Cat's eye retro-reflector array coding device and method of fabrication
First Claim
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1. A coded cat'"'"'s eye retro-reflector array consisting of:
- an array of metallized lenses on the back side of an optical substrate,an array of at least one lens printed on the front side of the optical substrate aligned with at least one of the metallized lenses on the back side of the optical substrate to form a cat'"'"'s eye retro-reflector,wherein the printed lenses on the front side of the optical substrate formed a pattern of a specific code from a set of data patterns.
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Abstract
The invention is a coded cat'"'"'s eye retro-reflector array fabricated using data-driven, ink jet micro-dispensing technology. Specifically the invention claims the apparatus, the method of fabricating the apparatus, and the method of using the apparatus. The function of the apparatus is the identification of objects, materials and gasses from a distance using light beams. The apparatus is based upon the cat'"'"'s eye retro-reflector device that is well known to one skilled in the art.
25 Citations
32 Claims
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1. A coded cat'"'"'s eye retro-reflector array consisting of:
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an array of metallized lenses on the back side of an optical substrate, an array of at least one lens printed on the front side of the optical substrate aligned with at least one of the metallized lenses on the back side of the optical substrate to form a cat'"'"'s eye retro-reflector, wherein the printed lenses on the front side of the optical substrate formed a pattern of a specific code from a set of data patterns. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)
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8. A coded cat'"'"'s eye retro-reflector array consisting of:
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an array of metallized lenses on the back side of an optical substrate, an array of at least one lens printed with a first selected optical material having a first set of optical properties on the front side of the optical substrate aligned with at least one of the metallized lenses on the back side of the optical substrate to form a cat'"'"'s eye retro-reflector, an array of at least one lens printed with a second selected optical material having a second set of optical properties on the front side of the optical substrate aligned with at least one of the metallized lenses to form a cat'"'"'s eye retro-reflector, material wherein the printed lenses formed a pattern of a specific code from a set of data patterns, and the lenses are formed of different materials on the front side of the optical substrate. - View Dependent Claims (9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
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15. A coded cat'"'"'s eye retro-reflector array consisting of:
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an array of metallized lenses on the back side of an optical substrate, an array of at least one lens printed with a selected optical sensor material on the front side of the optical substrate aligned with at least one of the metallized lenses on the back side of the optical substrate to form a cat'"'"'s eye retro-reflector, wherein the printed lenses formed a pattern of a specific code from a set of data patterns on the front side of the optical substrate. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17, 18, 19)
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20. A method for producing a cat'"'"'s eye retro-reflector, comprising the steps of:
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direct printing of optical forming material to form a pre-designed micro-optical lens onto an optical substrate, metallizing the outside surface of the micro-optical lens with a reflective metal direct printing of optical forming material to form another micro-optical lens onto the other side of the substrate aligned with the pre-designed micro-optical lens, the another micro-optical lens pre-designed to form a cat'"'"'s eye retro-reflector wherein the another micro-optical lenses formed a pattern of a specific code from a set of data patterns on the other side of the substrate. - View Dependent Claims (21, 22, 23, 24)
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25. A method of interrogating a coded cat'"'"'s eye retro-reflector array consisting of:
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directing a targeting light source onto the coded cat'"'"'s eye retro-reflector array, sensing the returning light code from the cat'"'"'s eye retro-reflector array and determining which locations on the array are sending the light back, identifying the locations where the front side lenses are present and comparing the locations to the coded data to identify the cat'"'"'s eye retro-reflector array. - View Dependent Claims (26, 27, 28)
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29. A method of interrogating a coded cat'"'"'s eye retro-reflector array consisting of:
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directing a targeting light source onto the coded cat'"'"'s eye retro-reflector sensor array with a light appropriate for the particular sensors, sensing the returning light code and properties from the cat'"'"'s eye retro-reflector array sensor and determining which locations on the array are sending the light back, identifying the locations where changes in the sensors have occurred and comparing these locations to the coded data to identify the cat'"'"'s eye retro-reflector sensor array, where the sensor is a specific gas, a specific molecule or radiation. - View Dependent Claims (30, 31, 32)
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Specification