EP2275279B1 - Security document and method of verifying same - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to the technical field of security documents which are in the form of a card comprising a rigid body, or even semi-rigid. It applies more particularly to security documents such as an identity card.

Generally, such cards carry personal data specific to the cardholder, for example written inscriptions, images such as a photograph of the wearer. Optionally, the security document may include other data, such as security data consisting essentially of guilloche, numismatic background, etc.

Rigid or even semi-rigid card means a card whose body is rigid enough to prevent folding of the card without damaging it while still allowing relative flexion of the body.

In the field of identity, the fight against attempts at falsification and counterfeiting is the subject of ever more complex security documents.

It is known from the state of the art, in particular the document WO 2009/007282 which concerns more particularly the field of the passports, to hide information on one of the pages of the passport. To reveal this hidden information, it is then necessary to have a revealing device specific to the hidden information.

In this document, the revealing device is an integral part of the passport and is in the form of an additional page comprising means capable of decoding the hidden information.

However, in the case of a card, the incorporation of such a device in the security document proves to be impossible to achieve. The revealing device is in this case completely external to the card.

However, the disadvantage of using external means to verify the authenticity of the card is that the person in charge of the verification can be deprived of this device, by simple oversight, especially when it comes to a person working on the road, such as a police officer, who wishes to carry out an unannounced check during one of his missions.

The document US 2006/290136 A1 discloses some features of the preamble of claim 1.

The object of the invention is notably to propose a security device of the rigid card type, even the semi-rigid type, making it possible to solve the aforementioned drawback for authentication.

For this purpose, the subject of the invention is a security document having a general card form provided with a substantially semi-rigid or even rigid body, the card carrying data, in particular personal data specific to a security document holder. , characterized in that the data incorporate information coded according to a predefined type of coding, imperceptible to the naked eye and in that the card carries means capable of revealing any coded information according to the predefined type carried by another card.

Because the card itself carries the revelation means of the predefined type corresponding to that of the hidden information, any card belonging to any one carrier may allow the authentication of the card of a first carrier.

Of course, because of the relative rigidity of a card, it is impossible to bend it to allow revealing the hidden information with the revealing means that are specific to the card. Thus, two cards are needed to enable authentication of one or the other.

However, when the card concerns a security document such as a health insurance card, an identity card, the probability that the person wishing to check the authenticity of the card of any wearer is carrying a card allowing the verification is relatively large.

The card to be authenticated thus forms both a tool to avoid forgery because of the complexity of making such a card and further a security document to authenticate.

• les moyens de révélation comprennent une fenêtre transparente, voire translucide, s'étendant dans l'épaisseur du corps de carte de manière à laisser passer la lumière à travers la carte ;
• le corps de carte est formé par un ensemble laminé d'une pile de couches, au moins une des couches centrales de la pile comprenant une cavité de réception de la fenêtre ;
• la pile comprend au moins une couche centrale opaque portant la fenêtre transparente intercalée entre au moins deux couches translucides ;
• le document comprend une antenne formée par une pluralité de spires s'étendant selon un trajet prédéfini sur le corps de carte et les moyens de révélation sont disposés hors de ce trajet ;
• les moyens de révélation sont choisis parmi :
  • un réseau tramé en lignes et/ou en points apte à révéler une information cachée par la technique de la stéganographie,
  • un filtre polarisant apte à révéler une information comprenant un élément polarisé,
  • un filtre coloré apte à révéler la ou les couleurs avec laquelle ladite information est cachée est formée.
• le réseau tramé en lignes est imprimé, ou réalisé en relief ;
• le corps est réalisé dans un matériau comprenant essentiellement du polycarbonate ;
• les données comportent une photographie et/ou des données d'identité du porteur.

A map according to the invention may include one or more of the following features:

• the revelation means comprise a transparent or even translucent window extending in the thickness of the card body so as to allow the light to pass through the card;
• the card body is formed by a laminated assembly of a stack of layers, at least one of the central layers of the stack comprising a window receiving cavity;
• the stack comprises at least one opaque central layer carrying the transparent window interposed between at least two translucent layers;
• the document comprises an antenna formed by a plurality of turns extending along a predefined path on the card body and the revealing means are disposed out of that path;
• the revelation means are chosen from:
  • a network wired in lines and / or in points capable of revealing information hidden by the technique of steganography,
  • a polarizing filter capable of revealing information comprising a polarized element,
  • a color filter capable of revealing the color or colors with which said information is hidden is formed.
• the line screened network is printed, or made in relief;
• the body is made of a material essentially comprising polycarbonate;
• the data includes a photograph and / or identity data of the wearer.

The subject of the invention is also a method of verifying the authenticity of a first security document according to the invention, characterized in that, to verify the authenticity of the first document, the means of revealing a document are superposed. second security document according to the invention on the hidden information of the first security document.

• la figure 1 représente un document de sécurité selon l'invention ;
• la figure 2 représente de façon schématique des étapes de fabrication du document de sécurité de la figure 1 ;
• la figure 3 illustre les principaux aspects de fonctionnement du document de la figure 1.

Other characteristics and advantages of the invention will become apparent in the light of the description which follows, made with reference to the appended drawings in which:

• the figure 1 represents a security document according to the invention;
• the figure 2 schematically represents steps of manufacturing the security document of the figure 1 ;
• the figure 3 illustrates the main aspects of the operation of the figure 1 .

We have shown on the figure 1 , a security document according to the invention. This document is designated by the general reference 10.

This document 10 has a general shape of card and is provided with a body 12 substantially semi-rigid or rigid. Thus, the card body 12 is slightly deformable to allow a slight bending of the body. On the other hand, because of this relative rigidity, the card body 12 can not be folded without risk of being broken or damaged. The body 12 is for example made of a material comprising essentially polycarbonate.

In this example, the security document is an identity card. Alternatively, the security document 10 may be a driver's license or any other card requiring a security requirement.

As shown on the figure 1 the card 10 carries data 14, including personal data specific to a carrier of the security document 10. For example, the data comprises a photograph 16 of the cardholder 10 or possibly an image, identification data 18 under form of printing characters. Preferably, the body 12 delimits two opposite faces of which at least one of the two carries the data 14.

Although this is not shown in the figures, the data 14 may also include guilloche, that is to say, thin lines consisting of interwoven continuous lines forming geometric patterns particularly difficult to reproduce.

More particularly, the data 14 includes hidden information that is imperceptible to the naked eye. For example, the information 20 partially extends to the photograph 16 of the wearer.

On the figure 1 , the hidden information 20 is shown in a dotted form on the map 10. It is understood that this information 20 is imperceptible or hardly noticeable to the naked eye.

More specifically, the hidden information 20 is of a predefined type. Information of a predefined type is understood to mean hidden information according to a predefined technique such as, for example, a technique of polarization, steganography or else coloring, etc. Each piece of information of a predefined type, which is not perceptible to the naked eye, requires specific revelation equipment adapted to the revelation of such information.

In this example, the card 10 is dual. Thus, it includes a microcircuit module 22 provided with a range of external contacts 24 flush with the surface of the card body 12 allowing contact communication by means of an external card reader (not shown). In addition, the card 10 comprises a near-field communication antenna 26 (in dotted line on the figure 1 ) electrically connected to the microcircuit of the microcircuit module and allowing the establishment of a contactless communication with an external card reader (not shown).

Alternatively, the card 10 may be a non-contact type card, that is to say only allowing contactless communication. In this case, the card 10 is devoid of external contacts and the microcircuit module is fully incorporated in the card body.

In addition, according to the invention, the card 10 carries means 28 able to reveal any hidden information of the predefined type carried by another card.

In this example, the revealing means 28 comprise a transparent window 30, possibly translucent, extending in the thickness of the card body 12 so as to allow the light to pass through the card 10.

Preferably, the information is encoded by a known steganography technique which consists in encoding the information in a background by point variations, for example by lines modulated at a predefined frequency.

In this case, the revelation means 28 comprise a grid network in lines and / or in points capable of revealing information hidden by the technique of steganography.

The revelation means 28 comprise for example a network of lines modulated at a frequency substantially equal to the frequency of concealment of the message. Preferably, the line screened network is printed, or made in relief, thus forming a lenticular network.

The network is for example made of a thermoplastic material. The lenticular network is formed for example of a series of cylindrical lenses operating on a single axis. With a lenticular network, it is possible for example to obtain a relief effect, an animation, etc.

Optionally, in a first variant, the means 28 comprise a polarizing filter capable of revealing hidden information comprising a polarized element.

In a second variant, the means 28 comprise a color filter capable of revealing the color or colors with which said hidden information is formed.

The card 10 is manufactured in a conventional manner by laminating layers of plastic between them. So, preferably, as illustrated on the figure 2 , the card body 12 is formed by a laminated assembly of a stack of layers.

So, as illustrated on the figure 2 The battery comprises at least a central layer 32 on the transparent window 30 interposed between at least two outer layers 34.

In this example, the outer layers 34 are made of a transparent material while the central layer 32 is made of a material opaque to light.

In order to integrate the revealing means 28 into the card body 12, at least the central layer 32 of the stack comprises, for example, a cavity 36 for receiving the window 30. The window 30 has a generally oval shape on this figure 2 but can also have a generally rectangular shape as on the figure 1 .

For example, the window 30 is mounted tightly in the cavity 36, that is to say that the contour of the cavity substantially corresponds to the contour of the window so that when the window is inserted into the cavity the frictional forces exerted by the walls of the cavity on those of the window allow the window to be held in place in this position by friction during the process.

In addition, preferably, the antenna 26 formed by a plurality of turns extends along a path on the card body 12 and the revealing means 28 are arranged outside the path of the turns of the antenna.

Then, the layers 32, 34 are assembled together by applying a lamination cycle. At the end of this cycle, the layers are joined together and the window 30 is perfectly integrated in the assembly.

Of course, as described, the window 30 does not reveal the information hidden in the data 14 of the same card. Indeed, the relative stiffness of the card body 12 prevents any sufficient deformation of the latter to allow a coincidence of the window 30 and the hidden information 20 of the same card.

Finally, the data 14 is printed with conventional means such as offset printing, laser engraving printing, etc. In the case of a laser engraving, the data are written for example by the blackening of the laser-sensitive material composing the card body.

The information is encoded according to a predefined type of coding. Thus, the hidden information in steganography is coded according to a predefined scrambling technique.

In a first variant, the information may comprise a polarized element, that is to say comprising a privileged observation direction and the means for revealing this information comprise an optical element, such as a polarized filter, comprising a preferred polarization direction.

In a second variant, the information is colored with an ink of a predefined color and the revelation means comprise for example a color filter corresponding to the predefined color with which the information has been coded. This type of coding may require the use of specific tools

The main aspects of a method for verifying the authenticity of the security document according to the invention as shown in the description will now be described. figure 1 .

We have shown on the figure 3 , first 10A and second 10B security documents, for example identity cards, each belonging respectively to first and second carriers.

In the remainder of the description, note with an index A, the numerical references designating the elements of the security document 10A and with an index B, the numerical references designating the elements of the security document 10B.

In this illustrated example, the data carried by each of the cards are personal data in relation to the identity of its bearer. Personal data includes, but is not limited to, a photograph and data about first and last names and a date of birth.

In order to authenticate for example the first security document 10A, it is sufficient to superimpose the second security document 10B so that the revelation means 28B of this document 10B substantially coincides with the position of the hidden information 20A present on the first document 10A.

So, as is visible on the figure 3 , the hidden information 20A initially appears and becomes noticeable.

Thanks to the invention, it is possible to quickly authenticate and without requiring complex tools a security document in the form of a card rigid or even semi-rigid. Such a document constitutes a first-level security particularly reliable and easy to use.

Claims (10)

1. A security document (10, 10A, 10B) having a general shape of a card provided with a substantially semi-rigid or even rigid body (12), the card (10, 10A, 10B) bearing data (14), notably personal data specific to a bearer of the security document, characterized in that the data (14) incorporate coded information (20) according to a predefined coding type, imperceptible to the naked eye and in that the card (10) bears means (28) capable of revealing any information coded according to the predefined type, borne by another card (10, 10A, 10B).
2. The document (10, 10A, 10B) according to the preceding claim, wherein the revealing means (28) comprise a transparent or even translucent window (30), extending in the thickness of the card body (12) so as to let through light through the card.
3. The document (10, 10A, 10B) according to the preceding claim, wherein the card body is formed by a laminated assembly of a stack of layers, at least one of the central layers of the stack comprising a cavity for receiving the window.
4. The document (10, 10A, 10B) according to claim 3, wherein the stack comprises at least one opaque central layer bearing the transparent window inserted between at least two translucent layers.
5. The document (10, 10A, 10B) according to any one of the preceding claims, comprising an antenna formed by a plurality of windings extending along a predefined path on the card body and the revealing means are positioned outside this path.
6. The document (10, 10A, 10B) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the revealing means are selected from among:

   - a line and/or point framed network capable of revealing a piece of information hidden by the steganographic technique,

   - a polarizing filter capable of revealing a piece of information comprising a polarized element;

   - a colored filter capable of revealing the color(s) with which said piece of information is hidden and formed.
7. The security document (10, 10A, 10B) according to the preceding claim, wherein the line frame network is printed or made with relief.
8. The document (10, 10A, 10B) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the body is made in a material essentially comprising polycarbonate.
9. The document (10, 10A, 10B) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the data include a photograph and/or identity data of the bearer.
10. A method for checking the authenticity of a first security document (10A) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that, for checking the authenticity of the first document (10A), the means (30B) for revealing a second security document according to any one of the preceding claims are superposed on the hidden piece of information (20A) of the first security document (10A).

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