Indentification of articles using liquid crystal identity cards
AssigneeSecuricard Systems Limited
InventorsLucy A. Boutaleb, Aboubekr Boutaleb, Tibor T. Kerekess
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Abstract
An identification article, especially an identity document, has a marked element (8), e.g. a photograph covered by a mask (2) which is normally opaque but which, upon application of a suitable electric field changes to an at least translucent state. Preferably the mask (2) complies a liquid crystal layer (16) sandwiched between two plates (5 and 7) of which one plate is at least translucent.
Claims6
An identity system comprising a plurality of flat laminated identity cards and a viewer therefor, each said identity card comprising an element bearing markings and a mask permanently overlying said markings and opaque so as to block said markings from view, the mask being of a material which, upon the application of a suitable electric field, changes from the opaque state to an energized state whereby the said markings can be viewed, and said viewer comprising a spaced pair of plate electrodes, means for supporting any of said identity cards between said electrodes, and means for applying an electrical field to the electrodes to energize the mask of said card to change from its opaque to its energized state, one at least of said electrodes being in the energized state whereby the revealed markings in the identity card can be viewed through said electrode.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.