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US 12,152,354 B2Granted
Anisotropic retroreflective mesh for longitudinal pavement marking articles and methods
AssigneeVergence Automation, Inc.
InventorJames E. Retterath
Life of this patent
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Abstract
In various embodiments, the present disclosure provides for reflective materials, articles and methods incorporating a mesh arrangement of multiple, discrete retroreflective canted cube corner reflectors each having generally flat incident surfaces and high transparency, with a geometry and a refractive index ratio sufficiently high enough to produce a high degree of total internal reflection (TIR) that results in anisotropic retroreflectivity.
Claims17
An anisotropic retroreflective mesh for pavement markings comprising:
- a plurality of reflectors each made of a material having a first refractive index, each of the plurality of reflectors including:
- a top surface defining a normal axis perpendicular thereto;
- a bottom right side surface, a bottom left side surface, and an end surface all arranged orthogonally to one another;
- the bottom right side surface, the bottom left side surface, and the end surface defining an apex axis along which the bottom right side surface, the bottom left side surface, and the end surface are equiangular,
- wherein an angle between the normal axis and the apex axis of each reflector is non-zero, and
- wherein the plurality of reflectors are arranged in a pattern defining the anisotropic retroreflective mesh such that each of the normal axes of the plurality of reflectors is substantially parallel to one another;
- and
- a binder material at least partially surrounding the plurality of reflectors such that the binder is arranged adjacent to each of the bottom right side surface, the bottom left side surface, and the end surface of each of the plurality of reflectors, the binder having a second refractive index that is different from the first refractive index.
5 more elements
A process of producing an anisotropic retroreflective mesh for pavement markings comprising:
- providing a plurality of reflectors each of the plurality of reflectors including:
- a top surface defining a normal axis perpendicular thereto;
- a bottom right side surface, a bottom left side surface, and an end surface all arranged orthogonally to one another;
- the bottom right side surface, the bottom left side surface, and the end surface defining an apex axis along which the bottom right side surface, the bottom left side surface, and the end surface are equiangular, wherein an angle between the normal axis and the apex axis is non-zero;
- co-orienting the plurality of reflectors in a mesh having a pattern in which each of the normal axes of the plurality of reflectors is substantially parallel to one another;
- and
- combining a binder material and the mesh of the plurality of reflectors such that the top surfaces of the plurality of reflectors are exposed while the bottom right side surfaces, the bottom left side surfaces, and the end surfaces of the plurality of reflectors are arranged in contact with the binder material.
4 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.