DE102018123482A1 - Optically variable element, security document, method for producing an optically variable element, method for producing a security document - Google Patents

Abstract

The invention relates to an optically variable element (1a), in particular a security element (1b) and / or a decorative element (1c), preferably for security documents (1d), the optically variable element (1a) comprising at least one pixel array (2) or two has a plurality of pixels (2aa-2dd, 2e-2f), one or more pixels of the two or more pixels (2aa-2dd, 2e-2f) having one or more structures (3aa-3dd, 3e-3f), and wherein one image, bend and / or scatter the one or more structures (3aa-3dd, 3e-3f) of the incident electromagnetic radiation (6) in one or more solid angles. The invention further relates to a security document (1d), in particular comprising one or more optically variable elements (1a), a method for producing an optically variable element (1a), preferably a security element (1b) and / or a decorative element (1c) for security documents (1d), and a method for producing a security document (1d), preferably comprising one or more layers, preferably comprising one or more optically variable elements (1a).

Description

The invention relates to an optically variable element, in particular a security element and / or a decorative element, a security document, a method for producing an optically variable element, and a method for producing a security document.

Security elements are used to increase and thus improve the security against forgery of security documents, such as banknotes, passports, check cards, visas, credit cards, certificates and / or similar value or identification documents. Furthermore, the optically variable effects provided by the security elements can be detected easily and unambiguously by other laymen without further technical aids or by means of further technical aids such as cameras, the layperson being able to prove the authenticity of a security document equipped with such a security element with the least possible effort and can detect manipulative interventions on the security document and / or fake security documents as soon as possible.

Diffractive structures and thin-film layer elements are often used as security elements. Depending on the viewing angle, diffractive structures show color effects, such as a rainbow effect. Thin-film layer elements, on the other hand, are characterized by a defined color change effect. However, due to their widespread use and the resulting habituation effect, such security elements are hardly considered by laypersons.

For example, from the document DE 10 2004 016 596 A1 such a security element is known.

The present invention is therefore based on the object of an improved optically variable element, a security document comprising one or more improved optically variable elements, a method for producing an improved optically variable element and a method for producing a security document comprising one or more improved optically variable elements to provide. In particular, the improved optically variable element provides a particularly memorable optically variable effect.

The object is achieved by an optically variable element, in particular a security element and / or a decorative element, preferably for security documents, wherein the optically variable element has at least one pixel array comprising two or more pixels, one or more pixels of the two or more pixels of the at least one a pixel array has one or more structures, and one or more structures of the electromagnetic radiation incident on the one or more structures image, diffract and / or scatter in one or more solid angles.

The object is further achieved by a security document, in particular comprising one or more optically variable elements.

• - Bereitstellung zumindest eines virtuellen Pixelarray umfassend zwei oder mehrere virtuelle Pixel,
• - Zuordnung zumindest eines Raumwinkels zu ein oder mehreren virtuellen Pixel der zwei oder mehreren virtuellen Pixel des zumindest einen virtuellen Pixelarray,
• - Anordnung ein oder mehrerer virtueller Feldquellen in und/oder auf zumindest einem Bereich oder zumindest einem Segment des zumindest einen zugeordneten Raumwinkels, wobei der zumindest eine Bereich oder das zumindest eine Segment des zumindest einen zugeordneten Raumwinkels in einem ersten Abstand zu den ein oder mehreren virtuellen Pixel der zwei oder mehreren virtuellen Pixel des zumindest einen virtuellen Pixelarray angeordnet ist,
• - Berechnung ein oder mehrerer virtueller elektromagnetischer Felder ausgehend von den ein oder mehreren virtuellen Feldquellen in einem vorbestimmten Abstand von den ein oder mehreren virtuellen Pixel der zwei oder mehreren virtuellen Pixel des zumindest einen virtuellen Pixelarray in und/oder auf den ein oder mehreren virtuellen Pixel der zwei oder mehreren virtuellen Pixel des zumindest einen virtuellen Pixelarray und/oder in und/oder auf der durch das zumindest eine virtuelle Pixelarray aufgespannten Fläche, insbesondere Ebene,
• - Berechnung ein oder mehrerer Phasenbilder für die ein oder mehreren virtuellen Pixel der zwei oder mehreren virtuellen Pixel des zumindest einen virtuellen Pixelarray aus einem virtuellen elektromagnetischen Gesamtfeld bestehend aus der Überlagerung der ein oder mehreren virtuellen elektromagnetischen Feldern in und/oder auf den ein oder mehreren virtuellen Pixel der zwei oder mehreren virtuellen Pixel des zumindest einen virtuellen Pixelarray und/oder in und/oder auf der durch das zumindest eine virtuelle Pixelarray aufgespannten Fläche, insbesondere Ebene,
• - Berechnung virtueller Strukturprofile für die ein oder mehreren virtuellen Pixel zwei oder mehreren virtuellen Pixel des zumindest einen virtuellen Pixelarray aus den ein oder mehreren Phasenbildern,
• - Ausbildung der virtuellen Strukturprofile der ein oder mehreren virtuellen Pixel der zwei oder mehreren Pixel des zumindest einen virtuellen Pixelarray in und/oder auf ein Substrat als zumindest ein Pixelarray umfassend zwei oder mehrere Pixel, wobei ein oder mehrere Pixel der zwei oder mehreren Pixel des zumindest einen Pixelarray ein oder mehrere Strukturen aufweisen, zur Bereitstellung des optisch variablen Elements.

The object is further achieved by a method for producing an optically variable element, preferably a security element and / or a decorative element, preferably for security documents, which is characterized by the following steps:

• Provision of at least one virtual pixel array comprising two or more virtual pixels,
• Assignment of at least one solid angle to one or more virtual pixels of the two or more virtual pixels of the at least one virtual pixel array,
• Arrangement of one or more virtual field sources in and / or on at least one area or at least one segment of the at least one associated solid angle, the at least one area or the at least one segment of the at least one associated solid angle at a first distance from the one or more virtual ones Pixels of the two or more virtual pixels of the at least one virtual pixel array are arranged,
• - Calculation of one or more virtual electromagnetic fields based on the one or more virtual field sources at a predetermined distance from the one or more virtual pixels of the two or more virtual pixels of the at least one virtual pixel array in and / or on the one or more virtual pixels two or more virtual pixels of the at least one virtual pixel array and / or in and / or on the area, in particular plane, spanned by the at least one virtual pixel array,
• - Calculation of one or more phase images for the one or more virtual pixels of the two or more virtual pixels of the at least one virtual pixel array from a virtual total electromagnetic field consisting of the superimposition of the one or more virtual electromagnetic fields in and / or on the one or more virtual pixels the two or more virtual pixels of the at least one virtual pixel array and / or in and / or on the area, in particular plane, spanned by the at least one virtual pixel array,
• Calculation of virtual structure profiles for the one or more virtual pixels two or more virtual pixels of the at least one virtual pixel array from the one or more phase images,
• - Formation of the virtual structure profiles of the one or more virtual pixels of the two or more pixels of the at least one virtual pixel array in and / or on a substrate as at least one pixel array comprising two or more pixels, one or more pixels of the two or more pixels of the at least one a pixel array has one or more structures to provide the optically variable element.

The object is further achieved by a method for producing a security document, in particular comprising one or more layers, preferably comprising one or more optically variable elements, one or more optically variable elements as a laminating film and / or as an embossing film on the security document and / or one or more layers of the security document are applied and / or are introduced into the security document and / or into one or more layers of the one or more layers of the security document.

Such an optically variable element is distinguished by the fact that it preferably comprises at least one pixel array, the at least one pixel array having structures comprising two or more pixels, wherein in particular each pixel images, diffracts and / or scatters incident light into predetermined solid angles. The size of the predetermined solid angle preferably determines the optically detectable appearance of the at least one pixel array. The direction of the outgoing light imaged, diffracted and / or scattered by the structures can be predetermined with high precision.

It is hereby achieved that the optically variable element generates optical movement effects which can be detected by a viewer and / or sensor and which have excellent detectability on account of the high brightness, intensity and brilliance of the corresponding appearance.

Advantageous embodiments of the invention are specified in the subclaims.

It is possible for one or more structures of the one or more structures incident electromagnetic radiation to achromatically image, bend and / or scatter in one or more solid angles. The structures are in particular designed such that they do not reflect incident electromagnetic radiation into one or more solid angles, such as micromirrors or microfacets.

The "solid angle" is usually the area of a partial area A a spherical surface understood by a sphere, which preferably by the square of the radius R the ball is divided. The solid angle is given in particular in the dimensionless unit steradian. The entire solid angle preferably corresponds to the surface of the unit sphere or a sphere with a radius of one, in particular 4π.

In particular, numerical values for the solid angle in which the structures in the pixels represent, diffract and / or scatter light are preferably defined for light incident perpendicularly to the structures, the numerical values of the solid angle preferably reflecting the direction of the light cone in relation to the vertical z-axis specify.

“Opening angle” means in particular the width of the light cone in relation to the straight line in the center of the light cone. The direction of the light cone with respect to an axis, in particular the x or y axis, preferably depends on the optical effect targeted in each case, the x axis and the y axis preferably being oriented perpendicular to one another, in particular in one plane , which is spanned by the x-axis and the y-axis, are aligned at an angle of 90 ° to one another.

The at least one pixel array is preferably designed as a one-dimensional, two-dimensional or three-dimensional, in particular as a superimposition of one or more one-dimensional and / or two-dimensional, arrays or arrangements or matrices of pixels.

It is possible for the optically variable element and / or the security document to comprise one or more layers, in particular the at least one pixel array being arranged on or in at least one layer of the one or more layers, and preferably one or more layers of the one or more Layers are selected from: HRI layer (HRI = High Refractive Index, layer with a high refractive index compared to an average refractive index of approximately 1.5), in particular layer comprising HRI and / or LRI lacquer layer (LRI = Low Refractive Index, layer with a low refractive index compared to an average refractive index of approximately 1.5), metal layer, interference layer, in particular interference layer sequences, preferably HLH (high-low-high with respect to the refractive indices of the respective layers) or HLHLH (high-low-high-low- High with respect to the refractive indices of the respective layers), more preferably Fabry-Perot three-layer system or -M Layer system, liquid crystal layer, luminescent layer, in particular fluorescent layer, color layer, in particular glazing color layer, metal layer in direct contact with a glazing color layer to produce plasmon resonance effects.

Furthermore, it is possible for the optically variable element and / or the substrate comprising the at least one pixel array to be embedded between two layers, in particular two further layers. One or more layers of the one or more further layers are preferably formed as protective layers, adhesion promoter layers or adhesion promoter layers, adhesive layers, barrier layers, decorative layers, reflection layers, conductive layers.

The layers can be arranged detachably or non-releasably on a carrier substrate (for example made of polyester, in particular PET).

One or more layers are preferably metallic layers, which are preferably not provided over the entire area, but only partially in the optically variable element and / or the security document. The metallic layers are in particular opaque, translucent or semi-transparent. The metallic layers preferably comprise different metals, which have different, in particular significantly different, reflection spectra and / or transmission spectra, preferably distinguishable from a viewer and / or sensor. The metal layers preferably comprise one or more of the metals: aluminum, copper, gold, silver, chromium, tin, and / or one or more alloys of these metals. Furthermore, the partially provided metallic layers are preferably rasterized and / or configured with locally different layer thicknesses. A grid can in particular be regular or fractal or irregular, in particular stochastic, and can vary in design in some areas.

In particular, one or more metal layers of the metal layers are preferably structured in a pattern in such a way that they comprise one or more image elements in which the metal of the metal layer is provided and comprise a background area in which the metal of the metal layers is not provided or vice versa. The image elements can preferably be in the form of alphanumeric characters, but also motifs, patterns, graphics and complex representations of objects.

One or more of the layers preferably comprise one or more color layers, in particular glazing colors. These color layers are, in particular, color layers which are applied by means of a printing process and which have one or more dyes and / or pigments which are preferably incorporated in a binder matrix. The color layers, in particular colors, can be transparent, clear, partially scattering, translucent, non-transparent, and / or opaque.

It is possible for one or more of the layers to have, in addition to the at least one pixel array, one or more optically active relief structures which are each preferably introduced into at least one surface of a lacquer layer, preferably a replicated lacquer layer. Relief structures of this type are, in particular, diffractive relief structures, such as, for example, holograms, diffraction gratings, Fresnel free-form surfaces, diffraction gratings with symmetrical or asymmetrical profile shapes and / or zero-order diffraction structures.

The relief structures are further preferably isotropic and / or anisotropic scattering matt structures, blaze gratings and / or relief structures acting essentially in reflection and / or in transmission, such as, for example, microlenses, microprisms or micromirrors.

The additional optically active relief structures can in particular either be arranged horizontally adjacent to the at least one pixel array and / or vertically above and below the at least one pixel array in further layer planes.

“Isotropic intensity distribution” is understood in particular to mean an intensity distribution whose radiation power is the same over all solid angles.

“Anisotropic intensity distribution” means in particular an intensity distribution whose radiation power differs from at least a first solid angle from at least a second solid angle.

It is possible for one or more of the layers to have one or more liquid crystal layers which, on the one hand, preferably generate incident light that is dependent on the polarization of the incident light and, on the other hand, a wavelength-selective reflection and / or transmission depending on the orientation of the liquid crystals.

“HRI layer” means in particular a layer with a high refractive index, which, for example, consists entirely or partially of TiO ₂ or ZnS or a vapor-deposited layer composed of at least one metal oxide, metal sulfide, titanium dioxide, and / or other substances and / or combinations consists of the above substances. In particular, an HRI layer has a layer thickness of 10 nm to 150 nm. The “HRI layer” can in particular be present over the entire area or partially.

The one or more structures of the one or more structures and / or the at least one pixel array are preferably introduced into a thin-layer structure, in particular into a Fabry-Perot layer structure. The thin-layer structure is preferably applied to the one or more structures and / or to the at least one pixel array. In particular, such a Fabry-Perot layer structure, in particular at least in regions, has at least one first semitransparent absorber layer, at least one transparent spacer layer and at least one second semitransparent absorber layer and / or an opaque reflection layer.

wobei Θ der Winkel zwischen der Beleuchtungsrichtung und der Betrachtungsrichtung, A die Wellenlänge des Lichts beziehungsweise der Felder, und m eine ganze Zahl ist. Diese Schichten umfassen vorzugsweise eine Abstandsschicht, insbesondere angeordnet zwischen einer Absorptionsschicht und einer Reflexionsschicht.“Thin-film construction” means in particular a construction of thin-film elements that generates a color shift effect that is dependent on the viewing angle, based on an arrangement of layers that have an optical thickness in the range of half a wavelength (λ / 2) or a quarter wavelength (λ / 4) of incident light or one or more incident electromagnetic waves. Constructive interference in an interference layer with a refractive index n and a thickness d is preferably calculated using the following equation: $$\mathrm{2nd}\text{nd cos}\left(\mathrm{\Theta }\right)=\text{m}\mathrm{\lambda }\mathrm{,}$$

where Θ is the angle between the direction of illumination and the viewing direction, A is the wavelength of the light or the fields, and m is an integer. These layers preferably comprise a spacer layer, in particular arranged between an absorption layer and a reflection layer.

“Semitransparent” is understood in particular to mean a transmissivity in the infrared, visible and / or ultraviolet wavelength range, which is between 10% and 70%, preferably between 10% and 50%, preferably a non-negligible part of the incident electromagnetic waves, in particular of the incident light is absorbed.

The first semitransparent absorber layer preferably has a layer thickness between 5 nm and 50 nm. The absorber layer preferably has aluminum, silver, copper, tin, nickel, inconel, titanium and / or chromium. In the case of aluminum and chromium, the first semi-transparent absorber layer preferably has a layer thickness between 5 nm and 15 nm.

The transparent spacer layer preferably has a layer thickness between 100 nm and 800 nm, in particular between 300 nm and 600 nm. The spacer layer preferably consists of organic material, in particular of polymer, and / or of inorganic Al ₂ O ₃ , SiO ₂ and / or MgF ₂ .

The transparent spacer layer further preferably consists of a printed polymer layer, which is applied in particular by means of gravure printing, slot casting or inkjet printing.

“Opaque” means in particular that no light in the infrared, visible and / or ultraviolet wavelength range or only a negligible amount of light in the infrared, visible and / or ultraviolet wavelength range, in particular less than 10%, more preferably less than 5% , particularly preferably less than 2%, is transmitted through a substrate, in particular one or more layers of the one or more layers.

It is possible for each pixel of the two or more pixels of the at least one pixel array to be assigned one or more structures of the one or more structures, the one or more structures assigned to a pixel imaging, diffracting and diffracting into one or more predetermined solid angles / or scatter, in particular one direction, preferably a predetermined direction, is assigned to each of the one or more predetermined solid angles.

Furthermore, it is possible that one or more structures of the one or more structures and / or one or more assigned structures of the one or more assigned structures into one or more solid angles of the one or more solid angles and / or one or more predetermined solid angles of the one or Imaging, bending and / or scattering a plurality of predetermined solid angles, which differ in particular from one another, one or more solid angles of the one or more solid angles and / or predetermined solid angles being projected onto a sphere arranged around a pixel, in particular a unit sphere with a unit radius of 1 the one or more predetermined solid angles form one or more, in particular identical or different, shapes, which are preferably each selected from: circular area, elliptical area, triangular area, square area, rectangular area, polygon area, circular ring area.

It is also possible that one or more forms of the one or more forms are open or closed and / or consist of one or more partial forms, in particular at least two partial forms being connected to one another or superimposed.

It is also possible for one or more of the solid angles that can be detected by an observer to image the one or more solid angles or predetermined solid angles or the one or more predetermined solid angles into which one or more pixels of the two or more pixels of the at least one pixel array reflect electromagnetic radiation. bend and / or scatter, follow a function, the function being designed in such a way that a viewer detects the solid angles or predetermined solid angles as wavy moving brightness bands, preferably sinusoidal moving brightness bands.

One or more or all solid angles of the one or more solid angles and / or one or more or all predetermined solid angles of the one or more predetermined solid angles in at least one direction are up to 70 °, preferably up to 50 °, more preferably up to 40 ° . The widening or the opening angle of one or more or all solid angles is preferably at most 20 °, more preferably at most 15 °, particularly preferably at most 10 °.

It is possible to image, bend and / or scatter incident light or incident electromagnetic radiation in and / or to a solid angle of up to 70 °, preferably up to 50 °, more preferably up to 40 °, in particular in this case generated visual appearance glossy or semi-gloss or partially glossy and partly semi-gloss, preferably at least as a 3D effect and / or diffraction effect, can be detected by a viewer and / or sensor.

Under a sensor is in particular at least one human eye and / or at least one flat detector, preferably at least one CMOS sensor (CMOS = Complementary Metal-Oxide Semiconductor), further preferably at least one CCD sensor (CCD = "Charge-Coupled Device") , Understood. In particular, the sensor has a spectral resolution, in particular in the visible electromagnetic spectrum. The sensor is preferably selected or combined from: camera, in particular at least one camera comprising at least one CCD chip, at least one IR camera (IR = infrared), at least a VIS camera (VIS = visual), at least one UV camera (UV = ultraviolet), at least one photomultiplier, at least one spectrometer and / or at least one transition edge sensor (TES).

It is possible for one or more structures of the one or more structures and / or the structures associated with a pixel of the two or more pixels of the at least one pixel array to be designed such that they provide optically variable information, in particular one or more 3D effects and / or provide motion effects, preferably achromatic or monochromatic 3D effects and / or motion effects.

It is also possible for one or more structures of the one or more structures and / or the structures associated with a pixel of the two or more pixels of the at least one pixel array to have electromagnetic radiation, in particular incident electromagnetic radiation, in a solid angle, in particular a point-shaped solid angle, in particular with an opening angle close to 0 °, image, bend and / or scatter.

In particular, one or more structures of the one or more structures and / or one or more pixels of the two or more pixels of the at least one pixel array comprising one or more assigned structures of the one or more assigned structures are two or more groups of structures and / or two or assigned to several groups of pixels, in particular the groups of the two or more groups of structures and / or the groups of the two or more groups of pixels differing from one another.

Furthermore, it is possible for two or more groups of structures of the two or more groups of structures and / or two or more groups of pixels of the two or more groups of pixels to emit electromagnetic radiation, in particular incident electromagnetic radiation, in the same or different solid angles and / or image, bend and / or scatter predetermined solid angles, in particular point solid angles and / or predetermined solid angles, preferably different solid angles and / or predetermined solid angles.

Preferably two or more groups of structures of the two or more groups of structures and / or two or more groups of pixels of the two or more groups of pixels provide an optical variable information comprising a 3D effect.

It is also possible for one or more or all of the structures to diffractively diffract, bend and / or image electromagnetic radiation, in particular incident electromagnetic radiation.

In particular, the at least one pixel array has a curvature other than zero in at least one direction in at least one direction.

“Curvature” means in particular a local deviation of a curve from a straight line. The curvature of a curve is understood to mean in particular a change in direction per continuous length and / or distance of a sufficiently short curve section or curve course. The curvature of a straight line is zero everywhere. A circle with a radius R has the same curvature everywhere, namely 1 / R. For most curves, the curvature changes from curve point to curve point. In particular, the curvature changes continuously from curve point to curve point, so that the curves in particular have no kinks and / or discontinuities. The curvature of a curve at point P thus indicates how strongly the curves of the immediate vicinity of point P deviate from a straight line. The amount of curvature is called the radius of curvature and this corresponds to the reciprocal of the amount of a local radius vector. The radius of curvature is the radius of the circle that just touches the tangential point P and / or is the best approximation in a local environment of the tangential point P. A curve is, for example, the two-dimensional surface and / or a segment of a sphere or a circular surface or a circular surface.

At least one lateral dimension of one or more pixels of the two or more pixels in the at least one pixel array is preferably between 5 μm and 500 μm, preferably between 10 μm and 300 μm, more preferably between 20 μm and 150 μm.

It is possible that one or more lateral dimensions of one or more pixels of the two or more pixels in the at least one pixel array in one or more spatial directions in the at least one vary a pixel array, in particular at least in regions, periodically, non-periodically, pseudorandomly and / or randomly.

Random variation is understood in particular to mean that the distribution on which the variation, in particular the values associated with the variation, is based is preferably a random distribution.

Pseudo-random variation is understood in particular to mean that the distribution on which the variation, in particular the values associated with the variation, is based is preferably a pseudo-random distribution.

Periodic variation is understood in particular to mean that the variation, in particular the values associated with the variation, are preferably repeated regularly, in particular at regular spatial and / or temporal intervals.

Non-periodic variation is understood in particular to mean that the variation, in particular the values associated with the variation, preferably do not repeat regularly, in particular at regular spatial and / or temporal intervals.

Furthermore, it is possible that one or more lateral dimensions of one or more pixels of the two or more pixels in the at least one pixel array in one or more spatial directions in the at least one pixel array, in particular at least in regions, by a maximum of ± 70%, preferably a maximum of ± 50% to vary around an average.

One or more pixels of the two or more pixels are preferably arranged in the at least one pixel array, in particular at least in regions, periodically, non-periodically, randomly and / or pseudorandomly in the at least one pixel array.

It is possible for the pixels in the pixel array to form a tiling. In this case, parquetry is preferably understood to mean a gapless and overlap-free covering of a plane by uniform or different partial areas - here in particular the pixels. The partial areas or pixels can in particular have complex outline shapes. The tiling advantageously has no periodicity, but is in particular aperiodic. In one embodiment, the tiling preferably represents a Penrose tiling. In a further embodiment, the tiling is preferably constructed from vector-like flat, in particular elongated, pixels. The shape of the elongated pixels can in particular have straight outer edges, at least in parts, but it can preferably also be in the form of a free form. Such vector-like flat pixels preferably have rounded corners and curved edges, more preferably more than 50%, particularly preferably more than 70%, of the corners and edges of the pixel array being rounded or curved. A rounded corner is preferably understood to mean that the corner has a curve radius of at least 2 μm, preferably at least 5 μm, in particular at least 10 μm. At the same time, the curve radius should in particular be a maximum of 300 μm, preferably a maximum of 200 μm, in particular a maximum of 100 μm.

More preferably, one or more pixels of the two or more pixels are arranged in the at least one pixel array along curves or curve segments or circular paths or circular path segments. The contour shapes of the partial areas or pixels are preferably designed as curve segments or circular path segments, which in particular enable a seamless sequence. If the predetermined solid angle assigned to the pixels is changed from one pixel to the next pixel preferably in steps of preferably less than 10 °, particularly preferably less than 5 °, particularly preferably less than 2 °, a quasi-continuous movement sequence of a single point, for example, can thus be performed for a viewer a fine-line movement. In particular, by combining points visible to a viewer to form a pattern, motif, symbol, icon, image, alphanumeric characters, free form, square, circle, rectangle or polygon, a sequence of movements along a curve, a curve segment, a circular path or a circular path segment can be achieved .

It is also possible for one or more structures of the one or more structures of the two or more pixels of the at least one pixel array, a grating period or an average spacing of the structure elevations to be in particular less than half, preferably less than third, more preferably less than the quarter, the maximum lateral dimension of the two or more pixels, preferably each of the two or more pixels, of the at least one pixel array.

Furthermore, it is also possible for one or more structures of the one or more structures to have a limited maximum structure depth, the limited maximum structure depth in particular less than 15 μm, preferably less than 10 μm, more preferably less than or equal to 7 μm, even more preferably less is 4 µm, particularly preferably less than or equal to 2 µm.

In particular, one or more structures of the one or more structures are designed such that the limited maximum structure depth of the one or more structures for more than 50% of the pixels, in particular for more than 70% of the pixels, preferably for more than 90% of the pixels, of the at least one pixel array is less than or equal to 15 µm, in particular less than or equal to 7 µm, preferably less than or equal to 2 µm.

One or more structures of the one or more structures are preferably designed such that the limited maximum structural depth of the one or more structures for all pixels of the at least one pixel array is less than or equal to 15 μm, in particular less than or equal to 7 μm, preferably less than or equal to 2 μm.

It is also possible for one or more structures of the one or more structures to be different or similar or identical or identical to one another.

It is also possible for one or more structures of the one or more structures to be designed as achromatic diffractive structures, preferably as blaze gratings, in particular linear blaze gratings, the grating period of the achromatic diffractive structures in particular being greater than 3 μm, preferably greater than 5 µm, and / or wherein in particular more than 70% of the pixels, more preferably more than 90% of the pixels, particularly preferably each pixel which comprises two or more pixels of the at least one pixel array has at least two grid periods. The grating period is preferably defined together with the grating depth and the orientation of the grating in the x / y plane, in which solid angle the grating present in the respective pixel diffracts achromatic light, in particular incident light. The orientation of the grating in the x / y plane is preferably also referred to as the azimuth angle.

In particular, the achromatic diffractive structures in one or more pixels of the two or more pixels in the at least one pixel array are overlaid with further microstructures and / or nanostructures, in particular linear grating structures, preferably cross-grating structures, more preferably sub-wavelength grating structures.

bestimmt ist, wobei bevorzugt Δ_X,Y die jeweilige laterale Abmessung ein oder mehrerer Pixels der zwei oder mehreren Pixel des zumindest einen Pixelarrays in die Richtung X beziehungsweise in die Richtung Y ist und ϕ_X,Y der jeweilige Raumwinkel in die Richtung X beziehungsweise in die Richtung Y ist, in welche die ein oder mehreren Strukturen einfallende elektromagnetische Strahlung abbilden, beugen und/oder streuen.It is possible that one or more structures of the one or more structures are designed as convex or concave microlenses and / or subregions of microlenses, in particular as reflective microlenses and / or subregions of microlenses, in particular the focus length of the one or more Structures between 0.04 mm to 5 mm, in particular 0.06 mm to 3 mm, preferably 0.1 mm to 2 mm, and / or wherein in particular the focus length in a direction X and / or Y by the equation $${\text{f}}_{\text{X}\text{, Y}}=\frac{{\Delta }_{\text{X}\text{, Y}}/\mathrm{2nd}}{\text{tan}\left({\mathrm{\varphi }}_{\text{X}\text{, Y}}/\mathrm{2nd}\right)}$$

is determined, wherein Δ _{X, Y} is preferably the respective lateral dimension of one or more pixels of the two or more pixels of the at least one pixel array in the direction X or in the direction Y and ϕ _{X, Y is} the respective solid angle in the direction X or in is the direction Y in which the incident one or more structures emit, diffuse and / or scatter electromagnetic radiation.

More preferably, one or more structures of the one or more structures are designed as a cylindrical lens, in particular a focal length of the one or more structures being infinitely large.

Furthermore, it is possible for one or more structures of the one or more structures to be designed as Fresnel microlens structures, in particular reflective Fresnel microlens structures, the grating lines of the Fresnel microlens structures in particular being designed as curved grating lines and / or having grating lines with varying grating periods and / or in particular each pixel of the two or more pixels of the at least one pixel array, preferably in at least one spatial direction, comprises at least two grid periods.

To calculate the microstructure profile for Fresnel microlens structures, each pixel is preferably accurate depending on the associated solid angle and the lateral dimension of the pixel assigned a virtual field source. The virtual field source emits in particular a virtual spherical wave. The phase image of the virtual electromagnetic field emitted by the virtual field source is preferably calculated in the area of the pixel and is preferably converted linearly into a virtual structure profile, a phase value of 0 corresponding in particular to the minimum structure depth and a phase value of 2 * Pi to the maximum virtual structure depth.

One or more or all of the structures of the one or more structures are preferably less preferably in the form of micromirrors and / or microprisms which preferably reflect light achromatically, in particular not in the form of micromirrors and / or microprisms which preferably reflect light achromatically.

More preferably, one or more or all of the structures of the one or more structures light incidently diffractive.

It is possible that one or more structures of the one or more structures have a number of at least 2nd Surveys, in particular at least 3 surveys, preferably at least 4 surveys, preferably per pixel.

Furthermore, it is possible that more than 70% of the pixels, in particular more than 90% of the pixels, of the two or more pixels in the at least one pixel array have one or more structures of the one or more structures, which have a number of at least 2nd Elevations, in particular at least 3 elevations, preferably at least 4, preferably per pixel.

It is also possible that one or more structures of the one or more structures, in particular in one or more pixels of the two or more pixels of the at least one pixel array, as chromatic grating structures, in particular as linear grids, preferably as linear grids with a sinusoidal profile, and / or nanotext and / or mirror surfaces.

Furthermore, it is also possible for one or more structures of the one or more structures to be designed as sub-wavelength gratings, in particular as linear sub-wavelength gratings and / or as moth-eye-like structures, preferably the grating period of the sub-wavelength gratings, in particular the linear sub-wavelength gratings and / or the Moth-eye-like structures is less than 450 nm and / or wherein in particular at least one such pixel array has an optically variable effect that can be detected by a viewer, in particular an additional optically variable effect that can be detected by a viewer, when the optically variable element and / or the at least is tilted provides a pixel array.

Preferably, one or more structures of the one or more structures are provided with a metal layer and / or absorb incident electromagnetic radiation, in particular the two or more pixels of the at least one pixel array can be detected in reflection by a viewer in dark gray to black.

In particular, one or more structures of the one or more structures have an HRI layer, wherein in particular the two or more pixels of the at least one pixel array can be detected in color by a viewer in reflection.

It is possible for one or more structures of the electromagnetic radiation incident on the one or more structures to represent, diffuse and / or scatter pseudo-randomly or randomly in all spatial directions, the at least one pixel array, in particular one or more pixels, being isotropic in reflection for a viewer white, preferably isotropically achromatic, is detectable.

Furthermore, it is possible for one or more structures of the one or more structures to provide an optically variable effect when the element and / or the at least one pixel array is bent, in particular a first motif in a non-bent state of the element and / or of the at least one a pixel array can be detected and a second motif can be detected in a bent state of the element and / or of the at least one pixel array.

For example, the motifs, when viewed or captured by a viewer and / or a sensor, can take the form of one or more letters, portraits, landscapes or buildings, images, barcodes, QR codes, alphanumeric characters, characters, geometric free forms, squares, triangles, circles, curved lines and / or outlines or take the form of combinations of one or more of the above shapes.

“Freeform” means in particular an open or closed two-dimensional surface in a three-dimensional space, which is flat or curved in at least one direction. For example, the surface or a segment of a sphere or the surface or a segment of a torus are closed free-form surfaces. A saddle surface or a curved circular surface are, for example, open free-form surfaces.

It is also possible for the one or more motifs to be composed and / or superimposed on one or more patterns, the patterns preferably having a geometry and / or shape, which in particular are selected or combined from: line, straight line, motif , Image, triangle, barcode, QR code, wave, square, polygon, curved line, circle, oval, trapezoid, parallelogram, rhombus, cross, sickle, branch structure, star, ellipse, random pattern, pseudo-random pattern, amount of almond bread, especially fractal or apple men, the patterns in particular overlaying and / or complementing each other.

Preferred embodiments of the security document are mentioned below.

The security document preferably has one or more optically variable elements in one or more areas, in particular in one or more strip-like areas, preferably in one or more thread-like areas. Individual optically variable elements can in particular be spaced apart from one another and preferably non-optically variable regions can be arranged between the optically variable elements. As an alternative to this, it is possible for individual optically variable elements to preferably adjoin and / or merge directly with one another and, in particular, to jointly form an optically variable combination element.

In particular, one or more areas of the one or more areas each comprising one or more optically variable elements in the form of strips and / or patches.

When viewing the security document, one or more optically variable elements are preferably arranged at least partially overlapping along an area normal vector spanned by the security document.

Preferred embodiments of the method for producing an optically variable element are mentioned below.

It is possible that at least one solid angle is assigned to each pixel of the two or more virtual pixels of the at least one virtual pixel array.

It is possible that each pixel of the two or more pixels of the at least one pixel array comprises one or more structures, in particular imaging, diffractive and / or scattering structures, in particular microstructures, with incident light, such structures, preferably very efficiently, in or depict, bend and / or scatter a plurality of predetermined solid angles, the one or more predetermined solid angles, in particular focused on a point in space, such a point being a focus point, for example.

For each pixel of the two or more pixels of the at least one pixel array, one or more predetermined solid angles of the one or more solid angles are preferably designed in such a way that the microstructures comprised by the pixels map, diffract and / or scatter incident light into these predetermined solid angles, preferably one or more effects, in particular one or more static or variable optical effects, are generated.

Furthermore, it is possible for one or more pixels of the two or more pixels of the at least one pixel array to generate a predetermined 3D object that can be detected by a viewer or a sensor, preferably different groups of one or more pixels of the two or more pixels of the at least one depict and diffract a pixel array comprising one or more structures of the one or more structures, in particular comprising one or more different structures, incident light into one or more, in particular different, predetermined solid angles of the one or more predetermined solid angles, preferably one or more solid angles / or sprinkle.

Preferably, one or more predetermined solid angles of the one or more predetermined solid angles, which in particular are assigned to one or more pixels of the two or more pixels of the at least one pixel array, preferably correlate with a local curvature of a 3D object that extends at least in one spatial direction. The 3D object that is virtually recognizable for an observer in this case comprises in particular a multiplicity of light points, which preferably have incident light, which was preferably imaged, diffracted and / or scattered by the one or more structures of the one or more structures. A light point is preferably assigned to each pixel of the two or more pixels of the at least one pixel array and / or generates a light point, one or more light points of the plurality of light points in particular overlapping one another, preferably not overlapping one another.

One or more or all of the structures of the one or more structures are preferably calculated by means of one or more computers, in particular comprising at least one processor and at least one memory, preferably comprising at least one graphics processor and at least one memory. In particular, in contrast to the computer-generated holograms (CGH) known from the prior art, the overall effect, for example the virtual 3D object or the achromatic movement effect, is not calculated overall or together. According to the invention, the respective structure is preferably calculated separately for each pixel, which images, diffracts and / or scatters the light achromatically in the predetermined direction. Each pixel essentially acts independently of the other pixels. The interaction according to the invention of the optical effect of all pixels of the at least one pixel array preferably results in the desired overall effect of the at least one pixel array.

For the calculation of the security and / or decorative element, a solid angle is assigned to each pixel of the at least one pixel array, in which the microstructure is to image, diffract and / or scatter the light. The respective associated solid angle preferably correlates directly with the local curvature of the at least one pixel array.

It is possible for the at least one associated solid angle and / or the at least one region of the at least one associated solid angle to span the at least one segment, in particular the at least one segment corresponding to at least one segment of a sphere, preferably at least one conical segment, the half the opening angle of the at least one segment is less than 20 °, preferably less than 15 °, more preferably less than 10 °.

Furthermore, it is possible for the virtual field sources, which are arranged in particular in and / or on one or more partial areas of the at least one segment and / or on the at least one area of the at least one associated solid angle, periodically and / or pseudo in at least one direction randomly and / or randomly arranged on one or more partial areas of the one or more partial areas of the at least segment and / or of the at least one area of the at least one associated solid angle.

It is also possible for the distances between adjacent virtual field sources to be between 0.01 mm and 100 mm, in particular between 0.1 mm and 50 mm, preferably between 0.25 mm and 20 mm, in and / or on one or more partial areas of the one or more partial areas of the at least one segment and / or the at least one area of the at least one associated solid angle are located, and / or that the distances between adjacent virtual field sources are in particular between 0.01 mm and 100 mm, in particular between 0.1 mm and 50 mm, preferably between 0.25 mm and 20 mm, in and / or on one or more partial areas of the one or more partial areas of the at least one segment and / or of the at least one area of the at least one associated solid angle.

Furthermore, it is also possible for the arrangement of the virtual field sources, in particular the virtual point field sources, as a cross-pattern, preferably an equidistant cross-pattern, in and / or on one or more partial areas of the one or more partial areas of the at least one segment and / or of the at least one an area of the at least one assigned solid angle takes place, the distance between adjacent virtual field sources from one another being between 0.01 mm and 100 mm, in particular between 0.1 mm and 50 mm, and / or with the angle between two adjacent virtual field sources from one another, in particular relative to the position of the respective one or more virtual pixels of the two or more virtual pixels of the at least one virtual pixel array, is less than 1 °, preferably less than 0.5 °.

It is also possible that the half opening angle of a spherical segment and / or the at least one segment of a sphere is less than 20 °, in particular less than 15 °, preferably less than 10 °, wherein one or more point field sources of the one or more on the spherical segment and / or the at least one segment of a sphere are preferably arranged on a spatially equidistant cross grid, the angle between two adjacent point field sources, in particular spatially adjacent point field sources, preferably less than 1 °, being further preferred is less than 0.5 °.

One or more virtual field sources of the one or more virtual field sources preferably have an arrangement in the form of microsymbols, in particular selected from: letter, portrait, image, alphanumeric character, character, geometric free form, square, triangle, circle, curved line, outline.

The lateral dimensions of the microsymbols are more preferably between 0.1 ° and 10 °, in particular between 0.2 ° and 5 °.

A first group of one or more virtual field sources of the one or more virtual field sources from a distance of 0.3 m, in particular from 0.15 m to 0.45 m, are preferably not projectable on a screen and / or a second group of one or more virtual field sources of the one or more virtual field sources can be projected onto a screen from a distance of 1.0 m, in particular from 0.8 m to 1.2 m.

The virtual electromagnetic field, which emanates from one or more of the virtual field sources, in particular emanates from all of the virtual field sources, particularly preferably has the same intensity and / or the same intensity distribution over the at least one assigned solid angle and / or over the at least one segment and / or over the at least one area of the at least one associated solid angle.

“Intensity” is understood in particular to mean the proportion of the total radiation power which is emitted by one or more of the virtual field sources in a predetermined solid angle, the radiation power being viewed in particular as the amount of energy which is generated by an electromagnetic field, in particular by, within a predetermined time interval an electromagnetic wave. The radiation power is preferably specified in the unit watts.

It is possible for the virtual electromagnetic field, which emanates from two or more of the virtual field sources, in particular emanates from all of the virtual field sources, to have different intensities and / or different intensity distributions over one or more solid angles, in particular over the entire solid angle, and / or over the at least one area and / or over the at least one segment of the at least one associated solid angle.

Furthermore, it is possible for the virtual electromagnetic field, which emanates from one or more of the virtual field sources, in particular emanates from all of the virtual field sources, to distribute an intensity over the at least one associated solid angle and / or over the at least one segment and / or over the has at least one area of the at least one associated solid angle, which is distributed in a Gaussian or super Gaussian shape.

It is also possible for the virtual electromagnetic field, which originates from two or more of the virtual field sources, in particular from all of the virtual field sources, to have different intensities and / or different intensity distributions over the at least one assigned solid angle and / or over the at least one segment and / or over the at least one area of the at least one associated solid angle.

Furthermore, it is also possible for the virtual electromagnetic field which emanates from one or more of the virtual field sources, in particular emanates from all of the virtual field sources, to have an isotropic or anisotropic intensity distribution over the at least one associated solid angle and / or over the at least one area and / or via the at least one segment of the at least one associated solid angle.

In particular, one or more virtual field sources of the one or more virtual field sources, in particular all of the virtual field sources, form virtual point field sources, the virtual point field sources preferably emitting virtual spherical waves.

“Spherical wave” or “virtual spherical wave” is understood to mean a wave which propagates from a field source, in particular a virtual field source, into the entire solid angle, in particular at a solid angle of 4π, in concentric wave fronts, the field source preferably being the point source of the Spherical wave is understood.

It is possible that the one or more virtual field sources, in particular one or more virtual point field sources, each have one or more virtual fields of the one or more virtual fields as virtual spherical waves from a distance of 1 m, in particular to one or more pixels of the two or emit several pixels of the at least one pixel array. In this case, an area of equal brightness and / or an area of homogeneous intensity is preferably generated at a distance of 1 m from the one or more pixels, the size and / or shape of the area being determined by the at least one associated solid angle and / or by the at least one Segment and / or is determined by the at least one area of the at least one associated solid angle.

Furthermore, it is possible that in particular the resulting, at least one pixel array and / or the resulting optically variable element at a distance of 30 cm, preferably at a typical and / or normal reading distance or viewing distance of a human viewer and / or sensor, preferably not visually as an image, but more preferably as scatter. In particular at a distance of 1 m, the area, in particular the equally bright area and / or the area of homogeneous intensity, becomes visible.

It is also possible to deactivate individual virtual point field sources, preferably the deactivated point field sources at a distance of 1 m as one or more motifs, in particular as text, on the same bright area and / or in the area of homogeneous intensity for a viewer and / or sensor can be detected. In particular, a deactivated field source and / or point field source does not emit any virtual electromagnetic fields. A viewer and / or a sensor is, in particular, unable to detect the absence of individual light points caused by the deactivated point field sources at a distance of 30 cm, with information advantageously being hidden in the at least one pixel array and / or the optically variable element can.

Furthermore, it is also possible to arrange the virtual point field sources in the at least one associated solid angle and / or in the at least one area of the at least one associated solid angle in such a way that preferably a motif, in particular an image, at a distance of 1 m from one or more Pixels of the two or more pixels of the at least one pixel array are generated and / or can preferably be detected by an observer and / or a sensor.

berechnet.The virtual electromagnetic field U _i is preferably based on an i-th virtual point field source at the location (x _i , y _i , z _i ) of at least one coordinate (x _h , y _h , z _h ), in particular one coordinate (x _h , y _h , z _h = 0) = (x _h , y _h ), in and / or on one or more virtual pixels of the two or more virtual pixels of the at least one virtual pixel array and / or in and / or on the by the at least one virtual pixel array spanned area, in particular plane, by means of the equation $$U_i\left(x_H,y_H\right)=\frac{exp\left(ikr\right)}{r},r=\sqrt{{\left(x_H-x_i\right)}^{\mathrm{2nd}}+{\left(y_H-y_i\right)}^{\mathrm{2nd}}+{\mathrm{e.g.}}_i^{\mathrm{2nd}}},$$

calculated.

It is possible for the virtual electromagnetic field U _{i to} comprise one or more wavelengths, which in particular in the visible spectral range from 380 nm to 780 nm, preferably from 430 nm to 690 nm, preferably in one or more parts of an infrared, visible or visual, and / or ultraviolet spectral range, wherein one or more, respectively adjacent wavelengths of the one or more wavelengths, preferably in the visible spectral range, preferably equidistant, are spaced apart.

It is further possible that the one or more wavelengths, in particular one or more wavelengths of the one or more virtual electromagnetic waves, preferably one or more wavelengths of the incident light or the incident electromagnetic radiation, from the infrared and / or visible and / or ultraviolet Spectrum, in particular from the electromagnetic spectrum, are selected.

An infrared spectrum is preferably understood to mean one or more parts of the infrared range of the electromagnetic spectrum, the infrared spectrum being selected in particular from one or more parts of the wavelength range from 780 nm to 1400 nm.

A visible spectrum is preferably understood to mean one or more parts of the visible range of the electromagnetic spectrum, the visible spectrum being selected in particular from one or more parts of the wavelength range from 380 nm to 780 nm. In particular, a visible spectrum can be detected by the unarmed human eye.

An ultraviolet spectrum is preferably understood to mean one or more parts of the ultraviolet range of the electromagnetic spectrum, the ultraviolet spectrum being selected in particular from one or more parts of the wavelength range from 250 nm to 380 nm.

A calculation of one or more virtual structure profiles of the one or more virtual structure profiles of one or more or all virtual pixels of the two or more virtual pixels of the at least one virtual pixel array for one or more wavelengths, in particular for several wavelengths in the visible spectral range between 380 nm and 780 nm , preferably between 430 nm and 690 nm, is possible, the one or more wavelengths preferably being calculated with an equally high efficiency. The wavelength-dependent subfields Ui are weighted and summed in particular with the efficiency.

The one or more virtual structure profiles are preferably calculated for at least five wavelengths distributed over the visible spectral range, the resulting, formed structures imaging, diffracting and / or scattering incident light achromatically and advantageously without disturbing diffractive color effects in at least one predetermined solid angle.

The at least five wavelengths are preferably selected to be distributed uniformly over the visible spectral range. In an alternative embodiment, at least six wavelengths on the flanks of the sensitivity curve of the human photoreceptors are preferably selected and preferably two wavelengths on each flank of each photoreceptor. For the blue receptor, the two wavelengths are preferably selected in the range 420 nm to 460 nm, and / or for the green receptor, the two wavelengths are preferably selected in the range 470 nm to 530 nm, and / or for the red receptor, the two wavelengths preferably selected in the range 560 nm to 630 nm.

In particular, the at least one wavelength is contained in the wave vector, preferably the wave vector k = 2 x π / λ.

Furthermore, it is possible for the virtual electromagnetic field U _{i to} comprise one or more wavelengths, which are in particular in the infrared, visible and / or ultraviolet spectral range, one or more, in each case adjacent, wavelengths of the one or more wavelengths, preferably in the infrared, visible and / or ultraviolet spectral range, preferably equidistant, are spaced apart.

berechnet, wobei insbesondere die virtuellen elektromagnetischen Felder U_i ausgehend von i = 1, ..., N_p virtuellen Punktfeldquellen an zumindest einer Koordinate (x_p, y_p, z_p=0) = (x_p, y_p) und/oder insbesondere die optionale Referenzwelle U_r*, bevorzugt die zumindest eine optionale Referenzwelle U_r*, an zumindest einem Punkt oder für die Parameter (x_p, y_p) in und/oder auf den ein oder mehreren virtuellen Pixel der zwei oder mehreren virtuellen Pixel des zumindest einen virtuellen Pixelarray und/oder in und/oder auf der durch das zumindest eine virtuelle Pixelarray aufgespannten Fläche, insbesondere Ebene, berechnet werden.The virtual total electromagnetic field U _p is preferably in and / or on one or more virtual pixels of the two or more virtual pixels of the at least one virtual pixel array and / or in and / or on the area, in particular plane, spanned by the at least one virtual pixel array. using the equation $${\text{U}}_{\text{p}}\left({\text{x}}_{\text{p}},{\text{y}}_{\text{p}}\right)={\text{U}}_{\text{r}}^{*}\left({\text{x}}_{\text{p}},{\text{y}}_{\text{p}}\right){\displaystyle \sum _{\text{i}=1}^{{\text{N}}_{\text{p}}}{\text{U}}_{\text{i}}\left({\text{x}}_{\text{p}},{\text{y}}_{\text{p}}\right)}$$

calculated, in particular the virtual electromagnetic fields U _i starting from i = 1, ..., N _p virtual point field sources at at least one coordinate (x _p , y _p , z _p = 0) = (x _p , y _p ) and / or in particular the optional reference wave U _r *, preferably the at least one optional reference wave U _r *, at at least one point or for the parameters (x _p , y _p ) in and / or on the one or more virtual pixels of the two or more virtual ones Pixels of the at least one virtual pixel array and / or in and / or on the area, in particular plane, spanned by the at least one virtual pixel array.

It is possible that the at least one optional reference wave is selected such that the corresponding intensities and phases for one or more virtual field sources of the one or more field sources ideally be compensated. Here, the at least one optional reference wave can, for example, simulate the incident electromagnetic radiation from a spot lamp at a distance of 1.5 m from the at least one pixel array and / or the optically variable element. In particular, the phase of the at least one optional reference wave is contained in one or more phase images of the one or more phase images for calculating the virtual structure profiles for the one or more virtual pixels of the two or more virtual pixels of the at least one virtual pixel array.

In particular, one or more phase images of the one or more phase images are converted into a virtual structure profile, preferably linearly converted into a virtual structure profile, with a phase value of 0 of the minimum depth and a phase value of 2π of the maximum depth of the formed one or more structures of one or more or all pixels of the two or more pixels of the at least one pixel array.

The conversion of the phase images is preferably carried out for each pixel of the two or more pixels of the at least one pixel array, with in particular each pixel of the two or more pixels of the at least one pixel array being assigned one or more phase images of the one or more phase images.

It is also possible that the virtual structure profile of one or more virtual pixels of the two or more virtual pixels of the at least one virtual pixel array by means of laser exposure and development on a plate coated with photoresist or by means of electron beam lithography as the one or more structures of one or more pixels the two or more pixels of the at least one pixel array is formed. Another production method is in particular laser ablation, for example directly in polymer or glass or metal substrates, in particular in polycarbonates (PC) or polymethyl methacrylates (PMMA) or copper.

Furthermore, it is also possible for one or more structures which are comprised or formed in one or more pixels of the two or more pixels of the at least one pixel array to have an optical depth, in particular an optical depth in air or polymer, of half the mean wavelength of the virtual electromagnetic field and / or the virtual total electromagnetic field.

Optical depth is understood in particular to mean a dimensionless measure of the extent to which a physical medium and / or substance delays electromagnetic waves or electromagnetic radiation.

One or more structures of the one or more structures preferably have an optical depth corresponding to half the mean wavelength of the calculated virtual electromagnetic fields. The fields are preferably calculated and also implemented for an integer multiple of the observation wavelength, e.g. calculated for 5 x 550 nm = 2750 nm and realizes 1375 nm deep. This has the particular advantage that the structures appear less diffractive and thus appear more achromatic.

In particular, the structures differ from conventional holograms by the increased depth, preferably optical depth, in which case the structures in particular do not have a purely diffractive and / or diffractive effect. Furthermore, the structures are so small and flat that, in particular, they do not have a purely refractive effect and are preferably different from micromirrors. The smaller structure depth in comparison to micromirrors preferably reduces the necessary thickness of the security features and additionally allows, in particular, simpler manufacture in mass production. The structures are preferably so-called “multi-order diffractive elements”, which have properties of conventional holograms and of conventional micromirrors.

Preferred embodiments of the method for producing a security document, in particular comprising one or more optically variable elements, are mentioned below.

The structural profiles formed are preferably introduced or applied in or on an opaque or transparent substrate, in particular in or on opaque or transparent paper or polymer documents or in or on opaque or transparent paper or polymer bank notes.

In particular, the structure profiles are by means of the electroplating, recombination and roll-to-roll replication processes in a layer on a film, in particular in an at least one replication layer and / or in a metal layer and / or in a transparent high-index or low-index layer brought in. In the case of the replication layer, it can in particular be subsequently provided with a metal layer and / or a transparent high-index or low-index layer, so that the metal layer and / or the transparent high-index or low-index layer preferably follows the structure profile of the replication layer.

A “high refractive index layer” is understood in particular to mean a layer with a high refractive index, in particular with a refractive index greater than 1.5, preferably greater than 1.7.

“Low-refractive index layer” means in particular a layer with a low refractive index, in particular with a refractive index of less than 1.5, preferably less than 1.4.

Refractive index or refractive index or optical density is preferably understood to mean an, in particular dimensionless, optical material property, which in particular indicates the factor by which the wavelength and / or the phase velocity of an electromagnetic wave or electromagnetic radiation in a material is smaller than in a vacuum. When an electromagnetic wave passes between materials and / or substances with different refractive indices, the electromagnetic wave is refracted and / or scattered, in particular reflected.

In particular, the film has an HRI layer (HRI = High Refractive Index = high refractive index; HRI layer = high refractive index layer). Such a high-index layer is formed in particular from ZnS or TiO ₂ . Alternatively or additionally, the film preferably has a metal layer, in particular a metal layer selected from the following metals: aluminum, copper, gold, silver, chromium, tin, and / or one or more alloys of these metals. After a roll-to-roll replication step, the HRI layer and / or metal layer is preferably applied to and / or into one or more structural profiles of the one or more structural profiles on the film.

It is possible for one or more structures of the one or more structures and / or the at least one pixel array to be in at least one window area, in particular in or on at least one window area of an ID1 card, or in or on a transparent substrate, in particular in or on a transparent polymer banknote can be introduced or applied, whereby the one or more structures and / or the at least one pixel array can be detected at least from the front and back and / or when viewed through transmitted light. The at least one window area has, in particular, an opening in the substrate and / or an uninterrupted transparent area in the substrate.

“Transparent” means in particular a transmissivity in the infrared, visible and / or ultraviolet wavelength range, which is between 70% and 100%, preferably between 80% and 95%, preferably a negligible part of the incident electromagnetic radiation, in particular the incident light is absorbed.

An “ID1 card” is understood in particular to mean a security document or a card with a dimension of 85.6 mm × 53.99 mm, the dimensions of the security document or the card corresponding to the ID1 format.

In particular, one or more optically variable elements, preferably for decoration purposes and / or for identification purposes, are introduced and / or applied in and / or on packaging of all kinds.

It is possible for one or more optically variable elements, in particular in register or register accuracy, in and / or on a substrate and / or one or more further layers, in particular relative to one another and / or to further security elements and / or further decorative elements and / or to the Edges of the substrate and / or one or more layers are introduced and / or applied or applied.

Register or register or register accuracy or register accuracy or position accuracy is to be understood in particular as a positional accuracy of two or more elements and / or layers relative to one another. The register accuracy should preferably be within a predetermined tolerance and should preferably be as high as possible. At the same time, the register accuracy of several elements and / or layers relative to one another is preferably an important feature, in particular to increase process reliability. The positionally accurate positioning can take place in particular by means of sensory, preferably optically detectable registration marks or the position markings. This Registration marks or position markings can either represent special separate elements or areas or layers or can themselves be part of the elements or areas or layers to be positioned.

It is possible that the substrate is provided with a glazing color layer, which has the function of a color filter, before or after the introduction of the virtual structure profiles. A glazing color layer can be provided before or after the introduction of the virtual structure profiles and application of a metal layer and / or a transparent high or low refractive index layer. For example, the glazing color layer changes the achromatic white appearance of the at least one pixel array and / or optically variable element for a viewer and / or sensor to a monochromatic appearance.

• 1 zeigt eine schematische Darstellung eines Sicherheitsdokuments.
• 1a zeigt eine schematische Darstellung eines Sicherheitsdokuments.
• 2 zeigt eine schematische Darstellung eines optisch variablen Elements.
• 3 zeigt einen schematischen Querschnitt eines optisch variablen Elements.
• 4 zeigt eine schematische Darstellung eines optisch variablen Elements.
• 5 zeigt eine schematische Darstellung eines optisch variablen Elements.
• 6 zeigt eine schematische Darstellung eines optisch variablen Elements.
• 7 zeigt eine schematische Darstellung eines optisch variablen Elements.
• 8 zeigt eine schematische Darstellung eines optisch variablen Elements.
• 9 zeigt eine schematische Darstellung eines Pixelarrays.
• 10 zeigt eine schematische Darstellung eines Pixels.
• 11 zeigt eine schematische Darstellung eines Pixels.
• 12 zeigt eine schematische Darstellung eines Pixels.
• 12a zeigt eine schematische Darstellung eines Pixels.
• 13 zeigt ein Foto sowie Mikroskopbilder eines optisch variablen Elements.
• 14 zeigt eine schematische Darstellung eines optisch variablen Elements.
• 15 zeigt eine schematische Darstellung eines optisch variablen Elements.
• 16 zeigt eine schematische Darstellung eines optisch variablen Elements.
• 17 zeigt ein Foto eines optisch variablen Elements.
• 18 zeigt Mikroskopbilder eines Pixelarrays.
• 19 zeigt eine schematische Darstellung eines optisch variablen Elements.
• 20 zeigt ein Foto eines optisch variablen Elements.
• 21 zeigt Mikroskopbilder eines Pixelarrays.
• 22 zeigt ein Foto eines optisch variablen Elements.
• 23 zeigt ein Foto eines optisch variablen Elements.

In the following, the invention is explained by way of example using several exemplary embodiments with the aid of the accompanying drawings. Show:

• 1 shows a schematic representation of a security document.
• 1a shows a schematic representation of a security document.
• 2nd shows a schematic representation of an optically variable element.
• 3rd shows a schematic cross section of an optically variable element.
• 4th shows a schematic representation of an optically variable element.
• 5 shows a schematic representation of an optically variable element.
• 6 shows a schematic representation of an optically variable element.
• 7 shows a schematic representation of an optically variable element.
• 8th shows a schematic representation of an optically variable element.
• 9 shows a schematic representation of a pixel array.
• 10th shows a schematic representation of a pixel.
• 11 shows a schematic representation of a pixel.
• 12th shows a schematic representation of a pixel.
• 12a shows a schematic representation of a pixel.
• 13 shows a photo and microscope images of an optically variable element.
• 14 shows a schematic representation of an optically variable element.
• 15 shows a schematic representation of an optically variable element.
• 16 shows a schematic representation of an optically variable element.
• 17th shows a photo of an optically variable element.
• 18th shows microscope images of a pixel array.
• 19th shows a schematic representation of an optically variable element.
• 20th shows a photo of an optically variable element.
• 21 shows microscope images of a pixel array.
• 22 shows a photo of an optically variable element.
• 23 shows a photo of an optically variable element.

1 shows a security document 1d , in particular a banknote, comprising a substrate 10th in supervision, which is a strip-shaped security element 1b ' has, for a viewer when looking at the security element 1b ' in incident light and / or transmitted light, motion effects and / or optically virtually protruding and / or recessing 3D elements in the viewing direction can be detected. Such optical effects are preferably dependent on the tilt angle and / or the viewing angle relative to that through the substrate 10th spanned level.

It is possible that the security document 1d in or outside of the striped area 1b ' has one or more further optically variable elements and / or optically invariable security elements, in particular with the security element 1b ' can partially or completely overlap.

It is also possible that in and / or on the security document 1d one or more further areas each comprising further one or more optically variable elements in strip form and / or in patch form.

It is also possible that one or more optical variable elements when viewing the security document 1d , in particular by means of a viewer and / or a sensor, along one through the security document 1d spanned surface normal vector are at least partially overlapping.

The strip-shaped security element 1b also includes two optically variable elements 1a , which in particular has at least one pixel array comprising two or more pixels. An optically variable element of the two optically variable elements is designed in the form of a motif comprising the sun and a further optically variable element of the two optically variable elements is designed in the form of a motif comprising a plurality of ten spaced apart wavy lines or thin strips. Such motifs are selected in particular from: patterns, letters, portraits, pictures, alphanumeric characters, characters, landscape representations, building representations, geometric free forms, squares, triangles, circles, curved lines and / or outlines.

The strip-shaped security element also comprises 1b ' several security elements 8th which as the sequence of numbers " 45 ", Two cloud-like motifs, an airplane-shaped motif, a sailing-ship-shaped motif and a letter sequence" UT "with two horizontal lines. The sequence of numbers " 45 "And the letter sequence" UT "with two horizontal lines can be realized, for example, as demetallized areas and the two cloud-like motifs, the plane-shaped motif and the sailboat-shaped motif can be realized in particular with color-intensive diffractive structures.

The security document also includes 1d a security element 8th' , which has a motif comprising a portrait. It is possible that the optically variable structures 8th' are formed as surfaces that illuminate diffractive when illuminated and / or that the visual impression of the portrait 8th' , which is designed in particular as a Fresnel free-form surface, can be detected in incident light and / or transmitted light for a viewer and / or a sensor. Alternatively, the security element 8th' especially an intaglio or offset print.

The strip-shaped security element preferably comprises 1b ' in addition to the optically variable elements 1a , each of which has a pixel array, at least one height profile of at least one further optically variable structure, in particular selected from: a diffractive relief structure, in particular a diffraction grating, a Fresnel free-form lens, a zero-order diffraction structure, a blaze grating, a micromirror structure, an isotropic or anisotropic one Matt structure and / or a microlens structure.

It is also possible for one or more or all of the structures to diffractively diffract, bend and / or image electromagnetic radiation, in particular incident electromagnetic radiation.

In particular, the at least one pixel array has a curvature that differs from zero in at least one direction in at least one direction.

The document body of the security document 1d comprises in particular one or more layers, the substrate 10th is preferably a paper substrate and / or a plastic substrate or a hybrid substrate consisting of a combination of paper and plastic.

It is also possible for the strip-shaped security element 1b ' has one or more layers and in particular has a carrier substrate (preferably made of polyester, in particular PET) which is removable or non-removable, and / or one or more polymer lacquer layers, in particular one or more replication layers, into which the height profiles have at least one further optically variable structure can be replicated.

It is also possible that the strip-shaped security element 1b ' comprises one or more protective layers and / or one or more decorative layers and / or one or more adhesive layers or adhesion promoter layers or adhesion promoter layers and / or one or more barrier layers and / or one or more further security features.

One or more decorative layers of the decorative layers preferably have one or more metallic and / or HRI layers, which are preferably not provided over the entire area but only partially in the optically variable element and / or the security document. The metallic layers are in particular opaque, translucent or semi-transparent. The metallic layers preferably comprise different metals, which have different, in particular significantly different, preferably distinguishable from a viewer and / or sensor, reflection, absorption and / or transmission spectra, in particular reflection, absorption and / or transmission capacity. The metal layers preferably comprise one or more of the metals: aluminum, copper, gold, silver, chromium, tin, and / or one or more alloys of these metals. Furthermore, the partially provided metallic layers are rasterized and / or configured with locally different layer thicknesses.

Reflectivity is understood in particular to mean the relationship between the intensity of the reflected part of an electromagnetic wave or electromagnetic radiation and the intensity of the incident part of the electromagnetic wave or electromagnetic radiation, the intensity being in particular a measure of the energy transported by the electromagnetic wave or electromagnetic radiation .

Absorption capacity or absorption coefficient is understood in particular to be a measure of the decrease in the intensity of electromagnetic waves or electromagnetic radiation when penetrating through a substance and / or through a material, the dimension of the absorption capacity and / or the absorption coefficient being in particular 1 / length unit, preferably 1 / length dimension , is. For example, an opaque layer for visible radiation has a larger absorption coefficient than air.

Transmittance and / or optical thickness is preferably understood to mean a dimension, in particular a dimensionless one, which indicates how strongly the intensity of an electromagnetic wave or electromagnetic radiation decreases when it penetrates through a substance and / or a material.

In particular, one or more metal layers of the metal layers are preferably structured in a pattern in such a way that they comprise one or more image elements in which the metal of the metal layer is provided and comprise a background area in which the metal of the metal layers is not provided. The picture elements can preferably be formed in the form of alphanumeric characters, but also of graphics and complex representation of objects. The image elements can in particular also be formed as a rasterized, high-resolution grayscale image, for example a portrait, a building, a landscape or an animal. The grid can in particular be regular or fractal or irregular, in particular stochastic, and preferably vary in design in some areas.

One or more decorative layers of the decorative layers preferably further comprise in particular one or more color layers, in particular glazing colors. These color layers are, in particular, color layers which are applied by means of a printing process and which have one or more dyes and / or pigments which are preferably incorporated in a binder matrix. The color layers, in particular colors, can be transparent, clear, partially scattering, translucent, non-transparent, and / or opaque. For example, in the sun 1a a yellow color layer can be provided and in the area of the waves 1a a blue layer of paint.

It is possible for one or more decorative layers of the decorative layers to have one or more optically active relief structures, which are each preferably introduced into at least one surface of a lacquer layer, preferably a replicated lacquer layer. Relief structures of this type are, in particular, diffractive relief structures, such as, for example, holograms, diffraction gratings, Fresnel free-form surfaces, diffraction gratings with symmetrical or asymmetrical profile shapes and / or zero-order diffraction structures.

The relief structures are further preferably isotropic and / or anisotropically scattering matt structures, blaze gratings and / or relief structures acting essentially in reflection and / or in transmission, such as, for example, microlenses, microprisms or micromirrors.

It is possible that one or more decorative layers of the decorative layers have one or more liquid crystal layers, which preferably generate light that is dependent on the polarization of the incident light and preferably wavelength-selective reflection and / or transmission incident light depending on the orientation of the liquid crystals.

The one or more structures of the one or more structures and / or the at least one pixel array are preferably introduced into a thin-layer structure, in particular into a Fabry-Perot layer structure. The thin-layer structure is preferably applied to the one or more structures and / or to the at least one pixel array. In particular, such a Fabry-Perot layer structure, in particular at least in regions, has at least one first semitransparent absorber layer, at least one transparent spacer layer and at least one second semitransparent absorber layer and / or an opaque reflection layer. All of these layers of the thin-layer structure can in particular be present over the entire area or partially and the transparent and opaque or semitransparent areas in particular either overlap or do not overlap.

In particular, the first semi-transparent absorber layer has a layer thickness between 5 nm and 50 nm. The absorber layer preferably has aluminum, silver, copper, tin, nickel, inconel, titanium and / or chromium. In the case of aluminum and chromium, the first semi-transparent absorber layer preferably has a layer thickness between 5 nm and 15 nm.

The transparent spacer layer preferably has a layer thickness between 100 nm and 800 nm and in particular between 300 nm and 600 nm. The spacer layer preferably consists of organic material, in particular of polymer, and / or of inorganic Al ₂ O ₃ , SiO ₂ and / or MgF ₂ .

The transparent spacer layer further preferably consists of a printed polymer layer, which is applied in particular by means of gravure printing, slot casting or inkjet printing.

It is also possible to use one or more optically variable elements 1a and / or the strip-shaped security element 1b ' and / or one or more layers of the above layers and / or the substrate 10th For example, to combine and / or use with the following additional layers and / or multilayer structures: One or more HRI layers comprising ZnS, TiO ₂ , etc., in particular vaporized, sputtered or applied over the entire surface or partially by means of chemical vapor deposition (CVD); one or more HRI or LRI lacquer layers (for example for optical effects in transmission), in particular applied over the entire surface or partially by means of gravure printing; one or more metals comprising aluminum, silver, copper, and / or chromium and / or alloys thereof, in particular fully or partially vaporized, sputtered, in particular by means of sputtering, and / or printed as an ink comprising nanoparticles; one or more interference layer structures comprising HLH (sequence consisting of HRI layer, LRI layer, HRI layer), HLHLH (sequence consisting of HRI layer, LRI layer, HRI layer, LRI layer, HRI layer); Sequences consisting of one or more HRI and LRI layers, the HRI and LRI layers preferably alternating with one another, and Fabry-Perot three-layer system, in particular comprising one or more PVD and / or CVD spacer layers; one or more liquid crystal layers; Use as an exposed master in a volume hologram; Overlay with one or more glazed layers of paint; and / or use as a template for the generation of Aztec structures and / or for conversion to a multi-stage phase relief, which provides at least one color effect.

In particular, the overlay with the one or more glazing color layers advantageously offers the possibility of generating memorable and easy-to-explain optical effects. More preferably, the achromatically diffracted effects of the at least one pixel array of an optically variable element generated by superimposition with the one or more glazing color layers appear monochromatic in the color which is transmitted through the one or more glazing color layers or not from the one or more glazing color layers is filtered out. In particular, the one or more glazing color layers act as color filters.

The two optically variable elements preferably comprise 1a in each case at least one pixel array, each of the pixel arrays having two or more pixels, one or more pixels of the two or more pixels of the respective pixel array ( 2nd ) have one or more structures, and wherein one or more Map, bend and / or scatter structures of the electromagnetic radiation incident on one or more structures in one or more solid angles.

The 1a clarifies in particular the definition of the solid angle at which preferably the area of a partial area A a spherical surface of a sphere E is understood, the area of a partial area A preferably by the square of the radius R the ball is divided. The numerical values of the solid angle preferably give the angle α of the light cone in relation to the vertical z-axis. The opening angle Ω gives preferably the width of the light cone in relation to the straight line in the center of the light cone, in the 1a indicated by an arrow. The direction of the light cone with respect to the x or y axis depends in particular on the targeted optical effect.

• Bereitstellung zumindest eines virtuellen Pixelarray umfassend zwei oder mehrere virtuelle Pixel;
• Zuordnung zumindest eines Raumwinkels zu ein oder mehreren virtuellen Pixel der zwei oder mehreren virtuellen Pixel des zumindest einen virtuellen Pixelarray;
• Anordnung ein oder mehrerer virtueller Feldquellen in und/oder auf zumindest einem Bereich und/oder zumindest ein Segment des zumindest einen zugeordneten Raumwinkels, wobei der zumindest eine Bereich oder das zumindest eine Segment des zumindest einen zugeordneten Raumwinkels in einem ersten Abstand zu den ein oder mehreren virtuellen Pixel der zwei oder mehreren virtuellen Pixel des zumindest einen virtuellen Pixelarray angeordnet ist;
• Berechnung ein oder mehrerer virtueller elektromagnetischer Felder ausgehend von den ein oder mehreren virtuellen Feldquellen in einem vorbestimmten Abstand von den ein oder mehreren virtuellen Pixel der zwei oder mehreren virtuellen Pixel des zumindest einen virtuellen Pixelarray in und/oder auf den ein oder mehreren virtuellen Pixel der zwei oder mehreren virtuellen Pixel des zumindest einen virtuellen Pixelarray und/oder in und/oder auf der durch das zumindest eine virtuelle Pixelarray aufgespannten Fläche, insbesondere Ebene;
• Berechnung ein oder mehrerer Phasenbilder für die ein oder mehreren virtuellen Pixel der zwei oder mehreren virtuellen Pixel des zumindest einen virtuellen Pixelarray aus einem virtuellen elektromagnetischen Gesamtfeld bestehend aus der Überlagerung der ein oder mehreren virtuellen elektromagnetischen Feldern in und/oder auf den ein oder mehreren virtuellen Pixel der zwei oder mehreren virtuellen Pixel des zumindest einen virtuellen Pixelarray und/oder in und/oder auf der durch das zumindest eine virtuelle Pixelarray aufgespannten Fläche, insbesondere Ebene;
• Berechnung virtueller Strukturprofile für die ein oder mehreren virtuellen Pixel der zwei oder mehreren virtuellen Pixel des zumindest einen virtuellen Pixelarray aus den ein oder mehreren Phasenbildern;
• Ausbildung der virtuellen Strukturprofile der ein oder mehreren virtuellen Pixel der zwei oder mehreren Pixel des zumindest einen virtuellen Pixelarrays in und/oder auf ein Substrat als zumindest ein Pixelarray umfassend zwei oder mehrere Pixel, wobei ein oder mehrere Pixel der zwei oder mehreren Pixel des zumindest einen Pixelarray ein oder mehrere Strukturen aufweisen, zur Bereitstellung des optisch variablen Elements.

A method for producing an optically variable security element, in particular the optically variable security element, is preferred 1a , characterized by the following steps:

• Providing at least one virtual pixel array comprising two or more virtual pixels;
• Assigning at least one solid angle to one or more virtual pixels of the two or more virtual pixels of the at least one virtual pixel array;
• Arrangement of one or more virtual field sources in and / or on at least one area and / or at least one segment of the at least one associated solid angle, the at least one area or the at least one segment of the at least one associated solid angle at a first distance from the one or more virtual pixels of the two or more virtual pixels of the at least one virtual pixel array are arranged;
• Calculation of one or more virtual electromagnetic fields based on the one or more virtual field sources at a predetermined distance from the one or more virtual pixels of the two or more virtual pixels of the at least one virtual pixel array in and / or on the one or more virtual pixels of the two or several virtual pixels of the at least one virtual pixel array and / or in and / or on the area, in particular plane, spanned by the at least one virtual pixel array;
• Calculation of one or more phase images for the one or more virtual pixels of the two or more virtual pixels of the at least one virtual pixel array from a virtual total electromagnetic field consisting of the superimposition of the one or more virtual electromagnetic fields in and / or on the one or more virtual pixels the two or more virtual pixels of the at least one virtual pixel array and / or in and / or on the area, in particular plane, spanned by the at least one virtual pixel array;
• Calculating virtual structure profiles for the one or more virtual pixels of the two or more virtual pixels of the at least one virtual pixel array from the one or more phase images;
• Formation of the virtual structure profiles of the one or more virtual pixels of the two or more pixels of the at least one virtual pixel array in and / or on a substrate as at least one pixel array comprising two or more pixels, one or more pixels of the two or more pixels of the at least one Pixel array have one or more structures to provide the optically variable element.

It is possible for the at least one associated solid angle and / or the at least one region of the at least one associated solid angle to be the segment S spanned, the segment S corresponds in particular to a segment of a sphere, preferably a conical segment, with, for example, half the opening angle, in particular θ / 2 and / or φ / 2, of that in the 11 shown segment S is less than 10 °, preferably less than 5 °, more preferably less than 1 °.

Furthermore, it is possible for the virtual field sources, which are in particular in and / or on one or more subregions of the field 11 or 12th shown segment S and / or are arranged on the at least one area of the at least one associated solid angle, in at least one direction periodically and / or pseudo-randomly and / or randomly on one or more partial areas of the one or more partial areas of FIG 11 or 12th shown segment S and / or are arranged on the at least one area of the at least one associated solid angle.

It is also possible for the distances between adjacent virtual field sources to be between 0.01 mm and 100 mm, in particular between 0.1 mm and 50 mm, preferably between 0.25 mm and 20 mm, in and / or on one or more partial areas of the one or more sections of the in the 11 or 12th shown Segments S and / or the at least one area of the at least one associated solid angle, and / or that the distances between adjacent virtual field sources, in particular on average between 0.01 mm and 100 mm, in particular between 0.1 mm and 50 mm, preferably between 0.25 mm and 20 mm, in and / or on one or more partial areas of the one or more partial areas of the in 11 or 12th shown segment S and / or the at least one region of the at least one associated solid angle.

Furthermore, it is also possible for the arrangement of the virtual field sources, in particular the virtual point field sources, as a cross-pattern, preferably an equidistant cross-pattern, on one or more partial areas of the one or more partial areas of the 11 or 12th shown segment S and / or the at least one area of the at least one associated solid angle, the distance between adjacent virtual field sources from one another being between 0.01 mm and 100 mm, in particular between 0.1 mm and 50 mm, preferably between 0.25 mm and 20 mm and / or wherein the angle between two adjacent virtual field sources to one another, in particular relative to the position of the respective one or more virtual pixels of the two or more virtual pixels of the at least one virtual pixel array, is less than 1 °, preferably less than 0.5 ° .

One or more virtual field sources of the one or more virtual field sources preferably have the shape of microsymbols, in particular selected from: letter, portrait, image, alphanumeric character, character, geometric free form, square, triangle, circle, curved line, outline.

The lateral dimensions of the microsymbols are more preferably between 0.1 ° and 10 °, in particular between 0.2 ° and 5 °.

A first group of one or more virtual field sources of the one or more virtual field sources from a distance of 0.3 m, in particular from 0.15 m to 0.45 m, are preferably not projectable on a screen and / or a second group of one or more virtual field sources of the one or more virtual field sources can be projected onto a screen from a distance of 1.0 m, in particular from 0.8 m to 1.2 m.

The virtual electromagnetic field, which emanates from one or more of the virtual field sources, in particular emanates from all of the virtual field sources, particularly preferably has the same intensity and / or the same intensity distribution over the at least one assigned solid angle and / or over the at least one area and / or via the at least one segment and / or via the segment S of the at least one associated solid angle.

Furthermore, it is possible for the virtual electromagnetic field, which emanates from one or more of the virtual field sources, in particular emanates from all of the virtual field sources, to distribute an intensity over the at least one assigned solid angle and / or over the at least one area and / or over the at least one segment and / or over the segment S of the at least one associated solid angle, which is distributed Gaussian or super Gaussian.

It is also possible for the virtual electromagnetic field, which emanates from two or more of the virtual field sources, in particular emanates from all of the virtual field sources, to have different intensities and / or different intensity distributions over the at least one assigned solid angle and / or over the at least one area and / or via the at least one segment and / or via the segment S of the at least one associated solid angle.

Furthermore, it is also possible for the virtual electromagnetic field, which emanates from one or more of the virtual field sources, in particular emanates from all of the virtual field sources, to have an isotropic or anisotropic intensity distribution over the at least one associated solid angle and / or over the at least one area and / or via the at least one segment and / or via the segment S of the at least one associated solid angle.

In particular, one or more of the virtual field sources, in particular all of the virtual field sources, form a virtual point field source, the virtual point field source preferably emitting a virtual spherical wave.

berechnet.The virtual electromagnetic field U _i is preferably based on an i-th virtual point field source at the location (x _i , y _i , z _i ) and is at least one coordinate (x _h , y _h , z _h ), in particular one coordinate (x _h , y _h , z _h = 0) = (x _h , y _h ), in and / or on one or more virtual pixels of the two or more virtual ones pixel 4aa-4dd of the at least one virtual pixel array 4th and / or in and / or on the through the at least one virtual pixel array 4th spanned area, in particular plane, and / or for example in the in the 2nd , 9 , 10th , 11 , 12th or 12a shown pixels 2aa-2dd , 2aa-2dd , 2ad , 2da , 2da respectively 2da , using the equation $$U_i\left(x_H,y_H\right)=\frac{exp\left(ikr\right)}{r},r=\sqrt{{\left(x_H-x_i\right)}^{\mathrm{2nd}}+{\left(y_H-y_i\right)}^{\mathrm{2nd}}+{\mathrm{e.g.}}_i^{\mathrm{2nd}}},$$

calculated.

It is possible that the virtual electromagnetic field U _i comprises one or more wavelengths, which are in particular in the visible spectral range from 380 nm to 780 nm, preferably from 430 nm to 690 nm, one or more, respectively adjacent wavelengths of the one or several wavelengths, preferably in the visible spectral range, preferably equidistant, are spaced apart.

The virtual electromagnetic field U _i preferably comprises one or more wavelengths, which are by a factor 2nd to 40, in particular by a factor of 3 to 10th , preferably by a factor 4th to 8th , are greater than one or more wavelengths of incident electromagnetic radiation.

Furthermore, it is possible for the virtual electromagnetic field U _{i to} comprise one or more wavelengths, which are in particular in the infrared, visible and / or ultraviolet spectral range, one or more, in each case adjacent, wavelengths of the one or more wavelengths, preferably in the infrared, visible and / or ultraviolet spectral range, preferably equidistant, are spaced apart.

berechnet, wobei insbesondere die virtuellen elektromagnetischen Felder U_i ausgehend von i = 1, ..., N_p virtuellen Punktfeldquellen an zumindest einer Koordinate (x_p, y_p, z_p=0) = (x_p, y_p) und/oder insbesondere die optionale Referenzwelle U_r*, bevorzugt die zumindest eine optionale Referenzwelle U_r*, an zumindest einem Punkt oder für die Parameter (x_p, y_p) in und/oder auf den ein oder mehreren virtuellen Pixel der zwei oder mehreren virtuellen Pixel 4aa-4dd des zumindest einen virtuellen Pixelarray 4 und/oder in und/oder auf der durch das zumindest eine virtuelle Pixelarray 4 aufgespannten Fläche, insbesondere Ebene, berechnet werden.The virtual total electromagnetic field U _p is preferably in and / or on one or more virtual pixels of the two or more virtual pixels 4aa-4dd of the at least one virtual pixel array 4th and / or in and / or on the through the at least one virtual pixel array 4th spanned area, in particular plane, and / or for example in the in the 2nd , 9 , 10th , 11 , 12th or 12a shown pixels 2aa-2dd , 2aa-2dd , 2ad , 2da , 2da respectively 2da , using the equation $${\text{U}}_{\text{p}}\left({\text{x}}_{\text{p}},{\text{y}}_{\text{p}}\right)={\text{U}}_{\text{r}}^{*}\left({\text{x}}_{\text{p}},{\text{y}}_{\text{p}}\right){\displaystyle \sum _{\text{i}=1}^{{\text{N}}_{\text{p}}}{\text{U}}_{\text{i}}\left({\text{x}}_{\text{p}},{\text{y}}_{\text{p}}\right)}$$

calculated, in particular the virtual electromagnetic fields U _i starting from i = 1, ..., N _p virtual point field sources at at least one coordinate (x _p , y _p , z _p = 0) = (x _p , y _p ) and / or in particular the optional reference wave U _r *, preferably the at least one optional reference wave U _r *, at at least one point or for the parameters (x _p , y _p ) in and / or on the one or more virtual pixels of the two or more virtual ones pixel 4aa-4dd of the at least one virtual pixel array 4th and / or in and / or on the through the at least one virtual pixel array 4th spanned area, in particular plane.

It is possible that one or more phase images of the one or more phase images are converted into one or more virtual structure profiles, preferably linearly converted into a virtual structure profile, with a phase value of 0 of the minimum depth and a phase value of 2π of the maximum depth of the formed correspond to one or more structures of one or more pixels of the two or more pixels of the at least one pixel array.

Furthermore, it is possible that the virtual structure profile of one or more virtual pixels of the two or more virtual pixels of the at least one virtual pixel array by means of laser exposure and development on a plate coated with photoresist and / or by means of electron beam lithography as the one or more structures a plurality of pixels of the two or more pixels of the at least one pixel array is formed.

It is also possible for one or more structures comprised or formed in one or more pixels of the two or more pixels of the at least one pixel array to have an optical depth, in particular an optical depth in air, of half the average wavelength of the virtual electromagnetic field and / or of the virtual total electromagnetic field.

• Aufbringen und/oder Einbringen ein oder mehrerer optisch variabler Elemente als Laminierfolie und/oder als Prägefolie auf das Sicherheitsdokument und/oder auf eine oder mehrere Schichten des Sicherheitsdokuments und/oder in das Sicherheitsdokument und/oder in ein oder mehrere Schichten der ein oder mehreren Schichten des Sicherheitsdokuments.

A method for producing a security document, in particular the security document, is further preferred 1d , preferably comprising one or more layers, further preferably comprising one or more optically variable elements, particularly preferably the optically variable elements 1a , characterized by the following steps:

• Applying and / or introducing one or more optically variable elements as a laminating film and / or as an embossing film onto the security document and / or onto one or more layers of the security document and / or into the security document and / or into one or more layers of the one or more layers of the security document.

The 2nd shows a pixel array in supervision comprising sixteen pixels 2aa-2dd , where the pixels 2aa-2dd are arranged as a 4x4 matrix, which has four rows and four columns. The first line comprises the pixels along the direction x 2aa , 2ab , 2ac , 2ad , the second line includes the pixels along the x direction 2ba , 2bb , 2bc , 2bd , the third line comprises the pixels along the direction x 2 approx , 2cb , 2cc , 2cd , and the fourth line comprises the pixels along the direction x 2da , 2db , 2dc , 2dd . The first column comprises the pixels along the y direction 2da , 2 approx , 2ba , 2aa , the second column includes the pixels along the y direction 2db , 2cb , 2bb , 2ab , the third column includes the pixels along the y direction 2dc , 2cc , 2bc , 2ac , and the fourth column includes the pixels along the y direction 2dd , 2cd , 2bd , 2ad .

The in the 2nd shown pixels 2aa-2dd have the same lateral dimensions ΔX along the x direction and the same lateral dimensions ΔY along the direction y, which each form square shapes in the plane spanned by the directions x and y.

It is also possible for one or more or all of the pixels to be a two or more pixels 2aa-2dd the same or different forms, in particular in the pixel array 2nd defined plane and / or in the plane defined by the directions x and y, which are preferably each selected from: circular area, egg-shaped area, elliptical area, triangular area, square area, rectangular area, polygon area, circular ring area, free-form area, the two or more pixels in the case of the selection of the shape of the pixels as a circular area and / or egg-shaped area, in particular each have one or more adjacent background areas, which preferably also adjoin or do not adjoin adjacent pixels. The shape of the pixels in particular varies polygonally, randomly or pseudorandomly. The at least one pixel array further preferably comprises, in particular the pixel array 2nd two or more pixels which preferably comprise different shapes of the above shapes and / or preferably have different variations of the shapes of the above variations of shapes.

Furthermore, it is also possible for one or more or all of the pixels of the two or more pixels 2aa-2dd in different directions, in particular in the different directions x and y, in particular in that through the pixel array 2nd defined plane and / or in the plane defined by the directions x and y, have different lateral dimensions.

It is also possible for one or more or all of the pixels of the two or more pixels 2aa-2dd , especially in the by the pixel array 2nd defined plane and / or in the plane defined by the directions x and y, occupy different areas and / or overlap one another and / or do not overlap one another.

It is also possible that the arrangement of the pixels 2aa-2dd in the pixel array 2nd follows a periodic function. For example, the center points of the pixels in a row or column of the pixel array can be arranged such that the center points of the pixels of neighboring pixels are preferably equally spaced along a direction defined by the column or row. The in the 2nd shown pixels 2aa-2dd have the same distances from one another along the directions x or y, this being in particular adjacent pixels of the pixels 2aa-2dd concerns. One or more or all of the pixels of the pixels are further preferred 2aa-2dd non-periodically or in particular randomly or pseudorandomly, in the pixel array 2nd and / or along one or more directions and / or in the plane spanned or defined by the directions x and y.

A center point of the pixels or a geometric center of gravity of the pixels is understood to mean, in particular in the case of flat pixels, the area center of gravity, which is determined in particular when averaging all points of the underlying pixel.

A non-periodic arrangement of pixels has the advantage that disruptive diffraction effects, which arise due to the size or shapes and / or lateral dimensions of the pixels, can be reduced or suppressed, in particular completely suppressed.

The lateral dimensions are preferably one or more pixels of the pixels 2aa-2dd along at least one direction, in particular along the direction x and / or along the direction y, between 5 μm and 500 μm, in particular between 10 μm and 300 μm, in particular between 20 μm and 150 μm.

Such lateral dimensions have the advantage that pixels of these magnitudes of the lateral dimensions are not or only barely optically resolvable for the eye of a human viewer, in particular at a normal or normal reading distance of approximately 300 mm. At the same time, the pixels are especially large enough that the microstructures provided can have an achromatic effect.

It is possible that the pixel size and / or one or more lateral dimensions of one or more pixels of the pixels 2aa-2dd in the at least one pixel array 2nd vary or not vary in one or more directions, in particular in one or both directions of the directions x and y, preferably in regions, non-periodically, periodically, pseudorandomly or accidentally. The pixel sizes in at least one pixel array preferably vary in at least one spatial direction by a maximum of ± 70%, preferably by a maximum of ± 50%. Preferably, one or more lateral dimensions of one or more pixels of the two or more pixels vary 2aa-2dd in the at least one pixel array 2nd in one or more spatial directions, in particular in one or both directions of the directions x and y, in the at least one pixel array 2nd at least in some areas by a maximum of ± 70%, preferably a maximum of ± 50%, around an average, the average in one or more directions in particular between 5 μm and 500 μm, in particular between 10 μm and 300 μm, in particular between 20 μm and 150 µm.

It is also possible that one or more pixels of the pixels 2aa-2dd in the at least one pixel array 2nd , in particular at least in certain areas, periodically, non-periodically, fractally, randomly and / or pseudo-randomly in the at least one pixel array 2nd are arranged.

The 3rd shows that in the 2nd shown pixel array 2nd encompassing the pixels 2 approx , 2cb , 2cc , 2cd , along the cut Q in a cross section. The pixel 2 approx includes the structure 3 approx , the pixel 2cb includes the structure 3cb , the pixel 2cc includes the structure 3cc and the pixel 2cd includes the structure 3cd . The structures 3 approx , 3cb , 3cc and 3cd are on a substrate 10th applied, applied and / or molded, the substrate in particular having one or more layers.

It is possible that the optically variable element 1a comprises one or more layers, in particular the at least one pixel array 2nd is arranged on or in at least one layer of one or more layers, and preferably one or more layers of the one or more layers are selected from: HRI layer, in particular layer comprising HRI and / or LRI lacquer layer, metal layer, interference layer, in particular Interference layer sequences, preferably HLH or HLHLH, more preferably Fabry-Perot three-layer system or multi-layer system, liquid crystal layer, color layer, in particular glazing color layer.

Preferably, each of the structures 3 approx , 3cb , 3cc , 3cd a limited maximum structure depth Δz , in particular a maximum structure depth, which in the 3rd for all structures 3 approx , 3cb , 3cc , 3cd in the corresponding pixels 2 approx , 2cb , 2cc , 2cd in particular is the same.

More preferably, one or more structures of the one or more structures have 3 approx , 3cb , 3cc , 3cd a limited maximum structure depth Δz on, the maximum structure depth Δz in particular less than 35 μm, preferably less than 20 μm, more preferably less than or equal to 15 μm, even more preferably less than or equal to 7 μm, particularly preferably less than or equal to 2 μm.

This has the particular advantage that the thickness or the total thickness of the optically variable element 1a comprising the at least one pixel array 2nd for use in security documents 1d , especially on banknotes, ID cards or passports.

In particular, the total thickness of film-based optically variable elements 1a , preferably security elements and / or decorative elements, preferably on banknotes, ID cards or passports, smaller than 35 µm. It is preferred that the total thickness is less than 20 μm, in particular to prevent bank notes from being bent due to an applied film comprising one or more optically variable elements 1a to suppress advantageously. It is also possible that the limited maximum structure depth of all structures 3 approx , 3cb , 3cc , 3cd the corresponding pixels 2 approx , 2cb , 2cc , 2cd so restrict that the structures 3 approx , 3cb , 3cc , 3cd preferably applied, applied and / or molded by means of a replication process.

It is possible that one or more structures of the one or more structures 3 approx , 3cb , 3cc , 3cd are designed such that the limited maximum structure depth Δz of one or more structures 3 approx , 3cb , 3cc , 3cd for more than 50% of the pixels, in particular for more than 70% of the pixels, preferably for more than 90% of the pixels, of the at least one pixel array 2nd is less than or equal to 15 µm, in particular less than or equal to 7 µm, preferably less than or equal to 2 µm.

It is also possible that one or more structures of the one or more structures 3 approx , 3cb , 3cc , 3cd are designed such that the maximum structure depth Δz which is one or more structures for all pixels less than or equal to 15 µm, in particular less than or equal to 7 µm, preferably less than or equal to 2 µm.

A limited maximum structure depth of less than or equal to 15 µm is advantageously particularly compatible with methods comprising UV replications (UV = ultraviolet) and a limited maximum structure depth less than or equal to 7 µm, in particular less than or equal to 2 µm, is advantageously particularly compatible with methods comprising UV replication and / or thermal replications.

It is also possible that one or more structures of the one or more structures 3 approx , 3cb , 3cc , 3cd , a lattice period, in particular less than half, preferably less than a third, more preferably less than a quarter, of the maximum lateral dimension of the pixels 2 approx , 2cb , 2cc , 2cd , preferably each of the pixels 2 approx , 2cb , 2cc , 2cd , exhibit.

Furthermore, it is in particular possible that one or more structures of the one or more structures 3 approx , 3cb , 3cc , 3cd are different or similar to one another or the same or identical to one another.

The 4th shows that in the 2nd shown pixel array 2nd , except that each of the pixels 2aa-2dd an appropriate structure 3aa-3dd is assigned or that each of the pixels 2aa-2dd an appropriate structure 3aa-3dd includes, the structures 3aa-3dd are designed as hologram-like, in particular incident, achromatic imaging, diffractive and / or scattering structures.

In particular, one or more or all of the structures have the structures 3aa-3dd mutually different optical properties.

It is possible for every pixel to be the pixel 2aa-2dd of the at least one pixel array 2nd one or more structures of the one or more structures 3aa-3dd are assigned, wherein the one or more structures incident to a pixel associated electromagnetic radiation image, bend and / or scatter in one or more predetermined solid angles, in particular one direction, preferably a predetermined direction, is assigned to each of the one or more predetermined solid angles.

It is also possible that one or more structures of the one or more structures 3aa-3dd and / or one or more assigned structures of the one or more assigned structures 3aa-3dd map, bend and / or scatter in one or more solid angles of the one or more solid angles and / or one or more predetermined solid angles of the one or more predetermined solid angles, which differ in particular from one another, one or more on a sphere arranged around a pixel, in particular form a unit sphere with a unit radius of 1, projected solid angles of the one or more solid angles and / or predetermined solid angles of the one or more predetermined solid angles form one or more, in particular identical or different, shapes which are preferably each selected from: circular surface, elliptical surface, Triangular area, square area, rectangular area, polygon area, circular area, in particular one or more shapes of the one or more shapes are open or closed and / or consist of one or more partial shapes and preferably at least two partial shapes are connected or superimposed are.

The 5 shows that in the 2nd shown pixel array 2nd , except that each of the pixels 2aa-2dd an appropriate structure 3aa-3dd is assigned or that each of the pixels 2aa-2dd an appropriate structure 3aa-3dd includes, the structures 3aa-3dd are designed as lattice structures which achromatically image, bend and / or scatter incident light. In particular, the lattice structures are linear lattice structures, which preferably have a blaze-like lattice profile.

The achromatic diffractive grating structures in one or more pixels of the pixels are preferred 2aa-2dd in the at least one pixel array 2nd with other microstructures and / or nanostructures, in particular linear grating structures, preferably cross-grating structures, more preferably sub-wavelength grating structures.

It is possible that the one or more structures of the one or more structures 3aa-3dd , which are designed as achromatic diffractive grating structures, preferably as blaze gratings, in particular have a grating period of greater than 3 μm, preferably greater than 5 μm, and / or in particular each pixel of the pixels 2aa-2dd comprise at least two grating periods of the achromatic diffractive structures.

The 6 shows that in the 2nd shown pixel array 2nd , except that every pixel the pixel 2aa-2dd an appropriate structure 3aa-3dd is assigned or that each pixel of the pixels 2aa-2dd an appropriate structure 3aa-3dd includes, the structures 3aa-3dd are designed as Fresnel microlens structures and / or partial areas or sections of Fresnel microlens structures, in particular the grating lines of the Fresnel microlens structures are designed as curved grating lines and / or have grating lines with varying grating periods and / or in particular each pixel of the two or more pixels, preferably comprises at least two lattice periods in at least one spatial direction.

It is possible that the Fresnel microlens structures are designed as a blaze grating, the grating lines in particular being curved and / or the grating period preferably varying.

In particular, one or more or all of the structures are formed less preferably as micromirrors and / or microprisms, particularly less preferably as achromatic refractive imaging microstructures.

It is further possible that more than 70% of the pixels, in particular more than 90% of the pixels, of the pixels 2aa-2dd in the at least one pixel array 2nd one or more structures of the one or more structures 3aa-3dd have a number of at least 2nd Elevations, in particular at least 3 elevations, preferably at least 4 per pixel.

More preferably, one or more structures of the one or more structures have a number of at least 2nd Elevations, in particular at least 3 elevations, preferably at least 4 elevations per pixel.

Preferably, at least two grating periods of the structures designed as blaze gratings and / or Fresnel microlens structures lie in at least one pixel, the grating period here being preferably less than half the maximum lateral dimension of each pixel.

It is also possible that one or more structures of the one or more structures 3aa-3dd are designed as chromatic grating structures, in particular as linear grids, preferably as linear grids with a sinusoidal profile, and / or as nanotext and / or as mirror surfaces. This makes it possible in particular to integrate colored design elements and / or hidden features into the achromatic appearing pixel array.

The 7 shows that in the 2nd shown pixel array 2nd , except for that pixel 2aa , 2ad and 2cc each a linear grid 30aa , 30ad respectively 30cc , in particular comprising a sinusoidal profile.

It is possible to get the achromatic effects of one or more structures 3aa-3dd to expand through the use or application or molding of further structures by further optical effects and thereby advantageously further increase the security against forgery.

It is also possible that one or more structures of the one or more structures 3aa-3dd , preferably in one or more pixels of the pixels 2aa-2dd , are designed as a sub-wavelength grating, in particular as a linear sub-wavelength grating, the grating period of the sub-wavelength grating, in particular the linear sub-wavelength grating, preferably being less than 450 nm and / or in particular at least one such pixel array having an optically variable effect which can be detected by a viewer when tilting and / or or rotating the optically variable element and / or the at least one pixel array. In particular, such an optically variable effect is one or more by one viewer and / or icons, logos, images and / or other motifs that can be detected by a sensor, which are preferably used when the optically variable element is strongly tilted 1a light up.

It is also possible that one or more structures of the one or more structures 3aa-3dd , in particular at least partially, are provided with a metal layer and / or absorb incident electromagnetic radiation, preferably one or more pixels of the two or more pixels being able to be detected in reflection, preferably in direct reflection, for a viewer in dark gray to black.

The 8th shows that in the 2nd shown pixel array 2nd , except for that pixel 2aa , 2ad and 2cc each have a light-absorbing, in particular incident light-absorbing, microstructure 31aa , 31ad respectively 31cc have, these absorbent microstructures 31aa , 31ad respectively 31cc for a viewer and / or a sensor preferably appear dark gray to black. In particular, the absorbent microstructures 31aa , 31ad respectively 31cc as a sub-wavelength cross grating, in particular with a grating period of less than or equal to 450 nm, preferably less than or equal to 350 nm. Such pixels with dark gray to black appearing microstructures make it possible in particular to increase the contrast of the appearance of the pixel array and, for example, to create the illusion of shadow casts.

It is also possible that one or more structures of the one or more structures 3aa-3dd are designed as microstructures, which absorb light, in particular absorb incident light, and / or appear colored for a viewer and / or a sensor when viewed normally or in direct reflection.

It is possible to expand further structures with further optical effects and advantageously further increase the security against forgery.

It is also possible to get the achromatic effects of one or more structures 3aa-3dd through the use or application or molding of light-absorbing microstructures in one or more pixels of the pixels 2aa-2dd of the at least one pixel array 2nd to add contrast lines or contrast surfaces in one design. In this case, it is possible, for example, to have a 3D object optically protruding or jumping towards a viewer and / or a sensor, such as a portrait, for example, which is reflected, diffracted and / or scattered by the incident light 3aa-3dd in the corresponding pixels of the pixels 2aa-2dd is generated by the pixels, which appear dark to black to a viewer and / or sensor, to make the light-absorbing microstructures comprehensible with higher contrast. In particular, it is possible that the dark-appearing pixels represent, for example, a shadow cast expected by a viewer with higher contrast.

In particular, one or more structures have the one or more structures 3aa-3dd an HRI layer, wherein in particular the pixels which have the one or more structures can be detected in color by a viewer and / or sensor in reflection.

It is preferably possible to design the number of pixels predetermined by a design 2aa-2dd To provide microstructures which, in particular in the case of an at least partial coating with at least one high-index dielectric layer, in particular at least one HRI layer, preferably appear in color, for example red or green, when viewed normally or in direct reflection, when detected by a viewer and / or a sensor . Such microstructures are preferably designed as linear sub-wavelength gratings, the colored pixels comprising the microstructures of this type, for example in a portrait for a viewer and / or sensor, generating green pupils.

The 9 shows a section of a pixel array 2nd comprising sixteen pixels 2aa-2dd in a perspective top view, the pixel array extending in the plane spanned by the directions x and y. Next is the direction of incidence of an incident light 6 and the directions of the outgoing light 20aa-20dd for the corresponding pixels 2aa-2dd in the 9 shown. The falling light 20aa-20dd emits in particular in the half-space, which is defined in particular by the plane of the pixel array, the incident light 6 preferably occurs from one direction of this half space. The incident light 6 becomes achromatic in particular in the corresponding directions of the incident light 20aa-20dd as a falling light 20aa-20dd hunched. This is the incident light 6 especially pseudo-randomly in any spatial direction as light falling out 20aa-20dd in or at every pixel 2aa-2dd , preferably individually in or on each pixel 2aa-2dd comprehensive a respective structure 3aa-3dd , depicted achromatically, bent and / or scattered.

It is possible that one or more structures of the one or more structures 3aa-3dd , preferably in the corresponding pixels of the pixels 2aa-2dd , incident electromagnetic radiation, especially incident light 6 , pseudo-randomly or randomly in such a way in all spatial directions, bend and / or scatter that one or more pixels of the pixel array 2nd in reflection for a viewer and / or a sensor, preferably isotropically white, preferably isotropically achromatic, can be detected.

The 10th shows an enlarged section of the in the 9 shown pixel array 2nd which, for example, is a pixel 2ad , comprising light-imaging, diffractive and / or scattering structures 3ad , which includes incident light or incident electromagnetic radiation as the emerging light 20ad images, bends and / or scatters in a predetermined direction and / or in a predetermined solid angle. The paths and / or directions of propagation of the outgoing light run here 20ad preferably parallel to each other.

It is also possible that this is on the pixel array 2nd incident light or the incident electromagnetic radiation as outgoing light 2aa-2dd only in at least one area, in particular one or more at least partially contiguous or non-contiguous and / or at least partially overlapping or non-overlapping areas, which is pseudo-randomly or randomly imaged, diffracted and / or scattered one or more predetermined solid angles. This advantageously increases the brightness and / or intensity of the outgoing light or the outgoing electromagnetic radiation in these areas and / or predetermined solid angles, in particular the effect that can be detected by a viewer and / or sensor, preferably a visual effect, can be better detected in weak lighting conditions .

Furthermore, it is also possible, in the case of a severe restriction, in particular one or more opening angles, to produce one or more of the predetermined solid angles of the one or more predetermined solid angles in at least one direction, an asymmetrical and / or dynamic white effect. Here, the opening angles of the predetermined solid angles are preferably limited to less than +/- 10 °, preferably less than +/- 5 °, more preferably +/- 3 °, in particular in at least one direction.

A summary of the most important structural parameters and the value ranges of these parameters is listed in Table 1. Structural parameters Areas Preferred areas Particularly preferred areas Lateral dimensions of a pixel 5 µm to 500 µm 10 µm to 300 µm 20 µm to 150 µm and / or Δ _X and / or Δ _Y Limited maximum structure depth ≤ 15 µm ≤ 4 µm ≤ 2 µm Distances between neighboring virtual field sources 0.001 m to 100 m 0.1 m to 5 m 0.25 to 2 m Focus length micro lens 0.04 mm to 5 mm 0.06 mm to 3 mm 0.1 mm to 2 mm Number of surveys per pixel ≥2 ≥3 ≥4

The 11 shows an enlarged section of the in the 6 pixel arrays shown 2nd encompassing the pixel 2da in which at least one structure 3da is shaped as a Fresnel microlens structure, with incident light or incident electromagnetic radiation from the structure 3da on one or more points and / or one or more areas in space perpendicular to that through the pixel array 2nd spanned plane and / or to the plane spanned by the directions x and y is mapped, diffracted and / or scattered, in particular focused. The 11 is only schematic and not to scale.

bestimmt ist, wobei bevorzugt Δ_x,y die jeweilige laterale Abmessung ein oder mehrerer Pixel der zwei oder mehreren Pixel des zumindest einen Pixelarrays in die Richtung x beziehungsweise in die Richtung y ist und ϕ_x,y der jeweilige Raumwinkel in die Richtung x beziehungsweise in die Richtung y ist, in welche die ein oder mehreren Strukturen einfallende elektromagnetische Strahlung, insbesondere einfallendes Licht, abbilden, beugen und/oder streuen.Furthermore, it is also possible for one or more structures of the one or more structures to be designed as microlenses, in particular Fresnel microlenses, the focus length of the one or more structures in particular being between 0.04 mm to 5 mm, in particular 0.06 mm to 3 mm, preferably 0, 1 mm to 2 mm, and / or in particular the focus length in a direction x and / or y by the equation $${\text{f}}_{\text{x}\text{, y}}=\frac{{\Delta }_{x,y}/\mathrm{2nd}}{\text{tan}\left({\mathrm{\varphi }}_{\text{x}\text{, y}}/\mathrm{2nd}\right)}$$

is determined, wherein Δ _{x, y} is preferably the respective lateral dimension of one or more pixels of the two or more pixels of the at least one pixel array in the direction x or in the direction y and ϕ _{x, y is} the respective solid angle in the direction x or in is the direction y in which the one or more structures, electromagnetic radiation, in particular incident light, image, diffract and / or scatter.

It is also possible for one or more structures of the one or more structures to be designed as a cylindrical lens, the focus length of the one or more structures in particular being infinitely long.

In particular, the sizes and / or the lateral dimensions of the pixels and / or the associated solid angles determine the corresponding focus lengths.

The 12th shows an enlarged section of the in the 6 pixel arrays shown 2nd encompassing the pixel 2da in which at least one structure 3da is shaped as a Fresnel microlens structure, with incident light or incident electromagnetic radiation from the structure 3da to one or more points or one or more surfaces in space, in particular not perpendicular to that through the pixel array 2nd spanned plane and / or to the plane spanned by the directions x and y but at an angle α to the surface normal f the previous levels in one direction R is depicted, bent and / or scattered, in particular focused.

Here is the radius of the sphere E especially equal to the focus height f . The Fresnel microlens structure is preferably calculated or designed for a wavelength of 550 nm, in particular a wavelength range from 450 nm to 650 nm, of the incident light.

The 12a shows an enlarged section of the in the 6 pixel arrays shown 2nd encompassing the pixel 2da in which at least one structure 3da is shaped as a Fresnel microlens structure, with incident light or incident electromagnetic radiation from the structure 3da to one or more points or one or more surfaces in space, in particular not perpendicular to that through the pixel array 2nd spanned plane and / or to the plane spanned by the directions x and y, but at an angle α to the surface normal f the previous levels in one direction R is depicted, bent and / or scattered, in particular focused.

In particular, in and / or in the 11 , 12th and 12a shown segments S at least one virtual pixel array comprising two or more virtual pixels is provided, preferably at least one solid angle being assigned to each of the one or more virtual pixels of the two or more virtual pixels of the at least one virtual pixel array. Half the opening angle of the in the 11 shown associated solid angle, which by the lines 20da is limited, for example, are θ / 2 and φ / 2. In the 11 , 12th and 12a is preferably a virtual pixel of the respective pixels 2da assigned.

One or more virtual field sources in and / or on the in the 11 , 12th and 12a shown segments S arranged, in particular those in the 11 , 12th and 12a shown segments S are each arranged at first distances from the respective virtual pixels, the position and / or orientation of the respective virtual pixel in the 11 , 12th or 12a preferably each of the position and / or orientation of the in the 11 , 12th and 12a shown respective pixels 2da corresponds.

Preferably, one or more virtual electromagnetic fields are arranged starting from the one or more virtual field sources, in particular arranged in the 11 , 12th and 12a shown segments S , at a predetermined distance from one or more virtual pixels of the two or more virtual pixels of the at least one virtual pixel array in and / or on the one or more virtual pixels of the two or more virtual pixels of the at least one virtual pixel array and / or in and / or on the area, in particular plane, spanned by the at least one virtual pixel array.

One or more phase images for one or more virtual pixels of the two or more virtual pixels of the at least one virtual pixel array are preferably composed of a virtual total electromagnetic field consisting of the superimposition of the one or more virtual electromagnetic fields in and / or on the one or more virtual pixels of the two or more virtual pixels of the at least one virtual pixel array and / or in and / or on the area spanned by the at least one virtual pixel array, in particular plane, the respective planes being calculated in the 11 , 12th and 12a especially by the pixels 2da correspond to spanned levels.

Virtual structure profiles for the one or more virtual pixels of the two or more virtual pixels of the at least one virtual pixel array are further preferably calculated from the one or more phase images.

Particularly preferred are the virtual structure profiles of the two or more virtual pixels of the at least one virtual pixel array in and / or on a substrate as at least one pixel array comprising two or more pixels, the respective ones in the 11 , 12th and 12a shown pixels 2da of the at least one pixel array one or more structures 3da have, designed to provide an optically variable element.

The 13 shows an example of a design comprising a 3D model of the portrait 9 of the mathematician and physicist Carl Friedrich Gauß. The six variants in the upper part of the figure each have an opening angle of solid angles increasing from left to right, around which the corresponding microstructures of the underlying pixel array depict, diffuse and / or scatter incident light or incident electromagnetic radiation by the respectively predetermined solid angles. In particular, the opening angles of the respective associated solid angles into which the corresponding structures represent the incident light broadened, from left to right: 0.5 °, 1.25 °, 2.5 °, 5 °, 7.5 °, 10 ° .

In particular, a small and / or smaller opening angle of the predetermined solid angles generates a 3D effect that can be detected by a viewer and / or sensor and has a smooth-appearing surface of the portrait or of a motif. A large and / or larger opening angle of the solid angles preferably generates a 3D effect that can be detected by an observer and / or sensor and has surfaces of the portrait or a motif that appear strongly matt. This controlled mattness can be used as a design element, for example to make the top of a mountain appear as snow-covered as a 3D effect.

The lower parts of the 13 show microscopic images of sections of the underlying pixel arrays in the upper part of the 13 portraits shown in different magnifications of the respective areas. In particular, the structures comprising the pixels arranged in the pixel arrays can be detected.

In particular, a change in the predetermined solid angles in which the pixels represent, diffract and / or scatter the incident light preferably leads to a clear change in the underlying structures and, with increasing opening angles, in particular to a clear deviation from ordered or periodic structures.

The 14 shows an example of such a change in the structure of a selected pixel of FIG 13 shown designs, whereby the structure changes from left to right with increasing opening angle.

It is possible for the structures embodied as an achromatic microstructure to be overlaid with one or more or all pixels of the two or more pixels of the at least one pixel array with further microstructures and / or nanostructures. Examples of such further microstructures and / or nanostructures are linear grating structures, cross-grating structures, in particular sub-wavelength grating structures. Here it is possible to achieve a combination of the achromatic effect generated by the achromatic structures with a color effect generated by sub-wavelength grating structures, in particular with so-called zero-order diffraction color effects. Examples of such zero-order diffraction color effects are, in particular, so-called resonant gratings in the case of an HRI coating or gratings with effects based on plasmon resonance in the case of metal coatings, in particular aluminum coatings. In In both of the cases mentioned, the optical effect of the at least one pixel array arises in particular in the color of the superimposed sub-wavelength grating structure effects. The grating period for the resonant gratings coated with HRI is preferably in the range from 200 nm to 500 nm. Furthermore, the sub-wavelength grating structures of the resonant gratings are preferably linear gratings.

It is also possible, as an alternative to dividing at least one pixel array or a surface into pixels with different assigned and / or predetermined solid angles, to cover surfaces or neighboring pixels, in particular with identical or almost identical structure and / or microstructures.

The 15 shows an arrangement of pixels of a pixel array 2nd comprising corresponding structures, which is designed in particular in such a way that a fine line movement (“movement of thin or fine lines”) that can be detected by a viewer and / or sensor is generated, the width of the detectable lines preferably depending on the sizes and / or lateral dimensions the pixel is dependent.

In the in the 15 The optically variable element shown, the structures in the individual linearly arranged groups of pixels G are configured in such a way that they represent, in particular, incident light in different spatial directions and / or in different predetermined solid angles, preferably by tilting such an optically variable element depending on the viewing situation and / or the viewing direction and / or the incident light and / or the incident direction of the incident light, adjacent linear groups of pixels G, one after the other, in particular achromatic, in particular depending on the tilt direction.

It is also possible for one or more groups of pixels arranged in a line to be left out and / or to light up at a random angle, the lighting of the groups of pixels arranged in a line being preferably generated in any sequence. In particular, achromatic fine line morphing effects (“movement and / or shape change of thin or fine lines”) can also be generated, which can preferably be detected by a viewer and / or a sensor.

Furthermore, it is also possible to generate one or more effects of the following effects which can be detected by a viewer and / or a sensor: free forms which protrude or return to a viewer and / or sensor; forms floating in front of or behind the plane spanned by the optically variable element; achromatic fine line movement and transformation; achromatic movement, in particular linear and / or radial achromatic movement; achromatic image flip, in particular double, triple or multiple flips and / or preferably animations comprising a plurality of motifs, preferably images; one or more surfaces that appear isotropically matt to an observer and / or sensor; one or more surfaces appearing anisotropically matt to an observer and / or sensor; one or more pixels of the two or more pixels of the at least one pixel array comprising hidden effects, such as nanotext; Hidden motif (motif hidden or in front of a viewer and / or sensor at a predetermined distance and / or in one or more predetermined wavelength ranges), in particular hidden text (concealment or in front of a viewer and / or sensor at a predetermined distance and / or in one or more predetermined wavelength ranges hidden text) and / or hidden images (hidden or in front of a viewer and / or sensor at a predetermined distance and / or in one or more predetermined wavelength ranges hidden images) in one or more predetermined imaging levels or in one or more predetermined solid angles and / or distances from the optically variable element.

It is possible that, in order to generate a double flip in a first group of pixels of the pixel array, a first group of structures which map incident light, in particular achromatically, diffract and / or scatter, for example computer-generated hologram structures, these structures being the first Imagine, diffuse and / or scatter group of structures incident light at a first angle of inclination of approximately 30 ° to the surface of the plane spanned by the optically variable element. The pixels of the first group of pixels preferably form a first motif.

Furthermore, it is possible for a second group of structures which map incident light, in particular achromatically, to bend and / or scatter, for example computer-generated hologram structures, to produce a double flip in a second group of pixels of the pixel array, these structures being the second group of structures, incident light at a second inclination angle of approximately 5 ° to the surface of the plane spanned by the optically variable element, achromatic, diffract and / or scatter. The pixels of the second group of pixels preferably form a second motif.

It is also possible for one or more structures of the one or more structures and / or the structures associated with a pixel of the two or more pixels of the at least one pixel array to be assigned to the structures associated with electromagnetic radiation, in particular incident electromagnetic radiation, at a solid angle, in particular a point-shaped solid angle , image, bend and / or scatter.

Preferably one or more structures of the one or more structures and / or one or more pixels of the two or more pixels of the at least one pixel array comprising one or more associated structures of the one or more associated structures are two or more groups of structures and / or two or assigned to several groups of pixels, in particular the groups of the two or more groups of structures and / or the groups of the two or more groups of pixels differing from one another.

It is possible for two or more groups of structures of the two or more groups of structures and / or two or more groups of pixels of the two or more groups of pixels to emit electromagnetic radiation, in particular incident electromagnetic radiation, in the same or different solid angles and / or Show, bend and / or scatter predetermined solid angles, in particular punctiform solid angles and / or predetermined solid angles, preferably different solid solid angles and / or predetermined solid angles.

Furthermore, it is possible for two or more groups of structures of the two or more groups of structures and / or two or more groups of pixels of the two or more groups of pixels to provide an optical variable information comprising a 3D effect.

It is also possible here for the first motif to appear bright and the second motif to appear dark if the optically variable element is detected in particular from the predetermined solid angle corresponding to the first angle of inclination. Furthermore, it is possible for the optically variable element to be oriented after tilting with respect to a viewer and / or sensor such that the optically variable element can be detected in particular from the predetermined solid angle corresponding to the second inclination angle, the second motif preferably being bright and the first The motif appears dark. Such an effect is preferably also referred to as an image flip effect.

It is preferably possible for the structures to image, bend and / or scatter the incident light in three or more predetermined solid angles, with different motifs, in particular images, being associated with each of the predetermined solid angles. Here it is possible, for example, to generate a flip between three or more motifs depending on the viewing direction and / or a viewing direction corresponding to the predetermined solid angle. In particular, an illusion of a continuous and / or erratic movement of a motif is generated for a viewer and / or sensor, which appears in particular when the optically variable element is moved, rotated and / or tilted. The underlying pixel array is preferably divided into parts which generate the respective motifs and / or one or more pixels of the two or more pixels of the pixel array are each subdivided into parts or subpixels, each of which has different structures which direct the incident light into the predetermined solid angles image, bend and / or scatter to create the appropriate motifs.

One or more pixels of the two or more pixels are preferably divided into three, in particular four, more preferably five, parts or subpixels, the parts or subpixels particularly preferably each having different structures.

It is possible for one or more of the solid angles that can be detected by a viewer to diffract the one or more solid angles or predetermined solid angles of the one or more predetermined solid angles into which one or more pixels of the two or more pixels of the at least one pixel array image incident electromagnetic radiation and / or scatter, follow a function, the function being designed in such a way that a viewer detects the solid angles or predetermined solid angles as wavy moving brightness bands, preferably sinusoidal moving brightness bands.

It is also possible to generate a changing shape of a motif, for example a transformation from one motif, for example the letter sequence “CH”, to another motif, for example the Swiss cross, which is suitable for a viewer and / or a sensor is detectable, in particular visually enlarging or reducing outlines of a motif are possible.

Furthermore, it is also possible for one or more pixels of the two or more pixels of the at least one pixel array to image, bend and / or scatter at least two views of a motif in different predetermined spatial angles, in particular for a viewer and / or sensor in at least one predetermined one Distance at least one stereo image of the motif is detectable.

The 16 shows that on the left in the 1 shown strip-shaped security element 1b ' , being a viewer and / or sensor when viewing the security element 1b ' In particular in motion and / or transmitted light, motion effects and / or optically virtually protruding in the viewing direction and / or 3D elements returning from the viewing direction are recorded.

It is possible that the security document 1d in or outside of the striped area 1b ' has one or more further optically variable elements.

The strip-shaped security element 1b also includes two optically variable elements 1a , which in particular each have at least one pixel array comprising two or more pixels and on the right side of the 16 are shown in enlargement.

The strip-shaped security element also comprises 1b ' multiple security element 8th which as the sequence of numbers " 45 “, Two cloud-like motifs, an airplane-shaped motif, a sailing ship-shaped motif and a word sequence“ UT ”with two horizontal lines.

That in the 16 Sun-shaped optically variable element shown at top right 1a generates an optical effect in such a way that the light falling from the curved surface of the sun 9a seems to be reflected for a viewer and / or sensor. Apparently the sun rises 9a preferably apparently perceptible, in particular expected by a viewer as perceptible or as perceptible from the optically variable element 1a spanned plane and / or surface, although the security element is preferably completely flat and / or flat. That in the 16 The optically variable element shown at the bottom right comprises a pixel array which, in particular for a viewer and / or sensor, has the illusion, in particular the optical illusion, of water moving in waves 9b generated. When tilting the optically variable element 1a appears to a viewer and / or sensor preferably a brightness band which moves from left to right and / or in the opposite direction.

It is possible for one or more structures of the one or more structures to provide an optically variable effect when the element and / or the at least one pixel array is bent, in particular a first motif in a non-bent state of the element and / or the at least one Pixel array is detectable and a second motif can be detected in a bent state of the element and / or the at least one pixel array.

It is also possible for an image flip to be detected by a viewer and / or a sensor such that a first motif can be detected in particular in the non-bent state and a second motif in the bent state. In particular, the virtual pixel array for calculating the corresponding structures in the virtual pixels is provided in a curved state and the virtual electromagnetic fields, which are preferably emitted by one or more virtual point field sources, are preferably calculated on the curved virtual pixel array. In this way it is achieved in particular that the one or more predetermined solid angles in which the structures image, bend and / or scatter the incident light are compensated accordingly by the local curvature of the optically variable element, preferably in the bent state. If incident light hits a flat pixel array, the pixels of which are designed in particular for a curved state, the motif is preferably imaged, diffracted and / or scattered in such a way that the motif is for a viewer and / or sensor is preferably not completely and / or only optically distorted.

It is possible that a viewer and / or sensor detects one or more of the following effects generated by one or more optically variable elements, in particular the following optical effects generated by one or more optically variable elements: one or more effects in reflection; one or more effects in transmission; Combination of the above effects in reflection and in transmission, such as different movement effects in reflection and transmission, in particular 50% of the pixels and / or sub-pixels of at least one pixel array being used for the respective effect in reflection or transmission; one or more effects for a curved or not bent state of one or more optically variable elements of the one or more optically variable elements.

It is also possible to shape one or more structures of the one or more structures in such a way that phase jumps of 2 × 180 ° in reflection and 1 × 360 ° in transmission occur. Such a phase jump is preferably only exact at one wavelength, the corresponding effect preferably being color-selective around this wavelength. As a result, the effect appears to a viewer and / or sensor in particular in a clearly defined color. All of the above effects, in particular all of the above optical effects, can be implemented in this way, for example, with a correspondingly defined color.

The 17th shows an example of an achromatic arc comprising a plurality of light points 200 which is along the direction R ' , in particular when tilting forward and / or tilting back or when tilting along the direction R ' , the optically variable element up and / or down or along the direction R ' moved up and / or down in the figure plane spanned by the directions x and y. The structures in the pixels of the underlying pixel array are in particular designed in such a way that incident light when the optically variable element is tilted out of the plane of the figure spanned by the directions x and y by -30 ° to + 30 ° for a viewer and / or sensor preferably Creates the illusion of a moving bright arc.

The 18th shows in the upper part a first enlarged section and in the lower part a second, in particular further enlarged section of the underlying pixel array comprising pixels with corresponding structures. The bordered pixel 2e showing the structure 3e has a lateral dimension of 50 µm in the x and y directions.

The 19th shows a schematic perspective representation of one for a viewer B and / or a sensor S detectable sequence of movements of an achromatic, arched motif 9c , which is reflected in the optical element 1a spanned plane, especially along the direction R " , moves, the structures of the in the optically variable element 1a contained pixel arrays 2nd the incident light 20th towards the viewer B and / or sensor S map, bend and / or scatter.

The 20th shows an achromatic for a viewer and / or sensor from the plane of the figure, in particular from the plane spanned by the directions x and y, outstanding 3D object in the form of a snail shell 9d . In particular, the structures in the pixels of the underlying pixel array are designed so that incident light creates the illusion of the 3D object. When tilting back and forth, as well as left and right, light and shadow move over the snail for a viewer and / or sensor.

The 21 shows in the upper part a first enlarged section and in the lower part a second, in particular still enlarged section of the in the 20th shown snail shell 9d underlying pixel arrays include pixels with corresponding structures. The bordered pixel 2f showing the structure 3f has a lateral dimension of 50 µm in the x and y directions.

The 22 shows a design comprising a 3D model of the portrait 9e by mathematician and physicist Carl Friedrich Gauß in 28 different variants and the 23 shows an enlarged section of the 22 , wherein the structures in the pixels of the underlying pixel array are in particular formed as Fresnel microlens structures, which were used to generate the variants. In particular, the portraits in the first line show from left to right an increasing variation in the 3D effect strength that can be detected by a viewer and / or sensor. The first four portraits in the other lines each show an effect from left to right based on the corresponding portrait based on structures with a structure depth of 2 µm and the last three portraits in the other lines each show an effect based on the structure from left to right corresponding portraits based on structures with a structure depth of approximately 1 µm structure depth.

Reference list

1a

Optically variable element

1b

Security element

1b '

Strip-shaped security element

1c

Decorative element

1d

Security document

10th

Substrate

2nd

Pixel array

2aa-2dd, 2e-2f

pixel

20aa-20dd

Failing light

200

Points of light

3aa-3dd, 3e-3f

structure

30aa, 30ad, 30cc

Microstructure

31aa, 31ad, 31cc

Microstructure

4th

Virtual pixel array

4aa-4dd

Virtual pixels

6

Incident light

9, 9a, 9b, 9c, 9d, 9e

motive

Δx, Δy

Lateral dimension

Δz

Structure depth

P

Focus point

F

Focal plane

f

distance

θ, φ, α, Ω

angle

S

segment

R, R ', R "

direction

G

Group of pixels

B

Viewer

S

sensor

L

Light source

QUOTES INCLUDE IN THE DESCRIPTION

This list of documents listed by the applicant has been generated automatically and is only included for the better information of the reader. The list is not part of the German patent or utility model application. The DPMA assumes no liability for any errors or omissions.

Patent literature cited

• DE 102004016596 A1 [0004]

Claims (63)

Optically variable element (1a), in particular a security element (1b) and / or a decorative element (1c), preferably for security documents (1d), characterized in that the optically variable element (1a) comprises at least one pixel array (2) comprising two or more Has pixels (2aa-2dd, 2e-2f), one or more pixels of the two or more pixels (2aa-2dd, 2e-2f) of the at least one pixel array (2) having one or more structures (3aa-3dd, 3e-3f ), and wherein one or more structures of the one or more structures (3aa-3dd, 3e-3f) incident electromagnetic radiation (6) image in one or more solid angles, diffract and / or scatter. Optically variable element (1a) Claim 1 , characterized in that one or more structures of the one or more structures (3aa-3dd, 3e-3f) incident, radiate and / or scatter electromagnetic radiation (6) in one or more solid angles. Optically variable element (1a) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the optically variable element (1) comprises one or more layers, in particular the at least one pixel array (2) being arranged on or in at least one layer of the one or more layers and preferably one or more layers of the one or more layers are selected from: HRI layer, in particular layer comprising HRI and / or LRI lacquer layer, metal layer, interference layer, in particular interference layer sequences, preferably HLH or HLHLH, more preferably Fabry-Perot Three-layer system or multi-layer system, liquid crystal layer, color layer, in particular glazing color layer. Optically variable element (1a) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that each pixel (2aa-2dd, 2e-2f) of the two or more pixels (2aa-2dd, 2e-2f) of the at least one pixel array (2) or Several structures are assigned to the one or more structures (3aa-3dd, 3e-3f), the one or more structures assigned to a pixel (2aa-2dd, 2e-2f) depicting incident electromagnetic radiation (6) in one or more predetermined solid angles , bend and / or scatter, in particular one direction, preferably a predetermined direction, being assigned to each of the one or more predetermined solid angles. Optically variable element (1a) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that one or more structures of the one or more structures (3aa-3dd, 3e-3f) and / or one or more associated structures of the one or more associated structures in one depict, bend and / or scatter one or more solid angles of the one or more solid angles and / or one or more predetermined solid angles of the one or more predetermined solid angles, which differ in particular from one another, one or more referring to one pixel (2aa-2dd, 2e-2f) arranged ball, in particular a unit ball with a unit radius of 1, projected solid angles of one or more solid angles and / or predetermined solid angles of one or more predetermined solid angles form one or more, in particular identical or different, shapes, which are preferably selected in each case are made up of: circular area, elliptical area, triangular area, square area , Rectangular area, polygon area, circular area. Optically variable element (1a) Claim 5 , characterized in that one or more forms of the one or more forms are open or closed and / or consist of one or more partial forms, in particular at least two partial forms being connected to one another or superimposed. Optically variable element (1a) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that one or more of the solid angles of the one or more solid angles or predetermined solid angles of the one or more predetermined solid angles, which can be detected in particular by a viewer and / or a sensor, into which depict, diffuse and / or scatter one or more pixels of the two or more pixels (2aa-2dd, 2e-2f) of the at least one pixel array (2) of incident electromagnetic radiation (6), follow a function, the function being designed in such a way that a viewer detects the solid angles or predetermined solid angles as wavy moving brightness bands, preferably sinusoidal moving brightness bands. Optically variable element (1a) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that one or more or all solid angles of the one or more solid angles and / or one or more or all predetermined solid angles of the one or more predetermined solid angles in at least one Direction up to 70 °, preferably up to 50 °, more preferably up to 40 °, and / or that the opening angle of one or more or all solid angles is preferably at most 20 °, more preferably at most 15 °, particularly preferably at most 10 ° . Optically variable element (1a) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that one or more or all solid angles of the one or more solid angles and / or one or more or all predetermined solid angles of the one or more predetermined solid angles in at least one direction up to 70 °, preferably up to 50 °, more preferably up to 40 °. Optically variable element (1a) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that one or more structures of the one or more structures (3aa-3dd, 3e-3f) and / or the one pixel of the two or more pixels (2aa-2dd, 2e-2f) of the structures associated with the at least one pixel array (2) are designed such that they provide optically variable information, in particular one or more 3D effects and / or movement effects, preferably achromatic or monochromatic 3D effects and / or movement effects . Optically variable element (1a) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that one or more structures of the one or more structures and / or the one pixel of the two or more pixels (2aa-2dd, 2e-2f) of the at least one pixel array ( 2) assign structures (3aa-3dd, 3e-3f) associated structures to electromagnetic radiation, in particular incident electromagnetic radiation (6), at a solid angle, in particular a point-shaped solid angle, image, diffract and / or scatter. Optically variable element (1a) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that one or more structures of the one or more structures (3aa-3dd, 3e-3f) and / or one or more pixels of the two or more pixels (2aa-2dd , 2e-2f) of the at least one pixel array (2) comprising one or more assigned structures of the one or more assigned structures are assigned to two or more groups of structures and / or two or more groups of pixels, in particular the groups of the two or differentiate several groups of structures and / or the groups of the two or more groups of pixels. Optically variable element (1a) Claim 12 , characterized in that two or more groups of structures of the two or more groups of structures and / or two or more groups of pixels of the two or more groups of pixels (2aa-2dd, 2e-2f) electromagnetic radiation, in particular incident electromagnetic radiation (6), in the same or different solid angles and / or predetermined solid angles, in particular punctiform solid angles, preferably with an opening angle close to 0 °, and / or predetermined solid angles, preferably different solid angles and / or predetermined solid angles, image, diffract and / or scatter. Optically variable element (1a) Claim 12 or 13 , characterized in that two or more groups of structures of the two or more groups of structures and / or two or more groups of pixels of the two or more groups of pixels provide an optical variable information comprising a 3D effect. Optically variable element (1a) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that one or more or all of the structures (3aa-3dd, 3e-3f) and / or one or more or all of the assigned structures electromagnetic radiation, in particular incident electromagnetic radiation (6), diffractive scatter, bend and / or image. Optically variable element (1a) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the at least one pixel array (2) has a curvature which differs from zero in at least one direction in at least one region. Optically variable element (1a) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that at least one lateral dimension of one or more pixels of the two or more pixels (2aa-2dd, 2e-2f) in the at least one pixel array (2) is between 5 µm and 500 µm, preferably between 10 µm and 300 µm, preferably between 20 µm and 150 µm. Optically variable element (1a) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that one or more lateral dimensions of one or more pixels of the two or more pixels (2aa-2dd, 2e-2f) in the at least one pixel array (2) in one or vary a plurality of spatial directions in the pixel array (2), in particular at least in regions, periodically, non-periodically, pseudorandomly and / or randomly. Optically variable element (1a) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that one or more lateral dimensions of one or more pixels of the two or more pixels (2aa-2dd, 2e-2f) in the at least one pixel array (2) in one or a plurality of spatial directions in the at least one pixel array (2), in particular at least in regions, vary by a maximum of ± 70%, preferably a maximum of ± 50%, around an average value. Optically variable element (1a) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that one or more pixels of the one or more pixels (2aa-2dd, 2e-2f) in the at least one pixel array (2), in particular at least in regions, periodically, do not periodically, randomly and / or pseudo-randomly arranged in the at least one pixel array (2). Optically variable element (1a) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that one or more structures of the one or more structures (3aa-3dd, 3e-3f), a grating period in particular less than half, preferably less than third, further preferably less than the quarter, the maximum lateral dimension of the two or more pixels (2aa-2dd, 2e-2f), preferably each of the two or more pixels (2aa-2dd, 2e-2f), of the at least one pixel array (2) . Optically variable element (1a) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that one or more structures of the one or more structures (3aa-3dd, 3e-3f) have a limited maximum structure depth, the limited maximum structure depth being in particular less than 15 µm , preferably less than 10 µm, more preferably less than or equal to 7 µm, even more preferably less than or equal to 4 µm, particularly preferably less than or equal to 2 µm. Optically variable element (1a) Claim 22 , characterized in that one or more structures of the one or more structures (3aa-3dd, 3e-3f) are formed such that the limited maximum structure depth of the one or more structures for more than 50% of the pixels (2aa-2dd, 2e -2f), in particular for more than 70% of the pixels (2aa-2dd, 2e-2f), preferably for more than 90% of the pixels (2aa-2dd, 2e-2f), of the at least one pixel array (2) less than or equal to 15 µm, in particular less than or equal to 7 µm, preferably less than or equal to 2 µm. Optically variable element (1a) Claim 22 or 23 , characterized in that one or more structures of the one or more structures (3aa-3dd, 3e-3f) are designed such that the limited maximum structure depth of the one or more structures is smaller for all pixels (2aa-2dd, 2e-2f) is 15 µm, in particular less than or equal to 7 µm, preferably less than or equal to 2 µm. Optically variable element (1a) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that one or more structures of the one or more structures (3aa-3dd, 3e-3f) are different from one another or similar or identical or identical. Optically variable element (1a) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that one or more structures of the one or more structures (3aa-3dd, 3e-3f) as achromatic diffractive structures, preferably as blaze gratings, in particular linear blaze gratings , are formed, in particular the lattice period of the achromatic diffractive structures being greater than 3 μm, preferably greater than 5 μm, and / or wherein more than 70% of the pixels, in particular more than 90% of the pixels, preferably each pixel (2aa-2dd , 2e-2f), which comprises two or more pixels (2aa-2dd, 2e-2f) of the at least one pixel array (2) at least two grid periods. Optically variable element (1a) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the achromatic diffractive structures in one or more pixels of the two or more pixels (2aa-2dd, 2e-2f) in the at least one pixel array (2) with further microstructures and / or nanostructures, in particular linear grating structures, preferably cross-grating structures, more preferably sub-wavelength grating structures, are superimposed. Optically variable element (1a) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that one or more structures (3aa-3dd, 3e-3f) of the one or more structures as convex or concave microlenses and / or subregions of microlenses, in particular as reflective acting microlenses and / or partial areas of microlenses, are formed, in particular the focal length of the one or several structures is between 0.04 mm to 5 mm, in particular 0.06 mm to 3 mm, preferably 0.1 mm to 2 mm, and / or wherein in particular the focus length in a direction X and / or Y is given by the equation $${\text{f}}_{\text{X}\text{, Y}}=\frac{{\Delta }_{\text{X}\text{, Y}}/\mathrm{2nd}}{\text{tan}\left({\mathrm{\varphi }}_{\text{X}\text{, Y}}/\mathrm{2nd}\right)}$$

is determined, wherein Δ _{X, Y} is preferably the respective lateral dimension of one or more pixels of the two or more pixels (2aa-2dd, 2e-2f) of the at least one pixel array (2) in the direction X or in the direction Y and ϕ _{X, Y is} the respective solid angle in the direction X or in the direction Y, in which the one or more structures emit, diffuse and / or scatter electromagnetic radiation. Optically variable element (1a) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that one or more structures of the one or more structures (3aa-3dd, 3e-3f) are designed as cylindrical lenses, in particular a focus length of the one or more structures being infinitely large is. Optically variable element (1a) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that one or more structures of the one or more structures (3aa-3dd, 3e-3f) are designed as Fresnel microlens structures, in particular reflective Fresnel microlens structures, in particular the Grating lines of the Fresnel microlens structures are designed as curved grating lines and / or have grating lines with varying grating periods and / or in particular each pixel (2aa-2dd, 2e-2f) of the two or more pixels (2aa-2dd, 2e-2f) of the at least one Pixel arrays (2), preferably in at least one spatial direction, comprise at least two grid periods. Optically variable element (1a) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that one or more structures of the one or more structures (3aa-3dd, 3e-3f) have a number of at least 2 elevations, in particular at least 3 elevations, preferably at least 4 elevations , preferably per pixel (2aa-2dd, 2e-2f). Optically variable element (1a) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that more than 70% of the pixels, in particular more than 90% of the pixels, of the two or more pixels (2aa-2dd, 2e-2f) in the at least one pixel array (2) one or more structures of the one or more structures (3aa-3dd, 3e-3f) which have a number of at least 2 elevations, in particular at least 3 elevations, preferably at least 4, preferably per pixel (2aa-2dd, 2e- 2f). Optically variable element (1a) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that one or more structures of the one or more structures (3aa-3dd, 3e-3f) as chromatic grating structures, in particular as linear grids, preferably as linear grids with a sinusoidal shape Profile, and / or nanotext and / or mirror surfaces are formed. Optically variable element (1a) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that one or more structures of the one or more structures (3aa-3dd, 3e-3f) as sub-wavelength gratings, in particular as linear sub-wavelength gratings and / or as moth eye-like structures, are formed, the grating period of the sub-wavelength gratings, in particular the linear sub-wavelength gratings and / or the moth-eye-like structures, preferably being less than 450 nm and / or in particular at least one such pixel array (2) having an optically variable effect that can be detected by an observer, in particular provides an additional optically variable effect that can be detected by a viewer when the optically variable element and / or the at least one pixel array (2) is tilted. Optically variable element (1a) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that one or more structures of the one or more structures (3aa-3dd, 3e-3f) are provided with a metal layer and / or absorb incident electromagnetic radiation, in particular one or a plurality of pixels of the two or more pixels (2aa-2dd, 2e-2f) of the at least one pixel array (2) can be detected in reflection for a viewer in dark gray to black. Optically variable element (1a) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that one or more structures of the one or more structures (3aa-3dd, 3e-3f) have an HRI layer, in particular one or more pixels of the two or more Pixels (2aa-2dd, 2e-2f) of the at least one pixel array (2) can be detected in color by a viewer in reflection. Optically variable element (1a) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that one or more structures of the one or more structures (3aa-3dd, 3e-3f) incident, pseudo-randomly or randomly image, bend and / or image in all spatial directions or scatter, in particular one or more pixels of the two or more pixels (2aa-2dd, 2e-2f) of the at least one pixel array (2) in reflection for an observer can be detected isotropically white, preferably isotropically achromatic. Optically variable element (1a) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that one or more structures of the one or more structures (3aa-3dd, 3e-3f) one when the element and / or the at least one pixel array (2) is bent Provide optically variable effect, in particular a first motif being detectable in a non-bent state of the element and / or the at least one pixel array (2) and a second motif being detectable in a bent state of the element and / or the at least one pixel array (2) is. Security document (1d), in particular comprising one or more optically variable elements (1a), in particular according to one of the preceding claims. Security document (1d) according to Claim 39 , characterized in that the security document (1d) has one or more optically variable elements (1a) in one or more areas, in particular in one or more strip-shaped areas, preferably one or more thread-like areas. Security document (1d) according to Claim 39 or 40 , characterized in that one or more areas of the one or more areas each comprising one or more optically variable elements (1a) in strip form and / or in patch form. Security document (1d) according to one of the Claims 39 to 41 , characterized in that one or more optical variable elements (1a) are arranged at least partially overlapping when the security document (1d) is viewed along an area normal vector spanned by the security document (1d). Method for producing an optically variable element (1a), in particular according to one of the Claims 1 to 38 , preferably a security element (1b) and / or a decorative element (1c), preferably for security documents (1d), in particular according to one of the Claims 39 to 42 , characterized in that provision of at least one virtual pixel array (4) comprising two or more virtual pixels (4aa-4dd), assignment of at least one solid angle to one or more virtual pixels of the two or more virtual pixels (4aa-4dd) of the at least one virtual pixel array (4), arrangement of one or more virtual field sources in and / or on at least one area or at least one segment of the at least one associated solid angle, the at least one area or the at least one segment of the at least one associated solid angle at a first distance from the one or more virtual pixels of the two or more virtual pixels (4aa-4dd) of the at least one virtual pixel array (4) is arranged, calculation of one or more virtual electromagnetic fields based on the one or more virtual field sources at a predetermined distance from the one or more virtual pixels of the two or more virtual Pixels (4aa-4dd) of the at least one virtual pixel array (4) in and / or on the one or more virtual pixels of the two or more virtual pixels (4aa-4dd) of the at least one virtual pixel array (4) and / or in and / or on the area, in particular plane, spanned by the at least one virtual pixel array (4), calculating one or more phase images for the one or more virtual pixels of the two or more virtual pixels (4aa-4dd) of the at least one virtual pixel array (4) an overall virtual electromagnetic field consisting of the superimposition of the one or more virtual electromagnetic fields in and / or on the one or more virtual pixels of the two or more virtual pixels of the at least one virtual pixel array and / or in and / or on the by the at least one virtual pixel array spanned area, in particular plane, calculation of virtual structure profiles for the one or more virtual pixels d er two or more virtual pixels (4aa-4dd) of the at least one virtual pixel array (4) from the one or more phase images, formation of the virtual structure profiles of the one or more virtual pixels of the two or more pixels (4aa-4dd) of the at least one virtual Pixel array (4) in and / or on a substrate as at least one pixel array (2) comprising two or more pixels (2aa-2dd, 2e-2f), one or more pixels of the two or more pixels (2aa-2dd, 2e- 2f) of the at least one pixel array (2) have one or more structures (3aa-3dd, 3e-3f) to provide the optically variable element (1a). Procedure according to Claim 43 , characterized in that the at least one associated solid angle and / or the at least one region of the at least one associated solid angle spans the at least one segment, in particular the at least one segment corresponding to at least one segment of a sphere, preferably at least one conical segment, the half the opening angle of the at least one segment is less than 20 °, preferably less than 15 °, more preferably less than 10 °. Procedure according to Claim 43 or 44 , characterized in that the virtual field sources, which are arranged in particular in and / or on one or more partial areas of the at least one segment and / or the at least one area of the at least one associated solid angle, periodically and / or pseudo-randomly in at least one direction and / or arranged randomly on one or more partial areas of the one or more partial areas of the at least one segment and / or of the at least one area of the at least one associated solid angle. Procedure according to one of the Claims 43 to 45 , characterized in that the distances between adjacent virtual field sources between 0.01 mm and 100 mm, in particular between 0.1 mm and 50 mm, preferably between 0.25 mm and 20 mm, in and / or on one or more partial areas of the or several partial areas of the at least one segment and / or the at least one area of the at least one associated solid angle, and / or that the distances between adjacent virtual field sources are in particular between 0.01 mm and 100 mm, in particular between 0.1 mm and 50 mm, preferably between 0.25 mm and 20 mm, in and / or on one or more partial areas of the one or more partial areas of the at least one segment and / or of the at least one area of the at least one associated solid angle. Procedure according to one of the Claims 43 to 46 , characterized in that the arrangement of the virtual field sources, in particular the virtual point field sources, as a cross grid, preferably an equidistant cross grid, in and / or on one or more partial areas of the one or more partial areas of the at least one segment and / or of the at least one area of the at least one associated solid angle, the distance between adjacent virtual field sources from one another being between 0.01 .mu.m and 100 .mu.m, in particular between 0.1 .mu.m and 50 .mu.m, and / or the angle between two adjacent virtual field sources from one another, in particular relative to Position of one or more virtual pixels of the two or more virtual pixels (4aa-4dd) of the at least one pixel array (4) is less than 1 °, preferably less than 0.5 °. Procedure according to one of the Claims 43 to 47 , characterized in that one or more virtual field sources of the one or more virtual field sources are in the form of micro symbols, in particular selected from: letter, portrait, image, alphanumeric character, characters, geometric free form, square, triangle, circle, curved line, outline . Procedure according to Claim 48 , characterized in that the lateral dimensions of the microsymbols on one or more partial areas of the one or more partial areas of the at least one segment lie between 0.1 ° and 10 °, in particular between 0.2 ° and 5 °. Procedure according to one of the Claims 43 to 49 , characterized in that a first group of one or more virtual field sources of the one or more virtual field sources from a distance of 0.3 m, in particular from 0.15 m to 0.45 m, cannot be projected onto a screen and / or second group of one or more virtual field sources which can project one or more virtual field sources from a distance of 1.0 m, in particular from 0.8 m to 1.2 m, onto a screen. Procedure according to one of the Claims 43 to 50 , characterized in that the virtual electromagnetic field emanating from one or more of the virtual field sources, in particular emanating from all of the virtual field sources, has the same intensity and / or the same intensity distribution over the at least one assigned solid angle and / or over the at least one Has area of the at least one associated solid angle. Procedure according to one of the Claims 43 to 51 , characterized in that the virtual electromagnetic field, which emanates from one or more of the virtual field sources, in particular emanates from all of the virtual field sources, an intensity distribution over the at least one associated solid angle and / or over the at least one segment and / or over the at least has a region of the at least one associated solid angle, which is distributed in a Gaussian or super Gaussian shape. Procedure according to one of the Claims 43 to 52 , characterized in that the virtual electromagnetic field which emanates from two or more of the virtual field sources, in particular emanates from all of the virtual field sources, different intensities and / or different intensity distributions over the at least one assigned solid angle and / or over the at least one segment and / or over the at least one area of the at least one associated solid angle. Procedure according to one of the Claims 43 to 53 , characterized in that the virtual electromagnetic field emanating from one or more of the virtual field sources, in particular emanating from all of the virtual field sources, has an isotropic or anisotropic intensity distribution over the at least one associated solid angle and / or over the at least one segment and / or over the at least one area of the at least one associated solid angle. Procedure according to one of the Claims 43 to 54 , characterized in that one or more of the virtual field sources, in particular all of the virtual field sources, form a virtual point field source, the virtual point field source preferably emitting a virtual spherical wave. Procedure according to one of the Claims 43 to 55 , characterized in that the virtual electromagnetic field U _i starting from an i-th virtual point field source at the location (x _i , y _i , z _i ) of at least one coordinate (x _h , y _h , z _h ), in particular one coordinate (x _h , y _h , z _h = 0) = (x _h , y _h ), in and / or on one or more virtual pixels of the two or more virtual pixels (4aa-4dd) of the at least one virtual pixel array (4) and / or in and / or on the area, in particular plane, spanned by the at least one virtual pixel array (4) by means of the equation $$U_i\left(x_H,y_H\right)=\frac{exp\left(ikr\right)}{r},r=\sqrt{{\left(x_H-x_i\right)}^{\mathrm{2nd}}+{\left(y_H-y_i\right)}^{\mathrm{2nd}}+{\mathrm{e.g.}}_i^{\mathrm{2nd}}},$$

is calculated. Procedure according to Claim 56 , characterized in that the virtual electromagnetic field U _i comprises one or more wavelengths, which are in particular in the visible spectral range from 380 nm to 780 nm, preferably from 430 nm to 690 nm, one or more, respectively adjacent wavelengths of the one or several wavelengths, preferably in the visible spectral range, preferably equidistant, are spaced apart. Procedure according to one of the Claims 56 to 57 , characterized in that the virtual electromagnetic field U _i comprises one or more wavelengths, which are in particular in the infrared, visible and / or ultraviolet spectral range, one or more, respectively adjacent wavelengths of the one or more wavelengths, preferably in the infrared, visible and / or ultraviolet spectral range, preferably equidistant, are spaced apart. Procedure according to one of the Claims 56 to 58 , characterized in that the virtual total electromagnetic field U _p in and / or on one or more virtual pixels of the two or more virtual pixels (4aa-4dd) of the at least one virtual pixel array (4) and / or in and / or on the the at least one virtual pixel array (4) spanned area, in particular plane, by means of the equation $${\text{U}}_{\text{p}}\left({\text{x}}_{\text{p}},{\text{y}}_{\text{p}}\right)={\text{U}}_{\text{r}}^{*}\left({\text{x}}_{\text{p}},{\text{y}}_{\text{p}}\right){\displaystyle \sum _{\text{i}=1}^{{\text{N}}_{\text{p}}}{\text{U}}_{\text{i}}\left({\text{x}}_{\text{p}},{\text{y}}_{\text{p}}\right)}$$

is calculated, in particular the virtual electromagnetic fields U _i starting from i = 1, ..., N _p virtual point field sources at at least one coordinate (x _P , y _P , z _P = 0) = (x _P , y _p ) and / or in particular the optional reference wave U _r *, preferably the at least one optional reference wave U _r *, at at least one point or for the parameters (x _P , y _P ) in and / or on the one or more virtual pixels of the two or more virtual pixels (4aa-4dd) of the at least one virtual pixel array (4) and / or in and / or on the area, in particular plane, spanned by the at least one virtual pixel array (4). Procedure according to one of the Claims 43 to 59 , characterized in that one or more phase images of the one or more phase images are linearly converted into a virtual structure profile, wherein a phase value of 0 of the minimum depth and a phase value of 2π of the maximum depth of the formed one or more structures (3aa-3dd, 3e-3f) one or more pixels of the two or more pixels (2aa-2dd, 2e-2f) of the at least correspond to a pixel array (2). Procedure according to one of the Claims 43 to 60 , characterized in that the virtual structure profile of one or more virtual pixels of the two or more virtual pixels (4aa-4dd) of the at least one virtual pixel array (4) by means of laser exposure and development on a plate coated with photoresist and / or by means of electron beam lithography as the one or more structures (3aa-3dd, 3e-3f) of one or more pixels of the two or more pixels (2aa-2dd, 2e-2f) of the at least one pixel array (2) is formed. Procedure according to one of the Claims 43 to 61 , characterized in that one or more structures (3aa-3dd, 3e-3f) formed in one or more pixels of the two or more pixels (2aa-2dd, 2e-2f) of the at least one pixel array (2) have an optical depth, in particular one have optical depth in air, of half the mean wavelength of the virtual electromagnetic field and / or the virtual total electromagnetic field. Method for producing a security document (1d), in particular according to one of the Claims 39 to 42 , preferably comprising one or more layers, preferably comprising one or more optically variable elements (1a), in particular according to one of the Claims 1 to 39 and / or in particular manufactured according to one of the Claims 43 to 62 , characterized in that one or more optically variable elements (1a) are applied as a laminating film and / or as an embossing film on the security document (1d) and / or on one or more layers of the security document (1d) and / or in the security document (1d ) and / or in one or more layers of the one or more layers of the security document (1d).

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