Line-of-light illuminating device

• US 5,295,047 A
• Filed: 04/06/1992
• Issued: 03/15/1994
• Est. Priority Date: 04/06/1992
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Ford Motor Company
• Original Assignee: Ford Motor Company
• Inventors: Windross, Gene R.
• Primary Examiner(s): Cole, Richard R.
• Assistant Examiner(s): LEE, Y MY QUACH
• Application Number:
  US07/863,888
• Time in Patent Office: 708 Days
• Field of Search: 362/26, 362/29, 362/30, 362/31, 362/32, 362/299, 362/339, 362/327, 362/328, 385/33, 385/146, 385/36, 359/641, 359/833
• US Class Current: 362/26
• CPC Class Codes: F21S 43/15 Strips of light sources
• CPC Class Codes: F21S 43/237 rod-shaped
• CPC Class Codes: F21S 43/243 emitting light from one or more of its extremities
• CPC Class Codes: F21S 43/247 with a single light source being coupled into the light guide
• CPC Class Codes: G01D 11/28 Structurally-combined illuminating devices
• CPC Class Codes: G01D 13/22 Pointers, e.g. settable pointer
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/0001 specially adapted for lighting devices or systems lighting or signalling on vehicles using light guides B60Q1/00; lighting devices for vehicle dashboards B60Q3/10; lighting devices for vehicle interior using light guides B60Q3/62; lighting devices mounted on the vehicle rear part using light guides F21S43/235; measuring arrangements having light conducting pointers G01D13/265; illumination of liquid crystal displays G02F1/1336; illuminated signs G09F13/00
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/0008 the light being emitted at the end of the fibre

Abstract

A line-of-light illuminating device includes an optical lightpipe for receiving and transmitting light by internal reflection and an integral optical lens located at an emission portion of the lightpipe for focusing the reflected light into a collimated line-of-light beam. The lightpipe and lens are preferably injection molded in a single shot as a unitary device. The lightpipe preferably has an isosceles triangular cross-sectional shape with an apex formed at the point where the two equilateral sides join. A reflective surface is formed along the apex on the emission portion of the lightpipe, and the lens is located on the side opposite the apex. The internally reflected light striking the reflective surface is reflected perpendicularly therefrom to the lens. The lens focusses the reflected light into the collimated line-of-light beam.

Claims

1. A line-of-light illuminating device, comprising:

a light source;

an elongated optical lightpipe which receives light from said light source and transmits said light through internal reflection, said lightpipe being isosceles triangular in cross-section with an apex at the point at which the equilateral sides of the isosceles triangle join, said lightpipe having an emission portion; and

an integral optical lens, located at one side of said emission portion of said lightpipe and extending substantially parallel to said emission portion for receiving and focusing said internally-reflected light into a collimated line-of-light beam, said emission portion of said lightpipe having a reflective surface formed at the apex thereof being opposite from said one side thereof for receiving said internally-reflected light striking said reflective surface and reflecting said light in a substantially perpendicular direction therefrom to said integral optical lens.

2. The line-of-light illuminating device of claim 1 wherein said lightpipe and lens are of a unitary construction.

3. The line-of-light illuminating device of claim 2 wherein said lightpipe and lens are formed together in a single injection molding process.

4. The line-of-light illuminating device of claim 1 wherein said reflective surface has a configuration of an elongated thin line.

5. The line-of-light illuminating device of claim 4 wherein the apex of said emission portion of said lightpipe is grooved and metallized to form said reflective surface.

6. The line-of-light illuminating device of claim 1 wherein said lightpipe has an elongated main body with a longitudinal axis and a pair of spaced opposite ends, said main body having an input end surface at one of said opposite ends for receiving light.

7. The line-of-light illuminating device of claim 1 wherein said integral optical lens is a segment of a single cylindrical lens.

8. The device of claim 1 wherein said optical lens has a central axis spaced from and extending generally parallel to a longitudinal axis of said lightpipe and spaced from and extending generally parallel to said reflective surface for receiving the reflected light from said reflective surface and focusing the light into a collimated line-of-light.

9. The line-of-light illuminating device of claim 1 wherein said integral optical lens is a series of segments of spherical lenses aligned along said one side of said emission portion.

10. The line-of-light illuminating device of claim 1 wherein said emission portion of said lightpipe and said lens have a unitary teardrop cross-sectional shape.

11. The line-of-light illuminating device of claim 1 wherein said emission portion of said lightpipe and said lens have a unitary snow-cone, cross-sectional shape.

13. The line-of-light illuminating device of claim 2 wherein said lightpipe and lens are of a unitary construction.

14. The line-of-light illuminating device of claim 13 wherein said lightpipe and lens are formed together in a single injection molding process.

15. The line-of-light illuminating device of claim 14 wherein said emission portion of said main body of said lightpipe and said lens have a unitary teardrop cross-sectional shape.

16. The line-of-light illuminating device of claim 14 wherein said emission portion of said main body of said lightpipe and said lens have a unitary snow cone cross-sectional shape.

17. The line-of-light illuminating device of claim 13 wherein said integral lens is a single segment of a cylindrical lens.

18. The line-of-light illuminating device of claim 13 wherein said reflective surface on said main body of said lightpipe has the configuration of an elongated thin line.

12. A line-of-light illuminating device, comprising:

an elongated optical lightpipe having an elongated main body with a longitudinal axis and a pair of spaced opposite ends, said main body of said lightpipe having an input end surface at one of said opposite ends for receiving light, said main body of said lightpipe having a triangular cross-sectional shape for transmitting the received light via internal reflection from said input end surface at one of said opposite ends toward another of said opposite ends;

means defining a reflective surface along an apex of an emission portion of said main body of said lightpipe and adjacent to said other opposite end thereof, for receiving the light transmitted by internal reflection from said input end surface and reflecting the light in a generally perpendicular direction from said reflective surface; and

an integral optical lens disposed on a side of said emission portion of said main body of said lightpipe being opposite from the apex, said lens having a central axis spaced from and extending generally parallel to said longitudinal axis of said main body of said lightpipe and spaced from and extending generally parallel to said reflective surface for receiving the reflected light from said reflective surface and focusing the light into a collimated line of light.

19. The line-of-light illuminating device of claim 19 wherein said emission portion of said main body of said lightpipe is grooved and metallized to form said reflective surface.