Hexagonal Retroreflective Element with Segmented Faces
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing retroreflective articles with hexagonal cube corner elements lack effective methods for achieving excellent observation angle characteristics, which are crucial for applications such as traffic signs and liquid crystal display devices.
Innovation Solution
The hexagonal cube corner retroreflective element is designed with three quadrilateral reflective lateral faces that share an apex, featuring vertical angle deviations and secondary reflective lateral faces, allowing for improved observation angle characteristics by providing multiple combinations of vertical angle deviations and tilting the optical axis to enhance retroreflective efficiency.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Illumination intensity
If conventional hexagonal cube corner retroreflective elements are used, then retroreflective efficiency is maintained, but observation angle characteristics are insufficient
Solution Approach 1:
The retroreflective element is divided into multiple reflective lateral faces (first, second, third, fourth, fifth, and sixth faces) with different vertical angle deviations. Each face is segmented to provide specific reflection characteristics, allowing the overall element to achieve improved observation angle characteristics while maintaining retroreflective efficiency through the coordinated arrangement of these segmented faces.
Solution Approach 2:
Different vertical angle deviations are assigned to different reflective lateral faces (e.g., first face has a first vertical angle deviation, second face has a second vertical angle deviation, etc.). This local differentiation of geometric properties allows each face to contribute specifically to widening the observation angle in particular directions, achieving superior overall observation angle characteristics.
2Illumination intensity
If the optical axis is tilted to improve entrance angle characteristics, then entrance angle characteristics are improved, but rotation angle characteristics deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The optical axis is deliberately tilted relative to the normal of the common plane of the retroreflective element, creating an asymmetric configuration. This asymmetric tilt improves entrance angle characteristics by broadening the acceptance angle for incident light. The asymmetry is compensated by the specific arrangement of vertical angle deviations across the six reflective faces, which maintains rotation angle characteristics.
Solution Approach 2:
The vertical angle deviations of the reflective lateral faces are specifically adjusted (changed) to compensate for the optical axis tilt. By modifying these geometric parameters, the element maintains reliable rotation angle characteristics while benefiting from the improved entrance angle characteristics provided by the tilted optical axis.
3Illumination intensity
If multiple combinations of vertical angle deviations are provided, then observation angle characteristics are improved, but manufacturing precision requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The provision of multiple combinations of vertical angle deviations across six segmented reflective faces achieves improved observation angle characteristics. The segmentation allows for distributed control of reflection angles, where small deviations in individual faces can be compensated by the collective arrangement, thereby reducing the stringent precision requirements compared to a monolithic design.
Solution Approach 2:
The retroreflective element is designed to provide multiple functions simultaneously: maintaining retroreflective efficiency, improving observation angle characteristics, and accommodating manufacturing tolerances. The multi-face configuration with varying vertical angle deviations creates a universal design that achieves multiple performance goals without requiring extreme manufacturing precision in any single parameter.
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
This design achieves uniform observation angle characteristics and improved retroreflective efficiency, allowing for wider divergence of retroreflected light and enhanced performance in applications requiring broad observation angles.
Implementation Method 1
a first retroreflective element group including a plurality of hexagonal cube corner retroreflective elements, in which reflective lateral faces of the hexagonal cube corner retroreflective elements are oriented in a first direction, and a second retroreflective element group including a plurality of hexagonal cube corner retroreflective elements, in which reflective lateral faces of the hexagonal cube corner retroreflective elements are oriented in a second direction
Implementation Method 2
three quadrilateral reflective lateral faces that share an apex, featuring vertical angle deviations and secondary reflective lateral faces
Implementation Method 3
providing multiple combinations of vertical angle deviations and tilting the optical axis to enhance retroreflective efficiency... allowing for wider divergence of retroreflected light and enhanced performance in applications requiring broad observation angles
Data Source
Figure 1~2
Figure 3~4
Figure 5A~5B
AI summary
There is provided a hexagonal cube corner retroreflective article with excellent observation angle characteristics. The hexagonal cube corner retroreflective article has a set of a large number of hexagonal cube corner retroreflective elements. In the hexagonal cube corner retroreflective element, at least one reflective lateral face (face a, face b, and/or, face c) is divided into a pair of an upper secondary reflective lateral face (face a1, face b1, and/or face c1) and a lower secondary reflective lateral face (face a2, face b2, and/or face c2) partitioned by a line segment (EF, FD, and/or DE) connected by apexes (E, F, and/or D) constituting that reflective lateral face, in which two secondary reflective lateral faces constituting the pair of the secondary reflective lateral faces are not on the same plane.