Optical information carrier

摘要

An optical information carrier is in the form of a composite laminate having a carrier foil (3). The underside (4) and the top side (5) of the carrier foil (3) are provided with optically effective structures. The structures on the top side (5) are microlenses (19) and allow light (11) impinging on the top side (5) to penetrate at least partially into the composite laminate. The carrier foil (3) has a thickness corresponding to the focal length of the microlenses (19) and is approximately transparent for light (11) in a predetermined spectral range. The structures on the underside (4) are microscopically fine relief structures (10) which are covered with a base layer (8) whose refractive index differs from the refractive index of the carrier foil (3) in at least a portion of the electromagnetic spectrum so that the structures on the underside (4) at least partially reflect and diffract the light (11) which has penetrated into the composite laminate. The reflected diffracted light (21) emerges through the microlenses (19) on the top side (5). The interplay of the two structures (6; 7) provides manifold characteristic optical effects. It is also possible in that way to produce optical storage means, retroreflectors and other security features, being well protected from foreign access.