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: A fluorescent red-orange retroreflective article includes a polymeric matrix and at least one fluorescent dye added in an amount that provides the article with a red-orange color under daytime lighting conditions. The article also includes cube corner elements disposed at a back side of the polymeric matrix. The article can exhibit a retroreflectivity of at least 350 or 500 cd/(lux·m2), and a brightness Y of at least 20, 30, or 35. The article can exhibit a color within a preferred red-orange color space bounded by CIE chromaticity coordinates (0.560, 0.380), (0.580, 0.355), (0.633, 0.366) and (0.610, 0.390).

Abstract: A process for producing a low-visibility retroreflective visual tag, which can be used to identify and/or determine the position of an object. This process involves placing an infra-red-blocking material over a retroreflective substrate to form the low-visibility retroreflective visual tag. This infra-red-blocking material is placed so as to form a pattern, which becomes visible to an infrared sensor when the low-visibility retroreflective visual tag is illuminated by an infra-red light source.

Abstract: A process for making molds for retroreflective sheeting and like articles includes making a substrate having a structured surface of geometric structures such as cube corner elements. The structured surface is in one embodiment partially replicated from a previous generation structured surface, and partially machined in the substrate. At least one of the faces of the structured surface is a compound face that has one machined portion and one non-machined portion, such as a replicated portion. The process can be used to manufacture substrates with desirable geometry cube corner elements, such as cube corner elements having a hexagonal outline in plan view, without requiring the use of pin bundling techniques or laminae. The process can also be used to manufacture articles having cube corner elements in which at least one face of the cube corner element has two constituent faces disposed on opposed sides of a transition line that is nonparallel to a nondihedral edge of such cube corner element.

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: 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: 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 some embodiments, a dynamic optical tag communication system is provided which includes high and low index CCR, both having a modulator, such as TCFP-MQWs on a first side of the CCR configured to modulate in a first temperature range, and a modulator on a second side of the CCR to modulate in a second temperature range. In some embodiments another high index CCR having corresponding first and second temperature range modulators is provided. In some embodiments, a CCR may have three modulators, such as MQWs, one configured to modulate in a first temperature range, another to modulate in a second temperature range, and yet another to modulate in a third temperature range. In some embodiments, a dynamic optical tag communication system has CCRs which include a high index CCR having a DDG modulator and a low index CCR having a DDG modulator.

Abstract: A retroreflective laminate sheeting has a viewing surface having a retroreflective layer which has a first cap-Y value of a viewing surface side thereof. A plurality of discrete pigmented indicia are disposed on the viewing surface side of the retroreflective layer. The pigmented indicia define a second cap-Y value of the viewing surface of the sheeting, the second cap-Y value being less than the first cap-Y value. One method of making a retroreflective sheeting includes forming a retroreflective layer on a web, the web moving in a web direction. The method includes applying a pigmented material proximate the retroreflective layer, the pigmented material preferably forming a plurality of parallel stripes oriented substantially in at least one of the web direction and a direction orthogonal to the web direction.

Abstract: An object of the present invention is to provide a retroreflective sheeting that exhibits proper retroreflection even at a small incident angle with no or less halation, and has superior incident angularities and superior direction characteristics, as well as a film for use in the retroreflective sheeting. The retroreflective sheeting with the above characteristics is obtained by forming reflective elements of a specific triangular pyramidal frustum configuration in a close-packed state on one surface thereof.

Abstract: A corner cube reflector includes a two-dimensional arrangement of unit elements. The unit elements are arranged at a pitch of 200 ?m or less. As viewed in a direction from which incoming light is coming, each unit element has a peak point and a bottom point. A peak portion, including the peak point, has an excessive portion and/or a missing portion as compared with an ideal peak portion of an ideal corner cube. The level of the peak point is lower than that of the ideal peak point of the ideal corner cube. An average level difference h2 between the level of the bottom point and that of an ideal bottom point of the ideal corner cube is smaller than an average level difference h1 between the level of the peak point and that of the ideal peak point.

Abstract: The invention comprises a lighting and/or signalling device in particular for a motor vehicle, comprising: at least one light source illuminating a light guide, part of whose surface has locally diffusing and/or reflective areas able to diffuse/reflect towards the inside part of the light propagating in the guide, at least one end face of the guide remote from the source comprising a means of reflecting light towards the inside of the guide, the reflection means comprising: at least one cube corner projecting outwards having three facets in a trirectangular trihedron, this cube corner being provided in the material of the light guide so as to cause three successive reflections of rays falling on one of the facets under total reflection conditions, in order to return them in the guide in a direction substantially parallel to the incident direction of the said rays, or at least one said cube corner and at least one corner projecting outwards and bevelled, having two facets, this corner being designed to return

Abstract: A wide angle reflector which can work in conjunction with a wide-angle sensor system for testing the wide angle reflector. In this case, reflex sensors transmit light onto a cube corner part surface, and measure the retro-reflected light. If the direction of irradiation of the light deviates too strongly from the normal to the cube corner part surface, the retro-reflective light, which serves as signal, is retro-reflected too weakly, or is not retro-reflected at all to the transmitter. This wide-angle sensor system with a cube corner part surface permits the observation of a large surface with an aperture angle of 80° and more. In addition, the wide-angle sensor system with cube corner part surface comprises a gauge for selecting the observation angle and the cube corner part surface which comprises a multiplicity of cube corners.

Abstract: An improved mount for, and method of mounting an, optical structure is provided, wherein the optical structure has at least one mounting surface. The mount has a mounting section with at least one surface extending therealong for receipt thereagainst of a portion of the at least one mounting surface of the optical structure. The at least one surface of the mounting section has at least one opening extending therethrough, or at least one cavity therein, for receipt of adhesive. The adhesive will at least partially fill the at least one opening/cavity and touch a portion of the at least one mounting surface of the optical structure in order to mount the optical structure.

Abstract: The present invention relates to retroreflective sheeting.

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: 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 present invention includes a novel method to fabricate corner cube retroreflectors, CCRs, where a majority of the wafer area acts as CCRs as compared to a maximum of 33% in previous MEMS CCRs. The present invention also allows for the fabrication of moveable cantilevers which operate at one-third the voltage as compared to a conventional planar cantilever.

Abstract: A prismatic retroreflective article has a transparent body portion and a layer of internally reflecting cube-corner optical elements having an open air-exposed rear surface at least a portion of which is more hydrophobic, more oleophobic, or both more hydrophobic and more oleophobic than the underlying cube-corner optical element. The article may be made by providing a transparent body portion bearing a layer of internally reflecting open air-exposed cube-corner optical elements; treating or coating at least a portion of the cube-corner elements to make the treated or coated portion more hydrophobic, more oleophobic, or both more hydrophobic and more oleophobic than the underlying cube-corner optical elements; and leaving such treated or coated portion exposed to the open air.

Abstract: The present invention relates to retroreflective sheeting.

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: The present invention relates to methods of making microstructured laminae for replication and apparatus. In a preferred embodiment, the invention relates to machining V-shaped grooves on individual lamina forming cube-corner microstructures.

Abstract: A phase-compensating cube comer retroreflector includes three rear reflecting surfaces. All three rear reflecting surfaces can be coated with a phase-compensating film stack that induces 2n? phase difference when handling polarized light. So coated, the phase-compensating cube comer preserves the polarization orientation and ellipticity of the incident light. Such a phase-compensating cube comer can be used to improve the accuracy of distance-measuring interferometers. The cube corner directs light to and from other optical elements, including a polarizing beam-splitters, mirrors, and quarter-wave plates.

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: 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: 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: A wide angle reflector which can work in conjunction with a wide-angle sensor system for testing the wide angle reflector. In this case, reflex sensors transmit light onto a cube corner part surface, and measure the retro-reflected light. If the direction of irradiation of the light deviates too strongly from the normal to the cube corner part surface, the retro-reflective light, which serves as signal, is retro-reflected too weakly, or is not retro-reflected at all to the transmitter. This wide-angle sensor system with a cube corner part surface permits the observation of a large surface with an aperture angle of 80° and more. In addition, the wide-angle sensor system with cube corner part surface comprises a gauge for selecting the observation angle and the cube corner part surface which comprises a multiplicity of cube corners.

Abstract: A phase-compensating cube corner retroreflector includes three rear reflecting surfaces. The first and the third rear reflecting surfaces can be coated with a phase-compensating film stack that induces 2n? phase difference upon reflection, where n is an integer including 0. Alternatively, all three rear reflecting surfaces can be coated with a phase-compensating film stack that induces n? phase difference when handling linearly polarized light, or 2n? phase difference when handling linearly or circularly polarized light. So coated, the phase-compensating cube corner preserves the polarization orientation and ellipticity of the incident light. Such a phase-compensating cube corner can be used to improve the accuracy of distance-measuring interferometers. The cube corner directs light to and from other optical elements, including a polarizing beam-splitters, mirrors, and quarter-wave plates.

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.

Abstract: A method of making a micro corner cube array includes the steps of: preparing a substrate, at least a surface portion of which consists of cubic single crystals and which has a surface that is substantially parallel to {111} planes of the crystals; and etching the surface of the substrate anisotropically, thereby forming a plurality of unit elements for the micro corner cube array on the surface of the substrate. Each of these unit elements is made up of a number of crystal planes that have been formed at a lower etch rate than the {111} planes of the crystals.

Abstract: A durable optical film or element includes a polymerized structure having a microstructured surface and a plurality of surface modified colloidal nanoparticles of silica, zirconia, or mixtures thereof. Display devices including the durable microstructured film are also described.

Abstract: A method for selectively removing metal from a metallized substrate (e.g., a metallized polymer film) and the formation fo devices thereby are provided. The method involves selectively exposing the metallized surface to a demetallizing (i.e., an oxidizing) chemical solution. The metallized layer can be selectively exposed to the demetallizing solution using a flexographic printing process wherein printing rollers are used to transfer the demetallizing solution to the metallized surface. An identification device including, for example, a holographic, retro-reflective, or other metallized material and a radio-frequency transponder are also provided. The radio-frequency transponder includes an RF chip and an antenna in electrical communication with the chip. The identification device including the holographic image allows both electronic identification through the reading of identification data stored in the chip and optical identification via the holographic image.

Abstract: This invention pertains to a multipass retroreflector and to a method for its operation. In a preferred embodiment, the retroreflector comprises three reflecting surfaces arranged at an angle to each other in the form of a prism that is triangular in cross-section and 1 to 2 ports through which an optical beam enters and/or exits. The method includes the step of admitting an optical beam into the retroreflector where the optical beam is reflected from the reflecting surfaces and exits parallel to the path of the incoming optical beam. The method also includes the steps of spacing and adjusting angular disposition and dimensions of the reflecting surfaces in order to change path length of the optical beam passing through the retroreflector. This spacing can be continuously scanned causing a large change in optical path length due to a small change in the position of the moving surface.

Abstract: A layer composite of plastic material forms a retroreflector and includes at least one transparent structure layer, a protective layer and a reflection layer enclosed at the common interface between the structure layer and the protection layer. A relief structure formed by substantially identically shaped three-dimensional structure elements is formed in the reflection layer. At their base surfaces the structure elements are of lateral dimensions in the range of between 1 ?m and 100 ?m. The structure elements have side faces which are covered by the reflection layer and which include an angle of inclination of 45°, with a free surface of the layer composite. The relief structure is additively superimposed with a microstructure in at least one surface element. The microstructure has a preferred direction and influences the quality of the reflection action of the layer composite. The retroreflector is suitable for the production of machine-readable optical markings.

Abstract: Retroreflective sheeting and a method for making the same includes a plurality of open-faced cube-corner surfaces formed from a substantially rigid material to keep the cube-corner surfaces from flexing. An optical coating is formed on the surfaces, and a fill layer is attached to at least a portion of the optical coating. A plurality of voids form the open-faced cube-corner surfaces.

Abstract: The present invention provides a new sheeting article that may suitably include: a carrier having a first major surface and a second major surface; and a plurality of discrete segments of a sheeting (e.g., a retroreflective sheeting), wherein the sheeting has a first major viewing surface and a second major opposing surface, and the first major viewing surface of the sheeting is preferably removably attached to the second major surface of the carrier. Preferably, the first major surface of the carrier comprises a release surface, the second major opposing surface of the sheeting comprises an adhesive, the article is provided in the form of a roll, and the adhesive surface of the sheeting is adjacent the release surface of an adjacent layer of the roll. In a presently preferred embodiment the present invention provides novel easy-to-use truck conspicuity sheeting.

Abstract: A triangular-pyramidal cube-corner retroreflective sheeting wherein a pair of triangular-pyramidal cube-corner retroreflective elements partitioned by three lateral faces (face a1, b1, and c1; faces a2, b2, and c2; . . . ) intersect almost perpendicularly because intersecting V-shaped grooves having substantially-symmetric cross sections are arranged in a closest-packed state so as to protrude to one side on a common-bottom plane (S-S?). Opposite faces (faces c1 and c2) of this pair of triangular-pyramidal retroreflective elements share a base (x), the common bottom plane (S-S?) including bases (z and z) of one-side lateral faces (faces a1 and a2) and bases (y and y) of the other-side lateral faces (face b1 and b2), this pair of triangular-pyramidal retroreflective elements have faced lateral faces (face c1 and c2) with shapes, and heights from the bottom plane (S-S?) up to apexes of the elements, that differ from each other.

Abstract: The invention relates to articles comprising a sheeting having a microstructured surface that reflects light in a moiré-like pattern. The invention further relates to methods of making a master and replicas thereof including tooling that results in sheeting having such pattern. A preferred method comprises forming V-shaped grooves in a substrate (e.g. metal plate) wherein the intersections of three grooves form cube-corner elements. The cube-corner elements are formed in such a manner that adjacent parallel grooves have substantially the same groove spacing and groove depth throughout the array. The master as well as corresponding tooling and sheeting preferably have a groove spacing within the range of about 0.0005 inches (0.0127 mm) to about 0.007 inches (0.1778 mm) throughout the array and more preferably a groove spacing of less than about 0.004 inches (0.1016 mm).

Abstract: A rulable array of cube corners defined by three sets of parallel, equidistant, symmetrical vee-grooves is provided. The directions of the three vee-groove sets make three angles, no two of which are equal. When the array in viewed in plan, lines along the roots of the grooves determine a pattern of triangles in which the apices of the cube corners lie at distances from their respective triangle's centroid that are substantially less than the distance between the triangle's orthocenter and its centroid. In an unmetallized prismatic retroreflective sheeting, the array of quasi-triangular cube corners has the entrance angularity advantages of compound cant with nearly the efficiency of uncanted triangular cube corners at small entrance angles.

Abstract: A retroreflector assembly is assembled by adhering a retroreflector to a mounting member along a single flat back surface of the retroreflector and a flat surface of the mounting member. The retroreflector does not otherwise contact the mounting member. The retroreflector includes three plates having optically flat reflective front surfaces disposed at right angles to each other, wherein each of the plates further has a back surface disposed on an opposite side of the plate from the optically flat reflective front surface. The mounting member comprises a bonding portion and a base portion connected to the bonding portion, wherein the bonding portion is adhered to the back surface of one of the three plates, and wherein the bonding portion comprises a same material as the one of the three plates to which the bonding portion is adhered.

Abstract: Retroreflective sheeting including a retroreflective base having a light-incident layer on its light-incident side and a fluorine-containing resin film having a total light transmittance of 80% or more which is provided on the light-incident layer by an adhesive layer, a printed layer made of discontinuous printed parts is provided between the film and the adhesive layer. The printed layer does not cause the film to separate.

Abstract: An interchangeable low-backscatter aperture structure includes but is not limited to an aperture insert that is releasably engaged in a base. The aperture insert includes an aperture that may be of any shape. For example, the aperture may comprise a slit or it may be circular. The aperture insert may be held in the base by any securing mechanism capable of releasably securing the insert to the base. In one embodiment the securing mechanism includes a plurality of pressure clips.

Abstract: In a luminous display element, a retro-reflector is provided on the back side of an organic EL layer which includes an emission layer whose state changes between an emission state and a non-emission state. The retro-reflector includes a corner cube array, and reflects incident light in the same direction as an incident direction. A unit structure of the corner cube array is a form of a triangular pyramid which is made up of rectangular equilateral triangles having three faces, and a light shielding process is performed on the periphery of a base angle of the rectangular equilateral triangle. Thus, it is possible to prevent an image from being reflected, so that it is possible to provide the luminous display element whose contrast ratio and the utilization efficiency of emission are high.

Abstract: A retroreflective article includes a flat front surface, and a structured rear surface displaced from the flat front surface. The structured rear surface is provided with arrays of sets of three mutually perpendicular lateral triangular sides, and a plurality of trigonal linear prisms. The three lateral triangular sides have a common apex and uncommon linear base edges. The linear prisms are disposed along at least one of the linear base edges of the three lateral triangular sides.

Abstract: The first reflective lateral face of the first triangular-pyramidal retroreflective unit is on the same plane with the first lateral face of the tetrahedral retroreflective unit, the second reflective lateral face of the first triangular-pyramidal retroreflective unit is on the same plane with the second lateral face of the tetrahedral retroreflective unit, the third reflective lateral face of the first triangular-pyramidal retroreflective unit is parallel to one of the two lateral faces forming a V-shaped groove, the third reflective lateral face of the second triangular-pyramidal retroreflective unit is identical with, or parallel to, the other of the two faces forming said V-shaped groove, and the third reflective lateral face of said tetrahedral retroreflective unit is same as one of the two faces forming said V-shaped groove.

Abstract: A retroreflective structure is disclosed that has cube corner retroreflective elements. The structure includes a first array of retroreflective elements oriented in a first direction within a plane and a second array of retroreflective elements oriented in a second direction within the plane, wherein said second direction being about 90° to said first direction. The structure further includes a third array of retroreflective elements oriented in a third direction within the plane, wherein said third direction being about 180° to said first direction and a fourth array of retroreflective elements oriented in a fourth direction being about 270° to said first direction. In one embodiment, the retroreflective structure includes the retroreflective elements having cube corner elements having a pitch between elements in the range of between about 0.0035 and 0.0045 inches (0.088 and 0.114 millimeters).

Abstract: A retroreflective article comprises a) a microporous substrate (52) containing a plurality of pores (56) which are less than 0.5 ?m in diameter; and b) a layer of reflective material (54) located on the surface (58) of the substrate such that the reflective material layer at least partially obscures a plurality of the pores of the substrate. A method for the production of a reflective article comprises the steps of a) providing a substrate which contains pores which have a diameter of less than 0.5 ?m; and b) applying a layer of reflective material to the substrate in such a way that the reflective material layer at least partially obscures a plurality of the pores of the substrate.

Abstract: The invention relates to methods of making a master and replicas thereof including tooling and retroreflective sheeting. The invention further relates to the corresponding master, tooling and in particular retroreflective sheeting. The method comprises forming V-shaped grooves in a substrate (e.g. metal plate) wherein the intersections of three grooves form cube-corner elements. The cube-corner elements are substantially the same size throughout the array. The master as well as corresponding tooling and sheeting preferably have an average groove spacing within the range of about 0.0005 inches (0.0127 mm) to about 0.007 inches (0.1778 mm) throughout the array and more preferably an average groove spacing of less than about 0.004 inches (0.1016 mm).

Abstract: An apparatus in one example comprises a corner cube that comprises a first side, a second side, and a third side that cooperate to retro-reflect an incoming beam of light and output an outgoing beam of light. One or more of the first side, the second side, and the third side of the corner cube serve to contribute substantially to a decrease of over twenty percent in an amplitude of the outgoing beam of light relative to an amplitude of the incoming beam of light.

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.