Abstract: Light-diffracting microstructures are produced by the superimposition of at least two relief structures, wherein the first relief structure is produced mechanically while at least one second relief structure is a photomechanically generated diffraction structure.

Abstract: The invention concerns a security element (11) in the form of a multi-layer film body, a security document having such a security element and a process for the production of such a security element. The film body on a carrier film (10) has a release layer (20), a protective lacquer layer (21), a replication lacquer layer (22) with relief structures (25, 26), a metal layer (23) and an adhesive layer (24). A first relief structure (25) has a depth-to-width ratio of >0.5, whereby the metal layer (23) is more transparent in the region of the first relief structure (25). A second relief structure (26) has a low depth-to-width ratio whereby the metal layer (23) is less transparent or is opaque in the region of the second relief structure (26).

Abstract: Described is a multi-layer body (11, 12) having a replication lacquer layer (22). A first relief structure (25, 125, 65) is shaped into the replication lacquer layer (22) in a first region of the multi-layer body in a plane defined by co-ordinate axes x and y and an electrically conductive coating (23l, 23n, 123n) of a constant surface density is applied to the replication lacquer layer (22) in the first region of the multi-layer body (11, 12) and in an adjacent second region of the multi-layer body (11, 12). The first relief structure (25, 125, 65) is a structure with a high depth-to-width ratio in respect of the individual structure elements, in particular with a depth-to-width ratio>2. At least one perpendicular or almost perpendicular flank extends over the entire or almost the entire depth of the relief structure, the flank in that way reducing or suppressing electrical conductivity of the coating.

Abstract: The invention concerns a security document (7) having a first transparent region (72) in which a first transparent optical element (74) is arranged and a second region (71) in which a second opaque optical element (73) is arranged. The second opaque optical element (73) exhibits a first optical effect. The first region (72) and the second region (71) are arranged in mutually spaced relationship on a carrier (75) of the security document, in such a way that the first and second regions can be brought into mutually overlapping relationship. Upon overlap of the second optical element with the first optical element with a first spacing (26) between the first and second optical elements a second optical effect appears and upon overlap of the second optical element with the first optical element with a second spacing (25) between the first and second optical elements, which is greater than the first spacing (26), a third optical effect (51) which is different from the second optical effect appears.

Abstract: There are described a process for the production of a multi-layer body (100) having a partially shaped first layer (3m) and a multi-layer body produced in that way.

Abstract: The invention concerns a security document comprising a flexible carrier and a multi-layer flexible film body which is applied to the flexible carrier and which provides one or more optical security features. The flexible multi-layer film body has an electrically controller display element for generating an optical security feature with associated electrical current source for operation of the display element in combination with an optically active diffractive structure.

Abstract: Described is a process for the production of a multi-layer body comprising a first layer which is formed from micro-optical structures and which at least partially covers over one or more further layers having image regions and/or effect regions which produce an optical effect, wherein the micro-optical structures are arranged in register relationship with the image regions and/or effect regions. The micro-optical structures (6a, 6b) as well as the image regions and/or effect regions are applied by means of intaglio printing. There are also described a multi-layer body produced with that process and a security document having that multi-layer body.

Abstract: The invention concerns a security element in the form of a multi-layer film body, a security document with a security element and a process for the production of such a security element. The film body has a replication lacquer layer and a thin-film layer for producing a viewing angle-dependent color shift effect by interference. A first relief structure is shaped in a first region in the interface between the replication lacquer layer and the thin-film layer. That relief structure suppresses the production of the color shift effected by the thin-film layer so that the color shift effect is not present in the first region in which the first relief structure is provided and the color shift effect produced by the thin-film layer is present in a second region of the security element, in which the first relief structure is not provided.

Abstract: The invention concerns a security element (10) for RF identification, and a security document which is provided with such a security element (10). The security element has a flexible film body (104) into which are integrated an electronic circuit which is designed for the storage of security-relevant items of information and an RF antenna which is connected to the electronic circuit and which serves for contact-less communication of the electronic circuit with a test device. Permanently fixed on a surface of the flexible film body (104) is a first optically variable element (102) which at least region-wise covers the region of the flexible film body in which the electronic circuit is arranged, wherein permanently fixed on the other opposite surface of the flexible film body is a second optically variable element.

Abstract: A diffractive security element has a half-tone image comprising diffractive structures in a reflection layer, which are embedded in a layer composite between a transparent embossing layer and a protective lacquer layer. The half-tone image is divided into image elements of at least one dimension less than 1 mm, wherein the surface of each image element is divided up into a background field and an image element pattern. The proportion of the image element pattern to the surface of the image element determines the surface brightness of the half-tone image at the location of the image element. The background field has a first diffractive structure from which the image element pattern differs by its light-modifying effect. Pattern strips of a width of up to 0.3 mm additionally extend over the surface of the half-tone image. The pattern strips occupy a small proportion of the surface of the background fields and/or the image element patterns and produce coloured strips on the half-tone image.

Abstract: Light-diffracting microstructures are produced by the superimposition of at least two relief structures, wherein the first relief structure is produced mechanically while at least one second relief structure is a photomechanically generated diffraction structure.

Abstract: The invention concerns an optical security element and a system for visualising items of concealed information comprising such an optical security element. The optical security element has a substrate layer in which a relief structure defined by relief parameters, in particular relief shape, relief depth, spatial frequency and azimuth angle, is shaped in the surface region defined by an X-axis and a Y-axis, for producing an optically perceptible effect. One or more of the relief parameters defining the relief structure are varied in the surface region in accordance with a parameter variation function. The surface region is divided into one or more pattern regions and a background region. One or more of the relief parameters defining the relief structure are varied in the one or more pattern regions in accordance with a parameter variation function which is phase-displaced in relation to the parameter variation function of the background region.

Abstract: The invention concerns an optical security element having a substrate layer, in which a first microstructure for producing a first optically perceptible effect is shaped region-wise in a surface region. The surface region is divided into microscopically fine pattern regions and a background region. The first microstructure is shaped in the pattern regions but not in the background region. The microscopically fine pattern regions in the surface region are arranged in the form of a moire pattern into which a concealed item of information which can be evaluated by means of an associated verification element is encoded as a security feature. The microscopically fine pattern regions are further substructured in accordance with a substructuring function which describes a microscopic substructuring, serving as a further security feature, of the moiré pattern.

Abstract: A layer arrangement is proposed, particularly for transfer films or laminated films, which exhibits at least two superposed synthetic resin layers, between which there is provided an interface surface having a refractive structure producing a lens-like effect, the novelty claimed being a special design of the structure having a diffractive effect.

Abstract: The invention relates to an optically variable element which at least in surface portions has an interface embedded between two layers and which forms an optically effective structure, that interface having a free-form surface which appears three-dimensionally for a viewer. To emphasise that free-form surface the invention provides that the free-form surface is formed by a partial region of the interface, which is of a lens-like configuration and which produces a magnification, reduction or distortion effect. The invention also provides the use of such optically variable elements as a security element to prevent forgery of value-bearing documents or for articles to be safeguarded, in particular as part of the decorative layer arrangement of a transfer or laminating film.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an optically variable element having surface portions with achromatic surface structures and different scatter, diffraction and reflection characteristics. The achromatic surface structures are combined with a thin-film structure, whereby upon turning or tilting the optically variable element, it is not the impression of a continuous color transition, but a defined, almost discrete color change that is produced for the viewer.

Abstract: A diffractive security element (2) is divided into surface portions, having an optically effective structure (9) at interfaces embedded between two layers of a layer composite (1) of plastic material. At least the base layer (4), which is to be illuminated, of the layer composite (1) is transparent. The optically effective structure (9) as a base structure has a zero order diffraction grating with a period length of at most 500 nm. In at least one of the surface portions an integrated optical waveguide (5) with a layer thickness (s) of a transparent dielectric is embedded between the base layer (4) and an adhesive layer (7) of the layer composite (1) and/or a protective layer (6) of the layer composite (1), wherein the profile depth of the optically effective structure (9) is in a predetermined relationship with the layer thickness (s).

Abstract: A security element which is difficult to copy includes a layer composite which has microscopically fine, optically effective structures of a surface pattern, which are embedded between two layers of the layer composite. In a plane of the surface pattern, which is defined by co-ordinate axes x and y, the optically effective structures are shaped into an interface between the layers in surface portions of a holographically non-copyable security feature. In at least one surface portion the optically effective structure is a diffraction structure formed by additive superimposition of a macroscopic superimposition function (M) with a microscopically fine relief profile (R). Both the relief profile (R), the superimposition function (M) and also the diffraction structure are functions of the co-ordinates x and y. The relief profile (R) is a light-diffractive or light-scattering optically effective structure and, following the superimposition function (M), retains the predetermined profile height.

Abstract: An optically variable surface pattern (1) contains relief structures (9.1; 9.2; 9.3) for producing at least two representations (2; 3; 4). The relief structures (9.1; 9.2; 9.3) have a period length (L) of at least five micrometers and are sawtooth-shaped. The relief structures (9.1; 9.2; 9.3) associated with different representations (2; 3; 4) have different angles of inclination (?;?;?). The angles of inclination are so selected that the representations (2; 3; 4) can be perceived separately by a viewer on the one hand and on the other hand when producing a copy by means of a color photocopier they are all transferred onto the copy.

Abstract: A security element (2) comprising a plastic laminate (1) has a surface pattern which is composed mosaic-like at least from surface elements, wherein in the surface elements a reflecting interface (8) between a shaping layer (5) and a protective layer (6) of the plastic laminate (1) forms optically effective structures (9). Light (11) which is incident on the plastic laminate (1) and which passes through a cover layer (4) of the plastic laminate (1) and through the shaping layer (5) is deflected in a predetermined manner by means of the optically effective structures (9). Shaped in the surface of at least one of the surface elements is a diffraction structure which is produced by a superimposition of a linear asymmetrical diffraction grating (24) with a matt structure. The linear asymmetrical diffraction grating (24) has a spatial frequency from the range of values of between 50 lines/mm and 2,000 lines/mm.