Data carrier
The present invention relates to a data carrier, especially a security document, such as an identification card, e.g. a passport or a driving license, a credit card and a bank card, the data carrier comprising authentication data comprising personalized data, and as a security feature, an array of lenticular elements being arranged to provide only from predetermined angles of view an image of at least a piece of authentication data of said authentication data. In or to make the data carrier impossible or at least very difficult to copy and forge, the array of lenticular elements is provided with a complex structure providing a further security feature.
1. A data carrier, especially a security document, such as an identification card, e.g. a passport or a driving license, a credit card and a bank card, the data carrier comprising authentication data comprising personalized data, and further comprising as a security feature, an array of lenticular elements being arranged to provide only from predetermined angles of view an image of at least a piece of authentication data of said authentication data, the array of lenticular elements is provided with a complex structure providing a further security feature.
2. The data carrier according to claim 1 , wherein the complex structure is in the form of a marking made to at least one of the lenticular elements of the array of lenticular elements.
3. The data carrier according to claim 2 , wherein the marking is in the form of a microstructure identifiable with a loupe or a microscope.
4. The data carrier according to claim 3 , wherein the marking is in the form of a micro text, a code or a texture.
5. The data carrier according to claim 3 , wherein the marking extends on plurality of the lenticular elements of the array of lenticular elements and forms a line.
6. The data carrier according to claim 3 , wherein a surface area of the data carrier outside and immediately surrounding an area of the array of lenticular elements is provided with a marking forming a continuation to the marking in the at least one lenticular element so that the marking in said surface area surrounding said area of the array of lenticular elements combines to the marking made to the at least one lenticular element.
7. The data carrier according to claim 2 , wherein the marking is in the form of a micro text, a code or a texture.
8. The data carrier according to claim 2 , wherein the marking extends on plurality of the lenticular elements of the array of lenticular elements and forms a line.
9. The data carrier according to claim 2 , wherein a surface area of the data carrier outside and immediately surrounding an area of the array of lenticular elements is provided with a marking forming a continuation to the marking in the at least one lenticular element so that the marking in said surface area surrounding said area of the array of lenticular elements combines to the marking made to the at least one lenticular element.
10. The data carrier according to claim 2 , wherein the marking extends on a plurality of the lenticular elements and exhibits a macroscopic effect visible to a naked eye.
11. The data carrier according to claim 2 , wherein the marking extends on a plurality of the lenticular elements and exhibits a macroscopic effect visible to a naked eye.
12. The data carrier according to claim 1 , wherein the complex structure comprises a macroscopic shaping being formed of a plurality of lenticular elements forming lines which differentiate from straight lines and which together exhibit a macroscopic effect visible to a naked eye.
13. The data carrier according to claim 12 , wherein said lines are curved or exhibit a zig-zag pattern.
14. The data carrier according to claim 13 , wherein the array of lenticular elements and the shapes of the individual lenticular elements are designed to provide a focal length which focuses the light to the same depth on said at least one piece of authentication data below the array of lenticular elements.
15. The data carrier according to claim 12 , wherein the array of lenticular elements and the shapes of the individual lenticular elements are designed to provide a focal length which focuses the light to the same depth on said at least one piece of authentication data below the array of lenticular elements.
16. The data carrier according to claim 1 , wherein the complex structure comprises a macroscopic shaping being formed of a plurality of lenticular elements reflecting light in different angles which together exhibit a macroscopic effect in the form of a recognizable shape visible to a naked eye.
17. The data carrier according to claim 16 , wherein the recognizable shape is in the form of a logo or a national emblem.
18. A data carrier according to claim 1 , wherein the complex structure comprises the array of lenticular elements where the cross section of the lenticular elements different geometry.
19. The data carrier in the form of a security document according to claim 1 , wherein the security document is in the form of a card comprising a core and a transparent upper layer attached to the core, the transparent layer comprising said array of lenticular elements.
20. The data carrier according to claim 19 , wherein the upper layer comprises said at least one piece of authentication data being visible by a naked eye and being formed of a plurality of micro images.