Patent Description:
A data page (or biodata page) is a part of an identification document, such as a passport, including the information of the holder, such as name, date of birth, etc., and consequently forming a data area. The data page is sewn into the passport booklet using a flexible part, extending beyond the data area, and called the "hinge". The data page consists of several layers, which can contain holes, and a thermoplastic material, and which are laminated together.

Identification documents are becoming increasingly important. These documents must be kept secure from tampering to ensure that counterfeiters or tamperers cannot produce counterfeit identification documents or tamper such identification documents without leaving any mark after the identification document falsification.

In order to enhance the security of identification documents, it is known, in document <CIT>, to produce a security document in which a security element continuously extends from the data page area onto the hinge area in order to duplicate the security element in different parts of the data page. The security element is carried by a specific layer and is visible in integrality.

It is also known, in document <CIT>, to produce an identification document in which a security element carried by the hinge extends on both sides of the sewing line, this element being visible on a data area in continuity of the hinge (e.g., without any interruption between the two areas).

Finally, it is known in document <CIT> to produce a data page comprising an opening and a hinge, a security element being visible through a window, that is to say a transparent area on the data page which can be seen from at least one side of the data page.

It was found that the solutions disclosed in the documents listed above can have security gaps, mainly considering the increase of the techniques available for counterfeiters or tamperers.

Furthermore, the processes used to manufacture data pages according to these documents can require several lamination steps, which increase the complexity and the costs of these processes.

Therefore, it is an objective of the invention to increase the security of a data page by providing a data page which is much more difficult to tamper than the data pages of the prior art.

This object is achieved by providing a multilayer structure intended to be inserted in an identification document and comprising:.

Thus, the multilayer structure (called herein after "data page") comprises a single layer, the at least transparent second layer, forming simultaneously the window of the data page and the hinge and comprising the same security element which can be observed (in addition to the visual properties of the transparent layer) at two distinct points of the data page. Consequently, it becomes much more difficult to tamper an identification document comprising a data page as enounced above because of the repetition of the security element. For example, if a tamperer cuts the data page and attach a new one to a hinge, there will be no more correlation between the security element on the hinge and the new data area.

The multilayer according to the invention can include at least one of the following characteristics:.

The invention also concerns an identification document such as a passport, an identity card, a driver license, or a travel pass including a multilayer structure according to the invention.

The invention also concerns a method of fabricating a multilayer structure intended to be inserted in an identification document, characterized in that it comprises the following steps:.

The method according to the invention can include at least one of the following characteristics:.

Some embodiments of the invention are given as non-limiting examples in support of the attached figures in which:.

Referring now to <FIG> illustrating a multilayer structure <NUM> intended to be inserted into an identification document such as a passport. The multilayer structure <NUM> will be named afterwards "data page <NUM>". This data page <NUM> comprises two at least partially opaque first layers <NUM>. These first layers <NUM> are for example made of white polycarbonate. These first layers <NUM> form data areas <NUM> located on each side of the data page <NUM> and comprising the information of the holder, such as name, date of birth, etc. The inscription of this information can be made using common techniques, for example by laser engraving.

The two first layers <NUM> comprise one or more through openings <NUM> (the number of through openings can vary) which are integrally confined by at least partially opaque material of the opaque layers <NUM>. In other words, the through opening <NUM> perimeter defines a closed loop integrally surrounded by opaque material of the opaque layers <NUM>. The through opening <NUM> is confined by at least partially opaque material in directions according to axes X and Y (see the orthonormal system on <FIG>). The through opening is not surrounded by at least partially opaque material in a direction according to the axis Z. Consequently, these through openings <NUM> forming closed openings can be considered as forming closed windows <NUM>.

An at least partially transparent second layer <NUM> is arranged in-between the two first layers <NUM>. Preferably, this layer can be made in thermoplastic polyurethane. This second layer <NUM> extends at least partially (it can be an integral extension) between the two first layers <NUM> in order to extend into the through openings <NUM>. The extension of the second layer <NUM> into the through openings <NUM> forms windows <NUM>, that is to say a part of the data page in which the internal second layer <NUM> is visible through the first layers <NUM>.

The second layer <NUM> also extends beyond the first layers <NUM>, more precisely on one side of these layers, in order to form an edge part <NUM> which can be a hinge used to attach the data page <NUM> to the identification document such as a passport booklet, for example by sewing. The edge part <NUM> could also be the edge of a card. It may comprise or may not comprise some data. The thermoplastic polyurethane has the advantage to be a flexible material, and consequently, a good material for the function of a hinge. The first layers <NUM> can cover all the surface of the second layer <NUM> except the edge part <NUM> which is only constituted by the second layer <NUM>.

The second layer <NUM> can be provided with an opening <NUM> in its part sandwiched between the two first layers <NUM> in order to receive a transponder coil <NUM> composed of a chip <NUM> (having in this case a T-shape) and an antenna <NUM> comprising two endpoints in contact with the chip <NUM>. The transponder is maintained in position thanks to the structure of the data page <NUM> in which it is compressed between the first layers <NUM>. This kind of transponder is known of a person skilled in the art and will not be described in detail.

The thickness of the second layer <NUM> may vary from <NUM> to <NUM>, preferably form <NUM>) to <NUM>), depending on the number of layers added to manufacture the data page <NUM> or the material used for these layers.

The data page <NUM> may have transparent overlays <NUM> in order to give an optimal finished appearance to the data page <NUM>. These overlays <NUM> can be made of transparent polycarbonate.

Concerning the through openings <NUM>, each first layer <NUM> may have at least one of these through openings <NUM>, as illustrated on <FIG>. Consequently, at least one window <NUM> is created on both sides of the data page <NUM>.

These through openings can be made by punching the first layers <NUM>. It is possible to adapt some polycarbonate perforation technology such as the realization of a watermark, e.g., multiple small holes into the first layers <NUM> due to multiple perforations in order to allow the creep of the second layer <NUM> into these holes to create multiple windows. The data page <NUM> may thus have a plurality of windows forming a security feature that can be detectable or visualized under specific condition (for example by using a UV lamp) by any authority controlling the authenticity of the data page <NUM>.

This concept is based on removing part of the first layers <NUM> before the collating phase, which locally reduces the opacity of the final laminate, for example using a CO<NUM> laser perforation technique. A removal factor can be defined using the diameter of the holes and the spacing between holes as parameters.

During lamination, the first layers <NUM> reach beyond the softening temperature which cause the plastic melting and the layer fusion to produce the final laminate. The creep of the second layer <NUM> into the holes prevent the filling of these holes by the opaque layer's material which is in fusion.

Thanks to this technique various images, characters or patterns can be realized by means of a plurality of windows, which can be of relatively small dimensions.

According to a first embodiment illustrated at <FIG>, the two through openings <NUM> can be integrally overlapping to each other in order to create a window which can be visualized on both sides of the data page <NUM> in an identical way. This window can be named a "see-through window" or "open window". Consequently, the same security feature is visible from each side of the data page <NUM>.

According to a second embodiment illustrated at <FIG>, the two through openings <NUM> may be partially overlapping to each other. It is also possible to provide each first layer <NUM> with through holes <NUM> having different forms and/or sizes. Consequently, the visual effect would be different on each side of the data page <NUM>. For instance, a circle can be arranged on one side (on a first layer <NUM>) and text on the other side (on the other first layer <NUM>) such as ASCII characters, symbols or different shapes on both sides. Such a structure can be named "offset window" (two windows which are partially overlapping and creating an open window in the overlap area).

According to a third embodiment illustrated at <FIG>, only one first layer <NUM> may have a through opening <NUM>. The window which is formed can be named a "one side window".

A window <NUM>, e.g., a through opening <NUM> filled with the second layer <NUM> material, is integrally confined by at least partially opaque material, that is to say that borders form a continuous loop surrounding the window <NUM>. The through opening <NUM> (and consequently the windows <NUM>) can have various forms and sizes.

Preferably, the through opening(s) <NUM> is located at least <NUM> away from the edge part <NUM>, preferably at a distance at least equal to the third of the width of the data page <NUM>. A gap is then created between the window(s) <NUM> and the edge part <NUM> in order to increase the security of the document (the link between the window(s) <NUM> and the edge part <NUM> becoming more difficult to visualized).

As explained above, the second layer <NUM> comprises at least one element forming a security element (not shown) (the security element is included inside the second layer (<NUM>) or arranged on the second layer (<NUM>)). This security element is present and/or visible in and/or on the edge <NUM> and in the through opening(s) <NUM> of the first layer(s) <NUM> (through the window(s) <NUM>). This feature can be chosen among the non-exhaustive following list of processes and security features obtained using these processes:.

Furthermore, the second layer <NUM> can extend integrally between the first layers <NUM> and form borders <NUM> surrounding the first layers <NUM> in order to obtain a better finished appearance, as it is illustrated at <FIG>.

The <FIG> illustrates the data page <NUM> without any border <NUM> when the window <NUM> is visible and integrally confined by at least partially opaque material.

Concerning the manufacturing method of a data page <NUM> as described above, the following steps are executed:.

The data page <NUM> is preferably manufactured with this one-step lamination process. The benefit lies in a cost-effective way to manufacture a data page <NUM> component or a final data page <NUM> with window <NUM>.

The second sheet flows in the through opening <NUM> in order to create a window <NUM>. This creep allows to use different shapes/patterns of the through opening <NUM>. This is very advantageous since the edge part <NUM> and the window <NUM> is formed in one step during the manufacturing process and that it does not need the use of a patch to fill the through opening <NUM> and form the window <NUM>. Moreover, the window <NUM> and the edge part <NUM> can be linked with the same security feature associated with the second sheet. The security elements, that also fill or cover on the full or partially surface/area of the second sheet, are associated to this specific second sheet before any collating or first lamination process of the data page <NUM>.

As described above, the second sheet can be sandwiched between two first sheets. The second sheet is then positioned between two first sheets as described above, at least one of the first sheets being provided with a through opening.

If the two first sheets are provided with a through opening <NUM>, the first sheets can be positioned on both sides of the second sheet so that the through openings <NUM> are at least partially overlapping to each other.

The second sheet can flow around borders of the first sheet during the lamination process. This allows to create borders <NUM> surrounding the first sheet.

As described above, a transponder coil <NUM> may be incorporated into the second sheet before lamination.

Claim 1:
Multilayer structure (<NUM>) intended to be inserted in an identification document, the multilayer structure comprising:
- at least one first layer (<NUM>) at least partially opaque forming a data area (<NUM>), the first layer (<NUM>) comprising at least one through opening (<NUM>) integrally confined by the at least partially opaque material of the first layer (<NUM>), and
- a second layer (<NUM>) at least partially transparent extending at least partially on the data area (<NUM>) and into the through opening (<NUM>), the second layer (<NUM>) comprising a part extending beyond the first layer (<NUM>) and forming an edge part (<NUM>),
the second layer (<NUM>) comprising at least one element forming a security element, the security element being present and/or visible on and/or in the edge part (<NUM>) and through the through opening (<NUM>) of the first layer (<NUM>).