Modulatable reflectors and methods for using same
US6137623A · kind A · utility
34Cited by
21References
30Claims
0Family size
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Mar 17, 1998 |
| Grant date | Oct 24, 2000 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Mar 17, 2018 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC G)Physics
- CPC primaryG01S13/78
- WIPO fieldMeasurement
- WIPO sectorInstruments
Abstract
A reflector having a mechanically deformable portion of at least one reflective surface is disclosed. By deforming the portion of the reflective surface, discontinuity is introduced in that portion of the reflective surface. The discontinuity in the reflective surface scatters incident radiation signals so as to cause attenuation in the reflected signal. By selectively deforming the portion of the reflective surface, the reflected signal can be modulated to encode data thereon. The mechanically deformable portion of the reflective surface preferably comprises plates integrally formed therein.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.