3m Innovative Properties Company

Minnesota Mining and Manufacturing Company

Bruce D Orensteen

Thomas I Bradshaw

Mikhail L Pekurovsky

Olester Benson, Jr

Suman K Patel

Thomas F Look

Kathryn M Spurgeon

Joseph R Zwack

Joseph V Crimando

Joseph M McGrath

Robert V O'Keefe

Robert L W Smithson

Lee A Pavelka

Franklin C Bradshaw

David M Burns

John F Dreyer

Toshitaka Nakajima

Paul J Northey

Theodore J Szczech

Lisa Flatt Nelson

Jack E Cook

Eric N Hockert

Craig A Schmidt

Akira Muramoto

Robert Leland Wee Smithson

Masami Yokoyama

Robert F Watkins

Steven E Poss

David L Meyer

Norbert L Johnson

Frank A Borgeson

Domenica Kirchmeyer

Waldemar Ginter

Retroreflective sheeting having a structured layer of cube corner elements and an at least one optically variable mark therein, and methods of making same.

Cube corner sheeting having optically variable marking

The present disclosure relates to prismatic retroreflective articles that includes a security mark and to methods of making such articles.

Retroreflective articles including a security mark

A method of marking prismatic retroreflective sheeting includes providing prismatic retroreflective sheeting having a front side and a back side, the back side having prismatic features and directing a radiation source at the back side of the prismatic retroreflective sheeting and irradiating a plurality of the prismatic features. The radiation forms a mark in the prismatic retroreflective sheeting.

Irradiation marking of retroreflective sheeting

The present application relates to retroreflective sheeting that is capable of use in a license plate and that can be accurately read and/or detected by an ALPR system. The retroreflective sheeting is a microsphere-based retroreflective sheeting that provides reduced retroreflectivity at high entrance angles. The retroreflective sheeting can also be a microsphere-based retroreflective sheeting that exhibits reduced retroreflectivity of incident infra-red light from high entrance angles and substantially unaffected retroreflectivity of incident visible light from entrance angles in the vicinity of the normal.

Retroreflective sheeting and license plate with reduced retroreflectivity at high entrance angles

Retroreflective sheeting includes a first portion of prismatic retroreflective sheeting having a first cube corner structure that creates a first visual feature in the retroreflective sheeting and a second portion of prismatic retroreflective sheeting having a second cube corner structure that differs from the first cube structure and that creates a second visual feature in the sheeting. The second visual feature in the retroreflective sheeting forms a security mark.

Security markings in retroreflective sheeting

A reflective article has a structured surface which includes geometric structures each having at least three specularly reflecting faces which converge at an apex or other extremity. The article is marked with a plurality of spots located between the extremities, the spots having different reflectivity characteristics than the specularly reflecting faces. The geometric structures can comprise cube corner elements. The spots can be diffusely reflecting and distributed uniformly on the structured surface or distributed to define a particular pattern. The article can have a plurality of first active areas at a first illumination geometry, and the spots can be sized and positioned such that they avoid the first active areas. The article can have first inactive areas adjacent the first active areas, and each spot can cover a majority of one inactive area. Alternatively, at least some of the spots can be decentered within their respective inactive areas such that they are visible in retroreflected light only at selected illumination geometries, thereby forming a directional image.

Cube corner article with altered inactive areas and method of making same

Retroreflective signage articles comprise a colorant layer directly thermally transferred to a top layer of a reretroreflective sheeting, the top layer devoid of priming treatments and extraneous print-receptive layers. Systems or kits are also described comprising a retroreflective base sheeting in combination with a thermal mass transfer donor element, the donor elements comprising a carrier and a colorant layer adhered thereto, the colorant layer of the signage articles and the donor elements comprising a binder and a colorant. Methods of producing the signage articles employing the systems or kits are also presented.

Retroreflective signage articles, kits for producing same, and methods

A line light source includes point light source and a light distribution assembly for transporting light from the point source. A fluorescent colorant is included in the light distribution assembly.

Line light source including fluorescent colorant

A portable system and method for printing variable information indicia on a reflective sign comprises providing a first polymeric sign component having a surface suitable for receiving a printed image. A definition of an image to be printed on the first sign component is provided to a portable computer. Indicia in the form of images is then rapidly transferred to the surface of the first sign component.

Method for manufacturing improved data display retroreflective sheeting

Validation sticker mounting system and components for such a system. The components include stickers and substrates adapted in a coordinated manner. The substrates have a surface portion having a recessed segment into which the sticker is to be applied. The stickers, which are adapted for presentation of readable information and bonding to the substrate, have one or more security openings through which a post on the surface of the substrate extends.

Validation sticker mounting system and components for use therein

Growing community of inventors

Saint Paul, MN, United States of America

Bruce D Orensteen