Securency Pty Limited

Nanotech Security Corp.

Note Printing Australia Limited

Bruce Alfred Hardwick

Wayne Kevin Jackson

Paul Zientek

Cameron Rex Hibbert

John Charles Taylor

Charles Douglas MacPherson

Gary Fairless Power

Joshua Robert Nemeth

Charles Douglas Macpherson

Security documents often incorporate optically variable devices to prevent or hinder counterfeiters. Disclosed herein are layered optically variable devices such as color-shift foils, and methods for their production and use. Such devices afford new techniques for a user of a security document to check quickly and easily whether the security document is a legitimate document or a counterfeit copy.

Optically variable devices, their production and use

A self-verifying security document, such as a banknote, comprises a flexible sheet formed from a plastics substrate bearing indicia. The sheet has a window of transparent plastics material that includes self-verification means for verifying a security device provided at a laterally spaced second portion of the sheet when the sheet is bent or folded to bring the window into register with the security device. The self-verification means may be an optical lens for reading an area of microprinting. In another embodiment, the self-verification means may be an optical filter for viewing an area printed with metameric inks. In other embodiments, the self-verification means and the security device may be polarizing windows or Moire inducing patterns.

Self-verifying security documents

A method of determining at least one characteristic of one or more security documents such as banknotes, each security document including a sheet-like substrate of plastics material and opacifying layers applied to opposing faces of the substrate, the method comprising the steps of:(a) projecting radiation from a radiation source into the substrate of each security document for propagation therein, the opacifying layers acting to guide the projecting radiation within the substrate; (b) detecting a radiation emission of the substrate of each security document, the radiation emission resulting from the propagated radiation; and (c) analysing one or more characteristics of the radiation emission.

Method of determining a characteristic of a security document, such as a banknote

A self-verifying security document, such as a banknote, comprises a flexible sheet formed from a plastics substrate bearing indicia. The sheet has a window of transparent plastics material which includes self-verification means for verifying a security device provided at a laterally spaced second portion of the sheet when the sheet is bent or folded to bring the window into register with the security device. The self-verification means may be an optical lens for reading an area of microprinting. In another embodiment, the self-verification means may be an optical filter for viewing an area printed with metameric inks. In other embodiments, the self-verification means and the security device may be polarizing windows or Moire inducing patterns.

A security document ( ), such as a bank note, is formed from a sheet-like substrate ( ) of clear plastic material with layers ( ) of opacifying ink applied to the surfaces ( ) of the substrate ( ). The security document ( ) includes a security device ( ) which is at least partially obscured by the layers ( ) of opacifying ink on a flat surface ( ) of the substrate ( ). The layers ( ) on the second surface ( ) of the substrate ( ) are applied in such a manner so as to leave a &ldquo;half-window&rdquo; area uncovered by opacifying ink through which the security device ( ) is visible for one side of the document ( ). The security device ( ) may extend transversely outside the half-window area and be visible in transmission, enabling a different contrasting effect to be observed from both sides of the document.

Banknotes incorporating security devices

Method of producing a security document

A self-verifying security document, such as a banknote (,) comprises a flexible sheet formed from a plastics substrate (,) bearing indicia (,). The sheet bas a window (,) of transparent plastics material which includes self-verification means (,) for verifying a security device (,) provided at a laterally spaced second portion of the sheet when the sheet is bent or folded to bring the window (,) into register with the security device (,). The self-verification means may be an optical lens (,) for reading an area of microprinting (,). In another embodiment, the self-verification means may be an optical filter (,) for viewing an area (,) printed with metameric inks. In other embodiments, the self-verification means and the security device (,) may be polarising windows (,) or Moire inducing patterns (,).

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Wandong, Australia

Bruce Alfred Hardwick