A security device comprises a transparent, colored element in a first region of the device and in a surface of which a first optically variable effect generating relief structure is formed. A reflection enhancing layer extends over the first optically variable effect generating relief microstructure and follows the contour of the relief, the reflection enhancing layer also being provided in a second region of the device laterally offset from the first region.

A stereoscopic pattern apparatus includes a base roller and a retrieving roller, a fine pattern hardening roller, an ink inserting roller and a convex pattern hardening roller. The base roller and the retrieving roller respectively provide and retrieve a base film. The fine pattern hardening roller is disposed between the base and retrieving rollers, and forms a lower hardening layer on the base film. A fine pattern is formed on the lower hardening layer. The ink inserting roller is disposed between the fine pattern hardening roller and the retrieving roller, and inserts an ink into the fine pattern. The convex pattern hardening roller is disposed between the ink inserting roller and the retrieving roller, and forms an upper hardening layer on the lower hardening layer. A convex lens is uniformly formed on the upper hardening layer.

A method and an apparatus (10) for generating a three-dimensional work piece containing an information code are provided. The method comprises the steps of applying a raw material powder (18) onto a carrier (14) by means of a powder application device (16), irradiating electromagnetic or particle radiation (22) onto the raw material powder (18) applied onto the carrier (14) by means of an irradiation device (20), and controlling the operation of the powder application device (16) and the irradiation device (20) so as to generate an information code pattern (36) on or in the work piece (12), wherein the information code pattern (36) is defined by the microstructure (34) of the work piece (12).

A method and an apparatus (10) for generating a three-dimensional work piece containing an information code are provided. The method comprises the steps of applying a raw material powder (18) onto a carrier (14) by means of a powder application device (16), irradiating electromagnetic or particle radiation (22) onto the raw material powder (18) applied onto the carrier (14) by means of an irradiation device (20), and controlling the operation of the powder application device (16) and the irradiation device (20) so as to generate an information code pattern (36) on or in the work piece (12), wherein the information code pattern (36) is defined by the microstructure (34) of the work piece (12).

A deposition device may deposit, on a substrate, a binder layer that includes a first set of magnetic flakes and a second set of magnetic flakes and may cause, when a temperature of the binder layer satisfies a temperature threshold (e.g., a Curie temperature of the first set of magnetic flakes), a magnetic field to be applied to the binder layer to cause the first set of magnetic flakes and the second set of magnetic flakes to be oriented according to the magnetic field. The deposition device may cause, when the temperature of the binder layer ceases to satisfy the temperature threshold, another magnetic field to be applied to the binder layer to cause only the second set of magnetic flakes to be oriented according to the other magnetic field.

A deposition device may deposit, on a substrate, a binder layer that includes a first set of magnetic flakes and a second set of magnetic flakes and may cause, when a temperature of the binder layer satisfies a temperature threshold (e.g., a Curie temperature of the first set of magnetic flakes), a magnetic field to be applied to the binder layer to cause the first set of magnetic flakes and the second set of magnetic flakes to be oriented according to the magnetic field. The deposition device may cause, when the temperature of the binder layer ceases to satisfy the temperature threshold, another magnetic field to be applied to the binder layer to cause only the second set of magnetic flakes to be oriented according to the other magnetic field.

A transaction card includes at least one metal layer having one or more apertures therein. A light guide is disposed beneath the metal layer. The light guide has a light output and a light input. The light output is positioned to transmit light through at least the one or more apertures of the metal layer. At least one LED is positioned to transmit light into the light guide light input.

The present invention relates to the technical field of varnishes for protecting security documents, such as banknotes, against premature detrimental influence of soil and/or moisture upon use and time. In particular, the present invention provides a hybrid UV-LED radiation curable protective varnish comprising: a) from about 60 wt-% to about 85 wt-% of either a cycloaliphatic epoxide, or a mixture of a cycloaliphatic epoxide and one or more cationically curable monomers other than the cycloaliphatic epoxide; b) from about 3 wt-% to about 15 wt-% of one or more radically curable monomers and/or oligomers; c) from about 1 wt-% to about 6 wt-% of a diaryl iodonium salt; d) from about 0.5 wt-% to about 3 wt-% of a free radical photoinitiator selected from the group consisting of alpha-hydroxyketones, alpha-alkoxyketones, benzyl diketals, benzoin ethers, phosphine oxides, phenylglyoxylates, and mixtures thereof; e) from about 0.01 wt-% to about 5 wt-% of a non-ionic surfactant; and f) a photosensitizer of general formula (I)

##STR00001##

wherein the weight percents are based on the total weight of the hybrid UV-LED radiation curable protective varnish.

The present invention relates to the technical field of varnishes for protecting security documents, such as banknotes, against premature detrimental influence of soil and/or moisture upon use and time. In particular, the present invention provides a hybrid UV-LED radiation curable protective varnish comprising: a) from about 60 wt-% to about 85 wt-% of either a cycloaliphatic epoxide, or a mixture of a cycloaliphatic epoxide and one or more cationically curable monomers other than the cycloaliphatic epoxide; b) from about 3 wt-% to about 15 wt-% of one or more radically curable monomers and/or oligomers; c) from about 1 wt-% to about 6 wt-% of a diaryl iodonium salt; d) from about 0.5 wt-% to about 3 wt-% of a free radical photoinitiator selected from the group consisting of alpha-hydroxyketones, alpha-alkoxyketones, benzyl diketals, benzoin ethers, phosphine oxides, phenylglyoxylates, and mixtures thereof; e) from about 0.01 wt-% to about 5 wt-% of a non-ionic surfactant; and f) a photosensitizer of general formula (I)

##STR00001##

wherein the weight percents are based on the total weight of the hybrid UV-LED radiation curable protective varnish.

An optically variable security element for securing valuable articles that viewing-angle-dependently displays a motif having at least one curve depiction that, from a first viewing direction, is visible as an initial curve having two or more connected, non-collinear segments and that, when the security element is tilted about a predetermined axis, splits into the individual segments in that the segments of the initial curve move alternatingly in different directions away from the initial curve. Each of the segments has associated with it one movement segment in the form of a sub-region of an areal motif region, such that, from the first viewing direction, the segments display the initial curve having the connected segments and that, from viewing directions tilted about the predetermined axis, they display curve depictions in which, with increasing tilt angle, the segments lie alternatingly in different directions increasingly further away from the initial curve.