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 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 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: 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: Method of individualizing labels, in which a plurality of labels is formed from a label tape, characterized in that the shape of each label is formed individually.

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 a storage medium, preferably a carrier. The aim of the invention is to make manipulation of data information of the storage medium or of non-authorized copies of the storage medium visible. For this purpose, the storage medium comprises a transparent layer and a layer produced from an opaque material, the layer of the opaque material having a section with a medium transmittance between 0% and 100% which is semi-transparent to electromagnetic radiation and an informative content comprising the value of the medium transmittance being stored in the storage medium.

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: 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: 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.

Abstract: In an example holographic data storage medium, which has a polymer film which serves as a storage layer and can be changed locally by heating, the polymer film is set up as a top layer of the data storage medium. Arranged underneath the polymer film is an absorber layer which has an absorber dye. The absorber dye is set up to at least partly absorb a write beam serving to put information in and to discharge the heat produced in the process at least partly locally to the polymer film. In an advantageous refinement of the example data storage medium, there is an adhesive layer underneath the absorber layer and a partly transparent reflective layer between the polymer film and the absorber layer.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method of providing an article with identifying information, in which a hologram is provided from which at least first and second hologram patterns separated physically from each other can be reproduced. In this case, provision is made for the hologram to be produced in such a way that the first and second hologram patterns can generally be reproduced in one and the same direction but in different planes.

Abstract: The invention relates to a lithograph for producing digital holograms in a storage medium (4), having a light source (6, 10) for producing a write beam (12) with a predefined beam cross section, having a writing lens (14) for focusing the write beam (12) onto the storage medium (4) to be written, the writing lens (14) being arranged in a lens holder (16), and having drive means for the two-dimensional movement of the write beam relative to the storage medium. The technical problem of writing computer-generated holograms as quickly as possible and with little effort by means of optical lithography is solved in that a first drive device (18) is provided for moving the lens holder (16) substantially at right angles to the write beam (12) and in that the aperture of the writing lens (14) is smaller than the beam cross section of the write beam (12). The inventon also relates to a method for the lithographic production of a hologram in a storage medium.

Abstract: The invention relates to a commonplace object with an outer surface (4) that encircles the commonplace object (2) and with at least one cylindrical section (6) of the surface (4), in which the technical problem of specifying a commonplace object to whose surface a relatively large amount of information can be applied is solved in that the cylindrical section (4) of the surface (6) consists of a material which can be changed optically, and in that a data bit sequence is written along at least one track (8) on the cylindrical section (4).

Abstract: The present invention relates to methods of producing an individualized digital computer-generated hologram, in which the technical problem of being able to draw conclusions from the holograms about the associated writing device is achieved in that a hologram is written into a storage medium as a matrix of individual points, in that a geometric pattern for writing the holographic information in is predefined, and in that an individualizing feature is superimposed on the hologram by writing in a large number of individual points deviating from the predefined pattern. The invention also relates to a reading method and a storage medium having an individualized hologram.