Patent ID: 6944365
Filing Date: 2005-09-13
Classification: B33Y,G02B

Abstract:
1. A system for redirecting optical signals, said system comprising: at least one substrate having a first surface; at least one reflective microstructure array formed on said substrate, said reflective microstructure array including at least one reflective microstructure, each said reflective microstructure of said reflective microstructure array including an optically reflective surface and being positionable with respect to the first surface of said substrate in at least one orientation wherein the reflective surface thereof is positioned to redirect an optical signal from at least one originating location to at least one target location, each said orientation of each said reflective microstructure being defined by an associated unit normal vector orthogonal to the reflective surface thereof; a set of unit normal vectors comprising substantially all of the unit normal vectors associated with each said orientation of each said reflective microstructure wherein the reflective surface thereof is positioned to redirect an optical signal from at least one originating location to at least one target location, the set of unit normal vectors including at least two unit normal vectors that are non-parallel; and an average normal vector associated with said reflective microstructure array, said average normal vector comprising the average of the unit normal vectors in said set of unit normal vectors; wherein said average normal vector associated with said reflective microstructure array forms an acute angle with a vector normal to the first surface of said substrate, said angle being greater than five degrees.