DESC:TITLE
SECURITY ELEMENTS AND METHOD OF MAKING THE SAME

FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to security elements particularly for high valuable notes or documents. More particularly the present invention relates to security elements having different coercivity values that has high anti-counterfeiting ability. More particularly, the present invention relates to method of making the security elements thereof.
BACK GROUND OF THE INVENTION
As the technology evolves, the means or devices for duplicating graphical elements that are printed or positioned on banknote paper has become widespread, the need to have security elements which can be introduced at least partially in the banknote paper has been increasing and still is.
Generally, coded magnetic threads are currently produced by depositing magnetic areas on metallized polyester substrate; these areas are composed with a single type of magnetic ink and are separated by spaces in which regions without metallic material, meant for generating texts, are generated. It is evident that once the presence of magnetic areas has been discovered, their coercivity and residual magnetism can be identified easily and consequently so can the magnetic material to be used to create a counterfeit or forgery; a code thus provided generates the same signals, and therefore the same code, both when it is detected longitudinally (along the axis of the thread) and when it is detected transversely (reading at right angles to the thread).
Security threads with magnetic regions provided with a single type of magnetic ink also have undergone counterfeiting, using techniques such as transfer / printing/ laminating etc.
The magnetic element are covert features, hence they are not visible by normal viewing instruments. The magnetic elements are visible only by means of suitable devices dedicated to the detection of magnetism, such as for example magnetic scanners or lenses and are again susceptible to counterfeit.
Hence in order to overcome the above mentioned limitation, there is a need to provide security elements having different coercivity values that has high anti-counterfeiting ability. There is a need to provide security elements particularly for valuable notes or documents that have magnetic elements in which the magnetic differences of the regions cannot be detected by basic instruments.
OBJECT OF THE INVENTION
The object of the present invention is to provide an improved security elements that is complex and due to the placement of magnetic ink of different coercivity, it would generate different signal values and therefore difficult to counterfeit.
Another object of the present invention is to provide an improved security elements, wherein the magnetic ink of different coercivity are separated from each other by a barrier coat, thereby preventing bleeding of magnetic ink of different coercivity with each other.
Yet another object of the present invention is to provide a security elements which is highly reliable, complex in nature and at competitive costs.
Yet another object of the present invention is to provide a security elements in which its counterfeiting is made even more difficult with respect to known types of security elements since only someone who knows the basic principle and the location of the areas can detect their content.
Yet another object of the present invention is to provide security elements particularly for valuable notes or documents that have magnetic elements in which the difference in magnetic coercivity of the regions cannot be detected by normal instruments for detecting current magnetic codes provided on security threads and requires specialized magnetic detectors
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
Fig. 1, Fig. 2, Fig. 3a and Fig. 3b Illustrates an assembly of forming an improved security element (100).
Fig 4 Illustrates a method of manufacturing an assembly of forming an improved security element (100).
Fig. 5 and 6 are graphical representation of examples used for explanation purposes of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
As required, detailed embodiments of the present invention are disclosed herein, however, it is to be understood that the disclosed embodiments are merely exemplary of the invention which may be embodied in various forms. Therefore, specific functional details disclosed herein are not to be interpreted as limiting, but merely as a basis for the claims and as a representative basis for teaching one skilled in the art to variously employ the present invention in virtually any appropriately detailed structure.
While certain aspects of conventional technologies have been discussed to facilitate disclosure of the invention, Applicants in no way disclaim these technical aspects, and it is contemplated that the claimed invention may encompass one or more of the conventional technical aspects discussed herein.
The present invention may address one or more of the problems and deficiencies of the prior art discussed above. However, it is contemplated that the invention may prove useful in addressing other problems and deficiencies in a number of technical areas. Therefore, the claimed invention should not necessarily be construed as limited to addressing any of the particular problems or deficiencies discussed herein. As used in this specification and the appended claims, the singular forms “a,” “an,” and “the” include plural referents unless the content clearly dictates otherwise. As used in this specification and the appended claims, the term “or” is generally employed in its sense including “and/or” unless the context clearly dictates otherwise.
One embodiment of the present invention relates to security elements particularly for high valuable notes or documents. More particularly the present invention relates to security elements having different coercivity values that has high anti-counterfeiting ability. More particularly, the present invention relates to method of making the security elements thereof.
Coercivity: also called the magnetic coercivity, coercive field or coercive force, is a measure of the ability of a ferromagnetic material to withstand an external magnetic field without becoming demagnetized. Coercivity is usually measured in oersted or ampere/meter units and is denoted Oe. Coercivity is usually measured in Oersted (Oe) units to denote the magnetic stripe’s strength or intensity. Coercivity is also known as coercive force. The coercive force is much lower for soft magnetic materials, finds application where the polarity will be reversed often. The higher coercivity of hard magnetic materials makes them suitable for use where the applied field is insufficient to demagnetize them. Coercivity refers to the magnetic material’s resistance to becoming demagnetized – therefore, HiCo and LoCo represent different standards of durability and security.
More particularly, Reminiscence i.e. Coercivity is the measure of the resistance of a magnetic material to changes in its magnetization, it describes how hard it is to demagnetize the ink
- It's measured in Oersteds (Oe) or Amperes per meter (A/m).
- It is the external magnetic field strength (measured in Oersteds (Oe)) required to reduce the magnetization of a material to zero.
- It is used to distinguishes materials as HiCo (>3500 Oe) or LoCo (<400 Oe).
HiCo: stands for high-coercivity. High-coercivity (HiCo) stripes are magnetically harder. HiCo mag stripe can run as high as 4000 Oe; however, a 2750 Oe is common for most HiCo mag strip. HiCo mag strip are best for cards used frequently and that are expected to have a long life. Most credit cards use at least 2,750 Oe and are considered HiCo. Hi Co magnetic strip are usually black coloured mag strip, having a stronger magnetic field..
LoCo: stands for low-coercivity. low-coercivity (LoCo) stripes are magnetically softer. In contrast, LoCo cards are 100 oe - 400 Oe. LoCo: is best suited for cards used infrequently and/or where data is routinely changed, such as with hotel key cards. Lo Co magnetic strip are usually brown coloured mag strip, having a weaker magnetic field.
Remanence (or remanent magnetization): is a measure of the residual magnetic field left in a material (such as magnetic ink) after the external magnetizing field is removed.
- It is measured in terms of nWb/m (nano Weber per meter) for magnetic inks.
Remanence is critical in magnetic inks used for applications like Magnetic Ink Character Recognition (MICR), where the magnetic properties of the ink must be detectable and stable.
- Measured in nano Weber per meter (nWb/m), it indicates how much magnetic field the ink or material retains after being magnetized.
- High remanence: Indicates strong residual magnetization, suitable for stable, high-security applications
- Low remanence: Easier to overwrite or erase, typically seen in applications.
Substrate: A dimensionally stable substrate forms the base of the security thread, may be selected may be selected from PET or PET like material. The substrates may include carrier films or substrate, preferably cellulose, transparent flexible plastic films, such as those made of PI, PP, MOPP, PE, PPS, PEEK, PEK, PEI, PSU, PAEK, LCP, PEN, PBT, PET, PA, PC, COC, POM, ABS, PVC, PTFE, ETFE (ethylene tetrafluoroethylene), PFA (tetrafluoroethylene-perfluoropropylvinylether-fluorine copolymer), MFA (tetrafluoromethylene-perfluoropropylvinylether-fluorine copolymer); PTFE (polytetrafluoroethylene), PVF (polyvinyl fluoride), PVDF (polyvinylidene fluoride), and EFEP (ethylene-tetrafluoroethylene-hexafluoropropylene-fluorine terpolymer), wherein the substrate/PET film has a thickness in the range of 3 microns to 36 microns, preferably in the range of 6 microns to 24 microns, more preferably in the range of 9 microns to 12 microns.
Barrier coating/lamination/printing: it acts as a barrier in between magnetic inks that have different coercivity values.It may be selected from polyurethane resins, (PU), Nitro cellulose polymers (NC) or U.V curable laquer or PET or PET like material.
The object of the present invention is to provide an improved security elements that is complex and due to the placement of magnetic ink of different coercivity, it would generate different coercivity values and therefore difficult to counterfeit.
Another object of the present invention is to provide security elements which is highly reliable, complex in nature and at competitive costs.
Yet another object of the present invention is to provide a security elements in which its counterfeiting is made even more difficult with respect to known types of security elements since only someone who knows the basic principle and the location of the areas can detect their content.
Yet another object of the present invention is to provide security elements particularly for valuable notes or documents that have magnetic elements in which the difference in magnetic coercivity of the regions cannot be detected by normal instruments for detecting current magnetic codes provided on security threads and requires specialized magnetic detectors
The present invention provide an improved security elements, wherein the magnetic inks of different coercivity are separated from each other by a polymeric barrier, thereby preventing bleeding of magnetic ink of different coercivity with each other.
Figure 1 discloses an assembly of forming an improved security element (100), wherein a dimensionally stable carrier film or PET or PET like material (101) is used, wherein the thickness of the carrier film ranges from 4 to 25 micron in thickness. Further magnetic ink of high coercivity (102) is in-register printed at discreet location on the said dimensionally stable carrier film or PET or PET like material (101), wherein the thickness of the printed magnetic ink is 1 to 4 gsm.
Substrate may be selected from PET or PET like material. The substrates may include carrier films or substrate, preferably cellulose, transparent flexible plastic films, such as those made of PI, PP, MOPP, PE, PPS, PEEK, PEK, PEI, PSU, PAEK, LCP, PEN, PBT, PET, PA, PC, COC, POM, ABS, PVC, PTFE, ETFE (ethylene tetrafluoroethylene), PFA (tetrafluoroethylene-perfluoropropylvinylether-fluorine copolymer), MFA (tetrafluoromethylene-perfluoropropylvinylether-fluorine copolymer); PTFE (polytetrafluoroethylene), PVF (polyvinyl fluoride), PVDF (polyvinylidene fluoride), and EFEP (ethylene-tetrafluoroethylene-hexafluoropropylene-fluorine terpolymer), wherein the substrate/PET film has a thickness in the range of 3 microns to 36 microns, preferably in the range of 6 microns to 24 microns, more preferably in the range of 9 microns to 12 microns.
Fig. 1 discloses magnetic ink of high coercivity. The preferred product is a magnetic inks, having greater than 2750 Oe oersteads (oe) in coercivity, prepared from small (less than about 1 micron) ferromagnetic particles.
The process of precise alignment of different magnetic elements is obtained with in register printing that aids in precise alignment of all the components while manufacturing the complex security element.
Figure 2 discloses an assembly of manufacturing an improved security element, wherein a dimensionally stable carrier film or PET or PET like material (101) is used, wherein the thickness of the carrier film ranges from 4 to 25 micron in thickness. Further magnetic ink of high coercivity (102) is in-register printed on the said dimensionally stable carrier film or PET or PET like material (101), wherein the thickness of the printed magnetic ink is 1 to 4 gsm. Further, after printing the high-coercivity magnetic ink at discreet locations over the carrier film, the said ink is covered with a barrier coat (103) or a layer of polymer, selected from polyurethane resins, (PU), Nitro cellulose polymers (NC) or U.V curable laquer or PET or PET like material; wherein the thickness of the barrier coat (103) is in the range of 1 to 5 micron.
Figure 3 discloses an assembly of manufacturing an improved security element (100), wherein a dimensionally stable carrier film or PET or PET like material (101) is used, wherein the thickness of the carrier film ranges from 4 to 25 micron in thickness. Further magnetic ink of high coercivity (102) is in-register printed on the said dimensionally stable carrier film or PET or PET like material (101), wherein the thickness of the printed magnetic ink is 1 to 4 gsm. Further, after printing the high-coercivity magnetic ink at discreet locations over the carrier film, the said ink is covered with a horizontal layer of barrier coat (103) or a layer of polymer, selected from polyurethane resins, (PU), Nitro cellulose polymers (NC) or U.V curable laquer or PET or PET like material; wherein the thickness of the barrier coat (103) is in the range of 1 to 5 micron. Subsequently, another coat of magnetic ink of low-coercivity (104) is printed on top of the barrier coat (103) by in-register printing; wherein the thickness of the printed magnetic ink is 1 to 4 gsm;
The low coercivity magnetic inks consisted of ferromagnetic particles such as neodymium, iron or boron. The magnetic field of low coercivity magnetic inks is weaker compared to high coercivity magnetic inks. Further the magnetic ink of low coericivity has coercivity of 100- 400 Oe oersteads (oe).
One embodiment of the present invention discloses an assembly of the improved security element (100), wherein the assembly comprises:
-a dimensionally stable carrier film or PET or PET like material (101), wherein the thickness of the carrier film ranges from 4 to 25 micron in thickness;
-magnetic ink of high coercivity (102) printed over the carrier film by in-register printing for precise alignment; wherein the thickness of the printed magnetic ink is of 1 to 4 gsm;
- a thin layer of barrier coat (103) coated over the printed magnetic ink of high coercivity (102);
-magnetic ink of low coercivity (104) printed over the barrier coat (103) by in-register printing for precise alignment; wherein the thickness of the printed magnetic ink is of 1 to 4 gsm;
The present invention discloses security elements that comprises of an opaque substrate, wherein the opaque substrate is a dimensionally stable carrier film; the said dimensionally stable carrier film may be selected from PET or PET like material.
Further, the carrier film, is printed as desired either with high-coercivity magnetic ink at discreet locations or with low-coercivity magnetic ink at discreet locations. The coating of either of these magnetic ink , can vary and may depends upon the end user.
The magnetic ink coated over the substrate herein may also be referred as different magnetic elements, since magnetic inks coated over the substrate have different coercivity such as high coercivity and low coercivity magnetic ink. The high-coercivity magnetic ink may contain ferromagnetic barium, ferrite particles or the likes. Similarly, the low coercivity magnetic ink may consist of ferromagnetic particles such as neodymium, iron or boron.
Subsequently, after the printing of desired high-coercivity magnetic ink or low-coercivity magnetic ink at discreet locations over the carrier film, the said ink is covered with a layer of polymer, selected from polyurethane resins, (PU), Nitro cellulose polymers (NC) or U.V curable laquer or PET or PET like material.
These polymeric layers have an advantage when applied over the magnetic ink. These polymeric layers provide durability and make the security elements sebum proof. These polymeric layers are thin having low viscosity, thus, if applied properly, one can get smooth coverage, retain sharpness and original fine details of the product. Further, coated polymeric film gives smooth surface texture, dust free, scratch proof, abrasion resistant. Further advantage of applying a polymeric layer is that it acts as a barrier between different coercivity magnetic inks, such that the limitation of getting inaccurate reading result on valuable documents by the reading machine can be avoided. Further disadvantage such as bleeding of different magnetic elements into each other can be avoided, when different coercivity magnetic inks overlaps each other, they eliminate getting inaccurate signal or mixed signal or no signal at all. Thus, multiple combination of different coercivities can be created to generate complex signals, that can also be accurately read using specific detector.
Further, the polymeric layer undergoes in-register printed with either high-coercivity magnetic ink or low-coercivity magnetic ink, such that different type of coercivity magnetic ink may align with each other at definite location. More particularly, different coercivity magnetic ink are in-register printed over another layer of different coercivity magnetic inks, wherein both the magnetic inks are atleast separated by a polymeric layer, the said polymeric layer has horizontal placement between different coercivity magnetic inks.
Additionally, in order to increase the complexicity of the security elements, the non-printed area or spaced out area of the security elements may further be printed with one or more security features such as indicia including letters or graphical designs.
Further the invention discloses a method of manufacturing high security film that involves in registration lamination process so that it results in precise alignment and placement of the security elements.
Another embodiment of the present invention (Fig. 4) discloses a method of manufacturing an assembly of the improved security element (100), wherein the assembly comprises the steps of:
-taking a dimensionally stable carrier film or PET or PET like material (101), wherein the thickness of the carrier film ranges from 4 to 25 micron in thickness;
-printing magnetic ink of high coercivity (102) over the carrier film by in-register printing for precise alignment; wherein the thickness of the printed magnetic ink is of 1 to 4 gsm;
- coating a thin layer of barrier coat (103) over the printed magnetic ink of high coercivity (102);
- printing magnetic ink of low coercivity (104) over the barrier coat (103) by in-register printing for precise alignment; wherein the thickness of the printed magnetic ink is of 1 to 4 gsm;
The magnetic ink of high corecivity and low corecivity may be positioned at discreet location alternatively, wherein the barrier coat or the polymeric coat separates magentic ink of different coercivity. One may use different combination of different magnetic coercivity to create desired magnetic codes. More particularly, the barrier coat may have a magnetic ink that would generate signals or reading as generate codes such as HiCo-LoCo- HiCo-LoCo- HiCo code as disclosed in Fig. 3a or combination thereof as disclosed in Fig. 3b of the present invention.
Fig. 5 and 6 are graphical representation of examples used for explanation purposes of the present invention.
The graphs as illustrated in Fig. 5 and 6 are examples used for explanation purposes of the present invention and is not to be in any way constructed as a means of limiting the present invention to the below examples.
The graph as disclosed in Fig. 5, shows alternate magnetic codes i.e. HiCo-LoCo, HiCo-LoCo, HiCo-LoCo. The Graph also shows the bit length and space between the magnetic signals.
The Y axis shows the length of the bits and spaces, whereas the X axis denotes the remanence of the magnetic ink - measured in nano Weber per meter (nWb/m). i.e. a measure of residual magnetic field left in material after the external magnetic field is removed. Fig. 5 indicates Bit analysis graph, that shows say for example bit 0 – bit 6;
Bit analysis:
Batch ID width Start position Bit length Space length Remanence Bit Type
Bit 0 Sample 2 3.0 mm 53.0mm 2.5 mm 1.2 mm 105 nWb/m HiCo
Bit 1 Sample 2 3.0 mm 56.7mm 2.6 mm 7.6 mm 178 nWb/m LoCo
Bit 2 Sample 2 3.0 mm 66.9mm 2.5 mm 1.2 mm 92 nWb/m HiCo
Bit 3 Sample 2 3.0 mm 70.7mm 2.5 mm 7.7 mm 174 nWb/m LoCo
Bit 4 Sample 2 3.0 mm 80.9mm 2.4 mm 1.3 mm 104 nWb/m HiCo
Bit 5 Sample 2 3.0 mm 84.7mm 2.5 mm 7.7 mm 172 nWb/m LoCo
Bit 6 Sample 2 3.0 mm 94.9m 2.5 mm 1.1 mm 92 nWb/m HiCo

The graph as disclosed in Fig. 6, shows alternate magnetic codes i.e. LoCo, LoCo, Combi, LoCo, LoCo. The Graph also shows the bit length and space between the magnetic signals.
The Y axis shows the length of the bits and spaces, whereas the X axis denotes the remanence of the magnetic ink - measured in nano Weber per meter (nWb/m). i.e. a measure of residual magnetic field left in material after the external magnetic field is removed.
Bit analysis:
Batch ID Width Start Position Bit Length Space length Remanence Bit Type Lo/Hi
ratio
Bit 0 Sample 5 3.0 mm 50.0 mm 5.0 mm 8.9 mm 165 nWb/m LoCo 100/0%
Bit 1 Sample 5 3.0 mm 63.9 mm 5.1 mm 8.8 mm 171 nWb/m LoCo 100/0%
Bit 2 Sample 5 3.0 mm 77.7 mm 5.2 mm 11.7 mm 183 nWb/m Combi 52/48%
Bit 3 Sample 5 3.0 mm 94.6 mm 2.3 mm 11.7 mm 189
nWb/m LoCo 100/0%
Bit 4 Sample 5 3.0 mm 108.6 mm 2.3 mm 11.7 mm 187 nWb/m LoCo 100/0%

The above two graph is an example that indicates that accurate signal reading or codes may be generated by the assembly as disclosed in the present invention.
The present invention discloses advantages such as, detection of signal is accurate, even with increased complexicity of the security elements, contamination of the different magnetic ink is eliminated, due to the formation of polymeric barrier between them thereby preventing bleeding or inaccurate signals, the said security elements has excellent adhesion to the substrate so as to pass the tape-test, wherein the said tape test is a mandatory step to qualify as a valid candidate of security elements. Further the security elements as disclosed in the present invention can be used for clinical testing, further analysis and study purpose.
The present invention has been described with preferred embodiment purely for the sake of understanding and not by way of any limitation and the present invention includes all legitimate developments within the scope of what has been described herein.
,CLAIMS:WE CLAIM:
1. A method of manufacturing an assembly of the improved security element (100), wherein the assembly comprises the steps of:
-taking a dimensionally stable carrier film or PET or PET like material (101), wherein the thickness of the carrier film ranges from 4 to 25 micron in thickness;
-printing magnetic ink of high coercivity (102) over the carrier film by in-register printing for precise alignment; wherein the thickness of the printed magnetic ink is of 1 to 4 gsm;
- coating a thin layer of barrier coat (103) over the printed magnetic ink of high coercivity (102); wherein the thickness of barrier coat is 1 to 5 micron;
- printing magnetic ink of low coercivity (104) over the barrier coat (103) by in-register printing for precise alignment; wherein the thickness of the printed magnetic ink is of 1 to 4 gsm.
2. The method of manufacturing an improved security element (100) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the magnetic ink of different coercivity are separated from each other by a barrier coat (103), wherein the barrier coat may be selected from polymer, such as polyurethane resins, (PU), Nitro cellulose polymers (NC) or U.V curable laquer or thin PET like material.
3. The method of manufacturing an improved security element (100) as claimed in claim 1, wherein both the magnetic inks of different coericivity are atleast separated by a barrier coat/polymeric layer (103), the said polymeric layer has horizontal placement between different coercivity magnetic inks.
4. The method of manufacturing an improved security element (100) as claimed in claim 1, wherein high-coercivity magnetic ink may contain ferromagnetic barium, ferrite particles and the low coercivity magnetic ink may consist of ferromagnetic particles such as neodymium, iron or boron.
5. The method of manufacturing an improved security element (100) as claimed in claim 1, wherein substrate (101) may be selected from PET or PET like material, may include carrier films or substrate, preferably cellulose, transparent flexible plastic films, such as those made of PI, PP, MOPP, PE, PPS, PEEK, PEK, PEI, PSU, PAEK, LCP, PEN, PBT, PET, PA, PC, COC, POM, ABS, PVC, PTFE, ETFE (ethylene tetrafluoroethylene), PFA (tetrafluoroethylene-perfluoropropylvinylether-fluorine copolymer), MFA (tetrafluoromethylene-perfluoropropylvinylether-fluorine copolymer); PTFE (polytetrafluoroethylene), PVF (polyvinyl fluoride), PVDF (polyvinylidene fluoride), and EFEP (ethylene-tetrafluoroethylene-hexafluoropropylene-fluorine terpolymer).
6. The method of manufacturing an improved security element (100) as claimed in claim 1, wherein magnetic ink of high coericivity has coercivity in the range of 4000- 2750 Oe oersteads (oe) and magnetic ink of low coericivity has coercivity in the range of 100 - 400 Oe oersteads (oe).
7. The assembly of the improved security element (100) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the assembly comprises:
-a dimensionally stable carrier film or PET or PET like material (101), wherein the thickness of the carrier film ranges from 4 to 25 micron in thickness;
-magnetic ink of high coercivity (102) printed over the carrier film by in-register printing for precise alignment; wherein the thickness of the printed magnetic ink is of 1 to 4 gsm;
- a thin layer of barrier coat (103) coated over the printed magnetic ink of high coercivity (102); wherein the thickness of barrier coat is 1 to 5 micron;
-magnetic ink of low coercivity (104) printed over the barrier coat (103) by in-register printing for precise alignment; wherein the thickness of the printed magnetic ink is of 1 to 4 gsm.
8. The assembly of the improved security element (100) as claimed in claim 7, wherein different arrangement of different magnetic corecivity creates desired magnetic codes.