# US 8,740,088 B2 · Identification and authentication using liquid crystal material markings

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- Number: US 8,740,088 B2
- Document ID: US8740088B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 12/935,505
- Filed: 2009-04-02
- Published: 2011-05-05
- Granted: 2014-06-03
- Earliest claimed: 2008-04-02
- Assignees: Sicpa Holding SA
- Applicants: Xavier Marguerettaz; Frédéric Gremaud; Aurélien Commeureuc; Vickie Aboutanos; Thomas Tiller; Olivier Rozumek
- Inventors: Xavier Marguerettaz; Frédéric Gremaud; Aurélien Commeureuc; Vickie Aboutanos; Thomas Tiller; Olivier Rozumek
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US8740088B2

## CPC

- B42D 25/364: Liquid crystals
- B41M 7/0081: {using electromagnetic radiation or waves, e.g. ultraviolet radiation, electron beams}
- B41M 7/009: {using thermal means, e.g. infrared radiation, heat}
- B42D 25/29: Securities; Bank notes
- C09K 19/3852: {Poly(meth)acrylate derivatives}
- C09K 19/3857: {containing at least one asymmetric carbon atom}
- C09K 19/54: Additives having no specific mesophase {characterised by their chemical composition}
- C09K 19/586: {Optically active dopants; chiral dopants}
- C09K 19/588: {Heterocyclic compounds}
- G06K 19/06009: {with optically detectable marking (G06K19/063, G06K19/08 take precedence)}
- G06K 19/0614: {the marking being selective to wavelength, e.g. color barcode or barcodes only visible under UV or IR (methods or arrangements for sensing record carriers using a selected wavelength, see G06K7/12)}
- G07D 7/12: Visible light, infrared or ultraviolet radiation
- G09F 3/0294: {where the change is not permanent, e.g. labels only readable under a special light, temperature indicating labels and the like}
- G09F 3/0297: {including a machine-readable marking, e.g. a bar code (digitally marked record carriers in general G06K19/00)}
- B42D 2033/26
- B42D 2035/34
- C09K 2019/0448: {the end chain group being a polymerizable end group, e.g. -Sp-P or acrylate}
- C09K 2219/03: in the form of films, e.g. films after polymerisation of LC precursor
- 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
- B41M: PRINTING, DUPLICATING, MARKING, OR COPYING PROCESSES; COLOUR PRINTING, (correction of typographical errors B41J; processes for applying transfer pictures or the like B44C1/16; fluid media for correction of typographical errors by coating C09D10/00; printing textiles D06P)
- C09K: MATERIALS FOR MISCELLANEOUS APPLICATIONS, NOT PROVIDED FOR ELSEWHERE
- G06K: GRAPHICAL DATA READING (image or video recognition or understanding G06V); PRESENTATION OF DATA; RECORD CARRIERS; HANDLING RECORD CARRIERS
- G07D: HANDLING OF COINS OR VALUABLE PAPERS, e.g. TESTING, SORTING BY DENOMINATIONS, COUNTING, DISPENSING, CHANGING OR DEPOSITING
- G09F: DISPLAYING; ADVERTISING; SIGNS; LABELS OR NAME-PLATES; SEALS

## Abstract

The present invention relates to a marking of polymeric liquid crystal material having determined optical characteristics allowing its authentication and reading by a machine and its authentication by the human eye. The marking is applied onto an item, good or article by a variable information printing process. The marking is in the form of indicia representing a unique code which allows for an easy authentication by the human eye and a secure tracking and tracing of the marked item, good or article throughout its life cycle.

## Claims

### Claim 1

Marking for an item or article, said marking comprising polymeric liquid crystal material having determined optical characteristics which allow for authentication of the marking and reading by a machine, as well as authentication of the marking by the human eye, the marking being produced by applying a liquid crystal precursor composition in liquid form on a substrate by a variable information printing process to have the form of indicia representing a unique code allowing identification of the marking, wherein said indicia representing a unique code is selected from 1-dimensional barcodes, stacked 1-dimensional barcodes, and 2-dimensional barcodes, and wherein the optical characteristics of the indicia are detectable against a background, wherein the background is the substrate.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

Marking according to claim 1, wherein the polymeric liquid crystal material has a reflection band in the UV spectrum corresponding to the 200 to 400 nm wavelength range.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

Marking according to claim 1, wherein the polymeric liquid crystal material has a reflection band in the visible spectrum corresponding to the 400 to 700 nm wavelength range.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

Marking according to claim 1, wherein the polymeric liquid crystal material has a reflection band in the infrared spectrum corresponding to the 700 to 2500 nm wavelength range.

### Claim 5 (depends on 4)

Marking according to claim 4, wherein the polymeric liquid crystal material has a reflection band in the infrared spectrum corresponding to the 700 to 1100 nm wavelength range.

### Claim 6 (depends on 1)

Marking according to claim 1, wherein said polymeric liquid crystal material comprises further security materials, selected from inorganic luminescent compounds, organic luminescent compounds, IR-absorbers, magnetic materials, and forensic markers, and combinations thereof.

### Claim 7 (depends on 1)

Marking according to claim 1, wherein the substrate is a patterned substrate, comprising at least two different surface areas, each selected from white surface areas, black surface areas, colored surface areas, reflecting surface areas, transparent surface areas, and combinations thereof.

### Claim 8 (depends on 1)

Marking according to claim 1, wherein the substrate carries at least one security element selected from inorganic luminescent compounds, organic luminescent compounds, IR-absorbers, magnetic materials, forensic markers, and combinations thereof.

### Claim 9 (depends on 1)

Marking according to claim 1, wherein the polymeric liquid crystal material is present in the form of pigment flakes comprised in a suitable binder, wherein the binder is chosen from vinylic resins, acrylic resins, styrene-maleic anhydride copolymer resins, polyacetal resins, polyester resins, fatty acid modified polyester resins, and mixtures thereof.

### Claim 10 (depends on 1)

Marking according to claim 1, wherein the variable information printing process is selected from continuous ink-jet printing and drop-on-demand ink-jet printing.

### Claim 11 (depends on 1)

Item or article including at least one marking according to claim 1.

### Claim 12 (depends on 1)

Method for identifying an item or article including at least one marking according to claim 1, said method comprising the steps of a) providing an item or article including the marking; b) illuminating the marking on said article or item with at least one quality of light from at least one light source; c) reading the indicia represented by the marking, deriving corresponding information; d) correlating the information retrieved from the indicia of the marking with information stored in a database; e) obtaining confirmation or denial concerning identity of the item or article.

### Claim 13 (depends on 12)

Method according to claim 12, wherein the indicia are read with the help of an electro-optic image sensor array.

### Claim 14 (depends on 13)

Method according to claim 13, wherein said item or article is chosen from value documents, banknotes, passports, identity documents, driving licenses, official permissions, access documents, stamps, tax stamps and banderoles, transportation tickets, event tickets, labels, foils, packaging, spare parts, and consumer goods.

### Claim 15 (depends on 12)

Method according to claim 12, wherein information about the item or article is stored in the database.

### Claim 16 (depends on 15)

Method according to claim 15, wherein said item or article is chosen from value documents, banknotes, passports, identity documents, driving licenses, official permissions, access documents, stamps, tax stamps and banderoles, transportation tickets, event tickets, labels, foils, packaging, spare parts, and consumer goods.

### Claim 17 (depends on 12)

Method according to claim 12, wherein said item or article is chosen from value documents, banknotes, passports, identity documents, driving licenses, official permissions, access documents, stamps, tax stamps and banderoles, transportation tickets, event tickets, labels, foils, packaging, spare parts, and consumer goods.

### Claim 18 (depends on 1)

Method for secure tracking or tracing of an item or article including at least one marking according to claim 1, comprising the first commutable steps of a) providing the item or article with the marking; b) storing information related to the marked item or article in a database; and the second commutable steps of c) authenticating the item or article; and d) identifying the item or article, using the information stored in the database.

### Claim 19 (depends on 18)

Method according to claim 18, wherein said item or article is chosen from value documents, banknotes, passports, identity documents, driving licenses, official permissions, access documents, stamps, tax stamps and banderoles, transportation tickets, event tickets, labels, foils, packaging, spare parts, and consumer goods.

### Claim 20 (depends on 18)

Method according to claim 18 further including a step of e) updating the data base with new information elements related to the item or article.

### Claim 21 (depends on 1)

Marking according to claim 1, wherein the polymeric liquid crystal material comprises a cholesteric liquid crystal material.

### Claim 22 (depends on 21)

Item or article including at least one marking according to claim 21.

### Claim 23 (depends on 22)

Item or article according to claim 22, wherein the substrate includes a surface of the article or substrate.

### Claim 24 (depends on 22)

Item or article according to claim 22, wherein the substrate includes a surface of a label applied to a surface of the item or article.