CA2377522C - Method of producing a diffractive structure in security documents - Google Patents

Method of producing a diffractive structure in security documents Download PDF

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Publication number
CA2377522C
CA2377522C CA2377522A CA2377522A CA2377522C CA 2377522 C CA2377522 C CA 2377522C CA 2377522 A CA2377522 A CA 2377522A CA 2377522 A CA2377522 A CA 2377522A CA 2377522 C CA2377522 C CA 2377522C
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CA
Canada
Prior art keywords
substrate
producing
security document
transparent
coating
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Expired - Fee Related
Application number
CA2377522A
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French (fr)
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CA2377522A1 (en
Inventor
Paul Zientek
Gary Fairless Power
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Securency International Pty Ltd
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Securency International Pty Ltd
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Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Securency International Pty Ltd filed Critical Securency International Pty Ltd
Publication of CA2377522A1 publication Critical patent/CA2377522A1/en
Application granted granted Critical
Publication of CA2377522C publication Critical patent/CA2377522C/en
Anticipated expiration legal-status Critical
Expired - Fee Related legal-status Critical Current

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Classifications

    • G—PHYSICS
    • G03—PHOTOGRAPHY; CINEMATOGRAPHY; ANALOGOUS TECHNIQUES USING WAVES OTHER THAN OPTICAL WAVES; ELECTROGRAPHY; HOLOGRAPHY
    • G03H—HOLOGRAPHIC PROCESSES OR APPARATUS
    • G03H1/00—Holographic processes or apparatus using light, infrared or ultraviolet waves for obtaining holograms or for obtaining an image from them; Details peculiar thereto
    • G03H1/02—Details of features involved during the holographic process; Replication of holograms without interference recording
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B41—PRINTING; LINING MACHINES; TYPEWRITERS; STAMPS
    • B41M—PRINTING, DUPLICATING, MARKING, OR COPYING PROCESSES; COLOUR PRINTING
    • B41M3/00—Printing processes to produce particular kinds of printed work, e.g. patterns
    • B41M3/14—Security printing
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B41—PRINTING; LINING MACHINES; TYPEWRITERS; STAMPS
    • B41M—PRINTING, DUPLICATING, MARKING, OR COPYING PROCESSES; COLOUR PRINTING
    • B41M5/00—Duplicating or marking methods; Sheet materials for use therein
    • B41M5/24—Ablative recording, e.g. by burning marks; Spark recording
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B41—PRINTING; LINING MACHINES; TYPEWRITERS; STAMPS
    • B41M—PRINTING, DUPLICATING, MARKING, OR COPYING PROCESSES; COLOUR PRINTING
    • B41M5/00—Duplicating or marking methods; Sheet materials for use therein
    • B41M5/26—Thermography ; Marking by high energetic means, e.g. laser otherwise than by burning, and characterised by the material used
    • B41M5/36—Thermography ; Marking by high energetic means, e.g. laser otherwise than by burning, and characterised by the material used using a polymeric layer, which may be particulate and which is deformed or structurally changed with modification of its' properties, e.g. of its' optical hydrophobic-hydrophilic, solubility or permeability properties
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B42—BOOKBINDING; ALBUMS; FILES; SPECIAL PRINTED MATTER
    • B42D—BOOKS; BOOK COVERS; LOOSE LEAVES; PRINTED MATTER CHARACTERISED BY IDENTIFICATION OR SECURITY FEATURES; PRINTED MATTER OF SPECIAL FORMAT OR STYLE NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; DEVICES FOR USE THEREWITH AND NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; MOVABLE-STRIP WRITING OR READING APPARATUS
    • B42D25/00—Information-bearing cards or sheet-like structures characterised by identification or security features; Manufacture thereof
    • B42D25/20—Information-bearing cards or sheet-like structures characterised by identification or security features; Manufacture thereof characterised by a particular use or purpose
    • B42D25/29—Securities; Bank notes
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B42—BOOKBINDING; ALBUMS; FILES; SPECIAL PRINTED MATTER
    • B42D—BOOKS; BOOK COVERS; LOOSE LEAVES; PRINTED MATTER CHARACTERISED BY IDENTIFICATION OR SECURITY FEATURES; PRINTED MATTER OF SPECIAL FORMAT OR STYLE NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; DEVICES FOR USE THEREWITH AND NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; MOVABLE-STRIP WRITING OR READING APPARATUS
    • B42D25/00—Information-bearing cards or sheet-like structures characterised by identification or security features; Manufacture thereof
    • B42D25/30—Identification or security features, e.g. for preventing forgery
    • B42D25/309—Photographs
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B42—BOOKBINDING; ALBUMS; FILES; SPECIAL PRINTED MATTER
    • B42D—BOOKS; BOOK COVERS; LOOSE LEAVES; PRINTED MATTER CHARACTERISED BY IDENTIFICATION OR SECURITY FEATURES; PRINTED MATTER OF SPECIAL FORMAT OR STYLE NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; DEVICES FOR USE THEREWITH AND NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; MOVABLE-STRIP WRITING OR READING APPARATUS
    • B42D25/00—Information-bearing cards or sheet-like structures characterised by identification or security features; Manufacture thereof
    • B42D25/30—Identification or security features, e.g. for preventing forgery
    • B42D25/313—Fingerprints
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B42—BOOKBINDING; ALBUMS; FILES; SPECIAL PRINTED MATTER
    • B42D—BOOKS; BOOK COVERS; LOOSE LEAVES; PRINTED MATTER CHARACTERISED BY IDENTIFICATION OR SECURITY FEATURES; PRINTED MATTER OF SPECIAL FORMAT OR STYLE NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; DEVICES FOR USE THEREWITH AND NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; MOVABLE-STRIP WRITING OR READING APPARATUS
    • B42D25/00—Information-bearing cards or sheet-like structures characterised by identification or security features; Manufacture thereof
    • B42D25/30—Identification or security features, e.g. for preventing forgery
    • B42D25/324—Reliefs
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B42—BOOKBINDING; ALBUMS; FILES; SPECIAL PRINTED MATTER
    • B42D—BOOKS; BOOK COVERS; LOOSE LEAVES; PRINTED MATTER CHARACTERISED BY IDENTIFICATION OR SECURITY FEATURES; PRINTED MATTER OF SPECIAL FORMAT OR STYLE NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; DEVICES FOR USE THEREWITH AND NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; MOVABLE-STRIP WRITING OR READING APPARATUS
    • B42D25/00—Information-bearing cards or sheet-like structures characterised by identification or security features; Manufacture thereof
    • B42D25/30—Identification or security features, e.g. for preventing forgery
    • B42D25/328—Diffraction gratings; Holograms
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B42—BOOKBINDING; ALBUMS; FILES; SPECIAL PRINTED MATTER
    • B42D—BOOKS; BOOK COVERS; LOOSE LEAVES; PRINTED MATTER CHARACTERISED BY IDENTIFICATION OR SECURITY FEATURES; PRINTED MATTER OF SPECIAL FORMAT OR STYLE NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; DEVICES FOR USE THEREWITH AND NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; MOVABLE-STRIP WRITING OR READING APPARATUS
    • B42D25/00—Information-bearing cards or sheet-like structures characterised by identification or security features; Manufacture thereof
    • B42D25/30—Identification or security features, e.g. for preventing forgery
    • B42D25/351—Translucent or partly translucent parts, e.g. windows
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B42—BOOKBINDING; ALBUMS; FILES; SPECIAL PRINTED MATTER
    • B42D—BOOKS; BOOK COVERS; LOOSE LEAVES; PRINTED MATTER CHARACTERISED BY IDENTIFICATION OR SECURITY FEATURES; PRINTED MATTER OF SPECIAL FORMAT OR STYLE NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; DEVICES FOR USE THEREWITH AND NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; MOVABLE-STRIP WRITING OR READING APPARATUS
    • B42D25/00—Information-bearing cards or sheet-like structures characterised by identification or security features; Manufacture thereof
    • B42D25/30—Identification or security features, e.g. for preventing forgery
    • B42D25/36—Identification or security features, e.g. for preventing forgery comprising special materials
    • B42D25/373—Metallic materials
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B42—BOOKBINDING; ALBUMS; FILES; SPECIAL PRINTED MATTER
    • B42D—BOOKS; BOOK COVERS; LOOSE LEAVES; PRINTED MATTER CHARACTERISED BY IDENTIFICATION OR SECURITY FEATURES; PRINTED MATTER OF SPECIAL FORMAT OR STYLE NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; DEVICES FOR USE THEREWITH AND NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; MOVABLE-STRIP WRITING OR READING APPARATUS
    • B42D25/00—Information-bearing cards or sheet-like structures characterised by identification or security features; Manufacture thereof
    • B42D25/40—Manufacture
    • B42D25/405—Marking
    • B42D25/43—Marking by removal of material
    • B42D25/435—Marking by removal of material using electromagnetic radiation, e.g. laser
    • G—PHYSICS
    • G03—PHOTOGRAPHY; CINEMATOGRAPHY; ANALOGOUS TECHNIQUES USING WAVES OTHER THAN OPTICAL WAVES; ELECTROGRAPHY; HOLOGRAPHY
    • G03H—HOLOGRAPHIC PROCESSES OR APPARATUS
    • G03H1/00—Holographic processes or apparatus using light, infrared or ultraviolet waves for obtaining holograms or for obtaining an image from them; Details peculiar thereto
    • G03H1/02—Details of features involved during the holographic process; Replication of holograms without interference recording
    • G03H1/0276—Replicating a master hologram without interference recording
    • G—PHYSICS
    • G03—PHOTOGRAPHY; CINEMATOGRAPHY; ANALOGOUS TECHNIQUES USING WAVES OTHER THAN OPTICAL WAVES; ELECTROGRAPHY; HOLOGRAPHY
    • G03H—HOLOGRAPHIC PROCESSES OR APPARATUS
    • G03H1/00—Holographic processes or apparatus using light, infrared or ultraviolet waves for obtaining holograms or for obtaining an image from them; Details peculiar thereto
    • G03H1/0005—Adaptation of holography to specific applications
    • G03H1/0011—Adaptation of holography to specific applications for security or authentication
    • G—PHYSICS
    • G03—PHOTOGRAPHY; CINEMATOGRAPHY; ANALOGOUS TECHNIQUES USING WAVES OTHER THAN OPTICAL WAVES; ELECTROGRAPHY; HOLOGRAPHY
    • G03H—HOLOGRAPHIC PROCESSES OR APPARATUS
    • G03H1/00—Holographic processes or apparatus using light, infrared or ultraviolet waves for obtaining holograms or for obtaining an image from them; Details peculiar thereto
    • G03H1/02—Details of features involved during the holographic process; Replication of holograms without interference recording
    • G03H1/024—Hologram nature or properties
    • G03H1/0244—Surface relief holograms
    • G—PHYSICS
    • G03—PHOTOGRAPHY; CINEMATOGRAPHY; ANALOGOUS TECHNIQUES USING WAVES OTHER THAN OPTICAL WAVES; ELECTROGRAPHY; HOLOGRAPHY
    • G03H—HOLOGRAPHIC PROCESSES OR APPARATUS
    • G03H1/00—Holographic processes or apparatus using light, infrared or ultraviolet waves for obtaining holograms or for obtaining an image from them; Details peculiar thereto
    • G03H1/02—Details of features involved during the holographic process; Replication of holograms without interference recording
    • G03H1/0276—Replicating a master hologram without interference recording
    • G03H2001/0292—Replicating a master hologram without interference recording by masking
    • G—PHYSICS
    • G03—PHOTOGRAPHY; CINEMATOGRAPHY; ANALOGOUS TECHNIQUES USING WAVES OTHER THAN OPTICAL WAVES; ELECTROGRAPHY; HOLOGRAPHY
    • G03H—HOLOGRAPHIC PROCESSES OR APPARATUS
    • G03H2260/00—Recording materials or recording processes
    • G03H2260/50—Reactivity or recording processes
    • G03H2260/62—Direct etching

Abstract

A method of producing a security document or device comprising a substrate and an optically diffractive device, the method comprising the step of: irradiating an area of the substrate (2) on one surface with patterned laser radiation to ablate selected portions of the surface and thereby form an optically diffractive structure in said one surface. A
method of producing a security document or device comprising a substrate and an optically variable device, such as a means for creating polarisation patterns, the method comprising the step of:
exposing an area of the substrate on one surface to a light source which causes photo-polymerisation of the substrate which in turn produces a polarisation state or pattern.

Description

METHOD OF PRODUCING A DIFFRACTIVE STRUCTURE IN SECURITY
DOCUMENTS
The present invention relates generally to a method of producing a security document or device, and in particular to security documents or devices which include an optically diffractive structure, or other visible or detectable effect such as a diffraction grating or like device, or a polarisation pattern. The invention is applicable to the production of banknotes, and it will be convenient to hereinafter describe the invention in relation to that exemplary application. It is to be appreciated, however, that the invention is not to be limited to that application.
The practice of applying diffraction gratings and like optically detectable diffractive and other structures to security documents and devices, such as credit cards, bank notes and cheques, has become widely adopted. Currently, diffraction gratings and other structures are produced in multi-layer thin films supported on thin carrier structures. The structures are then transferred from the thin film carrier substrate to the security document or device, typically by using a hot-stamping process. Reflective optical diffraction devices conventionally contain an ultra-thin vacuum metallised reflective layer, usually aluminium, adjacent to the diffractive structure within the multi-layer structure.
A number of disadvantages are associated with the production and application of optically diffractive and other devices in this manner.
Firstly, the complex and highly specialised process required to produce the multi-layer optically diffractive device structure, which may contain at least four and frequently more layers, is costly. Secondly, an extra process step is required to transfer the optically diffractive device from the carrier substrate onto the security document or device. Thirdly, the resistance of the optically diffractive device as a whole to physical wear and tear and chemical attack is poor due to the weakness of the vacuum metallised reflective layer.

An aim of the present invention is to ameliorate or overcome one or more of the disadvantages of known methods for producing security documents or devices including optically diffractive devices or other detectable effects such as polarisation patterns.

The present invention provides a method of producing a security document or device comprising a substrate and an optically diffractive device, the substrate including a transparent plastics film and a transparent coating applied to the transparent plastics film, the method comprising the step of: irradiating an area of the substrate on one surface with patterned laser radiation to ablate selected portions of the transparent coating and thereby form an optically diffractive structure in the transparent coating.
The present invention also provides a method of producing a security document or device comprising a substrate and an optical diffractive device, the substrate including a transparent plastics film and a reflective coating applied to the transparent plastics film, the method comprising the steps of: irradiating an area of the substrate on one surface with patterned laser radiation to ablate selected portions of the reflective coating to thereby form an optically diffractive structure in the reflective coating, and applying at least one opacifying layer to the substrate, said at least one opacifying layer only partly covering a surface of the substrate to leave at least said optically diffractive device uncovered by said opacifying layer.
In another aspect, the present invention provides a method of producing a security document or device according to any one of the preceding claims, the method further comprising the step of: applying at least one opacifying layer to the substrate, said at least one opacifying layer only partly covering a surface of the substrate to leave at least said optically diffractive device uncovered by said opacifying layer.
In a further aspect there is provided a security document or device manufactured according to the method of the first, second or third aspects of the invention.
The present invention significantly simplifies the multi-layered structure of a security device when incorporated into the security document or device. The application of an optically diffractive device may be easily integrated into the process of manufacture of the security document or device. Moreover, in those cases in which reflective optically diffractive devices are used, it is possible to eliminate the use of a brittle metallised coating.

2a The method of producing a security document or device may further comprise the step of placing a mask in the path of the laser radiation to create said patterned laser radiation.
Conveniently, the substrate may be formed from a transparent plastics film.
The transparent plastics film may be formed from polymeric material. The substrate may also be formed from paper, paper/polymer composites, coated paper and other non-transparent substrates in those cases where reflective diffraction devices were used.
In one embodiment, the substrate may further comprise a transparent coating applied to the transparent plastics film, the optically diffractive structure being formed in the transparent coating. The transparent coating may be formed from a polymeric material.
In one embodiment, the substrate may further comprise a reflective coating applied to the transparent coating. The reflective coating may be formed from polymeric material and may contain metallic pigment particles.
Conveniently, both the reflective coating and the transparent coating may be formed from material which is similarly resistant to physical degradation, such as by chemical attack.
In another embodiment, the substrate may further comprise a transparent layer applied to the transparent coating. The transparent layer may be formed from polymeric material. Conveniently, both the transparent layer and the transparent coating may be formed from material which is similarly resistant to physical degradation, for example by chemical means.
In a still further embodiment, this substrate may further comprise a reflective coating applied to the transparent plastics film, said optically diffractive structure being formed in the reflective coating. The reflective coating may be formed from polymeric material and may contain metallic pigment particles.
The substrate may further comprise a transparent coating applied to the reflective coating. The transparent coating may be formed from a polymeric material. The substrate may also be formed from paper, paper/polymer composites, coated paper and other non-transparent substrates in those cases where reflective diffractive structures are used. Both the reflective coating and the transparent coating may be made of material which is similarly resistant to physical degradation, for example, by chemical means.
The method of producing a security document or device may further comprise the step of applying at least one opacifying layer to the substrate, said at least one opacifying layer only partly covering a surface of the substrate to leave at least said optically diffractive device uncovered by said opacifying layer.
Such a device may be a multiple layer device, of which one of the layers is the substrate layer and the remaining layers would be coating layers applied in-line during the forming or printing process.
The following description refers in more detail to the various features of the method for producing a security document or device according to the present invention. To facilitate an understanding of the invention, reference is made in the description to the accompanying drawings where the invention is illustrated in a number of preferred embodiments. It is to be understood, however, that the invention is not limited to the preferred embodiments as illustrated in the drawings.
In the drawings:
Figure 1 is a schematic diagram illustrating steps involved in the method for producing a first embodiment of a security document including a reflective diffractive structure;
Figure 2 is a schematic diagram illustrating steps involved in the production of a second embodiment of a security document including a reflective diffractive structure according to the present invention;
Figure 3 is a schematic diagram illustrating steps involved in the production of a third embodiment of a security document including a reflective diffractive structure according to the present invention;
Figure 4 is a schematic diagram illustrating steps involved in the production of a first embodiment of a security document including a transmission diffractive structure;
Figure 5 is a schematic diagram illustrating steps involved in the production of a second embodiment of a security document including a transmission diffractive structure; and Figure 6 is a schematic diagram illustrating steps involved in the production of a third embodiment of a security document including a transmission diffractive structure according to the present invention.
Referring now to Figure 1, there is shown a transparent plastics film 2 formed from polymeric material, used in the manufacture of polymer banknotes.
The substrate 2 may be made from at least one biaxially oriented polymeric film.
The substrate may comprise a single layer of film of polymeric material, or, alternatively, a laminate of two or more layers of transparent biaxially oriented polymeric film. The substrate 2 is seen in cross section in Figure 1. Whilst the invention will be described with reference to Figures 1 to 6 in relation to the production of polymer banknotes, it is to be appreciated that the invention may 5 also be used in the production of credit cards, cheques and other security documents or devices, and that the function and properties of the substrate in those security documents or devices may vary.
In this example, a diffraction grating or other optically diffractive device is formed on one surface 3 of the substrate 2 by irradiating an area of that surface with pattern laser radiation. The patterned of the laser radiation incident on the one surface 3 of the substrate 2, may result from the placement of a mask in the path of the laser radiation. The mask 4 may have apertures 5 formed therein such that in those areas where the laser radiation passes through the mask, the light interacts with the surface layer of the substrate 2 in which the diffraction grating is to be created, causing material to be ablated or otherwise removed to an appropriate depth in the surface layer of the substrate 2 and resulting in a three dimensional optically diffractive structure 6.
A reflective coating 7 is then applied to the ablated surface of the substrate 2. The reflective coating 7 may be a coated polymer layer, containing, for example, metallic pigment particles, or reflective particles, to perform a reflective function. The reflective layer 7 may be applied by conventional printing methods, and may fill the three dimensional structures formed by the laser ablation of the surface 3 of the substrate 2. The coated polymer layer 7 acts as a binding matrix to hold the reflective particles, and provides the strength and flexibility required for the reflective layer to resist physical wear and tear, while the pigment particles may be formed from a material which is resistant to chemical attack.
When incident light 8 from a light source 9 is reflected to a user 10 the reflected light 11 is observed as being diffracted.
Opacifying layers 12 and 13 may be applied to one or more opposing faces of the coated substrate. The opacifying layers 12 and 13 may comprise any one or more of a variety of opacifying inks which can be used in the printing of banknotes or other security documents. For example, the layers of opacifying ink may comprise pigmented coatings comprising a pigment, such as titanium dioxide, dispersed within a binder or carrier of heat activated cross linkable polymeric material. Alternatively, the coated substrate may be sandwiched between opacifying layers of paper.
In order to view the diffractive effect caused by the optically diffractive device, at least a first region 14 of a surface of the substrate 2 may be left uncovered by the opacifying layers.
Figure 2 illustrates a first variation of the method for producing a security document or device according to the invention. In this figure, the substrate 2 is initially coated with a transparent coating 20. The transparent coating 20 may be formed from a polymeric material.
Laser radiation, patterned by a mask 4, is then used to ablate selected portions of transparent coating 20, and to form therein a three dimensional optically diffractive structure 21. A reflective coating, identical to the reflective coating 7 applied to the substrate 2 in Figure 1, is then applied by conventional printing methods to the transparent coating 20. Both the transparent coating and the reflective coating 22 may be formed from coated polymer material or other like material which is similarly resistant to physical degradation, such as by chemical attack. In this way, a counterfeiter wishing to recover the optically diffractive device by dissolving or chemically etching the reflective layer 22, would also cause the dissolving or chemical etching of the transparent coating 20 and the optically diffractive structure formed therein.
Once again, opacifying coatings may be applied to one or both surfaces of the coated substrate structure 2,20,22.
A second variant of the method illustrated in Figure 1 is shown in Figure 3.
In this figure, one surface of the substrate 2 is firstly coated with a reflective coating 25, identical to the reflective layer 7 in Figure 1. Laser radiation is then patterned by the mask 4 to ablate material from the reflective coating 25 to thus form a three dimensional optically diffractive structure 26 in the reflective coating 25.

Subsequently, a transparent coating 27 is applied to the reflective coating 25. The transparent coating 27 may fill the three dimensional structure formed in the reflective layer 25. Once again, the reflective coating 25 and the transparent coating 27 may be made from material which is similarly resistant to chemical attack or other physical degradation, in order to prevent the optically diffractive structure 26 from being recovered by a counterfeiter.
Whilst Figures 1 to 3 illustrate examples of a method of producing a security document including a reflective diffractive device, Figures 4 to 6 provide examples of a method of producing a security document including a transmission diffractive device. In Figure 4, one surface of the transparent polymeric film 2 is ablated by laser radiation passing through a mask 4, to form therein the same optically diffractive device 6 illustrated in Figurel. However, in this example, no reflective layer is subsequently applied to the surface of the substrate 2, so that a diffraction effect is observed by the user 10 when light 30 from the light source 9 is transmitted through the substrate 2.
As in previous examples, opacifying coatings 31 to 34 may be applied to opposing surfaces of the substrate 2, leaving uncovered regions or zones 35 and 36 to enable the light 30 transmitted through the optically diffractive structure formed in the substrate 2.
In a first variation of this method, as illustrated in Figure 5, an optically diffractive device 6 is once again ablated into a surface of the transparent substrate film 2. Subsequently, a clear coating layer 40 of different refractive index to the substrate film 2, is applied to the surface of the substrate 2.
The transparent coating 40, as in previous examples, fills the three dimensional diffractive device 6, and prevents wearing of optically diffractive structure 6.
The diffraction effect produced by the structure 6 may once again be observed in light transmitted through the substrate and transparent coating.
In Figure 6, there is illustrated a second variation of the method for producing a security document including a transmission diffractive structure.
In this figure, the transparent plastics substrate 2 is firstly coated with a clear coating 45 formed from a transparent polymeric material. A diffractive structure 46 is ablated into the clear coating 45 by means of incident patterned laser radiation. A
transparent layer 47 is then coated onto the transparent coating 45 filling the diffractive structure 46 formed therein. The transparent layer 47 and the transparent coating 45 are formed from materials having different refractive indexes, in order that a diffraction effect may be observed when light is transmitted through the security device. Where the method does not include transparent layer 47, the resulting document still functions as described above.
It will be appreciated that the methods described in Figures 1 to 6 may be easily integrated into the normal multi-step process during which a substrate is coated or otherwise treated, to produce a security document or device, the laser process merely being integrated into this multi-step process. This method, and the security document or device including an optically diffractive device produced by this method, eliminate the need for a separate manufacturing process to produce an optically diffractive device transfer foil and the separate hot stamp foil transfer process to transfer that diffractive device transfer foil to the product.
The method according to the present invention is capable of producing either reflective or transmissive optically diffractive devices, such as reflective optically variable devices or a transmission hologram.
Finally, it should be appreciated that modifications and/or alterations may be made to the method and security document or device without departing from the ambit of the present invention.

Claims (13)

WHAT IS CLAIMED IS:
1. A method of producing a security document or device comprising a substrate and an optically diffractive device, the substrate including a transparent plastics film and a transparent coating applied to the transparent plastics film, the method comprising the step of: irradiating an area of the substrate on one surface with patterned laser radiation to ablate selected portions of the transparent coating and thereby form an optically diffractive structure in the transparent coating.
2. A method of producing a security document or device according to claim 1, the method further comprising the step of: placing a mask in the path of the laser radiation to create said patterned laser radiation.
3. A method of producing a security document or device according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the transparent plastics film is formed from polymeric material.
4. A method of producing a security document or device according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the transparent coating is formed from polymeric material.
5. A method of producing a security document or device according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the substrate further includes a reflective coating applied to the transparent coating.
6. A method of producing a security document or device according to claim 5, wherein the reflective coating is formed from polymeric material containing metallic pigment particles.
7. A method of producing a security document or device according to any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein the substrate further includes a transparent layer applied to the transparent coating.
8. A method of producing a security document or device according to claim 7, wherein the transparent layer is formed from polymeric material.
9. A method of producing a security document or device comprising a substrate and an optical diffractive device, the substrate including a transparent plastics film and a reflective coating applied to the transparent plastics film, the method comprising the steps of: irradiating an area of the substrate on one surface with patterned laser radiation to ablate selected portions of the reflective coating to thereby form an optically diffractive structure in the reflective coating, and applying at least one opacifying layer to the substrate, said at least one opacifying layer only partly covering a surface of the substrate to leave at least said optically diffractive device uncovered by said opacifying layer.
10. A method of producing a security document or device according to claim 9, wherein the reflective coating is formed from polymeric material containing metallic pigment particles.
11. A method of producing a security document or device according to claim 9 or 10, wherein the substrate further includes a transparent coating applied to the reflective coating.
12. A method of producing a security document or device according to claim 11, wherein the transparent coating is formed from a polymeric material.
13. A security document or device manufactured according to the method of any one of claims 1 to 12.
CA2377522A 1999-06-28 2000-06-27 Method of producing a diffractive structure in security documents Expired - Fee Related CA2377522C (en)

Applications Claiming Priority (3)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
AUPQ1259 1999-06-28
AUPQ1259A AUPQ125999A0 (en) 1999-06-28 1999-06-28 Method of producing a diffractive structure in security documents
PCT/AU2000/000726 WO2001000418A1 (en) 1999-06-28 2000-06-27 Method of producing a diffractive structure in security documents

Publications (2)

Publication Number Publication Date
CA2377522A1 CA2377522A1 (en) 2001-01-04
CA2377522C true CA2377522C (en) 2010-12-07

Family

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Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
CA2377522A Expired - Fee Related CA2377522C (en) 1999-06-28 2000-06-27 Method of producing a diffractive structure in security documents

Country Status (13)

Country Link
US (1) US7790361B2 (en)
EP (2) EP1920939A3 (en)
JP (1) JP2003503742A (en)
KR (2) KR20020020755A (en)
CN (2) CN1170694C (en)
AT (1) ATE382485T1 (en)
AU (3) AUPQ125999A0 (en)
CA (1) CA2377522C (en)
DE (1) DE60037662T2 (en)
HK (1) HK1045284B (en)
NZ (1) NZ516438A (en)
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