Optically variable security element

1. An optically variable security element for security papers, value documents and other data carriers, comprising:

a single or multilayer central body having opposing first and second main surfaces;

an arrangement, arranged on the first main surface of the central body, of microlenses of the same kind whose refractive effect defines a focal plane;

a laser-sensitive recording layer arranged on the second main surface of the central body,

a mask layer that is arranged between the arrangement of microlenses and the laser-sensitive recording layer and outside of the focal plane of the microlenses, and

a plurality of micromarks produced in the laser-sensitive recording layer by the action of laser radiation, each micromark being associated with a microlens and being visible when the security element is viewed through the associated microlens,

the mask layer comprising a macroscopic gap region that is in register with the plurality of micromarks.

2. The security element according to claim 1 , wherein the mask layer is a laser-sensitive mask layer in which the gap region is produced by the action of laser radiation.

3. The security element according to claim 1 , wherein the mask layer is a laser-absorbing or laser-reflecting mask layer constituting a printing layer.

4. The security element according to claim 1 , wherein the mask layer is arranged on the first main surface of the central body between the central body and the arrangement of microlenses.

5. The security element according to claim 1 , wherein the central body consists of two or more sub-layers and the mask layer is arranged between two sub-layers of the central body.

6. The security element according to claim 1 , wherein the gap region of the mask layer extends continuously across multiple microlenses.

7. The security element according to claim 1 , wherein the gap region of the mask layer extends across multiple microlenses, there being present between adjacent microlenses mask partitions whose dimensions lie below the resolution limit of the human eye.

8. The security element according to claim 1 , wherein the distance between adjacent micromarks is equal to the distance between the microlenses associated with the adjacent micromarks.

9. The security element according to claim 1 , wherein the distance of the focal plane from a microlens plane defines a focal length, and the distance of the mask layer from the focal plane lies between 40% and 100% of the focal length.

10. The security element according to claim 1 , wherein the mask layer comprises a surface-enlarging relief pattern.

11. The security element according to claim 1 , wherein between the mask layer and the recording layer is arranged a laser-absorption layer that, in the visible spectral range has a transmission of more than 90%, and/or that, in the infrared spectral range, has an absorption of more than 20%.

12. The security element according to claim 1 , wherein the micromarks are formed by microholes in the recording layer, by substantially circular microholes or by pattern-shaped microholes.

13. The security element according to claim 1 , wherein the micromarks are each smaller than the associated microlenses, in that the area ratio of micromarks and associated microlenses lies below 1.0.

14. The security element according to claim 1 , wherein the micromarks are introduced through the arrangement of microlenses into the recording layer from at least two different directions with laser radiation, and are perceptible when viewed from a respective one of said at least two different directions.

15. A data carrier having a security element according to claim 1 .

16. The data carrier according to claim 15 , wherein the security element is arranged in or over a window region or a through opening in the data carrier.

17. A method for manufacturing an optically variable security element for security papers, value documents and other data carriers, in which:

a single or multilayer central body having opposing first and second main surfaces is provided, there being arranged on the first main surface of the substrate an arrangement of microlenses of the same kind whose refractive effect defines a focal plane;

a laser-sensitive recording layer is arranged on the second main surface of the substrate;

a mask layer is arranged between the arrangement of microlenses and the laser-sensitive recording layer and outside of the focal plane of the microlenses; and

the mask layer is developed having, or is provided with, a macroscopic gap region,

a plurality of micromarks is produced in the laser-sensitive recording layer by the action of laser radiation that passes through the gap region of the mask layer, each micromark being associated with a microlens and being visible when the security element is viewed through the associated microlens;

it being ensured through these manufacturing steps that the macroscopic gap region of the mask layer and the plurality of micromarks are arranged in register with each other.

18. The method according to claim 17 , wherein the macroscopic gap region in the mask layer and the micromarks in the laser-sensitive recording layer are produced in the same operation by the same laser beam.

19. The method according to claim 17 , wherein the mask layer having the gap region is imprinted on, the central body or a sub-layer of the central body to produce an exposure mask, and in that the micromarks in the laser-sensitive recording layer are produced in a subsequent operation by impinging on the mask layer having the gap region with laser radiation.