Illumination devices and optical fibres for use therein

• US 5,432,876 A
• Filed: 10/19/1992
• Issued: 07/11/1995
• Est. Priority Date: 10/19/1992
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Minnesota Mining and Manufacturing Co (3M Company)
• Original Assignee: Minnesota Mining and Manufacturing Co (3M Company)
• Inventors: Hulme-Lowe, Alan G., Lea, Michael C., Appeldorn, Roger H.
• Primary Examiner(s): Lee, John D.
• Application Number:
  US07/963,056
• Time in Patent Office: 995 Days
• Field of Search: 362/32, 385/15, 385/31, 385/32, 385/39, 385/44, 385/45, 385/47, 385/48, 385/123, 385/147, 385/901
• US Class Current: 385/31
• 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: G02B 6/2817 using reflective elements to split or combine optical signals
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 385/901 Illuminating or display apparatus

Abstract

An optical fibre has a light emitting region. In the light emitting region are reflecting surfaces, at least one of which has a cross sectional area less than that of the fibre. Light striking the reflecting surfaces will be reflected out of the fibre.

Claims

1. An illumination device comprising an illumination device for propagating light in a preselected direction, said fibre having a light emitting region, said light emitting region comprising a plurality of reflecting surfaces of optical quality extending into said fibre and arranged such that a portion of light propagating along said fibre and impinging upon said surfaces will be reflected out of said fibre by total internal reflection through a side wail thereof, at least one of said reflecting surfaces having a cross-sectional area less than that of said fibre, said reflecting surfaces varying in cross-sectional area and/or spacing such that light is emitted over said light emitting region substantially uniformly.

2. An illumination device according to claim 1 wherein the spacing between successive reflecting surfaces decreases as distance along said fibre in said preselected direction increases.

3. An illumination device according to claim 2 wherein the cross-sectional areas of said reflecting surfaces increase as distance along said fibre in said preselected direction increases.

4. An illumination device according to claim 1 wherein the cross-sectional areas of said reflecting surfaces increase as distance along said fibre in said preselected direction increases.

5. An illumination device according to claim 1 wherein each of said reflecting surfaces is substantially planar.

6. An illumination device according to claim 5 wherein the spacing between successive reflecting surfaces decreases as distance along said fibre in said preselected direction increases.

7. An illumination device according to claim 6 wherein the cross-sectional areas of said reflecting surfaces increase as distance along said fibre in said preselected direction increases.

8. An illumination device according to claim 5 wherein the cross-sectional areas of said reflecting surfaces increase as distance along said fibre in said preselected direction increases.

9. An illumination device according to claim 1 wherein each of said reflecting surfaces comprises a wall of a notch in said fibre.

10. An illumination device according to claim 9 wherein the spacing between successive reflecting surfaces decreases as distance along said fibre in said preselected direction increases.

11. An illumination device according to claim 10 wherein the cross-sectional areas of said reflecting surfaces increase as distance along said fibre in said preselected direction increases.

12. An illumination device according to claim 9 wherein the cross-sectional areas of said reflecting surfaces increase as distance along said fibre in said preselected direction increases.

13. An illumination device according to claim 9 wherein each of said reflecting surfaces is substantially planar.

14. An illumination device according to claim 13 wherein the spacing between successive reflecting surfaces decreases as distance along said fibre in said preselected direction increases.

15. An illumination device according to claim 14 wherein the cross-sectional areas of said reflecting surfaces increase as distance along said fibre in said preselected direction increases.

16. An illumination device according to claim 13 wherein the cross-sectional areas of said reflecting surfaces increase as distance along said fibre in said preselected direction increases.

17. An illumination device comprising an illumination device for propagating light in a preselected direction, said fibre having a light emitting region, said light emitting region comprising a plurality of reflecting surfaces of optical quality extending into said fibre and arranged such that a portion of light propagating along said fibre and impinging upon said surfaces will be reflected out of said fibre by total internal reflection through a side wall thereof, said reflecting surfaces having cross-sectional areas that vary such that the amount of light reflected out of said fibre by each of said reflecting surfaces is substantially equal.

18. An illumination device according to claim 17 wherein each of said reflecting surfaces is substantially planar.

19. An illumination device comprising a plurality of illumination devices for propagating light in a preselected direction, said fibres being aligned to form an array, said array having a light emitting region wherein each of said fibres has a plurality of reflecting surfaces of optical quality extending therein such that a portion of light propagating along any fibre of the array and impinging on said reflecting surfaces will be reflected out of its fibre by total internal reflection wherein the cross-sectional area of said reflecting surfaces increases as distance along said fibres increases in said preselected direction.

20. An illumination device comprising a plurality of illumination devices for propagating light in a preselected direction, said fibres being aligned to form an array, said array having a light emitting region wherein each of said fibres has a plurality of reflecting surfaces of optical quality extending therein such that a portion of light propagating along any fibre of the array and impinging on said reflecting surfaces will be reflected out of its fibre by total internal reflection wherein the cross-sectional area of said reflecting surfaces varies such that the amount of light reflected out of each fibre by each of said reflecting surfaces is substantially equal.

21. An illumination device comprising a plurality of illumination devices for propagating light in a preselected direction, said fibres being aligned to form an array, said array having a light emitting region wherein each of said fibres has a plurality of reflecting surfaces of optical quality extending therein such that a portion of light propagating along any fibre of the array and impinging on said reflecting surfaces will be reflected out of its fibre by total internal reflection wherein the cross-sectional area of the said reflecting surfaces and/or the spacing between said reflecting surfaces varies such that the light emitted over said light emitting region is substantially uniform.