Identification System and Applications

Abstract

The invention relates to an identification system, comprising an information carrier or a group of such information carriers, which allow a clear association of information. The invention further relates to the use of said information carriers, and to a device for reading said information carriers, wherein the information carriers are associated with a random action of a data processing system by way of the structured information layer thereof or can trigger such action. The invention furthermore relates to information carriers for access control systems, payment systems, ticket systems, and marketing application. According to the invention, overlaps of the information layer can be provided by applying additional layers, which achieve several advantages according to the invention, such as optically rendering the information layer unrecognizable, and resulting increased safety of the information carrier against manipulation. In addition, the information layers can be applied in an absolutely level and thin manner onto the carrier material, which enables unlimited further processing.

1 . Information carrier characterized in that
 on the information carrier, which comprises an electrically non-conductive substrate with an electrically non-conductive adhesive layer applied to one or more areas of the substrate, on which is arranged an electrically conductive information layer, comprising of at least a single layer, at least one additional layer, covering at least the area of the substrate with the structured information layer is positioned, preferably a paper layer and/or a foil layer and/or a color layer and/or a lacquer layer or combinations thereof.   
     
     
         2 . Information carrier according to  claim 1 , characterized in that
 a reading device can recognize and/or measure the information layer, which is applied to one or more areas, and the information content of the information carrier is thereby determined.   
     
     
         3 . Information carrier according to  claim 1 , characterized in that
 the information layer includes metals, graphite, soot and/or dielectric materials and the other layers include at least one adhesive layer and/or at least one paper layer and/or at least one color layer and/or a lacquer layer and/or a foil.   
     
     
         4 . Information carrier according to  claim 1 , characterized in that
 the structured information layer comprises full surfaces defined by corners and/or curves, in particular by rectangles and/or circles, wherein the position, the form and/or the surface itself are determinable as components of the structured information layer via a reading device and these represent the information content of a specific number of data carriers.   
     
     
         5 . Information carrier according to  claim 1 , characterized in that
 the information layers applied may be changed, area by area, in their structuring, via additive and/or subtractive processes, preferably by inkjet processes, and particularly preferably by laser processes.   
     
     
         6 . Information carrier according to  claim 1 , characterized in that
 the substrate comprises paper, cardboard, derived timber products, composite materials, laminates and/or synthetic materials.   
     
     
         7 . Information carrier according to  claim 1 , characterized in that
 additional optical, electrical, electronic, sensory and/or acoustic elements are applied on the information carrier.   
     
     
         8 . Information carrier according to  claim 2 , characterized in that
 secondary information can be applied or contained on the information carrier, which, in particular, allow for the determination of the orientation or speed of the information carrier relative to the reading device.   
     
     
         9 . Information carrier, according to  claim 1 , characterized in that
 features and/or elements are applied or incorporated, which contain additional optical information, in particular printed values, symbols, signs, safety and authenticity features, particularly on playing cards and/or collectors' cards.   
     
     
         10 . Group of information carriers, comprising several information carriers according to  claim 1 , characterized in that
 at least one color layer, adhesive layer, paper layer and/or foil is applied in each case at least as background, cover, number, letter, sign, graphic presentation and/or image presentation, or a combination thereof, whereby
 several information carriers have the same structure of the information layer and at least one identically designed color layer so that a closed group of information carriers that are the same in terms of information technology and optics is created, 
 several information carriers have the same structure of the information layer and at least one differently designed color layer, so that a group of information carriers with the same information technology but different optics is created, 
 several information carriers have an information layer with a different structure and at least one identically designed color layer, so that a group of information carriers, each with its own information technology but with the same optics, is created, 
 several information carriers have information layers with different structures and at least one differently designed color layers, so that information carriers are created that are completely different from one another, as regards both information technology and optics. 
   
     
     
         11 . Identification system, characterized in that
 it comprises at least one information carrier according to  claim 1  and at least one reading device, wherein the information carrier comprising an adhesive layer and an information layer, and the information layer is a layer applied via transfer method, preferably via transfer foil method, and particularly preferably via cold foil transfer method.   
     
     
         12 . Identification system according to  claim 11 , characterized in that
 at least one reading device is interconnected with at least one additional data processing medium.   
     
     
         13 . Identification system, according to  claim 11 , characterized in that
 the reading device has either a well, a slit and/or a surface to receive at least a part of the information carrier and that the information carrier is positioned in, at, or on the reading device in a predefined or random way.   
     
     
         14 . Use of an identification system according to  claim 11 , characterized in that
 the information carrier(s) determine(s) the interpretation of the information contained on the information carrier through its (their) structured information layer via a reading device, achieving this preferably by having the information layer divided into an area that describes the interpretation and an area that carries the information.   
     
     
         15 . Use of an identification system according to  claim 11 , characterized in that
 the structured information layer is via a reading device, the arrangement of whose electrodes is so designed and constructed that the number and/or size and/or form and/or position of the structured information layer(s) of the information carrier(s), recognized, acquired and further processed.   
     
     
         16 . Use of an identification system according to  claim 11 , characterized in that
 the information carrier(s), in connection with a reading device, is (are) assigned, through its or their structured information layer, to an action of a data processing system, or trigger(s) it, preferably this concerns actions on non-networked data processing systems, and particularly preferably on networked data processing systems.   
     
     
         17 . Use of an information carrier according to  claim 1 , characterized in that
 it is assigned to a record in a data processing device, and the record remains constant or changes in the course of its use.   
     
     
         18 . Use of an information carrier according to  claim 1 , characterized in that
 the information carrier(s) is (are) used for playing cards, collectors' cards, stamps, franking, postage, goods routing, goods tracking, admission, entry cards, access to closed areas, virtual contents, marketing applications, customer loyalty, lotteries and games of chance, member identification, time cards, payment applications, certificates of authenticity, certificates, forgery protection, copy protection, signatures, delivery certificates, objects involved in computer games, music/video/e-book downloads, bonus stamps/programmes or gift cards.   
     
     
         19 . Use of an information carrier according to  claim 17 , characterized in that
 the information content is completed and the assignment to another record released only in combination with at least one other information carrier.