Abstract:
An identification assembly for an identity document ( 10 ) includes a substrate ( 12 ) with a substantially planar configuration, and an adjacent surface ( 13, 14 ) hingeably attached to the substrate ( 12 ) and provided adjacent to the substrate ( 12 ). The substrate ( 12 ) includes at least two image areas ( 18, 20 ), a first image area ( 18 ) having a first image ( 19 ), and wherein the substrate includes a second image area ( 20 ) including a second laser produced image ( 21 ), and a third image ( 22 ) corresponding to the second image ( 21 ) is provided through the second image area ( 20 ) onto the adjacent surface ( 13, 14 ), the third image ( 22 ) being visible for a user by hinging the substrate away from the adjacent surface ( 14 ).

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
       [0001]    The present invention relates to an identification assembly for an identity document comprising a substrate with a substantially planar configuration, and an adjacent surface hingeably attached to the substrate and provided adjacent to the substrate, wherein the substrate comprises at least two image areas, a first image area having a first image. 
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    In general, identity documents such as passports having a substrate which comprises two image areas, having in each of these image areas a laser engraved image corresponding to the holder of the identity document, are known in the art. 
         [0003]    In FR2975945, an identity document is shown, wherein the identity document comprises two image areas, having a first laser engraved image of a person in a first area, while a second image area is provided with a transparent window in which a second image of the person is laser engraved. Additionally, the window is provided with a security feature of variable data of the ID holder, which extends over said window. The image in the window is visible from front and rear sides of the identity document. Moreover, an holographic mark is disposed in the transparent area to provide an extra security feature making its fraudulent use and reproduction more difficult. 
         [0004]    A Swedish passport comprising the features of the preamble of claim  1  is known in the art forming an identity document having a transparent window. This passport comprises a page with the holder data and images, hereafter referred as a holder page, having a first and a second image in a same plane in a polycarbonate substrate. In addition, these images are repeated as a perforation pattern in another area of the substrate. Moreover, the Swedish passport further comprises a transparent window having a lens structure, allowing an inspecting person to inspect any underlying adjacent page of the passport document including an image having invisible security data that can be viewed via the lens structure of the window. Viewing the underlying image through the lens allows viewing invisible data information by the inspecting person. 
         [0005]    Moreover, in EP 1516749 an identity document is disclosed comprising a cover, a personalized sheet comprising a laser personalization item such as a picture of the identification holder and a number of personalized data, and a number of inner pages comprising a laser-produced identification number. The cover, the personalized sheet and the inner pages are hingeably connected at a folding seam area. 
         [0006]    The known security documents have as a disadvantage that the holder pages can be subjected to complete replacement or change-out of said page, without leaving easily detectable traces of such unauthorised replacement of the original holder page, due to the fact that all the features presented in the holder page, are exchanged in their entirely. 
         [0007]    Moreover, the prior art identity documents do not present any features that allow the inspecting person an easy way of verifying the authenticity of the holder page in the presented document without making an additional inspection of said document by means of tilting the identity document in such a way that the data presented in the holographic mark can be seen, or putting the identity document against a light in order to check that the holographic mark presented is the original holographic mark or that the other identity features presented are authentic. 
         [0008]    It is therefore an object of the present invention to at least overcome one of the above mentioned disadvantages of the prior art. It is also an object of the present invention is to provide an identification assembly for an identity document that makes the unauthorised or fraudulent use or replacement of the holder page more difficult by providing a direct link between the holder page and different parts of the identity document. 
         [0009]    It is also an object of the present invention to provide an identity document in which the correspondence between the holder page and the identity document can be easily detected by an inspecting person. 
         [0010]    It is furthermore an objective of the present invention to provide a method of manufacturing an identity document in which the authenticity between a holder page and the document can easily be established. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0011]    These objects are achieved by providing an identity document of the type described above wherein the substrate comprises a second image area comprising a second laser produced image, and wherein a third image corresponding to the second image is provided through the second image area onto the adjacent surface, the third image being visible for a user by hinging the substrate away from the adjacent surface. 
         [0012]    It should be noted that the second laser produced image can be engraved, perforated or ablated in the second image area of the substrate. 
         [0013]    By having the third image applied onto the adjacent surface through the second image area in the substrate, a further identification feature is provided which makes it more difficult to exchange the substrate part from the identity document and at the same time allows easier inspection by a user and/or an inspecting person, without the need of putting the identity document against a light, because by simply lifting the substrate in order to inspect the third image in the underlying or overlying adjacent surface, the authenticity of the identification document can be examined in an easy and reliable manner. In this way, unauthorised exchange of the holder page becomes more difficult than if only images were provided onto the holder page in the identity document. 
         [0014]    In an embodiment of the invention, the substrate comprises a plastic material, preferably polycarbonate, wherein the first image area is opaque and the second image area is transparent. 
         [0015]    The substrate comprises two different areas which are easily distinguishable, due to the fact that one of the areas is opaque and the other area is transparent. The opaque area may comprise a first image such as a two-dimensional or three-dimensional portrait. The transparent window comprises a second image which is superposed on the underlying third image that is formed by projection through the transparent window. This provides an easy recognition of the correspondence of the second and third image and of the first and second image without the need of further action by the user or inspecting person, by means of the transparent window, which is immediately recognizable and easy to teach to anyone verifying identity documents. 
         [0016]    It has been found that by having the second image area being transparent, the infrared light transmission through said area is about 90-94%, while the about 6-10% of the infrared light will be reflected off from the front surface of the second image area or from the inside of the back surface of the second image area. 
         [0017]    Moreover, the second image area is made of transparent material, being said material the same as the rest of the substrate, while the rest of the substrate or at least the second image area is opaque. The infrared transmittance of the transparent second image area near-infrared energy is in the region between 700-2800 nm. This provides the possibility to laser provide underlying third image through the transparent window, wherein the second image area is located. It should be noted that, the opaque first image area may not allow transmittance of infrared light through it. 
         [0018]    According to the invention, the second image area comprises a laser removable material such as a metal layer. 
         [0019]    In this way, the fraudulent duplication of the identity document becomes even more difficult, and at the same time, this can make very easy to recognize the laser engraved image due to the fact that the laser removable material will be only removed in the point where the laser has been applied, leaving a pattern in the second image area easily recognizable by simple visual inspection. This can be verified by the bare eye and does not require any special lighting. 
         [0020]    The second laser engraved image may correspond to the first image. Moreover, the first image could be a portrait of a human face. 
         [0021]    In an embodiment of the present invention, the adjacent surface comprises a laser sensitive material which produces a visible pattern when irradiated by a laser. It should be noted that the laser sensitive material may comprise an ink. 
         [0022]    As a result, the quality of the third image formed onto the adjacent surface is increased. Moreover, the risk of the unique characteristics of the image being lost through specific absorption particulars of the adjacent surface or excess energy absorption resulting in formation of gaseous products are substantially reduced. 
         [0023]    According to an embodiment, the second laser produced image is formed by laser engraving and the amount of the laser energy absorbed by the adjacent surface is at least 10 times higher than the amount of laser energy absorbed in the second image area. Alternatively, the second laser produced image is formed by laser ablation or perforation and the amount of laser energy absorbed by the adjacent surface is at least 10 times lower than the amount of laser energy absorbed in the second image area. 
         [0024]    The adjacent surface can be over-exposed to the laser energy, by means of absorbing about 90% of the laser energy when laser engraving the third image onto the second image are and simultaneously on the underlying adjacent surface. Alternatively, the adjacent surface can be under exposed to the laser energy, by means of absorbing about 10% of the laser energy when laser ablating or perforating the second image area which simultaneously laser engraving the third image onto the adjacent surface. 
         [0025]    In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the second image area may comprise openings that form a defined pattern, e.g. a portrait of a human face or data. 
         [0026]    Advantageously, when the third image is provided through the second image area, the adjacent surface may need to be tuned by implementing the laser sensitive material depending on the intensity to the laser beam. 
         [0027]    In this way, the temperature of the adjacent surface while the third image is engraved remains sufficiently low to avoid heat damage in said adjacent surface, thus preventing blurring burning effects. 
         [0028]    In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the thickness of the substrate comprising plastic material is about 300-900 μm. 
         [0029]    It should be noted that the thickness of the substrate is to be the same over its entire area. 
         [0030]    Furthermore, the invention relates to a method for producing an identification assembly of any of the preceding claims, wherein the method comprises the following steps: 
         [0031]    providing a substrate comprising at least two image areas; 
         [0032]    providing an adjacent surface to said substrate, 
         [0033]    attaching the substrate to the adjacent surface in a hinging manner, 
         [0034]    laser producing a first image in a first image area without laser energy being transferred to the adjacent surface; 
         [0035]    laser producing a second image onto a second image area while allowing part of the laser energy to penetrate through the substrate and to form an image in the adjacent surface. 
         [0036]    In other words, the third image is provided while the second image is laser engraved, so that the adjacent surface is radiated by the laser when engraving the second image, as to create the third image. 
         [0037]    The method according to the invention provides an identity document producing three images in different surfaces in a simple and efficient manner, and being cost effective. Moreover, the third image is used as a further identification feature, which will remain when the substrate page is entirely exchanged for fraudulent use of the identity document. Thus, indicating to the inspecting person that the substrate has been manipulated. 
         [0038]    According to an embodiment the method further comprises providing a laser-sensitive material onto the adjacent surface providing a visible coloration when impinged by laser energy. Examples of such a laser sensitive material will be provided in the detailed description below. 
         [0039]    Furthermore, the method also comprises the fact that the laser energy is adapted as to provide a visible image in the second image area and onto the adjacent surface without pyrolysis gases forming in a third image area, having a negative effect on the image definition and possibly condensing against the holder page thereby reducing the image or image definition. 
         [0040]    In this way, when laser engraving the second image no pyrolysis gases forming onto the third image area, which could damage the substrate and/or the adjacent surface or blur the images formed. 
         [0041]    It has been found that by having an optically variable ink on a black ink layer applied onto the adjacent surface, those inks can be off-set printed and screen printed respectively. These inks can provide an optic variable effect when applied onto the adjacent surface when the third image corresponding to the second image is provided through the second image area of the substrate. In this manner, a simple identification feature, with a positive image is provided which makes it very difficult to exchange the substrate part from the identity document and at the same time allows easy visual inspection by the user and/or an inspecting person. An illustrate example of a black offset ink includes, but is not limited to, the commercially available Sipca black ink number 367022W, while an example of the optically variable ink includes, but is not limited to, the commercially available Luminescence purple to blue Sec+ optically variable SB. 
         [0042]    In summary, it will be seen that the present invention provides a method which offers an identification assembly with improved features allowing easy authentication and verification of an identity document, while preventing fraudulent exchange of any of the parts of said identity document, and improving the link between the identity document parts. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0043]    Other aspects, features and details of the present invention will be readily understood by reference to the following detailed description of preferred embodiments, taken in conjunction with the drawings. 
           [0044]    In the appended drawings: 
           [0045]      FIG. 1  shows diagrammatically an identity document according to the prior art, 
           [0046]      FIG. 2 a    shows diagrammatically an identity document according to the invention, 
           [0047]      FIG. 2 b    shows diagrammatically an identity document according to a further embodiment of the invention, 
           [0048]      FIG. 3  shows a front view of a substrate of the identity document according to the invention including a hinged part, 
           [0049]      FIG. 4  shows a transverse cross section of the substrate showing a second image area and an adjacent surface of  FIG. 3  along the line IV-IV, and 
           [0050]      FIG. 5  shows a transverse cross section of the substrate showing a second image area and an adjacent surface of  FIG. 3  along the line IV-IV of a different embodiment of the identity document according to the present invention. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS 
       [0051]      FIG. 1  shows an identity document, in a form of a book-like construction such as a passport according to the prior art, as indicated by  1  in  FIG. 1 . This construction is composed of a cover  9  in which a number of visa pages  3  are accommodated. A substrate, or so-called holder page  2  made of a relatively stiff, non-deformable polycarbonate material is also included. An example of such a non-deformable polycarbonate material is a polycarbonate material with a thickness between 300 and 900 μm. A number of security features are provided, including a first image area comprising an image  4  of a face of the passport holder, as well as data  6  and a transparent window  7 . In the most adjacent of the visa pages  3 , a mark  8  is provided and which can be seen through the transparent window  7  when the holder page  2  is hinged close as to overlap the visa pages  3 . 
         [0052]    Moreover, a hinged part  5  is fixed to the holder page  2 , as can be seen from  FIG. 1 . This hinged part  5  can be connected both to the cover  9  and to the visa pages  3 . The connecting technique can comprise sewing, stapling, gluing and the like. 
         [0053]      FIG. 2 a    shows an identity document  10  according to the invention, in a form of a book-like construction such as a passport. The passport  10  comprises a substrate  12 , hereafter referred as holder page, made of a relatively stiff, non-deformable material such as polycarbonate material. Moreover, the passport  10  comprises an adjacent surface  13 , hereafter referred as a cover, and subsequent pages  14  on the opposite side of the cover page  13 , hereafter referred as visa pages. A hinged part  16  is fixed to the holder page  12  and can be also connected both to the cover  13  and to the visa pages  14 . 
         [0054]    The holder page  12  comprises a first image area  18  having a first image  19  of a face of the passport holder. The holder page further comprises data  24  corresponding to personal data of passport holder, and a second transparent image area  20  having a second laser produced image  21 . 
         [0055]    It should be noted that the second image area  20  is a transparent area or window and allows viewing of the underlying surface  13  through the window  20 . The cover page  13  as here represented is provided with a third image  22  which overlaps with the second produced image  21  when the holder page  12  is hinged close as to overlap the cover page  13 . The third image  22  is visible to the inspecting person by lifting the holder page  12  away from said cover page  13 , as clearly seen in  FIG. 2   a.    
         [0056]    It will be appreciated that the first image  19  is an image of the face of the passport holder. Thus, it should be noted that the second laser produced image  21  corresponds to the same image as the first image  19 . Moreover, the third image  22  is provided through the second image area  20  as it will be explained in detail here below. 
         [0057]      FIG. 2 b    shows a different embodiment of the invention where the most adjacent surface  14  and subsequent pages are the visa pages. The second image area  20  is the transparent area or window and allows viewing of the underlying surface  14  through the window  20 . The most adjacent of the visa pages  14  is provided with the third image  22  which overlaps with the second image  21  when the holder page  12  is hinged close as to overlap the visa pages  14 . The third image  22  is visible to the inspecting person by lifting the holder page  12  away from said adjacent visa pages  14 , as here illustrated. 
         [0058]    In  FIG. 3  a front view of the holder page of the identity document according to the invention including a hinged part is shown. It can be seen that the second laser produced image  21  is the same image as the first  19 , which correspond to a portrait of a human face. The hinged part  16  is preferably attached to the holder page  12  by fusing or any other suitable technique. It should be understood that the hinged part  16  can be made of a different material than the holder page  12 . 
         [0059]    The second image  21  is located at the transparent area  20  as it can be clearly seen in  FIG. 3 . The transparent area  20  allows the user to partially see the cover page  13 , and that this will prompt the user to check the cover page  13 . 
         [0060]    It should be noted that the second image area  20  could further comprise laser engraved digits and/or letters (not illustrated). Moreover, the holder page  12  could also comprise under a series of cylindrical lenses forming a lens array, a further image based on the first image  19  (not illustrated). 
         [0061]      FIG. 4  illustrates a transverse cross section of the holder page  12  showing the second image area  20  and the adjacent cover page  13  of  FIG. 3  along the line IV-IV, wherein the second image  21  is applied onto the second image area  20  by laser engraving in said area by a laser beam  30 . The laser beam  30  irradiates and passes through the inside of the second image area  20  while providing blackened regions that form the second image  21  is said area  20 . Moreover, the laser beam  30  irradiates the adjacent cover page  13  as to activate a laser sensitive material  26  which is applied on or contained by the adjacent cover page  13 . In this way, the third image  22  in the adjacent visa page  14  is provided. 
         [0062]    When the laser beam  30  irradiates the second image area  20 , a number of lines m lines or dots per cm is engraved as to create the second image  21 . The number of m lines or dots per cm may be between 40 and 600 lines or about 200-250 dots/cm. By laser engraving the second image  21 , the third image  22  is simultaneously engraved onto the adjacent cover page  13 , by the laser beam  30 , upon touching the surface of the adjacent cover page  13  containing the laser sensitive material  26 . This energy is delivered by the laser beam  30  changes the surface of the material  26  under the focal point. The surface of the adjacent cover page  13  and consequently the material  26  may heat up and subsequently vaporize the material  26  in those points where the laser beam  30  irradiates. This is undesired and may lead to the formation of pyrolysis gaseous products. Special laser sensitive material incorporating optically variable silicate or other materials which change their optically effect may be used to create an image corresponding to the third image  22 . An example of the material  26  applied onto one of the surfaces of the second image area  20  of the substrate  12  or alternatively to the adjacent surface  13 ,  14  is an optically variable ink on a black ink layer. 
         [0063]    It should be noted that depending on the nature of the laser sensitive material  26 , the image created when the laser beam  30  irradiates this material will be a single or multicolour coloured imaged, but can also be a positive or negative image. 
         [0064]    Moreover, it will be appreciated that the laser beam  30  irradiates the holder page very efficiently because the laser beam can be designed to deliver energy to the holder page in a manner which converts a high percentage of the light energy into heat. This could lead to gases forming between the lower surface of the second image area  20  and the adjacent visa page  14  where the third image  22  will be provided. In order to avoid such gases from forming, the laser energy is adapted to avoid formation of gases that could difficult the formation of the third image  22 . Additionally, the formulation of the substrate material can be adapted in order to avoid the formation of such gases, by adding a stable (non-flammable) material, such as silicates. 
         [0065]      FIG. 5  illustrates a different embodiment of the identity document according to the present invention wherein the second image area  20  further comprises a laser meltable material  28 , such as a metal layer. The metal layer  28  is melted where the laser beam  30  irradiates the second image area  20 . The melted metal forms into small globules that causes transparency in openings  29  in the metal layer  28 . This provides a further feature on the holder page  12 , for making more difficult the fraudulent used and copy of the passport. 
         [0066]    As it will be appreciated from  FIG. 5 , the metal layer  28  has been partially melted in those parts of the second image area  20  surface into which the laser beam  30  have penetrated said image area  20 . In this way, a pattern is created in a form of an image of the passport holder. This means that the metal layer  28  is selectively melted leaving transparent areas. The resulting image in the second image area  20  can be seen in the transmitted light as a positive or negative half-tone picture. 
         [0067]    The metal layer  28  as seen in  FIG. 5  is positioned in the substrate, crossing the entire area of the second image area  20 . It should be noted that the metal layer  28  can also be provided on the surface of the substrate  12  second image area, thus when the laser beam  30  irradiates the second image area  20 , the metal layer  28  is partially removed in those parts of the surface of the second image area  20  into which the laser beam  30  irradiates. 
         [0068]    In the light of the above, variants will be immediately apparent to those skilled in the art that are obvious in the light of he above description and fall within the scope of the appended claims.