3m Innovative Properties Company

Stratasys, Inc.

Minnesota Mining and Manufacturing Company

Thomas J Dahlin

Patrick R Fleming

James W Howard

Gregory F Jacobs

Kenneth L Smith

Bernard A Gonzalez

Justin M Johnson

Travis L Potts

Todd A Ballen

James B Snyder

Richard E Fayling

Jeffrey D Janovec

David M Hopstock

Thomas V Kusilek

Robert L Keech

Michael R Duoos

Robert L W Smithson

Gerald L Karel

Richard G Newell

Bernard C Nelson

James L C Werness, Jr

Jim Comb

Robert L Smithson

Claud M Lacey

Kevin D Docken

Gary W Clark

John Sam Batchelder

In some examples, a computing device receives an image of an optically active article that includes a set of one or more symbols of a symbol set, wherein at least one symbol of the set of one or more symbols comprises a set of encoding regions that are embedded with the symbol. In response to receiving the image, the computing device may determine that a particular image region of the image represents the at least one symbol. For encoding regions within the at least one symbol, the computing device may determine, based at least in part on the determination that the particular image region of the image represents the at least one symbol, whether the one or more encoding regions are active or inactive. The computing device may perform, based at least in part on whether the one or more encoding regions are active or inactive, one or more operations.

Encoding data in symbols disposed on an optically active article

The inventors of the present application developed novel retroreflective materials, and articles. One example of the present application is a retroreflective article, comprising a substrate and a machine-readable information disposed on the substrate, wherein the machine-readable information corresponds to a predetermined human-readable information.

Increasing dissimilarity of characters disposed on an optically active article

Disclosed is an identification system to improve safety on roads and allow for the driver or for the vehicle itself, if it is autonomous or semi-autonomous, to have readable and useful information about road signs, roadways, and adjacent roadway information. The disclosed identification system comprises a marker with marker communication information that can be read by a vehicle information system to provide information to the vehicle. Information that the marker communication information may convey would allow the vehicle information system to detect or recognize, or both detect and recognize critical road sign, roadway information, and adjacent roadway information. Then, the vehicle information system could respond to the information received from the marker communication information.

Sign to vehicle identification system

Retroreflective articles comprise a substrate and a bar code provided on the substrate. The bar code comprises at least one human-readable information which provides framing information and a machine-readable information which provides variable information. The human-readable information is visible under a first condition and invisible under a second condition, and the machine-readable information is invisible under the first condition and visible under the second condition.

Retroreflective articles having a machine-readable code

The present disclosure relates to the formation of high contrast, wavelength independent retroreflective sheeting made by including a light scattering material on at least a portion of the retroreflective sheeting. The light scattering material reduces the brightness of the retroreflective sheeting without substantially changing the appearance of the retroreflective sheeting when viewed under scattered light.

High contrast retroreflective sheeting and license plates

One embodiment of the apparatuses, methods, and systems of the present disclosure is a license plate, sticker, or ALPR system having enhanced or increased accuracy. At least one of the license plate, sticker, or ALPR system includes useful information that is transmitted over a first channel and checking information that is transmitted over a second channel. The second channel is devoted solely to transmitting the checking information (e.g., the second channel does not transmit useful information). In other words, the license plates, stickers, and ALPR systems of the present disclosure include at least one channel that is devoted solely to transmitting checking information.

Methods and systems for enhancing read accuracy in an automated license plate reader system

Magnetic, conformable articles for use with traffic bearing surfaces are disclosed which comprise an organic binder having magnetic particles distributed therein. The articles may be employed in intelligent vehicle guidance systems, and in systems to guide other mobile objects such as farm animals, pets, or visually impaired pedestrians. Methods of making the articles and methods of using the systems to control and/or guide a mobile object using the magnetic field generated from the articles are also described.

Conformable magnetic articles for use with traffic bearing surfaces methods of making same systems including same and methods of use

A filament spool used in a rapid prototyping system carries a circuit which maintains data regarding the type and amount of filament on the spool. When the spool is mounted onto a spindle in the rapid prototyping system, the circuit is connected to the electronic control of the system. The data indicating the electronic control of the system. The data indicating the amount of filament on the spool is updated as filament is used by the system.

Rapid prototyping system with filament supply spool monitoring

A rapid prototyping system forms three-dimensional objects by depositing layers of material on a substrate. A planer stator containing a grid of stator elements is positioned above and generally parallel to the substrate. An extrusion head is magnetically suspended below the stator and is separated from the stator by an air bearing. An electromagnetic drive receives control signals from moving the extrusion head relative to the grid of stator elements. An umbilical provides mechanical damping to the head to reduce resonance of the head during movements.

High performance rapid prototyping system

A conformable magnetic article for underlayment beneath a traffic-bearing surface which sends a magnetic signal to a sensor traveling over the traffic-bearing structure. The magnetic article comprises at least one conformable magnetic layer comprising a binder and a sufficient amount of magnetic particles dispersed within the binder to provide a magnetic signal through the traffic-bearing structure to a sensor.

Conformable magnetic articles underlaid beneath traffic-bearing surfaces

Growing community of inventors

Ironwood, MI, United States of America

Thomas J Dahlin