An optical detection unit comprising a retro-reflecting element which provides a reflection surface configured for retro-reflecting a first part of measuring light as reflected measuring light for providing determination of a position of the optical detection unit and a passage surface configured for transmitting a second part of the measuring light as transmitted measuring light, further comprising a sensor arrangement with a sensor configured and arranged behind of the retro-reflecting element so that the transmitted measuring light is detectable by the sensor. The optical detection unit comprises a referencing assembly with at least one illumination unit configured to emit reference illumination light. The at least one illumination unit is arranged with fixed positional relationship to the retro-reflecting element and/or the sensor arrangement and the referencing assembly is configured and arranged to direct the reference illumination light onto the sensor.

An optical detection unit comprising a retro-reflecting element which provides a reflection surface configured for retro-reflecting a first part of measuring light as reflected measuring light for providing determination of a position of the optical detection unit and a passage surface configured for transmitting a second part of the measuring light as transmitted measuring light, further comprising a sensor arrangement with a sensor configured and arranged behind of the retro-reflecting element so that the transmitted measuring light is detectable by the sensor. The optical detection unit comprises a referencing assembly with at least one illumination unit configured to emit reference illumination light. The at least one illumination unit is arranged with fixed positional relationship to the retro-reflecting element and/or the sensor arrangement and the referencing assembly is configured and arranged to direct the reference illumination light onto the sensor.

A retroreflective sign comprising a rigid substrate with a pattern of cell walls formed of a polyurethane adhesive or two-part polyurea adhesive, and a polymeric sheet having a front face and a rear face, the rear face facing the substrate, the rear face comprising microprismatic reflective elements is disclosed. The polymeric sheet is adhered directly to the cell walls formed of the polyurethane adhesive or two-part polyurea adhesive while leaving an air gap between the microprismatic retroreflective elements and the rigid substrate in the cells. A method of making the retroreflective sign includes applying a polyurethane adhesive or two-part polyurea adhesive to a front side of a rigid substrate in a pattern defining cell walls; and prior to full curing of the polyurethane adhesive, laminating the front side of the rigid substrate a rear side of a polymeric sheet via the cell walls, the polymeric sheet comprising microprismatic elements.

An optical gene biosensor is disclosed. The optical gene biosensor includes a substrate; a molecular beacon anchored to the substrate, wherein the molecular beacon includes an oligonucleotide specifically binding to a target nucleic acid molecule and a first compound bound to a first terminal of the oligonucleotide; an optical marker specifically binding to the first compound, wherein the optical marker is configured to retro-reflect irradiated light; a light source for irradiating the optical marker with light; and a light-receiver for receiving light retro-reflected from the optical marker. The optical gene biosensor may perform accurate quantitative analysis of a target nucleic acid molecule using both non-spectral and spectral light sources.

An optical gene biosensor is disclosed. The optical gene biosensor includes a substrate; a molecular beacon anchored to the substrate, wherein the molecular beacon includes an oligonucleotide specifically binding to a target nucleic acid molecule and a first compound bound to a first terminal of the oligonucleotide; an optical marker specifically binding to the first compound, wherein the optical marker is configured to retro-reflect irradiated light; a light source for irradiating the optical marker with light; and a light-receiver for receiving light retro-reflected from the optical marker. The optical gene biosensor may perform accurate quantitative analysis of a target nucleic acid molecule using both non-spectral and spectral light sources.

A vehicle surface includes a set of retroreflectors configured to reflect, at least in part, incident hostile light towards a source of the incident hostile light.

Planar-mirror-based focus-shift systems usable for various microscope systems including confocal microscopes, fluorescent microscopes, etc., as well as 3D floating image display devices. The invention provides light-sheet-illumination systems for 3D applications, using high-speed focal-plane adjustment synchronized to the scanning light sheet to quickly capture a 3D representation, which is especially important for live samples that move. 2D images of an object are captured, and the third dimension is obtained by changing the focal plane used for each image. A series of the 2D images are used to obtain a 3D representation, which optionally is a moving 3D representation of a live moving specimen. Some embodiments provide constant magnification by compensating the magnification factor of one optical focus-shift subsystem by an opposing magnification factor of another focus-shift subsystem. Some embodiments provide a display system that uses a stationary display and a focus-shift subsystem to output a 3D floating image.

An improved mirror-based assembly is provided. The mirror-based assembly has at least one mirror panel, at least one support member, and at least three connection regions between the at least one support member and the at least one mirror panel, comprising at least a first connection region comprising a miter joint connection region, at least a second connection region comprising a non-miter joint connection region, and at least a third connection region, wherein the at least one mirror panel is connected to the at least one support member to minimize thermal expansion or contraction of the at least one mirror panel and a method for assembling the same.

An improved mirror-based assembly is provided. The mirror-based assembly has at least one mirror panel, at least one support member, and at least three connection regions between the at least one support member and the at least one mirror panel, comprising at least a first connection region comprising a miter joint connection region, at least a second connection region comprising a non-miter joint connection region, and at least a third connection region, wherein the at least one mirror panel is connected to the at least one support member to minimize thermal expansion or contraction of the at least one mirror panel and a method for assembling the same.

A LED panel wherein a plurality thereof are employed to construct a LED volume for filing simulated virtual environments wherein the LED panel of the present invention provides tracking of objects in the vicinity thereof such as but not limited to a camera wherein the tracking elements do not require post production removal. The LED panel includes a housing having a perimeter frame that has a transparent LED display mounted thereto. On the rear surface of the LED display or proximate thereto are a plurality of retroreflectors. The retroreflectors function to provide inside-out tracking of a camera disposed within the LED volume. The present invention further includes a plurality of lidar sensors and optical sensors mounted to the perimeter frame. The lidar sensors and optical sensors provide data for outside-in tracking of a camera within the LED volume. The retroreflectors can be provided in multiple alternate embodiments.