US 6,982,832 B2
Optically variable element comprising a sequence of thin-film layers
Heinrich Wild, Herzogenaurach (Germany); and Ludwig Brehm, Adelsdorf (Germany)
Assigned to Leonard Kurz GmbH & Co. KG, Furth (Germany)
Appl. No. 10/513,521
PCT Filed Apr. 17, 2003, PCT No. PCT/EP03/04023
§ 371(c)(1), (2), (4) Date Dec. 06, 2004,
PCT Pub. No. WO03/095228, PCT Pub. Date Nov. 20, 2003.
Claims priority of application No. 02010745 (EP), filed on May 14, 2002.
Prior Publication US 2005/0141094 A1, Jun. 30, 2005
Int. Cl. G02B 27/00 (2006.01)
U.S. Cl. 359—586 30 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. An optically variable element comprising:
a thin film in the form of a partial thin film element for producing color change by means of interference, and
a further layer comprising a surface region,
wherein the partial thin film element comprises a surface region and a transparent spacer layer having a thickness which produces a color change, and wherein the partial thin film element covers the surface region of the further layer in a region-wise and pattern-shaped manner.