Security element for marking or identifying objects and living beings

Abstract

A security element for marking, authenticating or identifying objects or living beings, such as people, animals or plants is provided that includes one or more layers of materials that are arranged next to or on top of each other or that overlap, which have security markings. At least one layer of the security element has, at least regionally, a crackle pattern in form of tears or cracks, nicks, wear areas or shrinkages and possible impurities, which can be scanned and detected together or separately as security features. A method for producing such a security element and to a use thereof for authenticating a person or an object, or for authorizing, triggering, continuing, carrying out and ending an action is also provided.

1 . A security element for marking, authenticating, or identifying objects, documents, securities, stamps, labels, bank bills, bank notes, identity documents, personal identity cards, other ID cards, passports, (chip) cards, access cards, credit cards, access control cards, tickets, driver's licenses, vehicle documents, bank notes, checks, postage stamps, labels, vignettes, paintings, art objects, furniture, measuring devices, machine parts, machines, vehicles, cameras, cell phones, computers, computer-like devices, data storage media, printed materials, books, fabric, fashion items and sporting goods, technical devices, tools, paper and cardboard boxes, packaging, as well as products and the like, or living beings such as persons, animals, or plants, the security element comprising one or more layers arranged next to or above one another or overlapping layers of materials, which contain security markings, wherein at least one layer of the security element, at least in areas, has a crackle pattern in the form of tears or cracks, nicks, wear areas, shrinkages, or possible soiled areas, which are scannable and acquired together or separately as a security feature, and wherein the crackle pattern, at least in areas, undergoes a dynamic change process, as a result of which changes in the crackle pattern such as new tears or cracks in the particular layer or the layers arise and are acquired. 
     
     
         2 . The security element according to  claim 1 , wherein the crackle pattern is generated or influenced physically, magnetically, or chemically. 
     
     
         3 . The security element according to  claim 1 , wherein the crackle pattern formation in the layer/s is generated, influenced, or made manipulable by primary or secondary drying, use or wear, heat effect, drying and moisture effects, temperature change, light or oxygen treatment, ultrasound treatment, soiling, cleaning, magnetism, electromagnetic induction, electric voltage, or current. 
     
     
         4 . The security element according to  claim 1 , wherein the crackle pattern formation is generated, influenced, or made manipulable by a colorant, a solvent, or binding agent or by solvent- and binding agent-containing substances or mixtures thereof. 
     
     
         5 . The security element according to  claim 4 , wherein the crackle pattern formation is generated, influenced, or made manipulable by asphalt, tar, bitumen, oils, fats, resins, waxes, natural or synthetic polymers, oxidants, or related substances, or mixtures thereof. 
     
     
         6 . The security element according to  claim 1 , wherein the crackle pattern formation in a layer is generated, influenced, or made manipulable by a layer arranged above or beneath it. 
     
     
         7 . The security element according to  claim 1 , wherein the crackle pattern-forming layer has areas of different thickness. 
     
     
         8 . The security element according to  claim 1 , wherein the crackle pattern-forming layer is transparent and not visible to the naked eye. 
     
     
         9 . The security element according to  claim 1 , wherein the crackle pattern extends across several layers, whereby the layers can be either the same or different in their structure or composition. 
     
     
         10 . The security element according to  claim 1 , wherein the crackle pattern or parts thereof such as individual crackle cracks, nicks, or shrinkages is/are fixed chemically or physically at least in areas. 
     
     
         11 . The security element according to  claim 1 , wherein the crackle pattern formation in the crackle pattern-forming layer is reversible. 
     
     
         12 . The security element according to  claim 1 , wherein the crackle pattern-forming layer is covered by a layer arranged thereupon, which to the human eye is not visible, only partially visible or appears changed. 
     
     
         13 . The security element according to  claim 1 , wherein the crackle pattern-forming layer is covered by a protective film, which lets through only light of a specific wavelength, in order to make the crackle pattern, nicks, wear areas, shrinkages, and/or soiled areas visible or not visible or to protect these. 
     
     
         14 . The security element according to  claim 1 , wherein the reading of the crackle pattern-forming layer is influenced or even first made possible partially or totally by the properties of a layer arranged above or beneath it. 
     
     
         15 . The security element according to  claim 1 , wherein the security element is configured to be glued to a surface or introduced into a material or a piece of fabric. 
     
     
         16 . A method for producing a security element for marking, authenticating, or identifying objects, particularly documents, securities, stamps, labels, bank bills, bank notes, identity documents, personal identity cards, other ID cards, passports, (chip) cards, access cards, credit cards, access control cards, tickets, driver's licenses, vehicle documents, bank notes, checks, postage stamps, labels, vignettes, paintings, art objects, furniture, measuring devices, machine parts, machines, vehicles, cameras, cell phones, computers, computer-like devices, data storage media, printed materials, books, fabric, fashion items and sporting goods, technical devices, tools, paper and cardboard boxes, packaging, as well as products and the like, or living beings, persons, animals, or plants, comprising one or more layers, arranged next to or above one another or overlapping layers of materials, which can contain security markings, the method comprising:
 providing at least one layer in the security element; and   providing in a portion of the at least one layer, a crackle pattern in the form of tears or cracks, nicks, wear areas, or shrinkages and possible soiled areas is generated, influenced, or made manipulable, said pattern which is scannable and acquired as a security feature,   wherein the crackle pattern, at least in areas, undergoes a dynamic change process, as a result of which changes in the crackle pattern such as new tears or cracks in the particular layer or the layers arise and are acquired.   
     
     
         17 . The method according to  claim 16 , wherein the natural or artificial crackle pattern in its entirety or in areas is influenced, made manipulable, activated, initiated, generated, introduced, accelerated, amplified, promoted, changed or slowed, stopped, or canceled, therefore made reversible, by the introduction of colorants, catalysts, solvents, or binding agents, or solvent- and binding agent-containing substances or mixtures thereof and their subsequent evaporation in the crackle pattern-forming layer or an overlying or underlying layer. 
     
     
         18 . The method according to  claim 16 , wherein the crackle pattern is covered completely or in areas by at least one film, a protective layer, or color layer, or soiled layer. 
     
     
         19 . The method according to  claim 16 , wherein the natural or artificial crackle pattern is generated, influenced, or made manipulable by UV light, heat, contact with a catalyst, gassing, soiling, or a solvent. 
     
     
         20 . The method according to  claim 16 , wherein the crackle pattern formation is generated, influenced, or made manipulable by primary or secondary drying, use or wear, heat effect, drying and moisture effects, temperature change, light or oxygen treatment, ultrasound treatment, soiling, cleaning, magnetism, electromagnetic induction, electric voltage, or current. 
     
     
         21 . The method according to  claim 16 , wherein the crackle pattern formation is generated, influenced, or made manipulable by asphalt, tar, bitumen, oils, fats, resins, waxes, natural or synthetic polymers, oxidants, or other chemical substances or mixtures thereof. 
     
     
         22 . A method for marking, authenticating, or identifying objects, particularly documents, securities, stamps, labels, bank bills, bank notes, identity documents, personal identity cards, other ID cards, passports, (chip) cards, access cards, credit cards, access control cards, tickets, driver's licenses, vehicle documents, bank notes, checks, postage stamps, labels, vignettes, paintings, art objects, furniture, measuring devices, machine parts, machines, vehicles, cameras, cell phones, computers, computer-like devices, data storage media, printed materials, books, fabric, fashion items and sporting goods, technical devices, tools, paper and cardboard boxes, packaging, as well as products and the like, or living beings such as persons, animals, or plants, by scanning and acquiring one or more layers, arranged next to or above one another or overlapping layer of materials, which can contain security markings or individual areas thereof, wherein, in at least one layer at least in areas a crackle pattern in the form of tears or cracks, nicks, wear areas, or shrinkages and possible soiled areas are generated, influenced, or made manipulable, said pattern which can be scanned and acquired as a security feature, and comparison of the thus obtained data individually or in their entirety with one or more databases in one or more optionally separate transmission paths. 
     
     
         23 . The method according to  claim 22 , wherein a security element is scanned and acquired, the security element comprising one or more layers arranged next to or above one another or overlapping layers of materials, which contain security markings, wherein at least one layer of the security element, at least in areas, has a crackle pattern in the form of tears or cracks, nicks, wear areas, shrinkages, or possible soiled areas, which are scannable and acquired together or separately as a security feature, and wherein the crackle pattern, at least in areas, undergoes a dynamic change process, as a result of which changes in the crackle pattern such as new tears or cracks in the particular layer or the layers arise and are acquired. 
     
     
         24 . The method according to  claim 22 , wherein the area to be examined comprises one or more overlapping sections of the security element. 
     
     
         25 . The method according to  claim 24 , wherein instead of or in addition to the overlapping examination areas, an independent or several independent examination areas are scanned and is/are acquired. 
     
     
         26 . The method according to  claim 22 , wherein the security features acquired by the examination process or examination processes are compared with features stored in one or more databases and changed or new features are stored. 
     
     
         27 . The method according to  claim 22 , wherein the crackle pattern, the tears, nicks, wear areas, shrinkages, or soiled areas in different layers are scanned and acquired at different wavelengths. 
     
     
         28 . The method according to  claim 22 , wherein the crackle pattern, the tears, nicks, wear areas, shrinkages, or soiling in different layers are scanned and acquired with polarized light, glancing or oblique light, UV, IR, x-radiation, or combinations thereof. 
     
     
         29 . The method according to  claim 22 , wherein the crackle pattern, the tears, nicks, wear areas, shrinkages, or soiled areas are scanned and acquired in different areas of a layer with different measuring methods or parameters, whereby each measuring method or parameter can provide its own data set, which is acquired, stored, and read as needed or updated in one or more optionally independent databases, in one or more optionally independent transmission paths, and wherein earlier data sets are not overwritten, but supplemented by the new data and a new version number with a timestamp. 
     
     
         30 . The method according to  claim 22 , wherein the crackle pattern, the tears, nicks, wear areas, shrinkages, or soiled areas are scanned and acquired at a variable scanning angle and/or angle of incidence, and wherein the scanning angle/angle of incidence and/or the scanning wavelength is/are included optionally as additional security features in the database. 
     
     
         31 . The method according to  claim 22 , wherein, instead of or apart from the crackle pattern, the tears, nicks, wear areas, or shrinkages, other features of the surface topography of one or more layers are analyzed and/or acquired. 
     
     
         32 . The security element according to  claim 1 , wherein the security element authenticates a person or an object or is used for authorizing, initiating, continuing, carrying out, and ending an action.