Hybrid fiber optic lighting distribution system

• US 6,195,477 B1
• Filed: 11/12/1998
• Issued: 02/27/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 11/12/1998
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Delphi Technologies, Inc. (BorgWarner Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Delphi Technologies, Inc. (BorgWarner Incorporated)
• Inventors: Mrakovich, Matthew S., Toot, Alan B., Denuto, John V.
• Primary Examiner(s): Healy, Brian
• Application Number:
  US09/190,787
• Time in Patent Office: 838 Days
• Field of Search: 385/15, 385/27, 385/38, 385/55, 385/56, 385/59, 385/60, 385/77, 385/78, 385/115, 385/901, 362/551, 362/553, 362/554, 362/556
• US Class Current: 385/15
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/0006 Coupling light into the fibre in general G02B6/4298
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/3825 with an intermediate part, e.g. adapter, receptacle, linking two plugs
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/3878 comprising a plurality of ferrules, branching and break-out means
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 385/901 Illuminating or display apparatus

Abstract

A robust hybrid fiber optic lighting distribution system incorporating a light source and two fiber optic media to thereby provide high temperature tolerance adjacent the light source and inexpensive and easily maintained light distribution to geographically independent illumination features downstream from the light source. The hybrid fiber optic distribution system includes a light source, a plurality of multi-stranded glass optical fiber (GOF) leads forming part of an optical jumper optically interfaced with the light source, and a plurality of solid core plastic optical fiber (POF) leads forming part of an optical distributor optically interfaced with the optical jumper which provide light distribution to various illumination features throughout the motor vehicle.

Claims

1. A hybrid fiber optic lighting distribution system comprising:

light source means for providing a source of light;

optical jumper means optically interfaced with said light source means for providing light transmission from said light source means via a first optical fiber media;

optical distributor means for providing light transmission via a second optical fiber media other than said first optical fiber media; and

coupling means for optically interfacing said optical jumper means to said optical distributor means at a preselected location from said light source means;

wherein said second optical fiber media is temperature tolerant below a predetermined temperature, wherein said preselected location has a temperature below said predetermined temperature.

2. The hybrid fiber optic lighting distribution system of claim 1, wherein said first optical fiber media comprises glass optical fiber and said second optical fiber media comprises plastic optical fiber.

3. The hybrid fiber optic lighting distribution system of claim 2, wherein said glass optical fiber comprises a plurality of glass optical fiber leads, and wherein said plastic optic fiber comprises a plurality of plastic optical fiber leads.

4. The hybrid fiber optic lighting distribution system of claim 3, wherein said plurality of plastic optical fiber leads is temperature tolerant below a predetermined temperature, wherein said preselected location has a temperature below said predetermined temperature.

5. The hybrid fiber optic lighting distribution system of claim 4, wherein said coupling means comprises:

a plurality of first ferrules, said plurality of glass optical fiber leads having a downstream face, each glass optical fiber lead being individually received within a respective first ferrule adjacent said downstream face thereof;

plurality of second ferrules, said plurality of plastic optical fiber leads having an upstream face, each plastic optical fiber lead being individually received within a respective second ferrule adjacent said upstream face thereof;

first coupling means for affixedly receiving one of said plurality of first and second ferrules; and

second coupling means for receiving the other of said plurality of first and second ferules, said first and second coupling means being mutually connectable;

wherein when said first and second coupling means are mutually connected, each glass optical fiber lead is optically interfaced with a respective plastic optical fiber lead.

6. The hybrid fiber optic lighting distribution system of claim 5, further comprising:

connector ferrule means for bundling said plurality of glass optical fiber leads adjacent an upstream face thereof;

connector housing means for connecting said connector ferrule means to said light source means; and

coupling rod means connected with said light source means for transmitting light externally with respect to said light source means;

wherein when said connector ferrule means is connected with said light source means via said connector housing means, said upstream face of said plurality of glass optical fiber leads being optically interfaced with said coupling rod means.

7. A hybrid fiber optic lighting distribution system comprising:

light source means for providing a source of light;

optical jumper means optically interfaced with said light source means for providing light transmission from said light source means, said optical jumper means comprising a plurality of glass optical fiber leads;

optical distributor means for providing light transmission, said optical distributor means comprising a plurality of plastic optical fiber leads; and

coupling means for optically interfacing said optical jumper means to said optical distributor means at a preselected location from said light source means;

wherein said plurality of plastic optical fiber leads is temperature tolerant below a predetermined temperature, wherein said preselected location has a temperature below said predetermined temperature.