EP3212430B2 - Security element with colourshifting thin film - Google Patents

Security element with colourshifting thin film Download PDF

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Publication number
EP3212430B2
EP3212430B2 EP15787472.8A EP15787472A EP3212430B2 EP 3212430 B2 EP3212430 B2 EP 3212430B2 EP 15787472 A EP15787472 A EP 15787472A EP 3212430 B2 EP3212430 B2 EP 3212430B2
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EP
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Prior art keywords
layer
partial
dielectric
color
shift effect
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EP15787472.8A
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German (de)
French (fr)
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EP3212430A1 (en
EP3212430B1 (en
Inventor
Christian Schmitz
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Giesecke and Devrient Currency Technology GmbH
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Giesecke and Devrient Currency Technology GmbH
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Classifications

    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B42—BOOKBINDING; ALBUMS; FILES; SPECIAL PRINTED MATTER
    • B42D—BOOKS; BOOK COVERS; LOOSE LEAVES; PRINTED MATTER CHARACTERISED BY IDENTIFICATION OR SECURITY FEATURES; PRINTED MATTER OF SPECIAL FORMAT OR STYLE NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; DEVICES FOR USE THEREWITH AND NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; MOVABLE-STRIP WRITING OR READING APPARATUS
    • B42D25/00—Information-bearing cards or sheet-like structures characterised by identification or security features; Manufacture thereof
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B42—BOOKBINDING; ALBUMS; FILES; SPECIAL PRINTED MATTER
    • B42D—BOOKS; BOOK COVERS; LOOSE LEAVES; PRINTED MATTER CHARACTERISED BY IDENTIFICATION OR SECURITY FEATURES; PRINTED MATTER OF SPECIAL FORMAT OR STYLE NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; DEVICES FOR USE THEREWITH AND NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; MOVABLE-STRIP WRITING OR READING APPARATUS
    • B42D25/00—Information-bearing cards or sheet-like structures characterised by identification or security features; Manufacture thereof
    • B42D25/20—Information-bearing cards or sheet-like structures characterised by identification or security features; Manufacture thereof characterised by a particular use or purpose
    • B42D25/29—Securities; Bank notes
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B42—BOOKBINDING; ALBUMS; FILES; SPECIAL PRINTED MATTER
    • B42D—BOOKS; BOOK COVERS; LOOSE LEAVES; PRINTED MATTER CHARACTERISED BY IDENTIFICATION OR SECURITY FEATURES; PRINTED MATTER OF SPECIAL FORMAT OR STYLE NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; DEVICES FOR USE THEREWITH AND NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; MOVABLE-STRIP WRITING OR READING APPARATUS
    • B42D25/00—Information-bearing cards or sheet-like structures characterised by identification or security features; Manufacture thereof
    • B42D25/40—Manufacture
    • B42D25/45—Associating two or more layers

Definitions

  • the invention relates to a security element for securing objects of value with a carrier and a color-shifting thin-film element arranged on the carrier, which has a reflective layer arranged over the carrier, a dielectric spacer layer arranged over the reflective layer and an absorber layer arranged over the dielectric spacer layer.
  • the invention also relates to a method for producing such a security element and a data carrier with such a security element.
  • Data carriers such as value or identity documents, or other objects of value such as branded items, are often provided with security elements for protection that allow the authenticity of the data carrier to be checked and at the same time serve as protection against unauthorized reproduction.
  • Security elements with viewing angle-dependent effects play a special role in ensuring authenticity, as these cannot be reproduced even with the most modern copiers.
  • the security elements are equipped with optically variable elements which give the viewer a different image impression from different viewing angles and, for example, show a different color or brightness impression and / or a different graphic motif depending on the viewing angle.
  • the color shift effect in such thin-film elements is based on viewing angle-dependent interference effects due to multiple reflections in the various sub-layers of the element.
  • the path difference of the light reflected on the different layers depends on the one hand on the optical thickness of a dielectric spacer layer, which defines the distance between a semitransparent absorber layer and a reflective layer, and on the other hand varies with the respective viewing angle. Since the path difference is in the order of magnitude of the wavelength of visible light, an angle-dependent color impression results for the viewer due to the extinction and amplification of certain wavelengths.
  • a large number of different color-shift effects can be created through a suitable choice of material and thickness of the dielectric spacer layer.
  • the document DE 102 32 245 A1 discloses a security element according to the preamble of claim 1.
  • the invention is based on the object of specifying a security element of the type mentioned at the beginning with a high level of protection against forgery and an attractive visual appearance.
  • a security element according to claim 1 is provided.
  • the second partial layer of the dielectric spacer layer is present in both color-changing partial areas, while the first partial layer is only present in the first of the two color-changing partial areas.
  • the layer thickness of the first and second partial layers is advantageously constant in each case, so that the different thicknesses of the dielectric spacer layer result only from the presence or absence of the first partial layer.
  • the thin-film element does not have to be present directly on the carrier, but rather one or more intermediate layers can be located between the carrier and the thin-film element, for example the embossing lacquer layer mentioned below.
  • the first and second dielectric partial layers consist of the same dielectric material, in particular of SiO 2 or Al 2 O 3 .
  • the security element is preferably metallic, semitransparent.
  • the first dielectric sub-layer is also cut out with particular advantage in the cut-out areas of the reflective layer.
  • the reflective layer of the thin-film element is preferably formed by an opaque or a semitransparent metal layer, preferably by an opaque or a semitransparent aluminum layer.
  • an opaque or a semitransparent metal layer preferably by an opaque or a semitransparent aluminum layer.
  • other metals such as silver, nickel, copper, iron, chromium, gold or other highly reflective materials can also be considered.
  • the two sub-areas with different color-shifting effects are preferably designed to be complementary to one another, i.e. one of the sub-areas represents the pattern, characters or coding positively, i.e. through its shape itself, while the other sub-area represents the pattern, characters or coding negatively, i.e. through recesses in its shape.
  • the sub-area without a color shift effect and the sub-areas with a different color shift effect represent information that is complementary or related to one another and thereby closely interlocks the three sub-areas for a viewer.
  • An embossed lacquer layer with an embossed relief structure is arranged between the carrier and the reflective layer of the thin-film element.
  • the relief structure can in particular be a diffractive structure such as a hologram, a holographic grating image or a hologram-like diffraction structure represent, or an achromatic structure, such as a matt structure, a micromirror arrangement, a blaze grating with a sawtooth-like furrow profile or a Fresnel lens arrangement.
  • the security element is advantageously a security thread, a tear-open thread, a security tape, a security strip, a patch or a label for application to a security paper, document of value or the like.
  • a soluble washing ink in the form of the desired first cutouts is printed onto the carrier or onto an intermediate layer applied to the carrier in order to produce the at least one recess in the reflective layer.
  • a soluble washing ink in the form of the desired second color-shifting subarea is printed onto the reflective layer.
  • the washing color is washed off together with the latter by a solvent.
  • a particularly simple production results when the at least one cutout in the reflective layer and the cutouts in the first dielectric partial layer are produced in a common washing step.
  • a full-area second dielectric partial layer and a full-area absorber layer are advantageously applied. Since the first partial layer is only present in areas after the creation of the cutouts, the full-area application of the second partial layer results in the desired partial areas with different thicknesses of the dielectric spacer layer.
  • cutouts are produced in the first dielectric partial layer.
  • the procedure could be such that first the first dielectric sublayer is generated, then a soluble washing ink in the form of the desired second color-changing subarea is printed on the first dielectric sublayer and finally the second dielectric sublayer is generated. After the application of the second dielectric partial layer, the washing color is washed off together with the latter by a solvent.
  • the cutouts are not contained in the first dielectric sublayer, but rather in the second dielectric sublayer.
  • the invention also contains a data carrier with a security element of the type described above.
  • the data carrier can be a value document such as a bank note, in particular a paper bank note, a polymer bank note or a composite bank note, a share, a bond, a certificate, a voucher , a check, a high-quality admission ticket, but also an identification card such as a credit card, a bank card, a cash card, an authorization card, an identity card or a passport personalization page.
  • FIG. 1 shows a schematic representation of a bank note 10 which is provided with a security element according to the invention in the form of a security thread 12.
  • the invention is not limited to security threads and banknotes, but can be used for all types of security elements, for example for labels on goods and packaging or for securing documents, ID cards, passports, credit cards, health cards and the like.
  • security threads for example, wide security strips or transfer elements can also be considered.
  • FIG. 2 shows a plan view of a portion of the security thread 12
  • Fig. 3 shows a section through the security thread 12 along the line III-III of FIG Fig. 2 represent.
  • the security thread 12 has a carrier 20 in the form of a transparent plastic film, for example a PET film.
  • a thin-film element 30 which, viewed from the carrier, has in this order a reflective layer 32, a dielectric spacer layer 34 arranged over the reflective layer, and a semitransparent absorber layer 36 arranged over the dielectric spacer layer.
  • the peculiarity of the security thread 12 is that the thin-film element 20 has two sub-areas 22, 24 with a different color shift effect and a sub-area 26 without a color shift effect, the sub-areas 22, 24, 26 each forming patterns, characters or a code.
  • the mutually complementary color-shifting sub-areas 22, 24 form the digit sequence "200", which represents the denomination of the banknote 10, and the sub-area 26 without the color-shifting effect forms the letter sequence "text", which is representative of any letter or character sequence.
  • These three sub-areas with different appearances present in the same thin-film element 30 are initially formed by providing the reflective layer 32 and a first sub-layer 40 of the dielectric spacer layer 34 with cutouts 44 in the form of the sub-area 26 without a color shift effect (letter sequence "text").
  • the visual impression of the thin-film element 30 is therefore determined by the semitransparent absorber layer 36, and the letter sequence “text” therefore appears semimetalized to the viewer.
  • the different color shift effects of the sub-areas 22, 24 are based on the fact that the dielectric spacer layer 34 in the sub-areas 22 consists of two sub-layers 40, 42, each of constant layer thickness, arranged one above the other, while in the sub-areas 24 it consists only of the second sub-layer 42. Since the observable colors of the color shift effect are essentially determined by the layer thickness of the dielectric spacer layer 34, the different layer thicknesses in the subregions 22, 24 also result in different color shift effects.
  • the second sub-layer 42 extends over both color-shifting sub-areas 22, 24, so that the difference in the layer thickness of the overall layer 34 originates only from the first sub-layer 40 additionally present in the sub-areas 22.
  • This can also be expressed in such a way that the first partial layer 40 has recesses 46 in the partial areas 24, while the second partial layer 42 extends over both color-changing partial areas 22, 24.
  • the color impression of the thin-film element 30 can, for example, in the sub-area 22 with the dielectric spacer layer 34 consisting of both sub-layers 40, 42 change from the color green when viewed perpendicularly to the color magenta when viewed obliquely, while the color impression of the thin-film element in the sub-area 24 with the only the dielectric spacer layer 34 consisting of the partial layer 42 changes from the color magenta when viewed perpendicularly to the color gold when viewed obliquely.
  • the two color-shifting sub-areas 22, 24 are complementary to one another, since sub-area 24 itself is formed in the form of the sequence of digits "200", while the shape of sub-area 22 has recesses in the form of the sequence of digits "200".
  • the reflective layer 32 is formed by an opaque aluminum layer
  • the two dielectric partial layers 40, 42 are formed by SiO 2 layers
  • the semitransparent absorber layer 36 is formed by a chromium layer.
  • a printing layer in the form of the desired partial area 26 without a color shift effect is first printed on the PET film 20 with a washing ink, for example, and an aluminum layer 32 is vaporized over the entire surface of the film printed with washing ink. Then a print layer in the desired shape of the color-shifting sub-area is applied to the aluminum layer with another wash color 24 and the film, which has been printed again with washing ink, is coated with an SiO 2 spacer layer, which later forms the first partial layer 40 of the dielectric spacer layer 34.
  • a demetallization step is now carried out in which the imprinted wash color areas are washed off together with the respective overlying layer areas of the first partial layer (areas 22) or the reflective layer and the first partial layer (area 24), thereby creating the desired recesses 44, 46.
  • the security thread 12 is then coated over the entire surface with a further SiO 2 spacer layer, which forms the second partial layer 42 of the dielectric spacer layer 34.
  • the layer sequence produced in this way is also vapor-deposited with a chromium absorber layer 36.
  • the SiO 2 sub-layers 40, 42 lying directly one above the other together form the spacer layer 34 of the thin-film element 30, which, because of its locally different thickness, produces different color-shift effects.
  • Figure 4 shows, as a further exemplary embodiment of the invention, a schematic representation of a color tilt hologram in which the above-mentioned visual appearances are combined with an embossed hologram.
  • the security thread 50 of the Fig. 4 has the same basic structure as the security thread 12 of FIG Figures 2 and 3 on.
  • the security thread 50 contains a carrier 20 in the form of a transparent plastic film, to which a UV lacquer layer 52 is applied, which after its application was embossed with a relief 54 in the form of the desired hologram and hardened.
  • a thin-film element 60 Arranged on the embossed and hardened UV lacquer layer 52 is a thin-film element 60 which, viewed from the carrier, has in this order an aluminum reflective layer 32, a dielectric Al 2 O 3 spacer layer 62 arranged over the reflective layer and a semitransparent chromium arranged over the spacer layer -Absorber Mrs 36 has.
  • the thin-film element 60 has two sub-areas 22, 24 with a different color-shift effect and a sub-area 26 without a color-shift effect, the sub-areas 22, 24, 26 each forming patterns, characters or a code.
  • the sub-area 26 without a color shift effect is formed by cutouts 44 in the reflective layer 32 and a first sub-layer 40 of the dielectric spacer layer 62.
  • the dielectric spacer layer 62 consists in a first color-shifting sub-area 22 of first and second dielectric sub-layers 40, 42 arranged one above the other and produces a thin-film area with a first color-shifting effect.
  • the dielectric spacer layer 62 consists only of the second dielectric sub-layer 42 and produces a thin-film area with a second, different color-shift effect.
  • the hologram formed by the relief 54 can be seen in all three partial areas 22, 24, 26 of the thin-film element 60, but with a different visual appearance:
  • the hologram is visible superimposed by the respective color-shifting effect of the partial area.
  • the reflective layer 32 is cut out in the partial area 26, but there the chromium layer 36 creates a sufficient refractive index difference to the partial layer 42 or to the lacquer layer 52 to make the hologram visible, albeit with reduced contrast and without an overlaid color shift effect.
  • the representation of the layers of the Fig. 4 the simpler graphic representation and to clarify the recessed areas 44, 46 is highly schematic.
  • the second partial layer 42 and the absorber layer 36 will also be in contact with the underlying layers in the recessed areas 44, 46 during vapor deposition, so that the relief 54 of the lacquer layer 52 also merges there into the second partial layer 42 and the absorber layer 36 continues.
  • the recesses 46 are contained in the first dielectric sublayer 40.
  • the cutouts 46 could not be contained in the first dielectric sublayer 40, but rather in the second dielectric sublayer 42.

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  • Business, Economics & Management (AREA)
  • Accounting & Taxation (AREA)
  • Finance (AREA)
  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Manufacturing & Machinery (AREA)
  • Credit Cards Or The Like (AREA)

Description

Die Erfindung betrifft ein Sicherheitselement zur Absicherung von Wertgegenständen mit einem Träger und einem auf dem Träger angeordneten farbkippenden Dünnschichtelement, das eine über dem Träger angeordnete Reflexionsschicht, eine über der Reflexionsschicht angeordnete dielektrische Abstandsschicht und eine über der dielektrischen Abstandsschicht angeordnete Absorberschicht aufweist. Die Erfindung betrifft auch ein Verfahren zum Herstellen eines derartigen Sicherheitselements und einen Datenträger mit einem solchen Sicherheitselement.The invention relates to a security element for securing objects of value with a carrier and a color-shifting thin-film element arranged on the carrier, which has a reflective layer arranged over the carrier, a dielectric spacer layer arranged over the reflective layer and an absorber layer arranged over the dielectric spacer layer. The invention also relates to a method for producing such a security element and a data carrier with such a security element.

Datenträger, wie etwa Wert- oder Ausweisdokumente, oder andere Wertgegenstände, wie etwa Markenartikel, werden zur Absicherung oft mit Sicherheitselementen versehen, die eine Überprüfung der Echtheit der Datenträger gestatten und die zugleich als Schutz vor unerlaubter Reproduktion dienen. Eine besondere Rolle bei der Echtheitsabsicherung spielen Sicherheitselemente mit betrachtungswinkelabhängigen Effekten, da diese selbst mit modernsten Kopiergeräten nicht reproduziert werden können. Die Sicherheitselemente werden dabei mit optisch variablen Elementen ausgestattet, die dem Betrachter unter unterschiedlichen Betrachtungswinkeln einen unterschiedlichen Bildeindruck vermitteln und beispielsweise je nach Betrachtungswinkel einen anderen Farb- oder Helligkeitseindruck und/ oder ein anderes graphisches Motiv zeigen.Data carriers, such as value or identity documents, or other objects of value such as branded items, are often provided with security elements for protection that allow the authenticity of the data carrier to be checked and at the same time serve as protection against unauthorized reproduction. Security elements with viewing angle-dependent effects play a special role in ensuring authenticity, as these cannot be reproduced even with the most modern copiers. The security elements are equipped with optically variable elements which give the viewer a different image impression from different viewing angles and, for example, show a different color or brightness impression and / or a different graphic motif depending on the viewing angle.

In diesem Zusammenhang ist bekannt, Sicherheitselemente mit mehrschichtigen Dünnschichtelementen einzusetzen, deren Farbeindruck sich für den Betrachter mit dem Betrachtungswinkel ändert (im Folgenden als Farbkippeffekt bezeichnet). Der Farbkippeffekt beruht bei solchen Dünnschichtelementen auf betrachtungswinkelabhängigen Interferenzeffekten durch Mehrfachreflexionen in den verschiedenen Teilschichten des Elements. Der Wegunterschied des an den verschiedenen Schichten reflektierten Lichts hängt einerseits von der optischen Dicke einer dielektrischen Abstandsschicht ab, die den Abstand zwischen einer semitransparenten Absorberschicht und einer Reflexionsschicht festlegt, und variiert andererseits mit dem jeweiligen Betrachtungswinkel. Da der Wegunterschied in der Größenordnung der Wellenlänge des sichtbaren Lichts liegt, ergibt sich aufgrund von Auslöschung und Verstärkung bestimmter Wellenlängen ein winkelabhängiger Farbeindruck für den Betrachter. Durch eine geeignete Wahl von Material und Dicke der dielektrischen Abstandsschicht können eine Vielzahl unterschiedlicher Farbkippeffekte gestaltet werden.In this context, it is known to use security elements with multilayer thin-film elements, the color impression of which changes for the viewer with the viewing angle (hereinafter referred to as the color shift effect). The color shift effect in such thin-film elements is based on viewing angle-dependent interference effects due to multiple reflections in the various sub-layers of the element. The path difference of the light reflected on the different layers depends on the one hand on the optical thickness of a dielectric spacer layer, which defines the distance between a semitransparent absorber layer and a reflective layer, and on the other hand varies with the respective viewing angle. Since the path difference is in the order of magnitude of the wavelength of visible light, an angle-dependent color impression results for the viewer due to the extinction and amplification of certain wavelengths. A large number of different color-shift effects can be created through a suitable choice of material and thickness of the dielectric spacer layer.

Das Dokument DE 102 32 245 A1 offenbart ein Sicherheitselement nach dem Oberbegriff des Anspruchs 1.The document DE 102 32 245 A1 discloses a security element according to the preamble of claim 1.

Ausgehend davon liegt der Erfindung die Aufgabe zugrunde, ein Sicherheitselement der eingangs genannten Art mit hoher Fälschungssicherheit und attraktivem visuellen Erscheinungsbild anzugeben.Proceeding from this, the invention is based on the object of specifying a security element of the type mentioned at the beginning with a high level of protection against forgery and an attractive visual appearance.

Diese Aufgabe wird durch die Merkmale der unabhängigen Ansprüche gelöst. Weiterbildungen der Erfindung sind Gegenstand der Unteransprüche.This object is achieved by the features of the independent claims. Further developments of the invention are the subject of the subclaims.

Ausführliche Beschreibung der ErfindungDetailed description of the invention

Gemäß der Erfindung ist ein Sicherheitselement nach Anspruch 1 vorgesehen.According to the invention, a security element according to claim 1 is provided.

Mit anderen Worten liegt die zweite Teilschicht der dielektrischen Abstandsschicht in beiden farbkippenden Teilbereichen vor, während die erste Teilschicht nur in dem ersten der beiden farbkippenden Teilbereiche vorliegt. Die Schichtdicke der ersten und zweiten Teilschicht ist dabei mit Vorteil jeweils konstant, so dass sich die unterschiedliche Dicke der dielektrischen Abstandsschicht nur aus dem Vorliegen bzw. Nichtvorliegen der ersten Teilschicht ergibt.In other words, the second partial layer of the dielectric spacer layer is present in both color-changing partial areas, while the first partial layer is only present in the first of the two color-changing partial areas. The layer thickness of the first and second partial layers is advantageously constant in each case, so that the different thicknesses of the dielectric spacer layer result only from the presence or absence of the first partial layer.

Das Dünnschichtelement muss nicht direkt auf dem Träger vorliegen, sondern es können sich eine oder mehrere Zwischenschichten zwischen dem Träger und dem Dünnschichtelement befinden, beispielsweise die weiter unten genannte Prägelackschicht.The thin-film element does not have to be present directly on the carrier, but rather one or more intermediate layers can be located between the carrier and the thin-film element, for example the embossing lacquer layer mentioned below.

In einer vorteilhaften Erfindungsvariante bestehen die ersten und zweiten dielektrischen Teilschichten aus demselben dielektrischen Material, insbesondere aus SiO2 oder Al2O3.In an advantageous variant of the invention, the first and second dielectric partial layers consist of the same dielectric material, in particular of SiO 2 or Al 2 O 3 .

In den Bereichen der zumindest einen Aussparung in der Reflexionsschicht ist das Sicherheitselement vorzugsweise metallisch semitransparent. Um eine besonders einfache Herstellung zu ermöglichen, ist mit besonderem Vorteil in den ausgesparten Bereichen der Reflexionsschicht auch die erste dielektrische Teilschicht ausgespart.In the areas of the at least one cutout in the reflective layer, the security element is preferably metallic, semitransparent. In order to enable particularly simple production, the first dielectric sub-layer is also cut out with particular advantage in the cut-out areas of the reflective layer.

Die Reflexionsschicht des Dünnschichtelements ist bevorzugt durch eine opake oder eine semitransparente Metallschicht gebildet, vorzugsweise durch eine opake oder eine semitransparente Aluminiumschicht. Grundsätzlich kommen jedoch auch andere Metalle, wie etwa Silber, Nickel, Kupfer, Eisen, Chrom, Gold oder andere stark spiegelnde Materialien in Betracht.The reflective layer of the thin-film element is preferably formed by an opaque or a semitransparent metal layer, preferably by an opaque or a semitransparent aluminum layer. In principle, however, other metals such as silver, nickel, copper, iron, chromium, gold or other highly reflective materials can also be considered.

Die beiden Teilbereiche mit unterschiedlichem Farbkippeffekt sind vorzugsweise zueinander komplementär ausgebildet, das heißt, einer der Teilbereiche stellt die Muster, Zeichen oder Codierung positiv, also durch seine Form selbst dar, während der andere Teilbereich die Muster, Zeichen oder Codierung negativ, also durch Aussparungen in seiner Form darstellt. Der Teilbereich ohne Farbkippeffekt und die Teilbereiche mit unterschiedlichem Farbkippeffekt stellen einander ergänzende oder aufeinander bezogene Informationen dar und verzahnen dadurch die drei Teilbereiche für einen Betrachter eng miteinander.The two sub-areas with different color-shifting effects are preferably designed to be complementary to one another, i.e. one of the sub-areas represents the pattern, characters or coding positively, i.e. through its shape itself, while the other sub-area represents the pattern, characters or coding negatively, i.e. through recesses in its shape. The sub-area without a color shift effect and the sub-areas with a different color shift effect represent information that is complementary or related to one another and thereby closely interlocks the three sub-areas for a viewer.

Zwischen dem Träger und der Reflexionsschicht des Dünnschichtelements ist eine Prägelackschicht mit einer eingeprägten Reliefstruktur angeordnet. Die Reliefstruktur kann dabei insbesondere eine diffraktive Struktur, wie etwa ein Hologramm, ein holographisches Gitterbild oder eine hologrammähnliche Beugungsstruktur darstellen, oder auch eine achromatische Struktur, wie etwa eine Mattstruktur, eine Mikrospiegelanordnung, ein Blazegitter mit einem sägezahnartigen Furchenprofil oder eine Fresnellinsen-Anordnung.An embossed lacquer layer with an embossed relief structure is arranged between the carrier and the reflective layer of the thin-film element. The relief structure can in particular be a diffractive structure such as a hologram, a holographic grating image or a hologram-like diffraction structure represent, or an achromatic structure, such as a matt structure, a micromirror arrangement, a blaze grating with a sawtooth-like furrow profile or a Fresnel lens arrangement.

Das Sicherheitselement ist mit Vorteil ein Sicherheitsfaden, ein Aufreißfaden, ein Sicherheitsband, ein Sicherheitsstreifen, ein Patch oder ein Etikett zum Aufbringen auf ein Sicherheitspapier, Wertdokument oder dergleichen.The security element is advantageously a security thread, a tear-open thread, a security tape, a security strip, a patch or a label for application to a security paper, document of value or the like.

Die Erfindung enthält auch ein Verfahren zum Herstellen eines Sicherheitselements der oben beschriebenen Art, bei dem

  • auf einen Träger, gegebenenfalls über eine oder mehrere Zwischenschichten, ein farbkippendes Dünnschichtelement aufgebracht wird, indem über dem Träger eine Reflexionsschicht angeordnet wird, über der Reflexionsschicht eine dielektrische Abstandsschicht angeordnet wird und über der dielektrischen Abstandsschicht eine Absorberschicht angeordnet wird,
  • das Dünnschichtelement mit zwei Teilbereichen mit unterschiedlichem Farbkippeffekt und einem Teilbereich ohne Farbkippeffekt erzeugt wird, wobei die Teilbereiche jeweils Muster, Zeichen oder eine Codierung bilden,
  • wobei der Teilbereich ohne Farbkippeffekt durch zumindest eine Aussparung in der Reflexionsschicht in Form von Mustern, Zeichen oder einer Codierung gebildet wird,
  • die dielektrische Abstandsschicht durch Aufbringen einer ersten und zweiten dielektrischen Teilschicht nacheinander erzeugt wird,
  • die dielektrische Abstandsschicht in einem ersten der beiden farbkippenden Teilbereiche durch die übereinander angeordneten ersten und zweiten dielektrischen Teilschichten gebildet wird und einen Teilbereich mit einem ersten Farbkippeffekt erzeugt,
  • die dielektrische Abstandsschicht in einem zweiten der beiden farbkippenden Teilbereiche nur aus der zweiten dielektrischen Teilschicht gebildet wird und einen Teilbereich mit einem zweiten, unterschiedlichen Farbkippeffekt erzeugt, wobei
  • zwischen dem Träger (20) und der Reflexionsschicht (32) des Dünnschichtelements (30, 60) eine Prägelackschicht (52) mit einer eingeprägten Reliefstruktur (54) angeordnet wird, und
  • der Teilbereich (26) ohne Farbkippeffekt und die Teilbereiche (22, 24) mit unterschiedlichem Farbkippeffekt einander ergänzende oder aufeinander bezogene Informationen darstellen.
The invention also includes a method for producing a security element of the type described above, in which
  • a color-changing thin-film element is applied to a carrier, optionally via one or more intermediate layers, by arranging a reflective layer over the carrier, arranging a dielectric spacer layer over the reflective layer and arranging an absorber layer over the dielectric spacer layer,
  • the thin-film element is produced with two sub-areas with a different color shift effect and a sub-area without a color shift effect, the sub-areas each forming a pattern, character or a code,
  • wherein the sub-area without color shift effect is formed by at least one recess in the reflective layer in the form of patterns, characters or coding,
  • the dielectric spacer layer is produced by applying a first and second dielectric sub-layer one after the other,
  • the dielectric spacer layer is formed in a first of the two color-shifting sub-areas by the first and second dielectric sub-layers arranged one above the other and generates a sub-area with a first color-shifting effect,
  • the dielectric spacer layer is formed in a second of the two color-shifting partial areas only from the second dielectric partial layer and produces a partial area with a second, different color-shifting effect, wherein
  • an embossed lacquer layer (52) with an embossed relief structure (54) is arranged between the carrier (20) and the reflective layer (32) of the thin-film element (30, 60), and
  • the sub-area (26) without a color-shift effect and the sub-areas (22, 24) with a different color-shift effect represent information that supplements or relates to one another.

Bei einer vorteilhaften Verfahrensführung wird zur Erzeugung der zumindest einen Aussparung in der Reflexionsschicht eine lösliche Waschfarbe in Form der gewünschten ersten Aussparungen auf den Träger oder auf eine auf dem Träger aufgebrachte Zwischenschicht aufgedruckt. Die Waschfarbe wird nach dem Aufbringen der Reflexionsschicht oder nach dem Aufbringen der Reflexionsschicht und der ersten dielektrischen Teilschicht zusammen mit diesen durch ein Lösungsmittel abgewaschen.In an advantageous procedure, a soluble washing ink in the form of the desired first cutouts is printed onto the carrier or onto an intermediate layer applied to the carrier in order to produce the at least one recess in the reflective layer. After the reflective layer has been applied or after the reflective layer and the first dielectric sublayer have been applied together with them, the washing paint is washed off by a solvent.

Weiter wird in einer vorteilhaften Verfahrensführung zur Erzeugung von Aussparungen in der ersten dielektrischen Teilschicht nach dem Aufbringen der Reflexionsschicht eine lösliche Waschfarbe in Form des gewünschten zweiten farbkippenden Teilbereichs auf die Reflexionsschicht aufgedruckt. Die Waschfarbe wird nach dem Aufbringen der ersten dielektrischen Teilschicht zusammen mit dieser durch ein Lösungsmittel abgewaschen.Furthermore, in an advantageous process procedure for producing cutouts in the first dielectric sublayer, after the reflective layer has been applied, a soluble washing ink in the form of the desired second color-shifting subarea is printed onto the reflective layer. After the first dielectric partial layer has been applied, the washing color is washed off together with the latter by a solvent.

Eine besonders einfache Herstellung ergibt sich, wenn die zumindest eine Aussparung in der Reflexionsschicht und die Aussparungen in der ersten dielektrischen Teilschicht in einem gemeinsamen Waschschritt erzeugt werden.A particularly simple production results when the at least one cutout in the reflective layer and the cutouts in the first dielectric partial layer are produced in a common washing step.

In jedem Fall werden nach der gemeinsamen oder getrennten Erzeugung der Aussparungen mit Vorteil eine vollflächige zweite dielektrische Teilschicht und eine vollflächige Absorberschicht aufgebracht. Da die erste Teilschicht nach der Erzeugung der Aussparungen nur bereichsweise vorliegt, ergeben sich durch die vollflächige Aufbringung der zweiten Teilschicht die gewünschten Teilbereiche mit unterschiedlicher Dicke der dielektrischen Abstandsschicht.In any case, after the joint or separate production of the cutouts, a full-area second dielectric partial layer and a full-area absorber layer are advantageously applied. Since the first partial layer is only present in areas after the creation of the cutouts, the full-area application of the second partial layer results in the desired partial areas with different thicknesses of the dielectric spacer layer.

Gemäß der voranstehend beschriebenen, vorteilhaften Verfahrensführung werden Aussparungen in der ersten dielektrischen Teilschicht erzeugt. Alternativ könnte so vorgegangen werden, dass zunächst die erste dielektrische Teilschicht erzeugt wird, danach eine lösliche Waschfarbe in Form des gewünschten zweiten farbkippenden Teilbereichs auf die erste dielektrische Teilschicht aufgedruckt wird und schließlich die zweite dielektrische Teilschicht erzeugt wird. Die Waschfarbe wird nach dem Aufbringen der zweiten dielektrischen Teilschicht zusammen mit dieser durch ein Lösungsmittel abgewaschen. Mit anderen Worten, die Aussparungen sind nicht in der ersten dielektrischen Teilschicht, sondern in der zweiten dielektrischen Teilschicht enthalten.According to the advantageous procedure described above, cutouts are produced in the first dielectric partial layer. Alternatively, the procedure could be such that first the first dielectric sublayer is generated, then a soluble washing ink in the form of the desired second color-changing subarea is printed on the first dielectric sublayer and finally the second dielectric sublayer is generated. After the application of the second dielectric partial layer, the washing color is washed off together with the latter by a solvent. In other words, the cutouts are not contained in the first dielectric sublayer, but rather in the second dielectric sublayer.

Die Erfindung enthält weiter einen Datenträger mit einem Sicherheitselement der oben beschriebenen Art. Bei dem Datenträger kann es sich um ein Wertdokument, wie eine Banknote, insbesondere eine Papierbanknote, eine Polymerbanknote oder eine Folienverbundbanknote, um eine Aktie, eine Anleihe, eine Urkunde, einen Gutschein, einen Scheck, eine hochwertige Eintrittskarte, aber auch um eine Ausweiskarte, wie etwa eine Kreditkarte, eine Bankkarte, eine Barzahlungskarte, eine Berechtigungskarte, einen Personalausweis oder eine Passpersonalisierungsseite handeln.The invention also contains a data carrier with a security element of the type described above. The data carrier can be a value document such as a bank note, in particular a paper bank note, a polymer bank note or a composite bank note, a share, a bond, a certificate, a voucher , a check, a high-quality admission ticket, but also an identification card such as a credit card, a bank card, a cash card, an authorization card, an identity card or a passport personalization page.

Weitere Ausführungsbeispiele sowie Vorteile der Erfindung werden nachfolgend anhand der Figuren erläutert, bei deren Darstellung auf eine maßstabs- und proportionsgetreue Wiedergabe verzichtet wurde, um die Anschaulichkeit zu erhöhen.Further exemplary embodiments as well as advantages of the invention are explained below with reference to the figures, the representation of which is true to scale and proportions was dispensed with in order to increase the clarity.

Es zeigen:

Fig. 1
eine schematische Darstellung einer Banknote mit einem erfindungsgemäßen Sicherheitselement in Form eines Sicherheitsfadens,
Fig. 2
eine Aufsicht auf einen Teilbereich des Sicherheitsfadens von Fig. 1,
Fig. 3
einen Querschnitt durch den Sicherheitsfaden von Fig. 2 entlang der Linie III-III,
Fig. 4
einen Querschnitt wie Fig. 3 für einen Sicherheitsfaden nach einem anderen Ausführungsbeispiel der Erfindung.
Show it:
Fig. 1
a schematic representation of a banknote with a security element according to the invention in the form of a security thread,
Fig. 2
a view of a part of the security thread from Fig. 1 ,
Fig. 3
a cross section through the security thread of Fig. 2 along the line III-III,
Fig. 4
a cross section like Fig. 3 for a security thread according to another embodiment of the invention.

Die Erfindung wird nun am Beispiel von Sicherheitselementen für Banknoten erläutert. Figur 1 zeigt dazu eine schematische Darstellung einer Banknote 10, die mit einem erfindungsgemäßen Sicherheitselement in Form eines Sicherheitsfadens 12 versehen ist. Es versteht sich allerdings, dass die Erfindung nicht auf Sicherheitsfäden und Banknoten beschränkt ist, sondern bei allen Arten von Sicherheitselementen eingesetzt werden kann, beispielsweise bei Etiketten auf Waren und Verpackungen oder bei der Absicherung von Dokumenten, Ausweisen, Pässen, Kreditkarten, Gesundheitskarten und dergleichen. Bei Banknoten und ähnlichen Dokumenten kommen neben Sicherheitsfäden beispielsweise auch breite Sicherheitsstreifen oder Transferelemente in Betracht.The invention will now be explained using the example of security elements for bank notes. Figure 1 shows a schematic representation of a bank note 10 which is provided with a security element according to the invention in the form of a security thread 12. It goes without saying, however, that the invention is not limited to security threads and banknotes, but can be used for all types of security elements, for example for labels on goods and packaging or for securing documents, ID cards, passports, credit cards, health cards and the like. In the case of banknotes and similar documents, in addition to security threads, for example, wide security strips or transfer elements can also be considered.

Der Aufbau und die prinzipielle Funktionsweise des Sicherheitsfadens 12 werden nun mit Bezug auf die Figuren 2 und 3 näher erläutert. Figur 2 zeigt dabei eine Aufsicht auf einen Teilbereich des Sicherheitsfadens 12, Fig. 3 stellt einen Schnitt durch den Sicherheitsfaden 12 entlang der Linie III-III der Fig. 2 dar.The structure and the basic mode of operation of the security thread 12 will now be described with reference to FIG Figures 2 and 3 explained in more detail. Figure 2 shows a plan view of a portion of the security thread 12, Fig. 3 shows a section through the security thread 12 along the line III-III of FIG Fig. 2 represent.

Der Sicherheitsfaden 12 weist einen Träger 20 in Form einer transparenten Kunststofffolie, beispielsweise einer PET-Folie auf. Auf dem Träger 20 ist ein Dünnschichtelement 30 angeordnet, das vom Träger aus gesehen in dieser Reihenfolge eine Reflexionsschicht 32, eine über der Reflexionsschicht angeordnete dielektrische Abstandsschicht 34 und eine über der dielektrischen Abstandsschicht angeordnete semitransparente Absorberschicht 36 aufweist. Die Besonderheit des Sicherheitsfadens 12 besteht nun insbesondere darin, dass das Dünnschichtelement 20 zwei Teilbereiche 22, 24 mit unterschiedlichem Farbkippeffekt und einen Teilbereich 26 ohne Farbkippeffekt aufweist, wobei die Teilbereiche 22, 24, 26 jeweils Muster, Zeichen oder eine Codierung bilden. Im Ausführungsbeispiel bilden die zueinander komplementären farbkippenden Teilbereiche 22, 24 die Ziffernfolge "200", die die Denomination der Banknote 10 darstellt, und der Teilbereich 26 ohne Farbkippeffekt bildet die Buchstabenfolge "Text", die stellvertretend für eine beliebige Buchstaben- oder Zeichenfolge steht.The security thread 12 has a carrier 20 in the form of a transparent plastic film, for example a PET film. Arranged on the carrier 20 is a thin-film element 30 which, viewed from the carrier, has in this order a reflective layer 32, a dielectric spacer layer 34 arranged over the reflective layer, and a semitransparent absorber layer 36 arranged over the dielectric spacer layer. The peculiarity of the security thread 12 is that the thin-film element 20 has two sub-areas 22, 24 with a different color shift effect and a sub-area 26 without a color shift effect, the sub-areas 22, 24, 26 each forming patterns, characters or a code. In the exemplary embodiment, the mutually complementary color-shifting sub-areas 22, 24 form the digit sequence "200", which represents the denomination of the banknote 10, and the sub-area 26 without the color-shifting effect forms the letter sequence "text", which is representative of any letter or character sequence.

Diese im selben Dünnschichtelement 30 vorliegenden drei Teilbereiche mit unterschiedlichem Erscheinungsbild sind zunächst dadurch gebildet, dass die Reflexionsschicht 32 und eine erste Teilschicht 40 der dielektrischen Abstandsschicht 34 mit Aussparungen 44 in Form des Teilbereich 26 ohne Farbkippeffekt (Buchstabenfolge "Text") versehen sind. Im Teilbereich 26 wird der visuelle Eindruck des Dünnschichtelements 30 daher von der semitransparenten Absorberschicht 36 bestimmt, die Buchstabenfolge "Text" erscheint daher für den Betrachter semimetallisiert.These three sub-areas with different appearances present in the same thin-film element 30 are initially formed by providing the reflective layer 32 and a first sub-layer 40 of the dielectric spacer layer 34 with cutouts 44 in the form of the sub-area 26 without a color shift effect (letter sequence "text"). In the sub-area 26, the visual impression of the thin-film element 30 is therefore determined by the semitransparent absorber layer 36, and the letter sequence “text” therefore appears semimetalized to the viewer.

Die unterschiedliche Farbkippeffekte des Teilbereiche 22, 24 beruhen darauf, dass die dielektrische Abstandsschicht 34 in den Teilbereichen 22 aus zwei übereinander angeordneten Teilschichten 40, 42 jeweils konstanter Schichtdicke besteht, während sie in den Teilbereichen 24 nur aus der zweiten Teilschicht 42 besteht. Da die beobachtbaren Farben des Farbkippeffekts im Wesentlichen durch die Schichtdicke der dielektrischen Abstandsschicht 34 bestimmt sind, ergeben sich durch die unterschiedlichen Schichtdicken in den Teilbereichen 22, 24 auch unterschiedliche Farbkippeffekte.The different color shift effects of the sub-areas 22, 24 are based on the fact that the dielectric spacer layer 34 in the sub-areas 22 consists of two sub-layers 40, 42, each of constant layer thickness, arranged one above the other, while in the sub-areas 24 it consists only of the second sub-layer 42. Since the observable colors of the color shift effect are essentially determined by the layer thickness of the dielectric spacer layer 34, the different layer thicknesses in the subregions 22, 24 also result in different color shift effects.

Wie in Fig. 3 gezeigt, erstreckt sich die zweite Teilschicht 42 über beide farbkippende Teilbereiche 22, 24, so dass der Unterschied in der Schichtdicke der Gesamtschicht 34 nur von der in den Teilbereichen 22 zusätzlich vorliegenden ersten Teilschicht 40 herrührt. Dies kann auch so ausgedrückt werden, dass die erste Teilschicht 40 in den Teilbereichen 24 Aussparungen 46 aufweist, während die zweite Teilschicht 42 sich über beiden farbkippenden Teilbereiche 22, 24 erstreckt.As in Fig. 3 As shown, the second sub-layer 42 extends over both color-shifting sub-areas 22, 24, so that the difference in the layer thickness of the overall layer 34 originates only from the first sub-layer 40 additionally present in the sub-areas 22. This can also be expressed in such a way that the first partial layer 40 has recesses 46 in the partial areas 24, while the second partial layer 42 extends over both color-changing partial areas 22, 24.

Der Farbeindruck des Dünnschichtelements 30 kann beispielsweise in dem Teilbereich 22 mit der aus beiden Teilschichten 40, 42 bestehenden dielektrischen Abstandsschicht 34 von der Farbe Grün bei senkrechter Betrachtung zur Farbe Magenta bei schräger Betrachtung wechseln, während der Farbeindruck des Dünnschichtelements in dem Teilbereich 24 mit der nur aus der Teilschicht 42 bestehenden dielektrischen Abstandsschicht 34 von der Farbe Magenta bei senkrechter Betrachtung zur Farbe Gold bei schräger Betrachtung wechselt.The color impression of the thin-film element 30 can, for example, in the sub-area 22 with the dielectric spacer layer 34 consisting of both sub-layers 40, 42 change from the color green when viewed perpendicularly to the color magenta when viewed obliquely, while the color impression of the thin-film element in the sub-area 24 with the only the dielectric spacer layer 34 consisting of the partial layer 42 changes from the color magenta when viewed perpendicularly to the color gold when viewed obliquely.

Wie aus Fig. 3 weiter dargestellt, sind die beiden farbkippenden Teilbereiche 22, 24 zueinander komplementär, da der Teilbereich 24 selbst in Form der Ziffernfolge "200" gebildet ist, während die Form des Teilbereichs 22 Aussparungen in Form der Ziffernfolge "200" aufweist.How out Fig. 3 Also shown, the two color-shifting sub-areas 22, 24 are complementary to one another, since sub-area 24 itself is formed in the form of the sequence of digits "200", while the shape of sub-area 22 has recesses in the form of the sequence of digits "200".

Im Ausführungsbeispiel ist die Reflexionsschicht 32 durch eine opake Aluminiumschicht gebildet, die beiden dielektrischen Teilschichten 40, 42 sind durch SiO2-Schichten und die semitransparente Absorberschicht 36 durch eine Chromschicht gebildet.In the exemplary embodiment, the reflective layer 32 is formed by an opaque aluminum layer, the two dielectric partial layers 40, 42 are formed by SiO 2 layers and the semitransparent absorber layer 36 is formed by a chromium layer.

Zur Herstellung des Sicherheitsfadens 12 wird beispielsweise auf die PET-Folie 20 zunächst mit einer Waschfarbe eine Druckschicht in Form des gewünschten Teilbereichs 26 ohne Farbkippeffekt aufgedruckt und die mit Waschfarbe bedruckte Folie vollflächig mit einer Aluminiumschicht 32 bedampft. Dann wird auf die Aluminiumschicht mit einer weiteren Waschfarbe eine Druckschicht in der gewünschten Form des farbkippenden Teilbereiches 24 aufgedruckt und die erneut mit Waschfarbe bedruckte Folie wird mit einer SiO2-Abstandsschicht beschichtet, die später die erste Teilschicht 40 der dielektrischen Abstandschicht 34 bildet.To produce the security thread 12, a printing layer in the form of the desired partial area 26 without a color shift effect is first printed on the PET film 20 with a washing ink, for example, and an aluminum layer 32 is vaporized over the entire surface of the film printed with washing ink. Then a print layer in the desired shape of the color-shifting sub-area is applied to the aluminum layer with another wash color 24 and the film, which has been printed again with washing ink, is coated with an SiO 2 spacer layer, which later forms the first partial layer 40 of the dielectric spacer layer 34.

Nun wird ein Demetallisierungsschritt durchgeführt, in dem die aufgedruckten Waschfarbenbereiche zusammen mit den jeweils darüber liegenden Schichtbereichen der ersten Teilschicht (Bereiche 22) bzw. der Reflexionsschicht und der ersten Teilschicht (Bereich 24) abgewaschen und dadurch die gewünschten Aussparungen 44, 46 erzeugt werden. Anschließend wird der Sicherheitsfaden 12 vollflächig mit einer weiteren SiO2-Abstandsschicht beschichtet, die die zweite Teilschicht 42 der dielektrischen Abstandschicht 34 bildet. Schließlich wird die so erzeugte Schichtenfolge noch mit einer Chrom-Absorberschicht 36 bedampft. Die unmittelbar übereinander liegenden SiO2-Teilschichten 40, 42 bilden zusammen die Abstandsschicht 34 des Dünnschichtelements 30, die wegen ihre lokal unterschiedlichen Dicke unterschiedliche Farbkippeffekte erzeugt.A demetallization step is now carried out in which the imprinted wash color areas are washed off together with the respective overlying layer areas of the first partial layer (areas 22) or the reflective layer and the first partial layer (area 24), thereby creating the desired recesses 44, 46. The security thread 12 is then coated over the entire surface with a further SiO 2 spacer layer, which forms the second partial layer 42 of the dielectric spacer layer 34. Finally, the layer sequence produced in this way is also vapor-deposited with a chromium absorber layer 36. The SiO 2 sub-layers 40, 42 lying directly one above the other together form the spacer layer 34 of the thin-film element 30, which, because of its locally different thickness, produces different color-shift effects.

Figur 4 zeigt als weiteres Ausführungsbeispiel der Erfindung in schematischer Darstellung ein Farbkipp-Hologramm, bei dem die oben genannten visuellen Erscheinungsbilder mit einem Prägehologramm kombiniert sind. Figure 4 shows, as a further exemplary embodiment of the invention, a schematic representation of a color tilt hologram in which the above-mentioned visual appearances are combined with an embossed hologram.

Der Sicherheitsfaden 50 der Fig. 4 weist dabei bis auf die geprägte Lackschicht 52 denselben grundsätzlichen Aufbau wie der Sicherheitsfaden 12 der Figuren 2 und 3 auf. Der Sicherheitsfaden 50 enthält einen Träger 20 in Form einer transparenten Kunststofffolie, auf die eine UV-Lackschicht 52 aufgebracht, die nach ihrem Aufbringen mit einem Relief 54 in Form des gewünschten Hologramms geprägt und gehärtet wurde.The security thread 50 of the Fig. 4 has the same basic structure as the security thread 12 of FIG Figures 2 and 3 on. The security thread 50 contains a carrier 20 in the form of a transparent plastic film, to which a UV lacquer layer 52 is applied, which after its application was embossed with a relief 54 in the form of the desired hologram and hardened.

Auf der geprägten und gehärteten UV-Lackschicht 52 ist ein Dünnschichtelement 60 angeordnet, das von Träger aus gesehen in dieser Reihenfolge eine Aluminium-Reflexionsschicht 32, eine über der Reflexionsschicht angeordnete dielektrische Al2O3-Abstandsschicht 62 und eine über der Abstandsschicht angeordnete semitransparente Chrom-Absorberschicht 36 aufweist.Arranged on the embossed and hardened UV lacquer layer 52 is a thin-film element 60 which, viewed from the carrier, has in this order an aluminum reflective layer 32, a dielectric Al 2 O 3 spacer layer 62 arranged over the reflective layer and a semitransparent chromium arranged over the spacer layer -Absorberschicht 36 has.

Das Dünnschichtelement 60 weist zwei Teilbereiche 22, 24 mit unterschiedlichem Farbkippeffekt und einen Teilbereich 26 ohne Farbkippeffekt auf, wobei die Teilbereiche 22, 24, 26 jeweils Muster, Zeichen oder eine Codierung bilden. Der Teilbereich 26 ohne Farbkippeffekt ist durch Aussparungen 44 in der Reflexionsschicht 32 und einer ersten Teilschicht 40 der dielektrischen Abstandsschicht 62 gebildet.The thin-film element 60 has two sub-areas 22, 24 with a different color-shift effect and a sub-area 26 without a color-shift effect, the sub-areas 22, 24, 26 each forming patterns, characters or a code. The sub-area 26 without a color shift effect is formed by cutouts 44 in the reflective layer 32 and a first sub-layer 40 of the dielectric spacer layer 62.

Die dielektrische Abstandsschicht 62 besteht in einem ersten farbkippenden Teilbereich 22 aus übereinander angeordneten ersten und zweiten dielektrischen Teilschichten 40, 42 und erzeugt einen Dünnschichtbereich mit einem ersten Farbkippeffekt. In einem zweiten farbkippenden Teilbereich 24 besteht die dielektrische Abstandsschicht 62 nur aus der zweiten dielektrischen Teilschicht 42 und erzeugt einen Dünnschichtbereich mit einem zweiten, unterschiedlichen Farbkippeffekt.The dielectric spacer layer 62 consists in a first color-shifting sub-area 22 of first and second dielectric sub-layers 40, 42 arranged one above the other and produces a thin-film area with a first color-shifting effect. In a second color-shifting sub-area 24, the dielectric spacer layer 62 consists only of the second dielectric sub-layer 42 and produces a thin-film area with a second, different color-shift effect.

Bei der Betrachtung des Sicherheitsfadens 40 ist das von dem Relief 54 gebildete Hologramm in allen drei Teilbereichen 22, 24, 26 des Dünnschichtelements 60 zu erkennen, allerdings mit unterschiedlichem visuellem Erscheinungsbild:
In den farbkippenden Teilbereichen 22 und 24 ist das Hologramm von dem jeweiligen Farbkippeffekt des Teilbereichs überlagert sichtbar. Im Teilbereich 26 ist die Reflexionsschicht 32 ausgespart, dort erzeugt allerdings die Chromschicht 36 einen ausreichenden Brechungsindexunterschied zur Teilschicht 42 bzw. zur Lackschicht 52, um das Hologramm, wenn auch mit reduziertem Kontrast und ohne überlagertem Farbkippeffekt sichtbar zu machen. Der Vollständigkeit sei bemerkt, dass die Darstellung der Schichten der Fig. 4 der einfacheren zeichnerischen Darstellung und zur Verdeutlichung der ausgesparten Bereiche 44, 46 stark schematisiert ist. In der Praxis werden die zweite Teilschicht 42 und die Absorberschicht 36 beim Aufdampfen auch in den ausgesparten Bereiche 44, 46 in Kontakt mit den darunterliegenden Schichten stehen, so dass sich das Relief 54 der Lackschicht 52 auch dort in die zweite Teilschicht 42 und die Absorberschicht 36 fortsetzt.When viewing the security thread 40, the hologram formed by the relief 54 can be seen in all three partial areas 22, 24, 26 of the thin-film element 60, but with a different visual appearance:
In the color-shifting partial areas 22 and 24, the hologram is visible superimposed by the respective color-shifting effect of the partial area. The reflective layer 32 is cut out in the partial area 26, but there the chromium layer 36 creates a sufficient refractive index difference to the partial layer 42 or to the lacquer layer 52 to make the hologram visible, albeit with reduced contrast and without an overlaid color shift effect. For the sake of completeness, it should be noted that the representation of the layers of the Fig. 4 the simpler graphic representation and to clarify the recessed areas 44, 46 is highly schematic. In practice, the second partial layer 42 and the absorber layer 36 will also be in contact with the underlying layers in the recessed areas 44, 46 during vapor deposition, so that the relief 54 of the lacquer layer 52 also merges there into the second partial layer 42 and the absorber layer 36 continues.

In dem in den Figuren 3 und 4 gezeigten Ausführungsbeispiel sind die Aussparungen 46 in der ersten dielektrischen Teilschicht 40 enthalten. Alternativ dazu könnten gemäß einem weiteren, nicht gezeigten Ausführungsbeispiel die Aussparungen 46 nicht in der ersten dielektrischen Teilschicht 40, sondern in der zweiten dielektrischen Teilschicht 42 enthalten sein.In the in the Figures 3 and 4th The embodiment shown, the recesses 46 are contained in the first dielectric sublayer 40. As an alternative to this, according to a further exemplary embodiment not shown, the cutouts 46 could not be contained in the first dielectric sublayer 40, but rather in the second dielectric sublayer 42.

BezugszeichenlisteList of reference symbols

1010
BanknoteBanknote
1212th
SicherheitsfadenSecurity thread
2020th
Trägercarrier
22, 2422, 24
farbkippende Teilbereichecolor-shifting sub-areas
2626th
Teilbereich ohne FarbkippeffektPartial area without color shift effect
3030th
DünnschichtelementThin film element
3232
ReflexionsschichtReflective layer
3434
dielektrische Abstandsschichtdielectric spacer layer
3636
semitransparente Absorberschichtsemi-transparent absorber layer
40, 4240, 42
erste und zweite Teilschichtfirst and second sub-layer
44, 4644, 46
AussparungenRecesses
5050
SicherheitsfadenSecurity thread
5252
UV-LackschichtUV varnish layer
5454
Reliefrelief
6060
DünnschichtelementThin film element
6262
AbstandsschichtSpacer layer

Claims (16)

  1. A security element (12, 50) for safeguarding objects of value (10) with a carrier (20) and a color-shifting thin-film element (30, 60) arranged on the carrier (20), which thin-film element has a reflection layer (32) arranged above the carrier (20), a dielectric spacer layer (34) arranged above the reflection layer (32), and an absorber layer (36) arranged above the dielectric spacer layer (34), wherein
    - the thin-film element (30, 60) has two partial regions (22, 24) with different color-shift effect and one partial region (26) without color-shift effect, the partial regions respectively forming patterns, characters or a coding,
    - the partial region (26) without color-shift effect is formed by at least one gap in the reflection layer (32) in the form of patterns, characters or a coding,
    - the dielectric spacer layer (34) in a first one of the two color-shifting partial regions (22, 24) consists of first and second dielectric partial layers (40, 42) arranged one above the other and produces a partial region with a first color-shift effect,
    - the dielectric spacer layer (34) in a second one of the two color-shifting partial regions (22, 24) consists of only the second dielectric partial layer and produces a partial region with a second, different color-shift effect,
    characterized in that
    - between the carrier (20) and the reflection layer (32) of the thin-film element (30, 60) there is arranged an embossing lacquer layer (52) with an embossed relief structure (54) and
    - the partial region (26) without color-shift effect and the partial regions (22, 24) with different color-shift effect represent information items complementing each other or relating to each other
  2. The security element according to claim 1, characterized in that the relief structure (54) represents a diffractive structure, such as a hologram, a holographic grating image or a hologram-like diffraction structure, an achromatic structure, such as a matt structure, a micromirror arrangement, a blazed grating with a sawtooth-like groove profile or a Fresnel-lens arrangement.
  3. The security element according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the first and second dielectric partial layers (40, 42) consist of the same dielectric material, in particular of SiO2 or Al2O3.
  4. The security element according to any of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the security element in the regions of the at least one gap in the reflection layer (32) is metallically semitransparent.
  5. The security element according to at least one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that in the left-out regions of the reflection layer (32) there is also left out the first dielectric partial layer.
  6. The security element according to at least one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that the reflection layer (32) is formed by an opaque or a semitransparent metal layer, preferably by an opaque or a semitransparent aluminum layer.
  7. The security element according to at least one of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that the security element is a security thread, a tear thread, a security band, a security strip, a patch or a label for applying onto a security paper or the like.
  8. A method for manufacturing a security element (12, 50) according to any of claims 1 to 7, in which
    - a color-shifting thin-film element (30, 60) is applied onto a carrier (20), where applicable above one or several intermediate layers, by arranging a reflection layer (32) above the carrier (20), by arranging a dielectric spacer layer (34) above the reflection layer (32), and by arranging an absorber layer (36) above the dielectric spacer layer (34),
    - the thin-film element (30, 60) is produced with two partial regions (22, 24) having different color-shift effect and one partial region (26) without color-shift effect, wherein the partial regions respectively form patterns, characters or a coding,
    - wherein the partial region (26) without color-shift effect is formed by at least one gap in the reflection layer (32) in the form of patterns, characters or a coding,
    - the dielectric spacer layer (34) is produced by applying successively a first and second dielectric partial layer (40, 42), wherein
    - the dielectric spacer layer (34) in a first one of the two color-shifting partial regions (22, 24) is formed by the first and second dielectric partial layers (40, 42) arranged one above the other and produces a partial region with a first color-shift effect, and
    - the dielectric spacer layer (34) in a second one of the two color-shifting partial regions (22, 24) is formed from only the first or the second dielectric partial layer and produces a partial region with a second, different color-shift effect, wherein
    - between the carrier (20) and the reflection layer (32) of the thin-film element (30, 60) there is arranged an embossing lacquer layer (52) with an embossed relief structure (54) and
    - the partial region (26) without color-shift effect and the partial regions (22, 24) with different color-shift effect represent information items complementing each other or relating to each other.
  9. The method according to claim 8, characterized in that for producing the at least one gap in the reflection layer (32) a soluble washing ink is printed in the form of the desired first gaps, and that the washing ink, after the application of the reflection layer (32) or after the application of the reflection layer (32) and the first dielectric partial layer, is washed off together with these by a solvent.
  10. The method according to claim 8 or 9, characterized in that the dielectric spacer layer (34) in the second one of the two color-shifting partial regions is formed only from the second dielectric partial layer and produces a partial region with a second, different color-shift effect, and for producing gaps in the first dielectric partial layer after the application of the reflection layer (32) a soluble washing ink in the form of the desired second color-shifting partial region is printed onto the reflection layer (32), and that after the application of the first dielectric partial layer the washing ink is washed off together with this by a solvent.
  11. The method according to claim 9 and 10, characterized in that the at least one gap in the reflection layer (32) and the gaps in the first dielectric partial layer are produced in one common washing step.
  12. The method according to claim 10 and 11 or according to claim 11, characterized in that after the production of the gaps a full-area second dielectric partial layer and a full-area absorber layer (36) are applied.
  13. The method according to claim 8 or 9, characterized in that the dielectric spacer layer (34) in the second one of the two color-shifting partial regions is formed only from the first dielectric partial layer and produces a partial region with a second, different color-shift effect, and for producing gaps in the second dielectric partial layer after the application of the reflection layer (32) and the first dielectric partial layer a soluble washing ink in the form of the desired second color-shifting partial region is printed onto the first dielectric partial layer, and that after the application of the second dielectric partial layer the washing ink is washed off together with this by a solvent.
  14. The method according to claim 9 and 13, characterized in that the at least one gap in the reflection layer (32) and the gaps in the second dielectric partial layer are produced in one common washing step.
  15. The method according to claim 9 and 13 or according to claim 14, characterized in that after the production of the gaps a full-area absorber layer (36) is applied.
  16. A data carrier (10) having a security element (12, 50) according to at least one of the claims 1 to 7.
EP15787472.8A 2014-10-29 2015-10-28 Security element with colourshifting thin film Active EP3212430B2 (en)

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
DE102014016028.9A DE102014016028A1 (en) 2014-10-29 2014-10-29 Security element with color-shifting thin-film element
PCT/EP2015/002143 WO2016066264A1 (en) 2014-10-29 2015-10-28 Security element having a color-shifting thin-film element

Publications (3)

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EP3212430A1 EP3212430A1 (en) 2017-09-06
EP3212430B1 EP3212430B1 (en) 2018-10-24
EP3212430B2 true EP3212430B2 (en) 2021-12-01

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EP (1) EP3212430B2 (en)
DE (1) DE102014016028A1 (en)
WO (1) WO2016066264A1 (en)

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* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
WO2019012550A1 (en) * 2017-07-10 2019-01-17 Raj Prehar A film for security applications
DE102022002765A1 (en) * 2022-07-29 2024-02-01 Giesecke+Devrient Currency Technology Gmbh Security element and value document equipped with the security element

Citations (2)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US20010028921A1 (en) † 1995-03-20 2001-10-11 3M Innovative Properties Company Multicolor interference coating
EP2225109B1 (en) † 2007-12-20 2011-07-20 Giesecke & Devrient GmbH Safety element and method for the production thereof

Family Cites Families (3)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
DE10232245B4 (en) 2002-07-17 2008-06-12 Leonhard Kurz Gmbh & Co. Kg Optically variable element with varying spacer layer thickness
DE102008032224A1 (en) * 2008-07-09 2010-01-14 Giesecke & Devrient Gmbh security element
DE102011119598A1 (en) * 2011-11-29 2013-05-29 Ovd Kinegram Ag Optically variable element

Patent Citations (2)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US20010028921A1 (en) † 1995-03-20 2001-10-11 3M Innovative Properties Company Multicolor interference coating
EP2225109B1 (en) † 2007-12-20 2011-07-20 Giesecke & Devrient GmbH Safety element and method for the production thereof

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DE102014016028A1 (en) 2016-05-04
EP3212430A1 (en) 2017-09-06
WO2016066264A1 (en) 2016-05-06
EP3212430B1 (en) 2018-10-24

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