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: The present invention relates to a triangular pyramidal cube corner retroreflective article and a producing method thereof. In the triangular pyramidal cube corner retroreflective article, a triangular pyramidal cube corner retroreflective element pair group is disposed in a closest-packed fashion on a common plane defined by three base lines, and the each of retroreflective elements in a pair having one base line (A-B) shared by the retroreflective elements in the pair. The triangular pyramidal cube corner retroreflective article includes a first element pair group, in which two interior angles (?=?BAC and ?=?ABC) formed by the shared base line of the element pair and two other base lines are different from each other and the element pair is line-symmetrically disposed in relation to the shared base line (A-B); and a second element pair group, in which the element pair is congruent to a line-symmetrical shape to the first element pair in relation to a line segment connecting vertexes of the base planes.

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: Microstructured articles, such as a retroreflective articles, having a plurality of (e.g. cube-corner) microstructured elements projecting from a major surface are described. The microstructured (e.g.) cube-corner elements or interface with an adjacent layer comprises certain nitrogen-containing ingredients. The inclusion of such nitrogen-containing ingredients can improve the adhesion of the (e.g. cube-corner) elements to adjacent (e.g. olefinic) layers such as a body layer, seal film layer, or combination thereof. The flexible retroreflective articles have a light transmissive polymeric body layer having an elastic modulus of less than 7×108 pascals.

Abstract: A cutting tool assembly having a tool post capable of lateral movement along a work piece to be cut and an actuator with at least one machined tool tip and possibly other tool tips. The actuator provides for control of the movement of the tool tip in an x-direction into and out of the work piece in order to make continuous or discontinuous diffractive features in it. The machined work piece can be used to make articles having diffractive features such as optical films having lenslets.

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: A fluorescent article includes an underlayer colored fluorescent film and an overlayer colored fluorescent film, which is provided over the underlayer colored fluorescent film. The underlayer colored fluorescent film includes a first fluorescent colorant in an underlayer acrylic matrix. The overlayer colored fluorescent film includes a second fluorescent in an overlayer acrylic matrix.

Abstract: A fabric-backed retroreflective article has improved visual appearance by combining the fabric and retroreflective layers. An article, comprises a retroreflective layer formed of a resin that partially interpenetrates a fabric layer. Manufacturing a retroreflective article includes a retroreflective layer partially interpenetrating a fabric layer. The method includes disposing a layer of curable resin on a fabric layer; causing the layer of curable resin to partially penetrate the fabric layer; and curing the layer of curable resin, thereby forming the retroreflective layer partially interpenetrating the fabric layer.

Abstract: A transparent wavelength-selective retroreflector (100) that retroreflects light within a specific wavelength range and is transparent to visible light. A transparent wavelength-selective retroreflector allows visible light to pass therethrough and selectively retroreflects light within a specific wavelength range. One preferred embodiment of a transparent, wavelength-selective retroreflector includes an optical structure layer (101) that is made of a light transmissible material and a wavelength selective reflective layer (102). At least one of the front or rear surfaces includes a cube corner structure, such as cube-corner type trigonal pyramids, cube-corner type cavities, cube-corner type trigonal pyramids with reflective layers, cube-corner type cavities with reflective layers, and the like.

Abstract: Reflective pellets (16) are formed by extrusion of reflective micro beads (26) in a thermoplastic (20), removal of the surface layer of the pellets so as to expose the reflective beads at the surface of the pellets and applying the reflective pellets to the base line (14) of the striping applied to a paved road.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a retroreflective article enabling to retroreflect incident light in its incident direction, and the retroreflective article including at least one retroreflective element, the retroreflective element comprising at least one reflecting corner comprised of a pair of corner reflecting surfaces which meet at dihedral angle of about 90 degree; and a pair of vertical reflecting surfaces which are formed on both ends of the reflecting corner to be substantially perpendicular to a corner of the reflecting corner with a distance which is smaller than the highest vertical height and which meet at dihedral angle of about 90 degree for the pair of corner reflecting surfaces. This retroreflective article has higher retroreflective ratio and wider available retroreflective range, and it is designed to be freely changed its main reflecting direction having the highest retroreflective ratio.

Abstract: Retroreflecting optical constructions are disclosed. A disclosed retroreflecting optical construction includes a retroreflecting layer that has a retroreflecting structured major surface, and an optical film that is disposed on the retroreflecting structured major surface of the retroreflecting layer. The optical film has an optical haze that is not less than about 30%. Substantial portions of each two neighboring major surfaces in the retroreflecting optical construction are in physical contact with each other.

Abstract: To provide a retroreflective article formed of many triangular-pyramidal cube-corner retroreflective element pairs. One-side groove angle formed between a cross line between a plane vertical to the common plane and to a V-groove vertical plane which includes the base line of a V-shaped groove is vertical to the common plane, and a reflective lateral face containing the base line of the v-shaped groove, and the V-groove vertical plane, does not form a constant angle in the reflective lateral face but the lateral face forms a curved and/or multiple surface. A base line constituting any directional V-shaped groove in retroreflective element pairs is a nonlinear base line which does not form a linear trajectory and the reflective lateral face formed of the V-shaped groove forms a curved and/or multiple surface.

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: 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: 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 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: Disclosed is a retroreflective sheet using a cube-corner type retroreflection principle, which is composed of a body layer which includes a flexible transparent thermoplastic sheet made of a transparent material for high light transmittance and having a smooth surface as a reflective surface and also includes a woven fabric disposed therein, and a cube-corner type microprism layer having a retroreflective function formed on a surface of the body layer including the transparent thermoplastic sheet and the woven fabric in an integrated form, opposite the reflective surface. The retroreflective sheet has a configuration in which the woven fabric having high tensile strength is inserted into the transparent thermoplastic polymer (PVC, TPU, PO, or acryl) sheet, and is suitable for end uses requiring high tensile force.

Abstract: To provide a retroreflective article formed of many triangular-pyramidal cube-corner retroreflective element pairs. One-side groove angle formed between a cross line between a plane vertical to the common plane and to a V-groove vertical plane which includes the base line of a V-shaped groove is vertical to the common plane, and a reflective lateral face containing the base line of the v-shaped groove, and the V-groove vertical plane, does not form a constant angle in the reflective lateral face but the lateral face forms a curved and/or multiple surface. A base line constituting any directional V-shaped groove in retroreflective element pairs is a nonlinear base line which does not form a linear trajectory and the reflective lateral face formed of the V-shaped groove forms a curved and/or multiple surface.

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: The inventors of the present application developed novel optically active materials, methods, and articles. One embodiment of the present application is an optically active article, comprising: an infrared-reflecting material positioned adjacent to an optically active substrate such that the infrared-reflecting material forms a pattern that can be read by an infrared sensor when the optically active substrate is illuminated by an infrared light source. Another embodiment of the present application relates to a method of manufacturing an optically active article, comprising: obtaining an optically active sheeting; and positioning an infrared-reflecting material on the optically active sheeting to form a pattern. The optically active article may be, for example, a license plate.

Abstract: A retro-reflector has at least one retro-reflecting element that has high retro-reflection efficiency and a very wide retro-reflecting range. The retro-reflecting element includes a mother reflecting corner including a communal reflecting surface that is an optical surface of a single geometrical plane, and a conceptual stepped surface that meets the communal reflecting surface at a right angle; and a plurality of subsidiary reflecting corners that are arranged along the stepped surface such that corners thereof meet the communal reflecting surface at a right angle, and each including a pair of exclusive reflecting surfaces, which are optical surfaces in a single geometrical plane and meet at a right angle.

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 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: 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: A retroreflective object having a retroreflective clement layer in which a large number of cube corner retroreflective elements of total internal reflection type are disposed. In the back surface of the retroreflective element layer, an optical characteristic adjusting layer is partially provided, and in the back surface of the optical characteristic adjusting layer, an air layer is provided. With the invention, an optical characteristic adjusting layer for adjusting a hue and occupant area ratio can be provided on the back surface of the retroreflective element layer of an existing object in a simple way for easy adjustment, thus enabling a retroreflective object to be manufactured at high productivity and low cost.

Abstract: The present application relates generally to retroreflective sheeting and the tools and methods used to make retroreflective sheeting. Microreplication tools and sheeting include controlled surface structure or haze. The surface structure or haze can be introduced, for example, by chemical etching of the tool surface and/or electroplating.

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: A retroreflective sheeting (10) comprising a cube layer (20) having a front light-receiving surface (30) and a rear retroreflecting surface (32), and a metallic layer (22) covering the rear retroreflecting surface (32). The rear surface (32) comprises an array of retroreflective elements (34) and diffusing patches (36) within such array (without retroreflective elements (34)). The metallic layer (22) covers the retroreflective elements (34) and the diffusing patches (36), whereby diffusing patches (36) scatter incoming light increasing daytime brightness to a desired level.

Abstract: To provide a retroreflective article formed of many triangular-pyramidal cube-corner retroreflective element pairs. One-side groove angle formed between a cross line between a plane vertical to the common plane and to a V-groove vertical plane which includes the base line of a V-shaped groove is vertical to the common plane, and a reflective lateral face containing the base line of the V-shaped groove, and the V-groove vertical plane, does not form a constant angle in the reflective lateral face but the lateral face forms a curved and/or multiple surface. A base line constituting any directional V-shaped groove in retroreflective element pairs is a nonlinear base line which does not form a linear trajectory and the reflective lateral face formed of the V-shaped groove forms a curved and/or multiple surface.

Abstract: An organic light emitting diode display is disclosed. In one embodiment, the display includes 1) an organic light emitting diode comprising i) a pixel electrode, ii) an organic emission layer formed on the pixel electrode, and iii) a common electrode formed on the organic emission layer, 2) a dual brightness enhancement film formed over the common electrode of the organic light emitting diode, 3) a first phase delaying plate formed on the dual brightness enhancement film, 4) a corner cube film formed on the first phase delaying plate, 5) a second phase delaying plate formed on the corner cube film and a 6) polarizing plate formed on the second phase delaying plate, wherein at least one of the elements 2)-5) is configured to reduce reflection of external light incident onto the polarizing plate and/or reduce the loss of light emitted from the organic emission layer before outputting the emitted light through the polarizing plate.

Abstract: A stereoscopic projection system is capable of minimizing a distance between viewing zones without reducing a distance between image projectors. In the stereoscopic projection system, a projector array having a plurality of image projectors are arranged substantially along an arrangement direction perpendicular to a connecting line between a left eye and a right eye of a viewer, and a directional screen has a first characteristic axis aligned at an angle with respect to the arrangement direction of the projector array, and a second characteristic axis perpendicular to the first characteristic axis. Therefore, the directional screen causes a plurality of images projected from the projector array to be relatively widened along the first characteristic axis and relatively narrowed along the second characteristic axis.

Abstract: Microstructured articles, such as a retroreflective articles, having a plurality of (e.g. cube-corner) microstructured elements and a seal film layer adhered to portions of the cube-corner elements and/or portions of a (e.g., flexible) body layer. The seal film is a thermoplastic polymeric material comprising reaction products of alkylene in an amount of at least about 50% and reaction products of at least one non-acidic polar monomer.

Abstract: A touch screen system and prismatic film includes a retroreflective substrate having a plurality of retroreflective elements having triangular cube corners. A metallized layer is disposed over at least a portion of the retroreflective elements. In one embodiment, the prismatic film includes two colored substrates mounted over the retroreflective elements. In another embodiment, a single substrate is mounted over the retroreflective elements. It is often desired that a color of the substrate(s) be chosen that is highly transparent in the infrared spectrum, but is also non-transparent in the visible light spectrum, giving the prismatic film a dark appearance. The prismatic film includes a plurality of retroreflective elements having triangular cube corners with a cant in a range between about 4 degrees in a face more parallel direction to 18 degrees in an edge more parallel direction and a cube depth between about 0.002 and 0.008 inches or with a cant of about 5.

Abstract: A retroreflection article formed of groups of grooves in three directions having substantially V-shaped cross sections, including a large number of pairs of cube corner retroreflection elements being disposed, the elements in each pair being formed to be rotationally symmetric while sharing one base line forming the retroreflection elements. A group of parallel V-shaped grooves in one direction (grooves x) forming the group of pairs of retroreflection elements has straight-line bottom tracks, the groups of parallel V-shaped grooves in the other two directions (grooves w1 and w2) have continuous bent-line bottom tracks bent at intersection points with the grooves x, the bottom tracks of the groups of parallel V-shaped grooves in the two directions (grooves w1 and w2) do not intersect with each other, and projection geometries of base planes (A-B-E1-D1 and A-B-E2-D2) forming the retroreflection elements are quadrilaterals.

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: 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: 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: Microstructured articles, such as a retroreflective articles, having a plurality of (e.g. cube-corner) microstructured elements and a seal film layer adhered to portions of the cube-corner elements and/or portions of a (e.g. flexible) body layer. The seal film is a thermoplastic polymeric material comprising reaction products of alkylene in an amount of at least about 50% and reaction products of at least one non-acidic polar monomer.

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: 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: The invention provides an internally illuminated sign comprising an information display section having at least one flat or curved surface which retroreflects light coming from the front of said sign and transmits light from the interior of said sign; an illuminator disposed behind the information display section; and a housing which encloses and holds said information display section and the illuminator. Those retroreflective elements used in said information display section are prismatic retroreflective elements according to the principle of total internal reflection, a large number of which are densely arranged to form a continuous retroreflective plane, at least the retroreflecting area of the back of said large number of prismatic retroreflective elements has no bonded area to other layer(s).

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: 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: Prepared substrate comprising an array of cube corner cavities and protrusions interspersed between the cube corner cavities.

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 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: The active reflective warning apparatus includes a transparent housing having a clear surface, a glittering retroreflective sheeting applied on the clear surface of the transparent housing for reflecting an external light, and a light-emitting unit disposed in the transparent housing. The light emitting from the light-emitting unit may emit through the clear surface and the glittering retroreflective sheeting.

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.