Abstract: Methods manufacture an optically variable security element by breaking down a first motif into first motif elements, assigning the first motif elements first directional degrees of reflection that encode the first motif, wherein a relief layer having a multiplicity of single visual elements having a respective single element surface is produced and divided into reflection areas, wherein first reflection areas of different single element surfaces are assigned to the first motif, and the first reflection areas associated with the first motif are provided with the first directional degrees of reflection.

Abstract: The invention relates to a storage medium comprising a security feature, having a substrate (1, 4, 10), at least one functional layer (2, 5, 11), at least one feature which is written into the functional layer (2, 5, 11) and is visible when reflected and at least one feature which is written into the functional layer (2, 5, 11) and is visible when transmitted, at least one feature being individualized and at least one feature having a diffractive structure. The invention solves the technical problem of providing a larger variety of combinations of different security features. The invention also relates to a method for producing a storage medium comprising a security feature.

Abstract: A reader for reading computer-generated individualized holograms which are written into a storage medium, having a light source for generating a light beam, a recording means for acquiring image data generated by the light beam by illuminating the individualized hologram, and display means for displaying the display data generated from the image data, wherein all the components are combined in a portable handheld unit.

Abstract: A device providing for microstructuring a storage medium includes a radiation source for producing an at least partially coherent beam from electromagnetic radiation, a modulator provided with a plurality of individually switchable modulator elements, a beam-forming optical element for illuminating the modulator, a reducing optical element for reducing a beam radiated by the modulator, and a transport table for displacing the storage medium in relation to the reducing optical element. The device solves technical problems caused by writing of microstructuring and individual diffractive optical elements, in particular computer-generated holograms having a high speed and high writing energy. The device is achieved in that the reducing optical element is configured with limited diffraction and produces a surface reduction of at least 25 from a surface of the individually switchable modulator elements.

Abstract: The invention relates to holographic storage material (1) comprising at least one polymer film (3) and one metallic first layer (4) which is applied to the polymer film (3). In order to provide a storage material (1) having improved optical properties, a non-metallic second layer (5) and a metallic third layer (6) are provided. The second layer (5) is arranged between the first (4) and the third (6) layers. The total thickness of the first, second and third layers (4,5,6) is less than the wavelength of the radiation used for reading out.

Abstract: An apparatus for reading a hologram, in particular a computer-generated hologram, that includes a radiation source for irradiation of the hologram with a read beam composed of electromagnetic radiation, and an outlet opening for receiving an image that is produced from the hologram. The apparatus may allow both greater variability and greater convenience in use with a simple design. The apparatus further includes optics having at least two lenses in which a focal point of the first lens and a focal point of the second lens are each arranged essentially on one plane, and in which the hologram is arranged in front of the second lens as viewed along the beam direction.

Abstract: A holographic data storage medium includes a polymer film which is set up as a storage layer and whose surface structure can be changed locally by heating. The polymer film is set up for the storage of holographic information via the local surface structure of the polymer film. A reflective layer can be provided on the data storage medium.

Abstract: The invention relates to a label to be used as a security feature with a substrate layer and with an optically changeable section which can be microstructured, wherein the optically changeable section is connected to the substrate layer. Thus, the technical problem of creating a label of the type previously mentioned which is simple, reliable, and tamper-proof is solved. The substrate layer of said label is provided with at least one recess which is arranged along a line which runs slightly below the optically changeable section. The invention also relates to a packaging, in which at least one label with a container is connected to a closure having at least one recess arranged in the area between the container and the closure.

Abstract: A device providing for microstructuring a storage medium includes a radiation source for producing an at least partially coherent beam from electromagnetic radiation, a modulator provided with a plurality of individually switchable modulator elements, a beam-forming optical element for illuminating the modulator, a reducing optical element for reducing a beam radiated by the modulator, and a transport table for displacing the storage medium in relation to the reducing optical element. The device solves technical problems caused by writing of microstructuring and individual diffractive optical elements, in particular computer-generated holograms having a high speed and high writing energy. The device is achieved in that the reducing optical element is configured with limited diffraction and produces a surface reduction of at least 25 from a surface of the individually switchable modulator elements.

Abstract: A device providing for microstructuring a storage medium includes a radiation source for producing an at least partially coherent beam from electromagnetic radiation, a modulator-provided with a plurality of individually switchable modulator elements, a beam-forming optical element for illuminating the modulator, a reducing optical element for reducing a beam radiated by the modulator, and a transport table for displacing the storage medium in relation to the reducing optical element. The device solves technical problems caused by writing of microstructuring and individual diffractive optical elements, in particular computer-generated holograms having a high speed and high writing energy. The device is achieved in that the reducing optical element is configured with limited diffraction and produces a surface reduction of at least 25 from a surface of the individually switchable modulator elements.

Abstract: A reader for reading computer-generated individualized holograms which are written into a storage medium, having a light source for generating a light beam, a recording means for acquiring image data generated by the light beam by illuminating the individualized hologram, and display means for dispalying the display data generated from the image data, wherein all the components are combined in a portable handheld unit.

Abstract: A reader for reading computer-generated lithograms which are written into a storage medium, having a light source for generating a light beam, having recording means for acquiring the image data generated by the light beam by illuminating the lithogram, and having display means for displaying the display data generated from the image data, wherein all the components are combined in a portable handheld unit. This reader solves the object of specifying a manageable reader which has great variability in reading the information contained in the dot distribution of a computer-generated lithogram.

Abstract: Producing a digital hologram-in a storage medium includes: (i) focusing a write beam onto the storage medium; (ii) moving the write beam two-dimensionally relative to the storage medium; (iii) focusing a scanning beam onto a beam-guiding mask having a plurality of tracks; (iv) moving the scanning beam two-dimensionally relative to the mask, the movement of the scanning beam being coupled with the movement of the write beam; (v) generating a position control signal when the position of the scanning beam deviates from the scanned track by a predefined value; (vi) controlling the position of the write beam on the storage medium with the aid of the position control signal; and (vii) writing the hologram by introducing radiation energy point by point, the intensity of the write beam being controlled as a function of the position of the write beam on the storage medium.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method of producing digital holograms in a storage medium, in which the technical problem of writing computer-generated holograms by means of optical lithography as quickly as possible and with little effort with simultaneous accurate control of the timed triggering and the positioning of the write beam is achieved in that a write beam is focused onto the storage medium and moved one-dimensionally relative to the storage medium, in that a scanning beam is focused onto a trigger mask having a plurality of trigger lines and moved one-dimensionally transversely relative to the trigger lines, the movement of the scanning beam being coupled with the movement of the write beam, in that, during the scanning of the trigger lines, a timed trigger signal is generated as a function of the arrangement of the trigger lines, in that, with the aid of the timed trigger signal, the intensity of the write beam on the storage medium is controlled, and in that the hologram is written line by li

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for identifying articles, wherein article identification data are made available and the article is provided with a hologram representing said data so that the article can be identified by way of an intensity profile corresponding to said hologram. To this end, article-identifying individual data are provided, a hologram profile is digitally calculated using said individual data, and an intensity modulation of the hologram-producing beam is determined. The hologram-producing beam transfers the hologram pixels onto a hologram support that is associated with the article to be identified so that the article can be identified by way of the intensity profile reproduced from the associated hologram support.

Abstract: A lithograph for producing digital holograms in a storage medium includes a light source for producing a write beam, the light source having drive means for the two-dimensional movement of the write beam relative to the storage medium and having a first objective for focusing the write beam onto the storage medium. Writing computer-generated holograms by means of optical lithography is solved in that: a two-dimensional trigger matrix is provided, means of producing a scanning beam are provided, a second objective for focusing the scanning beam onto the trigger matrix is provided, the drive means moves the scanning beam two-dimensionally relative to the surface of the trigger matrix, the movement of the scanning beam being coupled with the movement of the write beam, and means for generating a trigger signal to control the intensity of the write beam are connected to the trigger matrix.

Abstract: A method for the calculation and storage of a computer-generated multilayer hologram with more than or equal to 2 holograms includes the following steps. Field AO of a readout beam and field AR in the reflection plane are preset as mathematical functions. Except for the hologram to be calculated, all the other holograms of the layer structure are also preset as mathematical functions. Fields A+/A? are then calculated on both sides of hologram hi, as a result of which hologram function hi, is calculated by forming a quotient from fields A+/A?.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for calculating a computer-generated hologram, in which the pixel distribution of the computer-generated hologram is calculated, in which the pixel distribution of a macroscopic superstructure is calculated and in which the pixel distribution of at least one computer-generated hologram is interconnected with the pixel distribution of the macroscopic superstructure to form a pixel distribution to be written in a storage medium. Similarly, the invention relates to a method for writing the hologram, a storage medium and also a reading device. Therefore, both a computer-generated hologram and a macroscopic superstructure which can contain directly readable information can be brought together in a pixel distribution.

Abstract: In a method of entering information into an optically writable and readable data storage medium having a polymer film which can be changed locally by heating in order to store information and to which there is assigned an absorber dye (34) which is set up to absorb a write beam (36), at least partly, and to transfer the heat produced in the process, at least partly, locally to the polymer film, first of all the absorber dye is heated locally in a predetermined region of the polymer film in accordance with the information to be entered, specifically by means of a pulsed write beam (36). After that, the absorption properties of the absorber dye (34) are changed by means of light, to be specific preferably by means of a fixing beam (37) which bleaches (38) the absorber dye (34) in the written region of the polymer film.

Abstract: A holographic data storage medium has a polymer film which is set up as a storage layer whose refractive index can be changed locally by heating. The polymer film is set up for the storage of optical phase information via the local optical path length of the polymer film, which is illuminated in transmission when the information is read out. To the polymer film, there can be assigned an absorber dye, in order to at least partly absorb a write beam to input information and to give up the heat produced in the process at least partly locally to the polymer film. Preferably, a reflective layer is arranged behind the polymer film.