Patent Description:
In the field of valuable documents, identifying and/or secured, particularly identity cards, passports, driving licenses, and bank cards, it is known to place, in or on them, one or more securing elements of different types to protect these documents against counterfeiting, replicating or falsifying.

Valuable documents, identifying documents, and/or security documents, referred to as security documents, comprise personalizing data such as the document owner's name and last name, document number, his/her nationality, place, and date of birth, the document owner's identification number, document date of issue, document validity date, and many other data related to the document type, or distinctive marks. Lasers have been used for many years to personalize documents. Thanks to that, it is possible to make long-lasting and irreversible markings of the document in the form of photolithography or text data, alphanumerical characters, and/or distinctive marks.

For example, from <CIT>, it is known that when personalizing documents, a plastic substrate is blackened using a suitably guided laser beam.

The document <CIT>describes a label which can be inscribed with a laser beam, comprises macroscopic and microscopic inscription.

The document <CIT> describes laser engraving methods and compositions, and articles having laser engraving thereon wherein a composition has laser engraving properties and comprise a host material and an effective amount of a laser enhancing additive. The composition can be used during the manufacture of many articles of manufacture, including identification documents.

From <CIT>, it is known that an identification, security or value document comprises a substantially flat data carrier extending in two main dimensions and one secondary dimension.

From <CIT>, it is known that a method involves printing a part (IMG1) of pattern i.e. guilloche pattern, on a layer by offset printing process. Another part (IMG2) of pattern is printed on another layer by using a laser printing process, where the latter part of the pattern does not completely cover the former part of the pattern.

However, documents and methods as in the invention now to be described are neither disclosed nor suggested in these documents.

The problem addressed by the present invention is to make the personalizing data extra protection of a security document, being simultaneously recognizable, both visually and tactilely, but simultaneously being difficult to produce and falsify.

The purpose of the present invention is to make that personalizing data located on and/or within a security document is extra protection of the security document, preferably of the first and second order, thus making it difficult both to remake the original documents as well as to produce a totally false one.

Thus, the aim of the invention is to place a separate identifying entry into the trace of at least one mark of personalizing data to increase the safety of these documents against scanning, replicating by xerography, and falsifying.

This aim has been achieved by a securing element, a security document, and a method for manufacturing the security document of the invention.

This invention relates to a securing element as defined in claim <NUM>.

The mark of the second personalized marking is one of the following: a letter, a numeral, a geometrical shape, a distinctive mark, or a mark of any shape.

Preferably, the mark of the second personalized marking may be placed in any arbitrary location on the surface of the mark of the first personalized marking.

If there is more than one mark, then marks of the second personalized marking may constitute, into the trace of the mark of the first personalized marking, an arrangement and/or a vertical and/or horizontal entry and/or an entry of such a shape that is consistent with the shape of the mark of the first personalized marking in which it is placed.

The same single mark of the second personalized marking may reoccur into the trace of at least two marks of the first personalized marking, or a single different mark of the second personalized marking is placed into the trace of each of the at least two marks of the first personalized marking.

Optionally, the same marks of the second personalized marking reoccur into the trace of at least two marks of the first personalized marking in the same or different order and/or in the same or different arrangement and/or entry. Also, different marks of the second personalized marking may be placed into the trace of at least two marks of the first personalized marking in the same or different arrangement and/or entry.

Preferably, a single arbitrary mark of the second personalized marking is placed in the mark of the first personalized marking, which, together with the remaining single arbitrary marks of the second personalized marking placed in other selected marks of the first personalized marking, creates the first identification entry. However, it is also possible that the marks of the second personalized marking, which are collectively constituting the first identification entry, are placed in arbitrarily selected marks amongst all the marks of the first personalized marking. Alternatively, it also is possible to place the marks of the second personalized marking that collectively make the first identification entry within all the marks of the first personalized marking. Preferably, the first identification entry is created by all marks of the second personalized marking, which are arranged in arbitrarily selected marks amongst all the marks of the first personalized marking. Optionally, the marks of the second personalized marking, which are collectively constituting the first identification entry, are placed in a single arbitrarily selected mark amongst all the marks of the first personalized marking. The marks of the second personalized marking are the same, different marks, or any arbitrary combination thereof.

Preferably, the first identification entry is created by at least one mark of the second personalized marking placed in one and/or many marks of the first personalized marking being a repetition of the first personalized marking entirely or partially. Also, the first identification entry is created by marks of the second personalized marking, which are personalized for the owner of the given security document.

Preferably, a mark of the second personalized marking is a micro mark.

Preferably at least one mark of the first personalized marking is placed into the surface of at least one engrave-able layer of the security document by means of a laser beam, which is visible as irreversible changes in the optical properties of the security document caused by the laser beam.

Preferably, the convexity of a mark and/or a series of marks of the second personalized marking is from <NUM> to <NUM>, and the sides of the mark and/or marks of the second personalized marking have a semicircular or polygonal cross-section shape.

Also, this invention relates to a security document comprising a securing element as described above, comprising a substrate and of any number of additional layers making a consistent inseparable unity, the securing element constituting a built-in fragment of the layer in the structure of the security document. The substrate may be at least one layer that can be laser-engraved, or more preferably, at least one white polycarbonate foil that can be laser-engraved. Also, the substrate may have any laser-engraved layers and/or additional layers.

Preferably, the substrate may have regions of different colors beneath the first personalized marking. Also, an ink layer may be placed between the substrate and the transparent layer.

Also, this invention relates to a method for manufacturing a security document as defined in claim <NUM>.

Preferably, the marking process is executed using a marking laser in which the pulse spot is of small dimensions. Preferably, the mark of the second personalized marking is produced by means of a laser beam by suitably concentrating points marked with the laser. The better the quality of the laser beam and the smaller the pulse spot, and the more precise the scanning head, the smaller and clearer the mark of the second personalized marking is.

The securing element of the invention is a first personalized marking and a second personalized marking. The second personalized marking is entirely contained within the surface of the first personalized marking. According to the invention, the first personalized marking is any personalizing data produced by laser engraving onto/within the security document during the personalization process of the given document. For example, this data may identify the document owner, like the document owner's identification number, country of origin, city, and date of birth. The personalizing data includes all text data and/or alphanumerical and/or distinctive marks placed onto or within the document and required for /the security document of the given type. According to the invention, a mark of the first personalized marking is at least one letter "A" and/or numeral and/or distinctive marking. Marks of the first personalized marking may be a series of arbitrarily connected marks in the form of text or alphanumerical characters and/or distinctive marks. Preferably, marks of the first personalized marking are produced by blackening the substrate and/or at least one additional layer during the process of laser engraving (marking). The second personalized marking may be at least one mark, for example, in the form of a letter, a numeral, a geometrical shape, a distinctive marking, or a mark of any shape. For example, it may be an asterisk, a line, a zigzag, a butterfly, a building, or a plant. Also, the second personalized marking may be constituted by marks creating a series of arbitrary marks and/or a series of personalized marks created by numbers, numerals, distinctive marks, marks of any shape, and/or a combination thereof.

In the sense of the present invention, the term "slightly convex" or "convex" second personalized marking means that mark (marks) of the second personalized marking is (are) convex, slightly palpable tactilely, or barely palpable tactilely.

Preferably, the height of the first personalized marking is from <NUM> to several dozen mm, for example, <NUM>, preferably from <NUM> to <NUM>. The height of the second personalized marking is from <NUM> to <NUM>, preferably from <NUM> to <NUM>. The heights of the marks of the second personalized marking depend on the amount of the markings or the lengths thereof.

So, one mark and/or series of marks of the second personalized marking may be written into one mark of the first personalized marking. The mark, marks, or series of marks of the second personalized marking may be placed in any arbitrary location within the surface of at least one mark of the first personalized marking. The terms "within the surface" and "into/on the trace" of the mark are used interchangeably. The second personalized marking is placed in a trace of a mark of the first personalized marking on its outer surface. Optionally, a mark, marks, or a series of marks of the second personalized marking creates, into the trace of a mark of the first personalized marking, a vertical and/or horizontal entry, and/or it has a shape that is consistent with the mark it is placed in. Also, the mark and/or marks of the second personalized marking may be arranged arbitrarily. They may be arranged in rows and/or columns vertically, horizontally, or obliquely.

According to the invention, at least one mark, or marks or a series of marks of the second personalized marking placed on at least one mark of the first personalized marking creates a first separate identification entry - also referred to as a first identification entry or identification entry. For example, the first identification entry may be any vector graphic, any distinctive marking, a mark of any shape, or any letter or numeral. Also, the first identification entry may be personalized data that is not placed on/within the security document. The personalized data in the sense of the present invention is data related to the owner of the security document, and it may be, for example, the first letter of the name or the last name of the security document owner, the owner's initials, his/her identification number, the day, month, and year of birth, the document owner's full name and/or last name, etc., or a part of this data. Also, the first identification entry may be a reoccurred piece of personalized data or several arbitrarily selected pieces of data that are placed on/within the security document, such as passport number, number of the given document, the document owner's identification number, his/her date of birth, the document owner's name or last name, etc., or a part of this data. Also, the identification entry may be created by a single mark of personalizing data or several selected marks of the personalizing data placed in/on the security document. For example, it may be data selected according to adopted rules - every second mark, every third mark out of the name and last name of the document owner, and/or out of the document number. Also, it may be randomly selected marks of the personalizing data. According to an embodiment of this invention, the first identification entry may be arbitrarily selected marks personalized for the given document owner, including a password he/she selected, a pin number, an individual code, and/or any data or name. According to an embodiment of this invention, the first identification entry may be constituted by arbitrarily selected alphanumerical and/or text marks and/or distinctive marks, including marks selected randomly. Also, it is possible that the first identification entry is at least one identical mark and/or identical marks and/or a series of identical marks of the second personalized marking placed in every mark, in selected marks, or only in selected at least one mark of the first personalized marking. All the marks that make the first identification entry may be placed in a single one arbitrarily selected mark of the first personalized marking. Optionally, the first identification entry is created by marks of the second personalized marking spanning all the marks or only across a part of the marks of the first personalized marking. So, any part of the marks of the second personalized marking constituting the first identification entry may be written into the first mark of the first personalized marking, whereas a subsequent part of the marks of the second personalized marking constituting the first identification entry is written into the trace of subsequent following each other marks of the first personalized marking. Thus, marks of the second personalized marking may be placed on at least two marks of the first personalized marking and all the marks of the first personalized marking. Also, they may be placed only on arbitrarily selected marks of the first personalized marking, for example, on marks of the first personalized marking selected in any arbitrary order or on marks selected in an even or uneven order, or in every second, every third mark of the first personalized marking, etc. Also, the number of marks of the first personalized marking, into which the marks of the second personalized marking are written, is arbitrary. However, irrespective of the number of marks of the first personalized marking, into which the marks of the second personalized marking are written and/or registered, they create together the first identification entry. The marks constituting the first identification entry may constitute logical entry and/or abstractional entry. The term logical entry is to be understood as a commonly known word, document number, ID number, reoccurred personalized data or a part thereof, a code known to the owner, a pin number, a password, distinctive marks, a number, or another data, etc. The term abstractional entry is to be understood as a group of arbitrarily randomly selected text and/or alphanumerical marks and/or distinctive marks.

The ratio of the dimension of the mark of the first personalized marking to the dimension of the mark of the second personalized marking may be, for example, at least <NUM>:<NUM>, preferably <NUM>:<NUM>, and most preferably <NUM>:<NUM>. However, it is obvious that the ratio of the dimensions may vary widely. It depends, for example, on the font type and emboldening (maximum micro text size relative to the whole mark of the first personalized marking). Every case of personalized markings placed on/within the security document may have different individual dimensions.

The elements that constitute the first and second personalized marking are interchangeably referred to as a mark, marks, or a series of marks, where a series of marks is created by at least two marks. A mark, marks, or a series of any arbitrary and/or personalized marks of the second and personalized markings, are, preferably, micro marks. Marks or a series of marks may be placed in a mark of the first personalized marking in any arbitrary location, arbitrary order, and an arbitrary arrangement.

The personalizing data is placed on the substrate of the security document. The substrate, in the sense of the present invention, is a layer of the security document onto which the first personalized marking is placed. According to the invention, the substrate may be both the upper layer of the document, which can be laser-engraved, or any inner layer of the document. Also, the substrate may be created by any number of layers that can be laser-engraved. Preferably, at least one upper layer is laid onto the substrate.

The proposed solution may be employed on various substrates that are in use in documents. The substrate may be a material free of outer protective layers, i.e., for example, it may be a paper substrate, a paper-like and/or made from paper-like materials like Teslin, as well as any polymer substrate such as polycarbonate (PC) and/or PVC (poly(vinyl chloride)) and/or polyester (e.g., poly(ethylene terephthalate) (PET)), and/or polyolefins, e.g., polyethylene (PE), polypropylene (PP) and/or acrylonitrile/butadiene/styrene copolymer, (copolymer) ABS and/or polyurethane (PU) and/or polyether ether ketone (PEEK), and combinations thereof. These materials may be used to produce additional layers, such as transparent layers and a white layer that can be laser-engraved.

The security document may have any structure, i.e., any thickness, any number of layers making the document, and any arrangement of the layers. However, at least one of the document layers is a layer that can be laser-engraved. According to the invention, the document structure preferably has at least two layers that can be laser-engraved, yet more preferably, all the layers can be laser-engraved.

Preferably, the document structure has at least one white layer that can be laser-engraved, for example, made from polycarbonate foil. Preferably, there are two white layers. The first personalized marking is placed on the white foil layer and on transparent foils that are located above it. Also, the first personalized marking may be placed only on the substrate or on the substrate and foils located below the substrate and on foils located above the substrate. Optionally, it is possible that the document structure only consists of transparent layers, including at least one laser-engraved layer. The term substrate in the sense of the present invention is understood widely. It can be a single layer that can be laser-engraved or a stack of many such layers, also layers that can be or not laser engraved. The layers may be transparent or white.

The substrate may be printed with ink for offset printing, relief printing, flexographic printing, or ink printing. Also, the ink may have optically changing properties, as well as fluorescent properties.

Preferably, the whole surface of the substrate may be printed with ink of the same color. Optionally, the fragment of the substrate on which the first personalized marking is located has a different color than the remaining part of the substrate of the document. According to yet another embodiment, the substrate below every mark of the first personalized marking may have another color. The term another color of the substrate is understood as a single uniform color of imprinting or a multi-color combination- colored lines, zigzags, asterisks, etc..

The marking process is carried out by scanning with a laser beam according to a prepared layout in which marks of the second personalized marking are placed within basic marks, i.e., marks of the first personalized marking. A classical marking, blackening, or tactile marking tactilely palpable may be achieved when using a combination of process parameters with a similar power applied throughout the process. Optimally, these are the maximum speed and frequency of the laser and spacing of individual lines of the object filling combined with the appropriate laser power output. In the case of marking with the marks of the second personalized marking within the given mark of the first personalized marking, the optimization (depending on the system's precision) is shifted. With the same frequencies of the laser, it is preferable to perform the marking process with a lower speed and smaller spacings between the lines of the object filling, such as to obtain a higher density of points. Even if neighboring points overlap significantly, an appropriate blackening effect and convexity of the second personalized marking are obtained by adapting the laser power suitably.

The first personalized marking may be at least one mark of the personalizing data placed on or into the given document by laser engraving, which identifies the document owner or the given document.

A securing element is located on and/or in the security document. The securing element is constituted by the first personalized marking and the second personalized marking.

The second personalized marking written into the trace of the first personalized marking constitutes the first identification entry. According to the invention, a second personalized marking is placed on the first personalized marking in the form of at least one darkened mark. At least one mark of the second personalized marking is located on the trace of at least one mark of the first personalized marking. The second personalized marking may also be convex; preferably, it may give an effect of a slight convexity such that the second personalized marking may be palpable tactilely. Also, it is possible that this effect is weak or barely palpable due to the size of the second personalized marking. The second personalized marking is weakly visible when looking directly and more visible at an angle. According to the present invention, both the first and second personalized markings have the same color. It results from blackening the substrate and/or additional layers. Optionally, the first personalized marking has a brighter color than the second personalized marking or not differing much; for example, the first marking is gray, and the second marking is black. Optionally, the second personalized marking has another brighter color than the first personalized marking.

The process of marking a mark of the first personalized marking is performed in a way known in the art. Then, using appropriately selected parameters of power speed and density of pulses, the second personalized marking is marked on the trace of the first marking, wherein the substrate on the trace of the second marking may be additionally blackened and made slightly convex. This embodiment may be obtained in such a manner that when performing the marking process with appropriately selected laser parameters, the substrate and/or at least one upper layer (outer) is subjected to a slight foaming - a convexity is obtained in this spot.

The convexity of at least one mark and/or a series of marks of the second personalized marking may be from <NUM> to <NUM>, preferably from <NUM> to <NUM>. The sides of the mark and/or marks of the second personalized marking may have a semicircular or polygonal cross-section shape.

The marking process, or a process of personalizing a security document with personalization data in the form of text and/or alphanumerical and/or distinctive marks, i.e., producing a first personalized marking, is carried out on the white foil layer and on transparent foils placed above it. Preferably, the marking process is carried out on a ready document that consists of many foil layers after laminating and constitutes a uniform inseparable whole. The present solution may also be applied with engrave-able paper or paper laminated with a plastic foil that creates a uniform inseparable whole. Also, the marking process may be performed on a printed substrate.

The solution of the invention may be realized with infrared, RGB, or UV pulse lasers. The better the quality of the laser beam and the smaller the spot, and the more precise the scanning head, the smaller and clearer the proposed second personalized marking may be. Depending on the size of the mark or the whole text of the second personalized marking, the second personalized marking may be observed with the naked eye or under magnification. The second personalized marking may be placed in a document personalization text of a typical size, i.e., <NUM> or smaller, for example, in a text of a height of <NUM>. As mentioned above, it depends on the laser design and on a proposed embodiment. The ratio of the dimension of a mark of the first personalized marking to the dimension of a mark of the second personalized marking is at least <NUM>: <NUM>, preferably <NUM>:<NUM>, and most preferably <NUM>:<NUM>. The ratio results from the ratio of the trace part of a letter to the whole letter. Depending on the selected fonts, the solution may have another ratio.

According to the invention, the term security document is understood as any document, such as personal documents, driving licenses, passports, and also other valuable and security documents, and data media being media for safe data registration and storage.

For a better understanding, the embodiments described in the following examples are reduced to significant basic information, and the illustrations shown in the figures are very schematical and do not reflect real conditions. First, the proportions shown in the figures do not correspond to real conditions and only serve for illustrating purposes. It should be emphasized that the drawings neither reflect the actual colors of the personalized markings placed on the security document. The colors in the drawings only serve to distinguish individual elements shown in these drawings. In practical realization, one may use much more complex patterns and pictures made in a single color or multi-colored. The same relates to engravable structures. The examples of information presented in the following examples may be replaced with complex and combined graphical/text information.

The terms "first" and "second," as used in the specification and the patent claims, are only intended to distinguish similar elements and not to dictate any sequential or chronological order. One should understand that terms used in this way are interchangeable in particular circumstances and that the embodiments of the present invention described in this document may function in other sequences than described or illustrated in the present document.

Also, the references to colors - first/second color - aim to distinguish coloristic elements. Simultaneously, all the described embodiments related to a single coloristic sequence are suitable for every coloristic sequence. If a solution for a single coloristic sequence has been indicated in the specification, it also means that it is appropriate for any other coloristic sequence. If no colors are referred to in the specification, it means that the given solution is valid for any other coloristic sequence. It relates to coloristic variants of the substrate and the first and second personalized marking.

The same single mark of the second personalized marking denotes the same identical letter, numeral, geometrical shape, distinctive marking, or mark of any shape.

A single different mark of the second personalized marking denotes another, different, not the same, nonidentical letter, numeral, geometrical shape, distinctive marking, or mark of any shape.

A single arbitrary mark of the second personalized marking either denotes the same single mark or a single different mark of the second and/or third personalized marking.

Marks or a series of marks of the second personalized marking denotes any number of single arbitrary marks, i.e., any number of the same and/or different single marks of the second personalized marking. The number of marks of the second personalized marking is selected according to the planned personalization of the security document.

The same marks of the second personalized marking denote at least two of the same single marks of the second personalized marking, and a multiplicity of the marks is possible, for example, PP, XXXX, >>>, ?????.

Different marks of the second personalized marking denote at least two single different marks of the second and/or third personalized marking, for example, POL, <NUM>, POL%*&, PP678, "KAMIL," POL567&*>><<. It means that in every selected arbitrary mark of the first and/or second personalized marking, another mark or a series of marks is written.

Marks of both the first and second personalized marking are selected according to the planned personalization of the security document.

Examples show preferred embodiments that in no way are intended to limit the scope of the invention. In particular, different embodiments are not limited to the described forms, and their combinations may be employed to obtain still better results.

The present invention will be better understood and appreciated when after reading the following detailed description with reference to the drawing in which:.

The following description presents examples of the realization of a securing element of a security document and a method for manufacturing the securing element composed of personalized markings written into personalizing data located on and/or in the document, thanks to which various effects securing the documents are obtained. However, it must be emphasized that the examples described below are not intended to limit the scope of protection and only illustrate one of many possible uses of the present invention. The present invention may be employed in any application in which a personalized laser marking is needed that gives additional protection for the document.

In one embodiment, a security document has the form and format of a card, such as an identity card. In alternative embodiments, another data medium may function as the security document, e.g., inserts for passports, chip cards, smart cards, personal documents, driving licenses, other valuable and security documents, and data media being media for safe data registration and storage.

<FIG> shows a security document <NUM> according to the invention with various securing means. The securing means are elements that increase the safety against counterfeiting the security document. For example, personalization may be applied on/within the security document <NUM>, having the form of the document owner's photograph (not shown in the drawing) and/or in the form of personalization data that, preferably, is produced by means of printing or laser engraving in a layer of the security document <NUM> that is laser active or sensitive. This data identifies the document owner's, for example, name and last name, the document owner's identification number, document number, country of origin, place/date of birth, etc. So, this is data that is placed onto or within the document and is required for the security document of the given type. The security document <NUM> may also contain electronic components such as an RFID transponder, chip modules, antennas for dual-interface modules, or a hologram. These securing means are not shown in the drawing since it is not a matter of the present invention. The security document <NUM> comprises a securing element <NUM> composed of a first personalized marking <NUM>, into which, on its surface, a second personalized marking <NUM> is entirely placed, constituting the first identification entry.

The first personalized marking <NUM> is composed of at least one mark <NUM> or a series of marks <NUM> that is/are placed on the substrate <NUM> of the security document <NUM>. According to the invention, the first personalized marking <NUM> is constituted by at least one letter, numeral, distinctive marking, or a series of arbitrarily connected marks in the form of text or alphanumerical characters and/or distinctive marks. The second personalized marking <NUM> may be constituted by at least one mark <NUM>, for example, in the form of a letter, a numeral, a geometrical shape, a distinctive marking, or a mark of any shape, for example, it may be an asterisk, a line, a zigzag, a butterfly, a building, a plant, or any combination thereof. The first personalized marking <NUM>, along with the second personalized marking <NUM>, produces an optical and/or tactile effect and also constitutes the first identification entry, making the securing element <NUM>. The first identification entry is an additional separate identification entry in the securing element <NUM>. The first laser personalized marking <NUM> and the second laser personalized marking <NUM> can be assessed both visually and automatically. The visual assessment is done using the human eye.

The substrate <NUM>, 110a may be made from plastic material, for example, polycarbonate (PC) or polyester. The substrate may be composed of transparent or white foil or a combination of transparent and white foils, but also only from transparent foils. The substrate in the meaning of this invention also may be paper laminated with PC or PCV foils. The foils may have different thicknesses ranging from <NUM> to <NUM>. Optionally, at least one printing ink layer may be applied onto the substrate. Then, according to the invention, the substrate <NUM>, 110a takes the color of the printing ink layer. It may be printed with currently available printing techniques, for example, offset printing, relief printing, ink printing, screen printing, spraying, or pad printing. The thickness of the printing ink layer is, for example, from <NUM> to <NUM>, preferably from <NUM> to <NUM>. Any number of additional layers may be placed onto the substrate <NUM>, 110a on both sides thereof.

<FIG> shows the securing element <NUM> placed in the security document <NUM>. The securing element <NUM> is constituted by the first personalized marking <NUM> and at least the second personalized marking <NUM> entirely written within the surface of the first personalized marking <NUM>, constituting together a first identification entry. On the surface of the first personalized marking <NUM>, the second personalized marking <NUM> is placed in the form of at least one mark <NUM>. The second personalized marking <NUM> may be convex, and also it may, preferably, give an effect of a slight convexity such that the second personalized marking <NUM> may be palpable tactilely. Also, it is possible that due to the size of the second personalized marking <NUM>, this effect is weak or barely palpable. According to the invention, the second personalized marking <NUM> is weakly visible when looking directly and more visible at an angle.

<FIG> shows a schematical view of the mark <NUM> of the first personalized marking <NUM> in the form of the letter "P" of <FIG>, along with the second personalized marking <NUM> in the form of the word "KAMIL" which is entirely located on the first personalized marking. Every letter of the word "KAMIL" corresponds to a single mark <NUM>, 308a-308d of the second personalized marking <NUM>. The marks <NUM>-308d of the second personalized marking <NUM>, for example, in the form of the word "KAMIL," may be placed in each or only in selected marks <NUM> of the first personalized marking <NUM> shown in <FIG>: "KAMIL" XXX POL >>>KI597568. Also, the same word "KAMIL" or only its single letter, or a part of it may be located in every mark <NUM> of the first personalized marking <NUM> of <FIG>. Optionally, any arbitrary marks <NUM>, 308a-308d of the second personalized marking <NUM> may be placed in selected marks <NUM> of the first personalized marking <NUM>.

<FIG> shows a cross-section of the word "KAMII," of <FIG> taken at the mark's base. In this case, the projecting regions, referred to as "posts," are the convex marks <NUM> of the second personalized marking <NUM>. Thus, the first mark <NUM> of the second personalized marking <NUM> corresponds to the letter "K," the second mark 308a corresponds to the letter "A," the third mark 308b corresponds to the letter "M," the fourth mark 308c corresponds to the letter "I," and the fifth mark 308d corresponds to the letter "L.

The marks <NUM>, 308a-308d of the second personalized marking, written entirely into the trace of marks <NUM> of the first personalized marking <NUM>, constitute the first identification entry. In the present embodiment, the first identification entry has the form of the word "KAMIL" located in the letter "P" of <FIG> - a mark <NUM> of the first personalized marking <NUM>.

Preferably, marks <NUM>, 308a, 308b, 308c, 308d of the second personalized marking <NUM> are micro marks.

Both the first personalized marking <NUM> and the second personalized marking <NUM> have the same color - for example, blackened. However, it is possible that the first personalized marking has a first color - for example, a brighter color than that of the second personalized marking <NUM>, or not differing much. Optionally second personalized marking has a brighter color than the first personalized marking.

Preferably, the first personalized marking <NUM> is blackened due to laser engraving, and the second personalized marking <NUM> is additionally engraved, so it is convex.

The convexity of at least one mark <NUM> and/or marks <NUM>, 308a, 308b, 308c, 308d of the second personalized marking <NUM> may be several hundred micrometers high, preferably from <NUM> to <NUM>. The sides of a mark <NUM> and/or a series of marks <NUM>, 308a, 308b, 308c, 308d of the second personalized marking <NUM> may have polygonal cross-sections of slightly semicircular sides (<FIG>) or may have semicircular cross-sections (<FIG>).

<FIG> schematically shows a cross-section of a security document <NUM> composed of a stack of foil layers of various dimensions and colors. Preferably, the substrate <NUM>, 110a is a layer made from polycarbonate, poly(vinyl chloride), polyester, or derivatives thereof in various combinations. The remaining layers of the security document <NUM> are nontransparent or transparent foils <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM> from polycarbonate, poly(vinyl chloride), polyester, or derivatives thereof, and their number depends on the safety means and graphics to be used. According to the invention, depending on the version and size of the solution, one may also use engravable paper or paper laminated with plastic foil or similar materials, e.g., Teslin. The securing element <NUM> is applied onto the substrate, preferably the substrate <NUM>, 110a, in the form of at least one engravable foil, preferably white, and yet more preferably at least two white engravable foils. Also, it is possible to use transparent foils as the substrate <NUM>, 110a. Also, an ink layer may be applied onto the foils, for example, an offset or inkjet ink, preferably of a thickness from <NUM> to <NUM>, preferably from <NUM> to <NUM>.

According to the invention, the security document <NUM> may, for example, be composed of a stack of layers, starting from above: a transparent layer <NUM>, two layers of white polycarbonate foil that constitute the substrate <NUM>, 110a, and subsequent two transparent layers <NUM>, <NUM> applied one on the top of the other. This structure of the document <NUM> is subjected to a merging process, for example, lamination.

After applying additional securing elements, which are not the subject matter of the present invention, the structure of the document <NUM>, created in any arbitrary manner, is subjected to a merging process in a temperature from <NUM> to <NUM>, preferably from <NUM> to <NUM>. Also, the layers may be merged with the substrate <NUM>, 110a by lamination, welding, gluing, fusing, etc. The engraving/marking process is carried out after the merging process on the laminate produced by merging the foil layers, having the form of the security document <NUM>. This process is carried out on a ready-to-use security document <NUM> that, after being laminated, is a uniform inseparable whole.

According to the invention, the marking process is performed using a pulse marking laser, in which the spot is of small dimensions, and the beam is guided by means of a precise scanning head. The laser beam is guided according to predefined graphics with personalization data. Additionally, it is necessary to concentrate individually laser-marked points, such as to obtain an appropriate resolution and, in consequence, the quality of the picture. In the sense of the present invention, the picture may be any graphics, in particular alphanumerical or text marks defining the first personalized marking, and text or any other marks, or vector graphics defining the second personalized marking.

Embodiments of the invention may be produced with infrared, RGB, or UV pulse lasers. The better the quality of the laser beam and the smaller the spot and more precise the scanning head, the smaller and clearer the proposed mark <NUM> of the second personalized marking <NUM> may be. Depending on the size of the first personalized marking <NUM>, the mark <NUM> of the second personalized marking <NUM> may be observed with the naked eye or under magnification. At least one mark <NUM> of the second personalized marking <NUM> may be placed in typically sized marks of personalization data of security documents <NUM>, which correspond to the first personalized marking <NUM>, or in smaller marks of the first personalized marking <NUM>, for example, of a height of <NUM>. As mentioned above, it depends on the laser design and a proposed embodiment.

After the merging and marking process, the securing element <NUM> is a built-in and infringement-resistant fragment of a layer within the structure of the security document <NUM>.

<FIG> schematically shows a section of a cross-section of the security document <NUM> with the securing element <NUM> with the above-described structure of the security document <NUM>, according to the embodiment of the invention of <FIG>. The securing element <NUM> is placed on the substrate <NUM>, 110a, which is composed of two layers of laser-engravable white polycarbonate foils. The marking is produced within an upper layer, for example, in the transparent layer <NUM> placed on the substrate <NUM>. The mark/marks <NUM> of the first personalized marking are also produced by blackening the substrate <NUM> and/or the second substrate layer 110a and/or the upper transparent layer <NUM>, <NUM>, wherein the upper layer may be constituted by many layers. <FIG> shows, for example, in black, one mark <NUM> corresponding to the letter "P" of the first personalized marking <NUM> of <FIG>. The mark <NUM> of the first personalized marking <NUM> is produced by blackening. In its trace, i.e., on the outer surface of this mark <NUM>, the second personalized marking <NUM> is entirely located in the form of marks: <NUM>, 308a, 308b, 308c, 308d of the second personalized marking <NUM>, which also have been shown in the drawing in black. The series of marks <NUM>, 308a, 308b, 308c, 308d of the second personalized marking <NUM> of <FIG> corresponds to the name "KAMIL. " According to <FIG>, the mark <NUM> of the second personalized marking <NUM> corresponds to the letter "K," the mark 308a corresponds to the letter "A," the mark 308b corresponds to the letter "M," the mark 308c corresponds to the letter "I," and the mark 308d corresponds to the letter "L. " When observing the security document <NUM> under magnification, the human eye receives the color of the first personalized marking <NUM> and the word "KAMIL," written into at least one mark <NUM> of the first personalized marking <NUM>, constituting the second personalized marking <NUM>, is barely visible. The first personalized marking <NUM> and the word "KAMIL" are written into at least one mark <NUM>, here, the letter "P" is the first separate identification entry according to the invention. The securing element <NUM>, in the form of a series of marks <NUM>, 308a, 308b, 308c, 308d corresponding to the name "KAMIL" of the second personalized marking <NUM> written into the mark <NUM> of the first personalized marking <NUM>, constitutes a built-in fragment of a layer in the structure of the security document.

During the marking process of the first personalized marking, the substrate and/or at least one upper layer is subjected to blackening. In the process of marking the second personalized marking, the substrate in the trace of the second personalized marking becomes additionally blackened and becomes slightly convex, causing a convexity of the mark <NUM>, 308a, 308b, 308c, 308d of the second personalized marking <NUM>. Hence, the mark/marks <NUM>-308d of the second personalized marking <NUM> has/have the same color as the mark/marks of the first personalized marking <NUM>. Therefore, the mark/marks <NUM>-308d of the second personalized marking <NUM> is/are weakly/barely visible on the mark <NUM> of the first personalized marking <NUM>. Optionally, it is possible to slightly differentiate the color scheme between the marks <NUM> of the first personalized marking <NUM> and the marks <NUM>-308d of the second personalized marking <NUM>. For example, one may choose the color scheme black-gray. The location of the mark/ marks <NUM>-308d of the second personalized marking <NUM> on the mark <NUM> of the first personalized marking <NUM> is palpable tactilely. Therefore, also the securing element <NUM> is palpable tactilely.

According to the method of the invention, firstly, the relevant graphics is prepared in the form of personalization data. Then, the first personalized marking <NUM> is prepared, using the appropriate parameters of UV lasers in a wavelength range from <NUM> to <NUM>, visible light lasers in a wavelength range from <NUM> to <NUM>, or infrared lasers of wavelengths from <NUM> to <NUM>. Then, the second personalized marking <NUM> is produced due to the laser irradiation in the following laser pass using appropriate laser parameters. Thereby, one may obtain such a change of the material - of at least one upper layer <NUM>, <NUM> or the substrate <NUM>, <NUM>10a, depending on the structure of the security document <NUM> - that raises the region directly affected by the laser, making a palpable tactile convex second personalized marking <NUM>. Depending on the side of the security document <NUM> that is processed, the upper layer may be any outer layer <NUM>, <NUM> of the structure of the document <NUM>. Also, the selected laser power is important and depends on the intended shades of the first personalized marking <NUM> and the second personalized marking <NUM>, the power being higher or smaller than that used when producing the first personalized marking <NUM>.

Claim 1:
A securing element (<NUM>) placeable on a substrate (<NUM>, 110a) of a security document (<NUM>) comprising at least one mark (<NUM>) of a first personalized marking (<NUM>) in the form of personalized alphanumerical data and/or text data and/or distinctive marking, and at least one mark (<NUM>-308d) of a second personalized marking (<NUM>), that is entirely contained within the trace of at least one mark (<NUM>) of the first personalized marking (<NUM>) constituting the first identification entry, wherein the at least one mark of the first personalized marking and the at least one mark of the second personalized marking have been produced by means of a laser beam, characterized in that the mark (<NUM>-308d) of the second personalized marking (<NUM>) is located on the surface of the mark (<NUM>) of the first personalized marking (<NUM>) and is slightly convex.