Arrangement of corner reflectors for a nearly omnidirectional return

Abstract

An array of corner reflectors is used to provide a retro-reflector for a large range of incident angles. A novel orientation of the individual corner reflectors is used. This allows the interior of a first corner to remain visible while the interior of a second corner becomes visible. This may be done while maintaining a phase coherence between the contributions of the first and second corner reflectors. Phase coherence ensures constructive interference among the returns from the first and second corner reflectors. Coherence is achieved by an arrangement which places the interior vertices of the corner reflectors close to each other. One such arrangement also places the peak return from one corner reflector acting as a dihedral between the locations of the dihedral and trihedral returns of a second corner reflector. This arrangement results in a substantially uniform and strong retro-return. Phase coherence may be maintained over a desired range of elevation angles.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.