Cube-corner reflector with non-aligned cube axes and element axes

Claim 2

A retrodirective reflector for reflecting light substantially back to the source thereof, said reflector comprising a body of transparent material having a light-receiving front face, and a plurality of retrodirective cube-corner reflector elements at the rear of said body, each of said reflector elements having an element axis and a cube axis, each of said reflector elements having an outline in the shape of a regular polygon when projectEd in a plane perpendicular to said element axis, each of said reflector elements having three mutually perpendicular faces symmetrically arranged with respect to said cube axis and respectively intersecting in three mutually perpendicular edges, the element axes respectively of all of said reflector elements being disposed substantially parallel to one another, the cube axes of at least some of said reflector elements being inclined with respect to the associated element axes at a predetermined angle other than zero degrees.

Claim 3

The retrodirective reflector set forth in claim 1, wherein all of said reflector elements are substantially identical.

Claim 4

The retrodirective reflector set forth in claim 1, wherein said front face is substantially flat and said element axes are substantially perpendicular to said front face.

Claim 5

The retrodirective reflector set forth in claim 1, wherein each of said reflector elements has a square outline when projected in a plane perpendicular to said element axis.

Claim 6

The retrodirective reflector set forth in claim 1, wherein said predetermined angle is in the range of about 6* to 13*.

Claim 7

The retrodirective reflector set forth in claim 1, wherein the angle between one of the faces of each of said reflector elements and said front face is less than about 54*.

Claim 8

A retrodirective reflector for reflecting light substantially back to the source thereof over a wide angle, said reflector comprising a body of transparent material having a light-receiving front face, and a plurality of retrodirective cube-corner reflector elements at the rear of said body, each of said reflector elements having an element axis and a cube axis, each of said reflector elements having a substantially rectangular outline when projected in a plane perpendicular to said element axis, each of said reflector elements having three mutually perpendicular faces symmetrically arranged with respect to said cube axis and respectively intersecting in three mutually perpendicular edges, the element axes respectively of all of said reflector elements being disposed substantially parallel to one another, the cube axes of a first group of said reflector elements being inclined with respect to the associated element axes at a first angle as measured in a predetermined plane, the cube axes of a second group of said reflector elements being inclined with respect to the associated element axes at a second different angle as measured in said predetermined plane, the reflector elements in said first and second groups being capable of reflecting light back toward the source thereof respectively within first and second zones of reflectorization in said predetermined plane and respectively defined by the associated cube axes, whereby said reflector is visible to a viewer within a combined zone of reflectorization defined by said first and second zones of reflectorization.

Claim 9

A retrodirective reflector for reflecting light substantially back to the source thereof over a wide angle, said reflector comprising a body of transparent material having a light-receiving front face, and a plurality of retrodirective cube-corner reflector elements at the rear of said body, each of said reflector elements having an element axis and a cube axis, each of said reflector elements having a substantially rectangular outline when projected in a plane perpendicular to said element axis, each of said reflector elements having three mutually perpendicular faces symmetrically arranged with respect to said cube axis and respectively intersecting in three mutually perpendicular edges, the element axes respectively of all of said reflector elements being disposed substantially parallel to one another, the cube axes of a first group of said reflector elements being inclined with respect to the associated element axes at a first angle as measured in a predetermined plane, the cube axes of a second group of said reflector elements being inclined with respect to the associated element axes at a second different angle as measured in said predetermined plane, the reflector elements in said first and second groups being capable of reflecting light back toward the source thereof respectively within first and second zones of reflectorization in said predetermined plane and respectively defined by the associated cube axes, whereby said reflector is visible to a viewer within a combined zone of reflectorization defined by said first and second zones of reflectorization.

Claim 10

The retrodirective reflector set forth in claim 7, wherein the cube axes of the reflector elements in said first group are substantially parallel to one another, and the cube axes of the reflector elements in said second group are substantially parallel to one another.

Claim 11

The retrodirective reflector set forth in claim 7, wherein said first and second groups of said reflector elements are interspersed to enable said reflector to appear substantially illuminated throughout its area to a viewer in said combined zone of reflectorization.

Claim 12

The retrodirective reflector set forth in claim 7, wherein said second angle is substantially equal to said first angle but bears an opposite sign.

Claim 13

The retrodirective reflector set forth in claim 7, wherein the angle between one face of each of said reflector elements and said front face is less than about 54*.

Claim 14

A retrodirective reflector for reflecting light substantially back to the source thereof over a wide angle, said reflector comprising a body of transparent material having a light-receiving front face, and a pluralIty of retrodirective cube-corner reflector elements at the rear of said body, each of said reflector elements having an element axis and a cube axis, each of said reflector elements having a substantially rectangular outline when projected in a plane perpendicular to said element axis, each of said reflector elements having three mutually perpendicular faces symmetrically arranged with respect to said cube axis and respectively intersecting in three mutually perpendicular edges, each of said reflector elements having a given side which is rectilinear and is contained by one of said faces and lies in a plane perpendicular to said element axis, one edge of each of said reflector elements being substantially perpendicular to said one face and lying in a predetermined plane, the element axes respectively of all of said reflector elements being disposed substantially parallel to one another, said reflector elements being arranged in first and second rows, the cube axes of the reflector elements in said first rows being inclined with respect to the associated element axes at a first angle as measured in said predetermined plane, the cube axes of the reflector elements in said second rows being inclined with respect to the associated element axes at a second different angle as measured in said predetermined plane, the reflector elements in said first and second rows being capable of reflecting light back toward the source thereof respectively within first and second zones of reflectorization in said predetermined plane and respectively defined by the associated cube axes, whereby said reflector is visible to a viewer within a combined zone of reflectorization defined by said first and second zones of reflectorization.

Claim 15

A retrodirective reflector for reflecting light substantially back to the source thereof over a wide angle, said reflector comprising a body of transparent material having a light-receiving front face, and a pluralIty of retrodirective cube-corner reflector elements at the rear of said body, each of said reflector elements having an element axis and a cube axis, each of said reflector elements having a substantially rectangular outline when projected in a plane perpendicular to said element axis, each of said reflector elements having three mutually perpendicular faces symmetrically arranged with respect to said cube axis and respectively intersecting in three mutually perpendicular edges, each of said reflector elements having a given side which is rectilinear and is contained by one of said faces and lies in a plane perpendicular to said element axis, one edge of each of said reflector elements being substantially perpendicular to said one face and lying in a predetermined plane, the element axes respectively of all of said reflector elements being disposed substantially parallel to one another, said reflector elements being arranged in first and second rows, the cube axes of the reflector elements in said first rows being inclined with respect to the associated element axes at a first angle as measured in said predetermined plane, the cube axes of the reflector elements in said second rows being inclined with respect to the associated element axes at a second different angle as measured in said predetermined plane, the reflector elements in said first and second rows being capable of reflecting light back toward the source thereof respectively within first and second zones of reflectorization in said predetermined plane and respectively defined by the associated cube axes, whereby said reflector is visible to a viewer within a combined zone of reflectorization defined by said first and second zones of reflectorization.

Claim 16

The retrodirective reflector set forth in claim 12, wherein the angle between said one face of each of said reflector elements and said front face is less than about 54*.

Claim 17

The retrodirective reflector set forth in claim 12, wherein said first and second rows of reflector elements alternate to enable said reflector to appear substantially fully illuminated throughout its area to a viewer within said combined zone of reflectorization.

Claim 18

The retrodirective reflector set forth in claim 12, wherein all of said one edges are parallel.

Claim 19

The retrodirective reflector set forth in claim 12, wherein said second angle is substantially equal to said first angle but bears an opposite sign.

Claim 20

The retrodirective reflector set forth in claim 12, wherein the reflector elements in said first rows are mirror images of the reflector elements in said second rows.

Claim 21

A retrodirective reflector for reflecting light substantially back toward the source thereof over a wide angle, said reflector comprising a body of transparent material having a light-receiving front face, and a plurality of retrodirective cube-corner reflector elements at the rear of said body, each of said reflector elements having an element axis and a cube axis, each of said reflector elements having a substantially rectangular outline when projected in a plane perpendicular to said element axis, each of said reflector elements having three mutually perpendicular faces symmetrically arranged with respect to said cube axis and respectively intersecting in three mutually perpendicular edges, each of said reflector elements having a given side which is rectilinear and is contained by one of said faces and lies in a plane perpendicular to said element axis, one edge of each of said reflector elements being substantially perpendicular to said one face, the element axes respectively of all of said reflector elements being disposed substantially parallel to one another, said reflector elements being arranged into rectangular units each having first and second and third and fourth reflector elements respectively clockwise situated in the four quadrants of a rectangle, the cube axes of said first and second and third and fourth reflector elements being inclined with respect to the associated eLement axes respectively at first and second and third and fourth angles as measured respectively in first and second and third and fourth planes, said first and second and third and fourth reflector elements being capable of reflecting light back toward the source thereof respectively within first and second and third and fourth zones of reflectorization respectively in said first and second and third and fourth planes as respectively defined by the associated cube axes.

Claim 22

A retrodirective reflector for reflecting light substantially back toward the source thereof over a wide angle, said reflector comprising a body of transparent material having a light-receiving front face, and a plurality of retrodirective cube-corner reflector elements at the rear of said body, each of said reflector elements having an element axis and a cube axis, each of said reflector elements having a substantially rectangular outline when projected in a plane perpendicular to said element axis, each of said reflector elements having three mutually perpendicular faces symmetrically arranged with respect to said cube axis and respectively intersecting in three mutually perpendicular edges, each of said reflector elements having a given side which is rectilinear and is contained by one of said faces and lies in a plane perpendicular to said element axis, one edge of each of said reflector elements being substantially perpendicular to said one face, the element axes respectively of all of said reflector elements being disposed substantially parallel to one another, said reflector elements being arranged into rectangular units each having first and second and third and fourth reflector elements respectively clockwise situated in the four quadrants of a rectangle, the cube axes of said first and second and third and fourth reflector elements being inclined with respect to the associated eLement axes respectively at first and second and third and fourth angles as measured respectively in first and second and third and fourth planes, said first and second and third and fourth reflector elements being capable of reflecting light back toward the source thereof respectively within first and second and third and fourth zones of reflectorization respectively in said first and second and third and fourth planes as respectively defined by the associated cube axes.

Claim 23

The retrodirective reflector set forth in claim 18, wherein said first reflector element is the mirror image of said second reflector element, and said third reflector element is the mirror image of said fourth reflector element.

Claim 24

The retrodirective reflector set forth in claim 18, wherein said first and third planes are substantially parallel, and wherein said second and fourth planes are substantially parallel.

Claim 25

The retrodirective reflector set forth in claim 18, wherein said one edges of said first and second reflector elements lie in a common plane, and said one edges of said third and fourth reflector elements lie in a common plane.

Claim 26

The retrodirective reflector set forth in claim 18, wherein said third angle is substantially equal to said first angle but bears an opposite sign, and said fourth angle is substantially equal to said second angle but bears an opposite sign.

Claim 27

The retrodirective reflector set forth in claim 18, wherein said one edges of said first and fourth reflector elements are not parallel, and said one edges of said second and third reflector elements are not parallel.

Claim 28

The retrodirective reflector set forth in claim 18, wherein said third reflector element is rotated 180* with respect to said first reflector element, and said fourth reflector element is rotated 180* with respect to said second reflector element.

Claim 29

The retrodirective reflector set forth in claim 18, wherein said first reflector element is the mirror image of said fourth reflector element, and said third reflector element is the mirror image of said second reflector element.

Claim 30

The retrodirective reflector set forth in claim 18, wherein said given side of said first reflector element is in common with said given side of said second reflector element so as to provide a rectilinear boundary between said first and second reflector elements, and said given side of said third reflector element is in common with said given side of said fourth reflector element so as to provide a rectilinear boundary between said third and fourth reflector elements.

Claim 31

The retrodirective reflector set forth in claim 18, wherein said unit is substantially square in outline when projected in a plane perpendicular to the associated element axes, and each of said reflector elements is substantially square in outline when projected in a plane perpendicular to the associated element axis.

Claim 32

A retrodirective reflector for reflecting light substantially back to the source thereof over a wide angle, said reflector comprising a body of transparent material having a light-receiving front face, and a plurality of retrodirective cube-corner reflector elements at the rear of said body, each of said reflector elements having an element axis and a cube axis, each of said reflector elements having a substantially rectangular outline when projected in a plane perpendicular to said element axis, each of said reflector elements having three mutually perpendicular faces symmetrically arranged with respect to said cube axis and respectively intersecting in three mutually perpendicular edges, each of said reflector elements having one of said edges thereof terminating at a corner of the associated outline, the element axes respectively of all of said reflector elements being disposed substantially parallel to one another, said reflector elements being arranged into rectangular units each having four reflector elements respectively situated in the four quadrants of a rectangle, the cube axes of saiD first and second and third and fourth reflector elements in each unit being inclined with respect to the associated element axes respectively at first and second and third and fourth angles as measured respectively in first and second and third and fourth planes, said first and second and third and fourth reflector elements being capable of reflecting light back toward the source thereof respectively within first and second and third and fourth zones of reflectorization respectively in said first and second and third and fourth planes as respectively defined by the associated axes.

Claim 33

A retrodirective reflector for reflecting light substantially back to the source thereof over a wide angle, said reflector comprising a body of transparent material having a light-receiving front face, and a plurality of retrodirective cube-corner reflector elements at the rear of said body, each of said reflector elements having an element axis and a cube axis, each of said reflector elements having a substantially rectangular outline when projected in a plane perpendicular to said element axis, each of said reflector elements having three mutually perpendicular faces symmetrically arranged with respect to said cube axis and respectively intersecting in three mutually perpendicular edges, each of said reflector elements having one of said edges thereof terminating at a corner of the associated outline, the element axes respectively of all of said reflector elements being disposed substantially parallel to one another, said reflector elements being arranged into rectangular units each having four reflector elements respectively situated in the four quadrants of a rectangle, the cube axes of saiD first and second and third and fourth reflector elements in each unit being inclined with respect to the associated element axes respectively at first and second and third and fourth angles as measured respectively in first and second and third and fourth planes, said first and second and third and fourth reflector elements being capable of reflecting light back toward the source thereof respectively within first and second and third and fourth zones of reflectorization respectively in said first and second and third and fourth planes as respectively defined by the associated axes.

Claim 34

The retrodirective reflector set forth in claim 28, wherein said first and third planes are substantially coplanar, and said second and fourth planes are substantially coplanar.

Claim 35

The retrodirective reflector set forth in claim 28, wherein said third angle is substantially equal to said first angle but bears an opposite sign, and said fourth angle is substantially equal to said second angle but bears an opposite sign.

Claim 36

The retrodirective reflector set forth in claim 28, wherein said unit is substantially square in outline when projected in a plane perpendicular to the associated element axes, and each of said reflector elements is substantially square in outline when projected in a plane perpendicular to the associated element axis.

Claim 37

The retrodirective reflector set forth in claim 28, wherein said one edges of said unit extend respectively to the corners thereof.

Claim 38

A retrodirective reflector for reflecting light substantially back to the source thereof, said reflector comprising a body of transparent material having a light-receiving front face, and a plurality of retrodirective cube-corner reflector elements at the rear of said body, each of said reflector elements having an element axis and a cube axis, each of said reflector elements having three mutually perpendicular faces symmetrically arranged with respect to said cube axis and respectively intersecting in three mutually perpendicular edges, the element axes respectively of all of said reflector elements being disposed substantially parallel to one another, the cube axes of at least some of said reflector elements being inclined with respect to the associated element axes at a predetermined angle other than 0*, said reflector being made by: (1) providing a pin bundle comprising a plurality of pins each including an elongated shank and a cube-corner formation at one end thereof, said elongated shank being of polygon outline and having a longitudinally extending pin axis, said cube-corner formation having a cube axis at an angle to said pin axis of other than zero degrees, said cube-corner formation having three mutually perpendicular faces symmetrically arranged with respect to the cube axis of said pin and respectively intersecting in three mutually perpendicular edges, the pin axes respectively of said pins being disposed substantially parallel to one another, and (2) forming said reflector directly or indirectly against said mold, whereby the element axes of said reflector are respectively aligned with the pin axes of said pin bundle, and the cube axes of the reflector elements of said reflector are respectively aligned with the cube axes of the cube-corner formations of said pin bundle.

Claim 39

A retrodirective reflector for reflecting light substantially back to the source thereof, said reflector comprising a body of transparent material having a light-receiving front face, and a plurality of retrodirective cube-corner reflector elements at the rear of said body, each of said reflector elements having an element axis and a cube axis, each of said reflector elements having three mutually perpendicular faces symmetrically arranged with respect to said cube axis and respectively intersecting in three mutually perpendicular edges, the element axes respectively of all of said reflector elements being disposed substantially parallel to one another, the cube axes of at least some of said reflector elements being inclined with respect to the associated element axes at a predetermined angle other than 0*, said reflector being made by: (1) providing a pin bundle comprising a plurality of pins each including an elongated shank and a cube-corner formation at one end thereof, said elongated shank being of polygon outline and having a longitudinally extending pin axis, said cube-corner formation having a cube axis at an angle to said pin axis of other than zero degrees, said cube-corner formation having three mutually perpendicular faces symmetrically arranged with respect to the cube axis of said pin and respectively intersecting in three mutually perpendicular edges, the pin axes respectively of said pins being disposed substantially parallel to one another, and (2) forming said reflector directly or indirectly against said mold, whereby the element axes of said reflector are respectively aligned with the pin axes of said pin bundle, and the cube axes of the reflector elements of said reflector are respectively aligned with the cube axes of the cube-corner formations of said pin bundle.

Claim 40

The reflector of claim 33, wherein a mold is formed against said pin bundle and said reflector is formed against said mold.