U.S. patent application number 09/162466 was filed with the patent office on 2001-06-28 for multi-layer assembly and method for marking articles and resulting marked articles.
This patent application is currently assigned to Francoise Daniel. Invention is credited to DANIEL, FRANCOISE, SOUPARIS, HUGUES.
Application Number | 20010005570 09/162466 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 26231152 |
Filed Date | 2001-06-28 |
United States Patent
Application |
20010005570 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
DANIEL, FRANCOISE ; et
al. |
June 28, 2001 |
MULTI-LAYER ASSEMBLY AND METHOD FOR MARKING ARTICLES AND RESULTING
MARKED ARTICLES
Abstract
A method for marking articles or documents by placing on a
substrate (1) a multi-layer optical complex consisting of an
identifying portion (2, 7) such as bar codes, a photograph or
characters, and an authenticating portion consisting of a
diffracting optical mark, said portions being arranged one on top
of the other in such a way that they cannot be separated without
destroying the authenticating portion. A protected document is also
disclosed which comprises an indivisible stack consisting of a
printed portion (2, 7) forming an identifier read by reflection in
a first wavelength band, and coated with a lacquer (5) that is
opaque in the visible spectrum and has a transmission window
including said first wavelength band, as well as a transparent
reflective layer (4) forming a diffracting optical mark. A marking
system for carrying out the method, and a device for checking said
article or document, are also disclosed.
Inventors: |
DANIEL, FRANCOISE; (PARIS,
FR) ; SOUPARIS, HUGUES; (PARIS, FR) |
Correspondence
Address: |
IP DEPARTMENT
SCHNADER HARRISON SEGAL & LEWIS
36TH FLOOR
1600 MARKET STREET
PHILADELPHIA
PA
19103
US
|
Assignee: |
Francoise Daniel
|
Family ID: |
26231152 |
Appl. No.: |
09/162466 |
Filed: |
August 4, 1998 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
|
09162466 |
Aug 4, 1998 |
|
|
|
08578596 |
Jun 20, 1996 |
|
|
|
Current U.S.
Class: |
430/321 ;
156/231; 156/238; 283/86; 283/87; 283/88; 283/94; 359/2; 430/1;
430/2 |
Current CPC
Class: |
Y10S 283/901 20130101;
G03H 2250/34 20130101; G03H 2250/36 20130101; G06K 7/10732
20130101; G06K 19/18 20130101; G06K 19/16 20130101; G03H 2250/40
20130101; G03H 1/0244 20130101; G06K 7/10861 20130101; G03H
2001/0016 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
430/321 ; 359/2;
430/1; 430/2; 283/86; 283/87; 283/88; 283/94; 156/231; 156/238 |
International
Class: |
B42D 015/10; G03H
001/22 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
May 4, 1994 |
FR |
94/05472 |
May 3, 1995 |
FR |
PCT/FR95/00574 |
Claims
1. Procedure for marking products or documents, characterized by
the fact that the said procedure consists of applying to a
substrate [1] a multi-layer optical complex that includes
identification means [2] [7], such as bar-codes, a photograph, or
characters, and that further includes authentification means
consisting of a diffracting optical marker, with the two means
being superimposed in a way that does not allow them to be
separated without destroying the authentification means.
2. Procedure for-marking products or documents in accordance with
claim 1, characterized by the fact that the said identification
means [2] are printed on the substrate [1], [and] by the fact that
the resulting printed region is covered indissociably with a
multi-layer assembly [3] that includes a lower layer with narrow
passband [5] that allows the passage of at least one band with a
narrow wavelength, in order to illuminate the identification means
[2], and a transparent reflective layer [4] forming a diffracting
optical marker.
3. Procedure for marking products or documents in accordance with
claim 1, characterized by the fact that the said procedure consists
of affixing indissociably to the substrate [1] a multi-layer
assembly [3] that includes a lower layer [28] with a printed region
that constitutes the identification means [7], a narrow passband
[5] that allows the passage of at least one band with a narrow
wavelength, in order to illuminate the identification means [7],
and a transparent reflective layer [4] that forms a diffracting
optical marker.
4. Marking procedure in accordance with either claim 2 or claim 3,
characterized by the fact that the layer with the narrow passband
[5] is formed by a film overlay that is opaque in the visible
[spectrum] and transparent in the infrared [range], and by the fact
that the identifying means [2] [7] are determined so as to be
correlated with the diffraction pattern formed by the diffracting
optical marker [4].
5. Secured document including identification means and
authentification means, characterized by the fact that the document
includes, indissociably superimposed, a printed region [2] [7] that
forms an identifier that is suitable for being read by reflection
in a first wavelength band, covered by a film overlay [5] that is
opaque in the visible spectrum, with the said film overlay having a
transmission window that includes the said first wavelength band,
and [that is also covered] by a transparent reflective layer [4]
that forms a diffracting optical marker.
6. Means for marking and securing a products or a document,
characterized by the fact that said means consist of a multi-layer
assembly that includes a stamped transparent reflective layer [4],
such as for example a stamped transparent polyester film, and a
lower layer [5] that is opaque in the visible [spectrum], that
allows the passage of a narrow passband in the invisible
[spectrum], for example, in the infrared [range].
7. Means for marking and securing a product in accordance with
claim 6, characterized by the fact that the said means also include
a lower layer [27] that carries a printed region [7] that forms the
identifier.
8. Means for marking and securing a product in accordance with
claim 6 or claim 7, characterized by the fact that the said means
also include a lower adhesive layer [6] that allows irreversible
adhesion to the product to be marked.
9. Means for marking and providing security for products or
documents in accordance with any one of claims 6 through 8,
characterized by the fact that the said means also include: An
upper layer formed by a transparent film substrate [25]; A
detachment layer [26] allowing the separation of the film substrate
[25] from the active portion of the label; A protective film
overlay [27] that is transparent over the entire spectrum covering
the reflective layer [4].
10. Means for marking and securing a product in accordance with
claim 9, characterized by the fact that the detachment layer [25]
is non-homogeneous and includes regions with a high level of
adhesion and also regions with a low level of adhesion.
11. Means for marking and securing a product in accordance with any
one of claims 6 to 8, characterized by the fact that the said means
are implemented in the form of a multi-layer strip [3] that is
suitable for being deposited continuously by being unwound from a
spool and being applied, by means of adhesion or a heat-transfer
process, to the product to be marked.
12. Means for marking and securing a product in accordance with any
one of claims 6 to 8, characterized by the fact that the said means
are implemented in the form of a filament that is suitable for
being inserted into the paper by means of weaving or gluing.
13. Device for the verification of a product marked in accordance
with the procedure in accordance with claims 1 to 4, characterized
by the fact that the said device consists of a series of laser
diodes that illuminate the optical complex in accordance with one
or several [angles of] incidence; a CCD [charge-coupled device]
array for analyzing the response of the authentifier; a source of
infrared light, corresponding to the spectral window of the film
overlay that separates the identifier and the authentifier; means
for reading the identifier; and a computer to process the
signals.
14. Device for the verification of a marked product in accordance
with claim 10, characterized by the fact that the said device
includes lighting means consisting of a plurality of light
Description
[0001] The present invention relates to a procedure for marking
documents or products, implementing optical markers such as
diffraction gratings, such as for example holograms.
[0002] The use of holograms for the authentification of documents
is known in the state of the art. For example, European patent No.
EP-79 100 626 describes an identification card with a hologram and
also a manufacturing procedure and a method for recording the
hologram on the identification card. According to this document in
the prior art, the identity card carries readable information and
at least one hologram containing the readable information, with the
hologram being recorded adjacent to other information on a common
recording layer. The other information, which is recorded on the
common recording layer, is the readable information.
[0003] Because the implementation of a hologram requires a
significant amount of know-how and means that usually are not
available to counterfeiters, the security of documents marked in
this way is improved.
[0004] Another document in the prior art, i.e., Utility Certificate
No. FR-92 02 849, discloses a procedure for the marking of bodies
[i.e., items] and a device for the identification of bodies marked
in accordance with the said procedure.
[0005] This procedure is characterized essentially by the fact that
it consists of implementing, on a substrate, a first hologram of a
first object that is readable under white light, [and] of
implementing on the same substrate a second hologram, known as a
"Fourier hologram", of a second object. The second object consists
of a plurality of point sources of light, which sources are
distributed in a random manner, and [further involves] bonding the
said substrate to the body. The present invention also relates to a
device that allows the identification of bodies when they have been
marked in accordance with the procedure.
[0006] Another document in the prior art, i.e., French patent No.
FR-2 671 032, as issued to the present applicant, relates to the
protection of documents against counterfeiting. This protection
relates more particularly to a non-counterfeitable layered document
that includes a substrate with a marking region that has two
surfaces and that carries information which forms a relief pattern
on one of its surfaces and hollows or recesses on its other
surface, and that also includes a hologram which carries a
holographic interference pattern that covers at least part of the
surface of the marking region which carries the information forming
hollows or recesses. A layer of adhesive ensures the fixation of
the hologram to the marking region.
[0007] Another document in the prior art, i.e., European patent No.
EP-80 104 962, describes an identity card that contains information
in holographic form and that includes a substrate which serves as
the basic element of the card. A transparent layer is deposited on
the substrate and forms a flat optical waveguide, and another layer
is placed on the said waveguide and includes at least one hologram
containing a piece of information. [The said patent also describes]
a light-coupling device which consists of another hologram that
corresponds to a particular predetermined reference light source,
and by means of which only one homologous light wave, which
corresponds to the particular reference light source, may be
injected by coupling into the waveguide.
[0008] Overall, these procedures are satisfactory for securing
documents that receive information beforehand, in printed form.
[0009] However, the information function and the authentification
function are completely independent, and are implemented in two
different regions of the document. The result is the possibility of
fraud through the modification of the information present on a
document that also carries an authentic marked region.
[0010] The purpose of the present invention is to remedy this
disadvantage by proposing a more certain [i.e. robust] security
marking procedure.
[0011] For this purpose, the invention relates first of all to a
procedure for marking documents, characterized by the fact that the
said procedure consists of applying to a substrate a multi-layer
optical complex that consists of identification means such as
bar-codes, a photograph, or characters, and that further consists
of authentification means, with the two means being superimposed in
a way that does not allow them to be separated without destroying
the optical complex, and at least without destroying the
authentification means.
[0012] The authentification means preferably consist of a
diffracting optical marker. As used within the context of the
present invention, the term "diffracting optical marker" should be
understood as referring to diffracting means whose optical
behavior, when illuminated by a monochromatic beam [of light], is
specific. In particular, a diffraction grating or a hologram is
considered to -constitute a diffracting "optical marker" which,
depending on the degree of complexity, will-form, in response to
monochromatic illumination, a set of luminous points, luminous
lines, or, in the case of the hologram, an image.
[0013] The identification means are implemented, for example, by
printing with an ink, and particularly by printing with an ink that
is transparent in the visible [spectrum] and opaque in the infrared
[range].
[0014] The identification means are masked from sight [i.e., not
visible], and therefore do not admit of reproduction by means
available to the general public, such as photocopiers. Thus the
security of the product or of the document is reinforced.
[0015] In accordance with a first variant, the identification means
are printed on the object to be marked and authenticated. The
resulting printed region is then covered with an optical complex
formed by a film overlay that allows passage of at least one
wavelength band that reads the identification means, and onto which
is applied, in an indissociable manner, authentification means
formed by a diffracting optical marker.
[0016] In accordance with a second variant, an element is prepared
that is suitable for being applied indissociably to the object to
be marked and authenticated, for example, in the form of a label, a
strip prepared on a spool and glued to the substrate, or a filament
inserted into the document. This element consists of an optical
complex that includes a lower layer on which the identification
means are printed. The resulting printed region is then covered by
a film overlay that allows passage of at least one wavelength band
that reads the identification means, and by authentification means
formed by a diffracting optical marker.
[0017] The film overlay is preferably opaque in the visible
spectrum and has a narrow passband in the infrared.
[0018] In accordance with a preferred variant, the film overlay
covering the printed region has a spectral window in the infrared
range [and] the diffraction grating is recorded in such a way as to
form at least one diffraction pattern, with the printed image under
the film overlay being correlated with the diffraction pattern.
[0019] The product marked in accordance with the procedure in
accordance with the invention does not allow the information to be
changed without altering the means for checking the authenticity of
the document.
[0020] Several optical markers may also be juxtaposed.
[0021] The invention also relates to a secured document that
includes identification means and authentification means, such as a
diffracting optical marker, characterized by the fact that the said
document has a printed region that is suitable for being read by
reflection in a first wavelength band, [and that is] covered by a
film overlay that is opaque in the visible spectrum, with the film
overlay having a transmission window that includes the said first
wavelength band, and by a transparent reflective layer, with the
film overlay covering the printed region in an indissociable
manner.
[0022] The invention also relates to means for marking and securing
a product, with the said means consisting of a substrate that has a
printed region that is suitable for being read by reflection in a
first wavelength band, [and that is] covered by a film overlay that
is opaque in the visible spectrum, with the film overlay having a
transmission window that includes the said first wavelength band,
and by a transparent reflective layer that incorporates the
diffracting optical marker, for example, by means of surface
stamping, with the film overlay covering the printed region in an
indissociable manner.
[0023] In accordance with a variant, the means for marking and
securing a product consist of a substrate intended to be applied to
a printed region, with the substrate being covered by a film
overlay that is opaque in the visible spectrum, with the film
overlay having a transmission window that includes the said first
wavelength band and by a transparent reflective layer that contains
the diffracting optical marker.
[0024] In accordance with a first variant, the substrate consists
of a self-adhesive or heat-transferable reflective layer.
[0025] In accordance with a second variant, the substrate consists
of a narrow band that is suitable for being deposited continuously
by being unwound from a spool and being applied, by means of
adhesion or a heat-transfer process, to the product to be
marked.
[0026] In accordance with a third variant, the substrate consists
of a filament that is suitable for being inserted into the paper by
means of weaving or gluing.
[0027] The invention also relates to a device for the verification
of a marked product, characterized by the fact that the said device
includes illumination means consisting of a plurality of sources
that are located in the visible wavelengths and that are inclined
along at least two different angles of incidence in relation to the
[angle that is] normal to the substrate.
[0028] In accordance with a first variant of the device, the
identification information is read by analysis of the light
reflected in the wavelength band corresponding to the spectral
window of the filter, which is generally the infrared [range]. The
authenticity of the document is verified by a reading of the
diffraction pattern formed in the optical complex, and by
comparison, by a computer, with a set of reference diffraction
patterns.
[0029] In accordance with another variant, the device verifies the
correlation between the information obtained through a reading of
the reflected light and the information that corresponds to the
image read under diffracted light.
[0030] The invention will be better understood through a reading of
the following description, with reference to the accompanying
drawings relating to non-limitative examples of embodiments, on
which drawings:
[0031] FIG. 1 represents a diagrammatic view of a first variant of
an embodiment of a document marked in accordance with the
invention;
[0032] FIG. 2 represents a cross-sectional view of the optical
complex in accordance with this first variant;
[0033] FIG. 3 represents a diagrammatic view of a second variant of
an embodiment of a document marked in accordance with the
invention;
[0034] FIG. 4 represents a cross-sectional view of the optical
complex in accordance with this second variant;
[0035] FIGS. 5 through 8 represent diagrammatic views of the
reading of the authentifier in accordance with two different
configurations; and
[0036] FIG. 9 represents a diagrammatic view of a device for
reading the authentifier.
[0037] The procedure in accordance with the invention consists of
definitively associating, by means of various embodiments, means
that will be referred to hereinbelow as "the identifier" and means
referred to hereinbelow as "the authentifier", to form an optical
complex that cannot be dissociated without being destroyed.
[0038] The identifier is, for example, a bar-code or a series of
characters, preferably characters that can be interpreted by an
optical character-reading (OCR) system, or even a photograph. The
identifier makes it possible to implement a number of combinations
determined by the type of marking required. The combinations can be
determined in such a way as to allow automatic identification by a
reader whose general operation is [the same as] that of the
bar-code readers or optical character recognition [systems] in the
prior art, or an infrared camera in the case of a photograph.
[0039] The authentifier consists of an interference pattern
commonly referred to as a "hologram" that forms an indissociable
part of the optical complex, which is read by the diffraction of
incident light. It can reproduce a non-significant image, or can
even include a portion of the information necessary for the
identification of the product.
[0040] Depending on the variants of the embodiments, the
diffraction patterns consist of:
[0041] A set of distinct points whose geometric characteristics are
defined in relation to the position of the source and in relation
to the theoretical position of the document;
[0042] A set of distinct lines or bars; or
[0043] A set of points that delineate a contour or an image.
[0044] The separation of the identifier and the authentifier is
ensured by a wavelength-selective film overlay, and by the use of
two different wavelength to read each of the two elements.
Depending on the variant of the embodiment, the film overlay may be
transparent in the visible spectrum or, alternatively, opaque in
the visible spectrum and transparent in the infrared.
[0045] As an option, each of the elements may carry a portion of
the information. In such a case, full identification is achieved by
reading the information that is invisible under reflected light and
[by] reading the information that is visible under diffracted light
in a second wavelength band, and/or [through] verification of the
correlation of the information coded by the identifier and the
information coded by the authentifier.
[0046] FIG. 1 represents a view of a first example of an
embodiment.
[0047] The product to be marked [1] has a printed region [2]
carrying identification bar-odes. This region is covered by a
multi-layer assembly [3] consisting of a label that can be affixed
in such a way as to form an integral part of a product, by means of
gluing or by heat-transfer, for which FIG. 2 represents an enlarged
cross-sectional view.
[0048] This multi-layer assembly consists of:
[0049] A film substrate [25], such as for example a transparent
polyester film. This film substrate [25] makes it possible to
transfer the optical complex to the document or to the product to
be marked and authenticated;
[0050] A detachment layer [26] allowing the separation of the film
substrate [25] from the active portion of the label;
[0051] A protective film overlay [27] that is transparent over the
entire spectrum;
[0052] A stamped transparent reflective layer [4]. This layer is
rendered reflective by metallization or by the vaporization of an
additional layer formed by a dielectric material or even by a film
overlay whose index of refraction is different from that of the
protective film overlay [27], with this layer carrying the
authentification image by deformation of its surface;
[0053] A layer of film overlay [sic] [51 that is tinted in the
visible [spectrum], allowing the passage of a narrow pass-band in
the invisible [spectrum], for example, in the infrared range, with
this layer of tinted film overlay [5] being opaque in the visible
spectrum;
[0054] A layer of adhesive [6] whose characteristics are suited to
the substrate, consisting for example of an adhesive that is
reactive when heated.
[0055] The reflective layer [4] is deformed by stamping, with the
aid of a matrix that includes optical information in the form of
micro-relief elements.
[0056] A variant consists of providing an irregular detachment
layer [26] that has regions with a high level of adhesion and
regions with a low level of adhesion. When tractive force is
applied to the film substrate [25], the active portions located
under the strong adhesive are torn away from the substrate [1],
while the active portions located under the weak adhesive remain
affixed to the substrate [1] and form a set of spots or a
significant assembly that allows the detect ion of an attempt at
counterfeiting by tearing off the authentification label.
[0057] FIGS. 3 and 4 represent a variant of the embodiment of the
multi-layer assembly [3].
[0058] In accordance with this variant, the multi-layer assembly
forms a label incorporating the printed region [7] so as to form,
for example, a bar-code. The printing is done with a conventional
printing ink, or with an ink that is transparent in the visible
[spectrum] and opaque only in the infrared [range]. The identifier
[7] and the authentifier [4] are separated by the layer of film
overlay [5] that is opaque in the visible [spectrum] and
transparent in the infrared [range].
[0059] In both cases, the optical assembly [3] is deposited on the
substrate [I] either cold, or by heat-lamination, or by a
thermal-transfer process.
[0060] FIG. 5 represents a diagrammatic view of a device for
reading the authentifier, in a variant of an embodiment in
accordance with which the diffraction grating recreates an image
that corresponds to a set of dots. The techniques for the
implementation of a stamped diffraction grating or of a stamped
holographic image are known to those skilled in the art, and will
not be discussed in detail within the context of the present
invention.
[0061] The reading device includes a light source, such as for
example an electroluminescent [i.e., light-emitting] diode [10],
that illuminates the optical complex [3] at a determined angle,
with the angle of incidence being defined in relation to the [angle
that is] normal to the plane of the diffraction grating. An
aperture or pupil [14] and a focusing lens [15] are located along
the optical path in order to form a light beam that illuminates the
diffraction grating in a point-based manner.
[0062] A set of sensors [11] through [13] detects the light
diffracted by the optical-complex grating [3]. The correspondence
between the detected points of light and the diffraction pattern
stored in a computer makes it possible to verify the authenticity
of the marked-document. As an option, the identifier may be coded
in accordance with the information derived from the diffraction
pattern, and thus may vary from one document to another depending
on a secret coding function stored in the verification equipment in
the form of an algorithm for the comparison of the signals from the
photo-detectors against the image calculated as a function of the
information derived from the identifier and from the said
algorithmn.
[0063] FIGS. 6 and 7 represent diagrammatic views of the reading of
the authentifier in accordance with two different configurations,
in accordance with a variant in which the diffracted pattern
corresponds to bar-codes.
[0064] FIG. 6 and FIG. 7 represent a diagrammatic view of the
result of the illumination of the optical complex [3] by a light
source [10] along two different angles of incidence. The particular
feature of certain diffraction gratings is that they produce a
diffracted pattern that depends on the angle of incidence.
Depending on the angle of incidence represented in FIG. 6, or in
FIG. 7, the result will correspond to a first bar-code [16] or to a
second barcode [17].
[0065] The reading device shown in FIG. 8 includes a bank of
electroluminescent [sic] diodes [17] that includes a first series
of electroluminescent diodes oriented along a first angle of
incidence in relation to the [angle that is] normal to the
substrate, for example, +45 degrees in relation to the normal
[angle], and a second series of electroluminescent diodes oriented
along a second, different angle of 45 degrees in relation to the
normal [angle].
[0066] The reading device includes a CCD [charge-coupled device]
sensor [18] that detects the diffracted pattern and that generates
a signal that can be processed by a microcomputer in order to
verify the correspondence between the diffracted pattern and the
stored reference pattern or the identifier.
[0067] In the example described with reference to FIGS. 6 through
8, the diffracted image corresponds to a bar-code. Of course, any
type of grating may be recorded in the optical complex, in order to
diffract images that correspond to texts, characters, or graphic
information that can be recognized automatically by an optronic
[i.e., opio-electronic] device, or by means of visual verification
by an operator.
[0068] FIG. 9 represents an example of an embodiment of a reader,
in the form of a portable device having a housing [20] in the form
of a "shower-head", whose rear portion encloses a CCD sensor array
[21], and whose forward portion encloses an array [23] consisting
of a set of electroluminescent [sic] diodes oriented along angles
forming angles of +45 and -45 degrees in relation to the normal
[angle] of a window that is open in the lower portion of the
housing.
[0069] Optical focusing means [24] are provided in order to form,
on the CCD transfer bar [sic; i.e., the CCD sensor array--Tr.]
[21], the image diffracted by the diffraction grating placed
against the window provided on the lower portion of the housing,
after being reflected by a mirror [22].
[0070] Another method of implementing a reader for the reading and
verification of a document marked with [sic] an optical complex of
the type described above consists of combining, in a housing, means
for recognizing information from the identifier, on the one hand,
and means for the verification of the authentifier.
[0071] Such a reading device includes:
[0072] A series of laser diodes that illuminate the optical complex
along one or more [angles of] incidence;
[0073] a CCD matrix or array, or june [sic; "une" ("one" or "a") is
most probably the intended word here--tr.] series of point
receivers to analyze the response of the authentifier;
[0074] A specific reader for the identifier, functioning in the
wavelength band suitable for the identifier, such as for example
the infrared;
[0075] a computer for the processing of signals,
[0076] and output interfaces, such as for example a display or an
RS-232 output for connection with a peripheral device:
[0077] The description of the invention in the foregoing text has
been provided as a non-limitative example. It should be clearly
understood that those skilled in the art will be capable of
implementing different variants without departing from the scope of
the invention in so doing.
* * * * *