Overview
ISO/IEC 11695-3:2017 specifies the optical properties and characteristics of identification cards that use the holographic recording method for optical memory. Part 3 of the ISO/IEC 11695 series defines measurable optical requirements (reflectivity, scattering, surface roughness, spatial resolution and contrast) and references test conditions to ensure reliable read/write performance of holographic optical memory cards.
Key topics and technical requirements
- Surface roughness / scattering
- Substrate surface shall be flat and smooth; surface roughness Ra < 100 nm.
- Scattered light shall be < 10 % for wavelengths between 500 nm and 1 000 nm.
- Reflectivity of blank accessible optical area
- Reflective layer (for reflection-mode reading) shall have reflectivity > 90 % for 500–1 000 nm.
- Spatial resolution and Contrast Transfer Function (CTF)
- Spatial resolution measured by resolving smallest bar groups vertically and horizontally.
- Contrast defined by the standard contrast equation (CTF). For holographic memory cards the minimum contrast shall be 1 up to 1 000 line pairs per millimetre.
- Reading/writing test conditions
- Test methods: refer to ISO/IEC 10373-9 (Optical memory cards - Holographic recording method).
- Default test environment and conditioning: follow ISO/IEC 11693-1.
Definitions provided (reflectivity, scattering, spatial resolution, CTF) give the measurement context required for consistent testing and specification.
Practical applications and users
Who uses ISO/IEC 11695-3:2017:
- Card and optical media manufacturers designing holographic optical memory cards and reflective layers.
- Test laboratories validating optical properties (reflectivity, scattering, spatial resolution) and issuing conformity reports.
- System integrators and device manufacturers building readers/writers for holographic cards - to ensure optical compatibility and reliable read performance.
- Procurement teams and standards committees specifying minimum optical performance for secure ID, high-density storage, or archival applications.
- Research and development teams working on next-generation identification cards and optical storage technologies.
Benefits:
- Ensures consistent read/write performance and high-density storage capability.
- Provides objective, testable optical criteria for quality control and interoperability.
- Clarifies that different recording methods may be incompatible, emphasizing method-specific requirements.
Related standards
For implementation or procurement, reference the full ISO/IEC 11695-3:2017 document and associated test standards via the ISO catalogue.
Open preview (PDF)Identification cards — Optical memory cards — Holographic recording method — Part 3: Optical properties and characteristics