Optically variable magnetic stripe assembly

1. An optically variable magnetic stripe assembly comprising a magnetic layer; an optically variable effect generating layer over the magnetic layer; and a metallic reflecting layer adjacent the optically variable effect generating layer and comprising an array of spaced metallic regions shaped as regular polygons.

2. The assembly according to claim 1 , wherein each polygon has at least four sides, preferably six or eight sides.

3. The assembly according to claim 1 , wherein the metallic regions are separated by an insulating material.

4. The assembly according to claim 3 , wherein the insulating material has a resistance greater than 10e10 Ohms/sq.

5. The assembly according to claim 1 , wherein all the metallic regions have the same shape.

6. The assembly according to claim 1 , wherein the regions are arranged in a regular array.

7. The assembly according to claim 1 , wherein a pitch between adjacent regions does not exceed 500 microns.

8. The assembly according to claim 1 , wherein the spacing between the adjacent regions varies across the magnetic layer.

9. The assembly according to claim 8 , wherein the magnetic layer comprises an elongate strip, the spacing between metallic regions varying along the length of the strip.

10. The assembly according to claim 9 , wherein the spacing between adjacent regions varies in a non-linear manner.

11. The assembly according to claim 1 , wherein the optically variable effect generating layer generates an image or images with varying resolution or information density.

12. The assembly according to claim 11 , wherein the regions are arranged in a regular array, and wherein the spacing between adjacent regions is smaller in relation to those regions in alignment with an image with relatively high resolution or relatively high information density and is larger in alignment with an image with relatively low resolution or relatively low information density.

13. The assembly according to claim 1 , wherein a first spacing between one side of the metallic region and a region adjacent said one side is different from a second spacing between another side of the metallic region and a region adjacent said other side.

14. The assembly according to claim 1 , wherein the optically variable effect generating layer generates an image or images with varying resolution or information density, and wherein a spacing between the metallic regions decreases at a faster rate in one dimension along the magnetic layer than in another dimension, the one dimension extending between areas of low and high resolution images or low and high density of information content.

15. The assembly according to claim 1 , wherein the spacing between adjacent metallic regions is in the range 20-150 microns.

16. The assembly according to claim 15 , wherein the first spacing is in the range 55-150 μm, preferably 65-100 μm, and the second spacing is no more than 50 μm.

17. The assembly according to claim 1 , wherein the metallic reflecting layer is located between the optically variable effect generating layer and the magnetic layer.

18. The assembly according to claim 1 , wherein the optically variable effect generating layer is a surface relief microstructure.

19. The assembly according to claim 1 , wherein the optically variable effect generating layer defines one of a hologram and diffraction grating.

20. A security document provided with an optically variable magnetic stripe assembly according to claim 1 .

21. The security document according to claim 20 , the security document comprising a payment or identity document including any one of at least a credit card, debit card, cheque card, ticket, savings book or banknote.