WO2024156315A1 - Data carrier having a machine-readable security feature, production method, and security substrate sheet - Google Patents

Abstract

The invention relates to a data carrier (10), in particular a value or security document, comprising: a substrate (12) which has at least one plastics layer; and a machine-readable security feature (52, 54). According to the invention, the machine-readable security feature (52, 54) comprises a machine-readable feature material which is present in an embedding layer applied to the substrate, specifically a white covering layer (30, 34), a functional layer (32, 36), a print-receiving layer and/or a varnish layer (40).

Description

Data carrier with machine-readable security feature, manufacturing process and security substrate sheet

The invention relates to a data carrier, in particular a value or security document, with a substrate with a plastic layer and a machine-readable security feature. The invention also relates to methods for producing such a data carrier, as well as a security substrate sheet, the layer structure of which comprises at least one plastic layer and which contains a plurality of individual panels arranged in rows and columns, each of which has a machine-readable security feature.

Data storage media, such as valuables or identification documents, but also other valuable items, such as branded goods, are often provided with security elements for security purposes. These allow the authenticity of the data storage media to be verified and at the same time serve as protection against unauthorized reproduction.

For some time now, paper/polymer composite substrates or polymer materials have been used as substrate materials for banknotes in addition to paper substrates. Polymer banknotes have several advantages over paper banknotes, such as greater tear resistance. On the other hand, polymer banknotes do not yet have any embedded security features such as watermarks, mottled fibers or feature substances that are contained in the banknote substrate.

To protect valuable documents, they can be provided with a protective coating. This applies both to valuable documents with paper substrates and to those with paper/polymer composite substrates or polymer substrates. A complete inspection of the coating quality of such a coating layer is not yet possible because there are no suitable sensors for automated testing of thin coatings. In addition, these are often formed using a matting agent so that they are visually inconspicuous and therefore difficult to detect using optical methods. The presence of a desired layer thickness of the coating layer is therefore determined, for example, by weighing safety substrate sheets before and again after painting. The weight difference determined provides information about the total amount of paint applied and thus about the average layer thickness of the paint. Variations across the surface of a substrate sheet and in particular the completeness or seamless formation of the coating layer cannot be recorded in this way. This inspection is also only carried out on a random basis.

Based on this, the invention is based on the object of improving the authenticity protection of polymer or composite banknotes while maintaining high circulation stability.

The object of the present invention is also to improve the manufacturing quality of banknotes based on paper, polymer or paper/polymer composite substrates and thereby their circulation stability.

These objects are achieved by the features of the independent claims. Further developments of the invention are the subject of the dependent claims. The invention provides a data carrier with a substrate that comprises at least one plastic layer and with a machine-readable security feature. The data carrier can advantageously be a value or security document, in particular a banknote. The machine-readable security feature comprises a machine-readable feature substance that is present in an embedding layer applied to the substrate, namely an opaque white layer, a functional layer, a print acceptance layer and/or a varnish layer. The feature substance is preferably present in an opaque white layer and/or a varnish layer. In the context of this description, a layer that contains one or more of the machine-readable feature substances is referred to as an embedding layer.

The terms plastic and polymer are used interchangeably in this description, for example when referring to a plastic layer or polymer layer or a plastic banknote or polymer banknote.

The invention advantageously provides that the machine-readable feature substance is present in an embedding layer applied in regions or over the entire surface, which forms the opaque white layer, functional layer, print acceptance layer and/or varnish layer. The machine-readable feature substance is preferably present in one or more machine-readable coding regions, which are formed by partial regions of one of the layers mentioned. An arrangement of a feature substance only in regions allows in particular coding and spatial recognition, for example to distinguish between different denominations. The presence of the machine-readable feature substance in an embedding layer applied in regions or over the entire surface, which forms the opaque white layer, functional layer, print acceptance layer and/or varnish layer, is to be understood in particular to mean that the machine-readable feature substance is present in the form of a homogeneous distribution or surface density in the respective layer.

The machine-readable security feature advantageously contains two or more different machine-readable feature substances in the same embedding layer. Alternatively or additionally, the machine-readable security feature can contain two or more different machine-readable feature substances that are present in different embedding layers applied to the same side of the substrate. An arrangement of different machine-readable feature substances in different embedding layers provides an additional security effect, since the complete security feature is then not reconstructed by detaching and transferring individual layers.

According to a development of the invention, the data carrier contains two machine-readable security features arranged on opposite sides of the substrate, in particular different machine-readable security features.

In an advantageous embodiment, the machine-readable feature substances present on the same side of the substrate together take up the entire surface of the substrate. In a further advantageous embodiment, the machine-readable feature substances present on the same side of the substrate together take up the entire surface of the substrate with the exception of any see-through windows present. In the case of machine-readable security features arranged on different sides of the substrate, these are advantageously designed with an inverse arrangement of the machine-readable feature substances. If each of the security features contains in particular exactly two different machine-readable feature substances, the second feature substance is provided on the opposite back side in an area in which the first feature substance is present on the front side of the substrate. Conversely, in an area in which the second feature substance is present on the front side of the substrate, the first feature substance is provided on the back side.

Preferably, the machine-readable security feature contains several different machine-readable feature substances whose embedding layers visually produce the same color impression. The various areas of the embedding layers provided with feature substances then only differ in their machine-readable properties, but not in their visual impression. The visually identical color impression can also consist of a visually transparent appearance.

In an advantageous development of the invention, the substrate has microperforations in an area in which at least one machine-readable feature substance is located, preferably in the form of an alphanumeric character string, a value number, a pattern, a motif or an ornament.

In a further advantageous development of the invention, at least one area provided with the machine-readable feature substance forms a Pseudo-watermark in the data carrier, which is essentially only visually recognizable in transmitted light.

According to an advantageous embodiment, the machine-readable feature substance is covered in a partial area by an absorber material that inhibits or even completely blocks the excitation and/or machine detection of the machine-readable feature substance. In this case, in particular, the machine-readable feature substance can be present over the entire surface and coding areas can be formed by the partial areas with or without absorber material. It goes without saying that a feature substance that is only applied in certain areas can also be combined with such absorber areas.

Transparent absorbers or UV absorbers such as TiCb can be used as absorber materials in the visible spectral range. The absorber materials are then not visible to standard sensors and the human eye, but the coding can be detected by the feature sensors tailored to the machine-readable feature substances.

Advantageously, at least one of the machine-readable feature substances comprises coarse particles which are arranged in an inner embedding layer of the coated substrate, in particular in an opaque white layer. Alternatively or additionally, it can be provided that at least one of the machine-readable feature substances comprises fine particles which are arranged in an inner or outer embedding layer of the coated substrate, in particular in an outer coating layer. It is particularly preferably provided that one of the machine-readable feature substances comprises first, coarser particles which are arranged in an inner embedding layer of the coated substrate, and that another of the machine-readable Feature substances comprise second, finer particles that are arranged in an inner or outer embedding layer of the coated substrate. By embedding in an inner embedding layer, coarse or coarser particles, for example inorganic particles with desired machine-readable properties, can also be used without these leading to a rough outer layer that is susceptible to abrasion. The smooth outer layer also provides a surface that is easy to print on, the prints of which are less abrasive and therefore more stable in circulation.

The invention advantageously provides that the machine-readable feature substance is present in an outer coating layer applied over the entire surface. An outer coating layer can be used on substrates made of polymer material as well as on those made of paper or on paper/polymer composite substrates. On the one hand, it serves to ensure the durability of the value or security document produced from it in circulation and, since it protects the substrate against contamination and abrasion, also leads to an extension of the service life of the value or security document.

In an advantageous variant, the machine-readable security feature contains two or more different machine-readable feature substances.

The two or more different machine-readable feature substances are expediently present in several machine-readable coding areas, which are preferably directly adjacent to one another and/or arranged to overlap one another and thus cover the entire surface of the substrate. In a further advantageous variant, the two or more different machine-readable feature substances are present on different

sides of the substrate. The machine-readable feature substances can advantageously comprise IR-absorbing, IR-transparent, magnetic, electrically conductive and/or luminescent, in particular phosphorescent or IR-luminescent feature substances. The machine-readable feature substances are preferably inorganic pigments.

The machine-readable feature substances expediently have a Mohs hardness of more than 2, in particular more than 3. Such hard feature substances also provide protection for the embedding layer, in particular an outer coating layer of the data carrier. It is generally known that the scratch resistance of surfaces can be improved by suitable fillers. However, nanoparticles are generally used for this purpose, which have the disadvantage of being a health hazard and are also difficult to disperse in printing inks. The machine-readable feature substances described here, on the other hand, can be firmly anchored in the paint and then ensure protection for the embedding layer and the color-bearing layers underneath.

The size of the machine-readable feature substances is preferably between 3 μm and 15 μm; in particular, no feature substances in the form of nanoparticles are intended.

The machine-readable feature substances are advantageously formed by particles with a dimension that essentially corresponds to the layer thickness of the respective embedding layer. By matching the layer thickness to the particle size in this way, an optimal anchoring of the particles in the paint can be achieved. On the other hand, particles that are larger than the layer thickness of the embedding layer are relatively poorly anchored in the paint and can be torn out. On the other hand, if the particles are very small, such as nanoparticles, the protective effect is lower because the particles can easily be removed together with the paint. The thickness of the embedding layer can be adjusted to the dimensions of the desired or required particles. Conversely, it is also possible to select a machine-readable feature substance with particles of suitable dimensions based on a desired or required layer thickness of an embedding layer.

If, as described above, feature substances are used that have a Mohs hardness of more than 2, the embedding layer is protected from abrasion by the feature substances contained. The feature-loaded layer then forms a protective layer for the banknote.

If the embedding layer is damaged, thinned or partially torn out of the banknote due to massive abrasive mechanical friction, the change or damage can be detected by the locally reduced intensity of the machine-readable feature substance. In addition to determining the thickness of the embedding layer, the machine-readable feature substance also allows the determination of whether the embedding layer has holes or is even still present. This means that the machine-readable security feature can also be used for quality control in quality assurance or to check the fitness of data carriers, such as banknotes, in circulation.

When checking the authenticity of a banknote with the appropriate features, a minimum intensity for the signal intensity of the machine-readable security feature can be required. It has proven useful to set the thresholds for fitness and authenticity sorting so that the banknote is already declared unfit if only a small portion of the embedding layer, for example 20% -30%, is missing, but the authenticity threshold is set lower, and banknotes where 50% -70% of the embedding layer is missing can still be recognized as authentic. Authenticity can also be recognized on the basis of islands of the feature substance that are still present. In the case of known designs, however, it is not possible to check whether a protective varnish layer is still present on the banknote in circulation.

The substrate is advantageously formed by a plastic substrate or by a composite substrate with a plastic layer. Biaxially oriented polypropylene (BOPP), polyethylene terephthalate (PET), polypropylene (PP) or polyamide (PA) are particularly suitable as plastics.

A layer provided with a machine-readable feature substance can also be provided with other functional substances or properties, for example with fluorescence, phosphorescence, or an up-converter material.

By coding with the machine-readable feature material, for example, denominations within a currency and/or variants or batches within a denomination can be differentiated mechanically.

The invention also includes a method for producing a data carrier of the type mentioned, in which a substrate comprising at least one plastic layer is provided. The substrate is provided with a machine-readable security feature which has a machine-readable feature material which is arranged in an embedding layer applied to the substrate, namely an opaque white layer, a functional layer, a print acceptance layer and/or a coating layer.

The machine-readable feature substance(s) are preferably mixed into the printing ink for the desired layer and printed together with it. It is also possible to print a portion of a layer with a feature-free printing ink and another portion with the same printing ink but with the addition of a machine-readable feature substance.

Finally, the invention also includes a security substrate sheet whose layer structure comprises at least one plastic layer and which contains a plurality of individual panels arranged in rows and columns, each of which has a machine-readable security feature. It is provided that each individual panel with a machine-readable security feature is provided with two marking areas with different machine-readable feature substances, wherein a first marking area within the individual panels is arranged in the same position, while a second marking area within the individual panels is arranged in a different position and/or has a different shape.

Advantageously, each individual panel forms a data carrier of the type described above.

In a method for quality control of a data carrier of the type described, a signal intensity of the machine-readable feature substance recorded with spatial resolution and compared with a reference value in order to detect any change and/or damage to the machine-readable security feature.

A further aspect of the invention contains a method for producing a data carrier, in particular a valuable or security document, in which a substrate is provided and provided with a machine-readable feature substance which is present in a coating layer with a homogeneous surface density, wherein in the method the substrate is coated with the coating layer in particular over the entire surface, and the signal intensity of the machine-readable feature substance in the coating layer is recorded in a spatially resolved manner and compared with a reference value in order to detect a deviation of the layer thickness of the coating layer from a predetermined layer thickness. The coating layer is preferably present as an outer coating layer.

The coating layers preferably cover the entire surface of the substrate. However, especially with polymer banknotes, coating layers are often left out in the area of existing see-through windows.

The signal intensity of the feature substance represents a measure of the actual local thickness of the coating layer. The locally resolved measurement of the signal intensity of the feature substance ensures that the coating layer is applied in the desired (constant) layer thickness. In practice, the layer thickness of the coating layer can vary in terms of both spatial uniformity and spatial completeness depending on the manufacturing process. At each According to the invention, the local layer thickness can be ensured in accordance with the quality and manufacturing specifications at a location where the measured signal intensity of the feature substance exceeds a specified reference value.

Checking the layer thickness over the entire surface ensures the continuous protective effect of the coating layer and thus improves the durability of the data carriers coated with it. The data carriers produced using the method according to the invention are characterized by a consistent coating quality, which in turn ensures uniform aging behavior for all data carriers in a batch.

With the method according to the invention, the completeness and the layer thickness of the paint layer are recorded essentially without gaps by measuring the signal intensity of the feature substance.

In an advantageous embodiment of the method, the signal intensity is recorded on a web or on a sheet of the substrate in order to adjust the layer thickness of the coating layer to the specified layer thickness. This takes place directly after the coating process. In this way, the measured layer thickness can also serve as a control variable for the ongoing manufacturing process.

In an advantageous variant of the method, the signal intensity for the individual valuable or security document is recorded quantitatively and over the entire surface of the valuable or security document after separation. For example, the measurement is carried out at points on a grid that spans the entire surface. The grid can in particular more than 10, more than 30 or even more than 100 grid points. This allows the spatially resolved measurement of the completeness and layer thickness of the coating layer at the end of the production process when inspecting the individual value document, for example when inspecting the individual banknotes on a banknote processing machine. This enables continuous quality assurance of the coating layer for each individual banknote.

The machine-readable feature substance is advantageously a luminescent feature substance, in particular an IR-luminescent feature substance. In this case, the detection of the signal intensity includes the quantitative detection of the luminescence of the luminescent feature substance after local excitation.

In a particularly advantageous embodiment, the substrate is provided with coating layers on opposite sides that contain the same machine-readable feature substance. Alternatively, it can be provided that the substrate is provided with coating layers on opposite sides that contain different machine-readable feature substances. In the latter alternative, the signal intensity or any deviations in the layer thickness of the coating layers can be recorded independently of each other for the respective side of the substrate. In addition, such a procedure provides an additional security effect, since a complete security feature cannot then be reconstructed by detaching and transferring individual layers.

In an advantageous further development, the coating layer contains two or more different machine-readable feature substances, which are Different sublayers applied to the same side of the substrate are arranged directly adjacent to one another and/or overlapping one another so that the sublayers cover the entire surface of the data carrier.

This aspect of the invention also includes a data carrier obtainable by a method of the type described, wherein the data carrier is designed as a valuable or security document and the substrate is formed by a paper substrate or by a composite substrate with an outer paper layer.

In a method for quality control of a paint layer, the signal intensity of a machine-readable feature substance present in the paint layer is recorded in a spatially resolved manner and compared with a reference value in order to detect a deviation of the layer thickness of the paint layer from a predetermined layer thickness, wherein in particular the luminescence of a luminescent feature substance is quantitatively recorded after local excitation.

For this purpose, a suitable sensor is used to detect the signal intensity of the machine-readable feature substance in a spatially resolved manner and compare it with a reference value. In addition to determining the thickness of the paint layer, the machine-readable feature substance also allows the determination of whether it has holes, for example, or whether any are present at all.

In the particularly preferred case of a luminescent feature substance, the data carrier is locally illuminated with an excitation radiation and the The excited luminescence of the feature substance present in the coating layer is recorded and quantitatively measured with the sensor. The sensor is designed in such a way that the recorded signal intensity represents a measure of the layer thickness. In particular, the sensor shows a linear response behavior with regard to the signal intensity. For a more detailed description of the functionality of suitable sensors and corresponding test methods, reference is made in particular to the publications WO 2004/051582 A2, WO 2013/064245 Al and WO 2019/ 242879 Al.

Further embodiments and advantages of the invention are explained below with reference to the figures, in which a true-to-scale and true-to-proportion reproduction was omitted in order to increase clarity.

Show it:

Fig. 1 shows schematically a polymer banknote with a machine-readable security feature according to the invention,

Fig. 2 shows the layer structure of a banknote according to the invention schematically in cross section,

Fig. 3 in (a) and (b) a view of the front and back of a banknote according to an embodiment of the invention,

Fig. 4 to 6 in (a) and (b) respectively a view of the front and back of a banknote according to further embodiments of the invention, Fig. 7 a banknote according to the invention with recesses in the coding areas,

Fig. 8 a banknote according to the invention with a microperforation area,

Fig. 9, 10 each show a banknote according to the invention with a pseudo watermark,

Fig. 11 shows a banknote sheet with a plurality of individual panels, each of which bears a similar first marking and a different second marking,

Fig. 12, 13 in (a) and (b) each show a view of the front and back of a banknote according to further embodiments of the invention, in which the spatial coding is carried out by overprinting certain areas with an absorber material.

The invention will now be explained using banknotes as an example. Figure 1 shows a schematic representation of a polymer banknote with a machine-readable security feature according to the invention. The banknote 10 of the exemplary embodiment contains a polymer film 12 as a substrate and is equipped with several security features. The security features provided are, for example, two printing elements 14, 16, a pseudo-watermark 18, a first see-through window 20 and a film strip 22 with a second see-through window 24. To improve machine authenticity detection, the banknote 10 is additionally equipped with a machine-readable security feature according to the invention in the manner described in more detail below. The layer structure of a banknote 10 according to the invention is shown schematically in cross section in Fig. 2. A first opaque white layer 30, a conductive functional layer 32, a second opaque white layer 34, an optically variable functional layer 36, a banknote printing layer 38 produced by offset and/or intaglio printing and a varnish layer 40 are applied to both sides of the central polymer film 12. A film element 22 is also arranged on the front of the banknote.

The machine-readable security feature according to the invention is formed by a machine-readable feature substance which is present in one or more of the layers applied to the polymer film 12, specifically one or more of the opaque white layers 30, 34, the functional layers 32, 36, a print acceptance layer not shown in Fig. 2 and/or one of the varnish layers 40.

It is particularly advantageous to provide two machine-readable security features on either side of a central polymer film or a central composite substrate with a polymer layer. The two opposite sides of the substrate are referred to below as the front and back of the banknote. For easier reference, the layers and areas arranged on the front and back are usually designated by the same reference symbol, but with an appended identifier V for the front or R for the back.

In the embodiment of Fig. 3, the banknote 50 contains on its front side 50-V a front-side printing layer 52 and on its back side 50-R a rear-side printing layer 54, wherein the two printing layers are each fully loaded with different machine-readable feature substances, for example different IR absorbers.

The front-side printing layer 52 is formed by one of the above-mentioned layers arranged on the front side of the polymer film 12, the back-side printing layer 54 by one of the layers arranged on the back. The printing layers 52, 54 are preferably formed by one of the opaque white layers 30, 34 or one of the varnish layers 40. The printing layers 52, 54 can have different colors when visually observed, but advantageously also the same color. In the latter case, the two printing layers 52, 54 differ only in their machine-readable properties, but not in their visual impression.

It is particularly advantageous if the feature-loaded layer or layers each have a code, as explained in more detail below using the embodiments of Figures 4 to 11. In these embodiments, the machine-readable feature substance is present in machine-readable code areas, which are each formed only by partial areas of a layer.

For example, part of an opaque white layer 30, 34 according to Fig. 2 can be applied with an opaque white ink containing a feature substance, while the rest of the surface of the opaque white layer 30, 34 is printed with an opaque white ink not containing a feature substance. After the banknote printing layer 38 has been produced, a full-surface varnish layer 40 is applied, the varnish containing a second feature substance that advantageously differs from the first feature substance of the opaque white layer. In this way, the quantities of feature substances in the individual colors for the opaque white layer 30, 34 and the varnish layer 40 can be reduced, which brings with it printing technology advantages. The security effect is also increased by the combination of two different feature substances, since neither equipping the varnish layer with feature substance without the correct associated opaque white color nor equipping the opaque white layer with feature substance without the correct associated varnish shows the signature belonging to a genuine banknote during the authenticity check.

In addition, the pigment size of the feature substances can be adapted to the position of the respective layer in the layer stack. For example, 30 or 34 relatively large feature pigments can be used in an inner opaque white layer, while 40 smaller feature pigments are used in an outer coating layer. The combined machine-readable security feature is then very stable against abrasion on the one hand, but on the other hand still allows the use of relatively large or coarse particles. In contrast, conventional designs in which large particles are provided in an outer layer usually result in rough layers that are therefore susceptible to color abrasion.

The coding areas with one of the machine-readable feature substances can be symmetrical or non-symmetrical. With respect to the front and back of the banknote, the coding areas can advantageously be designed to complement one another or, in another embodiment, can also be mirror-symmetrical to one another.

Figure 4 shows a banknote 60 as a coded embodiment in which machine-readable feature substances are not present over the entire surface, but rather in regions in coding areas 62, 64. Due to the size, shape and/or arrangement of these coding areas containing a feature substance, a coding is implemented in the banknote 60. Specifically, the banknote 60 of the embodiment shown contains first coding areas 62, which are provided with a first machine-readable feature substance at a homogeneous surface density, and second coding areas 64, which are provided with a second, different machine-readable feature substance at a homogeneous surface density.

The first and second coding areas 62, 64 are arranged on both the front and the back of the banknote 60, each symmetrically with respect to a reflection around the longitudinal and transverse axes of the banknote. The coding areas 62-V, 64-V of the front and the coding areas 62-R, 64-R of the back each complement each other to form the entire surface of the banknote. In addition, the first coding areas 62-V of the front are congruent with the second coding areas 64-R of the back and the second coding areas 64-V of the front are congruent with the first coding areas 62-R of the back.

Specifically, the first coding areas 62-V or 62-R can be formed, for example, by partial areas of the second opaque white layer 34-V or 34-R on the front and back of the banknote and the second coding areas 64-V or 64-R by partial areas of the front and back lacquer layers 40-V, 40-R.

In the embodiment of Fig. 5, the banknote 70 has first coding areas 72, which are provided with a first machine-readable feature substance with a homogeneous surface density and second coding areas. areas 74, which are provided with a second, different machine-readable feature substance with a homogeneous surface density. In contrast to the design of Fig. 4, the first and second coding areas 72, 74 are not arranged symmetrically on either the front or the back of the banknote 70. Although the coding areas 72-V, 74-V on the front and the coding areas 72-R, 74-R on the back each complement each other to form the entire surface of the banknote, the coding areas on the front are not congruent with the coding areas on the back, but show a completely different area division.

Specifically, the first coding areas 72-V and 72-R in the exemplary embodiment are formed, for example, by partial areas of the optically variable functional layer 36-V and 36-R on the front and back of the banknote, respectively, and the second coding areas 74-V and 74-R are formed by partial areas of the front and back lacquer layers 40-V, 40-R.

Figure 6 shows a further embodiment of the invention, in which the banknote 80 has first coding areas 82, which are provided with a first machine-readable feature substance at a homogeneous surface density, and second coding areas 84, which are provided with a second, different machine-readable feature substance at a homogeneous surface density, and which are arranged in the areas of the folds in relation to the longitudinal and/or transverse axis. Since banknotes are often folded lengthways or crossways when placed in a wallet, folds are created parallel to the edges of the banknotes, which are subject to greater mechanical stress. The second coding areas 84, which contain such folds, are therefore advantageously designed so that the feature The introduction of the feature substance into these areas is well protected against abrasion, for example by using fine particles there and/or by introducing the feature substance particles only into an inner embedding layer.

The first and second coding areas 82, 84 are arranged symmetrically on both the front and the back of the banknote 80 and the coding areas 82-V, 84-V on the front and the coding areas 82-R, 84-R on the back each complement each other to form the entire surface of the banknote. However, the coding areas on the front are only partially congruent with the coding areas on the back.

In the layer structure, the first coding areas 82-V and 82-R in the embodiment of Fig. 6 are formed by partial areas of the first opaque white layer 30-V and 30-R on the front and back of the banknote, respectively, and the second coding areas 84-V and 84-R are formed by partial areas of the second opaque white layer 34-V and 34-R, respectively.

The design of Fig. 7 illustrates that a banknote 90 can also contain one or more recesses, so that the coding areas do not add up to the entire surface of the banknote. The banknote 90, of which only the front is shown in the figure, contains first coding areas 92 with a first feature substance and second coding areas 94 with a second, different feature substance. A recess 96 can be provided in the first coding area 92, a recess 98 in the second coding area 92 and/or a recess 95 that overlaps both the first and the second coding area. The coding areas 92, 94 can be present in the same or in different layers. It is understood that the banknote 90 can also have a first coding area 92 with a second, different feature substance. The back may be provided with a similar or different machine-readable security feature, as already explained above.

Figure 8 shows an embodiment of a banknote 100 which, in addition to first coding areas 102 with a first machine-readable feature substance and second coding areas 104 with a second, different machine-readable feature substance, also has a micro-perforation area 106 arranged in one of the first coding areas 102. The micro-perforation can form an overall piece of information, for example a text, a value number such as the value number "20" shown in Fig. 8, a pattern, a motif or an ornament, particularly when viewed in a transparent manner. This information is easily machine-readable from both sides due to the continuous perforation. It is understood that the micro-perforation area can also be arranged in one of the second coding areas 104 or both coding areas 102, 104 can overlap.

In further embodiments, information, text characters or motifs are printed with a translucent color containing a feature substance under or within the opaque white layers, so that although they cannot be seen when viewed from above, they appear as darker areas when viewed through.

Figure 9 shows, as an exemplary embodiment, a banknote 110 in which a multi-level portrait 112 and a two-level value number 114 are printed with a machine-readable feature substance in the conductive functional layer 32 below the opaque white layer 34. The portrait 112 and the value number 114 are essentially only recognizable when viewed through, as with a classic paper watermark, and therefore form a pseudo-watermark in the polymer banknote 110. The design of Fig. 10 illustrates that a pseudo watermark can be designed in both a positive and a negative, i.e. recessed, representation. Specifically, in the case of the banknote 120, a first value number 122 is printed with a machine-readable feature substance in a positive representation, while a second value number in a negative representation is formed by a recess 124 in a print area 126 containing a feature substance.

Both colors can also be integrated with the same characteristics (signal increase and variation in intensity due to the darker areas) or with different characteristics (specific testing of the translucent color). For this purpose, a first color can be designed as a full-surface layer, for example as an opaque white layer, and a second color as a translucent but not transparent color that is printed in a pattern under or between the opaque white layers to produce the pseudo watermark. In a first embodiment, the full-surface layer and the patterned layer are both provided with a feature substance so that the pseudo watermark can be detected as a region with higher feature intensity. In a second embodiment, the full-surface layer and the patterned layer carry different feature substances so that a specific test of the translucent color can be carried out.

Figure 11 illustrates the use of the security features described for securing a banknote sheet 130 with a plurality of individual panels 132 arranged in columns 134 and rows 136. A first marking 138 with a first machine-readable feature substance is applied to the sheet 130 and is located in the same position in each individual panel 132. In addition, further markings 140 are applied to the sheet 130. 142, 144, 146, 148 with a second, different feature substance, which are placed in a different place in each use or have a different shape in each use. The other markings can, for example, run diagonally (markings 140, 142), be curved or wavy (markings 144, 146) or change their shape (markings 148). The markings can also form a two-dimensional barcode.

This improves machine detection of counterfeits, particularly so-called composite or snippet counterfeits. With these types of counterfeiting, different areas are cut out of several genuine banknotes and these are combined to form a counterfeit banknote. However, when producing banknotes from a banknote sheet as shown in Fig. 12, the probability that a counterfeiter will find several genuine banknotes with the same marking pattern and then combine them to form a correctly assembled composite counterfeit is very low due to the variable additional marking.

Coming back to the basic design of machine-readable security features, spatial coding can be created not only by partially printing ink containing a feature, but also by partially overprinting a full-surface coating containing a feature with a suitable absorber material.

The basic geometric arrangement of the coding areas can correspond to the arrangements in Figures 4 to 10. Figures 12 and 13 show examples of designs in which the spatial arrangement of the coding areas corresponds to Figures 4 and 5, respectively. In the embodiment of Fig. 12, the banknote 150 contains a layer 152-V on the front side 150-V that is fully loaded with a machine-readable feature substance. In the partial areas 154-V, the feature-containing layer 152-V is overprinted with an absorber that blocks the excitation and/or detection of the machine-readable properties. For example, the machine-readable feature substance can be a luminescent substance that can be excited with UV radiation and the absorber can be a UV absorber.

Overprinting with the absorber creates coding areas 156-V in which the machine-readable feature substance of layer 152-V can be detected, and zero areas 158-V in which the machine-readable feature substance of layer 152-V cannot be detected. The zero areas 158-V are formed by the overprinted partial areas 154-V, the coding areas 156-V by the non-overprinted partial areas of layer 152-V.

Similarly, the banknote 150 contains on the back 150-R a layer 152-R which is fully loaded with a machine-readable feature substance and which is overprinted in partial areas 154-R with an absorber which blocks the excitation and/or detection of the machine-readable properties in order to form coding areas 156-R and zero areas 158-R.

The banknote 160 of Fig. 13 is constructed similarly to the banknote 150 of Fig. 13 and also contains layers 162-V or 162-R loaded over the entire surface with a machine-readable feature substance. However, the partial areas 164-V or 164-R with the absorber material are not arranged symmetrically on either the front or the back of the banknote 160, so that the generated coding areas 166-V, 166-R and zero areas 168-V, 168-R are not symmetrical either. List of reference symbols

10 banknotes

12 Polymer film

14, 16 printing elements

18 watermarks

20 see-through windows

22 foil strips

24 see-through windows

30 first white coat

32 conductive functional layer

34 second white coat

36 optically variable functional layer

38 Banknote printing layer

40 coats of paint

50 banknotes

52 front printing layer

54 back printing layer

60 banknotes

62, 64 coding areas

70 banknotes

72, 74 Coding areas

80 banknotes

82, 84 Coding areas

90 banknotes

92, 94 Coding areas

95, 96, 98 recesses

100 banknotes

102, 104 Coding areas 106 Micro-perforation area

110 banknotes

112 Portrait

114 Value number

120 banknotes

122 Value number in positive representation

124 Value number as recess

126 print area containing features

130 banknote sheets

132 individual benefits

134, 136 columns, rows

138 first marking with first characteristic substance

140, 142, 144, 146, 148 Markings with second characteristic substance

150 banknotes

152 fully loaded layer

154 Partially overprinted with absorber

156 coding areas

158 zero ranges

160 banknotes

162 fully loaded layer

164 Partially overprinted with absorber

166 coding areas

168 zero areas nn-V structure nn on front nn-R structure nn on back

Claims

Patent claims 1. Data carrier (10), in particular a value or security document, with a substrate (12) which comprises at least one plastic layer, and with a machine-readable security feature (52, 54), characterized in that the machine-readable security feature (52, 54) comprises a machine-readable feature substance which is present in an embedding layer applied to the substrate (12), namely an opaque white layer (30, 34), a functional layer (32, 36), a print acceptance layer and/or a varnish layer (40). 2. Data carrier (10) according to claim 1, characterized in that the machine-readable feature substance is present in an embedding layer applied in regions or over the entire surface, which forms the opaque white layer (30, 34), functional layer (32, 36), print acceptance layer and/or varnish layer (40). 3. Data carrier (10) according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the machine-readable feature substance is present in one or more machine-readable coding areas (62, 64), which are each formed by partial areas of one of the said layers. 4. Data carrier (10) according to at least one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the machine-readable security feature contains two or more different machine-readable feature substances in the same layer and/or that the machine-readable security feature contains two or more different machine-readable feature substances which are present in different layers applied to the same side of the substrate. 5. Data carrier (10) according to at least one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that the data carrier contains two machine-readable security features (52, 54), in particular different machine-readable security features, arranged on opposite sides of the substrate. 6. Data carrier (10) according to at least one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that several different machine-readable feature substances are used, the embedding layers of which visually produce the same color impression. 7. Data carrier (10) according to at least one of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that the substrate has microperforations (106), preferably in the form of an alphanumeric character string, a value number, a pattern, a motif or an ornament, in an area in which at least one machine-readable feature substance is located. 8. Data carrier (10) according to at least one of claims 1 to 7, characterized in that at least one area provided with the machine-readable feature substance forms a pseudo-watermark (112; 114) in the data carrier, which is essentially only visually recognizable in transmitted light. 9. Data carrier (10) according to at least one of claims 1 to 8, characterized in that the machine-readable feature substance is covered in a partial area (154) by an absorber material which inhibits or even completely blocks the excitation and/or machine detection of the machine-readable feature substance. 10. Data carrier (10) according to at least one of claims 1 to 9, characterized in that the machine-readable feature substance comprises coarse particles which are arranged in an inner embedding layer of the coated substrate, in particular in an opaque white layer (30, 34) and/or that the machine-readable feature substance comprises fine particles which are arranged in an outer layer of the coated substrate, in particular in an outer lacquer layer (40). 11. Data carrier (10) according to at least one of claims 1 to 10, characterized in that the machine-readable feature substances comprise IR-absorbing and/or luminescent, in particular phosphorescent or IR-luminescent feature substances, wherein the machine-readable feature substances are preferably present as inorganic pigments. 12. Data carrier (10) according to at least one of claims 1 to 11, characterized in that the machine-readable feature substances are formed by particles with a dimension that essentially corresponds to the layer thickness of the respective embedding layer. 13. Data carrier (10) according to at least one of claims 1 to 12, characterized in that the substrate (12) is formed by a polymer substrate or by a composite substrate with a plastic layer. 14. A method for producing a data carrier (10) according to one of claims 1 to 13, in which a substrate (12) comprising at least one plastic layer is provided and is provided with a machine-readable security feature (52, 54) which has a machine-readable Feature substance which is arranged in an embedding layer applied to the substrate (12), namely an opaque white layer (30, 34), a functional layer (32, 36), a print acceptance layer and/or a coating layer (40). 15. Method for producing a data carrier (10), in particular a value or security document, in which a substrate is provided and is provided with a machine-readable feature substance which is present in a coating layer (40) with a homogeneous surface density, wherein in the method the substrate is coated with the coating layer, in particular over its entire surface, and the signal intensity of the machine-readable feature substance in the coating layer is recorded in a spatially resolved manner and compared with a reference value in order to detect a deviation of the layer thickness of the coating layer from a predetermined layer thickness. 16. The method according to claim 15, characterized in that the signal intensity is detected on a web or on a sheet of the substrate in order to adjust the layer thickness of the coating layer to the predetermined layer thickness. 17. Method according to claim 15, characterized in that the data carrier is designed as a valuable or security document and the detection of the signal intensity for the individual valuable or security document after separation takes place quantitatively and over the entire surface of the valuable or security document. 18. Method according to at least one of claims 15 to 17, characterized in that the machine-readable feature substance is a luminescent, in particular an IR-luminescent feature substance and the detection of the signal intensity comprises the quantitative detection of the luminescence of the luminescent feature substance after local excitation. 19. Method according to at least one of claims 15 to 18, characterized in that the substrate is provided on opposite sides with coating layers which contain the same machine-readable feature substance, or that the substrate is provided on opposite sides with coating layers which contain different machine-readable feature substances. 20. Method according to at least one of claims 15 to 19, characterized in that the coating layer contains two or more different machine-readable feature substances which are arranged directly adjacent to one another and/or overlapping one another in different partial layers applied to the same side of the substrate, so that the partial layers cover the entire surface of the data carrier. 21. Data carrier (10), obtainable according to at least one of claims 15 to 20, characterized in that the data carrier is designed as a valuable or security document. 22. Security substrate sheet (130), the layer structure of which comprises at least one plastic layer, and which contains a plurality of individual panels (132) arranged in rows (136) and columns (134), each of which has a machine-readable security feature, characterized in that each individual panel (132) is provided with a machine-readable security feature with two marking areas (138, 140-148) with different machine-readable feature substances, wherein a first marking area (138) is arranged at the same position within the individual panels (132), while a second marking area (140-148) is arranged at a different position within the individual panels (132) and/or has a different shape. 23. Security substrate sheet (130) according to claim 22, characterized in that each individual panel (132) forms a data carrier according to one of claims 1 to 13. 24. Method for quality control of a data carrier according to one of claims 1 to 13, in which a signal intensity of the machine-readable feature substance is detected in a spatially resolved manner and compared with a reference value in order to detect a change and/or damage to the machine-readable security feature. 25. Method for quality control of a coating layer on a data carrier, in which the signal intensity of a machine-readable feature substance present in the coating layer is recorded in a spatially resolved manner and compared with a reference value in order to detect a deviation of the layer thickness of the coating layer from a predetermined layer thickness, wherein in particular the luminescence of a luminescent feature substance is quantitatively recorded after local excitation.