Totally internally reflecting light conduit
First Claim
1. A hollow, tubular light conduit for transporting light there along and/or distributing light therefrom, comprising a wall member of a transparent material, said wall member including a structured surface on one side and a smooth surface opposite said structured surface on the other side, at least a portion of the cross-section of said wall member lying in a smooth arcuate curve, said structured surface having a linear array of substantially right angled isosceles prisms arranged side-by-side, the perpendicular sides of said prisms making an angle of approximately 45°
- with the tangent to said smooth surface opposite said structured surface, so that a predetermined portion of the light entering the light conduit within an acceptable angular range, is contained by total internal reflection as it travels along the length of the light conduit.
3 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A hollow, tubular light conduit including a wall of a transparent polymeric material, and the wall having a structured surface and an opposite, smooth, glossy surface, and at least a portion of the cross-section of the wall lying in a smooth arcuate curve, wherein light striking the inner surface, within an acceptable angular range, is contained by total internal reflection. The structured surface includes a linear array of substantially right angled isosceles prisms arranged side-by-side to form grooves. In addition, the perpendicular sides of the prisms make an angle of approximately 45° with the tangent to the smooth surface. Because of the flexibility of the light conduit and its ability to totally internally reflect light, a manipulated light conduit may be utilized in a variety of ways, for example, as a light fixture whereby some of the light directed into the light conduit is emitted from the light conduit for illumination or for use as a secondary light source. A suitable light source may include artificial or solar energy. However, when the light fixture operates as a warning light it is preferred that a strobe light be used.
209 Citations
36 Claims
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1. A hollow, tubular light conduit for transporting light there along and/or distributing light therefrom, comprising a wall member of a transparent material, said wall member including a structured surface on one side and a smooth surface opposite said structured surface on the other side, at least a portion of the cross-section of said wall member lying in a smooth arcuate curve, said structured surface having a linear array of substantially right angled isosceles prisms arranged side-by-side, the perpendicular sides of said prisms making an angle of approximately 45°
- with the tangent to said smooth surface opposite said structured surface, so that a predetermined portion of the light entering the light conduit within an acceptable angular range, is contained by total internal reflection as it travels along the length of the light conduit.
- View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
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10. A light fixture, comprising:
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a housing having an inner surface and an outer surface; a hollow, tubular light conduit contained within said housing including a wall member of a transparent material, said wall member having a structured surface on one side and a smooth surface opposite said structured surface on the other side, and at least a portion of the cross-section of said wall member lying in a smooth arcuate curve, said structured surface having a linear array of substantially right angled isosceles prisms arranged side-by-side, the perpendicular sides of said prisms making an angle of approximately 45°
with the tangent to said smooth surface opposite said structured surface;performance manipulating means associated with said wall member for allowing light to be emitted from said light conduit through said wall member without being contained within said light fixture by total internal reflection; optical window means in said housing for allowing the emission of light from said light conduit through said optical window means; and light source means associated with said light conduit for supplying light into said light conduit so that light entering said light conduit may be emitted from said light conduit and may thereby exit from said light fixture through said optical window means. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19)
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20. A light conduit, comprising:
a member including at least one open side, an inner side, an outer side and a wall of a transparent material, said wall having a structured surface on one side and a smooth surface opposite said structured surface on the other side, at least a portion of the cross-section of said wall lying in a smooth arcuate curve, said structured surface having a linear array of substantially right angled isosceles prisms arranged side-by-side, the perpendicular sides of said prisms making an angle of approximately 45°
with the tangent to said smooth surface opposite said structured surface, whereby a predetermined portion of the light entering the light conduit within an incorporating imperfections acceptable angular range is contained by total internal reflection as it travels along the length of the light conduit.- View Dependent Claims (21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29)
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30. A warning light, comprising:
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a hollow, tubular housing having an inner surface and an outer surface; a hollow, tubular light conduit contained within said housing including a wall member of a transparent material, said wall member having a structured surface on one side and a smooth surface opposite said structured surface on the other side, said structured surface having a linear array of substantially right angled isosceles prisms arranged side-by-side, the perpendicular sides of said prisms making an angle of approximately 45°
with the tangent to said smooth surface opposite said structured surface;optical window means in said housing for allowing the emission of light from said light conduit through said optical window means; light source means associated with one end of said light conduit for supplying light into said light conduit so that light entering said light conduit may be emitted from said light conduit and may thereby exit from said light fixture through said optical window means. - View Dependent Claims (31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36)
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Specification