US5580156A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Marker apparatus
Assignee: Koito Manufacturing Co Ltd
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Filing: 1995-09-14
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Granted: 1996-12-03
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Expires: 2015-09-14
Abstract
Abstract A marker apparatus including a retroreflector constituted by three reflective surfaces arranged on three surfaces of a trigonal pyramid and a light source disposed on an optical axis of the retroreflector. A lens is provided in front of the retroreflector and a condensing lens is formed on the lens for condensing light emitting from the light source. A plurality of retroreflectors are provided continuously on the same plane in such a manner that directions of the three reflective surfaces, which constitute each of the retroreflector, are different from one another, and a front view of the retroreflector is regular hexagonal. A wall surface is formed between the three reflective surfaces constituting each retroreflector so that the wall surface directed in parallel with an optical axis.
Inventors
- 👤 Yoshio Suzuki
- 👤 Nobuo Matsukawa
- 👤 Kazunori Tamura
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-09 14:53
CPC Classifications
F; F21; F21V; F21V7/00; F21V7/0083; B; B60; B60Q; B60Q7/00; E; E01; E01F; E01F9/00; E01F9/60; E01F9/604; E01F9/615; E01F9/617; F21S; F21S9/00; F21S9/02; F21V31/00; F21V31/03; F21V7/04; F21V7/05; F21V7/09; F21V9/00; F21V9/08; F21W; F21W2111/00; F21W2111/02; F21Y; F21Y2105/00; F21Y2105/10; F21Y2113/00; F21Y2113/10; F21Y2113/13; F21Y2115/00; F21Y2115/10; Y; Y10; Y10S; Y10S362/00; Y10S362/80; Y10S362/802
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 32
Claim 1
Independent Claim
122 words
A marker apparatus comprising: at least one retroreflector constituted by a trigonal pyramid having three reflective surfaces; a light source disposed on an optical axis of said retroreflector; a cylindrical casing accommodating therein a battery for supplying electric power to said light source; a marker body accommodating therein said retroreflector, said marker body detachably engaging with said casing; and a lens mounted on a front opening of said marker body; and wherein said marker body comprises an air hole formed in a back surface thereof for communicating an inside of said marker body with an outside thereof, a window formed in the back surface thereof for leading light therein, and a transparent cover mounted on said light leading window through an O-ring.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
122 words
A marker apparatus comprising: at least one retroreflector constituted by a trigonal pyramid having three reflective surfaces; a light source disposed on an optical axis of said retroreflector; a cylindrical casing accommodating therein a battery for supplying electric power to said light source; a marker body accommodating therein said retroreflector, said marker body detachably engaging with said casing; and a lens mounted on a front opening of said marker body; and wherein said marker body comprises an air hole formed in a back surface thereof for communicating an inside of said marker body with an outside thereof, a window formed in the back surface thereof for leading light therein, and a transparent cover mounted on said light leading window through an O-ring.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
21 words
The marker apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said marker body detachably engages with said cylindrical casing by a screw engagement.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
19 words
The marker apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said battery accommodated in said cylindrical casing is a dry battery.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
16 words
The marker apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said light source comprises a light emitting diode.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
38 words
The marker apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising an optical sensor and a control device electrically connecting to said optical sensor, wherein said light source is operated in association with an output signal of said optical sensor.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
26 words
The marker apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said retroreflector is formed of resin and a surface of which is subjected to an aluminum deposition treatment.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
20 words
The marker apparatus according to claim 1, wherein a plurality of said retroreflectors are continuously disposed on a same plane.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
19 words
The marker apparatus according to claim 7, wherein the plurality of said retroreflectors are arranged in a honeycomb configuration.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
45 words
The three marker apparatus according to claim 7, wherein each retroreflector has edge lines in various directions, said edge lines being defined by said three reflective surfaces crossing by an angle of 120° when viewed from a front, are different from those of other retroreflectors.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
78 words
The marker apparatus according to claim 9, wherein the plurality of said retroreflectors comprises a first retroreflector having the three edge lines directing to an apex of a regular hexagon of a front view and a second retroreflector having the three edge lines directing perpendicular to each of side lines of the regular hexagon, and one edge line of said first retroreflector directs up or down whereas one edge line of said second retroreflector directs left or right.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
118 words
The marker apparatus according to claim 10, wherein said first retroreflector comprises one edge line directing upward and the other two edge lines directing downward which are inclined to each other by 120°, and vertical wall surfaces are formed on each of the three reflective surfaces at positions of an upper apex and left and right lower apices of a regular hexagonal opening, and said second retroreflector comprises one edge line directing leftward and the other two edge lines directing rightward which are inclined to each other by 120°, and vertical wall surfaces are formed on each of the three reflective surfaces at positions of crossings between the three edge lines and lines of the regular hexagonal opening.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
23 words
The marker apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said three reflective surfaces of said retroreflector cross perpendicularly to one another at apices thereof.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
53 words
The marker apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said retroreflector has a configuration which is a regular hexagonal shape in a front view and a partition wall surface is formed in a parallel direction with an optical axis at a position of one of boundaries and junctions between each of said reflective surfaces.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
29 words
The marker apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said retroreflector comprises a triangular hole formed by cutting an apex part thereof, and said light source faces said triangular hole.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
100 words
The marker apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said retroreflector comprises a flange formed integrally with and at a circumference of said reflective surfaces to correspond to a contour of said marker body, and said flange comprises a short cylindrical sleeve projecting rearward from a periphery thereof to be extended along an inner peripheral surface of said marker body, and said marker body comprises a seal groove formed along an opening periphery of a front opening thereof, and said lens comprises a seal leg part formed along a peripheral portion thereof, said leg part is inserted in said seal groove.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
22 words
The marker apparatus according to claim 15, wherein a seal agent is filled in said seal groove formed on said marker body.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
17 words
The marker apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said lens is formed of a transparent resin material.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
19 words
The marker apparatus according to claim 17, wherein a clear coating is applied to whole surface of said lens.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
32 words
The marker apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said lens comprises light condensing steps formed on an inner surface thereof at a position corresponding to an approximately center position of said retroreflector.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
16 words
The marker apparatus according to claim 19, wherein said light condensing steps comprises a Fresnel step.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
41 words
The marker apparatus according to claim 19, wherein said lens comprises an outer lens and an inner lens disposed between said retroreflector and said outer lens, and said light condensing steps are formed on an appropriate portion of said inner lens.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
16 words
The marker apparatus according to claim 21, wherein said light condensing steps comprises a Fresnel step.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
35 words
The marker apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said retroreflector has a configuration which is a regular square shape in a front view, and a plurality of said retroreflectors are arrayed in a matrix arrangement.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
22 words
The marker apparatus according to claim 23, wherein an outer contour of the retroreflector includes a back surface which is configured cubic.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
22 words
The marker apparatus according to claim 23, wherein an outer contour of the retroreflector includes a back surface which is configured parallelepiped.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
14 words
The marker apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said light source emits light continuously.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
17 words
The marker apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said light source generates a flasher emission of light.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
18 words
The marker apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said light source comprises two or more light emitting elements.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
19 words
The marker apparatus according to claim 28, wherein said light emitting elements have a different color from one another.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
18 words
The marker apparatus according to claim 29, wherein said light emitting elements have red, green and blue colors.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
40 words
The marker apparatus according to claim 30, wherein each of said light emitting elements is arranged to have a different optical axis from one another and light beams emitting from the marker apparatus are directed directed differently from one another.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1999-12-03 | 2000-06-03 | 2000-12-03 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2003-12-03 | 2004-06-03 | 2004-12-03 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2007-12-03 | 2008-06-03 | 2008-12-03 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |