Abstract: A polarizer comprising at least one subwavelength optical microstructure that includes linear prisms, and wherein said microstructure is partially covered with a light-transmissive inhibiting surface.

Abstract: A light-redirecting optical structure includes a first side and a second side, the first side including plurality of linear prisms having a visibly random shaped surface on the prisms and a plurality of cross-cut prisms on first side which are oriented at an angle such that it is greater than zero degrees but less than 180 degrees. A backlight wedge includes a stepped structure on a bottom side that decreases in size traversing the wedge away from a light source which is positioned at an end and having a visibly random shaped surface on said wedge.

Abstract: A microstructure-based chemical sensor that can be interrogated by a remote observer. The device acts as an electromagnetic wave filter in the optical region of the spectrum, filtering one or more wavelength bands where the band spectral notch location shifts in response to the accumulation of material on the surface of the microstructure sensor. The apparatus has a substrate having a surface relief structure containing dielectric bodies with one or more physical dimensions smaller than the wavelength of the filtered electromagnetic waves, such structures repeated in an array covering at least a portion of the surface of the substrate. A retro-reflecting structure allows interrogation of the sensor over a wide field of view. The device is particularly useful as a water monitoring device in hard to reach locations, and as a chemical warfare or explosives detector that can be read from a safe distance.

Abstract: Retroreflective structures, which can include chips, flakes, threads, fibers, sheeting, octahedron retroreflectors, etc., are provided in accordance with embodiments of the present invention. The structures can utilize full or truncated open-faced surfaces and/or solid cube-corner prisms. A coating can be provided on the surfaces that is configured to reflect a first predetermined wavelength or range of wavelengths of light while allowing a second predetermined wavelength or range of wavelengths to pass therethrough. In other embodiments, a specular or reflective coating can be provided on the open-faced surfaces or facets of the cube-corner prisms.

Abstract: A stepped surface relief structure positioned on a substrate is configured to reflect narrow-band light wavelengths and is further configured such that the substrate can be incorporated into at least one of a thread, a fiber or a flake.

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. A second plurality of open-faced cube-corner surfaces is formed from the substantially rigid material to keep the second plurality of open-faced cube-corner surfaces from flexing. The first and second open-faced cube-corner surfaces are configured to retroreflect light in opposite directions, that is, formed back-to-back in a particular embodiment. An optical coating can be formed on the surfaces. A plurality of voids forms the open-faced cube-corner surfaces. The retroreflective sheeting can be perforated in a particular embodiment.

Abstract: A light-redirecting optical structure includes a first side and a second side, the first side including plurality of linear prisms having a visibly random shaped surface on the prisms and a plurality of cross-cut prisms on first side which are oriented at an angle such that it is greater than zero degrees but less than 180 degrees. A backlight wedge includes a stepped structure on a bottom side that decreases in size traversing the wedge away from a light source which is positioned at an end and having a visibly random shaped surface on said wedge.