An interactive object system includes an interactive object and a source of electromagnetic radiation, e.g., an external source. A power harvesting device of the interactive object receives and harvests power from the electromagnetic radiation to power a special effect system of the interactive object. In an embodiment, the interactive object includes a retroreflective material that reflects electromagnetic radiation, which may be of a same or different wavelength as the electromagnetic radiation from which power is harvested. The interactive object system detects the reflected electromagnetic radiation, which may be used to trigger one or more additional actions related to the interactive object.

A coating material (10) for coating an article is described. The coating material (10) comprises a surface (100) having an optical interference coating (110) thereon. The coating material (10) improves protection of the article from incident electromagnetic radiation having a predetermined wavelength. The coating material (10) may retroreflect at least some of the incident electromagnetic radiation, for example towards a source (e.g. a laser) thereof. An article having a coating provided by such a coating material and methods of providing such coating materials are also described.

A preformed thermoplastic roadway line marking includes a preformed thermoplastic substrate layer capable of being attached to a roadway, and a preformed thermoplastic upper layer in contact with the substrate layer. Advantageously, such an upper layer includes a surface area having a plurality of spaced-apart slits. The slits penetrate through an entire cross-sectional thickness of the upper layer and are in fluid communication with the substrate layer. When heated to a liquid state, the substrate layer has a morphed shape and is at least partially displaced upwardly through the slits and disposed on the upper layer such that the upper layer is fixedly locked to the substrate layer and maintained at a substantially stable position relative to the substrate layer. Such a structural configuration provides an unexpected and unpredictable result of insuring the marking is locked into place relative to the roadway, thereby reducing labor costs and improving durability.

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.

An optical bio-sensing device includes a transparent substrate covering a top of a space accommodating therein a sample containing a target bio-material; a signal converter fixed to the transparent substrate, and including the upconversion nanoparticles for receiving incident light and emitting converted light of a wavelength shorter than a wavelength of the incident light; a signal reflector including retroreflection particles bindable to the signal converter via the target bio-material, wherein the retroreflection particles retroreflect the converted light; a light source for irradiating the incident light to the signal converter; and a light receiver for receiving light retroreflected from the signal reflector.

A retroreflector has an arrangement of triples, each having three side surfaces that stand essentially perpendicular on one another. The triples are disposed on a curved or domed surface. The geometry of the triple array is adapted to the curved surface, to even out the thresholds, and extend the side surfaces of a triple. The extensions of the side surfaces project into adjacent triples. Due to the extension projecting into adjacent triples, joints are formed there, which even out the uneven area. The joints can assume the form of a protrusion filled with material or a notch in which material is missing. A forming die produces the retroreflector and a method produces the forming die. The retroreflectors have geometries having full cube surfaces, in other words Full Cubes, for curved or domed surfaces or free-form surfaces.

A retroreflector has an arrangement of triples, each having three side surfaces that stand essentially perpendicular on one another. The triples are disposed on a curved or domed surface. The geometry of the triple array is adapted to the curved surface, to even out the thresholds, and extend the side surfaces of a triple. The extensions of the side surfaces project into adjacent triples. Due to the extension projecting into adjacent triples, joints are formed there, which even out the uneven area. The joints can assume the form of a protrusion filled with material or a notch in which material is missing. A forming die produces the retroreflector and a method produces the forming die. The retroreflectors have geometries having full cube surfaces, in other words Full Cubes, for curved or domed surfaces or free-form surfaces.

An object of the present invention is to provide a signal detection system capable of removing noise caused by scattered light or the like and capable of detecting an accurate signal. The problems can be solved by providing a signal detection system including an emitting unit that emits polarized light as measurement light, a retroreflection member that retroreflects the measurement light, and a detecting unit that detects the retroreflected measurement light, in which in the retroreflection member, a reflectance of first polarized light is higher than a reflectance of second polarized light which is polarized light having a property opposite to that of the first polarized light, and at least one of a first condition in which in the measurement light emitted from the emitting unit, an intensity of the first polarized light is higher than an intensity of the second polarized light, or a second condition in which in the detecting unit, a detection sensitivity of the first polarized light is higher than a detection sensitivity of the second polarized light is satisfied.

An object of the present invention is to provide a signal detection system capable of removing noise caused by scattered light or the like and capable of detecting an accurate signal. The problems can be solved by providing a signal detection system including an emitting unit that emits polarized light as measurement light, a retroreflection member that retroreflects the measurement light, and a detecting unit that detects the retroreflected measurement light, in which in the retroreflection member, a reflectance of first polarized light is higher than a reflectance of second polarized light which is polarized light having a property opposite to that of the first polarized light, and at least one of a first condition in which in the measurement light emitted from the emitting unit, an intensity of the first polarized light is higher than an intensity of the second polarized light, or a second condition in which in the detecting unit, a detection sensitivity of the first polarized light is higher than a detection sensitivity of the second polarized light is satisfied.