# US 7,611,168 B2 · Security document and security element for a security document

> Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt

- Number: US 7,611,168 B2
- Document ID: US7611168B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 10/504,816
- Filed: 2003-02-19
- Published: 2005-07-14
- Granted: 2009-11-03
- Earliest claimed: 2002-02-22
- Assignees: Giesecke & Devrient GmbH
- Inventors: Manfred Heim
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US7611168B2

## CPC

- B42D 25/29: Securities; Bank notes
- B42D 25/324: Reliefs
- B42D 25/328: Diffraction gratings; Holograms
- B42D 25/351: Translucent or partly translucent parts, e.g. windows
- B42D 25/355: Security threads
- B42D 25/36: comprising special materials
- G03H 1/0256: {having specific functional layer}
- G03H 2240/54: Refractive index
- G03H 2250/36: Conform enhancement layer
- 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
- 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})

## Abstract

Security element 2, 4 to be embedded in or applied to a security document so that it is visually recognizable from both sides of security document 1 is of multilayer construction and includes interference element I with a color shift effect and diffraction structures 8. Depending on the arrangement of the layers and existing diffraction structures 8 on transparent substrate S the color shift effect and/or the diffractive effects are perceptible from one or both sides of security element 2, 4. The security element is suitable in particular as two-sided windowed thread 4 and as label or transfer element 2 over hole 3.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A security document, or semifinished product for producing the security document, comprising:
a substrate with first and second opposing substrate surfaces; and
a multilayer security element that is so connected with the substrate that it is visually recognizable at least from one of the two substrate surfaces, wherein the security element includes a multilayer interference element producing a color shift effect and a layer with diffraction structures that at least partly overlaps the interference element wherein the security element is semitransparent, the interference element has gaps in at least one absorber layer, and the diffraction structures directly adjoin the interference element;
wherein an effect caused by at least one of the diffraction structures and a color shift effect produced by the interference element is visually recognizable from both sides of the security element depending on the way of viewing the security element;
and wherein the gaps are only present in at least one of the absorber layers.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

A security document or semifinished product according to claim 1, wherein the security element is applied to one of the two substrate surfaces and spans a hole or a transparent area in the substrate.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

A security document or semifinished product according to claim 1, wherein the security element is at least partly embedded in the substrate and spans a hole or a transparent area in the substrate.

### Claim 4 (depends on 3)

A security document or semifinished product according to claim 3, wherein the security element is so embedded in the substrate that it is visually recognizable in first areas of the substrate on the first substrate surface and optionally additionally in the second areas of the substrate different from the first areas on the second substrate surface.

### Claim 5 (depends on 3)

A security document or semifinished product according to claim 3, wherein the security element is a security thread.

### Claim 6 (depends on 1)

A security document or semifinished product according to claim 1, wherein the interference element is present on a transparent plastic substrate.

### Claim 7 (depends on 6)

A security document or semifinished product according to claim 6, wherein the plastic substrate is colored.

### Claim 8 (depends on 6)

A security document or semifinished product according to claim 6, wherein the plastic substrate has the diffraction structures.

### Claim 9 (depends on 1)

A security document or semifinished product according to claim 1, wherein the interference element includes a first absorber layer, a dielectric layer adjoining and overlying the first absorber layer and a second absorber layer adjoining and overlying the dielectric layer.

### Claim 10 (depends on 1)

A security document or semifinished product according to claim 1, wherein the interference element includes at least three adjacent, mutually overlying dielectric layers having alternately a high and a low refractive index.

### Claim 11 (depends on 1)

A security document or semifinished product according to claim 1, wherein the layers constituting the interference element are vapor-deposited.

### Claim 12 (depends on 1)

A security document or semifinished product according to claim 1, wherein the gaps are in the form of signs, patterns or encodings.

### Claim 13 (depends on 12)

The security document or semifinished product of claim 12, wherein said gaps are present only in one of the layers of the interference element.

### Claim 14 (depends on 1)

A security document or semifinished product according to claim 1, wherein the diffraction structures are present in a separate layer.

### Claim 15 (depends on 1)

A security document or semifinished product according to claim 1, wherein the diffraction structures include an embossed relief pattern.

### Claim 16 (depends on 1)

A security document or semifinished product according to claim 1, wherein an effect caused by the diffraction structures is visually recognizable from at least one of the sides of the security element depending on the way of viewing the security element.

### Claim 17 (depends on 1)

A security document or semifinished product according to claim 1, wherein the effect caused by at least one of the diffraction structures and the color shift effect produced by the interference element are of identical design from both sides of the security element depending on the way of viewing the security element.

### Claim 18 (depends on 1)

Use of the security document or semifinished product according to claim 1 for protecting products.

### Claim 19 (depends on 1)

The security document or semifinished product of claim 1, comprising paper of value.

### Claim 20 (depends on 19)

The security document or semifinished product of claim 19 wherein said paper of value is a bank note.

### Claim 21 (depends on 1)

A security document or semifinished product according to claim 1, wherein the interference element has a transparency of under 90 percent.

### Claim 22 (depends on 21)

A security document or semifinished product according to claim 21, wherein the interference element has a transparency of between 80 percent and 20 percent.

### Claim 23

A security element to be embedded in or applied to a security document wherein the security element includes a multilayer interference element producing a color shift effect and a layer with diffraction structures that at least partly overlaps the interference element, characterized in that the security element is semitransparent, the interference element has gaps in at least one absorber layer, and the diffraction structures directly adjoin the interference element,
wherein an effect caused by at least one of the diffraction structures and a color shift effect produced by the overlying interference element are visually recognizable from both sides of the security element depending on the way of viewing the security element;
and wherein the gaps are only present in at least one of the absorber layers.

### Claim 24 (depends on 23)

A security element according to claim 23, wherein the interference element is present on a transparent plastic substrate.

### Claim 25 (depends on 24)

A security element according to claim 24, wherein the layers constituting the interference element are vapor-deposited.

### Claim 26 (depends on 24)

A security element according to claim 24, wherein the plastic substrate has the diffraction structures.

### Claim 27 (depends on 23)

A security element according to claim 23, wherein the interference element includes a first absorber layer, a dielectric layer adjoining and overlying the first absorber layer and a second absorber layer adjoining and overlying the dielectric layer.

### Claim 28 (depends on 23)

A security element according to claim 23, wherein the interference layer includes at least three adjacent, mutually overlying dielectric layers having alternately a high and a low refractive index.

### Claim 29 (depends on 23)

A security element according to claim 23, wherein the gaps are in the form of signs, patterns or encodings.

### Claim 30 (depends on 29)

The security element of claim 29 wherein said gaps are present only in one of the layers of the interference element.

### Claim 31 (depends on 23)

A security element according to claim 23, wherein the diffraction structures are present in a separate layer.

### Claim 32 (depends on 23)

A security element according to claim 23, wherein the diffraction structures include an embossed relief pattern.

### Claim 33 (depends on 23)

A security element according to claim 23 in the form of a security thread to be embedded in a security document.

### Claim 34 (depends on 23)

A security element according to claim 23 as a label or patch to be applied to a security document.

### Claim 35 (depends on 23)

A security element according to claim 23 as a transfer element to be applied to a security document by a transfer method.

### Claim 36

Transfer material for applying a security element to a document of value, wherein the transfer material includes the following layer structure:
a multilayer interference element with a color shift effect, and
a layer with diffraction structures that at least partly overlaps the interference element, characterized in that the security element is semitransparent, the interference element has gaps in at least one absorber layer, and the diffraction structures directly adjoin the interference element,
wherein an effect caused by at least one of the diffraction structures and a color shift effect produced by the overlying interference element are visually recognizable from both sides of the security element depending on the way of viewing the security element;
and wherein the gaps are only present in at least one of the absorber layers.

### Claim 37 (depends on 36)

A method for producing a document of value having a security element, characterized in that the layer structure of the transfer material according to claim 36 is transferred to the document of value in certain areas.