US5331443A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Laser engraved verification hologram and associated methods
Assignee: Crown Roll Leaf Inc
•
Filing: 1992-07-31
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Granted: 1994-07-19
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Expires: 2012-07-31
Abstract
Abstract A method for increasing the authentication effect of a verification hologram to be affixed to a protected document includes laser etching individualized indicia into the reflective layer of each hologram produced en masse on a moving, continuous web. The laser is finely focused and guided by a computer which records the data used to form the selected indicia, such data being referenced for comparison to provide verification of authenticity upon presentation by a bearer. In one embodiment, the data used to create the indicia is generated by a computer program which may include a random number generator.
Inventors
- 👤 Joseph J. Stanisci
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-09 08:18
CPC Classifications
G; G03; G03H; G03H1/00; G03H1/04; G03H1/18; B; B42; B42D; B42D25/00; B42D25/30; B42D25/328; B42D25/40; B42D25/405; B42D25/43; G03H1/0005; G03H1/0011; G03H1/02; G03H1/0236; G03H1/024; G03H1/0244; G03H1/0276; G03H1/028; G03H1/182; G03H2001/183; G03H2001/184; G03H2001/187; G03H2001/188; G03H2210/00; G03H2210/50; G03H2210/54; G03H2260/00; G03H2260/50; G03H2260/62
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 38
Claim 1
Independent Claim
82 words
A method for increasing the authenticating effect of a hologram for affixation to a document comprises the steps of: (a) forming said hologram, said hologram having an embossable layer, a reflective layer deposited over said embossable layer and a carrier layer; and (b) selectively etching indicia into said hologram with a computer guided laser beam, said step of etching including removal of said reflective layer, said indicia being engraved through each of said embossable layer, said reflective layer and said carrier layer.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
82 words
A method for increasing the authenticating effect of a hologram for affixation to a document comprises the steps of: (a) forming said hologram, said hologram having an embossable layer, a reflective layer deposited over said embossable layer and a carrier layer; and (b) selectively etching indicia into said hologram with a computer guided laser beam, said step of etching including removal of said reflective layer, said indicia being engraved through each of said embossable layer, said reflective layer and said carrier layer.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
58 words
The method of claim 1, wherein said carrier layer and said embossable layer are separable and further including the steps of separating said carrier layer from said embossable layer and comparing said indicia engraved in said carrier layer with said indicia engraved in said embossable layer and said reflective layer to verify similarity upon presentation of said hologram.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
22 words
The method of claim 1, wherein said reflective layer is Aluminum which is vaporized by said laser during said step of engraving.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
18 words
The method of claim 1, wherein said indicia is at least partially in the form of alphanumeric characters.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
13 words
The method of claim 4, wherein said characters are selected from standard fonts.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
30 words
The method of claim 4, wherein at least a portion of said characters is variable over a range and the composition of said characters is determined during step of etching.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
18 words
The method of claim 6, wherein the composition of said variable portion is determined by a computer program.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
23 words
The method of claim 7, wherein said data representative of said indicia and said character composition is recorded during said step of etching.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
23 words
The method of claim 8, wherein said computer program includes a random number generator which serves as a determinant in said character composition.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
31 words
The method of claim 1, wherein a plurality of said holograms are arranged on a continuous web and further including the steps of moving said web during said step of engraving.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
16 words
The method of claim 1, further including the step of recording data representative of said indicia.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
22 words
The method of claim 11, wherein said recorded data is compared to said hologram upon presentation of said hologram to verify similarity.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
10 words
The method of claim 12, wherein said comparison is visual.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
25 words
The method of claim 13, wherein said comparison is made by superimposing an image generated from said recorded data upon said hologram presented for verification.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
26 words
The method of claim 13, wherein said comparison is made by simultaneously viewing an image generated from said recorded data and said hologram presented for verification.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
23 words
The method of claim 12, wherein said indicia is digitized for comparison to said recorded data, said recorded data being in digital form.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
23 words
The method of claim 16, wherein at least a portion of said indicia is a variable bit pattern generated by a computer program.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
25 words
The method of claim 11, wherein at least a portion of said indicia is machine readable via a scanning device and translates to alphanumeric characters.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
14 words
The method of claim 18, wherein said machine readable portion is a bar code.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
16 words
The method of claim 1, wherein at least a portion of said indicia corresponds to handwriting.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
26 words
The method of claim 20 wherein said step of etching said indicia includes handwriting upon a digitizer pad to form an input to a computer controller.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
20 words
The method of claim 1, wherein said hologram is affixed to a substrate which is at least partially light transmissive.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
16 words
The method of claim 1, wherein said hologram is affixed to a substrate which is opaque.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
34 words
A hologram comprises: (a) an embossable layer having a microtextured surface; and (b) a light reflective layer deposited over said microtextured surface, said reflective layer and said embossable layer having indicia laser engraved therein.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
34 words
A hologram comprises: (a) an embossable layer having a microtextured surface; and (b) a light reflective layer deposited over said microtextured surface, said reflective layer and said embossable layer having indicia laser engraved therein.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
16 words
The hologram of claim 24, wherein at least a portion of said indicia is alphanumeric characters.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
14 words
The hologram of claim 25, wherein said indicia is in the form of handwriting.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
15 words
The hologram of claim 25, wherein said alphanumeric characters are selected from available standard fonts.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
18 words
The hologram of claim 25, wherein said alphanumeric characters are at least partially generated by a computer program.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
14 words
The hologram of claim 24, wherein said hologram is affixed to an opaque substrate.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
13 words
The hologram of claim 29, wherein said substrate is visible through said indicia.
Claim 33
Dependent Claim
20 words
The hologram of claim 24, wherein said hologram is affixed to a substrate which is at least partially light transmissive.
Claim 34
Dependent Claim
16 words
The hologram of claim 31, wherein light transmitted through said substrate is visible through said indicia.
Claim 35
Dependent Claim
14 words
The hologram of claim 24, wherein said indicia is readable by an optical scanner.
Claim 36
Dependent Claim
12 words
The hologram of claim 33, wherein said indicia is a bar code.
Claim 37
Dependent Claim
24 words
The hologram of claim 24, wherein said hologram includes a carrier sheet upon which said embossable layer is disposed, said carrier sheet being engraved.
Claim 38
Dependent Claim
15 words
The hologram of claim 35, wherein said carrier sheet is separable from said embossable layer.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
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| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1997-07-18 | 1998-01-17 | 1998-07-19 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2001-07-18 | 2002-01-17 | 2002-07-19 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2005-07-18 | 2006-01-17 | 2006-07-19 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |