Laminated arrangement and method for the retroflection of light

Abstract

A laminated structure for retroreflection of light has a first, phase-modifying layer (1) and a second, retroreflecting layer (2). Retroreflection can be achieved with glass balls (21.1, 21.2, etc.) having back surfaces (23) metallized with a metal coating (24). The first layer (1) and the second layer (2) are interconnected by a first adhesive coating (3). On a first traversal of the first layer (1), the polarization of an incident light beam (8) is modified and the light beam is then retroreflected. When passing through the first layer a second time, the polarization state is changed again. The structure has high reflectivity even when tilted, a controllable, stable polarization change and locally homogeneous reflectivity.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.