Fiber optics illumination system for plastic light fiber
First Claim
1. A fiber optics illumination system for plastic fiber bundle light guides wherein the fibers have pliable cores with at least one cladding sleeve, said system comprising:
- an illuminator source for providing light projected along an axis;
an elongated light guide comprising at least one plastic optical fiber having a cladded pliable core and including a proximal light receiving end and a distal light emitting end;
a mirror mask including a transparent plate having inside and outside faces with an uncladded proximal end of said at least one pliable fiber core pressed against the outside face and said illuminator source positioned on the inside of said plate with the light axis projecting toward said inside face for proximal end illumination of said light guide through said transparent plate;
said inside face of said mirror mask having light reflecting capabilities on surface areas thereof which do not reveal said at least one proximal fiber end therethrough for fiber illumination whereby light not transmitted to said light guide from said illuminator source is reflected.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A fiber optics illumination system for plastic fiber bundle light guides which have pliable cores with one or more cladding sleeves. The proximal light receiving end of the light guides are stripped of all cladding to expose their pliable bundled cores pressed against a mirror mask plate which has a central transparent portion to transmit light from the light source therethrough to the fiber ends for transmission. A vice mechanism is provided to adjust the pressure of the pliable fiber core ends against the mirror mask. Surfaces of the mirror mask which do not transmit light directly to the proximal fiber ends are provided with a light reflecting or mirrored surface to reflect all unused light and heat away from the interface of the mirror mask and the fiber ends.
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Citations
12 Claims
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1. A fiber optics illumination system for plastic fiber bundle light guides wherein the fibers have pliable cores with at least one cladding sleeve, said system comprising:
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an illuminator source for providing light projected along an axis; an elongated light guide comprising at least one plastic optical fiber having a cladded pliable core and including a proximal light receiving end and a distal light emitting end; a mirror mask including a transparent plate having inside and outside faces with an uncladded proximal end of said at least one pliable fiber core pressed against the outside face and said illuminator source positioned on the inside of said plate with the light axis projecting toward said inside face for proximal end illumination of said light guide through said transparent plate; said inside face of said mirror mask having light reflecting capabilities on surface areas thereof which do not reveal said at least one proximal fiber end therethrough for fiber illumination whereby light not transmitted to said light guide from said illuminator source is reflected. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5)
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6. A fiber optics illumination system for plastic fiber bundle light guides wherein the fibers have pliable cores with at least one cladding sleeve, said system comprising:
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an illuminator source for providing light projected along an axis; an elongated light guide comprising at least one plastic optical fiber having a cladded pliable core and including a proximal light receiving end and a distal light emitting end; and a transparent plate having inside and outside faces with an uncladded proximal end of said at least one pliable fiber core pressed against the outside face and said illuminator source positioned on the inside of said plate with the light axis projecting toward said inside face for proximal end illumination of said light guide through said transparent plate. - View Dependent Claims (7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12)
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Specification