Abstract: Manufacturing a discretized optical security microstructure on a substrate includes providing an ink into one or more cavities of a shim, the one or more cavities of the shim represent the discretized optical security microstructure, pressing the shim against the substrate, and removing the shim from the substrate. The shim is removed from the substrate such that the ink remains on a surface of the substrate forming the discretized optical security microstructure. The shim includes a number of cavities. The characteristic size of an individual cavity is from 80 ?m to 50 cm and the depth is from 300 nm to 100 ?m. The cavities of the shim represent a discretized optical security microstructure representing diffractive or another optically active surface, preferably in a form of macro and/or micro relief, or simply curved shape with or without grating/hologram micro relief.

Abstract: The present invention provides for a diffractive element comprising a diffractive optical microstructure consisting of a modulated structure of a diffractive type which upon illumination by diffused ambient light creates a two-dimensional image to be viewed by an observer upon tilting or rotating the device or by varying lighting direction, wherein the diffractive modulated structure of the device consists of various generally parameterised special optical elements with specifically prescribed groove shapes, wherein each groove shape, position, center(s), and line thickness, are described by functions describing those dependencies which are variables of the positional coordinate of the optical element.

Abstract: The invention provides for a recording method comprising the steps of modulating a first light beam; directing a second light beam to interfere with the first light beam to produce an interference pattern in a region of a recording medium; forming an optical device in the medium responsive to the interference pattern, wherein optical characteristics of the optical device are varied responsive to variations in the interference pattern. A method of playback, a recording and/or reading head and data carriers are also claimed. An example relates to a full diffraction analogy of gramophone recording. The interference of two beams, one of which is functionally linked to an audio signal, results in a change of the diffractive structure that instantly reflects the change of the input signal. On playback the diffracted light beam oscillates in the same way as the gramophone needle would vibrate. Another aspect of the disclosure relates to multilevel digital recording using holographic and/or diffractive structures.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method of forming a relief pattern as part of a layered structure and comprising, forming a relief pattern on the surface of a layer of the said structure and subsequently forming a protective fixing layer on at least part of the said relief pattern and serving to protect the underlying relief pattern during any subsequent processing of the said structure, and thereby also provides for a layered structure, generally comprising a substrate having a relief pattern formed on a surface of the substrate and wherein at least a portion of the said relief has been provided with a protective fixing layer serving to retain the characteristics of the relief pattern during any subsequent processing of the structure such as, for example, when forming a laminate structure with the relief pattern provided therein.

Abstract: The invention provides for both a composite image field for verification and/or security applications and including a plurality of sets of image elements, wherein members of each set are from the same one of a respective plurality of images and are spaced and located within the composite image in a manner seeking to avoid those of another set, the composite image being formed by the adjacent location of the spaced elements and wherein the spacing and location is in a defined manner serving to create a security key; and also a related composite optical element for verification and/or security applications and including a plurality of sets of optical elements, the members of each set sharing die same optical properties and spaced and located within the composite element in a manner seeking to avoid those of another set, the composite optical element being formed by the adjacent location of the spaced elements and wherein the spacing and location is in a manner defined for providing a security key.

Abstract: The present invention provides for a device package comprising an element secured to a plastic body, the element having at least one opening into which material of the plastic body extends to at least assist with securing the element to the body.

Abstract: The present invention provides for a diffractive structure comprising a plurality of grooves each formed by a plurality of two-dimensional scattering and/or diffractive groove elements, aligned in a manner serving to provide for at least one diffractive optical effect and further a surface display device comprising a plurality of regions wherein each region has a diffractive surface relief structure as defined above and wherein the gratings of one of said regions at an angle relative to the gratings of another of said regions.

Abstract: The present invention provides for a security article for anti-counterfeit (21, 31), authentication and/or tracking purposes, comprising a substrate material (25, 32) including at least one, but preferably several encoded metal holographic platelets, wherein each platelet (22, 33) carries a surface relief diffractive structure and can be authenticated by inspection of both a holo-graphic device by illumination and visual, eyeglass and magnifier inspection and which can also be authenticated by inspection under magnification of an aperture in the metal platelet carrying an authenticating code.

Abstract: The present invention provides for a diffractive element comprising a diffractive optical microstructure consisting of a modulated structure of a diffractive type which upon illumination by diffused ambient light creates a two-dimensional image to be viewed by an observer upon tilting or rotating the device or by varying lighting direction, wherein the diffractive modulated structure of the device consists of various generally parameterised special optical elements with specifically prescribed groove shapes, wherein each groove shape, position, centre(s), and line thickness, are described by functions describing those dependencies which are variables of the positional coordinate of the optical element.

Abstract: The invention discloses a diffractive device and a method of creating the same displaying a three-dimensional preferably achromatic image, especially imitating a real or an imaginary relief scene, a flat microrelief or otherwise modulated structure (10) of a diffractive type is created, the structure (10) comprising system of diffraction zones (5) which are arranged so that in places of diffractive structure (10) corresponding to places of the relief scene (11) the diffraction zones (5) have such periodicity and orientation (a, b) that cause deflection of incident light (9) in the same direction as the relief scene (11) deflects an incident light, thus achieving a visible thee-dimensional and largely achromatic sensation of image, corresponding to the relief scene (11), when observing the diffractive structure (10) regardless of conditions of lighting.