Identification medium configured for displaying visible and excitable indicia

摘要

An identification medium is optimized for displaying visible and excitable indicia. The medium includes a substrate having a color change layer, such as a direct thermal layer, and a patterned excitable layer placed over the color change layer. The color change layer produces the visible indicia. The excitable layer produces the excitable indicia. The excitable indicia is not easily readable under ambient light but becomes more easily readable under directed radiation, i.e., UV or IR light.

主权项

1. An identification medium configured for displaying visible and excitable indicia, comprising:
a substrate having a print displaying layer wherein the print displaying layer comprises a direct thermal or color change layer configured to accept and display the visible indicia in response to thermal energy pulses from a thermal printer, wherein the direct thermal or color change layer is itself insensitive to or insoluble in solvents used with excitable inks; an excitable layer comprising excitable ink forming the excitable indicia, said excitable layer overlying the print displaying layer, wherein the excitable indicia is printed separately from the visible indicia; and wherein the excitable ink exhibits luminescence when exposed to directed radiation, and the excitable ink is configured to generate a higher emitted intensity of a readable spectrum of light as compared to the print displaying layer when both are exposed to the directed radiation.