US4984824A
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Document with an optical diffraction safety element
Assignee: OVD Kinegram AG
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Filing: 1989-02-15
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Granted: 1991-01-15
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Expires: 2009-02-15
Abstract
Abstract A document with an embossed macroscopic structure and acting through optical diffraction is disclosed. The structure, which serves as a security element comprises a plurality of surface portions with predetermined relief structures having spatial frequencies of over 10 lines/mm. Each surface portion is different from directly adjoining surface portions and at least some of the surface portions have a maximum dimension of less than 0.3 mm. To the naked eye, the pattern of surface portions on the document appears as a mesh of dots and lines. However, to an examiner with a magnifying device, the dots and lines appear as numbers, characters or other graphic features.
Inventors
- 👤 Gregor Antes
- 👤 Christian Saxer
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-05 10:50
CPC Classifications
B; B42; B42D; B42D25/00; B42D25/30; B42D25/324; B42D25/40; B42D25/405; B42D25/41; B42D25/425; D; D21; D21H; D21H21/00; D21H21/14; D21H21/40; D21H21/44; D21H21/48; G; G03; G03H; G03H1/00; G03H1/0005; G03H1/0011; G03H1/02; G03H1/0276; G03H1/04; G03H1/0476; B42D2035/44; B42D25/328; G03H1/028; G03H2001/0016; G03H2001/0284; G03H2001/0288; G03H2001/0296; G03H1/0493; G03H2001/0497; G03H1/18; G03H2001/187; G03H2210/00; G03H2210/50; G03H2210/55; G03H2224/00; G03H2224/06; G03H2230/00; G03H2230/10; Y; Y10; Y10S; Y10S283/00; Y10S283/904
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 16
Claim 1
Independent Claim
87 words
A document comprising an embossed microscopic structure which operates through optical diffraction to serve as a security element for preventing unauthorized copying, said embossed structure including numerous surface portions, each of said surface portions having a predetermined relief structure with a spatial frequency larger than 10 lines/mm, each relief structure of each surface portion being different from that of adjoining surface portions, and a group of said surface portions having a predetermined geometric shape which carries security information and a largest dimension of less than 0.3 mm.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
87 words
A document comprising an embossed microscopic structure which operates through optical diffraction to serve as a security element for preventing unauthorized copying, said embossed structure including numerous surface portions, each of said surface portions having a predetermined relief structure with a spatial frequency larger than 10 lines/mm, each relief structure of each surface portion being different from that of adjoining surface portions, and a group of said surface portions having a predetermined geometric shape which carries security information and a largest dimension of less than 0.3 mm.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
19 words
The document of claim 1 wherein said geometric shape of each surface portion of said group forms a character.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
41 words
The document of claim 1 wherein said surface portions of said group are aligned in a row whereby the distance between them is less than 0.3 mm, said row forming a straight or curved line when viewed with the naked eye.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
38 words
The document of claim 1 or 3 wherein said group of surface portions forms a predetermined macroscopic pattern of lines and dots which are each formed by one of said geometric shapes when viewed with the naked eye.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
40 words
The document of claim 1 wherein said group of surface portions forms a predetermined macroscopic pattern of lines and dots when viewed with the naked eye, and a second determined pattern of geometric shapes when viewed with a magnifying device.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
23 words
The document of claim 1 wherein said structure is embossed in a plastic film to be applied to an object to be protected.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
20 words
The document of claim 1 wherein said structure is formed in a layer which is applied by a printing method.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
110 words
A security element for preventing unauthorized copying which operates by diffracting light comprising: a plurality of embossed surface portions, each of said embossed surface portions having a predetermined relief structure with a spatial frequency larger than 10 lines/mm for diffracting incident light; each relief structure of each surface portion being different from the relief structure of directly adjoining surface portions; one group of said surface portions having a predetermined geometric shape for carrying security information and having a largest dimension less than 0.3 mm to provide a first pattern which can be seen with the naked eye and a second pattern which can be seen only with a magnifying device.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
110 words
A security element for preventing unauthorized copying which operates by diffracting light comprising: a plurality of embossed surface portions, each of said embossed surface portions having a predetermined relief structure with a spatial frequency larger than 10 lines/mm for diffracting incident light; each relief structure of each surface portion being different from the relief structure of directly adjoining surface portions; one group of said surface portions having a predetermined geometric shape for carrying security information and having a largest dimension less than 0.3 mm to provide a first pattern which can be seen with the naked eye and a second pattern which can be seen only with a magnifying device.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
99 words
A security element for preventing unauthorized copying comprising an embossed microscopic structure which operates through optical diffraction, said embossed structure including numerous surface portions, each of said surface portions having a predetermined relief structure with a spatial frequency larger than 10 lines/mm, each relief structure of each surface portion being different from that of adjoining surface portions, and a group of said surface portions having predetermined geometric shape for carrying authenticity information and a largest dimension of less than 0.3 mm, said group of surface portions standing against a background by the color and luminosity of radiation diffracted thereby.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
99 words
A security element for preventing unauthorized copying comprising an embossed microscopic structure which operates through optical diffraction, said embossed structure including numerous surface portions, each of said surface portions having a predetermined relief structure with a spatial frequency larger than 10 lines/mm, each relief structure of each surface portion being different from that of adjoining surface portions, and a group of said surface portions having predetermined geometric shape for carrying authenticity information and a largest dimension of less than 0.3 mm, said group of surface portions standing against a background by the color and luminosity of radiation diffracted thereby.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
116 words
A document comprising an embossed microscopic structure which operates through optical diffraction to serve as a security element for preventing unauthorized copying, said embossed structure including numerous surface portions, each of said surface portions having a predetermined relief structure with a spatial frequency larger than 10 lines/mm, each relief structure of each surface portion being different from that of adjoining surface portions, and a group of said surface portions having a predetermined geometric shape for carrying authenticity information and a largest dimension of less than 0.3 mm, said relief structures of said group of surface portions having the same orientation and spatial frequency to increase the visibility of said group when a magnifying device is utilized.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
116 words
A document comprising an embossed microscopic structure which operates through optical diffraction to serve as a security element for preventing unauthorized copying, said embossed structure including numerous surface portions, each of said surface portions having a predetermined relief structure with a spatial frequency larger than 10 lines/mm, each relief structure of each surface portion being different from that of adjoining surface portions, and a group of said surface portions having a predetermined geometric shape for carrying authenticity information and a largest dimension of less than 0.3 mm, said relief structures of said group of surface portions having the same orientation and spatial frequency to increase the visibility of said group when a magnifying device is utilized.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
122 words
A document comprising an embossed microscopic structure which operates through optical diffraction to serve as a security element for preventing unauthorized copying, said embossed structure including numerous surface portions, each of said surface portions having a predetermined relief structure with a spatial frequency larger than 10 lines/mm, each relief structure of each surface portion being different from that of adjoining surface portions, and one group of said surface portions having a largest dimension less than 0.3 mm to provide a first pattern of lines and dots which can be seen with the naked eye and a second pattern which can be seen only with a magnifying device, said group of surface portions having relief structures with the same orientation and spatial frequency.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
122 words
A document comprising an embossed microscopic structure which operates through optical diffraction to serve as a security element for preventing unauthorized copying, said embossed structure including numerous surface portions, each of said surface portions having a predetermined relief structure with a spatial frequency larger than 10 lines/mm, each relief structure of each surface portion being different from that of adjoining surface portions, and one group of said surface portions having a largest dimension less than 0.3 mm to provide a first pattern of lines and dots which can be seen with the naked eye and a second pattern which can be seen only with a magnifying device, said group of surface portions having relief structures with the same orientation and spatial frequency.
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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) | 1994-01-14 | 1994-07-16 | 1995-01-15 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1998-01-14 | 1998-07-16 | 1999-01-15 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2002-01-14 | 2002-07-16 | 2003-01-15 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |