US 12,078,825 B1
Textured retro-reflective marker
Larry Chen, Fergus (CA); Derek Peter Zwambag, Guelph (CA); Shaulaine White, Troy (CA); and Athanasios Tommy Balkos, Waterloo (CA)
Assigned to Northern Digital Inc., Waterloo (CA)
Filed by Northern Digital Inc., Waterloo (CA)
Filed on Dec. 22, 2023, as Appl. No. 18/395,113.
Claims priority of provisional application 63/465,827, filed on May 11, 2023.
Int. Cl. G02B 5/128 (2006.01)
CPC G02B 5/128 (2013.01) 30 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A marker, comprising:
a retro-reflective layer having a first retro-reflectance capability, the retro-reflective layer comprising:
a textured surface, a portion of the textured surface having a surface topology such that surface normal vectors positioned across the portion extend from the portion of the textured surface in different directions; and
a plurality of retro-reflective micro elements distributed across the textured surface;
a border defining a retro-reflective area of the retro-reflective layer, wherein a portion of the border provides a second retro-reflectance capability lower than the first retro-reflectance capability, and
a base, wherein the retro-reflective layer is attached to the base, and wherein the retro-reflective area has a center, and the base defines a central opening, the central opening of the base being aligned with the center of the retro-reflective area when the retro-reflective layer is attached to the base.