Retroreflectometer and method for measuring retroreflectivity of materials
First Claim
1. A system for measuring retroreflectivity of materials, comprising:
- a light source;
a sensor array;
a first optical pathway to direct an illumination beam from the light source to a retroreflective surface;
a second optical pathway to direct a retroreflected beam from the retroreflective surface to the sensor array;
a local interface electrically coupled to the sensor array;
a processor electrically coupled to the local interface;
a memory electrically coupled to the local interface; and
operating logic stored in the memory and executable by a processor to determine an intensity distribution of the retroreflected beam incident to the sensor array.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A system and method for measuring the retroreflectivity of materials. The system comprises a light source and a first optical pathway along which an illumination light beam travels originating from the light source and ending at a retroreflective surface to be measured. Also, a second optical pathway is provided along which a retroreflected beam travels back from the retroreflective surface to a sensor array. A processor is electrically coupled to the sensor array with an accompanying memory on which is stored operating logic adapted to determine the intensity of a predetermined pattern of the retroreflected beam incident to the sensor array which defines the retroreflected light which propagates from the retroreflective surface at a predetermined observation angle.
37 Citations
35 Claims
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1. A system for measuring retroreflectivity of materials, comprising:
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a light source; a sensor array; a first optical pathway to direct an illumination beam from the light source to a retroreflective surface; a second optical pathway to direct a retroreflected beam from the retroreflective surface to the sensor array; a local interface electrically coupled to the sensor array; a processor electrically coupled to the local interface; a memory electrically coupled to the local interface; and operating logic stored in the memory and executable by a processor to determine an intensity distribution of the retroreflected beam incident to the sensor array. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)
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8. A system for measuring the retroreflectivity of materials, comprising:
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a light source; a sensor array; a first optical pathway to direct an illumination beam from the light source to a retroreflective surface; a second optical pathway to direct a retroreflected beam from the retroreflective surface to the sensor array; and a logical circuit electrically coupled to the sensor array, the logic circuit configured to determine an intensity distribution of the retroreflected beam incident to the sensor array. - View Dependent Claims (9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
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15. A system for measuring the retroreflectivity of materials, comprising:
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a light source; a sensor array; means for directing an illumination beam from the light source to a retroreflective surface; means for directing a retroreflected beam from the retroreflective surface to the sensor array; and means for determining an intensity distribution of the retroreflected beam incident to the sensor array. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21)
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22. A method for measuring the retroreflectivity of materials, comprising the steps of:
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generating an illumination beam from a light source; directing the illumination beam from the light source to a retroreflective surface; directing a retroreflected beam from the retroreflective surface to a sensor array; and determining an intensity distribution of the retroreflected beam incident to the sensor array. - View Dependent Claims (23, 24, 25, 26)
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27. A system for generating an intensity distribution indicating an angular separation between an illumination beam and a retroreflected beam to determine a retroreflectivity of a sample surface, comprising:
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a light source to generate the illumination beam; a sensor array to receive a retroreflected beam; a first optical pathway extending from the light source to an exit face to direct a propagation of the illumination beam through the exit face; and a second optical pathway extending from the exit face to the sensor array to direct a propagation of the retroreflected beam received through the exit face, the sensor array generating the intensity distribution in response to the retroreflected beam incident to the sensor array. - View Dependent Claims (28, 29, 30)
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31. A system for generating an intensity distribution indicating an angular separation between an illumination beam and a retroreflected beam to determine a retroreflectivity of a sample surface, comprising:
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a light source to generate the illumination beam; a sensor array to receive a retroreflected beam; means for directing the illumination beam from the light source to an exit face; and means for directing the retroreflected beam received through the exit face to the sensor array, the sensor array generating the intensity distribution in response to the retroreflected beam incident to the sensor array. - View Dependent Claims (32, 33, 34)
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35. A method for generating an intensity distribution indicating an angular separation between an illumination beam and a retroreflected beam to determine a retroreflectivity of a sample surface, comprising the steps of:
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generating the illumination beam using a light source; directing the illumination beam from the light source to an exit face; directing the retroreflected beam received through the exit face to a sensor array; and generating the intensity distribution with the sensor array in response to the retroreflected beam incident to the sensor array.
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Specification