Document

Claim 2

A document having a macroscopic structure (7) which is impressed over a large area and which has a diffraction-optical effect and which is composed of numerous surface portions (8, 9, 10) with predetermined relief structures (12, 12′) having a diffraction-optical effect, with spatial frequencies of more than 10 lines /mm, wherein each surface portion (8, 9, 10) differs in its relief structure (12, 12′) from those of the directly adjoining surface portion (8, 9, 10), characterised in that at least one group (8, 9) of the surface portions (8, 9, 10) is of a largest dimension of less than 0.3 mm.

Claim 3

A document according to claim 1 characterised in that those surface portions (8, 9) whose largest dimension is less than 0.3 mm are in the shape of a geometrical figure, a character, a digit or the like.

Claim 4

A document according to claim 1 or claim 2 characterised in that when viewed with the naked human eye it has at least one visually perceptible, straight or curved line (14) which is composed of those surface portions (8, 9) whose largest dimension is less than 0.3 mm and that said surface portions (8, 9) are disposed in a row, wherein the spacing thereof is less than 0.3 mm.

Claim 5

A document according to claim 3 characterised in that visually perceptible lines (14) and/or points (13), when viewed with the naked human eye, form a predetermined pattern (15).

Claim 6

A document according to one of the preceding claims characterised in that the optically effective structure (7) is impressed into an adhesive foil which is stuck on to an item (6) to be safeguarded.

Claim 7

A document according to one of claims 1 to 4 characterised in that the optically effective structure (7) is impressed into a layer which is applied by a printing process.

Claim 8

A process for the production of a master structure which serves for the galvanic shaping of pressing punches for impressing documents according to one of claims 1 to 6 and which is produced in a thermoplastic cover layer (19) which absorbs electromagnetic radiation (21), on a carrier (17) which is transparent to the electromagnetic radiation (21), wherein the cover layer (19) is elastically deformed by means of an unheated die (18) pressed thereagainst, with a predetermined microscopic microstructure (28), and wherein the radiation (21) which is controlled in its intensity and which is focussed on to the cover layer (19) through a support (25) and the carrier (17) provides that the cover layer (19) is locally temporarily melted, local plastic deformation occurs and the microstructure (28) with a diffraction-optical effect is transferred as a permanent image on to the cover layer (19) in a surface element (16), characterised in that the surface of the die with the microstructure (28) is uniformly pressed on to the entire cover layer (19), that the rear side of the die (18) is supported by means of a flexible intermediate layer (29) against a pressure-producing means (26), that substantially the entire surface of the cover layer (19) is elastically deformed and that it is only after the transfer of a predetermined number of surface portions (8, 9, 10) that the die (18) is turned about its axis (30), laterally displaced or replaced by a die (18) with another microstructure (28).

Claim 9

A process according to claim 7 characterised in that the image of an aperture disposed in the modulator (22) is formed on the cover layer (19) by means of the radiation (21) and the focussing means (23) and thereby the cover layer (19) is heated at an irradiated location of the image of the aperture.

Claim 10

A process according to claim 7 characterised in that the radiation (21) is projected by means of the focussing means (23) on to the cover layer (19) at a focal point and thereby the cover layer (19) is heated at the irradiated location.

Claim 11

A process according to one of claims 8 and 9 characterised in that the irradiated location is displaced in the plane of the cover layer (19) by means of a beam deflection device (24) and that the microstructure (28) is successively transferred in surface elements (16) on to the cover layer (19) at predetermined locations.

Claim 12

A process according to one of claims 8 and 9 characterised in that a relative movement is produced between an irradiation source (31) and an assembly (32) by means of a controllable drive, that the irradiated location is displaced in the plane of the cover layer (19) and that the microstructure (28) is successively transferred in surface elements (16) on to the cover layer (19) at predetermined locations.

Claim 13

A process according to one of claims 8 to 11 characterised in that the radiation (21) is simultaneously absorbed in a predetermined number of surface portions (8, 9, 10) in the cover layer (19) and that the same microstructure (28) is simultaneously transferred in the surface portions (8, 9, 10) on to the cover layer (19) at predetermined locations.