EP0024344A1 - Laminated information carrier, particularly indentity card, and method of making it - Google Patents

Abstract

A multilayered data carrier, in particular an identification card, consisting of at least one data carrier with non-user and user data, in particular with a phonograph of the authorized user, in the case of which the user data, i.e. the user's photograph, are protected by a transparent cover sheet which is glued or welded onto the card. The data carrier has a high-security printed pattern, e.g. a guilloche pattern, and the user data are copied onto the data carrier by means of an electro-photographic method, i.e. by xerography or by zinc oxide-electrophotography.

Description

The invention relates to a multi-layer record carrier, in particular an identification card, consisting of at least one data carrier on which application-neutral and application-related data, in particular an image of the authorized user, is provided and at least one transparent cover film glued or welded onto the front of the data carrier carrying the data. The invention also relates to a method for producing such a record carrier.

The use of ID cards, credit cards, shopping cards etc. is constantly increasing. In addition to general data, such recording media are also provided with personal data which enable the authorized user of such a recording media to be identified. An identification feature that is often used in this context is a photograph of the user. In order to make the record carrier tamper-proof, special precautions must be taken to permanently connect the photograph to the carrier.

From US Pat. No. 35 33 176 an identity card with a paper insert is already known, which is coated with a photo emulsion. Together with the required data, an image of the user is also applied to the photo layer by appropriate exposure, which can be protected by a transparent cover film.

To produce such an identity card, special papers are required, which require complex storage and are difficult to handle, so these papers must be stored in a dark room, protected from light. To apply the data and the image, expensive special devices are required that cannot be used for any other purpose and are therefore unprofitable for small series and small users. The security value of this known identity card is not to be overestimated, since the emulsion layer prevents an intimate connection between the cover film and the paper inlay, so that a separation is possible. Total counterfeiting is relatively easy for experts, since the technology used can easily be reproduced in a photographic laboratory for individual copies.

From US-PS 37 32 640 an ID card is already known in which an image of the user is formed on a photosensitive layer applied to a support by lithography, so that no conventional photographic development is required. In the described embodiment, the exposure is carried out by UV light, so that the paper and suspension layer are insensitive to daylight. However, the numerous process steps and complex devices are disadvantageous, which may be justifiable for a large series, but are unprofitable for small series. Total counterfeits are relative simple because the technology used is generally accessible and the carrier cannot be specially secured. The provision of background patterns or a multicolor printed image is problematic.

You can reduce the manufacturing effort for such ID cards if you directly connect or laminate an exposed film with a labeled plastic film. Such ID card is known from US-PS 31 52 901. With this solution too, the creation of the film still requires photo-technical measures, such as working in the darkroom. The security value of the ID card is impaired by the lack of a paper insert equipped with appropriate authenticity features. Total counterfeiting is relatively easy to do because the technology is easily accessible.

From DE-AS 21 63 943 an identification card is already known, in which an exposed and dusted with a color powder photoconductive layer is directly laminated into the identification card as a data carrier. The data, including an image of the user, is first generated on the photoconductive layer as a latent charge image, then made visible by a color powder (toner) and this image is fixed by pasting it with a film.

Because of the extraordinarily complex card structure (up to 7 layers) and the complicated special devices that are necessary for the production of ID cards, the known method is not suitable for the production of inexpensive ID cards in small series, which are individually adapted to user requirements. The high technological complexity of the process practically requires central production. The presence of the various layers such as photo semiconductors, metallic barrier layers etc. favors manipulation of the card, for example by splitting. The laminate should also not be very resistant to use.

Although the security value of known identity cards is completely sufficient for various applications, such as company ID cards, club ID cards, etc., the complex manufacturing processes and devices only permit central production. The decentralized production of small series on site, as well as the reproduction of single cards is not possible due to the special devices required and the multi-stage nature of the process. In principle, total counterfeiting is possible for the person skilled in the art by using generally customary techniques.

The security value of all known ID cards is shaped by the procedure for data application. This This means that complex procedures are not necessary and do not allow modification or adaptation to specific user needs.

The invention is therefore based on the object of providing an identification card which, on the one hand, has a high security value, but on the other hand allows individual adaptation to specific user needs.

According to the invention, this object is achieved by the features specified in the characterizing part of the main claim. It is based on the knowledge that the security value of the identity card is guaranteed by the neutral data medium prepared as standard, for example a security paper provided with watermark, security thread, guilloche background and steel gravure and that the recording medium is personalized by means of commercially available photocopying and laminating devices at almost any point can. The invention thus allows the safety-related and the user-related aspects to be separated.

Advantageous developments of the invention are the subject of the dependent claims.

• Fig. 1 einen neutralen Bogen Sicherheitspapier als Datenträger mit gestrichelt angedeuteten Stanzlinien für die Ausweiskarten,
• Fig. 2 eine fertige Ausweiskarte,
• Fig. 3 eine Vorlage mit personenbezogenen Daten, die durch einen Kopiervorgang auf den Datenträger. übertragen werden.

An embodiment of the invention is described below with reference to the accompanying drawing, for example. In it show:

• 1 is a neutral sheet of security paper as a data carrier with dashed lines for the ID cards,
• 2 shows a finished identity card,
• Fig. 3 shows a template with personal data by copying to the data carrier. be transmitted.

The security paper 1 shown schematically in FIG. 1 is equipped with a security thread 2, a watermark 4 and a background print 3, for example a guilloche print. Such security paper can be produced in specialized paper mills in relatively large quantities using non-standard processes. The security paper is the same for all ID cards, so that the unit price can be kept low due to the resulting large numbers of items. The production of the paper, taking into account the security measures that are common in the manufacture of securities, ensures a high level of security against theft.

The security paper is printed with certain standard background patterns, of which there only need to be a few different types, with a high-quality security-related printing in a specialized security printing house. Due to the continued high number of items also increased the demanding background printing only slightly reduces the unit costs.

The security paper 1 therefore represents a type of semi-finished product that is manufactured with relatively great effort, but since it is still application-neutral and is therefore available in large quantities, the effort per piece is justifiable. The central production ensures a high level of security against theft.

The security paper 1 is preferably produced in A4 format because of its later use in a commercially available copier. Several ID cards can be punched out from such a sheet, the format being arbitrary. The dashed line 5 indicates a later punch line.

FIG. 3 shows a template in the form of a mask 11, which is used to personalize the blank identification card. The format of the mask preferably corresponds to that of sheet 1, it has the same number of sheets as sheet 1. In practice, this mask is designed as a form in which the cardholder's data is entered using a typewriter or handwritten.

The mask has an area 12 into which a photo 14 of the identity card holder can be glued. Furthermore, an area 15 for the signature 6 of the identification card holder, such as further areas 7, 8 and 10 for the company name and further information for identifying the identification card holder.

Certain parts of the data obtained, e.g. Company name, company logo etc. can also be copied by means of a further film mask, so that printing on the mask 11 is omitted. Certain sub-series within an overall series can be designed in the same way with regard to specific information with the aid of such further masks. Examples of this are departments, branches or areas of a company.

The masks 11 can be produced inexpensively in a wide variety of variations using any number of pieces in the offset printing process, so that the appearance of the final identification cards can be changed almost arbitrarily despite only a few blank types.

The identification cards are produced in such a way that the security paper sheets 1 are inserted by the customer into the paper magazines of existing copying machines. The template or mask 11 is placed on the copying window of the device and all data including the image 14 are transferred to the sheet 1 by a normal copying process.

Immediately after the copying process, the blanks personalized in this way are either centralized at the ID card manufacturer or individually, depending on the number of pieces card laminating machines with a transparent cover film. If the lamination does not take place in multiple-use sheets, the ID cards must be punched out before lamination. Otherwise the die cut is done after lamination.

Since commercially available copying machines do not change the paper surface from a lamination point of view (no emulsion layer), the cover film combines excellently with the data carrier and the color powder or toner. Manipulation such as, for example, detaching the image 9 (FIG. 2) of the finished laminated identification card that has been copied onto the blank can be practically excluded.

The only possible counterfeiting is an unauthorized personalization of neutral printed original blanks, which can however be prevented by the user storing it appropriately. A total falsification of the high-quality printed paper blanks is not possible.

Of course, multi-color copiers can also be used instead of the conventional black-and-white copiers.

It is also obvious that the idea of the invention is not only in the case of identity cards, but also in general my is also applicable to other documents, securities, shares etc. that require security. The method is always particularly advantageous if, on the one hand, the security against falsification and security against falsification of documents and data must be ensured, but on the other hand, the application of the individual data is to be carried out with relatively simple means.

Claims (5)

1.Multi-layer record carrier, in particular identification card, consisting of at least one data carrier on which application-neutral and application-related data, in particular an image of the authorized user, are provided and with at least one transparent cover film which is glued or welded onto the front of the data carrier carrying the data, characterized in that that the data carrier (1) has a high-quality, application-neutral print image (3) on which the application-related data (6, 7, 8, 9, 10) are copied by means of an electrophotographic process. 2. Record carrier according to claim 1, characterized in that the data carrier is a security paper (11) with visually and / or machine-verifiable authenticity features (2, 3, 4). 3. A method for producing a recording medium according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the data carrier already provided with the application-neutral data is placed in an electrophotographic copying device and the application-related data is copied from a template and transferred to the data carrier and then on the page of the data carrier, which carries the data transmitted in the copying process, a transparent cover film is glued or welded on. 4. The method according to claim 3, characterized in that the application-related data of a plurality of recording media are present next to one another on the template and the data media are cut or punched out accordingly after the transfer. 5. The method according to claim 4, characterized in that the template consists of several superimposed foil masks, which can be the same for several recording media depending on the degree of customization.

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