Side lighting optical conduit

• US 5,987,199 A
• Filed: 05/21/1998
• Issued: 11/16/1999
• Est. Priority Date: 01/19/1996
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Lumenyte International Corporation
• Original Assignee: Lumenyte International Corporation
• Inventors: Robbins, John A., Holme, James A., Zarian, James R., Sitar, Dennis
• Primary Examiner(s): Ullah, Akm E.
• Application Number:
  US09/077,202
• Time in Patent Office: 544 Days
• Field of Search: 385/30, 385/31, 385/42, 385/52, 385/53, 385/91, 385/95, 385/102, 385/123, 385/124, 385/125, 385/130, 385/141, 385/132, 385/147, 362/551-559, 81/9.4, 29/426.2, 29/426.4, 156/85, 156/86, 264/230, 264/271.1, 264/279.1, 264/342 R
• US Class Current: 385/31
• CPC Class Codes: B26D 3/06 Grooving involving removal of material from the surface of the work
• 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 6/001 the light being emitted along at least a portion of the lateral surface of the fibre
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/241 Light guide terminations
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/2817 using reflective elements to split or combine optical signals

Abstract

An optical fiber conduit (32) comprising an optical fiber core (22) surrounded by a cladding (24) with a reflective material or holder and/or reflector (34) attached adjacent to or in contact with the cladding (24) covered optical fiber core (22) along its longitudinal length and includes a plurality of illuminators (28-30) that are formed by uniform cuts (41) in the optical fiber core (22) emit reasonably even light perpendicularly along the length of the conduit (32) outwardly. The light pattern can be made to emit various beam patterns from very narrow to very wide by altering the shape of the optical fiber core (22) and/or by the cuts (41). The cut optical fiber is embedded in a clear environmentally protective coating to protect the cuts (41) from dust and moisture and to maintain the alignment of the holder and/or reflector (34) with optical elements (106) and the optical fiber core (22).

Claims

1. A linear conduit comprising:

a monofilament, optical fiber;

a cladding surrounding said optical fiber;

said optical fiber including at least one illuminator;

a holder positioned in contact with said cladding and adjacent to said illuminator;

said holder including a light scattering portion positioned in spaced apart relation to said cladding to form an air gap between said cladding and said light scattering portion; and

a jacket surrounding said optical fiber, cladding and holder.

2. The linear light conduit of claim 1 wherein said jacket is fire resistant.

3. The linear light conduit of claim 1 wherein said holder is fire resistant.

4. The linear light conduit of claim 1 wherein said holder is flame resistant.

5. The linear light conduit of claim 1 wherein said jacket is flame resistant.

6. A method for precisely aligning optical elements in an optical conduit comprising the steps of:

positioning a fiber core and holder to direct light in a predetermined direction;

maintaining the alignment and relative position of said fiber core and said holder in a jacketing; and

forming said jacket about said fiber core and holder.

7. A method for cutting a notch in a fiber optic surrounded by fluoropolymer using a cutter:

positioning said fiber optic proximate to said cutter;

aligning said cutter at a first angle relative to said fiber optic surface;

rolling said cutter about a circumference of said fiber optic causing a first cut;

aligning said cutter at a second angle relative to said fiber optic surface;

rolling said cutter about the circumference of said fiber optic causing a second cut;

removing a notch of material formed by first and second cuts.

8. A fiber optic comprising:

a fiber optic core;

said fiber optic including a plurality of consistently notches;

at least one of a plurality of optical elements from the group including lenses, color filters, intensity filters and holographic filters;

said fiber optic core and optical element being precisely aligned with said notches to produce a desired light effect; and

a jacket surrounding said fiber optic core and optical element to maintain optical alignment.

9. The fiber optic of claim 8 wherein said jacket includes optical elements formed therein.

10. The fiber optic of claim 8 wherein said jacket includes a flame retardant material.

11. The fiber optic of claim 8 wherein said jacket material includes a fire resistant material.

12. The fiber optic of claim 8 wherein said jacket includes mounting brackets formed thereon.

13. The fiber optic of claim 8 wherein said jacket is formed with multiple layers of jacket material.

14. A linear light conduit comprising:

a monofilament, optical fiber;

a cladding surrounding said optical fiber;

said optical fiber including at least one cut;

a holder positioned in contact with said cladding and adjacent to said illuminator, said holder including a light scattering portion positioned in spaced apart relation to said cladding to form an air gap between said cladding and said light scattering portion; and

means for securing said holder against said cladding to main said holder adjacent to illuminator.

15. A linear light conduit comprising:

a monofilament, optical fiber;

a cladding surrounding said optical fiber;

said optical fiber including a plurality of illuminators, each of said illuminators having a generally uniform size and shape;

a holder and/or reflector positioned in contact with said cladding and adjacent to said illuminator, said holder including a light scattering portion positioned in spaced apart relation to said cladding to form an air gap between said cladding and said light scattering portion; and

means for securing said holder against said cladding to main said holder adjacent to illuminator.

16. A linear light conduit attached to at least one light source, said conduit comprising:

a monofilament, optical fiber;

a cladding surrounding said optical fiber;

said optical fiber including a plurality of illuminators along a first side and a light transmitting second side, each of said illuminators having a generally uniform size and shape to intersect light generated from said light source;

each of said illuminators being positioned in spaced apart relation along said first side of said optical fiber at a predetermined angle from horizontal defining a light path from said light source to each of said illuminators and to said second side; and

said second side having a predetermined optical characteristic to define the field of illumination.

17. The linear light conduit as set forth in claim 16 further comprising:

a holder positioned in contact with said cladding and adjacent to said illuminators, said holder including a light scattering portion positioned in spaced apart relation to said cladding to formed from an air gap between said cladding and said light scattering portion; and

means for securing said holder against said cladding to main said holder adjacent to illuminator.

18. A linear optical conduit comprising:

a clad core having a predetermined length along a longitudinal axis, a radius extending from the axis to the circumferential periperhy of the clad core, a first light input end and a second end;

a reflector extending longitudinally along the length of the clad core and extending radially through a arc which is less than 360 degrees about the circumferential perifphery of the clad core;

a plurality of cuts in said clad core at predetermined locations along its length, at predetermined depths into said clad core from its circumferential periphery and at predetermined angles between 0 degrees and 90 degrees, said predetermined angles being measured between the edge of each cut toward the first end of the clad core and longitudinal axis of the clad core, each cut forming a illuminator.

19. The conduit of claim 18 in which the cuts are symmetrical about a plane which extends from the reflector through the longitudinal axis and in a predetermined direction orthogonal to the longitudinal axis of the clad core.

20. A linear optical conduit comprising:

a clad core having a predetermined length along a longitudinal axis, a radius extending from the axis to the circumferential periperhy of the clad core, a first light input end and a second end;

a reflector extending longitudinally along the length of the clad core and extending radially through a arc which is less than 360 degrees about the circumferential perifphery of the clad core;

a predetermined portion of clad core material removed from said clad core by a plurality of pairs of cuts in said clad core at predetermined locations along its length, at predetermined depths into said clad core from its circumferential periphery and at predetermined angles between 0 degrees and 90 degrees, said predetermined angles being measured from the cut of each pair nearer the first end and between the edge of said nearer cut toward the first end of the clad core and the longitudinal axis of the clad core, each pair of cuts forming a illuminator.

21. The conduit of claim 20 in which the pairs of cuts are symmetrical about a plane which extends from the reflector through the longitudinal axis and in a predetermined direction orthogonal to the longitudinal axis of the clad core.