Embossed data carrier

#The invention concerns a data carrier such as a security, banknote, identity card or similar which features embossing in a predefined area.

#It has long been usual to give securities, such as shares for example, an embossing. Such an embossing introduced into the paper is usually described as blind embossing. Common principles have even been drawn up by the German securities exchanges for the printing of securities (“stock exchange guidelines”) which stipulate certain basic requirements for the form and execution of such embossings. For example, according to these stock exchange guidelines the embossing must be positioned in a particular area of the security. Since these embossings also serve as an anti-forgery feature, according to the stock exchange guidelines they must not simply take the form of a letter, but must involve a pattern as complex as possible, preferably using guilloches in order to make forgery more difficult.

#The advantage of such blind embossing lies in the simplicity of checking, which can be carried out by purely tactile means without additional aids. In addition, special three-dimensional optical impressions are produced on viewing the embossing due to light/shade effects. However, the perceptibility of the embossing is greatly limited by diffuse or poor lighting.

#FIG. 1 shows a sketch of a data carrier in accordance with the invention,

#FIG. 2 shows a cross-section through the data carrier in accordance with the invention along A-B in FIG. 1

#FIG. 3 shows a sketch of an embossing in accordance with the invention, in plan view,

#FIG. 1 shows a data carrier 1 in accordance with the invention, in this case a banknote. Normally it consists of paper which is manufactured of cotton fibres and/or synthetic fibres. According to the invention, this banknote features an embossed area 2. This embossed area 2 can, in addition, feature one or more optically-variable coatings which can be applied to the banknote before or after the embossing process.

#FIG. 2 shows a section through the embossing 2 along A-B. According to this, the embossing 2 consists of an inclined plane 3. The embossing height profile along the arrow 4 follows a straight line. However, it can also display another form. Preferably, however, the embossing height profile can be described by a simple mathematical function.

#FIG. 3 shows an embossing 5 in plan view which has the form of a bar. This embossing 5 consists of four directly adjoining partial areas 6, 7, 8, 9, whereby the partial areas 6, 7, 8 have the form of an inclined plane and are arranged next to one another. Analogously to FIG. 2, the arrows indicate the direction in which the height of the embossing rises. This shows that the inclined planes of the partial areas 6, 7 respectively 7 and 8 are arranged contrary to one another. In contrast, the partial area 9 is not embossed in the form of an inclined plane, but displays a constant embossing height.