FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to the field of substrates and method of manufacturing the substrates, which can be used in numerous validating and/or security applications.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVETION

With advent of the digital technology, the devices such as the computers, photocopiers and similar systems are becoming both indispensable and powerful. These devices, which are easily available and quite straight forward to use, are being misused in counterfeiting of currency notes, important documents such as passport and identification card, which may lead to serious security breaches.

Attempts are being made to add additional validating or security features in the above-mentioned documents and in t currency notes, which include features that cannot be reproduced using the devices mentioned herein above. Inclusion of such features would be helpful in prevention of counterfeiting of such documents and/or currency notes.

The features that are included for validating and securing, involve use of metal and de-metalized regions formed on the substrate (which can be for example a polymeric substrate or paper substrate) and liquid crystals that cannot be copied and/or incorporated into documents and/or currency notes using the available device. However, the method for manufacturing such substrates, which involve one or more additional features for prevention of counterfeiting are complex and involve complex method for manufacturing.

Thus, there exists a need for providing a method for manufacturing substrates with one more additional validating and security features, wherein the method of manufacturing is simple, yet the features incorporated are not easy to copy and/or to incorporate.

OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION

Some of the objects of the presently disclosed invention, of which at the minimum one embodiment herein fulfills, are as follows:

An object of the present invention is to solve one or more deficiencies encountered in the prior art or to at least deliver a beneficial substitute;

Another object of the present invention is to provide a substrate with one or more validating and/or security features; and

Yet another object of the present invention is to provide a method for manufacturing a substrate with more validating and/or security features.

Other objects and benefits of the present invention will be more apparent from the following description, which is not intended to bind the scope of the present invention.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to the field of manufacturing substrates which can be used in numerous validating and/or security applications such as identity cards, passport and like.

In accordance with an aspect of the present invention a substrate is disclosed, which can be used in numerous validating and/or security applications.

In accordance with one of the embodiments the present disclosure relates to a substrate and a method of manufacturing the same. A substrate (100) for security applications comprising:

- a base layer (1 02) having a first operative surface (1 02a) and a second operative surface (102b), wherein the base layer is a film of polymeric material;

- a layer of black ink (1 04) disposed on said first operative surface (1 02a) of said base layer (1 02), wherein said black ink disposed on the selected portion(s) of said first operative surface, wherein said blank ink functions as absorber of light, and wherein said black ink is disposed by means of coating, or printing, or transfer, or lamination process; and

- a layer of liquid crystal (LC) solution (106) disposed on said second operative surface (102b) of the base layer (1 02), wherein said Liquid crystal solution is disposed by means of coating, or transfer, or lamination process;

- the layer of liquid crystal (LC) solution (106) is in monomer form/ state at the time of coating and said monomers are polymerized after coating;

- wherein said polymeric material is polyethylene terephthalate (PET) in form of a Film and said PET film is transparent and non-metalized;

- wherein the security features is viewed from the liquid crystal (LCD) (106) side;

- wherein said substrate shows a change in colour effect at the selected portion from different viewing angle by the human eye; - wherein said colour change effect changes according to change in composition of Liquid crystal solution (106),

- wherein the colour change effect is based on optical properties of different materials used in the substrate;

- wherein said substrate is cutout from the film coated in the pattern as stated above, and

- wherein said security substrate is used in the document of value as security feature;

- optionally a lamination or coating of a protective layer on the security substrate preferably on the liquid crystal coated layer for anti-scratch and anti-wear.

In accordance with another embodiment, the present disclosure relates to a substrate and a method of manufacturing the same. A substrate (200) for security applications, said substrate (200) comprising: a base layer (202) having a first operative surface (202a) and a second operative surface (202b), wherein said base layer (202) is a film of polymeric material; a layer of water washable solution (210) disposed or coated on the second operative surface of said base layer(202b); a layer of Aluminium (208) deposited on said layer of water washable solution (210), wherein said Aluminium is deposited by means of vacuum deposition method or vapour deposition method;

a layer of black ink (204) disposed on said layer of Aluminium (208), wherein said black ink (204) is disposed on the selected portion(s) of layer of an Aluminium, and wherein said black ink is disposed by means of coating, vapour deposit or vacuum vapour deposition or by printing, coating means, wherein the black ink is resistant to sodium Hydroxide (NaOH) solution; the layer of Aluminium is de-metalised at selected portion's corresponding to remaining portion of black ink (204) layer coating; a layer of monomer liquid crystal solution (206) is disposed on said black ink layer (204) and thereafter monomer liquid crystal is polymerized; wherein polymeric material of said base layer (202) is a film of polyethylene terephthalate (PET) and said PET film is transparent, wherein the security features are viewed from the liquid crystal (LC) (106) side, wherein said substrate shows a change in colour effect at the selected portion from different viewing angle by the human eye,

wherein said substrate can have different colour combination in colour change effect by changing composition of liquid crystal solution, wherein said color's in colour change effect, change according to change in composition of Liquid crystal solution (206), - wherein the colour change effect is based on optical properties of different materials used in the substrate,

- wherein said substrate is cutout from the film obtained as per above process, - wherein said security substrate is used in the document of value, as security feature,

- wherein preferably second operative surface of the base layer be optionally used for additional security features like machine readable properties by coating of magnetic material.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF ACCOMPANYING DRAWING

The present invention will now be described with the help of the accompanying drawing, in which:

Figure 1 illustrates a schematic cross-sectional view of one of the embodiments according to present invention, a substrate which is used in numerous validating and/or security applications; and

Figure 2 illustrates a schematic cross-sectional view of one of the embodiment according to present invention, a substrate which is used in numerous validating and/or security applications.

COMPONENT NUMERAL DETAILS

Numeral - Name of component

100 - Substrate, embodiment 1

102 - base layer

102a - First operative surface of the base layer

102b - Second operative surface of the base layer

104 - Black Ink layer

106 - Liquid crystal layer

200 - Substrate, embodiment 2

202 - base layer 202a - First operative surface of the base layer

202b - Second operative surface of the base layer

204 - Black ink layer

206 - Liquid crystal layer

208 - Metal/ Aluminium layer

210 - Water washable layer

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The present invention will be described with reference to the accompanying embodiments and drawing, which do not limit the scope and realm of the present invention. The description delivered herein is merely by way of example and illustration.

The embodiments herein and the various features and advantageous details thereof are explained with reference to the non-limiting embodiments and drawings in the following description. Descriptions of the components and processing techniques, which are known in the art, are omitted so as not to unnecessarily obscure the embodiments herein. The examples used herein are projected simply to enable an understanding in which the embodiments herein may be accomplished and to further allow a person having ordinary skill in the art to exercise the embodiments herein. Accordingly, the examples must not be interpreted as restricting the scope of the embodiments presented herein.

The description that follows the specific embodiments, fully disclose the overall nature of the embodiments provided herein, that others can, by applying present knowledge, readily modify and/or adapt for various applications such specific embodiments without departing from the generic concept, and, therefore, such adaptations and modifications should and are intended to be comprehended within the meaning and range of equivalents of the disclosed embodiments. It is to be understood that the wording or language employed herein is for the purpose of description and not of limitation. Therefore, while the embodiments herein have been described in terms of preferred embodiments, those skilled in the art will recognize that the embodiments herein can be practiced with alteration within the essence and scope of the embodiments as described herein. The present invention relates to the field of manufacturing substrates which can be used in numerous validating and/or security applications such as identity cards, passport and the like.

The present invention relates to a substrate and a method of manufacturing said substrate. The substrate may be used in various shape and sizes for different authenticating or security application. The security applications, features are in the form of indicia formed on substrate in different sizes, shapes, text or pattern. The indicia formed by metallization or de-metallization the metal used in substrate or by other process like coating of black ink at selected portion of the substrate. The security features can be easily viewed by naked eyes.

The different exhibits of optical properties of Liquid crystal material are well known in physics. Liquid crystal (LC) exhibits difference in colour when viewed in transmission and reflection from differently angles.

Present invention shows a high degree of colour purity in the reflected waves for different viewing angle.

The present invention is based on the optical properties of light like absorption, reflection, refraction. The present invention also includes application of magnetic properties for security applications which are machine readable. The application/ use of magnetic material in the substrate gives security features which are machine readable but not viewed by the human eye. The magnetic material placed at substrate in a specific pattern, shape as per requirement of use and applications of security features.

In accordance with an aspect of the present invention a substrate is used in numerous validating and/or security applications. Figure 1 illustrates a schematic cross-sectional view of a substrate (100) which can be used in numerous validating and/or security applications in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention.

A substrate (1 00) for security applications, said substrate (100) comprising: - a base layer (1 02) having a first operative surface (1 02a) and a second operative surface (102b), wherein the base layer is a film of polymeric material; - a layer of black ink (1 04) disposed on said first operative surface (1 02a) of said base layer (102), wherein said black ink disposed on the selected portion(s) of said first operative surface; wherein said blank ink function as absorber of light, and wherein said black ink is disposed by means of coating, or printing, or transfer, or lamination process; and

- a layer of liquid crystal (LC) solution (106) disposed on said second operative surface (102b) of the base layer (1 02), wherein said Liquid crystal solution is disposed by means of coating, or transfer, or lamination process; - the layer of liquid crystal (LC) solution (106) is in monomer form/ state at the time of coating and said monomers are polymerized after coating;

- wherein said polymeric material is polyethylene terephthalate (PET) in form of a Film and said PET film is transparent and non-metalized;

- wherein the security features is viewed from the liquid crystal (LCD) (106) side;

- wherein said substrate shows a change in colour effect at the selected portion from different viewing angle by the human eye;

- wherein said colour change effect changes according to the change in composition of Liquid crystal solution (106), - wherein the colour change effect is based on optical properties of different materials used in the substrate;

- wherein said substrate is cutout from the film coated in the pattern as stated above,

- wherein said security substrate is used in the document of value, as security feature;

a lamination or coating of a protective layer on the security substrate preferably on liquid crystal coated layer for anti-scratch, anti-wear.

The substrate as per above embodiment, wherein optionally a magnetic material layer coating be applied on the layer of black ink coating at selected, pre-defined locations to enable machine readable magnetic properties of the substrate.

According to the present embodiment the reflected waves of light are seen as a colour. The reflected colour wave length depends on composition of liquid crystal material and changes according to change in composition of Liquid crystal.

In accordance with one of the embodiments of the present invention, a method for manufacturing a substrate (100) for security applications is disclosed. A method of manufacturing a substrate as claimed in Claim 1 comprising the following steps:

a) selecting a polymeric material for a base layer (1 02) having a first operative surface (102a) and a second operative surface (1 02a), wherein said polymeric material preferably a polyethylene terephthalate (PET) film and said film used as base layer;

b) the operative surfaces of the film to be cleaned on both sides with a cleaning agent or with an appropriate solvent;

c) deposition of black ink (104) on first operating surface of film on the selected portion(s) of said first operative surface (1 02a), and wherein said deposition is by means by coating, printing or transfer or lamination process and drying thereafter;

d) deposition of layer of monomer Liquid Crystal Solution (1 06) on second operating surface of film;

e) polymerization of said monomer Liquid Crystal Solution coated on the film;

f) cutting the film obtained from a step e) into a strip or a shape according to the requirement of end use by a user, wherein said strip or shapes forms the substrate for security application in the form of foil, thread, patch etc. having optical, magnetic features. In accordance with the method of manufacturing a substrate as per the present invention, the polymeric material layer is not limited to polyethylene terephthalate (PET).

The substrate as per one of the embodiment of the present invention, wherein said selected portion(s) forms a indicia in a forms of an image(s), letter's, mark's or combination of anyone on the substrate at the pre-defined places/location as per the user requirement.

The substrate as per one of the embodiments of the present invention, wherein optionally magnetic material layer coating be applied on the any operative surface of base layer, or any surface of finished substrate at selected, pre-defined locations to enable machine readable magnetic properties.

The substrate in accordance with present invention inserted in the document of value. The security features of the substrate can be identified to know the genuiness of the product or identify the counterfeit product. The substrate inserted in the document of vale in such a way so that Liquid crystal coating should be viewable on the surface. The substrate shows the colour change effect when viewed from different angle by the human eye. The substrate changes the colour from one colour to another colour when viewed from different view angles. The change in colour depends on the composition of liquid Crystal. The coating of black ink on selected portion gives the shape of indices used to identify the security features. The colour change from one colour to another colour provides one of the safety feature. The shape pattern of indices provides another safety feature. The location of coating of black ink on a substrate provides still another safety feature. The black ink absorbs the light and reflects the light as per the Law of physics. The whole substrate is invented on the basis of Law of physics. In accordance with another embodiment of the present invention, substrate (200) for security applications, said substrate (200) comprising: a base layer (202) having a first operative surface (202a) and a second operative surface (202b), wherein said base layer (202) is a film of polymeric material; a layer of water washable solution (21 0) disposed or coated on the second operative surface of said base layer(202b); a layer of Aluminium (208) deposited on said layer of water washable solution (210), wherein said Aluminium is deposited by means of vacuum deposition method or vapour deposition method;

a layer of black ink (204) disposed on said layer of Aluminium (208), wherein said black ink (204) is disposed on the selected portion(s) of layer of an Aluminium, and wherein said black ink is disposed by means of coating, vapour deposit or vacuum vapour deposition or by printing , coating means, wherein the black ink is resistant to sodium Hydroxide (NaoH) solution; the layer of Aluminium is de-metalized at selected portion's corresponding to remaining portion of black ink (204) layer coating; a layer of monomer liquid crystal solution (206) is disposed on said black ink layer (204) and thereafter monomer liquid crystal is polymerized; wherein polymeric material of said base layer (202) is film of polyethylene terephthalate (PET) and said PET film is transparent;

wherein the security features are viewed from the liquid crystal (LC) (106) side, wherein said substrate shows a change in colour effect at the selected portion from different viewing angle by the human eye;

wherein said substrate can have different colour combination in colour change effect by changing composition by liquid crystal solution. wherein said color's in colour change effect, change according to change in composition of Liquid crystal solution (206), - wherein the colour change effect is based on optical properties of different materials used in the substrate;

- wherein said substrate is cutout from the film obtain as per above process, - wherein said security substrate is used in the document of value, as security feature;

- wherein preferably second operative surface of the base layer is optionally used for additional security features like machine readable properties by coating of magnetic material.

The substrate as per one of the embodiment of the present invention, wherein said selected portion(s) forms a indicia in a forms of an image(s), letter's, mark's or combination of anyone on the substrate at the pre-defined places/location as per the user requirement.

The substrate as per one of the embodiments of the present invention, wherein optionally layer of magnetic material coating is applied on the any operative surface of base layer, or any surface of finished substrate at selected, predefined locations to enable machine readable magnetic properties.

For machine readable properties, phosphorescent, luminescent, fluorescent material be used as addition material, which is read or identify through the machine.

The present disclosure in accordance with another embodiment of the present invention is a method of manufacturing a substrate comprising the following steps:

a) selecting a polymeric material for a base layer (202) having a first operative surface (202a) and a second operative surface (202a), wherein said polymeric material is in form of the film preferably of polyethylene terephthalate (PET);

b) the operative surfaces of the film to be cleaned on both sides with a cleaning agent or with an appropriate solvent; c) depositing a layer of water-based solution (210) on the second operating surface of the film by means of coating and drying thereafter;

d) depositing a layer of Aluminium (208) on said layer of water washable solution (210), wherein said Aluminium deposition is done by means of vacuum deposition method or vapour deposition method;

e) deposition of a layer of black ink (204) on said layer of Aluminium (208), wherein said black ink (204) layer is deposited on the selected portion(s) of an Aluminium (208) layer, and wherein said black ink is deposited by means of coating, or vapour deposit, or vacuum vapour deposition, or printing, wherein black ink is resistant to Sodium Hydroxide (NaOH) solution;

f) the layer of Aluminium (208) selectively de-metalized by etching means at selected portion's corresponding to remaining portion unmasked by black ink layer (204) coating by suitable chemical, wherein one of the suitable chemical is Sodium hydroxide NaoH solution;

g) washing the de-metalized Aluminium layer and drying;

h) deposition of a layer of monomer liquid crystal solution (206) on said black ink layer (204) on the film;

i) polymerization of said monomer liquid crystal coated on black ink on the film/substrate;

j) cutting the film obtained from a step i) into a strip or a shape according to the requirement of end use by a user, wherein said strips or shape forms the substrate for security application in the form of foil, thread, patch etc. having optical, magnetic features.

The use of water washable solution coating as one layer in the substrate as per one of the embodiment gives better and additional cleaning and better results of the substrate for security features. In the present embodiment, the removal of Aluminium is done by the etching process. The sodium hydroxide preferably used as etching medium. The removal of Aluminium gives shape/ pattern of indices. The indices are one of the security features. Wherever black coating is done on the selected portion of Aluminium layer, that portion become un-etched and the un-remained black ink coated portion is exposed of Aluminium and the same is etched by Sodium hydroxide (NaoH) solution. The substrate in accordance with present invention inserted in the document of value. The security features of the substrate can be identified to know the genuiness of the product or identify the counterfeit product. The substrate inserted in the document of vale in such a way so that Liquid crystal coating should be viewable on the surface. The substrate shows the colour change effect when view from different angle by the human eye. The substrate changes the colour from one colour to another colour when looked from different view angles. The change in colour depends on the composition of liquid Crystal. The coating of black ink on selected portion gives the shape of indices used to identify the security features. The colour change from one colour to another colour provides one of the safety feature. The shape pattern of indices provides another safety feature. The location of coating of black ink on a substrate provides another safety feature. The black ink absorbs the light and reflects the light as per the law of physics. The whole substrate is invented on the basis of law of physics.

In accordance with the present invention, the black ink layer is based on copolymers and terpolymers of vinyl chloride or from similar polymers.

In accordance with the present invention, the metal layer is not limited to Aluminium but may be selected from the group consisting of Aluminium, copper, gold, and silver.

In accordance with the present invention, the liquid crystal solution may be selected from the known liquid crystal solution used in the industry. The liquid crystal material may be polymeric crystal material. The liquid crystal solution used is in monomer for coating purpose and then polymerised for better quality of optical effects in change of colour or shift of colour. In accordance with the present invention, the water washable solution for water soluble coating is made from polyvinyl alcohol or from polyesters or from polyvinyl pyrrolidone or from any suitable chemicals. In accordance with the present invention, the polymeric material layer is not limited to polyethylene terephthalate (PET).

In accordance with one embodiment of the present invention, wherein one of the etching medium is sodium hydroxide.

In the present invention an indicia may be in a form of image(s), letter's, mark's or combination of anyone on the substrate at the pre-defined places/location as per the user requirement, and wherein said indicia be positive or negative.

In the present invention the document of value includes paper currency note, passport, stamp paper etc.

In the present invention a substrate is incorporated in the document of value".

ADVANCES AND ECONOMICAL SIGNIFICANCE OF THE PRESENTLY DISCLOSED INVENTION

The presently disclosed invention, as described herein above, provides several advances including, but not limited to, substrates and a method for manufacturing the substrates, which can be used in numerous validating and/or security applications, wherein

- the substrates have a design that is simple to manufacture; and

- the method is simple and less tedious for manufacturing the substrates. It is to be noted that in the specification the word "comprise", or variations like "comprises" or "comprising", is assumed to suggest the presence of a stated element, integer or step, or group of elements, integers or steps, but not the barring of any other element, integer or step, or group of elements, integers or steps.

The usage of the phrase "at least" or "at least one" advocates the usage of one or more elements or ingredients or quantities, as the usage may be in the embodiment of the present invention to realize one or more of the wanted objects or results.

Inclusion of or incorporation of any documents, materials, devices, articles or the like in the specification is exclusively for providing a background for the present invention and should not be construed as an admittance that any or all of these matters form a part of the prior art or were common general knowledge in the field relevant to the present invention as it existed anywhere before the priority date of this application.

Further, the arithmetical values cited in the invention of the present invention for the different physical parameters, quantities or dimensions are merely estimates and it is assumed that the values with +/-10 % higher/lower than the arithmetical values assigned to the parameters, quantities or dimensions fall inside the scope of the invention, unless it is specifically mentioned.

Although substantial stress has been placed herein on the process and the process steps of the preferred embodiments, it will be appreciated that many embodiments can be made and that numerous alterations can be made in the preferred embodiments without departing from the teachings of the present invention. These and other alterations in the preferred embodiment as well as other embodiments of the present invention are apparent to those skilled in the art from the description of the present invention herein, whereby it is to be clearly understood that the foregoing descriptive matter is to be understood simply as descriptive of the present invention and not as a restraint.