Patent US4894110A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US4894110A
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Identification card with a visible authenticity feature
Assignee: GAO Gesellschaft fuer Automation und Organisation mbH
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Filing: 1988-06-29
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Granted: 1990-01-16
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Expires: 2008-06-29
Abstract
Abstract Information is provided in a multilayer identification card by means of a laser beam. This information is recorded by irreversibly changing (blackening) transparent synthetic material. Synthetic materials which blacked at different intensity values are used for the individual card layers. By controlling the laser beam intensity, information can thus be recorded only in one layer or else simultaneously in several layers. If the layer arrangement, layer materials and recording parameters (intensity, writing width, etc.) are selected appropriately, images can be produced which change their appearance when the viewing angle is changed. The various visual effects which can thereby be obtained serve to distinguish the authenticity of the identification card.
Inventors
- 👤 Joseph Lass
- 👤 Hansjurgen Merkle
- 👤 Wolfgang Becker
- 👤 Werner Herget
- 👤 Erwin Lob
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-03 19:42
CPC Classifications
G; G06; G06K; G06K19/00; G06K19/06; G06K19/08; G06K19/10; G06K19/14; B; B41; B41M; B41M5/00; B41M5/26; B41M5/267; B42; B42D; B42D25/00; B42D25/40; B42D25/405; B42D25/41; G06K19/06009; G06K19/06046; B41M3/00; B41M3/14; Y; Y10; Y10S; Y10S283/00; Y10S283/904; Y10S428/00; Y10S428/913; Y10S428/916; Y10T; Y10T156/00; Y10T156/10; Y10T156/1089; Y10T156/1092; Y10T428/00; Y10T428/24; Y10T428/24802; Y10T428/24851; Y10T428/24868; Y10T428/24942
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 13
Claim 1
Independent Claim
219 words
A method for manufacturing an identification card containing a plurality of synthetic layers in which information is provided by means of a laser beam, said information being visible as changes in the optical properties of the synthetic layers due to irreversible changes in the material caused by the laser beam, characterized in that the individual layers are joined together to form a card compound, at least a first and a second synthetic layer having transparent areas which overlap, the first layer and the second layer have a property of changing visibly when exposed to the laser beam, this change being effected only as of certain intensity values, a particular intensity value required herefor being lower for the first layer than for the second layer, the card compound is oriented toward the laser in such a way that the second layer comes to lie on a side facing the laser, at least parts of the information are provided with an intensity which causes visible changes of material to occur simultaneously in the first and second layers, and first and second pieces of information are provided in such a way as to be visible overlapping at a first viewing angle and singly at a second viewing angle, the appearance of the pieces of information changing in accordance with the viewing angle.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
219 words
A method for manufacturing an identification card containing a plurality of synthetic layers in which information is provided by means of a laser beam, said information being visible as changes in the optical properties of the synthetic layers due to irreversible changes in the material caused by the laser beam, characterized in that the individual layers are joined together to form a card compound, at least a first and a second synthetic layer having transparent areas which overlap, the first layer and the second layer have a property of changing visibly when exposed to the laser beam, this change being effected only as of certain intensity values, a particular intensity value required herefor being lower for the first layer than for the second layer, the card compound is oriented toward the laser in such a way that the second layer comes to lie on a side facing the laser, at least parts of the information are provided with an intensity which causes visible changes of material to occur simultaneously in the first and second layers, and first and second pieces of information are provided in such a way as to be visible overlapping at a first viewing angle and singly at a second viewing angle, the appearance of the pieces of information changing in accordance with the viewing angle.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
47 words
The method according to claim 1, characterized in that a writing width (d) with which the information is recorded is smaller than a sum (D) of the layer thicknesses of the first and second layers plus the thickness of further layers, if any, embedded between these layers.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
51 words
The method according to claim 2, characterized in that depth of focus of the focussed laser beam is considerably greater than a distance between the first and second layers, and in that the card compound is located within the depth of focus on a plane of focus of the laser beam.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
24 words
The method according to claim 2, characterized in that the writing width (d) is smaller than the sum (D) by a factor of two.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
42 words
The method according to claim 1, characterized in that part of the information is inscribed with an intensity lower than a necessary intensity value of the second layer, so that this part of the information is only provided in the first layer.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
27 words
The method according to claim 1, characterized in that recording of information in the second layer is interrupted during a recording process by selectively reducing the intensity.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
42 words
The method according to claim 1, characterized in that a third layer is provided between the first and second transparent layers, said third layer also having a transparent window at least in the overlapping transparent areas of the first and second layers.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
56 words
The method according to claim 7, characterized in that a synthetic material is selected for the third layer whose necessary intensity value for changing the synthetic material of the third layer is between necessary intensity values of the first and second layers, and in that changes are effected in all layers by appropriately selecting the intensity.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
84 words
The method according to claim 7, characterized in that a synthetic material is selected for the third layer whose necessary intensity value for changing the synthetic material of the third layer is higher than necessary intensity values of the first and second layers, the necessary intensity value of the third layer being set such that optical changes are effected only in the first and second layers and pieces of information recorded in this way are spatially separated from each other by a transparent space.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
58 words
The method according to claim 7, characterized in that a synthetic material of the third layer is selected for the third layer whose necessary intensity value for changing the synthetic material of the third layer is between necessary values of the first and second layers, and in that changes are limited to layers with lower necessary intensity values.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
17 words
The method according to claim 1, characterized in that recording is performed by a pulse scanning method.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
24 words
The method according to claim 11, characterized in that pulse frequency and scanning speed are selected in such a way that successive pulses overlap.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1993-01-15 | 1993-07-17 | 1994-01-16 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1997-01-15 | 1997-07-17 | 1998-01-16 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2001-01-15 | 2001-07-17 | 2002-01-16 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |