Patent US5483363A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US5483363A
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US
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Security device
Assignee: De la Rue International Ltd
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Filing: 1991-09-06
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Granted: 1996-01-09
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Expires: 2011-09-06
Abstract
Abstract A security device includes first and second diffractive structures contained within a surface relief structure. The structures are such that the device responds to illumination at a first, visible wavelength to generate a first, visible pattern while any pattern generated by the second structure is not substantially visible at that wavelength, and the device responds to illumination at a second wavelength substantially different from the first wavelength to generate a second pattern suitable for machine reading while any pattern generated by the first structure is substantially suppressed relative to the machine readable pattern at that wavelength.
Inventors
- 👤 Brian W. Holmes
- 👤 Kenneth J. Drinkwater
- 👤 David Ezra
- 👤 Jon Andreassen
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-07 12:42
CPC Classifications
G; G06; G06K; G06K19/00; G06K19/06; G06K19/08; G06K19/10; G06K19/16; B; B42; B42D; B42D25/00; B42D25/30; B42D25/324; B42D25/328; B42D25/36; B42D25/378; B42D25/382; G03; G03H; G03H1/00; G03H1/0005; G03H1/0011; G03H1/22; G03H1/2249; G03H1/26; G03H1/2645; G03H1/02; G03H1/0236; G03H1/024; G03H1/0244; G03H1/0276; G03H1/028; G03H1/04; G03H1/0402; G03H1/041; G03H1/265; G03H1/28; G03H2001/0016; G03H2001/0022; G03H1/2202; G03H2001/2223; G03H2001/2231; G03H2001/2244; G03H2001/2252; G03H2001/2257; G03H2001/2263; G03H2001/2268; G03H2001/2281; G03H2001/2665; G03H2001/2675; G03H1/30; G03H2001/303; G03H2210/00; G03H2210/50; G03H2210/53; G03H2210/56; G03H2210/562; G03H2222/00; G03H2222/10; G03H2222/16; G03H2222/50; G03H2222/56; G03H2224/00; G03H2224/02; G03H2250/00; G03H2250/36; G03H2250/40
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 23
Claim 1
Independent Claim
123 words
A security device comprising first and second diffractive structures contained within a surface relief structure, the surface relief structure being responsive to illumination at a first, visible wavelength, by a white light source, to generate a first, visible pattern, wherein all patterns generated by the second diffractive structure are not substantially visible at the first wavelength, and the surface relief structure being responsive to illumination at a second wavelength substantially different from the first wavelength to generate a second pattern suitable for machine reading, all patterns generated by the first diffractive structure being substantially Suppressed at the second wavelength, wherein upon illumination at the second wavelength, all patterns generated by the first diffractive structure are diffracted under the horizon of the security device.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
123 words
A security device comprising first and second diffractive structures contained within a surface relief structure, the surface relief structure being responsive to illumination at a first, visible wavelength, by a white light source, to generate a first, visible pattern, wherein all patterns generated by the second diffractive structure are not substantially visible at the first wavelength, and the surface relief structure being responsive to illumination at a second wavelength substantially different from the first wavelength to generate a second pattern suitable for machine reading, all patterns generated by the first diffractive structure being substantially Suppressed at the second wavelength, wherein upon illumination at the second wavelength, all patterns generated by the first diffractive structure are diffracted under the horizon of the security device.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
14 words
A device according to claim 1, wherein the first and second structures are superposed.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
22 words
A device according to claim 2, wherein the first and second diffractive structures extend over substantially the same area of the device.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
17 words
A device according to claim 1, wherein the second pattern is a coded pattern of discrete spots.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
15 words
A device according to claim 1, wherein the first diffractive structure is a "rainbow" hologram.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
28 words
A device according to claim 1, wherein the second generated pattern has a significantly lower brightness than the first generated pattern upon illumination by the white light source.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
11 words
The security printed document having a security device of claim 1.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
12 words
A document according to claim 7, wherein the document is a passport.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
42 words
The device according to claim 1, wherein the first diffractive structure is formed as a surface relief on a substrate and the second diffractive structure is formed as a surface relief in the same region of the substrate as the first structure.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
17 words
The device according to claim 9, wherein the first and second diffractive structures are formed substantially simultaneously.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
25 words
The device according to claim 9, wherein the second structure is formed by exposing the substrate to a recording beam through an aberrating optical system.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
17 words
The device according to claim 9, wherein the structures are combined to form a single relief pattern.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
18 words
A substrate carrying a photoresist surface bearing the surface relief structure in the security device of claim 11.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
138 words
A security device comprising first and second diffractive structures contained within a surface relief structure, the surface relief structure being responsive to illumination at a first, visible wavelength, by a white light source, to generate a first, visible pattern, wherein all patterns generated by the second diffractive structure are not substantially visible at the first wavelength, and the surface relief structure being responsive to illumination at a second wavelength substantially different from the first wavelength to generate a second pattern suitable for machine reading, all patterns generated by the first diffractive structure being substantially suppressed at the second wavelength, wherein upon illumination by the white light source, the pattern generated by the second diffractive structure is positioned angularly close to the direction of propagation of the illumination by the white light source and is thereby obscured from view.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
138 words
A security device comprising first and second diffractive structures contained within a surface relief structure, the surface relief structure being responsive to illumination at a first, visible wavelength, by a white light source, to generate a first, visible pattern, wherein all patterns generated by the second diffractive structure are not substantially visible at the first wavelength, and the surface relief structure being responsive to illumination at a second wavelength substantially different from the first wavelength to generate a second pattern suitable for machine reading, all patterns generated by the first diffractive structure being substantially suppressed at the second wavelength, wherein upon illumination by the white light source, the pattern generated by the second diffractive structure is positioned angularly close to the direction of propagation of the illumination by the white light source and is thereby obscured from view.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
125 words
A security device comprising first and second diffractive structures contained within a surface relief structure, the surface relief structure being responsive to illumination at a first, visible wavelength, by a white light source, to generate a first, visible pattern, wherein all patterns generated by the second diffractive structure are not substantially visible at the first wavelength, and the surface relief structure being responsive to illumination at a second wavelength substantially different from the first wavelength to generate a second pattern suitable for machine reading, all patterns generated by the first diffractive structure being substantially suppressed at the second wavelength, wherein the second generated pattern is formed at a greater distance from the device than the first generated pattern upon illumination by the white light source.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
125 words
A security device comprising first and second diffractive structures contained within a surface relief structure, the surface relief structure being responsive to illumination at a first, visible wavelength, by a white light source, to generate a first, visible pattern, wherein all patterns generated by the second diffractive structure are not substantially visible at the first wavelength, and the surface relief structure being responsive to illumination at a second wavelength substantially different from the first wavelength to generate a second pattern suitable for machine reading, all patterns generated by the first diffractive structure being substantially suppressed at the second wavelength, wherein the second generated pattern is formed at a greater distance from the device than the first generated pattern upon illumination by the white light source.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
26 words
A device according to claim 15, wherein the second generated pattern is generated at a distance of between 50 mm and 300 mm from the device.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
172 words
Apparatus for authenticating a security device comprising first and second diffractive structures contained within a surface relief structure, the surface relief structure being responsive to illumination at a first, visible wavelength, by a white light source, to generate a first, visible pattern, wherein all patterns generated by the second diffractive structure are not substantially visible at the first wavelength, and the surface relief structure being responsive to illumination at a second wavelength substantially different from the first wavelength to generate a second pattern suitable for machine reading, wherein all patterns generated by the first diffractive structure are substantially suppressed at the second wavelength, the authenticating apparatus comprising illumination means for illuminating the device at the second wavelength; detection means for detecting the resultant pattern generated by the second diffractive structure; and processing means for analyzing the detected pattern by comparison with a reference, wherein the illuminating means also includes means for illuminating the device with a white light source so that the pattern generated by the first diffractive structure may be viewed.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
172 words
Apparatus for authenticating a security device comprising first and second diffractive structures contained within a surface relief structure, the surface relief structure being responsive to illumination at a first, visible wavelength, by a white light source, to generate a first, visible pattern, wherein all patterns generated by the second diffractive structure are not substantially visible at the first wavelength, and the surface relief structure being responsive to illumination at a second wavelength substantially different from the first wavelength to generate a second pattern suitable for machine reading, wherein all patterns generated by the first diffractive structure are substantially suppressed at the second wavelength, the authenticating apparatus comprising illumination means for illuminating the device at the second wavelength; detection means for detecting the resultant pattern generated by the second diffractive structure; and processing means for analyzing the detected pattern by comparison with a reference, wherein the illuminating means also includes means for illuminating the device with a white light source so that the pattern generated by the first diffractive structure may be viewed.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
25 words
Apparatus according to claim 17, wherein the illuminating means is controllable to illuminate the device with the white light source or at the second wavelength.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
14 words
Apparatus according to claim 17, wherein the first diffractive structure is a rainbow hologram.
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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) | 1999-01-08 | 1999-07-10 | 2000-01-09 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2003-01-08 | 2003-07-10 | 2004-01-09 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2007-01-08 | 2007-07-10 | 2008-01-09 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |