producing the documents, as a result of the structure imparted to
the safety paper during manufacture which authenticity feature supposedly practically
cannot be copied by a forger with the means available to him. Moreover, the application
of watermarks or the introduction of a safety thread into the paper is known. These
conventional measures, however, can no longer be considered satisfactory in view of
the advances of the working means employed by forgers. In particular, in the case
of global political crisis regions the war-conducting groups or even entire countries
employ forgery as warfare. Accordingly, the resources employed for forgery are correspondingly
great.
[0004] EP 1 431 062 suggests security documents comprising substrate means, on board-electrical power
supply means, such as photovoltaic cells, and electronic security means using said
on-board power supply means. However the security feature cannot be activated by the
user of the feature, if necessary. In addition a security feature of that kind is
limited by the capacity of the power supply means and/or the availability of the corresponding
power generating source.
[0005] CN 1 184 303 describes an anti-counterfeiting feature that consists of power source, controller
and driver circuit and panel display. The display is produced by means of semiconductor
technology and fine processing and is said to be difficult to counterfeit. However
the use of semiconductor technology and the necessity for a display controller and
driver circuit will limit the size, flexibility and durability of this device.
[0006] WO 01/69523 A1 discloses a sheet or a strip that is made of paper or a support material similar
to paper, e.g. a bank note, wherein an electronic circuit made of organic semiconductor
material is printed thereon or laminated therein. The electronic circuit can have
a flat spiral or can be connected to the metallic strip of a bank note by means of
a printed conductor. Thereby said flat spiral or said strip should act as an antenna
for receiving and/or transmitting signals. However, the use of a magnetic means in
order generate a voltage in said coil is neither disclosed nor suggested in
WO 01/69523 A1.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0007] The main objective of the present invention is to provide a more flexible and reliable
overt security feature for secured documents that can be authenticated by a member
of the general public, and which has improved forgery-proof properties.
[0008] In addition the security feature shall be highly flexible, comparable small in thickness
and highly durable.
[0009] In carrying out these and other objects of the present invention, there is provided
a security document comprising substrate means and at least one electronic security
means, wherein said security document also comprises at least one coil electrically
connected to said electronic security means and at least one magnetic means. Thereby
a highly flexible and reliable overt security feature for secured documents is made
available that can be authenticated by a member of the general public in a very simple
way, and which has improved forgery-proof properties.
[0010] In particular, the security feature of the document can be activated by the user
in a comparatively simple way, e.g. by moving said magnetic means across the surface
of said coil. This results in the generation of small amounts of electrical power
that operate the electronic security means and display the security feature.
[0011] One particular advantage of the concept of the present invention is that no electrical
circuitry, which will limit the thickness, robustness, durability and flexibility
of the secure document, is required to interface between the coil and the display.
[0012] In addition, the present invention overcomes the size, flexibility and durability
limitations of conventional electro-optic displays, electrical power sources and electrical
interconnects. The security document of the present invention is extremely thin. Furthermore
the security document of the present invention exhibits a very high flexibility, and
a very high durability.
[0013] Especially suitable variations of the security document of the present invention
are described in the dependent products claims.
[0014] The process claims describes particularly suitable methods for the manufacture of
the security document of the present invention and the use claims refer to particularly
favourable ways of using the security document of the present invention.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0015]
FIG. 1 is a plan view illustrating a preferred embodiment of the security document
of the present invention.
FIG. 2 is a perspective view (with the thickness of the components greatly enhanced)
illustrating a preferred way of using the security document of the present invention.
FIG. 3 is an example voltage profile as a magnetic means is swiped past the coil of
the security document of the present invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
[0016] The following is a detailed description of the present invention. It provides a security
document comprising substrate means and at least one electronic security means. The
term "security document", as used herein refers to all kind of documents that contain
at least one feature that can be used to prevent counterfeiting by providing authentication,
identification or classification of the document. In particular, they include banknotes,
passports, chequebooks, identity cards, credit cards and/or debit cards.
[0017] According to the present invention the security document also comprises at least
one coil. Thereby the term "coil" refers to a metallic or conductive wire wound circularly
or spirally and comprising a series of at least two loops.
[0018] In principle, the coil can be made of any material known in the art. However, the
use materials having a resistivity ρ of less than 10
6 Ω · cm, very preferably of less than 10
-2 Ω · cm, when measured at 25°C, is particularly favourable. Especially suitable materials
enclose copper, silver, gold, platinum, tin.
[0019] In a very preferred embodiment of the present invention, the coil has a planar coil
pattern, preferably in the form of a spiral. A spiral is a curve which turns around
some central point or axis, getting progressively closer to or farther from it, depending
on which way one follows the curve. A two-dimensional spiral may be described using
polar coordinates by saying that the radius r is a continuous monotonic function of
θ.
[0020] The coil preferably comprises at least 10 turns, more preferably at least 100 turns,
and most preferably at least 1000 turns.
[0021] According to one especially preferred embodiment of the invention the security document
comprises at least two coils electrically connected in series to increase the voltage
output.
[0022] In another especially preferred embodiment of the present invention the security
document comprises at least two coils electrically connected in parallel.
[0023] In still another preferred embodiment the coil comprises a magnetic backing layer.
Particularly suitable materials in that context include those mentioned with respect
to the magnetic means.
[0024] According to the present invention the coil is electrically connected to said electronic
security means. Thereby the term "electrical connection" refers to a connection of
both ends of said coil via a material preferably having a resistivity ρ of less than
10
6 Ω · cm, very preferably of less than 10
-2 Ω · cm, when measured at 25°C. By the way of contrast two articles will be "electrically
isolated one from another" if there is no electrical connection between said articles,
in particular via a material having a resistivity ρ of less than 10
6 Ω · cm, when measured at 25°C.
[0025] The connection of the coil to the electronic security means is preferably achieved
via one or more electrically conducting tracks. Thereby the electrically conducting
tracks can be made of any electrically conducting material, but the use of copper
tracks has proven of particular advantage.
[0026] The security document of the present invention also comprises at least one magnetic
means. Magnetic means are well known in the art and refer to materials, which exert
an attractive or repulsive (magnetic) force on other materials. Some well-known materials
that exhibit easily detectable magnetic properties are iron, some steels, and the
mineral lodestone.
[0027] Magnetic forces are fundamental forces that arise due to the movement of electrical
charge. Maxwell's equations describe the origin and behaviour of the fields that govern
these forces. Thus, magnetism is seen whenever electrically charged particles are
in motion. This can arise either from movement of electrons in an electric current,
resulting in "electromagnetism", or from the quantum-mechanical orbital motion and
spin of electrons, resulting in what are known as "permanent magnets".
[0028] The physical cause of the magnetism of objects, as distinct from electrical currents,
is the atomic magnetic dipole. Magnetic dipoles, or magnetic moments, result on the
atomic scale from the two kinds of movement of electrons. The first is the orbital
motion of the electron around the nucleus; this motion can be considered as a current
loop, resulting in an orbital dipole magnetic moment along the axis of the nucleus.
The second, much stronger, source of electronic magnetic moment is due to a quantum
mechanical property called the spin dipole magnetic moment.
[0029] The overall magnetic moment of the atom is the net sum of all of the magnetic moments
of the individual electrons. Because of the tendency of magnetic dipoles to oppose
each other to reduce the net energy, in an atom the opposing magnetic moments of some
pairs of electrons cancel each other, both in orbital motion and in spin magnetic
moments. Thus, in the case of an atom with a completely filled electron shell or sub
shell, the magnetic moments normally completely cancel each other out and only atoms
with partially-filled electron shells have a magnetic moment, whose strength depends
on the number of unpaired electrons.
[0030] The differences in configuration of the electrons in various elements thus determine
the nature and magnitude of the atomic magnetic moments, which in turn determine the
differing magnetic properties of various materials. In the present invention, the
magnetic behaviour preferably results from Diamagnetism, Paramagnetism, Molecular
magnetism, Ferromagnetism, Antiferromagnetism, Ferrimagnetism, Metamagnetism, Spin
glass and/or Superparamagnetism.
[0031] Particularly suitable magnetic means include
- Magnetic metallic elements, which, due to their unpaired electron spins, are magnetic
when found in their natural states, as ores. Iron ore (magnetite or lodestone), cobalt,
and nickel, as well the rare earth metals gadolinium and dysprosium (when at a very
low temperature) are particularly preferred; and wherein the use of iron ore (magnetite
or lodestone), cobalt, and/or nickel has proven best.
- Ceramic or ferrite magnetic means, which are made of a sintered composite of powdered
iron oxide and barium/strontium carbonate ceramic.
- Alnico magnetic means, which are made by casting or sintering a combination of aluminium,
nickel and cobalt with iron and small amounts of other elements added to enhance the
properties of the magnetic means. Sintering offers superior mechanical characteristics,
whereas casting delivers higher magnetic fields and allows for the design of intricate
shapes.
- Injection moulded magnets, which are a composite of various types of resin and magnetic
powders, allowing parts of complex shapes to be manufactured by injection moulding.
- Flexible magnets which are similar to injection moulded magnets, using a flexible
resin or binder such as vinyl, and produced in flat strips or sheets.
- Rare earth (lanthanide) magnets, which have a partially occupied f electron shell
(which can accommodate up to 14 electrons.)
- Samarium cobalt magnets, which are highly resistant to oxidation, with higher magnetic
strength and temperature resistance than alnico or ceramic materials.
- Neodymium iron boron (NdFeB) magnets, which have the highest magnetic field strength.
Use of protective surface treatments such as gold, nickel, zinc and tin plating and
epoxy resin coating can provide corrosion and thermal protection where required. Nd2Fe14B is particularly favoured in that context.
[0032] In the present invention, ferromagnetic materials are especially preferred. Particularly
suitable ferromagnetic materials include Co, Fe, FeOFe
2O
3, NiOFe
2O
3, CuOFe
2O
3, MgOFe
2O
3, MnBi, Ni, MnSb, MnOFe
2O
3, Y
3Fe
5O
12, CrO
2, MnAs, Gd, Dy and/or EuO, wherein materials having a Curie temperature, the temperature
above which they cease to be ferromagnetic, above 20°C, more preferably above 100°C,
most preferably above 250°C are particularly favoured.
[0033] In another preferred embodiment the magnetic means comprise at least one Heusler
alloy, i. e. a ferromagnetic metal alloy whose constituents are not themselves ferromagnetic
in their pure forms.
[0034] Furthermore the use of amorphous (non-crystalline) ferromagnetic metallic alloys
has proven of particular advantage, that are preferably obtained by very rapid quenching
(cooling) of a liquid alloy, such as a transition metal-metalloid alloy, made from
about 80% transition metal (usually Fe, Co, or Ni) and a metalloid component (B, C,
Si, P, or Al) that lowers the melting point. Another example of such an amorphous
alloy is Fe80B20 (Metglas 2605), which has a Curie temperature of 647 K and a room-temperature
(300 K) saturation magnetization of 125.7 milliteslas (1257 gauss), compared with
1043 K and 170.7 mT (1707 gauss) for pure iron from above. The melting point, or more
precisely the glass transition temperature, is only 714 K for the alloy versus 1811
K for pure iron.
[0035] The actual shape of the magnetic means is not critical and can be square, rectangular,
round or oval in shape, for example. However, the exposed surface of the magnetic
means, i. e. the surface facing the viewer, preferably comprises at least two areas
having a different magnetisation. According to one very preferred embodiment of the
invention the magnetic means comprises at least two areas of through plane magnetisation,
wherein the field gradients of said areas have opposite directions. Thereby the field
gradients are preferably perpendicular to the main surface of the security document.
[0036] According to another very preferred embodiment of the invention the magnetic means
comprises at least two areas of in plane magnetisation, wherein the field gradients
of said areas have opposite directions. Thereby the terms "through plane" and "in
plane" refers to the directions in relation to the main surface of the security document.
[0037] The strength of the magnetic field of the magnetic means is preferably at least 0.3
Tesla.
[0038] Further details regarding magnetic means can be found in the technical literature,
especially in
- Charles Kittel Introduction to Solid State Physics, Wiley: New York, 1996;
- Neil W. Ashcroft and N. David Mermin Solid State Physics, Harcourt: Orlando, 1976;
- John David Jackson Classical Electrodynamics, Wiley: New York, 1999;
- E. P. Wohlfarth, ed. Ferromagnetic Materials, North-Holland, 1980;
- "Nanofoam makes magnetic debut" Physics World 17 (5), 3, May 2004;
- "Heusler alloy" Encyclopedia Britannica Online, retrieved Jan. 23, 2005;
- F. Heusler, W. Stark, and E. Haupt Verh. der Phys. Ges. 5, 219, 1903;
- Griffiths, David J. Introduction to Electrodynamics (3rd ed.), Prentice Hall, 1998;
- Tipler, Paul Physics for Scientists and Engineers: Electricity, Magnetism, Light,
and Elementary Modem Physics (5th ed.), W. H. Freeman 2004;
[0039] The coil and/or the magnetic means may be impregnated and over-coated with a soft,
flexible polymer material to both enhance robustness and flexibility and provide a
protective layer.
[0040] The size of the coil and the magnet and the coil are suitably selected in a way that
when the magnetic means is moved across the surface of the coil (gap: 1 mm; velocity
of the movement magnetic means/coil: 0.5 m/s) the voltage generated is preferably
at least 0.1 V, more preferably at least 0.5 V, and in particular at least 1.0 V.
[0041] In one especially preferred embodiment of the present invention at least one coil
and at least one magnetic means are provided on the same side of the security document.
[0042] In another preferred embodiment of the present invention the security document comprises
one or more means for storing the energy generated by moving the magnetic means across
the surface of the coil. In this way the magnetic means can be moved across the surface
of the coil several times in order to build up enough electrical energy that can then
be used to subsequently activate an electronic security means that may require higher
voltage and power levels than can be achieved through a single pass.
[0043] In a further preferred embodiment of the present invention the security document
comprises a transformer to step-up the voltage from low levels to higher levels.
[0044] However, the use of means for storing the energy and/or the use of transformers significantly
add to the complexity of the concept and are therefore limited to particular fields
of application.
[0045] The electronic security means of the security document is not particularly limited
and can be any known in the art. However, it is particular advantageous that the security
means is an overt security feature, when activated. The term "overt feature", as used
herein refers to a feature can be simply verified by a member of the general public
using just the feature itself, and with no requirement for additional apparatus. Features
in which the feature can only be read by special machine apparatus are so-called "covert
features" which are not preferred for the purposes of the present invention.
[0046] In addition, the electronic security means is preferably a low power display means
having an electric power consumption of preferably 1 mW or less, and in particular
of 10
-5 W or less.
[0047] Particularly suitable electronic security means for the purposes of the present invention
include electrophoretic ink display means, liquid crystal display means and/or polymer
light emitting diodes, wherein electrophoretic ink display means, and liquid crystal
display means are especially favoured.
[0048] The kind of the substrate means used in the present invention is not critical. However
the use of substrate means comprising paper, plastic, polymer, elemental metallic
foils, metallic alloy foils and/or synthetic paper is preferred.
[0049] The security document of the present invention is comparatively thin and its thickness
is preferably smaller than 100 µm. In one especially preferred embodiment, the overall
thickness of the coil, not including the substrate thickness, is between approximately
10 to 50 µm. The overall thickness of the magnetic means, not including the substrate
thickness, is between preferably 10 to 50 µm. The thickness of the interconnects between
the power source and the display is preferably within the range from approximately
1 to 30 µm. The thickness of the electronic security means, not including the substrate
means, depends on the kind of security means actually used, but is preferably in the
range from 25 to 300 µm.
[0050] Methods for the production of a security document of the present invention are obvious
to the skilled person. The substrate means is preferably provided with the coil, the
magnetic means and the electronic security means, wherein all components, including
the electronic security means, may be provided simultaneously onto a common substrate.
Alternatively, for substrates that are not compatible with the manufacturing techniques
required for the electronic security means, the coil and the magnetic means and the
interconnects may be provided onto the substrate before or after, preferably before
the display assembly is attached to the substrate. In this latter case, electrical
connection will be made by ensuring that exposed printed contact pads on the substrate
align with contact pads on the electronic security means.
[0051] The coil and/or the magnet means may be deposited by a variety of methods including
sol-gel, spray pyrolysis, hot wall pyrolysis, flash evaporation, vacuum sputtering,
chemical vapour deposition, printing, laser scribing, electroless deposition technique,
electroplating and electrochemical deposition. The deposition technique that is considered
to be most suitable for the intended application is printing, wherein offset printing,
flat bed screen printing, rotary screen printing, tampo, flexo printing, gravure and/or
inkjet printing are particularly preferred.
[0052] The offset printing works by transferring an ink onto an imaged metal cylinder, which
is then passed over a water roller. The ink repels the water, keeping the image on
the cylinder sharp. This is then transferred onto an offset cylinder and then onto
the substrate.
[0053] Particularly preferred cylinders are made by a lithographic process. The process
is preferably reel-to-reel but can also be sheet fed.
[0054] Screen-printing is a process in which a high viscosity ink is squeezed by a squeegee
blade through a patterned mesh onto a substrate to form an image.
[0055] Preferred screen printing meshes are made from PET or Nylon although steel is also
usable. The screens are made by painting the entire mesh with a UV-curable polymer.
The required artwork is then printed onto a film as an opaque image. This is placed
over the mesh as a mask and the whole screen is exposed to UV light. Where the paint
is exposed to the UV it cross-links and hardens, filling the holes in the mesh. The
ink behind the mask, which has not been exposed, is then washed out, leaving the image
on the screen.
[0056] The resolution of the image is governed by the cross-sectional area and profile of
the mesh, the blade pressure and the particulate loading of the ink.
[0057] Screen printing inks can vary from those used for graphics, which have a nanometre-size
pigment dispersion, to those containing 10 micron plus silver flake. To achieve a
high resolution image a large pigment size must be avoided to prevent the mesh filtering
the ink.
[0058] The profile of the mesh in conjunction with the blade pressure governs the thickness
of deposit for a given ink. If too high a profile is used, the thickness of ink deposited
can be too great, which can cause the ink to slump, thereby reducing the image quality.
[0059] Rotary screen-printing is essentially the reel-to-reel version of flatbed screen-printing
with the image being produced on a patterned cylindrical mesh rather than a flat mesh.
[0060] In the tampo process, an image is produced on a rubber stamp onto which ink is transferred.
The image is then printed onto the substrate. The material the stamp is made from
dictates the resolution of the printed image. Engraved metal plates can be used but
preferably a stamp is made from a photo-imageable rubber compound.
[0061] In the flexo printing the image is created in the same way as for the tampo process,
but the difference is that it is wrapped around a metal cylinder to act as a roller.
Ink is transferred to it by means of a second roller and then onto the substrate.
[0062] Like flexo printing, gravure is another high-speed reel-to-reel process. It is used
instead of the flexo process when high volumes of high-resolution images are required.
In the gravure process a steel cylinder is etched to produce the image roller.
[0063] The term inkjet printing is broadly used to describe any digitally-controlled printer,
although it originated from the first piezo-electric driven inkjet heads.
[0064] In a piezo-electric head a voltage is applied to a piezoelectric material, which
surrounds a compressible ink chamber, firing the ink out of the chamber nozzle. When
the voltage is removed, the ink chamber relaxes, drawing more ink into the chamber
from a reservoir to refill it.
[0065] Bubble-jet technology is similar to the piezo-electric inkjet, the difference being
that the bubble-jet uses heat to expand the ink and fire it out of nozzle.
[0066] In continuous inkjet printing the ink is pumped continuously through the printer
under pressure. The ink is electrically charged and as it is fired, the flight of
droplet is controlled electro-statically.
[0067] Laser scribing can be used for scribing extremely fine features. The process uses
a laser to cut away copper to form an image, this is known as ablation. The cut produced
by the laser leaves a jagged edge behind it as well as debris from the oblation process.
[0068] However, the use of other methods is also contemplated as falling within the scope
of the present invention.
[0069] For checking authenticity of the security document of the present invention the magnetic
means is preferably moved across the surface of the coil and a status change of the
electronic security means is observed. Thereby a voltage is generated in the coil
that operates the electronic security means.
[0070] The gap between the surface of the coil and the magnetic means is preferably as low
as possible, particularly smaller than 5 mm, more preferably smaller than 2 mm, even
more preferably smaller than 1 mm, and most preferably within the range of 0.01 mm
to 0.5 mm.
[0071] The velocity of the movement of the magnetic means parallel to the surface of the
coil is preferably at least 0.1 m/s, very preferably at least 0.5 m/s, most preferably
at least 1 m/s.
[0072] Furthermore it has proven of particular advantage to repeatedly move the magnetic
means across the surface of the coil.
[0073] The magnetic means that is passed over the coil will have a North pole and a South
pole. As such, both a positive voltage and a negative voltage will be induced in the
coil with a single swipe of the magnet past the coil. The exact nature of the voltage
profile with position of the magnet will depend on the orientation of the magnet poles
with respect to the coil axis. This is a useful feature of the present invention since
the change from positive to negative voltage potential can also, if the display is
configured appropriately, cause a change in the image state of the display.
[0074] In this invention only a very low voltage is required, since especially for electrophoretic-type
displays, such as microencapsulated electrophoretic inks or electrophoretic liquid
crystal-type displays, only a very low level of electrical current is required for
operation of the display. However, the power induced in the coil may be sufficient
for operation of display devices that require higher powers such as semi-conductor
LEDs, electrochromic displays, thermochromic displays and electroluminescent displays.
These possible variations are contemplated as falling within the scope of the present
invention.
[0075] Referring now to the figures, a particular preferred embodiment of the invention
will be discussed. Fig. 1 is a plan view of said particular preferred embodiment wherein
the thickness of the elements is greatly exaggerated for clarity. The security document
comprises a thin flexible substrate 1 and a thin flexible coil 3 deposited or printed
onto said substrate 1. Both ends of the coil is electrically connected, via flexible
electrically conducting tracks 5, which may be printed or deposited on the substrate
1, to a thin and flexible low power display 2. The display 2 may be printed or deposited
onto the substrate or adhered to the substrate before or after the printing and/or
deposition of the other components of the feature. In any case, electrical connectivity
is made between the display 2 and the coil 3. In addition the security document also
comprise a magnetic means 4 also printed or deposited on the substrate 1. Thereby
the coil 3 and the magnetic means 4 are located on the same side of the substrate.
Furthermore the coil 3 is designed such that the movement of the magnetic means 4
over the surface of the coil 1 generates sufficient electric voltage and current to
operate the display 2.
[0076] Alternatively two coils 1 could be utilised in which both coils are electrically
connected to the display 2. These coils 1 could be printed on top of each other or
adjacent to each other. The direction of the windings in the different coils 1 could
be the same or reverse. The winding direction will determine the polarity (positive
or negative) of the generated voltage for a given positive or negative rate of change
of flux. A plurality of coils 1 with different winding directions may be used.
[0077] In fact it will be possible to design both the coils 1 and the magnetic means 4 in
such a way, with features that may be hidden from normal detection (such as position
and orientation of the North and South poles in the magnetic means 4 and direction
of electrical winding in the coils 1) to give rise to a specific voltage profile when
the magnetic means 4 is swiped past the coil 1, which in turn gives rise to a specific
pre-determined changing optical image within the display 2.
[0078] Fig. 2 is a perspective view illustrating the use of security document for checking
its authenticity. Thereby the substrate 1 is folded and the magnetic means 4 is moved
across the surface of the coil 3 and a status change of the display 2, i. e. the electronic
security means is observed.
[0079] Fig. 3 is an example voltage profile as a magnetic means 4 is swiped past the coil
3 of the security document of the present invention. The voltage is given in V and
the time is given in s. The power generated by is sufficient to operate a low power
display, such as a electrophoretic-type display.
1. Security document comprising substrate means and at least one electronic security
means, characterized in that said security document also comprises at least one coil electrically connected to
said electronic security means and at least one magnetic means, wherein said security
document is adapted for checking its authenticity by moving said magnetic means across
the surface of said coil and by observing a status change of said electronic security
means.
2. Security document according to claim 1, characterized in that said security document is a banknote, a passport, a chequebook, an identity card,
a credit card or a debit card.
3. Security document according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that said coil has a planar coil pattern.
4. Security document according to at least one of the preceding claims, characterized in that said coil has at least 10 turns.
5. Security document according to at least one of the preceding claims, characterized in that said coil comprises copper.
6. Security document according to at least one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the exposed surface of said magnetic means comprises at least two areas having a
different magnetisation.
7. Security document according to at least one of the preceding claims, characterized in that said magnetic means comprises at least two areas of through plane magnetisation,
wherein the field gradients of said areas have opposite directions.
8. Security document according to at least one of the preceding claims, characterized in that said magnetic means comprises at least two areas of in plane magnetisation, wherein
the field gradients of said areas have opposite directions.
9. Security document according to at least one of the preceding claims, characterized in that said magnetic means comprises a ferromagnetic material.
10. Security document according to claim 9, characterized in that said magnetic means comprises iron, cobalt, nickel, a Heusler alloy, europium oxide
and/or chromium (IV) oxide.
11. Security document according to claim 10, characterized in that said magnetic means comprises an alloy comprising iron, cobalt and/or nickel, and/or
a ferrite.
12. Security document according to claim 11, characterized in that said magnetic means comprises Nd2Fe14B.
13. Security document according to at least one of the preceding claims, characterized in that said coil and/or said magnetic means are coated with a protective layer.
14. Security document according to at least one of the preceding claims, characterized in that said security document comprises electrically conducting tracks electrically connecting
said coil to said electronic security means.
15. Security document according to at least one of the preceding claims, characterized in that said electronic security means is an overt security feature.
16. Security document according to at least one of the preceding claims, characterized in that said electronic security means is a low power display means.
17. Security document according to claim 16, characterized in that the power needed by said lower power display is 1 mW or less.
18. Security document according to claim 16 or 17, characterized in that said low power display means are electrophoretic ink display means, liquid crystal
display means and/or polymer light emitting diodes.
19. Security document according to at least one of the preceding claims, characterized in that said substrate means comprises paper, plastic, polymer, elemental metallic foils,
metallic alloy foils and/or synthetic paper.
20. Security document according to at least one of the preceding claims, characterized in that its thickness is smaller than 100 µm.
21. Method for the production of a security document according to at least one of the
preceding claims, wherein said coil, said magnetic means and said electronic security
means are provided on said substrate means.
22. Method according to claim 21, characterized in that said magnetic means and/or said coil are provided onto said substrate means by the
use of sol-gel, spray pyrolysis, hot wall pyrolysis, flash evaporation, vacuum sputtering,
chemical vapour deposition, printing, laser scribing, electroless deposition technique,
electroplating and/or electrochemical deposition.
23. Method according to claim 21 or 22, characterized in that electrical interconnections are provided on said substrate means and said magnetic
means, said coil and said electronic security means are provided onto said electrical
interconnections.
24. Method according to at least one of the claims 21 to 23, characterized in that said electronic security means is provided before or after the provision of said
magnetic means and said coil.
25. Method according to at least one of the claims 21 to 24, characterized in that said magnetic means and said coil are provided on the same side of said security
document.
26. Use of a security document according to at least one of the claims 1 to 20 for checking
its authenticity, wherein said magnetic means is moved across the surface of said
coil and a status change of said electronic security means is observed.
27. Use according to claim 26, characterized in that the gap between the surface of said coil and the surface of said magnetic means is
smaller than 5 mm.
28. Use according to claim 26 or 27, characterized in that the velocity of the movement of the magnetic means parallel to the surface of the
coil is at least 0.1 m/s.
29. Use according to at least one of the claims 26 to 28, characterized in that said magnetic means is repeatedly moved across the surface of said coil.
1. Sicherheitsdokument, umfassend Substratmittel und mindestens ein elektronisches Sicherheitsmittel,
dadurch gekennzeichnet, dass das Sicherheitsdokument auch mindestens eine Spule, die elektrisch mit dem elektronischen
Sicherheitsmittel verbunden ist, und mindestens ein magnetisches Mittel umfasst, wobei
das Sicherheitsdokument dafür geeignet ist, dass man seine Authentizität überprüft,
indem man das magnetische Mittel über die Oberfläche der Spule bewegt und eine Zustandsänderung
des elektronischen Sicherheitsmittels beobachtet.
2. Sicherheitsdokument gemäß Anspruch 1, dadurch gekennzeichnet, dass das Sicherheitsdokument ein Geldschein, ein Pass, ein Scheckheft, ein Ausweis, eine
Kreditkarte oder eine Debitkarte ist.
3. Sicherheitsdokument gemäß Anspruch 1 oder 2, dadurch gekennzeichnet, dass die Spule ein planares Spulendesign hat.
4. Sicherheitsdokument gemäß mindestens einem der vorangehenden Ansprüche, dadurch gekennzeichnet, dass die Spule mindestens 10 Windungen hat.
5. Sicherheitsdokument gemäß mindestens einem der vorangehenden Ansprüche, dadurch gekennzeichnet, dass die Spule Kupfer umfasst.
6. Sicherheitsdokument gemäß mindestens einem der vorangehenden Ansprüche, dadurch gekennzeichnet, dass die exponierte Oberfläche des magnetischen Mittels mindestens zwei Bereiche mit unterschiedlicher
Magnetisierung umfasst.
7. Sicherheitsdokument gemäß mindestens einem der vorangehenden Ansprüche, dadurch gekennzeichnet, dass das magnetische Mittel mindestens zwei Bereiche mit einer Magnetisierung durch die
Ebene umfasst, wobei die Feldgradienten der Bereiche eine entgegengesetzte Richtung
haben.
8. Sicherheitsdokument gemäß mindestens einem der vorangehenden Ansprüche, dadurch gekennzeichnet, dass das magnetische Mittel mindestens zwei Bereiche mit einer Magnetisierung in der Ebene
umfasst, wobei die Feldgradienten der Bereiche eine entgegengesetzte Richtung haben.
9. Sicherheitsdokument gemäß mindestens einem der vorangehenden Ansprüche, dadurch gekennzeichnet, dass das magnetische Mittel ein ferromagnetisches Material umfasst.
10. Sicherheitsdokument gemäß Anspruch 9, dadurch gekennzeichnet, dass das magnetische Mittel Eisen, Kobalt, Nickel, eine Heuslersche Legierung, Europiumoxid
und/oder Chrom-(IV)-oxid umfasst.
11. Sicherheitsdokument gemäß Anspruch 10, dadurch gekennzeichnet, dass das magnetische Mittel eine Legierung umfasst, die Eisen, Kobalt und/oder Nickel
und/oder ein Ferrit umfasst.
12. Sicherheitsdokument gemäß Anspruch 11, dadurch gekennzeichnet, dass das magnetische Mittel Nd2Fe14B umfasst.
13. Sicherheitsdokument gemäß mindestens einem der vorangehenden Ansprüche, dadurch gekennzeichnet, dass die Spule und/oder das magnetische Mittel mit einer Schutzschicht beschichtet sind.
14. Sicherheitsdokument gemäß mindestens einem der vorangehenden Ansprüche, dadurch gekennzeichnet, dass das Sicherheitsdokument elektrisch leitende Bahnen umfasst, die die Spule mit dem
elektronischen Sicherheitsmittel elektrisch verbinden.
15. Sicherheitsdokument gemäß mindestens einem der vorangehenden Ansprüche, dadurch gekennzeichnet, dass das elektronische Sicherheitsmittel ein offenkundiges Sicherheitsmerkmal ist.
16. Sicherheitsdokument gemäß mindestens einem der vorangehenden Ansprüche, dadurch gekennzeichnet, dass das elektronische Sicherheitsmittel ein Schwachstrom-Anzeigemittel ist.
17. Sicherheitsdokument gemäß Anspruch 16, dadurch gekennzeichnet, dass die Schwachstrom-Anzeige 1mW oder weniger Strom benötigt.
18. Sicherheitsdokument gemäß Anspruch 16 oder 17, dadurch gekennzeichnet, dass das Schwachstrom-Anzeigemittel ein elektrophoretisches Anzeigemittel, ein flüssigkristallines
Anzeigemittel und/oder polymere, lichtemittierende Dioden sind.
19. Sicherheitsdokument gemäß mindestens einem der vorangehenden Ansprüche, dadurch gekennzeichnet, dass das Substratmittel Papier, Kunststoff, Polymer, elementare, metallische Folien, metallische
Legierungsfolien und/oder synthetisches Papier umfasst.
20. Sicherheitsdokument gemäß mindestens einem der vorangehenden Ansprüche, dadurch gekennzeichnet, dass seine Dicke kleiner als 100 µm ist.
21. Verfahren für die Herstellung eines Sicherheitsdokuments gemäß mindestens einem der
vorangehenden Ansprüche, dadurch gekennzeichnet, dass man die Spule, das magnetische Mittel und das elektronische Sicherheitsmittel auf
dem Substratmittel bereitstellt.
22. Verfahren gemäß Anspruch 21, dadurch gekennzeichnet, dass man das magnetische Mittel und/oder die Spule auf dem Substratmittel unter Verwendung
von Sol-Gel, Sprühpyrolyse, Heißwandpyrolyse, Flashverdampfung, Vakuumbedampfung,
chemische Dampfabscheidung, Drucken, Laserscribing, stromlose Abscheidungstechniken,
Elektroplattieren und/oder elektrochemische Abscheidung bereitstellt.
23. Verfahren gemäß Anspruch 21 oder 22, dadurch gekennzeichnet, dass man elektrische Verbindungen auf dem Substratmittel und dem magnetischen Mittel bereitstellt,
wobei man die Spule und das elektronische Sicherheitsmittel auf den elektrischen Verbindungen
bereitstellt.
24. Verfahren gemäß mindestens einem der Ansprüche 21 bis 23, dadurch gekennzeichnet, dass das elektronische Sicherheitsmittel vor oder nach der Bereitstellung des magnetischen
Mittels oder der Spule bereitstellt.
25. Verfahren gemäß mindestens einem der Ansprüche 21 bis 24, dadurch gekennzeichnet, dass man das magnetische Mittel und die Spule auf derselben Seite des Sicherheitsdokuments
bereitstellt.
26. Verwendung eines Sicherheitsdokuments gemäß mindestens einem der Ansprüche 1 bis 20
zur Überprüfung seiner Authentizität, wobei man das magnetische Mittel über die Oberfläche
der Spule bewegt und eine Zustandsänderung des elektronischen Sicherheitsmittels beobachtet.
27. Verwendung gemäß Anspruch 26, dadurch gekennzeichnet, dass der Abstand zwischen der Oberfläche der Spule und der Oberfläche des magnetischen
Mittels kleiner als 5 mm ist.
28. Verwendung gemäß Anspruch 26 oder 27, dadurch gekennzeichnet, dass die Geschwindigkeit der Bewegung des magnetischen Mittels parallel zur Oberfläche
der Spule mindestens 0,1 m/s ist.
29. Verwendung gemäß mindestens einem der Ansprüche 26 bis 28, dadurch gekennzeichnet, dass das magnetische Mittel wiederholt über die Oberfläche der Spule bewegt wird.
1. Document de sécurité comprenant des moyens de substrat et au moins un moyen de sécurité
électronique, caractérisé en ce que ledit document de sécurité comprend également au moins une bobine connectée électriquement
audit moyen de sécurité électronique et au moins un moyen magnétique, dans lequel
ledit document de sécurité est adapté pour contrôler son authenticité en déplaçant
ledit moyen magnétique sur la surface de ladite bobine et en observant un changement
d'état dudit moyen de sécurité électronique.
2. Document de sécurité selon la revendication 1, caractérisé en ce que ledit document de sécurité est un billet de banque, un passeport, un carnet de chèque,
une carte d'identité, une carte de crédit ou une carte de débit.
3. Document de sécurité selon la revendication 1 ou 2, caractérisé en ce que ladite bobine a un schéma de bobine planaire.
4. Document de sécurité selon au moins une des revendications précédentes, caractérisé en ce que ladite bobine a au moins 10 spires.
5. Document de sécurité selon au moins une des revendications précédentes, caractérisé en ce que ladite bobine comprend du cuivre.
6. Document de sécurité selon au moins une des revendications précédentes, caractérisé en ce que la surface exposée dudit moyen magnétique comprend au moins deux zones ayant une
magnétisation différente.
7. Document de sécurité selon au moins une des revendications précédentes, caractérisé en ce que ledit moyen magnétique comprend au moins deux zones de magnétisation traversant le
plan, dans lequel les gradients de champ desdites zones ont des directions opposées.
8. Document de sécurité selon au moins une des revendications précédentes, caractérisé en ce que ledit moyen magnétique comprend au moins deux zones de magnétisation dans le plan,
dans lequel les gradients de champ desdites zones ont des directions opposées.
9. Document de sécurité selon au moins une des revendications précédentes, caractérisé en ce que ledit moyen magnétique comprend un matériau ferromagnétique.
10. Document de sécurité selon la revendication 9, caractérisé en ce que ledit moyen magnétique comprend du fer, cobalt, nickel, un alliage de Heusler, oxyde
d'europium et/ou oxyde de chrome (IV).
11. Document de sécurité selon la revendication 10, caractérisé en ce que ledit moyen magnétique comprend un alliage comprenant du fer, cobalt et/ou nickel
et/ou une ferrite.
12. Document de sécurité selon la revendication 11, caractérisé en ce que ledit moyen magnétique comprend du Nd2Fe14B.
13. Document de sécurité selon au moins une des revendications précédentes, caractérisé en ce que ladite bobine et/ou ledit moyen magnétique sont revêtus d'une couche de protection.
14. Document de sécurité selon au moins une des revendications précédentes, caractérisé en ce que ledit document de sécurité comprend des pistes électriquement conductrices connectant
électriquement ladite bobine audit moyen de sécurité électronique.
15. Document de sécurité selon au moins une des revendications précédentes, caractérisé en ce que ledit moyen de sécurité électronique est caractéristique de sécurité manifeste.
16. Document de sécurité selon au moins une des revendications précédentes, caractérisé en ce que ledit moyen de sécurité électronique est un moyen d'affichage à faible puissance.
17. Document de sécurité selon la revendication 16, caractérisé en ce que la puissance nécessaire pour ledit affichage à faible puissance est de 1 mW ou moins.
18. Document de sécurité selon la revendication 16 ou 17, caractérisé en ce que ledit moyen d'affichage à faible puissance est un moyen d'affichage à encre électrophorétique,
un moyen d'affichage à cristaux liquides et/ou des diodes électroluminescentes polymères.
19. Document de sécurité selon au moins une des revendications précédentes, caractérisé en ce que lesdits moyens de substrat comprennent du papier, plastique, polymère, des feuilles
métalliques élémentaires, des feuilles d'alliage métallique et/ou du papier synthétique.
20. Document de sécurité selon au moins une des revendications précédentes, caractérisé en ce que son épaisseur est inférieure à 100 µm.
21. Procédé pour la production d'un document de sécurité selon au moins une des revendications
précédentes, dans lequel ladite bobine, ledit moyen magnétique et ledit moyen de sécurité
électronique sont disposés sur lesdits moyens de substrat.
22. Procédé selon la revendication 21, caractérisé en ce que ledit moyen magnétique et/ou ladite bobine sont disposés sur lesdits moyens de substrat
avec l'utilisation d'un procédé sol-gel, pyrolyse à pulvérisation, pyrolyse par paroi
chaude, évaporation flash, pulvérisation sous vide, dépôt chimique en phase vapeur,
impression, traçage par laser, technique de dépôt autocatalytique, électrodéposition
et/ou dépôt électrochimique.
23. Procédé selon la revendication 21 ou 22, caractérisé en ce que des interconnexions électriques sont disposées sur lesdits moyens de substrat et
ledit moyen magnétique, ladite bobine et ledit moyen de sécurité électronique sont
disposés sur lesdites interconnexions électriques.
24. Procédé selon au moins une des revendications 21 à 23, caractérisé en ce que ledit moyen de sécurité électronique est disposé avant ou après la disposition dudit
moyen magnétique et de ladite bobine.
25. Procédé selon au moins une des revendications 21 à 24, caractérisé en ce que ledit moyen magnétique et ladite bobine sont disposés sur le même côté dudit document
de sécurité.
26. Utilisation d'un document de sécurité selon au moins une des revendications 1 à 20
pour contrôler son authenticité, dans laquelle ledit moyen magnétique est déplacé
sur la surface de ladite bobine et un changement d'état dudit moyen de sécurité électronique
est observé.
27. Utilisation selon la revendication 26, caractérisée en ce qu'un espace entre la surface de ladite bobine et la surface dudit moyen magnétique est
inférieur à 5 mm.
28. Utilisation selon la revendication 26 ou 27, caractérisée en ce que la vitesse du déplacement du moyen magnétique parallèlement à la surface de la bobine
est d'au moins 0,1 m/s.
29. Utilisation selon au moins une des revendications 26 à 28, caractérisée en ce que ledit moyen magnétique est déplacé à plusieurs reprises sur la surface de ladite
bobine.
REFERENCES CITED IN THE DESCRIPTION
This list of references cited by the applicant is for the reader's convenience only.
It does not form part of the European patent document. Even though great care has
been taken in compiling the references, errors or omissions cannot be excluded and
the EPO disclaims all liability in this regard.
Patent documents cited in the description
Non-patent literature cited in the description
- CHARLES KITTELIntroduction to Solid State PhysicsWiley19960000 [0038]
- NEIL W. ASHCROFTN. DAVID MERMINSolid State PhysicsHarcourt19760000 [0038]
- JOHN DAVID JACKSONClassical ElectrodynamicsWiley19990000 [0038]
- Ferromagnetic MaterialsNorth-Holland19800000 [0038]
- Nanofoam makes magnetic debutPhysics World, 2004, vol. 17, 53- [0038]
- Heusler alloyEncyclopedia Britannica Online20050123 [0038]
- F. HEUSLERW. STARKE. HAUPTVerh. der Phys. Ges.19030000vol. 5, 219- [0038]
- GRIFFITHS, DAVID J.Introduction to ElectrodynamicsPrentice Hall19980000 [0038]
- TIPLER, PAULPhysics for Scientists and Engineers: Electricity, Magnetism, Light, and Elementary
Modem PhysicsW. H. Freeman20040000 [0038]