Light trap for a laser-based fiber optic vehicle lighting system
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A fiber optic light guide for a vehicle lighting system, comprising:
- a light transmissive core having a longitudinal axis, an axis perpendicular to and intersecting the longitudinal axis, and a predetermined index of refraction;
a light absorptive cladding provided circumferentially about and longitudinally coextensive with the light transmissive core; and
the light transmissive core having a surface containing the axis and canted about the axis a predetermined distance thereby forming an angled first end surface, the first end surface in a first condition connected to and mated with a second end surface, in a second condition the first end surface is exposed to surrounding air thereby creating an air/core interface having a predetermined critical angle.
2 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A fiber optic light guide for a vehicle lighting system has a light transmissive core and a light absorptive cladding provided circumferentially about the core. The light guide has a pair of end portions with opposing canted parallel end surfaces. The end surfaces are canted at a predetermined angle greater than the critical angle associated with the light transmissive core material and the surrounding air, so that if the end surfaces are separated light will not be emitted from the fiber optic light guide, but rather reflected off an end surface and into the light absorptive cladding.
14 Citations
16 Claims
-
1. A fiber optic light guide for a vehicle lighting system, comprising:
-
a light transmissive core having a longitudinal axis, an axis perpendicular to and intersecting the longitudinal axis, and a predetermined index of refraction; a light absorptive cladding provided circumferentially about and longitudinally coextensive with the light transmissive core; and the light transmissive core having a surface containing the axis and canted about the axis a predetermined distance thereby forming an angled first end surface, the first end surface in a first condition connected to and mated with a second end surface, in a second condition the first end surface is exposed to surrounding air thereby creating an air/core interface having a predetermined critical angle. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4)
-
-
5. A fiber optic light guide for a vehicle lighting system, comprising:
-
a light transmissive core having a longitudinal axis, an axis perpendicular to and intersecting the longitudinal axis, and a predetermined index of refraction; a light absorptive cladding provided circumferentially about and longitudinally coextensive with the light transmissive core; the light transmissive core having a first end portion having a surface containing the axis and canted about the axis a predetermined distance thereby forming an angled first end surface, the first end surface in a first condition connected to and mated with a second end surface of a second end portion, in a second condition the first end surface is exposed to surrounding air thereby creating an air/core interface having a predetermined critical angle; and a connector having a first portion attachable to a second portion, the first portion circumferentially engaging the first end portion at a predetermined circumferential orientation relative to the first end surface and the second portion circumferentially engaging the second end portion at a predetermined circumferential orientation relative to the angled second end surface and the first portion so that when the first and second portions are attached the angled first and second end surfaces are symmetrically mated. - View Dependent Claims (6, 7, 8, 9)
-
-
10. 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, an axis perpendicular to and intersecting the longitudinal axis, and a predetermined index of refraction; a light absorptive cladding provided circumferentially about and longitudinally coextensive with the light transmissive core; the light transmissive core having a first end portion having a surface containing the axis and canted about the axis a predetermined distance thereby forming an angled first end surface, the first end surface in a first condition connected to and mated with a second end surface of a second end portion, in a second condition the first end surface is exposed to surrounding air thereby creating an air/core interface having a predetermined critical angle; and a connector having a first portion, a second portion, and an intermediately located attachment means, the first portion circumferentially engaging the first end portion at a predetermined circumferential orientation relative to the angled first end surface and the second portion circumferentially engaging the second end portion at a predetermined circumferential orientation relative to the second end surface and the first portion so that when the first and second portions are attached the angled first and second end surfaces are symmetrically mated. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16)
-
Specification