3-corner Retroreflective (i.e., Cube Corner, Trihedral, Or Triple Reflector Type) Patents (Class 359/529)
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Patent number: 8651674Abstract: A method of assembling a retroreflective device comprising arranging a first, a second, and a third reflective surface normal to one another; observing an angular relationship between the reflective surfaces; adjusting the angular relationship between the reflective surfaces; and adjoining the reflective surfaces with supporting members and an adhesive, wherein the supporting members are of substantially the same material as the substrate of the reflective surfaces, have a cross-sectional shape that is complimentary to the edges of the reflective surfaces, and are arranged along the adjacent edges of the reflective surfaces.Type: GrantFiled: May 11, 2011Date of Patent: February 18, 2014Assignee: IMACC, LLCInventors: Robert L. Spellicy, Mark A. Sloss
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Patent number: 8591035Abstract: A display device includes a projector, a Fresnel lens converting a projected light from the projector into a nearly parallelized light, a screen with light reflectivity on which an image by the projected light from the projector is generated, and a retrotransmissive material forming another image of an image located on one side of an element plane in a position in a space on the other side of the element plane such that the image and the other image are symmetric with respect to the element plane. The retrotransmissive material forms an image by a light that has obliquely entered the element plane, such that a position from which the light has obliquely entered the element plane and a position in which the image is formed are symmetric with respect to the element plane, and thereby forms a real image of the image on the screen.Type: GrantFiled: February 24, 2012Date of Patent: November 26, 2013Assignee: Seiko Epson CorporationInventor: Kunio Yoneno
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Patent number: 8585222Abstract: This describes an enhanced retro-reflector that is designed to be a retro-reflector of non-visible light, but not visible, and can be designed to resemble common dust or dirt in the visible spectra. As the beads retro-reflect very little visible light they are not easily seen in visible light; thus they are difficult to counterfeit.Type: GrantFiled: September 8, 2011Date of Patent: November 19, 2013Assignee: TIA Systems, Inc.Inventors: Robert Bernath, Richard Stoltz, Jeff Bullington
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Patent number: 8541095Abstract: Disclosed herein are an anti-counterfeiting film and process for preparation thereof. The anti-counterfeiting film comprises a directional retroreflective layer (1), an optical-angle-based color-changing information layer (2), a reflective layer (3) and a support layer (4) which are combined in this turn. The support layer (4) is made of a polymer resin material, the reflective layer (3) is made of a material with high reflectivity and has a thickness of nanoscale, the information layer (2) is made of an optical-angle-based color-changing chiral polymer material having a helical structure or made of an optical-angle-based color-changing cellulose material. The optical-angle-based color-changing chiral polymer material having a helical structure is a condensation product of a chiral compound and a compound with functional group. The optical-angle-based color-changing cellulose material is composed of a cellulose derivative and a polymerisable monomer.Type: GrantFiled: July 29, 2008Date of Patent: September 24, 2013Assignee: Shanghai Techsun Anti-Counterfeiting Technology Holding Co., Ltd.Inventors: Liangheng Xu, Kai Yang
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Patent number: 8517546Abstract: An object of the invention is to provide a multi-directional cube corner retroreflective article (may be referred to as a retroreflective article, hereinafter) capable of improving entrance angle characteristic and rotation angle characteristic. A multi-directional cube corner retroreflective article, wherein a large number of retroreflective element assemblies, each of which is formed by assembling triangular pyramidal cube corner retroreflective elements each having an isosceles-triangular base (ABC) and an element apex (H) while sharing an apex (C) and base lines of equal length (AC and BC) of the base, are connected, and a shape of an outer circumference of each of the retroreflective element assemblies is a regular polygon and the bases of at least two of the triangular pyramidal cube corner retroreflective elements are not parallel to a common plane including the outer circumference.Type: GrantFiled: March 31, 2009Date of Patent: August 27, 2013Assignee: Nippon Carbide Industries Co., Inc.Inventor: Ikuo Mimura
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Publication number: 20130215509Abstract: In cube-corner retroreflective sheeting 3, cube-corner retroreflective elements in at least two mutually adjacent regions A and B rotate with each other around an axis perpendicular to the sheeting, in which cube-corner retroreflective elements 11 and 12 not in contact with boundaries between the regions A and B are cube-corner retroreflective elements having a hexagonal shape, and cube-corner retroreflective elements 11s, 12s, 11t and 12t in contact with the boundaries between the regions A and B are cube-corner retroreflective elements having a shape obtained by cutting parts of one or two reflective lateral surfaces of the cube-corner retroreflective element having a hexagonal shape where the partly cut reflective lateral surfaces are in contact with the boundaries.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 27, 2011Publication date: August 22, 2013Applicant: NIPPON CARBIDE INDUSTRIES CO., INC.Inventor: Ikuo Mimura
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Patent number: 8511839Abstract: A retroreflective article having excellent retroreflective efficiency, entrance angle characteristic, observation angle characteristic, and rotation angle characteristic is provided.Type: GrantFiled: December 8, 2009Date of Patent: August 20, 2013Assignee: Nippon Carbide Industries Co., Inc.Inventors: Ikuo Mimura, Keiji Amemiya, Chihiro Hayashi
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Patent number: 8506095Abstract: A transfer article, a retroreflective article and methods of making the same. The transfer article can include an overlay. The retroreflective article can include an optical layer and an overlay. The optical layer can include a front surface and a rear surface, and can include retroreflective optical elements. The overlay can include a front surface and a rear surface adapted to be coupled to the front surface of a substrate, such as the optical layer. The overlay can further include a graphic, such that the graphic is buried with respect to the front surface of the overlay. A method of making the retroreflective article can include applying a graphic to the rear surface of the overlay, and coupling the overlay bearing the graphic to the front surface of a substrate, such as the optical layer.Type: GrantFiled: November 20, 2009Date of Patent: August 13, 2013Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties CompanyInventors: Chester A. Bacon, Jr., Bradley R. Ray, Stewart H. Corn, Timothy S. Skogland, Thomas G. Cheesebrow, Michael J. Petrich
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Patent number: 8456649Abstract: A retro-reflector for image-guided operation systems, comprising eight cube corners, wherein the tips of the cube corners are adjacent to each other and each cube corner is formed from three reflective faces, comprising a protection against contamination which prevents dirt from being deposited in the cube corners.Type: GrantFiled: September 3, 2009Date of Patent: June 4, 2013Assignee: Brainlab AGInventor: Christian Maier
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Publication number: 20130135731Abstract: This disclosure generally relates to retroreflective articles and methods of making such articles.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 15, 2010Publication date: May 30, 2013Applicant: 3M INNOVATIVE PROPERTIES COMPANYInventors: Kenneth L. Smith, Michael Benton Free, Bimal V. Thakkar, Raymond C. Chiu
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Patent number: 8421711Abstract: A cube corner retro-reflector that includes three mutually perpendicular reflecting planes arranged in a pyramidal configuration, wherein at least one of the reflecting planes has a non-isotropic surface causing a polarization state of a ray exiting the cube corner retro-reflector to be orthogonal or substantively orthogonal to a polarization state of a ray entering the cube corner retro-reflector for all linear polarization orientations.Type: GrantFiled: November 1, 2006Date of Patent: April 16, 2013Assignee: The Arizona Board of Regents on Behalf of the University of ArizonaInventors: Russell A. Chipman, Karlton Crabtree
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Patent number: 8395843Abstract: An array of light valves switch light by enabling and disabling total internal reflection (TIR) on a surface of the light valve. The disabling of the TIR is accomplished by putting another optical element in contact with the surface and then diffusing or changing the direction of the light. The mechanical mechanism to move the optical element is a simple one in that it only moves the optical element a small distance to change the valve from a first position to a second position.Type: GrantFiled: September 9, 2010Date of Patent: March 12, 2013Assignee: Rambus International Ltd.Inventor: Brian Edward Richardson
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Patent number: 8375933Abstract: A method for conserving heat emanated from an individual includes situating a corner reflector array near the individual, whereby the heat is retro-reflected back to the individual. The corner reflector array may include a plurality of corner cube reflectors. An apparatus for retro-reflecting heat back to the individual includes a plurality of corner cube reflectors arranged in an array and adapted to be mounted to a wall, ceiling, or other surface.Type: GrantFiled: January 23, 2009Date of Patent: February 19, 2013Inventor: Blaine E. Myers
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Publication number: 20130034498Abstract: Labels and methods of producing labels for use in clinical, analytical and pharmaceutical development assays are provided. Labels may comprise shape-encoded particles which may be coupled to ligands such as DNA, RNA and antibodies, where different shapes are used to identify which ligand(s) are present. Labels may also comprise reflectors, including retroreflectors and retroreflectors susceptible to analyte-dependent assembly for efficient homogeneous assays.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 30, 2012Publication date: February 7, 2013Inventors: Richard C. Willson, Paul Ruchhoeft
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Patent number: 8360586Abstract: In one aspect, there is provided a retroreflective film, comprising a retroreflective sub-structure, and a transparent polymeric film, having a surface roughness profile where the Arithmetic Mean Deviation of the Roughness Profile (Ra) ranges from about 0.18 microns to about 1.30 microns and where the Mean Spacing of Local Peaks (R-S) in the printing direction ranges from about 10 microns to about 85 microns, located over and coupled to the retroreflective sub-structure and wherein the polymeric film as a Vicat softening point of about 90° or greater.Type: GrantFiled: September 23, 2010Date of Patent: January 29, 2013Assignee: Aura Optical Systems, LPInventor: Drew J. Buoni
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Patent number: 8322868Abstract: A fluorescent article includes an underlayer colored fluorescent film and an overlayer colored fluorescent film, which is provided over the underlayer colored fluorescent film. The underlayer colored fluorescent film includes a first fluorescent colorant in an underlayer acrylic matrix. The overlayer colored fluorescent film includes a second fluorescent in an overlayer acrylic matrix.Type: GrantFiled: May 12, 2009Date of Patent: December 4, 2012Assignee: Avery Dennison CorporationInventor: Guang-Xue Wei
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Patent number: 8317341Abstract: Disclosed is a retroreflective sheet using a cube-corner type retroreflection principle, which is composed of a body layer which includes a flexible transparent thermoplastic sheet made of a transparent material for high light transmittance and having a smooth surface as a front surface and also includes a woven fabric disposed therein, and a cube-corner type microprism layer having a retroreflective function formed on a surface of the body layer including the transparent thermoplastic sheet and the woven fabric in an integrated form, opposite the front surface. The retroreflective sheet has a configuration in which the woven fabric having high tensile strength is inserted into the transparent thermoplastic polymer (PVC, TPU, PO, or acryl) sheet, and is suitable for end uses requiring high tensile force.Type: GrantFiled: September 12, 2008Date of Patent: November 27, 2012Assignee: Reflomax Co., Ltd.Inventor: Hyen Dae Kim
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Publication number: 20120248299Abstract: A device for examining an object, preferably a document of value, by using optical radiation, having an optical waveguide which has an anisotropic retro-reflector section, which is formed along a surface curved in a plane of curvature and which reflects radiation components specularly in a first plane of incidence parallel to the plane of curvature but retro-reflects radiation components orthogonally with respect to the first plane of incidence, so that at least a proportion of the optical radiation falling in a glancing manner on the retro-reflector section is at least partly guided on the convex side of the surface by reflection on the retro-reflector section.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 13, 2010Publication date: October 4, 2012Applicant: Giesecke & Devrient GmbHInventor: Bernd Wunderer
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Patent number: 8267533Abstract: In one aspect, there is provided a retroreflective film, comprising a retroreflective sub-structure, and a transparent polymeric film, having a surface roughness profile where the Arithmetic Mean Deviation of the Roughness Profile (Ra) ranges from about 0.18 microns to about 1.30 microns and where the Mean Spacing of Local Peaks (R-S) in the printing direction ranges from about 10 microns to about 85 microns, located over and coupled to the retroreflective sub-structure.Type: GrantFiled: January 21, 2009Date of Patent: September 18, 2012Assignee: Aura Optical Systems, LPInventor: Drew J. Buoni
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Patent number: 8256907Abstract: A vehicle reflector can include a plurality of retroreflection elements including a first reflection surface, a second reflection surface, and a third reflection surface which are adjacently disposed to form a corner portion of a substantially regular hexahedron. The first reflection surface can be inclined by 35.264°+angle ?1 with respect to a reference axis. The second reflection surface can be inclined by 35.264°+angle ?2 with respect to the reference axis and can be disposed at a position rotated by 120° about the reference axis from the first reflection surface. The third reflection surface can be inclined by 35.264°+angle ?3 with respect to the reference axis and can be disposed at a position rotated by 120° in an opposite direction from the second reflection surface about the reference axis from the first reflection surface. The angle ?1, angle ?2 and angle ?3 can be set to satisfy a relation of ??1=?2=?3 or ??1??2=?3.Type: GrantFiled: April 12, 2011Date of Patent: September 4, 2012Assignee: Stanley Electric Co., Ltd.Inventor: Akihiro Nakatani
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Publication number: 20120206808Abstract: A target includes a cube corner retroreflector including three planar reflectors, each planar reflector capable of reflecting light, each planar reflector perpendicular to the other two planar reflectors, each planar reflector intersecting the other two planar reflectors in a common vertex, and each planar reflector having two intersection junctions, each intersection junction shared with an adjacent planar reflector for a total of three intersection junctions within the cube corner retroreflector. The target further includes a non-reflecting portion of each intersection junction, wherein, for at least one intersection junction, the non-reflecting portion is wider in a first region than in a second region.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 10, 2012Publication date: August 16, 2012Applicant: FARO TECHNOLOGIES, INC.Inventors: Lawrence B. Brown, Daniel G. Lasley, Jeremy M. Garey, Nils P. Steffensen
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Patent number: 8235537Abstract: An article having: a retroreflective optical element and a plasmonic material on the optical element. A method of: performing an optical measurement on a substrate having a plurality of the articles.Type: GrantFiled: August 28, 2008Date of Patent: August 7, 2012Assignee: The United States of America, as represented by the Secretary of the NavyInventors: Orest J Glembocki, Francis J Kub, Sharka M Prokes
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Patent number: 8236407Abstract: There is disclosed a method and apparatus for producing a polymeric film that accurately replicates a complex mold surface at least a portion of which surface has microstructured or nano-structured dimensions. A polymeric powder is electrodeposited on an underlying mold surface. Then the powder is cured to create a polymeric film. Finally the film is removed from the mold surface.Type: GrantFiled: April 12, 2007Date of Patent: August 7, 2012Assignee: 10x Technology LLCInventor: Robert M. Pricone
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Patent number: 8226249Abstract: A retroreflective sheeting (10) comprising a cube layer (20) having a front light-receiving surface (30) and a rear retroreflecting surface (32), and a metallic layer (22) covering the rear retroreflecting surface (32). The rear surface (32) comprises an array of retroreflective elements (34) and diffusing patches (36) within such array (without retroreflective elements (34)). The metallic layer (22) covers the retroreflective elements (34) and the diffusing patches (36), whereby diffusing patches (36) scatter incoming light increasing daytime brightness to a desired level.Type: GrantFiled: March 10, 2011Date of Patent: July 24, 2012Assignee: Avery Dennison CorporationInventors: Steven R. Chapman, Feng Wu, Kejian (Kevin) Huang
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Patent number: 8224189Abstract: An apparatus for retro-reflecting electromagnetic energy and a method for producing the same are provided. The apparatus includes a substrate and a plurality of corner mirrors disposed in said substrate. The plurality of corner mirrors may have respective angles of acceptance with respect to the substrate to be operable to retro-reflect the electromagnetic energy within the respective angles of acceptance. The plurality of corner mirrors are arranged to provide a combined angle of acceptance that is greater than any one of the respective angles of acceptance. The apparatus may also include at least one modulator disposed over at least a portion of said plurality of corner mirrors. The modulator is operable to modulate any of said electromagnetic energy received and retro-reflected.Type: GrantFiled: February 2, 2007Date of Patent: July 17, 2012Assignee: Sunlight Photonics Inc.Inventor: Sergey Frolov
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Patent number: 8218222Abstract: An individual, controllable light modulator is configured with a regular pixel structure, for realizing different types of modulation. The spatial light modulator can be realized transmissively and reflectively. The light modulator contains at least one addressable, transmissive layer with a pixel structure and at least one substrate layer with retro-reflecting elements, as well as modulation control means for controlling the modulation of the pixels. The modulation control means produce a number of macropixels from at least two adjacent pixels, to which a selected modulation characteristic is assigned. The retro-reflecting elements are disposed consecutively in such a manner in the substrate layer that, in each case, a retro-reflecting element covers two adjacent pixels of a macropixel of the addressable layer, in order to direct a light bundle, incident in each case on one pixel of a macropixel, sequentially, through further pixels of the macropixel to modulate the incident light bundle.Type: GrantFiled: December 15, 2008Date of Patent: July 10, 2012Assignee: SeeReal Technologies S.A.Inventors: Norbert Leister, Ralf Haussler
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Patent number: 8209134Abstract: Methods are disclosed wherein the structural health of a civil structure, such as, but not limited to, a bridge or the like is measured by electronic distance measurement (EDM) from a plurality of stable locations to a plurality of cardinal points on the structure in a methodical manner. By measuring the coordinates of the cardinal points, the dynamic and long-term static behavior of the structure provide an indication of the health of the structure. Analysis includes: comparison to a Finite Element Model (FEM); comparison to historical data; and modeling based on linearity, hysteresis, symmetry, creep, damping coefficient, and harmonic analysis.Type: GrantFiled: December 20, 2010Date of Patent: June 26, 2012Assignees: Sophie LinInventors: David H. Parker, John M. Payne, Sophie Lin, legal representative
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Patent number: 8197074Abstract: A flexible abrasion resistant water shedding omnidirectionally reflective rope has a central low-density polymeric closed cell foam core comprising EPDM, Neoprene, SBR, NBR, EVA, PVC, PVC/NBR foam surrounded by cylindrically braided sleeve of reflective strips composed of narrow width reflective strips that comprise a woven or knitted narrow width strip and a flexible nylon retroreflective sheet sewn thereon and covered with abrasion resistant water shedding coating. The flexible retroreflective sheet is formed by thermally bonding corner cube, microsphere retroreflectors, or wide angle exposed retroreflective lenses to a flexible polymeric sheet. Due to its low-density foam core construction, the reflective rope floats on water and sheds water from the surface preserving omnidirectional reflectivity.Type: GrantFiled: August 21, 2009Date of Patent: June 12, 2012Assignee: Nite Glow Industries, Inc.Inventor: Marni Markell Hurwitz
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Publication number: 20120092756Abstract: An optical body including an optical layer having a belt-like or rectangular shape and having an incident surface on which light is incident, and a reflective layer formed in the optical layer and having a corner cube shape, wherein the reflective layer directionally reflects the light incident on the incident surface at an incident angle (?, ?), and a direction of a ridge of the corner cube shape is substantially parallel to a lengthwise direction of the belt-shaped or rectangular optical layer. ? is an angle formed by a perpendicular line with respect to the incident surface and the incident light incident on the incident surface or reflected light emerging from the incident surface, and ? is an angle formed by the ridge of the corner cube shape and a component resulting from projecting the incident light or the reflected light to the incident surface).Type: ApplicationFiled: February 23, 2011Publication date: April 19, 2012Applicant: SONY CORPORATIONInventors: Hironori Yoshida, Masashi Enomoto, Tsutomu Nagahama, Kimitaka Nishimura, Hayato Hasegawa
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Patent number: 8157391Abstract: Retroreflective structures and methods of forming the same comprise a body of material extending along a helical path about a longitudinal axis and a plurality of retroreflective optical elements positioned along the helical path of the body of material, and constructed and arranged to retroreflect electromagnetic energy directed from a range of angular orientations about the longitudinal axis.Type: GrantFiled: September 9, 2011Date of Patent: April 17, 2012Assignee: Technology Solutions & Invention LLCInventors: Robert B. Nilsen, Garrett L. Nilsen
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Publication number: 20120050862Abstract: A reflector body (10), particularly a spherical retro-reflective marker, includes a plurality of reflector body segments (11), and the individual reflector body segments (11) formed by such a reflector body (10), and there are methods for producing the reflector body segments (11) and the reflector body (10). The reflector bodies (10) include a coating having a reflection film (12), by which the reflector body segments (11) of the reflector body (10) are uniformly spanned, performed by suitably selecting the geometric shape of the reflector body segment (11) to be spanned, by injecting molding behind the reflection film (12) in an injection molding process and/or by producing the reflector body segments (11) in a forming process.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 30, 2010Publication date: March 1, 2012Applicant: ILUMARK GMBHInventor: Holger-Claus Rossner
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Publication number: 20120038984Abstract: Retroreflective articles and constructions are disclosed. One exemplary retroreflective article or construction includes a retroreflective layer and a low refractive index layer. In one exemplary embodiment, the low refractive index layer is adjacent to at least a portion of a retroreflective structured major surface of the retroreflective layer.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 15, 2010Publication date: February 16, 2012Inventors: Suman K. Patel, William D. Coggio, Mikhail L. Pekurovsky, Kenneth L. Smith, Michael Benton Free, William B. Kolb
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Patent number: 8090229Abstract: A MEMS-based display device is described, wherein an array of interferometric modulators are configured to reflect light through a transparent substrate. The transparent substrate is sealed to a backplate and the backplate may contain electronic circuitry fabricated on the backplane. The electronic circuitry is placed in electrical communication with the array of interferometric modulators and is configured to control the state of the array of interferometric modulators.Type: GrantFiled: April 22, 2011Date of Patent: January 3, 2012Assignee: QUALCOMM MEMS Technologies, Inc.Inventor: Karen Tyger
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Patent number: 8083359Abstract: A retroreflector adapted to be mounted to a motor including a first, second, and third petal having a mutually perpendicular first, second, and third reflective surface that form a retroreflective surface. A base is directly connected to at least one of the first, second, or third petal so as to minimize a vertical profile of the retroreflector. The base is removably connected to the motor with a fastening mechanism. A spatial distance between the fastening mechanism and at least one of the first, second, or third petal minimizes a stress from the motor propagated to the retroreflective surface.Type: GrantFiled: November 20, 2007Date of Patent: December 27, 2011Assignee: MKS Instruments, Inc.Inventors: Masoud Mohazzab, Michael Scott Cafferty
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Publication number: 20110310483Abstract: A method of assembling a retroreflective device comprising arranging a first, a second, and a third reflective surface normal to one another; observing an angular relationship between the reflective surfaces; adjusting the angular relationship between the reflective surfaces; and adjoining the reflective surfaces with supporting members and an adhesive, wherein the supporting members are of substantially the same material as the substrate of the reflective surfaces, have a cross-sectional shape that is complimentary to the edges of the reflective surfaces, and are arranged along the adjacent edges of the reflective surfaces.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 11, 2011Publication date: December 22, 2011Applicant: INDUSTRIAL MONITOR AND CONTROL CORP.Inventors: Robert L. SPELLICY, Mark SLOSS
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Publication number: 20110286097Abstract: A retroreflective article having excellent retroreflective efficiency, entrance angle characteristic, observation angle characteristic, and rotation angle characteristic is provided. In a retroreflective article including a number of cube corner retroreflective elements formed in a closely packed manner on a common plane (plane Sc), each of the cube corner retroreflective elements having three reflective lateral surfaces (surface a, surface b and surface c) that have three edge lines (HD, HE and HF) and one apex.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 8, 2009Publication date: November 24, 2011Applicant: NIPPON CARBIDE INDUSTRIES CO., INC.Inventors: Ikuo Mimura, Keiji Amemiya, Chihiro Hayashi
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Patent number: 8050569Abstract: A device for optical remote monitoring, preferably an optically readable membrane-based microphone, and a system including such a device is provided. The device for optical remote monitoring includes a retroreflector and an acoustic membrane. The acoustic membrane suitably is a light-modulating component and modulates the reflection of an incident light beam in relation to the pressure field, from a sound source, to which the membrane is exposed. The retroreflector may be a corner cube having three sides with the membrane arranged on one of the sides. The membrane can be part of a side or one side may consist of a membrane.Type: GrantFiled: December 8, 2005Date of Patent: November 1, 2011Assignee: Totalförsvarets ForskningsinstitutInventors: Hans Habberstad, Fredrik Kullander, Ove Steinvall
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Patent number: 8049846Abstract: A reflection-type display device includes an optical modulation layer 34, a pair of substrates 30 and 32 between which the optical modulation layer 34 is retained, an electrode structure 52, 44 for causing pixel-by-pixel changes in the optical characteristics of the optical modulation layer 34. One of the pair of substrates 32 has a corner cube array composed of a plurality of corner cubes 36. The corner cube array 36 has a plurality of projections 46 defining an interval between the pair of substrates 30 and 32, the plurality of projections 46 being disposed in peak portions.Type: GrantFiled: March 3, 2006Date of Patent: November 1, 2011Assignee: Sharp Kabushiki KaishaInventors: Sayuri Fujiwara, Kiyoshi Minoura, Makoto Kanbe, Yutaka Sawayama
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Publication number: 20110255164Abstract: A vehicle reflector can include a plurality of retroreflection elements including a first reflection surface, a second reflection surface, and a third reflection surface which are adjacently disposed to form a corner portion of a substantially regular hexahedron. The first reflection surface can be inclined by 35.264°+angle ?1 with respect to a reference axis. The second reflection surface can be inclined by 35.264°+angle ?2 with respect to the reference axis and can be disposed at a position rotated by 120° about the reference axis from the first reflection surface. The third reflection surface can be inclined by 35.264°+angle ?3 with respect to the reference axis and can be disposed at a position rotated by 120° in an opposite direction from the second reflection surface about the reference axis from the first reflection surface. The angle ?1, angle ?2 and angle ?3 can be set to satisfy a relation of ??1=?2=?3 or ??1??2=?3.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 12, 2011Publication date: October 20, 2011Inventor: Akihiro NAKATANI
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Patent number: 8034436Abstract: A fluorescent article includes an underlayer colored fluorescent film and an overlayer colored fluorescent film, which is provided over the underlayer colored fluorescent film. The underlayer colored fluorescent film includes a first fluorescent colorant in an underlayer polymer matrix. The overlayer colored fluorescent film includes a second fluorescent colorant in an overlayer polymer matrix. The second fluorescent colorant in the overlayer film at least partially blocks light in a first wavelength range while allowing transmission of an amount of light in a second wavelength range effective to make the first fluorescent colorant fluoresce.Type: GrantFiled: October 25, 2006Date of Patent: October 11, 2011Assignee: Avery Dennison CorporationInventor: Guang-Xue Wei
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Patent number: 8033671Abstract: Retroreflective structures and methods of forming the same comprise a body of material extending along a helical path about a longitudinal axis and a plurality of retroreflective optical elements positioned along the helical path of the body of material, and constructed and arranged to retroreflect electromagnetic energy directed from a range of angular orientations about the longitudinal axis.Type: GrantFiled: August 11, 2008Date of Patent: October 11, 2011Assignee: Technology Solutions & Invention LLCInventors: Robert B. Nilsen, Garrett L. Nilsen
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Publication number: 20110228391Abstract: A transfer article, a retroreflective article and methods of making the same. The transfer article can include an overlay. The retroreflective article can include an optical layer and an overlay. The optical layer can include a front surface and a rear surface, and can include retroreflective optical elements. The overlay can include a front surface and a rear surface adapted to be coupled to the front surface of a substrate, such as the optical layer. The overlay can further include a graphic, such that the graphic is buried with respect to the front surface of the overlay. A method of making the retroreflective article can include applying a graphic to the rear surface of the overlay, and coupling the overlay bearing the graphic to the front surface of a substrate, such as the optical layer.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 20, 2009Publication date: September 22, 2011Inventors: Chester A. Bacon, JR., Bradley R. Ray, Stewart H. Corn, Timothy S. Skogland, Thomas G. Cheesebrow, Michael J. Petrich
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Publication number: 20110228379Abstract: An optical tag (200) comprises a chalcogenide glass corner-cube reflector (202) bonded to a silicon MEMS modulator (206) by means of a glass material (214) having a lower softening temperature than that of the reflector. The tag is provided with AR coatings (210, 212). The invention provides a robust, integrated and compact optical tag having a wide field of view and low manufacturing costs.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 25, 2009Publication date: September 22, 2011Applicant: QINETIQ LIMITEDInventors: Paul David Mason, David Arthur Orchard, Andrew Maxwell Scott, Kevin Michael Brunson, Mark Edward McNie
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Publication number: 20110211258Abstract: The present invention comprises retroreflective surfaces used on both hunting structures and fire hydrants. A retroreflective surface is added to both of these by way of retroreflective liquid coating, powder coating, and/or retroreflective tape. The retroreflective surfaces may comprise an entire outside surface of the hunting structure or fire hydrant caps, or it may comprise only a portion of the outside surface. Because of their retroreflective properties, both the hunting structures and the fire hydrant caps may be seen more easily. Because retroreflective liquid coating, powder coating, or tape is to be used, these designs are inexpensive, easy to install, and environmentally friendly.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 25, 2011Publication date: September 1, 2011Inventor: Timothy Byrne
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Patent number: 7964269Abstract: Retroreflective sheeting articles comprising a colorless thermal mass transferred image, methods of thermal mass transfer printing substrate such as polymeric films with a colorless thermal mass transferable composition, and thermal mass transfer ribbon articles comprising a colorless thermal mass transferable composition are described. The thermal mass transfer composition comprises a homogeneous unreactive thermoplastic composition comprising at least one acrylic resin and less than 3 wt-% of components that are opaque at ambient temperature.Type: GrantFiled: November 22, 2006Date of Patent: June 21, 2011Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties CompanyInventors: Jennifer L. Lee, Mark W. Leverty, Scott A. Boyd, Eugene H. Carlson, Lisa Flatt Nelson
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Patent number: 7950812Abstract: A modulating corner-cube retroreflector for remote communications is disclosed. The modulating corner-cube retroreflector includes a solid retroreflector with a front surface and three mutually perpendicular surfaces: a first surface, a second surface and a third surface. A first thin membrane is disposed relative to at least one of the three mutually perpendicular surfaces and covers at least a portion of the surface. A modulator is included that is adapted to cause the thin membrane to vibrate. The corner-cube retroreflector is configured to receive an incident beam of light from a source along a first path and is configured to return a reflected beam of light back towards the source along a second path that is substantially parallel to the first path. The first thin membrane is configured to substantially frustrate total internal reflection of the incident beam of light when the first thin membrane is moved relative to at least one surface of the retroreflector.Type: GrantFiled: January 10, 2007Date of Patent: May 31, 2011Assignee: Cubic CorporationInventors: John B. Roes, Gennady Tartakovsky
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Patent number: 7933476Abstract: A MEMS-based display device is described, wherein an array of interferometric modulators are configured to reflect light through a transparent substrate. The transparent substrate is sealed to a backplate and the backplate may contain electronic circuitry fabricated on the backplane. The electronic circuitry is placed in electrical communication with the array of interferometric modulators and is configured to control the state of the array of interferometric modulators.Type: GrantFiled: February 22, 2010Date of Patent: April 26, 2011Assignee: QUALCOMM MEMS Technologies, Inc.Inventor: Karen Tyger
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Patent number: 7926959Abstract: Methods and apparatus relating to electromagnetic beam (e.g., laser beam) conditioning are described. In an embodiment, electromagnetic beam conditioning may be performed utilizing reflectors to temporally differentiate electromagnetic beam subsections and sub-beams resulting in reduced spatial coherence of the beam. Other embodiments are also described.Type: GrantFiled: March 31, 2008Date of Patent: April 19, 2011Assignee: KLA-Tencor CorporationInventors: Damon Kvamme, David Alles, Chun Lee, Wu Jiang
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Patent number: 7922344Abstract: A retroreflective sheeting (10) comprising a cube layer (20) having a front light-receiving surface (30) and a rear retroreflecting surface (32), and a metallic layer (22) covering the rear retroreflecting surface (32). The rear surface (32) comprises an array of retroreflective elements (34) and diffusing patches (36) within such array (without retroreflective elements (34)). The metallic layer (22) covers the retroreflective elements (34) and the diffusing patches (36), whereby diffusing patches (36) scatter incoming light increasing daytime brightness to a desired level.Type: GrantFiled: September 2, 2008Date of Patent: April 12, 2011Assignee: Avery Dennison CorporationInventors: Steven R. Chapman, Feng Wu, Kejian (Kevin) Huang
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Patent number: 7920324Abstract: A system and method for telescope guiding requires creating an artificial reference star which is locked to the line of sight of the imaging means of a main telescope in the field-of-view (FOV) of a guide scope. A real guide star is selected using the guide scope, such that both artificial and guide stars are within the FOV of the guide scope. Guiding is accomplished by varying the line of sight such that the positional displacement between the guide and artificial stars on the guide star's focal plane is maintained approximately constant. The artificial star is created by generating a point source of light near the main scope's imaging means, directing the light outside the main scope and retroreflecting it at the same direction angle of the beam exiting the aperture into the guide scope, effectively locking the guide scope to the line of sight of the imaging means.Type: GrantFiled: April 19, 2007Date of Patent: April 5, 2011Assignee: Aplegen, Inc.Inventor: Alan W. Holmes