Lidar Reflective Black Paper and Non-Woven Articles

The present specification generally relates to light detecting and ranging (LiDAR) materials, and particularly to black-colored LiDAR reflective materials.

LiDAR systems using pulsed laser electromagnetic radiation with a wavelength of 905 nanometers (nm) or 1050 nm have been proposed and obstacle detection and avoidance systems in vehicles, robotics, as well as in other automated detection systems. However, dark-colored (e.g., black) pigments used in materials to provide a dark-colored objects absorb not only visible electromagnetic radiation to provide the dark color, but also absorb near-IR electromagnetic radiation with wavelengths of greater than about 750 nanometers, which includes LiDAR electromagnetic radiation.

Accordingly, a need exists for articles that absorb electromagnetic radiation within the visible spectrum, thus appearing dark-colored, but that reflect near-IR electromagnetic radiation with wavelengths around 905 nm or 1050 nm.

A first aspect includes a paper article comprising: a matrix made from pulp; and a pigment having a reflectivity in the visible spectrum of electromagnetic radiation that is less than or equal to 10.0%, and a reflectivity in the near-IR and LiDAR spectrum of electromagnetic radiation that is greater than or equal to 12%.

A second aspect includes the paper article of the first aspect, wherein the pulp is dyed with the pigment.

A third aspect includes the paper article of any one of the first or second aspects, wherein the paper article has a reflectivity in the visible spectrum of electromagnetic radiation that is less than or equal to 10.0%, and a reflectivity in the near-IR and LiDAR spectrum of electromagnetic radiation that is greater than or equal to 12%.

A fourth aspect includes the paper article of any one of the first to third aspects, wherein the paper article comprises greater than or equal to 0.1 wt. % and less than or equal to 22 wt. % of the pigment.

A fifth aspect includes the paper article of any one of the first to fourth aspects, wherein the paper article has a blackness My that is greater than or equal to 125 and less than or equal to 300.

A sixth aspect includes the paper article of any one of the first to fifth aspects, wherein the pigment is applied to at least a portion of the paper article by a liquidus marking material.

A seventh aspect includes the paper article of the sixth aspect, wherein the liquidus marking material comprises greater than or equal to 0.1 wt. % and less than or equal to 22 wt. % of the pigment.

An eighth aspect includes the paper article of any one of the sixth or seventh aspects, wherein the portion of the paper article has a reflectivity in the visible spectrum of electromagnetic radiation that is less than or equal to 10.0%, and a reflectivity in the near-IR and LiDAR spectrum of electromagnetic radiation that is greater than or equal to 12%.

A ninth aspect includes the paper article of any one of the sixth to eighth aspects, wherein the portion of the paper article has a blackness My that is greater than or equal to 125 and less than or equal to 300.

A tenth aspect includes the paper article of any one of the first to ninth aspects, wherein the pigment is incorporated into the paper article as a fiber.

An eleventh aspect includes the paper article of the tenth aspect, wherein the fiber has a diameter of greater than or equal to 1 μm and less than or equal to 50 μm.

A twelfth aspect includes the paper article of any one of the tenth or eleventh aspects, wherein the fiber comprises greater than or equal to 0.1 wt. % and less than or equal to 22 wt. % of the pigment.

A thirteenth aspect includes the paper article of any one of the tenth to twelfth aspects, wherein at least a portion of the paper article comprises the fibers.

A fourteenth aspect includes the paper article of thirteenth aspect, wherein the portion of the paper article has a reflectivity in the visible spectrum of electromagnetic radiation that is less than or equal to 10.0%, and a reflectivity in the near-IR and LiDAR spectrum of electromagnetic radiation that is greater than or equal to 12%.

A fifteenth aspect includes the paper article of any one of the thirteenth or fourteenth aspects, wherein the portion of the paper article has a blackness My that is greater than or equal to 125 and less than or equal to 300.

A sixteenth aspect includes the paper article of any one of the sixth to fifteenth aspects, wherein in the portion of the paper article is a unique design.

A seventeenth aspect includes the paper article of the sixteenth aspect, wherein the unique design is a glyph, bar code, or QR code, or decorative image.

An eighteenth aspect includes the paper article of any one of the first to seventeenth aspects, wherein the pigment is copper oxide nano-crystallites.

A nineteenth aspect includes the paper article of the eighteenth aspect, wherein the copper oxide crystallites have an average particle size that is greater than or equal to 5 nm and less than or equal to 15 nm.

A twentieth aspect includes the paper article of any one of the eighteenth or nineteenth aspects, wherein the copper oxide crystallites have a ratio of (−111)/(111) greater than or equal to 0.5 and less than or equal to 1.5.

A twenty-first aspect includes a tape, sticker, wallpaper, security paper, or temporary tattoo comprising the paper article of any one of the first to twentieth aspects.

A twenty-second aspect includes a molded article comprising: a polymer; and a pigment having a reflectivity in the visible spectrum of electromagnetic radiation that is less than or equal to 10.0%, and a reflectivity in the near-IR and LiDAR spectrum of electromagnetic radiation that is greater than or equal to 12%.

A twenty-third aspect includes a molded article of the twenty-first aspect, wherein the molded article comprises greater than or equal to 0.1 wt. % and less than or equal to 22 wt. % of the pigment.

A twenty-fourth aspect includes a molded article of any one of the twenty-first to twenty-third aspects, wherein the molded article has a blackness My that is greater than or equal to 125 and less than or equal to 300.

A twenty-fifth aspect includes a molded article of any one of the twenty-first to twenty-fourth aspects, wherein the molded article has a reflectivity in the visible spectrum of electromagnetic radiation that is less than or equal to 10.0%, and a reflectivity in the near-IR and LiDAR spectrum of electromagnetic radiation that is greater than or equal to 12%.

A twenty-sixth aspect includes a molded article of any one of the twenty-first to twenty-fifth aspects, wherein the polymer is selected from the group consisting of polyamide, polyacrylonitrile, polyethylene terephthanlate (PET), polybutyrate, polyurethane, nylon, polyester, polymethyl methacrylate (PMMA), polyvinyl chloride (PVC), polypropylene, polystyrene (PS), polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE), low-density polythene (LDPE), high-density polythene (HDPE), polyimides, polysiloxanes, polypropylene, epoxy, melamine formaldehyde, and phenol formaldehyde.

A twenty-seventh aspect includes a molded article of any one of the twenty-first to twenty-fifth aspects, wherein the polymer is a natural or synthetic elastomer.

A twenty-eighth aspect includes a molded article of the twenty-seventh aspect, wherein the elastomer is selected from the group consisting silicone rubber, nitrile rubber, styrene-butadiene, chlorpene, cis-polyisoprene, cis-polybutadiene, and ethylene-propylene.

A twenty-ninth aspect includes a molded article of any one of the twenty-first to twenty-eighth aspects, wherein the pigment is copper oxide nano-crystallites.

A thirtieth aspect includes a molded article of the twenty-ninth aspect, wherein the copper oxide crystallites have an average particle size that is greater than or equal to 5 nm and less than or equal to 15 nm.

A thirty-first aspect includes a molded article of any one of the twenty-ninth or thirtieth aspects, wherein the copper oxide crystallites have a ratio of (−111)/(111) greater than or equal to 0.5 and less than or equal to 1.5.

A thirty-second aspect includes the molded article of any one of the twenty-first to thirty-first aspects, wherein the molded article is furniture, a building material, a vehicle component, a consumer electronic component, a consumer product, a plastic bag, a film, protective equipment, a tire, a physical marker, or a sign.

A thirty-third aspect includes a non-woven article comprising: a plurality of fibers; and a pigment having a reflectivity in the visible spectrum of electromagnetic radiation that is less than or equal to 10.0%, and a reflectivity in the near-IR and LiDAR spectrum of electromagnetic radiation that is greater than or equal to 12%.

A thirty-fourth aspect includes the non-woven article of the thirty-third aspect, wherein the pigment is present in a fiber or filament.

A thirty-fifth aspect includes the non-woven article of the thirty-fourth aspect, wherein the fiber or filament comprises greater than or equal to 0.1 wt. % and less than or equal to 22 wt. % of the pigment.

A thirty-sixth aspect includes the non-woven article of any one of the thirty-third to thirty-fifth aspects, wherein the non-woven article has a blackness My that is greater than or equal to 125 and less than or equal to 300.

A thirty-seventh aspect includes the non-woven article of any one of the thirty-third to thirty-sixth aspects, wherein the non-woven article has a reflectivity in the visible spectrum of electromagnetic radiation that is less than or equal to 10.0%, and a reflectivity in the near-IR and LiDAR spectrum of electromagnetic radiation that is greater than or equal to 12%.

A thirty-eighth aspect includes the non-woven article of any one of the thirty-fourth to thirty-fifth aspects, wherein a portion of the non-woven article comprises the fiber or filament with the pigment.

A thirty-ninth aspect includes the non-woven article of the thirty-eighth aspect, wherein the portion of the non-woven article has a blackness My that is greater than or equal to 125 and less than or equal to 300.

A fortieth aspect includes the non-woven of any one of the thirty-eighth or thirty-ninth aspects, wherein portion of the non-woven article has a reflectivity in the visible spectrum of electromagnetic radiation that is less than or equal to 10.0%, and a reflectivity in the near-IR and LiDAR spectrum of electromagnetic radiation that is greater than or equal to 12%.

A forty-first aspect includes the non-woven article of any one of the thirty-eighth to fortieth aspects, wherein in the portion of the paper article is a unique design.

A forty-second aspect includes the non-woven article of the forty-first aspect, wherein the unique design is a glyph, bar code, or QR code, or decorative image.

A forty-third aspect includes the non-woven article of any one of the thirty-third to forty-second aspects, wherein the pigment is copper oxide nano-crystallites.

A forty-fourth aspect includes the non-woven article of any one of the thirty-third to forty-third aspects, wherein the copper oxide crystallites have an average particle size that is greater than or equal to 5 nm and less than or equal to 15 nm.

A forty-fifth aspect includes the non-woven article of any one of the thirty-third to forty-fourth aspects, wherein the copper oxide crystallites have a ratio of (−111)/(111) greater than or equal to 0.5 and less than or equal to 1.5.

These and additional features provided by the embodiments described herein will be more fully understood in view of the following detailed description in conjunction with the drawings.

Articles disclosed and described herein comprise a LiDAR-reflective material that reflects near-IR electromagnetic radiation, which includes LiDAR, having wavelengths greater than or equal to 800 nm and less than or equal to 2500 nm but is also dark-colored.