Patent ID: 7680274

Claim:
A security element comprising: a layer composite including a surface pattern with microscopically fine optically effective structures embedded between transparent layers of the layer composite, wherein the optically effective structures are shaped into a reflecting interface in surface portions of a security feature in a plane of the surface pattern, which plane is defined by co-ordinate axes (x; y), wherein at least one of the surface portions having a dimension greater than 0.4 mm comprises a diffraction structure, the diffraction structure formed by additive or subtractive superimposition of a superimposition function (M) and a microscopically fine relief profile (R) that follows along the superimposition function (M), wherein the superimposition function (M), the relief profile (R) and the diffraction structure are functions of the co-ordinate axes (x; y); the relief profile (R) defined by a light-diffracting or light-scattering, optically effective structure which is unchanged in a region of the superimposition function (M); and the superimposition function (M) defined by a macroscopic structure, wherein a central surface defined by the superimposition function (M) is curved at least in partial regions and at any point has an angle of inclination predetermined by a gradient of the superimposition function (M), wherein the superimposition function (M) is not a periodic triangular or rectangular function and wherein the superimposition function (M) varies less than the relief profile (R) at least in the partial regions.