Multi-directional Cube Corner Retroreflective Article with Asymmetric Optical Axes
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing retroreflective articles fail to simultaneously improve entrance angle, observation angle, and rotation angle characteristics, leading to limitations in wide-angle visibility and brightness, particularly in display devices and traffic signs.
Innovation Solution
A multi-directional cube corner retroreflective article is designed with triangular pyramidal elements having isosceles-triangular bases and shared apexes, where the bases are not parallel to a common plane, and the optical axes are oriented to enhance entrance and rotation angle characteristics, allowing for improved light reflection across various directions.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Illumination intensity
If the optical axis of retroreflective elements is canted to improve entrance angle characteristic, then the brightness for approaching vehicles is improved, but the observation angle characteristic and rotation angle characteristic deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The retroreflective sheeting is divided into multiple regions (first region with first optical axis orientation, second region with second optical axis orientation) where each region has different optical axis canting directions. This segmentation allows different parts of the sheeting to serve different angular characteristics, resolving the contradiction between entrance angle improvement and observation angle maintenance.
Solution Approach 2:
Different regions of the retroreflective sheeting are assigned different local optical properties through varying the canting direction of optical axes in each region. The first region has optical axes canted in one direction to improve entrance angle, while the second region has optical axes canted in another direction to maintain observation angle, creating local quality variations that resolve the overall contradiction.
2Illumination intensity
If triangular pyramidal reflective elements with canted optical axes are used to improve entrance angle characteristic, then light reflection to approaching vehicles is enhanced, but the rotation angle characteristic and wide angle visibility are limited
Solution Approach 1:
The retroreflective sheeting is divided into multiple regions (first region with first optical axis orientation, second region with second optical axis orientation) where each region has different optical axis canting directions. This segmentation allows different parts of the sheeting to serve different angular characteristics, resolving the contradiction between entrance angle improvement and observation angle maintenance.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs asymmetric canting of optical axes in different regions rather than uniform symmetric canting. The first region has optical axes canted at a specific angle in one direction, while the second region has optical axes canted at a different angle or direction, creating asymmetric optical properties that improve both entrance angle and rotation angle characteristics simultaneously.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The solution provides enhanced entrance and rotation angle characteristics, resulting in improved wide-angle visibility and brightness, particularly in display devices and traffic signs, with uniform retroreflective performance across different angles.
Implementation Method 1
a multi-directional cube corner retroreflective article which is a multi-directional cube corner retroreflective article wherein a large number of retroreflective element assemblies, each of which is formed by assembling triangular pyramidal cube corner retroreflective elements
Implementation Method 2
cube corner retroreflective elements each having an isosceles-triangular base (ABC) and an element apex (H)
Data Source
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AI summary
An object of the invention is to provide a multi-directional cube corner retroreflective article (may be referred to as a retroreflective article, hereinafter) capable of improving entrance angle characteristic and rotation angle characteristic. A multi-directional cube corner retroreflective article, wherein a large number of retroreflective element assemblies, each of which is formed by assembling triangular pyramidal cube corner retroreflective elements each having an isosceles-triangular base (ABC) and an element apex (H) while sharing an apex (C) and base lines of equal length (AC and BC) of the base, are connected, and a shape of an outer circumference of each of the retroreflective element assemblies is a regular polygon and the bases of at least two of the triangular pyramidal cube corner retroreflective elements are not parallel to a common plane including the outer circumference.