Fiber optic fabric

• US 20040037091A1
• Filed: 08/23/2002
• Published: 02/26/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 08/23/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: The Boeing Co.
• Original Assignee: The Boeing Co.
• Inventors: Guy, James K.
• Granted Patent: US 6,851,844 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 362/582
• CPC Class Codes: D03D 15/267 Glass
• CPC Class Codes: D03D 15/547 with optical functions other than colour, e.g. comprising light-emitting fibres
• CPC Class Codes: D10B 2101/06 Glass
• CPC Class Codes: D10B 2101/12 Carbon; Pitch
• CPC Class Codes: D10B 2201/02 Cotton
• CPC Class Codes: D10B 2331/021 aromatic polyamides, e.g. aramides
• CPC Class Codes: D10B 2331/04 polyesters, e.g. polyethylene terephthalate [PET]
• CPC Class Codes: D10B 2401/20 optical
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 2200/15 the light being emitted along at least a portion of the outer surface of the guide
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/001 the light being emitted along at least a portion of the lateral surface of the fibre
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 442/3154 Sheath-core multicomponent strand material

Abstract

A fiber optic fabric includes woven optical fibers, an opaque coating on the fibers and openings on the high points of the weave. The opaque coating prevents light leakage from the fibers and the openings allow light to be emitted from the fabric in a directed manner. The fabric is capable of emitting light at an angle relative to the surface of the fabric such that the light is not visible from every viewpoint.

Claims

1. An article of manufacture for emitting a light comprising:

a plurality of optical fibers such that a woven fabric is formed;

an opaque coating in contact with said optical fibers; and

a plurality of openings in said coating, wherein said article is capable of providing a directional light emission.

2. The article of claim 1, wherein said opaque coating is applied during the manufacturing of said optical fiber.

3. The article of claim 1, wherein said opaque coating is in contact with said woven fabric.

4. The article of claim 1, further comprising a plurality of non-optical fibers in contact with said optical fibers.

5. The article of claim 4, wherein said optical fibers are in the weft direction.

6. The article of claim 4, wherein said optical fibers are in the warp direction.

7. The article of claim 4, wherein said non-optical fibers are formed from a material selected from the group consisting of fiberglass, Kevlar, carbon, and cotton.

8. The article of claim 1, wherein said opaque coating is formed from a material selected from the group consisting of epoxy, latex, Teflon and a combination thereof.

9. The article of claim 1, wherein said openings are positioned at the high points of the weave of said fabric.

10. The article of claim 1, wherein the exit angle of said directional light emission is about equivalent to the acceptance angle of said optical fiber.

11. A woven fabric for emitting a light comprising:

a plurality of optical fibers;

a plurality of non-optical fibers in contact with said optical fibers;

an opaque coating in contact with said optical fibers; and

a plurality of openings in said opaque coating, wherein said fabric is capable of providing a directional light emission.

12. The woven fabric of claim 11, wherein said optical fibers are in the weft direction.

13. The woven fabric of claim 11, wherein said optical fibers are in the warp direction.

14. The woven fabric of claim 11, wherein said non-optical fibers are formed from a material selected from the group consisting of fiberglass, Kevlar, carbon, and cotton.

15. The woven fabric of claim 11, wherein said opaque coating is formed from a material selected from the group consisting of epoxy, latex, Teflon and a combination thereof.

16. The woven fabric of claim 11, wherein said openings are positioned at the high points of the weave of said woven fabric.

17. The woven fabric of claim 11, wherein the exit angle of said directional light emission is about equivalent to the acceptance angle of said optical fiber.

18. An article of manufacture for illuminating an aircraft comprising:

a plurality of optical fibers such that a woven fabric is formed;

an opaque coating in contact with said optical fibers; and

a plurality of openings in said coating, wherein said article is capable of providing a directional light emission.

19. The article of claim 18, wherein the exit angle of said directional light emission is about equivalent to the acceptance angle of said optical fiber.

20. The article of claim 18, further comprising a plurality of non-optical fibers in contact with said optical fibers.

21. The article of claim 18, wherein said article is capable of providing aircraft lighting selected from the group consisting of formation lighting and anti-collision lighting.

22. The article of claim 18, wherein said article is capable of providing position lighting for said aircraft.

23. The article of claim 18, wherein said opaque coating is formed from a material selected from the group consisting of epoxy, latex, Teflon and a combination thereof.

24. The article of claim 18, further comprising a cover material in contact with a surface of said woven fabric.

25. The article of claim 18, further comprising a sub-structure in contact with a surface of said woven fabric.

26. An article of manufacture for emitting a light comprising:

a plurality of optical fibers;

a plurality of non-optical fibers formed of a material selected from the group consisting of fiberglass, Kevlar, carbon, and cotton, said non-optical fibers in contact with said optical fibers such that a woven fabric is formed;

an opaque coating in contact with said woven fabric, said opaque coating formed from a material selected from the group consisting of [epoxy, latex, Teflon and a combination thereof; and

a plurality of openings in said opaque coating, said openings positioned at the high points of the weave of said woven fabric, wherein said article is capable of providing a directional light emission.

27. A method for producing an article of manufacture for emitting a light, comprising the steps of:

providing a plurality of optical fibers such that a woven fabric is formed;

applying an opaque coating in contact with said optical fibers; and

removing a portion of said opaque coating such that a plurality of openings are formed, wherein said article is capable of providing a directional light emission.

28. The method of claim 27, wherein said opaque coating is applied during the manufacturing of said optical fiber.

29. The method of claim 27, wherein said opaque coating is in contact with said woven fabric.

30. The method of claim 27, further comprising a step of providing a plurality of non-optical fibers in contact with said optical fibers.

31. The article of claim 30, wherein said optical fibers are in the weft direction.

32. The article of claim 30, wherein said optical fibers are in the warp direction.

33. The article of claim 30, wherein said non-optical fibers are formed from a material selected from the group consisting of fiberglass, Kevlar, carbon, and cotton.

34. The article of claim 27, wherein said opaque coating is formed from a material selected from the group consisting of epoxy, latex, Teflon and a combination thereof.

35. The article of claim 27, wherein said openings are positioned at the high points of the weave of said fabric.

36. The article of claim 27, wherein the exit angle of said directional light emission is about equivalent to the acceptance angle of said optical fiber.