Optical biometric security element

Abstract

This invention relates to an optical element for the purpose of identification and/or prevention of forgery or copying, including at least one layer with anisotropic optical properties, wherein the anisotropic optical properties are patterned, characterized in that the pattern represents biometric information. In addition, this invention relates to a method for the preparation of an optical element for the purpose of identification and/or prevention of forgery or copying.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . Method for the preparation of an optical element containing biometric information, comprising the steps of
 providing an aligning surface,   transferring the biometric information into the aligning surface by modifying the initial aligning properties of the aligning surface,   coating polymerizable liquid crystals on top of the aligning surface, and   starting polymerization of the liquid crystals by thermal or photo-initiation after the liquid crystals are aligned.   
     
     
         2 . Method for the preparation of an optical element comprising biometric information, comprising the steps of
 providing an aligning surface,   transferring the biometric information into the aligning surface by modifying the initial aligning properties of the aligning surface, and   coating polymerized liquid crystal material on top of the alignment layer.   
     
     
         3 . Method according to  claim 1 , wherein the aligning surface is that of a layer of a photo-alignment material and the properties of the aligning surface are locally modified by transferring the biometric information into the photo-alignment material by exposure to aligning light in the form of an orientation pattern. 
     
     
         4 . Method according to  claim 3 , wherein in the step of transferring the biometric information into the photo-alignment material by exposure to aligning light a photo-mask is used, which has been produced by printing the pattern representing the biometric data to a transparent substrate. 
     
     
         5 . Method according to  claim 3 , wherein in the step of transferring the biometric information into the photo-alignment material by exposure to aligning light an alignment master is used to generate the orientation pattern. 
     
     
         6 . Method according to  claim 3 , wherein a substrate, on which a fingerprint was directly generated by pressing a finger to the substrate surface, is used as a photo-mask for the generation of the orientation pattern. 
     
     
         7 . Method according to  claim 2 , wherein the initial aligning properties of the aligning surface are modified by directly putting a fingerprint on top of the aligning surface. 
     
     
         8 . Method for the preparation of an optical element containing biometric information, which comprises the steps of
 local deposition of an aligning layer material to a substrate,   applying alignment treatment to the aligning layer to generate a defined orientation direction in the deposited material,   coating polymerizable or polymerized liquid crystal material on top of the alignment layer, and   optionally starting polymerization of the liquid crystals by thermal or photo-initiation after the liquid crystals are aligned.   
     
     
         9 . Method for the preparation of an optical element containing biometric information, which comprises printing polymerizable or polymerized liquid crystal material to a substrate in the form of a pattern desired to represent the biometric information. 
     
     
         10 . Method according to  claim 9 , wherein the substrate exhibits an aligning surface. 
     
     
         11 . Method for the preparation of a patterned liquid crystal polymer layer containing biometric information for the purpose of identification and/or prevention of forgery and copying, comprising the steps of
 printing or coating a layer of polymerizable liquid crystals to a substrate with an aligning surface,   exposing the layer of polymerizable liquid crystals to actinic light through a photomask to locally initiate polymerization of the liquid crystals,   heating the layer to an elevated temperature,   and   exposing at least part of the non-polymerized areas to actinic light to initiate polymerization of the liquid crystal material in those areas.   
     
     
         12 . Method for the preparation of a patterned liquid crystal polymer layer containing biometric information for the purpose of identification and/or prevention of forgery and copying, comprising the steps of
 printing or coating a layer of polymerizable liquid crystals to a substrate with an aligning surface,   exposing the layer of polymerizable liquid crystals to actinic light through a photomask to locally initiate polymerization of the liquid crystals, and   removing areas which are not polymerized with a solvent, which can dissolve such polymerizable liquid crystals.   
     
     
         13 . Method according to  claim 1 , wherein the biometric information comprises a fingerprint. 
     
     
         14 . Method according to  claim 1 , wherein the biometric information comprises a fingerprint. 
     
     
         15 . Method according to  claim 1 , characterized in that the liquid crystal material contains dichroic molecules. 
     
     
         16 . Method of using an optical element, comprising incorporating the optical element as a security element in a security device, wherein the optical element is an optical element for the purpose of identification and/or prevention of forgery or copying, comprising at least one layer with anisotropic optical properties, wherein the anisotropic optical properties are patterned, characterized in that the pattern represents biometric information. 
     
     
         17 . Method according to  claim 16 , wherein the security device is applied to or incorporated into a security document selected from the group consisting of an identity card, passport, driver license, certificate, birth certificate, credit card, badge, and ticket. 
     
     
         18 . Optical element produced according to the method of  claim 1 .