# US 2012/0075701 A1 · Optically variable security devices

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- Number: US 2012/0075701 A1
- Document ID: US20120075701A1
- Status: Published application
- Kind: A1
- Application number: 13/250,480
- Filed: 2011-09-30
- Published: 2012-03-29
- Earliest claimed: 1999-07-08
- Inventors: Roger W. Phillips; Thomas Mayer; Scott Lamar; Elena Taguer
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20120075701A1

## CPC

- G02B 5/18: Diffraction gratings {(holographic optical elements G02B5/32, G03H; integrally combined with optical fibres G02B6/02057; for coupling light guides G02B6/34; integrally combined with optical integrated light guides G02B6/12; grating systems G02B27/44)}
- B32B 37/1284: {Application of adhesive}
- B32B 37/18: involving the assembly of discrete sheets or panels only
- B42D 25/00: Information-bearing cards or sheet-like structures characterised by identification or security features; Manufacture thereof (printing processes to produce identification or security features B41M3/14)
- B42D 25/29: Securities; Bank notes
- B42D 25/328: Diffraction gratings; Holograms
- B42D 25/47: using adhesives
- C09J 11/02: Non-macromolecular additives
- D21H 21/40: Agents facilitating proof of genuineness or preventing fraudulent alteration, e.g. for security paper (watermarking B41M3/10, D21F1/44; security printing B41M3/14; securities or banknotes characterised by colour effects B42D25/29, B42D25/30; testing paper currency or valuable papers for genuineness G07D7/00)
- G02B 5/0808: {having a single reflecting layer (G02B5/0883, G02B5/0891 take precedence)}
- G02B 5/285: {comprising deposited thin solid films (G02B5/281 - G02B5/289 take precedence; multilayered film filters for fibre optic multiplexing G02B6/29361)}
- G02B 5/32: Holograms used as optical elements
- G03H 1/0011: {for security or authentication (holograms on information-bearing cards B42D25/328; testing papers with holograms G07D7/0032)}
- G03H 1/0256: {having specific functional layer}
- B32B 2425/00: Cards, e.g. identity cards, credit cards
- B32B 2551/00: Optical elements
- B42D 2033/20
- B42D 2035/24
- D21H 21/44: Latent security elements, i.e. detectable or becoming apparent only by use of special verification or tampering devices or methods
- D21H 21/48: Elements suited for physical verification, e.g. by irradiation
- G03H 1/0244: {Surface relief holograms (replicating hologram without interference recording G03H1/0276)}
- G03H 1/26: Processes or apparatus specially adapted to produce multiple {sub-} holograms or to obtain images from them, e.g. multicolour technique
- G03H 2001/0016: {Covert holograms or holobjects requiring additional knowledge to be perceived, e.g. holobject reconstructed only under IR illumination}
- G03H 2001/188: {Demetallisation, i.e. removing the enhancing metallic layer}
- G03H 2210/55: Having particular size, e.g. irresolvable by the eye
- G03H 2250/10: arranged to be transferred onto a carrier body
- G03H 2270/12: Fibrous, e.g. paper, textile
- G03H 2270/24: Having particular size, e.g. microscopic
- Y10T 156/10: Methods of surface bonding and/or assembly therefor
- G02B: OPTICAL ELEMENTS, SYSTEMS OR APPARATUS
- B32B: LAYERED PRODUCTS, i.e. PRODUCTS BUILT-UP OF STRATA OF FLAT OR NON-FLAT, e.g. CELLULAR OR HONEYCOMB, FORM
- B42D: BOOKS; BOOK COVERS; LOOSE LEAVES; PRINTED MATTER CHARACTERISED BY IDENTIFICATION OR SECURITY FEATURES; PRINTED MATTER OF SPECIAL FORMAT OR STYLE NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; DEVICES FOR USE THEREWITH AND NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; MOVABLE-STRIP WRITING OR READING APPARATUS
- C09J: ADHESIVES; NON-MECHANICAL ASPECTS OF ADHESIVE PROCESSES IN GENERAL; ADHESIVE PROCESSES NOT PROVIDED FOR ELSEWHERE; USE OF MATERIALS AS ADHESIVES (preparation of glue or gelatine C09H)
- D21H: PULP COMPOSITIONS; PREPARATION THEREOF NOT COVERED BY SUBCLASSES D21C OR D21D; IMPREGNATING OR COATING OF PAPER; TREATMENT OF FINISHED PAPER NOT COVERED BY CLASS B31 OR SUBCLASS D21G; PAPER NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
- G03H: HOLOGRAPHIC PROCESSES OR APPARATUS (holograms, e.g. point holograms, used as ordinary optical elements G02B5/32; producing stereoscopic or other three-dimensional effects G02B30/00; diffraction-grating systems G02B27/44; systems using moiré fringes G02B27/60; optical logic elements G02F3/00; stereo-photography G03B35/00; photosensitive materials or processes for photographic purposes G03C; {stereo-photographic or similar processes G03C9/00}; apparatus for processing exposed photographic materials G03D; analogue computers performing mathematical operations with the aid of optical elements G06E3/00; authentication by radiation, of concealed information carried by holograms or diffraction gratings G06K19/16; holographic storage G11B7/0065, G11C13/04; {stereoscopic or other three dimensional effects in television systems H04N13/00})
- Y10T: TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER US CLASSIFICATION

## Abstract

An optical device is formed by hot stamping a demetallized hologram to an optically variable foil or to a coating of optically variable ink. In another embodiment a hologram is hot stamped to a banknote or document printed with a color-shifting ink.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A method of manufacturing a device for providing an image having an optically variable feature, comprising:
a) providing a diffractive structure for forming at least a portion of the image;
b) providing an optically variable structure separate from the diffractive structure, for providing the optically variable feature to the image;
c) covering the diffractive structure or the optically variable structure with an adhesive, wherein the adhesive comprises energy activated binder; and
d) after steps (a)-(c), activating the adhesive and coupling the diffractive structure and optically variable structure together in a predetermined mutual arrangement, wherein the energy activated binder forms an adhesive layer.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The method as defined in claim 1 wherein step (a) comprises providing a reflector layer to the diffractive structure.

### Claim 3 (depends on 2)

The method as defined in claim 2, wherein the reflector layer is partially demetallized.

### Claim 4 (depends on 2)

The method as defined in claim 2, wherein the reflector layer is semi-transparent.

### Claim 5 (depends on 2)

The method as defined in claim 2, wherein the reflector layer is segmented so that the reflector layer whereby having one or more light transmissive windows, so that the optically variable structure is visible through said windows.

### Claim 6 (depends on 1)

The method as defined in claim 1, wherein the diffractive structure comprises a patterned opaque coating so that the diffractive structure has opaque regions for preventing light incident on the diffractive structure from propagating through to the optically variable structure via the adhesive layer, and light transmissive regions for allowing light incident on the diffractive structure to propagate through to the optically variable structure via the adhesive layer.

### Claim 7 (depends on 1)

The method as defined in claim 1, wherein the diffractive structure comprises one of: a hologram, a grating structure, a layer with varied index of refraction, a light transmissive dielectric coating with refractive flakes therein or thereon, a corner cube reflector, a zero order diffraction structure, a moiré pattern, or a light interference pattern based on microstructures having dimensions of from about 0.1 μm to about 10 μm.

### Claim 8 (depends on 1)

The method as defined in claim 1, wherein the diffractive structure comprises a relief pattern and a high refraction index layer made of a material having the index of refraction no less than 1.65.

### Claim 9 (depends on 1)

The method as defined in claim 1 wherein the optically variable structure provided in step (b) is a multilayer optical interference film comprising a reflector layer, an absorber layer, and a dielectric layer between the reflector and absorber layers.

### Claim 10 (depends on 1)

The method as defined in claim 1 wherein the optically variable structure is a multilayer optical interference film comprising a first and second absorber layers, and a dielectric layer therebetween.

### Claim 11 (depends on 1)

The method as defined in claim 1 wherein the optically variable structure is a multilayer optical interference film comprising alternating low and high refraction index layers, having the index of refraction for individual layers ranging from 1.3 to 2.3.

### Claim 12 (depends on 1)

The method as defined in claim 1 wherein the optically variable structure comprises a coating with a plurality of multilayer optical interference flakes therein or thereon.

### Claim 13 (depends on 1)

The method as defined in claim 1, wherein step (b) comprises printing optically variable ink on a substrate.

### Claim 14 (depends on 1)

The method as defined in claim 1 wherein step (b) includes providing a laser ablated image to the optically variable structure.

### Claim 15 (depends on 1)

The method as defined in claim 1 wherein the adhesive layer comprises an adhesive material and covert flakes therein or thereon.

### Claim 16 (depends on 1)

The method as defined in claim 1 wherein the energy activated binder is activated by one of: hot stamping, heat, ultraviolet light, heat, or a beam of electrons.

### Claim 17 (depends on 1)

The method as defined in claim 1, wherein the energy activated binder is selected from the group of: polymethacrylate, polyacrylate, polyamide, nitrocellulose, alkyd resin, polyvinyl alcohol, polyvinyl acetate, or polyurethane.

### Claim 18 (depends on 1)

The method as defined in claim 1 comprising: providing a substrate having a first side supporting the diffractive structure, wherein the first side of the substrate has a region wherein the diffractive structure is therein or thereon; and another region wherein the diffractive structure is absent, and the adhesive layer is adjoined to the first side of the substrate; so that the optically variable structure is adhesively bound solely to the substrate and coupled to the diffractive structure by the surrounding adhesive.

### Claim 19 (depends on 1)

The method as defined in claim 1, wherein the thickness of the adhesive layer is in the range of from 3 μm to 10 μm.

### Claim 20 (depends on 10)

The method as defined in claim 10, wherein the reflector layer is a segmented layer.

### Claim 21 (depends on 1)

A device manufactured by the method defined in claim 1.

### Claim 22

A method for forming a device comprising the steps of:
a) providing a substrate with an optically variable coating thereon;
b) covering the optically variable coating with an adhesive;
c) providing a hologram adjacent to the adhesive; and
d) hot stamping the hologram and substrate together by heating the adhesive while applying pressure to the hologram and substrate.

### Claim 23 (depends on 22)

A method as defined in claim 22, comprising step (e) coating the hologram with an optically variable ink.

### Claim 24 (depends on 1)

A device manufactured by the method defined in claim 1.