US5178418A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Latent images comprising phase shifted micro printing
Assignee: Canadian Bank Note Co Ltd
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Filing: 1991-06-25
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Granted: 1993-01-12
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Expires: 2011-06-25
Abstract
Abstract A security device comprising a substrate having applied thereto an array of characters, the characters being of a sufficiently small size as to appear uniform when ordinarily viewed but individually identifiable when viewed with the aid of appropriate magnification means, whereby group(s) of the characters are phase-shifted relative to the others in such a manner as to collectively define an image, the image being relatively indiscernible when the device is ordinarily viewed but discernible when viewed with the aid of a finding screen.
Inventors
- 👤 Trevor Merry
- 👤 Alan R. Boate
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-26 17:09
CPC Classifications
B; B41; B41M; B41M3/00; B41M3/14; B42; B42D; B42D25/00; B42D25/20; B42D25/29; Y; Y10; Y10S; Y10S283/00; Y10S283/901
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 15
Claim 1
Independent Claim
104 words
A security device comprising both microscope and macroscopic hidden images, said device comprising a substrate having applied thereto an array of alphanumeric characters, said characters being of a sufficiently small size as to appear uniform when ordinarily viewed by collectively forming a microscopic image capable of conveying meaningful information when viewed with the aid of appropriate magnification means, whereby group(s) of said characters are phase-shifted relative to other said characters in such a manner as to collectively define a macroscopic image, said macroscopic image being relatively indiscernible when said device is ordinarily viewed but discernible when viewed with the aid of a finding screen.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
104 words
A security device comprising both microscope and macroscopic hidden images, said device comprising a substrate having applied thereto an array of alphanumeric characters, said characters being of a sufficiently small size as to appear uniform when ordinarily viewed by collectively forming a microscopic image capable of conveying meaningful information when viewed with the aid of appropriate magnification means, whereby group(s) of said characters are phase-shifted relative to other said characters in such a manner as to collectively define a macroscopic image, said macroscopic image being relatively indiscernible when said device is ordinarily viewed but discernible when viewed with the aid of a finding screen.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
21 words
A security device according to claim 1 wherein said array of alphanumeric characters comprises a plurality of lines of alphanumeric characters.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
16 words
A security device according to claim 2 wherein said microscopic image comprises one or more words.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
22 words
A security device according to claim 2 wherein each of said alphanumeric characters occupies an area of less than 0.2 millimeters square.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
23 words
A security device according to claim 4 wherein the density of alphanumeric characters is in the range of 1-3 character lines per millimeter.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
14 words
A security device according to claim 5 wherein a dark background surrounds light characters.
Claim 8
Independent Claim
107 words
A method of making a security device comprising both macroscopic and microscopic hidden images, comprising the steps of applying to a substrate an array of alphanumeric characters, said characters being of a sufficiently small size as to appear uniform when ordinarily viewed but collectively forming a microscopic image capable of conveying meaningful information when viewed with the aid of appropriate magnification means, and positioning group(s) of said characters in phase-shifted relation relative to other said characters so as to collectively form a macroscopic image, said macroscopic image being relatively indiscernible when said device is ordinarily viewed but discernible when viewed with the aid of a finding screen.
Claim 9
Independent Claim
107 words
A method of making a security device comprising both macroscopic and microscopic hidden images, comprising the steps of applying to a substrate an array of alphanumeric characters, said characters being of a sufficiently small size as to appear uniform when ordinarily viewed but collectively forming a microscopic image capable of conveying meaningful information when viewed with the aid of appropriate magnification means, and positioning group(s) of said characters in phase-shifted relation relative to other said characters so as to collectively form a macroscopic image, said macroscopic image being relatively indiscernible when said device is ordinarily viewed but discernible when viewed with the aid of a finding screen.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
25 words
A method according to claim 7 whereby said application of said array of alphanumeric characters includes the use of a computer to generate said array.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
19 words
A method according to claim 8 wherein said array of alphanumeric characters comprises a plurality of lines of characters.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
15 words
A method according to claim 9 wherein said microscopic image comprises one or more words.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
21 words
A method according to claim 9 whereby each of said alphanumeric characters occupies an area of less than 0.2 millimeters square.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
23 words
A method according to claim 11 whereby the density of said alphanumeric characters is in the range of 1-3 character lines per millimeter.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
13 words
A method according to claim 12 whereby a dark background surrounds light characters.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US3675948A
Cited
US4998010A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1996-01-12 | 1996-07-13 | 1997-01-12 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2000-01-12 | 2000-07-13 | 2001-01-12 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2004-01-12 | 2004-07-13 | 2005-01-12 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |