CA2096037A1 - Method of making a plastic identification card - Google Patents
Method of making a plastic identification cardInfo
- Publication number
- CA2096037A1 CA2096037A1 CA 2096037 CA2096037A CA2096037A1 CA 2096037 A1 CA2096037 A1 CA 2096037A1 CA 2096037 CA2096037 CA 2096037 CA 2096037 A CA2096037 A CA 2096037A CA 2096037 A1 CA2096037 A1 CA 2096037A1
- Authority
- CA
- Canada
- Prior art keywords
- digital data
- data
- memory
- card
- picture
- Prior art date
- Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
- Abandoned
Links
Classifications
-
- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B42—BOOKBINDING; ALBUMS; FILES; SPECIAL PRINTED MATTER
- B42D—BOOKS; BOOK COVERS; LOOSE LEAVES; PRINTED MATTER CHARACTERISED BY IDENTIFICATION OR SECURITY FEATURES; PRINTED MATTER OF SPECIAL FORMAT OR STYLE NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; DEVICES FOR USE THEREWITH AND NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; MOVABLE-STRIP WRITING OR READING APPARATUS
- B42D25/00—Information-bearing cards or sheet-like structures characterised by identification or security features; Manufacture thereof
- B42D25/30—Identification or security features, e.g. for preventing forgery
- B42D25/305—Associated digital information
-
- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B42—BOOKBINDING; ALBUMS; FILES; SPECIAL PRINTED MATTER
- B42D—BOOKS; BOOK COVERS; LOOSE LEAVES; PRINTED MATTER CHARACTERISED BY IDENTIFICATION OR SECURITY FEATURES; PRINTED MATTER OF SPECIAL FORMAT OR STYLE NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; DEVICES FOR USE THEREWITH AND NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; MOVABLE-STRIP WRITING OR READING APPARATUS
- B42D25/00—Information-bearing cards or sheet-like structures characterised by identification or security features; Manufacture thereof
- B42D25/30—Identification or security features, e.g. for preventing forgery
- B42D25/309—Photographs
-
- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B42—BOOKBINDING; ALBUMS; FILES; SPECIAL PRINTED MATTER
- B42D—BOOKS; BOOK COVERS; LOOSE LEAVES; PRINTED MATTER CHARACTERISED BY IDENTIFICATION OR SECURITY FEATURES; PRINTED MATTER OF SPECIAL FORMAT OR STYLE NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; DEVICES FOR USE THEREWITH AND NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; MOVABLE-STRIP WRITING OR READING APPARATUS
- B42D25/00—Information-bearing cards or sheet-like structures characterised by identification or security features; Manufacture thereof
- B42D25/30—Identification or security features, e.g. for preventing forgery
- B42D25/351—Translucent or partly translucent parts, e.g. windows
-
- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B42—BOOKBINDING; ALBUMS; FILES; SPECIAL PRINTED MATTER
- B42D—BOOKS; BOOK COVERS; LOOSE LEAVES; PRINTED MATTER CHARACTERISED BY IDENTIFICATION OR SECURITY FEATURES; PRINTED MATTER OF SPECIAL FORMAT OR STYLE NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; DEVICES FOR USE THEREWITH AND NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; MOVABLE-STRIP WRITING OR READING APPARATUS
- B42D25/00—Information-bearing cards or sheet-like structures characterised by identification or security features; Manufacture thereof
- B42D25/30—Identification or security features, e.g. for preventing forgery
- B42D25/36—Identification or security features, e.g. for preventing forgery comprising special materials
- B42D25/378—Special inks
-
- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B42—BOOKBINDING; ALBUMS; FILES; SPECIAL PRINTED MATTER
- B42D—BOOKS; BOOK COVERS; LOOSE LEAVES; PRINTED MATTER CHARACTERISED BY IDENTIFICATION OR SECURITY FEATURES; PRINTED MATTER OF SPECIAL FORMAT OR STYLE NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; DEVICES FOR USE THEREWITH AND NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; MOVABLE-STRIP WRITING OR READING APPARATUS
- B42D25/00—Information-bearing cards or sheet-like structures characterised by identification or security features; Manufacture thereof
- B42D25/40—Manufacture
- B42D25/48—Controlling the manufacturing process
- B42D25/485—Controlling the manufacturing process by electronic processing means
-
- G—PHYSICS
- G07—CHECKING-DEVICES
- G07C—TIME OR ATTENDANCE REGISTERS; REGISTERING OR INDICATING THE WORKING OF MACHINES; GENERATING RANDOM NUMBERS; VOTING OR LOTTERY APPARATUS; ARRANGEMENTS, SYSTEMS OR APPARATUS FOR CHECKING NOT PROVIDED FOR ELSEWHERE
- G07C9/00—Individual registration on entry or exit
- G07C9/20—Individual registration on entry or exit involving the use of a pass
- G07C9/22—Individual registration on entry or exit involving the use of a pass in combination with an identity check of the pass holder
- G07C9/25—Individual registration on entry or exit involving the use of a pass in combination with an identity check of the pass holder using biometric data, e.g. fingerprints, iris scans or voice recognition
- G07C9/253—Individual registration on entry or exit involving the use of a pass in combination with an identity check of the pass holder using biometric data, e.g. fingerprints, iris scans or voice recognition visually
-
- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B41—PRINTING; LINING MACHINES; TYPEWRITERS; STAMPS
- B41M—PRINTING, DUPLICATING, MARKING, OR COPYING PROCESSES; COLOUR PRINTING
- B41M3/00—Printing processes to produce particular kinds of printed work, e.g. patterns
- B41M3/14—Security printing
Landscapes
- Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
- Manufacturing & Machinery (AREA)
- Human Computer Interaction (AREA)
- Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
- General Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
- Credit Cards Or The Like (AREA)
Abstract
Abstract of the Disclosure A plastic identification card is produced by a method in which a picture from a camera (i.e. a video camera) is initially continually viewed on a monitor until the picture is acceptable.
once acceptable, the picture is processed, preferably in a computer, and converted into digital data from analog data without subsequently immediately displaying a visible reproduction of the picture. No immediate visible reproduction of the picture is needed because the picture was acceptable before processing. After processing the picture is recorded in a memory, preferably in a memory of the computer. Other identification information (i.e. demographic information, etc.) pertaining to the picture can be assimilated and recorded int he memory in the form of digital data. From the memory, the picture in the form of digital data and other identification information or alphanumeric information may be printed directly onto a plastic base material with a thermal dye transfer printer. The plastic base material may be covered with a transparent coating or laminate. All digital data or information may be stored in a permanent memory of a computer, to allow another plastic identification card to be reproduced in the future, with or without modification of the digital data.
once acceptable, the picture is processed, preferably in a computer, and converted into digital data from analog data without subsequently immediately displaying a visible reproduction of the picture. No immediate visible reproduction of the picture is needed because the picture was acceptable before processing. After processing the picture is recorded in a memory, preferably in a memory of the computer. Other identification information (i.e. demographic information, etc.) pertaining to the picture can be assimilated and recorded int he memory in the form of digital data. From the memory, the picture in the form of digital data and other identification information or alphanumeric information may be printed directly onto a plastic base material with a thermal dye transfer printer. The plastic base material may be covered with a transparent coating or laminate. All digital data or information may be stored in a permanent memory of a computer, to allow another plastic identification card to be reproduced in the future, with or without modification of the digital data.
Description
2~9~S037 A MET~IOD OF MAKTNG A
PLASTIC IDENTIFICATION C~RD
1. Field of the Invention This invention relates to identificatlon card~. More specifically, the present invention provides a digitally produced identification card havlng a layer of plastic carrying pertinent identification information, with one protective clear plastic coat or one protective clear plastic lamination layer covering the layer of plastic carrying the pertinent information. The present inventlon also provide~ a method of producing such an identification card.
- .:
2. ~rief Description of the Prior Art Identification cards provide a reliable and convenient means of supplying personal identification. Such cards are widely used in connection with business transactions, control aocess to restricted areas, and are commonly issued by government agencies for such purposes as driver's license verification and alien status. These card~ often have printed personal information on the front of the card and may include a personal photo of the card holder. Additionally, a magnetic stripe i8 often located on the back of the card containing additional personal information about the card holder. These cards are commonly wallet-sized or credit card sized, and are issued by such companies as Visa and Mastercard for personal business transactions.
Most cards requiring a personal photo use a chemical process to produce the card onto paper. The card is then embedded between two layers of protective plastic. The chemical process method does not easily lend itself to interfacing with the digital databases which are normally used to maintain the card holders demographic data. Therefore, a separate manual negative film file must be maintained for a complete card verification.
This system practically eliminates the use of powerful digital techniques, such as the quick retrieval of photo images from .: .
databases for immediate card verification, as well as the easy reissuance of lost cards from databases where all information on 2~9~S037 ..
card holders are held. Quick and easy reissuance of personal identification cards are also difficult where the demographic data changes for the card holder. In addition, where such cards are used as government I.D., the chemlcal process gives no secure way to maintain the personal demographic data with the personal photo of the card holder. Therefore, government agencies can not normally verify that the person holding the card is, in fact, the person to whom the card was originally issued.
U.S. Patent No. 3,640,009 to Komiyama describes an identification card in which a protective plastic layer i8 provided with a recess in which a paper insert carrying identification information is secured by adhesive. The edge portion of this plastic layer iB laminated around its edges to another protective plastic sheet. The plastic used forms a filter that is transparent to both ultra-violet or infrared wavelengths preventing the photographic image form being examined with ambient light. The construction described by Komiyama is expensive and i~ not suitable for high volume applications. An additional drawback is the requirement for specialized equipment to read the iden~ification card.
~ U.S. Patent No. ~ to Wilfert, fully incorporated B~ herein by reference thereto as if repeated verbatim hereafter, 1,5~/l describes an ldentification card which iB printed ontQ a sheet of B3 ~ B ~ 1/ paper. The paper is then laminated between two sheets of 31/~o transparent thermoplastic material. The laminated paper iB then passed into a punch and cut to size. In addition the patent describes a method of printing that generates images using means that produce personal photo images having a computer graphic-like appearance. ~lthough this iB a digital system, it has many disadvantages. The lamination process does not use an edge seal process. Therefore the card will, with normal usage, easily separate because the center material i~ paper based. Since this card has a very short span, it can not be used for most applications where the life span of the card must be 2 to 6 Z(~96037 years. Most personal identi~ication cards must bè put through various stress tests. ~ card having an exposed paper edge can not withstand any kind of moisture stress test. In addition, the printed photo of this card i8 not photographic in appearance s therefore, where photo verification is required, thls kind of card can not be used since it does not provide a mean~ to closely examine critical features such as eyes, nose, mouth, skin coloration and hair texture.
All of these identification cards suffer in an inability to produce a high quality photo personal identification card which -can withstand a normal life span of 2 to 6 years as required by the established credit card and personal identification card industries. Therefore, what is needed and what has been invented by me is a method for fabricating or making an identification card not possessing the foregoing deficiencies associated with -the prior art. The identification card produced in accordance ~
with my method for fabricating can withstand a normal life span ~;
of 2 to 6 years.
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21:~9~037 .,.. ~., .
summar~ of the Invention The present invention is a card production system that derives data from digitized video 6ignals, digital scanners, computer generated graphic ~mages and computer alphanumeric data.
The data i8 then arranged in memory to form a d~gital ;
representation of the red, green and blue data required to produce a high quality full color visual image. The different groups ef data such as photo, graphi¢ and demographic data can be arranged in any manner within memory. After processing the image, the memory is then transmitted to a thermal dye transfer printer. The red, green and blue color planes are then printed directly to a plastic base material. The top surface of the plastic i5 then protected with a clear coating of plastic or clear laminating material. The finished card does not require cutting since the pla6tic print material i8 precut to the required size before printing occurs. Thus, a completely digital plastic credit or identification card is produced having extreme durability and ample life span to satisfy most credit and identlfication applications.
The pre~ent invention accomplishes its desired ob~ects by broadly providing a method of making an identiflaation card, comprising the steps of:
(a) displaying in a form of a first set of analog data an -~
! I idçntlfication image for vlewing;
(b) processing the viewed identification image of step (a) to convert the first 6et of analog data into a form of a fir~t 6et of digital data without subsequently immediately displaying a visible reproduction of the identification image;
(c) providing a 6econd set of digital data repre~enting additional identification information;
(d) recording the first set of digital data and the second set of digital data in a memory;
(e) printing on a plastic base material from 6aid memory in ~;
step (d) by means of a thermal dye transfer printer a -~
visual pattern controlled by the first set of digital data and by the second set of digital data.
The present invention also accomplishes itæ desired ob~ect~
¦ by more specifically providing a method of making an identification card, comprising the steps of:
(a) displaying in a form of a first set of analog data an identification image for viewing;
(b) processing the viewed identification image of step (a) to convert the first set of analog data into a form of a first set of digital data without subsequently immediately di~playing a visible reproduction of the identification image; . :~
(c) providing a seaond set of digital data representing additional identification information; .
(d) providing a thi.rd set of digital data representing further additional identification information;
(e) recording the first ~et of digital data and the second set of digital data and the third set of . digital data in a memory:
(f) printing on a plastic base material from said memory in step (e) by means of a thermal dye transfer printer a visual pattern controlled by the first set of digital data and by the second set of digital data and by the third set of digital data. .
The present invent.ion further accomplishes its desired ob~ects by providing an identification card manufactured or ;.
fabricated by the foregoing methods.
These, together wi1:h the various ancillary ob~ects and features which will become apparent to those skilled in the art as the following descri~ption proceeds, are attained by this identification card produ.ced by this novel method of ma~ing an ;~
identification card, a preferred embodiment as shown with reference to the accompanying drawings, by way of example only, .
wherein;
7Brief Description of the Invention Fig. 1 ls diagrammat:ic representation of the elements of a ¦system for making a high-security identification card in ¦accordance with the present invention:
Fig. 2 is a plan view of a card fabricated by the system represented by Fig. 1: and Fig. 3 is an enlarged cross section of a portion of the card ~.
shown in Fig. 2.
--~ 2~ 37 3 Detailed Description of the Pre$ rred Embodiment of the Invention Referring in detail now to the drawings wherein similar parts of the invention are identified by like reference numerals, the image 2 ~e.g. a facial picture or portrait of a human being) which i8 to be recorded or captured, and placed and printed on an identification card 4 (i.e. an identification card manufactured from a plastic base material) is placed in front of a conventional video camera 6 which produces a video signal. The video signal may be black and white or a colorized signal (i.e.
red, green and blue image data). The video signal from the video camera 6 is in the form of analog data and is fed into a monitor 8 for image focus and placement veri~ication. Adjustments to the video camera 6 are made until the image 2 is deemed acceptable, especially acceptable for high quality reproduction purposes.
The output signal from the monitor i8 also in the form of analog data and is fed into an image processor 14 of a computer 15 where analog to digital conversion take~ place. Stated alternatively, the image processor 14 of the computer 15 converts the analog data signaled from the monitor 8 into a form of a set of digital data without subsequently immediately displaying and/or viewing from the processor 14 a visible reproduction of the image 2 or the converted digital data representing the image 2. If thé
analog data is in the form of black and white data, the conversion is into black and white digital data. If the analog data is in the form of red, green and blue image data, the conversion is into red, green and blue image digital data.
Preferably the analog data is colorized such that when the image 2 iB deemed acceptable, the depression of a key stroke 22 in a conventional keyboard 23 that electrically communicates with the computer 15 causes the image processor 14 of the computer 15 to convert a colorized video signal analog data into red, green or blue image digital data and to signal or process the red, green and blue image digital data into a card image memory 12 of the computer 15. Stated alternatively, when the image 2 as viewed on the monitor 8 is acceptable, depression of key stroke 22 in the - ` ZC96~937 j conventional keyboard 23 instructs the image processor 14 to convert and/or arrange the video analog data (that is being signaled from the monitor 8) into a form of a set of digital representation of red, green and blue data and to send such ¦ converted digital color data into the card image memory 12. The image 2 as stored in the card image memory 12 is represented by digital color (i.e. red, green and blue) information in a manner representing a color visual image, and more preferably possessing a photographic appearance as opposed to a computer graphic-like appearance. Software for the computer 15 for providing or producing such digitized image is provided or furnished.
Additional data to be included on the plastic base card 4 may be typed on the conventional keyboard 23 and/or signaled into the computer 15, more specifically into a graphic data section or memory 18 and/or alpha data section 16 or memory of the computer 15. During typing or otherwise entry into the computer 15 of such additional data, which is in the form of digital data, the additional data is typically being displayed on a screen 20 that electrically communicates with the computer 15. When the desired additional data has been entered into the computer 15 accurately and in a desired format on the screen 20, a key on the conventional keyboard 23 is depressed to transfer the additional digitized data from the graphic data member 18 and/or alpha data memory 16 into the card image memory 12 to merge with the video digitized data representing the image 2.
The card image memory 12 is such that it holds the grayscale value of each pixel within the three color planes of the red, green and blue image, and contains the digitized data to produce a continuous tone (non dithered) output to a printer 30. The digitized data in the card image memory 12 is transferred from the card image memory 12 to the printer 30 by depressing a key on the keyboard 23 or by any other suitable signaling means. The printer 30 reproduces on the card 4 the digitized data (i.e. the video digitized data, and the digitized graphic data and/or digitized alphanumeric data) transferred from the card image ZC~9~37 memory 12. The printer 30 is preferably a thermal dye transfer printer manufactured by Sharp Electronics, and preferably ls capable of producing 240 color dots per inch. The printer 30, having the 240 dots per inch, produces full color cards 4, havinq high quality photographic-like output that i3 superior to the most instant chemical photographic process such as Polaroid's instant photography process.
The card 4 is already cut to size, with the pertinent information printed on the top surface of the card 4. After the !
card 4 i5 printed, it is fed into a laminator 32 which covers the top surface of the card with a clear coat or laminate material to protect the printed information. The image digitized data as well as the digitized graphic data and/or alphanumeric data may also be transferred via a signal from depressing a key on the keyboard 23 into a permanent storage memory lO of the computer 15 which enables the data to be quickly retrieved for transmission, correction or reissuance of the card 4. -~
The computer 15 employed in the present invention is preferably one that i8 compatible with the printer 30, such as that manufactured by Compaq, and sold under the Trademark Compaq.
The video camera 6 and the monitor 8 may be any suitable camera and monitor that is also compatible with the computer 15 such as JVC TKl070u, and Sony PVM 1340, respectively.
As illustrated by Fig. 2, the finished card 4 may include a portrait 40, a personal signature 42, printed data 44, bar code 46 and graphic images 48 printed on the top surface of the card.
The card 4 may be printed on both sides to provide additional information if required. The card 4 may also include a magnetic stripe 50 to allow interfacing the card to computers as is commonly done with point of sale terminals used for business transactions.
The process described herein enables the common usage of computers to be directly interfaced with all of the data appearing on the card regardless of its alphanumeric or graphic nature. It also provides superior quality credit card size ~ ~C96037 . ~ , digitally produced cards printed directly onto plastic, which substantially increases the cards reliability over conventional paper based-cards when card life spans must yield a minimum of two years with normal card holder usage. Thus all of the current digital techniques such as quick retrieval of photo images and demographic data ~rom databases for immediate card verification, as well as easy reissuance of lost cards are utilized.
Additional security can be provided by using water marks or holograms.
While the present invention has been described herein with reference to particular embodiments thereof, a latitude of modification, various changes and substitutions are intended in the foregoing disclosure, and it will be appreciated that in some instances some features of the invention will be employed without a corresponding use of other features without departing from the scope of the invention as set forth.
PLASTIC IDENTIFICATION C~RD
1. Field of the Invention This invention relates to identificatlon card~. More specifically, the present invention provides a digitally produced identification card havlng a layer of plastic carrying pertinent identification information, with one protective clear plastic coat or one protective clear plastic lamination layer covering the layer of plastic carrying the pertinent information. The present inventlon also provide~ a method of producing such an identification card.
- .:
2. ~rief Description of the Prior Art Identification cards provide a reliable and convenient means of supplying personal identification. Such cards are widely used in connection with business transactions, control aocess to restricted areas, and are commonly issued by government agencies for such purposes as driver's license verification and alien status. These card~ often have printed personal information on the front of the card and may include a personal photo of the card holder. Additionally, a magnetic stripe i8 often located on the back of the card containing additional personal information about the card holder. These cards are commonly wallet-sized or credit card sized, and are issued by such companies as Visa and Mastercard for personal business transactions.
Most cards requiring a personal photo use a chemical process to produce the card onto paper. The card is then embedded between two layers of protective plastic. The chemical process method does not easily lend itself to interfacing with the digital databases which are normally used to maintain the card holders demographic data. Therefore, a separate manual negative film file must be maintained for a complete card verification.
This system practically eliminates the use of powerful digital techniques, such as the quick retrieval of photo images from .: .
databases for immediate card verification, as well as the easy reissuance of lost cards from databases where all information on 2~9~S037 ..
card holders are held. Quick and easy reissuance of personal identification cards are also difficult where the demographic data changes for the card holder. In addition, where such cards are used as government I.D., the chemlcal process gives no secure way to maintain the personal demographic data with the personal photo of the card holder. Therefore, government agencies can not normally verify that the person holding the card is, in fact, the person to whom the card was originally issued.
U.S. Patent No. 3,640,009 to Komiyama describes an identification card in which a protective plastic layer i8 provided with a recess in which a paper insert carrying identification information is secured by adhesive. The edge portion of this plastic layer iB laminated around its edges to another protective plastic sheet. The plastic used forms a filter that is transparent to both ultra-violet or infrared wavelengths preventing the photographic image form being examined with ambient light. The construction described by Komiyama is expensive and i~ not suitable for high volume applications. An additional drawback is the requirement for specialized equipment to read the iden~ification card.
~ U.S. Patent No. ~ to Wilfert, fully incorporated B~ herein by reference thereto as if repeated verbatim hereafter, 1,5~/l describes an ldentification card which iB printed ontQ a sheet of B3 ~ B ~ 1/ paper. The paper is then laminated between two sheets of 31/~o transparent thermoplastic material. The laminated paper iB then passed into a punch and cut to size. In addition the patent describes a method of printing that generates images using means that produce personal photo images having a computer graphic-like appearance. ~lthough this iB a digital system, it has many disadvantages. The lamination process does not use an edge seal process. Therefore the card will, with normal usage, easily separate because the center material i~ paper based. Since this card has a very short span, it can not be used for most applications where the life span of the card must be 2 to 6 Z(~96037 years. Most personal identi~ication cards must bè put through various stress tests. ~ card having an exposed paper edge can not withstand any kind of moisture stress test. In addition, the printed photo of this card i8 not photographic in appearance s therefore, where photo verification is required, thls kind of card can not be used since it does not provide a mean~ to closely examine critical features such as eyes, nose, mouth, skin coloration and hair texture.
All of these identification cards suffer in an inability to produce a high quality photo personal identification card which -can withstand a normal life span of 2 to 6 years as required by the established credit card and personal identification card industries. Therefore, what is needed and what has been invented by me is a method for fabricating or making an identification card not possessing the foregoing deficiencies associated with -the prior art. The identification card produced in accordance ~
with my method for fabricating can withstand a normal life span ~;
of 2 to 6 years.
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21:~9~037 .,.. ~., .
summar~ of the Invention The present invention is a card production system that derives data from digitized video 6ignals, digital scanners, computer generated graphic ~mages and computer alphanumeric data.
The data i8 then arranged in memory to form a d~gital ;
representation of the red, green and blue data required to produce a high quality full color visual image. The different groups ef data such as photo, graphi¢ and demographic data can be arranged in any manner within memory. After processing the image, the memory is then transmitted to a thermal dye transfer printer. The red, green and blue color planes are then printed directly to a plastic base material. The top surface of the plastic i5 then protected with a clear coating of plastic or clear laminating material. The finished card does not require cutting since the pla6tic print material i8 precut to the required size before printing occurs. Thus, a completely digital plastic credit or identification card is produced having extreme durability and ample life span to satisfy most credit and identlfication applications.
The pre~ent invention accomplishes its desired ob~ects by broadly providing a method of making an identiflaation card, comprising the steps of:
(a) displaying in a form of a first set of analog data an -~
! I idçntlfication image for vlewing;
(b) processing the viewed identification image of step (a) to convert the first 6et of analog data into a form of a fir~t 6et of digital data without subsequently immediately displaying a visible reproduction of the identification image;
(c) providing a 6econd set of digital data repre~enting additional identification information;
(d) recording the first set of digital data and the second set of digital data in a memory;
(e) printing on a plastic base material from 6aid memory in ~;
step (d) by means of a thermal dye transfer printer a -~
visual pattern controlled by the first set of digital data and by the second set of digital data.
The present invention also accomplishes itæ desired ob~ect~
¦ by more specifically providing a method of making an identification card, comprising the steps of:
(a) displaying in a form of a first set of analog data an identification image for viewing;
(b) processing the viewed identification image of step (a) to convert the first set of analog data into a form of a first set of digital data without subsequently immediately di~playing a visible reproduction of the identification image; . :~
(c) providing a seaond set of digital data representing additional identification information; .
(d) providing a thi.rd set of digital data representing further additional identification information;
(e) recording the first ~et of digital data and the second set of digital data and the third set of . digital data in a memory:
(f) printing on a plastic base material from said memory in step (e) by means of a thermal dye transfer printer a visual pattern controlled by the first set of digital data and by the second set of digital data and by the third set of digital data. .
The present invent.ion further accomplishes its desired ob~ects by providing an identification card manufactured or ;.
fabricated by the foregoing methods.
These, together wi1:h the various ancillary ob~ects and features which will become apparent to those skilled in the art as the following descri~ption proceeds, are attained by this identification card produ.ced by this novel method of ma~ing an ;~
identification card, a preferred embodiment as shown with reference to the accompanying drawings, by way of example only, .
wherein;
7Brief Description of the Invention Fig. 1 ls diagrammat:ic representation of the elements of a ¦system for making a high-security identification card in ¦accordance with the present invention:
Fig. 2 is a plan view of a card fabricated by the system represented by Fig. 1: and Fig. 3 is an enlarged cross section of a portion of the card ~.
shown in Fig. 2.
--~ 2~ 37 3 Detailed Description of the Pre$ rred Embodiment of the Invention Referring in detail now to the drawings wherein similar parts of the invention are identified by like reference numerals, the image 2 ~e.g. a facial picture or portrait of a human being) which i8 to be recorded or captured, and placed and printed on an identification card 4 (i.e. an identification card manufactured from a plastic base material) is placed in front of a conventional video camera 6 which produces a video signal. The video signal may be black and white or a colorized signal (i.e.
red, green and blue image data). The video signal from the video camera 6 is in the form of analog data and is fed into a monitor 8 for image focus and placement veri~ication. Adjustments to the video camera 6 are made until the image 2 is deemed acceptable, especially acceptable for high quality reproduction purposes.
The output signal from the monitor i8 also in the form of analog data and is fed into an image processor 14 of a computer 15 where analog to digital conversion take~ place. Stated alternatively, the image processor 14 of the computer 15 converts the analog data signaled from the monitor 8 into a form of a set of digital data without subsequently immediately displaying and/or viewing from the processor 14 a visible reproduction of the image 2 or the converted digital data representing the image 2. If thé
analog data is in the form of black and white data, the conversion is into black and white digital data. If the analog data is in the form of red, green and blue image data, the conversion is into red, green and blue image digital data.
Preferably the analog data is colorized such that when the image 2 iB deemed acceptable, the depression of a key stroke 22 in a conventional keyboard 23 that electrically communicates with the computer 15 causes the image processor 14 of the computer 15 to convert a colorized video signal analog data into red, green or blue image digital data and to signal or process the red, green and blue image digital data into a card image memory 12 of the computer 15. Stated alternatively, when the image 2 as viewed on the monitor 8 is acceptable, depression of key stroke 22 in the - ` ZC96~937 j conventional keyboard 23 instructs the image processor 14 to convert and/or arrange the video analog data (that is being signaled from the monitor 8) into a form of a set of digital representation of red, green and blue data and to send such ¦ converted digital color data into the card image memory 12. The image 2 as stored in the card image memory 12 is represented by digital color (i.e. red, green and blue) information in a manner representing a color visual image, and more preferably possessing a photographic appearance as opposed to a computer graphic-like appearance. Software for the computer 15 for providing or producing such digitized image is provided or furnished.
Additional data to be included on the plastic base card 4 may be typed on the conventional keyboard 23 and/or signaled into the computer 15, more specifically into a graphic data section or memory 18 and/or alpha data section 16 or memory of the computer 15. During typing or otherwise entry into the computer 15 of such additional data, which is in the form of digital data, the additional data is typically being displayed on a screen 20 that electrically communicates with the computer 15. When the desired additional data has been entered into the computer 15 accurately and in a desired format on the screen 20, a key on the conventional keyboard 23 is depressed to transfer the additional digitized data from the graphic data member 18 and/or alpha data memory 16 into the card image memory 12 to merge with the video digitized data representing the image 2.
The card image memory 12 is such that it holds the grayscale value of each pixel within the three color planes of the red, green and blue image, and contains the digitized data to produce a continuous tone (non dithered) output to a printer 30. The digitized data in the card image memory 12 is transferred from the card image memory 12 to the printer 30 by depressing a key on the keyboard 23 or by any other suitable signaling means. The printer 30 reproduces on the card 4 the digitized data (i.e. the video digitized data, and the digitized graphic data and/or digitized alphanumeric data) transferred from the card image ZC~9~37 memory 12. The printer 30 is preferably a thermal dye transfer printer manufactured by Sharp Electronics, and preferably ls capable of producing 240 color dots per inch. The printer 30, having the 240 dots per inch, produces full color cards 4, havinq high quality photographic-like output that i3 superior to the most instant chemical photographic process such as Polaroid's instant photography process.
The card 4 is already cut to size, with the pertinent information printed on the top surface of the card 4. After the !
card 4 i5 printed, it is fed into a laminator 32 which covers the top surface of the card with a clear coat or laminate material to protect the printed information. The image digitized data as well as the digitized graphic data and/or alphanumeric data may also be transferred via a signal from depressing a key on the keyboard 23 into a permanent storage memory lO of the computer 15 which enables the data to be quickly retrieved for transmission, correction or reissuance of the card 4. -~
The computer 15 employed in the present invention is preferably one that i8 compatible with the printer 30, such as that manufactured by Compaq, and sold under the Trademark Compaq.
The video camera 6 and the monitor 8 may be any suitable camera and monitor that is also compatible with the computer 15 such as JVC TKl070u, and Sony PVM 1340, respectively.
As illustrated by Fig. 2, the finished card 4 may include a portrait 40, a personal signature 42, printed data 44, bar code 46 and graphic images 48 printed on the top surface of the card.
The card 4 may be printed on both sides to provide additional information if required. The card 4 may also include a magnetic stripe 50 to allow interfacing the card to computers as is commonly done with point of sale terminals used for business transactions.
The process described herein enables the common usage of computers to be directly interfaced with all of the data appearing on the card regardless of its alphanumeric or graphic nature. It also provides superior quality credit card size ~ ~C96037 . ~ , digitally produced cards printed directly onto plastic, which substantially increases the cards reliability over conventional paper based-cards when card life spans must yield a minimum of two years with normal card holder usage. Thus all of the current digital techniques such as quick retrieval of photo images and demographic data ~rom databases for immediate card verification, as well as easy reissuance of lost cards are utilized.
Additional security can be provided by using water marks or holograms.
While the present invention has been described herein with reference to particular embodiments thereof, a latitude of modification, various changes and substitutions are intended in the foregoing disclosure, and it will be appreciated that in some instances some features of the invention will be employed without a corresponding use of other features without departing from the scope of the invention as set forth.
Claims (17)
1. A method of making an identification card, comprising the steps of:
(a) displaying in a form of a first set of analog data an identification image for viewing:
(b) processing the viewed identification image of step (a) to convert the first set of analog data into a form of a first set of digital data without subsequently immediately displaying a visible reproduction of the identification image;
(c) providing a second set of digital data representing additional identification information:
(d) recording said first set of digital data and said second set of digital data in a memory;
(e) printing on a plastic base material from said memory in step (d) by means of a thermal dye transfer printer a visual pattern controlled by the first set of digital data and by the second set of digital data.
(a) displaying in a form of a first set of analog data an identification image for viewing:
(b) processing the viewed identification image of step (a) to convert the first set of analog data into a form of a first set of digital data without subsequently immediately displaying a visible reproduction of the identification image;
(c) providing a second set of digital data representing additional identification information:
(d) recording said first set of digital data and said second set of digital data in a memory;
(e) printing on a plastic base material from said memory in step (d) by means of a thermal dye transfer printer a visual pattern controlled by the first set of digital data and by the second set of digital data.
2. The method of Claim 1 additionally comprising covering said printed visual pattern on said plastic base material with a transparent coating.
3. The method of Claim 1 additionally comprising covering said printed visual pattern on said plastic base material with a transparent laminating material.
4. The method of Claim 1 wherein said visual pattern is a color visual image.
5. The method of Claim 2 wherein said visual pattern is a color visual image.
6. The method of Claim 3 wherein said visual pattern is a color visual image.
7. The method of Claim 4 additionally comprising arranging, prior to said printing step (e), said first set of digital data to form a first set of digital representation of red, green and blue data.
8. The method of Claim 7 additionally comprising arranging, prior to said printing step (e), said second set of digital data to form a second set of digital representation of red, green and blue data.
9. The method of Claim 1 additionally comprising providing, prior to step (d), a third set of digital data representing further additional identification information
10. The method of Claim 9 additionally comprising displaying said third set of digital data for viewing; and recording said third set of digital data in said memory.
11. An identification card produced in accordance with the method of Claim 1.
12. A method of making an identification card, comprising the steps of:
(a) displaying in a form of a first set of analog data an identification image for viewing;
(b) processing the viewed identification image of step (a) to convert the first set of analog data into a form of a first set of digital data without subsequently immediately displaying a visible reproduction of the identification image:
(c) providing a second set of digital data representing additional identification information:
(d) providing a third set of digital data representing further additional identification information;
(e) recording said first set of digital data and said second set of digital data and said third set of digital data in a memory;
(f) printing on a plastic base material from said memory in step (e) by means of a thermal dye transfer printer a visual pattern controlled by the first set of digital data and by the second set of digital data and by said third set of digital data.
(a) displaying in a form of a first set of analog data an identification image for viewing;
(b) processing the viewed identification image of step (a) to convert the first set of analog data into a form of a first set of digital data without subsequently immediately displaying a visible reproduction of the identification image:
(c) providing a second set of digital data representing additional identification information:
(d) providing a third set of digital data representing further additional identification information;
(e) recording said first set of digital data and said second set of digital data and said third set of digital data in a memory;
(f) printing on a plastic base material from said memory in step (e) by means of a thermal dye transfer printer a visual pattern controlled by the first set of digital data and by the second set of digital data and by said third set of digital data.
13. The method of Claim 12 additionally comprising displaying, prior to step (e), said second set of digital data and said third set of digital data for viewing.
14. The method of Claim 13 additionally comprising recording after step (e) said first set of digital data and said second set of digital data and said third set of digital data in a permanent memory.
15. The method of Claim 14 additionally comprising arranging, prior to said printing step (f), said first set of digital data to form a first set of digital representation of red, green and blue data.
16. The method of Claim 15 additionally comprising covering said printed visual pattern on said plastic base material with a transparent coating.
17. The method of Claim 16 wherein said visual pattern is a color visual image.
Priority Applications (1)
| Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| CA 2096037 CA2096037A1 (en) | 1993-05-12 | 1993-05-12 | Method of making a plastic identification card |
Applications Claiming Priority (1)
| Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| CA 2096037 CA2096037A1 (en) | 1993-05-12 | 1993-05-12 | Method of making a plastic identification card |
Publications (1)
| Publication Number | Publication Date |
|---|---|
| CA2096037A1 true CA2096037A1 (en) | 1994-11-13 |
Family
ID=4151627
Family Applications (1)
| Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| CA 2096037 Abandoned CA2096037A1 (en) | 1993-05-12 | 1993-05-12 | Method of making a plastic identification card |
Country Status (1)
| Country | Link |
|---|---|
| CA (1) | CA2096037A1 (en) |
Cited By (1)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| CN111094008A (en) * | 2017-09-14 | 2020-05-01 | 夏特股份公司 | Method for producing decorative papers or decorative films and protecting them against unauthorized reproduction |
-
1993
- 1993-05-12 CA CA 2096037 patent/CA2096037A1/en not_active Abandoned
Cited By (1)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| CN111094008A (en) * | 2017-09-14 | 2020-05-01 | 夏特股份公司 | Method for producing decorative papers or decorative films and protecting them against unauthorized reproduction |
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