Abstract: 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.

Abstract: 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 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, linearity, hysteresis, symmetry, creep, damping coefficient, and harmonic terms.

Abstract: A reflective marker and method for manufacturing reflective marker, wherein the reflective marker includes an inner body and a reflective covering, and a reflective substance is applied to the inner body and forms the reflective covering together with pellets contained in the substance or applied after the substance has been applied.

Abstract: A method is disclosed whereby a laser-based spherical coordinate measurement system is dynamically calibrated. A mechanical oscillator, such as, but not limited to, a Foucault pendulum is used to generate periodic motions which can be fitted to Fourier series models. The residuals between the experimental measurements and the model can provide information which can be used to calibrate the instrument. The calibration information is used to augment the ASME B89.4.19-2006 standard to improve sensitivity to cyclic errors and include the servo systems.

Abstract: A retroreflective article that includes a first layer that includes a copolyester ether composition, and a second layer that includes a retroreflective structure juxtaposed in at least a partially overlying relationship to the first layer is disclosed. Also disclosed is a method of forming a retroreflective article that includes providing at least a copolyester ether composition layer, and providing a retroreflective structure in a juxtaposed and at least partially overlying relationship to the composition layer.

Abstract: 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.

Abstract: An optical Micro Electro-Mechanical System (MEMS) device provides an optical path retardation multiplier. The MEMS device includes a moveable corner cube reflector, a fixed minor and a MEMS actuator. The moveable corner cube reflector is optically coupled to receive an incident beam and reflect the incident beam through 180 degrees towards the fixed mirror. The fixed minor is optically coupled to reflect a reflected beam back towards the moveable corner cube reflector along a reverse path of the incident beam. The MEMS actuator is coupled to the moveable corner cube reflector to cause a displacement of the moveable corner cube reflector to extend an optical path length of the reflected beam.

Abstract: 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.

Abstract: Methods and devices for angle determination, and retroreflecting foils are presented. A retroreflecting foil (1) is arranged at a surface, an angle of which is going to be determined. The retroreflecting foil has a lens surface with a plurality of spherical microlenses (4) and a reflecting surface with a plurality of spherical mirrors (5) of a second main radius of curvature. The lens surface of the retroreflecting foil is illuminated, and transitions between darkness and light in radiation reflected from the retroreflecting foil, either upon changing a relative angle between the retroreflecting foil and the illuminating light or spatial transitions over the surface of the retroreflecting foil, are observed. An angle measure associated with the transitions is determined. The spherical mirrors present preferably at least one inner point (22) of a spherical mirror surface at which reflection according to the second main radius of curvature is prohibited.

Abstract: A reboundable optical structure includes a base layer; and an optical element layer formed with a reboundable polymeric material and attached to the base layer. The optical structure can include a diffuser, fresnel lens, linear prism film, collimating film, lenticular elements, and retroreflective structures. A method for forming a reboundable optical structure includes providing a base layer; and attaching an optical element layer formed with a reboundable polymeric material and attached to the base layer, thereby forming an optical structure.

Abstract: The image sensor 15 of the information processing apparatus 1 can capture the retroreflective sheet 17 subjected to infrared light emitted from the infrared emitting diodes 11 since the retroreflective sheet 17 is exposed when the open-close portion 19 is opened. Therefore, it is possible to detect the input device 3. On the other hand, when the open-close portion 19 is closed, the image sensor 15 can not capture the retroreflective sheet 17 since the reflective sheet 17 is not exposed. Therefore, the input device is not detected.

Abstract: A prepared substrate including an array of cube corner cavities and protrusions interspersed between the cube corner cavities is described herein.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method of making retroreflective sheeting and other articles prepared from casting a moldable synthetic resin onto a tool having a microstructured surface.

Abstract: Retroreflective sheeting is described comprising a viewing surface and a non-viewing surface and a thermal mass transferred image disposed in the optical path of the viewing surface wherein the thermal mass transferred image comprises a homogeneous unreactive thermoplastic composition. In one embodiment, the unreactive thermoplastic composition comprises at least one acrylic resin and at least one colorant, wherein the composition has less than 3 wt-% of components that are opaque at ambient temperature. The percent maximum diffuse luminous transmittance to total luminous transmittance of the composition is less than 50%.

Abstract: The present disclosure is directed to lamina(e) comprising cube corner elements, a tool comprising an assembly of laminae and replicas thereof. The disclosure further relates to retroreflective sheeting.

Abstract: A moulding process to manufacture a moulded piece having multiple individual optical elements with the same or different dimensions. This is achieved by using a multicolour injection process as well as a multidrop injection manifold. In the first step, the optical elements are moulded without any junction between them. In the second step, a layer of plastic is moulded in order to join together all the optical elements to create a single piece. The moulded piece thus consists of two plastic injections with optical elements which is more easily adaptable to a variety of different designs for lights having two or more colors. New styles of optical elements, along with varied and original geometric arrangements can thus be imagined. Furthermore, signaling functions having by their regulations different colors can heretofore be placed within a same zone of glass.

Abstract: The invention relates to a triple prism which reflects light, a reflector and to a method for recognizing an object. A reflective photoelectric barrier sends light to a reflector. The reflector does not answer with the form of the obtained light signal, but with a double signal which projects two light centers. The reflector can also be embodied such that it answers with a different geometric figure than the light projection. The reflector with a modified signal enables a sensor system to be produced and which can verify, by evaluating the light signal captured by the reflector, whether the captured signal of the reflector or another reflection.

Abstract: A prepared substrate including an array of cube corner cavities and protrusions interspersed between the cube corner cavities is described herein.

Abstract: A sensing system comprises a corner-cube reflector that has three reflective surfaces wherein at least one of the reflective surfaces is a surface of a bimaterial cantilever. The reflective surface of the bimaterial cantilever undergoes a change between a substantially planar shape and a curved shape upon direct exposure to an agent of interest. Such a change is perceived by a suitable detector.

Abstract: 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.

Abstract: Articles are provided which have fluorescent properties and which are suitable for use in making retroreflective articles such as safety and informational signage. The articles have at least two film layers, each film layer including a colorant dye. The multiple film layer sheeting exhibits excellent resistance to weathering and overall color durability while also providing chromaticity properties dictated by industry standards for a particular coloration. A method of preparing the articles is provided. In a particular application, the articles embody retroreflective properties and are fluorescent yellow signs.

Abstract: Articles are provided which have fluorescent properties and which are suitable for use in making retroreflective articles such as safety and informational signage. The articles have at least two film layers, each film layer including a colorant dye. The multiple film layer sheeting exhibits excellent resistance to weathering and overall color durability while also providing chromaticity properties dictated by industry standards for a particular coloration. A method of preparing the articles is provided. In a particular application, the articles embody retroreflective properties and are informational for safety signage articles such as pedestrian crossing and school safety fluorescent yellow green signs.

Abstract: An optical structure routes radiation from an optical input to an optical output, the radiation being successively reflected by orthogonal first, second and third reflective surfaces of a linearly movable section, and departing the section in a departure direction substantially opposite its arrival direction. The section can move approximately parallel to the arrival direction with respect to at least one of the optical input and optical output. A different aspect involves: routing radiation from an optical input to an optical output, including reflecting this radiation successively from orthogonal first, second and third reflective surfaces of a section of the structure, the radiation departing the section in a departure direction substantially opposite its arrival direction; and supporting the section for approximately linear movement approximately parallel to the arrival direction with respect to at least one of the optical input and optical output.

Abstract: A method that provides for a phase conjugate mirror 10 having a gallium-arsenide substrate 11 with a generally cubic crystalline lattice and a number of gallium-arsenide crystal projections 14 extending from said substrate 11, the projections each having three generally planar surfaces 15, 16, 17, where the surfaces each being generally obliquely oriented with respect to a plane of said substrate 11, the plane substantially corresponding to a (111) crystal face, the projections 14 being oriented along the plane 13 to provide a predetermined corner-cube array pattern 10, the device including a number of implant sites 25 spaced apart from one another along the substrate 11 to define a pattern 40, and forming a number of corner-cubes articles having a shape substantially corresponding to the corner-cube array 10 pattern 40, wherein the articles each have a number of cube-corner projections 14 spaced apart from each other by a minimum distance of 1 micron.

Abstract: A support assembly for attachment to a substrate, the assembly having a first part comprising a rebated surface to which a sign is securable and a second part having a peripheral wall sized and dimensioned to bound the first part and a continuous facing wall joined to or contiguous with said peripheral wall, the two parts being securable together whereby said continuous facing wall overlies at least part of a peripheral portion of the rebated surface of said first part.

Abstract: A retroreflective article 10 has a body portion 14 and a multitude of cube-corner elements 12 that project from a rear side 20 of the body portion 14. The body portion 14 includes a body layer 18 that contains a light-transmissible polymeric material having an elastic modulus less than 7×108 pascals. The cube-corner elements 12 contain a light transmissible polymeric material having an elastic modulus greater than 16×108 pascals. A retroreflective article of this construction can be highly flexed while maintaining good retroreflective performance.

Abstract: A reflection type projecting screen includes a diffuse plate having a diffuse transmission surface for converting at least transmission light into diffused light and a corner cube array for reflecting the light passing through the diffuse plate to a position which is approximately similar to a passing position of the diffuse transmission surface. The diffuse plate and the corner cube array are positioned in an order of the diffuse plate and the corner cube array. The reflection screen is capable of improving utilization efficiency of light and simplifying the structure while reducing the effect of outside light. Furthermore, there are provided a front projector system and a multi-vision projector system each of which has a projector for projecting the projection light and a reflection screen for reflecting the projection light as diffused light having directivity in at least one predetermined direction, in accordance with the incident direction of the projection light.

Abstract: The present invention includes conformable retroreflective structures. In some embodiments, the conformable retroreflective structures are also shrink resistant. The conformable retroreflective structures include a transparent plasticized polyvinyl chloride film having a first side and a second side; a first transparent polymer layer overlying the first side of the plasticized polyvinyl chloride film; a second transparent polymer layer overlying the second side of the plasticized polyvinyl chloride film; an array of retroreflective cube-corner elements underlying the second transparent polymer layer; and a plasticizer resistant adhesive underlying the array of retroreflective cube-corner elements. In some embodiments, the first and second transparent polymer layers are transparent, radiation-cured polymer layers.

Abstract: 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.

Abstract: In a retroreflective display device comprising at least a surface-protective layer, information display layer, retroreflective layer and a back-protective layer, on or between these layers radio frequency identification unit or units enclosing radio frequency identification integrated circuit or circuits are disposed, and communication antenna or antennas which are connected to said radio frequency identification integrated circuit or circuits are installed. At the back of the retroreflective layer an illuminator is disposed. The retroreflective layer is retroreflective to the light coming from the front of the sign and is transmissive to the light from the interior of the sign.

Abstract: The invention relates to a triple prism which reflects light, a reflector and to a method for recognizing an object. A reflective photoelectric barrier sends light to a reflector. The reflector does not answer with the form of the obtained light signal, but with a double signal which projects two light centers. The reflector can also be embodied such that it answers with a different geometric figure than the light projection. The reflector with a modified signal enables a sensor system to be produced and which can verify, by evaluating the light signal captured by the reflector, whether the captured signal of the reflector or another reflection.

Abstract: Retroreflective articles having cube corner elements are disclosed, with the dihedral angle errors of the cube corner elements selected to limit the visibility range of the retroreflective article. Also disclosed are methods for making the cube corner elements and the retroreflective articles.

Abstract: In a retroreflective sheeting, and methods of formation thereof, the sheeting comprises a body of material, the body having a first surface and a second surface. A plurality of first full-square-sided corner-cube structures are on the first surface of the body, the first full-square-sided corner-cube structures each having three facets that lie along planes that are orthogonal to each other. A plurality of second full-square-sided corner-cube structures are on the second surface of the body, the second full-square-sided corner-cube structures each having three facets that lie along planes that are orthogonal to each other.

Abstract: Flame retardant and heat resistant retroreflective structures are disclosed. Generally, the retroreflective structure includes a transparent plasticized polyvinyl chloride film, an array of retroreflective cube-corner elements underlying the transparent plasticized polyvinyl chloride film, a flame retardant and heat resistant adhesive underlying the array of retroreflective cube-corner elements, and a flame retardant woven fabric bonded to the flame retardant and heat resistant adhesive.

Abstract: 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.

Abstract: It is an object of the present invention to provide a laminated member with an recorded information code, having a high reading accuracy, which do not detract from product design and which do not require a special reading apparatus. A laminated member 10 of the present invention comprises a transparent material layer 12 on which an information code is recorded, and a reflection-reduction layer 14 provided at the opposite side from a side where the information code is observed. The transparent layer 12 comprises low-reflectance portions 18 and high-reflectance portions 16 having a higher reflectance than the low-reflectance portions 18. The information code is recorded as a distributed pattern of the high-reflectance portions 16. The reflection-reduction layer 14 reduces reflected light advancing to the transparent material layer 12.

Abstract: The present invention relates to vibration detection devices. In one embodiment a corner reflective array is provided. The corner reflective array includes at least one corner cube. Each corner cube includes three mutually perpendicular reflective surfaces that intersect in a corner.

Abstract: A deformable reflector includes a plurality of MEMS devices, each having an electrode membrane having a reflective surface thereon, a flat surface, and a pulldown electrode formed in the flat substrate. The electrode membrane has substantially a same flatness of the flat substrate when the electrode membrane comes into contact with the flat substrate across a majority of its surface area in response to a voltage being applied to the pulldown electrode. The electrode membrane has a two-dimensional curvature when no voltage is applied to the pulldown electrode.

Abstract: A reflective display includes a retroreflective layer and a modulation layer, which is provided closer to a viewer than the retroreflective layer is and which is switchable between first and second states with mutually different optical characteristics. The retroreflective layer includes a two-dimensional arrangement of unit elements, which are arranged at a pitch of at most 250 ?m. The retroreflective layer has a retro-reflectivity Rr of at least 45%. The retroreflectivity is defined as a ratio of the intensity of light, which has been reflected from the retroreflective layer and then received at a cone angle of 7.5 degrees by a retroreflectivity measuring system, to that of light, which has been reflected from a dielectric mirror and then received by the same retroreflectivity measuring system.

Abstract: Reflective accessories for increasing the visibility of persons engaged in night-time (or other low-light) activities. Reflective accessories include a mechanism configured for attachment of the accessory to an object associated with the person engaging in a low-light activity by looping the accessory around at least a portion of the object and twisting the mechanism about itself to thereby secure the accessory to the object, and a flexible body supported by the mechanism and having an outer surface with a portion configured to reflect light to a degree that the portion is generally more visible than the object to which the accessory is attached when a light source is directed at the accessory and the object.

Abstract: The present invention relates to retroreflective elements and retroreflective articles such as pavement markings comprising retroreflective elements, methods of making retroreflective elements, and laminates.

Abstract: Retroreflective sheeting includes a body layer having a structured surface with recessed faces forming cube corner cavities. A reflective film is disposed at least on the recessed faces, and a fill material fills the cube corner cavities. The fill material comprises radiation-curable materials, adhesives, or both, and preferably transparent radiation-curable pressure-sensitive adhesives. The fill material preferably forms a continuous layer covering both the recessed faces and upper portions of the structured surface. A transparent cover layer preferably contacts the fill material layer.

Abstract: Both a metallized cube corner retroreflective sheeting having a high measured daytime luminance factor and a method of manufacture thereof are provided. The sheeting is formed from a transparent planar sheet material including on one side a dense array of retroreflective cube corners having height H. The cube corners are canted edge-more-parallel by within about 1.5 degrees of 10n-9 degrees, where n is the index of refraction within the cube corners, and the cube corner faces are metallized by the application of a thin coating of reflective metal. The thickness of the sheet material between the bases of the cube corners and the opposite side of the sheeting is preferably between 1.75 H and 4.00 H. The resulting metallized, retroreflective sheet material may be mounted on a vehicle to increase its nighttime visibility through the ability of the sheet material to efficiently retroreflect a beam of light from a headlight or other source across a broad range of incident and orientation angles.

Abstract: A retro-reflector assembly (1) for incorporating in an opacity monitor, includes several small corner-cube prisms (2) of cylindrical section. The invention also includes an opacity monitor incorporating a retro-reflector assembly as defined above.

Abstract: A reflecting plate material, comprises a urethane plate having first and second opposite major surfaces. The first major surface is planar and the second major surface is formed with a plurality of cube corners each one of which has a plurality of facets. The facets are clouded to provide degraded retro-reflecting characteristics at less than those with clear facets, thereby diffusing light across the surfaces.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to lamina(e) comprising cube corner elements, a tool comprising an assembly of laminae and replicas thereof. The invention further relates to retroreflective sheeting.

Abstract: An optical inspection system rapidly evaluates a substrate by illumination of an area of a substrate larger than a diffraction-limited spot using a coherent laser beam by breaking temporal or spatial coherence. Picosecond or femtosecond pulses from a modelocked laser source are split into a plurality of spatially separated beamlets that are temporally and/or frequency dispersed, and then focused onto a plurality of spots on the substrate. Adjacent spots, which can overlap by up to about 60-70 percent, are illuminated at different times, or at different frequencies, and do not produce mutually interfering coherence effects. Bright-field and dark-field detection schemes are used in various combinations in different embodiments of the system.

Abstract: A conjugate optics projection display system includes a beam splitter positioned for viewing an object through the beam splitter and a projector positioned to project an image through the beam splitter, where the projector has a focal plane distance. A retroreflector is optically coupled to the beam splitter and positioned at a distance from the projector, where the distance is less than the focal plane distance of the projector. The retroreflector may include retroreflective elements having a size effective to match or exceed optical resolution requirements of the display system.

Abstract: A method for tooling a pattern of retroreflective microcubes, which pattern can be subdivided into smaller increments within which there are straight line tooling paths, none of which pass through an otherwise solid part of the incremental pattern. The tooling paths within the various increments need not be parallel to a common plane. Various adaptions of the method enable the tooling of a number of specific microcube shapes and for modifying such optical properties of the microcubes as entrance angularity, incidence angularity, orientation angularity, observation angularity, percent active aperture and retroreflectance. Specific techniques govern the pre-selection of cube parameters such as cube axis cant, cube apex decentration, and cube boundary proportions, which parameters can be adjusted independently of each other. Designs tooled by the method can have 100% active aperture at near zero degrees entrance angle.

Abstract: Multidirectional retroreflectors and methods of reflecting light beams from multiple directions are provided. The multidirectional retroreflectors utilize a four-mirror retroreflector with a common virtual reflection point.