SURFACE PATTERN WITH AT LEAST TWO DIFFERENT LIGHT-DIFFRACTING RELIEF STRUCTURES FOR OPTICAL SECURITY ELEMENTS

摘要

The invention concerns a surface pattern (1) with at least two part areas (15; 16) comprising microscopically fine light-diffracting relief structures. The edging around the two part areas (15; 16) forms information ("V") which, when illuminated with unpolarized light and viewed without polarizing devices cannot be recognized or can only be recognized with difficulty, and which, when illuminated in a predetermined direction with unpolarized light and viewed with polarizing devices from a viewing direction dependent on the illumination direction can be recognized comparatively clearly. The relief structures in the two part areas (15; 16) are grids with different profile heights and/or profile shapes having an optical effect. Surface patterns of this type are suitable as optical security features for protecting identity cards or objects of all kinds.