US-12623479-B2 - Fully micro-optic security document

Abstract

A security document ( 200 ) includes a secure substrate ( 205 ). The secure substrate includes a viewing side ( 209 ) and a backing side ( 211 ), and a micro-optic system ( 305, 321 ) providing an optically variable effect (OVE) ( 513 ) on the viewing side. The security document further includes a protective layer ( 225 ), and a mask layer ( 215 ) disposed between the protective layer and the backing side of the secure substrate.

Inventors

• Samuel M. Cape
• Benjamin E. Bleiman
• Karin Mörck-Hamilton
• Fredrik VON BLIXEN-FINECKE
• Jason van Gumster
• Jennifer Cowan
• Ryan Toole
• Gunnar NEHLS
• Kara ZONA
• Jonathan D. Gosnell

Assignees

• CRANE & CO., INC.

Dates

Publication Date

20260512

Application Date

20230317

Claims (15)

1. 1 . A security document, comprising: a secure substrate, the secure substrate comprising a viewing side and a backing side, and a micro-optic system having microstructures integrated within the secure substrate comprising a single layer, the micro-optic system providing an optically variable effect on the viewing side, wherein the secure substrate including the integrated microstructures provides a structural foundation for the security document; a protective layer, wherein the microstructures of the secure substrate comprise: focusing elements, wherein the focusing elements appear transparent on the viewing side, and wherein the focusing elements reflect, refract or provide an interference effect in light passing through the focusing elements; image icons; and a machine-readable security feature; and an optical spacer within the secure substrate, wherein the layer of focusing elements is disposed on a first side of the optical spacer, and wherein the image icons are embedded within the optical spacer, and wherein the layer of image icons comprises image icons disposed proximate to focal points of the layer of focusing elements.
2. 2 . The security document of claim 1 , wherein the machine-readable security feature comprises a radio frequency identification (RFID) antenna.
3. 3 . The security document of claim 1 , wherein the machine-readable security feature comprises a magnetically-readable element.
4. 4 . The security document of claim 1 , wherein the machine-readable security feature comprises a static feature.
5. 5 . The security document of claim 1 , wherein the machine-readable security feature contacts the image icons.
6. 6 . The security document of claim 1 , wherein the machine-readable security feature contacts the focusing elements.
7. 7 . The security document of claim 1 , wherein the machine-readable security feature contacts the optical spacer.
8. 8 . The security document of claim 1 , wherein the machine-readable security feature contacts the protective layer.
9. 9 . The security document of claim 1 , further comprising a mask layer disposed between the protective layer and the backing side of the secure substrate.
10. 10 . The security document of claim 9 , wherein the machine-readable security feature contacts the mask layer.
11. 11 . The security document of claim 9 , wherein the mask layer comprises a layer of opacifying material.
12. 12 . The security document of claim 9 , wherein the mask layer comprises a layer of reflective material.
13. 13 . The security document of claim 9 , further comprising: a patch comprising an optical indicia of authenticity, wherein the patch is visible through a window in the mask layer.
14. 14 . The security document of claim 13 , wherein the optical indicia of authenticity provided by the patch comprises at least one of: a watermark, an offset print design, an intaglio print design, or an optical security device.
15. 15 . The security document of claim 1 , wherein one or more of the optical spacer, the focusing elements, and the image icons are iteratively constructed in a same material of the secure substrate.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS This application is a Continuation of U.S. Non-Provisional application Ser. No. 17/275,162, filed Mar. 10, 2021, which is 371 National Stage of International Application No. PCT/US2019/050447, filed Sep. 10, 2019, which claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 62/728,957, filed Sep. 10, 2018, the disclosures of which are herein incorporated by reference in their entirety. TECHNICAL FIELD This disclosure is generally directed to security documents (for example, banknotes) which provide significantly enhanced resistance against the harvesting of hard-to-duplicate security features (for example, micro-optic features) for the production of counterfeit bills. SUMMARY This disclosure provides a fully micro-optic security document. In a first embodiment, a security document includes a secure substrate, the secure substrate having a viewing side and a backing side, and a micro-optic system providing an optically variable effect (OVE) on the viewing side. The security document also includes a protective layer and a mask layer disposed between the protective layer and the backing side of the secure substrate. Other technical features may be readily apparent to one skilled in the art from the following figures, descriptions, and claims. Definitions for other certain words and phrases are provided throughout this patent document. Those of ordinary skill in the art should understand that in many if not most instances, such definitions apply to prior as well as future uses of such defined words and phrases. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS For a more complete understanding of this disclosure and its advantages, reference is now made to the following description, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which: FIG. 1 illustrates, by way of background, at least one technical problem addressed by certain embodiments according to this disclosure; FIG. 2 illustrates an example of a security document according to various embodiments of this disclosure; FIG. 3 illustrates an example of a secure substrate according to certain embodiments of this disclosure; FIGS. 4A through 4H illustrate examples of security documents according to some embodiments of this disclosure; and FIG. 5 illustrates an example of a security document according to at least one embodiment of this disclosure. Before undertaking the DETAILED DESCRIPTION below, it may be advantageous to set forth definitions of certain words and phrases used throughout this patent document. The term “couple” and its derivatives refer to any direct or indirect communication or interaction between two or more elements, whether or not those elements are in physical contact with one another. The terms “transmit,” “receive,” and “communicate,” as well as derivatives thereof, encompass both direct and indirect communication. The terms “include” and “comprise,” as well as derivatives thereof, mean inclusion without limitation. The term “or” is inclusive, meaning and/or. The phrase “associated with,” as well as derivatives thereof, means to include, be included within, interconnect with, contain, be contained within, connect to or with, couple to or with, be communicable with, cooperate with, interleave, juxtapose, be proximate to, be bound to or with, have, have a property of, have a relationship to or with, or the like. The term “controller” means any device, system or part thereof that controls at least one operation. Such a controller may be implemented in hardware or a combination of hardware and software and/or firmware. The functionality associated with any particular controller may be centralized or distributed, whether locally or remotely. The phrase “at least one of,” when used with a list of items, means that different combinations of one or more of the listed items may be used, and only one item in the list may be needed. For example, “at least one of: A, B, and C” includes any of the following combinations: A, B, C, A and B, A and C, B and C, and A and B and C. Definitions for other certain words and phrases are provided throughout this patent document. Those of ordinary skill in the art should understand that in many if not most instances, such definitions apply to prior as well as future uses of such defined words and phrases. DETAILED DESCRIPTION FIGS. 1 through 5, discussed below, and the various embodiments used to describe the principles of this disclosure in this patent document are by way of illustration only and should not be construed in any way to limit the scope of the disclosure. Those skilled in the art will understand that the principles of this disclosure may be implemented in any suitably arranged payment apparatus. By way of background and exposition of at least one technical problem addressed by certain embodiments according to this disclosure, FIG. 1 illustrates an example 100 of a mechanism by which security features of one authentic security document 105 (in this example, a banknote