Security element with features which can be recognised under a specific viewing angle

0001The invention relates to a security feature having at certain viewing angles, in particular in transmitted light optically detectable characteristics.

0002From the <patcit id="pcit0001" dnum="EP330733B1"><text>EP 330 733 B1</text></patcit> is a security element in the form of a thread or strip to be embedded in security documents is known which consists of a translucent plastic film, which is provided with an opaque coating and having recesses, coloring at least in the congruent with the recesses ranges and / or luminescent substances are present which differ under appropriate lighting conditions of the opaque coating in color contrasting form.

0003From the <patcit id="pcit0002" dnum="EP613786A"><text>EP 613 786 A</text></patcit> are security elements in the form of security threads are known which have a covered substrate in the form of a grid, wherein recesses are provided in the form of characters, patterns or the like.

0004Out <patcit id="pcit0003" dnum="WO1997047478A"><text>WO 1997/047478</text></patcit> is a security element according to the preamble of claim 1, or a security feature is known having on both sides elements that overlap each other. Further, a layer is provided to prevent that one of the security features is visible under reflective light.

0005The object of the invention to provide a security element, which at a certain viewing angle, especially in transmitted light having optically detectable characteristics, for example in the form of characters, letters, patterns, lines and the like, and optionally additionally having functional characteristics.

0006The invention is therefore a security element according to Claim first

0007The printed tab layers are separated by spacer layers.

0008Suitable support substrates include, for example, carrier films, preferably flexible transparent or translucent plastic films, for example of PI, PP, MOPP, PE, PPS, PEEK, PEK, PEI, PAEK, LCP, PEN, PBT, PET, PA, PC, COC, POM, ABS , PVC in question. The carrier films preferably have a thickness from 5 to 700 .mu.m, preferably 5-200 .mu.m, particularly preferably 5-50 .mu.m.

0009The substrates can additionally have a varnish layer structured unstructured or, for example, be influenced or may have diffraction grating. The coating may for example be an adhesive layer of lacquer or a release-capable transfer lacquer layer, it can by radiation, for example UV radiation, be thermal or reactive crosslinked or crosslinked and have additional properties such as scratch-resistant and / or antistatic properties or chemical resistance. Suitable are both aqueous lösungsmittelhältige paint systems, particularly systems based on PE - acrylate, PET-acrylate, urethane acrylate, PVC, PMMA or epoxy acrylate.

0010On the carrier substrate or on optionally on the carrier substrate existing coatings a partial layer of a preferably opaque paint or a varnish is printed. In one or more further layers in accurate register then additional elements are applied and in such a manner that complement the elements when viewed in transmitted light to an optically detectable feature.

0011An example of such a layer arrangement is shown in <figref idrefs="f0001">Fig. 1</figref> shown.

0012The first partial layer and the printed tab layers can either be identical or different. The layers can be either metallic or metallic appearance layers, black or colored layers. Different colors can be used in particular in the individual layers, which can result when viewed from different viewing angles either characteristic mixed colors depending on the choice of colors or there is a light extinction.

0013Examples of such layered structures are in <figref idrefs="f0001">Figs. 2 and 3</figref> shown.

00141 means the support substrate 2, for example. A red layer, 3 for example. A green layer and a spacer layer 4.

0015In <figref idrefs="f0001">FIG. 2</figref> appears when viewed at an angle of 90 °, the printing color, at an angle of &lt;90 ° (as shown) as the printing is black.

0016In <figref idrefs="f0001">Fig. 3</figref> appears when viewed at an angle of 90 ° the printing black, at an angle of &lt;90 ° (as shown) the printing in the respective applied paint appears.

0017Optionally, the printed layers in register additional functional features, for example, comprise electrically conductive and / or magnetic properties, whereby an additional machine-readable identifier is given.

0018To adjust the electrical properties of the applied ink or the applied coating, for example, graphite, carbon black, conductive organic or inorganic polymers, metal pigments may (for example, copper, aluminum, silver, gold, iron, chromium and the like), metal alloys such as copper-zinc or copper aluminum or also amorphous or crystalline ceramic pigments such as ITO, ATO, FTO and the like are added. Furthermore, doped or non-doped semiconductors such as silicon, germanium or doped or undoped polymer semiconductors or "ion conductors such as amorphous or crystalline metal oxides or metal sulfides can be used as an additive. Further, polar or partially polar compounds for adjusting the electrical properties of the layer as surfactants, or non-polar compounds such as silicon additives or hygroscopic or non-hygroscopic salts used or the paint are added.

0019Furthermore, can be applied as the electrically conductive layer, an electrically conductive polymer layer. The electrically conductive polymers can be, for example, polyaniline or polyethylene dioxythiophene and its derivatives. Particularly preferably is used as the electrically conductive polymer PEDT / TS or PEDT methanol.

0020For adjusting the magnetic properties paramagnetic, diamagnetic and ferromagnetic materials such as iron, nickel, barium, and cobalt or their compounds or salts (for example, oxides or sulfides) can be used. Particularly suitable are Fe (II) - and Fe (III) oxides, barium or cobalt ferrites, rare earth and the like.

0021It is also possible of the magnetic ink used, for example, to add carbon black or graphite, whereby a simultaneously magnetic and also electrically conductive layer can also be produced in a defined coding.

0022These printed in register layers are separated by transparent spacer layers.

0023The optical properties of a further layer can be produced by visible dyes or pigments, luminescent dyes or pigments which fluoresce or phosphorescence in the visible, in the UV range or in the IR range, effect pigments, such as liquid crystals, pearl luster, bronzes and / or influence multilayer color change pigments and heat-sensitive colors or pigments. These are used in all possible combinations. In addition, phosphorescent pigments can be used alone or in combination with other dyes and / or pigments.

0024The film material shows when viewed vertically in transmitted light then in several layers applied to patterns, characters, letters and the like complementary feature. If the sheet material is not perpendicular, but viewed at an angle &lt;90 °, so there are additional paths of transmission of the penetrating light. The contrast between the opaque multilayer printing and the recesses is reduced, depending on the distance layer used enter additional defined effects, for example, optical effects (luminescence when excited, metallic luster) optically variable or optically active effects.

0025Further, additional layers having electrically conductive and / or magnetic properties on the substrate may be present, or are subsequently applied.

0026The inventive security element may be, one or both sides by a protective lacquer layer which may optionally be pigmented.

0027Furthermore, the inventive security element can comprise one or more carrier substrates, which, if appropriate, functional and / or decorative layers, optionally with the use of a laminating adhesive to be laminated.

0028Furthermore, the inventive security element can one or both sides with a hot or cold-seal adhesive or a self-adhesive coating for application to or for embedding in a substrate may be, these adhesives or adhesive coatings can be pigmented.

0029The security elements or the film material are optionally therefore suitable, after appropriate assembly as security features in data carriers, in particular security documents such as identity cards, cards, banknotes or labels, seals and the like, as well as packaging material, for example in the pharmaceutical, electronics and / or food industry, suitable for example in the form of blister films, folding boxes, covers, film packaging and the like.

0030For the application as security features or the substrates - as film materials 048 preferably cut into strips or threads or patches, wherein the width of the strips or threads preferably 0.05 - may be 10 mm and the patches preferably have average widths or lengths of 2 -30 mm.

0031For use in or on packaging, the film material is preferably in strips, cut tapes, threads or patches, wherein the width of the threads, strips or ribbons preferably 0.05 to 50 mm and the patches preferably have average widths and lengths of 2 have -30 mm. A corresponding security thread or strip can be used as edge reinforcement of packaging, value documents and the like in the region of the edges as well as, for example, lengthwise or crosswise - are used reinforcement in the packaging or in the value document, whereby each multiple threads or strips at a defined distance from one another may be provided.