IP Library › Granted Patent US 12,032,059
Granted Patent B2
US 12,032,059 · App. 17/612,329 · Granted Jul 9, 2024

Radar-optical fusion article and system

Inventors: Kui Chen-Ho (Woodbury, MN); Jonathan D. Gandrud (Woodbury, MN); Mohsen Salehi (Woodbury, MN); Douglas S. Dunn (Woodbury, MN); Jaewon Kim (Woodbury, MN)
Assignee: 3M INNOVATIVE PROPERTIES COMPANY
G01S13/931G02B5/124G06K19/07758B62J45/20B62J45/41B62K3/002B62K2202/00
View Patent ↗
Loading inventors, assignments & file history…
Monitor This Case
Get email alerts when status or documents change.
Order Certified Copies
Most orders are placed with the USPTO same day — all within 24 business hours.
Order via The Patent Place →
Pre-filled with this patent's details
Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 12,032,059
App. No.
17/612,329
Granted
Jul 9, 2024
Kind
B2
Abstract

A radar-optical fusion article for attachment to a substrate is described. The radar-optical fusion article includes a first retroreflective layer which is configured to retroreflect at least a portion of light having a wavelength in a range from about 400 nm to about 2500 nm. The radar-optical fusion article includes a second retroreflective layer disposed adjacent to the first retroreflective layer. The second retroreflective layer is configured to retroreflect at least a portion of an electromagnetic wave having a frequency in the range from about 0.5 GHz to about 100 GHz.

Claims (30)

1. A radar-optical fusion article for attachment to a substrate, the radar-optical fusion article comprising:

a first retroreflective layer configured to retroreflect at least a portion of light having a wavelength in a range from about 400 nm to about 2500 nm; and

a second retroreflective layer disposed adjacent to the first retroreflective layer, the second retroreflective layer configured to retroreflect at least a portion of an electromagnetic wave having a frequency in a range from about 0.5 GHz to about 100 GHz.

2. The radar-optical fusion article of claim 1 , wherein the retroreflected light from the first retroreflective layer has a wavelength in a range from about 700 nm to about 2500 nm.

3. The radar-optical fusion article of claim 1 , wherein the retroreflected electromagnetic wave from the second retroreflective layer has a frequency in the range from about 75 GHz to about 81 GHz.

4. The radar-optical fusion article of claim 1 , wherein the retroreflected light from the first retroreflective layer comprises a light signature associated with the substrate.

5. The radar-optical fusion article of claim 4 , wherein the light signature is based on at least one of a spatial pattern, a wavelength-selective signature, an angle-dependent signature and a polarization-specific signature.

6. The radar-optical fusion article of claim 4 , wherein the light signature is indicative of at least one of a location of the substrate, a type of the substrate, and an environment of the substrate.

7. The radar-optical fusion article of claim 1 , wherein the retroreflected electromagnetic wave from the second retroreflective layer comprises a radar signature associated with the substrate.

8. The radar-optical fusion article of claim 7 , wherein the radar signature is at least one of a frequency signature, a polarization signature, a temporal signature and an angle-dependent signature.

9. The radar-optical fusion article of claim 1 , wherein the substrate is a physical surface of a vehicle, an infrastructure article, a micro-mobility device, a building, a human, a clothing article, or a wearable article.

10. The radar-optical fusion article of claim 1 further comprising a filter layer disposed between the first retroreflective layer and the second retroreflective layer, the filter layer comprising a plurality of elements configured to provide a filtered signal including an electromagnetic signature associated with the substrate.

11. The radar-optical fusion article of claim 10 , wherein the electromagnetic signature is at least one of a frequency signature, a polarization signature, a temporal signature, and an angle-dependent signature.

12. The radar-optical fusion article of claim 10 , wherein each of the plurality of elements of the filter layer is in the shape of a ring, a square, a dipole, a crossed dipole, a tripole, or a Jerusalem cross.

13. A micro-mobility device comprising:

a chassis having a rear wheel mount at one end and a front wheel mount at the other end with a chassis support member extending therebetween;

a chassis-supported rear wheel mounted to the rear wheel mount;

a chassis-supported front wheel mounted to the front wheel mount for turning steering movement with respect to the front wheel mount and the chassis-supported rear wheel;

a chassis-supported motor physically coupled to the chassis and configured by a motor controller to drive at least one of the chassis-supported front wheel or the chassis-supported rear-wheel for powered movement over a ground surface; and

a radar-optical fusion article attached to at least a portion of the micro-mobility device, the radar-optical fusion article comprising:

a first retroreflective layer configured to retroreflect at least a portion of light having a wavelength in a range from about 400 nm to about 2500 nm; and

a second retroreflective layer disposed adjacent to the first retroreflective layer, the second retroreflective layer configured to retroreflect at least a portion of an electromagnetic wave having a frequency in a range from about 0.5 GHz to about 100 GHz.

14. The micro-mobility device of claim 13 , wherein the retroreflected light from the first retroreflective layer has a wavelength in a range from about 700 nm to about 2500 nm.

15. The micro-mobility device of claim 13 , wherein the retroreflected electromagnetic wave from the second retroreflective layer has a frequency in a range from about 75 GHz to about 81 GHz.

16. The micro-mobility device of claim 13 further comprising a steering assembly coupled to the chassis-supported front wheel, wherein the radar-optical fusion article is attached to the steering assembly.

17. The micro-mobility device of claim 13 , wherein the retroreflected light from the first retroreflective layer comprises a light signature associated with the micro-mobility device.

18. The micro-mobility device of claim 17 , wherein the light signature is based on at least one of a spatial pattern, a wavelength-selective signature, an angle-dependent signature, and a polarization-specific signature.

19. The micro-mobility device of claim 17 , wherein the light signature is indicative of a location of the micro-mobility device.

20. The micro-mobility device of claim 13 further comprising a filter layer disposed between the first retroreflective layer and the second retroreflective layer, the filter layer comprising a plurality of elements configured to provide a filtered signal including an electromagnetic signature associated with the substrate.

21. The micro-mobility device of claim 20 , wherein the electromagnetic signature is at least one of a frequency signature, a polarization signature, a temporal signature, and an angle-dependent signature.

Assignments (1)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jan 5, 2022
From: CHEN-HO, KUI; GANDRUD, JONATHAN D.; SALEHI, MOHSEN; DUNN, DOUGLAS S.; KIM, JAEWON
To: 3M INNOVATIVE PROPERTIES COMPANY
Reel/Frame 058552/0883 →
Continuity (2)
Provisional Application 62852524 · May 24, 2019
Related Publication 20220299630A1 · Sep 22, 2022
Cited By (1)
US 12,731,000