Abstract: A security element for securing security papers, value documents and other data carriers, includes a lens grid image with a lens grid of a plurality of micro lenses and a radiation-sensitive motif layer arranged at a distance from the lens grid. The radiation-sensitive motif layer includes, in one motif region, a multiplicity of transparency regions produced by the action of radiation. The radiation-sensitive motif layer has, at least in the motif region, a color partial layer and a contrast partial layer. The color partial layer includes chromophore effect pigments which appear to be colored against the background of the contrast partial layer and which appear to be transparent without a contrast layer.

Abstract: A security element for securing security papers, value documents and other data carriers, includes a lens grid image with a lens grid of a plurality of micro lenses and a radiation-sensitive motif layer arranged at a distance from the lens grid. The radiation-sensitive motif layer includes, in one motif region, a multiplicity of transparency regions produced by the action of radiation. The radiation-sensitive motif layer has, at least in the motif region, a color partial layer and a contrast partial layer. The color partial layer includes chromophore effect pigments which appear to be colored against the background of the contrast partial layer and which appear to be transparent without a contrast layer.

Abstract: A method includes using a lenticular image having a lens grid composed of a plurality of microlenses and a metallic motif layer arranged spaced apart from the lens grid; the refractive effect of the microlenses defines a focal plane and the metallic motif layer being arranged substantially in the focal plane; a line width is chosen for the demetalized sub-regions to be produced in the metallic motif layer; a marking laser source having a laser wavelength ? is selected such that the resolving power D(?) of the microlenses of the lenticular image at the selected laser wavelength ? substantially corresponds to the line width of the demetalized sub-regions to be produced; and the metallic motif layer is impinged on through the microlenses with laser radiation of the marking laser source to produce demetalized sub-regions in the metallic motif layer.

Abstract: An apparatus for applying security elements, comprises at least one value document substrate transport device for transporting a value document substrate web, at least one security elements transport device for transporting a security elements carrier band having a plurality of security elements, wherein the security elements carrier band has a first and a second main surface which oppose each other, each security element has a first and a second main surface which oppose each other, each security element is arranged with its first main surface on the first main surface of the security elements carrier band, and each security element has adhesive properties at its second main surface, wherein the apparatus has an application region in order to apply the security elements with their second main surface onto the value document substrate web. A security elements carrier band and a value document involve the apparatus.

Abstract: A method includes using a lenticular image having a lens grid composed of a plurality of microlenses and a metallic motif layer arranged spaced apart from the lens grid; the refractive effect of the microlenses defines a focal plane and the metallic motif layer being arranged substantially in the focal plane; a line width is chosen for the demetalized sub-regions to be produced in the metallic motif layer; a marking laser source having a laser wavelength ? is selected such that the resolving power D(?) of the microlenses of the lenticular image at the selected laser wavelength ? substantially corresponds to the line width of the demetalized sub-regions to be produced; and the metallic motif layer is impinged on through the microlenses with laser radiation of the marking laser source to produce demetalized sub-regions in the metallic motif layer.

Abstract: A method for manufacturing a partially demetallized layer element comprises the steps of: supplying a layer element having a carrier substrate with a face that has at least one first and one second region, wherein the first region has a first structure which is different from a second structure of the second region, and at least one metal layer is arranged on the face of the carrier substrate; and removing the metal layer by exciting surface plasmon polaritons by means of electromagnetic radiation in the first region having the first structure. A layer element and an apparatus for carrying out the method are provided.

Abstract: A security element for securing security papers, value documents and other data carriers, has a lenticular image that, from different viewing directions, displays at least two appearances. The lenticular image includes a lens grid composed of a plurality of microlenses and a laser-sensitive motif layer arranged spaced apart from the lens grid. The laser-sensitive motif layer comprises, in two or more motif layer sub-regions, different markings introduced by the action of laser radiation and that, when the motif layer is viewed with the lens grid, produce at least two appearances. The lens grid is divided into two or more lens grid sub-regions in which the microlenses each comprise differently refractive lens surface forms. The different lens grid sub-regions are congruent with the different motif layer sub-regions, and the markings of the motif layer sub-regions being produced by laser impingement of the lens grid sub-regions.

Abstract: An apparatus for applying security elements, comprises at least one value document substrate transport device for transporting a value document substrate web, at least one security elements transport device for transporting a security elements carrier band having a plurality of security elements, wherein the security elements carrier band has a first and a second main surface which oppose each other, each security element has a first and a second main surface which oppose each other, each security element is arranged with its first main surface on the first main surface of the security elements carrier band, and each security element has adhesive properties at its second main surface, wherein the apparatus has an application region in order to apply the security elements with their second main surface onto the value document substrate web. A security elements carrier band and a value document involve the apparatus.

Abstract: An optically variable security element, for security papers, value documents and other data carriers, includes a single or multilayer central body having opposing first and second main surfaces, an arrangement of microlenses on the first main surface of the central body, the microlenses having a refractive effect defining a focal plane, a laser-sensitive recording layer arranged on the second main surface of the central body, a mask layer arranged between the arrangement of microlenses and the laser-sensitive recording layer and outside of the focal plane of the microlenses, and a plurality of micromarks produced in the laser-sensitive recording layer by the action of laser radiation, each micromark being associated with a microlens and being visible when the security element is viewed through the associated microlens. The mask layer comprises a macroscopic gap region that is in register with the plurality of micromarks.

Abstract: A method is for examining a sheet-shaped or card-shaped value document with a security feature having one or more cavities configured in the value document. The width of the cavity or cavities is in at least one respectively specified direction exceeding 10 ?m. Transmission values are established in a locally resolved manner for the transmission of ultrasound in a specified frequency range. In employing the transmission values, it is checked whether a specified number of transmission values is greater than a specified transmission threshold value.

Abstract: A security element for securing security papers, value documents and other data carriers, has a lenticular image that, from different viewing directions, displays at least two appearances. The lenticular image includes a lens grid composed of a plurality of microlenses and a laser-sensitive motif layer arranged spaced apart from the lens grid. The laser-sensitive motif layer comprises, in two or more motif layer sub-regions, different markings introduced by the action of laser radiation and that, when the motif layer is viewed with the lens grid, produce at least two appearances. The lens grid is divided into two or more lens grid sub-regions in which the microlenses each comprise differently refractive lens surface forms. The different lens grid sub-regions are congruent with the different motif layer sub-regions, and the markings of the motif layer sub-regions being produced by laser impingement of the lens grid sub-regions.

Abstract: A method for manufacturing a partially demetallized layer element comprises the steps of: supplying a layer element having a carrier substrate with a face that has at least one first and one second region, wherein the first region has a first structure which is different from a second structure of the second region, and at least one metal layer is arranged on the face of the carrier substrate; and removing the metal layer by exciting surface plasmon polaritons by means of electromagnetic radiation in the first region having the first structure. A layer element and an apparatus for carrying out the method are provided.

Abstract: An optically variable security element, for security papers, value documents and other data carriers, includes a single or multilayer central body having opposing first and second main surfaces, an arrangement of microlenses on the first main surface of the central body, the microlenses having a refractive effect defining a focal plane, a laser-sensitive recording layer arranged on the second main surface of the central body, a mask layer arranged between the arrangement of microlenses and the laser-sensitive recording layer and outside of the focal plane of the microlenses, and a plurality of micromarks produced in the laser-sensitive recording layer by the action of laser radiation, each micromark being associated with a microlens and being visible when the security element is viewed through the associated microlens. The mask layer comprises a macroscopic gap region that is in register with the plurality of micromarks.

Abstract: A method is for examining a sheet-shaped or card-shaped value document with a security feature having one or more cavities configured in the value document. The width of the cavity or cavities is in at least one respectively specified direction exceeding 10 ?m. Transmission values are established in a locally resolved manner for the transmission of ultrasound in a specified frequency range. In employing the transmission values, it is checked whether a specified number of transmission values is greater than a specified transmission threshold value.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a dewatering screen for manufacturing paper having multi-level watermarks, having a carrier mold (54) that exhibits, in a fractional region, a multi-level relief (30) in the form of the watermark to be produced. According to the present invention, it is provided that the multi-level relief is formed by an injection-molded, perforated (40) watermark insert (30).

Abstract: A method for manufacturing a security feature for a security element, a security paper or a data carrier that exhibits a substrate into which at least one through opening and at least one marking in registration with the through opening are to be introduced. The method includes the steps of providing a substrate with a laser-modifiable marking substance at least in the region of the marking to be produced and, in the same operation, introducing at least one through opening into the substrate by the action of laser radiation at higher laser power and modifying the laser-modifiable marking substance in the marking region by the action of laser radiation at a lower laser power to produce at least one marking in registration with the through opening.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for manufacturing a security element (12) having a metalized microrelief pattern and a negative pattern in register therewith, in which P) a substrate (20) is provided with an embossing pattern having elevations (24) and depressions (26) that form first and second regions having different first and second height levels, wherein the desired microrelief pattern (28) is introduced into the first regions of the embossing pattern, and the second regions of the embossing pattern are developed in the form of the desired negative pattern, M) the embossing pattern with the first and second regions is contiguously metalized (30), and L) the metalized embossing pattern is impinged on with laser radiation, to selectively remove the metalization (30) in the second regions of the embossing pattern through the action of the laser radiation.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a dewatering screen for manufacturing paper having multi-level watermarks, having a carrier mold (54) that exhibits, in a fractional region, a multi-level relief (30) in the form of the watermark to be produced. According to the present invention, it is provided that the multi-level relief is formed by an injection-molded, perforated (40) watermark insert (30).

Abstract: The invention relates to a security element for an article to be protected, having an upper face and a lower face, one or more imaging optical arrangements, which all image a respective associated object to a magnified scale only in front of the upper face, wherein the one optical arrangement or at least one of the optical arrangements comprises a plurality of reflective micro-imaging elements arranged two-dimensionally in a first pattern, and the associated object is in the form of a microstructure object having a plurality of microstructures, which are arranged in a microstructure pattern so matched to the first pattern that the microstructure object is imaged to a magnified scale in front of the upper face by means of the reflective micro-imaging elements.

Abstract: The invention relates to a security element for security papers, value documents or the like, with a carrier having an upper side and a lower side and comprising several reflective first micro-imaging elements flatly arranged in a first pattern, and second micro-imaging elements flatly arranged in a second pattern, a first microstructure object which contains several first microstructures which are arranged in a first microstructure pattern so adapted to the first pattern that the first microstructure object is imaged in magnified form in front of the upper side by means of the first micro-imaging elements, and a second microstructure object which contains several second microstructures which are arranged in a second microstructure pattern so adapted to the second pattern that the second microstructure object is imaged in magnified form in front of the underside by means of the second micro-imaging elements.