Optical-fiber display with intensive brightness

• US 5,398,170 A
• Filed: 05/18/1992
• Issued: 03/14/1995
• Est. Priority Date: 05/18/1992
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: CAMCAR Intellectual Properties, LLC
• Original Assignee: Fiber Does, Inc.
• Inventors: Lee, Song S.
• Primary Examiner(s): Lazarus, Ira S.
• Assistant Examiner(s): HEYMAN, LEONARD
• Application Number:
  US07/885,115
• Time in Patent Office: 1,030 Days
• Field of Search: 362/32, 362/84, 362/223, 362/224, 362/225, 362/260, 362/268, 362/293, 362/310, 362/331, 40/564, 40/579, 40/581, 40/572
• US Class Current: 362/559
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/0008 the light being emitted at the end of the fibre
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/0026 Wavelength selective element, sheet or layer, e.g. filter or grating
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/0041 provided in the bulk of the light guide
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/0065 Manufacturing aspects; Material aspects
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/0068 Arrangements of plural sources, e.g. multi-colour light sources
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/322 and having centering means being part of the lens for the self-positioning of the lightguide at the focal point, e.g. holes, wells, indents, nibs
• CPC Class Codes: G09F 9/305 being the ends of optical fibres G09F9/302 takes precedence

Abstract

An optical display apparatus includes a plurality of optical elements of acrylic material and an additive. Each optical element is shaped into cylindrical body with a first convex end and a second convex end to improve light receiving and transmitting efficiency of the optical element. By activation of a fluorescent lamp, the optical elements can emit ultra-bright color light. A light reflective chamber encloses the fluorescent lamp and the optical elements. Through a panel of the chamber and the optical elements mounted on the panel via apertures of the panel, various desired display patterns may be accomplished. The additive may be fluorescent color dyes or bleaching power. The optical display apparatus further includes a convex lens, a color disc and a motor. The motor drives the color disc to rotate so that light rays focus by the convex lens have variable colors. By means of optical-coupling means, the variable-color light rays are reflectively transmitted to some of optical elements to generate abundant color lights.

Claims

1. An optical element comprising 5×

10^-5 to 8×

10^-4 parts by weight of a transparent fluorescent dye per part by weight of a transparent acrylic and at least 5×

10^-5 parts by weight of a bleaching powder per part by weight of said transparent acrylic.

2. An optical element as recited in claim 1 wherein said optical element has a substantially cylindrical body, a first convex end, and a second convex end, said body extending from said second convex end to said first convex end, said first convex end and said second convex end sharing a common axis of cylindrical symmetry, said first convex end being larger than said second convex in diameter.

3. An optical element as recited in claim 2 wherein a transparent color lacquer is applied onto said first convex end.

4. An optical element as recited in claim 2 wherein a transparent coating of a relative high refractive-index is applied onto said first convex end.

5. An optical element as recited in claim 2 further comprising a conical neck portion extending from a portion of said body to said first convex end.

6. An optical display apparatus comprising:

enclosing means for confining a light reflective chamber, said enclosing means having a panel having a plurality of apertures, said panel having an outside surface;

lighting means mounted within said enclosing means for generating light rays, said light rays being reflected within said enclosing means; and

a plurality of optical elements including 5×

10^-5 to 8×

10^-4 parts by weight of a transparent fluorescent dye per part by weight of a transparent acrylic and a bleaching powder, each of said plurality optical elements having a substantially cylindrical body, a first convex end, and a second convex end, said optical elements being mounted through said panel via said a plurality of apertures so that each said first convex end is on the outside surface of said panel while each said second convex end and each said body are exposed within said chamber.

7. An optical display apparatus as recited in claim 6 wherein said plurality optical elements comprises at least 5×

10^-5 parts by weight of said bleaching powder per part by weight of said transparent acrylic.

8. An optical display apparatus comprising:

enclosing means for confining a light reflective chamber, said enclosing means having at least one first transparent member and one first panel having a plurality of first apertures, said first transparent member and said first panel forming a first panel assembly that defines a first space between said first transparent member and said first panel;

lighting means mounted within said enclosing means for generating light rays, said light rays being reflected within said enclosing means; and

a plurality of optical elements, each of said optical elements having a substantially cylindrical body, a first convex end, and a second convex end, said first convex end being larger than said second convex in diameter, said each of optical elements being mounted through said first panel via each of said plurality of first apertures so that said first convex end is sandwiched within said first space while said second convex end and said body are exposed within said chamber.

9. An optical display apparatus as recited in claim 8 wherein said optical elements include a bleaching powder and a transparent acrylic.

10. An optical display apparatus as recited in claim 9 wherein said optical elements include at least 5×

10^-5 parts by weight of said bleaching powder per part by weight of said transparent acrylic.

11. An optical display apparatus as recited in claim 9 comprising 5×

10^-5 to 8×

10^-4 parts by weight of a transparent fluorescent dye per part by weight of said transparent acrylic.

12. An optical display apparatus as recited in claim 9 wherein a transparent color lacquer is applied onto said first convex end.

13. An optical display apparatus as recited in claim 9 wherein a transparent coating of a relative high refractive-index is applied onto said first convex end.

14. An optical display apparatus as recited in claim 8 wherein said lighting means includes fluorescent lighting means.

15. An optical display apparatus as recited in claim 8 further comprising a second transparent member and a second panel having a plurality of second apertures, said second transparent member and said second panel forming a second panel assembly that defines a second space between said second transparent member and said second panel, said optical elements being mounted through said second panel via said plurality of second apertures so that said first convex end is sandwiched within said second space while said second convex end and said body are within said chamber.

16. An optical display apparatus as recited in claim 9 wherein a gap between adjacent optical elements is at most 8 mm.