EP2225107B1 - Security element, and method for the production thereof - Google Patents

Abstract

The invention relates to a security element (12) for protecting objects of value, comprising a metallized microrelief structure (22, 24) with structural elements that have a size of less than 30 µm, a semi-transparent ink layer (34) which is disposed over the microrelief structure (22, 24) in first zones (30), and a transparent phase delaying layer (36) that is disposed over the microrelief structure (22, 24) in second zones (38) and forms a phase shifting layer for light in the visible wavelength range.

Description

The invention relates to a security element for securing valuables, a method for producing such a security element and a security paper and a data carrier with such a security element.

Data carriers, such as valuables or identity documents, but also other valuables, such as branded articles, are often provided with security elements for the purpose of security, which permit verification of the authenticity of the data carrier and at the same time serve as protection against unauthorized reproduction. Such security elements can be designed, for example, in the form of a security thread embedded in a banknote, a covering film for a banknote with a hole, an applied security strip, a self-supporting transfer element or else in the form of a feature area applied directly to a value document. WO 2005/029135 shows such a security element.

A special role in the authenticity assurance play security elements, the viewing angle-dependent visual effects show, as they can not be reproduced even with the latest copiers. The security elements are equipped with optically variable elements that give the viewer a different image impression at different viewing angles and, for example, show a different color or brightness impression and / or another graphic motif depending on the viewing angle.

In this context, it is known to use security elements with multi-layered thin-film elements whose color impression changes with the viewing angle for the viewer and when tilting the security feature, for example, from green to blue, from blue to magenta or change from magenta to green. The occurrence of such color changes when tilting a security element is referred to below as a color shift effect.

Based on this, the present invention seeks to further improve a security element of the type mentioned above and in particular to provide a security element with an attractive visual appearance and high security against counterfeiting.

This object is achieved by the security element having the features of the main claim. A method for producing such a security element, a security paper and a data carrier are specified in the independent claims. Further developments of the invention are the subject of the dependent claims.

• eine metallisierte Mikroreliefstruktur mit Strukturelementen einer Abmessung unterhalb von 30 µm,
• eine semitransparente Farbschicht, die in ersten Bereichen über der Mikroreliefstruktur angeordnet ist, und
• eine transparente Phasenverzögerungsschicht, die in zweiten Bereichen über der Mikroreliefstruktur angeordnet ist, und die für Licht aus dem sichtbaren Wellenlängenbereich eine phasenschiebende Schicht bildet.

According to the invention contains a security element of the type mentioned

• a metallized microrelief structure with features of less than 30 μm,
• a semi-transparent ink layer disposed in first regions over the microrelief structure, and
• a transparent phase retardation layer disposed in second regions over the microrelief structure and forming a phase shift layer for light in the visible wavelength range.

In particular, the microrelief structure of the security element may be a diffractive structure, such as a hologram, a hologram lattice image, or a hologram-like diffraction structure, or an achromatic structure, such as a matte structure having a noncolored, typically silvery matte appearance, a micromirror array, a blazed lattice sawtooth groove profile or a Fresnel lens arrangement. The dimensions of the structural elements of the diffractive microrelief structures are usually in the order of magnitude of the light wavelength, that is to say generally between 300 nm and 1 μm. Some microrelief structures also have smaller features, such as sub-wavelength gratings or moth-eye structures, whose features may also be less than 100 nm.

The structural elements of achromatic microrelief structure are sometimes also larger than 1 .mu.m, the dimensions of micromirrors or Blazegitterlinien extend approximately to a height of about 15 microns and a lateral extent of about 30 microns. Relief structures with structural elements of a dimension of less than 30 μm and in particular relief structures with structural elements of the order of the wavelength of light or below are referred to as microrelief structures in the context of this description.

In the context of the invention, such a microrelief structure is first combined with a semitransparent color layer applied in certain areas in order to form, together with the latter, an open security feature that can be recognized without auxiliary means. In addition, the security element according to the invention contains a hidden security feature which is recognizable only with auxiliary means and which is formed by the transparent phase delay layer arranged in second areas. Phase-retarding layers, which in the context of this description also partly phase-shifting Layers are called optically active layers, which act on the phase of a transmitted light wave. The partial beams of an incident polarized light wave receive a path difference and thus a phase difference due to different refractive indices. If the phase difference of the two partial beams is just one-half or one-quarter wavelength, so-called λ / 2 or λ / 4 layers are obtained.

Preferably, the phase delay of the phase retardation layer in the invention corresponds to a retardation between about λ / 6 and about λ / 2, more preferably between about λ / 4 and about λ / 2. The path difference is given modulo λ, ie in the range between 0 and λ, since a layer with a path difference of, for example, 5/4 * λ or 9/4 * λ causes the same phase delay as a λ / 4 layer. In the context of the invention, it is also preferable that the phase-shifting layer is formed from nematic liquid-crystalline material and / or that the phase-delay layer is in the form of patterns, characters or a coding.

The semi-transparent color layer has several partial areas with different color impression. The differently colored color layer areas can represent, for example, national colors, company colors, eye-catching or characteristic color combinations or else the colors of objects which are reproduced by the shape of the partial areas.

The semitransparent color layer or its differently colored subareas are in the form of characters, patterns or codes. This includes designs in which the color layer or whose sections have recesses in the form of characters, patterns or codes.

The semitransparent color layer has a light transmission between 30% and 95%, more preferably between 60% and 95% and very particularly preferably between 80% and 95% in the visible spectral range.

The semi-transparent ink layer can be applied in various ways, advantageously it is printed, for example in screen printing, gravure printing, flexographic printing or another suitable printing process. The semitransparent ink layer may be printed directly onto the microrelief structure, but intermediate layers may also be provided between the ink layer and the microrelief structure, for example the layers of the thin-film element mentioned below or transparent intermediate layers which act, for example, as a protective layer or adhesive layer. It is also possible to provide such transparent intermediate layers between the color layer and the phase delay layer.

The semi-transparent ink layer is selected to substantially preserve the polarization state of transmitted light from the visible wavelength range. In this way, the patterns, characters or codes formed by the phase retardation layer can be made equally visible both in the areas covered by the color layer and in the areas not covered, as explained in more detail below.

The metallization of the microrelief structure is preferably by an opaque or by a semi-transparent metal layer, in particular aluminum, educated. As a metallization also an at least partially magnetic layer can be used, so that a further authenticity feature can be integrated without requiring an additional layer in the layer structure.

The metallization of the microrelief structure may advantageously have recesses in the form of patterns, characters or codes which form transparent or semitransparent regions in the security element. In the transparent or semi-transparent recess areas, the observer has a striking contrast to the surrounding color and relief structure effects. In particular, the patterns, characters or codes in transmitted light can light up brightly when the security element is applied to a transparent or translucent support. The recesses in the metallization can also be grid-like, preferably with a small areal proportion of 40% or less, so that they are practically inconspicuous in reflected light and only appear in transmitted light.

In an advantageous development of the invention, the security element additionally has a thin-film element with a color-shift effect, over which the semitransparent ink layer is arranged, the color impression of the thin-film element and the color impression of at least one subregion of the semi-transparent ink layer being adapted to one another when viewed under predetermined viewing conditions.

In an advantageous variant of the invention, the thin-film element has a reflection layer formed by the metallization of the microrelief structure, an absorber layer and a dielectric spacer layer arranged between the reflection layer and the absorber layer. Of the The color shift effect in such thin-film elements is based on viewing angle-dependent interference effects due to interference of the light beams reflected at the different sub-layers of the element. The path difference of the light reflected at the different layers depends on the one hand on the optical thickness of the dielectric spacer layer, which determines the distance between the absorber layer and the reflection layer, and on the other hand varies with the respective viewing angle.

Since the path difference is on the order of the wavelength of the visible light, the result is an angle-dependent color impression for the viewer due to the extinction and amplification of certain wavelengths. By a suitable choice of material and thickness of the dielectric spacer layer, a multiplicity of different color-shift effects can be designed, for example tilting effects in which the color impression changes with the viewing angle from green to blue, from blue to magenta or from magenta to green.

Details of the structure of such thin-film elements and the materials and layer thicknesses that can be used for the reflection layer, the dielectric spacer layer and the absorber layer can be found in the document WO 01/03945 be removed.

In a preferred embodiment, the thin-film element contains an absorber layer with recesses, in the region of which no color-shift effect can be recognized, the semitransparent ink layer being arranged above the thin-film element in the region of the recesses of the absorber layer.

By these measures, different color areas that behave differently when tilting the security element: In the not overturned by the semitransparent ink layer, color-shifting areas, the color impression of the microrelief structure for the viewer changes when tilting the security element, while the recessed and covered areas color-constant when tilting stay. Such a combination of color-constant and color-variable relief structure areas has a visually attractive effect and is self-explanatory for the user, since the color-constant areas simultaneously form a visually quiescent pole and a comparison point for the color-variable areas in the authenticity check.

If differently colored ink layer areas are used, various design elements of the security element can emerge and / or disappear during tilting due to the color change during tilting and the associated change in the visual assignment, as explained in greater detail below.

Preferably, the security element is a security thread, a security tape, a security strip, a patch or a label for application to a security paper, document of value or the like.

It is understood that the security element can also have further layers, such as protective layers or additional effect layers with other security features.

The invention also includes a method for producing a security element of the type described according to claim 10.

The semitransparent ink layer is advantageously printed in the process according to the invention, in particular in screen printing, gravure printing or flexographic printing processes. The phase delay layer can also be printed with advantage over the microrelief structure and optionally the previously applied ink layer or further intermediate layers. Alternatively, the phase delay layer can be applied to a separate carrier foil and transferred to the microrelief structure with the applied color layer.

The invention further comprises a security paper with a security element of the type described and a data carrier which is equipped with such a security element. The data carrier may in particular be a banknote, a value document, a passport, a document or an identity card. The security elements described, security papers or data carriers can be used in particular for securing objects of any kind.

Further exemplary embodiments and advantages of the invention are explained below with reference to the figures, in the representation of which a representation true to scale and proportion has been dispensed with in order to increase the clarity.

Fig.1

eine schematische Darstellung einer Banknote mit einem einge- betteten Sicherheitsfaden und einem aufgeklebten Transferele- ment,

Fig. 2

einen Querschnitt durch ein Sicherheitselement nach einem Ausführungsbeispiel der Erfindung,

Fig. 3

schematisch den visuellen Eindruck eines erfindungsgemäßen Sicherheitsfadens (a) bei Betrachtung ohne Hilfsmittel und (b) bei Betrachtung mit einem aufgelegten Zirkularpolarisator,

Fig. 4

ein Sicherheitselement nach einem anderen Ausführungsbei- spiel der Erfindung, bei dem die Phasenverzögerungsschicht unterhalb der semitransparenten Farbschicht angeordnet ist,

Fig. 5

ein Sicherheitselement nach einem weiteren Ausführungsbei- spiel der Erfindung, bei dem die Phasenverzögerungsschicht und die semitransparente Farbschicht auf eine gemeinsame Schicht aufgebracht sind, und

Fig. 6

ein Farbkipp-Hologramm nach einem weiteren Ausführungs- beispiel der Erfindung, bei dem die beschriebenen Effekte mit einem farbkippenden Dünnschichtelement kombiniert sind.

Show it:

Fig.1

2 a schematic representation of a banknote with an embedded security thread and a glued transfer element,

Fig. 2

a cross section through a security element according to an embodiment of the invention,

Fig. 3

2 shows schematically the visual impression of a security thread according to the invention (a) when viewed without aids and (b) when viewed with an applied circular polarizer,

Fig. 4

a security element according to another embodiment of the invention, in which the phase delay layer is arranged below the semitransparent color layer,

Fig. 5

a security element according to another embodiment of the invention, in which the phase retardation layer and the semitransparent color layer are applied to a common layer, and

Fig. 6

a color shift hologram according to another embodiment of the invention, in which the effects described are combined with a color-shifting thin-film element.

The invention will now be explained using the example of security elements for banknotes. Fig.1 shows a schematic representation of a banknote 10, which is provided with two security elements 12 and 16 according to embodiments of the invention. In this case, the first security element represents a security thread 12 which protrudes at certain window areas 14 on the surface of the banknote 10, while it is embedded in the intervening areas in the interior of the banknote 10. The second security element 16 is formed by a glued transfer element of any shape. In other embodiments, the security element 16 may also be designed in the form of a cover film, which is arranged in or above a window area or a through opening of the banknote.

The construction of a security thread 12 according to the invention will now be described with reference to FIGS Figures 2 and 3 explained in more detail, wherein Fig. 2 represents a cross section through the security thread and Fig. 3 in (a) and (b) shows schematically the visual impression of the security thread when viewed without aids or when viewed with an applied circular polarizer.

Regarding Fig. 2 The security thread 12 contains a carrier foil 20 and an embossed and cured UV lacquer layer 22 applied to the carrier foil 20. The embossing structures of the lacquer layer 22 form a diffractive microrelief structure in the form of a hologram. In other configurations, the embossed structures can also be a holographic grating image, a hologram-like diffraction structure or an achromatic microstructure with a non-colored, for example, silvery matt appearance.

For influencing the incident light, the dimensions of the structural elements of the diffractive microrelief structures are of the order of magnitude of the wavelength of light, that is to say typically have dimensions of between approximately 300 nm and approximately 1 μm. As already explained above, microrelief structures according to the invention can also have smaller structural elements with dimensions down to 100 nm or less. In particular, the structural elements of achromatic microrelief structures can also be greater than 1 μm. For example, achromatically reflecting micromirrors or blazed grating lines typically have a height of approximately 10 μm and a lateral extent of approximately 20 μm.

On the relief structure of the lacquer layer 22, an opaque aluminum layer is applied as a reflection layer 24. In preferred embodiments, the reflective layer 24 has recesses 26 in the form of patterns, characters, or codings that form transparent or translucent areas in the security thread.

On the metallized microrelief structure, a semi-transparent ink layer 34 is printed in first regions 30, which has a plurality of partial regions 34-1, 34-2, 34-3 with different color impressions. For example, when using the security thread 12 in banknotes, the colors of the subareas 34-1 to 34-3 may represent the country colors of the issuing state. In other applications also corporate colors, eye-catching or characteristic color combinations or, in particular in the arrangement of the subregions in the form of a pattern, the colors of one of the pattern come questioned object. In the regions 32 outside the first regions 30, the microrelief structure without printed ink layer is present.

The color impression of the security thread 12 in supervision is in Fig. 3 (a) is shown schematically, wherein the holographic image generated by the microrelief structure for the sake of clarity itself is not shown. In the exemplary embodiment, the periodically repeating regions 30 covered by the color layer 34 show a multicolored flag representation which is composed of the three differently colored color layer subregions 34 - 1, 34 - 2, 34 - 3. Between the ink layer areas 30, the security thread 12 appears with the metallic luster of the reflection layer 24. In the areas of the recesses 26, the security thread is translucent, so that there is additionally a noticeable contrast effect in the transmitted light.

In addition to the open security feature formed by the microrelief structure and the color layer 34, the security thread 12 also includes a hidden security feature formed by a transparent phase retardation layer 36 that is patterned in second regions 38 over the microrelief structure.

The phase retardation layer 36 is made of a birefringent material, for example of nematic liquid crystalline material. The layer thickness of the phase retardation layer 36 is typically chosen such that its phase delay corresponds to a path difference between about λ / 6 and about λ / 2, preferably about λ / 4, where λ represents a wavelength in the visible spectral range.

Looking at the security thread 12 with ordinary unpolarized light and no tools, the second regions 38 with the phase retardation layer 36 are virtually undetectable because the phase retardation of the layer 36 acts equally on all polarization directions of the incident light and its light absorption is negligibly small.

On the other hand, if the security thread 12 is viewed with an applied circular polarizer 40, as in FIG Fig. 3 (b) shown, strong contrast differences between the areas 38, 39 with and without phase retardation layer 36 emerge. The presence and shape of the pattern formed by the areas 38 can thus be used for additional authenticity testing, for example at the point of sale or in banks.

The operation of the hidden security feature will now be explained in more detail using the example of a λ / 4 phase delay layer 36 and an applied circular polarizer 40, which transmits only right-circularly polarized light. Under these conditions, only the right circularly polarized portion of the circular polarizer 40 is transmitted by incident unpolarized light. In the sub-regions 39 of the security thread without phase delay layer 36, the right circularly polarized light from the metallic reflector layer 24 of the thin-film element 22 with the reverse polarization direction, ie as a left-circular polarized light reflected. The reflected left circularly polarized light is blocked by the circular polarizer 40, so that the partial areas 39 appear dark to the viewer.

In contrast, in the sub-regions 38 with phase delay layer, the right circularly polarized light is converted by the phase retardation layer 36 into linearly polarized light prior to reflection at the reflector layer 24. The unchanged linearly polarized, reflected light passes through the phase retardation layer 36 again and is thereby converted into right-circularly polarized light, which can pass through the circular polarizer 40 in the selected conditions without further notice. In the subregions 38, the pattern 30, 32 of the open security feature therefore appears to the viewer essentially unchanged as bright.

Applying a suitably oriented linear polarizer instead of a circular polarizer results in the inverse contrast ratios, as shown by analogy with the polarization of the incident and reflected light.

Of particular importance for the combinability of the two security features is the fact that the semi-transparent ink layer 34 largely preserves the polarization state of the transmitted light. This ensures that the pattern formed by the phase retardation layer 36 can be made equally visible in the covered and uncovered areas 30, 32.

For the production of the security thread 12 of the Fig. 2 For example, the microrelief structure and the semi-transparent ink layer 34 may be applied to a first carrier film and the phase retardation layer 36 may be applied to a second carrier film in the form of the desired pattern. The second carrier film is then transferred together with the phase retardation layer 36 by means of laminating adhesive 42 onto the microrelief structure with the semitransparent ink layer 34, and the second carrier film is then stripped off.

Another embodiment of the invention is in Fig. 4 shown. Unlike the design of the Fig. 2 In this exemplary embodiment, the phase retardation layer 36 lies below the semitransparent ink layer 34. The layer denoted by reference numeral 44 represents a transparent layer, for example an adhesive layer, a protective lacquer layer, a primer or the like. In addition, the semitransparent ink layer 34 is also covered with a protective lacquer layer 46 , Since the semi-transparent ink layer 34 largely preserves the polarization state of the transmitted light, the operation of the embodiment corresponds to Fig. 4 already at Fig. 2 described mode of action. Of course, transparent intermediate layers, such as the layers 44 or 46, also in the embodiment of the Fig. 2 be provided.

At the in Fig. 5 1, a transparent lacquer layer 48 is first applied to the microrelief structure, and the phase delay layer 36 and the semitransparent ink layer 34 are then printed thereon. The relative arrangement of the color layer regions 34-1 to 34-3 and the regions 38 with the phase delay layer 36 on the lacquer layer 48 are arbitrary.

Fig. 6 shows as a further embodiment of the invention, a color shift hologram in which the effects described above are combined with an optically variable thin-film element. The security element 50 of Fig. 6 contains in addition to those already in connection with the FIGS. 2 to 5 described elements a thin-film element 58 with color shift effect, which is applied to the embossed and cured UV lacquer layer 22.

The thin-film element 58 comprises a reflection layer 52 formed by an opaque aluminum layer, a vapor-deposited layer on the reflection layer dielectric SiO ₂ spacers 54 and a partially transparent absorber layer 56 made of chromium. As explained above, the color shift effect of such a thin-film element 58 is based on interferences of the light beams reflected by the sublayers 52, 54, 56. The reflection layer 52 of the thin-film element 58 simultaneously forms the metallization of the microrelief structure.

The absorber layer 56 of the thin-film element has in the exemplary embodiment recesses 60, in the region of which the thin-film element 58 has no color-shift effect due to the absence of interference. Subregions 34-1 and 34-2 of a semitransparent ink layer 34 are respectively applied in the recessed areas 60 of the absorber layer 56. In the idealized representation of the Fig. 6 The ink layer areas 34-1 and 34-2 end in registration with the recesses 60 of the absorber layer. Of course, in practice, the ink layer areas may slightly overlap the absorber, or the non-recessed absorber area may protrude slightly into the ink layer areas 34.

The thin-film element 58 and the ink layer regions 34-1 and 34-2 are now matched to one another such that they produce substantially the same color impression at certain viewing angles.

For example, when the security element 50 is tilted, the color impression of the thin-film element 58 changes from magenta when viewed perpendicularly to green when obliquely viewed. Coordinated therewith, the semi-transparent ink layer 34 is selected such that it gives a magenta color impression in the ink layer area 34-1 and a green color impression in the ink layer area 34-2. Unlike the thin-film element 58, the color impression of the ink layer areas 34-1 and 34-2 practically does not change when the security element 50 is tilted.

In the aforementioned design of the security element 50, when viewed perpendicularly, those areas 62 in which the thin-film element 58 is present without an applied color layer and without recesses in the absorber layer, and those areas 64 in which a magenta color layer 34-1 is present in the recesses 60, both have a very similar or even the same magenta color impression. Of these, the green color impression of the regions 66, in which a green color layer 34-2 is present in the recesses 60, clearly stands out.

If the observer now tilts the security element 50, the color impression of the thin-film element 58 changes from magenta to green as the tilt angle increases, while the color impression in the subregions 34-1 and 34-2 covered with the ink layer 34 remains unchanged. At a certain oblique viewing angle, those areas 62 in which the thin-film element 58 is present without applied ink layer and without recesses and those areas 66 in which the recesses 60 have a green color layer 34-2 mediate a very similar or even very similar same green color impression. Of these, the magenta color impression of the regions 64 clearly stands out from this viewing direction.

On the whole, the regions 66 which clearly protrude when viewed vertically occur visually in the background when the security element is tilted, while the regions 64, which are originally color-matched and thus inconspicuous, visually come to the fore when tilted. The areas 64, 66 may in particular be patterns, characters or Encodings that visually appear or disappear as the security element tilts.

The ink layer areas may also be present in non-recessed areas of the absorber layer 56 of the thin-film element 58. Unlike the completely color constant areas 34-1, 34-2 of Fig. 6 When the security element is tilted, the color impression of such areas varies to a certain extent, since the changing tilt color of the thin-film element then somewhat shines through the semitransparent ink layer. The extent of the color change can be determined by the degree of transparency of the semitransparent ink layer. Especially with small structures and compared to the adjacent, strongly farbkippenden areas a slightly lower color consistency for the viewer is virtually imperceptible.

The mentioned recesses in the reflection layers can also be grid-like, preferably with a small areal proportion of 40% or less. The recesses of the reflection layers are then practically not incident on reflected light, but only appear in transmitted light.

Claims (15)

1. A security element (12) for securing valuable articles, having

   - a metalized micro-relief pattern having pattern elements of a dimension below 30 µm,

   - a semitransparent ink layer (34) that is arranged over the micro-relief pattern in first regions (30) and exhibits multiple sub-regions (34-1, 34-2) having different color impressions,

   - a transparent phase-delay layer (36) that is arranged over the micro-relief pattern in second regions (38), and that forms a phase-shifting layer for light from the visible wavelength range and that is present in the form of characters, patterns or a code,

   - the semitransparent ink layer (34) exhibiting, in the visible spectral range, a transmittance between 30% and 95% and substantially preserving the polarization state of light passing through from the visible wavelength range.
2. The security element according to claim 1, characterized in that the semitransparent ink layer exhibits, in the visible spectral range, a transmittance between 60% and 95%, and preferably between 80% and 95%.
3. The security element according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the semi-transparent ink layer or its multicolored sub-regions is present in the form of characters, patterns or codes.
4. The security element according to at least one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the micro-relief pattern constitutes a diffractive pattern, such as a hologram, a holographic grating image or a hologram-like diffraction pattern, or an achromatic pattern, such as a matte pattern, a micromirror arrangement, a blazed grating having a saw-tooth-like groove profile, or a fresnel lens arrangement.
5. The security element according to at least one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that the metalization of the micro-relief pattern is formed by an opaque or a semitransparent metal layer, preferably by an opaque or a semitransparent aluminum layer.
6. The security element according to at least one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that the metalization of the micro-relief pattern exhibits gaps in the form of patterns, characters or codes that form transparent or translucent regions in the security element.
7. The security element according to at least one of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that the security element further exhibits a thin-film element having a color-shift effect, over which the semitransparent ink layer is arranged, the color impression of the thin-film element and the color impression of a least one sub-region of the semitransparent ink layer being adapted to one another when viewed under predetermined viewing conditions.
8. The security element according to claim 7, characterized in that the thin-film element includes a reflection layer formed by the metalization of the micro-relief pattern, an absorber layer, and a dielectric spacing layer arranged between the reflection layer and the absorber layer.
9. The security element according to claim 7 or 8, characterized in that the thin-film element includes an absorber layer having gaps in whose region no color-shift effect is perceptible, and in that, in the region of the gaps in the absorber layer, the semitransparent ink layer is arranged over the thin-film element.
10. A method for manufacturing a security element according to at least one of claims 1 to 9, in which

    - an embossing lacquer layer (22) is applied to a substrate and embossed and metalized in the form of a desired micro-relief pattern having pattern elements of a dimension below 30 µm,

    - a semitransparent ink layer (34) is arranged over the metalized micro-relief pattern in first regions (30) that exhibit multiple sub-regions (34-1, 34-2) having different color impressions,

    - in second regions (38) over the micro-relief pattern is arranged a transparent phase-delay layer (36) that forms a phase-shifting layer for light from the visible wavelength range and that is developed in the form of characters, patterns or a code,

    - the semitransparent ink layer (34) being developed in such a way that, in the visible spectral range, it exhibits a transmittance between 30% and 95% and substantially preserves the polarization state of light passing through from the visible wavelength range.
11. The method according to claim 10, characterized in that the phase-delay layer is printed over the micro-relief pattern and, if applicable, the ink layer.
12. The method according to claim 10, characterized in that the phase-delay layer is applied to a substrate foil and is transferred to the micro-relief pattern having the applied ink layer.
13. A security paper for manufacturing security or value documents, such as banknotes, checks, identification cards, certificates or the like, that is furnished with a security element according to at least one of claims 1 to 9.
14. A data carrier, especially a branded article, value document or the like, having a security element according to one of claims 1 to 9.
15. A use of a security element according to at least one of claims 1 to 9, of a security paper according to claim 13, or of a data carrier according to claim 14 for securing goods of any kind against counterfeiting.

Images