Abstract: In a method for controlling the acquisition and/or evaluation operation of image data in medical examinations, using a statistical model of the target volume based on data about real anatomy, spatial information (in particular position, orientation and shape) of the target volume are automatically determined in a previously-acquired planning image data set wholly or partially showing a target volume, and the acquisition and/or evaluation operation is controlled using the spatial information.

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: 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 moire pattern.

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: 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 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 method and apparatus for mapping a texture to a surface of a computer generated object dependent upon the geometric shape of the object. The method includes the steps of approximating a true pixel color by performing a number of texturing operations and averaging the results of the texturing operations. The apparatus including a texturing unit comprising a control unit for determining a set of N footprint textel locations, a RAM for determining N sets of textel values with each set of textel values being associated with one footprint textel location, an interpolator for interpolating the N sets of textel values for each textel location, and an averaging unit for determining an average value from the interpolated values for each textel location.

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: A security element (2) in the form of a laminate can be used for the authentication of a document (1). The laminate has at least a transparent protective layer, a transparent lacquer layer and an adhesive layer, the lacquer layer being arranged between the protective layer and the adhesive layer. An interface in the form of a reflection layer separates the adhesive layer and the lacquer layer. The interface is divided into regions of a pattern (25) with flat surface portions and with relief structures which are formed in the lacquer layer. The flat surface portions form background surfaces (3) providing flat mirror surfaces for light which is incident into the laminate, while the regions with the relief structures of a predetermined, optically effective structure depth form pattern elements (4). The relief structures of the pattern elements (4) absorb the incident light.

Abstract: A security element (2) comprising a reflective, optically variable surface pattern (3) which is embedded in a layer composite of plastic material and which can be visually recognized from predetermined observation directions is formed from a mosaic of optically active surface elements (13). In the mosaic of the surface pattern (3) at least two of the mosaic surfaces (11; 12) of the surface pattern (3) are arranged substantially adjacent and have microscopically fine light-diffractive relief structures (4). The spatial frequencies of the relief structures in the mosaic surfaces (11; 12) are of values from predetermined spatial frequency ranges in such a way that, in the case of illumination beams which are incident obliquely relative to a normal onto the plane of the layer composite, the relief structures of the mosaic surfaces (11; 12) deflect visible monochromatic light parallel to the normal (32).

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 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 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: A security element for sticking onto a document comprises a layer composite of plastic material and has embedded, optically effective structures of a pattern . The optically effective structures in surface portions of the pattern are in a reference plane, defined by co-ordinate axis (x; y), of the layer composite and are shaped into a reflecting interface. The interface is embedded between a transparent shaping layer and a protective layer of the layer composite. At least one surface portion is of a dimension of greater than 0.4 mm and in the interface has at least one shaped macrostructure which is an at least portion-wise steady and differentiatable function of the co-ordinates (x; y). The macrostructure is curved at least in partial regions and is not a periodic triangular or rectangular function. In the surface portion adjacent extreme values of the macrostructure are at least 0.1 mm away from each other.

Abstract: In order to improve target illumination, a light source (2) of an emitter, which has a laser diode (3) configured as an edge emitter with a wavelength of 1,550 nm, has beam forming optics (4) mounted downstream in relation thereto, which comprise a cylindrical lens (7) and a first deflection element (8) with three fields having different diffraction structures. Said deflection element are located next to one another and crosswise in relation to the first fields and which also have different diffraction structures. Said deflection element directs the partial beams to the aperture of a collimator (1) in such a way that the partial beams substantially fill said aperture. The first deflection element (8) and a mount (6) for the cylindrical lens (7) are integral and, alike the second deflection element (10), are made of plastic. Both parts are glued to opposite sides of the frontal areas of a block (5) made of glass.

Abstract: A layer composite of plastic material forms a retroreflector and includes at least one transparent structure layer, a protective layer and a reflection layer enclosed at the common interface between the structure layer and the protection layer. A relief structure formed by substantially identically shaped three-dimensional structure elements is formed in the reflection layer. At their base surfaces the structure elements are of lateral dimensions in the range of between 1 ?m and 100 ?m. The structure elements have side faces which are covered by the reflection layer and which include an angle of inclination of 45°, with a free surface of the layer composite. The relief structure is additively superimposed with a microstructure in at least one surface element. The microstructure has a preferred direction and influences the quality of the reflection action of the layer composite. The retroreflector is suitable for the production of machine-readable optical markings.

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 method for mapping a texture onto a surface of a computer generated object represented by a plurality of pixels, where the mapping of the texture is dependent upon the geometric shape of the object. The method includes dividing a texture map comprising a plurality of texels into blocks, determining two block values for each block which are representative of the texel values for that block, compressing the texture map, and mapping said compressed texture map onto the surface of the computer generated object.