Optically variable security element

• Main Authors: RAHM, MICHAEL, DEPTA, GEORG, BAHR, ANNETT, GREGAREK, ANDRE, FREUTSMIEDL, SIMON, DORFLER, WALTER, REINER, HARALD
• Format: Patent
• Language: English
• Published: 04.08.2016
• Subjects: BOOK COVERS; BOOKBINDING; DEVICES FOR USE THEREWITH AND NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDEDFOR; FILES; LOOSE LEAVES; MOVABLE-STRIP WRITING OR READING APPARATUS; PERFORMING OPERATIONS; PRINTED MATTER CHARACTERISED BY IDENTIFICATION OR SECURITYFEATURES; PRINTED MATTER OF SPECIAL FORMAT OR STYLE NOTOTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; SPECIAL PRINTED MATTER; TRANSPORTING

The invention relates to an optically variable security element (12) for security papers, value documents and other data carriers, with a substantially transparent carrier (20) having opposing first and second main surfaces (22, 24), an arrangement of micro-lenses (26) on the first main surface (22) of the carrier (20), and a laser-sensitive recording layer (32) arranged on the second main surface of the carrier (20). According to the invention, the micro-lens arrangement (26) is furnished with a laser-sensitive cover layer (28) having at least one cut-out (30) produced by the effect of laser radiation and extending over several micro-lenses (26), the laser-sensitive recording layer (32) comprises a plurality (34) of micro-markings (36) produced by the effect of laser radiation, wherein each micro-marking (36) is associated with one micro-lens (26) and is visible through the associated micro-lens (26) during inspection of the security element (12), and the plurality (34) of micro-markings (36) on the carrier (20) is arranged precisely aligned directly opposite the at least one cut-out (30).