# US 8,771,803 B2 · Method of applying a microstructure, mould and article with a microstructure > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 8,771,803 B2 - Document ID: US8771803B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 12/304,498 - Filed: 2007-06-13 - Published: 2009-12-03 - Granted: 2014-07-08 - Earliest claimed: 2006-06-27 - Assignees: Giesecke & Devrient GmbH - Applicants: Marius Dichtl - Inventors: Marius Dichtl - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US8771803B2 ## CPC - B41M 3/003: {on optical devices, e.g. lens elements; for the production of optical devices (production by thermal imaging means B41M5/265)} - B29D 11/00365: {Production of microlenses (lenticular sheets B29D11/00278)} - B41M 3/148: {Transitory images, i.e. images only visible from certain viewing angles} - G02B 3/0031: {Replication or moulding, e.g. hot embossing, UV-casting, injection moulding} - G02B 3/0056: {arranged along two different directions in a plane, e.g. honeycomb arrangement of lenses (G02B3/0043 takes precedence; miniaturised objectives for electronic devices employing wafer level optics G02B13/0085)} - G02B 5/201: {in the form of arrays} - G02B 27/60: Systems using moiré fringes - G02B 3/0006: {Arrays (G02B3/02, G02B5/188 take precedence)} - Y10T 428/24802: Discontinuous or differential coating, impregnation or bond [e.g., artwork, printing, retouched photograph, etc.] - Y10T 428/24934: including paper layer - B41M: PRINTING, DUPLICATING, MARKING, OR COPYING PROCESSES; COLOUR PRINTING, (correction of typographical errors B41J; processes for applying transfer pictures or the like B44C1/16; fluid media for correction of typographical errors by coating C09D10/00; printing textiles D06P) - B29D: PRODUCING PARTICULAR ARTICLES FROM PLASTICS OR FROM SUBSTANCES IN A PLASTIC STATE (making granules B29B9/00; making preforms B29B11/00) - G02B: OPTICAL ELEMENTS, SYSTEMS OR APPARATUS - Y10T: TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER US CLASSIFICATION ## Abstract The present invention relates to a method for applying a colored or colorless micropattern to a support, in which a) a die form (40) is prepared whose surface exhibits an arrangement of elevations (42) and depressions (44) in the form of the desired micropattern, b) the depressions (44) in the die form are filled with a curable colored or colorless lacquer (26), c) the support (20, 30) is pretreated for a good anchoring of the colored or colorless lacquer (26), d) the surface of the die form (40) is brought into contact with the support (20, 30), e) the lacquer (26) that is in contact with the support (20, 30) in the depressions in the die form (40) is cured and, in the process, joined with the support (20, 30), and f) the surface of the die form (40) is removed from the support (20, 30) again such that the cured lacquer (26) that is joined with the support (20, 30) is pulled out of the depressions (44) in the die form (40). ## Claims ### Claim 1 A method for applying a colored or colorless micropattern to a support, comprising the steps wherein a) a die form is provided whose surface exhibits an arrangement of elevations and depressions in the form of the desired micropattern, b) the depressions in the die form are filled with a curable colored or colorless lacquer, c) the support is pretreated for an anchoring of the colored or colorless lacquer, d) in each case, the filled section of the die form is introduced to the pretreated support and brought into contact with the support, e) the lacquer that is in contact with the support in the depressions in the die form is cured and, in the process, joined with the support, and f) the surface of the die form is removed from the support again such that the cured lacquer that is joined with the support is pulled out of the depressions in the die form; wherein the support comprises a transparent plastic foil or a paper layer; and wherein the micropattern is for use in a micro-optical moiré magnification arrangement, characterized in that the micropattern in the die form is formed by micropattern elements having a line width between about 1 μm and about 10 μm. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The method according to claim 1, characterized in that the depressions in the die form in step b) are filled with a radiation-curing lacquer and the lacquer cured in step e) by impingement with radiation. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The method according to claim 2, wherein the radiation is UV radiation. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The method according to claim 1, characterized in that the lacquer in the depressions in the die form is precured prior to the bringing-into-contact in step d). ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The method according to claim 1, characterized in that, in step c), the support is pretreated in that a curable lacquer layer is applied to the support as a backing layer and, in step e), the backing layer is cured together with the lacquer in the depressions in the die form. ### Claim 6 (depends on 5) The method according to claim 5, characterized in that the backing layer is precured prior to the bringing-into-contact in step d). ### Claim 7 (depends on 5) The method according to claim 5, wherein the backing layer is colored. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The method according to claim 1, characterized in that a radiation-curing lacquer layer is applied as a backing layer and, in step e), the backing layer is cured together with the lacquer in the depressions in the die form by impingement with radiation. ### Claim 9 (depends on 8) The method according to claim 8, wherein the radiation is UV radiation. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The method according to claim 1, characterized in that the support in step c) is pretreated in that an adhesive layer is applied to the support as a backing layer. ### Claim 11 (depends on 1) The method according to claim 1, further comprising the step of applying a backing layer to the support. ### Claim 12 (depends on 1) The method according to claim 1, characterized in that any excess of colored or colorless lacquer in step b) is removed by a doctor blade or dampening cylinder. ### Claim 13 (depends on 1) The method according to claim 1, characterized in that the micropattern in the die form is formed by micropattern elements having a pattern depth between about 1 μm and about 20 μm. ### Claim 14 (depends on 1) The method according to claim 1, characterized in that the micropattern is applied to the support having a thickness between about 5 μm and about 50 μm. ### Claim 15 (depends on 1) The method according to claim 1, characterized in that, as the micropattern, a motif image composed of a planar periodic or at least locally periodic arrangement of a plurality of micromotif elements is applied. ### Claim 16 (depends on 15) The method according to claim 15, characterized in that the lateral dimensions of the micromotif elements are between about 5 μm and about 50 μm. ### Claim 17 (depends on 15) The method according to claim 15, characterized in that the opposing side of the support is provided with a planar periodic or at least locally periodic arrangement of a plurality of microfocusing elements for the moiré-magnified viewing of the micromotif elements of the motif image. ### Claim 18 (depends on 1) The method according to claim 1, characterized in that the micropattern elements are formed in sub-groups that, when viewed, each produce the impression of a mixed color. ### Claim 19 (depends on 1) The method according to claim 1, characterized in that the support having the applied micropattern is furnished with one or more functional layers for use as a security element for security papers or value documents. ### Claim 20 (depends on 1) The method according to claim 1, characterized in that the micropattern applied to the support is provided with a transparent overcoating. ### Claim 21 (depends on 1) The method according to claim 1, characterized in that the support having the applied micropattern is furnished to be capable of heat sealing. ### Claim 22 (depends on 1) The method according to claim 1, wherein the micropattern is formed having micromotif elements having two or more different colors.