FR2564622A1 - Method and device for producing any identification documents and documents obtained - Google Patents

Abstract

Method of producing any identification documents comprising indications allowing identification of their holders. It comprises a copy of identification indications onto a medium 1 in the form of sets of points, recessed or in relief, distributed at discrete intervals. A first set of points represent, for example, the portrait 3 of the holder. A second set of points, making it possible to represent various symbols (letters, numbers, graphics symbols etc.) which specify his identity, his address or any other information as for example, numbers which are allocated to him, may also be copied onto another part 4 of the medium. The points are copied, for example, by controlled penetration of a tool into the thickness of the medium or the action of a laser. Application to the fabrication of official documents, payment, credit or professional cards for example.

Description

 The subject of the invention is a process for producing all nominative documents comprising indications allowing the identification of holders. The method according to the invention is applicable in particular to the production of identity cards, various permits, business cards, payment or credit cards, without these examples being limiting.

 Any nominative document generally contains information concerning its nature or function (identity card, permit, etc.) and the identity of the holder. This is defined by a name, one or more names, possibly an address or a function.

 Depending on the case, the document includes other indications in the form of various signs: characters, numbers, possibly coded graphic signs, these signs being printed on the document or for example on a magnetic strip. These indications are for example reference numbers.

 The identification of the holder is often supplemented by attaching a photo of it to the document.

 The known methods of identifying the holder of a document using a photo have drawbacks in that the various methods of attaching it to the document do not offer a sufficient guarantee against possible falsification. The direct writing of other references by direct writing, printing on the document or translation on a coded magnetic strip also does not eliminate all the risks of fraud.

 The method according to the invention eliminates all the drawbacks mentioned above. I1 is characterized in that it includes the transfer of indications allowing the identification of the holder on a support, according to the form of at least one set of recessed or boss points distributed at discrete intervals.

 According to one embodiment, the transfer is carried out on the support of a set of recessed points or bumps, which translates a digitized image of the holder.

 According to another embodiment, which can be combined with the first, the transfer is carried out on the support of a set of hollow points or in tosses at discrete intervals, which translate a set of signs, these signs being for example characters , direct reading or coded numbers, or graphic symbols.

 The process of producing this set of points translating a digital image and / or other indications can be carried out by any known means, mechanical, chemical and also physical, an optical instrument such as a laser for example.

 A color contrast can be used to highlight the points relative to the support.

The method according to the invention is advantageous in that: - the image of the holder being produced in the thickness of the support, the document obtained is practically falsifiable; - the possible transfer on the document in the same punctual form of all kinds of signs necessary for the establishment of the document, still allows to increase the safety of use; - the possible postponement under one and the same form of all sets of signs, whether it is the digitized photo of the holder or other indications which concern him, makes it possible to facilitate the production of the document because in this case it suffices to '' a single marking system capable of achieving the variations in relief (hollows or punctual bumps) required; - the conduct of all document manufacturing operations can be entrusted in this case to a suitably programmed computer; and the reading of the indications which appear in the form of sets of points can be carried out by any known means of optical reading,
Other characteristics and advantages of the method will appear on reading particular embodiments, described by way of nonlimiting examples with reference to the accompanying drawings, where FIG. 1 shows in an enlarged format a card of the card type. said, personalized in particular by the image of its holder obtained by digging dots in the thickness of the support; - Figure 2 shows on a larger scale an embodiment of a character also in the form of a set of recessed black dots and in line on a white surface; and - Figure 3 shows a variant of Figure 2 where the same character is made in the form of two lines of smaller hollow points arranged in staggered rows.

 The name card of Figure 1 consists of a rectangular plate 1 made of a solid material such as a plastic or a composite material.

 On the card, in a zone 2 of its surface are indicated general indications concerning the nature of the document: national or professional identity card, permit of all types, payment or credit card and / or different graphic symbols possibly colored identifying the administration or the issuing body etc. All information not specifically concerning the holder is generally pre-printed on the card.

 The card includes one or more zones where particular data relating to its holder are reported, at least part of this data being produced in the form of a set of recessed or bump points, distributed at regular intervals.

 This data is for example an image 3 of the holder suitably digitized, obtained by a known procedure of sampling and conversion into digital values and of memorization, the sampling step depending on the fineness required for the restitution of the image and / or the marking system that is used to translate the data scanned on the card in the form of punctual bumps or dips. The marking system is for example an optical instrument such as a laser.

 A programmable control system is preferably used to control the marking system. If it is an instrument, the control system controls its movements and its action. In the case where the instrument includes a laser, the control system controls the movement of the light brush, relative to the surface to be treated and, at each selected point, the light power and / or the time during which it is applied. , so as to obtain the set of points reflecting the image of the holder.

 The contrasts between the lighter and darker parts of the image can be obtained by respecting a constant sampling pitch and by varying the section of the hollows or bumps, or even by producing hollows or bumps of uniform depth and by varying ~ more or less the density of the hollow or raised points, depending on whether one wants to reproduce a lighter or darker part of the image.

 The card can also include an area 4 which is reported, in the form of alphanumeric symbols for example, data relating to the identity of the holder: name; address, function etc, as well as numbers assigned to the holder and corresponding to registration numbers or account numbers, these numbers being possibly coded, or even fingerprints.

 Symbols, characters, numbers can be transferred to the card using all the conventional printing methods.

 According to an advantageous embodiment of the method, the various symbols, letters or numbers can be represented in the form of a set of hollows or bumps, these being distributed in a manner which follows the course of the signs to be reported. In the variant represented in FIG. 2, the sign reported has a single line of hollows or bumps along its contour. If the marking system used to transfer the points allows, two or more parallel lines of points (fig. 3) staggered / can be used to mark the shape of each sign.

The color of the recesses or bumps is chosen as a function of the color of the surface of the support, in order to obtain good visual contrast.

 The card may also include an area where bar codes are reported. In the same way, these bar codes can appear on the map in the form of alignments of points of different sizes and of variable spacing.

 In the case where only the image of the holder is reproduced in the form of points, the manufacture of each card is carried out in two stages.

 One of them consists in transferring the image of the holder by means of an appropriate instrument and / or agent (s), according to an automatic process controlled by a programmed control system. The other step consists in transferring, by an entirely different process (printing, thermoforming, etc.), the other data relating to the holder.

If all or most of the data relating to the identification or recognition of the holder is entered on the card, in the form of sets of dots or bumps, the manufacture of the card is simplified. In this case, in fact, it is possible to use a control system arranged to control the action of the marking system used in all the areas of the card where data are to be deposited. If it is a marking instrument comprising a laser, the control system is adapted to guide the movement of the emitted brush, in all the areas of the card assigned to the identification data, and the duration of its application. .

 the control system advantageously comprises a programmable computer to which a program is applied allowing, by moving the instrument over the document, successively to carry out all the points necessary for restoring both the image of the holder and of the others identifying signs: symbols, letters, numbers, imprints etc., in one step. the manufacturing process is accelerated and all the data relating to the holder becomes falsifiable. The use of a laser makes it particularly quick and easy to manufacture a personalized card.

 To improve the readability of the data written on the card, color contrast is preferably used, the recesses or bumps being of a color different from that of the surface of the card.

 A zone 5 of the card can also be assigned to the deposit of a magnetic film in which are written other data concerning the holder. the card can also include a zone 6 in the thickness of which there is a set of electronic micro-circuits, comprising for example storage means and / or processing means. The contents of zones 5 and 6 as well as other general information can be found on the back of the card.

 The production of the points in relief can be carried out for example from a matrix produced in hollow or by specific projection of material or any other known process.

 The use of the expression "point" throughout the description is in no way restrictive. This word is used to define all the variations in relief of the surface of the document distributed at discrete intervals: holes, recesses, cavities or else projections, protuberances, points etc., whatever their form and embodiment may be.

Claims (14)

1) Method for producing all nominative documents comprising indications allowing the identification or recognition of at least one holder, such as identification or payment cards for example, characterized in that it comprises the postponement of said indications on a solid support, in the form of at least a set of recessed or raised dots distributed at discrete intervals. 2) Method according to claim- 1, characterized in that it comprises the transfer of a set of recessed or raised points which reflect at least one characteristic image of the holder. 3) Process.According to claim 2, characterized in that it comprises the transfer of a set of recessed or raised dots reflecting fingerprints of the holder. 4) Method according to one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that it comprises the postponement of a set of recessed or raised dots translating a set of signs, such as numbers, letters or graphic symbols. 5) Method according to claim 2, characterized in that the characteristic image is a portrait of the holder and the transfer of said image is carried out by keeping constant the discrete intervals separating said marks and by varying the section of these marks to follow the image contrast variations. 6) Method according to claim 2, characterized in that the characteristic image is a portrait of the holder and the transfer of said image is carried out by making marks of uniform depth and variable spacing, said spacing being adjusted to follow variations image contrast. 7) Method according to claim 4, characterized in that said points are made mechanically. 8) Method according to claim 4, characterized in that said points are achieved by means of a physics instrument. 9) Method according to claim 4, characterized in that said points are achieved by means of at least one chemical agent. 10) Method according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that a color contrast is used to bring out said points relative to the support. 11) Document obtained by the implementation of the method according to one of claims 1 to 10, characterized in that it comprises a solid support on which is transferred a set of recessed or relief points distributed at discrete intervals, reflecting a set of identification data. 12) Document according to claim 11, characterized in that electronic means are associated with said support. 13) Device for implementing the method according to claim 1, characterized in that it comprises marking means and a control system for controlling the movements of the marking means at discrete intervals and their action on said support. 14) Device for implementing the method according to claim 1, characterized in that it comprises a laser for marking said support and a pipe system for controlling the action of the laser and the displacement of its point of application relative to the support.