Article with retroreflective and radio frequency-responsive features

(54) ARTICLE WITH RETROREFLECTIVE AND RADIO FREQUENCY-RESPONSIVE FEATURES

(75) Inventor: Thomas F. Look, Ham Lake, MN (US)

(73) Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company,

St. Paul, MN (US)

( * ) Notice: Subject to any disclaimer, the term of this patent is extended or adjusted under 35 U.S.C. 154(b) by 0 days.

(21) Appl. No.: 09/974,385

(22) Filed: Oct. 9, 2001

(65) Prior Publication Data

US 2003/0067389 Al Apr. 10, 2003

(51) Int. CI.7 G08B 13/14

(52) U.S. CI 340/572.1; 340/693.5;

340/933; 340/941; 343/741; 343/866; 343/892;

343/711; 343/713

(58) Field of Search 340/572.1, 693.5,

340/933, 941; 343/741, 866, 892, 711,

713

(56) References Cited

U.S. PATENT DOCUMENTS

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4,580,041 A 4/1986 Walton 235/380

4,583,083 A 4/1986 Bogasky 340/572

4,598,276 A 7/1986 Tait 340/572

4,660,025 A 4/1987 Humphrey 340/572

4,837,568 A 6/1989 Snaper 340/825

4,857,893 A 8/1989 Carroll 340/572

4,940,966 A 7/1990 Pettigrew et al 340/551

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5,030,807 A 7/1991 Landt et al.

5,059,951 A 10/1991 Kaltner 340/572

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5,151,684 A 9/1992 lohnsen 340/572

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5,635,693 A 6/1997 Benson et al 235/384

(Continued)

FOREIGN PATENT DOCUMENTS

EP 0 892 399 A2 1/1999

EP 1 120 739 A2 8/2001

WO WO 98/27670 6/1998 H04B/7/08

WO WO 99/45513 9/1999

WO WO 01/57807 Al 8/2001 G07C/9/00

OTHER PUBLICATIONS

Product Bulletin 3750E/3770E entitled 3M Scotchlite "Reflective License Plate Sheeting, Series 3750E/3770E with EnsureTMImage for Use on Multi-Year License Plates; Jan. 1997 (5 pgs.).

Primary Examiner—Benjamin C. Lee

Assistant Examiner—Tai T. Nguyen

(74) Attorney, Agent, or Firm—Melissa E. Buss

The present disclosure includes a system that provides visual and electronic information in a readily identifiable system. For example, the present disclosure is directed to a combination tag, suitable for use as a vehicle identification window sticker. The combination tag includes a retroreflective article having an optical surface and a radio frequency responsive element. The radio frequency-responsive element includes an antenna and an integrated circuit. The radio frequency-responsive element has information storage and transmission capabilities adapted to enable an interrogation system to obtain information from the radio frequencyresponsive element. The radio frequency-responsive element is operably coupled to the retroreflective article.

38 Claims, 3 Drawing Sheets