Security device

A security device comprising:

• a plurality of diffractive surface elements arranged on a carrier element;
• wherein a surface covered by the diffractive surface elements on the carrier element occupy at least a partial region of the carrier element;
• wherein each individual diffractive surface element has a three-dimensional surface structure;
• wherein a portion of the plurality of the diffractive surface elements form a first surface element group comprising the portion of the plurality of diffractive surface elements, and an orientation of the diffractive surface elements in the first surface element group are matched to each other wherein they make a first image point of an associated first symbol to be represented visible to an observer under particular observation conditions;
• wherein a plurality of additional surface element groups each make a respective additional image point of the first symbol to be represented visible;
• wherein the first symbol comprises a sum of all image points represented by the first surface element group and the plurality of additional surface element groups;
• wherein a movement of the first symbol, which is continuous for the observer in an observation space, is perceived by a continuous change in an angle of incidence of light or an observation angle;
• wherein a plurality of symbols having a same light intensity are perceived by the observer;
• wherein perceived movement patterns of the plurality of symbols can be in opposition;
• wherein the plurality of the symbols are perceived to move towards each other as the observation angle becomes smaller;
• and
• wherein a plurality of identical copies of each of the plurality of symbols is generated by different diffractive orders of the diffractive surface elements.

A security device comprising:

• a plurality of diffractive surface elements arranged on a carrier element;
• wherein a surface covered by the diffractive surface elements on the carrier element occupy at least a partial region of the carrier element;
• wherein each individual diffractive surface element has a three-dimensional surface structure;
• wherein a portion of the plurality of the diffractive surface elements form a first surface element group comprising the portion of the plurality of diffractive surface elements, and an orientation of the diffractive surface elements in the first surface element group are matched to each other wherein they make a first image point of an associated first symbol to be represented visible to an observer under particular observation conditions;
• wherein a plurality of additional surface element groups each make a respective additional image point of the first symbol to be represented visible;
• wherein the first symbol comprises a sum of all image points represented by the first surface element group and the plurality of additional surface element groups;
• wherein a movement of the first symbol, which is continuous for the observer in an observation space, is perceived by a continuous change in an angle of incidence of light or an observation angle;
• wherein the first symbol is configured to be perceived by the observer to have a distorted curved path responsive to the continuous change in the angle of incidence of the light or the observation angle;
• and
• wherein a plurality of identical copies of the first symbol is generated by different diffractive orders of the diffractive surface elements.

A method of producing a security device, comprising:

• arranging a plurality of diffractive surface elements on a carrier element;
• wherein a surface covered by the diffractive surface elements on the carrier element occupy at least a partial region of the carrier element;
• wherein each individual diffractive surface element has a three-dimensional surface structure;
• wherein a portion of the plurality of the diffractive surface elements form a first surface element group comprising the portion of the plurality of diffractive surface elements, and an orientation of the diffractive surface elements in the first surface element group are matched to each other wherein together they make precisely a single first image point of an associated first symbol to be represented visible to an observer under particular observation conditions;
• wherein a location of the first image point in an observation space is variable and, after a change in an angle of incidence of a light or an observation angle, the first image point is formed by diffractive surface elements of a same first surface element group;
• wherein a plurality of additional surface element groups each make a respective additional image point of the first symbol to be represented visible;
• wherein the first symbol comprises a sum of all image points represented by the first surface element group and the plurality of additional surface element groups;
• wherein a movement of the first symbol, which is continuous for the observer in an observation space, is perceived by a continuous change in an angle of incidence of light or an observation angle;
• and
• wherein a plurality of identical copies of the first symbol is generated by different diffractive orders of the diffractive surface elements.