Fiber optic light source apparatus and method
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A lateral illumination fiber optic cable comprising:
- a central core extending longitudinally of the cable;
at least one optical fiber helically wound about said central core over a selected length thereof; and
a transparent tubular sheath encompassing the core and the optical fiber.
3 Assignments
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Accused Products
Abstract
A fiber optic cable lateral illumination system comprising a housing having an internal cavity and an aperture communicating the cavity externally of the housing, an optical system located within the internal cavity; the optical system comprising a reflector and a high intensity lamp positioned within the reflector for directing light along an optical axis, a plate of heat absorbing material spaced from the reflector, and at least one color filter spaced from the plate and the reflector; the optical cable including a plurality of optical fibers and a ferrule assembly for supporting the cable to the optical system.
100 Citations
18 Claims
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1. A lateral illumination fiber optic cable comprising:
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a central core extending longitudinally of the cable; at least one optical fiber helically wound about said central core over a selected length thereof; and a transparent tubular sheath encompassing the core and the optical fiber. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3)
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4. A lateral illumination optical fiber cable comprising:
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a plurality of optical fibers having ends and being arranged in a set of non-intertwined parallel fibers; and a plurality of sets of said fibers intertwined to form the cable. - View Dependent Claims (5, 6, 7, 8)
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9. A lateral illumination fiber optic cable comprising a plurality of sets of optical fibers, said sets being interwoven to form a plurality of bends in the optical fibers of each set, and each set being formed of a plurality of generally parallel aligned, non-interwoven optical fibers.
- 10. A lateral illumination fiber optic lighting system comprising a fiber optic cable having a plurality of sets of optical fibers, said sets being interwoven to form a plurality of bends in the optical fibers of each set, and each set being formed of a plurality of generally parallel aligned, non-interwoven optical fibers and a light source for directing light into an end of said cable, said light source comprising an optical system having a reflector and a high intensity lamp positioned to direct light into the end of said cable, said reflector having an ellipsoid shape with proximal and distal foci, said lamp having an effective light origin at said proximal focus and said end of said cable being located at a position slightly displaced from said distal focus whereby said high intensity light is not focused on said cable end.
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12. A lateral illumination fiber optic cable comprising:
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a central core; a plurality of optical fibers distributed perimetrically about the core and extending axially along the core; and an outer sheath enclosing the optical fibers and the core, the outer sheath being light transmissive and having a tint whereby the lateral illumination appears substantially tinted the color of the outer sheath.
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13. A lateral illumination fiber optic cable for connection to a light source for injecting light into the cable comprising:
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a central core; a plurality of optical fibers distributed perimetrically about the core and extending axially along the core; and an outer sheath enclosing the optical fibers and the core; and a non-light transmissive cladding overlaying at least a first extent of the cable for increasing light transmission into another extent of the cable.
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14. A lateral illumination fiber optic cable for connection to a light source for injecting light into the cable comprising:
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a plurality of juxtaposed optical fibers enclosed within an outer sheath to form a cable; and a non-light transmissive cladding overlaying at least a first extent of the cable for increasing light transmission into another extent of the cable.
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15. A lateral illumination fiber optic cable comprising:
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a plurality of optical fibers; and an outer sheath enclosing the optical fibers, the outer sheath being light transmissive and having a tint whereby the lateral illumination appears substantially tinted the color of the outer sheath.
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- 16. A fiber optic cable assembly comprising a plurality of optical fibers and a ferrule assembly having a generally central passageway therethrough for passing and supporting at least one end of the cable, the ferrule assembly comprising a first externally threaded ferrule section, a second internally threaded ferrule section and a compressible sleeve inserted in said second ferrule section, said sleeve being compressed about said cable when said first ferrule section is threaded into said second ferrule section.
Specification