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US 12,078,825 B1Granted
Textured retro-reflective marker
AssigneeNorthern Digital Inc.
InventorsLarry Chen, Derek Peter Zwambag, Shaulaine White, Athanasios Tommy Balkos
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Abstract
A marker comprising: a retro-reflective layer having a first retro-reflectance capability and a border defining a retro-reflective area of the retro-reflective layer. The retro-reflective layer includes a textured surface, a portion of the textured surface having a surface topology such that surface normal vectors positioned across the portion extend from the portion of the textured surface in different directions. A plurality of retro-reflective micro elements are distributed across the textured surface. A portion of the border provides a second retro-reflectance capability lower than the first retro-reflectance capability.
Claims30
A marker, comprising:
- a retro-reflective layer having a first retro-reflectance capability, the retro-reflective layer comprising:
- a textured surface, a portion of the textured surface having a surface topology such that surface normal vectors positioned across the portion extend from the portion of the textured surface in different directions;
- and
- a plurality of retro-reflective micro elements distributed across the textured surface;
- a border defining a retro-reflective area of the retro-reflective layer, wherein a portion of the border provides a second retro-reflectance capability lower than the first retro-reflectance capability, and
- a base, wherein the retro-reflective layer is attached to the base, and wherein the retro-reflective area has a center, and the base defines a central opening, the central opening of the base being aligned with the center of the retro-reflective area when the retro-reflective layer is attached to the base.
3 more elements
An apparatus comprising;
- a device for optical tracking, and
- a marker attached to the device, wherein the marker comprises:
- a retro-reflective layer having a first retro-reflectance capability, the retro-reflective layer comprising:
- a textured surface, a portion of the textured surface having a surface topology such that surface normal vectors positioned across the portion extend from the portion of the textured surface in different directions, and
- a plurality of retro-reflective micro elements distributed across the textured surface;
- a border defining a retro-reflective area of the retro-reflective layer, wherein a portion of the border provides a second retro-reflectance capability lower than the first retro-reflectance capability, and
- a base, wherein the retro-reflective layer is attached to the base, and wherein the retro-reflective area has a center, and the base defines a central opening, the central opening of the base being aligned with the center of the retro-reflective area when the retro-reflective layer is attached to the base.
4 more elements
A marker, comprising:
- a retro-reflective layer having a first retro-reflectance capability, the retro-reflective layer comprising:
- a textured surface, a portion of the textured surface having a surface topology such that surface normal vectors positioned across the portion extend from the portion of the textured surface in different directions;
- and
- a plurality of retro-reflective micro elements distributed across the textured surface;
- and
- a base comprising a top surface where the retro-reflective layer is placed and attached to the base, the top surface providing a second retro-reflectance capability lower than the first retro-reflectance capability, and wherein the retro-reflective area has a center, and the base defines a central opening, the central opening of the base being aligned with the center of the retro-reflective area when the retro-reflective layer is attached to the base.
3 more elements
A marker, comprising:
- a retro-reflective layer having a first retro-reflectance capability, the retro-reflective layer comprising:
- a textured surface, a portion of the textured surface having a surface topology such that surface normal vectors positioned across the portion extend from the portion of the textured surface in different directions;
- and
- a plurality of retro-reflective micro elements distributed across the textured surface;
- a border defining a retro-reflective area of the retro-reflective layer, wherein a portion of the border provides a second retro-reflectance capability lower than the first retro-reflectance capability, and
- a base, wherein the retro-reflective layer is attached to the base, and wherein the retro-reflective area has a center, and the base defines a central opening, the central opening of the base being aligned with the center of the retro-reflective area when the retro-reflective layer is attached to the base, and
- wherein the surface topology includes a sinusoidal geometry that includes one or more waves, and a wavelength of the one or more waves of the surface topology ranges between 1% and 50% of a size of the retro-reflective area.
4 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.