公开(公告)号：WO1997027423A1

公开(公告)日：1997-07-31

申请号：PCT/US1996020535

申请日：1996-12-17

Applicant: MINNESOTA MINING AND MANUFACTURING COMPANY

Inventor： MINNESOTA MINING AND MANUFACTURING COMPANY ,  BENSON, Olester, Jr. ,  LUNDIN, David, J.

IPC: F21Q03/00

CPC classification number: G02B6/0053 ,  B60Q1/30 ,  F21W2111/02 ,  G02B5/12 ,  G02B6/0036 ,  G02B6/0038 ,  G02B6/2817

Abstract: A conspicuity marking system (10, 80) includes a light guide (12, 82) which has at least one optically reflective surface for propagating light through the light guide and a retroreflective light extractor (20, 84) for extracting light (52) propagating through the light guide and for retroreflecting light (54) from an external light source incident upon the system. Light propagating through the light guide (20, 82) which is transmitted into the light extractor (20, 84) is reflected back through the light guide such that it exits the light guide at a location displaced from the retroreflective light extractor. Light (54) from an external light source which is incident on the system passes through the light guide (12, 82) and is retroreflected toward the light source by the retroreflective light extractor (20, 84).

Abstract translation: 显眼标记系统（10,80）包括具有至少一个用于传播光通过光导的光学反射表面的光导（12,82）和用于提取光（52）传播的回射光提取器（20,84） 通过光导和用于从入射到系统的外部光源回射光（54）。 透过导光体（20,82）传播到光提取器（20,84）中的光通过导光体反射回来，使其在与回射光提取器偏移的位置离开光导。 来自入射到系统上的外部光源的光（54）通过光导（12,82），并通过回射光提取器（20,84）向光源回射。

公开(公告)号：WO1997008490A1

公开(公告)日：1997-03-06

申请号：PCT/US1996011203

申请日：1996-07-02

Applicant: MINNESOTA MINING AND MANUFACTURING COMPANY

Inventor： MINNESOTA MINING AND MANUFACTURING COMPANY ,  APPELDORN, Roger, H. ,  LUNDIN, David, J.

IPC: F21V08/00

CPC classification number: G02B6/005 ,  G02B6/001 ,  G02B6/0038 ,  G02B6/0055 ,  G02B6/2817

Abstract: A light extraction overlay (10) for extracting light from a desired location on a light guide (30) includes a substantially optically transparent substrate (14) which has a base surface (14) and a structured surface (16) opposite the base surface (14). The structured surface (16) includes optical elements (18) which have optically smooth surfaces (20, 22) disposed at an angle relative to the base surface (14). Preferably, the optical elements (18) are coated with a specularly reflective material. The optical elements (18) may be separated by substantially planar portions (24) of the structured surface (16). In use, the base surface (14) is optically coupled with a portion of a surface of a light guide (30) such that light may be transmitted from the optical fiber (30) into the substrate (12). Light rays which strike a planar portion (24) of the structured surface (16) are reflected back into the fiber (30) at an angle which is greater than the critical angle necessary for continued propagation in the light guide (30) and, accordingly, continue to propagate along the optical fiber (30). Light rays which strike an optical element (18) are reflected into the fiber (30) at an angle less than the critical angle necessary for continued propagation in the light guide (30) and, accordingly, are transmitted from the surface of the light guide (30).

Abstract translation: 用于从光导（30）上的期望位置提取光的光提取覆盖层（10）包括基本上光学透明的基板（14），其具有基部表面（14）和与基底表面相对的结构化表面（16） 14）。 结构化表面（16）包括具有光学平滑表面（20,22）的光学元件（18），其相对于基面（14）以一定角度设置。 优选地，光学元件（18）涂覆有镜面反射材料。 光学元件（18）可以由结构化表面（16）的基本平坦的部分（24）分开。 在使用中，基底表面（14）与光导（30）的表面的一部分光学耦合，使得光可以从光纤（30）传输到基底（12）中。 撞击结构化表面（16）的平面部分（24）的光线以大于光导（30）中连续传播所需的临界角度的角度反射回光纤（30），因此 沿着光纤（30）继续传播。 撞击光学元件（18）的光线以小于光导（30）中连续传播所需的临界角度的角度被反射到光纤（30）中，并且因此从光导体 （30）。

公开(公告)号：WO1998033008A1

公开(公告)日：1998-07-30

申请号：PCT/US1997009135

申请日：1997-05-16

Applicant: MINNESOTA MINING AND MANUFACTURING COMPANY

Inventor： MINNESOTA MINING AND MANUFACTURING COMPANY ,  LUNDIN, David, J. ,  LEA, Michael, C.

IPC: F21V08/00

CPC classification number: G02B6/001

Abstract: An illumination system comprises a light source optically coupled with an optical fiber (20). The optical fiber (20) includes a light emitting region extending along a portion of its length. The light emitting region includes a plurality of optical elements (30) disposed about a first longitudinal axis (38) extending along the surface of the optical fiber (20) and a plurality of optical elements (40) disposed about a second longitudinal axis (48) extending along the surface of the fiber (20). The second longitudinal axis (48) is displaced from the first longitudinal axis (38). In use, light from the light source is injected into the optical fiber (20) and propagates along the fiber according to Snell's law. A portion of the light propagating through the fiber (20) is reflected from the optical elements (30, 40) and is extracted from the fiber (20).

Abstract translation: 照明系统包括与光纤（20）光学耦合的光源。 光纤（20）包括沿其长度的一部分延伸的发光区域。 发光区域包括围绕沿着光纤（20）的表面延伸的第一纵向轴线（38）设置的多个光学元件（30）和围绕第二纵向轴线（48）设置的多个光学元件（40） ）沿着光纤（20）的表面延伸。 第二纵向轴线（48）从第一纵向轴线（38）移位。 在使用中，来自光源的光被注入到光纤（20）中，并根据斯涅耳定律沿光纤传播。 传播通过光纤（20）的光的一部分从光学元件（30,40）反射并从光纤（20）中提取。

公开(公告)号：WO1996036770A1

公开(公告)日：1996-11-21

申请号：PCT/US1996004970

申请日：1996-04-11

Applicant: MINNESOTA MINING AND MANUFACTURING COMPANY

Inventor： MINNESOTA MINING AND MANUFACTURING COMPANY ,  MAY, David, C. ,  KHIEU, Sithya, S. ,  THOMAS, Christina, U. ,  JOHNSON, Warren, J. ,  GERDES, Ronald, W. ,  LUNDIN, David, J.

IPC: E01F09/06

CPC classification number: E01F9/553

Abstract: A pavement marker comprises an unpotted upper shell (12) and a lower base plate (14) together defining a housing, and a plurality of ribs in the housing interior oriented substantially perpendicular to the inner wall of the base plate. The upper shell has first and second opposed end faces (12B,c) inclined at an angle of approximately 30 DEG , first and second opposed convex side faces (12D,E) having opposed recessed finger grip slots (30a,B) formed therein, and an upper face (12F), and is made of a plastic material having moderate to high flexural and impact moduli. The upper shell has a low profile and curved edges to minimize vehicle impact, and preferably is made of a thermoplastic resin such as polycarbonate, and includes about 30 % glass fiber reinforcement. The lower base plate has a planar inner wall and an opposed planar, pavement-engaging outer wall, and is made of a plastic material, preferably plastic, having a Young's modulus of at least approximately 300,000 PSI (20.7 x 10 Pascal). The bottom peripheral surface of the shell can have a peripheral recess formed therein for receiving the base plate. The ribs are formed unitarily with the inner wall of either the upper shell or the base plate, and extend upwardly from the inner wall of the base plate to the inner wall of the shell to support the inner wall of the shell. A retroreflective lens (50, 52) is positioned on at least one of the first and second opposed side faces of the marker. The ribs can be arranged to extend longitudinally and transversely in a grid pattern; or they can be divided into a first group in which the ribs are circular in shape and concentric, and a second group in which the ribs extend radially with respect to the first group. The pavement marker preferably has a minimum apparent modulus of approximately 80,000 PSI (5.52 x 10 Pascals).

Abstract translation: 路面标记包括一个未被起动的上壳体（12）和下基板（14），所述上壳体和下基板共同限定了壳体，并且壳体内部的多个肋基本上垂直于基板的内壁定向。 上壳体具有以大约30°的角度倾斜的第一和第二相对的端面（12B，c），具有形成在其中的相对的凹形手指抓握槽（30a，B）的第一和第二相对的凸面侧面（12D，E） 和上表面（12F），并且由具有中等至高弯曲和冲击模量的塑料材料制成。 上壳体具有低轮廓和弯曲的边缘，以最小化车辆冲击，并且优选地由诸如聚碳酸酯的热塑性树脂制成，并且包括约30％的玻璃纤维增​​强件。 下基板具有平面内壁和相对的平面路面接合外壁，并且由塑料材料制成，优选塑料，其杨氏模量为至少约300,000PSI（20.7×10 8帕斯卡） 。 壳体的底部周边表面可以具有形成在其中的用于接收基板的周边凹部。 肋与上壳体或底板的内壁一体地形成，并且从基板的内壁向上延伸到壳体的内壁以支撑壳体的内壁。 回射镜（50,52）位于标记的第一和第二相对侧面中的至少一个上。 肋可以布置成以网格图案纵向和横向延伸; 或者它们可以分成第一组，其中肋是圆形的和同心的，以及第二组，其中肋相对于第一组径向地延伸。 路面标记优选具有约80,000PSI（5.52×10 8帕斯卡）的最小表观模量。