Directed reflection optical device

• US 5,471,348 A
• Filed: 05/13/1994
• Issued: 11/28/1995
• Est. Priority Date: 05/13/1994
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: 3M Company
• Original Assignee: 3M Company
• Inventors: Aho, Kenneth A., Miller, Richard A., Dreyer, John F. Jr.
• Primary Examiner(s): Dzierzynski, Paul M.
• Assistant Examiner(s): SIKDER, MOHAMMAD YUNUS
• Application Number:
  US08/242,264
• Time in Patent Office: 564 Days
• Field of Search: 359/837, 359/834, 359/514, 359/527, 362/331
• US Class Current: 359/837
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 5/045 Prism arrays

Abstract

An optical device having a transparent body and including two prism surfaces formed thereon. The composite structure exhibits two axis stability in that the angular relationship between the input beam and the output beam remains fixed for slight movement of the device about two orthogonal axes.

Claims

1. A reflective article comprising first and second structured surfaces, wherein:

said first structured surface includes a first array of prisms aligned in a first orientation;

said second structured surface includes a second array of prisms aligned in a second orientation, wherein the second orientation is different from said first orientation;

such that a light ray incident on said first structured surface at an entrance angle is reflected at said second structured surface and exits from said first structured surface at an exit angle, the exit angle measured relative to said entrance angle.

2. The reflective article of claim 1, wherein each prism in said first array of prisms includes a first facet and a second facet which intersect at a prism apex to define an apex angle.

3. The reflective article of claim 2, wherein the apex angle of at least one of said prisms in said first array of prisms measures approximately 90 degrees.

4. The reflective article of claim 2, wherein the apex angle of at least one of said prisms in said first array of prisms measures between 80 and 110 degrees.

5. The reflective article of claim 1, wherein each prism in said second array of prisms includes a first facet and a second facet which intersect at the prism apex to define an apex angle.

6. The reflective article of claim 5, wherein the apex angle of at least one of said prisms in said second array of prisms measures approximately 90 degrees.

7. The reflective article of claim 5, wherein the apex angle of at least one of said prisms in said second array of prisms measures between 80 and 110 degrees.

8. The reflective article of claim 1, wherein said first orientation is approximately orthogonal to said second orientation.

9. The reflective article of claim 1, wherein said entrance angle measures between 0 degrees and 13 degrees.

10. The reflective article of claim 1, wherein said exit angle is approximately 90 degrees.

11. The reflective article of claim 1 wherein a light ray incident on a first prism of said first structured surface at said entrance angle is reflected at said second structured surface and exits from a second prism of said first structured surface at said exit angle.

12. The reflective article of claim 11, wherein said exit angle is approximately 90 degrees.