A security element (1) for a security paper, value document or the like, having a carrier (8) which has an areal region (3) which is divided into a multiplicity of pixels (4) which respectively includes at least one optically active facet (5), whereby the majority of the pixels (4) respectively have several of the optically active facets (5) of identical orientation per pixel (4), and the facets (5) are so oriented that the areal region (3) is perceptible to a viewer as an area that protrudes and/or recedes relative to its actual spatial form.

A security element (1) for a security paper, value document or the like, having a carrier (8) which has an areal region (3) which is divided into a multiplicity of pixels (4) which respectively includes at least one optically active facet (5), whereby the majority of the pixels (4) respectively have several of the optically active facets (5) of identical orientation per pixel (4), and the facets (5) are so oriented that the areal region (3) is perceptible to a viewer as an area that protrudes and/or recedes relative to its actual spatial form.

Optical device, and preferably a security device for a security document, and methods for the production thereof, the device including a diffractive optical element (DOE) including a plurality of subregions, wherein each subregion is configured to produce a projected image corresponding to a frame of an animation, wherein the animation includes both a static component and a variable component, and wherein the sub-regions are arranged such that when the DOE is illuminated by a point light source and moved in at least one direction, the animation is viewable as a projected image.

There is provided a versatile optical element applicable both to an electrode layer required in a bank bill field and to an optical element required in an ID field. In an optical element (1) according to one embodiment of the present invention, a first layer (2) is arranged on a second layer (3) having a relief structure on a surface thereof, and a first region (4) and a second region (5) are provided. Electromagnetic waves incident at a preset specific angle from a side of the first layer (2) are totally reflected due to at least one of the relief structure in the first region (4) and a ratio of a refractive index of the second layer (3) with respect to a refractive index of the first layer (2), the electromagnetic waves incident at the specific angle from the side of the first layer (2) are not totally reflected but transmitted or refracted due to at least one of the relief structure in the second region (5) and the ratio of the refractive index of the second layer (3) with respect to the refractive index of the first layer (2), and only in case of observation performed from the specific angle on the first layer (2) side, the second region (5) has higher transparency than the first region (4), and a preset image is expressed by a transparency contrast therebetween.

There is provided a versatile optical element applicable both to an electrode layer required in a bank bill field and to an optical element required in an ID field. In an optical element (1) according to one embodiment of the present invention, a first layer (2) is arranged on a second layer (3) having a relief structure on a surface thereof, and a first region (4) and a second region (5) are provided. Electromagnetic waves incident at a preset specific angle from a side of the first layer (2) are totally reflected due to at least one of the relief structure in the first region (4) and a ratio of a refractive index of the second layer (3) with respect to a refractive index of the first layer (2), the electromagnetic waves incident at the specific angle from the side of the first layer (2) are not totally reflected but transmitted or refracted due to at least one of the relief structure in the second region (5) and the ratio of the refractive index of the second layer (3) with respect to the refractive index of the first layer (2), and only in case of observation performed from the specific angle on the first layer (2) side, the second region (5) has higher transparency than the first region (4), and a preset image is expressed by a transparency contrast therebetween.

The present invention relates to an optically variable security element for securing valuable articles, having a substrate having opposing first and second main surfaces and, arranged on the first main surface, an optically variable pattern that comprises an embossing pattern and a coating. The coating comprises at least one imprinted line grid and a background layer that contrasts with the line grid. The embossing pattern comprises a two-dimensional grid of elevated and/or depressed embossing elements. Both are combined in such a way that substantially on every embossing element lies at least one line segment of a line in the line grid, and at least one of the parameters position of the line segment on the embossing element, orientation of the line segment on the embossing element and form of the line segment varies location dependently across the dimension of the optically variable pattern. Due to the line grid, a movement effect, especially a pump or rotation effect, is created when the security element is tilted.

Provided is a data carrier comprising a card body, wherein the card body is configured to interact with impinging electromagnetic radiation (R) such, that a laser marking (M1) having a first appearance (A1) is generated in the card body in the region of impingement. The data carrier further comprises at least one protection element that is configured to interact with impinging electromagnetic radiation (R) such, that a laser marking (M2) having a second appearance (A2) is generated in the card body, wherein said second appearance (A2) differs from the first appearance (A1).

A display body includes a first surface, a second surface, a first optical component, and a second optical component. The first surface includes a first optical surface and a second optical surface. First light is incident on the first surface from an observation side. The second surface is located opposite to the observation side with respect to the first surface. Second light is incident on the second surface from a side opposite to the observation side with respect to the second surface. The first optical component forms first information, which is displayed on the observation side, from the first light received on the first optical surface. The second optical component receives the second light transmitted through the second surface, forms second information, which is displayed on the observation side, from the second light, and emits the second information from the second optical surface.

Techniques for electronic signature process management are described. Some embodiments provide an electronic signature service (“ESS”) configured to manage electronic identity cards. In some embodiments, the ESS generates and manages an electronic identity card for a user, based on personal information of the user, activity information related to the user's actions with respect to the ESS, and/or social networking information related to the user. The electronic identity card of a signer may be associated with an electronic document signed via the ESS, so that users may obtain information about the signer of the document. The ESS may also generate a trust score for the user based on activity information related to the user's actions with respect to the ESS and/or other factors. The trust score may be used to recommend authentication mechanisms to use with respect to electronic signature transactions.

Techniques for electronic signature process management are described. Some embodiments provide an electronic signature service (“ESS”) configured to manage electronic identity cards. In some embodiments, the ESS generates and manages an electronic identity card for a user, based on personal information of the user, activity information related to the user's actions with respect to the ESS, and/or social networking information related to the user. The electronic identity card of a signer may be associated with an electronic document signed via the ESS, so that users may obtain information about the signer of the document. The ESS may also generate a trust score for the user based on activity information related to the user's actions with respect to the ESS and/or other factors. The trust score may be used to recommend authentication mechanisms to use with respect to electronic signature transactions.