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US 2022/0066074 A1Published application
Elastic retroreflector
OwnerHans-Erich GUBELAinventor
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A retroreflector includes an arrangement of triples, each having three side surfaces, which are disposed in the manner of a cube corner and stand approximately perpendicular on one another. The retroreflector can be produced from a carrier material by injection molding. An optical silicone resin is used as the carrier material. The retroreflector is based on triple mirrors that are both easily unmolded from a die and easily applied to curved surfaces even after unmolding or are usable for reflection of ultraviolet light.
Claims4
A forming die for the producing a retroreflector,
- wherein the retroreflector comprises an arrangement comprising a plurality of mirrored or totally reflective triples, each triple having first, second, and third side surfaces perpendicular to each other;
- wherein the first, second, and third side surfaces are disposed as cube corners;
- and wherein the retroreflector is produced by injection molding from a carrier material comprising an optically transparent silicone resin;
- wherein the forming die comprises:
- a die body delimited by a die surface;
- wherein the die surface has a plurality of triples;
- wherein each triple has first, second, and third forming surfaces that border on one another and intersect one another at an angle between 85° and 95°;
- wherein the first, second, and third forming surfaces of each triple come together in a triple center;
- wherein an axis of symmetry of the respective triple extends through the triple center;
- wherein a tool body is heated;
- and
- wherein the die body has at least one die element perpendicular to an unmolding direction that counters unmolding.
9 more elements
A method for the production of a retroreflector,
- wherein the retroreflector comprises an arrangement comprising a plurality of mirrored or totally reflective triples, each triple having first, second, and third side surfaces perpendicular to each other;
- wherein the first, second, and third side surfaces are disposed as cube corners;
- and wherein the retroreflector is produced by injection molding from a carrier material comprising an optically transparent silicone resin;
- wherein the method comprises:
- i. separately placing at least first and second components of an injection-molding material comprising an optical silicone into an injection-molding machine, in a volume ratio of 1:1;
- ii. mixing the components in a screw of the injection-molding machine and pressing the components into an injection-molding mold using a forming die, wherein the screw is kept at a temperature between 10° C.;
- and 30° C.;
- iii. pressing the components into an injection-molding mold, wherein the injection-molding mold is heated to a temperature between 130° C. and 200° C.;
- iv. curing the components in the injection-molding mold to form the retroreflector;
- and
- v. unmolding the retroreflector from the injection-molding mold.
8 more elements
An optical sensor apparatus comprising:
- (a) a retroreflector, wherein the retroreflector comprises an arrangement comprising a plurality of mirrored or totally reflective triples, each triple having first, second, and third side surfaces perpendicular to each other;
- wherein the first, second, and third side surfaces are disposed as cube corners;
- and wherein the retroreflector is produced by injection molding from a carrier material comprising an optically transparent silicone resin;
- (b) a light emitter for emitting ultraviolet light;
- and
- (c) a light receiver for receiving light emitted by the light emitter;
- wherein the retroreflector is disposed in a beam path of the light in such a manner that the retroreflector retroflects the light emitted by the light receiver.
4 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.