Viscous light trap for a laser-based fiber optic vehicle lighting system

• US 5,771,326 A
• Filed: 07/02/1997
• Issued: 06/23/1998
• Est. Priority Date: 07/02/1997
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC (Ford Motor Company)
• Original Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC (Ford Motor Company)
• Inventors: Remillard, Jeffrey Thomas, Fohl, Timothy, Marinelli, Michael Anthony
• Primary Examiner(s): Palmer, Phan T. H.
• Application Number:
  US08/886,885
• Time in Patent Office: 356 Days
• Field of Search: 385/123-128, 385/115, 385/120, 385/121, 385/901, 362/32, 362/31
• US Class Current: 385/123
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 1/0011 with light guides for distributing the light between several lighting or signalling devices
• 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 6/032 with non solid core or cladding G02B6/02295 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/243 as light absorbers
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 385/901 Illuminating or display apparatus

Abstract

A fiber optic light guide for a vehicle lighting system has a light transmissive core and a cladding provided circumferentially about the core. A light absorptive viscous fluid is disposed intermediate the light transmissive core and the cladding, so that if the fiber optic light guide is severed, and the light transmissive core is exposed, the viscous fluid will flow over and cover the exposed light transmissive core.

Claims

1. A fiber optic light guide for a vehicle lighting system, comprising:

a light transmissive core having a longitudinal axis;

a cladding provided circumferentially about and longitudinally coextensive with the light transmissive core; and

an optically absorptive viscous fluid disposed intermediate the light transmissive core and the cladding, so that if the fiber optic light guide is severed and the light transmissive core is exposed the viscous fluid will flow over and cover the exposed light transmissive core.

2. The fiber optic light guide of claim 1, wherein the viscous fluid is a silicone fluid.

3. The fiber optic light guide of claim 2, wherein the silicone fluid has a viscosity chosen from the range of 0.65 to 2.5×

10⁶ centi-Stokes.

4. The fiber optic light guide of claim 1, wherein the optically absorptive viscous fluid has a carbon black additive.

5. The fiber optic light guide of claim 1, wherein the light transmissive core is formed from a glass fiber.

6. The fiber optic light guide of claim 1, wherein the cladding is a flexible polymeric material.

7. A vehicle lighting system, comprising:

a remote light source;

an optical element; and

a fiber optic light guide, including;

a light transmissive core having a longitudinal axis;

a cladding provided circumferentially about and longitudinally coextensive with the light transmissive core; and

a light absorptive viscous fluid disposed intermediate the light transmissive core and the cladding, so that if the fiber optic light guide is severed and the light transmissive core is exposed the viscous fluid will flow over and cover the exposed light transmissive core.

8. The vehicle lighting system of claim 7, wherein the viscous fluid is a silicone fluid.

9. The vehicle lighting system of claim 8, wherein the silicone fluid has a viscosity chosen from the range of 0.65 to 2.5×

10⁶ centi-Stokes.

10. The vehicle lighting system of claim 7, wherein the optically absorptive fluid has a carbon black additive.

11. The fiber optic light guide of claim 7, wherein the light transmissive core is formed from a glass fiber.

12. The fiber optic light guide of claim 7, wherein the cladding is a flexible polymeric material.

13. The fiber optic light guide of claim 7, wherein the optical element is a uniform thickness thin sheet.

14. The fiber optic light guide of claim 7, wherein the remote light source is a diode laser.