3-corner Retroreflective (i.e., Cube Corner, Trihedral, Or Triple Reflector Type) Patents (Class 359/529)
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Publication number: 20040246583Abstract: A retro-reflector is arranged for retro-reflecting an incident beam back to an optical component. The retro-reflector comprises three reflecting plates, two of which being arranged in parallel and one being arranged perpendicular to the parallel plates, so that the retro-reflected beam is parallel to the incident beam but with opposite propagation direction.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 2, 2004Publication date: December 9, 2004Inventors: Emmerich Mueller, Wolf Steffens, Ulrich Kallmann
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Publication number: 20040246605Abstract: A collector for concentrating light rays including a first conical segment having an inner reflective surface joined to or nested within a second conical segment having an inner reflective surface. A first embodiment consists of stacked reflective segments, where the upper conical segment is slightly diverging and the lower conical segment is converging in the direction of an input light ray. A second embodiment comprises an outer conical segment that converges in the direction of an input light ray and a nested inner conical segment that also converges in the direction of a light ray. In either embodiment, the present invention is capable of concentrating more energy when not aimed directly at an energy source than single cone collectors and thus simplifies the source tracking strategy.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 4, 2004Publication date: December 9, 2004Inventors: Michael R. Stiles, Daniel M. Fuller
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Patent number: 6819507Abstract: An optical element includes first and second members. The first member has a first surface including a first concave portion. The second member has a second surface including a second concave portion and transmits incoming light therethrough. The first and second members are disposed so that the first and second surfaces are opposed to each other. First and second reflective regions have been formed on the first and second concave portions, respectively. At least part of the incoming light that has been transmitted through the second member is reflected from at least one of the first and second reflective regions.Type: GrantFiled: February 20, 2002Date of Patent: November 16, 2004Assignee: Sharp Kabushiki KaishaInventors: Kiyoshi Minoura, Shun Ueki, Masahiko Tomikawa
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Patent number: 6817724Abstract: To provide a triangular-pyramidal cube-corner retroreflective elements extremely superior in reflectivity at an entrance angle of 30° or more, preferably 40° or more. Triangular-pyramidal cube-corner retroreflective elements characterized in that when assuming the height from a bottom plane (Sx-Sx′) including base edges (x,x, . . . ) shared by two triangular-pyramidal reflective elements faced each other up to apexes (H1 and H2) of the triangular-pyramidal reflective elements as hx, the height from a bottom plane (Sy-Sy′) including other base edges (y,y, . . . ) of the triangular-pyramidal reflective elements as hy, and the height from a bottom plane (Sz—Sz) including still other base edges (z,z . . . ) of the triangular-pyramidal reflective elements as hz, any two of hx, hy, and hz are substantially different from each other and a mirror reflective layer is formed on surfaces of the triangular-pyramidal reflective elements.Type: GrantFiled: July 31, 2002Date of Patent: November 16, 2004Assignee: Nippon Carbide Kogyo Kabushiki KaishaInventors: Ikuo Mimura, Yutaka Hamada, Takashi Yoshioka, Akihiro Matsuda
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Publication number: 20040218273Abstract: An integrated circuit enclosed retroreflective product which comprises an integrated circuit module having built-in integrated circuit(s), a retroreflective element, and their carrier layer(s).Type: ApplicationFiled: December 10, 2003Publication date: November 4, 2004Inventor: Ikuo Mimura
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Publication number: 20040212887Abstract: A method is disclosed for manufacturing a plurality of laminae for use in a mold suitable for use in forming retroreflective cube corner articles. Each lamina has opposing first and second major surfaces defining therebetween a first reference plane. Each lamina further includes a working surface connecting the first and second major surfaces. The working surface defines a second reference plane substantially parallel to the working surface and perpendicular to the first reference plane and a third reference plane perpendicular to the first reference plane and the second reference plane. The method includes orienting a plurality of laminae to have their respective first reference planes parallel to each other and disposed at a first angle relative to a fixed reference axis. At least two groove sets are formed in the working surface. Each groove set includes at least two parallel adjacent V-shaped grooves in the working surface of the laminae.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 14, 2004Publication date: October 28, 2004Inventor: Gerald M. Benson
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Patent number: 6802616Abstract: To provide a retroreflective sheeting not only superior in high-brightness characteristic which is a basic optical characteristic generally requested for a triangular-pyramidal reflective element, that is, reflectivity represented by the reflectivity of the light incoming from the front of the triangular-pyramidal reflective element but also whose entrance angularity and rotation angularity are greatly improved. A pair of triangular-pyramidal cube-corner retroreflective elements characterized in that the optical axis of the triangular-pyramidal reflective element pair tilts so that the angle formed between the optical axis and a vertical line extended from apexes (H1 and H2) of the elements to a bottom plane (Sx-Sx′) ranges between 0.5 and 1.5° in the direction in which the difference (q−p) between the distance (q) from the intersection (Q) of the optical axis and the bottom plane (Sx-Sx′) up to base edges (x,x, . . .Type: GrantFiled: June 13, 2002Date of Patent: October 12, 2004Assignee: Nippon Carbide Kogyo Kabushiki KaishaInventor: Ikuo Mimura
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Publication number: 20040190141Abstract: A durable silver film thin film coated non-planar optical element has been developed to replace Gold as a material for fabricating such devices. Such a coating and resultant optical element has an increased efficiency and is resistant to tarnishing, can be easily stripped and re-deposited without modifying underlying grating structure, improves the throughput and power loading of short pulse compressor designs for ultra-fast laser systems, and can be utilized in variety of optical and spectrophotometric systems, particularly high-end spectrometers that require maximized efficiency.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 26, 2003Publication date: September 30, 2004Applicant: The Regents of the University of CaliforniaInventors: Jesse D. Wolfe, Jerald A. Britten, Aleksey M. Komashko
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Publication number: 20040184151Abstract: 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 &mgr;m and 100 &mgr;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.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 10, 2004Publication date: September 23, 2004Applicant: OVD Kinegram AGInventors: Andreas Schilling, Wayne Robert Tompkin
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Publication number: 20040174601Abstract: 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.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 1, 2003Publication date: September 9, 2004Applicant: 3M Innovative Properties CompanyInventor: Kenneth L. Smith
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Publication number: 20040174603Abstract: 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.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 1, 2003Publication date: September 9, 2004Applicant: 3M Innovative Properties CompanyInventor: Kenneth L. Smith
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Patent number: 6788366Abstract: A display device includes a light modulating medium layer, a corner cube array and a reflective electrode layer. The corner cube array is provided on one side of the light modulating medium layer and includes multiple corner cubes as its unit elements. The reflective electrode layer is provided on the corner cube array and includes multiple reflective electrodes that are spaced apart from each other and that are used to apply a voltage to the light modulating medium layer. When the display device is viewed from over the corner cube array, an arrangement pattern of the corner cubes matches an arrangement pattern of the reflective electrodes in at least one direction.Type: GrantFiled: December 26, 2002Date of Patent: September 7, 2004Assignee: Sharp Kabushiki KaishaInventors: Yutaka Sawayama, Kiyoshi Minoura, Ichiro Ihara, Koji Taniguchi, Sayuri Fujiwara
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Publication number: 20040169928Abstract: Optical structures and methods for manufacturing the same includes, in one embodiment, a substrate and a plurality of two-sided optical components disposed along the substrate. Each component includes optical microstructures on each side. At least a portion of one side of at least some of the components is air-backed and the other side of the at least some of the components is substantially wetted-out by a material. Retroreflective optical structures, threads, or fibers and manufacturing methods for forming same are also provided. Optical structures are provided that include a plurality of microstructures enclosed within an outer layer that is formed from a single substrate. An apparatus and method are also provided for forming an optical structure comprising injecting a material into a mold to form the optical structure, forming the optical structure into a desired geometric shape, and sealing ends of the optical structure.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 9, 2003Publication date: September 2, 2004Applicant: Reflexite CorporationInventors: Robert B. Nilsen, William P. Rowland
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Patent number: 6767102Abstract: 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.Type: GrantFiled: December 2, 1999Date of Patent: July 27, 2004Assignee: Avery Dennison CorporationInventors: Sidney A. Heenan, Anthony J. Montalbano, Liviu A. Coman, Dennis I. Couzin
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Patent number: 6760157Abstract: An optical film is provided which comprises a disperse phase of polymeric particles disposed within a continuous birefringent matrix in combination with light directing materials to enable control of light emitted from a lighting fixture or display. The film is oriented, typically by stretching, in one or more directions. The size and shape of the disperse phase particles, the volume fraction of the disperse phase, the film thickness, and the amount of orientation are chosen to attain a desired degree of diffuse reflection and total transmission of electromagnetic radiation of a desired wavelength in the resulting film, and the light directing materials are chosen to control the direction of polarized light reflected from or transmitted by the optical film.Type: GrantFiled: July 25, 2000Date of Patent: July 6, 2004Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties CompanyInventors: Richard C. Allen, Lockwood W. Carlson, Andrew J. Ouderkirk, Michael F. Weber, Arthur L. Kotz, Timothy J. Nevitt, Carl A. Stover, Biswaroop Majumdar
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Patent number: 6758567Abstract: A continuously formed, low profiled reflective pavement marker comprising a multiple, inclined, low profiled reflective portions, which are integrally connected by horizontally, positioned reflective sheeting. Each raised reflective portion integrally having multiple reflective cube corner elements within two defined inclined reflective faces. Each of the two opposite reflective faces are integrally supported by load carrying structural walls in a multi-directional manner, said load carrying structural walks define cell like areas within each inclined reflective face. A method of making said reflective marker is disclosed that includes the steps of sealing and coloring the lower portion of the reflective marking sheet.Type: GrantFiled: January 22, 2002Date of Patent: July 6, 2004Inventor: Adl Attar
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Publication number: 20040114243Abstract: A cube corner array with minute modifications of the dihedral angles of some of the cube corners is produced by introducing a stress or change via the opposite side of the substrate. The array having aberrated elements can be replicated for use in the manufacture of a tool, and the tool can be used in the manufacture of retroreflective products of broader divergence.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 12, 2002Publication date: June 17, 2004Inventors: Dennis I. Couzin, Steven R. Chapman, Kejian Huang
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Publication number: 20040114244Abstract: 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.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 17, 2002Publication date: June 17, 2004Inventor: Dennis I. Couzin
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Publication number: 20040105154Abstract: Optical structures and sheeting that include polyurea and method for forming same are proposed in accordance with aspects of the present invention. One and two-component layers can be used to form the optical structures. The optical structures can include microstructures formed from polyurea. The sheeting can include at least one of cube-corner prisms, open-faced cube-corner prisms, linear prisms, lenticular lenses, moth-eye structures, lenses, Fresnel lens arrays, lenses, and fish-eye lens arrays.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 4, 2003Publication date: June 3, 2004Applicant: Reflexite CorporationInventors: Dzu D. Luong, Patrick W. Mullen
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Patent number: 6742903Abstract: An array of corner reflectors is used to provide a retro-reflector for a large range of incident angles. A novel orientation of the individual corner reflectors is used. This allows the interior of a first corner to remain visible while the interior of a second corner becomes visible. This may be done while maintaining a phase coherence between the contributions of the first and second corner reflectors. Phase coherence ensures constructive interference among the returns from the first and second corner reflectors. Coherence is achieved by an arrangement which places the interior vertices of the corner reflectors close to each other. One such arrangement also places the peak return from one corner reflector acting as a dihedral between the locations of the dihedral and trihedral returns of a second corner reflector. This arrangement results in a substantially uniform and strong retro-return. Phase coherence may be maintained over a desired range of elevation angles.Type: GrantFiled: December 12, 2001Date of Patent: June 1, 2004Inventor: Francis X. Canning
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Patent number: 6736518Abstract: A cube corner reflector is oriented so that incident and reflected beams either entirely miss the edges at the intersections of reflective surfaces or so that the beams have only peripheral portions incident on the edges. A symmetry plane of the cube corner reflector is midway between the incident and reflected beams of the cube corner reflector and contains the central axis of the cube corner reflector and one of the edges between the reflective surfaces. For a minimum size reflector that permits the tight beam spacing, trimmed surfaces perpendicular to the symmetry plane are at different distances from the central axis. The edges, variations in the orthogonality of the reflective surfaces, and beam walk off cause less wavefront distortion that could affect measurements in systems such as interferometers.Type: GrantFiled: March 14, 2003Date of Patent: May 18, 2004Assignee: Agilent Technologies, Inc.Inventors: R. Todd Belt, John J. Bockman
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Patent number: 6736519Abstract: A see-through retroreflective structure includes a transparent polymeric film, an array of retroreflective elements attached to the polymeric film, and an array of apertures through the retroreflective structure within the array of retroreflective elements. In one embodiment, the retroreflective structure includes a metalized reflective layer formed on the transparent prism elements and a support layer, such as a fabric, is attached to the metalized reflective layer. The method includes providing a transparent polymeric film. An array of retroreflective elements is attached to the polymeric film. The array of retroreflective elements and the transparent polymeric film are perforated through the retroreflective structure to form an array of apertures, thereby forming a retroreflective structure. The apertures are of sufficient size and spacing to provide a see-through capability.Type: GrantFiled: September 25, 2002Date of Patent: May 18, 2004Assignee: Reflexite CorporationInventor: Peter R. Smith
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Publication number: 20040090676Abstract: 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.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 13, 2002Publication date: May 13, 2004Inventors: John Edwin Jackson, Christopher Brendan Svec
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Publication number: 20040075880Abstract: An optical MEMS retro-reflective apparatus with modulation capability having a retro-reflecting structure including a pair of reflective surfaces; and a MEMS device for moving at least one of the reflective surfaces of said pair of reflective surfaces relative to another one of the reflective surfaces of said pair of reflective surfaces a distance which causes the pair of reflective surfaces to switch between a reflective mode of operation and a transmissive mode of operation. A substrate and a moveable grating stricture may be substituted for the reflective surfaces.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 11, 2003Publication date: April 22, 2004Inventors: David M. Pepper, Keyvan Sayyah
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Publication number: 20040051948Abstract: A patterned roller including one or more patterned rings forming an overall cylindrical pattern. The patterned roller may also include one or more spacer rings to form grooves or channels into a surface. The patterned roller may be included in a roller stack as part of a manufacturing system for patterned film. The patterned roller can include a pattern to form full corner cubes of many different sizes and/or geometries in a continuous manner across the width and along the length of a reflective sheet without seams. Methods of manufacture include rolling the cylindrical pattern of the patterned roller into a surface of an extruded sheet. Articles are manufactured utilizing the methods of manufacture including license plates, shoes, highway signs, articles of clothing, pavement markers, automobile reflectors, and bicycle reflectors.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 10, 2003Publication date: March 18, 2004Inventor: David Reed
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Publication number: 20040027666Abstract: An optical sensor (5) for recording wetting of a surface (20) of a member (21), especially a window of a motor vehicle, having a transmitter (13), a receiver (14) and a retroreflector (11, 11′, 11″) for electromagnetic waves is proposed. The surface (20) of the member (21) has for this at least two sensing regions (12, 12′), which are exposed to electromagnetic waves originating from the transmitter (13) and coupled into the member (21) in a central region (10), the development of wetting on the sensing regions (12, 12′) effecting a change of the signal of the electromagnetic waves coupled out into the receiver (14) in the central region (10).Type: ApplicationFiled: September 4, 2003Publication date: February 12, 2004Inventor: Helmut Sautter
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Patent number: 6685323Abstract: To provide a triangular-pyramidal cube-corner retroreflective sheeting having a novel structure characterized in that a lateral face (face c) using a base edge (x) of triangular-pyramidal reflective elements faced each other and arranged in the closest-packed state by sharing the base edge (x) on a first bottom plane (virtual plane X-X′) forms a triangle, two other faces (faces a and b) sharing one ridge line started from an apex (H) of the triangular-pyramidal reflective elements form a quadrangle, and the height (h′) from the apex (H) up to the first bottom plane (virtual plane X-X′) is substantially smaller than the height (h) from the apex (H) up to the substantially horizontal second bottom plane (Z-Z′) including base edges (z and w) of the other lateral faces (faces a and b).Type: GrantFiled: August 27, 2001Date of Patent: February 3, 2004Assignee: Nippon Carbide Kogyo Kabushiki KaishaInventors: Ikuo Mimura, Keiji Adachi
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Patent number: 6677028Abstract: Retroreflective articles having multilayer films are useful for commercial graphics and retroreflective products, such as roll-up signs for highway transportation safety. The articles comprise multilayer films having at least one layer of polyurethane and at least one layer of a copolymer of alkylene and at least one non-acidic, polar co-monomer. Articles having the new multilayer films provide the same or improved performance, are less expensive, and offer improved methods for manufacturing, when compared to prior articles.Type: GrantFiled: August 10, 2000Date of Patent: January 13, 2004Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties CompanyInventors: James E. Lasch, Paul J. Wang, Raymond L. Lucking, Terry R. Bailey, Kanta Kumar, Michael A. Essien, Jeffrey D. Janovec, Jaime R. Ojeda, Michael D. Currens
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Patent number: 6676261Abstract: A retroreflective structure and method for forming the same are provided which includes a polyurethane sheet having a first side and a second side, a coating on the first side, and an array of retroreflective prism elements formed on the coating. The coating is used to promote adhesion between the prism elements and the first side of the polyurethane sheet. A second coating can be formed on the second side of the polyurethane sheet for purposes such as forming a protective layer over the polyurethane sheet and can include ultraviolet blocking material.Type: GrantFiled: September 7, 2001Date of Patent: January 13, 2004Assignee: Reflexite CorporationInventors: Patrick W. Mullen, Edward D. Phillips
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Patent number: 6677030Abstract: An article comprising (a) a curved substrate having a surface energy below about 38 dynes/cm2; (b) flexible retroreflective sheeting; and (c) a crosslinked pressure-sensitive adhesive adhering the sheeting to the curved substrate. The adhesive contains sufficient polar monomer and tackifier, and is sufficiently crosslinked, to (i) have a glass transition temperature less than −15° C., (ii) permit the sheeting to remain firmly bonded to a low density polyethylene barrel without buckling when cooled from 49° C. to −1° C., and (iii) provide an adhesive bond to the barrel that exhibits increased energy absorption when tested for impact resistance at 0° C. according to ASTM D4272. The adhesive can be manufactured by partially polymerizing some of the ingredients in a pouch using UV radiation, dispersing the pouch and its contents in the other ingredients using an extruder, extrusion coating the adhesive and then UV crosslinking the coating.Type: GrantFiled: April 5, 2001Date of Patent: January 13, 2004Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties CompanyInventors: Bimal V. Thakkar, Albert I. Everaerts
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Patent number: 6663246Abstract: A process for making a retroreflective article that includes the steps of providing a device (tool or a mold) having a first structured surface; applying a reflective layer on the first structured surface resulting in a first adhesion value between the reflective layer and the first structured surface, the reflective layer having an exposed surface; applying a molding polymer to the exposed surface of the reflective layer resulting in a second adhesion value between the reflective layer and the molding polymer. The second adhesion value is higher than the first adhesion value. The device is separated from the molding polymer to yield a retroreflective article that has a second structured surface that is the reverse image of the first structured surface. The separation causes a transfer of the reflective layer from the first structured surface to the retroreflective article.Type: GrantFiled: June 19, 2002Date of Patent: December 16, 2003Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties CompanyInventors: Michael D. Currens, Vera Lightle
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Publication number: 20030227683Abstract: 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).Type: ApplicationFiled: June 11, 2002Publication date: December 11, 2003Applicant: 3M Innovative Properties CompanyInventors: Nelson D. Sewall, Kenneth L. Smith, David W. Meitz, Madeleine B. Fleming, John C. Nelson
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Publication number: 20030227681Abstract: 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.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 11, 2002Publication date: December 11, 2003Inventor: Marc Currie
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Publication number: 20030223080Abstract: A corner cube retroreflector having a coating including one or more layers at each reflecting surface. The coating causes the retroreflector to have polarization eigenstates that are substantially linear and to have the properties of a half-wave plate. The coated retroreflector can be used in interferometry and microlithography system.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 11, 2003Publication date: December 4, 2003Inventor: Henry A. Hill
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Patent number: 6656566Abstract: Sheeting material is disclosed that contains a retroreflective layer and a layer of luminescent material on the bottom or lower surface of the retroreflective layer. The sheeting material can be formed into signage or decorative articles that are highly visible under a variety of lighting conditions. A portion of the retroreflective layer is visible through the luminescent layer or through one or more openings in the luminescent layer which are in the form of slits, perforations, alphanumeric or other patterns. The luminescent layer can be imaged using analog or digital printing processes. The sheeting material can be made from materials that are suitable for back-lit illumination. Adhesives or other conventional attachment means can be employed to anchor the signs in interior or exterior environments.Type: GrantFiled: April 15, 1997Date of Patent: December 2, 2003Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties CompanyInventors: C. Richard Kuykendall, David J. Murphy
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Patent number: 6656571Abstract: Retroreflective sheeting includes a body layer having a structured surface with recessed faces and top surfaces, the recessed faces forming cube corner cavities. The recessed faces have a high specular reflectivity, while the top surfaces have a low specular reflectivity. In some embodiments a substantially continuous film of reflective material covers the structured surface, and a masking substance is provided over the reflective material at the top surfaces. Alternatively, the top surfaces are given a non-smooth surface finish so that the film of reflective material on those portions has a diffuse reflectivity. In other embodiments the film of reflective material is discontinuous, disposed selectively on the recessed faces and not on the top surfaces. A cover layer is also provided, and can bond at least to the top surfaces. Keeping the top surfaces substantially free of reflective material inhibits corrosion and can enhance the bond integrity.Type: GrantFiled: May 9, 2001Date of Patent: December 2, 2003Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties CompanyInventors: Gerald M. Benson, Kenneth L. Smith, James C. Coderre, Paul E. Humpal, Mark D. Nachbor
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Patent number: 6652954Abstract: The present invention relates to a laminate and an article comprising a retroreflective layer having a retroreflective viewing surface and an opposing surface and a tear resistant film disposed on the retroreflective layer. The finished article is preferably flexible and suitable for use as roll-up signs, flags, banners and other retroreflective articles requiring similar flexibility including other traffic warning and personal safety items.Type: GrantFiled: May 30, 2001Date of Patent: November 25, 2003Inventors: Steven M. Nielsen, Raymond L. Lucking, John W. Frank, James E. Lasch, Gregg A. Patnode
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Patent number: 6644818Abstract: A method and apparatus for making retro-reflective articles are described which can be made without visually disturbing seam lines, In one embodiment molds having retro-reflective elements have serrated edges along boundary lines of retro-reflective elements are used. In another embodiment the molds are provided with mold lines aligned with edges of the molds and so spaced from the edges that molds can be placed adjacent to one another as part of a grid pattern wherein seam lines are a part of the grid pattern and thus visually hidden. In another embodiment, rather than grid lines being introduced into the molds used to form retro-reflective sheets, the grid lines are formed directly on or in the retro-reflective material itself during or after creation. Articles made with molds having mold lines exhibit a regular grid pattern, but without an asymmetric seam line appearing on the article.Type: GrantFiled: May 1, 2002Date of Patent: November 11, 2003Assignee: Printmark Industries, Inc.Inventor: Alexander Sloot
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Publication number: 20030193717Abstract: 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.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 14, 2003Publication date: October 16, 2003Inventor: Hans-Erich Gubela
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Publication number: 20030184866Abstract: To provide a triangular-pyramidal cube-corner retroreflective sheeting having a new structure.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 31, 2003Publication date: October 2, 2003Applicant: NIPPON CARBIDE KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHAInventors: Ikuo Mimura, Yutaka Hamada, Takehito Takahashi
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Patent number: 6626544Abstract: A retroreflective structure includes a retroreflective sheeting having an array of transparent prisms formed into pairs of prisms. Each prism includes a base aperture and three intersecting lateral faces meeting at an apex. Each of the lateral faces includes a base edge which forms a portion of the perimeter of the base aperture. The base edge of each lateral face intersects the base edge of a contiguous lateral face to form a base point, the first face of at least one prism in the array including a first face first planar surface and a first face second planar surface. The first face first planar surface and the first face second planar surface are contiguous along an edge having a first and second end points, wherein the apex, the first end point, and a first base point are coplanar and form a continuous edge from the first base point to the apex.Type: GrantFiled: March 28, 2001Date of Patent: September 30, 2003Assignee: Reflexite CorporationInventors: Xiao-Jing Lu, Gary J. Gauer, David A. Jacob, Erich Minier
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Publication number: 20030133194Abstract: 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.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 3, 2003Publication date: July 17, 2003Applicant: 3M Innovative Properties CompanyInventors: Gerald M. Benson, Kenneth L. Smith
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Patent number: 6592967Abstract: Flexible retroreflective sheeting, and products therefrom, fabricated from an elastic substantially linear olefin polymer are found to exhibit significantly enhanced retention of retroreflectivity and do not require the addition of plasticizers. The retroreflective sheeting of the invention is a surprisingly good replacement for polyvinyl chloride sheeting which heretofore have shown poor retention of retroreflectivity and have required addition of plasticizers for optimal flexibility and handling.Type: GrantFiled: February 14, 2001Date of Patent: July 15, 2003Assignee: Avery Dennison CorporationInventor: Alan Kaufman
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Patent number: 6586067Abstract: Encapsulated-lens retroreflective sheeting is described which contains an improved binder layer. The binder layer is obtained from a film-forming mixture which comprises: (A) a vinyl chloride copolymer, (B) a thermoplastic polyurethane, and (C) an aminoplast resin. Such binder layer exhibits improved adhesion to metallized beads and to a variety of cover films such as acrylic films.Type: GrantFiled: April 2, 2001Date of Patent: July 1, 2003Assignee: Avery Dennison CorporationInventor: Seth Levenstein
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Publication number: 20030112519Abstract: An antiglare and antireflection film is provided, which can be formed by a wet-coating method and which is excellent in the antireflection property, antifouling property, scratch resistance, clearness of transmitted image and planar uniformity. A polarizer and a liquid crystal display device using this film are also provided.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 5, 2002Publication date: June 19, 2003Inventors: Kazuhiro Nakamura, Naohiro Matsunaga, Tsutomu Arai, Shinichi Otani, Hidekazu Yamazaki, Hirohisa Hokazono
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Publication number: 20030075815Abstract: A ruling of cube corner elements comprising intersecting ruled vee-grooves is characterized in that at least one of the vee-grooves is made such the substrate being ruled and the cutting tool are oscillated with respect to one another during the ruling of the vee-groove. Rulings made in accordance with the instant invention can be designed to produce a cube corner element having broader divergence.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 11, 2002Publication date: April 24, 2003Inventors: Dennis I. Couzin, Sidney A. Heenan, Ronald A. Sandler
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Patent number: 6548164Abstract: The present invention provides improved and novel removable sheeting, having a specular reflective layer, and a pressure sensitive adhesive layer adjacent the specular reflective layer. The adhesive layer of this sheeting includes an organofunctional coupling agent. In preferred embodiments the sheeting is retroreflective and further includes an array of retroreflective elements.Type: GrantFiled: April 19, 2000Date of Patent: April 15, 2003Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties CompanyInventor: Chester A. Bacon, Jr.
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Patent number: 6540367Abstract: 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.Type: GrantFiled: February 25, 2000Date of Patent: April 1, 2003Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties CompanyInventors: Gerald M. Benson, Kenneth L. Smith
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Publication number: 20030048533Abstract: 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.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 11, 2002Publication date: March 13, 2003Inventor: James Joseph Lyons
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Patent number: 6531205Abstract: A fluorescent yellow retroreflective sheeting article comprises a polymeric matrix, a fluorescent yellow-green dye selected from the group consisting of thioxanthene dyes and benzothiazene dyes, and a second dye selected from the group consisting of thioxanthene dye and thioxanthone dyes, wherein the resulting article has chromaticity coordinates within the area defined by CIE as fluorescent yellow.Type: GrantFiled: February 14, 2001Date of Patent: March 11, 2003Assignee: Avery Dennison CorporationInventors: Drew J. Buoni, Kimberly A. Dockus, Guang-Xue Wei